cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inductive policy

The concept of inductive bias can be broken down into the underlying assumptions of the domain, the particular implementation choices that restrict or order the space of hypotheses considered by the learning program (the bias choices), and the inductive policy that links the two. We define inductive policy as the strategy used to make bias choices based on the underlying assumptions. Inductive policy decisions involve addressing trade offs with respect to different bias choices. Without addressing these tradeoffs, bias choices will be made arbitrarily. From the standpoint of inductive policy, we discuss two issues not addressed much in the machine learning literature. First we discuss batch learning with a strict time constraint, and present an initial study with respect to trading off predictive accuracy for speed of learning. Next we discuss the issue of learning in a domain where different types of errors have different associated costs (risks). We show that by using different inductive policies accuracy can be traded off for safety. We also show how the value for the latter tradeoff can be represented explicitly in a system that adjusts bias choices with respect to a particular inductive policy.
Reply to Anthropocene Working Group responses

In 2015, the journal Science invited me to comment on the start of anthropogenic change. That request was likely related to the fact that the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) of the International C...
In-Network Compute: Considered Armed and Dangerous

Programmable data planes promise unprecedented flexibility and innovation. But enormous management issues arise when these programmable data-planes, and the in-network compute functionality they enable, are deployed within production networks. In this paper, we present an overview of these management challenges, then explore the limitations of existing management techniques. Finally, we propose a system, Harmony, that encapsulates new abstractions and primitives to address these problems.
A model of flexible motor sequencing through thalamic control of cortical dynamics

Abstract The mechanisms by which neural circuits generate an extensible library of motor motifs and flexibly string them into arbitrary sequences are unclear. We developed a model in which inhibitory basal ganglia output neurons project to thalamic units that are themselves bidirectionally connected to a recurrent cortical network. During movement sequences, electrophysiological recordings of basal ganglia output neurons show sustained activity patterns that switch at the boundaries between motifs. Thus, we model these inhibitory patterns as silencing some thalamic neurons while leaving others disinhibited and free to interact with cortex during specific motifs. We show that a small number of disinhibited thalamic neurons can control cortical dynamics to generate specific motor output in a noise robust way. If the thalamic units associated with each motif are segregated, many motor outputs can be learned without interference and then combined in arbitrary orders for the flexible production of long and complex motor sequences.
Lower airway bacterial microbiome may influence recurrence after resection of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Objective The lower airway bacterial microbiome influences carcinogenesis and response to immunotherapy in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated the association of this microbiome with recurrence in early NSCLC. Methods Microbiomes of presurgery bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and saliva, and resected stage I NSCLC tumor and adjacent lung tissues of 48 patients were examined by 16S gene sequencing. Tumor gene expression was measured by RNA sequencing. Results Spatial relationships of the different biospecimen types was reflected in their microbiomes, with microbiomes of BAL intermediate to those of saliva and lung tissue. BAL and saliva microbiomes were less dissimilar in patients with high α-amylase levels in BAL, indicating oral aspiration as a source of lower airway microbiota. BAL microbiomes of patients with recurrence within 32 months of surgery differed from those without recurrence during ≥32 months of follow-up (n = 18 each), despite no difference for age, sex, smoking history, and tumor histology and grade. The recurrence-associated BAL microbiome signature was present in 16 of the 18 recurrence cases but in only two of the others. Signature presence was associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (log-rank test P Conclusions Presurgery composition of lower airway microbiome may be associated with recurrence of early NSCLC. This association may reflect an influence of the microbiome on tumor biology.
Abstract B28: Development and validation of a novel organotypic in vitro model of the tumor-lymph-immune interface for predicting immunotherapy resistance

Tumor-associated lymphatics and their connection to the tumor-draining lymph node (TdLN) play important roles in cancer metastasis as well as in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. They bathe the TdLN in cytokines, exosomes, antigens, and suppressive factors from the tumor microenvironment (TME) to alter the antitumor immune response. Such interactions are complex and difficult to study in vivo, yet currently they cannot be readily explored in vitro either. To address this need, we developed a novel in vitro model system of the tumor-lympho-immune (TLI) circuit. These in vitro ”avatars,” dubbed TLI-Ivatars, can sustain ex vivo cocultures of tumors and their TdLNs in a parallelized format, within perfused 3D matrices and communicating channels in a flexible manner. The TLI-Ivatar platform has been shown to sustain long-term cultures (> 3 weeks) of a number of tumor cell lines, which form complex architectures reminiscent of actual tumors, as well as of ex vivo tumor tissue. It also supports the function and viability of immune cells (such as T lymphocytes and dendritic cells) and stromal cells (such as lymphatic endothelial cells and fibroblasts). To validate the modeling of the crosstalk between the tumor and TdLN, we demonstrate that TLI-Ivatar can faithfully recapitulate major in vivo immunotherapy responses with the B16 melanoma model, including (i) dampened cytotoxic T-cell function in tumor-conditioned tdLNs, (ii) enhanced tumor invasion to TdLN of lymphangiogenic (and more metastatic) tumors (compared to the TdLN of non-lymphangiogenic tumors), and (iii) immunotherapy potentiation by factors known to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in vivo, such as lymphangiogenic growth factors and matrix-binding immunomodulatory cytokines. Together, these data highlight the potential of TLI-Ivatar for long-term study of the complex tumor-host cell interplay in TME to gain mechanistic insight and pave the way for patient-specific screening of cancer immunotherapy. Citation Format: Ruolan Zhou, Rachel Weathered, Trevin Kurtanich, Renata Mezyk-Kopec, Aslan Mansurov, Jeffrey Hubbell, Melody A. Swartz. Development and validation of a novel organotypic in vitro model of the tumor-lymph-immune interface for predicting immunotherapy resistance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Evolving Landscape of Cancer Modeling; 2020 Mar 2-5; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B28.
Weight-Related Differences in Salience, Default Mode, and Executive Function Network Connectivity in Adolescents.

Objective The current study examined whether adolescents with weight status ranging from lean to obesity showed weight-related differences in the default mode network (DMN), the executive function network (EFN), and the salience network (SN). Methods One hundred sixty-four adolescents participated in a resting-state functional connectivity scan. A general linear model was used to examine differences in scan patterns among adolescents with lean weight, overweight, and obesity. Results Adolescents with obesity compared with those with lean weight showed stronger within-SN connectivity among the medial orbitofrontal cortex, olfactory tubercle, and pallidum; however, they showed lower connectivity between the amygdala and SN regions (nucleus accumbens, thalamus, putamen). Those with obesity also showed lower connectivity between SN (amygdala, caudate) and DMN (parahippocampus, hippocampus, precuneus) regions. Adolescents with obesity compared with those with lean weight showed lower connectivity between SN (medial orbitofrontal cortex) and EFN (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) regions. Conclusions Obesity appears to be related to stronger connectivity within and between regions implicated in determining the salience of stimuli, which may have implications for reward processing. Lower connectivity between SN and EFN regions may suggest that executive-control efforts are going "off-line" when salience and reward-processing regions are engaged in adolescents who have obesity.
Optimizing smoke alarm signals: Testing the effectiveness of children’s smoke alarms for sleeping adults

Being asleep is an important risk factor for death during a residential fire; however, the high-frequency tone smoke alarms in many homes will not adequately awaken children who are old enough to self-rescue. In a series of previous studies, we identified smoke alarm signals that effectively awaken children 5–12 years old and prompt their escape. Because it is impractical to have separate alarms for children and adults in a household, the purpose of this study is to test whether alarms that are effective in awakening children and prompting their escape are also effective among adults. Using a randomized, non-blinded, repeated measures design, 150 adults 20–49 years old were exposed during stage 4 sleep to four different smoke alarms. Statistical tests included the Kaplan-Meier estimator, generalized Wilcoxon test, and hazard ratios with Wald’s 95% confidence intervals. The median age of study subjects was 30.0 years and 67.3% were female. Almost all (n = 149) subjects awakened and performed the escape procedure to all four alarms; one individual did not awaken or escape to the high-frequency tone alarm. The median time-to-awaken was 2.0 s for the high-frequency tone alarm and 1.0 s for the other three alarms. The median time-to-escape for the high-frequency tone alarm was 12.0 s, compared with 10.0 s for the low-frequency tone alarm and 9.0 s each for the female and male voice alarms. All pairwise comparisons between the high-frequency tone alarm and each of the other three alarms were statistically significant for the probability functions for time-to-awaken and time-to-escape. There were no significant differences in these outcome measures between the latter three alarms, except for female voice versus low-frequency tone alarms for time-to-escape. All alarms performed well, demonstrating that smoke alarms developed for the unique developmental requirements of sleeping children are also effective among sleeping adults. Compared with a high-frequency tone alarm, use of these alarms may reduce residential fire-related injuries and deaths among children, while also successfully alerting adult members of the household.
Panoptic segmentation of wounds in a pig model

One major challenge in the development of new wound healing technologies is the poor translation into the clinic. This primarily stems from differences in methodologies to assess wound healing leading to discrepancies in preclinical and clinical evaluations. The current standard of planimetric software has resulted in improved evaluation accuracy and precision in the clinical setting but has not yet been standardized for pre-clinical studies, resulting low replicability, high variability, and unknown relevance to clinical conditions. To meet these shortcomings, we seek develop a set of tools to automatically characterize wound in a variety of experimental conditions. Here, we present an application of UPSNet for the segmentation of wound images in an experimental group of pigs as a first step towards our overall goal. Our results show high overall accuracy (99.54 ± 0.28), intersection over union (93.32 ± 4.57), and boundary F1 scores (91.19 ± 8.59). Additionally, predicted wound areas differ little compared to ground truth areas (0.5308 ± 0.5501 cm2). An external dataset (n = 45) of wound images yielded high accuracy (98.64 ± 0.71), intersection over union (0.8544 ± 0.0893), and boundary F1 scores (0.6514 ± 0.1928). Predicted wound areas are comparable to ground truth areas (2.6935 ± 1.8838 cm2). With integration of additional experimental subjects, replicates, and experimental conditions, we will further develop and validate this and additional tools to automate the analysis of wound images to ultimately assess wound healing technologies.
Add, Delete, Replace: The Revisionist Project of Workers’ Poetry

Worker’s poetry emerged within the working-class culture of the Wilhelmine Empire and maintained close ties to Social Democracy during the Weimar years. After 1933 well-known worker poets Heinrich ...
6. Time elapsed from initial presentation to diagnostic laparoscopy: factors affecting diagnostic delay in adolescents with biopsy-confirmed endometriosis

Background Endometriosis is common among adolescents with chronic pelvic pain but remains underdiagnosed, in part due to a desire to avoid major surgery for young patients. We sought to identify factors affecting time from presentation to laparoscopy (diagnostic delay) in adolescents with biopsy-proven endometriosis. Methods This is a retrospective review of medical records of women aged 14-25 who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy with biopsy-proven endometriosis at a tertiary hospital system between January 2011 and September 2020. Time from initial presentation to laparoscopy was calculated. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the effect of 3 variables on diagnostic delay: specialty of initial OB/GYN provider (community generalist or subspecialist), clinical setting of initial encounter (routine outpatient visit or ED-/hospital-associated visit), and presence of an adnexal mass on initial imaging. Statistical analysis was performed in Prism v.8. This study was approved by the institutional review board. Results Of 254 adolescents who underwent laparoscopy, 91 (35.8%) had biopsy-proven endometriosis. Of these, 80 had a documented initial encounter prior to laparoscopy and thus included in final analysis. In our sample, median delay to laparoscopy was 5.2 (IQR 2.1-31.8) months. This included 33 (41%) patients who presented to a subspecialist (including via referral from outside providers with no prior records available). For patients presenting to community generalists, median delay was 24.6 (3.5-42.8) months. For women who presented after ED or hospital visit (20%), median delay was 0.6 (0.1-3.7) months, compared to 11.1 (3.3-35.4) in the outpatient setting. If an adnexal mass was found on initial imaging (35%), median delay was 1.6 (0.3-3.7) months, compared to 19.4 (4.7-39.5) without imaging findings. In multiple regression analysis, initial presentation to a subspecialist and presence of an adnexal mass were associated with a shorter time to laparoscopy, with an estimated decrease of 5.2±1.8 months (p=0.005) and 18.6±3.4 months (p Conclusions Patients in the community setting experienced a median time from presentation to definitive diagnosis of over 2 years. Patients with an adnexal mass on initial imaging (35%) experienced a significantly shorter time to laparoscopy (-18.6 months). While presentation to a subspecialist was also associated with a shorter diagnostic delay, the impact of subspecialty referral on access to diagnostic laparoscopy and potential practice differences between generalists and subspecialists requires further study.
Synthetic approaches for copolymers containing nucleic acids and analogues: challenges and opportunities

Deep integration of nucleic acids with other classes of materials has become the basis of many useful technologies. Among these biohybrids, nucleic acid-containing copolymers have seen rapid development in both chemistry and applications. This review focuses on the various synthetic approaches for accessing nucleic acid–polymer biohybrids spanning post-polymerization conjugation, nucleic acids in polymerization, solid-phase synthesis, and nucleoside/nucleobase-functionalized polymers. We highlight the challenges associated with working with nucleic acids with each approach and the ingenuity of the solutions, with the hope of lowering the entry barrier and inspiring further investigations in this exciting area.
Visualizing the Effects of Oxidative Damage on Drosophila Egg Chambers using Live Imaging

Live imaging of Drosophila melanogaster ovaries has been instrumental in understanding a variety of basic cellular processes during development, including ribonucleoprotein particle movement, mRNA localization, organelle movement, and cytoskeletal dynamics. There are several methods for live imaging that have been developed. Due to the fact that each method involves dissecting individual ovarioles placed in media or halocarbon oil, cellular damage due to hypoxia and/or physical manipulation will inevitably occur over time. One downstream effect of hypoxia is to increase oxidative damage in the cells. The purpose of this protocol is to use live imaging to visualize the effects of oxidative damage on the localization and dynamics of subcellular structures in Drosophila ovaries after induction of controlled cellular damage. Here, we use hydrogen peroxide to induce cellular oxidative damage and give examples of the effects of such damage on two subcellular structures, mitochondria and Clu bliss particles. However, this method is applicable to any subcellular structure. The limitations are that hydrogen peroxide can only be added to aqueous media and would not work for imaging that uses halocarbon oil. The advantages are that hydrogen peroxide is readily available and inexpensive, acts quickly, its concentrations can be modulated, and oxidative damage is a good approximation of damage caused by hypoxia as well as general tissue damage due to manipulation.
Measuring Variation in Interpregnancy Interval: Identifying Hotspots for Improvement Initiatives.

OBJECTIVE The study aimed to determine if single year birth certificate data can be used to identify regional and hospital variation in rates of short interpregnancy interval (IPI < 6 months). STUDY DESIGN IPI was estimated for multiparous women ages 15 to 44 years with singleton live births between 2015 and 2016. Perinatal outcomes, place of birth, maternal race, and data for IPI calculations were obtained by using birth certificates. IPI frequencies are presented as observed rates. RESULTS The cohort included 562,039 multiparous women. Short IPI rates were similar to those obtained with analyses by using linked longitudinal data and confirmed the association with preterm birth. Short IPI rates varied by race and Hispanic nativity. There was substantial hospital (0.8-9%) and regional (2.9-6.2%) variation in short IPI rates. CONCLUSION IPI rates can be reliably obtained from current year birth certificate data. This can be a useful tool for quality improvement projects targeting interventions and rapidly assessing their progress to promote optimal birth spacing. KEY POINTS · Near-real time regional and hospital IPI rates can be reliably obtained from current year birth certificate data.. · Substantial variations in rates of short IPI exist between hospital and perinatal regions.. · IPI rates from individual birth certificates can be a tool to target and assess interventions..
Contribution of metal transporters of the ABC, ZIP, and NRAMP families to manganese uptake and infective endocarditis virulence in Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus sanguinis is an important cause of infective endocarditis. In strain SK36, the ABC-family manganese transporter, SsaACB, is essential for virulence. We have now identified a ZIP-family protein, TmpA, as a secondary manganese transporter. A tmpA mutant had no phenotype, but a {Delta}ssaACB {Delta}tmpA mutant was far more attenuated for serum growth and somewhat more attenuated for virulence in a rabbit model than its {Delta}ssaACB parent. The growth of both mutants was restored by supplemental manganese, but the {Delta}ssaACB {Delta}tmpA mutant required twenty-fold more and accumulated less. Although ZIP-family proteins are known for zinc and iron transport, TmpA-mediated transport of either metal was minimal. In contrast to ssaACB and tmpA, which appear ubiquitous in S. sanguinis, a mntH gene encoding an NRAMP-family transporter has been identified in relatively few strains, including VMC66. As in SK36, deletion of ssaACB greatly diminished VMC66 endocarditis virulence and serum growth, and deletion of tmpA from this mutant diminished virulence further. Virulence was not significantly altered by deletion of mntH from either VMC66 or its {Delta}ssaACB mutant. This and the accompanying paper together suggest that SsaACB is of primary importance for endocarditis virulence while secondary transporters TmpA and MntH contribute to growth under differing conditions.
Important factors improving outcome of young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Abstract Four categories of important factors improving outcome of young adults and older adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are biologic type, clinical trials, pediatric vs. adult treatment regimen, and psychosocial challenges. Overall, the outcome of ALL in the age group has improved and beginning to catch up with that in children, as exemplified by CAGLB 10403, a pediatric treatment regimen. Each is dependent for optimum development, however, on progress in the others. Without adequate psychosocial support and improvement, progress in clinical trials, translational research, and pediatric regimen application is impaired. Without clinical trials, advances in translational research, optimal pediatric regimen application and adequate psychosocial research are restricted. Overall, we have improved the outcome and outlook of ALL in AYAs, as exemplified by CAGLB 10403, but we and our current and future patients still have a long way to go.
Differences in Time Burden across Local Therapy Strategies for Early-stage Breast Cancer.

"Time burden" (time required during treatment) is relevant when choosing a local therapy option for early-stage breast cancer but has not been rigorously studied. We compared the time burden for three common local therapies for breast cancer: (1) lumpectomy plus whole-breast irradiation (Lump+WBI), (2) mastectomy without radiation or reconstruction (Mast alone), and (3) mastectomy without radiation but with reconstruction (Mast+Recon). Methods Using the MarketScan database, we identified 35,406 breast cancer patients treated from 2000 to 2011 with these local therapies. We quantified the total time burden as the sum of inpatient days (inpatient-days), outpatient days excluding radiation fractions (outpatient-days), and radiation fractions (radiation-days) in the first two years postdiagnosis. Multivariable regression evaluated the effect of local therapy on inpatient-days and outpatient-days adjusted for patient and treatment covariates. Results Adjusted mean number of inpatient-days was 1.0 for Lump+WBI, 2.0 for Mast alone, and 3.1 for Mast+Recon (P < 0.001). Adjusted mean number of outpatient-days was 42.9 for Lump+WBI, 42.2 for Mast alone, and 45.8 for Mast+Recon (P < 0.001). The mean number of radiation-days for Lump+WBI was 32.4. Compared with Mast+Recon (48.9 days), total adjusted time burden was 4.7 days shorter for Mast alone (44.2 days) and 27.4 days longer for Lump+WBI (76.3 days). However, use of a 15 fraction WBI regimen would reduce the time burden differential between Lump+WBI and Mast+Recon to just 10.0 days. Conclusions Although Mast+Recon confers the highest inpatient and outpatient time burden, Lump+WBI carries the highest total time burden. Increased use of hypofractionation will reduce the total time burden for Lump+WBI.
Chick embryo limb bud cell culture for screening environmental contaminants

Few non-mammalian systems have been used as models for assessing the developmental toxicity of environmental contaminants although the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes mammalian in vitro systems as appropriate developmental toxicity screens. The chick embryo micromass cell culture system was tested for its predictability to screen developmental toxicants to the skeletal system. Four toxicants with known toxicities in the rodent limb bud cell culture system (arsenate, aspirin, caffeine and methylmercury) were chosen for testing in the chick culture system. Cartilage-specific products, proteoglycans, were used to determine differentiation of the cells in culture by staining with Alcian Green then measured using a spectrophotometric method. Proliferation was determined by staining with Crystal Violet. Dose and temporal response experiments were conducted to determine the most sensitive dose and time of exposure to cells in culture. Overall, the micromass cultures of the chick limb buds responded in a manner similar to those seen in the rodent culture.
Reduced fracture risk with early corticosteroid withdrawal after kidney transplant

Corticosteroid use after kidney transplantation results in severe bone loss and high fracture risk. Although corticosteroid withdrawal in the early posttransplant period has been associated with bone mass preservation, there are no published data regarding corticosteroid withdrawal and risk of fracture. We hypothesized lower fracture incidence in patients discharged from the hospital without than with corticosteroids after transplantation. From the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), 77 430 patients were identified who received their first kidney transplant from 2000 to 2006. Fracture incidence leading to hospitalization was determined from 2000 to 2007; discharge immunosuppression was determined from United Networks for Organ Sharing forms. Time-to-event analyses were used to evaluate fracture risk. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 1448 (808–2061) days. There were 2395 fractures during follow-up; fracture incidence rates were 0.008 and 0.0058 per patient-year for recipients discharged with and without corticosteroid, respectively. Corticosteroid withdrawal was associated with a 31% fracture risk reduction (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.59–0.81). Fractures associated with hospitalization are significantly lower with regimens that withdraw corticosteroid. As this study likely underestimates overall fracture incidence, prospective studies are needed to determine differences in overall fracture risk in patients managed with and without corticosteroids after kidney transplantation.
Microtubule Networks as a Medium for Adaptive Information Processing

Microtubules are protein structures that develop cell specific organizations and are known to play a major role in cell morphology, protein transport, and organelle structure. Microtubules have also been suggested as a medium for long range intracellular signaling. We report on a coupled oscillator model of adaptive signal processing motivated by microtubule organization and growth dynamics. The working hypothesis is that microtubules and associated proteins serve as a fast signal integration system within neurons and that the input-output transform effected by this lattice is molded through adaptive self-stabilization (essentially error feedback acting on the microtubule organization).
On Perceptions of Fairness: The Role of Valuations, Outside Options, and Information in Ultimatum Bargaining Games

This study examines fairness perceptions in ultimatum bargaining games with asymmetric payoffs, outside options, and different information states. Fairness perceptions were dependent on treatment conditions. Specifically, when proposers had higher chip values, dollar offers were lower than when responders had higher chip values. When responders had an outside option, offers were higher and were rejected less often than when proposers had an outside option. However, a given offer was rejected more often when responders had an outside option. Therefore, similar to the first mover advantage, the “advantaged” or “entitled” player received a higher monetary payoff than they would otherwise. When there was complete information about payoff amounts (payoff conversion rates and outside options), rejections occurred more often, and given offer amounts were rejected more often than when there was incomplete information. When there was incomplete information, offers were higher in the initial rounds than in the final rounds. These results suggest that proposers made offers strategically, making offers that would not be rejected, rather than out of a concern for fairness.
A Vision for Multi-agent Systems Programming

In order to increase the number of agent applications in practical use, it is a given that we need to incease the rate at which problems are conceptualized and specified using MAS-based approaches. However, we must also address two other problems: moving from specification to actual implemented systems without programming from scratch, and the training of people to carry out such work. In this paper we examine four desiderata for practical development tools – a focus on programming as opposed to architecture; programming at the multi-agent level; ”value-added” architectures; support for persistent, flexible, robust action. We also examine observed training shortfalls of graduate students attempting to implement technically complex multi-agent applications. These desiderata and observations are made in the context of DECAF, an MAS development toolkit developed at the University of Delaware and based on early versions of RETSINA.
Rising Wage Inequality: Does the Return to Management Tell the Whole Story?

This paper argues that the increased wage inequality observed in recent years is driven by changes in management compensation. The analysis is conducted within the framework of a two-sector search model with heterogeneous employees and heterogenous jobs i.e. employees with different educational levels who work in either management or the non-management sector of a firm. Individuals employed in the non-management sector search for management jobs while employed. This model characterizes the labor market flows, the firm’s structure and the employee composition as well as the wage distribution in the firm. Using the personnel records from a large pharmaceutical company, the parameters of the model are estimated. This allows us to conclude that the increased wage inequality observed is due to amplified within and between group wage inequality which is driven by an increased gap between management and non-management wages.
Checks and Balances: Using the Freedom of Information Act to Evaluate the Federal Reserve Banks

Introduction 214 I. Background 219 A. The History of the Federal Reserve System 220 B. The History of FOIA and the Development of Agency Status 223 1. The legislative history of FOIA 225 2. The courts grapple with defining agency under FOIA using independent, governmental authority to determine agency status 227 3. After defining an entity as an agency, courts analyze the applicability of FOIA exemptions to the information the agency seeks to withhold 230 C. The Courts Have Not Resolved Whether the Federal Reserve Banks are Agencies Under FOIA 232 II. The Federal Reserve Banks are Government Agencies, and Therefore Subject to FOIA 234 A. The Banks are Independent from the Executive and Exercise Governmentally-Related Authority in a Manner Sufficient to Qualify Them as FOIA Agencies 235 1. The Banks exercise authority independently of the executive 236 2. The Soucie test demonstrates that the Banks‘ lack of rule-making authority does not preclude the Banks from agency status 239
Limits to Growth Concepts in Classical Economics

The neoclassical models of economics seem to have eluded the concept of physical limits to growth by assuming that the market and the technological advances evoked by it will make it possible to tap new resources and create substitution of production factors. They have also rarely addressed limitations created by the political, psychological, and social institutions in their analyses. Classical economics, on the other hand, appears to have been cognizant of a variety of limitations to growth, including demographic, environmental, and social. Using system dynamics method, I reconstruct growth models described by key classical thinkers and explain their behavior using computer simulation. The paper demonstrates how system dynamics can be used with advantage for constructing models of theoretical concepts in economics and experimenting with them for understanding their behavior. Given the variety of assumptions used by the classical thinkers, a case is made also for adopting a pluralistic perspective in economic analyses.
When Huygens and Mariotte agree

Edme Mariotte in the seventeenth century attributed halos to tiny ice prisms in the atmosphere. Christiaan Huygens attributed them to tiny spheres or cylinders. The two seemingly incompatible theories largely agree in their predictions for the common halos. This article explains why.
The Effect of Dietary Menhaden Fish Oil on α-Tocopherol Status in Rodents is Both Concentration and Tissue Dependent

This study was designed to measure the dose and time dependent effect of menhaden fish oil (MFO) on immune cell α-tocopherol in the rat. The level of dietary fat and α-tocopherol (equalized in amount and chemical form) were constant across all experimental groups with increasing percentages of lard replaced with MFO. As the proportion of fish oil in the diet increased, plasma α-tocopherol decreased. Splenocyte α-tocopherol increased significantly with time with rats fed 4.5% MFO for 2 week having significantly higher α-tocopherol than rats on all other diets (P < 0.05). Plasma arachidonic acid (AA) decreased and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) increased as the percentage fish oil in the diet increased. Splenocyte fatty acid composition was significantly altered by diet, with inclusion of as little as 4.5% MFO sufficient to decrease AA from 25% to 12% of total fatty acids (P < 0.001) and increase EPA from 1% to 4% of the total fatty acids (P < 0.001). Additional MFO significantly increased splenocyte EPA and DHA to approximately 7% and 5% of the total fatty acids, respectively, without any further decline in splenocyte AA. Changes in splenocyte fatty acid composition occurred rapidly with approximately 85% of the total change occurring within the first week of dietary treatment. The rapid and dose dependent enrichment of immune cells with (n-3) fatty acids may compromise the antioxidant status of these cells. However, at the lowest level of dietary fish oil tested (4.5%), immune cells appeared to compensate for the higher (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid content with a significant accumulation of α-tocopherol. That changes in fatty acid composition preceded changes in vitamin E status of the immune cell suggests that the former affects the latter.
Behavioural responses of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to stimulation with sugars

Abstract Tarsal or antennal stimulation with sugars of adult male or female Heliothis virescens results in proboscis extension. Moths are most responsive to sucrose followed by fructose and glucose. Tarsal response to glucose is higher than that of antennae while stimulation of either appendage with sucrose or fructose is similar. Moths do not respond to ribose, rhamnose and raffinose, constituents of cotton extrafloral nectar. There is also no difference in response between males and females, mated and virgin individuals, with age and during scotophase or photophase.
Raltegravir-Induced Rash in a Patient Receiving Rifampin

Objective:To present what we believe to be the first report of a possible case of raltegravir-induced rash in a patient receiving concurrent rifampin treatment.Case Summary:A 38-year-old man with newly diagnosed HIV and miliary tuberculosis (TB) was started on 4-drug TB treatment in combination with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) including efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Eleven days later, the patient developed a rash and HAART was discontinued. Eight days later, HAART was reinitiated with raltegravir 400 mg twice daily and standard dose tenofovir/emtricitabine 300 mg/200 mg. After 14 weeks on this HAART regimen, the patient achieved an undetectable viral load with immune reconstitution. Twenty-two weeks after raltegravir initiation, the dosage was increased to 800 mg twice daily with continuation of emtricitabine/tenofovir. Sixteen days later, the patient developed a maculopapular rash leading to HAART discontinuation. The rash resolved in 2 weeks, and raltegravir rechallenge was n...
In vitro chemotherapy sensitivity testing of human ovarian carcinoma: comparison of optical colony counting and [3H]thymidine incorporation assays.

Abstract Optical colony counting was used for assessing drug sensitivity of 87 samples (from 51 primary solid tumors, 19 metastatic solid tumors, and 17 ascites fluids) from 83 common epithelial type ovarian carcinomas. The evaluability rate by the optical counting method was 26.4%. Fifty of these samples were also assessed by a tritiated thymidine ([3H]dThd) incorporation assay (evaluability rate by incorporation assay, 74%). In the 12 cases fully evaluable by both methods, the correlation coefficients for regression of drug sensitivity data between the methods ranged from 0.503 to 0.976 (mean, 0.745); for the combined data of these cases, the correlation coefficient was 0.707. The new [3H]dThd assay appears useful and efficient for performing in vitro chemotherapy sensitivity testing of human ovarian cancer.
Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) during alcohol withdrawal and abstinence.

The neuropeptides diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) elicit anxietylike symptoms when administered intracerebroventricularly to laboratory animals. Because of the similarities between the symptoms of certain anxiety states and the alcohol withdrawal syndrome, we hypothesized that increased secretion of either of these endogenous neuropeptides may, at least in part, be responsible for the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. We therefore measured DBI and CRH concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 15 alcohol-dependent patients during acute withdrawal (Day 1) and again at 3 week's abstinence (Day 21). In addition, plasma concentrations of cortisol were measured to evaluate the relationship between pituitary-adrenal axis activation and CSF CRH concentrations. CSF CRH (p < .04), but not CSF DBI, was significantly higher on Day 1 than on Day 21. Although there was a significant decrease in plasma cortisol from Day 1 to Day 21 (p < .001), a significant correlation between CSF CRH and plasma cortisol concentrations was not observed at either time point. Neither CSF neuropeptide correlated with clinical measures of withdrawal severity. These tentative findings may implicate CRH, but not DBI, in the pathogenesis of alcohol withdrawal. Alternately, the central release of CRH and DBI may not be adequately reflected in lumbar CSF.
THE EFFECT OF PITUITARY STALK-SECTION ON THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF FEMALE RATS1

INTRODUCTION IN CONTRAST to the well-known anatomical and physiological evidence of a functional relationship between the hypothalamus and the neurohypophysis, a controversy still exists as to whether the hypothalamus exerts direct control over the adenohypophysis. Much indirect evidence indicates that exteroceptive stimuli such as light, temperature, humidity, as well as olfactory, auditory, tactile and proprioceptive impulses may influence pituitary function. More direct evidence of such an influence has been obtained from experiments in which parts of the hypothalamus have been stimulated or damaged, the infundibular stalk has been transected or the hypophysis has been transplanted. Section of the stalk provides a means for studying the results of interruption of possible neural paths from hypothalamus to pituitary, as well as of the hypophyseal portal blood vessels which, according to some,
Phenylketonuria revisited: treatment of adults with behavioural manifestations.

Dietary treatment of three PKU patients with irreversible changes is described and evaluated.
A personal computer based data acquisition system for the direct standardization of radionuclides

Abstract 4πβ-γ coincidence counting with efficiency extrapolation is the most common method for direct activity measurements in the radioactive decay of nuclides. A system has been developed which combines coincidence and anticoincidence counting as a check on systematic uncertainties. Suitable electronic components feed into scalers and a multichannel pulse height analyzer that are both housed in a personal computer. This provides a relatively inexpensive system for data acquisition and data reduction. The system has been used in BIPM comparisons of radioactivity.
Access site hematoma requiring blood transfusion predicts mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry

Objective: To determine both the etiology of and outcomes associated with access site hematoma requiring transfusion (HRT) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background: Access site hematoma in the setting of PCI is the most frequent periprocedural complication (2–12%). Antiplatelet and antithrombin therapy is designed to lower the incidence of adverse ischemic events while maintaining an acceptable rate of hemorrhagic complications. Methods: This was a prospective, multi-center, cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing PCI during 3 NHLBI Dynamic Registry recruitment waves (1997–2002). The primary endpoints included the incidence of HRT, in-hospital death, and death at 1-year. Results: The incidence of HRT was 1.8% and femoral access was common. Older age, lower BMI, female sex, concomitant renal, cerebrovascular, peripheral vascular, and pulmonary disease were significantly associated with HRT. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, thrombolytic therapy, and postprocedure heparin were more commonly used in HRT patients, but there was no difference in thienopiridiene use. Attempted lesions in patients developing HRT were more often calcified, thrombotic, located in an ostial location, or class B2 or C. In-hospital mortality and 1-year death rate was 9 and 4.5 times higher in HRT patients respectively. Following adjustment, HRT remained independently associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.66–7.77) and 1-year death (hazard ratio [HR] 1.65, 95% CI 1.01–2.70, P = 0.048). Independent predictors of HRT included age, female sex, IIb/IIIa inhibitors, thrombolytic agents, and concomitant conditions. Conclusions: Access site complications, especially HRT, remain a very important predictor of adverse procedural success and patient outcome. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Emerging technologies and corporate culture at Microsoft: a methodological note.

This article explores factors important in the study and examination of corporate culture and change. The particular focus is on the technological methods used to conduct a study of accessible technology and corporate culture at Microsoft Corporation. Reasons for particular approaches are explained. Advantages and challenges of emerging technologies that store and retrieve information in the study of corporate culture are reviewed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structurally Impulsive Controllablity for Descriptor Systems

In this paper, the concept of structurally impulsive controllablity is defined for descriptor systems of the form E p ? = A q x + B r u, where E p , A q and B r are parameterized matrices, which is an extended form of structured descriptor systems [1]. Some necessary and sufficient conditions for the system to be structurally impulsive controllable are formulated algebraically. Consequently, we give an answer for structurally strong controllablity. These may be thought of as a counterpart of structurally complete (reachable) controllablity.
AN ANALYSIS OF DIFFUSION IN A MEDIUM CONTAINING DISPERSED REACTIVE CYLINDERS

(1979). AN ANALYSIS OF DIFFUSION IN A MEDIUM CONTAINING DISPERSED REACTIVE CYLINDERS. Chemical Engineering Communications: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 189-198.
Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for pediatric trauma: experience with five cases

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) was used to treat five pediatric trauma patients (ages 1 to 17 years) with respiratory failure unresponsive to conventional mechanical ventilation. Diagnoses in these patients that resulted in respiratory failure included hydrocarbon aspiration (one patient), multiple trauma with pulmonary contusion (two patients), bronchopleural fistula (one patient), and neardrowning (one patient). Time on ECLS bypass averaged 328 h (range 140–527 h). Physiologic complications included bleeding, cardiac arrest, cardiac tamponade, hypoxemia, and hypotension. Mechanical complications involving the bypass circuit included roller-pump raceway rupture, roller-pump failure, and membrane oxygenator failure. All complications were managed without mortality. Three of the five patients were decannulated from ECLS and survived. Support was terminated in the remaining two due to irreversibility of the pulmonary injury. ECLS may provide life-saving support to pediatric patients with respiratory failure after trauma when conventional means of ventilatory support have failed.
Solvent Extraction Processes: A Survey of Systems in the SITE Program

Solvent extraction of contaminated soils, sludges and sediments has been successfully completed at a number of Superfund sites. Each commercialized process uses a unique operating system to extract organic contaminants from solids. These operating systems may be classified by the properties of the solvents each utilizes: (1) standard solvents, (2) near-critical fluids/liquified gases, and (3) critical solution temperature solvents. Pretreatment and post-treatment requirements vary depending upon the operating systems of the solvent extraction system. Future demonstrations of these technologies by the U.S. EPA’s Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation Program will provide additional information regarding the efficacy of these processes.