cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decomposition-Learning-Based Output Tracking to Simultaneous Hysteresis and Dynamics Control: High-Speed Large-Range Nanopositioning Example

In this brief, a decomposition-learning-based output tracking approach is proposed to compensate for both hysteresis and dynamics effects on output tracking of hysteresis systems such as smart actuators. Simultaneous hysteresis and dynamics control (SHDC) is needed to fully exploit smart or soft actuators/sensors for high-speed, large-range positioning/tracking. It remains still, however, as a challenge to achieve SHDC with both precision (performance) and robustness in general output tracking (i.e., not restricted to periodic/repeated operations), and without complicity in modeling and controller design and/or online implementation. The proposed approach aims to address these challenges, by utilizing libraries of input–output elements constructed offline to online decompose the partially known (i.e., previewed) desired output trajectory and synthesize the control input. Iterative learning control techniques are used a priori to obtain the input elements each tracking the corresponding output elements accurately, and the Preisach modeling of hysteresis is employed to obtain the combination coefficients of the synthesized control input. An experimental implementation to high-speed, large-range nanopositioning using piezoelectric actuator is presented to demonstrate the efficiency and efficacy of the proposed approach in achieving SHDC.
Event-specific win ratios and testing with terminal and non-terminal events:

Background/aimsIn clinical trials, the primary outcome is often a composite endpoint defined as time to the first occurrence of either death or certain non-fatal events. Thus, a portion of availabl...
Exploring the determinants and outcomes of intimate partner violence during pregnancy for Guyanese women: Results from a nationally representative cross-sectional household survey

ABSTRACT Objective. To determine predictors associated with physical violence during pregnancy, and to determine the relationship between exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy and women’s health and suicide ideation in Guyana. Methods. A secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional household survey. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to the data to estimate the association between physical violence during pregnancy, controlling partner behavior, and other predictors. Ordered logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the association between physical violence during pregnancy and women’s health, and lifetime physical partner violence and overall health. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate associations between physical violence during pregnancy and lifetime physical partner violence and overall health and suicide ideation. Results. The prevalence of lifetime physical/sexual intimate partner violence was 38.8%, current physical/sexual intimate partner violence 11.1%, and violence during pregnancy 9.2%. Controlling partner behavior was significantly and positively associated with maternal experience of physical violence during pregnancy. Experiencing physical partner violence during pregnancy, but not lifetime physical partner violence, was associated with significantly increased odds of poor overall health. Physical violence during pregnancy and lifetime physical violence were both significantly associated with increased odds of suicide ideation. Conclusions. The prevalence of violence during pregnancy in Guyana is high and is associated with adverse health outcomes. These findings suggest the need for intimate partner violence prevention, and for integrating intimate partner violence screening and treatment into antenatal care, reproductive health services, and maternal and child health programs and services to identify and treat at-risk women.
Other Efforts to Explain Closed-End Fund Discounts

The two prior chapters dealt with papers addressing issues involving investor sentiment and international funds, two areas that evolved primarily in the 1990s. In this chapter we focus on papers that address ratioual explanations for CEIC discounts. Some works re-address thernes of pre-1990 papers; while others delve into new areas. In these papers, the most popular areas of inquiry are: (A) managerial fees and expenses, (B) taxtiming options, (C) performance management issues, and (D) the ownership position of the fund’s managers. Papers in the latter two sub-categories break new ground in thought-provoking ways and appear to represent areas that may spawn future research.
The BaBar LST detector high voltage system: design and implementation

In 2004, the first two sextants of the new limited streamer tube (LST) detector were installed in the BaBar experiment to replace the ageing resistive plate chambers (RPCs) as active detectors for the BaBar instrumented flux return (IFR) muon system. Each streamer tube of the new detector consists of 8 cells. The cell walls are coated with graphite paint and a 100 /spl mu/m wire forms the anode. These wires are coupled in pairs inside the tubes resulting in 4 independent two-cell segments per LST. High voltage (HV) is applied to the 4 segments through a custom connector that also provides the decoupling capacitor to pick up the detector signals from the anode wires. The BaBar LST detector is operated at 5.5 kV. The high voltage system for the LST detector was designed and built at the Ohio State University (OSU HVPS). Each of the 25 supplies built for BaBar provides 80 output channels with individual current monitoring and overcurrent protection. For each group of 20 channels the HV can be adjusted between 0 and 6 kV. A 4-fold fan-out is integrated in the power supplies to provide a total of 320 outputs. The power supplies are controlled through built-in CANbus and Ethernet (TCP/IP) interfaces. In this presentation we will discuss the design and novel features of the OSU HVPS system and its integration into the BaBar EPICS detector control framework. Experience with the supplies operation during the LST extensive quality control program and their performance during the initial data taking period will be discussed.
Information-Based Complexity: Recent Results and Open Problems

Information-based complexity (IBC) studies the computational complexity of infinite dimensional problems. These are problems where either the input or output are elements of infinite dimensional spaces. Such problems commonly arise in the continuous mathematical models used in science and engineering. Examples include optimization, integration, approximation, ordinary and partial differential equations, and integral equations.
Computer Assisted Radiology (CAR)

Radiology has experienced radical advancement in a very short time since its inception a little more than a century ago. What is really impressive is that most of this advancement has taken place since the advent of computers in medical imaging. Computers marked the beginning of the digital era for radiology in the 1960s. Since then conventional film/screen x-ray imaging has been overshadowed by a plethora of digital medical imaging modalities that entered the clinical arena. In addition, the rapidly increasing availability and efficiency of computer technology have completely transformed all aspects of clinical radiology beyond image acquisition. Nowadays, computers are the cornerstone of technological innovations related to image display and interpretation, communication of imaging results, and clinical practice workflow in radiology. The term computer-assisted radiology (CAR) has been adopted to denote the clinical integration of computers and information technology to provide an environment of support to radiologists during the diagnostic interpretation of medical images. Keywords: radiology; computers; medical image analysis; computer-assisted diagnosis; PACS; teleradiology
Novel tenascin variants with a distinctive pattern of expression in the avian embryo

Previous studies have shown that several forms of the glycoprotein tenascin are present in the embryonic extracellular matrix. These forms are the result of alternative splicing, which generates tenascin variants with different numbers of fibronectin type III repeats. We have used degenerate primers and PCR to isolate a novel tenascin exon from an avian genomic library. Genomic clones contained a sequence encoding a fibronectin type III repeat that corresponds to repeat 'C' from the variable domain of human tenascin. To demonstrate that tenascin containing repeat 'C' is actually synthesized by avian cells, a monospecific antiserum was raised against a repeat 'C' fusion protein. This antiserum recognized a novel high-molecular-weight variant on immunoblots of tenascin isolated from chicken embryo fibroblast-conditioned medium, and stained tendons on frozen sections of chicken embryos. A cDNA probe specific for mRNA encoding repeat 'C' was used for in situ hybridization. This probe hybridized in a subset of the embryonic tissues labelled with a universal tenascin probe, including tendons, ligaments and mesenchyme at sites of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Finally, we provide evidence that additional fibronectin type III repeats, one corresponding to a recently discovered human repeat as well as one entirely novel sequence, also exists in chicken tenascin mRNA. These data indicate that tenascin is present in the embryonic matrix in a multitude of forms and that these forms have distinctive distributions that may reflect more than one function for tenascin in development.
Application of 3D CMOS technology to SRAMs

Through large reductions in area and compatibility with logic, 3D CMOS provides a fruitful path for stand-alone SRAMs and high-performance logic designs. Important factors - cell area, static noise margin, access time, and leakage current are addressed in this paper for 3D SRAM implementations.
Distribution of Chain Lengths and Compositions in Copolymers

The instantaneous distribution of chain compositions and chain lengths in vinyl copolymers is obtained in a simple form valid for long chains. The compositions of chains of a given length are normally distributed about the mean value, with a standard deviation which can be calculated from experimentally observable quantities. The distribution of chain lengths intimately resembles that for simple polymers.
Test of a Linguistic Theory for the Differential Rates of Learning of High and Low M' CVCS

A linguistic theory for the differential rates of learning of high and low m' CVCs (Noble, 1961) was tested and found tenable. The high and low m' CVCs of Badia, Rosenberg, and Langer (1965) were used because of their non-overlapping error distributions on a serial learning task. CVCs were judged for being: (1) lexical items with high graphemic, phonemic, semantic correspondences; (2) non-lexical items with high graphemic-phonemic correspondence; or (3) non-lexical items with low graphemic-phonemic correspondence. Scores for 81 of 82 Ss separated the high and low m' CVCs.
Development of distant metastasis after treatment of advanced-stage head and neck cancer

Background The recognition of risk factors for thedevelopment of distant metastasis is necessary for identifying high-risk patients who may benefit from systemic therapy. Previous investigations studying possible risk factors have been heterogeneous, with patients having varied forms of therapy. This study is designed to evaluate the clinical and histologic risk factors for the development of distant metastasis (DM) in patients with only advanced-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after surgery and radiotherapy. Methods Retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients withsurgically treated stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, tongue, and supraglottic larynx between 1988–1992. The cohort consisted of 130 patients of which 30 patients developed DM as the initial site of failure. All patients underwent surgical resection of the primary. Neck dissection was performed in 26 of 30 (87%) patients who developed distant metastasis. Almost all patients received radiation therapy. Patients who initiallydeveloped DM (DM group) were compared with patients who did not initially develop DM (no DM group) with respect to certain clinical and histo-pathological factors. Results The majority of patients in the DM group had advanced T stage and clinically palpable cervical lymph nodes (73% and 93% respectively). In the no DM group, most patients had advanced T stage (85%) but 42% of the patients had stage N0 necks (p .05). Conclusion Patients with clinically palpable neck disease (N1-3), histological evidence of metastatic nodal disease, extracapsular spread, and three or more positive lymph nodes are at greater risk of developing failure at distant sites. This subset of patients should have an extensive evaluation for distant metastatic disease and should be considered for systemic therapy. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 19:500–505, 1997.
Molecular recognition of a DNA:RNA hybrid : Sub-nanomolar binding by a neomycin-methidium conjugate

A novel neomycin–methidium conjugate was synthesized. The covalent linkage of the aminoglycoside to an intercalator, a derivative of ethidium bromide, results in a new conjugate capable of selective recognition of the DNA:RNA hybrid duplex. Spectroscopic methods: UV, CD, fluorescence, and calorimetric techniques: DSC and ITC were used to characterize the sub-nanomolar binding displayed by the conjugate for the DNA:RNA hybrid duplex, poly(dA):poly(rU).
Ephedrine plus caffeine causes age-dependent cardiovascular responses in Fischer 344 rats

Human consumption of ephedrine and caffeine in dietary supplements has been associated with a number of adverse effects including changes in the ECG, myocardial infarction, hyperthermia, and, in ra...
Integration of Play, Learning, and Experience: What Museums Afford Young Visitors

This paper examines important factors in maximizing children’s experiential learning in the context of inquiry-based children’s museums. Learning is understood as situated in physical, social, and interactive context that is best achieved when children have opportunities to engage in play-based inquiry. Recommendations for maximizing children’s learning in museums, supporting children’s interactions with peers and adults, and offering affordances for children’s play are discussed.
Primary Care and Health: A Cross-National Comparison

Ten Western industrialized nations were compared on the basis of three characteristics: the extent of their primary health service, their levels of 12 health indicators (eg, infant mortality, life expectancy, and age-adjusted death rates), and the satisfaction of their populations in relation to overall costs of the systems. Information was derived primarily from published sources. Indices were developed to characterize the extent of primary care in each country and the standing of each country relative to the others on the health indicators. There was general concordance for primary care, the health indicators, and the satisfaction-expense ratio in nine of the 10 countries. Ratings for the United States were low on all three measures. West Germany also had low ratings. In contrast, Canada, Sweden, and the Netherlands had generally high ratings for all three measures. The lack of concordance in the ratings in the United Kingdom may be a result of relatively low expenditures for other social services and public education in that country. The findings may add to the debate and deliberations concerning modifications in organization and financing of care that are currently being considered in the United States. (JAMA. 1991;266:2268-2271)
Exogenous hyalin and sea urchin gastrulation. Part IV: a direct adhesion assay – progress in identifying hyalin's active sites

In Strongylocentrotus purpuratus the hyalins are a set of three to four rather large glycoproteins (hereafter referred to as 'hyalin'), which are the major constituents of the hyaline layer, the developing sea urchin embryo's extracellular matrix. Recent research from our laboratories has shown that hyalin is a cell adhesion molecule involved in sea urchin embryo-specific cellular interactions. Other laboratories have shown it to consist of 2-3% carbohydrate and a cloned, sequenced fragment demonstrated repeat domains (HYR) and non-repeat regions. Interest in this molecule has increased because HYR has been identified in organisms as diverse as bacteria, flies, worms, mice and humans, as well as sea urchins. Our laboratories have shown that hyalin appears to mediate a specific cellular interaction that has interested investigators for over a century, archenteron elongation/attachment to the blastocoel roof. We have shown this finding by localizing hyalin on the two components of the cellular interaction and by showing that hyalin and anti-hyalin antibody block the cellular interaction using a quantitative microplate assay. The microplate assay, however, has limitations because it does not directly assess hyalin's effects on the adhesion of the two components of the interaction. Here we have used an elegant direct assay that avoids the limitations, in which we microdissected the two components of the adhesive interaction and tested their re-adhesion to each other, thereby avoiding possible factors in the whole embryos that could confound or confuse results. Using both assays, we found that mild periodate treatment (6 h to 24 h in sodium acetate buffer with 0.2 M sodium periodate at 4 degrees C in the dark) of hyalin eliminates its ability to block the cellular interaction, suggesting that the carbohydrate component(s) may be involved in hyalin's specific adhesive function. This first step is important in identifying the molecular mechanisms of a well known cellular interaction in the NIH-designated sea urchin embryo model, a system that has led to the discovery of scores of physiological mechanisms, including those involved in human health and disease.
The direct antiglobulin test: a critical step in the evaluation of hemolysis.

The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is a laboratory test that detects immunoglobulin and/or complement on the surface of red blood cells. The utility of the DAT is to sort hemolysis into an immune or nonimmune etiology. As with all tests, DAT results must be viewed in light of clinical and other laboratory data. This review highlights the most common clinical situations where the DAT can help classify causes of hemolysis, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia, transfusion-related hemolysis, hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn, drug-induced hemolytic anemia, passenger lymphocyte syndrome, and DAT-negative hemolytic anemia. In addition, the pitfalls and limitations of the test are addressed. False reactions may occur with improper technique, including improper washing, centrifugation, and specimen agitation at the time of result interpretation. Patient factors, such as spontaneous red blood cell agglutination, may also contribute to false results. Am. J. Hematol. 87:707–709, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Substrate Effect on Modulus of Elasticity and Hardness of Thin Film Under Nanoindentation Test

Mechanical properties of thin film under nanoindentation test by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) have been studied in this literature. An axi-symmetric bi-layer model has been developed in commercial finite element analysis software, ABAQUS. Aluminum (Al) comprises the thin film whereas Silicon (Si) comprises the substrate. This model has been simulated using the loading condition that mimics real nanoindentation test, i.e. an indenter has been probed to a predefined depth onto Al-thin film. Modulus of elasticity and hardness of thin film have been calculated by existing empirical relationship. Substrate effect on determination of film modulus and hardness has been investigated by varying the substrate modulus. It has been observed that substrate effect is pronounced on film modulus determination whereas hardness is not significantly sensitive to this effect. Depth of indentation has also been varied over a long range to observe the indentation effect on these parameters. It is obvious that film modulus is increased with depth increment. However, hardness variation is not regular. Different friction condition is also in the scope of this study. It has been observed that friction does not affect modulus of elasticity. It, however, affects hardness of thin film. This is attributed to the dissipation of the energy needed to overcome friction at film-indenter interface.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The Great Fossil Enigma: The Search for the Conodont Animal

Review of The Great Fossil Enigma: The Search for the Conodont Animal . Simon J. Knell. 2012. Indiana University Press, Bloomington. Pp. 440. $45.00 (cloth), 25 b & w illustrations. ISBN 9780253006042.
Strong and electromagnetic mass splittings in heavy mesons

The contributions to heavy meson mass differences by the strong hyperfine interaction, the light quark masses and the electromagnetic interaction are obtained from the empirical values of the D, D*, B and B* masses by means of a mass formula based on the heavy quark mass expansion. The three different types of contributions are determined with significant accuracy to next to leading order in that expansion.
Postage for the messenger: designating routes for nuclear mRNA export

Transcription of mRNA occurs in the nucleus, making the translocation of mRNA across the nuclear envelope (NE) boundary a critical determinant of proper gene expression and cell survival. A major mRNA export route occurs via the NXF1-dependent pathway through the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) embedded in the NE. However, recent findings have discovered new evidence supporting the existence of multiple mechanisms for crossing the NE, including both NPC-mediated and NE budding-mediated pathways. An analysis of the trans-acting factors and cis components that define these pathways reveals shared elements as well as mechanistic differences. We review here the current understanding of the mechanisms that characterize each pathway and highlight the determinants that influence mRNA transport fate.
Does Global Inequality Matter

Global economic and political inequalities are in most respects greater today than they have been for decades. From one point of view inequality is a bad thing simply because it involves a deviation from equality, which is thought to have value for its own sake. But it is controversial whether this position can be defended, and if it can, whether the egalitarian ideal on which the defense may depend applies at the global level as in individual societies. Setting aside directly egalitarian reasons for concern about global inequality, this paper explores several reasons for concern that derive from nonegalitarian values – primarily those associated with poverty and material deprivation, humiliation, the impact of inequality on the capacity for self-control and self-government, and the unfairness of political decision-making procedures with large economic inequalities in the background.
Egyptian Oedipus: Athanasius Kircher and the secrets of antiquity

When, in the seventeenth century, Oriental studies seemed to promise the discovery of new worlds, Rome's institutions, collections, and its Eurasian networks of missionaries and scholars made the c...
A blasting cap test for evaluating self‐reactivity hazards

This paper describes a simple blasting cap test that furnishes information on sensitivity to initiation as well as rudimentary information on propagation. The design of the test provides containment of most condensed-phase residues and explosion reaction products while minimizing noise pollution. We include comparison between test results and thermochemical hazard predictions determined by calculation of the adiabatic reaction temperature (CART).
Galois cohomology of fields without roots of unity

There is a standard correspondence between elements of the cohomology group H1(F,μn) (with the trivial action of ΓF=Gal(Fs/F) on μn) and cyclic extensions of dimension n over F. We extend this to a correspondence between the cohomology groups H1(F,μn) where the action of ΓF on μn varies, and the extensions of dimension n of K which are Galois over F, where K=F[μn] and [K:F] is prime to n. The cohomology groups are also related to eigenspaces of H1(K,Z/n) with respect to the natural action of Gal(K/F). As a result, we extend Albert's cyclicity criterion, stated in the 1930s for division algebras of prime degree, to algebras of prime-power degree over F, under the assumption stated above. We also extend the Rosset–Tate result on the corestriction of cyclic algebras in the presence of roots of unity, to extensions in which roots of unity live in an extension of dimension ⩽3 over the base field. In particular, if roots of unity live in a quadratic extension of the base field, then corestriction of a cyclic algebra along a quadratic extension is similar to a product of two cyclic algebras. Another application is that F-central algebras which are split by a certain semidirect product extension of F, are cyclic. In particular, if [K:F]=2 then algebras over F which are split by an odd order dihedral extension, are cyclic. We also construct generic examples of algebras which become cyclic after extending scalars by roots of unity, and show the existence of elements for which most powers have reduced trace zero.
Successful long-term cryopreservation of neonatal rat islet tissue.

Abstract Neonatal rat pancreatic tissue was frozen to −196 °C using Me 2 SO as a cryoprotectant and a slow freezing rate to −70 °C followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen. Rapid thawing was used. Viability was demonstrated by successful transplantation to streptozotocin-induced diabetic recipients. Long-term preservation, up to 4 weeks, did not demonstrably affect viability. Cryopreservation techniques may afford a method for providing a diabetic recipient the opportunity to receive a large quantity of pooled islet tissue from well-matched donors.
Dialogue Abner Shimony---Shimon Malin

Malin proposes a solution to some of the conceptual problems of the foundations of quantum mechanics within the framework of Alfred North Whitehead's "Philosophy of Organism". Standard quantum dynamics, governed by the time-dependent Schrodinger equation, does not provide for the reduction of superpositions of physical states and hence does not account for occurrence of observational data. If consciousness is invoked to explain the results of measurements, it would appear that quantum mechanics is given an anthropocentric interpretation. Reduction of superpositions is achieved without anthropocentrism, according to Malin, by accepting Whitehead's ontology of "actual occasions", which are protomental entities independent of and presumably antedating human beings. Furthermore, Whitehead's philosophy has the great virtue of offering a plausible solution to the profound problem of relating minds to material systems. Shimony is sympathetic to Whitehead's world view, but with the reservation that it leaves an immense unexplained and unexplored gap between the conjectured "experience" of actual occasions and the high level experience of the human mind.
Domain decomposition for parallel row projection algorithms

Abstract Row projection algorithms for solving nonsymmetric linear systems are theoretically robust, converging for systems with indefinite symmetric parts and arbitrarily distributed eigenvalues. Slow convergence, however, has prevented their widespread use. This paper shows that a domain decomposition approach gives row projection methods that allow parallelism in the computations. The level of concurrency and size of the created subtasks can be chosen to suit the target machine, and the resulting algorithms have advantages over standard domain decomposition methods.
Occupation and leukemia mortality among men in 16 states: 1985-1987.

The relationship between leukemia and occupation was investigated in a case-control study using death certificates of 5,147 men who died of leukemia (ICD-9 codes 204-208) and 51,470 who died of other causes in 16 U.S. states from 1985 to 1987. Of six occupational activities identified previously as potentially increasing the risk of leukemia, only petroleum refining and rubber manufacturing had excess deaths for all leukemias combined (odds ratios (ORs) = 1.3, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.6-2.8 and 0.9-1.8, respectively). Meat workers and wood workers had elevated mortality from acute lymphocytic leukemia (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.7-7.0 and OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.8-2.2, respectively). There was no leukemia excess among farmers or auto mechanics. A survey of 43 other occupational groups indicated a widespread excess of leukemia among white collar occupations, primarily managers and professionals, but none among blue collar workers. This pattern was most pronounced for men under 65 years of age, and existed for all leukemia subtypes and among both blacks and whites. Despite the lack of specific exposure information and other limitations of death certificate data, these results encourage further examination of occupational causes of leukemia.
Differential Regulation of a Multipromoter Gene. SELECTIVE 12-O-TETRADECANOYLPHORBOL-13-ACETATE INDUCTION OF A SINGLE TRANSCRIPTION START SITE IN THE HMG-I/Y GENE

The human HMG-I/Y gene, encoding the non-histone "high mobility group" proteins HMG-I and HMG-Y, is transcriptionally activated in human K562 erythroleukemia cells by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). TPA treatment induces differentiation of K562 cells within 2-4 days after treatment. In this report, we show that transcriptional activation of the HMG-I/Y gene is dependent on protein synthesis and is an early event (2 h after induction) in the TPA-mediated differentiation process. Of the four functional transcription start sites present in the gene, only one (start site 2) is preferentially induced upon TPA treatment. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of the preferential utilization of a specific transcription start site in response to a particular stimulus in a gene that contains multiple promoters. This indicates that each start site in the gene has the potential to be independently regulated instead of being coordinately controlled as shown in a number of other genes. In addition, sequences upstream of the inducible start site, which contains a TPA-responsive element, mediates TPA inducibility through AP1 (or an AP1-like) transcription factor. The HMG-I/Y proteins function as key regulators of gene expression and play a significant role in chromatin structural changes as well. The cloning and sequence analyses previously reported indicated the structure of the HMG-I/Y gene to be highly complex and predicted its expression to be tightly regulated. The results presented here confirm and extend these earlier findings.
THE ICONS OF PUBLIC DEBT

THE THEORY of public debt remains a "murky battleground." My own attempts at clarifying some of the elementary principles, along with those of my supportersdefenders, have failed to convince large numbers of professional economists. Professor James Tobin, in his recent review article' of the book edited by James Ferguson, has acutely if indirectly noted the reason for this failure through his reference to my "iconoclastic writings." An iconoclast is defined as a destroyer of religious images or icons. To win the day, the iconoclast must provide more than straightforward logical argument; he must also shatter faith.2 My notions about debt burden seem to counter images that are more than intellectual constructions, more than scientific paradigms. If this is true, some excuse is provided for repetition and clarification of basic propositions, especially when such a competent economist as James Tobin can seem so fundamentally confused about my own admittedly "simplistic view." This view, according to Tobin, "throws away the whole 'incidence and effects' literature of public finance." No statement could be more in error. My aim in the whole discussion has been, and remains, that of answering the fundamental question: Who pays, and when, for public expenditures that are financed by debt issue instead of taxation or money creation? This is precisely the incidence question. Who pays the income tax; what is the incidence of the income tax? These are mere shorthand versions of: Who finally pays for the public expenditures that are financed through the income tax? Precisely contrary to Tobin's charge, my efforts can best be interpreted as attempts to bring the theory of public debt back into the incidence framework. "Stripped of all embellishment, it (Buchanan's view) reduces to the assertion that payment of taxes is per se a burden-whether or not the taxes affect incentives and resource allocation. Since debt finance postpones the levy of taxes, it obviously shifts Buchanan's burden to future generations." With this statement I have no quarrel, and, as I have asserted, the point is elementary, obvious, and self-evident. Which makes all the more mysterious the continuing refusal of highly competent economists to acknowledge it. Tobin follows the above with: "The justification for this definition is that taxes are compulsory and involuntary. In contrast, market transactions, including the purchase of public debt, are voluntary agreements." Why does Tobin consider the initial statement to require any justification? There is nothing in my analysis that connects the elementary point with compulsion or coercion of tax payments. In its broadest sense, the underlying political model for my analysis is democratic, and, at some level, individuals can be said to agree to pay taxes in exchange for public goods. Whether the individual,
Septal lesions and male rat copulatory behavior

Three groups of male rats, septals, control operates, and normal controls, were given copulatory tests to a satiety criterion. No significant differences in copulatory behavior between the septals and control operates were found.
People Do Not Identify Tire Aging as a Safety Hazard

Tires are among the most critical components of motor vehicles, requiring proper maintenance to minimize the risks of accidents associated with failure. Tire failures at high speeds in vehicles suc...
The development of polyploidy in two classes of rat liver nuclei.

Abstract Two classes of nuclei from livers of Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated, one pelleting in 2.3 M sucrose (H nuclei) and the second class sedimenting through 1.6 and 1.8 M sucrose and banding at the 1.8 2.3 M sucrose interface (L nuclei) of a three-step discontinuous gradient. In younger animals, the L nuclear fraction was the major fraction, but the percentage of nuclei found in the L fraction decreased as the animals grew. Nuclear ploidy was determined by flow microfluorometry using propidium iodide as a DNA stain. Both the H and L nuclear fractions contained diploid, tetraploid and octaploid nuclei; but the degree of polyploidy was greater in the H fraction. Concomitant with the change in distribution of nuclei between the H and L fractions with increasing age was a progressive increase in the degree of polyploidy in the H fraction. Polyploidy did not increase linearly with age in the H nuclear fraction but increased in cycles marked by large changes in the numbers of nuclei found in H and L nuclear fractions. By 12 weeks of age, 4n-H nuclei were the largest single population of nuclei in rat liver. These observations suggested that the shift of liver nuclei from the L fraction to the H fraction was associated with the development of polyploidy and with the differentiation of hepatocytes.
The scent of Drosophila sex.

Three recent studies report on the olfactory mechanisms used for gender identification in Drosophila and on the olfactory receptors stimulated by the pheromone 11- cis -vaccenyl acetate. This pheromone activates specific olfactory receptors that suppress the courtship of males with other males, promote the sexual receptivity of females, and participate in the formation of memories about prior courtship experiences.
Separate roles of IQGAP Rng2p in forming and constricting the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cytokinetic contractile ring.

Eukaryotic cells require IQGAP family multidomain adapter proteins for cytokinesis, but many questions remain about how IQGAPs contribute to the process. Here we show that fission yeast IQGAP Rng2p is required for both the normal process of contractile ring formation from precursor nodes and an alternative mechanism by which rings form from strands of actin filaments. Our work adds to previous studies suggesting a role for Rng2p in node and ring formation. We demonstrate that Rng2p is also required for normal ring constriction and septum formation. Systematic analysis of domain-deletion mutants established how the four domains of Rng2p contribute to cytokinesis. Contrary to a previous report, the actin-binding calponin homology domain of Rng2p is not required for viability, ring formation, or ring constriction. The IQ motifs are not required for ring formation but are important for ring constriction and septum formation. The GTPase-activating protein (GAP)–related domain is required for node-based ring formation. The Rng2p C-terminal domain is the only domain essential for viability. Our studies identified several distinct functions of Rng2 at multiple stages of cytokinesis.
Enhancing the internal validity of entrepreneurship experiments by assessing treatment effects at multiple levels across multiple trials

Abstract Treatment effects in entrepreneurship experiments could vary significantly due to environmental uncertainty and individual heterogeneity. Drawing on critical realism, experimental replication is useful for assessing the generalizability of the treatment effects or for confirming treatment effects across diverse entrepreneurship settings. Yet, experiments in entrepreneurship have traditionally relied on single experimental trials and have not considered potential variance in treatment effects across contexts. Accounting for variance in treatment effects is even more pertinent under higher levels of environmental uncertainty. To help assess the contingent effects of treatments across contexts, we propose a set of methodological and statistical approaches for entrepreneurship researchers. Using different types of experimental replications and proposed statistical methods, one may draw inferences about treatment effects at the trial-, the treatment-, and at the individual-level. We illustrate the proposed approach using experimental replications across three randomized, post-test, experiments.
Volumetric interpretation of protein adsorption: Kinetic consequences of a slowly-concentrating interphase

Time-dependent energetics of blood-protein adsorption are interpreted in terms of a slowly-concentrating three-dimensional interphase volume initially formed by rapid diffusion of protein molecules into an interfacial region spontaneously formed by bringing a protein solution into contact with a physical surface. This modification of standard adsorption theory is motivated by the experimental observation that interfacial tensions of protein-containing solutions decrease slowly over the first hour to a steady-state value while, over this same period, the total adsorbed protein mass is constant (for lysozyme, 15 kDa; α-amylase, 51 KDa; albumin, 66 kDa; prothrombin, 72 kDa; IgG, 160 kDa; fibrinogen, 341 kDa studied in this work). These seemingly divergent observations are rationalized by the fact that interfacial energetics (tensions) are explicit functions of solute chemical potential (concentration), not adsorbed mass. Hence, rates of interfacial tension change parallel a slow interphase-concentration effect whereas solution depletion detects a constant interphase composition within the timeframe of experiment. A straightforward mathematical model approximating the perceived physical situation leads to an analytic formulation that is used to compute time-varying interphase volume and protein concentration from experimentally-measured interfacial tensions. Derivation from the fundamental thermodynamic adsorption equation verifies that protein adsorption from dilute solution is controlled by a partition coefficient at equilibrium, as is observed experimentally at steady state. Implications of the alternative interpretation of adsorption kinetics on biomaterials and biocompatibility are discussed.
Interactions of calcium sulfite with soils and plants

CaSO3 is a by-product formed by several of the processes used for scrubbing SO2 from flue gas produced by coal-burning power generators. Using CaSO3 to improve the calcium status of acid soils would be a beneficial alternative to disposal in landfills. CaSO3 has biocidal properties and is used as a disinfectant and food and drink preservative. It is important to evaluate under what conditions application to soils would not harm plant growth. Laboratory experiments confirmed that two transformations of CaSO3 occurred in soil systems: (1) decomposition to produce SO2 gas, and (2) oxidation to calcium sulfate. Conversion to SO2 occurred in solution and soil at low pH, and acid soils treated with CaSO3 were initially toxic to seedling root growth. The degree of toxicity was time-dependent, with reduction in toxicity occurring as CaSO3 oxidized to calcium sulfate. Soil reaction also influenced toxicity, and at soil pH levels above 6, little seedling toxicity was evident.
Comparison of balloon angioplasty versus debulking devices versus stenting in right coronary ostial lesions

Angioplasty of aorto-ostial stenosis is associated with lower procedural success and a higher complication rate. The aim of the present study was to compare the acute and long-term results of balloon and new device angioplasty in 110 consecutive patients with right coronary ostial lesions. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the angioplasty device used: group I (balloon only, n = 26), group II (debulking devices including excimer laser, directional and rotational atherectomy, n = 26), group III (stent, n = 58). Procedural success was highest in group III (96%) followed by group I (88%), and group II (77%). In-hospital complications were similar among the groups (p = NS). Patients in group III achieved the highest acute gain (2.61 mm) followed by groups II (1.92 mm), and I (1.39 mm, p <0.05). During follow up, target lesion revascularization and/or bypass surgery was required in 24% of patients in group III compared with 47% and 40% in groups I and II, respectively (p <0.05). Cardiac-event free survival was highest in the stent group (74%, p <0.005) and was similar between the balloon (39%) and debulking device groups (45%). Thus, among the currently available technologies, stenting of right coronary ostial lesions appears to provide excellent angiographic and long-term results.
Nicotinic Acid Decreases Serum Thyroid Hormone Levels While Maintaining a Euthyroid State

Objective To evaluate the effects of nicotinic acid on serum thyroid hormone levels in the absence of systemic illness or hepatic dysfunction. Design We determined the effect of treatment with nicotinic acid on serum thyroid hormone levels in one female and four male patients (mean age, 44.4 years) with hyperlipidemia. Material and Methods In the five study patients, we measured serum lipids in conjunction with serum thyroxine (T 4 ), triiodothyronine (T 3 ) resin uptake, T 3 , free T 4 , thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroxine-binding globulin before, during, and after treatment with nicotinic acid. Results Serum lipid levels responded appropriately to nicotinic acid treatment. Thyroid function studies done a mean of 1.3 years (range, 0.5 to 3.5) after initiation of nicotinic acid therapy (mean daily dose, 2.6 ± 0.7 g) revealed significant decreases in serum levels of total T 4 (21 %), free T 4 index (16%), T 3 (13 %), and thyroxine-binding globulin (23 %) ( P 4 , T 3 resin uptake, and TSH levels. During the course of treatment, the patients, who were carefully questioned, had no symptoms of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism was further excluded in three patients who had a normal serum TSH response to administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone. In two patients, measurements of thyroid function returned to pretreatment levels after discontinuation of nicotinic acid therapy. No patient had significant abnormalities in liver-associated enzymes or evidence of systemic illness during the course of treatment. Conclusion These results suggest that nicotinic acid decreases serum thyroid hormone concentrations while maintaining a euthyroid state. This effect may be mediated through reduction in thyroxine-binding globulin, but other mechanisms may also be involved.
High-power (80-w) KTP laser vaporization of the prostate in the management of urinary retention: long-term follow up

Introduction and Objectives: We have previously reported the use of high-powered photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) for patients in urinary retention due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PVP is a relatively new treatment for bladder outlet obstruction due to BPH, using laser energy to vaporize obstructing prostatic tissue. This study investigates the long-term follow up of patients treated with PVP for urinary retention. Materials and Methods: All participants signed informed consent, and were treated with high power 80 W quasi-continuous wave potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser. Ten patients underwent the procedure from December 2001 until the present. One patient was excluded from the study for failure to return for follow-up. Mean patient follow-up was nine months, maximum of twelve months. Results: The mean pre-operative gland size by trans-rectal ultrasound was 48 grams. Mean urethral length was 3.2 cm. Mean laser time was 48.2 minutes and the mean energy usage was 82.2 kJoules. There were no peri-operative complications such as sepsis or measurable postoperative bleeding. The preoperative AUA Symptom Score (AUASS) decreased from a mean of 22.6 preoperatively to 17 at nine months postoperatively (p = 0.032). The Quality of Life Score (QOL) decreased from 4.6 preoperatively to 3.25 at 12 months postoperatively (p = 0.26). The maximum urine flow rate increased from a mean of 7.7 cc/sec preoperatively to 14.5 cc/sec at six months follow-up (p = 0.03). Conclusions: This follow-up study suggests that HP-KTP has a durable response in patients treated specifically for retention. It significantly improved urine flow rate and symptom score, and had a trend towards improvement in subjective quality of life. HP-KTP prostatectomy should be considered in treating patients in retention, especially those with significant co-morbidities or taking anticoagulation.
Sexual Frequency and the Stability of Marital and Cohabiting Unions

Prior research found that lower sexual frequency and satisfaction were associated with higher rates of divorce, but little research had examined the role of sexual activity in the dissolution of cohabiting unions. We drew upon social exchange theory to hypothesize why sexual frequency is more important in cohabitation: (a) cohabitors' lower costs of finding sexual alternatives, (b) cohabitors' lower barriers to ending the relationship in the form of union-specific economic and noneconomic capital, and (c) cohabitors' higher expectations for sexual activity. Using the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 5,902), we examined the relationship between sexual frequency and union dissolution. Results indicated that low sexual frequency was associated with significantly higher rates of union dissolution among cohabitors than married couples.