cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Size of the Oblique Extraocular Muscles and Superior Oblique Muscle Contractility in Brown Syndrome

Purpose This study employed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate possible size and contractility changes in the superior oblique (SO) muscle, and possible isometric hypertrophy in the inferior oblique (IO) muscle, resulting from abnormal mechanical loading in Brown syndrome (BrS). Methods High resolution orbital MRI was obtained in 4 congenital and 11 acquired cases of BrS, and compared with 44 normal subjects. Maximal cross-section areas and posterior partial volumes (PPVs) of the SO were analyzed in central gaze, supraduction, and infraduction [corrected] for the SO, and in central gaze only for the IO. Results In congenital BrS, mean maximum SO cross-sectional areas were 24% and 20% less than normal in affected and unaffected eyes, respectively (P = 0.0002). Mean PPV in congenital BrS was also significantly subnormal bilaterally (29% and 34% less in affected and unaffected eyes, respectively, P = 0.001). However, SO muscle size and volume were normal in acquired cases. The SO muscle did not relax in supraduction in BrS, although there was normal contractile thickening in infraduction. The IO muscle had normal size bilaterally in BrS. Conclusions Congenital BrS may be associated with SO hypoplasia that could reflect hypoinnervation. However, unique isometric loading of oblique extraocular muscles due to restrictive hypotropia in adduction in BrS is generally not associated with changes in muscle bulk or in SO contractility. Unlike skeletal muscles, the bulk and contractility of extraocular muscles can therefore be regarded as independent of isometric exercise history. Restriction to elevation in BrS typically arises in the trochlea-tendon complex.
Enuresis: Principles of Management and Result of treatment

AbstractWe studied 115 consecutive cases of primary enuresis. Excretory urography, urodynamic testingand endoscopy are needed only in children with enuresis and concomitant urinary infection. Adetailed urologic history was the most important factor in deciding upon a treatment program.Children with diurnal and nocturnal enuresis or nocturnal enuresis and daytime urgency andfrequency of urination are started on anticholinergic medication. Girls with enuresis and urinaryinfection also are started on anticholinergic medication. Significant improvement occurs in up to90 per cent of the patients. Children with only nocturnal enuresis and no other symptoms arestarted on imipramine with a 70 per cent improvement rate.
What is the accident waiting to happen

Working on an MHA subcommittee has many benefits. The benefit I value the most is the opportunity to build relationships with people from hospitals across the state and share ideas that work. Recently, at an MHA patient safety committee meeting, I shared an initiative that Allan Franke, MD, from Partners Health Care System in Boston, presented at the Institute for Health Care Improvement in San Francisco.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate is involved in the occlusive arteriopathy of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Despite several advances in the pathobiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), its pathogenesis is not completely understood. Current therapy improves symptoms but has disappointing effects on survival. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a lysophospholipid synthesized by sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and SphK2. Considering the regulatory roles of S1P in several tissues leading to vasoconstriction, inflammation, proliferation, and fibrosis, we investigated whether S1P plays a role in the pathogenesis of PAH. To test this hypothesis, we used plasma samples and lung tissue from patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) and the Sugen5416/hypoxia/normoxia rat model of occlusive PAH. Our study revealed an increase in the plasma concentration of S1P in patients with IPAH and in early and late stages of PAH in rats. We observed increased expression of both SphK1 and SphK2 in the remodeled pulmonary arteries of patients with IPAH and PAH rats. Exogenous S1P stimulated the proliferation of cultured rat pulmonary arterial endothelial and smooth-muscle cells. We also found that 3 weeks of treatment of late-stage PAH rats with an SphK1 inhibitor reduced the increased plasma levels of S1P and the occlusive pulmonary arteriopathy. Although inhibition of SphK1 improved cardiac index and the total pulmonary artery resistance index, it did not reduce right ventricular systolic pressure or right ventricular hypertrophy. Our study supports that S1P is involved in the pathogenesis of occlusive arteriopathy in PAH and provides further evidence that S1P signaling may be a novel therapeutic target.
Fine-grained power analysis of emerging graph processing workloads for cloud operations management

In modern cloud computing and analytics applications, large-scale data is often represented in the form of graphs. Many recent works have focused on understanding and improving performance of graph processing frameworks. Power consumption, which also serves as a key factor in the deployment and management of graph processing frameworks, has not been extensively studied. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of an online software power estimation tool that is capable of obtaining fine-grained power traces. By leveraging component-level power behavior, we show that static power consumption still constitutes a significant portion of the total power. Moreover, we illustrate the impact of various dynamic voltage and frequency scaling polices on these workloads, and observe that setting the computing node to its maximum frequency can achieve optimal performance and energy consumption. From our analysis on the impact of machine scale-up, we conclude that computing nodes with small number of computing threads consume more energy than the powerful ones. This observation can help cloud administrators on energy-efficient resource allocation.
Finite Element Software for Multilayers: LayerSlayer FEA

Previous chapters have frequently pointed out that certain aspects of fracture inmultilayers require complete solutions for stress distributions close to the crack tip. Important examples include mode mix, channeling/tunneling cracks, crack kinking and features with finite length (such as edge cracks or ligaments). While analytical solutions have been presented for a few important cases, a numerical approach is often needed even for relatively simple geometries. Finite element analysis (FEA) is a well-suited approach, as it is capable of handling virtually any geometry, and all relevant crack tip parameters can be computed using this approach. The fact that both commercial and freeware codes are widely available begs the question as to why we have even bothered to provide an FEA code. Surely, many analyses – especially those involving complicated effects such as plasticity or crack face contact – can be conducted with existing codes. While this is true, there are two important considerations that make a stand-alone code worthwhile. First, and most importantly, an accurate analysis of cracking in thin films often requires specialized meshes that can be cumbersome to create with other tools. Here, meshing software is provided that is specifically tailored to the analysis of thin film systems with cracks. We provide complete ‘model generators’ that define the geometry, create appropriate meshes and specify all boundary conditions and loading with an absolute minimum of user input. Second, the software also provides efficient, accurate and reliable subroutines to postprocess the results to calculate crack tip parameters. Such computations are by no means universally available in commercial codes. In these two important aspects, there is considerable computational expertise is embedded in the codes, which makes multilayer analysis accessible to those without significant experience with other codes. Although the provided code lacks the ability to analyze complex geometries and material response, it is highly efficient, both with regard to the effort required for comprehension and for use. Specifically, the software is designed for automation, such that one can set up and analyze hundreds of possible multilayer/crack configurations in minutes. The prepackaged analysis modules (largely) focus on rectangular layers with straight cracks that run along interfaces or perpendicular to the layers.
Redesigning Resilient Infrastructure Research

Despite federal policy directives to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure systems to extreme weather and other adverse events, several knowledge and governance barriers currently frustrate progress towards policy goals, namely: (1) a lack of awareness of what constitutes resilience in diverse infrastructure applications, (2) a lack of judgement about how to create resilience, (3) a lack of incentives that motivate resilience creation, and (4) obstacles that prevent action or reform, even where incentives exist, within existing governance systems. In this chapter, we describe each of these barriers in greater detail and provide a catalog of theories for overcoming them. Regarding awareness, we contrast four different characterizations of resilience as rebound, robustness, graceful extensibility, and sustained adaptability. We apply Integral Theory to demonstrate the necessity of integrating multiple investigative perspectives. Further, we illustrate the importance of recognizing resilience as a set of processes, in addition to resources and outcomes, and the difficulty of measuring quality and quality of resilience actions. Regarding judgement, we position infrastructure as the principal mechanism by which human rights are realized as human capabilities, and propose applying theories of human development such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to identify the most critical infrastructure in terms of the services they provide to end users. Regarding a lack of incentives, we examine the modes and tools of financial analysis by which investments in resilience infrastructure may be prioritized and find two failings: the difficulty of estimating the monetary value of optionality, and the problem of exponential discounting of future cash flows. Regarding obstacles to action, we describe a hierarchy of adaptive actions applicable to physical infrastructure and the essential dimensions of organizational maturity that determine how these adaptive actions might be initiated. Additionally, we discuss the difficulty of education and training for resilient infrastructure systems and propose simulation gaming as an integrative research and education approach for capturing lessons learned from historical catastrophes, play-testing scenarios, sharing knowledge, and training a workforce prepared for the challenges of the post-industrial infrastructure age. Finally, we suggest establishing a National Network for Resilient Infrastructure Simulation to coordinate research and practice focused on interactive case studies in resilient infrastructure systems.
Open(ing) IP: The Effects of Patent Non-Assertion on Innovation

Innovation has long been seen as the engine of economic growth. But as barriers to innovation such as patent thickets and patent litigation have risen dramatically in recent years, firms are beginning to examine the role that patents play in driving innovation. We examine how shifts in a firm’s intellectual property (IP) strategy can affect future innovation. In particular, we investigate whether or not a firm’s IP strategy can spur follow-on or generative innovation that builds upon its inventions. Our paper looks at one aspect of an open IP strategy (i.e. patent non-assertion pledges) affects the rate and type of future innovation. We study open IP strategy in the context of the Patent Commons (a set of patent non-assertion pledges) formed in 2005 by IBM. In the period following the formation of the Commons, we find that there is a 24% decrease in the average yearly forward citation rate. However, the effects of patent pledges are most strongly evidenced in the citations made by external inventors. Average annual external citations decrease by 27% following the patent pledge. We find that IBM’s shift towards a Patent Non-Assertion strategy led to a decrease in the use of pledged intellectual property in future generative innovation.
High-temperature oxidation of yttrium silicides

Current silicon melt-infiltrated (SMI) ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are limited by the melting temperature of silicon (1414 °C) and the volatility of the thermally grown SiO2 scale in high-temperature water vapor environments. Replacement of the melt-infiltrated (MI) silicon with a rare-earth silicide offers the potential to address both limitations of SMI CMCs. This study focuses on the ability of yttrium silicides to form yttrium silicates (phases with greater stability in high-temperature water vapor than SiO2) in high-temperature oxidizing environments. Yttrium silicides with compositions of 41, 67 and 95 at.% Si–Y were fabricated using arc melting and oxidized in air at 1000 and 1200 °C for up to 24 h. Oxidation resulted in the rapid formation of a non-protective Y2O3 scale and rejected Si. Additional minor oxide phases of Y–Si–O, Y2SiO5, Y2Si2O7 and SiO2 were observed to form on and beneath the specimen surface. Characterization of the microstructural evolution with time and temperature helped elucidate the diffusion mechanisms that control oxide growth rates. Replacement of MI silicon with a MI yttrium silicide would significantly compromise the high-temperature performance of a CMC due to Y2O3 CTE mismatch with SiC, high oxygen permeability and the large volume change associated with its rapid subsurface formation. Results are utilized to examine the viability of other rare-earth silicides as MI materials for CMCs.
Opportunities and Challenges in Genomic Sequencing for Precision Cancer Care

Cancer is defined by diverse somatic and germline alterations that promote aberrant cell growth. Tumor genomic profiling to guide therapy is now part of standard management in several solid tumor t...
Routine chest X-ray is unnecessary after ultrasound-guided central venous line placement in the operating room.

Abstract Background Central venous catheters (CVC) can be useful for perioperative monitoring and insertion has low complication rates. However, routine post insertion chest X-rays have become standard of care and contribute to health care costs with limited impact on patient management. Methods 200 patient charts who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with central line placement and early line removal were reviewed for clinical complications related to central line placement as well as radiographic evidence of malpositioning. A cost analysis was performed to estimate savings if CXR had not been performed across routine surgical procedures requiring central access. Results In 200 central line placements for Whipple procedures, 198 lines were placed in the right internal jugular and 2 were placed in the subclavian. No cases of pneumothorax or hemothorax were identified and 30 (15.3%) of CVCs were improperly positioned. Only 1 (0.5%) of these was deemed clinically significant and repositioned after the CXR was performed. Conclusion Routine CXR consumes valuable time and resources (≅$155,000 annually) and rarely affects management. Selection should be guided by clinical factors.
Fibronectin and Other Structural Proteins

Extracellular matrices and basement membranes contain several other important proteins in addition to the well-known macromolecules collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans. Until these additional proteins were identified by high-resolution biochemical techniques, they were described collectively as “noncollagenous structural proteins” (e.g., Robert et al., 1970).
An Lp Norm Relaxation Approach to Positive Influence Maximization in Social Network under the Deterministic Linear Threshold Model

In this paper, an Influence Maximization problem in Social Network under the Deterministic Linear Threshold model is considered. The objective is to minimize the number of eventually negatively opinionated nodes in the network in a dynamic setting. The main ingredient of the new approach is the application of the sparse optimization technique. In the presence of inequality constraints and nonlinear relationships, the standard convex relaxation method of the L 1 relaxation does not perform well in this context. Therefore we propose to apply the L p relaxation where 0 < p < 1. The resulting optimization model is therefore non-convex. By means of an interior point method, the model can be solved efficiently and stably, typically yielding robust and sparse solutions in our numerical experiments with the simulated data.
Dental Fluorosis: Its Use as a Biomarker

Several epidemiological studies, beginning with those of Dean and co-workers in the 1940's, clearly demonstrate the relationship between dental fluorosis in humans and the level of fluoride in water supplies. These studies and others have shown that, in a population, there is a direct relationship among the degree of enamel fluorosis, plasma and bone fluoride levels, and the concentration of fluoride in drinking water. However, dental fluorosis is a reflection of fluoride exposure only during the time of enamel formation, somewhat limiting its use as a biomarker. In addition, the degree of fluorosis is dependent not only on the total fluoride dose, but also on the timing and duration of fluoride exposure. At the level of an individual response to fluoride exposure, factors such as body weight, activity level, nutritional factors, and the rate of skeletal growth and remodeling are also important. These variables, along with an individual variability in response to similar doses of fluoride, indicate that enamel fluorosis cannot be used as a biological marker of the level of fluoride exposure for an individual.
Strain-Rate-Based Plastic Potentials for Polycrystalline Materials

Although the existence of strain-rate based potentials which are work-conjugate of given stress potentials has been theoretically demonstrated, analytical expressions of strain-rate potentials are only known for a very few cases. In this chapter, closed-form expressions for strain-rate-based plastic potentials are derived for both isotropic and anisotropic fully-dense polycrystalline materials. Besides their intrinsic importance in design and optimization of metal forming processes, these analytic strain-rate potentials enable the development of the closed form expressions of plastic potentials for porous metallic materials that are presented in Chaps. 7 and 8.
Abstract SY29-01: Role of nitrogen metabolism in obesity-associated pancreatic cancer

Obesity is an established risk factor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Despite recent identification of metabolic alterations in this lethal malignancy, the metabolic dependencies of obesity-associated PDAC remain unknown. Here we show that obesity-driven PDAC exhibits accelerated growth and a striking transcriptional enrichment for pathways regulating nitrogen metabolism. We find that the mitochondrial form of arginase (ARG2), which hydrolyzes arginine into ornithine and urea, is induced upon obesity, and silencing or loss of ARG2 markedly suppresses PDAC. In vivo infusion of 15N-glutamine in obese mouse models of PDAC demonstrates enhanced nitrogen flux into the urea cycle, and infusion of 15N-arginine shows that Arg2 loss causes significant ammonia accumulation that results from the shunting of arginine catabolism into alternative nitrogen repositories. Furthermore, analysis of PDAC patient tumors indicates that ARG2 levels correlate with body mass index (BMI). The specific dependency of PDAC on ARG2 rather than the principal hepatic ureagenic enzyme ARG1 opens a therapeutic window for obesity-associated pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Nada Y. Kalaany. Role of nitrogen metabolism in obesity-associated pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr SY29-01.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy (CT) are potentially lifesaving treatments for children with malignant and nonmalignant diseases. Advancements in care have led to expanding patient eligibility, with overall reduced morbidity and improved survival. Survival for HCT patients requiring pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission have improved. While almost half of pediatric patients receiving CAR-T therapy may require intensive care support, overall survival remains promising. However, patients undergoing HCT remain at risk for debilitating and life-threatening complications such as sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (S0S), infection, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD); patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and other T-cell therapies are at risk for unique toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and CAR-T-related encephalopathy syndrome (CRES). Judicious patient and treatment selection, vigilant monitoring, and prompt interventions may reduce the need for PICU admission among HCT and CAR-T recipients. When PICU intervention is required, early intervention, excellent interdisciplinary communication, prognostication, and intensive support may improve outcomes.
Enabling a permanent revolution in internet architecture

Recent Internet research has been driven by two facts and their contradictory implications: the current Internet architecture is both inherently flawed (so we should explore radically different alternative designs) and deeply entrenched (so we should restrict ourselves to backwards-compatible and therefore incrementally deployable improvements). In this paper, we try to reconcile these two perspectives by proposing a backwards-compatible architectural framework called Trotsky in which one can incrementally deploy radically new designs. We show how this can lead to a permanent revolution in Internet architecture by (i) easing the deployment of new architectures and (ii) allowing multiple coexisting architectures to be used simultaneously by applications. By enabling both architectural evolution and architectural diversity, Trotsky would create a far more extensible Internet whose functionality is not defined by a single narrow waist, but by the union of many coexisting architectures. By being incrementally deployable, Trotsky is not just an interesting but unrealistic clean-slate design, but a step forward that is clearly within our reach.
Trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and tobacco use: Does church attendance buffer negative effects?

Traumatic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are overrepresented in urban African American communities, and associated with health risk behaviors such as tobacco use. Support and resources provided by churches may reduce trauma-related health risks. In the current study, we assessed weekly church attendance as a moderator of relations between (a) traumatic event exposure and probable PTSD, and (b) probable PTSD and tobacco use. Data were drawn from a health surveillance study conducted in seven churches located in Chicago's West Side. Participants (N = 1015) were adults from churches as well as the surrounding community. Trauma exposure was reported by 62% of participants, with 25% of those who experienced trauma reporting probable PTSD. Overall, more than one-third of participants (37.2%) reported current tobacco use. As compared with non-weekly church attendance, weekly church attendance was associated with a lower likelihood of PTSD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.26-0.62; p < .0001) and lower tobacco use overall (OR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.16-0.30; p < .0001), but did not moderate the effect of trauma exposure on risk of PTSD, or the effect of PTSD on tobacco use. Findings support church attendance as a potential buffer of trauma-related stress.
Molecular and genetic analysis of JIL-1, a chromatin associated protein kinase implicated in transcriptional regulation in Drosophila

In this paper, we report the genetic and molecular characterization of JIL-1, a chromatin associated protein kinase. JEL-l maps to the 68A4-5 region of polytene chromosomes and is very likely to be a nonessential gene in this region as suggested by a series of deficiency mapping and rescue experiments. However, JDL-l ribozyme was able to mildly affect the late embryogenesis by reducing the hatch rate compared to the control group. We also further address the possible role of JDL-l in gene transcription by double- label immunostaining of polytene chromosomes using anti-Pol IIA, anti-Pol IIO, anti- phosphorylated histone H3 at serine 10 and and-JIL-l antibodies. The JIL-1 banding pattern is distinct yet overlaps with the banding pattern of Pol HA, Pol IIO and phosphorylated histone H3 at serine 10. Most significantly, JIL-1 does not preferentially localize within the highly transcriptionally active puff; instead it binds more strongly to boundaries of puffs compared to its weak staining of the central region of puffs. Polytene chromosome staining suggests that JIL-1 may play a role in defining competent chromatin domains for transcription possibly by phosphorylation of histone H3 at residues which are different from
The Presence of Ambulatory Hypoxia as an Early Predictor of Moderate to Severe COVID-19 Disease

Abstract Importance The development and importance of ambulatory hypoxia in COVID-19 is unknown. The presence of ambulatory hypoxia may help risk-stratify hospitalized patients with COVID-19. If sufficient lead-time exists between development of ambulatory hypoxia and other outcome measures, interventions might be initiated earlier. Objective To determine the association of ambulatory hypoxia with the eventual need for nasal cannula or advanced oxygenation therapies (defined as use of high flow nasal cannula, Bi-PAP, ventilator, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Design Retrospective, observational study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 1, 2020 to October 30, 2020. Setting Ten hospitals in an integrated academic medical system (Northwestern Medicine) in the Chicagoland area. Participants Adult patients (age ≥ 18) hospitalized for COVID-19 who had ambulatory oximetry measured. Intervention(s) / Exposure(s) Ambulatory oximetry measurement. Main outcomes and measures The association of ambulatory hypoxia with subsequent use of nasal cannula and advanced oxygen therapies and the time between ambulatory hypoxia and need for these oxygen therapies. Patients who had ambulatory oximetry measurements after use of nasal cannula or advanced oxygen therapies were excluded. Results Of 531 patients with ambulatory oximetry measured, 132 (24.9%) had ambulatory hypoxia. Presence of ambulatory hypoxia was strongly associated with subsequent use of nasal cannula (OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.8 – 8.4) and advanced oxygen therapy (IRR 7.7, 95% CI 3.4 – 17.5). Ambulatory hypoxia measurement preceded nasal cannula use by a median 12.5 hours [IQR 3.25, 29.25] and advanced oxygenation therapies by 54 hours [IQR 25, 82]. Conclusion and Relevance Ambulatory hypoxia is associated with moderate to severe COVID-19. It may serve as an early, non-invasive physiologic marker for the likelihood of developing moderate to severe disease and help clinicians triage patients and initiate earlier interventions.
Parental monitoring for type 1 diabetes in genetically at-risk young children: The TEDDY study.

Objective We examined parental diabetes monitoring behaviors in a cohort of children at increased genetic risk for type 1 diabetes. We hypothesized that being informed of a positive islet autoantibody (IA) would increase monitoring behaviors. Methods The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study follows 8676 children with high-risk HLA-DQ genotypes from birth to age 15, including general population children (GP) and those with a first-degree relative (FDR) with diabetes. Data on parental monitoring behaviors were solicited yearly. Serum samples were tested for IA and parents were informed of child results. We examined parental monitoring behaviors during the first 7 years of TEDDY. Results In IA- children, the most common monitoring behavior was participating in TEDDY study tasks; up to 49.8% and 44.2% of mothers and fathers, respectively, reported this. Among FDRs, 7-10% reported watching for diabetes symptoms and 7-9% reported monitoring the child's glucose, for mothers and fathers, respectively. After IA+ notification, all monitoring behaviors significantly increased in GP parents; only glucose monitoring increased in FDR parents and these behaviors continued for up to 4 years. FDR status, accurate diabetes risk perception, and anxiety were associated with glucose monitoring in IA+ and IA- cohorts. Conclusions Many parents view TEDDY participation as a way to monitor for type 1 diabetes, a benefit of enrollment in a longitudinal study with no prevention offered. IA+ notification increases short- and long-term monitoring behaviors. For IA- and IA+ children, FDR parents engage in glucose monitoring, even when not instructed to do so. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Introduction to The Spine Journal special issue on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Abstract In the last 5 years, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have made rapid advances for diagnosis and prognosis in fields ranging from dermatology to anesthesiology. How do we make sense of the rise of AI in healthcare and specifically in spine? How much of what we see today is “hype” and what will remain when the dust settles? In this special issue, several reviews and original articles help us understand the state of AI in healthcare today, the avenues for future progress, and the implications for spine care. Continued engagement, skepticism, and collaboration with technical experts will allow for the development of AI systems that complement and expand our abilities to diagnose, predict, and operate.
Comparing Some Benefits and Costs from Eliminating the U.S. Trade Deficit with Low Wage Countries

This paper presents estimates of the consumers’ surplus that would be lost if manufactured goods currently being imported to the U.S. from low wage countries were instead produced domestically. The study focuses on reducing the imports of consumer goods from such countries by about $600 billion, enough to eliminate the trade deficit in consumer goods with China, Mexico, and other major low wage trading partners. Estimates of the increase in compensation to U.S. workers that would result from such a curtailment in trade are also presented. These estimates have been made using a computational model that, unlike other studies, does not require strong assumptions regarding consumer preferences and production functions. The model was calibrated with data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and Conference Board. Another departure from previous studies is the size of the reduction in the trade deficit. The reduction considered here is considerably less and, therefore, more likely to result from policy changes, than the reductions others have analyzed. At most, these estimates lend weak support to the claim that the loss to consumers from the price increases precipitating from a meaningful, but far less-than-draconian, curtailment in trade would be greater than the compensation that workers stand to gain from it. In fact, it is more likely that there would be a net benefit to a large number of workers, contrary to what other studies have found.
Changes in the Harpagide, Harpagoside, and Verbascoside Content of Field Grown Scrophularia lanceolata and Scrophularia marilandica in Response to Season and Shade

Scrophularia lanceolata Pursh and Scrophularia marilandica L. are two common species within the Scrophulariaceae family that are endemic to North America. Historically, these species were used by indigenous peoples and colonialists to treat sunburn, sunstroke, frostbite, edema, as well as for blood purification, and in women’s health. Several iridoid and phenylethanoid/phenylpropanoid glycosides detected in these species, such as harpagoside and verbascoside, possess anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties. Due to the presence of anti-inflammatory metabolites and the historical uses of these species, we performed a two-year field study to determine the optimal production of these important compounds. We subjected the plants to shade treatment and analyzed differences in the metabolite composition between the two species and each of their leaves, stems, and roots at various times throughout the growing seasons. We determined that S. lanceolata plants grown in full sun produced 0.63% harpagoside per dried weight in their leaves compared to shade-grown plants (0.43%). Furthermore, S. lanceolata accumulated more harpagoside than S. marilandica (0.24%). We also found that verbascoside accumulated in the leaves of S. lanceolata and S. marilandica as the growing season progressed, while the production of this metabolite remained mostly seasonally unchanged in the roots of both species.
Characterization of non-symmetric coplanar waveguide discontinuities

A general technique to characterize non-symmetric coplanar waveguide (CPW) discontinuities with air-bridges, where the fundamental coplanar and slotline modes may be excited together, is presented. First, the CPW discontinuity without air-bridges is analyzed using the space-domain integral equation method. Second, the parameters (phase, amplitude, and wavelength) of the coplanar and slotline modes are extracted from an amplitude modulated-like standing wave existing in the CPW feeding lines. Then, a 2n*2n generalized scattering matrix of the discontinuity without air-bridges is derived which includes the occurring mode conversion. Finally, this generalized scattering matrix is reduced to an n*n one by enforcing suitable conditions at the ports which correspond to the excited slotline mode. For the purpose of illustration, the method is applied to a shielded nonsymmetric short-end shunt CPW stub, whose scattering parameters are compared with those of a symmetric one. >
Response by Fionn Murtagh

The comments and references of Drs. Gnanadesikan and Hartigan are valuable, and I thank them both for the care that they have shown.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Related to HIV and AIDS among Female College Students in Taiwan

Our purpose was to assess the knowledge and attitudes, source of HIV and AIDS information, and behaviors related to HIV and AIDS among female college students in Taiwan and to explore the factors associated with knowledge and attitudes of HIV and AIDS among female college students in Taiwan. We employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. Using a mail survey, the investigators collected data from a convenience sample of 99 female undergraduate students at a 4-year university in Taiwan. The self-administrated questionnaire included a demographic questionnaire and the International AIDS Questionnaire—Chinese Version. Our study revealed that the majority of respondents (68%) were sexually active in the last year. Findings revealed that the sexually active women had more overall HIV and AIDS knowledge and attitudes compared to those who were not sexually active. Overall, findings revealed a significant number of participants were not aware of HIV and AIDS facts and held many myths about the transmission of HIV and AIDS. Accurate HIV and AIDS information is the first step in preventing the spread of this epidemic. Ideally, the fight against AIDS should involve the family, education system, mass media, and society at large; however, the lack of necessary knowledge, values, and skills often results in ineffective and inconsistent HIV and AIDS prevention programs.
Determining noisy instances relative to attributes of interest

An important issue in the analysis of data is that of data quality. Algorithms for the detection of instances with class noise and, to a lesser degree, attribute noise have been presented in the literature. We propose a novel technique to detect noisy instances relative to an Attribute of Interest. The attribute of interest can be any feature from the dataset as defined by the domain-specific practitioner. The proposed technique determines those instances that contain noise relative to the chosen attribute of interest. This approach can be iterated for any number of user-specified attributes. Our methodology is demonstrated with empirical case studies using real-world datasets and is verified by an expert-based validation of the results. Additional studies show the effectiveness of our technique in detecting noise injected into instances. For detecting noise relative to the class or dependent variable, our technique is compared to the well-known classification and ensemble filters and outperforms both techniques on a real-world dataset with known class noise. Based on the results of a wide variety of case studies presented in this work, we conclude that our methodology for ranking noisy instances relative to an attribute of interest is an effective and useful noise handling procedure.
SiC whiskers-reinforced ceramic matrix composites

The feasibility of developing a mullite-SiC whiskers composite has been investigated. Mechanical, physical, and microstructural properties of the composites are discussed. Fracture toughness and flexural strength of the hot pressed ceramic are improved considerably by such whiskers reinforcement.
Design of Periodic Output Feedback for Robust Stability

Discrete-time H ? results are applied to the design of piecewise-constant, periodic output feedback systems for stability robustness with respect to additive perturbations of the plant state matrix.
Identification of Transcriptional Regulators for a Novel Glyoxylate Production Pathway in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 (LB255)

Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 is of interest as a platform for production of biofuels and biodegradable plastics from methanol. Biofuels such as 1-butanol can be derived from intermediates in the...
Dicephalus dipus tribrachius: case report.

Abstract 1. 1. A case of dicephalus dipus tribrachius is described in which 2 complete thoracic cavities and a single abdominal cavity were present. Several cardiac malformations are described in detail. A small phallus-like structure is described grossly and microscopically. 2. 2. Conjoined twins are defined and classified. 3. 3. The uniovular and binovular theories of etiology are presented. 4. 4. The vast majority of evidence indicates a uniovular origin of conjoined twins.
The Politics of Transparency and Surveillance in Post-Reunification Germany

Normal.dotm 0 0 1 206 1179 Queen's University 9 2 1447 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, reunified Germany intensified its policy of political transparency in an attempt to alleviate European concerns over a new German superpower. As transparency became a means to political legitimacy, the term and the practice acquired a distinctive ethical dimension. Germany’s on-going effort to come to terms with its national socialist past came to encompass the years of state socialism as well. As Germany’s new-found moral legitimacy came to rest on portraying East Germany as an immoral state, the former socialist state became an object that needed to be made fully transparent. The East German secret police (Stasi) and its vast surveillance apparatus became a natural target of transparency, as it inverted the logic of transparency by which the West German state claimed to function. As one form of transparency became key to legitimacy in Germany, its inversion – surveillance – became a marker of illegitimacy. In that sense, surveillance came to justify the unequal treatment of East Germans, of their political system, and of their public life. The conflict between divergent understandings of transparency became especially clear in a debate between two political figures, one from the former East and one from the former West. The case of German reunification serves to highlight the contingency of the meaning of the concepts of transparency, surveillance, and privacy.
Pathophysiology of Primary Hypertension

Publisher Summary Hypertension (HT), the most prevalent cardiovascular disorder, is a major health problem throughout the world. This chapter focuses on the pathophysiology of primary HT from a broad perspective. In addition to microvascular mechanisms, the chapter emphasizes on macrovascular, renal, cardiac hormonal and neuronal factors contributing to the etiology of primary HT. It attempts to assess cellular, molecular and genetic mechanisms, integrative pathobiology and clinical and population observations bearing on the development of primary HT in a balanced fashion. The chapter also points out areas of insufficent knowledge and opportunities for future research. Since primary HT is a complex disorder with multiple inputs to the disease process, the discussion has focused on the current understanding of the major pathophysiological factors involved in primary HT and their integration that result in elevated BP. Although various hypertensive animal models are analyzed and principles therefrom applied to human HT, whenever possible results from patient-oriented research and/or investigations using human cells and tissues have been emphasized. The etiology and pathogenesis of primary HT remain unknown. The kidneys, in particular renal Na+ retention, constitute a primary and sustaining factor in the development of HT. However, the precise renal mechanisms of Na+ retention that lead to HT remain unresolved. The discovery of polymorphisms of several candidate genes has not clarified the overall genetic basis of primary HT. From the standpoint of the microvasculature, substantial advances have contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms governing contraction, the remodeling process and the role of inflammation and fibrosis in HT.
The Principles and Practice of Derivatives Price Verification

Trading desks at investment banks often have substantial positions in a broad range of long-term or exotic derivative securities which can be marked to market only by means of mathematical models. Verifying the fair value of these securities in all product areas is an increasingly important issue for trading firms, and involves more than just mathematics and a model from financial economics. This article describes a multi-faceted approach to verifying the prices and hedge ratios of derivative securities.
The effect of dexmedetomidine during myringotomy and pressure‐equalizing tube placement in children

Summary Background: Bilateral myringotomy (BMT) is a commonly performed otolaryngologic procedure in children. Objectives: To examine the effects of intranasal dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenoceptor agonist, on time-averaged pain scores, pain control, need for rescue analgesia, and agitation scores in children undergoing BMT. Methods: We designed a trial to enroll 160 children randomized to one of four groups: two study groups, dexmedetomidine (1 or 2 μg·kg−1), or two control groups representing our institutional standards of practice (intranasal fentanyl-2 μg·kg−1 or acetaminophen as needed postoperatively). Results: After 101 children were enrolled, patient caregivers observed that some enrollees were excessively sedated and required prolonged postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay. This observation led to an unplanned interim analysis and early trial termination. After data were collected, severe nonnormality of pain and agitation scores necessitated a switch of the outcome to assess repeated measurements of the proportion of patients with pain, severe pain, and agitation. Demographics, time to emergence, and agitation were similar among all groups. The risk of requiring acetaminophen rescue (P < 0.0001) and proportion of patients having pain (P = 0.016) was significantly higher in one control group (rescue analgesia only) compared with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine groups. Importantly, length of stay in the PACU was significantly longer in dexmedetomidine-2 μg·kg−1-treated compared with dexmedetomidine-1 μg·kg−1-treated, fentanyl-treated, or the control group, P = 0.0037. Conclusions: In this trial, we were unable to answer the original question as to the role of dexmedetomidine on time-averaged pain and agitation scores after BMT. However, our findings clearly demonstrate that in children undergoing BMT, at higher doses, dexmedetomidine significantly prolongs length of stay in the PACU.
Future science teachers of America: Strengthening professionalism in science education

(1989). Future science teachers of America: Strengthening professionalism in science education. Journal of Science Teacher Education: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 36-37.
The Berezin integral as a contour integral

Abstract In superspace formulations of supersymmetric field theories, use is made of the Berezin “integral”, a linear map which assigns a real number to each polynomial function of the Grasmann coordinates θα. However, this map has not been shown to be an integral in the mathematical sense of a limit of sums or an inverse to differentiation. Consequently, its mathematical basis is unclear and its generalization to arbituary curved supermanifolds is problematic. I will show that certain normalized contour integrals in the space of θα possess the properties of Berezin “integrals”, including translation invariance and correct transformation properties under changes of coordinates. These contour integrals are mathematically well defined and may generalize to arbitrary supermanifolds. Alice Rogers' definition of super space is used.
Response of radixin to perturbations of growth cone morphology and motility in chick sympathetic neurons in vitro

The ERM protein--ezrin, radixin, moesin--localize to a variety of cortical structures, where they may participate in connecting the cytoskeleton to components of the plasma membrane. Antibodies that recognize the ERM proteins specifically stain growth cones of various neurons [Goslin et al., 1989: J. Cell Biol. 109:1621-1631; Birgbauer et al., 1991: J. Neurosci. Res. 30:232-241]. To probe the function of ERM proteins in growth cones, we studied the consequences of perturbing growth cone morphology and motility of cultured chick sympathetic neurons. We demonstrate that radixin is present in these growth cones. Withdrawal of nerve growth factor (NGF) induces rapid collapse of the growth cones; concomitantly, radixin staining in these growth cones are greatly diminished. Upon readdition of NGF, rapid growth cone formation is accompanied by relocalization of radixin. Induction of growth cone collapse by either growth cone-growth cone contact or exposure to brain membrane extract results in a similar diminution of radixin staining. We induced a more subtle change in the organization of the growth cones by subjecting them to an electric field. These growth cones rapidly orient toward the cathode. We show that the radixin staining of the growth cones is also asymmetrically localized toward the leading edges in the new direction of growth. The results suggest that the localization of radixin may be essential for the normal expression of growth cone morphology and function.