cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of adolescents at risk for smoking initiation: Validation of a measure of susceptibility

Primary prevention of smoking in adolescents requires effective screening instruments for identifying those adolescents who are most likely to experiment with cigarettes. This study investigated the predictive value of a measure of susceptibility to smoking (the lack of a firm commitment not to smoke) for predicting smoking initiation 1 and 2 years later among 687 seventh-grade nonsmokers. Results showed that susceptible adolescents were approximately two to three times more likely to experiment with cigarettes during the ensuing 2 years than were nonsusceptible adolescents. At the lower levels of smoking, these relationships persisted even after controlling for psychosocial variables. Measures of susceptibility to smoking could be an effective tool for identifying adolescents at increased risk of experimenting with cigarettes or assessing their readiness for smoking-prevention programs.
Influence of adenine, isopentyl alcohol and Azotobacter chroococcum on the growth of Raphanus sativus

The effect of adenine (ADE), isopentyl alcohol (IA) and a cytokinin-producing bacterium, Azotobacter chroococcum, on the morphological plant characteristics of Raphanus sativus (radish) was studied in sand under axenic-inoculated conditions and in soil under glasshouse and field conditions. The application of the combination of 0.2 mg kg−1 ADE, 13 mg kg−1 IA plus the inoculum enhanced the dry weight of root and shoot tissues, leaf area and chlorophyll a content, to a much greater degree than when in the presence of the cytokinin precursors (ADE or IA) or the bacterium alone. Enhanced plant growth observed under axenic conditions upon the addition of ADE and IA indicated that the plant has the ability to assimilate and utilize ADE and IA for growth and metabolism. While the addition of the inoculum without precursors was also stimulatory, greater enhancement of plant growth was observed following the application of ADE, IA and A. chroococcum together being attributed primarily to the increase in microbial production of cytokinins within the rhizosphere.
The diaphanous Gene of Drosophila Interacts Antagonistically with multiple wing hairs and Plays a Key Role in Wing Hair Morphogenesis

The Drosophila wing is covered by an array of distally pointing hairs that has served as a key model system for studying planar cell polarity (PCP). The adult cuticular hairs are formed in the pupae from cell extensions that contain extensive actin filaments and microtubules. The importance of the actin cytoskeleton for hair growth and morphogenesis is clear from the wide range of phenotypes seen in mutations in well-known actin regulators. Formin proteins promote the formation of long actin filaments of the sort thought to be important for hair growth. We report here that the formin encoding diaphanous (dia) gene plays a key role in hair morphogenesis. Both loss of function mutations and the expression of a constitutively active Dia led to cells forming both morphologically abnormal hairs and multiple hairs. The conserved frizzled (fz)/starry night (stan) PCP pathway functions to restrict hair initiation and activation of the cytoskeleton to the distal most part of wing cells. It also ensures the formation of a single hair per cell. Our data suggest that the localized inhibition of Dia activity may be part of this mechanism. We found the expression of constitutively active Dia greatly expands the region for activation of the cytoskeleton and that dia functions antagonistically with multiple wing hairs (mwh), the most downstream member of the fz/stan pathway. Further we established that purified fragments of Dia and Mwh could be co-immunoprecipitated suggesting the genetic interaction could reflect a direct physical interaction.
Receptor binding studies of soft anticholinergic agents

Receptor binding studies were performed on 24 soft anticholinergic agents and 5 conventional anticholinergic agents using 4 cloned human muscarinic receptor subtypes. The measured pKi values of the soft anticholinergic agents ranged from 6.5 to 9.5, with the majority being in the range of 7.5 to 8.5. Strong correlation was observed between the pKis determined here and the pA2 values measured earlier in guinea pig ileum contraction assays. The corresponding correlation coefficients (r2) were 0.80, 0.73, 0.81, and 0.78 for pKi(m1), pKi(m2), pKi(m3), and pKi(m4), respectively. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies were also performed, and good characterization could be obtained for the soft anticholinergics containing at least 1 tropine moiety in their structure. For these compounds, the potency as measured by the pKi values was found to be related to geometric, electronic, and lipophilicity descriptors. A linear regression equation using ovality (Oe), dipole moment (D), and a calculated log octanol-water partition coefficient (QLogP) gave reasonably good descriptions (r=0.88) for the pKi(m3) values.
ENTROPY PERTURBATIONS IN ONE-DIMENSIONAL MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC FLOW

Conditions for particle velocity to be unaffected by the addition of an entropy perturbation in a one-dimensional, initially-centered simple-wave flow subjected to a transverse magnetic field are derived. It is assumed that the density and magnetic induction are constantly proportional. (C.E.S.)
Leading the elephant out of the corner: the future of health care: presidential address at the American Heart Association 2006 scientific sessions.

I will break with tradition and address a topic that is more political and social than scientific—the future of health care. Although I will focus initially on the growing healthcare crisis in this country, I will cite similar concerns and trends elsewhere in the world and suggest fundamental principles for change that are relevant throughout our global society. Of the 192 member states of the World Health Organization in 2003 (Figure 1), 85 countries spent less than $100 per capita each year on health care.1 Another 85 countries spent between $100 and $2000 per capita. Only 22 countries, or 11.5%, spent more than $2000 per capita. Most of us are privileged, as we work in one of these 22 countries (Table 1). Figure 1. Pie diagram showing the distribution of the 192 member states of the World Health Organization based on per capita health spending in 2003. Only 22 countries, or 11.5%, spent more than $2000 per capita. Based on data from the World Health Organization.1 View this table: TABLE 1. World Health Organization Member Statistics With Per Capita Health Spending Greater Than $2000 The recent growth in healthcare expenditures is an issue in many of these countries, including the United States. In the United States, federal government spending on Medicare and Medicaid continues to accelerate (Figure 2). These 2 items now comprise almost 21% of the budget, equal to Social Security.2 Along with other mandatory items and interest payments, these nondiscretionary expenditures now approach 61% of the total federal budget (Figure 3). Of the remaining 39%, 20% goes to defense, leaving 19% of the federal budget for all other discretionary spending. Figure 2. Growth in federal government spending on Medicare and Medicaid from 2003 to 2006. The Medicaid spending does not include the contribution from the states. Based on …
Bandwidth-efficient MIMO underwater acoustic communications with frequency-domain equalization

This paper proposes a bandwidth-efficient frequency-domain equalization (FDE) for single carrier (SC) underwater acoustic (UWA) communications with multiple transducers and hydrophones. The proposed algorithm implements an overlapped-window FDE by partitioning a large block into small subblocks. A decision-directed channel estimation scheme is also proposed to track the channel variation by the detect symbols. The proposed algorithm is tested by undersea data collected during the Rescheduled Acoustic Communications Experiment (RACE) in March 2008. The experimental results demonstrate the proposed receive algorithm effectively tracks the time variation of the channel impulse responses and significantly improves the performance of uncoded bit error rate (BER). Compared with traditional SC-FDE system, the proposed overlapped-window FDE achieves 74.4% and 84.6% average BER reduction for the 400 m and 1000 m range systems, respectively at the same data efficiency and has only 8.4% transmission overhead, which is much smaller than over 20% of other existing UWA OFDM and SC-FDE systems at the same BER level.
Barriers to pain management among adolescents with cancer.

Abstract Patient-related barriers to reporting pain and using analgesics (e.g., fear of addiction) can detrimentally affect pain management for adolescents with cancer. However, adolescent barriers have not been systematically investigated; furthermore, no instrument exists to measure these barriers. The purposes of this study were to examine the psychometric properties of the newly developed Adolescent Barriers Questionnaire (ABQ) and to describe adolescent barriers to pain management. The study was guided by a barriers model which suggests that barriers (beliefs) influence coping (hesitation to report pain, use of analgesics, and adequacy of analgesics), which in turn affects outcomes (pain severity and quality of life). Sixty adolescent patients with cancer aged 12-17 years completed the ABQ; 22 of which reported pain and also completed measures of hesitation, analgesic use, pain severity, and physical and psychosocial function. Initial testing provided evidence that the ABQ is reliable and valid. Internal consistency estimates for the total scale ranged from 0.91 to 0.94 and for the subscales ranged from 0.54 to 0.96. Test-retest reliability over a 2-week period was r =0.82. Construct validity was supported by a significant positive relationship between barriers scores and coping (hesitation to report pain and to use analgesics). However, coping did not mediate the relationship between barriers and outcomes. All of the adolescents reported some barriers. Barriers scores did not vary by age or gender. The leading barrier was concern that social activities would be restricted if pain was reported. Clearly, adolescents have barriers that can interfere with pain management. Interventions are needed to identify and help adolescents overcome these barriers.
On the possibility of superconductivity in electron-hole liquids

Abstract It is shown that an electron-hole liquid under suitable conditions can become superconducting. This conclusion is reached by using an effective electron-electron interaction which includes vertex corrections and multiple electron-hole scattering. The mechanism for superconductivity is novel. The intermediate bosons responsible for the superconducting pairing are not acoustic plasmons but correlated pair excitations from the Fermi sea of the holes. Some materials are proposed for an experimental verification of the ideas presented here.
Plasma colloid osmotic pressure and total protein trends in horses during anesthesia.

Abstract Objective To investigate the changes in colloid osmotic pressure (COP) and total protein concentrations during routine general anesthesia in horses. Study design Prospective, clinical study. Animals Twelve adult healthy horses aged 9.1 ± 4.7 years and weighing 474 ± 79 kg presented for elective surgery and 14 adult horses aged 8.7 ± 7.3 years and weighing 510 ± 85 kg. Methods All horses were premedicated with xylazine and anesthesia induced with ketamine, diazepam and guaifenesin, and maintained with isoflurane for 2.5 hours. Lactate Ringer's solution was administered at 11 mL kg−1 hour−1. Osmolality, COP, electrolytes, glucose, and lactate were measured with specific commercial analyzers. Total protein (TP) was determined with a refractometer and packed cell volume with centrifuged capillary tubes. In the second group of 14 horses samples were taken from both venous and arterial sites simultaneously and the above measurements performed. Results Before anesthesia, COP and TP were 22.2 ± 2 mmHg and 6.9 ± 0.4 g dL−1, respectively. Within 15 minutes of anesthetic induction, COP and TP decreased significantly (19.9 ± 1.9 mmHg and 6.3 ± 1.9 g dL−1; p Conclusions and clinical relevance The data indicate that COP, like TP, decreases over the course of routine anesthetic management of horses and venous versus arterial samples should reveal comparable information.
Thermoelectric power in a disordered two-dimensional interacting electron gas

Abstract The thermoelectric power Q is evaluated in a two-dimensional disordered system with long range electron-electron interactions. Our approach here is based upon the method of Altshuler et al., and only the exchange diagram in the self energy is considered. The result at finite temperature is Q=Q 0 [( 1 2πE F τ ) 1n ( 1 τT )] , E F and τ are the Fermi energy and relaxation time due to impurity scattering respectively. Q 0 = π 2 T 3eE F is the thermoelectric power when the effect of electron-electron interactions is neglected. Here, e is the charge of an electron.
Transient induction of increased aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 levels in cultured human breast (adeno)carcinoma cell lines via 5'-upstream xenobiotic, and electrophile, responsive elements is, respectively, estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent.

Transient up-regulation of ALDH3A1, CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 transcription by transient exposure to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands, e.g. 3-methylcholanthrene, is via transient transactivation of xenobiotic responsive elements (XRE) present in the 5'-upstream regions of these genes. Others have shown that AhR ligand-mediated induction of increased CYP1A1 levels in cultured human breast (adeno)carcinoma cell lines is apparently estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent, i.e. it was observed in ER(+) cell lines but not in ER(-) cell lines, whereas AhR ligand-mediated induction of increased CYP1B1 levels is ER-independent, i.e. it was observed in both ER(+) and ER(-) cell lines. The present investigation established that transient, AhR ligand/XRE-mediated induction of increased ALDH3A1 levels in human breast (adeno)carcinoma cell lines was, like that of CYP1A1 and unlike that of CYP1B1, apparently ER-dependent. Thus, transient exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene induced increased levels of ALDH3A1 in five cultured human breast (adeno)carcinoma cell lines that were documented as being ER(+), viz., MCF-7/0, MCF-7/OAP, T-47D, ZR-75-1 and MDA-MB-468, but failed to induce increased levels of this enzyme in four cultured human breast (adeno)carcinoma cell lines that have been historically viewed as being ER(-), viz., MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3, HS-578-T and MDA-MB-435. Somewhat at odds with the foregoing, transient exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene also induced increased levels of ALDH3A1 and CYP1A1 in cultured, essentially ER(-), human breast epithelial MCF-10A cells. These cells, like cultured human breast (adeno)carcinoma cells, are immortal, but unlike the latter, are not tumorigenic. Transient induction of increased ALDH3A1 levels can also be effected by agents that are not AhR ligands, viz., electrophiles such as catechol, and thus, cannot up-regulate ALDH3A1 transcription via transactivation of a 5'-upsteam region XRE. Rather, they are thought to up-regulate ALDH3A1 transcription via transient transactivation of an electrophile responsive element (EpRE) that is putatively also present in the 5'-upstream region of this gene. Electrophile-initiated/EpRE-mediated induction of increased ALDH3A1 levels was found to be ER-independent. Thus, catechol transiently induced increased levels of ALDH3A1 in the five ER(+) human breast (adeno)carcinoma cell lines, the four ER(-) human breast (adeno)carcinoma cell lines, and the ER(-), immortal but not tumorigenic, human breast epithelial cell line.
Preservice Teachers' Development and Implementation of Science Performance Assessment Tasks.

Preservice teachers in a science methods course were provided instruction on performance assessment, then guided through a design and implementation process of performance assessment tasks. We assessed the effect of designing and implementing a performance assessment task on preservice teachers' understanding of standards-based assessment. The findings show that these preservice teachers improved in their understanding of assessment as a formative process as well as their science content understanding of the topic addressed in their designed task. We found that preservice teachers need to experiment with performance assessment tasks in an authentic context in order to understand the full potential and value of the task.
Anticariogenic Effect in the Rat of Cereals Fortified with a Soluble Phosphate

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUALE EFFECTO ANTICARIOGENE EXERCITE IN LE RATTO PER CEREALES FORTIFICATE CON UN PHOSPHATO SOLUBILE.—Esseva executate duo studios visante a determinar le effecto anticariogene de un solubile phosphato inorganic addite in basse concentrationes a un extense varietate de commercialmente disponibile cereales de jentaculo del typo "preste a mangiar." Le resultatos obtenite in Serie I indica que le addition de 1,0 pro cento de phosphato monosodic a quatro differente cereales vestite de sucro resultava in un grado significative de reduction del carie dental. Simile constatationes esseva obtenite in omne casos in Serie II. Iste reductiones in carie dental variava secundo le typo de cereal empleate inter 25,1 e 42,9 pro cento. In omne le gruppos, le procentages trovate esseva statisticamente significative.
The day after neoliberal triumphalism

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the causes of failure of the neoliberal model of capitalism and rise of state capitalism. The arguments that efficient market economy can thrive under autocracy are refuted.Design/methodology/approach – Both western neoliberal capitalism and state capitalism in China and Russia are juxtaposed and critically analyzed.Findings – Neoliberalism is a conceptual model of enthusiastic true believers who never succeed in developing a workable economic system but rather a travesty of its own ideal. The USA instead of an efficient, competitive market economy became a playground for lobbyists and a corporate autocracy fraught with deep imbalances. Yet due to the rule of law and inherent freedoms the post‐neoliberal USA will be capable of “self repair” which is not possible in state capitalism.Research limitations/implications – The connections between politics and economics are inherently complex and difficult to be presented as predicable dependences. An interdiscip...
On the solution of the dugdale model

Abstract Attention is drawn to the direct manner in which the Dugdale model for estimating the plasticity zone size in the neighborhood of a crack tip can be calculated from the “weight functions” of Bueckner and Rice. The procedure is illustrated by several examples.
Microphysical and Dynamical Characteristics of Low-Precipitation and Classic Supercells

AbstractThe sensitivity of supercell morphology to the vertical distribution of moisture is investigated in this study using a cloud-resolving model with 300-m horizontal grid spacing. Simulated storms are found to transition from classic (CL) to low-precipitation (LP) supercells when the strength of elevated dry layers in the environmental moisture profile is increased. Resulting differences in the microphysical and dynamical characteristics of the CL and LPs are analyzed.The LPs produce approximately half of the accumulated surface precipitation as the CL supercell. The precipitating area in the LPs is spatially smaller and overall less intense, especially in the rear-flank downdraft region. The LPs have smaller deviant rightward storm motion compared to the CL supercell, and updrafts are narrower and more tilted, in agreement with observations. Lower relative humidities within the dry layers enhance evaporation and erode the upshear cloud edge in the LPs. This combination favors a downshear distributio...
Pluralism, philosophies of medicine and the varieties of medical ethics: a commentary on Thomasma and Pellegrino.

Some problems that arise in the account given by Thomasma and Pellegrino [6] of the foundations of medical ethics in a philosophy of medicine are addressed, in particular questions of a conceptual character about treating therelatum of medicine as health. Which concept of health is appropriate and which will bear the burden of the position thomasma and Pellegrino advance? It is argued that the proper relationship of medicine is one between a healer and developing embodied minds. As a consequence, the project of providing a univocal account of the nature of medicine fails. Instead, pluralism infects philosophy and medicine, resulting in different philosophies of medicine. From these philosophies of medicine will follow not a single medical ethics but a variety.
Acquired hemoglobin H disease in idiopathic myelofibrosis

A 68-year-old white male, diagnosed 1 year previously as having myelofibrosis, developed hemolysis, red cell inclusions, and 37% Hb H. The alpha/beta globin synthetic ratio for circulating reticulocytes, determined by 3H-leucine incorporation and globin chain separation by carboxymethylcellulose chromatography in urea, was 0.049. When total RNA was purified from peripheral blood cells and translated in a wheat germ cell-free translation system, the alpha/beta ratio of the translation products was 0.26, indicting mRNA as a major cause of the globin synthetic imbalance. This study demonstrates that myelofibrosis is one setting in which acquired Hb H disease occurs; that the synthetic imbalance may be extreme; and that it can be associated with an imbalance in the activities of specific globin mRNAs.
New evidence of positronium formation in neutron-irradiated molybdenum crystal containing voids

Abstract A new evidence for the presence of positronium atom in neutron-irradiated molybdenum crystal containing voids has been observed. A negative positronium work function for molybdenum has been indicated.
The Masquerade: Gender, Identity, and Writing for the Web

Abstract This article explores the nature of gender in cyberspace by reporting a case study of two classes that used online posting of student papers to facilitate peer response critiquing. When posting their papers, students could use their real identities or pseudonyms. In the study, we track online responses, breaking them down by gender and identity. The diversity of pseudonyms chosen, the way those choices impacted students' writing, and the types of responses generated by both pseudonyms and real names are examined. The nature of the pseudonym selection process and its implications for Web-based writing are also considered. This investigation sheds light on a number of important Internet writing issues. First, it reveals how some students feel disempowered by their own gender, in particular how many women may feel that choosing a male pseudonym is necessary for credibility. Second, it sheds light on the readers' responses to particular identities. Finally, we consider the significance of gender choices in terms of classroom conflict.
A SYSTEM FOR PASSIVE GRAVITY-GRADIENT STABILIZA TION OF EARTH SATELLITES,

Abstract : The satellite 1963 22A was successfully captured into a condition of passive, gravity-gradient stabilization. All elements of the stabilization system, including magnetic dispin, magnetic orientation devices, the extendible boom, the damping spring, and the attitude detection system performed satisfactorily. An unexpected high frequency oscillation of the boom and satellite system was observed which was most probably a dynamic effect resulting from thermal bending. This has caused the satellite to stabilize with a maximum deviation off the vertical of approximately 10 degrees. The objective of the gravity-gradient stabilization for the 22A satellite was to have the antennas directed downward within 20 degrees of the local vertical at all times. This objective has been successfully accomplished by the satellite's passive gravity-gradient attitude stabilization system. (Author)
Object duplication for improving reliability

Soft errors are becoming a common problem in current systems due to the scaling of technology that results in the use of smaller devices, lower voltages, and power-saving techniques. In this work, we focus on soft errors that can occur in the objects created in heap memory, and investigate techniques for enhancing the immunity to soft errors through various object duplication schemes. The idea is to access the duplicate object when the checksum associated with the primary object indicates an error. We implemented several duplication based schemes and conducted extensive experiments. Our results clearly show that this spectrum of schemes enable us to balance the tradeoffs between error rate and heap space consumption.
International Business Ethics: The Aluminum Companies in Jamaica

I evaluate the adequacy of the three models of international business ethics that have been recently proposed by Thomas Donaldson, Gerard Elfstrom and Richard De George. Using the example of the conduct of the aluminum companies in Jamaica, I argue that these three models fail to address the most important of the ethical issues encountered by multinationals because they focus too narrowly on human rights issues and on utilitarian considerations. In addition I argue that these models also evidence an inadequate understanding of microeconomic theory. I end by proposing that these defects can be remedied by a model of ethics that incorporates a theory of moral rights, a utilitarian-based theory of the market, and a theory of justice.
Serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels in patients with alpha1-antitrypsin variants☆

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels were measured in 184 subjects having either MM, MZ, ZZ, or MS Pi-types of alpha 1-antitrypsin. Elevated angiotensin converting enzyme levels were detected in 31 percent of the patients with the MZ Pi-type, 20 percent of the patients with the ZZ Pi-type, and 20 percent of the patients with the MS Pi-type compared with 1.33 percent of those with normal MM Pi-type. The mean serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels were also significantly higher in those with the MZ, ZZ, and MS Pi-types. Multiple family members of two families were found to have both the Z variant and angiotensin converting enzyme elevations, suggesting the possibility of a genetic linkage. Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency must be added to the list of disease states potentially associated with elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels.
Lack of efficacy of fadrozole in treating precocious puberty in girls with the McCune-Albright syndrome.

We administered the aromatase inhibitor fadrozole to 16 girls with gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty due to the McCune-Albright syndrome. The girls' ages ranged from 3.2-9.7 yr, and their bone ages ranged from 5.75-14.25 yr. After baseline evaluations, fadrozole was started at a dose of 240 microg/kg.d (equivalent to the dose recommended for therapy of estrogen-dependent breast cancer) for 12-21 months and increased to 480 microg/kg.d for an additional 12 months in 10 girls. During treatment, seven girls had evidence of central precocious puberty; hence, the GnRH agonist deslorelin (4 microg/kg.d sc) was added to their regimen. One girl was on a long-acting GnRH agonist from the start of treatment. Patients were evaluated at 2-6-month intervals throughout treatment. After the first 6-12 months of treatment, fadrozole showed some benefits in 10 girls, including decrease in frequency of menses and/or rates of linear growth and bone maturation; however, fadrozole had no significant benefit in the group as a whole. The seven girls with evidence of central precocious puberty had no slowing in the progression of their puberty during the combined fadrozole and GnRH analog treatment. Adverse effects of fadrozole included inhibition of cortisol and aldosterone biosynthesis at the dose of 480 microg/kg.d, without clinical evidence of adrenal insufficiency. In addition, three patients complained of nonspecific abdominal pain during fadrozole treatment. In one patient, this resolved with a reduction in dose from 480 to 240 microg/kg.d; in two patients, it resolved spontaneously. One girl had muscle weakness and constipation on the 480 microg/kg.d. This resolved after discontinuation of the drug. We conclude that fadrozole is not sufficiently potent to block estrogen synthesis in most girls with gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty due to the McCune-Albright syndrome and may impair the adrenocortical stress response.
Individual and relationship capital: Implications for theory and research on families

It is proposed that the concept of human capital should include both individual and relationship capital. A conceptual model illustrating the investment of human capital in individuals, marriages, and families is presented. Indicators of individual, marital, and familial capital are proposed. Implications of the concepts of individual, marital, and familial capital for theory and research on family processes are discussed. It is suggested that family economists should employ a broader range of measures of human capital and use the concept of relationship capital and that family scientists should use the concepts of individual and relationship capital in theory and research on families. Defining human capital in this manner creates new ways of applying the human capital concept to families.
Accounting for Response Misclassification and Covariate Measurement Error Improves Power and Reduces Bias in Epidemiologic Studies

PURPOSE: To quantify the impact of ignoring misclassification of a response variable and measurement error in a covariate on statistical power, and to develop software for sample size and power analysis that accounts for these flaws in epidemiologic data. METHODS: A Monte Carlo simulation-based procedure is developed to illustrate the differences in design requirements and inferences between analytic methods that properly account for misclassification and measurement error to those that do not in regression models for cross-sectional and cohort data. RESULTS: We found that failure to account for these flaws in epidemiologic data can lead to a substantial reduction in statistical power, over 25% in some cases. The proposed method substantially reduced bias by up to a ten-fold margin compared to naive estimates obtained by ignoring misclassification and mismeasurement. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend as routine practice that researchers account for errors in measurement of both response and covariate data when determining sample size, performing power calculations, or analyzing data from epidemiological studies.
Challenging the Cosmological Constant

Abstract We outline a dynamical dark energy scenario whose signatures may be simultaneously tested by astronomical observations and laboratory experiments. The dark energy is a field with slightly sub-gravitational couplings to matter, a logarithmic self-interaction potential with a scale tuned to ∼ 10 −3 eV , as is usual in quintessence models, and an effective mass m ϕ influenced by the environmental energy density. Its forces may be suppressed just below the current bounds by the chameleon-like mimicry, whereby only outer layers of mass distributions, of thickness 1 / m ϕ , give off appreciable long range forces. After inflation and reheating, the field is relativistic, and attains a Planckian expectation value before Hubble friction freezes it. This can make gravity in space slightly stronger than on Earth. During the matter era, interactions with nonrelativistic matter dig a minimum close to the Planck scale. However, due to its sub-gravitational matter couplings the field will linger away from this minimum until the matter energy density dips below ∼ 10 −12 eV 4 . Then it starts to roll to the minimum, driving a period of cosmic acceleration. Among the signatures of this scenario may be dark energy equation of state w ≠ − 1 , stronger gravity in dilute mediums, that may influence BBN and appear as an excess of dark matter, and sub-millimeter corrections to Newton's law, close to the present laboratory limits.
Systematic, balancing gradients in neuron density and number across the primate isocortex

The cellular and areal organization of the cerebral cortex impacts how it processes and integrates information. How that organization emerges and how best to characterize it has been debated for over a century. Here we demonstrate and describe in the isocortices of seven primate species a pronounced anterior-to-posterior gradient in the density of neurons and in the number of neurons under a unit area of the cortical surface. Our findings assert that the cellular architecture of the primate isocortex is neither arranged uniformly nor into discrete patches with an arbitrary spatial arrangement. Rather, it exhibits striking systematic variation. We conjecture that these gradients, which establish the basic landscape that richer areal and cellular structure is built upon, result from developmental patterns of cortical neurogenesis which are conserved across species. Moreover, we propose a functional consequence: that the gradient in neurons per unit of cortical area fosters the integration and dimensional reduction of information along its ascent through sensory areas and toward frontal cortex.
Canonical syllable reduplication and variegation in infants with sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hearing loss on the distribution of reduplicated and variegated syllables in canonical babbling. Method Spontaneous vocalizations of six earlyidentified infants with mild-to-moderately severe hearing loss, and 4 infants with normal hearing sensitivity were audio-recorded and perceptually transcribed. Utterances containing well-formed multisyllabic canonical syllable sequences were selected for analysis of reduplication and variegation patterns. Results Infants with normal hearing showed an equal proportion of reduplicated and variegated syllable sequences. However, for infants with mildto-moderately-severe hearing loss, syllable variegation exceeded reduplication. Conclusions Auditory sensitivity may contribute significantly to the distribution of reduplicated versus variegated syllable sequences.
Innovation and the Durable Goods Monopolist: The Optimality of Frequent New-Version Releases

When an improvable durable good (such as packaged software) saturates the market, the seller could be tempted to release new versions too frequently, hurting her profit. A novel contractual device, which I term as a Free New Version Rights warranty (free NVR warranty), can help the seller overcome this temptation. In a two-period game-theoretic model involving a monopolist firm facing heterogeneous consumers, I derive conditions under which a rational monopolist can act suboptimally: She could face a commitment problem and offer the new version, even if doing so lowers her overall profit. Profit is hurt because when consumers expect a new version, (a) fewer consumers buy the initial version, and (b) the monopolist is forced to charge a lower price for the initial version. I show how the free NVR warranty, which requires the monopolist to offer consumers the right to receive the new version for free for a limited period, can solve her commitment problem. This is a new, surprising finding: By bundling new-version rights with the initial version, the monopolist at first appears to be denying herself future revenue. I derive conditions under which this apparently unprofitable action is optimal, which is my main contribution. When free NVR is offered, consumer surplus decreases and social surplus increases. This work extends prior literature on durable goods and the Coase conjecture to innovative durable goods with network externalities. The findings have important practical implications for firms selling new versions of innovative durable goods subject to network effects, as well as for their consumers.
Transpupillary thermotherapy in the management of choroidal melanoma

Background: Several methods of treatment have been used for Choroidal melanoma. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the effectiveness of transpupillary thermotherapy using near-infrared radiation to treat Choroidal melanoma. Methods: A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinical features, treatment results, and complications of patients with Choroidal melanoma who were treated with transpupillary thermotherapy delivered over one to four sessions and followed for at least a 6-month period. All treated tumors had either documentation of growth or ophthalmoscopic risk factors for future growth andlor metastasis. Results: There were 17 patients with Choroidal melanoma treated with transpupillary thermotherapy. The mean tumor size before treatment was 6.6 mm in base and 3.0 mm in thickness. The tumor margin was a mean of 2.3 mm from the optic disc and 2.7 mm from the foveola. Seven tumors (41 %)touched the optic disc margin and three (18%) were under the fovea. The tumor responded to treatment in all patients, with a decrease in thickness and resolution of associated subretinal fluid. At a minimum of 6 months of follow-up, the mean tumor thickness was 1.7 mm, and the tumor site was a residual chorioretinal scar with partial visibility of the sclera in all patients. Despite the proximity to the optic disc and foveola, the final visual acuity was the same or improved in ten eyes (59%) and decreased in seven (41 %). The improved vision was due to resolution of subfoveal fluid, whereas the decreased vision was primarily the result of treatment in the fovea with ultimate retinal vascular occlusion or preretinal traction. Although longterm follow-up is not yet available, there were no patients with tumor recurrence or tumor metastases. Conclusions: This preliminary study demonstrates that transpupillary thermotherapy appears to be an effective treatment for selected small Choroidal melanomas and may be a particularly useful modality for treating those tumors near the foveola and optic disc. Longer follow-up is necessary to assess for local recurrence and the impact of treatment on survival.
Single-Molecule Behavior of Monomeric and Heteromeric Kinesins†

Conventional kinesin is capable of long-range, processive movement along microtubules, a property that has been assumed to be important for its role in membrane transport. Here we have investigated whether the Caenorhabditis elegansmonomeric kinesin unc104 and the sea urchin heteromeric kinesin KRP85/95, two other members of the kinesin superfamily that function in membrane transport, are also processive. Both motors were fused to green fluorescent protein, and the fusion proteins were tested for processive ability using a single-molecule fluorescence imaging microscope. Neither unc104-GFP nor KRP85/95-GFP exhibited processive movement (detection limit 40 nm), although both motors were functional in multiple motor microtubule gliding assays ( V) 1760 ( 540 and 202 ( 37 nm/s, respectively). Moreover, the ATP turnover rates (5.5 and 3.1 ATPs per motor domain per second, respectively) are too low to give rise to the observed microtubule gliding velocities, if only a single motor were driving transport with an 8 nm step per ATPase cycle. Instead, the results suggest that these motors have low duty cycles and that high processivity may not be required for efficient vesicle transport. Conventional kinesin's unusual processivity may be required for efficient transport of protein complexes that cannot carry multiple motors.
Assessing Experience in Articulating Species Protection Policies with Land Use Policies in California

Abstract California's experience implementing species protection laws illustrates both the necessity and challenges of articulating those policies with land use policies. Species protection increasingly relies on habitat protection achieved through land use controls. However, species protection policies are not well articulated with land use policies. The causes of this separation include a conceptual divide in theoretical orientation, different approaches to uncertainty in policy implementation and inadequate policy instruments.
The effect of seed and rosette cold treatment on germination and flowering time in some Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae) ecotypes

The germination and flowering responses to cold treatment were investigated in 32 ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana. A month-long cold treatment at the seed stage decreased the time until flowering in all but one strain, whereas a 3-d cold treatment had little, or the opposing effect. A month-long cold treatment at the rosette stage also decreased the time until flowering, but was less effective than seed cold treatment. Seed and rosette cold treatments did not have an additive effect on time until flowering. Cold treatment usually increased the speed of germination, however no clear response patterns for the probability of germination were detected. These findings are discussed in relation to the life cycle of the plant.
Rhodium on Alumina

[7440-16-6] Rh (MW 102.91) InChI = 1S/Rh InChIKey = MHOVAHRLVXNVSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N (active catalyst under mild conditions for hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds including aldehydes, ketones,1h,7 and aromatic carbocyclic1 and heterocyclic structures;1a,g,k high stereospecificity and low hydrogenolytic activity) Form Supplied in: rhodium supported on alumina, carbon, or silica containing 0.5–5.0% of the metal are available commercially. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the unused supported catalysts are not pyrophoric but rhodium supported on a finely divided carbon, like carbon itself, can undergo a dust explosion. After use, the catalysts are likely to contain adsorbed hydrogen which may ignite when the catalyst dries.1f,h Use in a fume hood.
Quantum-effect and single-electron devices

In this paper, we review the current status of nanoelectronic devices based on quantum effects such as quantization of motion and interference, and those based on single electron charging phenomena in ultrasmall structures. In the first part, we discuss wave-behavior in quantum semiconductor structures, and several device structures based on quantum waveguide behavior such as stub tuners, Y-branches, and quantum ratchets. Discussion is also given of proposals for use of interference phenomena in quantum computing followed by the issue of quantum decoherence which ultimately limits utilization of quantum effects. In the second part, we discuss single electron effects such as Coulomb blockade, and associated devices such as the single electron transistor and single electron charge pumps. This is followed by an overview of some recent work focusing on Si based single electron structures. We conclude with a discussion of proposals and realizations for single-electron circuits and architectures including single electron memories, single electron logic, and single electron cellular nonlinear networks.
REAL WAGES OVER THE BUSINESS CYCLE: EVIDENCE FROM A STRUCTURAL TIME SERIES MODEL

This paper uses a Structural Time Series Model to investigate the behavior of real wages over the business cycle. Estimating a flexible trend using the Kalman Filter enables us to avoid the current controversy surrounding the unit testing issue. Using the unexpected changes in the price level and output we determine the periods dominated by demand and supply disturbances. Real wages in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom move procyclically in the existence of supply shocks, but are countercyclical in the presence of demand disturbances. The results support the predictions of macro models involving nominal wage stickiness and the Real Business Cycle (RBC) premise that real wages are procyclical in the existence of supply disturbances. They also underscore the significance of recent RBC research which puts emphasis on demand disturbances. Copyright 1993 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Aspergillosis: Comparative virulence, metabolic rate, growth rate and ubiquinone content of soil and human isolates of Aspergillus terreus

Significant differences were found between soil and human isolates of Aspergillus terreas in regard to virulence and in vitro growth rate. The growth rate on agar medium at 37° C was the same for all strains. At 25°C, however, the human isolate grew slower. In liquid media greater differences were noted. The soil isolates grew less well at 37°C (dry wt 0·54 g) than the human isolate (dry wt 0·97 g) in 3 days and had a lower metabolic rate QON2 45 compared to human isolate (QON 116). They had a higher final Eh of growth (Eh cal. 103) than the human isolate (Eh cal. 79). The ubiquinone content of the human isolate was 14 n moles/gm dry wt at 25°C and 172 at 37°C, whereas the soil isolates had values of 28–32 n mol/g dry wt an 25°C and 78–83 n moles/g dry wt at 37°C. An intravenous inoculum of 104 spores of the human isolate in mice was lethal, whereas 107 to 109 spores of the soil isolate were required for the same result.
Benchmarking enhancements to a decision support system for global crop production assessments

The Office of Global Analysis/International Production Assessment Division (OGA/IPAD) of the United States Department of Agriculture - Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) has been assimilating new data and information products from agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) into its operational decision support system (DSS). The FAS mission is to improve monthly estimates of global production of major agricultural commodities and provide US Government senior decision makers and the public the most accurate, timely, and objective assessment of the global food supply situation possible. These estimates are ultimately captured as the US governments' official assessments of world food supply for the commodity markets and policy makers. The goal of this research was to measure changes in the quality and accuracy of decision support information resulting from the assimilation of new NASA products in the DSS. We gathered both qualitative and quantitative information through questionnaires and interviews to benchmark these changes. We used an interactive project lifecycle risk management tool developed for NASA mission spaceflight design and quality assurance (DDP - Defect Detection and Prevention) to do this. In this case, we used it to (1) quantify the change in DSS Objectives attained after assimilation of new products, and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of various Mitigation options against potential Risks. The change in Objectives attainment was considered the most important benchmarking indicator for examining the effectiveness of the assimilation of NASA products into OGA/IPAD's DSS. From this research emerged a novel model for benchmarking DSSs that (1) promotes continuity and synergy within and between government agencies, (2) accommodates scientific, operational and architectural dynamics, and (3) facilitates transfer of knowledge among research, management, and decision-making agencies.