cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An RNA-making reactor for the origin of life

Given the overwhelming complexity and difficulty of the origin of life problem, the most astonishing thing about it is that life actually has evolved on at least one planet in our universe (1). Indeed, it is entirely conceivable that the origin of life involved a series of highly unlikely events, and a substantial part of the explanation for why there is life on earth comes from the anthropic principle (2), i.e., our planet just happens to be one of the extremely rare parts of the universe where such a series of events was realized (3). The anthropic world view, however, by no means frees the students of early evolution from the obligation to explore all possible ways to decrease the improbability of life by demonstrating plausible paths to one or another of the milestones that need to be reached before life actually takes off. The paper by Baaske et al. (4) in this issue of PNAS seems to do just that by describing a simple abiotic system ensuring striking concentration of mono- and polynucleotides in inorganic compartments that might be suitable hatcheries for life.
Kinetics of spontaneous reduction of cis-diaquobis(ethylenediamine_cobalt(III) cation in aqueous perchloric acid☆

Abstract The spontaneous reduction of cis -Co(en) 2 (OH 2 ) 2 3+ to Co(II) has been investigated spectrophotometrically and chromatographically in 0·1-1 F HClO 4 (μ = 1·0 M, NaClO 4 ) at 120°–140°C, with additional kinetic runs made at ionic strengths 0·3 and 3·0 M at 140°C. At 1·0 M ionic strength the observed first-order rate constant has the form k obs = k 1 + ( k ′ 2 /[H + ]); the hydrogen ion dependence is ascribed to reduction of the hydroxoaquo species. At 120·2°C and 1·0 M ionic strength, k 1 = (3·3±2·2) × 10 −8 sec −1 and k ′ 2 = (1·01±0·04) × 10 −7 M sec −1 . The apparent activation parameters for the acid-dependent ( k ′ 2 ) path are E a = 44·7±2·5 kcal mole −1 , log PZ (M sec −1 ) = 17·9±1·0.
Wind Effects on a Stretched Membrane Heliostat

Wind effects on stretched membrane heliostat were investigated in a boundary layer wind tunnel. The membrane response was measured at stow and representative operational conditions. It was found that both at the stow and operational conditions the mean response was much higher than the rms response. At stow conditions the largest response occurred near the leading edge of the membrane, while the rms response was the largest at the membrane center point. For the operational conditions, the largest mean and rms responses were found at the membrane centerpoint. The membrane response was significantly reduced by the membrane focusing induced through the internal underpressure.
Investigation of charcoal cloth as a sorbent for integrated sampling of solvent vapors in mixed-expired breath using a new stainless steel sampler.

A stainless steel device for integrated sampling of solvents present in mixed-expired breath is described. During sampling, the subject inhales breathing air through commercial charcoal inhalation canisters. Exhaled breath is sampled from the mainstream using 45-mm wafers of charcoal cloth or from the sidestream on other sorbents. The device concentrates trace contaminants present in large volumes of breath. The charcoal cloth sorbent was evaluated for sampling and analysis of m-xylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane under simulated physiological conditions. These samples were collected from atmospheres of either analyte generated at 35°–40°C and 80%–90% relative humidity to simulate an exhaled breath sample matrix. Concentrations sampled ranged from 2.2 to 190 mg/m3 for 1,1,1-trichloroethane and from 0.44 to 35.6 mg/m3 for m-xylene. Volumes sampled ranged from 10 to 50 L. The m-xylene samples were collected using a 3-wafer front and a 2-wafer backup bed of charcoal cloth; 1,1,1-trichloroethane samples were col...
A note on a general expansion of functions of binary variables

In this note a general expansion of functions of binary variables is presented, which has been obtained from our study of pattern recognition. We show that this result may be taken as a generalization of some well-known expansions.
A simulation approach for the analysis and forecast of software productivity

Abstract A simulation model approach for the forecast of software and productivity is presented. The approach represents an industrial engineering solution to a software engineering problem. It is based on a statistical model that describes the software variable size and effort as a product of a signal plus random noise. A roadmap for its construction, validation and operation is developed. Its advantages and disadvantages with respect to other existing procedures are discussed. Finally, its implementation and use are illustrated with a real-life numerical example.
Annotator rationales for visual recognition

Traditional supervised visual learning simply asks annotators “what” label an image should have. We propose an approach for image classification problems requiring subjective judgment that also asks “why”, and uses that information to enrich the learned model. We develop two forms of visual annotator rationales: in the first, the annotator highlights the spatial region of interest he found most influential to the label selected, and in the second, he comments on the visual attributes that were most important. For either case, we show how to map the response to synthetic contrast examples, and then exploit an existing large-margin learning technique to refine the decision boundary accordingly. Results on multiple scene categorization and human attractiveness tasks show the promise of our approach, which can more accurately learn complex categories with the explanations behind the label choices.
Robust speaking rate estimation using broad phonetic class recognition

Robust speaking rate estimation can be useful in automatic speech recognition and speaker identification, and accurate, automatic measures of speaking rate are also relevant for research in linguistics, psychology, and social sciences. In this study we built a broad phonetic class recognizer for speaking rate estimation. We tested the recognizer on a variety of data sets, including laboratory speech, telephone conversations, foreign accented speech, and speech in different languages, and we found that the recognizer's estimates are robust under these sources of variation. We also found that the acoustic models of the broad phonetic classes are more robust than those of the monophones for syllable detection.
A cost-effective multistage interconnection network with network overlapping and memory interleaving

A cost-effective design is proposed for circuit-switching multistage interconnection networks (CSMINs). Increase of the network bandwidth and reduction of the network size (and thus low costs) are accomplished by network overlapping and memory interleaving (NOMI), instead of by increasing the number of switches or adding buffers. NOMI and its control principle are described on the basis of the structure and interconnection functions of CSMINs. Detailed accounts of both the network design and the drastic reduction in hardware costs are given. The impact of NOMI on system performance is also analyzed.
Weight, Length, and Growth in Cutbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss x clarkii)

Background: The cutbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss x clarkii) is a fertile hybrid of rainbow and cutthroat trout. Little published length-weight data is available for this hybrid, and a standard weight curve is not established. Eleven Mile Reservoir is a clear mountain reservior in Colorado with a surface area of 13.4 square kilometers, an average depth of 10 m, and a maximum depth of 41 m. 80,000 cutbow trout were stocked through the ice in late winter before samples were taken.Materials and Methods: Angling provided 171 samples which were weighed and measured (total length and fork length). Dressed weight was also determined with the scales, head, and entrails removed. Estimates of parameters a and b in the model, W(L) = aLb, were obtained by both linear least-squares (LLS) regression (log(W) = log(a) + b log(L)) and non-linear least-squares (NLLS) regression, where W is weight in kg and L is length in cm. Parameter estimates of an improved model, W(L) = (L/L1)b, were also determined by NLLS regression; the parameter L1 is the typical length of a fish weighing 1 kg. The resulting best-fit parameters, parameter standard errors, and covariances are compared between the two models. Average weight and length are considered for each month from June through October to estimate growth rates for fish stocked over the winter. Standard weights (relative to the rainbow trout and cutthroat trout standard weight curves) are also determined, along with the ratio of total length to fork length and typical dressed weight percentage.Results: The improved model parameter estimates were b = 2.662 and L1 = 45.32 cm, with correlation coefficient r = 0.969. From June to October, mean relative weight decreased from 101.5% to 93.6% relative to the rainbow trout standard weight and 114.5% to 103.2% relative to the cutthroat trout standard weight as mean total lengths increased from 34.4 cm to 41.9 cm and the mean weights increased from 0.505 kg to 0.830 kg. Typical dressed weight is 71% of the total weight.Conclusion: Eleven mile reservoir is an excellent trout fishery, capable of producing large numbers of cutbow trout in good condition. The cutbow trout is well suited to this kind of mountain reservoir and grows fast. As might be expected, the weights of cutbow trout of a given length tend to fall between the standard weights of the rainbow and the cutthroat. For the season, the average relative weight was 97.0% relative to the rainbow trout, and 108.3% relative to cutthroat trout.
Current Practice Patterns and Recent Trends in Breast Biopsy Among Radiologists and Surgeons

Purpose To ascertain the relative roles of radiologists and surgeons in breast biopsy. Methods and Materials The Nationwide Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files for 1999 to 2004 were used to study the 4 Current Procedural Terminology ® , Fourth Edition , codes for breast biopsy. Using the Medicare specialty codes, physician providers were categorized as radiologists, surgeons, or others. Procedure volumes for each of the 3 groups were tabulated for each year of the study, and trends were assessed. Results Between 1999 and 2004, the breast biopsy utilization rate per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries increased by 43%. In 2004, a total of 144,697 breast biopsies were performed, of which 124,423 (86%) were done with imaging guidance. From 1999 to 2004, procedure volume increased by 101% among radiologists, compared with 32% among surgeons. By 2004, radiologists performed 63% of all breast biopsies, compared with 32% by surgeons and 5% by others. Within the 2 codes that are specific for the use of imaging guidance, radiologists performed 72%. Conclusions Radiologists predominate in breast biopsies, and their role has gotten progressively stronger in recent years.
Vanadium and Copper in Chondrites

V and Cu emission spectrographic analyses in chondrite types, noting distribution patterns between groups based on meteorite chemical fractionation mechanisms
Health Literacy and Its Influence on Patient Safety

OMMUNICATION between health care proiders and patients has often been cited as one f the most common reasons for adverse events nd malpractice claims. More than 3,000 sentiel events reported to The Joint Commission nvolved communication factors. Health care acilities are currently addressing the new Naional Patient Safety Goals. Many of these goals nclude communication issues; yet some faciliies fail to account for the impact of health iteracy.
A parallel multigrid method for history-dependent elastoplasticity computations

Abstract A multigrid method is described for solving history-dependent elastoplastic solid mechanics problems using the finite element method. A multigrid algorithm that solves linear matrix equations is combined with the Newton-Raphson iteration procedure. The method is implemented on shared memory parallel computers by employing an element-by-element approach to computing matrix-vector products. Some two- and three-dimensional fracture mechanics problems are used to study the behavior of the algorithm. The convergence of the linear multigrid solver deteriorates as plastic flow increases. This is a result of the effect of near incompressibility on the smoothing effect of the relaxation procedure employed; however, reasonable performance can still be achieved. The solution of some large-scale problems demonstrates the speed, storage requirements, and parallel performance of the algorithm. For example, a three-dimensional problem with 215 000 degrees-of-freedom and 10 load steps was solved in 69 100 CPU s with 108 Mbytes of storage on a single processor of a Convex C240. Maximum speed-ups of 2.96 and 4.13 were measured on a 4-processor Convex and an 8-processor Alliant, respectively, for the nonlinear algorithm.
Microstructures minimizing the energy of a two phase elastic composite in two space dimensions. II: The vigdergauz microstructure

Abstract For modeling coherent phase transformations, and for applications to structural optimization, it is of interest to identify microstructures with minimal energy or maximal stiffness. The existence of a particularly simple microstructure with extremal elastic behavior, in the context of two-phase composites made from isotropic components in two space dimensions, has previously been shown. This “Vigdergauz microstructure” consists of a periodic array of appropriately shaped inclusions. We provide an alternative discussion of this microstructure and its properties. Our treatment includes an explicit formula for the shape of the inclusion, and an analysis of various limits. We also discuss the significance of this microstructure (i) for minimizing the maximum stress in a composite, and (ii) as a large volume fraction analog of Michell trusses in the theory of structural optimization.
Optic neuritis: a novel presentation of Schilder's disease.

The clinical features of a 7-year-old girl who presented with unilateral optic neuritis are presented. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lesions in the affected optic nerve and the centrum se...
Survey of photon-attenuation-coefficient measurements 10 eV to 100 GeV

A bibliography of 290 references containing measured absolute-value photon total cross-section data above 10 eV is presented, covering the period 1909 to June 1971. An index by element ( Z = 1 to Z = 94) and energy range, characterizing experiments according to source, detector, and number of data points, is included. Graphs are presented for 17 elements ( Z = 1 to Z = 92) over the energy-range 100 eV to 10 MeV comparing some recent attenuation-coefficient tabulations [by the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (Livermore), National Bureau of Standards, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, and others] with the above documented data points.
Interleukin-8 Inhibits Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Proliferation: A Possible Role for Regulation of Tumor Growth by Autocrine and Paracrine Pathways

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is an 8 kD chemokine and angiogenic factor produced by alveolar macrophages, endothelial cells, monocytes, fibroblasts. T lymphocytes, and epithelial cells in response to a variety of stimuli, including LPS, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-7, and hypoxia. Pulmonary tumors produce a variety of growth factors and cytokines that may act in both autocrine and paracrine fashion. A549, a well-characterized human lung adenocarcinoma line, was cloned for different levels of IL-8 production by limiting dilution. Clone 3B4 produced 361 ± 73 pg/ml, and clone 2B2 produced 7818 ± 614 pg/ml of IL-8 (p = 0.003). Clone 3B4 proliferated at 1.7 times the rate of 2B2. Anti-IL-8 reversed the decrement in proliferation of clone 2B2 by 50%, but recombinant IL-8 decreased the proliferation of 3B4 by 40-55% compared with control. In addition to A549, three other non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) lines showed significantly decreased proliferation in response to exogenous recombinant IL-8 (5-30 ng/ml; p < 0.05). These findin...
The influence of gender and age on disability following ischemic stroke: the Framingham study ☆

The magnitude of disability among elderly stroke survivors is substantial. There have been few community-based estimates of the contribution gender and older age make to stroke-related disability and outcome. Using the original Framingham Study cohort, we documented gender-specific neurological deficits and disability differences in stroke survivors at six months post-stroke. Logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios, comparing men and women, and adjusting for age, and age and stroke subtype. Age and gender-matched controls were then compared to distinguish stroke-related disability from disability associated with general aging. Results showed that almost half (43%) of all elderly stroke survivors in the cohort had moderate to severe neurological deficits. In the crude analyses, women were more dependent in ADLs (33.9% vs 15.6%), less likely to walk unassisted (40.3% vs 17.8%), and living in nursing homes (34.9 % vs 13.3%). After adjusting for age and stroke subtype, it was older age that accounted for the severity of disability. When compared to age and gender-matched controls, stroke cases were significantly more disabled in all domains studied. In this elderly cohort, more women experienced initial strokes and were more disabled at 6 months post-stroke than men. However, older age at stroke onset, not gender or stroke subtype, was associated with greater disability. Health care providers need to understand that strokes occur later in life for women and that because of age, women are at greater risk for disability and institutionalization.
SNR Analysis of Multi-Rate IR-UWB over Frequency-Selective Channels

This paper is motivated by the need to design medium access control (MAC) protocols for impulse radio ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) systems. Such protocols should determine how power and data rates should be allocated in order to optimize some performance measure. In order to develop a UWB MAC protocol, there is a need to gain insight on how the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is affected by different users transmitting with different rates and different power levels. In this paper, we obtain the SNR in a multi-rate system operating in a multi-path environment with time-hopping and/or direct-sequence spreading. We show that the SNR in a time-hopping system is highly affected by the low-rate users.
Bounds on the signed domination number of a graph

Abstract Let G = (V, E) be a simple graph on vertex set V and define a function f: V → {−1, 1}. The function f is a signed dominating function if for every vertex x ∈ V, the closed neighborhood of x contains more vertices with function value 1 than with −1. The signed domination number of G, γs(G), is the minimum weight of a signed dominating function on G. We give a sharp lower bound on the signed domination number of G γs (G) is the minimum weight of a signed dominating function on G. We give a sharp lower bound on the signed domination number of a general graph with a given minimum and maximum degree, generalizing a number of previously known results. Using similar techniques we give upper and lower bounds for the signed domination number of some simple graph products: the grid P j × P k , C j × P k and C j × C k . For fixed width, these bounds differ by only a constant.
Gingival recession treatment using a bilayer collagen membrane

Traditional periodontal plastic surgery techniques for the management of gingival recession have typically used soft tissue grafts to obtain defect coverage with great clinical success. Clinicians using guided tissue regeneration (GTR) techniques are also enjoying significant success in periodontal plastic surgery procedures. GTR therapy utilizing bioabsorbable membranes offers the advantages of preventing a donor site surgery and a second surgical procedure for barrier removal. A new bioabsorbable bilayer collagen membrane that readily adapts to bone and tooth surfaces by a gel formation of collagen fibers and blood may be stabilized without sutures prior to soft tissue closure. This bioabsorbable membrane has been shown to be effective in guided bone regeneration procedures and in treating periodontal defects. This case demonstrates the treatment of gingival recession with a novel collagen bilayer membrane.
Large Eddy Simulation of Flow and Heat Transfer in a 90° Ribbed Duct With Rotation: Effect of Coriolis Forces

This paper presents results from large eddy simulation (LES) of fully developed flow in a 90° ribbed duct with rib pitch-to-height ratio P/e = 10 and a rib height to hydraulic diameter ratio e/Dh = 0.1. Three rotation numbers Ro = 0.18, 0.35 and 0.67 are studied at a nominal Reynolds number based on bulk velocity of 20,000. Mean flow and turbulent quantities, together with heat transfer and friction augmentation data are presented. Turbulence and heat transfer are augmented on the trailing surface and reduced at the leading surface. The heat transfer augmentation ratio on the trailing surface asymptotes to a value of 3.7 ± 5% and does not show any further increasing trend as the rotation number increases beyond 0.2. On the other hand, augmentation ratios on the leading surface keep decreasing with an increase in rotation number with values ranging from 1.7 at Ro = 0.18 to 1.2 at Ro = 0.67. Secondary flow cells augment the heat transfer coefficient on the smooth walls by 20% to 30% over a stationary duct. An increase in rotation number from 0.35 to 0.67 decreases the frictional losses from an augmentation ratio of 9.6 to 8.75 and is a consequence of decrease in form drag and wall shear. Overall augmentation compared with a non-rotating duct ranges from +15% to +20% for heat transfer, and +10% to +15% for friction over the range of rotation numbers studied. Comparison of heat transfer augmentation with previous experimental results in the literature shows very good agreement.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Reduced Numatrin/B23/Nucleophosmin Labeling in Apoptotic Jurkat T-lymphoblasts

Jurkat T-lymphoblasts were induced to undergo apoptosis by treatment with either EGTA (5 mM/24 h) or a high concentration of lovastatin (100 microM/48 h) to identify proteins that exhibited coordinate regulation between the two treatments and thus provide candidate proteins in the common apoptotic induction pathway. A pure population of apoptotic cells, as determined by morphology, "DNA laddering," and flow cytometry, was obtained by Percoll density gradient centrifugation. Cells of increased buoyant density were clearly apoptotic by all criteria. Following this gradient centrifugation, the cells were labeled with [35S]methionine/cysteine, and lysates were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Surprisingly, the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns generated from the apoptotic cells did not differ dramatically from that of control cells. Thus, apoptotic Jurkat cells are able to synthesize new proteins and do not exhibit extensive proteolysis. Subsequent quantitative analysis revealed that only five proteins exhibited decreases in turnover that were common to the two treatments. No increases in protein turnover were able to be confirmed across the replicate experiments. One of the proteins that showed decreased labeling by both apoptotic inductions was an abundant nuclear protein with a pI of 5.1 and M(r) 40,000. This protein was identified as numatrin/B23/nucleophosmin (NPM) based on internal amino acid sequence, and this identity was confirmed by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. NPM is implicated in a range of diverse cellular functions, but its role in apoptosis is unclear.
Storied experiences of nurse practitioners managing prehypertension in primary care

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the nurse practitioner (NP) experience with caring for prehypertensive patients. Lifestyle modifications are the primary recommendation for management of prehypertension. Given the historical foundation of health promotion and disease prevention as a fundamental component of NP professional identity, gaining insight into the experience of caring for prehypertensive patients in the current healthcare environment is valuable to the profession, patients, and communities. Therefore, the NP role in health promotion and disease prevention related to prehypertension was explored as well. Data sources: Narrative inquiry was the chosen methodology to gather narrative accounts of eight NPs caring for prehypertensive patients in primary care. The three-dimensional narrative inquiry space was used to guide the researcher during data analysis. Conclusions: Three themes emerged from the NPs’ narratives: realities of practice, ambiguous role identity, and bridging models. Time constraints, financial considerations, and bridging the nursing and medical models while adapting to practice environments were barriers identified as components of the NP experience caring for patients with prehypertension. Implications for practice: This study revealed that caring for prehypertensive patients is a complex and multilayered experience.
Treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis in children: a review

Primary nocturnal enuresis is a common childhood disorder. Treatment approaches bridge the psychological and medical fields. A substantial body of literature addresses the various ways of treating enuresis, from pharmaceuticals to behavioural interventions. The medical and psychological literatures have proceeded relatively independently from one another and there has been little interconnection between the US and international literatures, resulting in a lack of discourse and integration among researchers investigating treatment outcomes for enuresis. This review examined the evidence base for treatments of primary nocturnal enuresis in children. Psychological, pharmaceutical and multi-component interventions are discussed. This review sought to provide an integrated interdisciplinary and international perspective on treatment efficacy for nocturnal enuresis by expressly gathering publications from psychological and medical fields, as well as US and international sources. The literature supported the urine alarm as the most effective intervention for nocturnal enuresis and demonstrated the benefit of combining the urine alarm with other components, both behavioural and pharmaceutical. In particular, recent literature showed that the urine alarm, when used in conjunction with antidiuretic medication (i.e. desmopressin), leads to more dry nights earlier in the conditioning process. Disparities between the different literatures were discussed.
A model of concurrency with fair merge and full recursion

Abstract We introduce in this paper a model for interaction and asynchronous, concurrent communication, where each agent's perception of the system is represented by a game of interaction. The model combines (strict) fair merge with full recursion, and the main mathematical results provide evidence for the robustness and naturalness of a novel interpretation of recursive definitions of non-deterministic processes. Our conceptual approach is closest to Park's, whose ideas are the starting points for this work.
The Tyrosine Kinase Activity of c-Src Regulates Actin Dynamics and Organization of Podosomes in Osteoclasts

Podosomes are dynamic actin-rich structures composed of a dense F-actin core surrounded by a cloud of more diffuse F-actin. Src performs one or more unique functions in osteoclasts (OCLs), and podosome belts and bone resorption are impaired in the absence of Src. Using Src(-/-) OCLs, we investigated the specific functions of Src in the organization and dynamics of podosomes. We found that podosome number and the podosome-associated actin cloud were decreased in Src(-/-) OCLs. Videomicroscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis revealed that the life span of Src(-/-) podosomes was increased fourfold and that the rate of actin flux in the core was decreased by 40%. Thus, Src regulates the formation, structure, life span, and rate of actin polymerization in podosomes and in the actin cloud. Rescue of Src(-/-) OCLs with Src mutants showed that both the kinase activity and either the SH2 or the SH3 binding domain are required for Src to restore normal podosome organization and dynamics. Moreover, inhibition of Src family kinase activities in Src(-/-) OCLs by Src inhibitors or by expressing dominant-negative Src(K295M) induced the formation of abnormal podosomes. Thus, Src is an essential regulator of podosome structure, dynamics and organization.
Capsule Commentary on Zallman et al., Unauthorized Immigrants Prolong the Life of Medicare’s Trust Fund

U nauthorized immigrants have become the modern day pariahs. They are barred from programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and even the newHealth InsuranceMarketplace, no matter how long they have lived in the U.S., how sick or how impoverished. Paradoxically, they make payments into Medicare, but are prohibited from eventually receiving Medicare benefits. Part A of Medicare (the hospital component) is f inanced by workers ’— including undocumented workers’—payroll taxes, reserved in the Medicare Trust Fund and paid out as Medicare benefits to elderly or disabled beneficiaries. The government has acknowledged that undocumented immigrants’ untapped contributions to the Social Security Trust Fund, the counterpart to the Medicare fund, prolong its solvency and sustain Social Security benefits for retired citizens. Leah Zallman and her associates have estimated that unauthorized immigrants contributed a net surplus of $35 billion to the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its solvency. They also find that proposals to offer a pathway to citizenship for a portion of the undocumented would continue to create a generous surplus. Even though the new citizens could eventually become eligible for Medicare, legalization would increase their earning power, thereby boosting their tax contributions to the Medicare Trust Fund. It has long been known that immigrants, including the unauthorized, use medical services sparingly and, contrary to popular misconceptions, even use emergency departments less than citizens, so tend to be less costly even when they are insured. But ideological barriers have made it almost impossible to overcome the political challenges needed to improve the conditions for the undocumented, whether through legislation or executive action. For now, unauthorized immigrants are likely to remain in the shadows and reliant on the health care safety net.
Access, relevance, and control in the research process: lessons from Indian country.

Objective:To illustrate successful strategies in working with American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) communities in aging and health research by emphasizing access, local relevance, and decisi...
Common Reasons for Psychiatric Consultation

The evaluation and immediate management of the most common reasons for psychiatric consultation are discussed. They are: depression, suicidal ideation/attempt, altered states of consciousness, anxiety and agitation, psychotic symptoms, suspected psychogenic symptom, addiction and pain problems, and patient behavior generating srong feelings in staff.
Self-Government in Our Times

The eighteenth-century ideal of self-government of the people was based on an assumption that renders it incoherent and unrealistic, namely, that interests and values are sufficiently harmonious that each individual needs to obey only himself while living under laws chosen by all. This conception collapses in the presence of heterogeneous preferences. Yet a weaker notion of self-government is logically coherent: A collectivity governs itself if decisions implemented on its behalf reflect the preferences of its members. I define this second-best self-government and analyze whether democratic institutions can satisfy even this definition.
Keynote Address: Identifying and Managing Systemic Risk: An Assessment of Our Progress

This short address attempts to provide a succinct overview, critiquing how well the Dodd-Frank Act identifies and manages systemic risk. Keynote address given at AGEP Advanced Policy Institute on Financial Services Regulation, George Mason University, March 10, 2011.
Floyd Bloom Discusses the Messengers of the Mind.

Some of the basic principles of nervous system function that we now take for granted were once topics of great controversy that required decades of research to resolve. One such principle is that neurons communicate via chemicals. In the “History of Neuroscience” lecture at this year’s meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Floyd Bloom discussed how this principle came to be accepted by the community. In doing so, he hoped to recognize some of the great minds who contributed to the debate and also to remind young scientists that even great minds can sometimes be wrong. This commentary presents some of the key discoveries highlighted in his talk. The ability of plant alkaloids and animal venoms to affect nervous system function has been known for millennia. People throughout the world have taken advantage of these effects to paralyze prey, kill enemies, keep alert, and enter spiritual states. But an understanding of how neuroactive chemicals work—by affecting synaptic transmission—came about only gradually, beginning in the 19th century. As is often the case, many long-held beliefs had to be overturned before this understanding was reached. In his “History of Neuroscience” lecture at this year’s meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Floyd Bloom described some of the paradigm shifts that were necessary for people to appreciate chemical neurotransmission and “the messengers of the mind.” Bloom reckoned that the journey began in 1844, with Claude Bernard’s studies of curare. Bernard first administered curare to a living frog. Dissecting the frog immediately after it died, he found that the heart was still beating and muscles still contracted when stimulated electrically. From this he concluded that curare paralyzed the frog by poisoning the nerves rather than the muscles (Black, 1999). Subsequent experiments on isolated nerve–muscle preparations revealed that if only the nerve was bathed in curare, …
Does cyclic GMP mediate amylase release from mouse parotid acini

In mouse parotid acini both cholinergic and beta-adrenergic agonists increased intracellular levels of cyclic-GMP (c-GMP) as well as amylase release. The derivative of c-GMP, 8-bromo-c-GMP, mimicked the effects of cholinergic and beta-adrenergic stimulation on amylase release. Nitroprusside (NP), hydroxylamine (HA) and sodium azide (NaA) increased c-GMP levels and also enhanced amylase release in a dose-dependent manner; cyclic-AMP (c-AMP) levels were not affected. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (MIX) enhanced the effects of carbachol on both c-GMP accumulation and amylase release. These results suggest that c-GMP may mediate the actions of cholinergic agonists and at least partially mediate the actions of beta-adrenergic agonists on mouse parotid enzyme release.
Examination of the Clinicopathologic Continuum of Alzheimer Disease in the Autopsy Cohort of the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center

To test the hypothesis that Alzheimer disease (AD) is a clinical and pathologic continuum between normal aging and end-stage dementia, we selected a convenience sample of subjects from the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center 2005 to 2012 autopsy cohort (n = 2,083) with the last clinical evaluation within 2 years before autopsy and no other primary neuropathologic diagnosis. Demographic and neuropathologic characteristics were correlated with the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes in the 835 subjects meeting these criteria. Both neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles independently predicted Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes. Severe small-vessel disease, severe amyloid angiopathy, and hippocampal sclerosis were also independently associated with the degree of cognitive impairment. By contrast, education was a strong independent protective factor against cognitive deficits. The cause of mild to moderate dementia remained uncertain in 14% of the patients. Inverse probability weighting suggests the generalizability of these results to nonautopsied cohorts. These data indicate that plaques and tangles independently contribute to cognitive impairment, that concurrent vascular disease strongly correlates with cognitive dysfunction even in a sample selected to represent the AD pathologic continuum, and that education further modifies clinical expression. Thus, multiple concomitant etiologies of brain damage and premorbid characteristics contribute to the uncertainty of AD clinicopathologic correlations based only on tangles and plaques.
Strength training and adiposity in premenopausal women: Strong, Healthy, and Empowered study

Background:Americanwomenaged25–44ygain0.5–1kgyearly, most of which is fat. Because few midlife women participate in strength training, this mode of activity may be a novel intervention for preventing age-associated fat increases in this population. Objectives: The primary aim was to assess the efficacy of twiceweekly strength training to avoid increases in percentage body fat and intraabdominal fat. Design: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in an ethnicallydiversesampleof164overweightandobese[bodymassindex (in kg/m 2 ): 25–35] women aged 25–44 y. The treatment group did twice-weeklystrengthtrainingfor2y.Thestandardcarecomparison groupwasgivenbrochuresrecommendingaerobicexercise.Assessments at baseline, 1, and 2 y included intraabdominal fat by computed tomography scan and body fat and fat-free mass by dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: During 2 y, percentage body fat changes were 3.68 0.99% for the treatment group and 0.14 1.04% for the control group,P0.01.Two-yearintraabdominalfatchangeswere7.05 5.07% for the treatment group and 21.36 5.34% for the control group, P 0.05. Conclusion: This study suggests that strength training is an efficacious intervention for preventing percentage body fat increases and attenuating intraabdominal fat increases in overweight and obese premenopausal women. This is relevant to public health efforts for obesity prevention because most weight gain can be assumed to be fat, including abdominal fat. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:566–72.
Neuroimmune basis of methamphetamine toxicity.

Although it is not known which antigen-specific immune responses (or if antigen-specific immune responses) are relevant or required for methamphetamine's neurotoxic effects, it is apparent that methamphetamine exposure is associated with significant effects on adaptive and innate immunity. Alterations in lymphocyte activity and number, changes in cytokine signaling, impairments in phagocytic functions, and glial activation and gliosis have all been reported. These drug-induced changes in immune response, particularly within the CNS, are now thought to play a critical role in the addiction process for methamphetamine dependence as well as for other substance use disorders. In Section 2, methamphetamine's effects on glial cell (e.g., microglia and astrocytes) activity and inflammatory signaling cascades are summarized, including how alterations in immune cell function can induce the neurotoxic and addictive effects of methamphetamine. Section 2 also describes neurotransmitter involvement in the modulation of methamphetamine's inflammatory effects. Section 3 discusses the very recent use of pharmacological and genetic animal models which have helped elucidate the behavioral effects of methamphetamine's neurotoxic effects and the role of the immune system. Section 4 is focused on the effects of methamphetamine on blood–brain barrier integrity and associated immune consequences. Clinical considerations such as the combined effects of methamphetamine and HIV and/or HCV on brain structure and function are included in Section 4. Finally, in Section 5, immune-based treatment strategies are reviewed, with a focus on vaccine development, neuroimmune therapies, and other anti-inflammatory approaches.
Differentiated sympathetic neural control of the kidney

Anatomic and neurophysiological methods were used to identify functionally specific subgroups of renal sympathetic nerve fibers. The distribution of diameters of the predominating unmyelinated fibe...
Anatomy and forebrain projections of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in axolotls (ambystoma mexicanum)

We examined the anatomy of the nasal cavity and forebrain in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) to determine whether the olfactory and vomeronasal systems are present in this neoteni
Leucocytes in the Saliva in Normal and Abnormal Subjects

ConclusionsIn a series of 512 enumerations of leucocytes in saliva and peripheral blood in 20 normal and 17 abnormal individuals, no correlation has been observed between the total number of white ...
Improved Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Detection With Carboxyl-Terminal Radioimmunoassay of the Beta Subunit on Concentrated 24-Hour Urine in Patients With Testicular Cancer

AbstractThe value of measuring serum levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in detecting and monitoring testicular cancer has been demonstrated convincingly. In this study the human chorionic gonadotropin was extracted by the kaolin-acetone procedure from 24-hour urine specimens and the total volume of the extract was adjusted to 15ml. With a highly specific immunoassay system (H93) that recognizes the unique carboxyl-terminal peptide of human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit (residue numbers 123 to 145) as described previously, the urinary human chorionic gonadotropin was measured serially in 32 specimens of 15 patients with initially human chorionic gonadotropin-producing testicular tumors. These 15 patients had simultaneous measurements of serum human chorionic gonadotropin using an antiserum against the beta subunit (Sb6) and urinary human chorionic gonadotropin concentrates using H93 radioimmunoassay. The initial serum hormone levels of these 15 patients were elevated and returned to normal after ...
270 INCIDENCE OF CANCER IS INCREASED IN PATIENTS WITH PROGRESSIVE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A CASE CONTROL STUDY IN HALF A MILLION VETERANS

Objective To investigate the association of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) with cancer in the veteran population. Background Previous studies have suggested an increased risk of cancer among patients with PSS. Methods and Materials A retrospective cross sectional case control study was conducted using data from the VSN 16 VA database from 1998 to 2004. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to adjust for covariates including smoking, age, race, and gender. Statistical tests were conducted at a 5% level of significance. Results A total of 484,226 veterans were studied, 203 (0.04%) of whom had PSS. The diagnosis of PSS was determined to have a significant association with the diagnosis of any cancer, lung and skin cancers. PSS patients have a risk of developing cancer at 1.61 times the risk of non-PSS patients. The risk for skin and lung cancers among PSS patients is respectively 1.82 and 2.35 times the risk among non-PSS patients. (table) Discussion This study shows a positive correlation between PSS and the incidence of cancer in the veteran population. It has been suggested that lung cancer in PSS may arise in previously damaged or fibrotic lung. Our data should be evaluated with caution, given the limitations of the population, the database, and this being a case control study. However, the large size of the database was felt to limit the effect of these factors. Conclusion Patients with PSS have an increased incidence of cancer in general and lung and skin cancer in particular.
Conceptual approach to eyelid reconstruction.

The functional demands of the eyelids and orbit must be considered for patients requiring reconstructive surgery in this area. Modifications of standard flap and graft techniques may be required for the repair of partial-thickness eyelid defects. Procedures that apply only to the orbital regions have been developed to reconstruct full-thickness deformities. Failure to create fully functioning eyelids places the patient at extreme risk of developing ocular exposure and visual loss.
NEUROLEPTIC DRUGS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Physicians have long been wary of chronically administering neuroleptic drugs to the demented elderly for fear of significant side effects. In this article, the authors present evidence to support these fears. A discussion of the early and late emerging side effects of neuroleptic drugs is presented.
Life and Legacy of Oliver Williamson

With the exception of a two-year period, from 1963 to 1965, when he taught at the University of California, Berkeley, Williamson spent the majority of his early career barely a stone’s throw away from the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Much of his career was devoted to the Department of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, where he spent the academic years from 1965–6 to 1983. There he twice chaired the economics department, in 1971–2 and in 1976–7. He eventually earned a joint appointment and worked with colleagues at their School of Public and Urban Policy and with the School of Law.
What Are Proofs, and Why Do We Write Them?

A statement in Mathematics is just a sentence which could be designated as true or false. The sentences “\(1 + 1 = 2\)” and “x = 4 implies x2 = 16” are true statements while “All rational numbers are positive” and “There is a real number x such that \(x^{2} + 5 = 2\)” are false statements. Some sentences like “Green is nice” or “Authenticity runs hot” are too ambiguous, a matter of opinion, or are just plain nonsense and cannot be said to be true or false, so mathematicians would not consider them to be statements. Mathematicians have a lot of words for kinds of statements including many that you have heard: definition, axiom, postulate, principle, conjecture, lemma, proposition, law, theorem, contradiction, and others.
Women’s Leadership in the Developing World: Learning from the Past, Envisioning the Future

In this study, we aim to reveal women’s role of leadership in the developing world. We examine this role according to different time periods, geographies, events and phenomena. Our study is carried out in a descriptive survey model. We have chosen a number of subtitles under which we examine various facets of women’s leadership. These subtitles are: Asian Women: Power and Politics, African Women: Leadership in Traditional Societies, Women’s Leadership in Peace Movements, Can Asian Philosophical Traditions Teach Us Something About leadership? We have concluded that leaders of tomorrow, especially women, will need to further refine their skills of networking to promote solidarity with and support for other women—especially those who are economically deprived and socially marginalized. In particular, they must take inspiration from the ancient wisdom of the East, in order to fully celebrate and honor the ‘feminine’ dimensions of leadership.