cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Roles of Vitamin D and Its Analogs in Inflammatory Diseases

The discovery of nonclassical actions, other than mineral homeostasis, of 1α,25- dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) has expanded its applications. Among these, its anti-inflammation activity has drawn more and more attention of researchers to investigate its role in regulating the progression of inflammatory diseases. The expression of many inflammation-related genes is regulated by 1,25D3 through vitamin D receptor (VDR) in a large variety of cells including immune cells such as, but not limited to, macrophages, dendritic cells, T helper cells, and B cells. Studies of 1,25D3 in these immune cells have shown both direct and indirect immunomodulatory activities affecting innate and adaptive immune responses. Moreover, 1,25D3 can also exert its anti-inflammation effects through regulating the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory molecules in the prostaglandin pathway or through nuclear factor kappa light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) by affecting cytokine production and inflammatory responses. These actions of 1,25D3 may explain the associations between vitamin D levels and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, type 1 diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Although several analogs of 1,25D3 have shown potent immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory activity on immune cell cultures or in animal models, no vitamin D analog has been used in clinical research to treat inflammatory diseases. Here, we review the relationship between vitamin D analogs and inflammation based on observations of immune cells, prostaglandin and NFκB pathways, as well as common inflammatory diseases.
Implementation of a Novel Hydraulic Hybrid Powertrain in a Sports Utility Vehicle

Abstract Hydraulic hybrid transmissions offer an efficient and high performance alternative to electric hybrid transmission in on-road vehicles. One of the principle benefits of hydraulic over electric hybrids is the higher power density offered by their energy storage media. This enables hydraulic hybrids to capture virtually all of the available kinetic energy from braking. In contrast electric hybrids are often forced to dissipate part of this energy through friction brakes due to the lower power density inherent in their energy storage media. To date various hydraulic hybrid architectures have been investigated and put into production. However as is typically true there always exists room for improvement. This paper details the integration of a novel blended hydraulic hybrid transmission with improved performance and efficiency into a demonstration vehicle. Also included is a discussion of various unique control strategies which were designed for this powertrain as well as a discussion of initial measurement.
Homeownership Education and Counseling: Do We Know What Works?

Over the past decade, concerns have been raised about the extent to which Americans as a whole are sufficiently financially literate to make the complex decisions required in the ever-changing financial marketplace. In response to these concerns, financial education, which aims to make consumers more informed decision makers, has proliferated. Homeownership education and counseling (HEC) has emerged from the same basic impulse - namely, that giving consumers more information (in the case of education) or advice (in the case of counseling) can improve their decision making when it comes to purchasing a home, managing a mortgage, and dealing with setbacks that limit their ability to make monthly mortgage payments. Research about the effectiveness of HEC remains underdeveloped, however.
Megestrol acetate increases the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with non small cell lung cancer

18510 Background: To evaluate the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with non small cell lung cancer who take megestrol acetate as an appetite stimulant. Methods: A retrospective study of patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was performed to determine the incidence of deep venous thrombosis. We reviewed medical records of patients with NSCLC who were treated with and without megestrol acetate as an appetite stimulant during the course of their treatment or follow up. Cochran-Mantel-Hansel statistics was performed. Results: We reviewed the charts of 179 patients with NSCLC. 86 patients received megestrol acetate during the course of treatment or follow up whereas 93 did not. Within the treatment group, 28 patients were female and 58 were male. In the control group 43 patients were female and 50 were male. There was no significant difference in the ECOG performance status of those in the treatment group from those in the control group. The frequency of DVT was 3.4 times higher...
Modulation and Multiple Access Techniques: For Ultra-Wideband Communication Systems

Two new energy detection (ED) Ultra-Wideband (UWB) systems are proposed in this dissertation. The first one is an ED UWB system based on pulse width modulation (PWM). The bit error rate (BER) performance of this ED PWM system is slightly worse than ED pulse position modulation (PPM) system in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels. However, the BER performance of this ED PWM system surpasses that of a PPM system in multipath channels since a PWM system does not suffer cross-modulation interference (CMI) as a PPM system. In the presence of synchronization errors, the BER performance of a PWM system also surpasses that of a PPM system. The second proposed ED UWB system is based on using two pulses, which are the different-order derivatives of the Gaussian pulse, to transmitted bit 0 or 1. These pulses are appropriately chosen to separate their spectra in frequency domain. The receiver is composed of two energy detection branches and each branch has a filter which captures the signal energy of either bit 0 or 1. The outputs of two branches are subtracted from each other to generate the decision statistic and the value of this statistic is compared to a threshold to determine the transmitted bits. This system is named as Gaussian FSK (GFSK) system in this dissertation
Coronary artery Calcium predicts Cardiovascular events in participants with a low lifetime risk of Cardiovascular disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Aims: Patients with a low lifetime risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) are not completely free of events over 10 years. We evaluated predictors for CHD among “low lifetime risk” participants in the populationbased Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Methods: MESA enrolled 6814 men and women aged 45e84 years who were free of baseline cardiovascular disease. Using established criteria of non-diabetic, non-smokers with total cholesterol � 200 mg/ dL, systolic BP � 139 mmHg, and diastolic BP � 89 mmHg at baseline, we identified 1391 participants with a low lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease. Baseline covariates were age, gender, ethnicity, HDL-C, C-reactive protein, family history of CHD, carotid intima-media thickness and coronary artery calcium (CAC). We calculated event rates and the number needed to scan (NNS) to identify one participant with CAC>0 and > 100. Results: Over 10.4 years median follow-up, there were 33 events (2.4%) in participants with low lifetime risk. There were 479 participants (34%) with CAC>0 including 183 (13%) with CAC>100. CAC was present in 25 (76%) participants who experienced an event. In multivariable analyses, only CAC>100 remained predictive of CHD (HR 4.6; 95% CI: 1.6e13.6; p ¼ 0.005). The event rates for CAC ¼ 0, CAC>0 and CAC>100 were 0.9/1,000, 5.7/1,000, and 11.0/1000 person-years, respectively. The NNS to identify one participant with CAC>0 and > 100 were 3 and 7.6, respectively. Conclusions: While 10-year event rates were low in those with low lifetime risk, CAC was the strongest predictor of incident CHD. Identification of individuals with CAC ¼ 0 and CAC>100 carries significant potential therapeutic implications. © 2016 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
The episodic process of learning by using

This paper examines learning by using with new technologies. Specifically, we discuss how and when users actually identify and implement adaptations to technologies in use. We find that common conceptions of such incremental learning as non–disruptive and relatively continuous are misleading. In fact, ongoing adaptation to technologies in use tends to be a highly discontinuous or 'episodic' process. Based on a study of a variety of process technologies, we find that users alternate between short episodes of intensive adaptive activity and longer periods of routine use. We discuss why this pattern can be an effective mode of learning by using, and we suggest approaches for managing such an episodic learning process.
Simplified Elasto-Hydrodynamic Friction Model of the Cam-Tappet Contact

The paper analyses the particularities of the lubricating conditions at the contact between the cam and a flat tappet in the valve train of an internal combustion engine and develops a method for the calculation of the friction force. The existing lubrication models show the predominance of the entraining speed and oil viscosity on the thickness of the oil film entrapped between cam and tappet, predicting a very small value (less than 0.1 μm) of the oil film thickness (OFT). The oil viscosity increases exponentially with pressure in the Hertzian contact, determining non-Newtonian behavior of the oil in the contact zone. Using the model developed by Greenwood and Tripp [1 1 ] for the contact of two rough surfaces and the Eyring model [2] for the oil it is shown that non-Newtonian behavior of the oil prevails and that the OFT plays a secondary role on the friction force. The simplified friction model developed according to these assumptions is experimentally validated by measurements made on a single cylinder diesel engine. An original technique was developed to permit the measurement of the friction forces on the tappet. This technique is based on a modified design of the tappet, which is equipped with strain gauges that measure the forces and moments applied on the tappet. The processing of the measured data permits to evaluate the friction force cam-tappet and tappet-bore and, to determine the angular rotation of the tappet.
Whistler Spheromaks

A highly nonlinear whistler wave packet has been generated in a large laboratory plasma. The wave field exceeds the ambient field, locally reverses its direction and exhibits a topology of a spheromak. It propagates along the ambient magnetic field at a speed that decreases with amplitude. Electrons are strongly energized in the spheromak. Anisotropies create whistler instabilities. The whistler spheromak becomes a propagating source for secondary whistlers, a new phenomenon in magnetic turbulence.
X-Ray photoelectron Spectroscopy Applications

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is, in principle, based on a particularly simple process. Electrons within a sample absorb photons of a particular energy and then emerge from the solid. The kinetic energy analysis of electrons emitted from the surface yields information on the electronic states of atoms in the surface region. XPS is prominent in its popularity, versatility, and utility compared with many other techniques. The flexibility and efficacy of XPS will be highlighted through several applications. In addition, a look into spectroscopic imaging as well as future trends may add excitement to this seemingly utilitarian technique.
What Government Must Do Well: Creating Value for Society

This article is stimulated by a deep dissatisfaction with conceptualizations of government that emphasize service delivery, management of the economny, welfare, and regulation of undesired actions of firms and individuals and with reform efforts seeking only to improve government services to customers and/or to reduce the impacts of government upon individuals and firms. These approaches undervalue the large roles governments must successfully perform in providing the institutional framework for all human activity. This article develops a framework and language with which to analyze value creation roles of governments. Government performs three functions for society: constituting effective polities as instruments of collective choice, m*aking political choices that define and protect communities, and delivery of services. To encompass the full array of governmental roles in society, five arenas of governmental actions are identified: constitutional, jurisdictional and civic infrastructure, policy strategy and policy infrastructure, program implementation, and organizational/managerial. Three types of values can be created by governmental action: place, complex functional system, and goods and services. The five arenas and three types of value are used as axes of a matrix, the cells of which include judgments of the social value created, with less social value seen in the lower level arenas and goods and services types of value commonly emphasized in public administration. Additionally, it is argued that more value is created in design than in management of institutions, policies, and programs.
Analysis of Reqistration of Products Related to Drinking Water during the Period from 2001 to 2005 in Anhui Province

Objective To know the kinds of products related to drinking water (PRDW) in Anhui province and the change trend of these products from 2001 to 2005 by analyzing the cases accepted by Anhui CDC so as to provide basis for supervising the products more effectively.Methods Data of the applications (2001-2005) for PRDWs determination at Anhui CDC were analyzed.Results There totally were 396 PRDWs accepted by Anhui CDC, among of them there were 288 equipment and protective materials, 94 chemicals and 14 treatment devices.Conclusion The kinds of PRDWs in Anhui province were comparatively single. Polypropylene materials were most in equipment and protective materials in drinking water. Chemicals used in drinking water only included coagulants and disinfectors. All of the treatment devices of drinking water were general devices. The development of PRDW industries in Anhui province was unbalanced.
Fitting and Turning:Approaches to Constructing the Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Western Ethnic Minority Regions

In the process of pluralistic social transformation and the modern law building,the constructing of legal order in ethnic minority regions is experiencing the realistic conflict between law objectives and concept consolidation.The multi-cultural values of the western region fit the diversity of social disputes mechanisms,legal action and non-action mechanism should be common components of the diversified dispute resolution mechanism.Meeting the demands of multiple interests to maintain the ecological balance of dispute resolution and promote sustainable development of the law in the western ethnic minority regions.
Prothrombin and Partial Thromboplastin Time

Basic plasma coagulation function is readily assessed with a few simple in vitro laboratory tests, prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and they are useful as the current standard for establishing a diagnosis of coagulopathy. While PT and PTT have been proven as predictors of adverse outcomes, including severity in acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC), they are not always accurate predictors of bleeding risk and may not provide precise ongoing assessment of the coagulation dysfunction in a trauma patient undergoing resuscitation. Nevertheless, as point-of-care tests are being developed, validated, and made widely available in trauma care settings, PT and PTT remain the most cost-efficient and easily available tests for early coagulopathy assessment in trauma patients. In the absence of more robust testing, clinicians should suspect and empirically treat acute coagulopathy in trauma patients. New and evolving tests such as thromboelastography and rotational thromboelastometry may be better able to guide ongoing therapy and transfusion management in trauma patients.
Low mass, high density packaging and signal transmission for high rate colliders

The Front End electronics system designed for the Solenoidal Detector Collaboration (SDC) Barrel Tracker demonstrates some aggressive methods for detecting and routing out 140 thousand channels of proportional straw drift tube signals. The electronics must detect charge pulses as low as 2 fC and determine their time of arrival to within 1 ns. Aggressive PC board substrate and interconnect designs, along with a custom amplifier, shaper, discriminator IC, contributed to a successful beam test at BNL in July of 1993. The 400 channel, full density system functioned well at a 3 fC threshold level despite the noisy AGS environment, and without any shielding of the 4 meter long straw chambers. Since then we have designed flat Kapton cables, which can be manufactured in 16 foot lengths and connected together with standard fine pitched connectors. These cables demonstrated that sub-nanosecond timing for up to 7 meters was possible. Work is continuing to apply the crosstalk and noise abatement lessons learned at BNL to integrating digital readout chips directly on or near the same PC board substrate housing sensitive analog amplifiers. Part of this effort is directed to design/fabrication of differential, low level (/spl sim//spl plusmn/150 mV), current mode CMOS drivers and receivers. >
Investigation of dielectric relaxation in systems with hierarchical organization: From time to frequency domain and back again

Abstract Relaxation in fractal structures was investigated theoretically starting from a simple model of a Cantorian tree and kinetic equations linking the change in the number of particles (e.g., electrical charges) populating each branch of the tree and their transfer to other branches or to the ground state. We numerically solved the system of differential equations obtained and determined the so-called cumulative distribution function of particles, which, in dielectric or mechanical relaxation parlance, is the same as the relaxation function of the system. As a physical application, we studied the relationship between the dielectric relaxation in time-domain and the dielectric dispersion in the frequency-domain. Upon choosing appropriate rate constants, our model described accurately well-known non-exponential and non-Debye time- and frequency-domain functions, such as stretched exponentials, Havrilliak–Negami, and frequency power law. Our approach opens the door to applying kinetic models to describe a wide array of relaxation processes, which traditionally have posed great challenges to theoretical modeling based on first principles.
A multiprocessor System On Chip verification on hardware accelerator and Software Emulation

This paper presents an empirical approach to accelerate the verification of System On Chip using hardware acceleration and software emulation. This paper emphasizes the importance of simultaneous hardware (HW) and Firmware (FW) development to fix HW/SW interaction bugs early in the design to reduce the product development cycle. This paper discusses various solution methodologies for SoC verification methodology using HW emulation & Co-modeling testbench technologies. The test bench is put into the accelerator directly, resulting in a quick migration to accelerator. The functional verification of the SoC and Firmware development is based on Software Oriented Emulation in hardware acceleration mode of testbench technology. The SoC is synthesized on to the Mentor Graphics Veloce2 Quattro Emulation box and U-Boot Monitor Commands are developed with UART and Hyper terminal utility at baud rate of 9600. U-Boot debug monitor commands were customized to debug various verification scenarios and to enable early software development for the SoC. The verification of SoC using U-Boot commands developed and the emulator crystal utilization are presented. The results show that by adopting the accelerated verification on veloce2 emulator using U-Boot software, speedup of the order of 100× was achieved for functional verification of a Complex Multiprocessor SoC compared to standard HDL simulator.
Thinking love: Heidegger and Arendt

“Thinking Love: Heidegger and Arendt” explores the problematic nature of romantic love as it developed between Martin Heidegger and Hannah Arendt, whom Heidegger later called “the passion of his life.” I suggest that three different ways of understanding love can be found at work in Heidegger and Arendt’s relationship, namely, the perfectionist, the unconditional, and the ontological models of love. Explaining these different ways of thinking romantic love, this paper shows how the distinctive problems of the perfectionist and unconditional models played out in Heidegger and Arendt’s relationship and how that relationship eventually gave rise to the third, ontological understanding of love. This ontological vision of love combines some of the strengths of the perfectionist and unconditional views while avoiding their worst problems, and so emerges as perhaps the most important philosophical lesson about romantic love to be drawn from studying the lifelong love affair between two of the twentieth century’s greatest thinkers.
Strategic decision-making: The effects of cooperative conflict management, agreement-seeking behavior and competence-based trust on decision outcomes

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the effect of cooperative conflict management on agreement-seeking behavior, agreement-seeking behavior on decision outcomes, moderating role of competence-based trust on the relationship between agreement-seeking behavior and decision outcomes, and mediating role of agreement-seeking behavior between cooperative conflict management and decision outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Using a structured survey instrument, this paper gathered data from 348 students enrolled in a strategic management capstone course that features strategic decision-making in a simulated business strategy game. The data from 94 teams were collected from the student population using a carefully administered instrument. The data were aggregated after running the inter-rater agreement test and the analyzed to test the hypotheses. Findings The results from the hierarchical regression of the complex moderated mediation model reveal that cooperative conflict management is positively related to agreement-seeking behavior, and agreement-seeking behavior mediates the relationship between cooperative conflict management and decision outcomes. The results also suggest that competence-based trust acts as a moderator in the relationship between agreement-seeking behavior and decision quality; agreement-seeking behavior and team effectiveness, and agreement-seeking behavior and decision commitment. Results also support mediation of agreement-seeking behavior between cooperative conflict management and decision outcomes. Research limitations/implications The present research is based on self-report measures, and hence, the limitations of social desirability bias and common method bias are inherent. However, adequate care is taken to minimize these limitations. The research has implications for the strategic decision-making process literature. Practical implications In addition to the strategic management literature, this study contributes to practicing managers. The study suggests that competence-based trust plays a vital role in decision effectiveness. Administrators need to select the members in the decision-making process who have competence-based trust on one another and engage in agreement-seeking behavior. Social implications The findings from the study help in creating a fruitful social environment in organizations. Originality/value This study provides new insights about the previously unknown effects of cooperative conflict management and agreement-seeking behavior in strategic decision-making process.
From Web Summaries to search templates: Automation for personal tasks on the Web

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the Web Summaries system, which is designed to aid people in accomplishing exploratory Web research. Web Summaries enables users to produce automation artifacts, such as extraction patterns, relations, and personalized task-specific search templates, in the context of existing tasks. By leveraging the growing amount of structured Web pages and pervasive search capabilities, Web Summaries provides a set of semiautomatic interaction techniques for collecting and organizing personal Web content. First, it takes advantage of the growth in template material on the Web and designs semiautomatic interactive extraction of content from similar Web pages using structural and content extraction patterns. Second, it employs layout templates and user labeling to create rich displays of heterogeneous Web content collections. Third, it uses search technology for proactive retrieval of content from different, related Web sites through user-defined relations. Fourth, it let users define their own personalized and aesthetic views of heterogeneous content from any number of Web sites through cards. And finally, it introduces a new template-based search paradigm that combines the user-defined relations and cards into a search template. Search templates present a goal-driven search mechanism that creates visual personalized summaries of the content users need to accomplish their task.
The Effects of Chronic Preoperative Steroid Therapy on Perioperative Complications Following Elective Posterior Lumbar Fusion.

Study Design:Retrospective cohort study.Objectives:Chronic steroid therapy is used in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, but it is known to be associated with adverse ...
Techniques to Control Thin-Film Textures

In the last chapter, we discussed some possible origins of texture formation during growth, in particular, the selection of out-of-plane and in-plane crystal orientations when the flux is obliquely incident to the substrate. The exact angle of orientation depends on the incident flux angle. It has been shown that texture orientation as well as the morphology of the films can be controlled by dynamically varying the incident flux direction during deposition (He and Zhao, Nanoscale 3:2361–2375, 2011; Hawkeye and Brett, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 25:1317–1335, 2007; Karabacak and Lu, Handbook of Theoretical and Computational Nanotechnology, 729–779, 2005). This opens up endless possibilities for tailoring the desired texture for different applications. In this chapter, we will describe some of the strategies reported recently.
THE EFFECTS OF PROCESSING AND STORAGE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS ON CHLORINATED INSECTICIDE RESIDUES

Summary The effects of processing and storage of butter, ice cream, Swiss-type cheese, condensed milk, and dry whole milk powder manufactured from milk containing dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and ...
Confronting the Limitations of the MFA as Preparation for PhD Study

Today's design research problems are different from the past; they are more complex and call for inter- and multidisciplinary work. Design faculty and doctoral students are hindered in this work by...
Macedonia: Timely Prevention Works

Three drivers led to war in Bosnia: breakup of Yugoslavia, Milosevic’s political ambitions and military capabilities, and ethnic nationalism. The first of these affected Macedonia. The other two were attenuated. Macedonia has mostly avoided war and made significant economic progress, with help from the UN, the EU, and the United States as well as decentralization and power sharing between Macedonians and Albanians. Greece’s refusal to accept Macedonia’s name, however, has stalled entry into NATO, slowed progress toward the EU, and aggravated ethnic tensions. A now agreed solution to the “name” issue would be a major gain for Macedonia and the region, if implemented in both countries. The door will then open for the “Republic of North Macedonia” to enter NATO and begin EU accession talks.
Ask this robot for a helping hand

To be useful in a variety of daily tasks, robots must be able to interact physically with humans and infer how to be most helpful. A new theory for interactive robot control allows a robot to learn when to assist or challenge a human during reaching movements.
Safety and Efficacy of Skipping C7 Instrumentation in Posterior Cervicothoracic Fusion.

Objective To analyze the safety and efficacy of skipping instrumentation at the C7 vertebra during posterior cervicothoracic fusions. Methods This is a retrospective chart review of 53 patients who underwent multilevel posterior cervical fusion between 2010 and 2015. Of 53 patients, 7 patients were instrumented at C7, serving as the control group, whereas the remaining 46 patients were not. Evaluation of efficacy was based on intraoperative complications, operative time, estimated blood loss, significant long-term complications, and radiographic evidence of fusion. Results Skipping the C7 level resulted in a significant reduction in estimated blood loss (321 ± 214 mL in the C7 bridge group vs. 531 ± 365 mL in the control group) and an insignificant, but decreased, reduction in operative time (155 ± 70 minutes in the C7 bridge group vs. 194 ± 66 minutes in the control group). Two intraoperative complications were noted in the C7 group, and 1 intraoperative complication was noted in the control group. In addition, patients skipped at C7 maintained sagittal balance with fusion rates similar to control patients at follow-up. No significant long-term complications were found in both groups. Conclusions Skipping C7 in a multilevel posterior cervicothoracic fusion demonstrates significantly reduced estimated blood loss and faster operative times compared with the control group. In addition, postoperative assessment yielded similar rates of fusion in both groups. Serious negative outcomes of skipping C7 were not found in this retrospective study. Our study results illustrate the clinical benefits of skipping instrumentation at C7 to minimize surgical risk in patients undergoing posterior cervical fusion across the cervicothoracic junction.
Recife: The Cradle of Jewish America

Recife is the location of the first synagogue and the first Jewish community in the New World. The original Jewish community was formed during the period of the Dutch occupation and was mostly Sephardic. It wasn't until the second decade of the twentieth century that Jewish life in Recife was rekindled, this time mostly Ashkenazi. Even though the two periods of Jewish life are distinct, they both show signs of a similar underlying vitality.
The Scope, Growth, and Causes of Income Inequality in an Open U.S. Economy

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the scope, growth, and causes of income inequality in an open U.S. economy. Explanations for the growing income inequality commonly fall under microeconomic and macroeconomic categories. Typical microeconomic explanations consider both demand and supply effects. The typical macroeconomic explanation argues that income inequality increases during slow (or negative) growth periods. For instance, in a recession, lower aggregate demand leads to a reduction in production line worker hours and/or employment, while higher-paid middle and senior managers are less affected. The reduction in demand for lower-paid lower skilled production workers relative to higher-paid higher-skilled nonproduction workers tends to increase earnings inequality. The increasing importance of international trade and competition for explaining changes in the distribution of U.S. income, as will be seen shortly, will further blur the distinction between micro and macro forces. Despite an apparent consensus that the distributions of earnings and income have become more dispersed, several important issues remain unanswered in the description of earnings and income distributions. Higher unemployment plays a dominant role in explaining both expected and unexpected increases in income inequality. Intergenerational decisions regarding investments in offsprings' human and nonhuman (physical) capital interact with technological change to influence intragenerational income distributions. There is evidence that higher productivity growth Granger-causes less income inequality growth and that higher income inequality growth Granger-causes less productivity growth.
Does the unified protocol really change neuroticism? Results from a randomized trial.

Background Neuroticism is associated with the onset and maintenance of a number of mental health conditions, as well as a number of deleterious outcomes (e.g. physical health problems, higher divorce rates, lost productivity, and increased treatment seeking); thus, the consideration of whether this trait can be addressed in treatment is warranted. To date, outcome research has yielded mixed results regarding neuroticism's responsiveness to treatment, perhaps due to the fact that study interventions are typically designed to target disorder symptoms rather than neuroticism itself. The purpose of the current study was to explore whether a course of treatment with the unified protocol (UP), a transdiagnostic intervention that was explicitly developed to target neuroticism, results in greater reductions in neuroticism compared to gold-standard, symptom focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocols and a waitlist (WL) control condition. Method Patients with principal anxiety disorders (N = 223) were included in this study. They completed a validated self-report measure of neuroticism, as well as clinician-rated measures of psychological symptoms. Results At week 16, participants in the UP condition exhibited significantly lower levels of neuroticism than participants in the symptom-focused CBT (t(218) = −2.17, p = 0.03, d = −0.32) and WL conditions(t(207) = −2.33, p = 0.02, d = −0.43), and these group differences remained after controlling for simultaneous fluctuations in depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions Treatment effects on neuroticism may be most robust when this trait is explicitly targeted.
Neutron Stars and White Dwarfs

This talk reviews the structure of neutron stars and white dwarfs, and the role of solid state physics in determining their properties. The nature of the matter in neutron stars (matter essentially in its absolute ground state), and the determination of its equation of state are first discussed; this is followed by a description of the resulting stellar models. Superconductivity and superfluidity in the interior, and other solid state aspects of these stars are then reviewed.
How much does industry strategy matter? Organizational field dynamics and cooperation among rivals

This paper combines economic, political, and sociological perspectives to present a dynamic framework for understanding how a firm strategically allocates its limited resources between competitive pursuits and industry-wide cooperation. Organizational field dynamics alter a firm's incentive to engage in industry-wide cooperation relative to competition. Periods of intensive industry-wide cooperation, in turn, alter the organizational field and thereby influence the competitive conditions facing a firm and its rivals. Periods of cooperation are unstable, varying in their duration and intensity according to the characteristics of the organizational field, industry, and firm. A set of propositions developed in this paper outlines these characteristics and illustrates how, even in the face of rivalry and the collective action problem, firm-level self-interest aggregates into patterns of industry-level collective action. Moreover, these propositions demonstrate how the interplay between factors exogenous and endogenous to an industry facilitates change within an organizational field and so determines the nature of the competitive environment facing a firm and its rivals over time.
Long-term Functional Outcomes of Total Glossectomy With or Without Total Laryngectomy

Importance The optimal reconstruction of total glossectomy defects with or without total laryngectomy is controversial. Various pedicled and free tissue flaps have been advocated, but long-term data on functional outcomes are not available to date. Objectives To compare various total glossectomy defect reconstructive techniques used by multiple institutions and to identify factors that may lead to improved long-term speech and swallowing function. Design, Setting, and Participants A multi-institutional, retrospective review of electronic medical records of patients undergoing total glossectomy at 8 participating institutions between June 1, 2001, and June 30, 2011, who had a minimal survival of 2 years. Intervention Total glossectomy with or without total laryngectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures Demographic and surgical factors were compiled and correlated with speech and swallowing outcomes. Results At the time of the last follow-up, 45% (25 of 55) of patients did not have a gastrostomy tube, and 76% (42 of 55) retained the ability to verbally communicate. Overall, 75% (41 of 55) of patients were tolerating at least minimal nutritional oral intake. Feeding tube dependence was not associated with laryngeal preservation or the reconstructive techniques used, including flap suspension, flap innervation, or type of flap used. Laryngeal preservation was associated with favorable speech outcomes, such as the retained ability to verbally communicate in 97% of those not undergoing total laryngectomy (35 of 36 patients) vs 44% (7 of 16) in those undergoing total laryngectomy ( P P Conclusions and Relevance In patients with total glossectomy, feeding tube dependence was not associated with laryngeal preservation or the reconstructive technique, including flap innervation and type of flap used. Laryngeal preservation was associated with favorable speech outcomes such as the retained ability to verbally communicate and higher levels of speech intelligibility.
Signal Processing with Optics

Publisher Summary This chapter begins with a discussion on the fundamental coherence theory of light. Spatial coherence is primarily governed by the source size and temporal coherence is governed by the spectral bandwidth of the source. The concept of combining the optical system with its electronic counterparts is rather natural as a means of applying the rapid processing and parallelism of optics to a wider range of applications. Hybrid optical processing can be done by two methods. The first approach to the hybrid optical processor is using the Fourier domain (or 4-f) system configuration, The second approach to hybrid optical processing is using a joint transform configuration, Most of the optical processing to date has been confined to either complete coherence or complete incoherence. Image restoration, image subtraction, and analysis of a broadband signal are some of the applications of optical processing. Several algorithms for optical processing are also provided in this chapter. Photorefractive (PR) optics also plays an important role in real-time optical processing. Because of their volume storage capability, PR materials have been used to synthesize large capacity composite filters. The use of a coherent light enables the use of optical processing to carry out complex amplitude processing, which offers a myriad of applications. Neural networks can also be used in optical processing.
Risk for esophageal neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus patients with mucosal changes indefinite for dysplasia.

Background and Aim Patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) are at increased risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and therefore require surveillance. Biopsies are classified as indefinite for dysplasia (IND) when the significance of epithelial abnormalities is uncertain due to inflammation or sampling. Our aim was to characterize the neoplastic risk of IND in BE patients and to identify predictors of neoplastic risk. Methods Our pathology database from 1992 to 2007 was searched for BE and IND. Progression rates were calculated and univariate analysis was performed to identify predictors for neoplasia progression in BE-IND patients. Results Among 85 patients who had a follow-up (FU) biopsy within 1 year, 11 (12.9%) patients had prevalent neoplasia (seven low-grade dysplasia [LGD], two high-grade dysplasia [HGD], and two EAC). Among 82 patients who did not have prevalent neoplasia but had ≥ 1 year FU, 17 progressed to dysplasia (14 LGD, 3 HGD) and 2 developed EAC during a mean FU period of 59 months. The incidence of neoplasia (LGD, HGD, or EAC) and advanced neoplasia (HGD + EAC) was 4.5 and 1.2 cases per 100 patient-years, respectively. Longer length of BE and multi-focal IND on index biopsy were associated with progression to neoplasia. Conclusion Patients with BE-IND carry a significant risk of harboring prevalent dysplasia, but the risk of incident dysplasia is similar to the general BE population. The length of BE and the multifocal IND might tentatively help to identify a patient subpopulation at higher risk of neoplastic progression before more definitive data becomes available.
Multicomponent transport effects in sorbent particles under pressure swing conditions

A comprehensive theoretical study of the problem of multicomponent adsorption-desorption in sorbent particles under pressure swing conditions is carried out. A rigorous mathematical model is formulated for the process in which the dusty-gas model and the commonly used Fickian model are employed to describe the coupling of the mass fluxes and the partial pressures in the pore space, with or without viscous flow. The dusty-gas model is used as a standard against which the performance of the Fickian model is tested. Computations are carried out for binary (O 2 -N 2 , CO 2 -H 2 ) and quaternary (CO 2 -H 2 -CH 4 -N 2 ) mixtures. It is found that the rigorous model (the one based on the dusty-gas model) predicts faster responses for the partial pressures of the components in the mixture. Faster responses are also observed when the viscous flow is accounted for in the transport model, with the effect being considerably stronger in the case of the Fickian model. The obtained results are also used to investigate the performance of the Glueckauf linear driving force approximation for multicomponent systems. It is concluded that like the Fickian diffusion model on which it is based, this approximation cannot predict, even qualitatively, the dynamic responses of the partial pressures in a multicomponent system.
Onset of exercise increases lumbar sympathetic nerve activity in rats

We hypothesized that lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA) increases at the onset of whole-body dynamic exercise in the rat. To test this hypothesis, we recorded LSNA, heart rate (HR), and arterial pressure (AP) at rest and during a graded exercise test in six adult rats. Rats were instrumented with arterial and venous catheters and recording electrodes around the lumbar sympathetic trunk. Following recovery, each rat ran continuously on a hand-driven or motorized treadmill at 6 m.min -1 , 12 m.min -1 and 18 m.min -1 on a 10% grade for approximately 3 min at each workload. Before exercise, mean arterial pressure (MAP), HR, and LSNA averaged 108 ± 4 mm Hg, 385 ± 20 bpm, and 100%, respectively. As hypothesized, all variables increased abruptly and dramatically at the onset of treadmill exercise. For example, MAP (117 ± 5 mm Hg), HR (450 ± 15 bpm), and LSNA (225 ± 19%) all increased significantly within the first 25 s of treadmill running at 6 m.min -1 . As the exercise continued, there was a progressive increase in HR ; however, MAP plateaued at 6 m.mi -1 and LSNA plateaued at 12 m.min -1 . Since LSNA increased at the onset of whole-body dynamic exercise in the rat, we suggest that the increase in LSNA at the onset of exercise is mediated by a central (feed forward) mechanism.
A Feminist and Multicultural Perspective in Family Terapy

This column reviews literature concerning two perspectives, afeminist perspective and a multicultural perspective, as a potential frameworkforfamily counseling.
A sufficient normality condition for Turing's formula

This paper establishes a previously unknown sufficient condition for the asymptotic normality of the non-parametric sample coverage estimate based on Good under a fixed underlying probability distribution {p k ; k=1, …} where all p k >0. The sufficient condition of this paper supports a non-empty class of distributions and excludes the condition of Esty as a marginal case in which it is shown that the √n-normalised sample coverage estimate proposed by Esty necessarily degenerates under a fixed {p k }. The convergent statistic in the newly established normality law and the resulting relevant confidence intervals are all of new forms, and specifically are different from those suggested by Esty.
Floxuridine and Its Influence on Postnatal Cerebellar Development

Extract: Human infants with cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex are presently treated with floxuridine (5-FUDR), a DNA synthesis blocking agent. Since in the cerebellum of the newborn infant neuron formation continues for some time after birth, the question arises whether 5-FUDR might cause permanent damage to the cerebellum. In our experiment 21 2-day-old mice were treated by three injections of 5-FUDR (50 mg/kg body weight per injection), and particular attention was given to damage and subsequent repair of the external granular layer, the site of postnatal neuron formation. In the anterior lobes of the vermis most proliferating external granular cells died and repair was minimal. Purkinje cells were dispersed and few if any basket cells were formed. In the posterior lobes, including the uvula, considerable repair of the external granular layer was noted. The final cerebellar architecture, however, was never normal, and heterotopic granule cell nests were found in the molecular layer. In the intermediary lobes repair occurred, but Purkinje cells were found throughout the granular layer. Since the human cerebellum at birth is characterized by a thick external granular layer, it is not impossible that 5-FUDR may also cause disturbances in the human cerebellar architecture and function. Speculation: In the cerebellum of the newborn mouse and newborn infant important neurons are formed after birth. Therapy with drugs interfering with DNA, RNA, or protein synthesis should therefore be avoided. Although repair may occur in the gastrointestinal tract, experiments with mice suggest that repair of damage in the cerebellum is minimal. Whether ectopic cell nests in the molecular layer will start cell proliferation during further life is presently not known.
Optical studies of the deformation of model filled rubbers

The strain pattern about a spherical glass bead imbedded in a stretched rubber has been calculated and used to predict the birefringence and light scattering. This is compared with experimental measurements of the retardation pattern observed using a polarization microscope and deduced from the low-angle laser Hv light scattering pattern. The agreement with theory is favorable. The light scattering is suggestive of similar origins of light scattering from crystallizing rubbers and from inhomogeneously crosslinked rubbers.