cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of new-onset gout in adults prescribed chlorthalidone vs. hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension.

This study assessed the risk of new-onset gout following prescribing of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) compared with chlorthalidone (CTD). This retrospective cohort analysis used administrative claims from 2000 to 2012 to identify patients aged 18 to 89 years with hypertension who were prescribed CTD or HCTZ. Patients were excluded if they had a prior diagnosis of gout, conditions or prescription claims for medications that alter risk of gout, or if they switched between these two diuretics. A total of 1011 patients prescribed CTD were matched with 2022 patients prescribed HCTZ based on age, sex, and Chronic Condition Indicator. New-onset gout occurred in 17 of 1011 (1.68%) patients in the CTD group and in 26 of 2022 (1.29%) patients in the HCTZ group (P=.27). The number of days to first occurrence of gout was 183.6 days and 152.7 days in the CTD and HCTZ groups, respectively (P=.39). The mean daily dose was 22.7 mg for CTD and 24.3 mg for HCTZ, and the median dose of both CTD and HCTZ was 25 mg at the time of new-onset gout. Patients prescribed CTD for hypertension have a similar risk of developing new-onset gout compared with patients prescribed similar doses of HCTZ.
Automated high-performance liquid chromatographic column switching technique for the on-line clean-up and analysis of drugs in topical cream formulations

Abstract The automation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic column switching technique for the on-line clean-up and analysis of drug substances in topical cream formulations is described. A short reversed-phase precolumn used for primary sample clean-up was coupled to a reversed-phase analytical column. This allowed cream samples dissolved in methanol—tetrahydrofuran to be injected directly into the analysis system without prior laborious and time-consuming clean-up procedures. This application was successfully extended to the analysis of sulconazole nitrate, and a triple corticoid cream. The effects of precolumns on some chromatographic parameters were studied.
An Investigation of the Growth of Multi-site Fatigue Cracks

Test data obtained within the small crack growth regime of multi-site fatigue cracks are examined. Swain’s partitioning criterion (1992) is used to distinguish between cracks that arrest and cracks that continue to grow until fracture. A statistical application of this criterion indicates that the total collection of multi-site cracks on multiple specimens has a bi-modal distribution.
Weighted p-value adjustments for animal carcinogenicity trend test.

SUMMARY. A typical animal carcinogenicity experiment routinely analyzes approximately 10-30 tumor sites. Comparisons of tumor responses between dosed and control groups and dose-related trend tests are often evaluated for each individual tumor site/type separately. p-Value adjustment approaches have been proposed for controlling the overall Type I error rate or familywise error rate (FWE). However, these adjustments often result in reducing the power to detect a dose effect. This paper proposes using weighted adjustments by assuming that each tumor can be classified as either class A or class B based on prior considerations. The tumors in class A, which are considered as more critical endpoints, are given less adjustment. Two weighted methods of adjustments are presented, the weighted p adjustment and weighted oa adjustment. A Monte Carlo simulation shows that both weighted adjustments control the FWE well. Furthermore, the power increases if a treatment-dependent tumor is analyzed as in class A tumors and the power decreases if it is analyzed as in class B tumors. A data set from a National Toxicology Program (NTP) 2-year animal carcinogenicity experiment with 13 tumor types/sites observed in male mice was analyzed using the proposed methods. The modified poly-3 test was used to test for increased carcinogenicity since it has been adopted by the NTP as a standard test for a dose-related trend. The unweighted adjustment analysis concluded that there was no statistically significant dose-related trend. Using the Food and Drug Administration classification scheme for the weighted adjustment analyses, two rare tumors (with background rates of 1% or less) were analyzed as class A tumors and 11 common tumors (with background rates higher than 1%) as class B. Both weighted analyses showed a significant dose-related trend for one rare tumor.
Removing zinc from synaptic vesicles does not impair spatial learning, memory, or sensorimotor functions in the mouse

Zinc-enriched (ZEN) neurons are distributed widely throughout the brain and spinal cord. Synaptic vesicle zinc in these neurons is thought to function as a neuromodulator upon its release into the synaptic cleft. Consistent with this possibility, zinc or zinc chelators can alter spatial learning, working memory, and nociception in rodents. Here we use zinc transporter-3 (ZnT3) knockout mice, which are depleted of synaptic vesicle zinc, to assess the consequences of removing this potential neuromodulator on the behavior of adult mice. ZnT3 knockout mice performed equally as well as wild-type mice in the rotarod, pole, and cagetop tests of motor coordination. They exhibited normal thermal nociception in the hot-plate and tail-flick tests, and had similar olfactory, auditory and sensorimotor gating capabilities as wild-type mice. ZnT3 knockout mice behaved similarly as wild-type mice in the open field test and in the elevated plus maze test of anxiety. They exhibited normal learning and memory in the passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and fear conditioning tasks, and normal working and reference memory in a water version of the radial arm maze. We conclude that synaptic vesicle zinc is not essential for mice to be able to perform these tasks, despite the abundance of ZEN neurons in the relevant regions of the CNS. Either the neuromodulatory effects of zinc are not relevant for the tasks tested here, or mice are able to compensate easily for the absence of synaptic vesicle zinc.
Lens-coupled dual polarization sinuous antenna for quasi-optical terahertz balanced mixers

Sinuous antennas can provide ultra-broadband operation, frequency-independent embedding impedances and isolated dual polarizations, making them suitable for many applications in the terahertz frequency regime. In this paper, a lens-coupled planar sinuous antenna has been designed and fabricated for terahertz balanced mixers. Simulation results show that the antenna exhibits a nearly frequency-independent embedding impedance of ∼100 Ω over a broad frequency range. To verify the aforementioned antenna properties at THz frequencies, a Schottky diode was mounted to the center of the antenna to realize a direct detector. The radiation patterns of the lens-coupled sinuous antenna were studied at 196 GHz and 585 GHz. A responsivity of 300–1000 V/W was measured up to 900 GHz demonstrating the ultra-broadband operation of the antenna. In addition, an isolation of larger than 15 dB between the two polarizations has been demonstrated for both the frequency ranges of 190–210 GHz and 570–630 GHz.
Risk and income distribution

Abstract Risk and income distribution have been linked together in theory but rarely empirically due to the absence of adequate risk-profile data. We employ for the first time psychologically-based risk data to examine this important relationship.
Variable-rate predictive residual vector quantization

A major problem with a VQ based image compression scheme is its codebook search complexity. Recently a Predictive Residual Vector Quantizer (PRVQ) was proposed in Ref. 8. This scheme has a very low search complexity and its performance is very close to that of the Predictive Vector Quantizer (PVQ). This paper presents a new VQ scheme called Variable-Rate PRVQ (VR-PRVQ) which is designed by imposing a constraint on the output entropy of the PRVQ. The proposed VR-PRVQ is found to give an excellent rate-distortion performance and clearly outperforms the state-of-the-art image compression algorithm developed by Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG).© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Vaccine therapy of malignant melanoma

Abstract Malignant melanoma is a lethal disease for which the only curative therapy of proven benefit is complete surgical resection for early stage disease. Melanoma is a disease that is usually resistant to systemic therapy, with dacarbazine and interleukin-2 being the only 2 United States Food and Drug Administration approved drugs for advanced disease, and interferon alfa-2b the only one approved therapy for adjuvant treatment of high-risk disease. Evidence has shown that melanoma cells can be immunogenic prompting extensive basic and clinical research attempting to develop effective antimelanoma vaccine therapies. In this review, we concentrate on clinical results of vaccine trials in patients with melanoma.
Similar MÜller-Lyer Effects from Operant and Comparison Response Modes

A one-sided (monopole) version of the Muller-Lyer was used to assess the effect of response mode on the metric distortion associated with the illusion. Two different response modes were tested for comparability. The Operant Mode required the judgment of stimulus span to be indicated by marking a dot on the test page. The Comparison Mode required judgment of equality of two adjoining prepositioned spans. The perceptual effects with the comparison procedure are known to consist of underestimation of spans which are bounded by concave fin-sets and over-estimation of spans which are bounded by convex fin-sets. The question is whether the motor demands of the operant task produce an additional source of metric bias. Analysis indicate a very high correlation of judgments for the two modes of testing. Also, data with either mode of responding closely fit a linear model of the effect, and the model provides comparable index values for the concave and convex versions. These results should mitigate concern about potential motor bias from the operant method and encourage its use as a more efficient procedure for assessing metric distortion.
Salvinorin A: the ‘magic mint’ hallucinogen finds a molecular target in the kappa opioid receptor

Salvinorin A, a neoclerodane diterpene, is the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen known and rivals the synthetic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide in potency. Recently, the molecular target of salvinorin A was identified as the kappa opioid receptor (KOR). Salvinorin A represents the only known non-nitrogenous KOR selective agonist. Based on the selectivity of salvinorin A for the KOR, this receptor represents a potential molecular target for the development of drugs to treat disorders characterized by alterations in perception, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and bipolar disorder.
Cholesterol Movement in Niemann-Pick Type C Cells and in Cells Treated with Amphiphiles *

Cholesterol accumulates to massive levels in cells from Niemann-Pick type C (NP-C) patients and in cells treated with class 2 amphiphiles that mimic NP-C disease. This behavior has been attributed to the failure of cholesterol released from ingested low density lipoproteins to exit the lysosomes. However, we now show that the rate of movement of cholesterol from lysosomes to plasma membranes in NP-C cells is at least as great as normal, as was also found previously for amphiphile-treated cells. Furthermore, the lysosomes in these cells filled with plasma membrane cholesterol in the absence of lipoproteins. In addition, we showed that the size of the endoplasmic reticulum cholesterol pool and the set point of the homeostatic sensor of cell cholesterol were approximately normal in NP-C cells. The plasma membrane cholesterol pools in both NP-C and amphiphile-treated cells were also normal. Furthermore, the build up of cholesterol in NP-C lysosomes was not a physiological response to cholesterol overload. Rather, it appeared that the accumulation in NP-C lysosomes results from an imbalance in the brisk flow of cholesterol among membrane compartments. In related experiments, we found that NP-C cells did not respond to class 2 amphiphiles (e.g. trifluoperazine, imipramine, and U18666A); these agents may therefore act directly on the NPC1 protein or on its pathway. Finally, we showed that the lysosomal cholesterol pool in NP-C cells was substantially and preferentially reduced by incubating cells with the oxysterols, 25-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol; these findings suggest a new pharmacological approach to the treatment of NP-C disease.
The risk of preterm birth across generations

Objective To examine the risk of preterm birth for mothers who themselves were born before term. Methods Data were taken from a linked data base of birth certificates composed of two cohorts: 1) a parental cohort of women born between 1947 and 1957 and 2) their offspring born between 1970 and 1992. “Preterm mothers” were women in the parental cohort who were born at less than 37 weeks' gestation. “Term mothers” were women in the parental cohort bom at or after 38 weeks' gestation. Preterm mothers and term mothers were matched for birth year, county of birth, marital status, parity, and age. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the risk of preterm delivery in preterm mothers. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the interaction of concomitant variables with the risk of premature delivery. Results The risk of preterm birth was significantly higher in preterm mothers than in term mothers (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.02, 1.37). This risk increased as the gestational age at the mothers' birth decreased (less than 30 weeks': OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.37, 4.16). The interaction between maternal age and parity increased the risk of preterm delivery at less than 34 weeks in some age and parity strata. Conclusion An increased risk of preterm delivery exists for women who themselves were born before 37 weeks' gestation. This risk is inversely correlated with the maternal gestational age at birth and is influenced by maternal age and parity.
Over-expression of parathyroid hormone Type 1 receptor confers an aggressive phenotype in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy in children and is associated with rapid bone growth. Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) signaling via parathyroid hormone Type 1 receptor (PTHR1) is important for skeletal development and is involved in bone metastases in other tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of PTHrP/PTHR1 and its possible role in osteosarcoma. In a preliminary screening, a higher level of PTHR1 mRNA, but not PTHrP, was found in 4 osteosarcoma xenografts as compared with 4 standard cell lines, or 5 patient derived cell lines (p < 0.05) using quantitative RT-PCR. It was therefore extended to 55 patient specimens, in which a significantly higher level of PTHR1 mRNA was detected in metastatic or relapsed samples than those from primary sites (p < 0.01). Cell behavior caused by PTHR1 overexpression was further studied in vitro using PTHR1 transfected HOS cell line as a model. Over-expression of PHTR1 resulted in increased proliferation, motility and Matrigel invasion without addition of exogenous PTHrP suggesting an autocrine effect. Importantly, the aggressiveness in PTHR1-expressing cells was completely reversed by RNAi mediated gene knockdown. In addition, PTHR1 over-expression led to delayed osteoblastic differentiation and upregulation of genes involved in extracellular matrix production, such as TGF-β1 and connective tissue growth factor. When cocultured with bone marrow derived monocytes, PTHR1 transfected HOS cells induced a greater number of osteoclasts. This study suggests that PTHR1 over-expression may promote osteosarcoma progression by conferring a more aggressive phenotype, and forming a more favorable microenvironment. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Novel Receiver Architecture for the Detection of QAM Signals in the Presence of Residual Phase Error and Channel Fading

In this paper, we present a new receiver architecture, which is motivated by optimum detection of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signals in the presence of Tikhonov-distributed residual phase error due to the phase-locked loop (PLL)-aided phase tracking scheme. Performances on AWGN and fading channels are established in terms of bit error rate. The performances of the proposed architecture for 8- and 16-QAM constellations are assessed via simulation and are shown to follow those of the optimum receiver over a wide range of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), while outperforming a standard coherent receiver operating in the presence of residual phase error by more than 2 dB.
An improvement of the penalty decomposition method for sparse approximation

The Penalty Decomposition (PD) method is an effective and versatile algorithm for sparse optimization, which has been used in different applications. The PD method may be slow, since it needs to solve many subproblems. The accelerated iteration hard thresholding (AIHT) method is also a powerful method for sparse optimization, but has a main drawback that it requires a prior estimation of the sparsity level. In this paper, an improvement of the penalty decomposition method is proposed for the sparse optimization problem, which embeds the AIHT method into the PD method. The proposed method has the advantages of the PD method and the AIHT method, but avoids their disadvantages. The convergence analysis of the proposed method is given as well. Moreover, computational experiments on a number of test instances demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in accurately generating sparse and redundant representations of one-dimensional random signals and two-dimensional CT images.
Computation and control with neural networks

Abstract As energies have increased exponentially with time, so have the size and complexity of accelerators and control systems. Neural networks (NNs) may offer the kinds of improvements in computation and control that are needed to maintain acceptable functionality. For control, their associative characteristics could provide signal conversion or data translation. Because they can do any computation such as least-squares, they can close feedback loops autonomously to provide intelligent control at the point of action rather than at a central location that requires transfers, conversions, hand-shaking and other costly repetitions like input protection. Both computation and control can be integrated on a single chip, a printed circuit or an optical equivalent that is also inherently faster through full parallel operation. For such reasons one expects lower costs and better results. Such systems could be optimized by integrating sensor and signal-processing functions. Distributed nets of such hardware could communicate and provide global monitoring and multiprocessing in various ways, e.g. via token, slotted or parallel rings (or Steiner trees), for compatibility with existing systems. Problems and advantages of this approach, such as an optimal, real-time Turing machine, are discussed. Simple examples are simulated and hardware implemented using discrete elements that demonstrate some basic characteristics of learning and parallelism. Future “microprocessors” are predicted and requested on this basis.
An hydraulic homogenizer for the controlled release of cellular components from various tissues.

Abstract The construction and operation of an hydraulically-driven tissue homogenizer are described.
The Ergodic Theory Carnival

The Birkhoff ergodic theorem, proved by George David Birkhoff in 1931, allows us to investigate the long-term behavior of certain dynamical systems. In this article, we explain what it means for a ...
M-estimation of the accelerated failure time model under a convex discrepancy function

Abstract Based on the Kaplan–Meier weight functions, we introduce a class of M-estimators of regression parameters for the accelerated failure time (AFT) model with right censored data. The proposed M-estimator is root-n consistent and asymptotically normal under appropriate assumptions. For robustness analysis, we also derive the corresponding influence functions. Appropriate criteria are developed for tests of hypotheses concerning regression parameters. The results are applied to several particular cases. We evaluate the finite-sample performance of the proposed methods through extensive simulation studies.
Catalyst Performance in “Click” Coupling Reactions of Polymers Prepared by ATRP: Ligand and Metal Effects

CuI-catalyzed azide−alkyne cycloadditions were conducted in organic media under various conditions. The effects of several parameters (ligand, solvent, reducing agent, metal) on these reactions were studied using the step-growth click coupling of low-molecular-weight α,ω-diazido-terminated polystyrene prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). These reactions were typically conducted in DMF, monitored by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and semiquantitatively analyzed by Gaussian multipeak fitting and subsequent peak integration. Both the electronic properties of the ligand and the number of coordinating atoms had significant influence on the rates of the click coupling reactions. Aliphatic amine ligands led to significantly faster rates as compared to pyridine-based ligands. Faster rates were also observed with tridentate vs tetradentate ligands. A further rate enhancement was observed when the reactions were conducted in a noncoordinating solvent (toluene) vs a coordinating solvent (DM...
The kinetic acidity of halomethyltrimethylammonium salts

The kinetic acidities of members of a series of halomethyltrimethylammonium salts (Me3N+CH2X, BF4−) have been measured under conditions of −OD/D2O at 50 °C, with the rate constants being found to increase X = Cl < Br < I. The observed trend is rationalized on the basis of the polarizabilities and electron repulsion factors of the respective halogen substituents. The observed rate constants indicate a lowering of the ΔG‡ for deuterium/hydrogen exchange of 12–13 kcal mol−1 due to the presence of the α-halo substituents. The kinetic acidity of chloromethyldimethylsulfonium BF4− was ≈106 that of the analogous chloromethylammonium salt.
Temperature-Programmed Desorption of Hydrogen from Platinum Particles on γ-Al2O3: Evidence of Platinum-Catalyzed Dehydroxylation of γ-Al2O3

Abstract Samples of Pt on γ-Al2O3 were prepared by reduction in H2 at 400°C of [PtCl2(PhCN)2], adsorbed intact from n-pentane solution onto γ-Al2O3 powder that had been partially dehydroxylated under vacuum at 400°C. The Pt dispersion was determined to be about 0.58 by standard methods, namely, chemisorption of hydrogen, of oxygen, and of CO, titration of chemisorbed oxygen with hydrogen, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The supported Pt particles were resistant to sintering in the presence of O2 at temperatures up to 400°C, as shown by chemisorption and EXAFS data, but the latter indicated that a combination of O2 and H2 treatments at 200–400°C led to changes in particle morphology. The samples were investigated by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of preadsorbed hydrogen; a TPD peak centered at 120°C represents hydrogen adsorbed on Pt and confirms the value of 0.58 for the dispersion. TPD of preadsorbed H2 gave evidence of a second desorption peak, at 580°C, which was always accompanied by desorption of water at the same temperature; its presence was found to depend chiefly on the sample reduction temperature and evacuation time (it was absent when there was no Pt on the γ-Al2O3). The desorption of H2 or D2 that had been adsorbed on Pt/γ-Al2O3 reduced with D2 or H2, respectively, shows that hydrogen species desorbed at about 580°C originate from water (hydroxyl) species as a result of Pt-catalyzed decomposition.
Self-disclosure and attraction: Effects of intimacy and desirability on beliefs and attitudes.

Abstract Desirability and intimacy of information disclosed by another person were manipulated orthogonally in two experiments, one involving a fictitious female student and the other a female confederate. Attraction was found to increase with the desirability of the disclosed information, but the magnitude of this effect was contingent on the information's intimacy and on the elicitation of beliefs about the other person. When beliefs were elicited prior to the measurement of attraction, intimate information had a stronger effect on beliefs and attitudes than had superficial information. However, when beliefs were elicited after the evaluative judgments had been made, intimate information attenuated the effects of positive and negative self-disclosures. These findings are discussed in the framework of a “perceived attributes model” which stipulates that attraction is a function of beliefs about the other person. Consistent with this model, an estimate of attraction based on the beliefs elicited was found to be highly correlated with standard attraction measures. Unlike earlier studies, no evidence was found for self-disclosure reciprocity.
Infusing sustainability principles into manufacturing/mechanical engineering curricula

Sustainability issues are increasingly important among governments, consumers, and corporations around the world. Many companies are directing their resources to reduce the environmental impact of their products and services. To remain competitive in the global economy, these companies must recruit employees who understand the impact of their decisions on the environment and society, while at the same time influencing the company's bottom line. It is the mission of universities to prepare these future employees to meet this need. A group of faculty and students in the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Technological University is working to address this growing demand. This paper assesses the current undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum at Michigan Tech with regard to sustainability and identifies barriers to incorporating sustainability throughout the curriculum. A benchmarking study, progress made at Michigan Tech, and a vision for the future of the mechanical engineering curriculum are presented.
Micromechanics for Ceramic Matrix Composites via Fiber Substructuring

A generic unit cell model which includes a unique fiber substructuring concept is proposed for the development of micromechanics equations for continuous fiber reinforced ceramic composites. The unit cell consists of three constituents: fiber, matrix and an interphase. In the present approach, the unit cell is further subdivided into several slices and the equations of micromechanics are derived for each slice. These are subsequently integrated to obtain ply level properties. A stand-alone computer code containing the micromechanics model as a module is currently being developed specifically for the analysis of ceramic matrix composites. Towards this development, equivalent ply property results for a SiC (silicon carbide fiber)/Ti-15-3 (titanium matrix) composite with a 0.5 fiber volume ratio are presented and compact with those obtained from customary micromechanics models to illustrate the concept. Also, comparisons with limited experimental data for the ceramic matrix composite, SiC/RBSN (Reaction Bonded Silicon Nitride) with a 0.3 fiber volume ratio are given to validate the concepts
Transgenes in Mexican maize: desirability or inevitability?

For several years, there has been uncertainty about the presence of transgenes in maize landraces in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The first report of their presence in this region was that of Quist and Chapela (1, 2), who based their results on samples obtained in 2000; these findings were later called into doubt because of the methodology used. However, further studies by the Mexican government confirmed the presence of transgenes in Oaxaca in 2000 and 2001 (3, 4, †). Most recently, Ortiz-Garcia et al . (5), in an outstanding analysis, failed to find evidence for the presence of transgenes in the same area in 2003 and 2004. Presumably, their frequency had diminished greatly over the course of 2–3 years, and the genes may even have disappeared. It will be of scientific interest to monitor the presence and frequency of such genes in the future. What, however, is the social significance of these results in the region concerned and in the broader context of the growing use of transgenic crops in agriculture throughout the world? Approximately one-eighth of the world's cropland is planted in transgenic crops, with nearly 10 million farmers involved in their cultivation, and the proportion of such crops is growing rapidly. Does this growth represent a threat to maize in its center of origin, to Mexico, or to the world? I offer the following comments as a member of the Commission for Environmental …
A Multiperiod Audit Staff Planning Model Using Multiple Objectives: Development and Evaluation*

The audit staff planning problem, a specific type of manpower planning problem, has been modeled using goal programming and, more recently, multiple objective linear programming. Prior studies developed single-period models and did not go beyond the model building stage. This study develops a multiperiod audit staff planning model and evaluates the model using a test application involving actual decision makers (partners in public accounting firms). The multiperiod model includes seven objectives to be optimized: profit (to be maximized), late completion of work, work declined, staff augmentation, staff reduction, underutilization of the work force, and shortfall in meeting professional development targets (all to be minimized). Over a four-quarter planning horizon with one “busy season,” the model is subject to constraints with respect to the projected audit work load, ability to substitute personnel and to perform interim audit work, available staff hours (including overtime limitations), supervisory requirements, and professional development targets. Results of the test application showed that the model was capable of producing a range of values for each objective. The participants were exposed to much of that range when making their decisions. The results also showed that all objectives were important and that participants were consistent in choosing their preferred level of each objective over several runs of the model. These results and the reactions of the participants demonstrate that the model is usable by actual decision makers and has potential for a number of specific applications.
Domestic and international financial market responses to Federal deficit announcements

Abstract This study examines the response of domestic and international financial variables to announced changes in Federal deficit projections over the 1981–1994 period. As observed in earlier studies, rates on US Treasury securities responded positively to announced increases in Federal deficit projections. New evidence shows that deficit effects are transmitted internationally with foreign long-term interest rates also increasing in response to announced increases in US deficit projections. The exchange value of the dollar tends to be positively related to announced changes in deficit projections, but that result appears to be related to the degree of insulation of foreign financial markets from US financial markets. Finally, the price of gold responded positively to announced changes in deficit projections. Taken together the results suggest that higher projected deficits raise real interest rates in part because of an increase in an inflation risk premium.
Stable amplified DNA in drug-resistant Leishmania exists as extrachromosomal circles

The relative stability of amplified DNA in drug-resistant Leishmania major was previously reported to be dependent on location, that is, unstable amplified DNA was extrachromosomal and stable amplified DNA was chromosomal. Leishmanial chromosomes have now been directly examined by means of orthogonal-field-alternation gel electrophoresis (OFAGE). The amplified DNA's in three resistant cell lines displayed unusual migration and were clearly extrachromosomal, regardless of whether the amplified DNA's were stable or unstable. Thus, contrary to conclusions from earlier studies of drug resistance in cultured animal cells, stable amplified DNA in Leishmania can be extrachromosomal. In addition, these amplified DNA's were shown to be circular on the basis of their resistance to exonuclease III digestion and their behavior on OFAGE. Their mobility was also greatly changed after treatment with topoisomerase II, suggesting that the amplified DNA's were either supercoiled or concatenated circles.
Computer simulation of CT mammography using a flat-panel imager

Software has been developed to simulate a cone-beam CT mammography imaging system that consists of an x-ray tube and a flat-panel detector that rotate simultaneously around the pendant breast. The simulation uses an analytical expression or ray-tracing to generate projection sets of breast phantoms at 1 keV intervals dictated by the input x-ray energy spectra. The x-ray focal spot was modeled as having a Gaussian distribution. The detector was modeled as an amorphous silicon (aSi:H) flat-panel imager that uses a structured CsI scintillator. Noise propagation through the detector was simulated by modeling statistical variations of the projection images at each energy interval as a scaled Poisson process. Scintillator blurring was simulated by using an empirically determined modulation transfer function. After introducing noise and detector blur, projection sets simulated at each energy were then combined and reconstructed using Feldkamp's cone-beam reconstruction algorithm. Using this framework, the effects of a number of acquisition and reconstruction parameters can be investigated. Some examples are shown including the impact of the kVp setting and the number of projection angles on the reconstructed image.
Stuck between a ROS and a hard place: Analysis of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway in selenocysteine treated Brassica napus reveals different toxicities during selenium assimilation

During the selenium assimilation pathway, inorganic selenate and selenite are reduced to form selenocysteine (Sec). Tolerance to selenium in plants has long been attributable to minimizing the replacement of cysteine with selenocysteine, which can result in nonspecific selenoproteins that are potentially misfolded. Despite this widely accepted assumption, there is no evidence in higher plants demonstrating that selenocysteine induces toxicity by resulting in malformed proteins. In this study, we use Brassica napus to analyze the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which is capable of removing misfolded proteins. Sec rapidly increased proteasome activity and levels of ubiquitinated proteins, strongly indicating that selenocysteine induces protein misfolding. Proteasome inhibition increased the amount of selenium in protein in Sec-treated plants. Collectively, these data provide a mechanism that accounts for Sec toxicity. Additionally, Sec did not cause oxidative stress as judged by examining levels of superoxide using fluorescent microscopy. Therefore, the cellular response to Sec is different compared to selenite, which was recently shown to increase antioxidant metabolism in response to elevated mitochondrial superoxide that ultimately impaired proteasome activity. Therefore, plants must contend with two divergent modes of cytotoxicity during selenium assimilation. Selenite can result in oxidative stress, but increased flux of selenite reduction can yield Sec that in turn can cause protein misfolding.
Report on a panel longitudinal study of college women's eating patterns and eating disorders: noncontinuum versus continuum measures.

The self‐reported frequencies (prevalence and incidence) of eating patterns and disorders in a matched longitudinal sample of college women (N = 141) interviewed during their sophomore year (Time 1) and senior year (Time 2) were compared. The rate of eating disorders was assessed using a noncontinuum measure, the Eating Attitudes Test (Garner, Olmsted, Bohr, & Garfinkel, 1982), as well as continuum measures based on criteria in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1980). The noncontinuum measure revealed a prevalence rate of eating disorders per 2‐year period comparable to that found in other studies of college student populations. The incidence rate per 2‐year period was not of epidemic proportions. A sizable percentage of women appeared to get better from Time 1 to Time 2; a small percentage of women remained abnormal eaters. The continuum measurement uncovered a large group of women whose eating patterns were chronic but not s...
Remanent magnetism at Mars

It is shown that a strong case can be made for an intrinsic magnetic field of dynamo origin for Mars earlier in its history. The typical equatorial magnetic field intensity would have been equal to about 0.01-0.1 gauss. The earlier dynamo activity is no longer extant, but a significant remanent magnetic field may exist. A highly non-dipole magnetic field could result from the remanent magnetization of the surface. Remanent magnetization may thus play an important role in the Mars solar wind interactions, in contrast to Venus with its surface temperatures above the Curie point. The anomalous characteristics of Mars'solar wind interaction compared to that of Venus may be explicable on this basis.
An axon plasma membrane preparation from the walking legs of the lobster Homarus americanus.

Abstract A membrane fraction was isolated from the nerve bundles of the walking legs of the lobster Homarus americanus that contained 5% of the total protein, 60%, 45%, and 39% of the total activity of axonal cholinergic binding macromolecule, acetylcholinesterase, and (Na + , K + )-ATPase, respectively. It is suggested that this fraction is greatly enriched in axon plasma membranes.
Chitosan glycerophosphate-based semirigid dexamethasone eluting biodegradable stent.

Background Chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from chitin deacetylation, which can form a biodegradable matrix capable of reversibly binding dexamethasone. The purpose of this study was to optimize the chitosan formulation to produce a pliable sheet, to assess the innate longevity and inflammatory potential of the polymer, and to study the in vivo rate of dexamethasone release over time. Methods Chitosan glycerophosphate (CGP) sheets were produced with varying degrees of deacetylation (70-100%) and analyzed for structural integrity. Two-squared centimeter sheets of 91.7% deacetylated CGP were mixed with dexamethasone and implanted in 12 rabbit maxillary sinuses. Nasal lavage and peripheral blood samples were tested for dexamethasone levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) over 15 days. Sinuses were examined histologically on postoperative days 3, 7, and 15 for persistence of the stent and degree of inflammation when compared with CGP alone. Results The 91.7% deacetylated CGP formulation was found to have optimal mechanical properties and remained present with moderate degradation and negligible inflammation through postoperative day 15. Dexamethasone levels were detectable in nasal lavage and blood samples through postoperative day 15 and decayed over time (lavage: day 0, 7.70 +/- 0.97 ng/mL, and day 15, 2.53 +/- 1.71 ng/mL; blood: day 3, 2.51 +/- 0.14 ng/mL, and day 15, 1.70 +/- 0.36 ng/mL). Conclusion CGP may be used to create a semirigid sheet that is malleable, inert, and capable of eluting steroid over 15 days when implanted intranasally. This material may be used to create a pharmacologically active stent that spontaneously degrades over time.
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors as a treatment for erectile dysfunction: Current information and new horizons.

Abstract Introduction Over the past 15 years, the discovery and development of oral medications that selectively inhibit the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) have revolutionised the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Currently, three PDE5 inhibitors are widely available clinically, i.e., sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil. New PDE5 inhibitors, including avanafil and udenafil, are now in clinical use in a few countries, and other compounds are under development. Methods We describe the current use and future direction of PDE5 inhibitors in the treatment of ED. Results and conclusion Each PDE5 inhibitor has an excellent and comparable efficacy and tolerability. These drugs are highly effective for ED of various causes, and are effective in preventing ED after radical prostatectomy. However, whilst being at least 60% effective, PDE5 inhibitors are still ineffective in at least 30% of patients, prompting current research into other pharmacological targets for ED.
Comparison of Stressors Among Female vs. Male Inmates

This article examines Rose Giallombardo's (1966, p. 13) claim that unless "evidence to the contrary is found, we have no a priori reason to suppose that the pains of imprisonment will be felt less keenly by female prisoners than by males." The research reported in this study suggests that female inmates experience lower levels of stressors on seven of eight adjustment needs identified by Toch. The article discusses these stressors as well as the additional stress created by the separation from children experienced by the majority of female inmates.
causality and chance on the Upper Nile

Examining Nuer and Dinka history suggests that received wisdom about the organizational and military superiority of the Nuer is misleading at best. Western Dinka were decimated by ivory and slave traders while Nuer took refuge or were pushed into a mosquito-laden swamp. Both groups underwent organizational changes under pressures of capitalist penetration and, in turn, influenced the shapes of trader social organization. The theoretical point of this paper is to suggest that structural changes can only be understood through historical analysis, that organizational changes do not take place in the abstract, and that there is no structural or evolutionary shortcut to understanding how systemic change occurs or the conditions under which it occurs.
Accountability Debates: The Federalists, The Anti‐Federalists, and Democratic Deficits

Motivated by an interest in contemporary debates over global governance, this essay examines competing visions of accountability expressed in the U.S. ratification debates. Whereas the Federalists believed accountability and good governance would be best realized if citizens are kept at a distance from government, the Anti-Federalists believed republican accountability depends upon the active participation of diverse citizens, a type of participation that is undermined when government grows distant. These different perspectives challenge conventional oppositions between concentrated power and democratic legitimacy and between popular participation and effective government. They also illustrate how republican forms of accountability can serve conflicting agendas. Drawing from these debates can help clarify challenges faced today by those seeking to create global governance institutions that are both effective and legitimate.
Predicting the future of plant breeding: complementing empirical evaluation with genetic prediction

For the foreseeable future, plant breeding methodology will continue to unfold as a practical application of the scaling of quantitative biology. These efforts to increase the effective scale of breeding programs will focus on the immediate and long-term needs of society. The foundations of the quantitative dimension will be integration of quantitative genetics, statistics, gene-to-phenotype knowledge of traits embedded within crop growth and development models. The integration will be enabled by advances in quantitative genetics methodology and computer simulation. The foundations of the biology dimension will be integrated experimental and functional gene-to-phenotype modelling approaches that advance our understanding of functional germplasm diversity, and gene-to-phenotype trait relationships for the native and transgenic variation utilised in agricultural crops. The trait genetic knowledge created will span scales of biology, extending from molecular genetics to multi-trait phenotypes embedded within evolving genotype–environment systems. The outcomes sought and successes achieved by plant breeding will be measured in terms of sustainable improvements in agricultural production of food, feed, fibre, biofuels and other desirable plant products that meet the needs of society. In this review, examples will be drawn primarily from our experience gained through commercial maize breeding. Implications for other crops, in both the private and public sectors, will be discussed.
Differential privacy based on importance weighting

This paper analyzes a novel method for publishing data while still protecting privacy. The method is based on computing weights that make an existing dataset, for which there are no confidentiality issues, analogous to the dataset that must be kept private. The existing dataset may be genuine but public already, or it may be synthetic. The weights are importance sampling weights, but to protect privacy, they are regularized and have noise added. The weights allow statistical queries to be answered approximately while provably guaranteeing differential privacy. We derive an expression for the asymptotic variance of the approximate answers. Experiments show that the new mechanism performs well even when the privacy budget is small, and when the public and private datasets are drawn from different populations.
Ambiguity and what to do about it [requirements engineering]

A major concern of most software customers, managers, and requirements engineers is to remove ambiguity in communication of requirements and specifications. The most obvious solution is to try to anticipate all possible misunderstandings and write the requirements perfectly precisely. In practice, this does not work. This talk explains why it does not work, and offers easy, inexpensive methods for removing ambiguity - methods that anyone can do. The fundamental principle is to add redundancy, especially redundancy relating to context. High-bandwidth, informal communication is always a necessary supplement to formal, mathematical expressions. As software development is in essence the creation of formal, executable descriptions for the informal domains where our intents lie, we explore many ways to break up this process into small stages, allowing programmers and customers to detect ambiguity through real-world feedback.
Measurement as Inference: Fundamental Ideas

Abstract We review the logical basis of inference as distinct from deduction, and show that measurements in general, and dimensional metrology in particular, are best viewed as exercises in probable inference: reasoning from incomplete information. The result of a measurement is a probability distribution that provides an unambiguous encoding of one's state of knowledge about the measured quantity. Such states of knowledge provide the basis for rational decisions in the face of uncertainty. We show how simple requirements for rationality, consistency, and accord with common sense lead to a set of unique rules for combining probabilities and thus to an algebra of inference. Methods of assigning probabilities and application to measurement, calibration, and industrial inspection are discussed.