cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PIEZO2 mediates injury-induced tactile pain in mice and humans

Tissue injury and inflammation markedly alter touch perception, making normally innocuous sensations become intensely painful. Although this sensory distortion, known as tactile allodynia, is one of the most common types of pain, the mechanism by which gentle mechanical stimulation becomes unpleasant remains enigmatic. The stretch-gated ion channel PIEZO2 has been shown to mediate light touch, vibration detection, and proprioception. However, the role of this ion channel in nociception and pain has not been resolved. Here, we examined the importance of Piezo2 in the cellular representation of mechanosensation using in vivo imaging in mice. Piezo2-knockout neurons were completely insensitive to gentle dynamic touch but still responded robustly to noxious pinch. During inflammation and after injury, Piezo2 remained essential for detection of gentle mechanical stimuli. We hypothesized that loss of PIEZO2 might eliminate tactile allodynia in humans. Our results show that individuals with loss-of-function mutations in PIEZO2 completely failed to develop sensitization and painful reactions to touch after skin inflammation. These findings provide insight into the basis for tactile allodynia, identify the PIEZO2 mechanoreceptor as an essential mediator of touch under inflammatory conditions, and suggest that this ion channel might be targeted for treating tactile allodynia.
The effect of auditor litigation risk on clients' access to bank debt: Evidence from a quasi-experiment

Abstract We exploit staggered state-level shocks to third-party auditor legal liability in the U.S. to test whether auditor litigation risk affects client companies' access to private debt markets. We find that an exogenous increase in auditor litigation risk leads to an increase in both clients' likelihood of receiving bank loans and the average amount of the bank loans that clients receive. In support of our proposed mechanism that auditor litigation risk leads to improvements in clients' audit and financial reporting quality, we find that these same shocks lead to a reduction in accruals, an increase in going-concern opinions, a decrease in restatements, and an improvement in accruals' ability to predict future cash flows. We also find that increased auditor litigation risk leads to an increase in the contractibility of clients’ accounting numbers, as proxied by the use of debt covenants, and a decrease in the cost of borrowing.
Bariatric Procedures in Older Adults in the United States: Analysis of a Multicenter Database

Background: Bariatric procedures help reduce obesity-related comorbidities and thus improve survival. Clinical characteristics and outcomes after bariatric procedures in older adults were investigated. Methods: A multi-institutional Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried from years 2005 through 2012. Older adults >60 years of age with procedure codes for bariatric procedures and a diagnosis of obesity/morbid obesity were selected to compare clinical characteristics/outcomes between those undergoing closed versus open procedures and identify risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality and increased hospital length of stay (LOS). Results: Over the study period, 79,122 bariatric procedures were performed. Those undergoing open procedures compared to closed procedures had a higher in-hospital mortality (0.8% vs. 0.2%) and a longer hospital LOS (4.8 days vs. 2.2 days). Risk factors significantly associated with in-hospital mortality were open procedures, the Western region, and the Elixhauser comorbidity index. Risk factors associated with increased LOS were Medicaid insurance type, an open procedure, a higher Elixhauser comorbidity score, a required skilled nursing facility (SNF) discharge, and died in hospital. Conclusion: Closed bariatric procedures are increasingly being preferred in older adults, with a four-fold lower mortality compared to open procedures. Besides choice of procedure, the presence of specific comorbidities is associated with increased mortality in older adults.
Development of Technology-Based Resource to Promote Students Academic Success

Abstract Beginning nursing students identify having difficulty applying science principles, lack skills to use knowledge, and are unfamiliar with new learning activities. This paper describes technology-based innovative resource, Student Exam Success Plan (SESP), to promote students’ academic success. Students have 24/7 access to modules that offer guidance regarding study strategies, maximize exam preparation, and reading exam questions. During 2016–2018, 538 students averaged 48 minutes in using SESP resource. The SESP may support students’ academic success.
Abstract 142: New Approach for Directly Reprogrammed Endothelial Cells

Rationale: For therapeutic neovascularization through cell therapy to treat cardiovascular diseases, recently, we successfully generated reprogrammed ECs, directly from human dermal fibroblasts (HD...
Estimation of The Effect of Rain and Incidents on Freeway Capacity and Free-Flow Speed

This research aims to examine the effect of incidents with lane closures and adverse weather conditions (medium to heavy rain intensity) on capacity and free-flow speed (FFS) of freeway segments. D...
Growth, decline, and regeneration in large cities. A case study approach, by Steven G. Koven and Andrea C. Koven

Why do some cities experience spectacular economic growth while others continually decline? How do particular cities experiencing decline recover and revitalize? Steven and Andrea Koven examine the...
Cardiovascular Comorbidity in Chronic Lung Disease: Gender Differences

There are substantial gender differences in chronic respiratory diseases as well as cardiovascular disease. In this chapter, gender differences in comorbid chronic lung disease (CLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) will be examined. Data on this intersection are limited and are found mostly in literature focused on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) will not be included in this chapter as there are too few studies to allow meaningful conclusions to be drawn.
Kenya - export prospects and problems

This report examines reasons why Kenya and other African trade did not provide the engine of growth that it did elsewhere. During the last quarter century many Sub-Saharan African countries non-oil exports either declined in absolute terms, or expanded at a slower pace than world trade. Evidence suggests African countries, including Kenya, experienced serious supply constraints that limited their ability to capitalize on opportunities of international production sharing in foreign markets. Inappropriate governance policies, and a general unfavorable commercial environment, were largely responsible for Africa's supply problems. In addition, a decomposition of recent trade changes into supply and demand factors shows that, with two important exceptions (cut flowers and apparel exports) Kenya experienced a general erosion of its US and EU import market shares. These findings support the conclusion of the recent Africa Competitiveness Report that concludes Kenya is at a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis more than one half the other African countries surveyed.
An ICME Method for Predicting Phase Dissolution During Solution Treatment in Advanced Super Vacuum Die Cast Magnesium Alloys

An integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) methodology was applied in this study to systematically and quantitatively study the second phase dissolution kinetics during the solution treatment process of a high pressure die cast magnesium sample. The study was conducted on Mg–9 wt% Al, Mg–5 wt% Al, and Mg–11 wt% Al binary alloys after isothermal solution treatments ranging from 380 to 420 °C. The experimental measurements revealed an exponential decrease of the volume fraction of the second β-phase (Mg17Al12) during the solution treatment. A CALPHAD-based computational tool (Thermocalc DICTRA Diffusion Module) was used to simulate the dissolution process. In this study, measurements from as-cast samples were used as input parameters to improve the accuracy of the predicted results. An analytical, physics-based micro-model, based on the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami type equation, was also applied to study the dissolution kinetics. Both the simulation and micro-model quantitatively agree with the experimental results at all solution treatment temperatures. Calibration and verification of a few input parameters help to understand the assumptions made in the modeling, improve the accuracy of the prediction, and can be applicable in different Mg–Al binary alloys. Adopting such an ICME methodology for modeling development and verification in predicting the dissolution kinetics during solution treatment will allow for more rapid optimization of solution treatments procedures to be used in industrial applications.
Association of PET-based estradiol-challenge test for breast cancer progesterone receptors with response to endocrine therapy

Estrogen receptor (ER) testing of breast cancer imperfectly predicts response to endocrine therapy (ET). We hypothesize that a brief estradiol challenge will increase tumor progesterone receptor (PgR) levels only in tumors with functional ER. In this prospective, phase 2, single-center, single-arm trial (NCT02455453), we report the association of response to ET with change in tumor uptake of the progestin analog, 21-[18F]fluorofuranylnorprogesterone (FFNP), before and after a one-day estradiol challenge. In 43 postmenopausal women with advanced ER+ breast cancer, we show a post-challenge increase in tumor FFNP uptake only in 28 subjects with clinical benefit from ET (responders), but not in 15 without clinical benefit (nonresponders) (p < 0.0001), indicating 100% sensitivity and specificity. We further show significantly longer survival (p < 0.0001) in the responding subjects. Our results demonstrate that change in tumor FFNP uptake after estradiol challenge is highly predictive of response to ET in women with ER+ breast cancer. Clinical estrogen receptor (ER) testing for breast cancer is limited in predicting response to endocrine therapy (ET). In this phase 2 clinical trial, authors demonstrate that the responsiveness to ET can be predicted by use of PET/CT with 21-[18F]fluorofuranylnorprogesterone (FFNP) to detect the change in tumor progesterone receptor (PgR) levels after a one-day estradiol challenge.
An Examination of Sport Motivation, Motivational Climate, and Athlete Burnout within the Developmental Model of Sport Participation

Young adults’ retrospective recall of high school sport motivations, motivational climate, and burnout were compared based on whether they fit the “specializer” or “sampler” track within the Developmental Model of Sport Participation (DMSP, Cote & Fraser-Thomas, 2007). College students (N = 156) fitting these two DMSP tracks completed their recall of sport motivations (Sport Motivation Scale-II), motivational climate (Motivational Climate Scale for Youth Sports) and athlete burnout (Athlete Burnout Questionnaire). Separate one-way MANOVAs comparing samplers (n = 113) and specializers (n = 43) on these variables were not significant (p > .05). Multiple regression analyses showed amotivation and intrinsic regulation were significant positive and negative predictors (respectively) of burnout dimensions. Performance climate was predictive of exhaustion and sport devaluation, while mastery climate negatively predicted reduced sense of accomplishment. Although Self-Determination Theory was further supported in examining burnout, lack of differences across DMSP track suggests that samplers and specializers in non-elite, amateur youth sport settings do not differ in burnout.
Electrically driven optical isolation through phonon-mediated photonic Autler–Townes splitting

Optical isolators today are exclusively built on magneto-optic principles but are not readily implemented within photonic integrated circuits. So far, no magnetless alternative1–22 has managed to simultaneously combine linearity (that is, no frequency shift), linear response (that is, input–output scaling), ultralow insertion loss and large directional contrast on-chip. Here we demonstrate an electrically driven optical isolator design that leverages the unbeatable transparency of a short, high-quality dielectric waveguide, with the strong attenuation from a critically coupled absorber. Our concept is implemented using a lithium niobate racetrack resonator in which phonon-mediated13 photonic Autler–Townes splitting10,16,23,24 breaks the chiral symmetry of the resonant modes. We demonstrate isolators at wavelengths one octave apart near 1,550 nm and 780 nm, fabricated from the same lithium-niobate-on-insulator wafer. Linear isolation is demonstrated with simultaneously 39 dB contrast and 10 dB bandwidth up to ~200 MHz. Non-magnetic optical isolators are demonstrated using phonon-mediated photonic Autler–Townes splitting. The on-chip lithium niobate devices simultaneously achieve ultralow insertion loss and high contrast.
Direct numerical simulation of noise and its source from decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulence with particulates

Abstract Eulerian-Lagrangian direct numerical simulations of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations are performed for decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Particles are suspended within the turbulent field. A parametric study of over fifty simulations is performed that varies the number of particles and their diameter. The Crighton Ffowcs Williams acoustic analogy is used to predict the noise from the turbulent field with suspended particles. The traditional quadrupole source of Lighthill dominates the radiated noise for low particle number or diameter. As the number of particles or their diameter increase, the root-mean-square pressure scales as the five-halves power of the volume fraction, which indicates that noise is dominated by the monopole and dipole terms.
Migratable AI : Investigating Users’ Affect on Identity and Information Migration of a Conversational AI Agent

Conversational AI agents are becoming ubiquitous and provide assistance to us in our everyday activities. In recent years, researchers have explored the migration of these agents across different embodiments in order to maintain the continuity of the task and improve user experience. In this paper, we investigate user’s affective responses in different configurations of the migration parameters. We present a 2 x 2 between-subjects study in a task-based scenario using information migration and identity migration as parameters. We outline the affect processing pipeline from the video footage collected during the study and report user’s responses in each condition. Our results show that users reported highest joy and were most surprised when both the information and identity was migrated; and reported most anger when the information was migrated without the identity of their agent.
Learning at the nano-level: Accounting for complexity in the internalization of secondary STEM teacher professional development

Abstract Utilizing a case study research design, the factors that influence teacher learning and change, as well as the processes by which secondary STEM teachers internalize professional development (PD) content, are explored. The authors argue that conceptualizations of teacher learning often do not adequately account for teacher subjectivity and the role of exogenous variables in teacher development. The outcomes of PD are heavily influenced by teacher subjectivity, which includes perceptions, previous knowledge, and the internalization of the power and influence present in educational policy and socioeconomic realities. This complexity must be accounted for when planning, researching, or evaluating teacher PD.
The interaction of a deformable drop with a surface

This chapter investigates two related phenomena of the deformable drop. One is the approach toward impact of a drop when a second viscous liquid intervenes between the approaching drop and a rigid planar surface. The drop decelerates as it approaches the surface, and viscous stresses have the capacity to deform the drop against the restraining forces at the interface (arising from interfacial tension) that act to keep the drop spherical. The second phenomenon arises in the case of a drop or even a solid spherical particle, plunging across a liquid interface. Here the primary issue is the dynamics of the “target” interface during and subsequent to impact, which can be quite complex. The problem of a drop approaching a solid surface is central to the issue of wetting of a surface by the liquid drop. In addition, the coalescence of a drop with another drop, or of two bubbles in a liquid is determined in part by the dynamics of approach of the drops or bubbles. Along with the drops, bubble crossing liquid interfaces is elaborated in the chapter.
A stochastic intra-ring synchronous optimal network design problem

We develop a stochastic programming approach to solving an intra-ring Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) design problem. This research differs from pioneering SONET design studies in two fundamental ways. First, while traditional approaches to solving this problem assume that all data are deterministic, we observe that for practical planning situations, network demand levels are stochastic. Second, while most models disallow demand shortages and focus only on the minimization of capital Add-Drop Multiplexer (ADM) equipment expenditure, our model minimizes a mix of ADM installations and expected penalties arising from the failure to satisfy some or all of the actual telecommunication demand. We propose an L-shaped algorithm to solve this design problem, and demonstrate how a nonlinear reformulation of the problem may improve the strength of the generated optimality cuts. We next enhance the basic algorithm by implementing powerful lower and upper bounding techniques via an assortment of modeling, valid inequality, and heuristic strategies. Our computational results conclusively demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed algorithm as opposed to standard L-shaped and extensive form approaches to solving the problem.
Geostatistics, Model‐Based

Classical geostatistics involves statistical inference for random fields with a continuous spatial index based on geostatistical data, but the methods tend to be ad hoc. Alternatively, likelihood-based and Bayesian methods provide more efficient estimation of model parameters and more rigorous quantification of uncertainty in prediction of responses at unsampled locations. Keywords: Bayesian inference; generalized linear model; geostatistical data; likelihood inference; random effects
Selection Incentives and Accountability Traps: A Laboratory Experiment

In a laboratory experiment, I evaluate subject behavior in the context of a two-period pure adverse selection model of electoral accountability. The equilibrium predictions associated with standard specifications here require minimal effort investment in both periods and voter retaining the representative if and only if the posterior on representative's type exceeds the expected value of the replacement distribution. I find that subjects systematically deviate from these predictions, but do so in ways that differ significantly across different institutional specifications: (a) with vs. without noise in the outcome function, (b) with smaller vs. greater ranges of representatives’ types, and (c) with smaller vs. greater marginal returns on effort in the outcome function. I construct a model of subject behavior that is consistent with these observations. Jointly with the analyzed behavior, the model sheds doubt on the received wisdom that analytically prioritizes adverse selection over moral hazard considerations in environments with agent type heterogeneity.
The effects of market-making on price dynamics

This paper studies market-makers, agents responsible for maintaining liquidity and orderly price transitions in markets. Market-makers include major firms making markets on global stock exchanges, as well as software agents that run behind the scenes on novel electronic markets like prediction markets. We use a sophisticated model of market-making to build richer agent-based models of markets and show how these models can be useful both in understanding properties of existing markets and in predicting the impacts of structural changes. For example, we show how competition among market-makers can lead to significantly faster price discovery following a jump in the true value of an asset. We also show that myopic profit-maximization, apart from leading to poor market quality, is sub-optimal even for a monopolistic market-maker. This observation leads to an interesting characterization of the market-maker's exploration-exploitation dilemma as a tradeoff between price discovery and profit-taking.
In vitro immune response of SLE lymphocytes. The mechanism involved in B-cell activation.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 26 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and six normal individuals were tested for IgG synthesis in the presence or absence of PWM. Lymphocytes from patients with active SLE synthesized increased amounts of IgG in the absence of PWM and reduced amounts of IgG in the presence of PWM. Serum from patients with active SLE had an enhancing effect on the in vitro IgG synthesis of normal lymphocytes. The IgG or F(ab′)2 fractions of SLE serum retained the enhancing effect on in vitro IgG synthesis, and the enhancing activity was absorbed by human spleen cells. As little as 4 h of incubation with SLE serum was needed for the enhancing activity of normal lymphocytes. Treatment of B lymphocytes appeared to be of main importance for an increase in the in vitro IgG synthesis of SLE serum-treated lymphocytes. These results suggest that anti-B-lymphocyte antibodies from patients with active SLE are responsible in part for the hyperactive response of SLE B lymphocytes.
Structure and Composition of a Small Particle Prepared from a Simian Adenovirus

Mayor, Heather D. (Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.), Richard M. Jamison, Liane E. Jordan, and Joseph L. Melnick. Structure and composition of a small particle prepared from a simian adenovirus. J. Bacteriol. 90:235-242. 1965.-When tissue-culture fluids infected with simian adenovirus SV15 are examined in an electron microscope, either as fresh harvests or after treatment with Genetron, typical mature adenovirus particles are found. These are 65 to 70 mmu in diameter, with an icosahedral capsid built from 252 capsomeres. Also present is a population of small polyhedral particles approximately 20 mmu in diameter. These small particles can be separated from the mature virions by ultrafiltration or density gradient centrifugation. The small particles have a density of 1.43 in cesium chloride. They contain protein and double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid. They appear to possess cubic symmetry of the icosahedral type, with a coat composed of 12 subunits each at the vertex of an icosahedron.
Simplified simulation of a-Si:H based solar cells

A simplified model has been developed to simulate the current-voltage characteristic of a-Si:H pin solar cells using a personal computer. The calculated total current includes two components: dark diode current and light generated current. The electric field is modeled as voltage dependent, with two high field regions near the p-i and n-i interfaces, and a low field region for the middle of the i-layer. Input parameters include the incident spectrum, the absorption coefficients, the widths of the various field regions, the diffusion length, and the interface recombination velocities. The parameters can easily be changed for various alloy compositions. The results indicate that the voltage variation of the light-generated current dominates the current-voltage relation. >
Outcome of indwelling tunneled PleurX® catheter placement in pediatric and young adult patients with malignant effusions

Malignant effusions may cause significant morbidity and mortality for cancer patients. Indwelling tunneled PleurX® catheter placement for intermittent drainage of malignant effusions has been shown to be efficacious in adults but has not been studied in children. We performed a retrospective review of nine children and young adults who underwent PleurX® catheter placement for the palliation of symptoms associated with malignant effusions. Eight of nine demonstrated symptomatic improvement and seven of nine were discharged from the hospital after catheter placement. No patients experienced catheter-associated complications. PleurX® catheter placement should be considered for palliation of symptoms due to malignant effusions in pediatric oncology patients.
Factors related to perinatal substance abuse in a California county.

The study reported here originates from a county in California between Los Angeles and San Francisco. 658 mothers were tested over a 1–mo. period in June 1991 to ascertain the prevalence of drug misuse among pregnant women. 11% of the mothers tested positive for some type of substance. Of those substances found in the urine of the mothers who tested positive, the most prevalent were barbiturates, marijuana methamphetamines, and amphetamines. When the multivariate analysis of logistic regression was performed with test results as the dependent variable, history of drug use was the most important factor related to mothers testing positive for drugs.
Investigation of an improved-sensitivity neutron-porosity oil-well logging tool

Abstract Existing oil-well logging tools for porosity measurements are based on the use of a high-energy isotopic neutron source (like 241Am-Be) and two thermal-neutron detectors (usually 3He-filled proportional counters) placed at two different distances from the source within the logging tool. The present paper describes investigations into the possible use of other measurement principles involving combinations of two of three individual measurements: thermal-neutron detection, prompt gamma-ray detection, and epithermal-neutron detection. Presently the combination of the first two has been investigated extensively by Monte Carlo simulation. An 241AmBe neutron source has been used with a prompt gamma-ray detector (NaI) placed relatively far from the source and a thermal-neutron detector (3He) placed close to the source. A Monte Carlo simulation program which takes into account the complex geometry and neutron-photon transport has been designed and implemented for this specific problem. The primary problem in the use of prompt gamma-ray detection is the dominance of the resulting spectrum by chlorine when even small amounts of salt are present. This problem can be minimized by counting gamma-rays in an energy window which has approximately the same counts in fresh water as in salt water. This energy window can be determined by generating the pulse height spectra for both fresh water and salt water and determining the optimum energy window which has approximately the same counting rate and is independent of lithology. This combination shows sensitivity of about 7.0% compared to 4.0% in case of the conventional compensated neutron-porosity tool.
Percent free prostate-specific antigen values in men with recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy

Objectives. Patients with prostate cancer may have more of the complexed form of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the serum, whereas patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia have less of this complexed form and thus a higher proportion of the free form. However, the molecular basis for the lower percent of free PSA in patients with prostate cancer remains unknown, and considerable overlap in values exists. We examined this hypothesis in men with recurrent or persistent cancer after radical prostatectomy. These men, who have “pure” cancer in that they have no benign elements to their disease, should have very low percent free PSA values. Methods. Forty-six men with recurrent (persistent) cancer as manifested by rising PSA values (mean [±SD] 2.4 ± 2.5 ng/mL) after radical prostatectomy were available for analysis. Specimens were analyzed with the use of the Abbott AxSYM free and total PSA assays. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare percent free PSA values in this recurrent cancer group with values from a previously defined population of 413 men (225 with benign disease and 188 with prostate cancer before prostatectomy). Results. Median values of percent free PSA in the recurrent cancer group (8.4%) were significantly lower than values in the preoperative cancer (11.7%) or benign (17.4%) groups (P <0.0001 for both comparisons). Among patients in the “pure” cancer group, 30 (65%) had values less than 10%; however, 4 patients (9%) had values from 15% to 19%, and another 4 (9%) had values of 20% or greater. Pathologically, patients with higher values (15% or greater) had aggressive disease. All patients with values of 20% or greater had evidence of seminal vesicle involvement or nodal disease. Conclusions. Although most cancers exhibit low values of percent free PSA, a significant proportion of aggressive tumors will demonstrate high values. Until this latter phenomenon can be explained, the widespread use of percent free PSA to distinguish benign from malignant disease or to stage confirmed malignant disease should be approached with caution.
Performance Enhancement of Alkaline Direct Methanol Fuel Cells by Ni/Al Layered Double Hydroxides

This paper reports the results of fuel cell performance tests detailing the effects of Ni/Al layered double hydroxide (Ni-LDH) on the performance of alkaline direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). It is desirable to enhance the maximum rate of methanol consumption at a fuel cell’s anode so that expensive bimetallic catalysts (such as Pt-Ru) would not be as essential to remedy the well-known sluggish kinetics and Pt catalyst deactivation tendencies of DMFCs. The test cells were constructed using partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol film membranes impregnated with a 10 M potassium hydroxide electrolyte. The cells were tested at a constant temperature of 40°C, and the effect of the addition of Ni-LDH to the membrane surface was studied by comparison of fuel cell polarization and power production curves of cells with Pt or Pt-Ru anodes paired with Pt cathodes. The benefits of Ni-LDH addition to DMFCs are clearly shown vis-a-vis the extended operating current densities and associated increases in power density for each catalyst type. The enhancement effect of Ni-LDH appears largely as enhancement of cell mass transport. Cells constructed with Pt anodes and membrane surfaces modified by Ni-LDH perform very nearly as well as Ni-LDH-free cells using bimetallic Pt-Ru anodes.
Measles and models.

Although measles is a mild disease for most people, it can result in severe complications and death. The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) of the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year approximately 1.5 million children die of measles around the world. Pneumonia and diarrhoea cause most of the deaths, but other important complications include bronchitis, croup, laryngitis, otitis, stomatitis, proteinlosing enteropathy, deafness and blindness.' In developing countries up to 10% of infected children often die acutely' with the highest death-to-case ratio occurring in infants. In those who survive recovery is slow. Affected children have marked weight loss from diarrhoea and the inability to eat or drink because of severe stomatitis and general malaise. Catch-up weight gain can take longer than three months, and the illness can precipitate marasmus or kwashiorkor in those whose nutritional status is marginal at the onset of infection. Severely malnourished children suffer more complications and are more likely to die. Even in the developed world, the health impact of measles can be substantial. Between 1970 and 1975 there was an average of 6000 hospitalizations in the United States for measles annually. In Denmark, approximately 9% of cases developed otitis, 7% respiratory complications and 0.3% encephalitis.
A Shaggy Soul Story: How not to Read the Wax Tablet Model in Plato’s Theaetetus

This paper sets out to re-examine the famous Wax Tablet model in Plato's Theaetetus, in particular the section of it which appeals to the quality of individual souls’wax as an explanation of why some are more liable to make mistakes than others (194c-195a). This section has often been regarded as an ornamental flourish or a humorous appendage to the model's main explanatory business. Yet in their own appropriations both Aristotle and Locke treat the notion of variable wax quality as an important part of the model's utility in dealing with mistake. What, then, is its status for Plato? I shall argue that the section on variable wax quality is there to suggest to the reader a tempting way of misinterpreting the model. This will highlight the distinctive character of the model in its original version, and provide an unusual example of a philosopher describing how not to read one of his own doctrines.
Pre and post-stroke use of statins improves stroke outcome

Introduction: Although there is sufficient evidence that HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors reduce stroke recurrence in patients with or ischemic heart disease, it remains unclear whether they also improve outcomes given before or after stroke onset and whether such an effect is more robust with pre-stroke or post-stroke use of statins. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of a large University Health Consortium Database. Patients with statin use before or after stroke onset were included in the analysis. Twenty patients discontinued statins after stroke onset. The outcome measures were discharge home or long-term care facility and/or death within 45 days. Results: Patients with prior statin use were more likely to be discharged home (1.67, CI 1.12-2.49), as were post stroke statin patients who had a more robust effect OR 2.63, CI 1.61-4.53). Conclusions: Patients started on statins after stroke were more likely to be discharged home versus patients already on statins before stroke onset. However, both groups were also more likely to be discharged home than those patients not on statins.
A Chicken Embryo Lethality Assay for Pathogenic Enterococcus cecorum

SUMMARY Pathogenic strains of Enterococcus cecorum cause outbreaks of arthritis and osteomyelitis in chickens worldwide. Enterococcal spondylitis (ES) is a specific manifestation of E. cecorum-associated disease of broilers and broiler breeders characterized by increased flock mortality, resulting from unresolved infection of the free thoracic vertebra by pathogenic E. cecorum. A study of 22 ES outbreaks in the southeast United States revealed that pathogenic E. cecorum strains isolated from spinal lesions were genetically clonal. Here, we compare the virulence of previously genotyped pathogenic strains (n = 8) isolated from spinal lesions and nonpathogenic strains (n = 9) isolated from ceca of unaffected birds in a chicken embryo lethality model. Strains were inoculated into the allantoic cavity of 12-day-old broiler and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) layer embryos; embryo survival was determined by candling eggs daily for 4 days. Significantly decreased survival occurred in both broiler and SPF embryo...
The changing face of software support: the impact of the Internet on customer support and support personnel

The site used to collect the data for this study (Beta Inc.) is a U.S.-based, international computing company with over 3000 support personnel employed world-wide. During the 12 month period from August 1999 to July 2000, the company moved the customer support operation from a telephone-based system to a mix of telephone and Internet-based support. The data presented in this paper was collected between January and July 2000 and shows the impact of this change on customer support and support personnel.Prior to the implementation of the Internet-based, iNet Customer Support System, the quantity of customer support, as a measure of operational performance for Beta Inc., was based on Telephone Support Request (SR) volume. Between January and July, 2000, there was a 52% decrease in telephone SRs across the company. This followed a three-year trend of increasing telephone SRs. This study shows that the decrease in telephone SRs has been made up through customer self-service using the iNet Customer Support System. As a result of this trend toward customer self-service using the Internet, 15% of the Beta Inc. customer support personnel were RIFed in June 2000.The change in the customer support service model at Beta Inc. impacts the required number of support personnel, the level of expertise required of customer support personnel, and the type of support which customers may expect in the future.Several conclusions are presented: The effort to move Beta Inc. customers to a self-service mode was very successful. Average resolution time of Internet-based SRs exceeded average resolution time of telephone SRs, suggesting that iNET provides customer solutions to simpler problems with the submission of more difficult support problems to support personnel. A measure of the quality of customer support self-service is needed. As more support questions are answered through customer searches of the iNET system, the number of support personnel required to answer support questions will continue to decrease. At the same time, since only the more difficult support questions are left unanswered by the iNET system the level of support personnel expertise required to answer customer questions will increase.
Alignment of He- and H-like P states of heavy ions produced by ion-atom collisions☆

The alignment of the 2P states of He- and H-like 48 MeV Mg and He-like 32 and 105 MeV S ions excited by thin carbon foils and the alignment of the 2P states of He-like Ne recoil ions produced by 1.35 MeV/amu Ar ion impact is discussed. The alignment of the Mg ions is deduced from the angular distributions of the He- and H-like X-ray lines measured with a pivoted plane-crystal Bragg spectrometer. The alignment of the S ions has been determined from the I(3P)I(1P) ratio in the He-like X-ray spectrum measured with a curved crystal spectrometer. The experimental results are compared with the Oppenheimer-Brinkman-Kramers (OBK) approximation, the first Born-approximation (BA) and the coupled states calculation (OHCE) of Reading et al. The OHCE generally gives good agreement with the experimental data, while the OBK grossly disagrees with them. The alignments and the relative population of the 23P and 21P states of He-like Ne recoil ions have been deduced from the relative intensity and polarizations of the 3P and 1P X-ray lines measured with a curved crystal polarimeter. By comparing the alignments and the relative populations of these states, the relative contributions of 1s–2p excitation and multielectron ionization to the production of 1s2p He-like states have been determined to be 37% and 63%, respectively.
The Military and Colonial Destruction of the Roman Landscape of North Africa, 1830–1900

Surprisingly little has been written about the extent to which the Roman legacy inflected French imperial plans in North Africa. Michael Greenhalgh's pioneering study shows not only how ubiquitous ...
Becoming a Sibling: "With a Little Help From My Friends"

The qualities of children's friendships that may promote the development of positive sibling relationships were examined. Thirty 3- to 5-year-old firstborn children whose families were expecting a 2nd child participated in longitudinal assessments of parent-child, sibling, and best-friend peer relationships. Families were studied from the last trimester of pregnancy to 14 months following the new child's birth. Peer relationship variables, particularly, the overall quality of peer play, engagement in fantasy play, and conflict management were found to be significant predictors of the quality of children's interactions with their 6- and 14-month-old siblings. Results are discussed in terms of the functions friendships may hold for helping children make the transition to the sibling role. This is a report of a longitudinal study of firstborn preschool children's transition to becoming a sibling. The purpose of the study was to examine the role of firstborn children's friendships in the adaptation to the newborn. It has become increasingly clear that the peer system can make important contributions to children's socialization and eventual adaptation (Parker & Asher, 1987). This report proposes that being a friend, which is a role children often have before becoming a brother or sister, may be valuable preparation for the sibling role. Recent research has focused on the adaptive properties of children's personal social networks (Berndt & Perry, 1986; Felner, 1984; Furman & Buhrmester, 1985; Lewis, Feiring, & Kotsonis, 1984; Reid, Landesman, Treder, & Jaccard, 1989). These studies have confirmed that peers are significant members of children's social networks for children in early and middle childhood. The opportunity to interact with peers has also been associated with enhanced social development. In the primate world, repeated exposures to socially normal peers has been associated with the remediation of abnormal social behaviors among infant rhesus monkeys reared under isolate conditions (Suomi & Harlow, 1972). Furman, Rahe, and Hartup (1979) have applied these findings to socially withdrawn 4- and 5-year-old children. When exposed to same-aged and younger peers, these children were significantly more sociable in posttreatment observations than those who were not exposed to peers.
Price and quantity endogeneity in demand analysis: evidence from directed acyclic graphs

We propose to use the emerging method of directed graphs to study price/quantity endogeneity issues in empirical demand analysis. The approach is illustrated through the examination of U.S. meat consumption. We find that for two major meat products (beef and poultry), retail prices contemporaneously caused quantities consumed, thus were predetermined. In contrast, the quantity consumed of pork appeared to be predetermined relative to its price.
A lexicon for knowledge-based MT

In knowledge-based machine translation (KBMT), the lexicon can be specified and acquired only in close connection with the specification and acquisition of the world model (ontology) and the specification of the text meaning representation (interlingua) language. The former supplies the atoms for the specification of text meaning and provides world knowledge to support the inference processes necessary for a variety of disambiguation and meaning assignment operations. The latter is necessary for the formulation of the semantic zone of the lexicon entries, which can be viewed as containing the static building blocks of the text meaning representation. This is the view taken in the Mikrokosmos KBMT project.
A COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR ESTIMATING CONDITIONAL ITEM SCORE DIFFERENCES IN DIFFERENTIAL ITEM FUNCTIONING (DIF) ASSESSMENTS

This study compared the accuracies of four differential item functioning (DIF) estimation methods, where each method makes use of only one of the following: raw data, logistic regression, loglinear models, or kernel smoothing. The major focus was on the estimation strategies' potential for estimating score-level, conditional DIF. A secondary focus was on assessing the accuracy of strategies' overall DIF effect sizes and statistical significance tests. A real data simulation was used to evaluate the estimation strategies with 6 items representing DIF and No DIF situations, and with 4 sample size combinations for the reference and focal group data. Results showed that the logistic regression estimation strategy was the most highly recommended strategy in terms of the bias and variability of its estimates and the power of its statistical significance test. The loglinear models strategy had flexibility advantages, but these advantages only offset the greater variability of its estimates and its reduced statistical power when sample sizes were large. The kernel smoothing estimation strategy was the least accurate of the considered strategies due to estimation problems when the reference and focal groups differed in overall ability.
Dynamic reachability in planar digraphs with one source and one sink

Abstract In this paper we investigate the reachability problem on spherical st-graphs, which are planar acyclic digraphs with exactly one source and exactly one sink. These digraphs find specific applications to visibility representations, planarity testing, planar graph embedding, graph drawing, and motion planning. Let n be the number of vertices. First, we show that reachability queries in a spherical st-graph can be answered in O(1) time using an O(n)-space data structure that can be constructed in O(n) time. Next, we present a dynamic data structure, which uses O(n) space and supports reachability queries and updates in O(log n) time. Finally, we show how to extend these results to planar digraphs that have one source and one sink and may have directed cycles.
Reassessing the role of sulfur geochemistry on arsenic speciation in reducing environments.

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that the oxidation of arsenite by zero-valent sulfur (S(0)) may produce stable aqueous arsenate species under highly reducing conditions. The speciation of arsenic (As) in reducing soils, sediments and aquifers may therefore be far more complex than previously thought. We illustrate this by presenting updated E h –pH diagrams of As speciation in sulfidic waters that include the most recently reported formation constants for sulfide complexes of As(III) and As(V). The results show that the stability fields of As(III) and As(V) (oxy)thioanions cover a large pH range, from pH 5 to 10. In particular, As(V)–S(–II) complexes significantly enhance the predicted solubility of As under reducing conditions. Equilibrium calculations further show that, under conditions representative of sulfidic pore waters and in the presence of solid-phase elemental sulfur, the S 0 (aq) /HS − couple yields a redox potential ( E h ) ∼ 0.1 V higher than the SO 4 2− /HS − couple. S(0) may thus help stabilize aqueous As(V) not only by providing an electron acceptor for As(III) but also by contributing to a more oxidizing redox state.
Role of the membrane concanavalin A binding site in platelet-fibrin interactions

Abstract Concanavalin A was employed to study the role of platelet membrane glycoproteins in platelet-fibrin interactions during clot formation. A rheological technique was used to study the interactions, measuring the clot rigidity and platelet contractile force simultaneously during the formation of network structure. Concanavalin A lowered the clot rigidity and contractile force of a platelet-rich plasma clot by a small extent. Plasma glycoproteins probably compete with platelet membranes for concanavalin A binding in platelet-rich plasma. Both native concanavalin A (tetrameric) and succinyl concanavalin A (dimeric) lowered the clot rigidity and contractile force of a washed platelet-fibrin clot dramatically, almost down to those values found for fibrin clots. Inhibition studies with α-methyl- d -mannoside indicated that the concanavalin A effects were specific for the concanavalin A binding capacity to platelets. The effects of native concanavalin A on platelet-fibrin clots were only partially reversible, while the succinyl concanavalin A effects were completely reversible. The observed concanavalin A effects are probably mainly due to concanavalin A binding to platelet membrane glycoproteins. The concanavalin A binding site appears to play an important role in the fibrin binding to platelets.