cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Special Period”-izing Cuba: Limits of the Past Perfect

Recent literature in Cuba shares an untimely postmodernity with other post-Soviet literatures and participates in what Fredric Jameson has identified as “the affective turn,” a pivot away from collective histories toward individual, bodily feeling, and away from the narrative impulse toward an atmospheric or scenic one. This literary drift toward affect is not simply part of the cultural logic of late capital; it also exhibits a contestatory will that confronts the political and material constraints of present-day Cuba. Today’s literature may seem to prioritize the representation of a static present, but it can also be viewed as an attempt to rescue the present from the burden of the narratives produced by both the state and capitalism.
A multifunctional battery module design for electric vehicle

Reducing the overall vehicle weight is an efficient, system-level approach to increase the drive range of electric vehicle, for which structural parts in auto-frame may be replaced by battery modules. Such battery modules must be structurally functional, e.g., energy absorbing, while the battery cells are not necessarily loading–carrying. We designed and tested a butterfly-shaped battery module of prismatic cells, which could self-unfold when subjected to a compressive loading. Angle guides and frictionless joints were employed to facilitate the large deformation. Desired resistance to external loading was offered by additional energy absorption elements. The battery-module behavior and the battery-cell performance were controlled separately. Numerical simulation verified the experimental results.
A remark on a theorem of Erdős

A theorem of Erdős asserts that every infinite $${X \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n}$$ has a subset of the same cardinality having no repeated distances. This theorem is generalized here as follows: If $${(\mathbb{R}^n,E)}$$ is an algebraic hypergraph that does not have an infinite, complete subset, then every infinite subset has an independent subset of the same cardinality.
Role of fine needle aspiration in lymphoma.

FNAB has an important role to play in the diagnosis of potential hematopoietic neoplasms. Although surgical biopsy may be more accepted than FNAB in many institutions, it is not always the best approach in every patient. Lack of superficial lymph nodes, extremely ill patients and the need for a rapid diagnosis (i.e. highly proliferative tumors like BL) make the availability of a good FNAB service crucial. To achieve the greatest accuracy in diagnosis, FNAB should combine skilled aspiration and triage techniques to obtain representative material, morphological evaluation of the sample by an experienced cytopathologist, and availability of ancillary techniques, such as flow cytometric immunophenotyping, IHC and molecular analysis.
Chemical space of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors: New approaches for discovering novel drugs for old bugs

Escherichia coli Dihydrofolate reductase is an important enzyme that is essential for the survival of the Gram-negative microorganism. Inhibitors designed against this enzyme have demonstrated application as antibiotics. However, either because of poor bioavailability of the small-molecules resulting from their inability to cross the double membrane in Gram-negative bacteria or because the microorganism develops resistance to the antibiotics by mutating the DHFR target, discovery of new antibiotics against the enzyme is mandatory to overcome drug-resistance. This review summarizes the field of DHFR inhibition with special focus on recent efforts to effectively interface computational and experimental efforts to discover novel classes of inhibitors that target allosteric and active-sites in drug-resistant variants of EcDHFR.
CD4 T cells control development and maintenance of brain-resident CD8 T cells during polyomavirus infection

Tissue-resident memory CD8 T (TRM) cells defend against microbial reinfections at mucosal barriers; determinants driving durable TRM cell responses in non-mucosal tissues, which often harbor opportunistic persistent pathogens, are unknown. JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) is a ubiquitous constituent of the human virome. With altered immunological status, JCPyV can cause the oft-fatal brain demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). JCPyV is a human-only pathogen. Using the mouse polyomavirus (MuPyV) encephalitis model, we demonstrate that CD4 T cells regulate development of functional antiviral brain-resident CD8 T cells (bTRM) and renders their maintenance refractory to systemic CD8 T cell depletion. Acquired CD4 T cell deficiency, modeled by delaying systemic CD4 T cell depletion until MuPyV-specific CD8 T cells have infiltrated the brain, impacted the stability of CD8 bTRM, impaired their effector response to reinfection, and rendered their maintenance dependent on circulating CD8 T cells. This dependence of CD8 bTRM differentiation on CD4 T cells was found to extend to encephalitis caused by vesicular stomatitis virus. Together, these findings reveal an intimate association between CD4 T cells and homeostasis of functional bTRM to CNS viral infection.
The Regime Shift Detector: a model to identify changes in dynamic rules governing populations

Environmental factors may interact with internal rules of population regulation, sometimes perturbing systems to alternate dynamic states. Yet, pinpointing when state changes occur in naturally fluctuating populations is difficult. An analytical approach that can identify the timing and magnitude of such changes, or "regime shifts", would facilitate understanding of abrupt ecological transitions with potential to inform conservation and management of species. We developed a generalizable model, the "Regime Shift Detector", for identifying changes in the parameters of a simple density dependent model governing the temporal fluctuations of a population. The model is a tool comprised of a suite of functions for examining population time series data for the presence, location, and magnitude of parameter shifts. The model uses an iterative approach to fitting subsets of time series data, then ranks the fit of a particular break point combination using model selection and assigns a relative weight to each break. We examined the performance of this model with simulations and two case studies: the invasion of the multicolored Asian ladybeetle and the decline of the eastern monarch butterfly. We found that under low environmental/sampling noise, the break point sets selected by the Regime Shift Detector contained the true simulated breaks with 70-100% accuracy, with the most complex parameterization conditions (i.e. time series with many break points) least likely to be detected by the model. The weighting tool generally assigned breaks intentionally placed in simulated data (i.e., true breaks) with weights averaging >0.8 and those due to sampling error (i.e., erroneous breaks) <0.2, although the absolute weights of true versus erroneous breaks found by the model varied somewhat with other simulation parameters. In our case study examining the invasion process of ladybeetles, the Regime Shift Detector identified shifts in population cycling associated with variation in prey availability. The shifts identified for the eastern monarch population were more ambiguous, but generally coincided with changing management practices affecting the availability of hostplants in their summer breeding grounds. The Regime Shift Detector identifies possible break points within time series data and quantifies the strength of evidence for each break point. When interpreted in the context of species biology, the Regime Shift Detector has the potential to aid management decisions and identify critical time periods related to species' dynamics. In an era of rapid global change, such tools can improve understanding of the conditions under which population dynamics shift to other states.
Machine Learning Models for the Prediction of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse side effect of cancer chemotherapy that can be life debilitating and cause extreme pain. The multifactorial and poorly understood mechanisms of toxicity have impeded the identification of novel treatment strategies. Computational models of drug neurotoxicity could be implemented in early drug discovery to screen for high-risk compounds and select safer drug candidates for further development. Quantitative-structure toxicity relationship (QSTR) models were developed to predict the incidence of PN. A manually curated library of 95 approved drugs were used to develop the model. Molecular descriptors sensitive to the incidence of PN were identified to provide insights into structural modifications to reduce neurotoxicity. The incidence of PN was predicted for 60 antineoplastic drug candidates currently under clinical investigation. The number of aromatic nitrogens was identified as the most important molecular descriptor. The chemical transformation of aromatic nitrogens to carbons reduced the predicted PN incidence of bortezomib from 32.3% to 21.1%. Antineoplastic drug candidates were categorized into three groups (high, medium, low) based on their predicted PN incidence. QSTR models were developed to link physicochemical descriptors of compounds with PN incidence, which can be utilized during drug candidate selection to reduce neurotoxicity.
Critical Forensic Analysis on Failure of Offshore and Coastal Structures

Over the years of offshore exploration and development of minerals, several offshore structures have suffered catastrophic losses. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the events leading to the catastrophic failures of many of these structures in the ocean and to conduct a post-mortem analysis and synthesis of the causes of failure for a few of them. Included is a discussion on the details of the events leading to the catastrophic failure of a few selected offshore structures and lessons learned from them. In particular, the role of human and organizational error and equipment failure in accident causation and how this relates to the preparation of safety cases is described. Safety may be regarded as the absence of accidents or failures. Hence the insight about safety features can be gained from detailed information about accidents and failures.
A 14nV/√Hz 14μW Chopper Instrumentation Amplifier with Dynamic Offset Zeroing (DOZ) Technique for Ripple Reduction

Chopper amplifiers are effective in reducing flicker noise but usually suffer from ripple which results from the modulation of the amplifier’s offset and the chopping clocks. The ripple can easily saturate the amplifiers especially for low-noise and low-power applications, thus an efficient ripple reduction technique is desired to suppress the ripple. This paper presents a 14nV/√Hz capacitively-coupled chopper instrumentation amplifier (CCIA) for Electroretinography (ERG) application. A dynamic offset zeroing technique is proposed to suppress the chopping ripple with negligible noise, power and circuit overhead. Meanwhile to ensure negligible electrode current, a positive feedback loop with hybrid capacitor array is proposed to boost the input impedance by 300 times to 1.2GΩ. A DC-serve loop with duty-cycled resistor is implemented to ensure the CCIA can tolerate a 20mV pp DC electrode offset. Implemented in 180nm CMOS, this design achieves a noise efficiency factor of 2.5 and consume 14μW power.
The use of spelling for variant classification in primary progressive aphasia: Theoretical and practical implications.

Abstract Currently, variant subtyping in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) requires an expert neurologist and extensive language and cognitive testing. Spelling impairments appear early in the development of the disorder, and the three PPA variants (non-fluent - nfvPPA; semantic - svPPA; logopenic - lvPPA) reportedly show fairly distinct spelling profiles. Given the theoretical and empirical evidence indicating that spelling may serve as a proxy for spoken language, the current study aimed to determine whether spelling performance alone, when evaluated with advanced statistical analyses, allows for accurate PPA variant classification. A spelling to dictation task (with real words and pseudowords) was administered to 33 PPA individuals: 17 lvPPA, 10 nfvPPA, 6 svPPA. Using machine learning classification algorithms, we obtained pairwise variant classification accuracies that ranged between 67 and 100%. In additional analyses that assumed no prior knowledge of each case's variant, classification accuracies ranged between 59 and 70%. To our knowledge, this is the first time that all the PPA variants, including the most challenging logopenic variant, have been classified with such high accuracy when using information from a single language task. These results underscore the rich structure of the spelling process and support the use of a spelling task in PPA variant classification.
Will Mary Jane Leave You Heartbroken? Marijuana Use and Risk of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is prevalent in 2% of patients who present with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction. It may be triggered by stressful events, resulting in catecholamine surges, myocardial stunning, and disturbances in contractility. TTC in males has been associated with marijuana use and leads to a fivefold increased risk of cardiac events. Marijuana is thought to generate a similar surge in catecholamines leading to tachycardia and elevation of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The question remains whether this catecholamine surge is sufficient enough to cause TTC. It is apparent a correlation between marijuana use and TTC may exist. Exogenous cannabinoid stimulation may lead to myocardial stunning via stimulation seen with hypercatecholaminergic states. Understanding the risk factors involved and increasing awareness of cardiovascular complications related to cannabinoid substances becomes more relevant as its use is increasing both recreationally and medically. We present a case of a 50 year-old African-American male with hypertension and regular marijuana use who presented with chest pain radiating to the back. Due to abnormal electrocardiogram and positive cardiac biomarkers concerning for acute coronary syndrome, the patient underwent subsequent coronary angiography that showed no significant coronary obstruction; however, left ventriculogram showed the characteristic apical ballooning of TTC. Our case highlights the pathophysiological mechanism suspected to trigger TTC.
Himaloconnus Franz and Nogunius gen. n. of Japan (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae).

Two genera of Euconnus-like Stenichnini are reported to occur in Japan: Himaloconnus Franz, 1979 and Nogunius gen. n. Specimens of Himaloconnus collected on islands of the Ryukyu archipelago are identified as H. klapperichianus (Franz), previously known to inhabit Taiwan, but morphological differences were found among disjunctive populations and in consequence three new subspecies are proposed: H. klapperichianus yaeyamanus ssp. n. (Yaeyama Islands), H. klapperichianus amamianus ssp. n. (Amami-Oshima), and H. klapperichianus okinawanus ssp. n. (Okinawa Island). Morphological structures of Japanese Himaloconnus are illustrated in detail and the diagnosis of this genus is emended, to exclude variable characters. Nogunius gen. n. is established to accommodate four species known only from Japan: N. sokani sp. n. (Okinawa Island), N. aogashimanus sp. n. (Aogashima, Izu Islands), N. kerri sp. n. (Ishigaki Island), and N. fukuuzanus sp. n. (Okinawa Island). Identification key to Japanese genera of Stenichnini is updated.
Valley phenomena in the candidate phase change material WSe2(1-x)Te2x.

Alloyed transition metal dichalcogenides provide an opportunity for coupling band engineering with valleytronic phenomena in an atomically-thin platform. However, valley properties in alloys remain largely unexplored. We investigate the valley degree of freedom in monolayer alloys of the phase change candidate material WSe2(1-x)Te2x. Low temperature Raman measurements track the alloy-induced transition from the semiconducting 1H phase of WSe2 to the semimetallic 1Td phase of WTe2. We correlate these observations with density functional theory calculations and identify new Raman modes from W-Te vibrations in the 1H-phase alloy. Photoluminescence measurements show ultra-low energy emission features that highlight alloy disorder arising from the large W-Te bond lengths. Interestingly, valley polarization and coherence in alloys survive at high Te compositions and are more robust against temperature than in WSe2. These findings illustrate the persistence of valley properties in alloys with highly dissimilar parent compounds and suggest band engineering can be utilized for valleytronic devices. Alloyed transition metal dichalcogenides provide a route toward atomically-thin phase change memories that host valleytronic behaviours. Here, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies are employed to demonstrate the robustness of valley polarisation to chemical substitution in monolayer alloys.
Dependence of nonlinear response and magnon scattering on material properties

Magnon scattering studies can play a crucial role in revealing fundamental aspects of magnon physics. Due to the nonlinear nature of scattering, such studies are also important for applications ranging from traditional microwave signal processing to novel magnon-based computation. In this work, simulations employing realistic material parameters are used to demonstrate the tunable nature of magnon-based nonlinear properties. The changes are affected through modification of the dispersion relation of the magnetic system. It is demonstrated that the magnon nonlinear response is very sensitive to the sample film thickness while showing a relatively weaker dependence on saturation magnetization. Aside from the contributions to the fundamental understanding of magnons, the results presented are useful for establishing design rules for magnon-based applications.
Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Skull Base.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a crucial tool for evaluation of the skull base, enabling characterization of complex anatomy by utilizing multiple image contrasts. Recent technical MR advances have greatly enhanced radiologists’ capability to diagnose skull base pathology and help direct management. In this paper, we will summarize cutting-edge clinical and emerging research MR techniques for the skull base, including high-resolution, phase-contrast, diffusion, perfusion, vascular, zero echo-time, elastography, spectroscopy, chemical exchange saturation transfer, PET/MR, ultra-high-field, and 3D visualization. For each imaging technique, we provide a high-level summary of underlying technical principles accompanied by relevant literature review and clinical imaging examples.
Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease - the Evolving Landscape.

To update changes in the epidemiology of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease over the past decades. Since the mid twentieth century, studies have found that the incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with IBD has been greater than that of the general population, especially for patients with a family history of colorectal cancer, a diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis, and/or pancolitis. While Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are still associated with a risk of colorectal cancer, current treatment approaches and surveillance measures have markedly reduced the risk according to population-based cohort studies such that the risk is now more comparable to that of the general population. It is predicted that by 2025, more than two million patients will be living with inflammatory bowel disease in the United States. As advanced treatment options become available to achieve histologic remissions and as surveillance techniques to detect neoplasia improve, guidelines for surveillance will continue to evolve.
Impact of Early Video Capsule Endoscopy on Hospitalization and Post-hospitalization Outcomes: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis.

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has become the accepted evaluation of choice for patients with suspected small bowel bleeding. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of early as compared to delayed inpatient VCE on post-index hospitalization readmission rates. We performed a retrospective study using medical claims from the IBM® Marketscan® Commercial Database from January 1, 2004, through September 30, 2018, including adult patients that underwent an inpatient VCE. Early VCE was defined as occurring on days 0, 1, or 2 of the index hospitalizations, whereas delayed VCE was performed on days 3–7. Propensity matching was performed to create an analytic cohort, and outcomes were assessed using logistic regression. Following propensity score matching, 607 patients undergoing early VCE were matched 1:1 with 607 patients undergoing delayed VCE. The median patient age was 65 (IQR: 56–78) years, and 560 (37.9%) of the included patients were female. The mean time to VCE was 1.6 (± 0.6) days for the early VCE group and 4.0 (± 1.2) days from admission for delayed VCE. In unadjusted comparisons, we found no significant difference between early VCE and delayed VCE with respect to 90-day all-cause readmission (18.6% vs. 17.0%, P = 0.5) or 90-day rebleeding risk (10.5% vs. 8.7%, P = 0.331). Patients undergoing an early VCE had a shorter hospital LOS and less total hospitalization charges. Early as compared to delayed inpatient VCE was associated with a reduction in index hospitalization resource utilization. No differences were found with respect to reductions in readmissions or rebleeding events.
Regulatory Entrepreneurship, Fair Competition, and Obeying the Law

Some sharing economy firms have adopted a strategy of “regulatory entrepreneurship,” openly violating regulations with the aim of rendering them dead letters. This article argues that in a democracy, regulatory entrepreneurship is a presumptively unethical business strategy. In all but the most corrupt political environments, businesses that seek to change their regulatory environment should do so through the democratic political process, and they should do so without using illegal business practices to build a political constituency. To show this, the article defends a qualified moral obligation for businesspeople to obey the law even in societies that fall short of ideal democracy and that are rife with economic injustice. Owners and managers of successful businesses have strong moral reasons to obey laws concerning resource allocation. Such laws include not only property law, but also tax laws, environmental regulations, and other laws that regulate businesses in competitive markets. The moral reasons to obey such laws apply even to laws that business leaders think unfair or inefficient, provided that the laws in question have reasonable, good faith defenders.
Using molecular dynamics simulation to study the polarization response of the liquid water interface to surface charge heterogeneity

The hydration shells of proteins mediate interactions, such as small molecule binding, that are vital to their biological function or in some cases their dysfunction. However, even when the structure of a protein is known, the properties of its hydration environment cannot be easily predicted due to the complex interplay between protein surface heterogeneity and the collective fluctuations of water's hydrogen bonding network. This manuscript presents a theoretical study of the influence of surface charge heterogeneity on the polarization response of the liquid water interface. We introduce a new computational method for analyzing simulation data that is capable of quantifying water's nonlinear polarization response and determining the effective surface charge distribution of hydrated surfaces over atomistic length scales. When applied to a protein, this method is capable of revealing new insight into the influence of conformational dynamics on hydration structure, as we highlight by illustrating how salt-bridge formation enhances the polarization of the local hydration shell. To illustrate the utility of this method, we present the results of molecular dynamics simulations of liquid water in contact with a heterogeneous model surface and the CheY protein.
Skeletal Growth Factors

Bone Cells and their Function Bone Matrix Biology of Growth Factors Mechanisms of Action of Skeletal Growth Factors in Osteoblasts In Vitro and In Vivo Models to Study Growth Factor Actions in Bone Insulin-like Growth Factors: Their Binding Proteins and Growth Regulation Insulin-like Growth Factors and the Skeleton Clinical Aspects of Insulin-like Growth Factors Biology of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Platelet-Derived Growth Factor: Skeletal Actions and Regulation Fibroblast Growth Factors and their Receptors Fibroblast Growth Factors and Osteogenesis Fibroblast Growth Factors, Chondrogenesis, and Related Clinical Disorders Hepatocyte Growth Factor Transforming Growth Factor-B Transforming Growth Factor-B in Skeletal Development and Maintenance Activin and Follistatin Activin, Follistatin, and Bone Bone Morphogenetic Proteins Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and Skeletal and Nonskeletal Development Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and the Adult Skeleton The Role of Growth Factors in Fracture Healing Clinical Disorders Associated with Bone Morphogenetic Proteins Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein Role of Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein and Indian Hedgehog in Skeletal Development Osteoprotegerin Nonskeletal Effects of Cytokines Secreted by Bone Cells Colony-Stimulating Factors and Bone Role of Cytokines in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Role of Cytokines in Osteopetrosis Cytokines, Growth Factors, and Malignancy Clinical Use of Growth Factors Use of Growth Factors for Osteoporotic Therapy Inde
e0466 Various therapeutic proportion of the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergone coronary angiography in the era of development in MSCT

Introduction Diabetic patients are prone to a diffuse and rapidly progressive form of atherosclerosis, which increases their likelihood of requiring evascularization. This study was to examine the various therapeutic proportion of the population of the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergone coronary angiography in the era of development in MSCT in the real clinical practice. Methods One thousand four hundred and six consecutive patients, who underwent CAG at Daxing hospital from February 2007 through to March 2010 were enrolled. Of the 1406 patients, 351 patients were diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus, 1055 patients were diagnosed as non-diabetic mellitus after admission to hospital. By evaluating the coronary angiogram, the patients were not diagnosed to have coronary heart disease (CHD) with less than 50% diameter stenosis of coronary artery; CHD was defined as narrowing of the appropriate lumen of ≥50%; the procedure of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were performed in the patients with more than or equal to 70% stenosis; the coronary aortic bypass graft (CABG) surgery had been proposed in patients with left main coronary artery lesions, left main equivalent, diffuse triple coronary artery lesions, two-vessel disease with significant proximal left anterior descending CAD, however the determinations of the therapeutic choice were combined with clinical data. Results The baseline characteristics of patients with and without diabetics undergone coronary angiography were as following. The age was significantly older in patients with diabetes than without diabetes (60.22±9.70 vs 57.76±9.94, p Conclusion The morbidity rate of coronary heart disease among patients with type 2 diabetes is greater than non-diabetes, patients with type 2 diabetes have a significantly higher rate of coronary artery bypass grafting which had been proposed.
Cholesterol metabolism in non-obese women--Failure of physical conditioning to alter levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol

The effects of a 6-week program of vigorous exercise were studied in 14 non-obese females aged 22--26. Preceding and following a regimen consisting of 30--45 min of jogging 5 days per week, treadmill performance, body weight, total plasma cholesterol, and plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were assessed. Aerobic performance improved markedly after training as demonstrated by a reduced heart rate at each submaximal treadmill workload, and by an increase in maximal attainable workload. In the absence of a significant change in body weight, total cholesterol fell significantly after training (171 +/- 6 vs 161 +/- 5 mg/dl, P less than 0.05) whereas HDL cholesterol was not significantly altered (63 +/- 5 vs 58 +/- 3 mg/dl). The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol fell insignificantly (2.92 +/- 0.19 vs 2.86 +/- 0.14). Our findings differ from prior reports of elevations of high density lipoprotein levels following physical conditioning in men. We suggest that hormonal or other factors leading to higher baseline levels of HDL in women counteract the expected alterations in lipoprotein metabolism induced by physical training.
Dens evaginatus: Case report and review of the literature

Dens evaginatus is a disturbance in tooth formation that produces a tubercle of hard tissue on the occlusal surfaces of the teeth. This unusual condition occurs most frequently in Oriental persons and is relatively uncommon in the western hemisphere. The tubercle, which often contains pulp tissue, can cause alterations in occlusion; pulpal and periapical inflammation are common sequelae of attrition or fracture of the evagination. Although teeth with necrotic pulps require extraction or endodontic therapy, prophylactic pulp capping is recommended for vital teeth. This case report of a 24-year-old Chinese-Canadian woman with three affected teeth demonstrates the clinical consequences of dens evaginatus.
The Bureaucratization of the Judiciary

The history of the twentieth century is largely the history of increasing bureaucratization. Almost every phase of American life has come to be dominated by large-scale, complex organizations-the corporation, the labor union, the university, the public hospital, and even our national political agencies. The national executive does not simply consist of the President and a small group of trusted advisers, but is instead composed of a vast, sprawling conglomerate of administrative agencies, which are staffed by more than three million (civilian) employees.' We have come to accept this and often refer to the executive branch as "The Bureaucracy,"' but a similar development has occurred within the legislature. In addition to some 500 senators and representatives, Congress now consists of about 40,000 employees, more than 300 committees and subcommittees, and 8 internal agencies (like the General Accounting Office and the Congressional Budget Office).' Against this background, an account of the judiciary, such as Cardozo's,4 that focuses exclusively on the agony of a lonely, isolated judge seems somewhat dated. Today the judiciary must be seen as a large-scale, complex organization. My claim is not that the bureaucratic character of the modern judiciary is a legacy of the New Deal, the ostensible subject of this symposium. The interaction between the judiciary and the distinctive forms of government power legitimated by the New Deal may have contributed to and indeed exacerbated the bureaucratization of the judiciary;5 but I do not believe that this particular interaction is the basic cause of the phenomenon. I attribute it instead to the growing size and complexity of American society. The judiciary should be seen as a coordinate source of government
Time domain integral equation modeling based on ordinary differential equation solution methods

A new set of methods for solving the time domain integral equations of electromagnetic theory is introduced. Rather than using a Galerkin space-time discretization, the new approach couples a Galerkin spatial discretization with temporal integrations based on ordinary differential equation techniques. The new temporal discretization method can easily model dispersion, gives rise to high-order convergence, and results in a method that is absolutely stable for any time step. Numerical results will demonstrate the convergence, accuracy, and stability of the technique for a variety of problems.
Nonleptonic K-decays and the weak Isospin space

In the current × current theory K→2π decays are allowed only ifSU3 is broken. We formulate such a theory which is free of parameters and gives the small ratio K+→2π/K10→2π without assuming octet dominance. The theory is analogous to the schizon theory and makes use of the rotated triplet of isovector currents.
Inhibition of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase reactions by fatty acyl CoA.

A study was undertaken to determine the mechanism by which fatty acyl CoA (stearoyl or oleoyl CoA) inhibits NADPH-supported hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase systems. About half of the inhibitory effect of fatty acyl CoA on ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity, and all of the inhibitory effect on aniline p-hydroxylase activity, was shown to be due to stimulation of lipid peroxidation. The remaining half of the inhibition of ethylmorphine demethylation was shown not to be due to a) competition for electrons from NADPH by the fatty acyl CoA desaturase system, b) inhibition of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase or NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, c) 3959 ADP, which might have been formed from CoA through the action of nucleotide pyrophosphatase, d) a shortage of electrons from NADPH due to an inhibitory effect of fatty acyl CoA on glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, or e) fatty acyl CoA or its products acting as substrate inhibitors. Stearoyl CoA prevented the stimulation of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase by ethylmorphine and caused a small but consistent loss of the type I binding spectrum elicited by ethylmorphine. These observations and the kinetics of the inhibition of ethylmorphine N-demethylase by stearoyl CoA suggest that fatty acyl CoA may inhibit hepatic monooxygenase reactions by acting as a detergent.
Asking Questions: The Definitive Guide to Questionnaire Design -- For Market Research, Political Polls, and Social and Health Questionnaires

Preface and Acknowledgments. The Authors. Part I. Strategies for Asking Questions. 1. The Social Context of Question Asking. Part II. Tactics for Asking Questions. 2. Asking Nonthreatening Questions About Behavior. 3. Asking Threatening Questions About Behavior. 4. Asking Questions About Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions. 5. Asking and Recording Open-Ended and Closed-Ended Questions. 6. Asking Questions that Measure Knowledge. 7. Asking Questions that Evaluate Performance. 8. Asking Psychographic Questions. 9. Asking Standard Demographic Questions. Part III. Drafting and Crafting the Questionnaire. 10. Organizing and Designing Questionnaires. 11. Questionnaires from Start to Finish. 12. Asking Questions FAQs. Bibliography and Recommended Readings. Glossary. Index. Appendix A: List of Academic and Not-for-Profit Survey Research Organizations. Appendix B: Illinois Liquor Control Commission: College Student Survey. Appendix C: Faculty Retention Survey. Appendix D: Kinko's: Open-ended Service Satisfaction Survey.
Measuring the Impact of File Sharing on the Movie Industry: An Empirical Analysis Using a Panel of Countries

The music industry has struggled during the past decade due to file sharing and movie business executives fear the same fate. This paper seeks to provide measurements of the effects of peer-to-peer file sharing on the movie industry. We use a long panel of data at the country level containing information on theatrical, video rental, and video retail movie commercial performances, as well as Internet and broadband penetration. We compare the impacts of increased high-speed online connectedness replacing slow-speed Internet connectedness before and after the introduction of the second-generation file sharing technology that has made movie file sharing feasible. This empirical strategy allows us to isolate the effects of file sharing from any other possible Internet impacts on the commercial performance of movies unrelated to file sharing. Our results indicate that the effect of peer-to-peer file sharing is negative and large on video sales, but we do not have confidence regarding the impacts of file sharing on either the theatrical commercial performance of movies or video rentals.
A performance prediction model for a fault-tolerant computer during recovery and restoration

The modeling and design of a fault-tolerant multiprocessor system is addressed in this dissertation. In particular, the behavior of the system during recovery and restoration after a fault has occurred is investigated. Given that a multicomputer system is designed using the Algorithm to Architecture To Mapping Model (ATAMM) model, and that a fault (death of a computing resource) occurs during its normal steady-state operation, a model is presented as a viable research tool for predicting the performance bounds of the system during its recovery and restoration phases. Furthermore, the bounds of the performance behavior of the system during this transient mode can be assessed. These bounds include: time recover from the fault (t$\sb{\rm rec}$), time to restore the system (t$\sb{\rm res}$) and whether there is a permanent delay in the system's Time Between Input and Output (TBIO) after the system has reached a steady state. An implementation of an ATAMM based computer was developed with the Generic VHSIC Spaceborne Computer (GVSC) as the target system. A simulation of the GVSC was also written based on the code used in ATAMM Multicomputer Operating System (AMOS). The simulation is in turn used to validate the new model in the usefulness and accuracy in tracking the propagation of the delay through the system and predicting the behavior in the transient state of recovery and restoration. The model is validated as an accurate method to predict the transient behavior of an ATAMM based multicomputer during recovery and restoration.
Balance-of-Powers Arguments and the Structural Constitution

Balance-of-powers arguments are ubiquitous in judicial opinions and academic articles that address separation-of-powers disputes over the president’s removal authority, power to disregard statutes, authority to conduct foreign wars, and much else. However, the concept of the balance of powers has never received a satisfactory theoretical treatment. This essay examines possible theories of the balance of powers and rejects them all as unworkable and normatively questionable. Judges and scholars should abandon the balance-of-powers metaphor and instead address directly whether bureaucratic innovation is likely to improve policy outcomes.
Filifactor alocis Has Virulence Attributes That Can Enhance Its Persistence under Oxidative Stress Conditions and Mediate Invasion of Epithelial Cells by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Filifactor alocis, a Gram-positive anaerobic rod, is one of the most abundant bacteria identified in the periodontal pockets of periodontitis patients. There is a gap in our understanding of its pathogenicity and ability to interact with other periodontal pathogens. To evaluate the virulence potential of F. alocis and its ability to interact with Porphyromonas gingivalis W83, several clinical isolates of F. alocis were characterized. F. alocis showed nongingipain protease and sialidase activities. In silico analysis revealed the molecular relatedness of several virulence factors from F. alocis and P. gingivalis. In contrast to P. gingivalis, F. alocis was relatively resistant to oxidative stress and its growth was stimulated under those conditions. Biofilm formation was significantly increased in coculture. There was an increase in adherence and invasion of epithelial cells in coculture compared with P. gingivalis or F. alocis monocultures. In those epithelial cells, endocytic vesicle-mediated internalization was observed only during coculture. The F. alocis clinical isolate had an increased invasive capacity in coculture with P. gingivalis compared to the ATCC 35896 strain. In addition, there was variation in the proteomes of the clinical isolates compared to the ATCC 35896 strain. Hypothetical proteins and those known to be important virulence factors in other bacteria were identified. These results indicate that F. alocis has virulence properties that may enhance its ability to survive and persist in the periodontal pocket and may play an important role in infection-induced periodontal disease.
The prevalence and impact of accommodations on the employment of persons 51–61 years of age with musculoskeletal conditions

Objective To provide estimates of the frequency with which persons 51 to 61 years of age with musculoskeletal conditions receive workplace accommodations from their employers and to determine if the receipt of such accommodations is associated with higher rates of employment two years later. Methods The estimates derive from the Health and Retirement Survey, a national probability sample of 8,781 respondents who were interviewed both in 1992 and 1994 and who were between the ages of 51 and 61 years, of whom 5,495 reported one or more musculoskeletal conditions. We tabulated the frequency of accommodations provided in 1992 and then estimated the impact of accommodations and demographic and medical characteristics on 1994 employment status, using logistic regression. Results In 1992, about 14.40 million persons aged 51–61 years reported a musculoskeletal condition. Of these, 1.32 million (9.2%) reported a disability and were employed, the target population for accommodations. Overall, fewer than 1 in 5 persons with musculoskeletal conditions who had a disability and were employed indicated that they had received any form of accommodation on their current jobs. Although no form of accommodation was reported with great frequency, the most commonly used ones included getting someone to help do one's job (12.1%), scheduling more breaks during the work day (9.5%), changing the time that the work day started and stopped (6.3%), having a shorter work day (5.6%), getting special equipment (5.3%), and changing the work tasks (5.3%). Persons with one or more accommodations in 1992, however, were no more likely to be working in 1994 than those with none. Only one specific accommodation—getting someone to help do one's job—was associated with a higher rate of employment in 1994. Conclusions Receipt of employment accommodations occurred infrequently, and was not generally associated with an improvement in the employment rate of persons with musculoskeletal conditions and disabilities.
Estimation of net savings from energy-conservation programs

Abstract Several methods for estimating net savings are described. Appropriate methods are distinguished from inappropriate ones on logical grounds. To illustrate the concepts, each method is applied to a simulated data set for which the true saving is known. The appropriate methods yield estimates that are close to the true value while inappropriate methods do not.
Motherhood after age 50: an evaluation of parenting stress and physical functioning

Objective To explore parenting stress and physical functioning in women who conceive after the age of 50 years. Design Prospective cohort. Setting University fertility center. Patient(s) Women who conceived and delivered after age 50 (n = 49) following egg donation were matched to women in their 40s (n = 49) and women in their 30s (n = 49) who conceived via assisted reproduction with a similar date of embryo transfer and gestational order. Intervention(s) Questionnaires addressing parenting stress (Parenting Stress Index, short form) and physical and mental functioning (Version 2 of the SF-36 Health Survey). Main Outcome Measure(s) Norm-based scores for physical functioning, mental functioning, and total parenting stress (TS). Result(s) Women in their 50s showed a nonsignificant trend toward lower physical functioning scores compared with women in their 30s (54.8 ± 4.1 vs. 56.9 ± 4.3; P =.12) but higher mental functioning scores (53.6 ± 7.3 vs. 50.1 ± 7.0; P =.14). The percentage of subjects with high parenting stress (TS >80th percentile) varied between the groups but was not highest in the oldest (0%, 22%, and 6%, in the 30s, 40s, and 50s groups, respectively; P =.03). Adjustments for potential confounders did not alter the findings. Conclusion(s) Our data do not support the hypothesis that mothers of advanced maternal age have reduced parenting capacity due to physical or mental ability or parenting stress.
WISC-R subtest differences for male and female LD children and youth.

Investigated the performance on the WISC-R of 98 learning disabled children and youth (69 males/29 females), who ranged in age from 6-3 to 13-6 to determine whether there were any significant subtest scale score differences between sexes. A 2 × 10 analysis of variance was used to analyzed these data. Differences between the individual subtest means were analyzed by using Newman Keuls test for simple effects. Results indicated that males obtained higher (but not significant) scores on the six verbal subtests. Females scored significantly higher on coding than did their counterparts. In addition, the Verbal vs. Performance IQ dichotomy did not appear as useful evidence in the diagnosis of learning disabilities. Evidence from the investigation did not indicate that a significant interaction effect existed between sexes and WISC-R subtest scores.
Fetal surgery for neural tube defects.

Open spina bifida remains a major source of disability despite an overall decrease in incidence. It is frequently diagnosed prenatally and can thus – potentially – be treated by fetal surgery. Animal studies and preliminary human studies strongly suggest that at least a portion of the neurological abnormalities seen in these patients are secondary, and occur in mid-gestation. It is estimated that approximately 400 fetal operations have now been performed for myelomeningocele world wide. Despite this large experience, the technique remains of unproven benefit. Preliminary results suggest that fetal surgery results in reversal of hindbrain herniation (the Chiari II malformation), a decrease in shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, and possibly improvement in leg function, but these findings might be explained by selection bias and changing management indications. A randomized prospective trial (the MOMS trial) is currently being conducted by three centers in the United States, and is estimated to be completed in 2009.