cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measured GFR in Routine Clinical Practice—The Promise of Dried Blood Spots

Accurate determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is crucial for the diagnosis of kidney disease. Estimated GFR (eGFR) calculated by serum creatinine and/or cystatin C is a mainstay in clinical practice and epidemiologic research but lacks precision and accuracy until GFR
Delta24-RIVER oncolytic adenovirus:targeting mutant EGFR glioma cells

3297 Malignant gliomas are characterized by infiltrative growth that causes progressive neurologic dysfunction and, almost invariably, death. Currently there is no effective treatment for glioblastoma, however, recent advances in our understanding of brain tumor biology have suggested that treatment strategies that target the fundamental molecular defects of brain tumors may provide effective and selective therapies. Oncolytic adenoviruses are promising therapies for the treatment of gliomas. Previously we have studied the antiglioma activity of the tumor-selective Delta-24 adenovirus, which encompasses an early 1A adenoviral deletion in the retinoblastoma protein-binding region. However, the paucity of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor on tumor cells is major stumbling blocks for adenovirus-based treatment. Because the mutant variant III of EGFR constitutes the prototype of cancer specific receptor, we constructed an adenovirus with Retargeted Infectivity Via EGFR, Delta-24-RIVER, by inserting the PEPCH1 coding sequence in the HI loop of a Delta-24 detargeted (unable to bind CAR ) adenovirus. We hypothesize that redirection of Delta-24 infectivity to mutant EGFR should result in the targeting of the cancer cells responsible for the advanced neoplastic phenotype of gliomas. To prove the EGFRVIII-dependent infectivity and cytolysis of Delta-24-RIVER, we examined the effect of Delta-24-RIVER in the U87MG isogenic cell lines and U251-E18 cell (in which EGFRVIII expression is tetracycline dependent ). Delta-24-RIVER induced potent cytolysis in the U87MG.ΔEGFR and tetracycline treated U251-E18 cells, but not in the U87MG and U251-E18 cells without tetracycline treatment. We found that Delta-24-RIVER showed selective cytotoxicity in high EGFR-expression A549 non small cell lung cancer cell, but not in low EGFR -expressing U-2OS and Saos-2 sarcoma cells and normal human astrocytes. We construced the replication-deficient adenovirus AdGFP-Delta-24-RIVER and tested its infectivity, AdGFP-Delta-24-RIVER showed more significant infectivity in U87MG.ΔEGFR and tetracycline treated U251-E18 cells than in U87MG and U251-E18 cells without tetracycline treatment. In vivo experiments using U87MG and U87MG.ΔEGFR xenografts implanted in nude mice and treated intratumorally with a dose of 10 8 pfu/animal of Delta-24-RIVER are in progress. Taking together these data constitute proof of principle for the direct target of a cancer specific receptor using replication competent tumor-selective adenoviruses.
Longitudinal Analysis of Erythrocyte and Plasma Protoporphyrin Levels in Patients with Protoporphyria

Background: Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) are inherited cutaneous porphyrias resulting from decreased activity of ferrochelatase and gain-of-function mutations of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthase-2, respectively. Both of these protoporphyrias cause increased protoporphyrin levels that cause photosensitivity and may lead to hepatopathy and further increases in erythrocyte and plasma porphyrin levels. Methods: We evaluated erythrocyte protoporphyrin and plasma porphyrin levels in all subjects with EPP (83 subjects) or XLP (9 subjects) without evidence of liver disease tested repeatedly at a single laboratory over 25 years. Results: Intersubject variation contributed more than intrasubject variation (78.86% vs 21.14%) to overall variability, and longitudinal variability, estimated by CV, averaged 26%. Erythrocyte total protoporphyrin levels were similar in males and females with EPP (ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.82–1.21; P = 0.96) but were higher in males than females with XLP, although this difference was not statistically significant (ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.43–1.36; P = 0.35). Analysis of 20 subjects from 9 separate families showed significant effects of family compared with effects of individual variation on total variance (50% vs 25%; P Conclusion: Variation of erythrocyte total protoporphyrin up to 25% is expected in patients with protoporphyria, whereas greater increases might raise concern for protoporphyric hepatopathy.
Using Harvesting Models to Teach Modeling with Differential Equations

Abstract: Harvesting models based on ordinary differential equations are commonly used in the fishery industry and wildlife management to model the evolution of a population depleted by harvest mor...
Hemoglobin H-thalassemia disease.

A child of Italian parentage is presented as an example of Hgb H-thalassemia disease. A family study is included. Previous documented reports have included individuals of Chinese, Thai, Greek and Filipino parentage. Genetic aspects of the association of Hgb H with thalassemia are discussed. It is suggested that the study of other patients who present a clinical picture resembling mild Cooley’s anemia may reveal the presence of hemoglobin variants.
Saphenous Vein Aortocoronary Bypass Grafts: Surgical Techniques

The surgical techniques used for aortocoronary bypass grafting with segments of autogenous saphenous veins are now well-standardized, and are applied in a remarkably uniform manner nationwide. Although there is some variation in the techniques employed, in general each practicing surgeon performs the operation by a standardized technique.
An Empirical Investigation of the Relation Between Risk Assessments and Sample Size Decisions

This study examines the relation between auditor risk assessments and sample size decisions for a sample of 235 audit sampling applications from 64 audits of medium-sized companies performed by three large accounting firms. Auditors relied on controls and assessed inherent risk below the maximum on most audits. Although sample sizes are associated with both inherent risk and control risk assessments, the relationship was significant for only one of the three audit firms. We find evidence that risk assessments are lower when there is a relationship between risk assessments and sample size decisions, consistent with the concept of auditors working backwards to reduce required sample sizes. The firms in our study also differed in average sample sizes and number of risk assessment levels. This suggests that sensitivity of audit effort to risk may depend upon the way in which risk is assessed, and overall sample size levels.
The Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis: The Early Infiltrate of Post-primary (Adult Pulmonary) Tuberculosis: A Distinct Disease Entity

It has long been recognized that tuberculosis (TB) induces both protective and tissue damaging immune responses. This paper reviews nearly two centuries of evidence that protection and tissue damage are mediated by separate disease entities in humans. Primary TB mediates protective immunity to disseminated infection while post-primary TB causes tissue damage that results in formation of cavities. Both are necessary for continued survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Primary TB has been extensively studied in humans and animals. Post-primary TB, in contrast, is seldom recognized or studied. It begins as an asymptomatic early infiltrate that may resolve or progress by bronchogenic spread to caseous pneumonia that either fragments to produce cavities or is retained to produce post-primary granulomas and fibrocaseous disease. Primary and post-primary TB differ in typical age of onset, histopathology, organ distribution, x-ray appearance, genetic predisposition, immune status of the host, clinical course and susceptibility to protection by BCG. MTB is a highly successful human parasite because it produces both primary and post-primary TB as distinct disease entities in humans. No animal reproduces this sequence of lesions. Recognition of these facts immediately suggests plausible solutions, animal models and testable hypotheses to otherwise inaccessible questions of the immunity and pathogenesis of TB.
OPTIMAL STOPPING FOR THE LAST EXIT TIME

Given a one-dimensional downwards transient diffusion process of an explicitly defined equation.
To Live Like a Moor: Christian Perceptions of Muslim Identity in Medieval and Early Modern Spain

To Live Like a Moor represents the final piece of scholarship from the late Olivia Remie Constable, who succumbed to a sudden illness in 2014. Without a complete manuscript, her former student, Rob...
Inappropriate Medication in Home Health Care.

The Authors Reply: —We are pleased to respond to Dr. Lau and Ms. Dwyer’s letter. Dr. Lau and Ms. Dwyer point out that the validity of using the Beers list to evaluate prescribing quality among patients receiving end-of-life (EOL) care is questionable. They raise concerns about our examination of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) without distinguishing between patients receiving and not receiving EOL care in the home health setting. We agree with Dr. Lau and Ms. Dwyer that, given the different needs and treatment goals between the two patient populations, medication appropriateness should be examined by EOL status. In response, we conducted the same analysis as reported in our article, but stratified by EOL status. To define EOL status, we used a variable in the survey indicating that the patient had a life expectancy of 6 months or less or was receiving palliative/EOL care. Consistent with Lau and Dwyer, we estimated that a weighted 15.7% of our original study population were EOL patients. Estimated rate of PIM use was similar between EOL patients (36.6%, 95% CI: 29.2–44.8%) and non-EOL patients (39.0%, 95% CI: 36.0–42.1%). Lau and Dwyer mentioned several classes of medications on the Beers list that may be clinically appropriate for EOL patients. Our estimates indicate that prevalence of medication use in these classes were also comparable by EOL status. For example, 6.5% (CI: 3.6–11.4%) of EOL patients vs. 6.5% (CI: 5.1–8.2%) of non-EOL patients used antihistamines included in the Beers list. The rate of long-acting benzodiazepines use was 2.9% (CI: 1.5–5.4%) among the EOL patients vs. 2.2% (CI: 1.5–3.2%) among the non-EOL patients. Use of anticholinergic agents (including gastrointestinal antispasmodics and other anticholinergics on the Beers list) was low (1–2%) for both populations, with confidence intervals overlapping. These results indicate that our original estimate of close to 40% PIM use among older home health care patients was not driven by the potentially greater (and appropriate) use of these medications by patients with limited life expectancy or receiving EOL care. Lau and Dwyer make a legitimate point of the need to take into account EOL status when examining medication appropriateness. The policy and practice implications of our original findings, however, remain highly relevant to the vast majority of home health patients who receive active treatment.
Prevalence and Safety of Left-Footed Driving Following Right Foot Surgery Patients Including a Driving Simulation:

Background:For many patients, returning to driving after right foot and ankle surgery is a concern, and it is not uncommon for patients to ask if driving may be performed with their left foot. A paucity of literature exists to guide physician recommendations for return to driving. The purpose of this study was to describe the driving habits of patients after right-sided foot surgery and assess the safety of left-footed driving using a driving simulator.Methods:Patients who underwent right foot or ankle operations between January 2015 and December 2015 were retrospectively identified. A survey assessing driving habits prior to surgery and during the recovery period was administered via a REDCap database through email or telephone. Additionally, simulated driving scenarios were conducted using a driving simulator in 20 volunteer subjects to compare characteristics of left- versus right-footed driving.Results:Thirty-six of 96 (37%) patients who responded to the survey reported driving with the left foot post...
Transport of food- and catalytic-grade titanium dioxide nanoparticles in controlled field streams with varying streambed and biofilm conditions

With the increased use of nanoparticles (NPs) in consumer, food, and pharmaceutical products, their eventual release into streams is inevitable. Critical factors affecting the transport of NPs in streams are the hyporheic exchange between the water column and porous streambed substrate and the interaction with biofilms. In this study, the transport behavior of two titanium dioxide NPs – catalytic- (P90) and food-grade (E171) – was evaluated in four field streams lined with different streambed substrate sizes for varying seasonal biofilm conditions. When biofilm growth was minimal, NP retention in the streams increased with increasing substrate size due to increased hyporheic exchange and subsequent physical and chemical interactions between the NPs and substrate. For all streams, the average mass recovery at the 40 m sampling point for E171 and P90 was 44 ± 8.7% and 16 ± 8.0%, respectively. The greater mobility of E171 was due to the inherent presence of negatively charged surface phosphates that reduced aggregation and decreased its interaction with the substrate. When biofilms were thriving in the streams the average mass recovery at 40 m for both NPs decreased significantly (E171 = 5.8 ± 7.3%, P = 0.0017; P90 = 2.4 ± 0.7%, P = 0.041), and the mass recovery difference between the two NPs became insignificant (P = 0.38).
“What Is Bought Is Cheaper Than a Gift”: The Hidden Burdens of Gifts-in-Kind and Policies to Help

AbstractAccepting donations has been a fundamental aspect of librarianship for years. The world’s greatest collections, from Carnegie Libraries to the Library of Congress, have been built by the ge...
SURGICAL VERSUS CATHETER ABLATION IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with the high rate of stroke and mortality. The video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) radiofrequency pulmonary vein ablation is the treatment option for patient who failed catheter ablation. Randomized data comparing surgical versus
Theoretical Basis for an Edge-based, mHealth App to Guide Self-Management of Recurrent Medical Conditions

Abstract Background N-of-1 trials have been proposed as an approach to identify the optimal individual treatment for patients with a number of recurrent medical conditions, including chronic pain and mental health. When inserted into mHealth applications, this approach holds great promise to provide an automated, efficient method to individualize patient care; however, prior to implementation, an understanding of the properties of the recurrent condition needed to draw conclusions with sufficient power is needed. Methods We applied simulation studies and power calculations to determine statistical properties of the N-of-1 approach employed by an mHealth application for self-management of chronic recurrent medical conditions called the iMTracker. Results In 1000 simulated patients with a single recurrent medical condition and 5 possible associated conditions, we found that ~90 days of data collection was sufficient to identify associated risk factors with odds ratio (OR > 5.0) at power ≥ 80%, with an absolute event rate of 50% being optimal. Power calculations based on Fisher’s Exact test showed that 90 days was also sufficient to detect a decrease of 20% in the rate of the primary outcome after an intervention, but that shorter data periods could be used to identify stronger effect sizes, down to 15 days with a 90% reduction in rate. Repeat analysis with Bayesian models did not significantly change power calculations, but did allow for a flexible approach that we leveraged to create a web-based tool to allow users to perform power calculations prior to using the iMTracker for self-management. Conclusions We found that the N-of-1 approach employed in the iMTracker app for self-management of recurrent medical conditions is statistically feasible, given the right conditions. More work is needed to examine the impact of autocorrelation, seasonality, and trends in data, on statistical validity and power calculations.
Correlating dynamic microstructure to observed color in electrophoretic displays via in situ small-angle x-ray scattering

Electronic displays are nearly ubiquitous in modern society. With the drive to lower power consumption, reflective displays based on reversible electrophoretic deposition of nanoparticles have emerged as a candidate next generation display technology. Understanding the origins of color in these displays is challenging because the color is determined by the transient arrangement of particles in the electric field. In this article, a new technique, based on small angle x-ray scattering, is developed to simultaneously interrogate nanoparticle arrangement and measure color while the display is in operation. Furthermore, a particle-based numerical model of electrophoretic deposition is demonstrated to quantitatively predict transient interparticle distances during operation.
Integrating airborne remote sensing and field campaigns for ecology and Earth system science

Author(s): Chadwick, KD; Brodrick, PG; Grant, K; Goulden, T; Henderson, A; Falco, N; Wainwright, H; Williams, KH; Bill, M; Breckheimer, I; Brodie, EL; Steltzer, H; Williams, CFR; Blonder, B; Chen, J; Dafflon, B; Damerow, J; Hancher, M; Khurram, A; Lamb, J; Lawrence, CR; McCormick, M; Musinsky, J; Pierce, S; Polussa, A; Hastings Porro, M; Scott, A; Singh, HW; Sorensen, PO; Varadharajan, C; Whitney, B; Maher, K | Abstract: In recent years, the availability of airborne imaging spectroscopy (hyperspectral) data has expanded dramatically. The high spatial and spectral resolution of these data uniquely enable spatially explicit ecological studies including species mapping, assessment of drought mortality and foliar trait distributions. However, we have barely begun to unlock the potential of these data to use direct mapping of vegetation characteristics to infer subsurface properties of the critical zone. To assess their utility for Earth systems research, imaging spectroscopy data acquisitions require integration with large, coincident ground-based datasets collected by experts in ecology and environmental and Earth science. Without coordinated, well-planned field campaigns, potential knowledge leveraged from advanced airborne data collections could be lost. Despite the growing importance of this field, documented methods to couple such a wide variety of disciplines remain sparse. We coordinated the first National Ecological Observatory Network Airborne Observation Platform (AOP) survey performed outside of their core sites, which took place in the Upper East River watershed, Colorado. Extensive planning for sample tracking and organization allowed field and flight teams to update the ground-based sampling strategy daily. This enabled collection of an extensive set of physical samples to support a wide range of ecological, microbiological, biogeochemical and hydrological studies. We present a framework for integrating airborne and field campaigns to obtain high-quality data for foliar trait prediction and document an archive of coincident physical samples collected to support a systems approach to ecological research in the critical zone. This detailed methodological account provides an example of how a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team can coordinate to maximize knowledge gained from an airborne survey, an approach that could be extended to other studies. The coordination of imaging spectroscopy surveys with appropriately timed and extensive field surveys, along with high-quality processing of these data, presents a unique opportunity to reveal new insights into the structure and dynamics of the critical zone. To our knowledge, this level of co-aligned sampling has never been undertaken in tandem with AOP surveys and subsequent studies utilizing this archive will shed considerable light on the breadth of applications for which imaging spectroscopy data can be leveraged.
An Adaptive Bayesian Design for Personalized Dosing in a Cancer Prevention Trial

Introduction In biomarker-driven clinical trials, translational strategies typically involve moving findings from animal experiments to human trials. Typically, the translation is static, using a fixed model derived from animal experiments for the duration of the trial. Bayesian designs, capable of incorporating information external to the experiment, provide a dynamic translational strategy. This article demonstrates an example of such a dynamic Bayesian strategy in a clinical trial. Methods This study explored the effect of a personalized dose of fish oil for reducing prostaglandin E2, an inflammatory marker linked to colorectal cancer. A Bayesian design was implemented for the dose-finding algorithm that adaptively updated a dose–response model derived from a previously completed animal study during the clinical trial. In the initial stages of the trial, the dose–response model parameters were estimated from the rodent data. The model was updated following a Bayesian algorithm after data on every 10‒15 subjects were obtained until the model stabilized. Subjects were enrolled in the study between 2013 and 2015, and the data analysis was carried out in 2016. Results The 3 dosing models were used for groups of 16, 15, and 15 subjects. The mean target dose significantly decreased from 6.63 g/day (Model 1) to 4.06 g/day (Model 3) (p=0.001). Compared with the static strategy of dosing with a single model, the dynamic modeling reduced the dose significantly by about 1.38 g/day on average. Conclusions A Bayesian design was effective in adaptively revising the dosing algorithm, resulting in a lower pill burden. Trial registration This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01860352.
Durable Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients With Amyloid Cardiomyopathy: Insights From INTERMACS.

Background: Many patients with amyloid cardiomyopathy (ACM) develop advanced heart failure, and durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may be a consideration. However, data describing clinica...
A feed-forward regulatory loop in adipose tissue promotes signaling by the hepatokine FGF21

The cJun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is activated by metabolic stress and promotes the development of metabolic syndrome, including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance. This integrated physiological response involves cross-talk between different organs. Here we demonstrate that JNK signaling in adipocytes causes an increased circulating concentration of the hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) that regulates systemic metabolism. The mechanism of organ crosstalk is mediated by a feed-forward regulatory loop caused by JNK-regulated FGF21 autocrine signaling in adipocytes that promotes increased expression of the adipokine adiponectin and subsequent hepatic expression of the hormone FGF21. The mechanism of organ cross-talk places circulating adiponectin downstream of autocrine FGF21 expressed by adipocytes and upstream of endocrine FGF21 expressed by hepatocytes. This regulatory loop represents a novel signaling paradigm that connects autocrine and endocrine signaling modes of the same hormone in different tissues.
Government Subsidies of R&D in a Product Cycle Framework: U.S.-Japan Simulations

We examine the welfare effects of R&D subsidies using a product cycle model of trade between two developed countries. We simulate steady-state welfare in Japan and the U.S. for high- and low-skilled labor over different combinations of subsidy rates. Japanese subsidies to R&D usually benefit Americans due to an increase in product variety. However, because Japanese R&D reduces wages in the U.S. high-tech sector, American high-skilled workers are hurt if Japanese subsidies are too large. Large American subsidies may cause Japanese innovation to cease. However, Japanese steady-state welfare would be maximized in this case.
Conundra of the Berne Convention Concept of the Country of Origin

This essay explores one of the most important, but occasionally intractable, issues under the Berne Convention, the concept of Country of Origin. Article 5(4) of that treaty defines a work’s country of origin, but leaves out several situations, leaving those who interpret and apply the treaty without guidance in ascertaining the country of origin. I will call those situations the “Conundra of the country of origin,” and will explore two of them here. First, what is the country of origin of an unpublished work whose authors are nationals of different countries? Second, what is the country of origin of a work exclusively made available over digital networks? In both situations, in the absence of treaty specification, the work may have multiple countries of origin. A plurality of countries of origin may be problematic because, under Berne art. 5(3) “Protection in the country of origin is governed by domestic law.” Berne minimum protections do not apply to local works in their countries of origin. As a result, the greater the number of countries of origin, the fewer the number of countries in which the work must receive the minimum Conventional coverage. Even where minimum protections may apply, variations in the country of origin can affect the calculus of copyright term under art. 7(8), the availability of coverage for works of applied art under art. 2(7), and claims to artists’ resale royalties under art. 14ter; in all those cases, the availability of protection turns not on national treatment, but on reciprocity with the country of origin.
When are Gender Quotas Fulfilled? Strategy and Context in Ukrainian City Elections

Many studies have investigated why countries across the globe have adopted gender quotas for their elections. In this article, we answer a different question: why do political parties comply with gender quotas when the costs of compliance are absent or minimal. To answer the question, we analyze data from the 2015 city elections in Ukraine, including 1,630 party lists from 106 parties competing in 121 cities. Our subnational approach allows us to test whether contextual factors flagged by the broader gender literature explain variation in compliance across Ukrainian localities. The results of our models support our contention that Ukrainian political parties behaved strategically in terms of nominations and quota compliance. We find that urbanization and female incumbency fueled quota compliance. Parties, however, were less likely to comply with quotas in cities with more religious and nationalist populations. Taken together, parties acted strategical, complying with the quota based on local context.
Leveraging LinkedIn: How Can Educators Help College Students Market Themselves?

To successfully transition from college to career, community college students must be prepared to sell their skills to potential employers. LinkedIn, the world’s leading professional networking web...
Constraint Factors Affecting Non-Attendance in Collegiate Volleyball

The focus of this study was to analyze constraint factors affecting non-attendance in sports. Few research studies have investigated the topic of non-attendance, and even fewer have sample representation of respondents who did not attend games. A survey was used to measure the impact of 12 constraint factors (41 total items) on non-attendance at women’s college volleyball. The results of a logistical regression indicated that non-attendance of those who had never attended a match was predicted by the factors of financial cost, lack of knowledge, and no interest from others, while non-attendance of those who had previously attended was predicted by other sport entertainment and lack of success. These findings should be used to help marketers of typically lower-attended sports realize in development of strategies to increase attendance, more of a focus should be put towards their core product and enhancement of the event atmosphere, rather than on constraints.
A Simple Method for Bounding the Elasticity of Growing Demand with Applications to the Analysis of Historic Antitrust Cases

We propose a simple method, requiring only minimal data, for bounding demand elasticities in growing, homogeneous-product markets. Since growing demand curves cannot cross, shifts in market equilibrium over time can be used to "funnel" the demand curve into a narrow region, bounding its slope. Our featured application assesses the antitrust remedy in the 1952 DuPont decision, ordering incumbents to license patents for commercial plastics. We bound the demand elasticity significantly below 1 in many post-remedy years, inconsistent with monopoly, supporting the remedy's effectiveness. A second application investigates whether the 1911 dissolution of American Tobacco fostered competition in the cigarette market.
The cognitive activity of sleep.

Publisher Summary Inferences about cognitive capacity are typically based on measures of physiological, mental and motoric events, but measurement of these is restricted or made ambiguous by sleep. For example, a reliable motor response to a discriminative stimulus suggests the occurrence of perception and recognition. However, sleeping organisms are biologically unprepared for motor responsiveness, which is incompatible with energy conservation and optimal tissue repair. Biological or experimental conditions which minimize the motivation, capacity or opportunity for motor activity may, therefore, lead to false inferences about underlying events. Likewise, the ambiguity of physiological responsiveness, and the unreliability of memory complicate investigations of the nature and significance of cognitive activity during sleep. Momentary responsiveness to the environment is only one facet of the problem. Another is the extent to which the organism is permanently modified by cognitive processes during sleep. This chapter presents the evidence that sleeping organisms are capable of detecting and recognizing relatively familiar information. Later the chapter considers the capacity to retain some permanent trace of the mental experiences during sleep, whether induced by external stimulation or generated spontaneously. Finally, the chapter discusses research bearing on the assumption that the rapid-eye-movement (REM) period plays a special role in the reinforcement and adaptive integration of waking experience.
Empirical Studies of Corporate Law

This chapter reviews the empirical literature, especially the event study literature, as it relates to corporate and securities law. Event studies are among the most successful uses of econometrics in policy analysis. By providing an anchor for measuring the impact of events on investor wealth, the methodology offers a fruitful means for evaluating the welfare implications of private and government actions. This chapter begins by briefly reviewing the event study methodology and its strengths and limitations for policy analysis. It then discusses one of the limitations of more conventional empirical work (cross-sectional analysis), the problem presented by the fact that the characteristics of firms that are studied in relation to each other (such as ownership and mechanisms of corporate governance) or to firm performance are not exogenous but self-selected by firms. Thereafter it reviews in detail how event studies have been used to evaluate the wealth effects of corporate litigation. Subsequently, we focus on the methodology's application to corporate law and corporate governance issues, supplemented with discussion of other relevant empirical work as well. Event studies are emphasized because they have played an important role in the making of corporate law and in applied corporate finance and corporate law scholarship. The reason for this input is twofold. First, there is a match between the methodology and subject matter: the goal of corporate law is to increase shareholder wealth and event studies provide a metric for measurement of the impact upon stock prices of policy decisions. Second, because the participants in corporate law debates share the objective of corporate law, to adopt policies that enhance shareholder wealth, their disagreements are over the means to achieve that end. A further reason for emphasizing event study data is that they avoid the endogeneity concerns that can limit the results of other modes of empirical research in this area. Because the empirical literature related to corporate and securities law is vast, the chapter is necessarily selective and omits important topics and individual contributions in the field.
A tunable 0.6 GHz – 1.7 GHz bandpass filter with a constant bandwidth using switchable varactor-tuned resonators

This work reports on a tunable second-order bandpass filter with a constant bandwidth using switchable varactor-tuned resonators. A wide center frequency tuning range of 600 MHz to 1711 MHz is obtained using p-i-n diodes to switch in and out λ/4 or λ/2 resonators for low-band or high-band modes, without increasing the tuning capacitance range of the varactors. A combination of electric and magnetic coupling is utilized to realize a near constant absolute bandwidth across the tuning range. The filter is fabricated on a Duroid substrate with e r =2.2 and h=0.787 mm. When the p-i-n diodes are on, the center frequency is tuned form 1070 MHz to 600 MHz while maintaining a 3-dB bandwidth of 114±10 MHz, insertion loss of less than 3.3 dB, and return loss of better than 15 dB. The IIP 3 and P 1dB are better 18.6 dBm and 12 dBm, respectively. When the p-i-n diodes are off, the center frequency is tuned form 1711 MHz to 1070 MHz (and potentially down to 1000 MHz) while maintaining a 3-dB bandwidth of 88±8 MHz, insertion loss of less than 4 dB, and return loss of better than 13 dB. The IIP 3 and P 1dB are better 13.5 dBm and 10 dBm, respectively. The rejection level at 200-MHz offset frequency from the passband center frequency is better than 22 dB across the entire tuning range. To our knowledge, this planar bandpass filter exhibits the widest tuning range with a near-constant bandwidth.
Payday Peonage: Thirteenth Amendment Implications In Payday Lending

During the recent economic downturn, payday lenders’ business and profits have soared while traditional banks have tightened up their lending practices and experienced plummeting stock values. Payday lenders thrive in depressed economic climates. They do so by making short term, high interest loans to the underclass, generally the poor in urban and immigrant communities who need money to meet basic needs and who are without the sophistication to properly assess the risks of payday loans. Members of the underclass, therefore, are especially vulnerable to and ideal targets for predatory practices and exploitive loans. As the underclass, almost by definition, do not have the resources to pay back payday loans, they must “rollover” the loans and must eventually owe exponentially more than the terms of their original loan. In effect, payday loans enrich lenders while perpetuating the limited economic and social position of the underclass. As a result, the payday lending industry must be regulated. This article argues that the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution – which formally ended slavery – is the proper vehicle for Congress to impose federal usury caps on payday loans. In order to make this case, this Article provides an overview of payday lending practices; describes the underclass; discusses the Thirteenth Amendment, including its ratification, judicial history, and modern development; and then applies the Thirteenth Amendment to payday lending and the underclass. Much has been written on the subject of payday lending practices, notably Professor Nathalie Martin’s work on the predatory nature of payday lenders. Yet, the Thirteenth Amendment implications of payday lending have not been addressed and little has been done to address the conditions faced by the underclass. This paper makes clear that the Thirteenth Amendment is triggered by payday lenders’ targeting of a vulnerable social and economic people and that the Amendment provides an appropriate avenue for regulating this particular industry.
Specific Physician Orders Improve Pain Detection and Pain Reports in Nursing Home Residents: Preliminary Data.

Despite evidence that many nursing home residents' pain is poorly managed, reasons for this poor management remain unanswered. The aim of this study was to determine if specific order sets related to pain assessment would improve pain management in nursing home (NH) residents. Outcomes included observed nurse pain assessment queries and resident reports of pain. The pretest/post-test study was performed in a 240-bed for-profit nursing home in the mid-southern region of the United States and participants were 43 nursing home residents capable of self-consent. Medical chart abstraction was performed during a 2-week (14-day) period before the implementation of specific order sets for pain assessment (intervention) and a 2-week (14-day) period after the intervention. Trained research assistants observed medication administration passes and performed participant interviews after each medication pass. One month after intervention implementation, 1 additional day of observations was conducted to determine data reliability. Nurses were observed to ask residents about pain more frequently, and nurses continued to ask about pain at higher rates 1 month after the intervention was discontinued. The proportion of residents who reported pain also significantly increased in response to increased nurse queries (e.g., "Do you have any pain right now?"), which underscores the importance of nurses directly asking residents about pain. Notably 70% of this long-stay NH population only told the nurses about their pain symptoms when asked directly. Findings uncover that using specific pain order sets seems to improve the detection of pain, which should be a routine part of nursing assessment.
Mapping of the Tryptophan Genes of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus by Transformation

Auxotrophs of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus blocked in each reaction of the synthetic pathway from chorismic acid to tryptophan were obtained after N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. One novel class was found to be blocked in both anthranilate and p-aminobenzoate synthesis; these mutants (trpG) require p-aminobenzoate or folate as well as tryptophan (or anthranilate) for growth. The loci of six other auxotrophic classes requiring only tryptophan were defined by growth, accumulation, and enzymatic analysis where appropriate. The trp mutations map in three chromosomal locations. One group contains trpC and trpD (indoleglycerol phosphate synthetase and phosphoribosyl transferase) in addition to trpG mutations; this group is closely linked to a locus conferring a glutamate requirement. Another cluster contains trpA and trpB, coding for the two tryptophan synthetase (EC 4.2.1.20) subunits, along with trpF (phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase); this group is weakly linked to a his marker. The trpE gene, coding for the large subunit of anthranilate synthetase, is unlinked to any of the above. This chromosomal distribution of the trp genes has not been observed in other organisms.
Male-Infant Interactions in Baboons and Macaques: A Critique and Reevaluation

A critical reexamination of the empirical data on male-infant interactions among baboons and macaques reveals a number of significant contrasts between them. On an absolute and relative scale, the frequency of occurrence among baboons is rare. When male baboons do interact with infants, only a small proportion of all available male actors do so, and even fewer still (less than one-quarter) account for any substantial percentage of all interactions. In contrast, macaque males are very frequently and commonly involved with infants; all males of the group interact with infants to some degree, and a greater proportion of all the group's males can be characterized as “heavily involved” with infants. The rejection of the role of kinship in interpreting this phenomenon, especially as it occurs among baboons, has rested almost exclusively on the pattern of estimated paternity between male and infant from behavioral (consort) criteria. These behavioralbased data are incomplete at best, possibly incorrect in some instances, and in fact, in many studies kinship appears to be a predominant factor. Until patrilineal data are derived from independent cytogenetic studies, these evolutionary interpretations must be viewed with extreme skepticism.
Free volume theory and nonlinear thermoviscoelasticity

The rheological behavior of polymers in the neighborhood of the glass transition is investigated in the framework of the free volume theory of nonlinear viscoelastic behavior. Free volume theory as normally applied above the glass transition is modified to account for the effect of the residual volume of vacancies below the glass transition; this modification is accomplished by modeling the changes in the state of the polymer as the sum of viscoelastic changes and a random disturbance deriving from the thermal collisions between molecule segments. The changes in mechanical properties in passing across the glass transition follow from the freezing-in of relaxation mechanisms and of free volume; the model, which also incorporates a time-dependent coefficient of thermal expansion under isobaric conditions, does not require additional parameters other than those characterizing the rubbery state. The pressure dependence of the glass transition is found to be in qualitiative agreement with measurements on PVAc, while the ratio of the glassy and rubbery heat capacities is found to coincide with the ratio of the equilibrium bulk compliances in the glassy and rubbery domains.
Chloroplast biogenesis by Arabidopsis seedlings is impaired in the presence of exogenous glucose

Seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. fail to become green when germinated and grown on media containing high concentrations of glucose (Glc). Although previous studies have shown that sugar concentration affects chlorophyll levels and photosynthetic gene expression, the possibility that sugar concentration might affect actual chloroplast biogenesis has received little attention. Therefore, experiments were conducted to determine whether germination and growth on Glc impairs development of mature chloroplasts from the proplastids found in plant embryos. To monitor chloroplast biogenesis, the levels of a chloroplast-specific fatty acid, hexadecatrienoic (16:3) fatty acid, were measured in Arabidopsis seedlings grown on media containing different concentrations of Glc. These experiments indicate that moderate concentrations of Glc delay accumulation of 16:3. The effects of Glc on 16:3 levels are not solely due to osmotic stress, as equi-molar and even twice equi-molar concentrations of sorbitol do not exert comparable effects. Seedlings grown on concentrations of Glc high enough to prevent greening accumulate almost no 16:3, even after 22 days of growth under continuous light conditions. The lack of 16:3, a major structural component of chloroplast membranes, suggests that seedlings do not develop mature chloroplasts when grown in the presence of high concentrations of exogenous Glc. Further support for this hypothesis is provided by electron microscopy studies revealing that seedlings grown on high concentrations of Glc lack identifiable chloroplasts. Although Glc has been reported to inhibit chloroplast development in unicellular organisms, similar studies on intact higher plants have been lacking.
Explosions in Lorenz maps

Abstract We introduce a map to describe the systematics of orbit creation and annihilation in Lorenz-like dynamical systems. This map, y ′ = b - | y | , has a singular maximum and is useful for describing flows that undergo a tear-and-squeeze route to chaos. We call this map the Lorenz map. We find: much of the dynamics is determined by the bifurcations of the period-one and period-two orbits; orbits are created in explosions (singular saddle-node bifurcations) based on two symbols s 0 , s 1 , and later removed in inverse processes that are implosions. The order in which direct and inverse explosions occur generally follows the inverse order shown by the logistic map. In the entire parameter range only one regular saddle-node bifurcation and one period-doubling bifurcation occurs.
An Empirical Investigation of Signaling in the Motion Picture Industry

Abstract The contribution of this research lies in the use of real-world data to test several hypotheses about the role of two signals—sequels and advertising expenditures—in the motion picture industry. The authors analyze the data with a dynamic simultaneous-equations model of the drivers and the interrelationships of the behaviors of movie audiences, studios, and exhibitors. Specifically, the authors test for the attenuating role of third-party information sources, such as critics' review consensus and cumulative word of mouth, on the strength of the two aforementioned signals. The authors find evidence of such an effect both at the release phase across movies and over the postrelease phase for any movie. Notably, they hypothesize and show that sequels and advertising expenditures have a positive interaction effect on box office revenues. This is an important finding because though most firms use multiple signals for their products, empirical work on the interaction of two or more signals is rare. This...
The role of dynamic digital menu boards in consumer decision making

Digital Signage has become a common-place feature in many public spaces and retail establishments; yet, only limited research has been reported to date on these technologies. For example, questions such as their effect on decision-making, cognitive load, and purchase behavior have yet to be examined. In an effort to attract more attention and increase effectiveness, venders of digital signage are rapidly enhancing features and capabilities for these displays. For example, displays are moving from simple 2d screens to 3d auto-stereoscopic screens, screens featuring multimodal forms of interaction are replacing static displays, and display-only screens are being replaced by displays capable of recognizing user characteristics. An important "new" type of display is the dynamic digital menu board, which combines digital signage with the power of video. Surprisingly, despite its increasingly common use in areas as diverse as education and retail, only limited academic research on digital signage has been conducted in areas such as marketing with little attention coming from the HCI field. Our research is focused on addressing this shortcoming by applying theories from HCI, marketing, and information systems to investigate the role of video and dynamic digital menu board display characteristics on consumer decision-making. We hypothesize that each consumer decision-making stage will be affected by the "vividness" of video in dynamic digital menu boards.
Message-encoding techniques for augmentative communication systems: the recall performances of adults with severe speech impairments.

This study investigated the cognitive and linguistic processing demands of message-encoding techniques used to retrieve prestored messages from computer-based augmentative communication systems. Tw...