cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recruitment for phase II of the Trials of Hypertension Prevention. Effective strategies and predictors of randomization. Trials of Hypertension Prevention (TOHP) Collaborative Research Group.

Abstract Phase II of the Trials of Hypertension Prevention is a multicenter, randamized, controlled trial designed to determine the efficacy of weight loss and reduction of sodium intake for lowering blood pressure and incidence of hypertension among persons with high-normal levels of blood pressure. The 2 × 2 factorial study design includes weight loss alone, restricted sodium intake alone, the combination of weight loss and sodium restriction, and a control group. Nine clinical centers used a variety of recruitment strategies to enroll 2382 participants over 17 months, which exceeded the sample size goal of 2250. Among randomized participants, 21% were minorities and 34% were women. Overall, direct mail generated the most randomized participants (73%), followed by community screening (12%) and media advertisement (11%). Referrals from community health care providers yielded few participants, Prescreening improved overall efficiency and reduced costs. Participants who were more likely to drop out voluntarily during the three-visit screening regimen tended to be younger, single, male, smokers, and less educated.
Transitions and energy levels for Cu-like Yb 41+ , Ta 44+ , and U 63+

Transitions from the n = 4, 5, and 6 excited levels of the Cu-like ions Yb41+, Ta44+, and U63+ were observed in the spectra from plasmas that were produced by one or two beams of the Nova laser. Wavelengths in the range 9–140 A were measured with an uncertainty of ±0.015 A and were compared with previously measured and predicted wavelengths. The energy levels were derived from the observed wavelengths.
A metaobject protocol for CLforJava

CLforJava is a new implementation of Common Lisp that intertwines its architecture and operation with Java. The authors describe a new architecture for a CLOS MOP that supports transparent, bi-directional access between Lisp and Java. The access requires no special techniques nor syntactic mechanisms on the part of the programmer - being either Java or Lisp. The core of the new MOP is a data structure that melds the fundamental structures of Java instances (N-tuples) and CLOS instances (2-tuples) in such a way that the respective object systems can interact without cumbersome translations. Methods from their respective object systems can interact freely. We discuss certain aspects of the respective MOPs that prevent a complete integration and replacement of one system by the other.
Attitudes toward Chinese-Accented Speech: An Investigation in Two Contexts

This matched-guise study provides data on attitudes toward Mandarin Chinese-accented English by eliciting both Angloand Asian Americans'reactions to a male speaker. Study 1 discovered that in the c...
Update in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, in children is on the rise. Pediatric patients with IBD are especially vulnerable to the physical and psychosocial morbidities of this disorder. Unique aspects of pediatric IBD patients compared to adult patients warrants an individualized approach to management regardless of age. This review focuses on the special aspects of pediatric IBD and the implications for the diagnosis and management of this disease.
The determination and consequences of international liquidity

In the 20 years since 1969, international reserves have shown considerable increases, that seem to be far in excess of any long-term global need. This was a consequence of the prominent role that the dollar continued to play in the monetary system, which made it easy for the United States to finance balance of payments deficits in its own currency, increasing the amount of dollars in reserves. In addition the Eurodollar market made international reserves to some extent demand/determined: there was a very elastic supply of liquidity in this market. These developments in international reserves have inflationary consequences. To prevent such consequences in the future, central banks should set up a systematic surveillance system for international liquidity together with the IMF and BIS. An essential instrument in this context would be for the United States to finance its balance of payments deficits in foreign currencies in world capital markets.
Large Dynamic Range Beam Profile Measurement in a High Background Environment

Beam profile measurements using a scanning target and loss monitor in the Fermilab Main Ring extraction channel have long proved their usefulness as a diagnostic method in analyzing extraction problems. To extend these measurements to a sensitivity greater than in the present system a different technique has been employed. A simple three element particle telescope viewing the scanning target allows a sensitive measurement of the tail on the edges of the beam profiles as well as the relative particle densities of the extracted beam and the circulating beam in the Main Ring. Both these regions are of significant interest in understanding extraction losses. The details of the profile measurement technique, some results using the telescope and possible methods of improving the measurements are discussed.
The slosson intelligence test and young learning-disabled children: A comparative study

Evaluated 26 children independently diagnosed as learning disabled in a counterbalanced design with the deviation IQ form of the Slosson Intelligence Test and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). Moderate to good correlations were obtained between the Slosson and the WISC-R Full Scale (r = .91), Verbal (r = .94) and Performance (r = .60) IQ scores. The Slosson correctly predicted functioning level to within 10 IQ points of WISC-R Full Scale scores for 88% of the Ss. These data suggest that the recent revision of the Slosson has corrected the tendency of earlier versions of this instrument to inflate the estimated IQs of young learning-disabled children.
Open structure rhinoplasty for precise control of nasal tip projection

Most techniques that control tip projection involve relatively aggressive maneuvers that can compromise the integrity of the nasal structure by dividing major support mechanisms, or dramatically alter the shape of the nasal tip by cutting the lower lateral cartilage and re-orienting the domes. Decreased tip support can result in an iatrogenic loss in tip projection that may require compensatory over-reduction of the nasal dorsum. This series of events may result in a blunted nose with a poorly defined dorsum. Open structure rhinoplasty techniques emphasize preservation or reconstitution of major support mechanisms to attain a natural-looking nose that will not deteriorate with time. This technique uses the open (external) approach to the nose, sutured-in-place columellar strut, advanced lateral crural manipulation, and a sutured-in-place tip graft to provide tip projection, support, and a bidomal tip configuration. This article discusses the theory, major technical points, and use of this technique for precise control of tip projection.
Safety of metallic implants in magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has become a commonly accepted medical procedure. Manufacturers of medical implant devices are submitting claims that their devices are safe and effective in a MR environment. This paper concentrates on the issue of heating of patients due to the interaction of metallic implants with the strong radiofrequency (RF) magnetic field produced by the MR scanner. The commercially available program XFDTD was used to calculate the specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution in a realistic model of the human body. The body contained a metallic implant and was exposed to RF magnetic fields at 64 MHz from a model of a MR birdcage body coil. The results of the calculation showed that the magnitude of the increased heating of tissues due to the presence of the metallic implant depended on the dimensions, orientation, shape, and location of the metallic implant in the patient. This increased heating of surrounding tissues primarily concentrates in a small volume near the tip of the metallic wire. When the whole-body SAR was normalized to 1 W/kg, a calculated value of 41 W/kg was obtained at this location if the absorption was averaged over 1 g of tissue. However, a maximum value of 310 W/kg was calculated when the absorption was averaged over 1/8 g of tissue.
Free energy and electrical resistivity of molten alloys

Abstract The free energies of mixing for molten indium-antimony, cadmium-antimony, indium-bismuth, lead-bismuth and tin-bismuth were calculated from the variation of electrical resistivity with composition employing the model of Takeuchi and Endo. Resistivities measured in this laboratory with an electrodeless technique for In-Sb alloys, together with published values for Cd-Sb, In-Bi, Pb-Bi and Sn-Bi alloys were used in the calculations. Evaluation of the resistivity data gave the composition dependence of the derivatives of the chemical potentials of the constituents and the integral molar free energies of mixing. No assumptions regarding ideal entropy were made to obtain these free energy values although a statistically random mixture of ions is presumed in the scattering model. Conclusions drawn from a comparison between the calculated free energy values and published thermodynamic data for these systems are discussed in terms of departures from regularity and the variations in the effective free elec...
A collapsed structure of fibrinogen? New observations of transient electric birefringence.

Abstract Recent preparations of fibrinogen fail to show the striking transient electric birefringence properties characteristic of molecules of large axial ratio. The present results are consistent with nearly spherical particles producing little form birefringence at low fields. Transverse charge asymmetry was indicated at both high and low pH. The possibility is raised that a plasma component in former preparations acted to stabilize the elongated structure of the molecule. Previous results by electric birefringence are reviewed and discussed.
Casting in Early-Onset Scoliosis

Derotational casting plays an important role in the management of early-onset scoliosis. It appears to be a potential cure in smaller curves, but it is an important surgical delaying tactic in a disorder where all surgical treatments have common complications. Proper casting technique is important and is delineated in this article.
Disjoint finite partial steiner triple systems can be embedded in disjoint finite steiner triple systems

Abstract This paper shows that a pair of disjoint finite partial Steiner triple systems can be embedded in a pair of disjoint finite Steiner triple systems.
Intrinsic modulation of ENSO predictability viewed through a local Lyapunov lens

The presence of rich ENSO variability in the long unforced simulation of GFDL's CM2.1 motivates the use of tools from dynamical systems theory to study vari- ability in ENSO predictability, and its connections to ENSO magnitude, frequency, and physical evolution. Local Lyapunov exponents (LLEs) estimated from the monthly NINO3 SSTa model output are used to charac- terize periods of increased or decreased predictability. The LLEs describe the growth of infinitesimal perturbations due to internal variability, and are a measure of the immediate predictive uncertainty at any given point in the system phase-space. The LLE-derived predictability esti- mates are compared with those obtained from the error growth in a set of re-forecast experiments with CM2.1. It is shown that the LLEs underestimate the error growth for short forecast lead times (less than 8 months), while they overestimate it for longer lead times. The departure of LLE-derived error growth rates from the re-forecast rates is a linear function of forecast lead time, and is also sensitive to the length of the time series used for the LLE calcula- tion. The LLE-derived error growth rate is closer to that estimated from the re-forecasts for a lead time of 4 months. In the 2,000-year long simulation, the LLE-derived pre- dictability at the 4-month lead time varies (multi)decadally only by 9-18 %. Active ENSO periods are more predict- able than inactive ones, while epochs with regular peri- odicity and moderate magnitude are classified as the most predictable by the LLEs. Events with a deeper thermocline in the west Pacific up to five years prior to their peak, along with an earlier deepening of the thermocline in the east Pacific in the months preceding the peak, are classified as more predictable. Also, the GCM is found to be less pre- dictable than nature under this measure of predictability.
Network Analysis of Scientific Workflows: A Gateway to Reuse

Online workflow repositories let scientists share successful experimental routines and compose new workflows from best practices and existing service components. The authors share the results of a social network analysis of the myExperiment workflow repository to assess the state of scientific workflow reuse and propose the CASE framework to facilitate such reuse.
Surface Lattice Strain and the Electronic Structure of Thin Mercury Overlayers

The stress in the surface of a thin (0–10 monolayer) film of mercury can be relieved by either changing the substrate and consequently changing adlayer lattice constants or by growing thicker films. An empirical relationship between strain and the valence electronic structure of mercury overlayers can be demonstrated, though we present evidence that this relationship can be altered and destroyed by crystallography changes.
Catholicism and marriage in the United States.

This study examines the effects of a Catholic background on age at first marriage, the odds of never marrying, and the odds of ever divorcing. Estimates using Catholic upbringing are compared with estimates using Catholic at the time of the survey. A case is made that if the latter measure of Catholicism is used, serious selection bias problems occur in some cases because this measure excludes defectors and includes converts. Further, it is shown that a Catholic upbringing generally has no effect on men’s age at first marriage and has a positive effect on the age when women marry. It is also shown that older Baptist men are substantially more likely than Catholic men to experience a divorce. Older Catholic women are somewhat less likely to experience a divorce than non-Baptist Protestant women. There is no Catholic effect on the odds that younger men and women will divorce.
Fischer-Tropsch selectivity of Ni/Al2O3 catalysts

Abstract Coprecipitated Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts, when activated by rapid calcination to increase the metal-support interface, show remarkable selectivity to hydrocarbons in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. For example, at 495 K, with conversion of CO at 35%, yield of carbon to C2+ hydrocarbons is 75%. Even at 90% conversion, selectivity remains high with 70% yield. Higher temperatures give poorer selectivity and more methane with the heat of reaction leading to multiple steady states and complete methanation. Care must be taken to remove reaction heat since temperature sensitivity is high. Integral reactor and CSTR product distributions suggest that rapid onset of hydrogenolysis and/or methanation is responsible for high methane yields above 540 K. A mechanism is proposed in which methanation occurs through carbon monoxide dissociation, formation of an active surface carbon held at multiple nickel sites, and hydrogenation of this species limiting the rate. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis involves chemisorbed carbon monoxide, hydrogenation to an enol species, a slow step of dehydration at the nickel-Al 2 O 3 interface, and chain growth via CH 2 species. Hydrogenolysis proceeds through surface cracking of the growing hydrocarbon and not by readsorption. Possible methods for improvement of the catalyst are discussed in view of these concepts.
Extinction performance as a function of R-R transitions with abbreviated training

Resistance to extinction for albino rats given abbreviated training in a runway was an increasing function of number of R-R transitions. The results were interpreted as supporting the modified aftereffects hypothesis.
Mucosal Correlates of Protection in HIV‐1‐Exposed Sero‐negative Persons

Resistance to HIV-1 infection in HIV-1-exposed sero-negative (HESN) persons offers a promising opportunity to identify mechanisms of 'natural' protection. Unique features of the mucosa in particular may contribute to this protection. Here, we highlight several key issues pertaining to the mucosal correlates of protection in HESN persons, including humoral immune responses, mechanisms of mucosal HIV-1 neutralization, immune cell activation, and role of the microbiota in mucosal responses. We also discuss mucosal model systems that can be used to investigate the mechanisms of resistance in HESN subjects. A clear understanding of the mucosal correlates of protection against HIV-1 in HESN persons will provide critical new insights for the development of effective vaccine and microbicide strategies for the prevention of HIV-1 transmission.
Behavioral Stress-Induced Activation of FoxO3a in the Cerebral Cortex of Mice

Background The transcription factor FoxO3a is highly expressed in brain, but little is known about the response of FoxO3a to behavioral stress and its impact in the associated behavioral changes. Methods We tested the response of brain FoxO3a in the learned helplessness (LH) paradigm and tested signaling pathways that mediate the response of FoxO3a. Results A single session of inescapable shocks (IES) in mice reduced FoxO3a phosphorylation at the Akt-regulating serine/threonine residues and induced prolonged nuclear accumulation of FoxO3a in the cerebral cortex, both indicating activation of FoxO3a in brain. The response of FoxO3a is accompanied by a transient inactivation of Akt and a prolonged activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3β). Noticeably, FoxO3a formed a protein complex with GSK3β in the cerebral cortex, and the interaction between the two proteins was stronger in IES-treated mice. Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 was able to abolish IES-induced LH behavior, disrupt IES-induced GSK3β-FoxO3a interaction, and reduce nuclear FoxO3a accumulation. In vitro approaches further revealed that the interaction between GSK3β and FoxO3a was strongest when both were active; FoxO3a was phosphorylated by recombinant GSK3β; and glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitors effectively reduced FoxO3a transcriptional activity. Importantly, IES-induced LH behavior was markedly diminished in FoxO3a-deficient mice that had minimal FoxO3a expression and reduced levels of FoxO3a-inducible genes. Conclusions FoxO3a is activated in response to IES by interacting with GSK3β, and inhibition of GSK3β or reducing FoxO3a expression promotes resistance to stress-induced behavioral disturbance by disrupting this signaling mechanism.
Resonance Raman spectroscopy: a new technology for tissue oxygenation monitoring.

Objective: To evaluate resonance Raman spectroscopy for the detection of changes in sublingual mucosal hemoglobin oxygen saturation (Smo 2 ) in response to hemorrhage and resuscitation, and to compare Smo 2 with other indicators of tissue oxygenation including central venous oxygen saturation (Scvo 2 ), lactate, base excess, and shed blood volume. Design: Prospective single group pilot study. Setting: University laboratory. Subjects: Five Sprague-Dawley rats. Interventions: Animals were anesthetized and instrumented for measurement of arterial and central venous blood gases. Raman spectroscopy was performed using a krypton ion laser providing excitation at 406.7 nm (5 mW). A 1-mm 2 region of the sublingual tongue surface was chosen for investigation. Animals were subjected to stepwise hemorrhage until approximately 50% of the blood volume was removed. At each hemorrhage and resuscitation interval, Raman spectroscopy was performed and corresponding arterial and central venous blood gas and lactate measurements were made. Smo 2 was calculated as the ratio of the oxygenated heme spectral peak height to the sum of the oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin spectral peak heights. Raman spectroscopy-derived Smo 2 measurements were compared with Scvo 2 as well as with other indicators of oxygenation. Measurements and Main Results: The mean difference between Smo 2 and Scvo 2 for all paired measurements was 5.8 ± 11.7 absolute saturation points. Smo 2 was significantly (p < .0001) correlated with Scvo 2 (r =.80), lactate (r = -.78), base excess (r =.80), and shed blood volume (r = -.75). Smo 2 and Scvo 2 showed similar levels of precision for predicting elevated lactate and base deficit. Conclusions: These studies demonstrate the ability of Raman spectroscopy to noninvasively track microvascular hemoglobin oxygenation in tissue and favorably correlate with other important indicators of tissue oxygenation such as Scvo 2 , lactate, base deficit, and shed blood volume. The technique shows promise as a method to noninvasively monitor tissue oxygenation.
Evidence for the Azores mantle plume from strontium isotope geochemistry of the Central North Atlantic

Strontium isotope variations in basalts from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Azores Islands support the Azores mantle plume model. The similarity of isotope ratios in Mid-Atlantic Ridge tholeiites from the Azores platform and Azores Islands alkali basalts implies that these different magma types are derived from the same mantle source but under different conditions of origin.
Sensitivity of the elliptic systems imaging algorithm to prior knowledge of the background medium

The Elliptic Systems Method reduces the original inverse problem of Optical Tomography (OT) to a coupled system of elliptic Partial Differential Equations. In this manuscript the sensitivity of the ESM to a prior estimate of the background is tested for a set of experimental data for Intralipid Solution. The robustness of the algorithm is demonstrated.
Transportable laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument for field-based soil analysis

A field-deployable analyzer for the determination of metals in soils is described. The instrument is based on laser- induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), a form of atomic emission spectroscopy. In the LIBS technique, powerful laser pulses are focused on the soil to form a series of microplasmas that vaporize and excite the elemental constituents of the soil. The plasma light is spectrally analyzed to determine the elemental composition. The results of an initial field test of the instrument are described and a brief critique of the results presented.
The sequence of a cDNA clone coding for a novel kallikrein from mouse submaxillary gland.

Abstract Mouse submaxillary gland contains many proteolytic enzymes, the most widely studied of which are the kallikreins. This gland also contains high levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), which is isolated as a complex of three subunits, alpha, beta, and gamma. We report here the cloning and sequence analysis of a novel kallikrein from mouse submaxillary gland. Antibodies directed against the alpha subunit precipitate the product of this clone, but do not precipitate the homologous gamma subunit. This new kallikrein is therefore closely related to alpha NGF, yet in contrast to the alpha subunit, its sequence suggests it has proteolytic activity.
Design of an optical sequential machine

This paper describes the design of an optical sequential machine. The architecture consists of two major components: a combinational logic and a set of memory elements. Polarization- coded symbolic substitution is employed to implement the combinational logic. The memory elements are implemented using a combination of liquid crystal light valves and polarizers.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Flow-microfluorometric analysis of bacteroids fractionated from alfalfa and soybean nodules by buoyant density sedimentation

Abstract The cell size and DNA and protein content of bacteroids fractionated from alfalfa and soybean nodules by buoyant density sedimentation were examined by laser flow-microfluorometry. In alfalfa nodules, these parameters were inversely related to bacteroid density. The bacteroids which sedimented at the highest density ( p = 1.268 ) resembled free-living Rhizobium meliloti in cell size and protein content but averaged slightly higher in DNA content. The bacteroids which sedimented at the lowest density ( p = 1.224 ) averaged larger in size and contained significantly more DNA and protein then free-living R. meliloti. Despite the difference in density, bacteroid fractions from soybean nodules and free-living Rhizobium japonicum were similar in all measured parameters.
The number of triangles in a K 4 -free graph

Abstract We show that a K4-free graph with e edges has at most (e⧸3) 3 2 triangles. This supercedes a bound of Moon and Moser and is strict when e = 3n2 for any whole number n.
Benzamidomethaneboronic acid: synthesis and inhibition of chymotrypsin

Abstract Benzamidomethaneboronic acid (2) has been synthesized unambiguously from the reaction of dibutyl iodomethaneboronate and N-lithiohexamethyldisilazane to form dibutyl [bis(trimethylsilyl)amino]methaneboronate (4), which was desilylated, benzoylated, and hydrolyzed to 2. It has been shown that 2 is a strong competitive inhibitor of α-chymotrypsin (Ki = 8.1 × 10−6M, pH 7.5). The reaction product from dibutyl iodomethaneboronate and sodiobenzamide, previously shown to be a potent inhibitor of chymotrypsin, was shown by this work to be the O-linked isomer, benzimidoxymethaneboronic acid (3). The pH-Ki profile over the pH range 6.5–9.5 was consistent with the formation of an enzyme-inhibitor complex which resembled the metastable tetrahedral reaction intermediates occurring during acylation and deacylation of chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis.
Fiber Front End With Multiple Phase Modulations and High-Bandwidth Pulse Shaping for High-Energy Laser-Beam Smoothing

The design and performance of a fiber front end delivering temporally shaped, phase-modulated optical pulses to a large-scale, high-energy laser system to demonstrate beam-smoothing concepts are presented. High-bandwidth LiNbO3 (lithium niobate) Mach-Zehnder modulators and arbitrary waveform generators temporally shape the power of the optical pulses. High-bandwidth, three-section LiNbO3 phase modulators precisely modulate the optical phase of the pulses at up to three microwave frequencies. Various calibration procedures and fail-safe systems are described. Sources of frequency-modulation-to-amplitude-modulation conversion, which can lead to unsafe operation of the high-energy laser system, are identified and compensated by amplitude and dispersion compensators.
Advanced sleep schedules affect circadian gene expression in young adults with delayed sleep schedules.

Abstract Background Human circadian rhythms are regulated by the interplay between circadian genes and environmental stimuli. The influence of altered sleep-wake schedules or light on human circadian gene expression patterns is not well characterized. Methods Twenty-one young adults were asked to keep to their usual sleep schedules and two blood samples were drawn at the end of the first week from each subject based on estimated time of dim light melatonin onset (DLMO); the first sample was obtained one and a half hours before the estimated DLMO and the second three hours later, at one and a half hours after the estimated DLMO. During the second week, participants were randomized into two groups, one that received a one hour blue-light ( λ max =470nm) exposure in the morning and one that received a comparable morning dim-light exposure. Two blood samples were obtained at the same clock times as the previous week at the end of the second week. Results We measured the expression of 10 circadian genes in response to sleep-wake schedule advancement and morning blue-light stimulation in the peripheral blood of 21 participants during a two-week field study. We found that nine of the 10 circadian genes showed significant expression changes from the first to the second week for participants in both the blue-light and dim-light groups, likely reflecting significant advances in circadian phase. Conclusions This wholesale change in circadian gene expression may reflect considerable advances in circadian phase (i.e., advance in DLMO) from the first to the second week resulting from the advanced, daily personal light exposures.
Lateral beam displacements in transmitting layered structures

Abstract The lateral shift of both the reflected and the transmitted beams are examined for incidence on layered configurations. In particular, beam displacements are evaluated at a layer placed between two different semi-infinite media. We find that the reflected beam may undergo a large displacement, which occurs in either a forward or a backward direction. The transmitted beam is also substantially displaced, but its shift occurs in a forward direction only.
Observations on the genus huroniospora barghoorn: Implications for paleoecology of the gunflint microbiota

Abstract Examination of exceptionally well-preserved thin-sections of Gunflint Chert reveals new morphological criteria which are utilized for a critical evaluation of the genus Huroniospora . The shape varies from spheroidal to ellipsoidal. One-third of the specimens examined have either simple circular apertures or breaks in the vessel wall. Wall structure and surface texture appear to vary with quality of preservation. These and other features lead to the conclusion that Huroniospora represents a spore or encysted cell rather than a vegetative cell. The presence of Huroniospora in the Schreiber Beach assemblage does not constitute direct evidence for the primary photosynthetic nature of the interlaminar community.
Between Liberal Aspirations and Market Forces: Obamacare's Precarious Balancing Act

The 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) represents a milestone in U.S. health care policy. The ACA moves the American health care system away, in important respects, from market-driven health care, including imposing new regulations on health insurers. Yet the ACA also relies, in other respects, on market forces to achieve its aims, including its embrace of health plan competition and high-deductible insurance. This article explores how the ACA balances liberal aspirations and market principles, and the implications for health reform implementation and the future of U.S. health care.
Patient perspectives on group benefits and harms in genetic research.

Background: It is unclear how the possible effects of genetic research on socially identifiable groups may impact patient willingness to donate biological samples for future genetic studies. Methods: Telephone interviews with patients at 5 academic medical centers in the U.S. examined how patients’ beliefs about benefits and harms to ones racial or ethnic group shape decisions to participate in genetic research. Results: Of the 1,113 patients who responded to questions about group harms and benefits, 61% of respondents indicated that potential benefits to their own racial or ethnic group would be a big or moderate part of their decision to donate a sample for genetic research. 63% of black respondents and 57% of white respondents indicated that they were ‘very’ or ‘moderately concerned’ about genetic research findings being used to discriminate against people by race or ethnicity. 64% of black and 34% of white respondents reported that their willingness to donate a blood sample would be substantially reduced due to these concerns. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a key factor in many patients’ decisions to donate samples for genetic research is how those studies may impact identifiable racial and ethnic groups. Given the importance of these considerations to many patients, our study highlights a need to address patients’ concerns about potential group benefits and harms in the design of future research studies and DNA biobanks.
Peak Power Scaling of a Multi-kHz, Picosecond, DPSS MOPA System for OPCPA Pumping

We address the peak power scaling of our DPSS MOPA system from 10 MW to >100 MW (anticipated) at multi-kHz for OPCPA pumping. We discuss the challenges in scaling this Nd-based picosecond amplifier system.
A Changing Sense of Place: A Case Study of Academic Culture and the Built Environment.

This case study of faculty and student transition into a newly renovated academic building examines the implications of the built environment upon the professional practice and relationships of faculty and students in higher education. The authors argue that material surroundings communicate in ways that reinscribe the neoliberal order, yet often remain unexamined in educational research. Consequently, campuses undergo perpetual renovation without much thought given to the cultural consequences and meanings such material structures invoke.
Critical Evaluation of Atomistic Simulations of 3D Dislocation Configurations

Though atomistic simulation of 3D dislocation configurations is an important objective for the analysis of problems ranging from point defect condensation to the operation of Frank-Read sources, such calculations pose new challenges. In particular, use of finite sized simulation cells produce additional stresses due to the presence of fixed boundaries in the far field which can contaminate the interpretation of these simulations. This paper discusses an approximate scheme for accounting for such boundary stresses, and is illustrated via consideration of the lattice resistance encountered by straight dislocations and simulations of 3D bow out of pinned dislocation segments. These results allow for a reevaluation of the concepts of the Peierls stress and the line tension from the atomistic perspective.
A Simplified Proof of the Relativistic Nature Behind Magnetism

The relativistic nature behind magnetic forces is well understood. It is commonly demonstrated via thought experiment by imagining a free charge in between a pair of moving capacitor plates. This paper presents a greatly simplified version of the same thought experiment, by deriving equivalent results from a system of two moving point charges. The derivation only requires knowledge of Coulomb's law, the Biot-Savart law, and the Lorentz force, and can therefore be readily presented to an introductory-level course in applied electromagnetics.
The Investigation of the Effects of Polyelectrolyte Attributes on Complex Coacervate Properties using High-Throughput Formulation and Characterization Techniques

Formulators of complex mixtures have long known that the characteristics of their final formulation and the position of “equilibrium” often depends critically upon the order of addition of ingredients and the precise processing conditions under which the formulation was made. The large variety of possible outcomes derive from the many eigenstates that are available to each composition of a complex mixture due to the fact that the bonds between the component molecules are weak physical bonds and therefore a potential multitude of nanostructures can be formed. This is especially true of systems comprising polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged surfactants in the semi-dilute regime, because both polyelectrolyte conformation and surfactant micellar association structures are strongly influenced by the ionic environment of the polymer and surfactant molecules. This is especially important for 2-in-1 shampoos that depend upon the spontaneous creation of a polyelectrolyte/surfactant coacervate to deposit active conditioning, styling or antidandruff ingredients during the shampoo process. The investigation of the effects of order of addition requires exanimation of a myriad of samples and it is virtually impossible by conventional techniques. This task is ideally suited to investigation by a combinatorial approach aimed at the generation of libraries of pseudo-phase diagrams. In this study we developed a high-throughput screening method to generate phase diagrams over a large range of concentrations for cationic polysaccharide interaction with anionic surfactant in the presence and absence of dissolved electrolyte. Using a liquid handling system for sample preparation, we are able to analyze nearly 1000 samples per day, making the above goals of understanding electrolyte effects and coacervate structure-property relationships attainable.
Hyperglycemia Alters the Responsiveness of Smooth Muscle Cells to Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I

IGF-I stimulation of smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation requires αVβ3 ligand occupancy. We hypothesized that changes in the levels of extracellular matrix proteins induced by alterations in glucose concentrations may regulate the ability of SMCs to respond to IGF-I. IGF-I stimulated migration and proliferation of SMCs that had been maintained in 25 mm glucose containing media, but it had no stimulatory effect when tested using SMCs that had been grown in 5 mm glucose. IGF-I stimulated an increase in Shc phosphorylation and enhanced activation of the MAPK pathway in SMCs grown in 25 mm glucose, whereas in cells maintained in 5 mm glucose, IGF-I had no effect on Shc phosphorylation, and the MAPK response to IGF-I was markedly reduced. In cells grown in 25 mm glucose, the levels of αVβ3 ligands, e.g. osteopontin, vitronectin, and thrombospondin, were all significantly increased, compared with cells grown in 5 mm glucose. The addition of these αVβ3 ligands to SMCs grown in 5 mm glucose was s...
Toxicity of acrylamide derivatives to embryos of the rotifer Adineta vaga.

The invertebrate rotifer, introduced into toxicological research more than 40 years ago (Marriott et al. 1948; Allee and Rosenthal 1949), has since been used both as a model organism to investigate the biochemical and physiological actions of toxins (Lindner and Goldman 1964; Kleinow 1986) and as a test organism in bioassays to monitor pollution in marine and fresh water environments (Snell and Persoone 1989; Fern~indez-Casalderrey et al. 1991). The selection of rotifers as the experimental animals has several justifications. First, being multicellular animals, they offer a better choice over bacteria and protozoans. Second, they are easy to collect, culture and inexpensive to maintain. Third, several species are all parthenogenetic females. This enables one to prepare clones of genetically identical individuals, all descendants of one female. Consequently, the genetic factor is largely eliminated from the interpretation of the experimental results. Fourth, since the lifespan of most species is short (5 to 40 d), the chronic effects of toxins on lifespan and reproduction can be evaluated relatively quickly.
The complete second-order diffraction solution for an axisymmetric body Part 2. Bichromatic incident waves and body motions

In Part 1 (Kim & Yue 1989), we considered the second-order diffraction of a plane monochromatic incident wave by an axisymmetric body. A ring-source integral equation method in conjunction with a novel analytic free-surface integration in the entire local-wave-free domain was developed. To generalize the second-order theory to irregular waves, say described by a continuous spectrum, we consider in this paper the general second-order wave–body interactions in the presence of bichromatic incident waves and the resulting sum- and difference-frequency problems. For completeness, we also include the radiation problem and second-order motions of freely floating or elastically moored bodies. As in Part 1, the second-order sum- and difference-frequency potentials are obtained explicitly, revealing a number of interesting local behaviours of the second-order pressure. For illustration, the quadratic transfer functions (QTF's) for the sum- and difference-frequency wave excitation and body response obtained from the present complete theory are compared to those of existing approximation methods for a number of simple geometries. It is found that contributions from the second-order potentials, typically neglected, can dominate the total load in many cases.
Far-Field Patterns of Plasmon Waveguide Interband Cascade Lasers

The far-field patterns of InAs-based plasmon-waveguide interband cascade lasers are experimentally and theoretically investigated. It is shown that different ridge waveguide structures and metal contact configurations lead to distinctive far-field patterns. With the commonly adopted center metal contact on the top of the ridge waveguide, an undesirable double-lobe far-field pattern along the lateral direction is exhibited, while with two metal contacts near the edges of the ridge or a broad-area metal contact on the mesa structure, the more desirable single lobe far-field pattern is observed. These characteristic far-field patterns and their implications are discussed with the aid of a theoretical model which is in good agreement with our experimental results.
Evaluation of the ability of neurobiological, neurodevelopmental and socio-economic variables to predict cognitive outcome in premature infants

Background When developed in the 1990s, the Neurobiologic Risk Score (NBRS) and Neurodevelopmental Risk Exam (NRE) correlated well with developmental outcomes in premature infants. Given recent advances in neonatology, we assessed their present ability to predict cognitive outcome, alone and combined with socio-economic factors. Methods One hundred and twenty-nine neonates <32 weeks gestational age were assessed at 6, 12 and/or 24 months corrected age with the Cognitive Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic and Auditory Milestone Scale (CAT/CLAMS). Indices of socio-economic status included maternal education and marital status. Results At 24 months corrected age (n= 67), the NBRS (r=−0.5), maternal education (r= 0.46) and marital status (r= 0.37) correlated with the CAT/CLAMS. These correlations increased when NBRS and maternal education were combined (r= 0.63) and when specific NBRS components (intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, seizures) and maternal education were combined (r= 0.66). Conclusions In the contemporary neonatal intensive care unit, measures used to predict cognitive outcome should incorporate both neurobiological risk factors and socio-economic variables.
From Both Sides, Now: Librarians Team up with Computer Scientist to Deliver Virtual Computer-Information Literacy Instruction

Two members of the library faculty at Seton Hall University teamed up with a respected professor of mathematics and computer science, in order to create an online course that introduces information literacy both from the perspectives of the computer scientist and from the instruction librarian. This collaboration is unique in that it addresses the issues of information literacy both from the internal and external design and workings of computer processes; how logic is programmed into the computer and how information is retrieved. Students ultimately become both designers and users—the quintessential computer-literate life-long learner.
Studying genomes through the aeons: protein families, pseudogenes and proteome evolution.

Protein families can be used to understand many aspects of genomes, both their "live" and their "dead" parts (i.e. genes and pseudogenes). Surveys of genomes have revealed that, in every organism, there are always a few large families and many small ones, with the overall distribution following a power-law. This commonality is equally true for both genes and pseudogenes, and exists despite the fact that the specific families that are enlarged differ greatly between organisms. Furthermore, because of family structure there is great redundancy in proteomes, a fact linked to the large number of dispensable genes for each organism and the small size of the minimal, indispensable sub-proteome. Pseudogenes in prokaryotes represent families that are in the process of being dispensed with. In particular, the genome sequences of certain pathogenic bacteria (Mycobacterium leprae, Yersinia pestis and Rickettsia prowazekii) show how an organism can undergo reductive evolution on a large scale (i.e. the dying out of families) as a result of niche change. There appears to be less pressure to delete pseudogenes in eukaryotes. These can be divided into two varieties, duplicated and processed, where the latter involves reverse transcription from an mRNA intermediate. We discuss these collectively in yeast, worm, fly, and human. The fly has few pseudogenes apparently because of its high rate of genomic DNA deletion. In the other three organisms, the distribution of pseudogenes on the chromosome and amongst different families is highly non-uniform. Pseudogenes tend not to occur in the middle of chromosome arms, and tend to be associated with lineage-specific (as opposed to highly conserved) families that have environmental-response functions. This may be because, rather than being dead, they may form a reservoir of diverse "extra parts" that can be resurrected to help an organism adapt to its surroundings. In yeast, there may be a novel mechanism involving the [PSI+] prion that potentially enables this resurrection. In worm, the pseudogenes tend to arise out of families (e.g. chemoreceptors) that are greatly expanded in it compared to the fly. The human genome stands out in having many processed pseudogenes. These have a character very different from those of the duplicated variety, to a large extent just representing random insertions. Thus, their occurrence tends to be roughly in proportion to the amount of mRNA for a particular protein and to reflect the extent of the intergenic sequences. Further information about pseudogenes is available at http://genecensus.org/pseudogene
Adoptive T-cell therapy for Leukemia

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is the most robust form of adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) and has been tremendously effective in the treatment of leukemia. It is one of the original forms of cancer immunotherapy and illustrates that lymphocytes can specifically recognize and eliminate aberrant, malignant cells. However, because of the high morbidity and mortality that is associated with alloSCT including graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), refining the anti-leukemia immunity of alloSCT to target distinct antigens that mediate the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect could transform our approach to treating leukemia, and possibly other hematologic malignancies. Over the past few decades, many leukemia antigens have been discovered that can separate malignant cells from normal host cells and render them vulnerable targets. In concert, the field of T-cell engineering has matured to enable transfer of ectopic high-affinity antigen receptors into host or donor cells with greater efficiency and potency. Many preclinical studies have demonstrated that engineered and conventional T-cells can mediate lysis and eradication of leukemia via one or more leukemia antigen targets. This evidence now serves as a foundation for clinical trials that aim to cure leukemia using T-cells. The recent clinical success of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cells for treating patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia displays the potential of this new therapeutic modality. In this review, we discuss some of the most promising leukemia antigens and the novel strategies that have been implemented for adoptive cellular immunotherapy of lymphoid and myeloid leukemias. It is important to summarize the data for ACT of leukemia for physicians in-training and in practice and for investigators who work in this and related fields as there are recent discoveries already being translated to the patient setting and numerous accruing clinical trials. We primarily focus on ACT that has been used in the clinical setting or that is currently undergoing preclinical testing with a foreseeable clinical endpoint.