cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disorders of water and sodium homeostasis and bone

Abstract The associations of osteoporosis and bone fractures with hyponatremia are theoretically plausible, experimentally-grounded, strong, dose-related, and supported by epidemiological and radiographic studies in multiple countries. Studies in experimental animals and cell cultures have demonstrated disordered osteoclast and osteoblast activity with hyponatremia. Disordered bone metabolism with hyponatremia occurs by direct sodium-sensing mechanisms on osteoclasts that are independent from osmolality. Additional effects may be mediated by arginine vasopressin (AVP) receptors on osteoclasts and osteoblasts. More limited data suggests that hypernatremia may also contribute to abnormal bone physiology. Further, even mild hyponatremia can contribute to neurological dysfunction through gait instability and increased falls, both of which compound fracture risk. Consequently, disordered sodium and/or water homeostasis caused by common diseases and pharmaceuticals are likely to contribute to osteoporosis. Accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that sodium homeostasis is an important component of bone metabolism, although the cellular mechanisms and systems level regulators are yet to be fully identified. Controlled clinical trials are needed to address whether reversing disorders of sodium homeostasis can improve individual patient and population-based skeletal health.
Application of Thermography for the Optimization of the Blow Molding Process

Publisher Summary 3D blow molding is a technique by which the parison is extruded, generally from an accumulator head, and manipulated to fit the contours of a horizontal or tilted mold cavity in order to produce complex 3D shapes such as ventilation ducts, resonator tanks, connecting pipes, intake manifolds, steering shaft sleeves, etc. Thermography is a nondestructive, noncontact characterization technique that provides qualitative wall thickness distribution in real time. It can be a useful tool in the optimization of the blow molding process. Transient thermal imaging techniques allow the identification of thin and thick wall areas in a blow molded part. Thin walls can have their thickness inferred using calibration curves. The accurate measurements require minimal surface roughness and constant molding conditions. Thermal imaging, through the appearance of hot spots, can be used to detect shrinkage and poor adhesion to the mold surface. The contact resistance at the interface depends strongly on the wetting of the mold, the temperature of the parison, and the crystallinity of the plastic. The parison extrusion stage during 3D blow molding can be optimized by monitoring the surface temperature of the parison as it is being layed inside the mold. This information could be used to program the right parison thickness profile as well as the location of the interface in the case of sequential 3D blow molding.
Energieabrechnung im Wandel — Der Weg zum Kunden über leistungsfähigen „Customer Service“

Leitungsgebundene Versorgungsnetze stellen, wegen des zu tatigenden immensen Investitionsvolumens, im klassisch- betriebswirtschaftlichen Sinne ein naturliches „Monopol“ [1] dar. Aufgrund dieser Tatsache entwickelten sich weltweit unterschied-liche, der gesetzgeberischen Aufsicht unterliegende Monopolstrukturen in den einzel-nen Landern.
Going Mobile: Resident Physicians' Assessment of the Impact of Tablet Computers on Clinical Tasks, Job Satisfaction, and Quality of Care

Background There are few published studies of the use of portable or handheld computers in health care, but these devices have the potential to transform multiple aspects of clinical teaching and practice. Objective This article assesses resident physicians' perceptions and experiences with tablet computers before and after the introduction of these devices. Methods We surveyed 49 resident physicians from 8 neurology, surgery, and internal medicine clinical services before and after the introduction of tablet computers at a 415-bed Boston teaching hospital. The surveys queried respondents about their assessment of tablet computers, including the perceived impact of tablets on clinical tasks, job satisfaction, time spent at work, and quality of patient care. Results Respondents reported that it was easier (73%) and faster (70%) to use a tablet computer than to search for an available desktop. Tablets were useful for reviewing data, writing notes, and entering orders. Respondents indicated that tablet computers increased their job satisfaction (84%), reduced the amount of time spent in the hospital (51%), and improved the quality of care (65%). Conclusion The introduction of tablet computers enhanced resident physicians' perceptions of efficiency, effectiveness, and job satisfaction. Investments in this technology are warranted.
An Integrated Model of Slow-Wave Activity and Neuroplasticity Impairments in Major Depressive Disorder

In this review, we aim to integrate the most recent research highlighting alterations in sleep slow-wave activity (SWA), and impairments in neuroplasticity in major depressive disorder (MDD) into a novel model of disorder maintenance. Sleep homeostasis has been shown to be impaired in MDD, with a subset of individuals also demonstrating impaired SWA. SWA is considered a marker of the homeostatic regulation of sleep, and is implicated in the downscaling of synaptic strength in the context of maintaining homeostatic plasticity. Individuals with MDD have been shown to exhibit impairments in both neural plasticity such as loss of dendritic branching, and synaptic plasticity such as decreased long-term potentiation-dependent learning and memory. Alterations in the homeostatic regulation of sleep, SWA, and synaptic plasticity in MDD suggest an underlying impairment in the modulation of synaptic strength. One candidate mechanism for this impairment is AMPA receptor trafficking.
Abstract 710: Quality of Life Assessment in Yucatan Mini Swine after Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Quality of life assessments (QOL) measurements are valuable in assessing functional class in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Yet, limited quantifiable QOL measures are avai...
Pd/SiO2III. Activity and selectivity patterns for methylcyclopropane hydrogenolysis and cyclopentane exchange with deuterium: Comparison with Pt/SiO2

Abstract Results of studies of the interaction of hydrogen and oxygen and of the activity and selectivity for hydrogenolysis of methylcyclopropane and for deuterium exchange with cyclopentane are given for a series of Pd SiO 2 catalysts previously described (Nandi, R. K., Pitchai, R., Wong, S. S., Cohen, J. B., Burwell, R. L., Jr., and Butt, J. B., J. Catal.70, 298, 1981; Nandi, R. K., Georgopoulos, P., Cohen, J. B., Butt, J. B., Burwell, R. L., Jr., and Bilderback, D. H., J. Catal.77, 421 (1982)). A comparison with prior studies of a similar series of Pt SiO 2 (Otero-Schipper, P. H., Wachter, W. A., Butt, J. B., Burwell, R. L., Jr., and Cohen, J. B., J. Catal.53, 414, 1978) is also given. Exchange patterns of the two series with cyclopentane are similar, although some differences in the details of D6–10 suggest that reaction via α,α-diadsorbed cyclopentane is relatively more important on Pt than on Pd. The turnover frequencies for i-butane formation in the hydrogenolysis reaction are six to eight times higher for Pt SiO 2 than for Pd SiO 2 , while n-butane formation on the two is about the same. As a result, the selectivities, iso/normal, are much lower on Pd. The patterns of structure sensitivity for this reaction on the two series also differ considerably, with an apparent maximum being observed for Pd SiO 2 for a catalyst of 65.5% exposed. Finally, the dependence of the nature of hydrogenolysis structure-sensitivity on conditions of pretreatment, very pronounced on Pt SiO 2 , is less on Pd SiO 2 .
Adverse reactions and influencing factors in children with primary immunodeficiencies receiving intravenous immunglobulin replacement.

Abstract Objectives We aimed to determine adverse reactions and influencing factors, within the scope of the number of patients and total infusions, in patients with primary immunodeficiencies receiving intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement. Materials and methods Children with primary immunodeficiencies receiving IVIG replacement in Izmir Dr Behcet Uz Children’s Hospital, between June 2014 and June 2016, were included in our study. Results The total number of the patients receiving IVIG replacement was 145 (37 female, 108 male). The number of total IVIG infusions was 1214. Adverse reactions were observed in 44.8% of the patients and 14.2% of the infusions. Common variable immunodeficiency was the most common diagnosis of the patients and adverse reactions most commonly developed in this group (24.2%). In all infusions the most frequent adverse reaction was headache (7.8%); fever was the most frequent immediate side effect (3.9%), whereas headache was the most common delayed adverse effect (5.1%). By logistic regression analyses, history of adverse reaction to IVIG in previous infusions, existence of concomitant infectious disease, past or family history of atopic disease, to receive IVIG infusion at the first time, or being under 10 years old were found associated with adverse reactions. There was no correlation between the concentration of IVIG preparations and the rate of side-effect development. Conclusions In our study no severe adverse reaction to IVIG was observed, but many mild or moderate side effects occurred. Therefore, IVIG indications must be well identified. Patients, family of the patients and health care workers must be informed for adverse reactions.
Cryogenic Sample Loading into a Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer that Preserves Cellular Viability

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) can dramatically increase the sensitivity of magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. These sensitivity gains increase as temperatures decrease and are large enough to enable the study of molecules at very low concentrations at the operating temperatures (~100 K) of most commercial DNP-equipped NMR spectrometers. This leads to the possibility of in-cell structural biology on cryopreserved cells for macromolecules at their endogenous levels in their native environments. However, the freezing rates required for cellular cryopreservation are exceeded during typical sample handling for DNP MAS NMR and this results in loss of cellular integrity and viability. This article describes a detailed protocol for the preparation and cryogenic transfer of a frozen sample of mammalian cells into a MAS NMR spectrometer.
MiR-146a rs2910164 G > C polymorphism modulates Notch-1/iL-6 signaling during infection: a possible risk factor for Crohn's disease

MiR-146a, an effector mediator, targets Notch-1 and regulates the innate and adaptive immune systems response. Recently, we reported that Notch-1 signaling plays a key role in macrophage polarization and response during infection. We employed Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in Crohn’s disease (CD) as a model to demonstrate the role of Notch-1/IL-6 signaling on MCL-1 based apoptosis and intracellular MAP infection and persistence. This study was designed to investigate the impact of polymorphisms in miR146a on the immune response and infection in our MAP-CD model. We determined the incidence of miR-146a rs2910164 G > C in 42 blood samples from clinical CD patients and controls. We also measured the effect of rs2910164 on expression of Notch-1 and IL-6, and plasma IL-6 protein levels in our study group. Finally, we analyzed the blood samples for MAP DNA and studied any correlation with miR-146a polymorphism. Samples were analyzed for statistical significance using unpaired tow-tailed t-test, unpaired two-tailed z-score and odds ratio. P < 0.05 considered significant. MiR-146a rs2910164 GC was detected at a higher incidence in CD (52.6%) compared to healthy controls (21.7%) rs2910164 GC Heterozygous polymorphism upregulated Notch-1 and IL-6, by 0.9 and 1.7-fold, respectively. As expected, MAP infection was detected more in CD samples (63%) compared to healthy controls (9%). Surprisingly, MAP infection was detected at a higher rate in samples with rs2910164 GC (67%) compared to samples with normal genotype (33%). The data clearly associates miR-146a rs2910164 GC with an overactive immune response and increases the risk to acquire infection. The study is even more relevant now in our efforts to understand susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of COVID-19. This study suggests that genetic variations among COVID-19 patients may predict who is at a higher risk of acquiring infection, developing exacerbating symptoms, and possibly death. A high scale study with more clinical samples from different disease groups is planned.
Sparse Semi-Supervised Action Recognition with Active Learning.

Current state-of-the-art methods for skeleton-based action recognition are supervised and rely on labels. The reliance is limiting the performance due to the challenges involved in annotation and mislabeled data. Unsupervised methods have been introduced, however, they organize sequences into clusters and still require labels to associate clusters with actions. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for skeleton-based action recognition, called SESAR, that connects these approaches. SESAR leverages the information from both unlabeled data and a handful of sequences actively selected for labeling, combining unsupervised training with sparsely supervised guidance. SESAR is composed of two main components, where the first component learns a latent representation for unlabeled action sequences through an Encoder-Decoder RNN which reconstructs the sequences, and the second component performs active learning to select sequences to be labeled based on cluster and classification uncertainty. When the two components are simultaneously trained on skeleton-based action sequences, they correspond to a robust system for action recognition with only a handful of labeled samples. We evaluate our system on common datasets with multiple sequences and actions, such as NW UCLA, NTU RGB+D 60, and UWA3D. Our results outperform standalone skeleton-based supervised, unsupervised with cluster identification, and active-learning methods for action recognition when applied to sparse labeled samples, as low as 1% of the data.
Optimizing the spray characteristics of an ultrasonic droplet generator with continuously variable operating frequency

Ultrasonic spraying is utilized in a diversity of industrial processes and biomedical applications, including nanomaterial synthesis and inhalation drug delivery. Ultrasonic droplet generators transfer energy into bulk liquids using acoustic waves to break the free liquid surface into extremely fine microdroplets. We have previously reported an approach that combines ultrasonic actuation, resonant operation, and acoustic wave focusing for efficient spraying of liquids (e.g., low surface tension fuels, high viscosity inks, and suspensions of biological cells). Microfabricated devices comprised a piezoelectric transducer, sample reservoir, and an array of acoustic horn structures with microscale orifices. Orifice size dictated droplet size, and the fixed reservoir geometry restricted operation to specific device resonant frequencies. Here, we incorporate a continuously variable reservoir height that enables dynamic adjustment of operating parameters (e.g., to improve spray efficiency or to tune the droplet size in real-time). Finite element analysis is used to predict the harmonic response of the system for a range of reservoir heights from 0.5 to 3 mm (corresponding to operating frequencies from 0.5 to 2.5 MHz). Spray quality is optimized regarding uniformity and stability of active nozzles for arrays with 10, 20, and 40 μm orifices, and model results are used to explain observed behaviors.
Randomized Trial of Static and Articulating Spacers for Treatment of the Infected Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to compare perioperative and postoperative variables between static and articulating spacers for the treatment of chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) complicating total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods Fifty-two patients undergoing resection arthroplasty as part of a 2-stage exchange for PJI at 3 centers were randomized to either a static (n = 23) or articulating spacer (n = 29). The primary endpoint was operative time of the second-stage reimplantation and power analysis determined that 22 patients per cohort were necessary to detect a 20-minute difference. Seven patients were lost to follow-up, 4 were never reimplanted, and one died before discharge after reimplantation. Forty patients were followed for a mean 3.2 years (range 2.0-7.1). Results There were no differences in operative time at second-stage reimplantation (143 minutes static vs 145 minutes articulating, P = .499). Length of hospital stay was longer in the static cohort after stage 1 (8.6 vs 5.4 days, P = .006) and stage 2 (6.3 vs 3.6 days, P Conclusion This randomized trial demonstrated that the outcomes of static and articulating spacers are similar in the treatment of THA PJI undergoing 2-stage exchange arthroplasty. The significantly longer length of hospital stay associated with the use of static spacers may have important economic implications for the health care system.
Ultrasound of Thumb Muscles and Grasp Strength in Early Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis

Purpose The pathophysiology of thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) involves complex interactions between the ligaments and muscles supporting the joint. Factors such as muscle volume and strength may be more relevant in early disease. We used ultrasound as a noninvasive method to explore differences in the intrinsic hand muscles of patients with early CMC OA, as determined using physical exam and radiographs, and healthy controls. We also assessed differences in grip strength. Methods A convenience sample of postmenopausal women with early CMC OA diagnosed using a physical examination or radiographs was recruited from an orthopedic clinic specializing in hand surgery. Healthy controls who were matched for age and hand dominance were recruited from the same clinic. We used ultrasound to determine the length of the first metacarpal and the muscle thickness of the abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis (OPP), and first dorsal interosseous. Grip strength measurements were taken using a standard Jamar dynamometer and 2 custom-designed tools for cylindrical grasp and pinch strength. Results Twenty-three subjects were enrolled, with a total of 32 thumbs measured: 15 thumbs with arthritis and 17 healthy thumbs. Multivariable logistic regression models indicated that thumbs with thicker OPP had 0.85 lower odds (95% CI = 0.71–0.97) of early OA, adjusting for hand dominance and the first metacarpal length. Linear regression models indicated no association between early OA and grip strength. Conclusions The size of OPP may have a weak association with the diagnosis of early OA. Clinical relevance This study supports further exploration of the role of OPP in stabilizing the CMC joint , particularly with regard to minimizing joint subluxation . This may be clinically relevant to providers who treat patients with CMC OA early in the course of the disease, when nonsurgical treatment is the most relevant.
Harassment Reports to Child Protective Services

ABSTRACT The misuse of Child Protective Services (CPS) by individuals making harassment reports has attracted a great deal of lay and editorial attention but virtually no empirical analysis. This paper examines cases of intentional harassment among child maltreatment reports from the State of Missouri, and finds them to be extremely rare. Those few harassment reports received are examined in relation to a comparison sample of non-harassment reports. Multi-variate analysis of the data suggests that poor metro areas have especially low rates of harassment and that mandated reporters are extremely unlikely to make harassment reports.
A Study of the Packer Problem and Its Solutions

An increasing percentage of malware programs distributed in the wild are packed by packers, which are programs that transform an input binary's appearance without affecting its execution semantics, to create new malware variants that can evade signature-based malware detection tools. This paper reports the results of a comprehensive study of the extent of the packer problem based on data collected at Symantec and the effectiveness of existing solutions to this problem. Then the paper presents a generic unpacking solution called Justin (Just-In-Time AV scanning), which is designed to detect the end of unpacking of a packed binary's run and invoke AV scanning against the process image at that time. For accurate end-to-unpacking detection, Justin incorporates the following heuristics: Dirty Page Execution, Unpacker Memory Avoidance, Stack Pointer Check and Command-Line Argument Access. Empirical testing shows that when compared with SymPack, which contains a set of manually created unpackers for a collection of selective packers, Justin's effectiveness is comparable to SymPack for those binaries packed by these supported packers, and is much better than SymPack for binaries packed by those that SymPack does not support.
Energetics of the Core

This chapter reviews theoretical approaches to calculating the energy and entropy budgets of the Earth's core. The energy budget allows the growth of the inner core with time to be calculated; the entropy budget determines whether or not a geodynamo can function. The present-day geodynamo is driven primarily by compositional convection, with latent heat, secular cooling, and (possibly) exsolution playing a subsidiary role. Prior to the onset of inner core solidification, the dynamo was likely driven purely by secular cooling and required a cooling rate roughly three times the present-day value to maintain the same rate of entropy production. The largest uncertainties in the present-day energy and entropy budgets arise from uncertainties in the core–mantle boundary (CMB) heat flow, the compositional density contrast between the outer and inner cores, the thermal conductivity of the core material, and the amount of ohmic dissipation generated by the dynamo. The present-day CMB heat flow is estimated at 12 ± 5 TW; heat flows < 5 TW are insufficient to drive the current dynamo. Prior to the formation of the inner core, sustaining a dynamo required a CMB heat flow of 15 TW or more, implying rapid core cooling and a molten lower mantle. Such high heat flows appear to be compatible with models of mantle convection. These high heat flows also imply an inner core age of < 0.7 Gyr. Adding potassium to the core results in lower initial core temperatures, but does not significantly alter the inner core age. Thermally or compositionally stratified regions may have existed (or still exist) within the core, but there is currently no consensus on their nature or effects on the dynamo.
Does Congress Have the Constitutional Power to Prohibit Partial-Birth Abortion?

The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act makes it a federal crime for doctors to perform certain late-term abortions. Congress justified this law as an exercise of its power “to regulate Commerce ... among the several States.” It is unclear whether the Act will be upheld under the Supreme Court's current Commerce Clause standards, which are malleable and therefore tend to be applied in light of each judge's politics and ideology. To remedy this problem, Professor Pushaw urges the Court to articulate and consistently apply precise rules of law rooted in the Commerce Clause's language, history, and early precedent. Under this approach, the Court would sustain the Act because the performance of partial-birth abortions is “commerce” -- the sale of a service in the market -- that has demonstrable effects “among the states.” The proposed analysis is politically neutral, however, because it would also support the constitutionality of the federal statute protecting abortion clinics, as interstate market-based enterprises, from criminal interference. Such an apolitical legal approach seems especially useful when addressing an explosive issue like abortion.
The effect of a PP2A inhibitor on the nuclear receptor corepressor pathway in glioma

Object Nuclear receptor corepressor (N-CoR) forms a complex that maintains neural stem cells in an undifferentiated state through transcriptional repression. Recently, it has been shown that N-CoR is overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor stem cells and has a putative role in maintaining these cells in an undifferentiated immortal state. To determine the effects of disruption of N-CoR complex function by serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibition on GBM tumor cell differentiation and proliferation, the authors developed and investigated a competitive small molecule inhibitor (LB1) of PP2A in GBM. Methods The authors investigated the effects of LB1 on GBM proliferation and molecular differentiation pathways using in vitro and in vivo studies. Results The LB1 inhibited PP2A, leading to increased levels of phosphorylated Akt kinase and decreased NCoR expression, as well as dose-dependent antiproliferative activity in cultured U87 and U251 malignant glioma cells (dose range 1–10 μ...
Scenarios for Restoring Floodplain Ecology Given Changes to River Flows Under Climate Change: Case from the San Joaquin River, California

Freshwater ecosystem health has been increasingly linked to floodplain connectivity, and some river restoration efforts now overtly target reconnecting floodplain habitats for species recovery. The dynamic nature of floodplain habitats is not typically accounted for in efforts to plan and evaluate potential floodplain reconnection projects. This study describes a novel approach for integrating streamflow dynamics with floodplain area to quantify species-specific habitat availability using hydraulic modelling, spatial analysis and statistical measures of flow regime. We used this hydro-ecological modelling approach to examine the potential habitat for splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus), Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and their food resources under two restoration treatments and two climate change flow scenarios for a study site on San Joaquin River in California. Even with the addition of new floodplain through restoration efforts, the modelling results reveal only 13 streamflow events in the past 80 years had the magnitude and duration required for splittail spawning and rearing, and 14 events had flows long enough for salmon rearing benefits. Under climate change, modelled results suggest only 4–17% of the years in the rest of this century are likely to produce required flow-related habitat conditions for splittail and salmon rearing along the study reach. Lastly, we demonstrate by simulating augmented reservoir releases that restoration of fish habitat will require a more natural flow regime to make use of restored floodplain and achieve the desired hydrologic habitat connectivity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ventricular aneurysm. Fourteen cases subjected to cardiac bypass repair using the pump oxygenator.

Abstract Ventricular aneurysm is a frequent late complication of extensive myocardial infarction. Although cardiac rupture is rare, serious and frequently incapacitating symptoms result from the impairment of cardiac function produced by the noncontractile, expansile aneurysm. Embolism from mural thrombi may also produce disastrous complications. Fourteen patients with aneurysm of the left ventricle following myocardial infarction have been treated by surgical excision of the aneurysm utilizing an extracorporeal pump oxygenator for temporary cardiopulmonary bypass, with three deaths. Cardiac catheterization studies performed prior to surgery in twelve of these patients revealed a reduction in cardiac output and significant pulmonary hypertension. After operation cardiac function improved and the eleven survivors received clinical benefits. The optimum time for surgical intervention following myocardial infarction is probably governed by the pathologic state of the diseased myocardium. At 3 months fibrous tissue develops at the margin of the aneurysm and firm repair of the ventricle after aneurysmectomy is facilitated. Surgical excision and ventricular repair is a feasible and rational surgical treatment for ventricular aneurysm following myocardial infarction when the lesion is of sufficient size to cause impairment of cardiac function.
Traffic flow in a spatial network model

A quantity of practical importance in the design of an infrastructure network is the amount of traffic along different parts in the network. Traffic patterns primarily depend on the users’ preference for short paths through the network and spatial constraints for building the necessary connections. Here we study the traffic distribution in a spatial network model which takes both of these considerations into account. Assuming users always travel along the shortest path available, the appropriate measure for traffic flow along the links is a generalization of the usual concept of “edge betweenness”. We find that for networks with a minimal total maintenance cost, a small number of connections must handle a disproportionate amount of traffic. However, if users can travel more directly between different points in the network, the maximum traffic can be greatly reduced.
Ten years' experience with CAPD in a nursing home setting

ObjectiveWe reviewed our experience with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in a nursing home with the aims of describing their de...
Dividing the Pie: The Influence of Managerial Discretion Extent on Bonus Pool Allocation*

An essential role of management is organizational control, or the process of ‘‘ensuring that the organization operates in the intended manner and achieves its goals’’ (Hilton 2008: 6). Accountants support managers in this role by providing information that forms the basis of performance evaluation and incentive-based contracting. However, managers also have available to them other relevant employee performance information — that is, information not explicitly contracted on because it represents unforeseen circumstances, cannot be jointly verified or requires interpretation or judgment. To incorporate this noncontractible information into compensation decisions, firms often allow managers discretion in determining subordinates’ compensation. Specifically, many firms use discretionary bonus pools as the mechanism via which managers apply discretion in compensation. Whereas the size of a bonus pool (in dollars) is typically based on some predetermined formula, firms vary greatly in the extent to which managers are endowed discretion to allocate that pool (Murphy and Oyer 2003). That is, some plans allow managers full discretion in allocating the bonus pool, whereas other plans allow discretion over only a portion of the total pool, with the remainder contractually allocated by formula. In this paper, we investigate the effect of this important institutional factor — discretion extent — on managers’ discretionary bonus allocations. To examine the effect of discretion extent, we develop theory on the processes by which managers will allocate discretionary bonus pools. Analytic research (e.g., Rajan and Reichelstein 2006) models each bonus pool participant’s allocation as a linear combination of performance measures. This linear combination may be conceptualized as a single, comprehensive measure of performance, in which all relevant (contractible and noncontractible) information is integrated. Based on this conceptualization, one might assume that in
Barriers to weight‐related health behaviours: a qualitative comparison of the socioecological conditions between pregnant and post‐partum low‐income women

The association between socioecological factors and poor health outcomes for low-income women and their children has been the focus of disparities research for several decades. This research compares the socioecological conditions among low-income women from pregnancy to post-partum and highlights the factors that make weight management increasingly difficult after delivery. As part of the formative research for an online health intervention, group and individual interviews were conducted with low-income pregnant and post-partum women. Five pregnancy group interviews (n = 15 women), five post-partum group interviews (n = 23 women) and seven individual interviews with a total of 45 participants were conducted in Rochester, New York. All interviews were audio-recorded. The constant comparative method was used to code interview notes and identify emergent themes. Subjects faced many challenges that affected their attitudes, beliefs and their ability to maintain or improve healthy weight behaviours. These included unemployment, relationship issues, minimal social support, lack of education, limited health care access, pre-existing medical conditions and neighbourhood disadvantage. Compared with pregnant women, post-partum women faced additional difficulties, such as child illnesses and custody issues. The most striking differences between pregnancy and post-partum related to the family's medical problems and greater environmental constraints. Many factors detracted from women's capacity to engage in healthy weight behaviours post-partum, including challenges present prior to delivery, challenges present prior to delivery that worsen after delivery, and new challenges that begin after delivery. These additional post-partum challenges need to be considered in designing programmes, policies and interventions that promote healthy weight.
Electric models for calculation of crosstalk: Analysis & performance evaluation

In this paper, three electric equivalent models to evaluate crosstalk between three-conductor transmission lines are proposed. First, electric equivalent models for three-conductor transmission lines are presented. Secondly, rigorous equations to calculate the per-unit length inductive and capacitive parameters are developed. These models allow us to calculate crosstalk between conductors. Finally, to validate the presented models, we compare the theoretical results with simulation data. Obtained results show that proposed models can be used to predict crosstalk performance.
Changes in protooncogene expression correlated with general and sex-specific differentiation in murine primordial germ cells.

Abstract Primordial germ cells (PGCs) of the mouse undergo key developmental transitions during embryonic days 12–15. On day 12 they complete migration into the gonads. They cease mitotic proliferation on day 13 and subsequently enter sex-specific pathways of development. The molecular mechanisms controlling these transitions are poorly understood, yet they are crucial to production of normal gametes later in life. We have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to directly compare levels of expression of several protooncogenes proposed to be involved in control of cell proliferation and differentiation in proliferating and differentiating PGCs of both sexes over a 4 day time course. We report here that mRNA levels for nuclear protooncogenes c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun increase dramatically in both sexes from little or no detectable expression on day 12 to high expression on days 13–15. We observe c-kit message on day 12 in combined PGCs of both sexes, in female but not male PGCs on day 13, and in both sexes on day 14. c-kit mRNA is undetectable on day 15 in either sex. c-mos is not expressed at detectable levels on day 12 in either sex, but increases gradually in female PGCs to very high levels on day 15. In male PGCs, c-mos is expressed at high levels on days 13–15. Our results are consistent with a role for protooncogenes c-myc, c-fos and c-jun in mediating the initial differentiation of PGCs of both sexes that occurs upon colonization of the gonad. Because c-kit and c-mos are expressed differentially in male and female day 13–15 germ cells, they may play roles in initiating or mediating progress along the sex-specific pathways of development that PGCs embark upon at this time.
The Emperor Has No Clothes: What HPC Users Need to Say and HPC Vendors Need to Hear

A decade ago, high-performance computing (HPC) was about to "come of age" and we were convinced it would have significant impact throughout the computing industry. Instead, the HPC community has remained small and elitist. The rate at which technical applications have been ported to parallel and distributed platforms is distressingly slow, given that the availability of key applications is precisely the mechanism needed to drive the growth of the community. When major software vendors state publicly that their products will never be parallelized - as some have in recent months - it's time for us to take a hard look at reality. Marketing and PR claims to the contrary, HPC is not a success story. Although our capabilities continue to expand, we have not found a way to make HPC improve our productivity.
Optical logarithmic transformation of speckle images with bacteriorhodopsin films.

The application of logarithmic transformations to speckle images is sometimes desirable in converting the speckle noise distribution into an additive, constant-variance noise distribution. The optical transmission properties of some bacteriorhodopsin films are well suited to implement such a transformation optically in a parallel fashion. I present experimental results of the optical conversion of a speckle image into a transformed image with signal-independent noise statistics, using the real-time photochromic properties of bacteriorhodopsin. The original and transformed noise statistics are confirmed by histogram analysis.
OPTICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF A HYDROGEN PLASMA: WEAK LOCALIZATION EFFECTS

Abstract To what extent can collective electron-ion interaction effects influence the electric conductivity of a Coulomb system? This paper is aimed to answer this question for the case of the solid density hydrogen plasma. The thermodynamic Green's function approach is combined with the generalized hydrodynamic theory to develop a self-consistent approximation for the dynamic (frequency dependent) electron-ion collision frequency. On this basis the electric conductivity, skin depth and reflectivity of a dense hydrogen plasma are evaluated at frequencies below the plasma frequency. The results indicate that the percolation metal-insulator transition becomes possible at low plasma densities.
Die Isolierung von Americium 241 in Mengen von 100 mg aus großen Mengen von Verunreinigungen

Die Reindarstellung von Americiumpraparaten in der Grosenordnung von 100 mg wird beschrieben. Die Art der jeweils verwendeten Aufarbeitung hangt sehr stark von den Ausgangsmaterialien ab. Sie wird vor allem entscheidend beeinflust durch das Vorhandensein von Lanthaniden – insbesondere Lanthan selbst –, die sich nur schwer vom Americium abtrennen lassen. Die fur funf verschiedene Proben benutzten Trennungsgange werden beschrieben, die Wirksamkeit einer Reihe von Trennverfahren an Hand eigener Erfahrungen diskutiert.
Do the CD4 and CD8 lineages represent parallel pathways

Abstract It is now well established that the progression of T cell development requires interactions between the surfaces of thymocytes and thymic stromal cells. For example, the maturation of CD4 + 8 + cells into functional CD4 + or CD8 + cells requires TCR/MHC interactions, which, depending on the specificity of the particular TCR, direct the thymocyte to the appropriate lineage. Beyond this, little is known about the molecular mechanism of this lineage choice. Here we describe our recent studies of CD4/CD8 lineage commitment using TCR transgenic mice expressing a well-defined MHC class II specific TCR. While the results of these experiments are inconsistent with a model in which CD4 versus CD8 lineage is determined by an initial TCR/MHC/co-receptor interaction, they also do not support a simple stochastic model of lineage commitment. Instead, we suggest that the CD4 and CD8 lineages may not represent equivalent pathways of T cell maturation. Additionally, we draw several parallels between stochastic models in positive selection and in hematopoiesis.
A theory of substructural types and control

Exceptions are invaluable for structured error handling in high-level languages, but they are at odds with linear types. More generally, control effects may delete or duplicate portions of the stack, which, if we are not careful, can invalidate all substructural usage guarantees for values on the stack. We have developed a type-and-effect system that tracks control effects and ensures that values on the stack are never wrongly duplicated or dropped. We present the system first with abstract control effects and prove its soundness. We then give examples of three instantiations with particular control effects, including exceptions and delimited continuations, and show that they meet the soundness criteria for specific control effects.
The pika and the watershed: The impact of small mammal poisoning on the ecohydrology of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

With approximately 20 % of the world’s population living in its downstream watersheds, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is considered “Asia’s Water Tower.” However, grasslands of the QTP, where most of Asia’s great rivers originate, are becoming increasingly degraded, which leads to elevated population densities of a native small mammal, the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae). As a result pikas have been characterized as a pest leading to wide-spread poisoning campaigns in an attempt to restore grassland quality. A contrary view is that pikas are a keystone species for biodiversity and that their burrowing activity provides a critical ecosystem service by increasing the infiltration rate of water, hence reducing overland flow. We demonstrate that poisoning plateau pikas significantly reduces infiltration rate of water across the QTP creating the potential for watershed-level impacts. Our results demonstrate the importance of burrowing mammals as ecosystem engineers, particularly with regard to their influence on hydrological functioning.
Addition spectra of quantum dots in strong magnetic fields.

We consider the magnetic field dependence of the chemical potential for parabolically confined quantum dots in a strong magnetic field. Approximate expressions based on the notion that the size of a dot is determined by a competition between confinement and interaction energies are shown to be consistent with exact diagonalization studies for small quantum dots. Fine structure is present in the magnetic field dependence which cannot be explained without a full many-body description and is associated with ground-state level crossings as a function of confinement strength or Zeeman interaction strength. Some of this fine structure is associated with precursors of the bulk incompressible states responsible for the fractional quantum Hall effect
Irradiation of Dextran and Its Aqueous Solutions With Cobalt-60 Gamma Rays.

Cross-linking predominates over chain scission during the irradiation of concentrated aqueous dextran solutions by cobalt-60 gamma rays in the absence of oxygen. An extensive and long-lived postirradiative viscosity decay, which has not been previously reported, is attributed to the agency of hydrogen peroxide formed during the radiolysis of water. Solid dextran primarily degrades upon γ-irradiation while dextran triacetate is borderline between dominant scission and cross-linking. Both exhibit a postirradiative viscosity decrease when irradiated in the presence of water vapor. Electron spin resonance spectra of dextran in the solid state and in aqueous solution are presented and compared. Spin resonance spectral and chemical evidence concerning the mechanism of cross-linking and postirradiative decay reactions is presented. There is conflicting evidence for the presence of oxyradicals. Speculations are made concerning possible mechanisms of oxyradical formation and their role in the production of ether and peroxy linkages.
Open Versus Closed Repair of the Achilles Tendon: An Experimental Animal Study:

This experimental animal study compared the healing patterns between open and closed treatments of Achilles tendon tenotomies. Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits underwent tenotomy of the left Ac...
George Gazda: Steps Ahead of the Group

Dr. George Gazda has been and remains a pioneer in the counseling profession. During the past several decades, he has been instrumental in several movements and has influenced the direction of the field of counseling. His leadership in bringing group counseling to the respected status it holds today is a remarkable feat. The development of the comprehensive and practical “Life Skills Model” has influenced the way many counselors work with clients. In this brief interview, he talks of the significant people in his professional development, and some of the many people he has touched speak to his caring and commitment to his chosen profession. This short synopsis of Dr. Gazda's career hardly does justice to his many contributions. He is indeed a remarkable professional and person. The counseling profession, in may ways, owes him considerable credit for where we are today and for where we may strive in the future. His dreams provide a true vision for the rest of us.
Pricing accuracy at grocery stores and other retail stores using scanners

In recent years there have been many inquiries and studies by government agencies, media reporters, and academic institutions about pricing accuracy at retail stores that use scanners. Some of these reports have even accused retailers of using scanners to intentionally overcharge customers. This study is based on checking 146,518 items in over 2,000 stores in nine states. Analysis of these data found a price accuracy rate of 96.13 per cent with undercharges occurring more frequently than overcharges. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between pricing accuracy at grocery stores and other retail stores. Grocery stores recorded a higher accuracy level. There is still room for improvement. Only 58 per cent of the stores inspected reached a 98 per cent pricing accuracy standard recommended by the National Conference of Weights and Measures.
A case of disseminated blastomycosis in Vermont

Blastomyces dermatitides is increasingly found in Canada along the St. Lawrence River. However, there are only rare reports of this disease in New England. We describe a case of disseminated blastomycosis in a patient from northern Vermont who acquired the fungus while gardening.
The Need For Low Resistance Interconnects In Future High-Speed Systems

As logic technology advances toward higher speeds and higher levels of integration, the problem of interconnects becomes more acute. This is because, per unit length, the resistance of a wire increases as all dimensions are reduced whereas its capacitance remains constant. This presentation will consider the statistics of wiring a large chip, based on Rent's rule, and derive relationships for wire resistance and current density. The efficacy of solutions to the wiring bottleneck, such as the use of a wiring hierarchy, and the use of repeaters, will be examined. Using these results it will be shown that a 77K ambient will be highly desirable for a future high speed computer, when circuit densities will be greater than 100,000 circuits/ cm2 and circuit delays less than 100ps. The speed advantage of the 77K computer over the room temperature version will scale as √ριCKT where ρ is the wire resistance and ιCKT is the circuit delay. The advantage of superconducting wires, and requirements on current density, will also be discussed in this context.© (1988) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.