cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Nudges Reduce Disparities? Choice Architecture Compensates for Low Consumer Knowledge and SES

Choice architecture tools, commonly known as nudges, can powerfully impact decisions and improve welfare. Yet it is unclear who is most impacted by nudges. If nudge effects are moderated by socioeconomic status (SES), these differential effects could increase or decrease disparities across consumers. Using several pre-registered studies as well as surveys of real retirement decisions, we demonstrate that consumers with lower SES, lower domain knowledge, and lower numerical ability are impacted more by a wide variety of nudges. As a result, “good nudges” that were designed to facilitate selection of superior options reduced choice disparities, improving choices more among consumers with lower SES, financial literacy, and numeracy than among those with higher levels of these variables. Compared to “good nudges”, “bad nudges” that were designed to facilitate selection of inferior options exacerbated choice disparities. These results generalized across real retirement decisions, different types of nudges (defaults, sorting, and choice overload), and several consumer decision domains. Across studies, we tested different explanations of why SES, domain knowledge, and numeracy moderate nudges. Our results suggest that nudges are a useful tool for those who wish to reduce disparities. We discuss implications for marketing firms and segmentation.
Serious diagnoses at revisits in children discharged from the emergency department with back pain

Background Back pain is often benign but can be a harbinger for serious pathology. Little is known about the outcome in children with back pain but no serious diagnoses detected at the initial visit. We sought to estimate the rate of serious diagnoses at revisits among children initially discharged from the emergency department (ED) with back pain. Methods We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients from 45 pediatric hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System database from October 1, 2015, to March 31, 2019. We included patients discharged from the ED with a principal diagnosis of back pain and excluded patients with trauma and concurrent or previously known serious diagnoses. We identified the rates and types of serious diagnoses made within 30 days of the index visit. We examined the rates of diagnostic tests at the index visit in patients with and without serious diagnoses. Results Of the 25,130 patients with back pain, 88 (0.4%, 95% confidence interval = 0.3% to 0.4%) had serious pathology diagnosed within 30 days. The most common diagnoses were anatomic (40%) and nonneurologic (39%) categories such as vertebral fracture and nephrolithiasis; infectious (19%) and neoplastic etiologies (3%) were less common. Diagnoses requiring acute interventions such as cauda equina syndrome (n = 2) and intraspinal abscess (n = 3) were rare. Patients with serious diagnoses at revisits underwent more blood tests and back ultrasound at the index visit compared to patients without serious diagnoses. Conclusions In pediatric patients discharged from the ED with a diagnosis of back pain and no serious or trauma diagnoses, there is a low rate of serious pathology on revisits. Of the serious diagnoses identified, high-acuity diseases were rare. For the subset of patients with clinical suspicion for serious pathology but none identified at the index visit, this represents an opportunity for further research to optimize their management.
The Simulation Hypothesis and Meta-Problem of Everything

In a new paper, David. J. Chalmers examines eleven possible solutions to the meta-problem of consciousness, ‘the problem of explaining why we think that there is a problem of consciousness.’ The present paper argues that Chalmers overlooks an explanation that he has otherwise taken seriously, and which a number of philosophers, physicists, and computer scientists have taken seriously as well: the hypothesis that we are living in a computer simulation. This paper argues that a particular version of the simulation hypothesis is at least as good of a solution to the meta-problem of consciousness as many explanations Chalmers considers, and may even be a better one — as it may be the best solution to a much broader meta-philosophical problem: the meta-problem of everything, the problem of explaining why our world has the quantum-mechanical, relativistic, and philosophical features it does.
Vitamin D deficiency increases prostatic megalin expression and globulin-bound testosterone import, increasing prostatic androgens in African American men

Vitamin D deficiency associates with an increased risk of prostate cancer (PCa) mortality and is hypothesized to contribute to PCa aggressiveness and disparities in African Americans. We previously reported a relationship between African-ancestry, circulating and intraprostatic vitamin D metabolites and prostatic expression of megalin, an endocytic membrane receptor that internalizes globulin-bound hormones. Here, we show prostatic 5-α dihydrotestosterone levels were higher in African American men and correlated inversely with serum vitamin D status. We further demonstrate that megalin imports sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)-bound testosterone and regulates intraprostatic hormone levels in a prostatic knockout of Lrp2 (megalin). Vitamin D and androgen regulated megalin expression in cell lines, patient-derived prostate epithelial cells, and prostate tissue explants. Megalin levels oscillated during PCa progression, further supporting a role in androgen import. Our findings highlight the negative impact of vitamin D deficiency on PCa and a link to PCa disparities observed in African Americans.
Der Ranviersche Schnürring

Die Myelinscheide der peripheren Nervenfortsatze (Fasern) ist in regelmasigen Abstanden unterbrochen, und die Lucke in der Umhullung wird in der Literatur als Ranvierscher Schnurring bezeichnet. Nachdem man die Natur der Myelinscheide besser verstehen gelernt hat (siehe Tafel 29), ist man auch im Verstandnis dieser Knotenstruktur weiter gekommen Man hat zum Beispiel gefunden, das eine einzelne Schwannsche Zelle mit jedem Segment der Nervenfaser verbunden ist. Die Myelinscheide, die sich aus aufeinanderfolgenden Lagen von Plasmamembranen der Schwannschen Zelle ergibt, bildet eine geschlossene Rohre (My) um die meisten internodalen Gebiete. In der Nahe des Schnurrings endet das Zytoplasma der Schwannschen Zelle an den ausgestreckten Randern der Hullschichten und bildet eine Reihe von lippenformigen Falten (X), welche die Faser umhullen. In der Region des Schnurrings selbst verzweigen sich nur fingerformige Fortsatze (Fo) von benachbarten Schwannschen Zellen und bedecken die Zone des Knotens. Eine Basalmembran (BM) und Bindegewebsfasern (BG) des Endoneuriums vervollstandigen die Umhullung der Faser. Folglich ist am Knoten die Membran des Axons frei von Myelin und den intersti tiellen Flussigkeiten, die durch die Basalmembran und zwischen den Schwannschen Zellfortsatzen durchdiffundieren, ausgesetzt.
The Stationary Tower: Notes on a Course by W. Hugh Woodin

Elementary embeddings The stationary tower Applications Appendix: Forcing prerequisites Bibliography Index.
Transition experience of young adults with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): a mixed methods study

Background Outcomes following transition can be poor; many young adults are ill prepared to take responsibility for their health care, older adolescents report incomplete understanding of medications, and parents remain largely responsible for their care. Good patient–provider relationships are associated with better adherence; however, the role of the relationship between post-transition patients and their providers has not been explored. The current study aimed to understand transition of young adults with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the impact of the paediatric patient–provider relationship and what determines the adult patient–provider relationship. Methods This study examined the experience of young adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (aged 18–30) after transition. Twenty-nine patients completed a 31-item online survey of their transition experience from paediatric to adult care. Responses were coded quantitatively and qualitatively, and qualitative responses were analysed by two independent raters. Results Positive themes regarding adult providers included independence, autonomy and trust, while negative themes included initial discomfort and confusing logistics. Five of six patients who reported ‘terrifying’ first visit experiences with their adult providers reported overall positive relationships. The earlier the diagnosis age, the less involved in medical decisions they were as an adult (r = 0.41, P = .03). Those who had a more positive experience with their paediatric providers were more likely to bring up confusion with their adult providers (r = .45, P = .04), and those who had a more positive experience with their adult providers were more likely to endorse collaborative medical decision-making (r = .57, P < .001). Conclusions Patients diagnosed with IBD at a young age may need extra education and self-management strategies, as they were less likely to exhibit behaviours indicative of a successful transition to adult care. Additionally, transition programme development may benefit from the post-transition perspective across chronic illness populations.
Shape as memory storage

In a sequence of books, I have developed new foundations to geometry that are directly opposed to the foundations to geometry that have existed from Euclid to modern physics, including Einstein. The central proposal of the new foundations is this: SHAPE ≡ MEMORY STORAGE Let us see how this contrasts with the standard foundations for geometry that have existed for almost three thousand years. In the standard foundations, a geometric object consists of those properties of a figure that do not change under a set of actions. These properties are called the invariants of the actions. Geometry began with the study of invariance, in the form of Euclid's concern with congruence, which is really a concern with invariance (properties that do not change). And modern physics is based on invariance. For example, Einstein's principle of relativity states that physics is the study of those properties that are invariant (unchanged) under transformations between observers. Quantum mechanics studies the invariants of measurement operators. My argument is that the problem with invariants is that they are memoryless. That is, if a property is invariant (unchanged) under an action, then one cannot infer from the property that the action has taken place. Thus I argue: Invariants cannot act as memory stores. In consequence, I conclude that geometry, from Euclid to Einstein has been concerned with memorylessness. In fact, since standard geometry tries to maximize the discovery of invariants, it is essentially trying to maximize memorylessness. My argument is that these foundations to geometry are inappropriate to the computational age; e.g., people want computers that have greater memory storage, not less. As a consequence, I embarked on a 30-year project to build up an entirely new system for geometry – a system that was recently completed. Rather than basing geometry on the maximization of memorylessness (the aim from Euclid to Einstein), I base geometry on the maximization of memory storage. The result is a system that is profoundly different, both on a conceptual level and on a detailed mathematical level. The conceptual structure is elaborated in my book Symmetry, Causality, Mind (MIT Press, 630 pages); and the mathematical structure is elaborated in my book A Generative Theory of Shape (Springer-Verlag, 550 pages).
AC conductivity and dielectric properties of sol-gel PZT thin films for ferroelectric memory applications

The dielectric properties and AC conductivity of sol-gel PZT (lead zirconate titanate) thin films were measured at frequencies between 10 and 10/sup 6/ Hz and temperatures between 25 degrees C and 500 degrees C. At high frequencies e.g., >2 kHz, a maximum is observed in the real part of the complex dielectric constant, which corresponds to the Curie point. However, at low frequencies, e.g., 200 Hz, the dielectric constant increases monotonically with temperature. A space charge blocking model and an electric charge hopping model are discussed in order to explain this phenomenon. Further experimental results on the frequency dependence of dielectric constant and AC conductivity provide additional support for the charge hopping model. The AC conductance at high temperatures is much more sensitive to temperature than that at low temperatures. The activation energy Q/sub 1/ at high temperatures is about 1.3 eV. The apparent activation energy Q/sub 2/ at low temperatures is about 0.35 eV. >
Outcomes of completion imaging for lower extremity bypass in the Vascular Quality Initiative

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the association of intraoperative completion imaging (CI) for lower extremity vein bypass to a below-knee target with primary patency in the Vascular Quality Initiative. Methods The Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried from January 2003 to October 2013 for lower extremity bypass (LEB) procedures that were elective, had an indication of occlusive disease, used a single-segment greater saphenous vein conduit, and had a below-knee target. LEBs with inflow arteries above the knee and below the knee were included. LEBs with concomitant endovascular procedures were excluded. CI was defined as completion angiography, completion duplex ultrasound, or both. The end points were primary patency at discharge and at 1 year. Multivariable analysis was performed controlling for patient demographics, comorbidities, bypass characteristics, and center. Results Of 14,284 LEBs that were performed during the study period, 3147 satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of 1457 (46%) that underwent CI, 287 (20%) underwent duplex ultrasound, 1116 (77%) underwent angiography, and 54 (3.7%) underwent both duplex ultrasound and angiography. There were more patients in the CI group with a history of smoking and a bypass graft crossing the knee. There was no difference in primary patency at discharge between the two groups (CI, 93.2% vs no CI, 93.8%; P = .52). Of the patients who underwent CI, the discharge primary patency was 95.1% for completion duplex ultrasound vs 92.8% for completion angiography ( P = .17). On multivariable analysis, there was no significant association of CI with discharge primary patency ( P = .69). The 1-year primary patency was 63% in the CI group vs 68% in the no CI group ( P = .051). The 1-year primary patency was 60% for the duplex ultrasound group vs 65% for the angiography group ( P = .61). On multivariable analysis, there was no significant association of CI with 1-year primary patency ( P = .69). Conclusions In electively performed LEBs using single-segment saphenous vein to a below-knee target artery for occlusive disease, CI does not influence primary graft patency at discharge or at 1 year.
Broadband, low noise modelocked semiconductor laser with intracavity programmable dispersion control

An intracavity pulseshaper is used to broaden the spectrum of a 10 GHz semiconductor frequency comb to greater than 28 nm. Timing jitter is measured to be 15.4 fs integrated from 1 kHz to 100 MHz offset.
Assessing Quality of Data Standards: Framework and Illustration Using XBRL GAAP Taxonomy

The primary purpose of data standards or metadata schemas is to improve the interoperability of data created by multiple standard users. Given the high cost of developing data standards, it is desirable to assess the quality of data standards. We develop a set of metrics and a framework for assessing data standard quality. The metrics include completeness and relevancy. Standard quality can also be indirectly measured by assessing interoperability of data instances. We evaluate the framework using data from the financial sector: the XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) taxonomy and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings produced using the taxonomy by approximately 500 companies. The results show that the framework is useful and effective. Our analysis also reveals quality issues of the GAAP taxonomy and provides useful feedback to taxonomy users. The SEC has mandated that all publicly listed companies must submit their filings using XBRL. Our findings are timely and have practical implications that will ultimately help improve the quality of financial data.
On the Representation of Continuous Causal Relationships

Most present research on causal relationships has dealt with discrete causal relationships. However, continuous causal relationships are frequently encountered in many applications, particularly in equipment/ instrument diagnostic applications. This paper demonstrates that causation probabilities for continuous causal relationships can be derived based on classical statistical theory and Bayesian probability theory.
A triclosan-resistant bacterial enzyme

Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent that is widely used in a variety of consumer products and acts by inhibiting one of the highly conserved enzymes (enoyl-ACP reductase, or FabI) of bacterial fatty-acid biosynthesis. But several key pathogenic bacteria do not possess FabI, and here we describe a unique triclosan-resistant flavoprotein, FabK, that can also catalyse this reaction in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Our finding has implications for the development of FabI-specific inhibitors as antibacterial agents.
Strange-bottom meson production at pp̄ colliders

The production rates and transverse momentum distributions of the strangebeauty mesons Bs and B � s at p¯ p colliders are calculated assuming fragmentation is the dominant process. Results are given for the Tevatron in the large transverse momentum region, where fragmentation is expected to be most important.
Clinical, genomic, and metagenomic characterization of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma in patients who do not smoke

Background Evidence suggests the incidence of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma is increasing in young patients, many who have no history of tobacco use. Methods We clinically reviewed 89 patients with oral tongue cancer. Exomic sequencing of tumor DNA from 6 nonsmokers was performed and compared to previously sequenced cases. RNA from 20 tumors was evaluated by massively parallel sequencing to search for potentially oncogenic viruses. Results Non-smokers (53 of 89) were younger than smokers (36 of 89; mean, 50.4 vs 61.9 years; p < .001), and seemed more likely to be women (58.5% vs 38.9%; p = .069). Nonsmokers had fewer TP53 mutations (p = .02) than smokers. No tumor-associated viruses were detected. Conclusion The young age of nonsmoking patients with oral tongue cancer and fewer TP53 mutations suggest a viral role in this disease. Our efforts to identify such a virus were unsuccessful. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the drivers of carcinogenesis in these patients. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1642–1649, 2015
Activation of cAMP-Responsive genes by stimuli that produce long-term facilitation in aplysia sensory neurons

One of the hallmarks of long-term memory in both vertebrates and invertebrates is the requirement for new protein synthesis. In sensitization of the gill-withdrawal reflex in Aplysia, this requirement can be studied on the cellular level. Here, long-term but not short-term facilitation of the monosynaptic connections between the sensory and motor neurons requires new protein synthesis and is reflected in an altered level of expression of specific proteins regulated through the cAMP second-messenger pathway. Using gene transfer into individual sensory neurons of Aplysia, we find that serotonin (5-HT) induces transcriptional activation of a lacZ reporter gene driven by the cAMP response element (CRE) and that this induction requires CRE-binding proteins (CREBs). The induction by 5-HT does not occur following a single pulse, but becomes progressively more effective following two or more pulses. Moreover, expression of GAL4-CREB fusion genes shows that 5-HT induction requires phosphorylation of CREB on Ser119 by protein kinase A. These data provide direct evidence for CREB-modulated transcriptional activation with long-term facilitation.
Apparent inhibition to digestion by lignin in normal and brown midrib stems

Lignin, a cell wall component, limits digestibility of plant cell walls. Brown midrib (bmr) mutants of forages have lignin with altered chemical composition compared with their normal counterparts. The objectives of this study were to determine if bmr lignin is more inhibitory to digestion than is normal lignin and if bmr has a consistent effect on rate of digestion across species and environments. Extent and rate of in-vitro cell wall digestion of normal and bmr stems of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench, two comparisons), millet (Pennisetum americanum (L) Leeke) and maize (Zea mays L, two comparisons) were determined. Samples were incubated in rumen fluid, and data were fitted with a first-order, nonlinear model to estimate concentrations of potentially digestible neutral detergent fibre (PDNDF), digestion rate of PDNDF, concentration of indigestible residue (IR), and lag time before digestion. The NDF, acid-detergent fibre (ADF), and acid-detergent lignin (ADL) analyses were conducted sequentially on undigested samples. The IR: ADL ratio was 37% greater for bmr than for normal plants, which indicates that bmr lignin inhibits digestion more than normal lignin per unit of lignin. Digestion rate of PDNDF was faster in bmr than in normal counterparts in one of the two sorghum comparisons (difference of 59%) and in the millet comparison (difference of 27%), but in neither maize comparison. The bmr mutants were lower than normal genotypes in NDF (9%) and ADL (47%) concentrations. The PDNDF concentration was 19% greater for bmr than for normal lines. Thus, decreased lignin concentration in bmr mutants increased the extent of NDF digestion but did not consistently increase the rate of digestion.
Thermal vegetation canopy model studies

Abstract An iterative-type thermal model applicable to forest canopies was tested with data from two diverse forest types. The model framework consists of a system of steady-state energy budget equations describing the interactions of short- and long-wave radiation within three horizontally infinite canopy layers. A state-space formulation of the energy dynamics within the canopy is used which permits a factorization of canopy geometrical parameters from canopy optical and thermal coefficients as well as environmental driving variables. Two sets of data characterizing a coniferous (Douglas-fir) and deciduous (oak-hickory) canopy were collected to evaluate the thermal model. The results show that the model approximates measured mean canopy temperatures to within 2°C for relatively clear weather conditions and deviates by a maximum of 3°C for very hazy or foggy conditions.
Chemical and structural analysis of the relation between cortical inputs and tyrosine hydroxylase-containing terminals in rat neostriatum

Levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the ultrastructural relation between axons from cerebral cortex and TH containing, predominantly dopaminergic terminals were examined in the adult rat neostriatum at 2 and 12 days following unilateral decortication. The caudate nuclei from the unlesioned and lesioned hemispheres were biochemically assayed for TH processed for light or electron microscopic localization of the enzyme. At both time intervals examined, there was no statistically significant alteration in TH activity or apparent change in the intensity of reactive labeling visualized by light microscopy. However, electron microscopic examination of the caudate nucleus homolateral to the decortication at two days following surgery revealed the presence of numerous small, osmiophilic boutons which were much less frequently seen on the contralateral side. Further ultrastructural examination showed that the osmiophilic boutons formed predominantly asymmetric, axodendritic synapses. In sections containing both degenerating and TH labeled terminals, two patterns of connectivity could be discovered. First and most commonly, the degenerating and TH-labeled terminals formed synapses with the same dendrite or dendritic spine. Less frequently, the two types of terminals were in direct contact with each other. In this axo-axonic relation, the outer membranes between the terminals were in apposition but usually failed to exhibit pre- or postsynaptic specializations. These findings indicate that the cortical and dopaminergic nigral efferents have actions on common recipient neurons in the rat caudate nucleus and provide support for a possible direct axonal interrelationship between these two primary inputs.
Effect of zeolite treatment on hard drinking water on milk production.

Summary During November 1 to April 30 (181 days), periods of alternate years, 19 cows averaged 17.6lb. of milk daily when receiving untreated well-water averaging 190 p.p.m. of total hardness, as compared to 19.9lb. when receiving water from the same source but zeolite-treated to zero-hardness. The average stages of lactation (after calving) were 169 and 132 days, respectively. When adjusted for stage of lactation by covariance analysis, the corrected yields were 18.8 and 19.0lb. for untreated and treated water, respectively. This difference is not significant. It is concluded that softening the drinking-water for dairy cows has no measurable effect on milk production. When given a choice between untreated and treated water during an entire summer, the herd showed no clearcut preference for either, although they drank more of the untreated water.
The Protestant work ethic-conservatism paradox: Beliefs and values in work and life.

Abstract Consistent with the view that work and other life domains are linked via a persons's overall value orientation, previous research has found that the Protestant work ethic (PWE) is positively associated with conservatism. A conceptual paradox in this relationship emerges from Weber's (1930) treatment of the PWE and the spirit of capitalism. An attempt is made to resolve the paradox by exploring the moderating effect of economic sector membership on the PWE-conservatism relationship. In the questionnaire responses of 155 graduate and undergraduate students, economic sector did not significantly moderate the PWE-conservatism relationship. Particular relationships among PWE, conservatism, religiousness, preferences for work outcomes, and terminal values also were examined. Results indicate a need to assess the field's seemingly sole reliance on the PWE construct to study work beliefs and values.
D-dihexanoylphosphatidylcholine is not a pure competitive inhibitor of phospholipase A2 hydrolysis of L-dihexanoylphosphatidylcholine.

Abstract The inhibition of Crotalus adamanteus phospholipase A 2 hydrolysis of L-dihexanoylphosphatidylcholine by D-dihexanoylphosphatidylcholine was investigated with inhibitor and substrate in the monomeric concentration range. The results showed that the D-enantiomer acts as a partial (not pute) competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. These results suggest that an ESI complex exists, in which hydrolysis of the substrate still occurs. Thus, binding of the D-enantiomer to the enzyme decreases the affinity for the substrate by a factor, α, while V max is unaffected. The value of α was determined to be 4.70 ± 0.14. These findings complicate the use of D-phosphatidylcholines in mixed micelles with the L-enantiomer as a possible method to investigate the mechanism of interfacial activation of this enzyme.
Three Dimensional Reconstruction from Serial Sections

This article describes a technique for studying the detailed morphology of the central nervous system of a simple animal.
Regulation of the biosynthesis of cytochromes P-450 involved in steroid hormone synthesis

The actions of ACTH to regulate the synthesis of the various enzymes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis have been studied using bovine adrenocortical cells in monolayer culture. ACTH causes an increase in the synthesis of both the mitochondrial and the microsomal forms of cytochrome P-450 involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis, as well as of the iron-sulfur protein involved in transferring electrons to the mitochondrial forms of cytochrome P-450, namely, adrenodoxin. This increased synthesis is reflective of an increase in translatability of mRNA species specific for these various proteins, and appears in each case to be mediated by cyclic AMP. Whereas the mitochondrial proteins are synthesized as precursors of higher molecular weight which are processed upon insertion into the mitochondria, the microsomal proteins are synthesized as species identical in molecular weight to the mature forms. In order to determine whether the action of ACTH to increase the rate of synthesis of these proteins is the result of an increase in the levels of specific mRNA species, cDNA clones complementary to these mRNA species are being isolated. These probes will also make it possible to characterize the genes encoding the steroidogenic enzymes, as well as to identify regulatory elements which control their transcription.
Controllability Issues in Nonlinear State-Dependent Riccati Equation Control

Inthelastfewyears,algorithmsusingstate-dependentRiccatiequations (SDREs)havebeenproposedforsolving nonlinear control problems. Under state feedback, pointwise solutions of an SDRE must be obtained along the system trajectory. To ensure the control is well dee ned, global controllability and observability of state-dependent system factorizations are commonly assumed. Here connections between controllability of the state-dependent factorizations and truesystem controllability are rigorously established. Itisshown thata localequivalencealways holdsfortheclassofsystemsconsidered,andspecialcasesthatimplyglobalequivalencearealsogiven.Additionally, a notion of nonlinear stabilizability is introduced, which is a necessary condition for global closed-loop stability. The theory is illustrated by application to a e ve-state nonlinear model of a dual-spin spacecraft.
Meteorological constraints on tropospheric halocarbon and nitrous oxide destructions by siliceous land surfaces

Abstract A sink for tropospheric halocarbons (and nitrous oxide) by photodissociation of molecules adsorbed on silicates has recently been proposed. We assume that the necessary conditions for this to occur may be found on dry desert surfaces. Using typical desert meteorological flow characteristics, the adsorption/photochemical removal efficiencies for the world's desert regions that would be necessary to significantly influence tropospheric levels of these species are estimated. Based upon these calculations, it is concluded that the proposed destruction mechanism may be capable of providing an effective sink in the troposphere for halocarbons and nitrous oxide.
Self-doped block copolymer electrolytes for solid-state, rechargeable lithium batteries

Abstract In an attempt to raise the transference number of Li + to nearly unity in a solid polymer electrolyte, block copolymer materials have been prepared in which the counterions are tethered to the polymer backbone. This immobilizes the “anion” and, in effect, renders the material a single-ion conductor. For such so-called self-doped block copolymer electrolytes (SDBCEs) Li + transference numbers of ∼0.9 have been measured. In parallel, these materials possess significant ionic conductivity (∼10 −5 S cm −1 at 35°C). Cyclic voltammetry has shown the SDBCE to be immune to electrochemical breakdown at voltages exceeding 5 V.
A major metabolite of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces its cataleptic effect in mice

The results described here demonstrate that THC-induced catalepsy in mice can be substantially inhibited by the prior administration of Δ1-THC-7-oic acid, the major metabolite of THC in most species including humans. This raises the possibility that the intensity and duration of action of THC may depend to a large degree on the levels of this metabolite at the sites of action.
Efects of corticosterone on the electrophysiology of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal Cells in vitro

Modulation of CA1 field potential amplitudes by normal and stress concentrations of corticosterone (CT) was observed in hippocampal slice preparations from adrenalectomized rats. Slices exposed to CT levels characteristic of a morning (4 nM) or evening (7 nM) resting state showed increased population spike amplitudes in the CA1 pyramidal cell field within 10 min. A stress concentration (15 nM) also increased spike amplitudes, but only at the higher stimulus intensities. The effects of these doses were essentially the same 10 and 60 min after administration. The hormone facilitated responding more in morning resting concentrations than in concentrations characteristic of the evening resting state. This occurred, however, only for relatively low intensity stimuli. The data provide some support for the suggestion that circadian fluctuations in magnitude of long-term potentiation result from corresponding changes in CT level. The rapid onset of the observed changes is difficult to account for in terms of generally accepted mechanisms of receptor binding.
PCB dynamics in Hudson River striped bass. II. Accumulation from dietary sources

Abstract Young-of-year striped bass were administered known doses of 14C-labeled Aroclor 1254 in natural food (Gammarus tigrinus) by gavage. PCB accumulation from the gut and elimination from the whole-body were determined empirically for single-dose and multiple-dose studies. The data have been applied to models describing absorption site kinetics and fluctuations in whole-body burden at ‘steady state’. Those variables critical to the calculation and understanding of bioaccumulation factors, namely growth, metabolic rate, and dose, are discussed in the context of the kinetic model results.
Investigation of the characteristics of heat current in a nanofluid based on molecular dynamics simulation

Molecular dynamics simulation of nanofluid system composed of argon liquid and copper nanoparticle was carried out in this paper. To ensure the interatomic force gradually decreases to zero at the cut-off distance, Stoddard and Ford potential function was employed. Green–Kubo method was used to obtain the thermal conductivity. The characteristics of the heat current were measured by its mean value, variance, third moment, and the Shannon entropy. It was found that the thermal conductivity increases as the nanoparticle volume fraction increases, and so do the variance and the Shannon entropy of the heat current. The third moment of the heat current was almost zero, indicating that the probability distribution of the heat current is nearly symmetric about its mean value. Autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation functions of the heat current were used to investigate the correlation between the discrete heat current value and different lags.
Two-part pricing for experience goods in the presence of adverse selection

Abstract Because customers learn something when they purchase an experience good for the first time, a firm selling experience goods may face different demand curves from new and repeat customers. The firm can exploit these differences by using a two-part pricing strategy to price discriminate between new and repeat customers. The firm may also use a two-part pricing strategy to mitigate the information problems of adverse selection when its quality is uncertain. The analysis is particularly applicable to service markets, where customers and firms seek long-term relationships and firms maintain customer records which facilitate price discrimination.
The Assembly of Ribosomes in HeLa Cell Nucleoli

The order in which ribosomal proteins become associated with nucleolar pre-rRNA was studied by measuring the kinetics of label accumulation in ribosomal proteins isolated from the cytoplasmic ribosomes, as well as by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of protein extracted from ribosome precursor particles. Tentative identifications of early-adding and late-adding groups of proteins have been made.
Approximation of COSMIC functional size to support early effort estimation in Agile

The demands in the software industry of estimating development effort in the early phases of development are met by measuring software size from user requirements. A large number of companies have adapted themselves with Agile processes, which, although, promise rapid software development, pose a huge burden on the development teams for continual decision making and expert judgement, when estimating the size of the software components to be developed at each iteration. COSMIC, on the other hand, is an ISO/IEC international standard that presents an objective method of measuring the functional size of the software from user requirements. However, its measurement process is not compatible with Agile processes, as COSMIC requires user requirements to be formalised and decomposed at a level of granularity where external interactions with the system are visible to the human measurer. This time-consuming task is avoided by agile processes, leaving it with the only option of quick subjective judgement by human measurers for size measurement that often tends to be erroneous. In this article, we address these issues by presenting an approach to approximate COSMIC functional size from informally written textual requirements demonstrating its applicability in popular agile processes. We also discuss the results of a preliminary experiment studying the feasibility of automating our approach using supervised text mining.
Telepresence microsurgery system

In current practice, microsurgery involves dexterous manipulations on small tissues viewed through a stereo microscope. Surgeons hold special grasping and cutting instruments in a pencil-like grip, with their palms supported, to optimize fine motor control and minimize hand tremor and fatigue. Telepresence-based microsurgery has the potential to provide the surgeon with a magnified workspace in which he can comfortably work with his hands on full-size instrument handles, using normal hand motions and experiencing the feel he would expect from the magnified tissues that he sees. To address the needs for performing microsurgical procedures, the SRI telepresence surgery workstation has been combined with a pair of micromanipulator arms. The prototype microsurgery system has been tested with ex-vivo tasks similar to those required for surgical procedures, such as cutting, grasping, suturing, and knot tying. Initial animal testing has been done on a rat model in which end-to-end anastomosis of the femoral artery was completed with 10 rats, and 100% patency was obtained.
Mentoring in otolaryngology training programs.

Abstract Objective The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's focus on outcome-based training has made the mentoring process critical for resident education. It is unknown how otolaryngology training programs mentor residents. Our objective was to determine the current state of mentoring in otolaryngology training programs and describe resident perceptions of mentoring. Study Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Accredited U.S. otolaryngology training programs. Subjects and Methods All U.S. otolaryngology residents and program directors were contacted via e-mail with a link to an online survey. Results Of the 1411 residents contacted, 27.7 percent responded, representing 71 of the 103 accredited otolaryngology programs. Of the 103 program directors contacted, 37.9 percent responded. Of these programs, 26 had formal mentoring programs, 45 did not have formal mentoring programs, and 12 programs were listed in both categories. Fifty-one percent of male residents and 49 percent of female residents had mentors. The most important mentor characteristics were personality match, good clinical role model, and similar subspecialty interests. Least important characteristics were race, gender, and age. Twenty-six percent of residents felt that mentoring was critical to their training, while 63 percent of residents listed mentoring as important but not critical. Programs with fewer faculty and residents were less likely to offer formal mentoring ( P = 0.007 and 0.054, respectively). Of residents who did not have mentors, 80 percent lacked a mentor because their residency had no formal mentoring program. Conclusion Residents perceive mentoring as important, and formal mentoring programs should be incorporated into otolaryngology training programs.
Assessing the Importance of Experimental Outcomes

This article discusses a common statistical error that frequently appears in efforts to assess the importance of experimental outcomes in the social work practice and research literature, failure to provide proportions of explained variance in a manner which permits judgements as to their substantive importance or clinical significance. It then briefly describes a partial remedy and presents practical statistical formulas which research consumers can use to calculate proportions of explained variance when published reports fail to provide this information.
Alteration in liver lipid and lipid fatty acid composition after partial hepatectomy in the rat

Abstract Partial hepatectomy in the rat produced a fatty liver that attained a maximum lipid accumulation 18–24 hours following the operation and subsequently reached sham-operated control levels within 72 hours. The increase was principally in the neutral lipid fraction, while the hepatic phospholipid content was essentially unchanged. Fatty acid analysis of hepatic lipids and serum free fatty acids demonstrated an increase of oleic and linoleic acids in animals given a subtotal hepatectomy. Also, serum free fatty acid levels were consistently higher in the experimental animals. These results suggest that adipose tissue fat is the source of the fatty acids incorporated into hepatic lipids following a partial hepatectomy. Ergotamine, 3,5-dimethylpryazole, and nicotinic acid, when given at the time of the operation, were effective in significantly reducing the accumulation of liver lipid after a partial hepatectomy.
Brain gender: prostaglandins have their say

New findings reveal that steroid hormones masculinize some aspects of the rat brain via prostaglandins. Blocking prostaglandin synthesis with drugs like aspirin can interfere with sexual differentiation of the brain and impair sexual behavior later in life.
The situations of culture: humor and the limits of measurability

This article develops a theory of humor and uses it to assess the attempt to measure meaning-structures in cultural sociology. To understand how humor operates, researchers need to attend to two layers of cultural competencies: general typifications and situation-specific know-how. These cultural competencies are then invoked in ways that define humor as a specific form of experiential frame—the bi-sociation of meaning, its condensation, and resonance with experienced tensions in the social world. I show the usefulness of this theorization through the empirical case of AIDS humor in Malawi, a small country in South-East Africa. Using conversational diaries, everyday interactions, and newspaper cartoons, I argue both that such humor is widespread and that it reveals important facets of life in a country ravaged by the pandemic—what it means for the shadow of AIDS to be ever-present. Through this case, I then turn back to the question of measurement, arguing that although measuring tools may be able to identify large-scale semantic shifts, they necessarily miss forms of interaction such as humor, that are based on allusion, condensation, and what is left unsaid.
On the Modernity of Traditional Contraception: Time and the Social Context of Fertility

Many studies of fertility implicitly equate temporal management, biomedical contraception, and “modernity” on the one hand, and “tradition,” the lack of intentional timing, and uncontrolled fertility on the other. This article questions that equation, focusing on the widespread use of periodic abstinence in southern Cameroon. Drawing on field data and the Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey, the article investigates how local concepts of timing shape both contraceptive choice and the evaluation of methods as “modern” or “traditional.” Cameroonian women prefer periodic abstinence because they perceive it as “modern,” a modernity tied both to the social context in which it is taught and to its unique temporal form. By contrast, Depo-Provera, pills, and the IUD are seen as less-than-modern, because they are less exigent of temporal control. The reliance on a behavioral, rather than technological, contraceptive method parallels the experience of the European fertility transition. Cameroonian women draw on a complex social repertoire in making contraceptive choices; methods are preferred or rejected not only on the basis of their efficacy in averting pregnancy, but also because of their correspondence to models of legitimate social action. Reproductive practices may have social motivations that are unrelated to fertility per se.
Discrete charge transfer in nanoparticle solid films

A brief overview of the recent progress in single electron transfer (SET) in nanoparticle solid films is presented. In these studies, Langmuir-based techniques were employed to control the interparticle interactions, and the ensemble conductivity was evaluated by electrochemical measurements. Deliberate manipulation of the ensemble structure and temperature led to the optimization of the conductivity properties where SET was initiated across a nanoparticle solid film.
Differentiating CREF Performance

We examine factors underlying the differences in commingled real estate fund (CREF) performance using a sample of 65 CREFs during 1985–2002. More than half of the individual CREFs underperformed the employed benchmark. However, portfolios of CREFs performed well in both up and down markets, smaller CREFs outperformed larger CREFs, and top performing CREFs continued to outperform. Differential CREF performance appears to be attributable to property selection, rather than allocation across real estate sectors. Liquidity-constrained CREFs exhibited lower risk. CREFs with large benchmark tracking error experienced inferior performance. These findings indicate important cross-sectional differences among CREFs and diversification opportunities for pensions employing multiple CREF investment strategies.
Quality assurance for dynamic multileaf collimator modulated fields using a fast beam imaging system

A quality assurance procedure was developed for x-ray beam intensity modulated conformal radiotherapy (IMCRT) using dynamic multileaf collimators(MLC). The procedure verifies a prescribed intensity modulated x-ray beam pattern in the beam eye’s view (BEV) before the treatment procedure is applied to a patient. It verifies that (a) the leaf sequencing computer files were transferred correctly to the linac control computer; (b) the treatment can be correctly executed without machine faults. A fast beam imaging system (BIS) consisting of a Gd 2 O 2 S scintillation screen, a charge-coupled device(CCD) camera, and a portable personal computer (Wellhofer Dosimetrie, Schwarzenbruck, Germany) was commissioned for this purpose. Measurements for the BIS performance are presented in this work. Reference images were derived from MLC leaf sequencing files that were used to drive a dynamic MLC system (Varian Oncology Systems, Palo Alto, CA). A correlation method was developed to compare the BIS measurements with the calculated reference images. A correlation coefficient calculated using 26 correct intensity modulated fields was shown to be a reliable threshold to identify inaccurate treatment delivery files. The study has demonstrated the feasibility of using the BIS and the correlation method to carry out on-line quality assurance tasks for IMCRT treatment fields in the BEV.