cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE PHASE ON COCAINE SELF-ADMINISTRATION IN RHESUS MACAQUES

Abstract Epidemiological findings suggest that men and women vary in their pattern of cocaine use resulting in differences in cocaine dependence and relapse rates. Preclinical laboratory studies have demonstrated that female rodents are indeed more sensitive to cocaine's reinforcing effects than males, with estrous cycle stage as a key determinant of this effect. The current study sought to extend these findings to normally cycling female rhesus macaques, a species that shares a nearly identical menstrual cycle to humans. Dose-dependent intravenous cocaine self-administration (0.0125, 0.0250, and 0.0500 mg/kg/infusion) using a progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement was determined across the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle was divided into 5 discrete phases – menses, follicular, periovulatory, luteal, and late luteal phases – verified by the onset of menses and plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone. Dependent variables including number of infusions self-administered per session, progressive ratio breakpoint, and cocaine intake were analyzed according to cocaine dose and menstrual cycle phase. Analysis of plasma hormone levels verified phase-dependent fluctuations of estradiol and progesterone, with estrogen levels peaking during the periovulatory phase, and progesterone peaking during the luteal phase. Progressive ratio breakpoint, infusions self-administered, and cocaine intake did not consistently vary based on menstrual cycle phase. These findings demonstrate that under the current experimental parameters, the reinforcing effects of cocaine did not vary across the menstrual cycle in a systematic fashion in normally cycling rhesus macaques.
Single incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SILS): a novel technique.

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is an emerging bariatric procedure that typically necessitates five to seven small skin incisions to place five to seven trocars. The senior author (Saber) has developed a single umbilical incision approach to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
Impact of the cracks lost in the imaging process on computing linear elastic properties from 3D microtomographic images of Berea sandstone

With the current developments in imaging/computational techniques and resources, computational rock physics has been emerging as a new field of study. Properties of rocks are examined by carrying out extensive numerical simulations on rocks that have been digitized using high-resolution X-ray CT scans. The ultimate goal of computational rock physics is to supplement the traditional laboratory measurements, which are time consuming, with faster numerical simulations that allow the parameter space to be explored more thoroughly. We applied the finite-element method to compute the static effective elastic properties from 3D microtomographic images of Berea sandstone saturated with different fluids. From the computations, we found discrepancies between the numerical results and the laboratory measurements. The reason for such a problem is the loss of small features, such as fine cracks and micropores, in the digitized matrix during the imaging and aggregation process. We used a hybrid approach, combining the ...
Formation of a supplemental long time-constant reservoir of high energy phosphate by brain in vivo and in vitro and its reversible depletion by potassium depolarization.

—Brains of mice fed a diet containing 1% cyclocreatine (1-carboxymethyl-2-iminoimidazolidine) accumulated the high energy phosphate compound cyclocreatine-P (1-carboxymethyl-2-imino-3-phosphonoimidazolidine), an analogue of creatine-P (phosphocreatine). During a 50-day feeding period mouse brain cyclocreatine-P increased linearly to 14 μmol/g fresh wt; during this time the total phosphagen level of brain, creatine-P plus cyclocreatine-P, increased from 3 to 15 μmol/g. When the blood-brain barrier was circumvented, a more rapid accumulation of synthetic phosphagen was achieved. Minced brain preparations from 11 to 15-day chick embryos incubated in vitro with 30 mm-cyclocreatine accumulated 10 μmol/g of cyclocreatine-P in 90 min, and this novel high energy phosphate pool could be depleted by incubation with 105 mm-potassium ions or 3 μm-valinomycin. Subsequent regeneration of the depleted pools could also be demonstrated. Brain tissue containing a supplemental reservoir of cyclocreatine-P, which is utilized to regenerate ATP much more slowly than creatine-P, might be better able to withstand anoxia and certain other metabolic stresses, but this has not been established. However, the marked delay of onset of rigor previously shown to occur in ischemic heart and skeletal muscle of cyclocreatine-fed animals is compatible with this suggestion.
Where Strategy and Ethics Converge: Pharmaceutical Industry Pricing Policy for Medicare Part D Beneficiaries

On January 1, 2006, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage was initiated. Concern was immediately voiced by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and Families USA that, in response to this program, the pharmaceutical industry may raise prices for drugs most often used by the elderly. This article examines the ethical implications of a revenue-maximizing pricing strategy in an industry in which third party financing mitigates an end product’s true cost to the user. The perspectives of three stakeholder groups are examined: the elderly, as consumers of prescription drugs, the pharmaceutical industry, as product manufacturer and beneficiary of derived profits, and the total U.S. population, as the ultimate payer for the program via tax revenues. Key questions explored include the relationships among price strategy and access to drugs at both the micro (Medicare cohort) and macro (total population) levels, and on drug development or enhancement. The role of profit in a capitalism-based health care system is also examined. Hospital industry impact on these same stakeholder groups in response to the original 1965 Medicare law is used to compare and contrast possible outcomes of the new drug program. It is predicted that pharmaceutical firms will mimic the hospital industry, adopting a price maximizing strategy for drugs covered by the program. In the process, a utilitarian effect occurs: the benefits of increased access and diffusion of drugs counterbalance inequities in financing Medicare Part D.
Characterization of Ovine Hypothalamic Hypophysiotropic TSH-releasing Factor

Evidence is presented for the homogeneity of a preparation of hypothalamic TRF of ovine origin and its molecular structure has been established as 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylyl-histidyl-proline amide. Synthetic L-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylyl-L-histidyl-L-proline amide has physicochemical and biological characteristics which are quantitatively and qualitatively indistinguishable from those of the natural substance isolated in this laboratory.
The double whammy of globalization: Differing country and foreign partner cultures

The article discusses research that examined the effect of double-layered acculturation on the foreign entry success of firms. The author notes that such acculturation increases the cost of entry and reduces the barriers of learning the culture of one's country. The research indicated that the success of the entry is associated with the similarity of the host country's culture to the company's domestic culture. A firm's success is represented on how it expands its foreign ventures incrementally. Moreover, the firm's reliance of an independent foreign export agent in order to learn about the country's culture, results in a situation of double-layered acculturation.
Evaluation of practical diets with various levels of dietary protein and animal protein for pond-raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus.

Three levels of dietary protein (26, 28, or 32%) and four levels of animal protein (0, 2, 4, or 6%) were evaluated in a factorial experiment for pond-raised channel caffish using practical-type extruded feeds. Meat, bone, and blood meal (65% protein) was used as the animal protein source. Channel catfish fingerlings (average weight: 69 glfish) were stocked into 48 0.04-ha ponds at a rate of 24,700 fishha. Four ponds were used for each dietary treatment. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation for 158 d. No differences were observed in weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, survival, and hematocrits of channel catfish fed diets containing various levels of dietary protein and animal protein. Inclusion of animal protein in the diet did not affect fish dressout, percentage visceral fat, or fillet composition. Comparison of means pooled by dietary protein without regard to animal protein showed that fish fed diets containing 26% protein had a lower percentage dressout than fish fed higher protein diets (55.4% vs. 56.3%). Fish fed the 32% protein diet had lower visceral fat than those fed the 26% or 28% protein diet (2.9% vs. 3.6% or 3.4%). Fillet fat was lower for fish fed the 32% protein diet than for fish fed the 26% protein diet (5.8% vs. 7.1%). Fillet fat in fish fed the 28% protein diet (6.5%) was not different from fish fed either 26% or 32% dietary protein. No differences were detected in fillet protein, moisture, and ash concentrations among fish fed diets containing various concentrations of protein. There were no interactions between dietary protein and animal protein for any variables. Results from the present study indicate that animal protein can be eliminated from diets for grow out of channel catfish fed to apparent satiation using diets containing 26% to 32% crude protein.
Field-ball milling induced anisotropy in magnetic particles

Nd2Fe14B and Sm2Co17 particles of submicrometre sizes have been prepared by ball milling in a magnetic field. Structural and magnetic characterization reveal that these submicrometre particles milled in a magnetic field, consisting of nanosize grains, exhibit strong magnetic anisotropy compared with the particles milled without a magnetic field. Based on in situ observations of the field-ball milling in a transparent container, the mechanism of field-induced anisotropy in the nanostructured hard magnetic particles is discussed.
The patient-therapist relationship: beliefs that shape care.

The results 0/ a previous inquiJy suggest that three im­ ages ofoccupational therapists dominate patients' sto­ ries about them. the images o/technician. parent, and collaborator orfriend These ways 0/ being in practice can be said to rejlect the various understandings that therapists heme about how to enact the prq/ession 's commitment to both competence and caring When therapists act as technicians or authoritarian parents, patients register their disappointment over a valu­ caion ofcompetence that excludes caring actions. In a more current inquily into the climate o/car­ ing, patients and caregivers reflect about the current health care system and identify three societal con­ structs that shape a preference for competence over caring (a) emphasis on the rational jixing ofthe health care problem, (b) overreliance on methods and protocols, and (c) a heaM} care svstem driven by busi­ ness, efficiency, and projit Occupationa/therupists who are concerned about complaints that the health care system is increasing/v uncaring might bene/it from a consideration o/the extent to which societal beliefs shape the manner in which they care.
Cross-track transition location and transition parameter effects in heat-assisted magnetic recording

When conventional longitudinal and perpendicular magnetic recording architectures reach their well-known superparamagnetic limits, one candidate to break through the limit is heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). In this paper, we investigate the effect of cross-track transition location and transition parameter (a-parameter) profiles in an HAMR system. Here, we apply microtrack modeling and the thermal Williams-Comstock model to longitudinal recording to determine the transition location and a-parameter profiles along the cross-track direction in the presence of a temperature profile. We then explore the effect of temperature on the isolated transition response of the system.
Crack lung: cocaine-induced lung injury

A 31-year-old female presented with acute onset shortness of breath and chest pain. She had a past medical history of cocaine abuse and agreed that she used cocaine 2 days prior to presentation. On admission, her vitals …
Transgenic 6F tomatoes act on the small intestine to prevent systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia caused by Western diet and intestinally derived lysophosphatidic acid

We recently reported that levels of unsaturated lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in the small intestine significantly correlated with the extent of aortic atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-null (LDLR−/−) mice fed a Western diet (WD). Here we demonstrate that WD increases unsaturated (but not saturated) LPA levels in the small intestine of LDLR−/− mice and causes changes in small intestine gene expression. Confirmation of microarray analysis by quantitative RT-PCR showed that adding transgenic tomatoes expressing the apoA-I mimetic peptide 6F (Tg6F) to WD prevented many WD-mediated small intestine changes in gene expression. If instead of feeding WD, unsaturated LPA was added to chow and fed to the mice: i) levels of LPA in the small intestine were similar to those induced by feeding WD; ii) gene expression changes in the small intestine mimicked WD-mediated changes; and iii) changes in plasma serum amyloid A, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol levels, and the fast-performance liquid chromatography lipoprotein profile mimicked WD-mediated changes. Adding Tg6F (but not control tomatoes) to LPA-supplemented chow prevented the LPA-induced changes. We conclude that: i) WD-mediated systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia may be in part due to WD-induced increases in small intestine LPA levels; and ii) Tg6F reduces WD-mediated systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia by preventing WD-induced increases in LPA levels in the small intestine.
Hyperproduction of heat-stable enterotoxin (STA4) of Escherichia coli and analysis of the unusual electrophoretic behavior of reduced and alkylated forms of STAs.

Abstract The methanol-soluble heat-stable enterotoxin gene ( estA 4 ) of Escherichia coli (ST A4 ) yielded 128-fold more toxin when expressed by a T 7 RNA polymerase driven system than when driven by its own promoter. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of in vivo [ 35 S]cysteine radiolabeled products of the cloned gene revealed an apparent molecular mass larger than that expected for a 19 amino acid polypeptide (mol. wt. 2049). Purified [ 125 I]radiolabeled enterotoxin, ST A1 (mol. wt. 1979) showed an M r of 3800 when reduced, 2000 when reduced and carboxylated, and 14500 when reduced and carboxyamidated. Similar changes after carboxyamidation were obtained with two different chemically synthesized ST A s. These unusual electrophoretic mobilities were shown to be common to all ST A s studied. Alkylation of the reduced ST A species occurred only at the six cysteine residues of the toxin. Upon gel filtration the native, reduced, and reduced and alkylated forms of ST A s eluted from the column in close agreement to the molecular weight expected from the known amino acid composition of the peptides.
Con-nectin axons and dendrites

Unlike adherens junctions, synapses are asymmetric connections, usually between axons and dendrites, that rely on various cell adhesion molecules for structural stability and function. Two cell types of adhesion molecules found at adherens junctions, cadherins and nectins, are thought to mediate homophilic interaction between neighboring cells. In this issue, Togashi et al. (see p. 141) demonstrate that the differential localization of two heterophilic interacting nectins mediates the selective attraction of axons and dendrites in cooperation with cadherins.
Recommendations for Zoledronic Acid Treatment of Patients with Bone Metastases

The introduction of zoledronic acid, a new-generation bisphosphonate, has greatly extended the use of bisphosphonates in the treatment of patients with bone metastases. On the basis of results from three large, randomized, phase III clinical trials enrolling more than 3,000 patients, zoledronic acid (4 mg via 15-minute infusion) was approved in the United States for the treatment of patients with documented bone metastases from solid tumors in conjunction with standard antineoplastic therapy and patients with multiple myeloma. Zoledronic acid is also approved in Europe for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with advanced malignancies involving bone. Current treatment guidelines published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend the use of intravenous bisphosphonates at first radiographic evidence of osteopenia in patients with multiple myeloma or osteolytic bone lesions in patients with breast cancer to significantly reduce the occurrence and delay the onset of skeletal complications. Zoledronic acid has also demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of bone metastases in patients with prostate cancer, lung cancer, and other solid tumors. Bisphosphonate therapy is generally well tolerated but can be associated with increases in serum creatinine. Therefore, monitoring renal function is required for all patients receiving bisphosphonate therapy. Serum creatinine should be monitored before each dose and treatment withheld until any serum creatinine elevations have resolved to baseline levels. Caution should be exercised when treating patients who are receiving other potentially nephrotoxic therapies. With these simple precautions, intravenous bisphosphonate therapy is safe for long-term use and provides durable treatment benefits.
AXL is an Essential Factor and Therapeutic Target for Metastatic Ovarian Cancer

The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is thought to play a role in metastasis; however, the therapeutic efficacy of an AXL-targeting agent remains largely untested in metastatic disease. In this study, we defined AXL as a therapeutic target for metastatic ovarian cancer. AXL is primarily expressed in metastases and advanced-stage human ovarian tumors but not in normal ovarian epithelium. Genetic inhibition of AXL in human metastatic ovarian tumor cells is sufficient to prevent the initiation of metastatic disease in vivo. Mechanistically, inhibition of AXL signaling in animals with metastatic disease results in decreased invasion and matrix metalloproteinase activity. Most importantly, soluble human AXL receptors that imposed a specific blockade of the GAS6/AXL pathway had a profound inhibitory effect on progression of established metastatic ovarian cancer without normal tissue toxicity. These results offer the first genetic validation of GAS6/AXL targeting as an effective strategy for inhibition of metastatic tumor progression in vivo. Furthermore, this study defines the soluble AXL receptor as a therapeutic candidate agent for treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer, for which current therapies are ineffective.
Comparison of anchors used in anti-incontinence surgery

Abstract Objectives. To compare the resistance to caudally directed force at different fixation points used in female anti-incontinence surgery. Methods. Sutures were placed in Cooper’s ligament, rectus fascia, and in bone anchors on the pubic symphysis in 6 fresh, unembalmed cadavers and transposed vaginally with a ligature carrier. Force was applied in a caudal direction to each suture. Displacement of the suture with increasing force and the force required to overcome the cranial fixation point were measured with a highly precise force gauge. Two measurements were made for each anchor point and the measurements were averaged. Results. With caudally directed force, sutures fixed to Cooper’s ligament were displaced to an equal extent as sutures attached to a bone anchor. Sutures anchored to the rectus fascia were displaced the most with increasing force. The maximal force supported by Cooper’s ligament fixation and bone anchors was similar. The event limiting each test was suture breakage, except when one suture anchored in the rectus fascia tore out. Conclusions. In a cadaver model, bone anchors placed in the pubic symphysis offer no structural advantage over Cooper’s ligament fixation.
Minimizing the risks of carotid endarterectomy

In 1971 this study was undertaken to determine optimal methods and guidelines for lowering the mortality and neurologic complication rates associated with carotid endarterectomy. Of 570 carotid endarterectomies, 481 (84%) were performed under local anesthesia to provide continuous neurologic monitoring and to permit operation on the very elderly and poor-risk patient. In 418 of these procedures carotid stump pressures (CSPs) were measured with patients awake to determine the level of back pressure sufficient for brain protection during operative occlusion. Selective shunting was necessary in 40 (8%) of these cases. Of 78 patients with a CSP of 0 to 25 mm Hg, only 39 (50%) required shunting. Only one patient with a pressure greater than 25 mm Hg (29 mm Hg) needed a shunt. The CSP/brachial blood pressure (BBP) index was calculated for 410 procedures. Of 97 patients with a CSP of 0 to 30 mm Hg, only 31 required a shunt (CSP/BBP index 0.01 to 0.18). No shunt was necessary for an index greater than 0.18. Patients with a contralateral occlusion or severe stenosis required a shunt six times more frequently than those with unilateral disease. For 570 procedures the overall mortality rate was 0.7% and the neurologic complication rate was 0.9%. When local anesthesia was used for 481 procedures, there was only one death (0.2%). For 74 asymptomatic lesions there were no deaths or stroke. Neurologic monitoring under local anesthesia and CSPs are reliable indicators for selective shunting. Multiple-risk factors influence the outcome of carotid endarterectomy, but most can be avoided.
Anatomy relevant to TIPS

Understanding the anatomy of the hepatic vasculature is a key element to safe and successful transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) performance. In this article, the normal anatomy of the hepatic and portal venous system is reviewed, and the relationship between these vessels is discussed. Misidentification of the hepatic or portal vein can lead to procedural complications and possibly compromise the success of the procedure. Common anatomic pitfalls in TIPS are discussed and illustrated. New procedural modifications designed to minimize or prevent TIPS stenosis are currently under investigation. The anatomic constraints of these new approaches are discussed.
Development of a Diabetes Locus of Control Scale

The purpose of the study was to develop a diabetes locus of control scale and to assess its validity and reliability. Factor analysis of the items was conducted utilizing varimax orthogonal rotation. Three factors were identified representing Internal (6 items), Chance (6 items) and Powerful Others (6 items) orientations. The subscales were internally consistent, Cronbach alphas were .75, .77 and .72 for the Internal, Chance, and Powerful Others scales. Test-retest reliabilities were for the subscales, Internal .77, Chance .72, and Powerful Others .66. Criterion-related validity with the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale was established. Reading level was at tenth grade. It is recommended that the more specific Diabetes Locus of Control scale be utilized in studies assessing locus of control for diabetics.
Participation as a leader in immersion weight loss treatment: a 1-year follow-up study

Non-overweight individuals may follow aggressive weight management approaches alongside overweight/obese friends or family members; thus, research has begun to evaluate subsequent effects among non-overweight populations. A prior study evaluated the short-term effects of an immersion weight loss programme on healthy young adult staff leaders. Results indicated that participation seemed to benefit, not harm, the young adults. The current investigation examined 1-year eating disorder and weight trajectories in this sample. The total sample (N = 244) consisted of staff leaders (44.3%) and demographically similar comparison participants who completed eating disorder and weight assessments across four time points: baseline, end of summer, 6-week follow-up and 1-year follow-up. Forty-seven per cent of the original sample responded to all time points (staff leaders n = 60; comparison n = 55). Over the course of 1 year, risk trajectories did not differ between groups. Staff leaders did not report significant changes in body mass index, suggesting that they maintained healthy weight over the course of 1 year. Participation as an immersion weight loss programme leader appeared to be protective against weight gain, without increasing eating disorder risk, for healthy young adults. This provides further support for using weight management interventions across a wide range of individuals.
Law Review Circulation 2009: The Combover

For our second annual study of the law review business, we added circulation data for four flagship law reviews (UCLA, Texas, USC, and Washington University) and two specialty journals (NYU’s Tax Law Review and Duke’s Law and Contemporary Problems). We also corrected a few errors in the tables in our first study and filled-in a few blanks. And, finally, we noticed something that might be worth thinking about: the possibility that the law school combover culture has infected law reviews.
GENETIC EFFECTS OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON EGG PRODUCTION AND ADULT EMERGENCE OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER.

Newly emerged male and female flies from one inbred and one randombred population were subjected to 0, 500, 1000, or 1500 r of gamma-radiation and then mated in all possible combinations within populations, resulting in a four x four factorial arrangement of treatments. Daily egg production over a ten-day period was determined from two replicated experiments for the treated flies, their untreated progeny (Generation 1) and grand-progeny (Generation 2). Generation 2 resulted from full-sib matings of members of Generation 1. Eggs laid each day which resulted in viable adults were determined for Generations 1, 2, and 3 (Generation 3 resulting from two generations of full-sib mating). Mean daily egg production was not significantly affected by irradiating males or females with 1500 r or less of gamma rays; however irradiation of the female parent with 2000 r or more of x rays had a marked depressing effect on egg production. Irradiation of the male parent did not affect egg production appreciably. The partial linear and quadratic regression coefficients of daily egg production on day of oviposition for each pair of flies indicated no significant differences associated with levels of irradiation of males or females. Large linear depressing effects associated with irradiationmore » of both male and female parents were found in Generation 1 for mean daily percent adult emergence. Treatment of the females had no appreciable effect on the percent of eggs deposited by their progeny or grand-progeny which resulted in viable adults; however, treatment of the males had a significant effect on descendants. The weighted partial linear and quadratic regression coefficients of percent adult emergence on day of oviposition were determined for each pair of flies, Analyses of the differences of these coefficients indicated that secondary spermatocytes and early spermatids were more sensitive to radiation induced genetic damage than were spermatozoa, later spermatids, primary spermatocytes, and spermatogonia. Less differential effect was found for irradiation of females than males. Nevertheless, gametes treated as primary oocytes were more susceptible to damage than those treated as oogonia. Irradiation of male Drosophila resulted in four to flve times as much genetic damage in the gametes as did irradiation of the female. Evidence of this greater damage is also present in the gametes produced by the progeny and grand- progeny of irradiated males, the extent of the damage being approximately halved each generation. (auth)« less
Heat Flow and Defects in Semiconductors: beyond the Phonon Scattering Assumption

It is universally accepted that defects in materials scatter thermal phonons, and that this scattering is the reason why defects reduce the flow of heat relative to the defect-free material. However, ab-initio molecular-dynamics simulations which include defect dynamics show that the interactions between thermal phonons and defects involve the coupling between bulk (delocalized) and defect-related (localized) oscillators. Defects introduce Spatially-Localized Modes (SLMs) which trap thermal phonons for dozens to hundreds of periods of oscillation, much longer than the lifetimes of bulk excitations of the same frequency. When a phonon traps in a SLM, momentum is lost and the decay of localized phonons does not depend on the origin of the excitation but on the availability of receiving modes. This strongly suggests that carefully selected interfaces and/or δ-layers can be used to predict and control the flow of heat.
Jean Braucher's Contracts World View

Drawing from 14 contracts articles by the late Professor Jean Braucher (which are listed in the Appendix), I restate the structure of her thought about contract law. Subheadings in the article are: (1) The Law in Action; (2) Contracts are Relational, and Doctrinal Law is Marginal; (3) The Social Significance of Contract Doctrine is Largely Symbolic; (4) The Market is Not Perfect: There is Room For Regulation; (5) Government Works, but Not Always; (6) What Kind of Regulation; (7) When Cases Do Get to Appellate Courts, How Should Judges Behave?; (8) A Few Additional Observations.
Risk Drivers as Alternatives to Risk Weights and External Credit Ratings: Regulatory Developments

Certain developments which have prompted recent regulatory concerns – consequently resulting in the Basel Committee’s decision to introduce risk based drivers, include amongst others, concerns that the standardized approaches to credit and counterparty risk relied too heavily on external credit ratings, unjustified applications by banks in their use of internal model-based approaches to drive down risk weightings, and that risk weightings generated by internal models are too complex and opaque.In its Consultative Paper, “Revisions to the Standardized Approach for Credit Risk”, the Basel Committee, whilst acknowledging the vital role played by credit ratings and rating agencies in financial markets and that external credit assessments provide valuable information that may assist in the analysis of credit risk exposures, also concedes that overdue, unjustified reliance may be placed by market participants on such ratings – further resulting in poor risk management in their application. Unaccounted-for exposures are also attributed to considerations prompting a need for other options to external ratings.Other identified weaknesses attributed to Internal Ratings Based approaches include calibration related issues, lack of comparability with exposures risk which are weighted under the Internal Ratings Based approach, as well as a lack of clarity and transparency with related standards. Recent focus by the Committee has included the need to ensure an adequate balance is struck between comparability and sensitivity within the Basel Capital framework, as well as addressing concerns that Credit Conversion Factors, introduced as a means of addressing certain off balance sheet exposures, are inappropriate in their application to leverage ratios.This paper is aimed at highlighting and investigating those developments which have occurred over the years and which have triggered a need for revision in the above mentioned regulatory approaches - as well as changes in the financial environment within which such approaches were introduced. Within such background and framework, inapplicable approaches, out-of-date calibration, and applicability of recently introduced approaches will also be incorporated.
Optical transfer function characterization using a weak diffuser

We present a simple technique which uses a random phase object for single-shot characterization of an optical system's phase transfer function. Existing methods for aberration measurement typically involve holography, requiring complicated wavefront sensing optics or through-focus measurements with known test objects (e.g. pinholes, fluorescent beads) for pupil recovery from the measured wavefront. Here, it is demonstrated that a weak diffuser can be used to recover the pupil of an imaging system in a single measurement, without exact knowledge of the diffuser's surface. Due to its stochastic nature, the diffuser scatters light to a wide range of spatial frequencies, thus probing the entire pupil plane. A linear theory based on the weak object approximations predicts the spectrum of the measured speckle intensity to depend directly on the pupil function. Numerical simulations of diffusers with varying strength confirm the validity of the theory and indicate sufficient conditions under which diffusers act as weak phase objects. Using index matching oils to modulate diffuser strength, experiments are shown to successfully recover aberrations from an optical system using coherent illumination. Additionally, this technique is applied to the recovery of defocus in images of a weak phase object obtained through a commercial microscope under partially coherent illumination.
Radiation Hardening of Voltage References Using Chopper Stabilization

A technique for enhancing the precision of voltage references in an ionizing radiation environment is presented. Radiation-induced mismatch is identified as a fundamental source of error in voltage reference topologies, and chopper offset cancellation is used to mitigate the effect. The efficacy of the proposed technique is demonstrated by irradiating test chips fabricated in a commercial 180-nm process.
A Study of Conflict Resolution Timeliness and Impact of Horizontal Maneuver Parametric Settings

The tradeoff between efficiency and trajectory uncertainty is considered when evaluating how early to initiate a conflict resolution maneuver. Four fast-time simulations are conducted employing a well-established prototype conflict detection and resolution algorithm to quantify the fuel and delay penalties associated with deferring resolution maneuvers in order to increase confidence in the conflict prediction. Additionally, the effects of using finer resolution when selecting conflictresolution heading maneuvers are evaluated. Results indicate that early initiation of resolution maneuvers reduces airborne delay and fuel consumption, but only slightly. This finding suggests that it may be operationally desirable to forgo the modest delay and fuel benefits associated with earlier maneuvers in order to buy down the uncertainty that is inherent in trajectory predictions with longer time horizons.
An In Vitro Impact Model for the Study of Central Nervous System Cell Mechanobiology

Concussive injuries are a subset of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) during which impact of the head against another object leads to rapid deceleration and deformation of brain tissue. Mechanically triggered changes in central nervous system (CNS) cell behavior following this type of injury are believed to play a role in the pathological response to TBI observed clinically. To study the mechanobiology of CNS cells under controlled conditions an in vitro impact tester was developed to mimic the impact deceleration and strain parameters associated with concussive injuries. Similar in concept to a automotive crash test, the bench top system was capable of delivering decelerations from 0 to 300g and biaxial strains from 0 to 25% over durations from 1 to 20 ms to pure populations of cells grown in both 2d and 3d culture. The small footprint (1′ × 1′) and inexpensive design, utilizing many off the shelf components, makes it a useful lab based system. Utilizing the system, neuronally differentiated PC12 cells and cortical astrocytes were treated with both low (50 g + 10% stain) and high (100 g + 20%) single impact conditioning. Following both low and high impact testing, significant PC12 cell detachment was measured, suggesting as others have shown, a susceptibility of neurons to impact conditioning. Alternatively, astrocyte cultures showed no evidence of cellular detachment in response to either low or high impact conditioning, but significant reductions to the production of TGFβ1 and MCP-1 were measured following high impact conditioning. The relationship between impact and the production of key wound healing cytokines by astrocytes not only supports astrocyte mechano-sensitivity, but also suggests their involvement in the wound healing response following TBI. We believe this device provides a unique toolset that will aid in the exploration of cellular impact mechanobiology and that ultimately an improved understanding of cell mechanobiology will help guide the development of diagnostic techniques and therapeutic interventions targeting cells with known roles in the response to TBI.
Will it Permeate? Predicting Ion Channel Ion Selectivity, Permittivity and Block Mechanisms

Modeling permeation of ions through an open transmembrane channel remains a difficult problem in theoretical biophysics. In most general terms a successful approach requires a faithful representation of an ion interaction with water, the channel protein, and other ions in solution, as well as a transport model for ion diffusion through the channel at a variety of applied voltages and salt concentrations. The process of ion permeation occurs over distances of hundred angstroms, and involves time-scale spanning from picoseconds to micro- or, even, milliseconds. In the last two decades a significant progress was achieved in both aspects of the problem: i) improving modeling of ion-protein interactions at short time-scales via empirical force-field employing molecular dynamics simulations, as well as ii) developing an ion-diffusion formalisms for long-time-scale ion motion at various voltages. In this talk I will describe a general hierarchical approach we developed for modeling ion permeation, in which information about ion - protein interactions can be supplied to a generalized electro-diffusion model (PNP) in the form of a Potential of Mean Force (PMF) of an ion in the channel (Mamonov et al. 2003). A generalized PNP to include a soft channel wall (SIP-PNP) (Simakov and Kurnikova, JPC2010) is a simplified model suitable for wider ion channels. Example applications, and limitations of the methods at both atomistic and continuum level of the modeling hierarchies will also be provided. I will also discuss our recent progress in modeling divalent cation permeation and blocking of a model pore of the NMDA receptor, which presents additional challenges to the theory of ion channel permeation (Kurnikov and Kurnikova, JPC 2015; Mesbahi et al. 2016).
Self-powered Sensing for Human-Machine Interface

In this chapter, we discussed the first type of pressure/touch sensor based on TENG. In general, the pressure response contains a high sensitivity region at relatively low pressure, and a low sensitivity region at higher pressure. Possible explanations of this behavior include full closing of air gap or saturation of increasing contact area between the touch object and the device. It has been demonstrated that the open-circuit voltage could be employed for static pressure detection to obtain the amplitude of the applied pressure, while the short-circuit current mainly reveals the dynamic information of the applied pressure like loading rate or acceleration. To achieve the goal of self-powered tactile imaging, multiple triboelectric active sensor units were integrated into a matrix with a common aluminum electrode at the bottom. The TENG sensors have been further incorporated in a keyboard structure for self-powered human-machine interface. The polymer-coated smart keyboard has the function of recognize personal typing patterns to achieve security authentication of personal electronics. This new concept of human-machine interface has numerous potential applications in next-generation smart electronics and wearable devices.
Bioethics in the Post-Modern World: Belief and Secularity

This essay is about the place of belief and secularity in the framing of public policy. My focus is on the problem of both discovering canonical moral content and securing secular moral authority. The exploration of the relationship between belief and secularity is not just a problem of balancing two contending clusters of social interests. It is far more fundamentally a problem of securing legitimating conditions for public policy in large-scale states encompassing believers and non-believers, as well as believers with differing commitments. Europe, the West, and the world are in the light and shadow of immense changes in their intellectual foundations. We live after the wholesale collapse of metaphysical and rationalistic aspirations, ranging from the failure of the modern moral philosophical project to the collapse of state-imposed Marxist orthodoxies. In many important respects, we live in a post-Christian, post-Marxist world. This is not to say that there are not still Christians and Marxists. The author is himself a convert to Orthodox Christianity. It is rather that Christianity and Marxism have been reduced to being a cluster of sects or cults in the sense that there are ever fewer regimes for which Christianity or Marxism finds itself as both the de jure established belief, as well as the de facto directing belief of most of the citizens.
ISQUA16-2413THE IMPACT OF NEW PAYMENT MODELS ON CARE DELIVERY: REDUCTIONS IN EMERGENCY CARE USE AMONG BENEFICIARIES IN A MEDICARE PIONEER ACO

Changes in care delivery patterns represent one mechanism for reducing medical spending growth while preserving or improving quality. For example, many visits to the Emergency Department (ED) are for conditions that could be addressed in lower-cost outpatient clinics, or could be avoided altogether with better outpatient access. Using 2009–14 Medicare claims for a large Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO), we examined whether ACO entry or intensive care management receipt was associated with Medicare beneficiary ED visit rates. Beneficiaries could join the ACO between 2012-14 (Pioneer contract years); we focused on the first two cohorts of entrants (entry in 2012 or 2013) to allow …
Modified carbon nanotubes/tetraethylenepentamine for CO2 capture

Abstract In this work, a CO 2 sorbent was prepared by immobilizing tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) onto modified carbon nanotubes. Modification of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using a KOH reagent was done to increase the surface area and pore volume of the CNTs. The prepared sorbents were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. At the optimal TEPA loading of 75 wt% on modified CNTs (MCNTs), the CO 2 sorption capacity reached 5 mmol CO 2 /g-sorbent for 10 vol% CO 2 in N 2 along with 1 vol% H 2 O at 60 °C. Kinetic and thermodynamic adsorption studies found activation energies for CO 2 adsorption and desorption of MCNTs/TEPA being16.2 kJ/mol and 39.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The low activation energy for CO 2 desorption using MCNTs/TEPA corresponds with a high CO 2 desorption rate, resulting in a low CO 2 capture cost. Therefore, the MCNTs/TEPA sorbent has potential for application to CO 2 capture from gas mixtures.
MET inhibition with and without erlotinib as treatment strategy for T790M-EGFR mediated EGFR inhibitor-resistance in H1975 lung cancer cells

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 1337 EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) erlotinib/gefitinib have been clinically approved for treatment of advanced lung cancer in recent years. Despite initial response in some patients, most patients still remain as primary non-responders. Moreover, initial responders invariably develop secondary resistance in relapse relatively soon. It is estimated that the “gatekeeper” mutation T790M of EGFR contributes to approximately half of the acquired EGFR TKI resistance. MET kinase plays key role in human tumorigenesis and tumor progression, and has been shown to be an attractive therapeutic target in lung cancer. SU11274 is a selective MET kinase inhibitor that has been characterized recently. In this study, we evaluated the role of MET inhibition in EGFR TKI resistance, using the erlotinib-resistant H1975 cell line (expressing L858R/T790M) as the model. Nine of eleven (82%) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines examined co-expressed both MET and EGFR, including H1975 which also had co-activated p-MET and p-EGFR. SU11274 inhibited the downstream AKT and MAPK signaling and effectively induced 79.24 ±7.0% (n=3, P<0.0001) of cellular apoptosis. The MET(-) and EGFR(-) H520 cell line, as negative control, did not undergo any significant apoptosis (0.44 ±0.30%; n=3) by SU11274 (5µM), supporting the specificity of the inhibition. To test for in vivo MET inhibition of H1975 cells, we developed a highly sensitive bioluminesence imaging model (Xenogen IVIS 200) by lentiviral transduction of H1975 cells with a luciferase-expressing vector. SU11274 (100µg/xenograft) resulted in statistically significant retardation of the H1975 tumor xenograft growth (104.24 ±2.92%, n=4, P=0.0251), when compared to untreated control (905 ±162.72%, n=4 per group). In vivo multimodal microPET/MRI imaging demonstrated that SU11274 induced early tumor metabolic response in H1975 xenografts within the first 24 hours. We show that both MET and EGFR pathways are functional in H1975 cells, with the EGFR ligand EGF cross-activating the MET receptor phosphorylation. We observed that erlotinib modestly enhanced the inhibitory efficacy of SU11274 on phospho-MET. Erlotinib enhanced SU11274 when in combination to induce complete abrogation of cytoskeletal functions of H1975 cells in serum-growth conditions under digital time-lapse video microscopy. Dual targeted inhibition (SU11274: 50µg/xenograft plus erlotinib: 100mg/kg) in our in vivo xenograft model induced complete regression of the tumor xenograft growth (n=4 per group, P=0.0003) within two weeks, while suboptimal dose of SU11274 alone here was partially effective in slowing the tumor growth. Here, we provide in vitro and in vivo evidence to show that optimized dual MET-EGFR inhibition represents a potential alternative therapeutic approach in treating EGFR TKI resistant lung cancers.