cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Income tax cuts without spending cuts: Hazards to efficiency, equity, employment and growth

Samuelson’s “neoclassical synthesis” retrieved the theory of fiscal policy from Keynesian economics to the nonmonetary domain. But no agreement emerged over the right kind of “real” model to adopt. In the neo-Keynesian theory fashioned by Tobin and Modigliani, deficits were anti-growth and inoptimally so, and Tobin argued for budgetary surplus to boost investment. Mundell proposed harnessing budgetary policy instead to the stabilization of employment, which inspired the supply-side case for budgetary deficit through reduced tax rates. Rubin and Summers revived the Wall Street asset market argument for budgetary surplus as a means to low real interest rates, thus to high investment, growth and employment – in the present, not only the future. This paper uses these ideas, some old ideas by the author and some recent modeling in collaboration with Hian Teck Hoon to critique the 2001 Bush income tax cut, with its delayed action and sunset feature. First, the tax cut reduces economic efficiency to the extent it misleads households into overestimating their true wealth, thus over-consuming and underworking. Second, in a nonRicardian economy, the tax cut reduces intergenerational justice, conceived in the spirit of Rawls. Finally, drawing on a model with Hoon combining supply-side and Wall Street channels, the paper argues that the delayed tax cut legislation forces an unambiguous rise of the natural unemployment rate until the tax rate cuts kick in, at which point the net effect becomes ambiguous. JEL classification: E13, E22, E23
Lysine deacetylase (KDAC) regulatory pathways: an alternative approach to selective modulation.

Protein lysine deacetylases (KDACs), including the classic Zn2+-dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs) and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-requiring sirtuins, are enzymes that play critical roles in numerous biological processes, particularly the epigenetic regulation of global gene expression programs in response to internal and external cues. Dysregulation of KDACs is characteristic of several human diseases, including chronic metabolic, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases and many cancers. This has led to the development of KDAC modulators, two of which (HDAC inhibitors vorinostat and romidepsin) have been approved for the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma. By their nature, existing KDAC modulators are relatively nonspecific, leading to pan-KDAC changes and undesired side effects. Given that KDACs are regulated at many levels, including transcriptional, post-translational, subcellular localization, and through their complexation with other proteins, it should be possible to affect specific KDAC activity through manipulation of endogenous signaling pathways. In this Minireview, we discuss our present knowledge of the cellular controls of KDAC activity and examples of their pharmacologic regulation.
HOPE VI: An Analysis to Determine the HOPE VI Program's Influence on Home Sales

This article will examine the original Housing Opportunity for People Everywhere (HOPE) VI sites in the cities of Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, and Washington, D.C., to determine if surrounding home sales increase after its completion. The author utilizes an Adjusted Interrupted Time Series (AITS) method, first developed by Galster, Temkin, Walker, and Sawyer (2004), to examine the effects of the HOPE VI program on local real housing prices (which is utilized as a proxy for local economic development in this paper and in previous urban economic research). The author found that the prices of housing units in the HOPE VI concentric rings of a half mile and 1 mile around the HOPE VI site increased after completion. The results also showed that the housing price trend around the HOPE VI site began to increase after the completion date of each site. The price trend of housing units in the inner ring of the HOPE VI sites grew more than those in the outer ring. Therefore, the results indicate that the HOPE VI s...
Decreased tidal volume may limit cardiopulmonary performance during exercise in subacute stroke.

PURPOSE The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether pulmonary function was reduced at submaximal and peak exercise in subacute stroke (SG) when compared with sedentary adults (CON). METHODS Ten individuals with subacute stroke and 10 sedentary, age- and gender-matched adults performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), using a recumbent stepper. We used independent t tests to determine between-group differences at peak effort. We used repeated-measures analysis of variance with Test Minute (minutes 1-6) as the within-subject factor and Group (SG, CON) as the between-subject factor to assess cardiopulmonary submaximal performance. RESULTS The SG had significantly lower values (P < .05) for oxygen uptake, minute ventilation ((Equation is included in full-text article.)E), and tidal volume (VT) than CON at peak effort of the CPET. During CPET submaximal effort, we report a significant main effect for Test Minute and Group for VT and respiratory rate but no main effect of Group for (Equation is included in full-text article.)E. To maintain adequate (Equation is included in full-text article.)E during submaximal effort and decreased VT, higher respiratory rate was observed. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that diminished VT in subacute stroke patients may limit performance during submaximal and peak effort of CPET. Rehabilitation professionals should consider methods for improving pulmonary function during stroke rehabilitation.
The Use of Extended Family Groups in the Achievement of Social Goals: Some Policy Implications

**For instance, they stress such factors as empathy, autonomy, intelligence, creativity, and judgment. ***For instance, group norms on courtship have changed so radically in the last twenty years that if a girl were to use the same courtship rules which governed her mother's behavior she would be very much out of step with her peers (4, PP. 315-318). Somewhat the same exoerience might befall the working class adolescent who utilized upper class courtship norms among his peer group (io).
Top cited papers in International Psychogeriatrics: 2. Quality adjusted life years in older adults with depressive symptoms and chronic medical disorders.

I would like to thank the editor of International Psychogeriatrics for the opportunity to comment on this article (Unutzer et al., 2000). The work leading to this paper was undertaken early in my career and has become the foundation for a decade of research focused on improving the care of older adults with depression.
Observations of damage and transport of hydrogen in ion bombarded polycrystalline silicon

A combination of chemical etching and sheet resistivity measurements showed that intense (1.4 mA/cm2 ) low energy (1400 eV) ion beam hydrogenation of polycrystalline silicon having a columnar structure can produce electrical defect passivation to depths in the order of 100 μm. Transmission electron micrographs disclose surface and near-surface features resulting from the ion beam bombardment which suggest that one of the hydrogen transport mechanisms may be defect induced.
Cretaceous and Tertiary Sediments of Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri

The embayment sediments of Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri consist of the Tuscaloosa gravel, Eutaw sand, and Ripley sand and clay of Cretaceous age, the Porters Creek clay and Lagrange sand and clay of Eocene age, and the "Lafayette" gravel and sand and the colluvium of Pliocene age. The outcrops of these sediments form an inverted U-shaped belt whose apex crosses southern Illinois and whose east and west sides lie respectively in western Kentucky and southeastern Missouri. The outer side of the U is bounded by Paleozoic strata; the center is composed largely of Pleistocene sediments and Recent deposits of Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The outstanding features of the embayment deposits are: (1) they are almost totally unconsolidated, and (2) calcareous material is very uncommon, suggesting either deposition principally of non-calcareous sediments during Cretaceous-Tertiary times or widespread and pronounced leaching subsequent to deposition. Lignitic strata contain a few fragmentary plant remains; animal fossils are extremely rare. Structural data are poor, but the best available suggest a general gentle dip of the sediments toward the deeper part of the embayment, possibly with minor anticlinal folds plunging basinward in the marginal parts. Settling and creep have produced striking local deformation. The source of the sands and clays of the embayment deposits is thought to have been principally the Pennsylvanian and upper Mississippian sandstones and shales of the adjoining parts of Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky. The limestones in the same areas have probably also contributed to the clays. The chert gravel making up the Tuscaloosa and Lafayette formations seems to have been derived for the most part locally from cherty limestones and chert formations.
A Note on "Amplify-and-Forward Relay Networks under Received Power Constraint" [Nov 09 5422-5426]

This letter is to correct the incorrect optimal relay coefficient at the k-th relay derived in [1] for an amplify-and-forward (AF) wireless relay network under received power constraints. While the trends remain the same, with the correct optimal relay coefficient in this paper, nonnegligible improvement, e.g., about 0.8 dB at BER = 10-7, can be achieved.
Exogenous Nitric Oxide Stimulates Cell Proliferation via Activation of a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway in Ovine Fetoplacental Artery Endothelial Cells

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor and a nitrovasodilator drug used for patients with hypertensive crisis, has been shown to promote angiogenesis. However, direct evidence showing the involvement of NO in the SNP-induced angiogenesis is not available. Accordingly, we assessed whether NO generated from SNP-stimulated ovine fetoplacental artery endothelial (OFPAE) cell proliferation via activation of mitogenactivated protein kinase 3/1 (MAPK3/1, also termed ERK1/2). We observed that SNP dose dependently stimulated (P , 0.05) cell proliferation with a maximal effect at 1 lM and that SNP rapidly (� 15 min) phosphorylated (P , 0.05) MAPK3/1 but not v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1). Treatment of cells with SNP caused a rapid increase in NO levels in media. These increased NO levels were inhibited (P , 0.05) by 2-phenyl4,4,5,5 tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO), a NO scavenger. The SNP-induced cell proliferation and MAPK3/1 phosphorylation were attenuated (P , 0.05) by both PTIO and PD98059, a specific mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 and 2 (MAP2K1/2, also termed MEK1/2) inhibitor. Using a semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis, we also showed that up to 12 h of treatment, SNP and N G -monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, a NOS inhibitor) did not alter mRNA expression of VEGF, FGF2, and their major receptors in OFPAE cells. The SNP’s stimulatory effects on OFPAE cell proliferation and MAPK3/1 activation were confirmed in a human placental artery endothelial (HPAE) cell line. These data indicate that exogenous NO generated from SNP is able to stimulate fetoplacental artery endothelial cell proliferation at least partly via activation of the MAP2K1/2/MAPK3/1 cascade. These data also suggest that SNP could potentially be used to modulate placental angiogenesis. cell proliferation, MAPK3/1, nitric oxide, placenta, placental endothelial cells, pregnancy, signal transduction, SNP
Scatter Correction Method for X-Ray CT Using Primary Modulation: Theory and Preliminary Results

An X-ray system with a large area detector has high scatter-to-primary ratios (SPRs), which result in severe artifacts in reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images. A scatter correction algorithm is introduced that provides effective scatter correction but does not require additional patient exposure. The key hypothesis of the algorithm is that the high-frequency components of the X-ray spatial distribution do not result in strong high-frequency signals in the scatter. A calibration sheet with a checkerboard pattern of semitransparent blockers (a "primary modulator") is inserted between the X-ray source and the object. The primary distribution is partially modulated by a high-frequency function, while the scatter distribution still has dominant low-frequency components, based on the hypothesis. Filtering and demodulation techniques suffice to extract the low-frequency components of the primary and hence obtain the scatter estimation. The hypothesis was validated using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, and the algorithm was evaluated by both MC simulations and physical experiments. Reconstructions of a software humanoid phantom suggested system parameters in the physical implementation and showed that the proposed method reduced the relative mean square error of the reconstructed image in the central region of interest from 74.2% to below 1%. In preliminary physical experiments on the standard evaluation phantom, this error was reduced from 31.8% to 2.3%, and it was also demonstrated that the algorithm has no noticeable impact on the resolution of the reconstructed image in spite of the filter-based approach. Although the proposed scatter correction technique was implemented for X-ray CT, it can also be used in other X-ray imaging applications, as long as a primary modulator can be inserted between the X-ray source and the imaged object
Determination of (d, alpha) reaction cross sections

Absolute cross-sections were determined for several (d, α) reactions. Thin targets were bombarbed by a beam of 7·8 MeV deuterons which were collected in a Faraday cup and measured by a current integrator. Product nuclei were separated chemically from extraneous activities. Absolute disintegration rates were determined by 4π β-counting. Cross-section values and estimated standard deviations are reported for formation of the following nuclei: 22Na, 24Na, 32P, 46Sc, 68 min 104Ag, 112Ag and 111Ag.
A Case-Control Study of the Clinical Diagnosis and Course of Lassa Fever

A prospective case-control study of Lassa fever was established in Sierra Leone to measure the frequency and case-fatality ratio of Lassa fever among febrile hospital admissions and to better delineate the clinical diagnosis and course of this disease. Lassa fever was responsible for 10%-16% of all adult medical admissions and for approximately 30% of adult deaths in the two hospitals studied. The case-fatality ratio for 441 hospitalized patients was 16.5%. We found the best predictor of Lassa fever to be the combination of fever, pharyngitis, retrosternal pain, and proteinuria (predictive value together, .81); of outcome, the best predictor was the combination of fever, sore throat, and vomiting (relative risk of death, 5.5). Complications included mucosal bleeding (17%), bilateral or unilateral eighth-nerve deafness (4%), and pleural (3%) or pericardial (2%) effusion. Lassa fever is endemic in this area and is a more-common cause of hospital admission and death than has previously been described; this disease must be considered when diagnosing febrile illness in West Africa.
Innovating mindfully with information technology

Although organizational innovation with information technology is often carefully considered, bandwagon phenomena indicate that much innovative behavior may nevertheless be of the "me too" variety. In this essay, we explore such differences in innovative behavior. Adopting a perspective that is both institutional and cognitive, we introduce the notion of mindful innovation with IT. A mindful firm attends to an IT innovation with reasoning grounded in its own organizational facts and specifics. We contrast this with mindless innovation, where a firm's actions betray an absence of such attention and grounding. We develop these concepts by drawing on the recent appearance of the idea of mindfulness in the organizational literature, and adapting it for application to IT innovation. We then bring mindfulness and mindlessness together in a larger theoretical synthesis in which these apparent opposites are seen to interact in ways that help to shape the overall landscape of opportunity for organizational innovation with IT. We conclude by suggesting several promising new research directions.
Micromechanics predictions for two-phased nanocomposites and three-phased multiscale composites: A review

Advanced composites enhanced with nanoparticles demonstrate a plethora of potential uses in aerospace, automotive, and medical industries. However, there are difficulties in tailoring the properties of these materials during manufacturing. In order to fully utilize such materials, there is a need for a more fundamental understanding of composite structures after nanoparticle integration so that manufacturing these materials can be more efficient. In order to achieve this, the use of modeling and predictive methods has been frequently employed. This review seeks to summarize the recent advances in the analytical micromechanical analysis of nano-enhanced composites. First, we introduce the basic concepts involved in micromechanics. Next, we review existing micromechanics models. Then, we discuss the applications of these models in the prediction of nano-enhanced two-phased composite properties. Finally, we will extend our discussion to the recent incorporation of these models to three-phased composites or “...
Influence of ω-3 fatty acids on splanchnic blood flow and lactate metabolism in an endotoxemic rat model☆

Abstract Alteration in regional blood flow is important in the pathogenesis of organ failure during endotoxemia and sepsis. In particular, intestinal ischemia is thought to enhance the translocation of bacteria into the systemic circulation. We used radioactive microspheres to measure the influence of two intravenous (IV) dietary fats (vegetable oil containing high levels of ω-6 fatty acids, and fish oil containing high levels of ω-3 fatty acids) on regional blood flow during low-dose Escherichia coli endotoxin infusion ( 0.1 mg 100 g body weight [BW] ) in a rat model. Despite absence of changes in the cardiac output, blood flow rates to the small and large intestines, stomach, and pancreas, and also to the skin and skeletal muscle were significantly reduced after 18 hours of endotoxin infusion in the rats fed standard vegetable oil. Short-term IV feeding during a period of 40 hours with an isonitrogenous, isocaloric nutrient solution containing fish oil as the only lipid source normalized intestinal perfusion and increased blood flow to the liver and spleen. Low-dose endotoxin infusion also resulted in significant increases in glucose, lactate, and pyruvate concentrations. In comparison to standard vegetable fat emulsion, fish oil significantly reduced these parameters. A second experiment was conducted to measure lactate kinetics. Based on the dilution of U-14C-lactate, fish oil feeding was associated with higher lactate clearance than standard vegetable oil feeding during the endotoxin infusion. We conclude that short-term IV feeding with oil improves intestinal perfusion and portal blood flow, improves glucose tolerance, and increases lactate clearance in a low-dose endotoxin rat model.
Surgical Management of Temporomandibular Joint Problems

It is generally recommended that medical management should be the first-line approach to treating most diseases and disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). However, surgery can play a role when medical means of management are either not indicated or when such treatments have failed. Although orthodontists are usually not directly involved in these forms of therapy, they do encounter patients with a wide variety of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in their practices and so it is important for them to understand what surgical treatments are available, when they are indicated, and what they are designed to accomplish. This chapter will focus on two major areas of concern to the orthodontist: surgical versus non-surgical management of internal derangements of the TMJ and the use of orthognathic surgery as a treatment for TMDs.
Session 4 overview: Digital processors

Improved performance, battery-life and interactive user-experience continue to drive advances in digital processors for PCs, smartphones, tablets, ultra-light laptops and automobile infotainment systems, as described in the first four papers of this session. The fifth paper describes techniques to meet safety standards for automotive processing. The final two papers address ultra-low power applications, such as sensor node processing and wearables, using special-purpose acceleration hardware and non-volatile memory for zero power standby modes.
Is the problem list in the eye of the beholder? An exploration of consistency across physicians

Objective Quantify the variability of patients’ problem lists – in terms of the number, type, and ordering of problems – across multiple physicians and assess physicians’ criteria for organizing and ranking diagnoses. Materials and Methods In an experimental setting, 32 primary care physicians generated and ordered problem lists for three identical complex internal medicine cases expressed as detailed 2- to 4-page abstracts and subsequently expressed their criteria for ordering items in the list. We studied variability in problem list length. We modified a previously validated rank-based similarity measure, with range of zero to one, to quantify agreement between pairs of lists and calculate a single consensus problem list that maximizes agreement with each physician. Physicians’ reasoning for the ordering of the problem lists was recorded. Results Subjects’ problem lists were highly variable. The median problem list length was 8 (range: 3–14) for Case A, 10 (range: 4–20) for Case B, and 7 (range: 3–13) for Case C. The median indices of agreement – taking into account the length, content, and order of lists – over all possible physician pairings was 0.479, 0.371, 0.509, for Cases A, B, and C, respectively. The median agreements between the physicians’ lists and the consensus list for each case were 0.683, 0.581, and 0.697 (for Cases A, B, and C, respectively).Out of a possible 1488 pairings, 2 lists were identical. Physicians most frequently ranked problem list items based on their acuity and immediate threat to health. Conclusions The problem list is a physician’s mental model of a patient’s health status. These mental models were found to vary significantly between physicians, raising questions about whether problem lists created by individual physicians can serve their intended purpose to improve care coordination.
Other worlds, other DHs: Notes towards a DH accent

As digital humanities (DH) continues to embrace its global dimensions, community members struggle to ascertain frames of reference for understanding and interpreting local contexts for scholarship. This article intervenes in that effort by distinguishing between the local and global contours of DH. It analyzes two projects that map the geographies of DH and identifies the challenge of recognizing DH work. Drawing on postcolonial and linguistic theories of language, this article then proposes that the concept of a ‘DH accent’ provides a lens for mediating between local and global definitions of DH and resolving the ethical challenge of misrecognition. In seeking a global vision, the article suggests, the DH community must begin with the question, ‘What is your DH accent?’
Survey of the Aspergillus Niger Group for Dna Sequences Cross Hybridizing to the Five Prime Region of the Fungal Phytase Gene

(1993). Survey of the Aspergillus Niger Group for Dna Sequences Cross Hybridizing to the Five Prime Region of the Fungal Phytase Gene. Mycologia: Vol. 85, No. 1, pp. 71-73.
Secondary colony formation after long-term bone marrow culture using peripheral blood and bone marrow of HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if defective bone marrow function in HIV infection is associated with decreased numbers of progenitor cells or defective stromal cell function. DESIGN: Defective bone marrow function may in part be responsible for the cytopenias so frequently seen in patients with AIDS. Although a number of investigators have reported impaired growth of committed hematopoietic progenitor cells in HIV-1-infected patients, few studies have examined the most primitive hematopoietic stem cells. Our study was designed to determine the function and quality of the most immature hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of HIV-1-infected patients and to assess stromal cell function. METHODS: For quantification of these cells we used a modified long-term culture-initiating cell (LTCIC) assay in which the number of secondary colony-forming cells after 5 weeks of stromal culture served as a measure of LTCIC. Stromal cells from normal controls and HIV-1-infected patients were used for cross-matching experiments. Normal CD34+ cells or those derived from HIV-infected patients were plated and colony growth assessed. RESULTS: We found that HIV-1-infected patients had a mean of 0.8 secondary colony-forming cells/10(5) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), whereas normal controls showed 1.2 secondary colony-forming cells/10(5) PBMC (P = not significant) after long-term culture. Asymptomatic patients showed well preserved numbers of secondary colony-forming cells after long-term culture of PBMC, but a significant reduction was seen in patients with a history of opportunistic infections (P < 0.01), low CD4+ cell count (< 200 x 10(6)/l; P < 0.05), or leukopenia (P < 0.05). Decreased numbers of secondary colony-forming cells have also been found in bone marrow of HIV-1-infected patients with advanced disease. When normal CD34+ cells were cultured on stromal layers from bone marrow of HIV-1-infected patients or normal controls, no differences in the numbers of surviving progenitor cells were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the hematopoietic defect in HIV-1 infection involves the most immature hematopoietic cells and becomes evident in advanced disease. Stromal function of HIV-infected patients appears normal.
An Attitude Model for the Study of Brand Preference

his characteristics is a prelude to identifying the causes of preference and the means by which it can be influenced. This study of consumer brand preference was an application of a model of consumer attitudes; the basic hypothesis was that measures specific to the preference alternatives, rather than more general measures such as those of socioeconomic and personality characteristics, would lead to successful predictions. While the approach is intuitively appealing and seemingly obvious, this study is the first to publicly present results from testing the hypothesis.
Gifted Adults A Systematic Review and Analysis of the Literature

What happens when a gifted child grows up? Despite a slew of provocative book titles regarding gifted adults in the mainstream media, and the inclusion of the notion of giftedness among adults in the definition of giftedness proposed by Subotnik, Olszewski-Kubilius, and Worrell, there is a limited amount of research that has examined the gifted adult. In this systematic review of the literature, we categorized the available research literature into nine thematic areas: (a) whether or not gifted children become gifted adults; (b) family of origin; (c) effects of early educational experiences; (d) characteristics of gifted adults; (e) career; (f) family of procreation; (g) career and family interaction; (h) life goals, satisfaction, and well-being; and (i) counseling. Implications for gifted adults and the field of gifted education are discussed.
Investigations into the slip behavior of zirconium diboride

The slip systems in ZrB2 flexural tested at 1000 °C and 1500 °C have been quantified. The dislocations in both samples were long and straight with a dislocation density of approximately 1013 m−2. The structure of the dislocations as well as the low density is in agreement with a ceramic that is hard and brittle and dislocation nucleation and motion is restricted. The low temperature slip systems were found to include c-prismatic slip— ${1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 {3\left[{0001} \right]\left({\bar 1010} \right)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {3\left[{0001} \right]\left({\bar 1010} \right)}}$ —and a-pyramidal slip— ${1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 {3\left[{11\bar 20} \right]\left({\bar 1101} \right)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {3\left[{11\bar 20} \right]\left({\bar 1101} \right)}}$ whereas the elevated temperature sample revealed a-basal slip— ${1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 {3\left[{11\bar 20} \right]\left({0001} \right)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {3\left[{11\bar 20} \right]\left({0001} \right)}}$ . Density functional theory Generalized Stacking Fault Energy curves for perfect slip were calculated and agreed well with geometric considerations for slip, including interplanar spacing and planar packing. Though basal slip has the lowest fault energy, the presence of the other dislocation types is suggestive that the activation barrier is not a hindrance for the temperatures studied and is likely activated to increase the number of plastic degrees of freedom.
Metal–Carbene Cycloadditions

The chemistry of transition metal carbene complexes has been examined with an eye to applications in organic synthesis ever since their discovery by Fischer in 1964, and the growth in the number of useful applications has been exponential with time.1–3 There are two types of transition metal carbene complexes; those which have electrophilic carbene carbons and which are typified by the pentacarbonylchromium complex (1), and those which have nucleophilic carbene carbons and which are typified by the biscyclopentadienyltitanium complex (2). Complexes (1) and (2) are often referred to as ‘carbene’ and ‘alkylidene’ complexes, respectively. This review will be limited to the chemistry of electrophilic carbene complexes of the Fischer type. The chemistry of the nucleophilic alkylidene complexes will be covered in Chapter 9.3, this volume.4
Better alternatives to permuted block randomization for clinical trials with unequal allocation.

To the EditorMeurer, Connor, and Glassberg recently published ‘Simulation of various randomization strategies for a clinical trial in sickle cell disease’ in this journal, proposed a biased-coin ad...
Wind and Waves: It Must Be Maine

The Advanced Structures and Composites Center (referred to as the Composites Center) at the University of Maine (UMaine) is a world leader at providing research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, manufacturing, and engineering of composites and structures. Since its founding in 1996, the center has brought in more than US$160 million in research funds to UMaine.
Biochemical and Pharmacological Characterization of a Mice Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Background and Objectives Complex regional pain syndrome is a challenging disease to treat. Recently, a mouse fracture model of complex regional pain syndrome has been developed that has many signs of the clinical syndrome. However, many aspects of the sensory neuron biochemistry and behavioral and pharmacological characterization of this model remain to be clarified. Methods Mice were randomly assigned to fracture/cast or control (naive) groups. Fracture/cast mice underwent a closed distal tibia facture, with hindlimb wrapped in casting tape for 3 weeks. After cast removal, mice were tested for mechanical allodynia, burrowing behavior, and motor ability over a 12-week period. Protein immunohistochemistry was performed for substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, tropomyosin receptor kinase A, nerve growth factor, Nav1.7, and transient receptor potential cation-channel V1, colocalized in neurons, in the ipsilateral lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Analgesic drugs were tested for pain-relieving efficacy. Results Mechanical allodynia was greater in the ipsilateral hindpaw (P = 0.0002) in the fracture/cast group versus the control group, over the 3- to 12-week period. The amount of burrowing material removed was decreased (P = 0.0026), and there were deficits in spontaneous motor-rearing behavior (P = 0.018). Immunostaining of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, Trk A receptor, nerve growth factor, Nav1.7, and transient receptor potential cation-channel V1 all demonstrated up-regulation in the DRGs of fracture mice versus controls (all P Conclusions Persistent pain-related behavior was demonstrated in this mouse fracture/cast model with wide-scale DRG up-regulation of pain mediators. Antihyperalgesic drugs reduced mechanical allodynia and improved burrowing.
Early Pliocene Montfortella (Foraminiferida) From Ecuador

The genus Montfortella Loeblich and Tappan, 1963, is documented from Quebrada Camarones, Ecuador, in sediments of Early Pliocene age. This record represents the oldest known occurrence of this genus to date and also the first known occurrence in Ecuador. Observations are made on morphologic modifications of the intercameral openings, and the suggestion is made that these modifications permit improved seawater circulation from one surface of the test to the other, plus possibly enhance osmotic interaction between the foraminiferan and the seawater.
Open Retro-rectus Repair of Hernia

The open retro-muscular is one of the mesh repair options for ventral hernias. This technique allows the placement of mesh in the retro-rectus space, excluding it from the abdominal viscera. This chapter describes indications, essential steps, variations, and complications of this procedure. It provides a detailed template operative note for the procedure.
Cloacal Anomalies and Other Urorectal Septal Defects in Female Patients: A Spectrum of Anatomical Abnormalities

The anatomy and management of 16 female patients with urorectal septal defects have been reviewed. The diagnosis was often confused by the anomalous appearance of the external genitalia, and the internal arrangements of the urinary tract, genital tract and lower intestinal tract were frequently bizarre and unpredictable. Because of the potential of these patients for secondary infection and sepsis, a prompt and thorough anatomical evaluation in such cases is essential. Initial treatment should be directed toward decompression of the involved organ systems and definitive reconstruction should be deferred until the child is older, at which time the emphasis should be upon a simultaneous multisystem repair performed, whenever possible, in 1 stage.
IBDL: a language for interface behavior specification and testing

A methodology and language for specifying behaviors of interfaces (a la OMG's IDL, JavaTM, C++, etc.) for object-oriented systems is proposed based on the message-passing paradigm. Signatures of messages are enhanced to include semantic information, expressing behavior clients can expect from a server. Formulas are given to disambiguate normal termination from abnormal termination of a message using the return values and exceptions to reflect whether the pre-condition associated with the message is satisfied or not. State changes caused by a message invocation are specified by explicitly enumerating subsequent messages that a message invocation enables (and/or) disables, by establishing (or violating, respectively) their pre-conditions. Special operators on sequences of messages are defined to specify such semantic information. A specification language IBDL, Interface Behavior Description Language, based on this methodology is developed. As IBDL specifications explicitly capture the interactions between messages, they are ideal for validating implementation behaviors with sequences of messages. We present a scheme for sequence testing by translating IBDL specifications into code.
Drug wastage and costs to the healthcare system in the care of patients with non-small cell lung cancer in the United States

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the US. This study was designed to evaluate the actual drug wastage and cost to the healthcare system using patient-level retrospecti...
Interferon-γ Release Assay Performance for Tuberculosis in Childhood.

BACKGROUND: Interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) are important adjunctive tests for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) disease in children. METHODS: We analyzed California TB registry data for patients ≤18 years with laboratory-confirmed TB disease during 2010–2015 to identify case characteristics associated with test selection and performance and measure IGRA sensitivity. RESULTS: In total, 778 cases of TB were reported; 360 were laboratory confirmed. Indeterminate IGRAs were associated with being P = .01); IGRA sensitivity compared with TST in children ages 2 to 4 was 91% (10 out of 11) vs 91% (10 out of 11) ( P > .99), and the sensitivity compared with TST in children aged P > .99). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest North American analysis of IGRA use and performance among children with TB disease. In children
Optimal production in a competitive market under yield uncertainty

Motivated by the U.S. influenza vaccine market, we study the impact of random yield and production capacity on the number of firms, total supply, consumer surplus and social welfare in a market with identical suppliers. We formulate a two-stage game with endogenous entry, where each entering firm aims to maximize its profit under yield uncertainty subject to a production capacity constraint. We show that if firms produce full capacity in the equilibrium, then there are fewer firms in the equilibrium compared to the social optimum even for small levels of yield uncertainty. Furthermore, we prove that if firms do not produce full capacity in the equilibrium, they will not produce full capacity in the social optimum.
Corporate Governance Principal-Agent Problem: The Equity Cost of Independent Directors

The classic question in corporate governance is how to manage the conflicts-of-interest that arise from fundamental principal-agent problems. One of the most popular methods of solving the problem is by separating ownership and management. Since 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has set new standards for board composition by using independent directors, especially for audit committees. This article analyzes the impact of board composition, related to a majority of independent directors, on returns. For this purpose we construct a panel dataset of 2919 stocks over a 10 year period. We find that a majority of independent directors on the board has an overall negative effect on stock returns. We also use our panel data set to show the consequences of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on the defense or offense mechanisms that companies might pursue over their lifespan.
Über chemische Konstitution und physiologische Wirksamkeit der Säuren

Wir wollen uns nun der Beantwortung der Frage zuwenden, welche fur das Verstandnis der kunstlichen Parthenogenese am wesentlichsten ist, namlich wie die Fettsaure die Membranbildung und damit die kunstliche Parthenogenese bewirkt. Diese Frage wollen wir in zwei Kapiteln erortern, von denen das erste uber die Beziehungen zwischen chemischer Konstitution und Wirksamkeit der Sauren handeln soll. Ich hatte schon bei meinen ersten Versuchen uber die Membranbildung bemerkt, das die chemische Konstitution der Sauren fur deren Wirkung von groser Bedeutung ist. Wahrend Kohlensaure und die einbasischen Fettsauren sich als sehr wirksam erwiesen, waren die starken Mineralsauren wie HCl, HN03, H2S04so wenig wirksam, das sie fur diese Versuche unbrauchbar waren; und das gleiche galt fur zwei- und dreibasische organische Sauren wie Oxalsaure, Bernsteinsaure, Zitronensaure u. a. m. Die Oxysauren waren wirksam, aber nicht in demselben Grade wie die einbasischen Fettsauren.2) Es schien aussichtsvoll, die hier vorliegenden Beziehungen zwischen Konstitution und Wirksamkeit naher zu untersuchen, da zu erwarten war, das sie Aufschlusse uber die Rolle der Sauren bei der Membranbildung geben wurden, und das die Resultate von allgemeinerer Bedeutung sein wurden.
Measuring and Modeling Public Preferences for Policy: The Case of Spending on Welfare in the US

There is a growing body of work focused on the relationship between public opinion and public policy. Public preferences for policy are extraordinarily difficult to measure, however. In most domains, we are only able to capture relative preferences (for policy change); rarely are we able to directly examine absolute preferences for policy. We accordingly have only a very partial understanding of whether absolute preferences change over time, and, if so, what drives that change. We seek here to take a step towards estimating absolute preferences for policy, focusing on a particular domain — spending on welfare in the US —, and pooling data from the General Social Survey in different years to form a pseudo panel of individual-level preferences. In the absence of direct measures of the public’s preferred levels of spending, we consider indirect attitudinal measures. These tell us something about differences in preferences across individuals, but they reveal almost nothing about change over time; indeed, responses to some extent (thermostatically) reflect spending, which means that they are not pure indicators of absolute preferences. We then consider proxies. Specifically, we examine the relationship between measures of relative preferences on the one hand and macroeconomic indicators and linear trend on the other, controlling for welfare spending itself, attitudes, and numerous other individual-level variables. Results indicate that absolute preferences for welfare spending do indeed change over time, and that while attitudinal measures tell us almost nothing about this change, macroeconomic conditions tell us quite a lot (i.e., welfare preferences are strongly pro-cyclical). The results help clarify what survey-based measures capture where public preferences for policy are concerned, and also make clear(er) the relationship between redistributive policy preferences and macroeconomic trends.
On chip electrostatic discharge protection for MEMS gas sensor system

An on-chip electrostatic discharge(ESD) protection scheme is demonstrated for an emerging technology of microelectromechanical systems(MEMS)-based embedded sensor(ES) system-on-a-chip(SoC).The ESD protection scheme is implemented using ground-referenced multifinger thyristor-type devices optimized for 1) the input/output(I/O) protection,2) the power supply clamp,and 3) the internal sensors' electrodes during the micromachining process.A multiply finger layout scheme was also developed to the ESD protection level under the constraint of chip size.The ESD protection design methodology was tested and verified at both the device and SoC levels,and its effectiveness and robustness have been illustrated.Experimental results showed that the SoC passed a 4.1 kV Human Body Model ESD stress with no latchup induced and a very low leakage current of 10-10 A.
Effects of dietary sterols on prostate cancer formation, progression and prevention

1650 Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men today. The discrepancy of prostate cancer incidence between males in Western societies and males in Asian countries correlates to the different dietary styles. We hypothesize that dietary animal and plant sterols may play critical roles in prostate cancer formation/progression, or prevention, respectively. To explore the possibility that cholesterol, the animal sterol, may promote, whereas plant sterols inhibit, prostate cancer formation and progression, we treated human prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3, DU145, LNCaP and C4-2B) with cholesterol or β-sitosterol (β-SIT), the major dietary plant sterol, and analyze the effects of dietary sterols on several parameters of tumor cells related to malignant progression, including proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion. We found that in general cholesterol promoted prostate cancer cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion ability. In contrast, β-sitosterol suppressed prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but had no or minor effects on adhesion (except for DU145). Specifically, cholesterol significantly promoted proliferation of prostate cancer cell line PC-3 (50.0% increase by comparing with the untreated control group), DU145 (62.5% increase), and LNCaP (31.1% increase), but only a minor promotion on C4-2B (4.2%); whereas β-sitosterol effectively suppressed proliferation of PC-3 (38.3% decrease by comparing with the untreated control group), DU145 (36.3% decrease), LNCaP (33.3% decrease) and C4-2B (60.0% decrease). In addition, by an in vitro invasion assay measuring cell penetration ability through matrigel, cholesterol promoted cell invasion ability of PC-3 (24.6% increase), DU145 (9.8% increase), LNCaP (58.8% increase) and C4-2B (37.0% increase); whereas β-sitosterol suppressed cell invasion ability of PC-3 (28.7% decrease), DU145 (86.8% decrease), LNCaP (41.2% decrease) and C4-2B (17.7% decrease). The potential mechanisms of how dietary sterols mediate promotion or inhibition of prostate cancer progression are also explored. These results suggest that consumption of plant sterol, a naturally present dietary nutrition, and reduction of cholesterol intake, will effectively prevent or retard prostate cancer formation and progression. This research project was supported by Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation grant and in part by NIH grant (DK65962).
Improvement of Stiff Person Syndrome Symptoms During Pregnancy (P5.414)

Objective: To describe a patient with stiff person syndrome (SPS) whose symptoms and disability improved during pregnancy. Background: SPS is a rare neuroimmunological condition characterized by severe, debilitating spasms of axial and limb muscles. Antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65-Ab) are found in up to 80% of patients with classic SPS. SPS likely involves both humoral and cellular immunity. The effect of estrogens on immunomodulation has been described in several autoimmune conditions. However, little is known regarding associations of estrogen and pregnancy in SPS. Design/Methods: Case Results: A 23-year-old G1P0 woman presented for evaluation of severe, intermittent spasms and stiff gait triggered by startle, bright lights, and temperature extremes. Prior to pregnancy, she was hospitalized for encephalopathy and intractable spasms. Serum GAD65-Ab obtained during hospitalization was positive at 1017 U/mL. One year later, spasms were controlled with 90 mg diazepam and 80 mg baclofen daily. Subsequently, she became pregnant and was able to wean antispasmodics given improvement in spasms and ambulation. Repeat serum GAD65-Ab was >256,000 U/mL. Throughout pregnancy, the patient reduced antispasmodics to 20 mg baclofen and 10 mg diazepam daily. She reported continued improvement in her SPS symptoms. Conclusions: We present a case of anti-GAD65-associated SPS in a woman who symptomatically improved with pregnancy. Four reports of pregnancy in patients with SPS are found in the literature. Of four patients, two were able to wean antispasmodics after the first trimester. The remaining two included one patient who required resuming diazepam after discontinuation in the first trimester; another was diagnosed with limb-variant SPS in the third trimester. In normal pregnancy, rises in estradiol shift cytokine production by increasing anti-inflammatory Th2 and Th17 cells. A Th2 shift may contribute to improvement of autoimmune diseases mediated by cellular immunity. Further investigations are required to determine the role of cellular immunity in SPS and the response to pregnancy in this population. Study Supported by: N/A Disclosure: Dr. Esch has nothing to disclose. Dr. Newsome has nothing to disclose.