cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PANDA: Processing-in-MRAM Accelerated De Bruijn Graph based DNA Assembly.

Spurred by widening gap between data processing speed and data communication speed in Von-Neumann computing architectures, some bioinformatic applications have harnessed the computational power of Processing-in-Memory (PIM) platforms. However, the performance of PIMs unavoidably diminishes when dealing with such complex applications seeking bulk bit-wise comparison or addition operations. In this work, we present an efficient Processing-in-MRAM Accelerated De Bruijn Graph based DNA Assembly platform named PANDA based on an optimized and hardware-friendly genome assembly algorithm. PANDA is able to assemble large-scale DNA sequence data-set from all-pair overlaps. We first design PANDA platform that exploits MRAM as a computational memory and converts it to a potent processing unit for genome assembly. PANDA can execute not only efficient bulk bit-wise X(N)OR-based comparison/addition operations heavily required for the genome assembly task but a full-set of 2-/3-input logic operations inside MRAM chip. We then develop a highly parallel and step-by-step hardware-friendly DNA assembly algorithm for PANDA that only requires the developed in-memory logic operations. The platform is then configured with a novel data partitioning and mapping technique that provides local storage and processing to fully utilize the algorithm-level's parallelism. The cross-layer simulation results demonstrate that PANDA reduces the run time and power, respectively, by a factor of 18 and 11 compared with CPU. Besides, speed-ups of up-to 2-4x can be obtained over recent processing-in-MRAM platforms to perform the same task.
Data capitalism and the counter futures of ethics in artificial intelligence

Ethics in data science and artificial intelligence have gained broader prominence in both scholarly and public discourse. Much of the scholarly engagements have often been based on perspectives of ...
DETERMINATION OF |Vcb| AND RELATED RESULTS FROM BABAR

The CKM matrix element amplitude |Vcb| was determined using the data collected by the BABAR detector. The partial branching fraction, lepton-energy moments, and hadron-mass moments were measured in inclusive semileptonic decays B→Xclν. A global fit to a Heavy-Quark-Expansion calculation allowed precise determination of |Vcb|, mb, mc, ℬ(B→Xclν) and four non-perturbative parameters.
Vaccinating Urban Populations in Response to COVID-19: Legal Challenges and Options (preprint)

Against the backdrop of the most significant public health emergency event in U.S. history, the real-time development of multiple efficacious COVID-19 vaccines through pharmaceutical companies and federal support is a shining achievement. Americans’ future health and safety rely on a national vaccine campaign with an arduous goal of rapidly achieving “herd immunity,” especially among denser, urban environments. Immunizing millions of persons in urban locales is especially complex due to population vulnerabilities, lack of access, issues of eligibility, and vaccine hesitancy based on false information and long-standing governmental distrust. Public and private sectors are responding to these and other challenges in multifarious ways. This Commentary explores legal and policy perspectives on national mass vaccination efforts impacting U.S. urban populations.
Yield of Surveillance Colonoscopy in Older Adults with a History of Polyps: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The benefit of surveillance colonoscopy in older adults is not well described. To quantify the detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced polyps during surveillance colonoscopy in older adults with a history of colon polyps. We conducted a systematic review (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase) for all published studies through May 2020 in adults age > 70 undergoing surveillance colonoscopy. The main outcome was CRC and advanced polyps detection. We performed meta-analysis to pool results by age (>70 vs. 50–70). The search identified 6239 studies, of which 569 underwent full-text review and 64 data abstraction, of which 19 were included. The risk of detecting CRC (N = 11) was higher in those >70 compared to 50–70 (risk ratio 1.5 (95% CI 1.1–2.2); risk difference 0.8% (95% CI −0.2%–1.8%)). Similarly, the risk of detecting advanced polyps (N = 8) was higher in those >70 compared to 50–70 (risk ratio 1.3 (95% CI 1.2–1.3), risk difference 2.7% (95% CI 1.3%–4.0%)). Most studies did not stratify results by baseline polyp risk. The detection of CRC and advanced polyps during surveillance colonoscopy in older individuals was higher than in younger controls; however, the absolute risk increase for both was small. These differences must be weighed against competing medical problems and limited life expectancy in older adults when making decisions about surveillance colonoscopy. More primary data on the risks of CRC and advanced polyps accounting for number of past colonoscopies, prior polyp risk, and duration of time since last polyp are needed.
COUNTERPOINT: Artificial Sweeteners for Obesity-Better than Sugary Alternatives; Potentially a Solution.

Abstract Objective Nonnutritive (NNSs) are used in place of sugars to reduce caloric and glycemic intake while providing desired sweetness, commonly replacing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) with “diet” (zero-calorie) alternatives. Concern has developed due to observational data associating NNSs with obesity and adiposity-based chronic disease. This counterpoint argues that, in general, NNSs used in place of added or excess sugars in the diet are likely beneficial. Methods A literature review was conducted on interventional trials investigating NNSs and obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Key words used in the search included artificial sweeteners, nonnutritive sweeteners, saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, stevia/steviol, acesulfame potassium, meal replacements, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and weight. Results Interventional data and indirect interventional data consistently showed beneficial effects on weight and cardiometabolic health, including glycemia, when SSBs or other energy-dense foods were replaced by artificially sweetened beverages or artificially sweetened meal replacements. Conclusion Although NNSs correlate with obesity and adiposity-based chronic disease, those data are fraught with confounding and error. Plausibility has been suggested on the basis of preclinical research on neuroendocrine control of appetite, satiety, and cravings plus the gut microbiome. However, interventional data reveal that replacing caloric/glycemic energy intake via NNSs creates an energy deficit resulting in weight loss and improvement in disease—especially dysglycemic disease. Intensive dietary intervention using artificially sweetened meal replacements shows a marked clinical benefit without detriment from their NNSs. Furthermore, beverages sweetened with NNSs rather than SSBs have been noted to be a critical component for those succeeding in maintaining weight loss. Although individual responses to the effects of NNSs are always warranted just like in any clinical situation, patients should not be advised to avoid NNSs in the context of dietary intervention to improve quality and energy deficit.
Melting of Duplex DNA in the Absence of ATP by the NS3 Helicase Domain through Specific Interaction with a Single-Strand/Double-Strand Junction

Helicases unwind double-stranded nucleic acids, remove secondary structures from single-stranded nucleic acids, and remove proteins bound to nucleic acids. For many helicases, the mechanisms for these different functions share the ability to translocate with a directional bias as a result of ATP binding and hydrolysis. Nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) is an essential enzyme expressed by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and is known to catalyze the unwinding of both DNA and RNA substrates in a 3'-to-5' direction. We investigated the role of nucleic acid binding in the unwinding mechanism by examining ATP-independent unwinding. We observed that even in the absence of ATP, the NS3 helicase domain (NS3h) unwound duplexes only when they contained a 3'-tail (i.e., 3'-to-5' directionality). Blunt-ended duplexes and 5'-tailed duplexes were not melted even in the presence of a large excess concentration of the protein. NS3h was found to diffuse rapidly along single-stranded DNA at a rate of 30 nucleotides(2) s(-1). Upon encountering an appropriate single-strand/double-strand (ss/ds) junction, NS3h slowly melted the duplex under conditions with an excess protein concentration relative to DNA concentration. When a biotin-streptavidin block was placed into the ssDNA region, no melting of DNA was observed, suggesting that NS3h must diffuse along the ssDNA, and that the streptavidin blocked the diffusion. We conclude that the specific interaction between NS3h and the ss/dsDNA junction, coupled with diffusion, allows binding energy to melt duplex DNA with a directional bias. Alternatively, we found that the full-length NS3 protein did not exhibit strict directionality and was dependent on duplex DNA length. NS3 was able to unwind the duplex even in the presence of the biotin-streptavidin block. We propose a noncanonical model of unwinding for NS3 in which the enzyme binds directly to the duplex via protein-protein interactions to melt the substrate.
Mixed-phase cloud phase partitioning using millimeter wavelength cloud radar Doppler velocity spectra

Retrieving and quantifying cloud liquid drop contributions to radar returns from mixed-phase clouds remains a challenge because the radar signal is frequently dominated by the returns from the ice particles within the radar sample volume. We present a technique that extracts the weak cloud liquid drop contributions from the total radar returns in profiling cloud radar Doppler velocity spectra. Individual spectra are first decomposed using a continuous wavelet transform, the resulting coefficients of which are used to identify the region in the spectra where cloud liquid drops contribute. By assuming that the liquid contribution to each Doppler spectrum is Gaussian shaped and centered on an appropriate peak in the wavelet coefficients, the cloud liquid drop contribution may be estimated by fitting a Gaussian distribution centered on the velocity of this peak to the original Doppler spectrum. The cloud liquid drop contribution to reflectivity, the volume mean vertical air motion, subvolume vertical velocity variance, and ice particle mean fall speed can be estimated based on the separation of the liquid contribution to the radar Doppler spectrum. The algorithm is evaluated using synthetic spectra produced from output of a state-of-the-art large eddy simulation model study of an Arctic mixed-phase cloud. The retrievals of cloud liquid drop mode reflectivities were generally consistent with the original model values with errors less than a factor of 2. The retrieved volume mean vertical air velocities reproduced the updraft and downdraft structures, but with an overall bias of approximately −0.06 m s−1. Retrievals based on Ka-band Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Zenith Radar observations from Barrow, Alaska, during October 2011 are also presented.
Public Administration, Popular Sovereignty, and la Police

This article moves the discussion of neutrality away from the ambiguities of the politics-administration dichotomy. It presents a reading of Woodrow Wilson’s famous essay, commonly seen as a seminal statement on the identity of public administration, that engages Wilson’s explicit concern with popular sovereignty as the problem of his age, a problem that administration must resolve. This reading opens an opportunity to introduce to the discussion of neutrality the contemporary concepts of la police and la politique from the work of Jacques Ranciere. The discussion shows that public administration is necessarily non-neutral, because it is the institution of order to the exclusion of that which, in Ranciere’s words, does not have a part. Reading Wilson’s essay by way of Ranciere’s la police, the article argues that the non-neutrality of public administration results from politics and administration, understood as it is through the politics-administration dichotomy referring to the same activity.
ICE CORE RECORDS | Chinese, Tibetan Mountains

The mountains of central Asia hold the highest concentration of glaciers outside of the polar regions. Several records of climatic and environmental change that extend back in time hundreds to thousands of years have been developed via the chemical and physical analysis of ice cores recovered from central Asian glaciers. These ice-core records have been used to document oscillations in the climate system on several different time scales, identified abrupt changes in the regional climate, revealed recent warming trends and changes in the hydrological cycle, and documented the influence of anthropogenic emissions on precipitation chemistry.
Speech articulation rate change using recursive bandwidth scaling

Speech articulation rate change is done by analyzing the speech signal into several frequency channels, scaling the unwrapped phase signal in each channel and synthesizing a new speech signal using the modified channel signals and their scaled center frequencies. It is shown that each channel signal can be modeled as the simultaneous amplitude and phase modulation of a carrier and that only scaling the phase modulating signal does not result in a proportional scaling of the bandwidth of the channel signals which results in the introduction of different types of distortions like frequency aliasing between channels when an increase in the articulation rate is attempted and reverberation when a rate reduction is attempted. It is proposed that the amplitude modulating signal bandwidth should also be scaled and a recursive method to do this is discussed.
Immunological Reactions to Inhaled Physical and Chemical Agents

The sections in this article are: 1 Classification of Types of Immune Injury 1.1 Type I: Reagin-Dependent Reactions 1.2 Type II: Cytotoxic Reactions 1.3 Type III: Immune Complex Disposition Reactions 1.4 Type IV: Cell-Mediated or Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions 1.5 Nonspecific Complement Activation 2 Inhalants 2.1 Physical Agents 2.2 Chemical Agents 2.3 Antigens of Plant Origin 2.4 Antigens of Animal Origin 3 Immunosuppressive Inhalants 3.1 Halothane and Other Inhalant Anesthetics 3.2 Cigarette Smoke
A prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study examining how glaucoma affects quality of life and visually-related function over 4 years: design and methodology

The aim of this study is to summarize the design and methodology of a prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study to investigate how glaucoma affects patients’ quality of life and visually-related function over a 4-year period. One hundred sixty-one (161) subjects were enrolled in this ongoing study. Patients between the ages of 21–85 years with a minimum 2-year diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma, chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma were included. Each patient visited Wills Eye Hospital for a baseline visit. Follow-up is planned for a minimum of 4 years, with annual visits. Each visit includes (1) Clinical evaluation: a slit lamp examination, fundoscopy, intraocular pressure measurement, visual field examination, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity test and the Spaeth-Richman Contrast Sensitivity test; (2) a performance based measure: the Compressed Assessment of Ability Related to Vision; and (3) Subjective measures of vision-related quality of life (the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 and the Modified Glaucoma Symptom Scale). The results of this ongoing, prospective, longitudinal study are expected to shed light on the relationships between clinical measures, performance-based measures and subjective measures of well-being, in order to assess changes in the quality of life and the ability to function of patients with glaucoma over time.
Deterministic approach to pure 2/sup nd/ order polarization mode dispersion compensation

We have designed a deterministic 2/sup nd/ order PMD compensator. This design is based on the assumption that the first order PMD has been compensated and we know the residual 2/sup nd/ order PMD. In addition, we have solved analytically the required rotation matrices of the polarization rotators and the required differential group delay (DGD) of a variable delay line in a 3-segments compensator.
Racial differences in venous thromboembolism

The incidence of venous thrombosis (VTE) varies by race, with African-Americans having over 5-fold greater incidence than Asian-ancestry populations, and an intermediate risk for European and Hispanic populations. Known racial differences in genetic polymorphisms associated with thrombosis do not account for this gradient of risk, nor do known racial variations in environmental risk factors. Data on the incidence of and risk factors for VTE outside of Europe and North America and in non-European ancestry populations are sparse. Common genetic polymorphisms in European-Ancestry populations, such as factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A, and environmental risk factors, such as obesity, may account for some of the increased risk in European populations, and high factor VIII, high von Willebrand factor and low protein C levels and increased prevalence of obesity may explain some of the increased risk in African-Americans. The low rates in Asian populations may be partially explained by low clinical suspicion in a perceived low-risk population and lack of access to healthcare in other populations. As risk factors for thrombosis, such as surgery and treatment for cancer, are applicable to more people, as obesity increases in prevalence in the developing world, and as surveillance systems for VTE improve, VTE may increase in previously low-risk populations. While differences in VTE by race due to genetic predisposition will probably always be present, understanding the reasons for racial differences in VTE will help providers develop strategies to minimize VTE in all populations.
Heteroplasmy of mitochondrial genomes in clonal cultures from patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

Abstract We have analyzed heteroplasmy of mitochondrial DNA in clonal cultures from two patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome, and have found that individual muscle or fibroblast clones contained either a mixed (i.e. heteroplasmic) population of normal and deleted mitochondrial DNAs, or only normal mitochondrial DNAs (i.e. homoplasmic at a level of detection of
Interferon-mediated inhibition of virion-directed transcription☆

Abstract Muscle skin fibroblasts, a diploid human cell line, supports vesicular stomatitis virus RNA synthesis and virion-directed transcription with the production of virus specific RNA identical to the species produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Preincubation of muscle skin fibroblasts with interferon preparations at 37° for 18–24 hr results in a maximal inhibition of virion-directed transcription by 85%. This inhibition is shown to be specifically due to interferon action. Indirect effects of nonspecific inhibitors and cytotoxic factors are excluded because the addition of actinomycin or cycloheximide to cells at the same time as interferon essentially prevents inhibition of virion-directed transcription. In the presence of interferon there is a reduction in the synthesis of RNA species of the size expected for viral messenger RNA without a concomitant increase of smaller RNA species, thus indicating that the effect of interferon is most likely not exerted through increased activity of nucleases and not through premature termination of nascent nucleotide chains.
Cathepsin K: its skeletal actions and role as a therapeutic target in osteoporosis

The cysteine protease cathepsin K has an important role in initiating the process of bone resorption by osteoclasts, and its potential as a therapeutic target in patients with bone resorption disorders, such as osteoporosis, has become a major focus of research in recent years. In this Review, the authors describe the development of cathepsin K inhibitors and the promising data that have emerged from clinical studies of these agents.
Effects of Nissen fundoplication on endoscopic endoluminal radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus

Background Endoscopic endoluminal radiofrequency ablation is achieving increasing acceptance as a mode of eliminating Barrett’s metaplasia and, thus, reducing the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is believed that reducing exposure of the esophageal epithelium to acid is essential to achieve long-term ablation of Barrett’s esophagus. However, it is unclear whether use of proton pump inhibitors or antireflux operations are more effective to accomplish this goal.
Identification of the hemoglobin binding sites on the inner surface of the erythrocyte membrane

The hemoglobin binding sites on the inner surface of the erythrocyte membrane were identified by measuring the fraction of hemoglobin released following selective proteolytic or lipolytic enzyme digestion. In addition, binding stoichiometry to and fractional hemoglobin release from inside-out vesicle preparations of human and rabbit membranes were compared since rabbit membranes differ significantly from human membranes only in that they lack glycophorin. Our results show that rabbit inside-out vesicles bind about 65% less human or rabbit hemoglobin under conditions of optimal and stoichiometric binding, despite being otherwise similar in composition. We suggest that this difference is either directly or indirectly due to the absence of glycophorin in rabbit membranes. Further supportive evidence includes demonstrating (a) that neuraminidase treatment of human membranes did not affect hemoglobin binding and (b) that reconstitution of isolated glycophorin into phospholipid vesicles increased the hemoglobin binding capacity in a manner proportional to the fraction of glycophorin molecules oriented with their cytoplasmic sides exposed to the exterior of the vesicle. Proteolysis of human inside-out vesicles either before or after addition of hemoglobin reduced the binding capacity by about 25%. This is consistent with the known proportion of total hemoglobin binding sites involving band 3 protein and the selective lability of the cytoplasmic aspect of band 3 protein to proteolysis. Phospholipid involvement in hemoglobin binding was determined using various phospholipase C preparations which differ in their reactivity profiles. Approximately 38% of the bound hemoglobin was released upon cleavage of phospholipid headgroups. These results suggest that the predominant sites of binding for hemoglobin on the inner surface of the red cell membrane are the two major integral membrane glycoproteins.
Contributions of spin-spin interactions to the magnetic field dependence of the triplet quantum yield in photosynthetic reaction centers

Abstract Calculations are presented which show that dipolar coupling in the primary radical ion pair of quinone-depleted photosynthetic reaction centers substanually affects the magnetic field dependence of the triplet quantum yield, as does exchange coupling to the semiquinone-Fe(II) complex, when quinone is present. Inclusion of these interactions resolves significant discrepancies between theory and experiment.
The Future of Market Regulation

Market regulation is accomplished both by competition and by external government agencies, and the trend is toward greater reliance on competition. Economists have fostered this trend and have even invented markets to help overcome some externality problems. They have contributed to a steady improvement in antitrust policy, which currently reflects economic knowledge well. They diagnosed and demonstrated problems with external regulation of the airline industry and gave assurance that regulation by competition could work in its place. Success there led not only to deregulation of airlines but also deregulation of railroads, trucks, buses, and, in some ways, natural gas pipelines. Two other industries, telecommunications and electricity, are now following very ambitious paths toward less external regulation and greater dependence on competition. The Internet raises new issues, but there also, competition will play an important regulatory role.
Effects of Substituents on Synthetic Analogs of Chlorophylls. Part 4: How Formyl Group Location Dictates the Spectral Properties of Chlorophylls b, d and f

Photosynthetic organisms are adapted to light characteristics in their habitat in part via the spectral characteristics of the associated chlorophyll pigments, which differ in the position of a formyl group around the chlorin macrocycle (chlorophylls b, d, f) or no formyl group (chlorophyll a). To probe the origin of this spectral tuning, the photophysical and electronic structural properties of a new set of synthetic chlorins are reported. The zinc and free base chlorins have a formyl group at either the 2- or 3-position. The four compounds have fluorescence yields in the range 0.19-0.28 and singlet excited-state lifetimes of ca 4 ns for zinc chelates and ca 8 ns for the free base forms. The photophysical properties of the 2- and 3-formyl zinc chlorins are similar to those observed previously for 13-formyl or 3,13-diformyl chlorins, but differ markedly from those for 7-formyl analogs. Molecular-orbital characteristics obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used as input to spectral simulations employing the four-orbital model. The analysis has uncovered the key changes in electronic structure engendered by the presence/location of a formyl group at various macrocycle positions, which is relevant to understanding the distinct spectral properties of the natural chlorophylls a, b, d and f.
Interfacial aspects of miniemulsions and miniemulsion polymers

Oil-in-water miniemulsions are prepared by an emulsification process that involves the use of mixed emulsifier combinations, comprising a mixture of ionic surfactant and a long-chain fatty alcohol, in low concentrations of 1 to 3% by weight based on the oil phase. The emulsification process of styrene into aqueous solutions of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/fatty alcohol (C10C18) was studied by a conductometric-titration method and correlated with emulsion stability. Stable emulsions have been prepared using 10 mM of SLS together with fatty alcohol in the molar ratio of 1:1 to 1:3. The stability of emulsions was found to increase with increasing fatty-alcohol chain length. A rod-like crystal structure was found in an aqueous solution of SLS/lauryl alcohol in the molar ratio of 1:1, in the presence of 1.6% of styrene monomer. Interfacial-tension measurements by the spinning-drop method gave values in the range of 5–13 dyn cm−1 for styrene against these mixed emulsifier solutions. A maximum interfacial tension was found for solutions of SLS/lauryl alcohol and cetyl alcohol with molar ratios of 1:1 to 1:2. The formation of a third phase of cloudy “tails” at the interface between the styrene (or toluene) drop and the mixed emulsifier solution was proved photographically. These “tails” developed only when the ingredients were mixed in the order used in preparing stable miniemulsions.
Unbalanced third-order correlations for full characterization of femtosecond pulses

Phase and intensity from correlation and spectrum only (PICASO) is a simple and accurate method for fully characterizing femtosecond pulses. We extend this technique to make use of third-order intensity correlations. Unbalancing the interferometer makes the retrieval algorithm sensitive to the direction of time and improves the retrieval of certain pulse shapes. We investigate the sensitivity of the retrieval to direction of time as a function of the degree of imbalance in the correlator.
Using picosecond pulses for gas-phase laser diagnostics

This work provides an introduction to picosecond laser diagnostics. The temporal and spectral characteristics of picosecond pulses, modeling of their interactions with molecules, and examples of gas-phase diagnostic applications are described.
Dietary Intake and Nutritional Deficiencies in Patients With Diabetic or Idiopathic Gastroparesis

Background & Aims Gastroparesis can lead to food aversion, poor oral intake, and subsequent malnutrition. We characterized dietary intake and nutritional deficiencies in patients with diabetic and idiopathic gastroparesis. Methods Patients with gastroparesis on oral intake (N = 305) were enrolled in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Gastroparesis Registry and completed diet questionnaires at 7 centers. Medical history, gastroparesis symptoms, answers to the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire, and gastric emptying scintigraphy results were analyzed. Results Caloric intake averaged 1168 ± 801 kcal/day, amounting to 58% ± 39% of daily total energy requirements (TER). A total of 194 patients (64%) reported caloric-deficient diets, defined as 6 , C, K, iron, potassium, and zinc than diabetic patients. Only one-third of patients were taking multivitamin supplements. More severe symptoms (bloating and constipation) were characteristic of patients who reported an energy-deficient diet. Overall, 32% of patients had nutritional consultation after the onset of gastroparesis; consultation was more likely among patients with longer duration of symptoms and more hospitalizations and patients with diabetes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that nutritional consultation increased the chances that daily TER were met (odds ratio, 1.51; P = .08). Conclusions Many patients with gastroparesis have diets deficient in calories, vitamins, and minerals. Nutritional consultation is obtained infrequently but is suggested for dietary therapy and to address nutritional deficiencies.
Work routinization and implications for ergonomic exposure assessment

Jobs in many modern settings, including manufacturing, service, agriculture and construction, are variable in their content and timing. This prompts the need for exposure assessment methods that do not assume regular work cycles. A scheme is presented for classifying levels of routinization to inform development of an appropriate exposure assessment strategy for a given occupational setting. Five levels of routinization have been defined based on the tasks of which the job is composed: 1) a single scheduled task with a regular work cycle; 2) multiple cyclical tasks; 3) a mix of cyclical and non-cyclical tasks; 4) one non-cyclical task; 5) multiple non-cyclical tasks. This classification, based primarily on job observation, is illustrated through data from a study of automobile manufacturing workers (n = 1200), from which self-assessed exposures to physical and psychosocial stressors were also obtained. In this cohort, decision latitude was greater with higher routinization level (p < 0.0001), and the leas...
Exercise and bone mineral density in men: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract Objective Use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of ground and/or joint reaction force exercise on femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral density (BMD) in men. Methods Randomized controlled exercise trials ≥ 24 weeks were included. Standardized effect sizes ( g ) were calculated and pooled using random-effects models, z -score alpha values and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was examined using Q and I 2 . Statistical significance was set at a two-tailed alpha value ( p ) of ≤ 0.05 and a trend at > 0.05 to ≤ 0.10. Results A moderate and statistically significant improvement was found at the FN (3 g 's, 187 participants, g = 0.583, 95% CI = 0.031, 1.135, p = 0.04, Q = 5.6, p = 0.06, I 2 = 64%) while a small trend was observed at the LS (5 g 's, 275 participants, g = 0.190, 95% CI = − 0.036, 0.416, p = 0.10, Q = 3.0, p = 0.55, I 2 = 0%). Results were sensitive to influence analysis as well as collapsing multiple groups from the same studies so that only one g represented each study. Conclusions There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend ground and/or joint reaction force exercise for improving and/or maintaining FN and LS BMD in men. Additional well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed before any final recommendations can be formulated.
The outcomes movement and new measures of the severity of psoriasis

Traditionally physicians have assessed the severity of psoriasis on the basis of involved surface area or other physical features. These measures are not highly reliable and do not quantify the extent to which the disease affects the patient. New approaches to health care assessment have been developed, including evaluation of the outcome of medical care. This new direction in health care assessment has been described as the "outcomes movement." This emphasizes the assessment of patients' outcomes with respect to quality of life and functional capacity, rather than traditional techniques that rely on the results of physical or laboratory examinations. New measures to assess treatment effectiveness will almost certainly be used to allocate health care resources. We review the status of measures of psoriasis and the implications of newer methods for assessing disease impact and outcomes of therapy.
Interaction of plastic mulch, pesticides and fungi in the control of soil-borne nematodes

Three different mulching materials — hay, black polyethylene film, and translucent polyethylene film — produced different soil temperatures and thus influenced the microflora of the soil differently.Rhizoctonia solani Kuehn increased in cool or moderate temperatures under hay or black film but not in warmer soil beneath translucent film. Populations of a meadow nematode,Pratylenchus penetrans Cobb were reduced approximately two-thirds under the black film. Under this film conditions apparently favor biological control ofP. penetrans. Over several months this control was destroyed if a fungicide, pentachloronitrobenzene, and a nematocide, dibromochloropropane, were added. Evidently, the fungicide inhibited organisms predaceous onP. penetrans at the same time it inhibitedR. solani.
Structure-function relationship of myotoxin a using peptide fragments.

Abstract Myotoxin a , a small basic polypeptide isolated from the venom of prairie rattlesnake ( Crotalus viridis viridis ), has been shown to bind to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2+ -ATPase. The attachment of myotoxin a to Ca 2+ -ATPase is believed to cause uncoupling of the calcium pump. In order to further elucidate which portion of myotoxin a is important for the uncoupling action, five peptides were synthesized and two peptide fragments were obtained by chemical cleavage. These peptides correspond to discrete portions of the primary sequence of myotoxin a . The peptides are equivalent to the primary sequence of myotoxin a from 1 to 16 residues, 7 to 22 residues, 13 to 28 residues, 19 to 34 residues, and 25 to 42 residues. Chemically produced fragments are equivalent to 1 to 28 residues and 29 to 42 residues of myotoxin a . Peptides of the sequences “YKQCHKKGGHCFPKEK” and “LGKMDCRWKWKCCKKGSG” of myotoxin a inhibited 45 Ca uptake into isolated SR and bound to Ca 2+ -ATPase. The same peptides caused weak skeletal muscle vacuolization similar to that caused by native myotoxin a and increased serum creatine kinase activity. The active peptides correspond to the N-terminal and C-terminal portions of myotoxin a . The inactive or less active peptides have sequences which correspond to the middle sequence of myotoxin a . From this study, both the N-terminal and the C-terminal regions of primary sequence of myotoxin a are required to express myotoxin a 's biological activity.
Processing Causality in Narrative Events: Temporal Order Matters

To successfully comprehend narrative text, readers often make inferences about different causes and effects that occur in a text. In this study, participants read texts in which events related to a cause were presented before an effect (i.e., the forward causal condition), texts in which an effect was presented before the events related to a cause (i.e., the backward causal condition), or control (i.e., the non-causal) texts. Lexical decision response times to cause-relevant words were faster in the forward causal condition than in the control condition and were faster in the backward causal condition than in the control condition. Importantly, response times were faster in the forward causal condition than in the backward causal condition. These effects were unrelated to individual differences in reading ability. These results suggest that readers process causal relations regardless of temporal order but that causal events presented in backward temporal order may be processed more slowly compared to caus...
Characterizing finite Kripke structures in propositional temporal logic

Abstract We show that if two finite Kripke structures can be distinguished by some CTL ∗ formula that contains both branching-time and linear-time operators, then the structures can be distinguished by a CTL formula that contains only branching-time operators. Our proof involves showing that, for any finite Kripke structure M , it is possible to construct a CTL formula F M that uniquely characterizes M . Since one Kripke structure may be a trivial unrolling of another, we use a notion of equivalence between Kripke structures that is similar to the notion of bisimulation studied by Milner [15]. Our first construction of F M requires the use of the nexttime operator. We also consider the case in which the nexttime operator is disallowed in CTL formulas. The proof, in this case, requires another notion of equivalence— equivalence with respect to stuttering and is much more difficult since it is possible for two inequivalent states to have exactly the same finite behaviors (modulo stuttering), but different infinite behaviors. We also give a polynomial algorithm for determining if two structures are stuttering equivalent and discuss the relevance of our results for temporal logic model checking and synthesis procedures.
An Evaluation of Tertiary-Butyl Alcohol for the Development of a Drinking Water Action Level in Delaware

For regulators to develop risk-based screening levels (RBSLs) for a petroleum constituent, a maximum allowable concentration at an exposure point, such as a drinking water action level, must be established. Of particular interest to regulators of leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites in Delaware is the development of RBSLs for the oxygenated compounds that are added to gasoline to increase octane rating and promote cleaner burning fuel. Whereas methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) became the first of the oxygenated compounds to gain regulatory attention in Delaware, tertiary-butyl alcohol (TBA) is not far behind. TBA has been detected at LUST sites throughout Delaware and in some cases has been detected in private water supplies. However, Delaware does not currently have a drinking water action level, or maximum allowable exposure concentration, on which to base regulatory decisions regarding TBA. Toxicological data is inconclusive in classifying TBA as a carcinogen. However, carcinogenic responses are reported in rat and mice studies at extremely high doses. To address TBA in Delaware's Risk-Based Corrective Action Program, the Delaware Division of Public Health must calculate drinking water action levels based on the results of the toxicological data. However, the establishment of TBA action levels could have a tremendous impact on the costs associated with investigating and remediating a LUST site. TBA may add $2000 to $5000 per year in analytical costs alone for an average LUST site in Delaware.
Propranolol-induced lipid changes and their prognostic significance after a myocardial infarction: The beta-blocker heart attack trial experience☆

Beta blockers represent the only documented effective long-term prophylactic treatment for patients after myocardial infarction (MI). Concern continues to be expressed about the lipid-altering effects of their long-term use, especially beta blockers without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity such as propranolol. Data collected for the Beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial, the largest long-term clinical trial of beta-blocker use in patients after MI, have been analyzed to address the following questions. To what extent does propranolol alter lipid levels at least 6 months after MI and initiation of therapy? How predictive of subsequent coronary events and mortality are lipid levels 6 months after MI? Is there any evidence that altered lipid levels attenuate any of the beneficial effect of propranolol on coronary morbidity and mortality? By the 6-month post-MI visit, propranolol was shown to raise serum triglyceride levels by about 17% (approximately equal to 35 mg/dl) and lower serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by about 6% (approximately equal to 3 mg/dl). There was no effect on total cholesterol or low density lipoprotein cholesterol. In other analyses, no lipid measured 6 months after the MI was strongly predictive of subsequent coronary events or mortality. For example, every 1-mg-lower HDL value was associated with only a 0.7% relative increase in the mortality rate. Theoretically, the estimated relative increase on all-cause mortality associated with propranolol-induced HDL reduction is about 2%. In multivariate analyses adjusting for changes in HDL and serum triglyceride, propranolol-induced beneficial reductions in mortality and morbidity remained on the order of 20%, 10 times the estimated hazard.
Fluency in the Production of Requests: Effects of Degree of Imposition, Schematicity and Instruction Set

Recent work by Greene & Lindsey (1989) and Greene, Lindsey & Hawn (1990) indicates that speakers are less fluent when addressing multiple goals than when addressing a single goal. In that research, subjects were explicitly instructed to address either a single goal or multiple goals. The present study asks whether fluency is affected by variations in situational features that bear upon the likelihood that a speaker will naturally activate a face-saving goal. Subjects produced requests in four hypothetical request situations that varied in the degree of imposition on the hearer and in schematicity. Half of the subjects were encouraged to address negative face needs (instruction condition) and half were not (noinstruction condition). In the no-instruction condition, onset latency, pause-to-phonation ratio, the false start rate, the filled pause rate, and the repetition rate were significantly greater in high-imposition than in low-imposition request situations. In the instruction condition, the pause-to-pho...
Mutagenicity monitoring in humans by autoradiographic assay for mutant T lymphocytes.

Somatic cell mutation which occurs in vivo in humans can be determined by measurement of the frequency of the 6-thioguanine-resistant (TGr) T lymphocytes in samples of peripheral blood. This frequency can be determined by either a short-term autoradiographic methodology or a longer cell-cloning methodology. The advantage of the former is the relative simplicity of the assay, while the latter allows recovery of mutant clones for further characterization. This report presents results of a longitudinal study of cancer chemotherapy nurses and other health care personnel by use of the autoradiography assay. The use of this assay in human mutagenicity monitoring and the analysis of the TGr cell frequencies are discussed in terms of age effects and validation of ‘elevated’ frequencies by use of the clonal assay. This report then presents evidence that both assays yield similar TGr cell frequencies in two groups of ‘normal adults’. The mean variant frequency (± S.D.) for 82 autoradiographic assays was 8.7 (± 6.1) × 10−6, while the mean mutant frequency (± S.D.) for 115 clonal assays was 6.5 (± 4.8) × 10−6. In addition, concurrent autoradiographic and clonal assays on 33 individuals yielded mean values (± S.D.) of 8.4 (± 8.5) × 10−6 and 10.5 (± 6.3) × 10−6, respectively.
Developmental Changes in Proximal Tubule Tight Junction Proteins

We demonstrated previously that neonatal proximal tubules have a lower passive paracellular permeability to chloride ions and higher resistance than that of adult proximal tubules. In addition, administration of thyroid hormone to neonates, before the normal maturational increase in serum thyroid hormone levels, prematurely accelerates the developmental increase in chloride permeability to adult levels. To test the hypothesis that there is a maturational change in tight junction proteins and that thyroid hormone mediates these changes, we examined the two known tight junction proteins present in proximal tubules, occludin and claudin 2. Using immunoblot and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that claudin 2 has a 4-fold greater abundance in neonatal proximal tubules than in adult tubules. Occludin, however, has a 4-fold greater expression in adult tubules than in neonatal tubules. Administration of thyroid hormone to neonates did not affect claudin 2 expression, occludin expression, or the transepithelial resistance in rat proximal tubule cells in vitro. In conclusion, there are postnatal maturational changes in tight junction proteins. The factors that cause these maturational changes are unknown but unlikely to be due solely to the maturational increase in thyroid hormone.
Early estrogen-induced nuclear changes in rat hypothalamic ventromedial neurons: an ultrastructural and morphometric analysis.

Alterations in the fine structure of nuclei of ventromedial hypothalamic neurons in ovariectomized (OVX) rats after either a 2-hour exposure to estradiol (E2) or a discontinuous exposure (2 hours E2/7 hours off/2 hours E2), previously shown sufficient for female rat sexual behavior (Parsons et al., 1982a), were examined with the electron microscope. Morphometric measurements of nucleolar, nuclear, and somal areas, and nuclear shape and perimeter were accomplished at the light microscope level. After 2 hours of E2, the appearance of the nucleoplasm was altered, with a decrease in the small, scattered clumps of heterochromatin. Nuclear shape appeared dramatically altered from nonspherical, invaginated profiles toward spherical, smooth profiles. Nucleolar, nuclear, and somal hypertrophy were evident. In addition, stacked rough endoplasmic reticulum was present more frequently in E2-treated than control OVX neurons. After the discontinuous (2 hours/7 hours/2 hours) E2 treatment, progressive loss of small clumps of heterochromatin along the nuclear envelope as well as in the nucleoplasm had occurred. Decrease in a large heterochromatin clump along the nuclear envelope was correlated with an increase in nucleolus-associated chromatin. As determined by a distribution analysis, these estrogen-induced nuclear changes co-occurred more frequently than predicted from mutual independence. These findings, the marked co-occurrence of E2-induced changes in 30% or more of the cells, and the differences between the 2-hour E2 and the 2-hour/7-hour/2-hour group are consistent with a cascade of cell nuclear changes in the first few hours after estrogen onset.
Educating Homo Economicus: Cautionary Notes on the New Behavorial Law and Economics Movement

Legal scholars have recently been extolling the explanatory potential of behavioral law and economics. This new scholarship seeks to marry insights from traditional microeconomics with findings from the behavioral sciences to produce a descriptively accurate and predictively powerful account of human motivation and decisionmaking to put in the service of legal policy. This article examines the claims being made on behalf of this new approach. It argues that legal scholars cannot simply use behavioral science in the place of standard microeconomics. More specifically, the article argues that once empirical findings are incorporated into legal policy analysis, it becomes necessary to forsake aspirations of broad generalizability and predictive determinacy. The article concludes that legal policies and initiatives need to be informed by a modest conception of social science. Such a conception acknowledges the limitation of social science knowledge and recognizes that strong causal explanations of human behavior cannot be permitted to supplant normative debate.