cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A tunable digitally operated MEMS accelerometer

This work presents the concept as well as fabrication and measurement results for a new MEMS accelerometer design that can be operated directly by a digital processor without the need for an analog front end. Elimination of the analog front end for such digitally operated accelerometers can significantly lower the sensor power consumption. The accelerometer consists of a proof mass and a number of parallel plate electrostatic actuators that can be turned "ON" and "OFF" in a sequential manner by a digital controller. Consequently an "ON" or "OFF" output is provided for each input condition based on an output electrode making contact with the biased proof mass. Following a simple switching algorithm, a binary search can be performed by the digital controller to find the acceleration as a binary number. This paper also demonstrates an example of such an accelerometer successfully operated in the zero to 1g range with a 2-bit resolution. The same device concept and configuration can be enhanced to higher number of bits.
Endophytes in Forest Management: Four Challenges

In spite of exciting, new research, endophytes remain more of a potentiality than an actuality in forestry. Of many upcoming challenges to endophyte applications in forestry, four are discussed in this chapter: (1) the assay-based, selection problem, (2) the question of replacement dynamics within complex, endophytic communities, (3) the need to complement the objectives of tree improvement programs, and (4) the decisions that will need to be made on deliberate introductions of selected endophytes outside sites where they were initially discovered. Ideally, endophytes selected in assays would first be effective as inoculants in improving the survival, growth or defense of trees in the forest setting. Furthermore, inoculants would be resistant to replacement by combative, unselected endophytes, complementary to genetically improved traits of trees in plantations, and unlikely to switch hosts and ecological roles when moved from one part of the world to another. Progress towards applications will likely be made as foresters become more aware of the potential of endophytes to extend host adaptations to pathogens, herbivores, anthropogenic disturbance and climate change.
Shell-bead money and the mission period economy of Alta California

This article investigates basic economic categories that are presupposed by archaeologists to connect archaeological data and to explain the sociocultural patterns and processes of change in past s...
Active Subspaces for Shape Optimization

Aerodynamic shape optimization plays a fundamental role in aircraft design. However, useful parameterizations of shapes for engineering models often result in high-dimensional design spaces which can create challenges for both local and global optimizers. In this paper, we employ an active subspace method (ASM) to discover and exploit low-dimensional, monotonic trends in the quantity of interest as a function of the design variables. The trend enables us to eciently and eectively nd an optimal design in appropriate areas of the design space. We apply this approach to the ONERA-M6 transonic wing, parameterized with 50 Free-Form Deformation (FFD) design variables. Given an initial set of 300 designs, the ASM discovered a low-dimensional linear subspace of the input space that explained the majority of the variability in the drag and lift coecients. This revealed a global trend that we exploited to nd an optimal design with reduced computational cost.
Another Discussion on whther or not be Tenable about "Huang Zongxi's Law"

Professor Qin Hui Summarized "Huan Zongxi's law".But whether can establish or establishes in the big significance,it has caused taking and argument in the academic circle.The paper carries on the discussion to the proposition utilizing the chinese finance history and comparison research teching we of Western economic and tax revenue Finally,it proposes the discussion to the related research.
Late graft patency and symptom relief after aorta-coronary bypass.

One hundred six consecutive patients underwent elective or emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between January, 1974, and November, 1975. There were 90 men of an average age of 54 years and 16 women an average of 64 years. Unstable angina (preinfarction angina, angina decubitus, and crescendo angina) was present in 54 patients of this group and eight were in congestive heart failure. Sixty-two of the 106 had previously had myocardial infarctions and four had evolving infarctions. There were four operative deaths (3.8%) and one early hospital death (less than 30 days’ hospitalization). Perioperative infarction occurred in five of the survivors. Of the 197 grafts placed in the 101 survivors, 94% were patent by angiography at 1 to 2 weeks (175 of 187 vein grafts and 10 of 10 left internal mammary grafts). At 1 to 2 years after CABG, 62% of the survivors consented to repeat angiography at which time 94% of the grafts were patent (101 of 108 vein grafts and seven of seven left internal mammary grafts). Clinical follow-up of 81 of the 101 survivors at 1 year found 99% of them to be asymptomatic or improved. Repeat clinical follow-up of all survivors (99 of 101) at 3 to 4 years found 93.9% asymptomatic or improved. Overall survival, including operative deaths, was 92.4% at 4 years.
Let the journey begin (again): The branding of Myanmar

Abstract This paper tracks the history of destination marketing and branding in Myanmar, focusing on the challenges associated with changing a negative destination image. Through a theoretical lens based on image theory, the paper uses a case study approach to explore how a country such as Myanmar can alter a prolonged negative destination image. The analysis shows that although marketers in Myanmar are moving beyond a cosmetic approach to destination branding, the long-term strategies in place to improve Myanmar’s image could be called into question. The country faces many challenges, including a lack of trained human resources, and insufficient public services and infrastructure for tourism, so the journey to rebrand Myanmar as a competitive tourism destination will be a long one.
“Raking-in Technique:” Removal Of Brachiocephalic Vein Thrombus Using AngioVac® Device Within A Stented Venous Segment

Introduction A case is reported of left brachiocephalic vein thrombus removal using the Angiovac device within a stented venous segment via a through-and-through access technique. Report This novel technique involves obtaining through-and-through access from the left basilic vein to the right femoral vein, which then facilitates the advancement of the Angiovac device to successfully remove in a stepwise fashion the thrombus present within a stented region of the left brachiocephalic vein. Discussion The Angiovac device has been shown to be very useful and effective at removing large amounts of thrombus, tumor, and foreign bodies within arterial and venous systems successfully. This novel technique uses the through-and-through venous access approach to allow for this device to remain close to the targeted area of thrombus burden and prevent damage of the already existing stents in this region.
Neural network-based formation control of unmanned vehicles in 3D space

This paper addresses the decentralized formation control problem of unmanned vehicles in three-dimensional (3D) space. We propose a new Neural Network-based control algorithm that uses graph rigidity and relative positions of the vehicles. The control law for each vehicle consists of a nonlinear component that is dependent on the closed-loop error dynamics plus a neural net component that is linear in the output weights (a one-tunable layer neural net is used). A Lyapunov analysis shows that our distance-based control strategy achieves the uniformly ultimately bounded stability of the desired infinitesimally and minimally rigid formation and that neural net weights remain bounded. Simulation results are included to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.
Virtual Impactor Aerosol Concentrator for Cleanroom Monitoring

Particles equal to or larger than 1 μm in size can significantly reduce the yield in the microelectronics industry. This is particularly evident in the packaging stage of manufacturing when chips are inter-connected, because of the relatively large areas that must be kept contamination-free during this process. Monitoring is usually done with optical particle counters. The low particle concentrations in clean-rooms, however, result in low counts and high variability. This article presents a monitoring system that uses a virtual impactor to concentrate particles between 0.65 to 2.5 μm dia and counts them with a 0.3 L/min (lpm) particle counter. Theoretical concentration enhancement ratios versus particle size are given. The use of the virtual impactor in a clean environment is demonstrated. Tests show that the transition between the concentrated sizes is sharp. The dependence of the ratios versus particle size is in qualitative agreement with theory. An aerosol concentrator could be used to give more accur...
Realistic Simulation for Tiny Batteryless Sensors

Battery-free sensing promises to revolutionize the scientific and industrial communities by enabling long term, maintenance free deployments in tough to reach places. However, developing applications for these intermittently-powered, batteryless devices is notoriously demanding. Each device's performance is closely tied to its environment at runtime, and developers are often unable to predict how their system will be behave upon deployment. In this paper we present an instruction level simulator based off of MSPsim for intermittently-powered devices that can accurately emulate real-world energy harvesting conditions, taking into account power models of common hardware peripherals like a radio, and accelerometer. These harvester conditions are represented by IV surfaces recorded by the Ekho hardware emulator We have provided this simulator as an open source tool for the benefit of the community.
Berkeley Lighting Cone

A lighting cone is a simple metal cone placed on the fuel bed of a stove during ignition to act as a chimney, increasing the draft through the fuel bed. Many stoves tend to be difficult to light due to poor draft through the fuel bed, so lighting cones are used in various parts of the world as an inexpensive accessory to help with ignition.
Use of Gestational Carriers: Psychological Aspects

Use of gestational carriers is a growing technology that offers hope and promise to a new cohort of potential parents. Women without a uterus or those who have other contraindications for pregnancy as well as single men and gay male couples who lack the biologic capability to carry a pregnancy can now become parents with the help of a gestational carrier. Increasing numbers of young women are choosing to become gestational carriers, and post procedure most report the experience as positive. Preliminary research on children born by a gestational carrier indicates that they are developing normally. This chapter will describe the psychological aspects of the use of gestational carriers for intended parents, gestational carriers, and the children born as a result.
Dopamine Receptor DAMB Signals via Gq to Mediate Forgetting in Drosophila.

Summary Prior studies have shown that aversive olfactory memory is acquired by dopamine acting on a specific receptor, dDA1, expressed by mushroom body neurons. Active forgetting is mediated by dopamine acting on another receptor, Damb, expressed by the same neurons. Surprisingly, prior studies have shown that both receptors stimulate cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation, presenting an enigma of how mushroom body neurons distinguish between acquisition and forgetting signals. Here, we surveyed the spectrum of G protein coupling of dDA1 and Damb, and we confirmed that both receptors can couple to Gs to stimulate cAMP synthesis. However, the Damb receptor uniquely activates Gq to mobilize Ca 2+ signaling with greater efficiency and dopamine sensitivity. The knockdown of Gαq with RNAi in the mushroom bodies inhibits forgetting but has no effect on acquisition. Our findings identify a Damb/Gq-signaling pathway that stimulates forgetting and resolves the opposing effects of dopamine on acquisition and forgetting.
Behavioral Issues of Rationality in International Interaction An Empirical Appraisal

The behavioral pointers of rationality discussed by Langlois and Langlois are used to scan the World Events Interaction Survey data on U.S.-China and U.S.-Soviet relations for evidence of rational behavior in the interaction between states. The null hypothesis that the interaction between states is not compatible with subgame perfect equilibrium play in all cases examined is rejected: states react to each other's past moves; if deviations from equilibrium play are significant in explaining player moves, they determine positive inducement effects; and implied payoff structures reveal a need for strategic management of the relationship. With payoff structures estimated to be prisoner's dilemmas for all players, both bilateral relations begin with the widest tolerance of the other's behavioral choice and the adoption of countervailing strategies. Over time, these nations' strategic interaction evolves toward a sharpening of the bounds they envision for their relationships.
Dynamic Soaring Kinetic Energy Reference Frames

Dynamic soaring in the boundary layer of a vertical variation of horizontal wind offers unmanned aerial vehicle gliders the ability to greatly extend mission endurance. By flying periodic trajector...
The misuse of mathematics

The computer revolution has begotten new branches of mathematics: e.g., chaos theory and fractal geometry and their offspring, agent based modeling and complex dynamical systems. These new methods have extended and changed our understanding of the complex systems in which we live. But math models and computer simulations are frequently misunder-stood, or intentionally misrepresented, with disastrous results. In this essay, we recall the concept of structural stability from dynamical systems theory, and its role in the interpretation of modeling.
Leptin in Primate Pregnancy

Leptin is a polypeptide hormone once considered to be an exclusive product of adipose tissue, it’s sole function being to aid in the maintenance of energy homeostasis through the induction of satiety (Considine and Caro, 1997; Weigle, 1997). Mutations in the leptin (ob) gene are responsible for a lack of circulating leptin and for obesity in homozygous (ob/ob) mice (Zhang et al., 1994), with some cases of human obesity potentially corresponding to a similar mechanism (Montague et al., 1997; Rosenbaum and Leibel, 1998). Most cases of human obesity exhibit a state of “leptin resistance,” which may result from any of a number of potential causes (Ahima and Flier, 2000). Regulatory mechanisms remain incompletely defined, although interactions with various hormones are known to affect leptin’s ability to regulate adipose energy reserves (Jequier and Tappy, 1999; Moschos et al., 2002).
Pragma-Dialectical Analysis of Rhetorical Texts: The Case of Barack Obama in Cairo with Dima Mohammed

The theory of pragma-dialectics has been developed largely with respect to dialectical argumentation, with dialogue between two interlocutors as a model. Rhetorical argument is significantly different, in that it is heterogeneous, large, and non-interactive. If the tools of pragma-dialectics can also be applied to the analysis of rhetorical texts, then the potential reach of the theory is broadened considerably. This possibility is explored through examination of U.S. President Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo in 2009. Special attention is given to audience commitments, standpoint analysis, and strategic maneuvering. Results suggest that pragma-dialectics can be applied to rhetorical texts, although it is not always the most efficient or productive approach.
Application of Thermal Analysis and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry to Determine the Stability and Function of Soil Organic Matter in Forest Systems

The application thermal analysis and stable isotope mass spectrometry together to the study of soil organic matter (SOM) has received limited attention to quantify its heterogeneous nature and function within an ecosystem context. We analysed surface soils (0–30 cm) from forest plantations in Northern California with thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and 13C- and 15N-labelled litters combined with long-term incubations to quantify affects of diverse litter and fertiliser inputs on SOM energetic properties and the stability of SOM. For the thermal analysis, replicate sample data was processed to develop summary models of DSC thermograms for the range of sampling depths and treatments along with subsoils with comparable particle size and mineralogy. The models estimate ‘mineral-free’ SOM energy density and the proportion of energy from the three primary regions of exothermic activity corresponding to carbohydrates and lipids (150–350°C), aromatic and condensed polymers (400–460°C) and refractory/mineral associated C (500–550°C). Calculated energy budgets show soils that receive diverse litter inputs (pine and evergreen hardwood litter & roots) have greater SOM energy density than soils with pine only inputs. Fertiliser (NPK) additions to these systems enhanced these signals with ‘energetic enrichment’ in fertilised-mixed litter soil and ‘energy depletion’ in fertilised-pine litter soils. Long-term incubations following the fate of 13C/15N-labelled litters showed that increased diversity in the form of more understory shrub species increased the stability of recently added litter C and N. The treatment effects show changes in the stability of SOM with reduced diversity leading to less energy and less C being stabilised where understory was removed, a common practice in the forest industry. The results suggest plant diversity increases the stability of SOM showing that diverse species affect the stability and likely the function of SOM.
Complete Genome Sequences of Paenibacillus larvae Phages Halcyone, Heath, Scottie, and Unity from Las Vegas, Nevada.

ABSTRACT We present the complete genome sequences of four phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honeybees. The phages were isolated from beehives and beeswax products from Las Vegas, Nevada. The genomes are 50 to 55 kbp long and use the “direct terminal repeats” DNA-packaging strategy.
Prediction of ICU Readmissions Using Data at Patient Discharge

Unplanned readmissions to ICU contribute to high health care costs and poor patient outcomes. 6-7% of all ICU cases see a readmission within 72 hours. Machine learning models on electronic health record data can help identify these cases, providing more information about short and long-term risks to clinicians at the time of ICU discharge. While time-toevent techniques have been used in clinical care, models that identify risks over time using higher-dimensional, non-linear machine learning models need to be developed to present changes in risk with non-linear techniques. This work identifies risks of ICU readmissions at 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, 30 days, and bounceback readmissions in the same hospital admission with an AUROC for 72 hours of 0.76 and for bounceback of 0.84.
Clinical trial enrollment in patients with endocrine neoplasm: Parity achievable, but cancer type-specific

Abstract Background We sought to assess participation of underrepresented minorities with endocrine neoplasms in clinical trials conducted in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Intramural Research Program. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in Endocrine Oncology Branch (EOB) clinical trials, comparing demographics to regional and national demographics. We compared specific endocrine cancer patient data to data from NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Results Comparing EOB patients to national demographics, we found more white (77% vs 74%, P Conclusion Enrollment parity of underrepresented minorities into clinical trials is achievable, although possibly cancer type-specific.
Examination of flow and nonflow factorization methods in small collision systems

Two particle correlations have been used extensively to study hydrodynamic flow patterns in heavy-ion collisions. In small collision systems, such as $p$$+$$p$ and $p$$+$$A$, where particle multiplicities are much smaller than in $A$$+$$A$ collisions, non-flow effects from jet correlations, momentum conservation, particle decays, etc. can be significant, even when imposing a large pseudorapidity gap between the particles. A number of techniques to subtract the non-flow contribution in two particle correlations have been developed by experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and then used to measure particle flow in $p$$+$$p$ and $p$$+$Pb collisions. Recently, experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) have explored the possibility of adopting these techniques for small collision systems at lower energies. In this paper, we test these techniques using Monte Carlo generators PYTHIA and HIJING, which do not include any collective flow, and AMPT, which does. We find that it is crucial to examine the results of such tests both for correlations integrated over particle transverse momentum $p_T$ and differentially as a function of $p_T$. Our results indicate reasonable non-flow subtraction for $p$$+$$p$ collisions at the highest LHC energies, while failing if applied to $p$$+$$p$ collisions at RHIC. In the case of $p$$+$Au collisions at RHIC, both HIJING and AMPT results indicate a substantial over-subtraction of non-flow for $p_{T}\gtrsim1~{\rm GeV}/c$ and hence an underestimate of elliptic flow.
Prediction of Superconductivity in Porous, Covalent Triazine Frameworks

Conventional superconductivity is a phenomenon where lattice vibrations, phonons, steer electrons through a solid with zero resistance. We theoretically predict such phonon-mediated superconductivity to occur in a covalent triazine framework, CTF-0, when it is intercalated with Li or Na. Porous CTF-0 is computed to possess several anticipated properties of interest, such as low-lying π*-bands that can be partially doped, as well as electrostatic anchoring points that improve the stability of the functionalized structures. However, it is the integral porosity that plays a surprisingly crucial role in driving superconductivity, by providing the space for donor atoms to engage in highly localized vibrational modes. These low-frequency rattling phonons couple strongly to the free π*-electrons, and they work in concert with in-plane aromatic-ring vibrations of the framework at a higher frequency. We compute a markedly improved critical temperature (Tc) for Li-decorated CTF-0 (6.2 K) over graphite-intercalation...
Smart Cities, Dumb Infrastructure: Policy-Induced Competition in Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Systems

The coinciding development of 5G wireless technology, autonomous vehicles, and smart city applications is creating commercial demand for vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) systems. In theory, roadside V2I systems and sensors could provide real-time services, such as supplementary mapping information to autonomous vehicles, traffic detection, and congestion pricing. Although federal funding of V2I systems has ramped up in recent years, federal regulators have largely retreated from their top-down design of V2I services and devices. These trends — undirected government funding and private construction of V2I applications and devices — leave state and local transportation officials with powerful discretion over the construction and design of V2I systems. We describe and anticipate the tradeoffs that lawmakers, regulators, and state authorities will face as they budget for and fund V2I roadside networks. We find that public-private partnerships likely will have greater prominence in the construction of roadside V2I networks. Finally, we apply the “policy-induced competition model” to inform when public intervention into V2I funding and design is effective. We propose regulator adoption of an open access model for long-lasting roadside assets. This “dumb infrastructure” model promotes competition and innovation in V2I while minimizing use of regulator resources and public funding of networks.
Introduction to Design Patterns

Software design patterns are introduced using three resources. First, the original gang of four (Gamma, Helm, Johnson, and Vlissides) book published in 1995 is used to introduce a template for describing design patterns. Design patterns from a book by Craig Larman, published in 2002, are then described. Finally, some security design patterns from E.B. Fernandez’s book, published in 2013, are described. The intent of these descriptions is to provide a thorough introduction to software design patterns.
Flexibility Index Threshold Optimization for Various Asphalt Concrete Mixes and Climatic Conditions

Cracking is a major distress that adversely affects the performance of asphalt concrete (AC); a material used as a surface layer on most United States (US) paved roads. The Illinois Flexibility Ind...
Influence of orthopedic examination on lameness scores and interobserver and intraobserver agreement in dogs with naturally occurring elbow osteoarthritis

Objective To determine the influence of orthopedic examination on numerical rating score (NRS) and visual analog score (VAS) when scoring lameness in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis (OA) and to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver agreement in NRS and VAS on the basis of video-graphic gait analysis. Design Prospective blinded study. Animals Eighteen client-owned dogs with radiographically confirmed elbow OA. Methods Videos were obtained for all dogs at a walk and at a trot both prior to and immediately after orthopedic examination. All videos were randomly sequenced. Six observers, unaware of the timing of the video, independently assigned both NRS and VAS twice, with at least a 2-week interval. Scores were evaluated with mixed analysis of variance, and the agreement among observers was accessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results No difference was detected between NRS and VAS at walk or at trot before and after orthopedic examination. Numeric rating score and VAS at walk were lower than those at trot before an orthopedic examination by scores of 0.17 (P = .0018) and 3.54 (P = .0019), respectively. The ICC for both scores for all observers was >0.9. Conclusion An orthopedic examination did not exacerbate the NRS and the VAS for dogs with elbow OA. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement was high for both lameness scores. Clinical significance Lameness may be scored after gait evaluation in dogs with elbow OA irrespective of the timing of a comprehensive orthopedic examination.
AR-dependent phosphorylation and phospho-proteome targets in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (CaP) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western men. Because androgens drive CaP by activating the androgen receptor (AR), blocking AR's ligand activation, known as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), is the default treatment for metastatic CaP. Despite an initial remission, CaP eventually develops resistance to ADT and progresses to castration-recurrent CaP (CRPC). CRPC continues to rely on aberrantly activated AR that is no longer inhibited effectively by available therapeutics. Interference with signaling pathways downstream of activated AR that mediate aggressive CRPC behavior may lead to alternative CaP treatments. Developing such therapeutic strategies requires a thorough mechanistic understanding of the most clinically relevant and druggable AR-dependent signaling events. Recent proteomics analyses of CRPC clinical specimens indicate a shift in the phosphoproteome during CaP progression. Kinases and phosphatases represent druggable entities, for which clinically tested inhibitors are available, some of which are incorporated already in treatment plans for other human malignancies. Here, we reviewed the AR-associated transcriptome and translational regulon, and AR interactome involved in CaP phosphorylation events. Novel and for the most part mutually exclusive AR-dependent transcriptional and post-transcriptional control over kinase and phosphatase expression was found, with yet other phospho-regulators interacting with AR. The multiple mechanisms by which AR can shape and fine-tune the CaP phosphoproteome were reflected in diverse aspects of CaP biology such as cell cycle progression and cell migration. Furthermore, we examined the potential, limitations and challenges of interfering with AR-mediated phosphorylation events as alternative strategy to block AR function during CaP progression.
Tuberculosis exposure in a group of toddlers - what is the best strategy to prevent infections?

Introduction: Following exposure to infectious tuberculosis e.g. in a kindergarden setting preventative therapy (IPT) with isoniazide (INH) is recommended for all children under the age of five at least 8 weeks followed by immunological tests (TST, IGRA) for TB infection. Compliance with IPT is often poor an infection rates very from 5-10%. Methods: Children who were exposed to infectious tuberculosis in their kindergarden but showed no signs of infection (TST and IGRA negative) were started on IPT with INH for minimum 8 weeks. One group received medication and regular follow up care, the other one more detailed and repetitive parent information, teaching and a close follow up by paediatricians and health care authorities. At the end of treatment all children were retested for TB infection (TST, IGRA). Adherence with treatment as well as reasons for interruption of therapy were recorded. Results: Two groups of 44 and 46 children between one and five years of age were examined. In the group without specific intervention 25/46 (54%) were adherent, in the intervention group 37/44(89%) reported good adherence. In the first group 4/46 (8,6%) of the children developed TB infection (positive TST/IGRA) after 8 weeks, whereas none of the children in the intervention group developed infection. Method: Timely and detailed information of families as well as a close follow up increases adherence with IPT in TB exposed small children and therefore significantly reduces the risk of TB infection.
Convergence in Government Spending: Theory and Cross-Country Evidence

SUMMARY Under reasonable assumptions about production technologies, international competition for factors of production will lead to convergence of per capita output. Is there an analogous process that leads to convergence of public sector activity? We provide a simple model that predicts convergence in government spending under certain assumptions. We show that Barro's (1990) model of endogenous growth with government spending provides one justification for the necessary assumptions and therefore supports the convergence hypothesis. We also discuss the possibility that increasing globalization has led to convergence in government spending. Our cross-country empirical investigation provides compelling evidence of convergence in per capita government consumption spending, per capita government capital spending, and per capita government education spending. These findings provide a new framework for explaining the underlying dynamic forces that determine growth of government. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Der internationale Wettbewerb der Produktionsfaktoren wird, unter Voraussetzung der ublichen Produktionstechnologien, zur Konvergenz der Pro-Kopf-Produktion fuhren. Gibt es einen ahnlichen Prozess, der zur Konvergenz im offentlichen Sektor fuhrt? Dieser Aufsatz stellt ein einfaches Modell vor, das unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen die Konvergenz der Regierungsausgaben voraussagt. Es wird gezeigt, dass Barros (1990) Modell des endogenen Wachstums durch Regierungsausgaben eine Rechtfertigung fur die notwendigen Annahmen liefert und daher die Konvergenzhypothese stutzt. Ebenso wird die Moglichkeit diskutiert, dass die zunehmende Globalisierung zur Konvergenz in den Regierungsausgaben gefuhrt hat. Unsere empirische Querschnittsstudie weist Konvergenz der offentlichen Pro-Kopf-Ausgaben fur Verbrauch, Investitionen sowie Bildung und Forschung nach. Diese Ergebnisse schaffen einen neuen Rahmen zur Erklarung der dynamischen Kraften, die dem Wachstum der Regierungstatigkeit zu Grunde liegen. RESUME Les technologies de production permettent de supposer raisonnablement que la competition internationale entre facteurs de production aboutira a une convergence de la production par habitant. Y a-t-il un processus analogue qui va mener a une convergence de l'activite du secteur public? Nous fournissons un modele simple qui prevoit une convergence des depenses publiques sous certaines conditions. Nous demontrons que le modele de Barro (1990) predisant une croissance endogene provoquee par les depenses publiques justifie les assomptions necessaires et renforce ainsi l'hypothese de convergence. Nous discutons aussi la possibilite que la globalisation croissante ait conduit a une convergence des depenses publiques. Notre enquete empirique transversale produit une evidence irrefutable de convergence des depenses publiques par habitant pour la consommation, le capital et l'education. Ces resultats fournissent un cadre nouveau pour expliquer les forces dynamiques qui determinent la croissance des depenses publiques.
The disappearing agent as an exclusion problem

The disappearing agent problem is an argument in the metaphysics of agency. Proponents of the agent-causal approach argue that the rival event-causal approach fails to account for the fact that an ...
End-of-Life Care and Pragmatic Decision Making: A Bioethical Perspective

1. Crito revised 2. Blindness, narrative, and meaning: moral living 3. Radical experience and tragic duty: moral dying 4. Needing assistance to die well: PAS and beyond 5. Experiencing lost voices: dying without capacity 6. Dying young: what interests do children have? 7. Caring for patients: cure, palliation, comfort, and aid in the process of dying.
Archaeology and the Social History of Ships: Ships of the great age of sail

I t has been suggested that if a sailor from the days of the Spanish Armada in 1588 could have been transported forward through time to the deck of a sailing ship in the mid- to late-19th century, about 300 years later, he would have been familiar with the sails, rigging, and general character of the ship and could have proceeded about his duties without delay or specialized training. The various European cultural traditions that emerged over this 300- to 400-year period eventually settled on a class of ship, the galleon, that was to dominate overseas colonization, trade, and war. The galleon was the product of processes of cultural selection during the course of numerous voyages of exploration, fishing, whaling, and initial colonization that encompassed the New World, Africa, and Asia (with a few unplanned excursions to Australia). Events in Europe also had a direct bearing on the course of overseas empire, especially in the head-to-head competition between Spanish and English seafarers, and underwater archaeology has profoundly influenced our understanding of the nature of this competition. The final phase of the European transition from medieval to postmedieval maritime culture from the 14th to the mid-16th century, received a strong impetus from the societies of the Iberian Peninsula – the Spanish, Portuguese, and the Basques – along with influences from the Genoese and the Venetians.
Are transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and tapasin class I MHC chaperones

Class I MHC heavy chains associate with many proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, including TAP, calnexin, calreticulin, and the newly defined tapasin molecule. Recent studies have begun to resolve the nature of how these proteins interact with class I as well as the functional significance of each of these interactions. We propose here that TAP and tapasin are leading candidates to be highly specific chaperones for the class I molecule.
Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. The Mayo Clinic experience.

BACKGROUND Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the urinary bladder accounts for 0.35–0.70% of all bladder tumors. There is no standard approach to the management of SCC of the urinary bladder. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective study at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) to characterize the clinical and pathologic features of patients with SCC of the urinary bladder diagnosed between 1975 and 2003 with emphasis on management. RESULTS Forty-four patients were identified who had primary bladder SCC, 61.4% of whom had pure SCC. The male:female ratio was 3:1, the mean age was 66.9 years, and the mean follow-up was 3.2 years. Twelve patients (27.3%) had Stage II disease, 13 patients (29.6%) had Stage III disease, and 19 patients (43.2%) had Stage IV disease. The overall median survival was 1.7 years. The 5-year survival rates for patients with Stage II, III, and IV disease were 63.6%, 15.4%, and 10.5%, respectively. Six of eight patients with Stage II bladder SCC achieved a cure with radical cystectomy. Five patients with Stage IV disease had obvious metastases and received chemotherapy. Fourteen patients underwent radical cystectomy and were diagnosed later with locally advanced disease (T4b) or lymph node metastasis (N1–N3; Stage IV disease). Only 2 of 19 patients with Stage IV disease who received adjuvant chemotherapy were alive at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS Patients with bladder SCC should undergo radical cystectomy except when metastatic disease is present (M1), in which case, systemic chemotherapy is indicated. Adjuvant treatment is not indicated for patients with Stage II disease after radical cystectomy but should be considered for patients with Stage III and IV disease. Chemotherapy should be a platinum-based regimen. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Tuberculosis cluster in an immigrant community: case identification issues and a transcultural perspective

OBJECTIVES: In a low incidence area for tuberculosis (TB), a computerized database identified an unusually high proportion of patients coming from one single country between 2004 and 2006. To determine whether they constituted a cluster, whether clustering was due to recent transmission, and to understand what undermined the efficacy of the contact tracing procedure, we conducted a retrospective study of all patients with TB from this country. METHODS: Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates of 15 TB cases originating from the same country over a 2(1/2) year period were analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and/or Rep-PCR. To identify links between patients, we revisited the social worker's files, cross-matched contacts' databases, and performed internet searches. A cultural evaluation was conducted by an anthropologist and an expert physician, through patient and community key informant interviews and a literature review. RESULTS: Genotyping confirmed that 11 of 15 patients had identical isolates. Additional data revealed an unsuspected complex network of social links between 9 of these 11 patients. The transcultural evaluation pointed out the major obstacles to efficient contact tracing, such as importance of social stigma related to TB, differences in communication style and health beliefs, and linguistic barriers. CONCLUSION: The combined finding of identical genotypes and important social links between patients confirmed the suspicion of a TB cluster due to recent transmission. The cultural evaluation helped to explain the difficulties encountered during the contact tracing procedure, and offered strategies to improve its efficacy despite the magnitude of the social stigma attached to TB in this community.
The relationship of bioaccumulative chemicals in water and sediment to residues in fish: A visualization approach

A visualization approach is developed and presented for depicting and interpreting bioaccumulation relationships and data (i.e., bioaccumulation factors [BAFs], biota-sediment accumulation factors [BSAFs], and chemical residues in fish) using water-sediment chemical concentration XY plots. The approach is based on five basic parameters that affect bioaccumulation of nonionic organic chemicals: The distribution of chemical between sediment and water, the hydrophobicity of the compound (expressed as the n-octanol/water partition coefficient, K ow ), the relationship of food chains to water and sediment, the length of the food chains, and the degree to which the chemical is metabolized. The visualization approach using water-sediment XY plots captures and visually presents the existing bioaccumulation knowledge in a form that is readily understandable from chemical, biological, and ecological aspects and, therefore, useful in the assessment, communication, and management of risk for persistent bioaccumulative toxicants.
Welfare and Warfare: American Organized Labor Approaches the Military-Industrial Complex, 1949-1964

In the decades following World War II, U.S. organized labor became a vigorous supporter of the military-industrial complex. Clearly, trade unionists appreciated the plentiful jobs produced by such spending. Representatives of organized labor also worked hard, behind the scenes, to channel military dollars to serve what they saw as the broader needs of society. In particular, trade unionists sponsored programs designed to direct defense spending to economically stagnant areas and industries. Opposition from the military and other sources slowed and eventually completely frustrated labor's efforts. Nevertheless, in the postwar period, organized labor was a significant, inside force in the shaping of military appropriation.
Factor analysis of evoked potentials.

Abstract Averaged responses recorded during 13 different post-drug and 11 different pre-rrug control sessions were subjected to principal component factor analysis and the resulting components were rotated following a Varimax procedure. Averages computed under different doses of the same drug were describedby similar regression equations, markedly different descriptions were obtained for the effects of different drugs, and the results from different cats were in good agreement.
Association of clinical response and long-term outcome among patients with biopsied orbital pseudotumor receiving modern radiation therapy.

Purpose To retrospectively evaluate institutional outcomes for patients treated with modern radiation therapy (RT) for biopsied orbital pseudotumor (OP). Methods and Materials Twenty patients (26 affected orbits) with OP were treated with RT between January 2002 and December 2011. All patients underwent biopsy with histopathologic exclusion of other disease processes. Sixteen patients (80%) were treated with intensity modulated RT, 3 (15%) with opposed lateral beams, and 1 (5%) with electrons. Median RT dose was 27 Gy (range 25.2-30.6 Gy). Response to RT was evaluated at 4 months post-RT. Partial response (PR) was defined as improvement in orbital symptoms without an increase in steroid dose. Complete response (CR) 1 and CR 2 were defined as complete resolution of orbital symptoms with reduction in steroid dose (CR 1) or complete tapering of steroids (CR 2). The median follow-up period was 18.6 months (range 4-81.6 months). Results Seventeen patients (85%) demonstrated response to RT, with 7 (35%), 1 (5%), and 9 (45%) achieving a PR, CR 1, and CR 2, respectively. Of the 17 patients who had ≥PR at 4 months post-RT, 6 (35%) experienced recurrence of symptoms. Age (>46 years vs ≤46 years, P =.04) and clinical response to RT (CR 2 vs CR 1/PR, P =.05) were significantly associated with pseudotumor recurrence. Long-term complications were seen in 7 patients (35%), including 4 with cataract formation, 1 with chronic dry eye, 1 with enophthalmos, and 1 with keratopathy. Conclusions RT is an effective treatment for improving symptoms and tapering steroids in patients with a biopsy supported diagnosis of OP. Older age and complete response to RT were associated with a significantly reduced probability of symptom recurrence. The observed late complications may be related to RT, chronic use of steroids/immunosuppressants, medical comorbidities, or combination of factors.
Pressure-induced resonance raman effect in shocked carbon disulfide

Abstract Time-resolved Raman spectroscopy to study shock-induced processes in condensed materials has been developed and used to examine solid carbon disulfide subjected to stepwise shock wave loading to a peak pressure of 8 GPa. Pressure shifts of the symmetric stretching mode, ν1, and the first overtone of the bending mode, 2ν2, have been measured, and the separation between the two bands is observed to decrease with pressure. These results are in agreement with the static high-pressure measurements. Enhancement of the Raman cross section of carbon disulfide is observed at pressures higher than 7 GPa and can be understood in terms of a pressure-induced resonance Raman effect.
A preliminary look at loneliness as a moderator of the link between perfectionism and depressive and anxious symptoms in college students: Does being lonely make perfectionistic strivings more distressing?

An integrative model involving perfectionism [Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (1991). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 456-470] and loneliness as predictors of depressive and anxious symptoms was proposed and tested in 383 college students. Beyond the expected additive influences of the two predictors in the prediction of symptoms, loneliness was also hypothesized to moderate the link between perfectionism and symptoms. Results indicated that other-oriented perfectionism predicted anxious symptoms, whereas socially prescribed perfectionism predicted both depressive and anxious symptoms. Loneliness was found to add incremental validity to these predictions. Moreover, the Perfectionism x Loneliness interaction was found to further augment the prediction of depressive and anxious symptoms. These findings are taken to offer support for a more contextual model of perfectionism. Some implications of the present findings are discussed.