cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis: Optimal Approach

Perhaps one of the longest unresolved issues in thoracic surgery is the role of thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). Persistent questions and issues involve not only the surgical approach to thymectomy, but even the role of thymectomy itself in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Many of these issues remain unclear because there is no level 1 evidence, and even level 2 evidence available to compare and analyze comparable study populations is limited. Results of many studies are as well not reported using appropriate Kaplan-Meier methodology, making analysis of the results even more challenging or ineffective. Additionally, myasthenia gravis is an entity in itself with varying degrees of severity, time courses, and self-remissions. Alfred Blalock, who pioneered and helped introduce thymectomy for myasthenia gravis beginning in 1939, was even noted in a comment in 1947 to show his doubts about the usefulness of thymectomy: “I thought we had an answer to the thymus in MG, but such does not appear to be the case” unfortunately this prophetic statement is still relevant.
Humanized mouse model for evaluating biocompatibility and human immune cell interactions to biomaterials

Immune system humanized mice provide unique platforms for improving preclinical evaluation of the human immune response to novel biomaterial therapies. Wild-type animals and human immune cell in vitro cultures provide limited representation of the human immune response, leading to unexpected responses to therapies in human patients. Introducing human tissue, cells, and genes into immunodeficient mice have advanced these animal models to reconstitute multiple lineages of functional and maturely differentiated human immune cell populations. Safe implantation and remodeling responses promoting stable tissue resolutions are critical parameters coordinated by the immune response, which should be evaluated for new biomaterial therapeutics. This review discusses the development of immune system humanized mice, and highlights demonstrated use in biomaterial and related human immune response studies.
Simulations of Frenkel to Wannier–Mott Exciton Transitions in a Nanohybrid System

Excitation energy transfer at a prototypical organic/inorganic interface is described theoretically. The nanohybrid system to be investigated is built up by a vertical stacking of 20 para-sexipheny...
Real-time Production Performance Analysis Using Machine Degradation Signals: a Two-Machine Case

Ahstract- Machine degradation has significant impact on the production system performance. Its variation might lead to large deviation from the steady state performance of the whole system. In this work, we build up a model to estimate the long-term production performance of the two-machine-and-one-buffer production systems, given the real-time machine degradation signals. A phase-type distribution is generated to mimic the remaining life distribution of each machine given the degradation signal. Then a continuous Markovian model is formulated to predict longterm system throughput rate for a two-machine-and-one-buffer system. With the fluctuation of machine degradation signals, such a model can effectively estimate the expected system performance in real-time.
Treating and Collaborating With Family Caregivers in the Rehabilitation of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury

Family members are an important source of support for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the recovery process and are potential partners in the rehabilitation process. Unfortunately, family members often experience substantial emotional distress and disruption of family functioning. These difficulties can impact the rehabilitation process and the recovery of the person with injury. Understanding the problems faced by family members and potential ways to assist them in helping the person with injury to achieve maximum functioning is important for neuropsychologists working in the area of TBI. The current chapter begins with an overview of the types of difficulties faced by family members in the acute and chronic phases of TBI. Next, an overview will be provided of the ways in which neuropsychologists can work with family members in different treatment settings including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, post-acute rehabilitation, and private practice. For each setting, case examples are provided to describe the role of the family in treatment and how the neuropsychologist can meet family members’ needs and involve them as partners in the rehabilitation process. The chapter ends with additional tips for working with family caregivers after TBI, along with a sample of educational resources that can be distributed to family members.
Chapter 34 Welfare programs and labor supply

Abstract The labor supply and other work incentive effects of welfare programs have long been a central concern in economic research. Work has also been an increasing focus of policy reforms in the USA, culminating with a number of major policy changes in the 1990s whose intent was to increase employment and earnings levels of welfare recipients and other disadvantaged individuals. This chapter reviews the economic research on this topic, covering both the theoretical models that have been developed as well as the empirical findings from econometric studies of the effects of existing welfare programs on labor supply.
Less Is More: Ditching Mitochondria Saves Hypoxic Cartilage.

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Yao et al. (2019) disrupt mitochondrial respiration in limb skeletal progenitors by conditionally deleting Tfam in the mouse embryo. They discover that not only is mitochondrial respiration dispensable for embryonic cartilage development, but also its elimination obviates the need for Hif1α to promote chondrocyte survival under hypoxia.
Health Risk Assessments in Michigan's Medicaid Expansion: Early Experiences in Primary Care.

Introduction Michigan is one of 3 states that have implemented health risk assessments for enrollees as a feature of its Medicaid expansion, the Healthy Michigan Plan. This study describes primary care providers’ early experiences with completing health risk assessments with enrollees and examines provider- and practice-level factors that affect health risk assessment completion. Methods All primary care providers caring for ≥12 Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees (n=4,322) were surveyed from June to November 2015, with 2,104 respondents (55.5%). Analyses in 2016–2017 described provider knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with the health risk assessment early in Healthy Michigan Plan implementation; multivariable analyses examined relationships of provider- and practice-level characteristics with health risk assessment completion, as recorded in state data. Results Of the primary care provider respondents, 73% found health risk assessments very or somewhat useful for identifying and discussing health risks, although less than half (47.2%) found them very or somewhat useful for getting patients to change health behaviors. Most primary care provider respondents (65.3%) were unaware of financial incentives for their practices to complete health risk assessments. Nearly all primary care providers had completed at least 1 health risk assessment. The mean health risk assessment completion rate (completed health risk assessments/number of Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees assigned to that primary care provider) was 19.6%; those who lacked familiarity with the health risk assessment had lower completion rates. Conclusions Early in program implementation, health risk assessment completion rates by primary care providers were low and awareness of financial incentives limited. Most primary care provider respondents perceived health risk assessments to be very or somewhat useful in identifying health risks, and about half of primary care providers viewed health risk assessments as very or somewhat useful in helping patients to change health behaviors.
Tracing the Life Cycle of Ideas in the Humanities and Social Sciences

This section will review those books whose content and level reflect the general editorial policy of Technometrics. Publishers should send books for review to Ejaz Ahmed, Department of Mathematics ...
Health care disparities: moving the needle

As an obstetrician, I am acutely aware of the United States maternal mortality rate, which is frighteningly worse than any other developed country. Even more alarming is the fact that the rate for black and native women in the USA is 3-4 times higher, regardless of socioeconomic status and education level. In Iowa, our maternal mortality figures are no better than the rest of the nation overall and may be slightly worse for black and native women. How can this be, when Iowa enjoys a reputation for quality health care?
Investigation of the prevention and cure of human brucellosis in Zhengzhou from 2002 to 2007

Objective To understand the epidemicological condition of human brucellosis in Zhengzhou city to provide scientific evidence for future preventive and control measures. Methods Surveillance on high risk populations were done in the designated monitoring Gongyi City and other randomized monitoring cities or counties (4 or 5 towns or farms were selected in each city or county) during the year from 2002 to 2007. The intradermic allergy test with brucellin were carried out among high risk populations who had been in close touch of domestic animals or their products in those cities, and standard tube agglutination test(SAT) were used for those who had suspected clinic symptom or positive result of intradermie allergy test during 2002 to 2005. The SAT investigations for enterprises of livestock breeding were performed in non-designated monitoring cities. All manipulation methods and judging standards were according to the manual of prevention and treatment for human brucellosis. Results In the designated monitoring city Gongyi from 2002 to 2007, a total of 13 831 people were investigated, among whom 3744 peoples were tested by intradermic allergy test and the positive rate was 1.01%(38/3744). Fifty-four cases were positive in SAT among 2693, and the positive rate of SAT was 2.01%(54/2693). Forty-four new cases were diagnosed. In the 11 non-designated monitoring city from 2002 to 2005, 13 136 persons were treated by intradermic allergy test, the positive rate was 0.62% (82/13 136), among these 1316 persons were treated by SAT and 66 patients were positive. The positive rate was 5.02% (66/1316) from 2002 to 2007. Fifty one new cases were diagnosed. In the enterprises of domestic animals breeding, among 242 and 688 employees were treated by SAT, 17 and 16 patients were positive, the positive rate were 7.02%(17/242) and 5.02%(16/688) in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Conclusions The infection of human brucellosis in Zhengzhou is rising up. The governments at all levels must put large amounts of funds for the monitoring, investigating and disinfecting to prevent the disease from increasing and outspreading. Key words: Brucellosis; Serologic tests; Data collection
Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Elliptic curve cryptography is an important class of algorithms. There are currently implementations of elliptic curve being used in digital certificates and for key exchange. This class of algorithms provides robust security but with a substantially smaller key than RSA. In this chapter, we explore the basics of elliptic curve cryptography. The mathematics of elliptic curve cryptography is, however, more difficult than RSA. Thus, a seperate chapter is devoted to just this algorithm.
Polarization sensitive quantitative imaging for cancer detection

Quantitative cancer detection method utilizing fluorescence polarization imaging of aqueous methylene blue will be presented. It holds the potential to provide unique capability to detect cancer accurately and rapidly in vivo at the cellular level.
Vector Competence of Florida Culicoides insignis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype-2

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV; family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus) is an arthropod-borne virus of ungulates, primarily white-tailed deer in North America. Culicoides sonorensis, the only confirmed North American vector of EHDV, is rarely collected from Florida despite annual virus outbreaks. Culicoides insignis is an abundant species in Florida and is also a confirmed vector of the closely related Bluetongue virus. In this study, oral challenge of C. insignis was performed to determine vector competence for EHDV serotype-2. Field-collected female midges were provided bovine blood spiked with three different titers of EHDV-2 (5.05, 4.00, or 2.94 log10PFUe/mL). After an incubation period of 10 days or after death, bodies and legs were collected. Saliva was collected daily from all females from 3 days post feeding until their death using honey card assays. All samples were tested for EHDV RNA using RT-qPCR. Our results suggest that C. insignis is a weakly competent vector of EHDV-2 that can support a transmissible infection when it ingests a high virus titer (29% of midges had virus positive saliva when infected at 5.05 log10PFUe/mL), but not lower virus titers. Nevertheless, due to the high density of this species, particularly in peninsular Florida, it is likely that C. insignis plays a role in the transmission of EHDV-2.
Deep Transfer Learning of Drug Sensitivity by Integrating Bulk and Single-cell RNA-seq data

ABSTRACT Massively bulk RNA sequencing databases incorporating drug screening have opened up an avenue to inform the optimal clinical application of cancer drugs. Meanwhile, the growing single-cell RNA sequencing data contributes to improving therapeutic effectiveness by studying the heterogeneity of drug responses for cancer cell subpopulations. Yet, the drug response information for single-cell data is scarcely obtained. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop computational pipelines to infer and interpret cancer drug response in single cells. Here, we developed scDEAL, a deep transfer learning framework integrating large-scale bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data. The true innovation of scDEAL is to translate cancer cell line drug response into predicting clinical drug response through the transfer learning between bulk RNA-seq in cancer cells and single cell RNA-seq in clinical samples. The other innovation of scDEAL is the integrated gradient feature interpretation to infer a comprehensive set of signature genes to reveal potential drug resistance mechanisms. We benchmarked scDEAL on six single-cell RNA sequencing datasets and indicate its model interpretability by several case studies. scDEAL not only achieves accurate and robust performance in single-cell drug response predictions, but also can infer signature genes to reveal potential drug resistance mechanisms based on integrated gradient feature interpretation. This work may help study cell reprogramming, drug selection, and repurposing for improving therapeutic efficacy.
An evaluation of accelerated failure time models of stress-migration and stress-induced voiding failures under vias

This paper extends a previously published model [1] of stress induced voiding (SIV) to the case where diffusion proceeds according to a power-law in the initial stress. The model is used to fit long-term, low-temperature (30°C) data from a 130 nm Cu/low-k BEOL process. In some cases, the data supports the use of a power-law void growth as evidenced by a “fattening” of the long-time tail in the failure statistics. The mechanisms for low-temperature power-law void-growth include: (1) dislocation creep from climbing dislocations within the Cu grains, (2) superposition of multiple stress-relaxation paths, and (3) statistical mixing of distributions. While statistical mixing is dealt with by stratifying the data by position on the wafer, it is not possible to separate the mechanisms of creep and multiple stress relaxation modes. The accurate assessment of the tail of the distribution is important for establishing the impact of scaling parameters on the reliability, in order to establish design-rules for zero failures due to SIV.
Carbon Nanotubes in Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis

The sections in this article are Overview SWNT Modification for Solubility and Biocompatibility Chemical Modifications of SWNTs for Solubility Functionalization of SWNTs through Oxidation Functionalization of SWNTs through Covalent Modifications Noncovalent Modifications of SWNTs for Solubility Solubilization of SWNTs Using Lysophospholipids Enables Cellular Studies [67] Diffusion of SWNT–Biomolecular Complexes Gene and Drug Delivery with SWNT Transporters RNA Translocation with SWNT Transporters Gene Transfection with SWNT Transporters Gene Transfection with SWNT Transporters for RNA Interference Drug Delivery with SWNT Transporters Vaccine Delivery by SWNTs Protein Delivery by SWNTs Biosensing by SWNTs Sensing and Treating Cancer Cells Utilizing SWNTs Cytotoxicity of SWNTs Cancers and SWNTs Summary Acknowledgments
Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Highlights for the Clinician of the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines

Prevention of cardiovascular disease, undoubtedly an emphasis of clinical care in 2014, will provide both opportunities and challenges to patients and their healthcare providers. The recently-released ACC/AHA guidelines on assessment of cardiovascular risk, lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk, management of overweight and obesity, and treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk, have introduced new concepts and revised prior conventional strategies. New to risk assessment are the Pooled Cohort Equations, targeting the expanded concept of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and focusing not solely on mortality but as well on major nonfatal events. The lifestyle management focuses on diet and physical activity for lipid and blood pressure control. The cholesterol guideline identifies four high-risk groups with the greatest benefits from statin therapy: preexisting ASCVD, primary LDL-C elevations ≥ 190 mm/dl, those 45-75 years with diabetes and LDL-C 70-189 mm/dl without clinical ASCVD, and those 40-75 years without clinical ASCVD with an LDL-C 70-189 mg/dl with a 7.5% or greater 10-year ASCVD risk. Eliminated are arbitrary LDL-C treatment targets, with individual patient risk status guiding who should take statins and the appropriate intensity of statin drugs. Patient-physician discussions of individual benefits and risks are paramount. Management of high blood pressure remains controversial, with two different expert panels offering varying treatment targets; there is general agreement on a <140/90 mmHg goal, but substantial disagreement on blood pressure targets for older adults. Clinicians and their patients deserve a well-researched concensus document.
A contribution to multivariate L-moments: L-comoment matrices

Multivariate statistical analysis relies heavily on moment assumptions of second order and higher. With increasing interest in heavy-tailed distributions, however, it is desirable to describe dispersion, skewness, and kurtosis under merely first order moment assumptions. Here, the univariate L-moments of Hosking [L-moments: analysis and estimation of distributions using linear combinations of order statistics, J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. B 52 (1990) 105-124] are extended to ''L-comoments'' analogous to covariance. For certain models, the second order case yields correlational analysis coherent with classical correlation but also meaningful under just first moment assumptions. We develop properties and estimators for L-comoments, illustrate for several multivariate models, examine behavior of sample multivariate L-moments with heavy-tailed data, and discuss applications to financial risk analysis and regional frequency analysis.
Use of shadows to retrieve water vapor in hazy atmospheres

Techniques aimed at retrieving water vapor from satellite data of reflected near-infrared solar radiation have progressed significantly in recent years. These techniques rely on observation of water vapor attenuation of near-infrared solar radiation reflected by the Earth’s surface. Ratios of measured radiances at wavelengths inside and outside water vapor absorbing channels are used for retrieval purposes. These ratios partially remove the dependence of surface reflectance on wavelength and are used to retrieve the total column water vapor amount. Hazy atmospheric conditions, however, introduce errors into this widely used technique. A new method based on radiance differences between clear and nearby shadowed surfaces, combined with ratios between water vapor absorbing and window regions, is presented that improves water vapor retrievals under hazy atmospheric conditions. Radiative transfer simulations are used to demonstrate the advantage offered by this technique.
A three-dimensional two-phase flow model for a liquid-fed direct methanol fuel cell

A three-dimensional, two-phase, multi-component model has been developed for a liquid-fed DMFC. The modeling domain consists of the membrane, two catalyst layers, two diffusion layers, and two channels. Both liquid and gas phases are considered in the entire anode, including the channel, the diffusion layer and the catalyst layer; while at the cathode, two phases are considered in the gas diffusion layer and the catalyst layer but only single gas phase is considered in the channels. For electrochemical kinetics, the Tafel equation incorporating the effects of two phases is used at both the cathode and anode sides. At the anode side the presence of gas phase reduces the active catalyst areas, while at the cathode side the presence of liquid water reduces the active catalyst areas. The mixed potential effects due to methanol crossover are also included in the model. The results from the two-phase flow mode fit the experimental results better than those from the single-phase model. The modeling results show that the single-phase models over-predict methanol crossover. The modeling results also show that the porosity of the anode diffusion layer plays an important role in the DMFC performance. With low diffusion layer porosity, the produced carbon dioxide cannot be removed effectively from the catalyst layer, thus reducing the active catalyst area as well as blocking methanol from reaching the reaction zone. A similar effect exits in the cathode for the liquid water.
Shock Compression of Monocrystalline Copper: Atomistic Simulations

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to model the effects of shock compression on [001] and [221] monocrystals. We obtained the Hugoniot for both directions, and analyzed the formation of a two-wave structure for the [221] monocrystal. We also analyzed the dislocation structure induced by the shock compression along these two crystal orientations. The topology of this structure compares extremely well with that observed in recent transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of shock-induced plasticity in samples recovered from flyer plate and laser shock experiments. However, the density of stacking faults in our simulations is 102 to 104 times larger than in the experimental observations of recovered samples. The difference between experimentally observed TEM and calculated MD results is attributed to two effects: (1) the annihilation of dislocations during post-shock relaxation (including unloading) and recovery processes and (2) a much shorter stress rise time at the front in MD (<1 ps) in comparison with flyer-plate shock compression (∼1 ns).
The influence of mindfulness on upper extremity illness

Background Previous studies suggest a benefit of mindfulness-based interventions on pain conditions. This study addresses the null hypothesis that mindfulness is not correlated with pain intensity or magnitude of disability in orthopedic upper extremity conditions.
Effect of mobile paramedic units on outcome in patients with myocardial infarction

To investigate the effect of mobile paramedic units on outcome, we prospectively studied for two years all patients with myocardial infarction admitted to the LDS Hospital emergency department who sought aid prior to cardiac arrest. One hundred thirty-four patients who received prehospital care from a mobile paramedic unit were compared with 101 patients who selected another means of initial care. Mortality, occurrence of life-threatening arrhythmias, and change in Killip class at 24 and 48 hours were the outcome variables. Data analysis by multiple logistic regression revealed that outcome was not improved, but a 29-minute median delay in hospital arrival occurred in paramedic-treated patients. Defibrillation was the only beneficial treatment performed by paramedics that could be identified. Current mobile paramedic unit procedures may need to be streamlined to eliminate the delay in hospital arrival resulting from extensive prehospital care.
Nitroxidergic Influences on Cardiovascular Control by NTS: A Link with Glutamate

Glutamate (GLU) receptor activation, which is important in cardiovascular reflex transmission through the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), leads to release of nitric oxide (NO.) from central nitroxidergic neurons. Therefore, we hypothesized that GLU and NO. are linked in cardiovascular control by NTS. We first sought to determine if NO. released into NTS led to cardiovascular changes like those produced by GLU and found that the nitrosothiol S-nitrosocysteine, but not NO. itself or other NO. donors, elicited such responses in anesthetized rats. The responses were dependent on activation of soluble guanylate cyclase but, not being affected by a scavenger of NO., likely did not depend on release of NO. into the extracellular space. Responses to ionotropic GLU agonists in NTS, like those to S-nitrosocysteine, were inhibited by inhibition of soluble guanylate cyclase. Inhibition of neuronal NO. synthase (nNOS) also inhibited responses to ionotropic GLU agonists. The apparent physiologic link between GLU and NO. mechanisms in NTS was further supported by anatomical studies that demonstrated frequent association between GLU-containing nerve terminals and neurons containing nNOS. Furthermore, GLU receptors were often found on NTS neurons that were immunoreactive for nNOS. The anatomical relationships between GLU and nNOS and GLU receptors and nNOS were more pronounced in some subnuclei of NTS than in others. While seen in subnuclei that are known to receive cardiovascular afferents, the association was even more prominent in subnuclei that receive gastrointestinal afferents. These studies support a role for nitroxidergic neurons in mediating cardiovascular and other visceral reflex responses that result from release of GLU into the NTS.
Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising: Building and Testing a Model for Advertising Effectiveness

Using a large-scale database, we present, test, and refine a model for direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising effectiveness via structural equation modeling. Results suggest that consumers who are greatly involved in their healthcare and possess positive attitudes toward DTC advertising appear to be more likely to contact a doctor about the prescription drug after viewing a DTC advertisement. While individuals that are poor in health and/or hold more favorable attitudes toward the healthcare system do appear to respond to DTC advertising, the effect is quite small. The results of this study provide a comprehensive overview of DTC advertising's effect on behavior.
US Preventive Services Task Force CT Lung Cancer Screening Recommendations: Community Awareness and Perceptions

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM OR CHALLENGE Although lung cancer is the third most common type of cancer diagnosed, it remains the leading cause of death from cancer in the United States for both men and women [1]. The average 5-year survival rate is low, hovering under 20%. However, the survival rate is considerably higher (approximately 50%) when lung cancer is diagnosed early, while the tumor remains localized. Yet currently, the large majority of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with more extensive disease [2]. Given the well-known risk factors for lung cancer and its better prognosis when caught early, targeting high-risk individuals for screening is important. Research has shown a significant decrease in morbidity and mortality secondary to CT lung cancer screening [3]. Hence, the US Preventive Services Task Force favors recommending low-dose CT lung cancer screening of high-risk adults [4]. The ACR supports this recommendation for screening of adults aged 55 to 80 years who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and either currently smoke orhave quit smoking within the past 15 years. The prevalence of individuals that would benefit from this new screening test in urban, low-socioeconomic environments was thought to be high. An awareness campaign was devised by radiology residents to inform the local population about this new screening tool, to gauge community members’ reactions to the
ESR of chromium(+1) in sulfur-deprived zinc sulfide

Abstract ZnS : Cr single crystals were grown under conditions which favored the formation of sulfur vacancies. In some cases a vacancy paired with a Cr + ion at a nearest-neighbor Zn site to form a complex defect. Identification of the defect was made by use of ESR and heat treatments of the crystals.
An improved Akaike information criterion for state-space model selection

Following the work of Hurvich, Shumway, and Tsai [1990, Improved estimators of Kullback-Leibler information for autoregressive model selection in small samples. Biometrika 77, 709-719], we propose an ''improved'' variant of the Akaike information criterion, AICi, for state-space model selection. The variant is based on Akaike's [1973, Information theory and an extension of maximum likelihood principle. Second International Symposium on Information Theory, Akademia Kiado, pp. 267-281] objective of estimating the Kullback-Leibler information [Kullback, 1968, Information Theory and Statistics. Dover, New York] between the densities corresponding to the fitted model and the generating or true model. The development of AICi proceeds by decomposing the expected information into two terms. The first term suggests that the empirical log likelihood can be used to form a biased estimator of the information; the second term provides the bias adjustment. Exact computation of the bias adjustment requires the values of the true model parameters, which are inaccessible in practical applications. Yet for fitted models in the candidate class that are correctly specified or overfit, the adjustment is asymptotically independent of the true parameters. Thus, in certain settings, the adjustment may be estimated via Monte Carlo simulations by using conveniently chosen simulation parameters as proxies for the true parameters. We present simulation results to evaluate the performance of AICi both as an estimator of the Kullback-Leibler information and as a model selection criterion. Our results indicate that AICi estimates the information with less bias than traditional AIC. Furthermore, AICi serves as an effective tool for selecting a model of appropriate dimension.
'Famine, mortality, and epidemic disease in the process of modernization'.

A FUNDAMENTAL change occurred in the demographic experience of Europe after the I 740's: subsistence crises no longer produced major mortality peaks. Since the middle decades of the eighteenth century death from "natural" causes has never again taken such a heavy toll. Pierre Goubert has posed the problem of causation by his summary statement: "Something had changed, whether in the nature, level, yield or cost of production, the speed or cost of transportation, the resources of the consumer or perhaps in government policy."' While few historians today assume that medical advance was a major factor in the levelling of mortality peaks, the continuous improvement of economic and social conditions, and especially the abatement of famines, have generally been accepted as the explanation for the decline of epidemics. A few authors, nonetheless, have remained sceptical of the thesis that the conquest of epidemic disease derived from improved economic productivity. There is, moreover, a set of unresolved problems to which Louis Henry alluded in his observation: "We still do not know whether this reduction in disasters was produced by man, the result for instance of economic progress, or whether it was just a piece of good luck."2 Jean Meuvret questioned the automatic progression from dearth to mortality, and suggested that in some cases famine and epidemic disease have operated independently of one another.3 More recentlyJ. D. Chambers argued that preindustrial death-rates were relatively autonomous, and that epidemic cycles at times overrode Malthusian factors. Chambers carried his case to the point of questioning the medical concept that under-nutrition and malnutrition interfere with the ability to resist infectious contagion, acknowledging, however, that nutritional deficiencies will exacerbate endemic illnesses like tuberculosis.4 Since European famines were not invariably followed by serious epidemics, it is possible that plague and similar crises of public health were essentially biological in origin and not directly related to problems of subsistence. Thus Fernand Braudel has stated that "every disease has its own autonomous life, independent of the endless correlations" historians suggest, and that correlations with economic crises are "at most only minor accidents in a history linked with other factors"; while E. A. Wrigley has spoken of the "apparently fortuitous incidence
MALES' AND FEMALES' STEREOTYPES OF GAME-PLAYING 'ABILITIES~

Recent research on adult sex differences has investigated male and female stereotypes of ability (Broverman, Vogel, Broverman, Clarkson, & Rosenkrantz, 1972; Schein, 1978). These stereotypes are widely held by both males and females ranging from college students to older adults (Abramowitz, Abramowitz, Jackson, & Gomes, 1973). One area of stereotyping, however, that has not been greatly researched is garne-playing ability. This is surprising, considering the increase in females' participation due to the Women's Movement and Equal Opportunity programs in the traditionally male-dominated areas of sports and business. In business in particular, the importance of game-playing is reflected in such managerial selection instruments as assessment centers (Howard, 1974). One explanation of how stereotypes, such as game-playing ability, are held is implicit personality theory ( Schneider, 1973). According to this view, stereotypes tend to cluster in bundles of related traits around central traits. One of these central traits for males has been shown to be competitiveness (Broverman, et al., 1972). The competitive male is viewed as possessing the related trait cluster of independence, aggressiveness, objectivity, competence, and skill in such areas as mathematics and science. As these qualities tend to be associated with game-playing ability, it is predicted that both males and females stereotype the male as more competitive in game-playing. With increased participation of females in both sports and business, both males and females are beginning to confront their stereotypes about their own abilities and those of the opposite sex. Specifically, such direct interaction may influence stereotypes (Cantor & Mischel, 1979). Which stereotypes are changed and the degree of change depends in part on their centrality. Strong central gender stereotypes, such as competitiveness and competence, which are bound to self-esteem are less apt to be altered, while other stereotypes which
Pulsed squeezed-light measurement: a new technique

A transient noise measurement scheme is described to observe pulsed squeezing generated by means of parametric downconversion of a Q-switched laser. In the usual implementation of balanced-homodyne detection, the vacuumstate noise level is determined by the average local oscillator power. However, if the local oscillator is derived from a pulsed laser, as is the case in our experiments, the associated peak power can easily saturate the detectors along with the subsequent electronics. To overcome this limitation we have implemented a hybrid frequency-time-domain measurement scheme in which the vacuum-state noise level is determined by the peak, instead of the average, local oscillator power, thus avoiding the saturation problem.
Chrysaora quinquecirrha (sea nettle) toxin: a comparison between a commercial and our own preparation.

The electrophoretic profiles of our own and a commercial preparation of Chrysaora quinquecirrha toxin were resolved. The effects of both preparations on mitochondrial respiration was investigated. Our preparation exhibited more protein bands than commercial toxin and appears to have more consistent effects on various states of mitochondrial respiration.
The Bottom Boundary Layer Over the Northern California Shelf

Abstract Moored temperature and shipboard CTD observations from a northern California coastal upwelling region reveal variable bottom mixed-layer heights that are typically 5–15 m, but occasionally exceed 50 m. Observations from Oregon, northern California, and Peru, indicate that in coastal upwelling regions, maximum bottom mixed-layer heights tend to increase with water depth over the shelf, but rarely exceed half the water depth. Over the northern California shelf the bottom mixed-layer height is shown to depend on the stratification, the current magnitude, and the current direction. The dependence on current direction tends to dominate the response, with thicker bottom mixed layers during poleward flows and thinner bottom mixed layers during equatorward flows. This asymmetric response to poleward and equatorward currents is consistent with model results which indicate that the asymmetric response is due to the up- or downslope Ekman transport of buoyancy along the bottom.
Incompatibility in the sweet potato. A review

Self-incompatibility (SI) is but one of the outerossing mechanisms extant in flowering plants that lead to a high level of heterozygosity in a population and to a genetical architecture based on homeostasis and hybrid vigor. But in contrast to other such systems, SI rigidly impedes self-pollination, which is desirable in breeding schemes for the rapid fixation of inherited characteristics as well as the testing of progeny and the derivation of inbred lines. SI may also be a barrier between plants of similar S (incompatibility) alleles, preventing exchange between them of desirable genes. Finally, SI may act as a unilateral barrier to crosses between self-incompatible and self-fertile individuals or species. In these respects, SI constitutes a nuisance and a problem to the plant breeder. Occasionally, SI may be an aid to the plant breeder. Self-incompatible plants may be crosspollinated with emasculation. Two self-incompatible varieties may be interplanted and permitted to cross through natural vectors. Yet, it is doubtful if these occasional advantages outweigh the inconveniences of incompatiblity. As an element of the breeding system, the type of incompatibility must be taken into account in the breeding of a crop planit. The type of SI may influence the crossing procedures used, the manner of selection of parents, and even the breeding goals. In some cases, the incompatibility may be avoided or bred out of a variety. In most crops, knowledge of the incompatibility system will spur breeding progress. The incompatibility system in the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Poir) has not yet been worked out in detail. Nevertheless, in widely scattered places in the biological literature, some of the facts concerning SI in
Can franchising be an economic development strategy? An empirical investigation

Prior research has examined why franchisors expand abroad, but no paper has empirically examined the role of franchising in the macroeconomy of developing nations. In this paper, the pattern of franchising development is statistically analyzed within the context of the general economic development of Latin America. It is found that franchising leads, rather than follows, economic development. Implications for theory and policy are considered.
Memory and the memory-monitoring process

Two experiments are reported that attempt to evaluate whether people can accurately monitor the contents of their memories when they are unable to retrieve those memories. Both experiments used recently learned paired-associates as memory materials; S s were asked to predict which unrecalled response items they would be able to recognize by referring to their feelings of knowing about the missing items. The results show that the Ss were able to make relatively accurate predictions about recognition failures and successes. The general process revealed by the findings (called the memory-monitoring or MEMO process) is discussed in relation to recall and recognition thresholds.
The Development of Visual-Tactual Perception of Objects: Amodal Relations Provide the Basis for Learning Arbitrary Relations

Infants of 4 and 6 months were familiarized with an object visually and tactually and then tested for visual-tactual matching on the basis of amodal and arbitrary relations or arbitrary relations only (Experiment 1). Results indicated that both the 4- and the 6-month-olds were capable of matching when amodal information specifying the common shape of the visual and tactual stimulation was available during test. In contrast, only the 6-month-olds were capable of matching on the basis of arbitrary relations between the haptically experienced shape of the object and its color or pattern. A control study (Experiment 2) demonstrated that the 4-month-olds were, in fact, able to discriminate the colors or patterns used. Results were interpreted as consistent with findings in the area of audiovisual event perception, demonstrating a developmental lag between detection of amodal and arbitrary relations. Finally, Experiment 3 explored the basis for 6-month-olds' detection of the arbitrary relations in Experiment 1....
Natural History and the Necessity of the Organism

Synopsis. Natural history, in focusing on the individual whole organism in its environ? ment, occupies a central position in the spectra of spatial and temporal scales appropriate to biological science. This essay examines the current status of theory relevant to natural history, growing points of research within natural history, and its relevance to other components of biology. During the past 15 years, optimality, especially of foraging, and biomechanics, especially of individual organism-environment relationships, have been fruitful hypothetico-deductive approaches to animal natural history. Because of the nested hierarchical nature of biological organization, knowledge of individual organisms is nec? essary to understand more complex levels?populations and communities?as well as the roles of the component parts of organisms. For systematics and evolutionary biology, individual organisms preserved as specimens in natural history museums document knowl? edge of the biological world. Type specimens are especially important, as these "name bearers" that anchor original descriptions document all communication among biologists about species.
Vitamin A deficiency results in the dose-dependent acquisition of anterior character and shortening of the caudal hindbrain of the rat embryo.

The developing nervous system is particularly vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency. Retinoid has been proposed to be a posteriorizing factor during hindbrain development, although direct evidence in the mammalian embryo is lacking. In the present study, pregnant vitamin A-deficient (VAD) rats were fed purified diets containing varying levels of all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA; 0, 0.5, 1.5, 6, 12, 25, 50, 125, or 250 microg/g diet) or were supplemented with retinol. Hindbrain development was studied from embryonic day 10 to 12.5 ( approximately 6 to 40 somites). Normal morphogenesis was observed in all embryos from groups fed 250 microg atRA/g diet or retinol. The most caudal region of the hindbrain was the most sensitive to retinoid insufficiency, as evidenced by a loss of the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) in embryos from the 125 microg atRA/g diet group. Further reduction of atRA to 50 microg/g diet led to the loss of cranial nerves IX, X, XI, and XII and associated sensory ganglia IX and X in all embryos as well as the loss of hindbrain segmentation caudal to the rhombomere (r) 3/4 border in a subset of embryos. Dysmorphic orthotopic otic vesicles or immature otic-like vesicles in both orthotopic and caudally ectopic locations were also observed. As the level of atRA was reduced, a loss of caudal hindbrain segmentation was observed in all embryos and the incidence of otic vesicle abnormalities increased. Perturbations in hindbrain segmentation, cranial nerve formation, and otic vesicle development were associated with abnormal patterning of the posterior hindbrain. Embryos from VAD dams fed between 0.5 and 50 microg atRA/g diet exhibited Hoxb-1 protein expression along the entire neural tube caudal to the r3/r4 border at a time when it should be restricted to r4. Krox-20 protein expression was expanded in r3 but absent or reduced in presumptive r5. Hoxd-4 mRNA expression was absent in the posterior hindbrain, and the rostral limit of Hoxb-5 protein expression in the neural tube was anteriorized, suggesting that the most posterior hindbrain region (r7/r8) had been deleted and/or improperly patterned. Thus, when limiting amounts of atRA are provided to VAD dams, the caudal portion of the hindbrain is shortened and possesses r4/r5-like characteristics, with this region finally exhibiting r4-like gene expression when retinoid is restricted even more severely. Thus, regions of the anterior hindbrain (i.e., r3 and r4) appear to be greatly expanded, whereas the posterior hindbrain (r5-r8) is reduced or absent. This work shows that retinoid plays a critical role in patterning, segmentation, and neurogenesis of the caudal hindbrain and serves as an essential posteriorizing signal for this region of the central nervous system in the mammal.
The application of automatic gain control to microwave radiometers

An automatic gain control system for stabilizing the gain of microwave radiometers is described. System analysis sets forth the requirements for gain and bandwidth of the AGC loop. Two systems are described. One is a continuous AGC system that maintains a constant detector voltage and, as a result, the system gain is a function of the input signal. For input signals which are small compared to the system noise temperatures the nonlinearity due to the AGC system is negligible. In the second system, the output of the detector is sampled when the receiver comparison switch is connected to the reference termination. Therefore, the gain of the system is not affected by the signal and no nonlinearity is caused by the AGC system. The effect of noise in the AGC loop is analyzed and it is shown that the time constant of the AGC system can be made shorter than the final system output filter without increasing the over-all system noise.