cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Membrane cholesterol modulates STEAP2 conformation during dynamic intracellular trafficking processes leading to broad subcellular distribution

STEAP2 is a member of the Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate (STEAP) protein family that is proposed to function as metalloreductase. While STEAP2 shows a complex subcellular distribution pattern localizing to both secretory and endocytic pathway organelles, how such broad steady-state distribution is maintained is unknown. Similarly, whether STEAP2 undergoes any compartment-specific modulation during intracellular trafficking has not been reported. Leveraging a newly-identified monoclonal antibody that recognizes a conformation-sensitive epitope nested in the second extracellular loop of STEAP2, we demonstrate that the epitope formation was dependent on the cholesterol content of the membrane in which STEAP2 was embedded. Monitoring the STEAP2-dependent internalization of this antibody uncovered STEAP2's rapid internalization from the cell surface and their subsequence trafficking to the Golgi region and endosome-like puncta. Acute inhibition of endocytosis also increased the detectable amount of STEAP2 at the plasma membrane. Collectively, these experiments demonstrate that an intricate balance of membrane flux between the secretory and endocytic pathways underlies the characteristic broad subcellular localization of STEAP2. By using a cell-based assay that detects the metalloreductase functions of cell surface-localizing STEAP4, STEAP2's metalloreductase activities were not detectable, suggesting that its enzymatic function is suppressed at the plasma membrane. The conformational modulation of STEAP2 by the local membrane cholesterol content can therefore serve as a potential mechanism to modulate STEAP2 function in a compartment-restricted manner, by coupling a pre-existing difference in cholesterol content among different cellular membranes to a dynamic trafficking process leading to broad subcellular distribution.
Does the modified Ballard method of assessing gestational age perform well in a Zimbabwean population

Objective To evaluate the performance and the utility of using birthweight-adjusted scores of the Ballard method of estimating gestational age in a Zimbabwean population. Design A validation study. Setting Harare Maternity Hospital, from October to December 1999. Subjects Three hundred and sixty four African newborn infants, with a known last menstrual period (LMP), within 56 hours of life. Main outcome measures Ballard scores obtained by examining the newly born infants compared to gestational age calculated from the last menstrual period. Results The Ballard method was a good predictor of gestational age, useful in differentiating term from preterm infants in the Zimbabwean population. There was a strong correlation between total neurological criteria (Pearson coefficient = 0.79), total physical criteria (Pearson coefficient = 0.77), total scores (Pearson coefficient = 0.81), with the gestational age calculated from the last menstrual period. The error of prediction of one single observation was 1.89 weeks. Our regression line for predicting gestational age was Y(LMP gestational age) = 24.493 + 0.420*score. Addition of birthweight to the linear regression model improved estimation of gestational age; Y(LMP gestational age)= 24.002 + 0.292*score + 0.0016*grams. The variance explained r2 was 0.63 and improved to 0.67 after addition of birthweight. Conclusion The Ballard method can be used to differentiate pre-term from term infants at birth in a Zimbabwean population. The introduction of birthweight into the maturity scale improves assessment of gestational age and corrects error caused by low birthweight. We, therefore, recommend the use of our birthweight-adjusted Ballard maturity scales for routine clinical practice.
Large and Small Bowel

Along with control of hemorrhage, control of spill from the alimentary tract is the overriding goal for the first phase of an operation after penetrating abdominal injury. This is most easily accomplished with a rapid figure-of-eight suture. In the large majority of stable patients without shock, primary repair should be performed for non-destructive injuries and resection with anastomosis (including colocolonic) should be performed for destructive ones. In the setting of damage control, the whip stitches may be left in place or resection without anastomosis should be performed at the time of the first operation. Planned re-exploration may be done at the ICU bedside for profoundly ill patients. The general prejudice should be toward diversion after an initial damage control procedure, with only select patients or circumstances being considered for an anastomosis.
Determining the structure-mechanics relationships of dense microtubule networks with confocal microscopy and magnetic tweezers-based microrheology.

Abstract The microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton is essential in maintaining the shape, strength, and organization of cells. Its spatiotemporal organization is fundamental for numerous dynamic biological processes, and mechanical stress within the MT cytoskeleton provides an important signaling mechanism in mitosis and neural development. This raises important questions about the relationships between structure and mechanics in complex MT structures. In vitro, reconstituted cytoskeletal networks provide a minimal model of cell mechanics while also providing a testing ground for the fundamental polymer physics of stiff polymer gels. Here, we describe our development and implementation of a broad tool kit to study structure–mechanics relationships in reconstituted MT networks, including protocols for the assembly of entangled and cross-linked MT networks, fluorescence imaging, microstructure characterization, construction and calibration of magnetic tweezers devices, and mechanical data collection and analysis. In particular, we present the design and assembly of three neodymium iron boron (NdFeB)-based magnetic tweezers devices optimized for use with MT networks: (1) high-force magnetic tweezers devices that enable the application of nano-Newton forces and possible meso- to macroscale materials characterization; (2) ring-shaped NdFeB-based magnetic tweezers devices that enable oscillatory microrheology measurements; and (3) portable magnetic tweezers devices that enable direct visualization of microscale deformation in soft materials under applied force.
The large pigment cell of the compound eye of the house fly Musca domestica. Fine structure and cytoarchitectural associations.

The fine structure and cellular associations of the large pigment cells (LPC's) of the compound eye of the house fly were studied with high voltage and conventional electron microscopy. Depending on the sector of the compound eye, the facets are either rectangular or hexagonal. The underside of each facet has indentations exactly aligned with those on top into which inserts an angulated sleeve of LPC's. Under the rectangular lens facet 6 or 8 small compact (in cross section) LPC's join four elongate LPC's. Clusters of compact cells alternate in this ring with elongate ones. Compact cells compress together and become quadrangular (in cross section) several microns below their insertion into the lens and form “building block” corners while elongate cells form “side rails” for the rectangular type of distal pseudocone enclosure. Beneath hexagonal facets all LPC's are rather elongate with out corner cells. In both facet types LPC's enclose the pseudocone for a longitudinal distance of 4 μm and then are displaced as bordering cells by a sleeve of two corneal pigment cells (CPC's), each of which encloses half of the proximal pseudocone. For the following 6 μm of longitudinal distance these concentric sleeves of CPC's and LPC's form a double layer around the pseudocone. At about 10 μm below lens base the two sleeves separate; LPC's become attenuated and extend cable-like to the basement membrane and CPC's enclose the proximal pseudocone, Semper cells and distal retinula. The junction between lens and LPC's has critical structural value in that (1) this is the sole anchorage to the lens by the lengthy remainder of the ommatidium, and (2) LPC's enclose the semiliquid pseudocone in the most distal portion of the pseudocone. In addition to vertical support, the LPC's send out numerous lateral processes that make structural contact among themselves, with the corneal pigment cells and the photoreceptor cells. The structural features of this array are discussed relative to possible physiological roles.
Value of perceived support on depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking among underserved HIV+ adults 50 and older.

The current study examined the association between perceived social support, depressive symptoms and alcohol use among people living with HIV (PLWH) 50 and older who identified as Black. Participan...
The Sex and Race of Satire: Charlie Hebdo and the Politics of Representation in Contemporary France

This essay argues that we cannot fully grasp what has been at stake in discussions following the January 2015 attacks in Paris, nor the symbolic place Charlie Hebdo has subsequently come to hold in French society, unless we pay attention to the ways in which gender, sex, and race have shaped both Charlie Hebdo’s visual register and contemporary representations of Frenchness and difference. Within the French context, difference has historically been assigned to bodies that are imagined to disrupt the proper gendered and sexual ordering of the nation, focusing recently on “Arab” and “Muslim” gendered bodies, just as Jewish bodies had been caricatured earlier in the twentieth century. This essay therefore argues that understanding Charlie Hebdo’s satire requires examining how the sexualization of race in representations of those deemed different, especially Muslims, has become incredibly banal in contemporary France. The magazine participated in rather than exposed what came to be seen as commonsense beliefs that both Left and Right relied on and that marginalized Muslims from the republican order.
Design and rationale for evaluating salad bars and students' fruit and vegetable consumption: A cluster randomized factorial trial with objective assessments.

Abstract Building healthy fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption habits early in life is critical for primary prevention. However, U.S. youth do not come close to meeting national recommendations for FV intake. School-lunch salad bars are one of the most heavily promoted ways to meet FV guidelines. Contrary to popular belief, no rigorous randomized trials have examined whether salad bars increase students' FV consumption. This paper describes the design and rationale of a federally funded trial to evaluate whether introducing salad bars in elementary, middle, and high schools affects students' FV consumption and waste during lunch. A cluster factorial randomized trial will test new salad bars against waitlist controls, with and without an additional marketing intervention (N = 36 schools, N = 6804 students: n = 12 elementary, n = 12 middle and n = 12 high schools). Objective plate waste measurements of individual student's selection of FVs, consumption, and waste will be conducted using digital scales. Primary aim includes comparing FV consumption in schools without salad bars to those with new salad bars by grade level. Secondary aims include: a) whether FV marketing impacts the success of salad bars for FV consumption; b) whether salad bars differentially result in more FV waste compared to traditional serving methods; c) cost-benefit of using salad bars for consumption over traditional serving methods. When complete, this study stands to be one of the most definitive on the effectiveness of salad bars and contextual factors impacting their success. Findings will provide evidence for how to best spend limited federal dollars to improve FV intake in schools. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03283033 (date of registration: 9/14/2017).
Chronic opioid use after coronary bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND Opioid dependence has become a major health care issue. Pain management of invasive surgical procedures with opioids may potentially contribute to this epidemic. We sought to determine the association of opioid-prescribing patterns with chronic opioid use. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures during 2016 at a single institution. Prescribing patterns and medication usage were compared between opioid-naive and opioid-exposed patients (patients with reported opioid use within 30 days prior to surgery). Chronic opioid dependence was defined as opioid usage beyond 90 days after discharge. RESULTS We included 284 opioid-naive and 46 opioid-exposed patients. Although overall prescribing patterns were similar between groups, a higher proportion of opioid-exposed patients were prescribed a total dose >150 mg of oxycodone per discharge prescription (15.2% vs 4.9%; P = 0.024), and had a higher proportion of refills within 30 days (28.3% vs 10.9%; relative risk [RR] 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-6.8]; all P < 0.05). The incidence of chronic opioid dependence was higher among opioid-exposed patients compared to opioid-naive patients (21.7% vs 3.2%; RR 8.5 [95%CI: 3.2-22.3]; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Ongoing opioid use 3 months after CABG is present in 21.7% of opioid-exposed patients and 3.2% of opioid-naive patients. These preliminary findings highlight the burden of prescribing patterns on the overall opioid epidemic and the need to develop alternative pain management strategies.
Divergent Reactivity during the Trapping of Benzynes by Glycidol Analogs: Ring Cleavage via Pinacol-Like Rearrangements vs Oxirane Fragmentations

Hydroxy-containing cyclic ethers react with thermally generated benzynes to produce aryl ethers. Diverse reactivity was observed. Cleavage of the cyclic ether was involved in most of the pathways. The transformations are rationalized via initial formation of oxonium ion-containing 1,3-zwitterions arising from preferential nucleophilic attack on the benzyne by the ether oxygen. Pinacol-like rearrangements, including ring expansion, to yield aldehydes or ketones and oxirane fragmentations to generate aryl enol ethers were main competing events.
Risk of Reaugmentation after Enterocystoplasty Using a Reconfigured Bowel Segment in Patients with Spina Bifida: A Bi-Institutional Cohort Study.

Purpose:Reaugmentation cystoplasty rates vary in the literature but have been reported as high as 15%. It is likely that bladders augmented with detubularized and reconfigured bowel are less likely...
Preparing the patient for painless dentistry

Preparing the patient for painless dentistry must take into account the total patient. In addition to the physical need for anesthetic, the patient has an emotional need for a dentist who responds compassionately to anxiety. By combining the emotional and physical techniques, a dentist can provide patients with the greatest practice-builder the profession has-painless dentistry.
Cardiotoxicity in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Keeping the Beat.

Abstract Introduction The number of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) performed in the United States and worldwide is increasing. Cardiac events have been well described in HSCT, and the incidence and type of cardiac events have not changed over recent decades. Patients and Methods This study adds to the body of evidence in describing the incidence and type of cardiac events experienced by an allogeneic and autologous HSCT population at a single institution from 2012 to 2017. Results Sixty-five (9.8%) patients experienced cardiac events, including atrial arrhythmia (N = 39), acute heart failure (N = 9), acute coronary syndrome (N = 7), and new onset hypertension (N = 9), with a few instances of bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmia, pericardial effusion, and pericarditis. Our multivariable regression analysis identified age (older), creatinine (higher), and history of coronary artery disease to significantly correlate with risk of cardiac event (P = .005, P = .039, and P = .038, respectively). A subgroup analysis of those patients experiencing a cardiac event found pre-transplant atrial dilation by trans-thoracic echocardiogram to correlate with increased risk of atrial arrhythmia (33.8% vs. 9.7%; P = .03). Patients developing a CE had an increased risk of death within 1 year (11% vs. 32%; P Conclusion We review our results in context of other important HSCT cardiac studies to illuminate the most relevant factors of medical history, laboratory data, and cardiac measurements that will identify patients at higher risk, allowing for intervention to improve HSCT outcomes.
Improving site assessment tools in emerging technologies: The case of highway vertical-axis wind turbines in the United States

Abstract Despite the benefits of renewable energy—including mitigation of climate change, emission-free electricity generation, and public health benefits—technology siting is plagued by social, political, and cultural challenges. These non-technical challenges often remain outside the scope and responsibility of engineers’ assessments. This study uses early-stage stakeholder engagement to examine the non-technical barriers to siting of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) along traffic corridors throughout the United States. Stakeholder feedback is analyzed in terms of Niklas Luhmann's social system theory via the Socio-Political Evaluation of Energy Deployment (SPEED) framework to assess broader, system-wide feasibility. By identifying points of resonance—situations in which the logics of different systems overlap, allowing interaction—the knowledge and capacities of different stakeholder groups can support development of new technologies. This method of stakeholder engagement occurs at earlier stages of project development and includes larger socio-political scales than typical site-level analysis. Stakeholder feedback—from a variety of fields, including engineering, transportation, project management, and law—is incorporated into a multi-criteria and analytic hierarchy tool to aid in turbine siting. This paper argues that early stakeholder engagement beyond a strictly technical focus creates a more robust account of project feasibility, shown through the potential for right-of-way VAWT arrays.
Orchestrating silence, winning the votes: Explaining variation in media freedom during elections

Abstract Restrictions on media freedom play a prominent role in the survival of incumbents in hybrid regimes. But while scholars agree that governments limit media freedom to punish opponents and mobilize supporters, less is known about the electoral incentives that explain the timing and location of restrictions. Using original microdata on government attempts to prevent the dissemination of information from Venezuela (2002–2015), I show that electoral competition at the local and national levels shape patterns of government-led restrictions on media freedom. At the local level, I find that differences in the opposition's strength incentivize governments to use restrictions to demobilize opponents where they are strongest, target marginal districts during local elections, and maintain dominance in their strongholds. At the national level, I show that as threats to the government party's primacy increase, so does the effect of local electoral competition on the hazard of restrictions.
The Popular Arts

The relevance of mass-produced original paintings to the popular arts and popular culture is discussed. Examples of the popular visual arts in and around the home are enumerated. Their major characteristics are noted: ubiquity; do not require much if any knowledge; low cost, if any; and “democratic” appeal to many. The power of the popular arts is illustrated by propaganda, fascistic and authoritarian art, and by unauthorized art, kitsch, and camp. Popular paintings, it is pointed out, include museum works (by van Gogh, Andy Warhol) as well. The criticisms of popular art and popular culture (e.g., their triviality), as applied to mass-produced original paintings, are reexamined.
Machine Learning SABR Model of Stochastic Volatility With Lookup Table

We present an embarrassingly simple method for supervised learning of SABR model’s European option price function based on lookup table or rote machine learning. Performance in time domain is comparable to generally used analytic approximations utilized in financial industry. However, unlike the approximation schemes based on asymptotic methods – universally deemed fastest – the methodology admits arbitrary calculation precision to the true pricing function without detrimental impact on time performance apart from memory access latency. The idea is plainly applicable to any function approximation or supervised learning domain with low dimension.
Plasma ω-3 and ω-6 PUFA Concentrations and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background Current literature examining the prospective relation of circulating omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) PUFAs and atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited to predominantly white populations. Objectives We investigated the association of circulating n-3 and n-6 PUFAs with incident AF in participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Methods A total of 6229 participants (mean age = 62 y; 53% female; 39% white, 27% black, 22% Hispanic, and 12% Chinese) who were free of baseline AF and with plasma phospholipid PUFAs measured at baseline using GC were prospectively followed for the development of AF. Incident AF was ascertained using International Classification of Diseases-9 codes from hospital discharge records and Medicare claims data with follow-up through 2014. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine the risk of incident AF. Results During a median follow-up of 12.9 y, 813 (13%) participants developed AF. Each higher SD increment in arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6) concentrations was associated with an 11% decreased risk of incident AF (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.96). Similarly, higher overall n-6 PUFA concentrations were also associated with a reduced AF risk (HR per SD increment: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.00). Although no significant overall associations were observed for any individual n-3 PUFAs, higher circulating concentrations of DHA (22:6n-3) and EPA (20:5n-3) were associated with a decreased AF risk in blacks and Hispanics (DHA only) but not whites or Chinese Americans. Conclusions In a multiethnic cohort of individuals free of baseline cardiovascular disease, higher plasma concentrations of n-6 PUFAs, particularly AA, were associated with a reduced risk of incident AF. Important differences in AF risk were also noted across race/ethnicity for the n-3 PUFAs DHA and EPA.
Federal, state, and institutional barriers to the expansion of medication and telemedicine abortion services in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Objectives We aimed to characterize the combined impact of federal, state, and institutional policies on barriers to expanding medication and telemedicine abortion care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic in the abortion-restrictive states of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Study Design We analyzed 4 state policies, 2 COVID-related state executive orders, and clinic-level survey data on medication abortion provision from fourteen abortion facilities in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia from December 2019 to December 2020. We calculated the percent of medication abortions provided at these facilities during the study period by state, to assess changes in medication abortion use during the pandemic. Results We ascertained that COVID-19-executive orders in Ohio and West Virginia that limited procedural abortion in Spring 2020 coincided with an increase in the overall number and proportion of medication abortions in this region, peaking at 1613 medication abortions (70%) in April 2020. Ohio and West Virginia, which had executive orders limiting procedural abortion, saw relatively greater increases in April compared to Kentucky. Despite temporary lifting of the mifepristone REMS, prepandemic regulations banning telemedicine abortion in Kentucky and West Virginia and requiring in-person clinic visits for medication abortion distribution in Ohio limited clinics’ ability to adapt to offer medication abortion by mail. Conclusions Our findings illustrate how restrictive medication and telemedicine abortion policies in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia created additional obstacles for patients seeking medication abortion during the pandemic. Permanently lifting federal regulations on in-clinic distribution of mifepristone would only advantage abortion seekers in states without restrictive telehealth and medication abortion policies. State policies that limit access to comprehensive abortion services should be central in larger efforts toward dismantling barriers that impinge upon reproductive autonomy. Implication Statement We find that abolishing the REMS on mifepristone would not be enough to expand access to patients in abortion-restrictive states with telemedicine and medication abortion laws. While the REMS is a barrier, it represents one of several hindrances to the expansion of telemedicine abortion distribution across the United States.
Enhancing the Effectiveness of Inlining in Automatic Parallelization

The emergence of multi-core architectures makes it essential for optimizing compilers to automatically extract parallelism for large scientific applications composed of many subroutines residing in different files. Inlining is a well-known technique which can be used to erase procedural boundaries and enable more aggressive loop parallelization. However, conventional inlining cannot be applied to external libraries where the source code is not available, and when overly applied, it can degrade the effectiveness of compiler optimizations due to excessive code complexity. This paper highlights some obstacles we encountered while applying conventional inlining combined with automatic loop parallelization using the Polaris optimizing compiler and presents a new approach, annotation-based inlining, to effectively overcome these obstacles. Our experimental results show that the annotation-based inlining approach can eliminate negative impact of conventional inlining while enhancing the effectiveness of interprocedural parallelization for a majority of applications from the PERFECT benchmark suite.
Role of Active Transport of Inducer in Enzyme Biosynthesis and Process Scale-Up

This paper describes a study of the role of active transport of a key species in microbial enzyme biosynthesis. The aim is to provide a quantitative understanding by integrating accepted mechanistic descriptions into complete, testable engineering models that represent phenomenologically accurate simulations for enzyme biosynthesis.
Automatic Reduction of Multicolumn Chromatographic Data

An approach is given using the Perkin-Elmer PEP-2 chromatographic Data System [1] to combine data from both columns in a gas chromatograph. The Interactive Programming Module (IPM) option [2] is required. Program language is Interactive Programming Language (IPL). The component of interest is not always separated adequately from interfering substances in a single column analysis. Thus, a sample is frequently analyzed under more than one set of chromatographic conditions. The component of interest must be identified on each column to give a positive result. When sample volume is large it is convenient to have on-line data processing, such as the PEP-2 dedicated system. A printout of computed results from each column is quantitatively superior to manual chromatogram evaluation techniques. Combining all results for a sample in one report is the approach applied by the authors to a dual column configuration described by Adams [3]. If a drug is identified on both columns, further confirming analyses are pursued.
Regulation of the intracellular localization of the transcription factor Ets1 (IRM10P.754)

Ets1 is a DNA binding transcription factor that regulates B and T cell responses. To activate transcription Ets1 must be present in the nucleus of the cell. The major isoform of Ets1 (designated p54) has both a nuclear localization signal (NLS) and a nuclear export signal (NES). We have identified a novel isoform of Ets1 (p68) having an alternate N-terminus with 71 distinct amino acids that replace the first 28 amino acids of p54. Unexpectedly, we found that transfected p68 is localized in the cytoplasm of cells, rather than the nucleus where p54 is found, despite the fact that p68 contains both the NLS and NES sequences of Ets1. This suggests that sequences in the first 28 amino acids of p54 Ets1 regulate its nuclear localization. Contained within this region of p54 Ets1 is a lysine residue (K15) known to undergo sumoylation. We made point mutations in this site (to either alanine or arginine) and showed that this residue is essential for nuclear localization of Ets1. Studies are currently underway to determine whether sumoylation of Ets1 is required for its nuclear localization. Interestingly, there may be a conserved mechanism that regulates nuclear localization of Ets proteins. This interpretation is based on our observation that another Ets family member Elf5 also requires an intact N-terminus to be localized within the nucleus of the cell. Our studies predict that nuclear localization of Ets proteins may be a regulated event and under the control of signaling pathways.
TONTINES FOR THE INVINCIBLES: ENTICING LOW RISKS INTO THE HEALTH-INSURANCE POOL WITH AN IDEA FROM INSURANCE HISTORY AND BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS

Over one third of the uninsured adults in the U.S. below retirement age are between nineteen and twenty-nine years old. Young adults, especially men, often go without insurance, even when buying it is mandatory and sometimes even when it is a low-cost employment benefit. This Article proposes a new form of health insurance targeted at this group, the “young invincibles”—those who (wrongly) believe that they do not need health insurance because they will not get sick. Our proposal offers a cash bonus to those who turn out to be right in their belief that they did not really need health insurance. The concept comes from the tontine life insurance that fueled the rise of the U.S. insurance industry in the late nineteenth century. A largely forgotten casualty of the 1906 “pacification” of the life-insurance industry, the tontine idea holds great promise for making health insurance attractive to the invincibles. The tontine feature frames the health-insurance purchase as a smart investment, rather than a way to spend money for something the customer does not think he needs. Tontines make insurance more attractive to the uninsured, without wasting funds by subsidizing those who are already covered. We identify a particular class of individuals (the invincibles), show how a specific cognitive bias accounts for their irrational behavior, and design an insurance mechanism (tontines or deferred dividends) to overcome the effects of this bias. The final sections of the Article offer an empirically calibrated pricing demonstration for a tontine health policy and an analysis of the legality of tontines in this context.
Transformation of Cotton Production through the Use of Genetically Improved Cotton

Over time, the production of cotton has dramatically improved. Better cotton varieties are now available. Improvements in agricultural practices with the introduction of chemical insecticides, herbicides and mechanization have increased productivity and efficiency. The introductions of cotton varieties, which contain genetically engineered traits, have transformed cotton production for the better. One such trait, Bollgard® cotton, confers resistance to lepidopterous insect pests that attack cotton such as tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens; cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea; and pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Perlak et al., 2001). Introduced in 1996, Bollgard cotton has changed the way farmers approach insect control in their cotton fields. It allows growers to reduce their insecticide use (Carpenter, 2001) while improving their productivity and insect control. It is the only cotton bio-engineered trait for insect control approved in the United States.
The conclusion of practical reasoning: the shadow between idea and act

There is a puzzle about how to understand the conclusion of a successful instance of practical reasoning. Do the considerations adduced in reasoning rationalize the particular doing of an action, as Aristotle is sometimes interpreted as claiming? Or does reasoning conclude in the formation of an attitude – an intention, say – that has an action-type as its content? This paper attempts to clarify what is at stake in that debate and defends the latter view against some of its critics.
Small vessel alterations in the testes of infertile men with varicocele.

Small vessel fibrosis and lumen narrowing is documented in testicular biopsy specimens from two of six subfertile men with varicocele. Venular occlusion is associated with several histologic features including enlarged endothelial cells, collagenation of vessel walls, perivascular fibrosis, and, less frequently, myoepithelial cell proliferation and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates. Ultrastructural study revealed enlarged endothelial cells with complex cellular junctions and deposition of collagen in vessel wails and perivascular spaces. In patients with varicocele, altered testicular blood flow due to venous stasis and small vessel occlusive disease may contribute to Leydig and/or germinal cell dysfunction and subsequent infertility.
When is the weak rate equal to the strong rate

A condition on a class of processes guaranteeing that the weak redundancy rate has the same asymptotic order of magnitude as the strong redundancy rate will be discussed.
Short-term traffic flow rate forecasting based on identifying similar traffic patterns

The ability to timely and accurately forecast the evolution of traffic is very important in traffic management and control applications. This paper proposes a non-parametric and data-driven methodology for short-term traffic forecasting based on identifying similar traffic patterns using an enhanced K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) algorithm. Weighted Euclidean distance, which gives more weight to recent measurements, is used as a similarity measure for K-NN. Moreover, winsorization of the neighbors is implemented to dampen the effects of dominant candidates, and rank exponent is used to aggregate the candidate values. Robustness of the proposed method is demonstrated by implementing it on large datasets collected from different regions and by comparing it with advanced time series models, such as SARIMA and adaptive Kalman Filter models proposed by others. It is demonstrated that the proposed method reduces the mean absolute percent error by more than 25%. In addition, the effectiveness of the proposed enhanced K-NN algorithm is evaluated for multiple forecast steps and also its performance is tested under data with missing values. This research provides strong evidence suggesting that the proposed non-parametric and data-driven approach for short-term traffic forecasting provides promising results. Given the simplicity, accuracy, and robustness of the proposed approach, it can be easily incorporated with real-time traffic control for proactive freeway traffic management.
Molecular Partitioning during Host Cell Penetration by Toxoplasma gondii

During invasion by Toxoplasma gondii, host cell transmembrane proteins are excluded from the forming parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) by the tight apposition of host and parasite cellular membranes. Previous studies suggested that the basis for the selective partitioning of membrane constituents may be a preference for membrane microdomains, and this hypothesis was herein tested. The partitioning of a diverse group of molecular reporters for raft and nonraft membrane subdomains was monitored during parasite invasion by time-lapse video or confocal microscopy. Unexpectedly, both raft and nonraft lipid probes, as well as both raft and nonraft cytosolic leaflet proteins, flowed unhindered past the host–parasite junction into the PVM. Moreover, neither a raft-associated type 1 transmembrane protein nor its raft-dissociated counterpart accessed the PVM, while a multispanning membrane raft protein readily did so. Considered together with previous data, these studies demonstrate that selective partitioning at the host–parasite interface is a highly complex process, in which raft association favors, but is neither necessary nor sufficient for, inclusion into the T. gondii PVM.
Rotational and Translational Diffusion of Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Extended and Globular Polymer Solutions

Depolarized dynamic light scattering is used to measure the translational and rotational diffusion of a rodlike probe, tobacco mosaic virus, in matrix solutions of dextran, an extended polymer with some branching, and globular Ficoll. Translation and rotation both decline almost exponentially as the concentration of either matrix rises. The ratio of rotational to translational diffusion is similar in dextran or Ficoll solutions and close to the values expected from continuum theories of the friction of rodlike particles. Reinforcing a continuum picture in which hydrodynamic effects surpass any due to topological constraints, the declines in rotational and translational motion are almost inversely proportional to the solution viscosity. Only modest and gradual deviations from Stokes−Einstein behavior are observed, even at high matrix concentrations. This stands in stark contrast to an earlier study by this group [Macromolecules 1997, 30, 4920−4926]. The difference may be traced to the subtle effects of opt...
A Leader-Following Formation Control of a Group of Mobile Robots

This paper proposes a leader-following formation control strategy for a group of mobile robots. The nonholonomic constraints of the mobile robots, instead of the usual point-mass assumption, are taken into account in the design of the formation control. The proposed formation control computes desired driving force and steering torque, instead of desired translational and angular velocities, for each robot. The proposed control consists of a formation control scheme and a kinematic trajectory generation scheme for the leader of a group. In the design of the proposed control schemes, the Lyapunov stability theorem is used as a mathematical tool. The leader follows its desired trajectory while the rest of robots are following the leader in a specified formation. Under certain conditions, the proposed formation control guarantees asymptotic stability while keeping all internal signals bounded. The effectiveness of the proposed control has been shown with realistic computer simulations.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
The identity of the cholesteryl esters in human milk

Milk samples were collected from 11 mothers who were at least 4 weeks postpartum. The amounts of fat and the fatty acid compositions of cholesteryl esters (CE) and triacylglycerols (TG) in the milk were determined. The mean concentration of total milk lipid was 3.01 gm/100 ml of milk±.42 SD. The major fatty acids esterified with CE and TG were 16∶0,cis 18∶1 and 18∶2. The patterns were similar except for a greater proportion ofcis 18∶1 in the CE. The majortrans fatty acid detected was the 18∶1 isomer which accounted for 4.48% of the TG fatty acids and 2.96% of the CE fatty acids.
The Ticket to the Soviet Soul: Science, Religion, and the Spiritual Crisis of Late Soviet Atheism

This article examines the confrontation of Soviet scientific atheism with religion as it played out on the pages and in the editorial rooms of the country's primary atheist periodical, Nauka i religiia (Science and Religion). It follows a story that begins in the 1960s, when the journal tried to change its title to Mir cheloveka (The World of Man) to reorient itself from the battle against religion towards the battle for Soviet (and therefore atheist) spiritual life. I argue that while the Khrushchev era is the point of origin for much of late Soviet policy on religion and atheism, it is only with the Brezhnev era that we see understandings of religion move beyond ideological stereotypes. New conceptions of religion, however, forced atheists to consider Communist ideology in unexpected (and often troubling) ways, and led to revealing discussions the Soviet state's role in providing spiritual fullness. The story of Nauka i religiia is a microcosm of Soviet ideology in that it reveals the boundaries and contradictions of the material and the spiritual in the Soviet project.
Numerical Study of Turbulent Natural Convection in AN Innovative Air Cooling System

The process of buoyancy-induced turbulent convection in an asymmetrically heated vertical channel is studied numerically to simulate the situation of flow development and heat transfer in an innovative air cooling system. An upgraded two-equation closure model is employed to describe the turbulent motion, and the problem is formulated with proper account of the effects of property variations and surface radiation between the bounding watts. The governing system is solved by an implicit finite-difference method. Variable grid sizes are used in the numerical computation, and the velocity-pressure coupling is treated by a technique involving numerical iteration with underrelaxation. The accuracy of the present computational scheme is demonstrated by comparing the predicted results with available experimental data. Axial variations of watt temperatures and downstream evolution of local velocity and temperature fields are determined as functions of various controlling parameters of the system.
SIMULTANEOUS OBSERVATION OF ELECTRIC FIELD COUPLING TO LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE FERROELECTRICITY IN A CHIRAL LIQUID CRYSTAL

We report novel odd-even layering effects in freely suspended films of the chiral liquid crystal MHPOBC in its antiferroelectric smectic phase. Films with an odd number of smectic layers are characterized by transverse ferroelectricity (molecular tilt plane perpendicular to applied electric field E), while films with an even number of layers exhibit longitudinal ferroelectricity (molecular tilt plane parallel to E). This is the first observation of the simultaneous electric field manipulation of longitudinal and transverse ferroelectric polarization in liquid crystals.
Photonic integrated circuits based on sampled-grating distributed-Bragg-reflector lasers

The Sampled-Grating Distributed-Bragg-Reflector laser(SGDBR) provides wide tunability (>40nm), and high output power (>10mW). Driven by the demand for network reconfigurability and ease of implementation, the SGDBR has moved from the research lab to be commercially viable in the marketplace. The SGDBR is most often implemented using an offset-quantum well epitaxial structure in which the quantum wells are etched off in the passive sections. Alternatively, quantum well intermixing has been used recently to achieve the same goal - resulting in improved optical gain and the potential for multiple bandgaps along the device structure. These epitaxial "platforms" provide the basis for more exotic opto-electronic device functionality exhibiting low chirp for digital applications and enhanced linearity for analog applications. This talk will cover state-of-the-art opto-electronic devices based on the SGDBR platform including: integrated Mach-Zehnder modulators, and integrated electro-absorption modulators.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma as a secondary malignancy in pediatric sarcoma.

Abstract Purpose Children diagnosed with osteosarcoma (OS) and Ewing sarcoma (ES) have greatly benefited from the addition of alkylator therapy. However, with greater numbers of long-term survivors, the rising incidence of secondary malignant neoplasms (SMNs) is concerning. Herein we report on 2 patients with sarcoma who developed a case of secondary mucoepidermoid carcinoma after chemotherapy treatment without associated radiation therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first series of mucoepidermoid carcinomas arising in pediatric patients treated for sarcoma without radiotherapy. Methods Long-term survivors of OS and ES currently undergoing routine follow-up care were reviewed and noted for the development of a new secondary malignancy. Details of their initial evaluation, previous therapies, resection techniques, pathologic findings, and follow-up compose this report. Results Two patients, a 17-year-old adolescent boy with OS and 16-year-old adolescent girl with ES, with secondary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland were identified. Both patients underwent primary resection and chemotherapy including alkylating agents, but neither received radiation. The mucoepidermoid carcinomas developed 27 months and 132 months after completion of therapy, respectively, and were noted on routine yearly follow-up. Fine-needle aspiration was nondiagnostic on each, and parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve was performed. Pathology revealed low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma with tumor extending to the deep margins for both lesions, and radiotherapy to the parotid bed was administered. There were no surgical complications. One patient is alive, without evidence of recurrent mucoepidermoid carcinoma after 4 years; the other recently completed radiotherapy and is disease-free after 12 months. Conclusion Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland accounts for less than 10% of all head and neck tumors in childhood. Previous series of secondary mucoepidermoid carcinoma have demonstrated an increased risk in patients with leukemia/lymphoma. This is the first reported series of parotid mucoepidermoid carcinomas occurring after sarcoma treatment without radiotherapy. A common link between the 2 patients may be the use of alkylating therapy.
Non-nearest-neighbor interactions in nonlinear dynamical lattices

Abstract We revisit the theme of non-nearest-neighbor interactions in nonlinear dynamical lattices, in the prototypical setting of the discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equation. Our approach offers a systematic way of analyzing the existence and stability of solutions of the system near the so-called anti-continuum limit of zero coupling. This affords us a number of analytical insights such as the fact that, for instance, next-nearest-neighbor interactions allow for solutions with nontrivial phase structure in infinite one-dimensional lattices; in the case of purely nearest-neighbor interactions, such phase structure is disallowed. On the other hand, such non-nearest-neighbor interactions can critically affect the stability of unstable structures, such as topological charge S = 2 discrete vortices. These analytical predictions are corroborated by numerical bifurcation and stability computations.
Antihypertensive therapy targeted to the needs of the patient: focus on the renin-angiotensin system; older and newer agents.

Antihypertensive drug therapy can lower blood pressure and prolong life, but many hypertensive patients continue to develop further risk factors and to die prematurely of heart disease. Antihypertensive drugs can also interfere with the patient's quality of life, and many are not compatible with the concomitant medical conditions of the patient and the medications taken to treat them. For these reasons, the antihypertensive therapy selected should meet the specific and complete needs of each patient, not just treat the high blood pressure. An analysis of the drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin system suggests that several of these drugs have a more favorable therapeutic profile than other classes of hypotensive agents. The newly developed receptor-site-specific blockers are expected to be tolerated better by hypertensive patients and, consequently, to enhance their quality of life. The rust of the new class of nonpeptide blockers of the AT 1 receptor, losartan-which has no partial agonist activity-is likely to have the advantages of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors without their adverse effects, notably cough. In selected patients, the AT 1 -receptor blockers could become the drugs of first choice for the management of hypertension.