cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Was Dodd-Frank Justified in Exempting Small Firms from Section 404b Compliance?

SYNOPSIS: In recognition of the high cost of compliance with its Section 404b—Auditor Certification of Internal Controls—the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) provided temporary exemption to small firms (called non-accelerated filers, typically with market capitalization of less than $75 million). This temporary exemption was later made permanent by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010). Our study estimates the opportunity cost of this exemption, that is, the reporting quality gains that would have been achieved by non-accelerated filers if exemption were not granted. We do so by using a “difference in differences approach”: We compare the effect of SOX on the reporting quality of accelerated filers with the effect of SOX on non-accelerated filers (identifying the two groups using market capitalization thresholds). We measure reporting quality principally by using earnings management and accrual quality measures. We detect a significant deterioration in reporting quality for ...
“Obviously, we’re all oil industry”: The criminogenic structure of the offshore oil industry:

The 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill was one of the worst environmental disasters in the United States. The deviant actions of state and corporate actors involved in the Gulf of Mexico spill are no...
Effects of Negative Brand Information: Measuring Impact of Celebrity Identification and Brand Commitment

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationship between negative brand publicity and a celebrity endorser. First, it explores whether identification with a celebrity moderates the relationship between negative brand publicity and evaluation of a celebrity endorser and a brand. Second, it delves into whether consumers’ brand commitment moderates the relationship between negative brand publicity and evaluation of a celebrity endorser and a brand. And the study poses the research question, “Does negative brand information impact consumer evaluation of a celebrity endorser, a brand, and purchase intention?” A 2 × 2 between-subject factorial design was used to test the proposed hypotheses. The two factors are level of identification with a celebrity endorser (low or high identification) and level of brand commitment (low vs. high brand commitment). The study found that negative brand publicity had negative impacts on the celebrity endorser, brand evaluation, and purchase intention.
Evaluation of chlorophyll-a remote sensing algorithms for an optically complex estuary

Abstract Estimation of chlorophyll-a concentrations (Chla in mg m− 3) in optically complex waters using remote sensing is difficult because traditional empirical (e.g., OCx blue/green band ratios) or semi-analytical algorithms (e.g., GSM or QAA) rely on blue–green wavelengths where water constituents other than phytoplankton often dominate the optical properties and satellite-derived reflectance in these wavelengths often contains substantial uncertainties. Some recent attempts have been made to derive Chla based on red and near-infrared wavelengths to avoid such problems. Using in situ data collected from 9 cruises between 1998 and 2010 in Tampa Bay, a large estuary (~ 1000 km2) located in Florida (U.S.A.), we first tested three Chla algorithms, where each algorithm derived Chla as a function of independent variable x = Rrs(λ2) / Rrs(λ1), x = [Rrs(λ1)− 1 − Rrs(λ2)− 1] ∗ Rrs(λ3), and x = [Rrs(λ1)− 1 − Rrs(λ2)− 1]/[Rrs(λ4)− 1 − Rrs(λ3)− 1], respectively. Here Rrs(λ) is the remote sensing reflectance, λ is the wavelength from 660 to 760 nm, and the positions of the these wavelengths were determined using an objective method while the functional forms of Chla = f(x) were determined through regression between Chla and x. A synthetic chlorophyll index (SCI) using 4 green-red MERIS wavelengths was also tested. Using field measured Rrs(λ) data, all these algorithms showed the potentials to retrieve Chla between ~ 2 and ~ 80 mg m− 3, with 2-band algorithms showing the best performance. However, when satellite-derived Rrs(λ) data were used, none of the four algorithms was applicable to MODIS in this estuary, and only a 2-band algorithm in the form of Rrs(709)/Rrs(665) was applicable to MERIS, with other algorithms significantly degraded. The coefficients of the 2-band algorithm for MERIS were determined through regression between in situ Chla and MERIS-derived Rrs(709)/Rrs(665), with the final form of Chla = 10.55x1.51. The algorithm yielded mean relative errors of 35.3% for Chla between 1.0 and 30.0 mg m− 3 when an in situ dataset from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County (EPCHC) was used to tune the algorithm coefficients, which was further validated using another independent dataset. Spatial Chla patterns derived from MERIS for both low and high concentrations also showed reasonable agreement with in situ measurements. In contrast, 3-band and 4-band algorithms yielded significant patchiness in spatial patterns that differed from in situ measurements. Tests in Chesapeake Bay (located on the east coast of the U.S.A.) showed reasonable spatial patterns of Chla using the Rrs(709)/Rrs(665) approach, with a mean relative error of 34.7% for Chla ranging between 1.6 and 21.5 mg m− 3, suggesting that the approach may be generally applicable to other turbid estuaries once algorithm coefficients are adjusted using local data.
EFFECT OF TWO PARADIGMS OF CHRONIC INTERMITTENT HYPOXIA ON CAROTID BODY SENSORY ACTIVITY

Reflexes arising from the carotid bodies may play an important role in cardiorespiratory changes evoked by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). In the present study, we examined whether CIH affects the hypoxic sensing ability of the carotid bodies and, if so, by what mechanisms. Experiments were performed on adult male rats (Sprague-Dawley, 250-300 g) exposed to two paradigms of CIH for 10 days: 1) multiple exposures to short durations of intermittent hypoxia per day (SDIH; 15 s of 5% O(2) + 5 min of 21% O(2), 9 episodes/h, 8 h/day) and 2) single exposure to longer durations of intermittent hypoxia per day [LDIH; 4 h of hypobaric hypoxia (0.4 atm/day) + 20 h of normoxia]. Carotid body sensory response to graded isocapnic hypoxia was examined in both groups of animals under anesthetized conditions. Hypoxic sensory response was significantly enhanced in SDIH but not in LDIH animals. Similar enhancement in hypoxic sensory response was also elicited in ex vivo carotid bodies from SDIH animals, suggesting that the effects were not secondary to cardiovascular changes. SDIH, however, had no significant effect on the hypercapnic sensory response. The effects of SDIH on the hypoxic sensory response completely reversed after SDIH animals were placed in a normoxic environment for an additional 10 days. Previous treatment with systemic administration of O(2)(-)* radical scavenger prevented SDIH-induced augmentation of the hypoxic sensory response. These results demonstrate that SDIH but not LDIH results in selective augmentation of the hypoxic response of the carotid body and O(2)(-)* radicals play an important role in SDIH-induced sensitization of the carotid body.
POSITIVE ION LIQUID SECONDARY ION MASS SPECTRA OF AROMATIC SULFONIUM SALTS

Abstract Organic sulfonium salts exist as pit-charged species in the matrices normally used for liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry. Positive ion LSIMS mass spectra of the sulfonium salts therefore exhibit the intact cation (C+) as the dominant ion species. Generally, the fragment ions are of 30–40% relative intensity and are formed through simple cleavages and rearrangements. Cluster ions such as CAC+ and C3A2 + are also present in the mass spectra (A is the counter ion of the salt). These cluster ions provided confirmation of the molecular weight. Adduct ions are formed between organic sulfonium salts and matrices used in LSIMS such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine. Beam-induced reactions are identified by comparison of mass spectra obtained with electrospray ionization, and by changes in ion products with changes in solvent matrix.
Über die Beziehungen zwischen elastischem Gerüst und glatter Muskulatur in der Arterienwand und ihre funktionelle Bedeutung

Es werden anatomische Verbindungen und funktionelle Zusammenhange zwischen glatter Muskulatur und dem elastischen Gerust der Arterien untersucht.
Adenylate pyrophosphorylase: purification, reaction sequence, and inhibition by sodium ion.

Abstract Adenylate pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.7) was partially purified from extracts of B. subtilis to a form suitable for kinetic studies. Its molecular weight was approximately 45,000 by Sephadex chromatography. From the kinetics of product inhibition, and the requirement for PP i for reversal of the reaction, it was concluded that the synthesis of nucleotide proceeds as an ordered sequential reaction. The enzyme is inhibited specifically by sodium ion and this inhibition is antagonized by magnesium. The possible mechanism is analyzed and discussed.
Atomic layer doping for Si

Abstract We report on initial results of the potential of self-limiting surface reactions for the doping of Si layers using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD). In MBE experiments using Sb as an n-type dopant a self-limiting process is obtained at a coverage of half a monolayer. No evidence of a self-limiting process has yet been found for p-type doping using B2H6 above 400 °C. In the case of MBE growth at temperatures below 400 °C the B is only partly activated (10%–20%). In APCVD grown samples B surface coverage leads to significant growth inhibition of the subsequent deposition of Si from SiCl2H2. Finally, preliminary results of atomic layer doping using AsH3 in APCVD indicate a self-limitation of chemisorption of AsH3 at about 0.1 monolayer at a temperature of 600 °C; however, subsequent growth of Si leads to a smearing out of the As due to segregation and to the residence time of As in the system.
Medium-term outcome after anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery repair in a pediatric cohort.

Background Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery with an interarterial and intramural course (AAOCA) is a rare anomaly with increased risk of sudden cardiac death during or just after exercise among otherwise healthy youth. Risk stratification and management remain controversial, especially for the asymptomatic child with an anomalous right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus (ARCA). Medium-term surgical and quality-of-life (QOL) outcome data are lacking in this population. Methods We performed medical record review on 24 subjects who underwent AAOCA repair between 2001 and 2007 at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. QOL was prospectively assessed with age-appropriate questionnaires. Results Median age at follow-up was 18 (range, 11-25) years, median follow-up from surgery was 63 (range, 12-110) months, and 16 (67%) had ARCA. All were alive without exercise restriction. Thirteen (54%) complained of cardiac-type symptoms postoperatively, most commonly chest pain, none correlating with evidence of ischemia on testing. Of the 13 patients, 7 (54%) reported the same symptoms preoperatively; and of these, 5 had ARCA. Postoperative morbidity occurred in 16 (67%), including pericardial effusion (n = 11), wound infection (n = 2), and development of mild aortic insufficiency (n = 4). QOL questionnaires were sent to 21 subjects; 12 (57%) were returned. Average QOL was normal for all subjects. Conclusions In the medium-term after AAOCA repair, cardiac-type symptoms frequently persist and morbidity is common, but these do not impair QOL. The significance of these findings in the long-term is unknown and warrants continued follow-up.
Noniterative parabolic grid generation for parabolized equations

Generation de grilles curvilignes generalisees tridimensionnelles pour des corps cartesien, cylindriques et spheriques a l'aide d'equations aux derivees partielles paraboliques. Les equations de grilles parabolisees sont resolues de maniere non iterative en avancant dans deux directions
Daily patterns of conjoint smoking and drinking in college student smokers.

Epidemiological data indicate a robust association between smoking and alcohol use. However, a critical question that is less resolved is the extent to which the smoking event takes place during the time of alcohol consumption. The present study used data from an eight-week prospective web-based study of college student smokers to examine daily associations between smoking and alcohol use, using measures of both likelihood and level of use. Findings indicated that within a person, consumption of alcohol and smoking covaried on a daily basis. In addition, consistent with the idea of smoking as a social activity for college students, light smokers were more likely than heavier smokers to smoke while drinking and to smoke more cigarettes while drinking. Smoking behavior among light smokers may be influenced by external social contextual cues, in contrast to heavier smokers who may be more affected by internal cues. Implications of findings for prevention work suggest the importance of targeting social situations in which smoking and drinking co-occur.
Racial differences in health-related beliefs, attitudes, and experiences of VA cardiac patients: scale development and application.

OBJECTIVES. To determine whether there are racial differences in patients' health-related attitudes, beliefs, and experiences regarding invasive cardiac procedures, and to develop psychometrically and conceptually valid scales and single items to assess these dimensions. METHODS. A survey was designed and administered to 854 white and black patients with ischemic heart disease at five VA medical centers. Patients were queried about the domains proposed to be important to treatment decision making by the Health Decision Model: sociodemographic characteristics, social interactions, health care experiences, patient preferences for care, knowledge about diseases and potential treatments, and health beliefs. Using multitrait analysis, the psychometric properties of scales assessing these domains were examined. It was then assessed whether there were racial differences in scale or individual item scores using Χ 2 and t test analyses. RESULTS. The analyses yielded eight psychometrically valid scales: disease severity, patient evaluation of physician's interpersonal style, patient evaluations of VA care, satisfaction with treatment decision making, perceived urgency of catheterization, vulnerability to catheterization, bodily impact of catheterization, and attitudes toward religion. There were only racial differences on mean scores for the latter scale. Individual item analyses indicated that black patients were less likely to have been encouraged by friends or family to have cardiac catheterization, and had less personal or familial experiences with this or other surgical procedures. In contrast to expectations, white patients were more likely to be skeptical of medical care. CONCLUSIONS. The multiple dimensions of white and black patients' health-related attitudes, beliefs, and experiences were examined, and few differences were found. These results suggest that racial differences in patients' attitudes, beliefs, and experiences are not a likely source of racial disparities in cardiac care. Future research will examine the association of beliefs, attitudes and experiences with actual use of invasive cardiac procedures.
Trade liberalization and productivity growth in Korean manufacturing industries: price protection, market power, and scale efficiency

Abstract This paper examines the dynamic impact of trade liberalization on productivity, market competition, and scale efficiency using a panel data of 36 Korean manufacturing industries over nine subperiods from 1966 to 1988. By accounting for both imperfect competition and non-constant returns, trade liberalization is shown to improve productivity performance, increase competition and promote scale efficiency. Quota protection (QR) had a more significant impact than price protection measures on market structure (as reflected in price-marginal cost markups and scale efficiency), vindicating a well-known theoretical proposition about non-equivalence of different trade policy (TP) instruments in imperfect competition.
Incidence, therapy, and consequences of lymphocele after sirolimus-cyclosporine-prednisone immunosuppression in renal transplant recipients

BACKGROUND In a retrospective study we sought to dissect the factors associated with an increased occurrence of clinically significant perinephric fluid collections and lymphoceles among sirolimus-treated renal transplant recipients. METHODS We compared the incidence, predisposing factors, and consequences of these fluid collections among patients treated with sirolimus-cyclosporine (CsA)-prednisone (Pred) (n=354, group I) versus CsA-Pred with or without azathioprine (n=136, group II). RESULTS More group I patients (135/354; 38.1%) displayed perinephric fluid collections (denoted as group III) then group II patients (24/136; 17.6%) (denoted as group IV) (P <0.001). In both subgroups the serum creatinine levels were elevated at the time of diagnosis from a nadir of 2.04+/-1.61 to 4.09+/-2.95 mg/dL (group III) and from 2.53+/-2.34 to 4.36+/-2.90 mg/dL (group IV). A significantly greater number of patients required treatment for lymphoceles among group I (56/354; 15.8%) versus group II recipients (6/136; 4.4%; P<0.001). Single or repeated percutaneous drainage procedures successfully treated 35 group I patients versus all 6 group IV patients (P =0.033). No patients in group II versus 21 patients in group I underwent surgical procedures (P <0.001). A significantly higher rate and higher histologic grade of acute rejection episodes, particularly proximate to the onset of the lymphocele, occurred among group IV patients, namely 54.2% (13/24) versus 21.4% (29/135) group III patients (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Addition of sirolimus to a CsA-Pred regimen resulted in both a higher incidence and a requirement for more aggressive treatment of perinephric fluid collections and lymphoceles.
Reactions of Co/Mo bilayers and amorphous Co50Mo50 alloy films with silicon substrates

Abstract Reactions in the structures of Si(100)/Co/Mo, Si(100)/Mo/Co and Si(100)/amorphous Co50Mo50 alloy films were investigated by Rutherford back-scattering spectrometry, glancing-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The structures of Si/Co/Mo and Si/Mo/Co showed sequential reactions on annealing with the final configurations of Si/CoSi2/MoSi2 and Si/MoSi2/CoSi2 respectively. No phase reversal was found. Phase separation was found in the structure of Si/Co50Mo50 after annealing at 550°C with cobalt silicide forming at the interface between silicon and an outer layer of cobalt silicide and molybdenum silicide. The reactions between the silicon substrate and amorphous Co50Mo50 alloy films took place at temperatures comparable with those required for MoSi2 formation, but at a much lower temperature than that at which crystallization of the amorphous alloy occured.
In vitro chemotaxis of mouse bone marrow neutrophils.

SummaryUnfractionated marrow cell suspensions provide adequate numbers of mouse neutrophils for studies of spontaneous and chemotactic migration under agarose. Mature neutrophils were the only cells to leave the wells in the first 4 hr. For chemotactic studies, quantitation involved microscope counts of cells in selected samples of the migration areas, and the chemotactic responses were linearly related to the dilution of activated serum. Mouse, rat, guinea pig or rabbit activated sera but not human sera were chemotactic for mouse granulocytes. Spontaneous migration was determined by total counts of neutrophils leaving the wells.
Epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA): an alternative to continuous epidural infusions.

Abstract In a clinical study involving 16 surgical patients receiving epidural hydromorphone for postoperative analgesia, we compared the use of a continuous infusion technique to an intermittent bolus technique (involving the use of a PCA device). Although comparable analgesia was achieved in the 2 treatment groups during the 48 h study period, the hydromorphone usage (mean value ± S.D.) was significantly higher in the continuous infusion group (10.2 ± 3.6 mg vs. 4.6 ± 2.2 mg in the intermittent bolus group). In spite of this difference in the analgesic dosage requirement, the side effect profile was similar for the 2 groups. Further studies are needed to confirm this observation and to determine the implications with respect to postoperative recovery.
Post-photosynthetic modification of oxygen isotope ratios of carbohydrates in the potato: Implications for paleoclimatic reconstruction based upon isotopic analysis of wood cellulose

Abstract Models for reconstructing climate from the δ18O values of wood cellulose are based on the assumptions that only the δ18O values of leaf water and biochemical processes occurring in the leaves of trees influence the oxygen isotopic composition of wood cellulose. Experiments with potatoes sprouted under controlled conditions indicate that the δ18O values of shoot cellulose are determined not only by biochemical reactions during photosynthesis, but also by post-photosynthetic processes occurring in the roots and shoots. These experiments also indicate that the δ18O values of water in the roots and shoots, not only those of leaf water, affect the isotopic composition of shoot cellulose. If, as we argue, potatoes do not differ from trees with respect to the processes that determine the 18 O 16 O ratios of shoot cellulose, the aforementioned assumptions made in deriving models for paleoclimatic reconstruction based upon δ18O values of wood cellulose cannot be valid. Our results also suggest that wood cellulose °18O values may not be sensitive to variations in atmospheric humidity, a conclusion at odds with that drawn by paleoclimatologists.
Distribution of thorny excrescences on CA3 pyramidal neurons in the rat hippocampus

Thorny excrescences are the postsynaptic components of synapses between mossy fibers of granule cells and dendrites of CA3 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal formation. Very little quantitative data on the number and distribution of excrescences in adult rats are available because, first, the vast majority are grouped into clusters and it is not possible to identify single excrescences within these clusters at the light microscope level. Second, clusters are of varying lengths and are distributed over hundreds of micrometers, making ultrastructural analysis prohibitively time-consuming. Here, by using three-dimensional analysis techniques at the light microscope level, we quantified the number, length, and distribution of excrescence clusters on proximal and midfield pyramidal neurons in the rat. Results indicated that proximal neurons had similar numbers of clusters on their apical and basal trees, and that cluster length was also similar. In contrast, midfield neurons had more apical than basal clusters, and apical clusters were longer. For neurons in both regions, basal clusters were located about 50% closer to somata. Overall, proximal neurons had more clusters than did midfield neurons, but the clusters were shorter; thus, proximal and midfield neurons had about the same total cluster length, and presumably the same number of single excrescences. Based on these data and on published ultrastructural measurements of single excrescences, we estimated an average of 41 excrescences/neuron, and suggest that a pyramidal neuron can be contacted by a maximum of 41 mossy fiber boutons, each from a different granule cell. J. Comp. Neurol. 430:357–368, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nitrogen dynamics within a wind-driven eddy

Abstract Wind-driven cyclonic eddies are hypothesized to relieve nutrient stress and enhance primary production by the upward displacement of nutrient-rich deep waters into the euphotic zone. In this study, we measured nitrate (NO 3 − ), particulate carbon (PC), particulate nitrogen (PN), their stable isotope compositions ( δ 15 N-NO 3 − , δ 13 C-PC and δ 15 N-PN, respectively), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) within Cyclone Opal , a mature wind-driven eddy generated in the lee of the Hawaiian Islands. Sampling occurred in March 2005 as part of the multi-disciplinary E-Flux study, approximately 4–6 weeks after eddy formation. Integrated NO 3 − concentrations above 110 m were 4.8 times greater inside the eddy (85.8±6.4 mmol N m −2 ) compared to the surrounding water column (17.8±7.8 mmol N m −2 ). Using N-isotope derived estimates of NO 3 − assimilation, we estimated that 213±59 mmol m −2 of NO 3 − was initially injected into the upper 110 m Cyclone Opal formation, implying that NO 3 − was assimilated at a rate of 3.75±0.5 mmol N m −2 d −1 . This injected NO 3 − supported 68±19% and 66±9% of the phytoplankton N demand and export production, respectively. N isotope data suggest that 32±6% of the initial NO 3 − remained unassimilated. Self-shading, inefficiency in the transfer of N from dissolved to particulate export, or depletion of a specific nutrient other than N may have led to a lack of complete NO 3 − assimilation. Using a salt budget approach, we estimate that dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations increased from eddy formation (3.8±0.4 mmol N m −2 ) to the time of sampling (4.0±0.09 mmol N m −2 ), implying that DON accumulated at rate of 0.83±1.3 mmol N m −2 d −1 , and accounted for 22±15% of the injected NO 3 − . Interestingly, no significant increase in suspended PN and PC, or export production was observed inside Cyclone Opal relative to the surrounding water column. A simple N budget shows that if 22±15% of the injected NO 3 − was shunted into the DON pool, and 32±6% is unassimilated, then 46±16% of the injected NO 3 − remains undocumented. Alternative loss processes within the eddy include lateral exchange of injected NO 3 − along isopycnal surfaces, remineralization of PN at depth, as well as microzooplankton grazing. A 9-day time series within Cyclone Opal revealed a temporal depletion in δ 15 N-PN, implying a rapid change in the N source. A change in NO 3 − assimilation, or a shift from NO 3 − fueled growth to assimilation of a 15 N-deplete N source, may be responsible for such observations.
Effective masses and valence-band splittings in GaN and AlN

Full-potential (FP) linearized muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) calculations within the local density approximation are used to determine the conduction and valence-band effective mass tensors and the related Rashba-Sheka-Pikus and Kohn-Luttinger Hamiltonian parameters for wurtzite and zinc-blende GaN and AlN. Spin-orbit coupling effects are obtained from atomic-sphere approximation (ASA) LMTO calculations. The $c$-axis uniaxial strain dependence of the crystal field splitting is determined and the combined results are used to interpret experimental data on the strain dependence of exciton splittings in GaN. Corrections beyond the local density approximation on the effective masses and crystal-field splittings as well as the accuracy of the quasicubic model are discussed.
10 Years Beyond the Health Security Act Failure: Subsequent Developments and Persistent Problems

Ten years after the failure of President Clinton’s Health Security Act (HSA), the United States continues to face multiple stresses in health care, including large numbers of uninsured individuals, increasing costs, questions about quality, and dissatisfaction with managed care. Using the framework of the HSA—particularly universal coverage, spending and managed competition, insurance for low-income persons, and patients’ rights—the post-HSA evolution and current status of the US health care system is traced and lessons to guide future actions are outlined. Neither incremental legislation nor private sector changes in health care organization and financing during the past decade have ameliorated the problems addressed by the HSA, and new troubles have emerged. These problems affect every group in the country and continue to deteriorate health care, yet there has been no political support for large-scale reform. The core components of a vision for future action—universal coverage, quality improvement, cost containment, and subsidies for the economically vulnerable—are essential. There is a pressing need to construct a clear vision that would tie together incremental steps into a rational approach to comprehensive reform and to actually move toward the realization of that vision.
For Lack of Wisdom: Courage and Inquiry in Plato's "Laches"

In contrast to the common view of courage that conceives its contribution to be limited to acts of personal sacrifice, Plato's Laches highlights courage as an essential component of the greatest personal good, namely education. As such, courage operates specifically as a check against the fear of the unknown. This fear poses a serious threat both to politics and to philosophy by engendering a yearning for certainty or scientific expertise that impedes prudent citizenship and precludes genuine inquiry. In its opposition to this fear, courage underlies not only the soldier's risk-taking but also the juror's necessary firmness in distinguishing reasonable and unreasonable doubt. Above all, such courage proves to be essential to a philosopher grappling with his own ignorance. In general, then, courage supports the noble exertions of those who in a decisive respect are deficient in widsom.
Involvement of excitatory amino acid mechanisms in γ-hydroxybutyrate model of generalized absence seizures in rats

Abstract γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a naturally occurring compound which is synthesized from γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), induces bilaterally synchronous spike wave discharges, associated with behavioral changes, reminiscent of petit mal or generalized absence seizures in rats. In the present study, possible involvement of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) in GHB-induced spike wave discharges was investigated. The noncompetitive antagonist of NMDA receptors, MK-801, attenuated GHB-induced spike wave discharges at all doses tested (0.025–1.0 mg/kg) but dose-dependently induced suppression of EEG bursts in GHB-treated animals. The suppression of bursts was never observed with GHB in control experiments. N- Methyl- D -aspartate (NMDA) had a similar effect on GHB-induced spike wave discharges, when it was administered prior to GHB. This effect of NMDA was partially reversed by MK-801. The competitive antagonists of NMDA receptors, (±)CPP and CGP 43487 and the antagonist at the strychnine-insensitive glycine site, HA-966, also suppressed GHB-induced spike wave discharges with the EEG progressing to suppression of bursts but were weaker in this regard than MK-801 or NMDA. These data raise the possibility of involvement of excitatory amino acids in the GHB model of absence seizures.
The Medium and the Thing Itself

Two drawings in Antoine de Saint Exupery's The Little Prince put forth the fundamental problem of comprehension with the respect to the medium of drawing. The first drawing, which the narrator produced as a child, actually represents a boa constrictor that has swallowed an elephant whole and is mistaken for a hat by all the adults to whom it is shown. (Figure 1.) Frustrated by the adults' persistent misreading, the narrator produced a second drawing, which clearly shows the elephant inside. To his chagrin, the adults were still baffled by the rudimentary section, which convinced him to abandon drawing and what, he later lamented, might have been a “magnificent career as a painter.”
Thomas Boghardt, The Zimmermann Telegram: Intelligence, Diplomacy, and America's Entry into World War I

Thomas Boghardt's book on the infamous Zimmermann telegram is an exhaustive, multidimensional treatment of Germany's ill-fated effort in early 1917 to entice Mexico into an alliance against the Uni...
A joint convex penalty for inverse covariance matrix estimation

The paper proposes a joint convex penalty for estimating the Gaussian inverse covariance matrix. A proximal gradient method is developed to solve the resulting optimization problem with more than one penalty constraints. The analysis shows that imposing a single constraint is not enough and the estimator can be improved by a trade-off between two convex penalties. The developed framework can be extended to solve wide arrays of constrained convex optimization problems. A simulation study is carried out to compare the performance of the proposed method to graphical lasso and the SPICE estimate of the inverse covariance matrix.
Determination of pseudoscalar-charmed-meson decay constants from B-meson decays.

Recent progress in understanding form factors for weak $B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}D$ and $B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{D}^{*}$ transitions, combined with a factorization hypothesis, allows one to extract the pseudoscalar-meson decay constant ${f}_{{D}_{s}}=259\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}74$ MeV, implying that the branching ratios for ${D}_{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\tau}{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ and ${D}_{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mu}{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ are (4.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.6)% and (0.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3)%, respectively. A scaling law for nonrelativistic wave functions then implies ${f}_{D}=207\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}60$ MeV, ${f}_{B}=140\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}40$ MeV, and ${f}_{{B}_{s}}=175\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}50$ MeV. Other consequences of the approach include a prediction that the branching ratio of ${\overline{B}}^{0}$ to ${D}^{*+}{D}^{*\ensuremath{-}}$ is about 0.06%, of which 94% occurs in the $CP=+$ final state.
Lead/ethanol interactions. II: pharmacokinetics

Adult male rats were exposed ad libitum to water containing either 500 ppm lead acetate (group-lead) or an equivalent amount of sodium acetate (group-control) for 60 days prior to receiving ip injections of either 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 g/kg ethanol (20% v/v). Blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were recorded over a 6-h time period postinjection, and the groups were compared at each dose for differences in the pattern of ethanol pharmacokinetics. While there was a dose-related effect obtained with increasing ethanol doses producing increasing BAC values, at no dose was there any evidence of group separation at any point during the 6-h postinjection period. These data are instructive with respect to understanding the nature of previously demonstrated lead/ethanol interactions, and rule out the possibility that lead-induced disturbances in the catalysis of ethanol, or some other pharmacokinetic operation, is the basis for the effects of lead on ethanol intake and ethanol administration. Alternative possible accounts of this curious interaction between a xenobiotic contaminant and alcohol are discussed.
Skin color and the therapeutic relationship.

Although issues pertinent to psychotherapy with ethnic minorities have been attended to increasingly over the past two decades, the issue of skin color has more or less been neglected in the psychotherapy literature. The idealization of light skin color in mainstream White and ethnic minority communities in the United States has impacted a wide range of societal and individual perceptions ranging from physical attractiveness to intellectual and social competence. The relevance of this impact in the psychotherapeutic relationship is explored in this article. Skin color is addressed within an historical context, and its influence on intrapsychic and interpersonal processes in the lives of clients and therapists are discussed. Clinical vignettes are presented to illustrate the dynamics of skin color in the therapeutic relationship.
Fatigue and Depression in Epilepsy

Abstract Fatigue is commonly reported as an adverse effect of antiepileptic drugs. In other disorders, fatigue has been closely correlated with depression. We examined the frequency of fatigue in epilepsy patients, the contribution of depression to fatigue, and the impact of fatigue upon quality of life. We measured fatigue and depression with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D), respectively in 89 patients with epilepsy at an epilepsy center, 26 depressed controls (DC), and 30 normal health adults (NHA). Patients with epilepsy also completed the Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-10) scale. Forty-four percent of epilepsy patients met criteria for severe fatigue, while 52% were depressed. The correlation between fatigue and depression was high among epilepsy patients (r = .60, p = .0001). Both fatigue and depression had an inverse relationship with quality of life in epilepsy (p
Collision-free state estimation

In state estimation, we often want the maximum likelihood estimate of the current state. For the commonly used joint multivariate Gaussian distribution over the state space, this can be efficiently found using a Kalman filter. However, in complex environments the state space is often highly constrained. For example, for objects within a refrigerator, they cannot interpenetrate each other or the refrigerator walls. The multivariate Gaussian is unconstrained over the state space and cannot incorporate these constraints. In particular, the state estimate returned by the unconstrained distribution may itself be infeasible. Instead, we solve a related constrained optimization problem to find a good feasible state estimate. We illustrate this for estimating collision-free configurations for objects resting stably on a 2-D surface, and demonstrate its utility in a real robot perception domain.
A Magnetic Bearing Suspension System for High Temperature Gas Turbine Applications: Control System Design

A practical magnetic-bearing control system has been designed based upon modeling and simulation of the dynamics of a jet engine turbine shaft and bearing system. Simulations include models for flexible rotor dynamics, magnetic actuators, auxiliary touchdown bearings, ordinary and extraordinary external loads, and disturbances from rotor imbalance, stator vibration, and noise. The shaft model includes a motor-generator which acts as an uncontrolled negative stiffness.The control system is decentralized, running independently for each of the five physical axes of control (1 axial, 4 radial). The fundamental algorithm is classical PID: proportional for broadband stiffness, integrator (with anti-windup) for high load-carrying capacity, and derivative to dampen disturbances. Additional phase lead is provided via a first-order pole-zero pair. The vibration due to rotor imbalance is eliminated by an autobalancing algorithm. Compensation for magnetic actuator non-linearity and varying rotor-stator gap is provided by feedback of sensed magnetic flux, using sensor coils built into the actuator. The control design can be readily implemented using a commercial Digital Signal Processing system. The magnetic bearing actuators will be driven with commercial power amplifiers via customized front-end electronics.Based upon simulations, the design goal has been achieved of keeping the shaft within two mils of its desired location at the magnetic bearings, under all normal loads. Under extreme external loads, the capacity of the magnetic bearings will be exceeded and touchdown will occur upon backup mechanical bearings. Simulation shows that the control design handles this critical event, which determines the force slew rate required from the actuators.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
Hypothermia: Novel approaches for premature infants

Hypothermia for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy has recently permeated clinical practice for term infants. Speculation regarding a neuroprotective benefit of hypothermia for premature infants with HIE has been raised as a need for further research. Hypothermia for other indications including necrotizing enterocolitis with the hope of tissue preservation following injury is less well studied. A summary of evidence for hypothermia and premature infants is presented in this brief report.
3-D Elastic Analysis of a Circular Nozzle Corner Crack

Application de l'analyse par modele des elements finis d'une fissure circulaire localisee dans la region coin du nez d'un recipient sous pression. Determination du facteur d'intensite de contraintes le long du front de fissures. Comparaison des resultats avec des donnees d'autres auteurs
Whites’ Favorability Toward African Americans: The Influence of a Bargainer or Challenger Strategy1

The purpose of this research is to examine how Whites respond to African Americans who differ in their attitudes about racism and strategies for handling racism. In one condition, White participants read about an African American student who described racism as a minor problem and expressed an individualistic strategy for dealing with it (bargainer). In another condition, the student described racism as a large problem and endorsed a more collective strategy (challenger). Results showed that the bargainer was perceived more favorably; however, participants low in modern racism gave higher favorability ratings to the challenger than did those high in modem racism. Results are discussed in terms of the limitations of the bargainer approach, as well as its appeal to Whites.
Premovement posture and focal movement velocity affects on postural responses accompanying rapid arm movement

Abstract Coordination of intentional upper limb movement concurrent with supporting postural activity was investigated in adult males under varying task conditions. Seven subjects performed a 60 deg rapid elbow flexion (focal movement) to a target in movement times of 170, 195, or 220 ms while standing. Measurement of center of pressure via a force platform revealed that subjects adopted individual premovement postural preferences such that locus of center of pressure resided in one predominant quadrant of the foot. Each premovement postural preference was accompanied by one most common postural muscle onset sequence as indicated by bilateral EMG analysis of rectus femoris and biceps femoris. In addition, onset times for postural muscles exhibiting anticipatory postural activity occurred earlier relative to biceps branchii as focal movement velocity increased. The finding that each premovement postural condition was accompanied by one particular postural muscle onset sequence suggested that postural synergies were flexibly organized with respect to onset sequence.
Cigarette smoking, alcohol, and oral contraceptive use by Type A adolescent—The Bogalusa heart study

Type A behavior pattern (TABP) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) disease and is characterized by hostile, aggressive, competitive behavior. TABP characteristics and CV risk factors have been found in children and adolescents. TABP has been correlated with adult alcohol consumption, but studies associating Type A and smoking are mixed. The purpose of this study is to investigate the smoking, alcohol use, and oral contraceptive use of Type A children and adolescents. The Hunter-Wolf Type A scale and a health habits questionnaire were evaluated for 2092 children, ages 8-17 years, within the context of a comprehensive biracial epidemiological CV screening in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Global Type A and factor components were evaluated: hostility, eagergy, desire for control, drive, and competitiveness. Correlation coefficients reflected the strongest associations between hostility and smoking and between hostility and drinking for white males. The age at menarche appeared to be correlated with the drive component.
Design and evaluation of freehand menu selection interfaces using tilt and pinch gestures

Freehand gestural interaction, in which the user's hands move in mid-air to provide input, has been of interest to researchers, but freehand menu selection interfaces have been under-investigated so far. Freehand menu selection is inherently difficult, especially with increasing menu breadth (i.e., the number of items), largely because moving hands in free space cannot achieve precision as high as physical input devices such as mouse and stylus. We have designed a novel menu selection interface called the rapMenu (Ni et al., 2008), which is controlled by wrist tilt and multiple pinch gestures, and takes advantage of the multiple discrete gesture inputs to reduce the required precision of the user hand movements. In this article, we first review the visual design and behavior of the rapMenu technique, as well as related design issues and its potential advantages. In the second part, we present two studies of the rapMenu in order to further investigate the strengths and limitations of the design principle. In the first study, we compared the rapMenu to the extensively studied tilt menu technique (Rahman et al., 2009). Our results revealed that the rapMenu outperforms the tilt menu as menu breadth increases. In the second study, we investigated how the rapMenu affords the opportunity of eyes-free selection and users' transition from novice to expert. We found that within 10min of practice, eyes-free selection with rapMenu has competitive speed and accuracy with the visual rapMenu and the tilt menu. Finally, we discuss design variations that use other axes of wrist movement and adopt alternative auditory feedback.
Review of our experience with neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma in adults.

Neuroblastomas and ganglioneuroblastomas (NB/GNB) are malignant tumors that rarely occur in adults. Their disease progression and appropriate treatment are unclear. All adults (age ≥18 years) were evaluated for histologically confirmed NB/GNB within our institution. Data were collected via chart review and direct patient contact. From 1980 to 2009, a total of 15 adult patients with NB/GNB were evaluated: six men (mean age 23 years, range 19–33 years) and nine women (mean 34 years, range 20–66 years). Their overall average age at diagnosis was 30 years. Tumor-related symptoms occurred in ten patients: Pain (abdominal 3, back 2, pelvic 1, groin 1) was more common than a mass (abdominal 2) or dysmenorrhea (1). Five patients had tumors found incidentally by computed tomography (4) or chest radiography (1). Primary tumor origins were in the pelvis (4), mediastinum (3), abdomen (2), adrenal gland (2), retroperitoneum (2), and mixed locations (2). Altogether, 12 patients underwent surgical resection (biopsy in 3; resections of R0 in 5, R1 in 3, R2 in 4). Ten underwent chemotherapy. Histology showed four GNBs and 11 NBs. Five patients with stage I disease survived a mean of 21 years (range 10–40 years). Two are alive today. Three stage III patients died at 2, 6, and 9 years after diagnosis (mean 5.7 years). Six of seven patients (one was lost to follow-up) with initial stage IV neuroblastoma died within 5 years (mean 2.7 years). NB and GNB patients had similar survivals. Adult-onset NB/GNB is rare. Symptoms appear to occur later when incurable stage IV disease is detected. Complete surgical resection can lead to long-term, disease-free survival in stage I patients.
Regiospecific Identification of 2-(12-Ricinoleoylricinoleoyl)-1,3-diricinoleoyl-sn-glycerol in Castor (Ricinus communis L.) Oil by ESI-MS4

(12-Ricinoleoylricinoleoyl)diricinoleoylglycerol (RRRR), a tetraacylglycerol, was identified earlier in castor oil. Using ESI-MS4, 95% of the 12-ricinoleoylricinoleoyl chain was identified at the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone of RRRR. Regiospecific location of the 12-ricinoleoylricinoleoyl chain of RRRR on the glycerol backbone was identified and quantified by the ions from the losses of the acyl chains at the sn-2 position as α,β-unsaturated fatty acids from the lithium adduct of RRRR. The regiospecific location was confirmed by hydrolysis of RRRR using sn-1,3 specific lipase. By comparison to the mass spectrum of 1-O-palmityl-2,3-palmitoyl-rac-glycerol containing one ether bond, the 12-ricinoleoylricinoleoyl chain of RRRR is indeed the ester bond between the two ricinoleoyl chains, not the ether bond formed from the two hydroxyl groups of the two ricinoleoyl chains. The structure of RRRR is 2-(12-ricinoleoylricinoleoyl)-1,3-diricinoleoyl-sn-glycerol.