cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling production and decay of coarse woody debris in loblolly pine plantations.

Abstract Forest management can have large impacts on the production and yield of coarse woody debris (CWD) in terrestrial ecosystems, yet few modeling tools exist to inform such efforts. The goal here was to develop a set of prediction equations for use in conjunction with loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) modeling and inventory systems to estimate CWD yields at scales ranging from individual trees to whole plantations. Permanent field plots from a 21-year study of thinning effects on plantation growth and yield across the commercial range of the species in the southern United States were surveyed to obtain sample data on CWD volume, density, and mass. Measured CWD properties were combined with inventory records of tree mortality over the study duration to characterize CWD production, decay and yield in a series of prediction equations. The resulting equations predict CWD attributes of dead trees including dry weight (kg) and fraction of standing versus downed woody material based on the time since death (years), tree diameter at breast height (cm) and height (m) at time of death and geographic coordinates of latitude and longitude. A stand-level equation predicts total CWD yield (Mg ha −1 ) for thinned or unthinned stands based on plantation age, stem density (trees ha −1 ), and the average height of dominant and codominant trees (m). Piece-level equations predict dry density (kg m −3 ) or nitrogen concentration (%) of CWD pieces based on their position (standing or down), ordinal decay classes, and latitude. The tree and stand-level prediction equations are designed for use in GIS or growth and yield modeling systems. The piece-level equations are designed to be used in inventory applications that survey CWD. The equations should facilitate the accurate and facile determination of mass, carbon, and nitrogen contents of CWD in planted loblolly pine forests of the southern United States.
Cardiac risk factors and risk scores vs cardiac computed tomography angiography: a prospective cohort study for triage of ED patients with acute chest pain.

Abstract Objective The objective of the study is to evaluate cardiac risk factors and risk scores for prediction of coronary artery disease (CAD) and adverse outcomes in an emergency department (ED) population judged to be at low to intermediate risk for acute coronary syndrome. Methods Informed consent was obtained from consecutive ED patients who presented with chest pain and were evaluated with coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA). Cardiac risk factors, clinical presentation, electrocardiogram, and laboratory studies were recorded; the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) scores were tabulated. Coronary computed tomography angiography findings were rated on a 6-level plaque burden scale and classified for significant CAD (stenosis ≥50%). Adverse cardiovascular outcomes were recorded at 30 days. Results Among 250 patients evaluated by cCTA, 143 (57%) had no CAD, 64 (26%) demonstrated minimal plaque ( 70% stenosis). Six patients developed adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Among traditional cardiac risk factors, only age (older) and sex (male) were significant independent predictors of CAD. Correlation with CAD was poor for the TIMI ( r = 0.12) and GRACE ( r = 0.09-0.23) scores. The TIMI and GRACE scores were not useful to predict adverse outcomes. Coronary computed tomography angiography identified severe CAD in all subjects with adverse outcomes. Conclusion Among ED patients who present with chest pain judged to be at low to intermediate risk for acute coronary syndrome, traditional risk factors are not useful to stratify risk for CAD and adverse outcomes. Coronary computed tomography angiography is an excellent predictor of CAD and outcome.
Performance modeling and evaluation of topologies for low-latency SCI systems

Abstract This paper presents an analytical performance characterization and topology comparison from a latency perspective for the scalable coherent interface (SCI). Experimental methods are used to determine constituent latency components and verify the results obtained by these analytical models as close approximations of reality. In contrast with simulative models, analytical SCI models are faster to solve, yielding accurate performance estimates very quickly, and thereby broadening the design space that can be explored. Ultimately, the results obtained here serve to identify optimum topology types for a range of system sizes based on the latency performance of common parallel application demands.
April: Pets Are Wonderful Month

In April we celebrate Pets Are Wonderful Month (PAW) to honor the companion animals that bring joy and love to their owners' lives. Humans have lived with animals as companions for thousands of years and during that time our knowledge about the animals we choose as pets has grown enormously. Recent research involving pet therapy indicates that not only do pets give us love and companionship, but they also are beneficial to our physical and mental health. Pets are used in nursing homes, prisons, and mental health institutions, with autistic children, and in many other capacities.
Changing susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients with the clinical use of newer antibiotics.

Abstract To detect a change in antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates upon the introduction and clinical use of ciprofloxacin, aztreonam, and ceftazidime, MICs for clinical isolates collected before introduction of the antibiotics, during early clinical use, and later were determined for these and seven other antipseudomonal antibiotics. Concomitant resistance to two or more antibiotics was also studied. Over the three study periods, rates of susceptibility to 9 of the 10 antibiotics decreased. The largest decrease occurred with ceftazidime. Analysis of subsets of isolates from patients treated with ciprofloxacin or aztreonam also showed declining susceptibility to the latter but a stabilization of susceptibility to the former after an initial decline. Concomitant resistance within and among antibiotic classes was common.
Party Systems in the Making: The Emergence and Success of New Parties in New Democracies

Why do new parties continue emerging and attracting votes in new democracies? Does the duration of the democratic regime facilitate party system stabilization? With original data on legislative elections in fifteen East European countries (1990–2004), this article shows that new party entry is more likely when the cost of entry is low, the benefit of office is high and the perceived level of electoral viability is high. Support for new parties is influenced by the extent of disappointment with existing parties. Further, while the number of new parties decreases gradually as democracies age, the support for new entrants follows no clear unidirectional pattern across time.
Effects of adenosine in combination with calcium channel blockers in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension

Abstract Objectives . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of vasodilator combination therapy in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. Background . Calcium channel blockers and adenosine have each been shown to be effective in reducing pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. However, the effects of combining these vasodilators have not been studied. Methods . To test the combination, 12 patients were placed on oral nifedipine and 3 on diltiazem therapy, using a dose titrated to maximal effect (mean nifedipine dose 103 ± 24 mg, mean diltiazem dose 300 ± 49 mg). Patients were then given maintenance doses of the calcium channel blocker at half the cumulative loading dose at 6-h intervals. One hour after the maintenance dose of calcium blocker, all patients received an infusion of adenosine, starting with 50 μg/kg per min and increasing by 50 μg/kg per min at 2-min intervals to a miximally tolerated dose (180 ± 63 μg/kg per min). Results . Ten patients responded to calcium channel blockers (defined as a ≥20% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance), with a 16% decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure (p = 0.057), a 39% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (p = 0.002) and a 24% increase in stroke volume (p = 0.007). Five patients were nonresponders, with no significant changes in pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac index or stroke volume. In the calcium channel blocker responders, the combination of adenosine and calcium blocker reduced pulmonary vascular resistance by 49%, increased stroke volume by 33% and decreased mean pulmonary artery pressure by 14% compared with drug-free baseline values. In nonresponders, combination therapy resulted in nonsignificant changes in pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance. Conclusions . Adenosine has the ability to further decrease pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension who respond to calcium channel blockers. Those who fail to respond to these agents have little added effect from adenosine.
Self-sustained acoustic-wave interactions with counterflow flames

The interaction of acoustic waves with a planar counterflow flame is investigated numerically employing a detailed kinetic model and one-step global kinetic models. The mathematical formulation of quasi-one-dimensional fully unsteady laminar counterflow flames is presented and the governing equations are integrated numerically based on a MacCormack predictor-corrector scheme with second-order accuracy in space. Navier-Stokes characteristic boundary conditions are implemented to accurately represent perfect and partial reflection of acoustic waves at the boundaries. For well-resolved simulations, the occurrence of self-excited flame-acoustics instabilities is analysed in both non-premixed and premixed flames for a range of flow strain rates and flame locations, and employing two finite-rate kinetic models. Unlike the detailed kinetic model, one-step global models with large activation energy and overall reaction order greater than unity promote the amplification of acoustic pressure fluctuations in counterflow non-premixed flames. In contrast, premixed counterflow flames exhibit flame-acoustics instabilities with both kinetic models. While previous unsteady counterflow studies required external perturbations, the resonant unsteady phenomena predicted in this study are self-sustained under favourable boundary conditions. Detailed analyses of the characteristic time scales associated with convection, diffusion, chemistry and acoustics are presented to provide a better understanding of the exact coupling mechanisms.
Enterocyte differentiation marker intestinal alkaline phosphatase is a target gene of the gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor.

We have examined the role that the transcription factor gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor (KLF4 or GKLF) plays in activating the enterocyte differentiation marker gene intestinal alkaline phosphatas...
Microparasites and Macroparasites

This article is an exploration of concepts useful for understanding how diseases affect cultural systems. This reverses the usual question in epidemiologically oriented medical anthropology-how variation in sociocultural behaviors are causally related to patterns of morbidity and mortality. Instead, I am concerned with two theoretical issues: first, a general typology of the mechanisms by which diseases have influenced the structure and evolution of cultures; and second, a distinction between types of parasitism, which is useful for conceptualizing the relative costs of disease to society. If diseases drain energy from cultural ecological systems, then the costs of disease must be understood both epidemiologically and culturally. In international public health theory, it has been a common hypothesis that endemic parasitic disease is an underlying cause of economic underdevelopment. The concept of parasitism has broader applicability than simply to disease. It refers to a common evolutionary strategy in which organisms usurp food and other forms of energy from other individuals (usually from another species) through a continuing close, lifelong relationship. In his landmark volume of the role of disease in world history, McNeill (1976:10) distinguished between microparasites and macroparasites. I believe this distinction merits the serious attention of medical anthropology. This article is divided into four sections. First, it provides a general conceptual scheme of the relationship between disease and culture. It becomes more specific in the second section, by developing the microparasite/macroparasite distinction. Next, it develops a trial model and methodology for comparing the energy costs of microparasitism, in the form of malaria, versus the energy costs of macroparasites, in the form of absentee landlords. The fourth and final section discusses the utility of the microparasite/macroparasite distinction in reevaluating theories of the impact of endemic disease on economic underdevelopment. I am particularly interested in explaining the intellectual roots of the hypothesis that malaria prevented-or at least impeded-economic development, which had been put forward for the Sardinian case (see Brown 1983a).
Extracting Rx information from clinical narrative.

Objective The authors used the i2b2 Medication Extraction Challenge to evaluate their entity extraction methods, contribute to the generation of a publicly available collection of annotated clinical notes, and start developing methods for ontology-based reasoning using structured information generated from the unstructured clinical narrative. Design Extraction of salient features of medication orders from the text of de-identified hospital discharge summaries was addressed with a knowledge-based approach using simple rules and lookup lists. The entity recognition tool, MetaMap, was combined with dose, frequency, and duration modules specifically developed for the Challenge as well as a prototype module for reason identification. Measurements Evaluation metrics and corresponding results were provided by the Challenge organizers. Results The results indicate that robust rule-based tools achieve satisfactory results in extraction of simple elements of medication orders, but more sophisticated methods are needed for identification of reasons for the orders and durations. Limitations Owing to the time constraints and nature of the Challenge, some obvious follow-on analysis has not been completed yet. Conclusions The authors plan to integrate the new modules with MetaMap to enhance its accuracy. This integration effort will provide guidance in retargeting existing tools for better processing of clinical text.
Maximizing privacy in Variable Bit rate Coding

Variable Bitrate Coding (VBR) has shown to be an advantageous method of encoding data streams, with particular application to speech, audio and video streams. While the primary disadvantage of VBR has long been considered as the increasing encoding complexity, recent research into traffic analysis of VBR coded audio streams has exposed an important privacy vulnerability wherein an eavesdropper can utilize the observed length of VBR encoded data packets and determine the contents of the communication such as spoken words and audio. In this work, the privacy-utility tradeoff for VBR coding is studied from a theoretical foundational perspective. Specifically, the data source is modeled a mixture distribution, wherein the length of the encoded data packet is varied to maintain a constant quality (distortion) with respect to the source. Using Shannon's equivocation as a measure of data privacy, the tradeoff between privacy and utility (as measured by delay and overall bit rate) of VBR is investigated analytically. In particular, the tradeoffs are expressed as classical information theoretic rate distortion functions, which shed light into methods to increase the privacy of VBR encoded data without compromising on the desired output fidelity.
Community Based Civic Leadership Programs: A Descriptive Investigation:

This paper focuses on the development and operational practice of civic leadership programs within the entire state of California. The intention of this paper is to provide a clearer understanding ...
Electromyography of the oral stage of swallowing in man.

The geniohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, mylohyoid, and genioglossus muscles of 20 human subjects were studied electromyographically to determine the temporal relationships of their activities during the act of swallowing. Although the firing order of the four muscles varied within the same subject, the best estimate of the “true” firing sequence was established for each of the 18 subjects who provided statistically significant data. However, no definite universal pattern could be established for the four muscles because there was great inter-subject variability in both the duration and the sequence of activity. Therefore, at least with respect to these four muscles, each individual has his own swallowing pattern, but different people may swallow quite differently. The type of bolus (saliva vs water) may influence the duration of the muscles' activity. On the other hand, posture (semi-reclined vs sitting) did not seem to have any influence. There was no evidence to indicate that posture and/or the type of bolus are correlated with the sequence of muscular activity. The anterior belly of the digastric muscle was not active in one-quarter of the swallows studied. When active during deglutition, all muscles had a general electromyographic pattern of one to many summations of activity separated by relatively quiet periods before and after each swallow.
Effect of Mutations in VP5* Hydrophobic Loops on Rotavirus Cell Entry

Experiments in cell-free systems have demonstrated that the VP5 cleavage fragment of the rotavirus spike protein, VP4, undergoes a foldback rearrangement that translocates three clustered hydrophobic loops from one end of the molecule to the other. This conformational change resembles the foldback rearrangements of enveloped virus fusion proteins. By recoating rotavirus subviral particles with recombinant VP4 and VP7, we tested the effects on cell entry of substituting hydrophilic for hydrophobic residues in the clustered VP5 loops. Several of these mutations decreased the infectivity of recoated particles without preventing either recoating or folding back. In particular, the V391D mutant had a diminished capacity to interact with liposomes when triggered to fold back by serial protease digestion in solution, and particles recoated with this mutant VP4 were 10,000-fold less infectious than particles recoated with wild-type VP4. Particles with V391D mutant VP4 attached normally to cells and internalized efficiently, but they failed in the permeabilization step that allows coentry of the toxin alpha-sarcin. These findings indicate that the hydrophobicity of the VP5 apex is required for membrane disruption during rotavirus cell entry.
Variations in Composition and Rheology of Bituminous Crack Sealants for Pavement Maintenance

Bituminous crack sealants are used for the preventive maintenance of asphalt concrete pavements. The selection of a durable sealant can be difficult, however, mainly because of the lack of correlation between standard sealant specifications and field performance. Hence, an approved list of materials based on past performance is sometimes used to select sealants. However, sealant durability and performance vary over time. To investigate the effect of sealant lot variation on sealant properties, six lots of two sealants from different suppliers were analyzed for filler and polymer contents and rheological response. It was found that the difference in composition and rheology between lots can be similar to that between sealants produced by different manufacturers. Hence, sealant lot-to-lot variation can partly explain the variation in the field performance of sealants. Therefore, lists of approved products drawn from the field performance of past years are ineffective in the selection of sealants for future maintenance. The application of segregated sealants was also investigated, including assessing the effect of melter stirring on sealant homogeneity and measuring the segregation of sealant upon cooling. It was found that sealants do not segregate after their application and subsequent cooling and that a rapid circumferential stirring of 25 revolutions per minute in the heating kettle allowed for the remixing of a segregated sealant.
Revised estimates of influenza-associated excess mortality, United States, 1995 through 2005.

Excess mortality due to seasonal influenza is thought to be substantial. However, influenza may often not be recognized as cause of death. Imputation methods are therefore required to assess the public health impact of influenza. The purpose of this study was to obtain estimates of monthly excess mortality due to influenza that are based on an epidemiologically meaningful model. U.S. monthly all-cause mortality, 1995 through 2005, was hierarchically modeled as Poisson variable with a mean that linearly depends both on seasonal covariates and on influenza-certified mortality. It also allowed for overdispersion to account for extra variation that is not captured by the Poisson error. The coefficient associated with influenza-certified mortality was interpreted as ratio of total influenza mortality to influenza-certified mortality. Separate models were fitted for four age categories (<18, 18–49, 50–64, 65+). Bayesian parameter estimation was performed using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. For the eleven year study period, a total of 260,814 (95% CI: 201,011–290,556) deaths was attributed to influenza, corresponding to an annual average of 23,710, or 0.91% of all deaths. Annual estimates for influenza mortality were highly variable from year to year, but they were systematically lower than previously published estimates. The excellent fit of our model with the data suggest validity of our estimates.
Gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to pancreatic head biopsy.

Pseudoaneurysms of the gastroduodenal artery are rare. 1 They are usually postoperative or postprocedure complications or secondary to pancreatitis. Abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding are the most common symptoms. Once diagnosed, pseudoaneurysms require immediate treatment because they have a potential to rupture, which is associated with a high rate of mortality. Transcatheter selective embolotherapy is the procedure of choice for this clinical entity. We report the case of an 80-year-old woman in whom a visceral artery pseudoaneurysm developed secondary to a percutaneous pancreatic head biopsy. Computed tomography (CT) and sonography provided the initial diagnosis for a pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery, which was confirmed by celiac arteriography and successfully treated by arterial embolization. We discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of visceral pseudoaneurysms.
Simple computational methods for frequency domain robustness measures

Many robustness measures are computed in the frequency domain, such measures include gain margin, phase margin, Popov and circle criteria, closed-loop resonance peak, and bandwidth. All of these measures may be computed directly using a simple frequency domain interpolation calculation, by means of a polynomial root solver.
Reconciling Traditional Morality and the Morality of Competition

It is commonly believed that the moral norms of “everyday” or “traditional” morality apply uniformly in all business contexts. However, Joseph Heath has recently argued that this is not the case. According to Heath, the norms of everyday morality apply with respect to “administered” transactions but not “market” transactions. Market transactions are, he argues, governed by a distinct, “adversarial” morality. In this article, I argue that Heath's attempt to show that competitive contexts are governed by a distinct, adversarial morality does not succeed. I then undertake the task of showing that, contrary to what is commonly thought, competitive actions can be reconciled with the norms of traditional morality.
Supernovas: The Dialectic of Celebrity in Society

Celebrity is manufactured in a society that has access to mass communications. But it still carries a mystique. Part of the appeal: romantic tales of discovery, fall, recovery and redemption.
Design and analysis of a novel electro-optical MEMS gyroscope for navigation applications

A novel gyroscope design is presented that has potential to reach navigation-grade performance, i.e. bias instability < 0.01 °/hr and Angle Random Walk (ARW) < 0.001 °/√hr. The design is based on the incorporation of an optical transduction mechanism used to decouple drive and sense signals, a dual crystalline silicon spring fabrication approach along with a large drive mass and small sense mass to enhance Coriolis displacement.
Biosynthesis of eicosanoids and transcellular metabolism of leukotrienes in murine bone marrow cells.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) biosynthesis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) is an important factor of inflammatory responses. PMNs also release LTA4, an unstable intermediate that can be taken up by neighboring cells and metabolized into LTC4. Most studies of LT synthesis have been carried out using human PMNs, but very little information is available about mouse PMNs. Mouse bone marrow PMNs were found to synthesize eicosanoids upon stimulation with A23187, fMLP, or zymosan. The major eicosanoids produced are LTB4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, with some nonenzymatic products of LTA4 hydrolysis. No cysteinyl leukotrienes were produced, in contrast to what was observed with human blood neutrophil preparations. Human megakaryoblast-like MEG-01 cells synthesized thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin E2 in response to A23187 but produced no 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO)-derived eicosanoids. When mouse bone marrow cells (mBMCs) and MEG-01 cells were stimulated during coincubation, LTC4 and LTD4 were produced. Mouse peritoneal macrophages from 5-LO-deficient mice were able to synthesize LTC4 when incubated with mBMCs from wild-type mice, demonstrating transcellular exchange of LTA4 from mBMCs into murine peritoneal macrophages. These data demonstrate that murine bone marrow PMNs are a valid model for the study of LT biosynthesis, which now offers the possibility to investigate specific biochemical pathways through the use of transgenic mice.
Comparison of Plants for Germination Toxicity Tests in Petroleum-Contaminated Soils

Pollution of soil by petroleum hydrocarbons is a serious environmental problem world-wide. Although total concentration of contaminants in soil and/or water is used for regulatory review, it also is beneficial to assess the potential for ecosystem impact through a series of bioassays. One commonly used bioassay is seed germination. In this test, seeds are placed in contaminated material, and seedlings enumerated after a specified incubation period. However, different plant species produce variability in response. In the research project reported here, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), millet (Panicum miliaceum), radish (Raphanus L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) were tested for sensitivity to petroleum-contaminated soil in germination tests. While most plants appeared to show some sensitivity to the pollutant, only lettuce had a statistically significant difference in response to contaminated and uncontaminated soil. These results confirm that Latuca sativa L is the optimal plant choice for standard germination toxicity tests with petroleum-impacted soil.
Comparative mutational analysis of cis-acting RNA signals for translational frameshifting in HIV-1 and HTLV-2

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T cell leukemia virus type II (HTLV-2) use a similar mechanism for –1 translational frameshifting to overcome the termination codon in viral RNA at the end of the gag gene. Previous studies have identified two important RNA signals for frameshifting, the slippery sequence and a downstream stem–loop structure. However, there have been somewhat conflicting reports concerning the individual contributions of these sequences. In this study we have performed a comprehensive mutational analysis of the cis-acting RNA sequences involved in HIV-1 gag–pol and HTLV-2 gag–pro frameshifting. Using an in vitro translation system we determined frameshifting efficiencies for shuffled HIV-1/HTLV-2 RNA elements in a background of HIV-1 or HTLV-2 sequences. We show that the ability of the slippery sequence and stem–loop to promote ribosomal frameshifting is influenced by the flanking upstream sequence and the nucleotides in the spacer element. A wide range of frameshift efficiency rates was observed for both viruses when shuffling single sequence elements. The results for HIV-1/HTLV-2 chimeric constructs represent strong evidence supporting the notion that the viral wild-type sequences are not designed for maximal frameshifting activity but are optimized to a level suited to efficient viral replication.
The Health-Related Tax Provisions of PPACA and HCERA: Contingent, Complex, Incremental and Lacking Cost Controls

Americans must, into the indefinite future, confront difficult issues pertaining to health care and health care costs. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA) do not alter the status quo as much as their advocates and their detractors contend nor do PPACA and HCERA resolve the fundamental challenges confronting the U.S. health care system, including the problem of escalating health care outlays. In important respects, PPACA and HCERA will exacerbate that problem.Four factors underpin this sobering assessment. First, PPACA and HCERA, while significant, are more incremental in nature than either their proponents or their opponents acknowledge. These laws build upon – indeed, extend - the existing systems of private health insurance and employer-provided health care. Second, many provisions of PPACA and HCERA have delayed effective dates. It is an open question whether future Presidents and Congresses will allow these deferred provisions to go into effect as scheduled. Third, key provisions of PPACA and HCERA are enormously complex. By virtue of such complexity, these laws will impose prodigious enforcement burdens upon the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and equally immense compliance obligations on taxpayers, in particular, small businesses and many individuals of modest means. The prospects for a complexity-induced political backlash to PPACA and HCERA are considerable. Fourth, these acts merely postpone the tough decisions that must be made about health care and about health care costs in particular. These laws’ efforts to control health care outlays are tepid and deferred. Moreover, PPACA and HCERA, by expanding access to medical services, will increase demand for such services and thereby stimulate health care expenditures.While Republicans and Democrats alike portray the adoption of PPACA and HCERA as a pivotal moment in American life, we Americans are fated to conduct a prolonged – indeed, an indefinite – debate about health care and its costs. PPACA and HCERA write an important, but hardly final, chapter in that debate.This is not surprising. Democracies rarely make radical breaks from the status quo nor should they. Cost control entails sacrifice which the American political system is today incapable of demanding from the American people.
Complex Fluids and Lagrangian Particles

We discuss complex fluids that are comprised of a solvent, which is an incompressible Newtonian fluid, and particulate matter in it. The complex fluid occupies a region in physical space \({\mathbb{R}}^{d}\). The particles are described using a finite dimensional manifold M, which serves as configuration space. Simple models [15, 29] represent complicated objects by retaining very few degrees of freedom, and in those cases \(M = {\mathbb{R}}^{d}\) or \(M = {\mathbb{S}}^{d-1}\). In general, there is no reason why the number of degrees of freedom of the particles should equal, or be related to the number of degrees of freedom of ambient physical space. We will consider as starting point kinetic descriptions of the particles.
Alternative Sanctions and the Federal Tax Law: Symbols, Shaming, and Social Norm Management as a Substitute for Effective Tax Policy

On several occasions in the past decade, when confronted with taxpayers taking advantage of the Internal Revenue Code in ways that Congress considered objectionable, Congress responded in an unusual way. Rather than merely modifying the Internal Revenue Code to alter the tax consequences of the taxpayer's actions, or imposing traditional civil or criminal penalties on the taxpayer, Congress turned to alternative sanctions. For example, in response to United States citizens who renounce citizenship to avoid taxes, Congress enacted public shaming provisions that require publication of the individuals' names in the Federal Register and modified the federal immigration laws to banish the former citizens from re-entering the United States. Similarly, in response to United States corporations that reincorporate abroad to reduce United States tax liability, Congress enacted legislation purporting to ban the corporation from entering into future government contracts. This Article, relying primarily on the public shaming and immigration-law banishment provisions applicable to individuals who renounce citizenship to avoid taxes, analyzes the alternative sanctions from three perspectives: their instrumental effects, their expressive function in altering social norms, and their role as symbolic legislation. This Article concludes that alternative sanctions, when used to deter or condemn behavior for which the tax code provides a tax benefit, produce significant instrumental, expressive, and symbolic problems. This Article suggests a narrower role for alternative sanctions, as a limited tool of tax enforcement, that might avoid these problems.
Fracture behavior of embrittled F.C.C. metal bicrystals

Abstract A modified version of the Rice-Thomson model is used to predict the fracture behavior of Cu interfaces containing Bi. A general observation is that ductile or brittle response of an interfacial crack is strongly dependent on the relative orientation of available slip planes to the existing crack plane and growth direction, and less dependent on the level of impurity at the interface. A specific application of the model to Cu-[110] symmetric tilt boundaries in mode I loading indicates that the Σ11/(1 1 3) grain boundary is ductile and cannot be embrittled by Bi segregation, and that the Σ9/(2 2 1) grain boundary may be ductile or brittle depending on the Bi segregation level and the direction of cracking. These predictions are generally consistent with experimental results from notched bicrystals reported here. This agreement indicates that different fracture behaviors of the bicrystals can be understood, at least qualitatively, by considering the difference in grain boundary structure and comparing the values of crack tip energy release rate for disolocation emission from the crack tip to that for cleavage decohesion of the grain boundary.
Who Got Game? Boumediene v. Bush and the Judicial Gamesmanship of Enemy-Combatant Detention

Our war-on-terror jurisprudence heavily leans towards process issues and largely eschews making any robust commitments to substantive human rights. This article argues that Boumediene substantiates that observation. This was not a case about individual rights - a fact Justice Roberts underscores in his dissent. The contention that Guantanamo detainees have no enforceable rights under the Constitution frames the issue in terms that might have political appeal within a nation too easily manipulated by fear-mongering. Although the majority never admits it, it is quite apparent that Kennedy wants to frame the case away from being a struggle over human rights because, framed within the language of human rights, the case becomes a game the majority cannot win. The result of all this litigation has not forestalled the continued executive detention at Guantanamo, with no evidence that the human-rights concerns that have always plagued that detention site has abated, including the use of torture. It has not improved the adjudicatory process there to the point where a fair-minded and knowledgeable person could be satisfied that it comports with the Kantian tradition that underpins our system of trial and punishment. What this cautious, process-oriented litigation strategy has done is produce often overblown rhetorical gestures about how the three branches should interact in this war on terror, without any regard for the disturbing controversy over what this war on terror is really about and without any recognition that this "war" is doomed to paralysis unless and until there is reason to believe that the government will not, in some fashion, replicate the abuses of the twentieth century.
Low-Lying Ionization Potentials of B3N and Photodetachment Energies of B3N- Using the Multiconfigurational Spin Tensor Electron Propagator Method

The multiconfigurational spin tensor electron propagator method (MCSTEP) is a Green’s function based approach for directly calculating accurately the low-lying ionization potentials (IPs) and electron affinities (EAs) of highly correlated closed and open shell molecules. We have applied MCSTEP to determine the vertical ionization potentials and adiabatic ionization potentials of B3N and B3N. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time the vertical and adiabatic IPs of B3N have been reported. The MCSTEP photodetachment energies (PDEs) of B3N are in good agreement with experimental values.
Adaptive Servomechanisms

A discussion is given on some of the current ideas behind the control engineer's approach to the problem of developing servomechanisms which exhibit some degree of adaptive behavior. Several categories of adaptive systems are discussed and an attempt is made to associate the operating principle of the systems in each category with the behavior of the human being when he acts as a controlling device. A particular system developed for application in the field of automatic flight control is discussed from a functional point of view. The controller, using an analog model which operates on the input information, determines a ``standard of performance'' for the controlled element which closely approximates the performance desired by an experienced operator. The remainder of the controller, using a very simple passive network as a switching function computer to determine the state of a bistable device, forces the controlled element to operate in such a manner as to minimize continuously the error between the desired performance and the actual performance. The controller exhibits adaptive behavior in the sense that it operates in such a manner as to keep the actual performance of the system practically invariant, although the parameters of the controlled element change over a relatively wide range of values.
The Proposed Duty to Inquire as Affected by Recent Criminal Law Decisions in the United States Supreme Court

In the past several years, Andrew Ashworth and Andrew von Hirsch and Douglas Husak have urged, as a more refined notion of desert liability in cases otherwise characterized as involving mistake (or ignorance) of law, a “duty of citizen inquiry.” von Hirsch and Husak’s proposal is actually part of a larger endorsement of ignorantia lexis as an excuse. They would not hold liable persons who (1) did not intend to injure a person, and (2) were reasonably unaware of, or mistaken as to, the extent of the law making their conduct illegal. Although their primary focus is on the first prong
Local Shwartzman reaction in rabbit oral mucosa with endotoxin from oral bacteria.

SummaryThe local Shwartzman reaction was elicited in the rabbit oral cavity and skin with endotoxin prepared by phenol-water extraction procedure from a strain of oral Veillonella. Lipid-carbohydrate-protein products prepared by same procedure from viridans streptococci, or a solution of physiologic saline did not produce this reaction in either tissue. Lesions obtained in oral mucosa with each substance were grossly and histologically similar to lesions obtained with the same material in skin.
Coxsackie B4 virus crystal formation in mouse pancreas.

SummaryFor the first time, Coxsackie B4 virus crystals are demonstrated in tissues of animals inoculated with the virus. Until this report, Coxsackie B4 virus had never been found to form crystalline aggregates in tissues of any kind. The viral crystals which were located in the pancreas of newborn mice were associated with ultrastructural damage to the pancreas not observed in control animals, thereby indicating that viruses directly invade and damage these tissues. Thus, this virus must be considered among etiologic factors in pancreatic disease.
Effect of Storage in Deep Freeze Upon Activity of Urinary Acid Phosphatase.

It has been reported that the acid phosphatase of serum is inactivated after several days at room temperature, or even in a refrigerator, but the activity may be preserved for periods ranging up to 112 days at —15 C. Similar findings were reported for the acid phosphatase of leukocytes. We also found that temperatures maintained in a deep-freeze prevent inactivation of the acid phosphatase in tissue extracts and prostatic fluid. However, while studying total and "prostatic" acid phosphatase in serum,' we observed that urine which was placed in a deep-freeze for 24 hours or longer seemed to lose considerable activity of acid phosphatase. Inasmuch as the excretion of urinary acid phosphatase has been studied in certain physiologic and pathologic states, the problem of proper preservation of urine is important. Therefore, we decided to study the extent of inactivation of urinary acid phosphatase under freezing conditions, and to attempt to define the mechanism through which the inactrvation occurred.
Finding Aids: From the Basement to the Web

This article describes an in-house collaborative partnership that uses the World Wide Web to provide access and value to manuscript collections from university library online catalogs and Archives & Special Collections department Web pages. Collaboration among the archivist, the original cataloger, and a reference librarian resulted in a cataloging template for collection-level bibliographic records. The process for formulating a record is given, as are methods used to establish Web-based finding aids in Hyper-Text Mark-up Language (HTML) and the digitization of existing finding aids.
Effects of Recycling Dried Poultry Waste on Young Chicks

Abstract Three experimental diets containing 0, 10 and 20% recycled dried poultry waste (DPW) were formulated isocaloric (2950 Kcal./kg.) and equivalent in percentage of true protein (16%), calcium and phosphorus. Each experimental diet was fed to 4 replicate groups kept in wire-floored batteries. Excreta from each group was collected weekly, dried, ground and mixed with the diet to be fed the following week. DPW recycling, at both 10 and 20% dietary levels, significantly depressed weight gain of birds 4 to 8 weeks of age, but feed efficiency was depressed by 20% dietary DPW only. As the numbers of recyclings increased, calcium and magnesium contents of the excreta decreased linearly. Potassium and zinc tended to increase, and other minerals remained constant. Increasing DPW in the diet significantly decreased calcium, phosphorus, and iron in excreta (Plin. The percentage of 3-nitro-4-hydroxy phenylarsonic acid retained by the chicks was significantly decreased (Plin.
The drug sensitivity test and treatment study on 128 cases of endocervical mycoplasma infection

Objective To study the drug sensitivity of mycoplasma and find out the effective treatment. Methods (1)Endocervical swabs were taken from 128 women with endocervical mycoplasma infection. The swabs were used for the drug sensitivity tests. (2) Josamycin and Doxycycline Hyclate were used in 60 cases as A group,Josamycin was used in other 60 cases as B group. The cure rate and side effects were compared between 2 groups. Results (1) Drug sensitivity rates to mycoplasma were Doxycyclina Hyclate 96.1%,Minocycline Hydrochloride 94.5%,Josamycin 93.0%. Sparfloxacin 71.1%. (2) Drug resistance rates were Ciprofloxacin 39.8%,Roxithromycin 32.8%,Azithromycin 32.8%,Clarithromycin29.7%. (3) The cure rate of A group was 83.1%,and 53.3% of B group. There had significant differences of the cure rates between 2 groups(P0.01). Gastriontes tract reaction occurred in 2 groups,that was the major side-effect. Conclusions Doxycycline Hyclate,Minocycline Hydrochloride,Josamycin,Sparfloxacin were sensitive drug tested to mycoplasma. Josamycin and Doxycycline Hyclate can be used for treating the endocervical mycoplasma infection safely and effectively.
Design of a programmable wireless remote control multiplex switch system

The paper proposes a new design of a programmable wireless remote control multiplexer switch system.The system employs Si4010 as the central transmit unit and Si4313 and C8051F920 as the central receive control unit,so that radio remote control to a multiplexer switch is realized.The operating principle of the system is represented,so do the hardware circuits and software flow charts.Experiments are carried out to verify the design,and the results indicate that the system is of low cost,small size and low power consumption,as well as good anti-interference performance,long control distance and high reliability.
Tissue Concentrations of Molybdenum after Chronic Dosage in Rats do Not Follow Size of Dose

The concentration of a potentially toxic element in tissues has been widely used to estimate exposure to excess amounts, especially of a substance that accumulates in cells with time. Molybdenum, like other essential trace elements, is toxic at high intake levels and an increase of two or more orders above “normal” is necessary to produce clinical symptoms. Though it does not accumulate with time, the level of intake is reflected in the amount retained (Winston 1981). We assumed that concentrations of Mo in tissues and its deleterious effects would very more or less directly with intake. As will be shown below, this was only partly upheld.
A hero’s challenged masculinity: Darín in La señal (2007)

This article analyzes the paradoxical role of Argentine film star Ricardo Darin as El Pibe Corvalan in the noir film La senal (2007). Darin’s prominence is challenged by both the presence of a buddy detective, Corvalan, played by actor Diego Peretti, and a femme fatale, Gloria (Julieta Diaz). Drawing on psychoanalytical theory, I investigate Corvalan’s inscription into and/or distance from the Law-of-the-Father as a way to examine his performance of masculinity in La senal. I also focus on the woman who attracts the hero’s desire, suggesting that La senal presents the vulnerability (rather than the victory) of the non-Peronist, middle-class protagonist – and that of patriarchy in general as well.