cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Facing Challenge and Copin g Strategy of China's Public Health System Construction

China's public health development lags behind economic and other social businesses so far. The contradiction between the present condition of public health and people's increasing health demand is quite conspicuous. From the perspective of public management theory, it studies the mechanism of public health system, its interaction with society and its socio-cultural influences. It proposes to construct sustainable development of public health mechanism to reach the aim of the ordered development and sustainability of basic public health services.
The Debt Money Ratio: What Are the Limits?

While the consequences of government deficits on the economy has been a continuing concern in the economic literature, the recent large increase in the US federal budget deficits has renewed interest in the topic. Most of the studies have concentrated on the same questions; one of them concerns the possible ways of financing the deficit. In general, a government deficit must be financed by selling bonds and printing money. The issue is: Can the monetary authority choose the trajectory of the money supply without considering the size of the deficit? The answer depends upon the feasibility of financing the deficit by selling bonds only. If this is possible, the money supply can be held constant in the presence of a government deficit and the monetary authorities do not need to accommodate fiscal deficits.
TCAD modeling of a lateral GaN HEMT using empirical data

This work presents a procedure for creating high-fidelity TCAD models of lateral GaN/AlGaN FETs. This modeling process is based on iterative refinement using experimental data as well as known device geometry. By tuning charge density in the channel of the device and scattering under the gate, both the transfer and forward curves of the device were accurately modeled. Knowledge of device geometry and anisotropic physics was used to accurately model the non-linear terminal capacitances of the device. This modeling procedure was performed on both a recessed gate device with full knowledge of the device's geometry. The model developed here will be used in future work to assess the impact of design decisions.
Evaluation of a Janus Kinase 1 Inhibitor, PF-04965842, in Healthy Subjects: A Phase 1, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Escalation Study

AIMS To determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the Janus kinase 1-selective inhibitor, PF-04965842. METHODS This was a phase 1, first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, combination single- and multiple-dose escalation, parallel design study in healthy subjects (http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01835197). Subjects received a single dose of placebo or 3, 10, 30, 100, 200, 400 or 800 mg PF-04965842 (single ascending dose phase) and placebo or 30 mg once daily (QD), 100 mg QD, 200 mg QD, 400 mg QD, 100 mg twice daily (BID) or 200 mg BID PF-04965842 for 10 consecutive days (multiple ascending dose phase). The primary objective was to determine the safety and tolerability of PF-04965842. RESULTS Seventy-nine subjects were randomized and received study treatments. There were no deaths or serious adverse events. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events were headache (n = 13), diarrhoea (n = 11) and nausea (n = 11). PF-04965842 was absorbed rapidly (median time at which maximum plasma concentration occurred generally ≤1 h following either single- or multiple-dose administration) and eliminated rapidly (mean t½ 2.8-5.2 h after 10 days of QD or BID administration in the multiple ascending dose phase). Increases in maximum plasma concentration and area under the concentration-time curve were dose proportional up to 200 mg (single or total daily doses) with an apparent trend towards greater than proportional increases with higher doses. Less than 4.4% of the dose was recovered unchanged in urine. Changes in pharmacodynamic biomarkers were consistent with the known effects of Janus kinase signalling inhibition. CONCLUSIONS These results support further evaluation of PF-04965842 for clinical use in patients with inflammatory diseases.
Prospective study of the impact of peri-implant soft tissue properties on patient-reported and clinically assessed outcomes.

BACKGROUND It has been proposed that the presence of a zone of keratinized mucosa (KM) around implants is associated with less discomfort during brushing and improved esthetic outcomes. Therefore, mucogingival procedures have been recommended for patients with discomfort during brushing, and to enhance esthetic results around implants without KM. However, no study has systematically assessed and compared discomfort during brushing, patient soft tissue esthetic satisfaction, and other clinical parameters between implants with and without KM. METHODS Group 1 included patients with implants surrounded by KM, whereas patients in Group 2 had no KM around implants. Patient discomfort during brushing and esthetic satisfaction were measured with a visual analog scale and compared between the 2 groups using a mixed model. Clinical width of KM, probing depth, peri-implant recession, plaque index, and bleeding on probing were compared within and between groups 3 and 6 months following implant restoration. RESULTS Twenty-four patients (12 in each group) were evaluated at the 3- and 6-month follow-up visits. Patients without peri-implant KM were less satisfied with the esthetics of the soft tissue around their implants (P < 0.01). However, lack of KM was not associated with discomfort during brushing. In Group 1, width of KM was significantly increased after 6 months (P < 0.01). There was greater recession around implants without KM after 3 months (P < 0.01), but not after 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Patients reported that presence or absence of keratinized mucosa did not affect discomfort associated with brushing. Yet, esthetically, patients preferred implants with a zone of keratinized mucosa.
To a beginning psychotherapist : How to conduct individual psychotherapy

The paper presents a realistic orientation to the practice of primarily insight psychotherapy. The principles, basic assumptions, and practical considerations are nevertheless applicable to all serious psychotherapy. Therapy is here understood not as a science or a matter of technique but as a collaborative and uniquely personal exploration of the patient's difficulties in living. Psychotherapy is thus seen as a search for meaning rather than for cure, with the hope that knowing what they are doing with their lives will enhance the ability of patients to live with more effectiveness and fulfillment. The limitations of therapy and therapists are fully recognized. Specific guidelines for initiating and conducting therapy are designed to promote genuine progress and reduce the risk of errors that are so easily made even by the experienced. As the medium of therapy, the patient-therapist interplay is presented from the perspective of both patient and therapist. The intelligent use of empathy and interpretation and the manifold forms of resistance all receive their share of attention. The paper concludes with a consideration of values, morality, and the importance of recognizing and respecting the spiritual dimension.
Critical Determinants of Human Colon Cancer Metastasis

By the time of diagnosis, human colorectal carcinomas are heterogeneous and contain a large number of subpopulations of cells with diverse biological properties that include invasion and metastasis. The tumor cell heterogeneity is directed by both genetic and epigenetic events and may also be modulated by cell-to-cell interactions and tissue microenvironments. To produce metastasis, tumor cells must complete a series of sequential, interrelated, selective steps that include growth, vascularization, invasion into host stroma and entrance into the circulation, survival in the circulation and adhesion to capillary endothelial cells, extravasation into the organ parenchyma, response to local growth factors, proliferation, and induction of vascularization. All of these sequential steps must be completed by tumor cells if a metastasis is to develop. Although some of the steps in this process contain stochastic elements, metastasis as a whole favors the survival and growth of a few subpopulations of tumor cells that preexist within the heterogeneous parent neoplasm. Metastases can have a clonal origin, and different metastases can originate from the proliferation of single cells. Because each of the discrete steps in the pathogenesis of a metastasis is regulated by one or several independent genes, the identification of cells with metastatic potential in heterogeneous primary human tumors requires multiparametric— multivariate analysis of gene expression The pathogenesis of metastasis depends on multiple favorable interactions of metastatic cells with host homeostatic mechanisms. Interruption of one or more of these interactions can lead to the inhibition or eradication of cancer metastasis. For many years, all of our efforts to treat cancer have concentrated on the inhibition or destruction of tumor cells. The recent advancements in our understanding of the biologic basis of cancer metastasis recommend that metastases could be eradicated by both treatment of the tumor cells and modulation of the host environment.
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia: Biological, Psychological, and Sociocultural Aspects

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by severe weight loss from self-induced starvation and fear of fatness, with loss of menstrual periods in women or decreased sexual drive in men. It occurs frequently but not exclusively in young women. Its origins are obscure despite the presence of many theories. Anorexia nervosa often presents to the medical profession in disguised form and manifests to the clinician an extreme physiological state usually occurring as a result of serious medical disease. Anorexia nervosa has been the subject of many recent medical and psychological investigations and appears to be increasing in incidence. It presents a very contemporary challenge to medical scientists because of its relationship to societal trends on one hand and its obvious biological and psychological components on the other hand. Its companion disorder, bulimia, is characterized by episodes of compulsive overeating followed by attempts to avoid the caloric consequences of the binge by self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or strenous exercise. These two disorders share many biological and psychopathological features and may evolve from one into the other, principally from anorexia nervosa into bulimia. While anorexia nervosa is of ancient origin, bulimia as a separate, diagnosable disorder has only recently been clinically defined.
Narrative pedagogy: rethinking nursing education

Narrative pedagogy is an interpretive approach to teaching and learning that is being used to foster educational reform. As it pertains to nursing education, narrative pedagogy is an approach to thinking about teaching and learning that evolves from the lived experiences of teachers, clinicians, and students. In this article, the author reviews the philosophical underpinnings of narrative pedagogy, provides examples of how narrative pedagogy can be used to rethink the teaching of nursing knowledge and practice, and discusses the strengths and limitations of narrative pedagogy as an alternative approach to teaching and learning.
A comparative analysis of antidepressants and stimulants for the treatment of adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND Adults who identify themselves as having problems with attention and concentration will often make an office visit to request treatment with a stimulant medication, rather than an antidepressant. The uncertainty of the diagnosis and the prospect of a long-term prescription with a stimulant medication can create a dilemma for physicians. METHODS We searched MEDLINE for any English-language studies of antidepressant or stimulant treatment of adults with attention deficits. References from relevant articles were reviewed to supplement the MEDLINE search. RESULTS Antidepressants and stimulants seem to be equally effective for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recent controlled studies suggest that desipramine (an antidepressant) may be as effective as methylphenidate (a stimulant) for improving symptoms of adult ADHD. CONCLUSIONS Although few good controlled studies exist, the available research suggests that certain antidepressants and stimulants are equally effective for adults with ADHD. Antidepressants may offer a safe first-line treatment for adults with ADHD.
Naturalism: Tian and Qi

In this chapter, I discuss Wang Chong’s supposed “naturalism”, in light of his views on concepts such as tian (nature), qi (vital essence), and ziran (spontaneity). I spend the first part of this chapter discussing the issue of naturalism in general and its applicability to early Chinese thought, and the question of whether Wang can be seen as developing a naturalist view as opposed to other metaphysical views in the Han. I then move on to discuss his views on the relationship between the operation of nature, spontaneous (or nonwilled) activity, and vital essence.
Extracting the turbulent flow-field from beam emission spectroscopy images using velocimetry

The 2D turbulent E × B flow-field is inferred from density fluctuation images obtained with the beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic on DIII-D using the orthogonal dynamic programming velocimetry algorithm. A synthetic turbulence model is used to test the algorithm and optimize it for measuring zonal flows. Zonal flow measurements are found to require a signal-to-noise ratio above ∼10 and a zonal flow wavelength longer than ∼2 cm. Comparison between the velocimetry-estimated flow-field and the E × B flow-field using a nonlinear gyrokinetic GENE simulation finds that the flow-fields have identical spatial structure and differ only by the mean turbulence phase velocity, which is spatially uniform in this flux tube simulation.
Reaching for the Star: A Model for Integrating Creativity in Education

The education system is under duress. Key stakeholders constantly pressure educators to both improve test scores and prepare students for an uncertain future. Given these potentially competing demands, it is essential for creativity researchers to provide practical advice for teachers as to how they can build creativity into education. This means giving clear guidance on what educators need to know, what they need to do, and possibly how to do it. This chapter addresses these questions by exploring a Five-Point Star model that offers a path for integrating creative thinking into the curriculum. The first point of the star helps educators understand what creativity is, dispels the myths of creativity, and positions why it is more important now than ever. The second point enables educators to identify their creativity skills and develop their creative thinking abilities. The third point frames the physical and psychological climate for creativity in the classroom. Point four explores how to weave creative thinking skills into any content, by using the Torrance Incubation Model. Finally, point five discusses creativity and problem solving as a course within the curriculum.
New nanoscale toughening mechanisms mitigate embrittlement in binary nanocrystalline alloys.

Nanocrystalline metals offer significant improvements in structural performance over conventional alloys. However, their performance is limited by grain boundary instability and limited ductility. Solute segregation has been proposed as a stabilization mechanism, however the solute atoms can embrittle grain boundaries and further degrade the toughness. In the present study, we confirm the embrittling effect of solute segregation in Pt–Au alloys. However, more importantly, we show that inhomogeneous chemical segregation to the grain boundary can lead to a new toughening mechanism termed compositional crack arrest. Energy dissipation is facilitated by the formation of nanocrack networks formed when cracks arrested at regions of the grain boundaries that were starved in the embrittling element. This mechanism, in concert with triple junction crack arrest, provides pathways to optimize both thermal stability and energy dissipation. A combination of in situ tensile deformation experiments and molecular dynamics simulations elucidate both the embrittling and toughening processes that can occur as a function of solute content.
Study of a Convolutional Autoencoder for Automatic Generation of MR-based Attenuation Map in PET/MR

Recently, simultaneous PET/MR imaging systems have shown promise to provide simultaneous molecular and morphological evaluation of a variety of diseases [1]. However, challenges in MR-based attenuation correction (MRAC) methods still pose a problem for accurate quantification of PET images. Due to the difficulty of imaging and segmenting bone with MR sequences, all commercially available MRAC methods for simultaneous PET/MR ignore bone in the attenuation maps for whole-body attenuation correction, with the exception of brain imaging. Since bone has the highest attenuation coefficient in the body, ignoring bone will lead to underestimation of PET standardized uptake values (SUV) in and immediately adjacent to bone structures [2].Traditional machine learning algorithms have been used to train atlas database to predict attenuation coefficients for MRAC [3]. However, deep learning techniques with convolutional autoencoder networks have never been studied for MRAC purposes. The autoencoder network [4] turns out to be an appropriate structure for this goal. In this work, we study the use of a modified autoencoder network for automatic generation of MR-based attenuation maps.
Pathogenesis of age-related HIV neurodegeneration.

People over the age of 50 are the fastest growing segment of the HIV-infected population in the USA. Although antiretroviral therapy has remarkable success controlling the systemic HIV infection, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) prevalence has increased or remained the same among this group, and cognitive deficits appear more severe in aged patients with HIV. The mechanisms of HAND in the aged population are not completely understood; a leading hypothesis is that aged individuals with HIV might be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or one of the AD-related dementias (ADRD). There are a number of mechanisms through which chronic HIV disease alone or in combination with antiretroviral therapy and other comorbidities (e.g., drug use, hepatitis C virus (HCV)) might be contributing to HAND in individuals over the age of 50 years, including (1) overlapping pathogenic mechanisms between HIV and aging (e.g., decreased proteostasis, DNA damage, chronic inflammation, epigenetics, vascular), which could lead to accelerated cellular aging and neurodegeneration and/or (2) by promoting pathways involved in AD/ADRD neuropathogenesis (e.g., triggering amyloid β, Tau, or α-synuclein accumulation). In this manuscript, we will review some of the potential common mechanisms involved and evidence in favor and against a role of AD/ADRD in HAND.
Prevalence of childhood growth hormone deficiency in survivors of pediatric intracranial germ cell tumors.

e22526Background: Survival rates for childhood cancer continue to rise, and there are now greater than 420,000 survivors in the United States. However, high cure rates come at the cost of short and...
H2-pressure broadening and frequency shifts of methane in the v2+v3 band measured in the temperature range between 80 and 370 K

Abstract We have made the measurements of H2-broadened line shape parameters of CH4 transitions in the v2+v3 band located at 2.2 µm. These measurements support atmospheric opacity calculations of cold giant planets, hot Jupiters, and low mass brown dwarfs, for which H2 is the dominant atmospheric constituent. For this reason, a series of spectra of pure CH4 and CH4 H2 mixtures were obtained in the Octad (4100–4600 cm−1) region for a wide temperature range between 80 and 370 K using a Bruker 125HR high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Three custom-designed gas absorption cells vacuum-coupled to the FTS were used to obtain the spectra. All spectra were fit simultaneously using a multispectrum non-linear least-squares fitting software, which adopts a speed-dependent Voigt line shape using full line mixing taken into account through a relaxation matrix operation. H2 pressure broadened half-widths, and H2 pressure-induced shift coefficients were determined in 11 J-manifolds covering P(4) – R(6) plus the Q-branch. The temperature dependences of the width and shift coefficients were determined based upon the power law and the linear models. Collisional line mixing coefficients for CH4 H2 were retrieved for ten transition pairs. For the same transitions, speed dependence parameters for the CH4 H2 transitions were found to be smaller than for CH4-air-broadening. We have compiled the retrieved line parameters in an electronic format and reported as supplemental document. This will facilitate the analyses of planetary and exoplanetary atmospheres using ground-, air- and space-based observations (e.g., Keck I and II, SOFIA, JWST).
Ecology and Society in a Neoliberal Era, 1980–2010

Game theory showed ways that individual-level evolution could lead to human cooperation. Climate studies showed past fluctuations and current dangers in climate; ecological studies showed complex interaction among species; genetics confirmed the African origin of humanity. As theories sharpened, debates about “reductionism” raged across the sciences. Cultural evolution arose to propose a “dual inheritance” linking biological ancestry preserved in DNA to social learning preserved in brains. Other studies debated changing brain size, origins of language, non-verbal communication, size of human groups, and changing levels of human violence. Political economy of World-Systems developed multidisciplinary theory and data to pursue interaction in networks of polities and economies. World history publication began, addressing long-term patterns in human history (115).
Polyvalent Guide RNAs for CRISPR Antivirals

ABSTRACT CRISPR biotechnologies, where CRISPR effectors recognize and degrade specific nucleic acid targets that are complementary to their guide RNA (gRNA) cofactors, have been primarily used as a tool for precision gene editing1 but possess an emerging potential for novel antiviral diagnostics, prophylactics, and therapeutics.2–5 In gene editing applications, significant efforts are made to limit the natural tolerance of CRISPR effectors for nucleic acids with imperfect complementarity to their gRNAs in order to prevent degradation and mutation at unintended or “off-target” sites; here we exploit those tolerances to engineer gRNAs that are optimized to promote activity at multiple viral target sites, simultaneously, given that multiplexed targeting is a critical tactic for improving viral detection sensitivity,3 expanding recognition of clinical strain variants,6 and suppressing viral mutagenic escape from CRISPR antivirals.7 We demonstrate in vitro and in higher plants that single “polyvalent” gRNAs (pgRNAs) in complex with CRISPR effectors Cas9 or Cas13 can effectively degrade pairs of viral targets with significant sequence divergence (up to 40% nucleotide differences) that are prevalent in viral genomes. We find that CRISPR antivirals using pgRNAs can robustly suppress the propagation of plant RNA viruses, in vivo, better than those with a “monovalent” gRNA counterpart. These results represent a powerful new approach to gRNA design for antiviral applications that can be readily incorporated into current viral detection and therapeutic strategies, and highlight the need for specific approaches and tools that can address the differential requirements of precision gene editing vs. CRISPR antiviral applications in order to mature these promising biotechnologies.
Brazil is my cousin, the U.S. has parks: Children’s construction of Brazil and the United States in a bilingual education program:

Drawing from a 3-year ethnographic project in one elementary school in the United States, this article examines how a group of 43 first graders perceived and constructed Brazil and the U.S. during ...
Red blood cell storage duration and peri‐operative outcomes in paediatric cardiac surgery

Background Prior research on red blood cell (RBC) storage duration and clinical outcomes in paediatric cardiac surgery has shown conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether blood stored for a longer duration is harmful in these patients. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of paediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery at our institution between January 2011 and June 2015. Patients were stratified based on whether they were transfused RBCs stored for ≤15 days (fresher blood) or >15 days (older blood). The primary outcome was composite morbidity, with prolonged length of stay (LOS) as a secondary outcome. Subgroup analyses were performed after stratification by RBC transfusion volume (≤2 vs. >2 RBC units). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of RBC storage duration on composite morbidity and prolonged LOS. Results Of 461 patients, 122 (26·5%) received fresher blood and 339 (73·5%) received older blood. The overall rate of composite morbidity was 18·0% (n = 22) for patients receiving fresher blood and 13·6% (n = 46) for patients receiving older blood (P = 0·24). In the risk-adjusted model, patients receiving older blood did not exhibit an increased risk of composite morbidity (OR: 0·74, 95% CI: 0·37-1·47, P = 0·40) or prolonged LOS (OR: 0·72, 95% CI: 0·38-1·35, P = 0·30) compared to patients receiving fresher blood. Similar results were seen after stratification by RBC transfusion volume. Conclusions Transfusing RBCs stored for a longer duration was not associated with an increased risk of morbidity or prolonged LOS in paediatric cardiac surgery patients.
Amateur real estate investing

About half of the rental properties in the U.S. are owned by small- to medium-sized investors, many of whom enter the trade with little prior experience. This paper considers the factors that motiv...
Role of Nitric Oxide in the Regulation of Pulmonary Vascular Tone

The pulmonary circulation is a low pressure, low resistance, high flow system regulated through both active and passive factors [1, 2, 3, 4]. Active factors alter pulmonary vascular resistance and tone by causing contraction or relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and include neural and humoral mechanisms, and gaseous regulators. Passive factors alter pulmonary vascular resistance and/or blood flow independently of changes in vascular tone and include variation in cardiac output, left atrial, airway and interstitial pressures, gravitational force, and vascular obstruction or recruitment. Although passive factors may be important, the pulmonary circulation is regulated overwhelmingly by active control mechanisms [1, 2, 3, 4].
Effects of multipath and base-station antenna arrays on uplink capacity of cellular CDMA

We evaluate the uplink capacity of a DS-CDMA cellular system using DPSK modulation with antenna array at base-station. A 2D-RAKE receiver structure with predetection equal gain combining is used for demodulation. We study both the outage and blocking probabilities of the system as a function of the cell loading and the number of array elements. Assuming perfect instantaneous power control and considering the effects of shadowing, multipath fading, path loss, and voice activity, we evaluate the system capacity in terms of the number of users per cell. Simulation results are also presented.
Modulation of Treg cells/T effector function by GITR signaling is context–dependent

Treg cells express high levels of the glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor-related receptor (GITR), while resting conventional T (Tconv) cells express low levels that are increased upon activation. Manipulation of GITR/GITR-Ligand (GITR-L) interactions results in enhancement of immune responses, but it remains unclear whether this enhancement is secondary to costimulation of Tconv cells or to reversal of Treg-cell-mediated suppression. Here, we used a nondepleting Fc-GITR-L and combinations of WT and GITR KO Treg cells and Tconv cells to reexamine the effects of GITR stimulation on each subpopulation in both unmanipulated mice and mice with inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment of mice with Fc-GITR-L resulted in significant expansion of Treg cells and a modest expansion of Tconv cells. When RAG KO mice were reconstituted with Tconv cells alone, GITR-L resulted in Tconv-cell expansion and severe inflammatory bowel disease. The protective effect of Treg cells was lost in the presence of Fc-GITR-L, secondary to death of the Treg cells. When RAG KO mice were reconstituted with Treg cells alone, the transferred cells expanded normally, and Fc-GITR-L treatment resulted in a loss of Foxp3 expression, but the ex-Treg cells did not cause any pathology. The effects of GITR activation are complex and depend on the host environment and the activation state of the Treg cells and T effector cells.
Proliferative response of fibroblasts expressing internalization-deficient epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors is altered via differential EGF depletion effect.

We describe experiments comparing the proliferation responses to epidermal growth factor (EGF) by NR6 fibroblasts expressing genetically engineered epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs). These cells present either wild-type (WT) EGFR or a cytoplasmic domain-truncated (c′973) EGFR that exhibits a decreased ligand-induced internalization rate constant. In two distinct in vitro proliferation assays, with or without medium replenishment, we measured the specific cell proliferation rate constants and EGF depletion kinetics for both WT and c′973 cells. When EGF depletion is minimized by replenishment, the EGF concentration dependencies of the two cell types are similar, whereas when EGF depletion is not prevented, maximal proliferation of WT cells requires an initial EGF concentration that is approximately 10× that required by c′973 cells. However, when EGF depletion is accounted for, the dependencies of growth rate for the two cell types on the current EGF concentration in both assays are essentially identical. Our results demonstrate that diminished depletion of EGF from the extracellular medium is a major reason for increased mitogenic sensitivity to EGF by cells possessing internalization-deficient receptors.
Friendship and Happiness From a Philosophical Perspective

This chapter explores the relationship between friendship and happiness from a philosophical perspective, recognizing that philosophical concepts inform the psychological literature. It argues for a similarity between happiness and friendship which is related to the role of intentionality in each phenomenon, since both are characterised by an uncertain mix of desire and expectation on one hand which impacts upon the possibilities for satisfaction on the other. The etymology of the word happiness suggests the sense in which our happiness is not entirely under our control and is therefore in a complex relationship with affect; while the achievements of friendship are taken to include the capacity to respect difference and an expectation that we will experience disappointment as well as pleasure, given that some conflict will arise. Friendship provides a unique context within which we can appreciate both our similarities and differences from others, our potency and yet our limitations and vulnerability in relations with others. In this sense friendship is connected both with positive affect and with Aristotelian eudaimonia, which associates happiness with the good things of life, with flourishing and good fortune but also goes beyond the immediate satisfactions of life to consist in having what is valuable for its own sake.
Neuropsychological effects of cranial radiation: current knowledge and future directions

Radiation is an invaluable therapeutic tool in the treatment of cancer, with well-established palliative and curative efficacy. As patient survival has improved, attention has focused on long-range treatment side effects. One such adverse effect, neuropsychological impairment, is incompletely understood. Much of the extant research has been directed at childhood leukemia survivors treated with low-dose whole-brain radiation. Less is known about the effects of high-dose focal or whole-brain radiation used in the treatment of brain lesions. This article reviews the scientific literature in this area, with greatest emphasis on methodologically rigorous studies. Research design considerations are discussed. Review findings suggest that low-dose whole-brain radiation (18 to 24 Gy) in children is associated with mild delayed IQ decline, with more substantial deficits occurring in children treated at a young age. A high incidence of learning disabilities and academic failure is observed in this population and may be caused by poor attention and memory rather than low intellectual level. Children who receive higher dose radiation for treatment of brain tumors experience more pronounced cognitive decline. At higher doses, whole-brain radiation, in particular, is linked to deleterious cognitive outcomes. Remarkably little is known about cognitive outcomes in irradiated adults. Preliminary findings indicate that certain cognitive functions, including memory, may be more vulnerable to decline than others. Suggestions for future research are proposed.
Inelastic scattering of vibrationally excited KBr BY Ar and CO2

Abstract Scattering of highly vibrationally excited potassium bromide by argon and carbon dioxide has been investigated. Velocity resolved KBr scattering intensities indicate that highly translationally inelastic collisions occur in both systems and, in the CO2 system, show effects due to VT, VV competition.
Photo-initiated multi-step electron transfer in donor–acceptor systems using a novel bi-functionalized perylene chromophore

Abstract The excited state and redox properties of a new bi-functional perylene redox chromophore, 2,3-dihydro-1-azabenzo[cd]perylene (DABP), are described. Perylene has been widely used in electron donor–acceptor molecules in fields ranging from artificial photosynthesis to molecular spintronics. However, attaching multiple redox components to perylene to carry out multi-step electron transfer reactions often produces hard to separate regioisomers, which complicate data analysis. The use of DABP provides a strategy to retain the electronic properties of perylene, yet eliminate regioisomers. Ultrafast photo-initiated single- and two-step electron transfer reactions in three linear electron donor–acceptor systems incorporating DABP are described to illustrate its utility.
Stock option repricing: Heads I win, tails you lose

Recent scandals at Enron, WorldCom and Global Crossing have put the ethical spotlight on corporate malfeasance as never before. However, these are the situations in which management knew that they made the wrong choice. As professor Joseph Badaracco of Harvard Business School points out, the real ethical dilemmas arise when people must choose between right and right — where both choices can be justified, yet one must be chosen over the other. Whether or not to reprice stock options represents one such ethical dilemma. Repricing can help exodus of talented employees and motivate them to improve firm performance. However, it alienates shareholders and other workers of the company who are left unprotected from the adverse economic consequences of a stock price decline. In this paper we examine the ethics and the economics of stock option repricing. We find that repricing runs counter to two key tenets of business ethics — distributive justice and ordinary decency. To examine the economics of repricing, we draw upon agency theory to identify situations where repricing has the potential to benefit shareholders. However, a survey of empirical research reveals that these benefits do not translate into reality. Repricing does not improve employee retention or firm performance. In addition, managers benefit by opportunistically timing the repricing. Due to weaknesses in corporate governance such as lack of independence and conflicts of interest, the current repricing practice seems to be at odds with the objective of shareholder wealth maximization, and at a more fundamental level, a violation of board's fiduciary duty to shareholders. We offer suggestions that mitigate the ethically undesirable effects of repricing in the wider context of prevailing corporate governance and regulatory environment. We believe that these suggestions, if properly implemented, can transform repricing from a greed-inspired evil to a valuable compensation tool to retain employees, boost their morale, and enhance stockholder wealth.
Causal Measures of Structure and Plasticity in Simulated and Living Neural Networks

A major goal of neuroscience is to understand the relationship between neural structures and their function. Recording of neural activity with arrays of electrodes is a primary tool employed toward this goal. However, the relationships among the neural activity recorded by these arrays are often highly complex making it problematic to accurately quantify a network's structural information and then relate that structure to its function. Current statistical methods including cross correlation and coherence have achieved only modest success in characterizing the structural connectivity. Over the last decade an alternative technique known as Granger causality is emerging within neuroscience. This technique, borrowed from the field of economics, provides a strong mathematical foundation based on linear auto-regression to detect and quantify “causal” relationships among different time series. This paper presents a combination of three Granger based analytical methods that can quickly provide a relatively complete representation of the causal structure within a neural network. These are a simple pairwise Granger causality metric, a conditional metric, and a little known computationally inexpensive subtractive conditional method. Each causal metric is first described and evaluated in a series of biologically plausible neural simulations. We then demonstrate how Granger causality can detect and quantify changes in the strength of those relationships during plasticity using 60 channel spike train data from an in vitro cortical network measured on a microelectrode array. We show that these metrics can not only detect the presence of causal relationships, they also provide crucial information about the strength and direction of that relationship, particularly when that relationship maybe changing during plasticity. Although we focus on the analysis of multichannel spike train data the metrics we describe are applicable to any stationary time series in which causal relationships among multiple measures is desired. These techniques can be especially useful when the interactions among those measures are highly complex, difficult to untangle, and maybe changing over time.
643 ALTERATIONS IN RED CELL NAD/NADH RATIOS PRODUCED BY VARIATIONS IN GLUCOSE CONCENTRATION

The polyol or sorbitol pathway has been demonstrated in human erythrocytes and accounts for 2 to 3 percent of glucose metabolism at physiologic glucose concentrations. The flow through this pathway is regulated by the ambient glucose concentration. At high glucose concentrations, the accumulation of sorbitol and fructose is associated with a decreased concentration of pyruvate, increase in the lactate/pyruvate ratio and accumulation of the triose phosphates. These changes are felt to reflect alterations in the NAD/NADH ratio. To directly test this hypothesis red cells from 12 normal adults and 12 newborn infants were incubated at 5 and 50 mM glucose for periods of 3 hours and NAD and NADH concentrations were determined by the method of Sander et al (Anal. Biochem., 71:29, 1976) in conjunction with measurements of lactate and pyruvate. At 0 time NAD/NADH ratios averaged 5.9 in the adults and 6.8 in the newborns. After 3 hours of incubation the NAD/NADH ratios rose to 11.2 and 16.0 respectively at 5 mM glucose but were 24.7 and 47.2 at the 50 mM glucose concentration. Changes in NAD/NADH ratios paralleled changes in the pyruvate to lactate ratios. These observations validate the use of the lactate/pyruvate ratio as an indirect measure of the NAD/NADH ratio and demonstrate the effects of glucose concentration on the redox potential of the cell as mediated via the sorbitol pathway.
Model theory for spinodal decomposition

Modele base sur la generalisation directe de la relation de recursion derivee precedemment pour le facteur de structure quasi statique dans le cas d'un parametre d'ordre non conserve. La theorie conduit a une comprehension qualitative des principales caracteristiques de la decomposition spinodale: equilibre des degres de liberte locaux, un maximum pour les faibles nombres d'ondes associe a la formation de domaines, et un comportement d'echelle
Numerical modeling of melt-wave erosion in conductors [railgun armatures]

This paper presents two numerical approaches to modeling melt-wave erosion in conductors. The first uses a one-dimensional finite-difference formulation and provides a starting point for understanding the effects of applied field and material properties on erosion speed. The second approach involves manipulating material properties in the three-dimensional (3-D) finite-element analysis (FEA) code EMAP3D. Because EMAP3D cannot eject material from the computation in the same manner as the finite-difference code, a "pseudoerosion" algorithm was devised to render cells above the melting temperature nonconducting. A comparison of the two approaches shows results that are in good agreement for depth of magnetic diffusion, current density, and temperature rise, as well as for depth and speed of erosion. These results are encouraging because they suggest that EMAP3D could be used to model melt-wave erosion in realistic 3-D armatures.
Determination of stability constants of cesium [2]-cryptand complexes in nonaqueous solvents by cesium-133 NMR

Cesium complexes with four diazapolyoxamacrobicyclic ligands ([2]-cryptands), C211, C221, C222, and C222B, were investigated in pyridine, acetone, propylene carbonate, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, and dimethyl sulfoxide solutions by cesium-133 NMR. The relative stabilities of the complexes are in the order Cs+·C221≥Cs+·C222>Cs+·C222B≫Cs+·C211. The formation constants are strongly influenced by the solvating abilities of the solvents. The NMR data and stereochemical considerations indicate that in the C222−Cs+ system there is an equilibrium between “exclusive” and “inclusive” conformations of the complex. The other three ligands must form only the “exclusive” complex.
Protamine-mediated DNA coating remarkably improves bombardment transformation efficiency in plant cells

We have developed a method by which remarkably higher efficiencies of transient and stable transformation were achieved in bombardment transformation of plants. Over fivefold increase in transient gus gene expression was achieved when rice or maize suspension cells were bombarded with gold particles coated with plasmid DNA in the presence of protamine instead of the conventional spermidine. A 3.3-fold improvement in stable transformation efficiency was also observed using rice suspension cells with the new coating approach. The coated protamine-plasmid DNA complex resisted degradation by a DNase or by rice cell extract much longer than the spermidine-plasmid DNA complex. The results from this study suggest that protamine protects plasmid DNA longer than spermidine when being delivered inside the cells, probably by forming a nano-scale complex, and thus helps improve the efficiency of particle bombardment-mediated plant transformation.
Is chorionic villus sampling associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Objective Our objective is to evaluate for potential associations between chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Methods Using our genetic database, we compared the rates of hypertensive disorders between women who underwent CVS at 10–13 and 6/7 weeks with those seen for other indications at similar gestational ages who had no invasive procedure. Only singleton and euploid pregnancies were included. Statistical methods including univariable and multivariable logistic regression, supplemented by stratified analyses were used for comparisons. Results Among 11 012 pregnant women seen between 1990 and 2006 in our center and meeting the inclusion criteria, information on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were available in 9386, and 9098 met the inclusion criteria. The overall incidence of hypertensive disorders was 421/9098 (4.6%), with 138/5096 (2.7%) in the CVS group and 283/4002 (7.1%) in the control group [adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38–0.59]. Similar findings were seen on stratified analyses for gestational age of procedure and the type or severity of hypertensive disorder, and other potential confounders. Conclusion The rate of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is significantly lower in women having CVS compared with the control group. Placental disruption from CVS is not associated with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Partner specificity is essential for proper function of the SIX-type homeodomain proteins Sine oculis and Optix during fly eye development.

Abstract The development of the Drosophila visual system utilizes two members of the highly conserved Six-Homeobox family of transcription factor, Sine oculis and Optix. Although in vitro studies have detected differences in DNA-binding and interactions with some co-factors, questions remain as to what extent the activity for these two transcriptional regulators is redundant or specific in vivo. In this work, we show that the SoD mutation within the Six domain does not abolish DNA–protein interactions, but alters co-factor binding specificity to resemble that of Optix. A mutation in the same region of Optix alters its activity in vivo. We propose that the dominant mutant phenotype is primarily due to an alteration in binding properties of the Sine oculis protein and that distinct partner interactions is one important mechanism in determining significant functional differences between these highly conserved factors during eye development.
The reactions π−p→nπo and π−p→nηo in the backward hemisphere

Abstract Cross sections for π − p→n π o at 5.9, 10.1 and 13.8 GeV/ c incident momentum are presented in the angular region from 180 o to u , the crossed four-momentum transfer squared, of −2(GeV) 2 and the energy dependence is discussed. The cross section for π − p→n η o integrated over the same angular region at 5.9 GeV/ c is also presented.