cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating a Change from TRICARE to Commercial Insurance Plans.

Introduction We estimate the effect on health care spending of an option to change TRICARE. Under the option, which is based on a proposal made by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC), most beneficiaries could choose from a range of commercial health networks instead of the current TRICARE plans. Military treatment facilities would become network providers under the commercial plans. Materials and Methods We used data from the Department of Defense (DoD) to estimate the cost of providing the current health care benefit to working-age retirees and their dependents and survivors, and active duty family members. We then adjusted those data to estimate what the private insurance premiums would be for those groups. Greater details about the methodology can be found in earlier work by the Congressional Budget Office. Because payments by TRICARE to physicians and hospitals are tied to payments made by Medicare, we used the information from studies that compare Medicare payment rates to rates paid to doctors and hospitals by private insurance to estimate what it would cost private insurers to provide approximately the same level of care, with adjustments to account for the higher out-of-pocket costs that beneficiaries would pay under the option. We also made adjustments to account for the possibility that many beneficiaries would decrease their use of the MTFs in favor of private providers, which could increase the overall costs of DoD. We then estimated that increasing the cost sharing to a level found in popular civilian plans would lower overall demand for services by about 10% for military retiree households and about 18% for active duty family members. Results We estimated that DoD would pay subsidies to retain about half of the excess capacity created by beneficiaries switching their care from MTFs to the private sector. Evaluated at the midpoint of the ranges, the net effect on DoD's budget would be approximately $0, we estimate, but costs could fall in a likely range from about $3 billion in annual savings to about $3 billion in annual costs. Thus, the MCRMC estimate of $3.2 billion implicitly assumed that no excess capacity would be retained by MTFs. In 2031, under current law, the average retiree family is expected to cost the federal government about $24,100 (in 2017 dollars) and that family's out-of-pocket costs are expected to amount to about $1,900. The option would reduce the government's costs for the average retiree family to $23,500, but retiree families could see their out-of-pocket costs rise to $7,500 per year. Conclusion This article outlined a method of identifying two particular sources of that uncertainty: the extent to which people will receive care outside of MTFs and the extent to which the MTFs can adjust to reductions in demand. For one particular option, we demonstrate that the potential savings from changing the system depends on increasing the share of costs paid by beneficiaries - particularly working-age retirees - and on DoD's ability to reduce excess capacity in the system.
An overview of expert systems

An expert system is defined and its basic structure is discussed. The knowledge base, the inference engine, and uses of expert systems are discussed. Architecture is considered, including choice of solution direction, reasoning in the presence of uncertainty, searching small and large search spaces, handling large search spaces by transforming them and by developing alternative or additional spaces, and dealing with time. Existing expert systems are reviewed. Tools for building such systems, construction, and knowledge acquisition and learning are discussed. Centers of research and funding sources are listed. The state-of-the-art, current problems, required research, and future trends are summarized.
Diversifying the First-Year Skills Coverage by Creating Three Separate Tracks for 1Ls

This article discusses Southwestern Law School’s three-track Legal Analysis, Writing and Skills (LAWS) program, which permits students to select between three different variations of the first-year legal skills course: appellate advocacy, negotiation, and trial practice. While some of the details of Southwestern’s program may be particular to our administrative and pedagogical goals, school culture, personalities, and student needs, our experience may nonetheless be instructive to other schools seeking to expand coverage of lawyering skills while maintaining a balance between breadth and depth.
Probability distributions I: discrete variables

This chapter discusses probability distributions and discrete variables. The representation of the distributional properties of the sample data by an appropriate probability model represents an important step in data summary and description. The known properties of a given model can provide considerable insights into the nature of the random variable under study and will determine the statistical techniques appropriate to further analysis of the sample data in pursuit of an answer to the research problem. Almost all of the common probability distribution functions are in fact interrelated, arising as special cases or generalizations of each other. The binomial distribution is a characteristic of discrete random variables.
Physical activity in usual occupation and risk of breast cancer (United States)

We have used data from a large population-based case-control study inthe United States to evaluate the effect of occupational physical activity onbreast cancer risk. Women diagnosed with breast cancer identified from fourstate cancer registries, and controls randomly selected from lists oflicensed drivers or Medicare beneficiaries, were interviewed by telephone forinformation on usual occupation and other factors. We classified usualoccupation into one of four categories of physical activity. After excludingsubjects for whom a strength rating could not be assigned, we had a finalsample size of 4,863 cases and 6,783 controls. Using conditional logisticregression models, we calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95 percentconfidence intervals (CI) for occupations having light, medium, and heavyactivity compared with sedentary ones. Women with heavy-activity occupationshad a lower risk of breast cancer than women with sedentary jobs (OR = 0.82,CI = 0.63-1.08), as di d women with jobs with medium activity (OR = 0.86, CI= 0.77-0.97) or light activity (OR = 0.92, CI = 0.84-1.01). There was asignificant decreasing trend in the ORs from sedentary to heavy work (P =0.007). Although limited by exposure misclassification, these data areconsistent with the hypothesis that physical activity reduces the risk ofbreast cancer.
Clinical significance of cytogenetic abnormalities in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC leukemias (ALL) are characterized by clonal proliferation, accumulation, and tissue infiltration of neoplastic cells. They are mainly regarded as childhood diseases, with an early incidence peak at 2 to 5 years of age, where they represent about 80% of the childhood leukemias in
Patent ductus arteriosus is associated with acute kidney injury in the preterm infant.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is independently associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in neonates ≤ 28 weeks gestation. Preterm infants with echocardiographic diagnosis of moderate-large PDA at age ≤ 30 days were studied retrospectively. AKI, the primary outcome, was defined and staged according to serum creatinine using Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) neonatal criteria. Its association with the timing and duration of PDA, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other nephrotoxic exposures, gestational age, and other covariates was evaluated using mixed-effects logistic regression models. Acute Kidney Injury occurred in 49% (101/206) of infants. Moderate-to-large PDA was associated with any-stage AKI (OR 5.31, 95% CI 3.75 to 7.53), stage 1 (mild) AKI (OR 4.86, 95% CI 3.12 to 7.56), and stages 2–3 (severe) AKI (OR 10.9, 95% CI 5.70 to 20.8). NSAID treatment added additional risk for mild AKI (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.61 to 3.71). Severe AKI was less likely when NSAID treatment was effective (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.97) but not when ineffective (OR 1.63, 95% CI 0.76 to 3.50). Moderate-to-large PDA was strongly associated with all stages of AKI in preterm infants ≤ 28 weeks of gestational age. Effective NSAID treatment decreased the risk of severe but not mild AKI. These differential effects reflect the balance between the renal benefits of PDA closure and the risk of NSAID toxicity.
New York Film Festival 2004

The New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center this year sported a particularly felicitous array of films. While the NYFF is always helpful in breaking down the barriers erected against international imports that are not considered commercial, the 2004 festival did more than permit contact with a wealth of international film cultures. The aggregate of a wide variety of films posed with particular force the primary question addressed by all film festivals: what can cinema do
ASSESSING THE ACCURACY OF THE SIMPLE RISK PREDICTION MODEL FOR ACUTE TYPE A AORTIC DISSECTION OVER TIME

In-hospital mortality following Type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD) repair was 23.9% in a 2007 International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) report. Recent publications have described surgical mortality as low as 12.2%. This study evaluates the fitness of a previously published risk
Does hallucination perceptual modality impact psychosis risk

Objective Subthreshold perceptual abnormalities are commonly used to identify individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for developing a psychotic disorder. Predictive validity for modality-specific perceptual abnormality severity on psychosis risk is unknown. Methods We examined prospectively collected data from 164 individuals age 12-35 meeting criteria for CHR followed for 6-24 months or until conversion to psychosis. Using intake interview notes, baseline perceptual abnormality scores were split into auditory, visual, somatic/tactile, and olfactory/gustatory components, and auditory scores were further split into those for verbal vs non-verbal content. Relationships between perceptual abnormality characteristics and conversion were assessed with Cox proportional hazards regression and logistic regression. Results Unusual thought content and paranoia were predictive of conversion, but no modality-specific perceptual abnormality score predicted conversion status or days to conversion. However, when auditory perceptual abnormalities were further categorized as verbal vs non-verbal, the severity of verbal experiences was predictive of conversion to psychosis (P = 0.007). Conclusions Perceptual abnormality scores failed to meaningfully predict conversion to psychosis in either direction in this CHR sample. However, verbal auditory experiences may identify a group of CHR individuals at elevated risk of conversion. Further exploration of the relationship between phenomenological aspects of perceptual abnormalities and conversion risk is warranted.
Novel use of Facetime in supporting maternal-infant bonding

Abstract The initial bonding experience between a mother and her infant has been shown to have a positive effect on neurobehavioural responses. Many women often wait several hours before seeing their baby for the first time either due to caesarean section delivery or peripartum complications. A technology solution utilizing Face Time can improve mothers' experience by allowing them to see their babies earlier. The technology allows the mother to see her baby in real time and the opportunity for the neonatal nurse to answer questions about her baby's care and well-being. The results showed that the use of i Pads led to a significant reduction in the time mothers were able to see their babies for the first time.
Patterns in Elementary-Age Student Responses to Personalized & Generic Code Comprehension Questions

The CS community has struggled to assess student learning at the K-8 level, with techniques ranging from one-on-one interviews to written assessments. While scalable, automated techniques exist for analyzing student code, a scalable method for assessing student comprehension of their own code has remained elusive. This study is a first step in bridging the gap between the knowledge gained from interviews and the time efficiency and scalability of written assessments and automated analysis. The goal of this study is to understand how student answers on various types of questions differ depending on whether they are being asked about their own code or generic code. We find that while there were no statistically-significant differences in overall scores, questions about generic and personalized code of comparable complexity are far from equivalent. Our qualitative analyses revealed interesting patterns in student responses, inviting further research into this assessment technique. In particular, students answered differently from students with generic code when presented with individual blocks from their code taken out of context and placed into different code snippets, and students answered in a way that demonstrates a functional, instead of structural, understanding on Explain in Plain English (EiPE) questions.
Development and implementation of a first responder program in rural Haiti: The involved citizen project

Background: Northeast Haiti lacks comprehensive prehospital emergency medical services (EMS). Most patients requiring medical care are transported via motorcycle taxis or on foot. This project evaluates the feasibility and impact of a train-the-trainer program designed to improve capacity of community members to provide initial emergency care through contextually adapted first aid skills. Methods: This observational cohort study identified a geographically representative cohort of leaders to serve as trainers. These leaders were trained to teach a locally oriented first aid curriculum designed in concert with Haitian partners. This curriculum emphasized use of readily available materials in provision of care and was aimed at locally prevalent conditions. An accompanying Haitian Creole course manual with embedded teaching guides was developed. These trainers in turn trained local community members, with recruitment focused on local drivers who can ultimately act as de facto first responders in the region. Results: Thirty-five individuals were recruited, of which 51.4% achieved criteria to become independent trainers. Within 6 months of the initial training course, 44.8% of trainers reported using the skills they had been taught. The trainers taught 271 community members first aid skills within the study period. Of these, 33.1% of participants reached in follow-up surveys reported providing first aid in their communities and 19.8% had transported persons in need of emergency care to a healthcare facility since completion of the course. Conclusions: This train-the-trainer model is an effective method for strengthening the capacity of communities to care for medical emergencies in the Northeast region of Haiti. This program may be important to building a future formal EMS system in the region and may be applicable to similar resource-limited settings. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, System-Based Practice.
Nowhere-monotone differentiable functions and bounded variation

Abstract One of the simplest constructions of a differentiable monster—a function from a nontrivial interval J ⊆ R into R that is everywhere differentiable but monotone on no interval—is as a difference of two strictly increasing differentiable functions, each with its derivative vanishing on a dense subset of its domain. The goal of this work is to characterize differentiable monsters that can be represented in such a “nice” way as those that are a difference of two increasing everywhere differentiable functions. We show that there are differentiable monsters that are not of bounded variation, so they clearly do not admit such “nice” representation. On the other hand, every differentiable monster f : J → R contains many restrictions that admit “nice” representation: for every non-empty open U ⊆ J , there is a non-trivial interval I ⊆ U such that f ↾ I is a difference of two increasing differentiable maps, each with its derivative vanishing on a dense subset of I.
The Influence of Dropout on Membership Inference in Differentially Private Models.

Differentially private models seek to protect the privacy of data the model is trained on, making it an important component of model security and privacy. At the same time, data scientists and machine learning engineers seek to use uncertainty quantification methods to ensure models are as useful and actionable as possible. We explore the tension between uncertainty quantification via dropout and privacy by conducting membership inference attacks against models with and without differential privacy. We find that models with large dropout slightly increases a model's risk to succumbing to membership inference attacks in all cases including in differentially private models.
Limits and Derivatives

The notion of a limit plays a central role in calculus and in much of modern mathematics. This chapter provides an overview of limits. It presents examples to show how some limits can be calculated and discusses what is meant by something approaching a limit. The chapter presents several theorems that will make the calculations of a number of limits a great deal easier. The proofs of these theorems are a bit technical. The chapter discusses infinite limits, limits at infinity, and one-sided limits. It also presents the derivation of a special limit that will be of great importance in the discussions of the trigonometric functions in the chapter. The chapter discusses tangent lines and derivatives and describes some of the geometric properties of tangent lines. The central concept in the study of calculus is the concept of a derivative. The chapter presents the calculation of derivatives with examples and presents the method of Newton and Leibniz that resolved the tangent problem posed so long ago by the Greek mathematicians.
Effects of Calmodulin Inhibitors on the Cellular Metabolism of 45 Ca and 210 Pb

Many Ca++-mediated cell processes depend on the intracellular Ca++ receptor protein, calmodulin, to exert regulatory effects on target metabolic and physiological pathways. In many cells, Ca++ transport mechanisms are activated by the Ca++-calmodulin complex. Several aspects of the cellular metabolism of Pb++ and Ca++ are similar. Lead is actively transported or diffuses through mitochondrial and plasma membranes via Ca++ transporters and gates. Cellular lead is mobilized by hormones which also mobilize cell Ca++ and has a kinetic distribution and behavior in cultured cells similar to Ca++. Lead binds to calmodulin with greater affinity, and can substitute for Ca++ in calmodulin-activated processes. However, the relative concentrations of free Ca++ and Pb++ ions in cytosol and the ability of Pb++ to effectively alter calmodulin mediated processes in situ are not well established. The objective of this study was to characterize the regulation of Pb and Ca metabolism by calmodulin-dependent processes.
Expansion of genetically modified primary human hemopoietic cells using chemical inducers of dimerization

The inability to deliver a therapeutic gene to a sufficient percentage of hematopoietic stem cells is the major obstacle to using gene therapy to treat blood disorders. Providing genetically corrected stem cells with a reversible growth advantage could solve this problem. To this end we have employed small synthetic molecules that can reversibly dimerize and activate fusion proteins which contain a growth factor receptor signaling domain. We have shown that the thrombopoietin receptor (mpl) signaling domain can be used in this system to expand transduced multipotential progenitor cells from mouse bone marrow. In the present study we tested a similar retroviral vector in human CD34-selected cord blood cells. Following transduction, cells cultured in the presence of the dimerizing molecule AP1903 expanded 13.8- to 186-fold relative to cells cultured in the absence of AP1903. The cell type that emerged in suspension culture was erythroid. Contrary to our results in the murine system, cell expansion was transient. Activation of mpl caused the disappearance of BFU-E followed by a transient increase in CFU-E. In contrast, mpl activation had no discernable effect on transduced myeloid progenitor cells. AP1903-mediated expansion was restricted to transduced cells, as demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining. These findings indicate that synthetic dimerizing molecules can be used to expand primary human hematopoietic cells.
A Framework for Logical Analysis of the Quran

This paper proposes an approach to interpreting Quranic verses by strictly respecting the exact wording and terminology which it has used, and converting its verses into logical premises that are used to derive additional conclusions. Even though its real world utility may be severely disputed, it can nevertheless generate useful insights and expand the scope of possible interpretations.
Principles and Tools for Authoring Knowledge-Rich Documents.

Digital libraries can take advantage of documents that have their content (semantics) explicitly represented as knowledge structures. These knowledge-rich documents can be created by using natural language processing techniques or by acquiring knowledge from the author during the authoring process. We discuss the latter approach, and introduce the notion of Knowledge-Based Authoring Tools (KBATs). It turns out that the primary task for a KBAT is to reduce (apparent) ambiguities in the text to zero, obtaining a unique analysis or, barring that, reduce the ambiguity of a particular piece of text to the point that only one or two simple queries to the author will resolve the issue.
The workable here and now and the why of there and then.

At an earlier time our work as analysts was easier. We searched for the repressed in order to make constructions that connected the past to the present symptoms. Making these connections conscious, based upon the continuing influence of the Topographic theory, was thought to be the curative factor in psychoanalysis. Freud (1912, 1914) briefly expressed the importance of working in the present but his main focus remained the importance of reconstructing the past. The importance of working in the present started to be fully articulated approximately 30-years ago, and has become a central part of most views on technique. However, it is the contention of this paper that, while there is general agreement on the necessity of working in the here and now, the understanding of what this means or why it is useful runs along parallel lines rather than leading to a central point. Further, it is my impression there is little agreement on the reasons for interpreting the there and then. The idea of a ‘workable here and...
Authority Control in Mississippi Public and Academic Libraries

Abstract Authority control, while important to the efficacy of online catalogs, is very costly and time-consuming. Because it is an esoteric process that is largely invisible to patrons, it is an easy target for postponement, particularly in a time of reduced staffing in technical services and claims that keyword searching in OPACS can “do it all.” A survey was designed to explore the status of authority control in public, community college, four-year college, and university libraries in Mississippi. Participants were asked about their automation status; whether they perform authority work; types of headings verified in new cataloging and upgraded in existing records; whether they use vendor services for authority control; and levels of staffing. Finally, respondents were invited to express their thoughts on improving authority work in their libraries. Sixty-three of the 102 recipients responded (a return rate of 62 percent). Almost 80 percent of the respondents performed some sort of authority work; most...
Nerve Growth Factor Activates Persistent Rap1 Signaling in Endosomes

We investigated a role for endogenous Rap1, a small monomeric GTP-binding protein of the Ras family, in nerve growth factor (NGF) signaling in PC12 cells. Although both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and NGF caused transient activation of Ras, only NGF induced the activation of Rap1. Moreover, Rap1 activation was sustained for hours, an effect that matched the sustained activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. To investigate the molecular basis for Rap1 activation, we examined complexes containing C3G, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap1, and CrkL, an adapter protein known to influence Rap1 signaling. NGF induced the formation of a long-lived complex containing C3G/CrkL/Shp2/Gab2/TrkA. Linking the complex to Rap1 activation, we coprecipitated activated TrkA and activated MAPK with activated Rap1 in NGF-treated cells. Confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation showed that activated Rap1 and the other proteins of the signaling complex were present in endosomes. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with brefeldin A (BFA), which disrupts the Golgi and endosomal compartments, had little effect on Ras activation but strongly inhibited NGF-induced Rap1 activation and continuing MAPK activation. We propose that endosomes are a site from which NGF induces the prolonged activation of Rap1 and MAPK.
Cost-Effectiveness of Multiple Sclerosis Disease-Modifying Therapies: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Objective. To provide a current and comprehensive understanding of the cost-effectiveness of DMTs for the treatment of MS by quantitatively evaluating the quality of recent cost-effectiveness studies and exploring how the field has progressed from past recommendations. Methods. We assessed the quality of studies that met our systematic literature search criteria using the Quality of Health Economic Studies validated instrument. Results. Of the 82 studies that met our initial search criteria, we included 22 in this review. Four studies (18%) achieved quality category 2, three studies (14%) achieved quality category 3, and 15 studies (68%) achieved the highest quality category 4. 91% of studies were simulation models. 13 studies (59%) had quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) as the primary outcome measure, included a societal perspective in the analysis, and utilized time horizons of 10 years to lifetime. Conclusions. To continue to improve the cost-effectiveness evidence of DMTs, we recommend: lifetime horizons, societal perspectives, and QALYs; supplemental evidence with shorter horizons, payer perspectives, and clinical outcomes to inform multiple decision makers; development of modeling and input standards for comparability; head-to-head RCTs between DMTs and long-term prospective studies; and comprehensive cost-effectiveness studies that compare all appropriate DMTs.
Immunocytochemical studies of vasotocin, mesotocin, and neurophysins in the Xenopus hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system.

Mesotocinergic and vasotocinergic neurons, which constitute the principal neurons in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system in Xenopus, were studied by immunocytochemical techniques. Antibodies that could unequivocally distinguish mesotocin, vasotocin, and their respective neurophysins were used in these studies. A monoclonal antibody directed at rat oxytocin-associated neurophysin (PS-36) detected an antigen that was colocalized with vasotocin, whereas a monoclonal antibody to rat vasopressin-associated neurophysin (PS-45) crossreacted with an antigen in mesotocinergic cells. As vasotocin is regarded as an evolutionary precursor of vasopressin, and as mesotocin is usually associated with oxytocin, we were surprised to see this apparent eptitope switch in the associated neurophysins. One interpretation of this epitope switch is that the final exons encoding for the carboxy-terminals of the mammalian neurophysins, which contain the PS-45 and PS-36 antibody epitopes, are in reversed positions in Xenopus. Approximately 4,000 mesotocinergic and vasotocinergic neurons and their fibers were topographically mapped in the Xenopus hypothalamus. The two types of neurons were intermingled and scattered throughout a large contiguous region including but not limited to the preoptic recess. Small, medium size, and large cells contained these antigens. Immunoreactive fibers were seen in the preoptic area, the neurohypophysial tract, the median eminence, and the neural lobe of the pituitary. The neurophysin-specific monoclonal antibodies have several advantages as phenotypic markers in development; i.e., high titer, low background, and affinity for the prohormone forms as well as for the fully processed neurophysin polypeptides. Their antigens are related gene products whose expression is central to the identity of the two cell types and whose expression is differentially controlled in development. This characterization of their adult distribution provides a basis for future studies of the development of peptidergic phenotype in the central nervous system of Xenopus.
The importance of data discovery and management in advancing ecosystem-based management

Abstract The aim of the Geospatial Assessment of Marine Ecosystems (GAME) project is to develop an inventory of habitat-related data within the Gulf of Mexico and East coast of Florida. This will serve as a foundation to develop a spatial framework for ecosystem-based management associated with regulatory and planning programs and areas of governmental coordination. The data inventory will have both a regional and local scope and will focus on gathering data and mapping coastal habitats from the estuaries onshore to the edge of the continental shelf offshore. The synthesis of data in a Geographic Information System (GIS)-compatible database will enable the overlay of diverse information in a way that permits transparent and intuitive visualization of habitats and marine resources. Information gaps will be identified and maps produced. The availability of updated maps derived from a spatially organized database can allow rapid access to the information needed to enhance the understanding and protection of habitats and their associated marine resources. In addition, data mining of historical data (e.g., from reports and publications) and their subsequent inventory using metadata standards within an organized data management framework will benefit both researchers and decision makers.
On the role of oxygen in the horizontal flame spread of polypropylene

The horizontal flame-spreading behavior of slabs of uninhibited polypropylene (PP) and commercial polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is described, and the flame spread and mass vaporization rates are discussed. The quantities of peroxide and carbonyl moieties formed on the surface of PP beneath the flame front, determined by an iodometric procedure and by reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, are presented. A statistical analysis was performed to ascertain the significance of these quantities formed in four combustion environments, each differing in oxygen concentration. Flame and surface temperatures of the PP samples at each oxygen concentration as well as flame and surface temperatures of samples burned in 23% oxygen with an added external radiant heat source are presented. The data support the concept that surface oxidative reactions occur in the combustion of PP, that the quantity of oxidative products is related to the concentration of oxygen in the combustion environment, and the possible importance of these reactions in producing heat to propagate the flame is indicated. Comparison of PP and PMMA show that the two are quite dissimilar in flame-spreading behavior.
Comparison of stress concentration versus minimum solid area based mechanical property-porosity relations

Stress concentrations due to pore shape are questioned as a fundamental determinant of mechanical property-porosity relations, especially elastic property porosity relations. On the other hand, actual solid load-bearing areas, especially minimum solid areas of porous bodies, clearly are a determinant of mechanical property-porosity effects. The correlation of pore shape-stress concentration effects with elastic properties of ceramics can be explained by the correlation of pore shapes with minimum solid areas.
Dominance Hierarchies in Leptothorax Ants

The social organization of Leptothorax allardycei is unique among ant species thus far studied. The workers form linear dominance hierarchies characterized by routine displays of dominance, avoidance behavior, and even fighting. The high-ranking ants are favored in liquid food exchange, have greater ovarian development, and produce 20 percent of the eggs.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR CHANGES NECESSARY FOR PREPARATION OF SARCOLEMMA FROM CHICKEN SKELETAL MUSCLE AT LOW IONIC STRENGTH

Emptying of homogenized segments of skeletal muscle cells in solutions of low ionic strength was directly related to actomyosin content and inversely to content of nucleotide pyrophosphate. Segments from muscle which had undergone thaw rigor, had low nucleotide pyrophosphate and high actomyosin content but did not empty. Glycerinated muscle cell segments, which also had low nucleotide pyrophosphate and high actomyosin contents, were incapable of emptying until the Z-line was extracted. Treatment with ATP, which dissociated actomyosin, prevented emptying even after the Z-line had been removed. It is concluded that both actomyosin formation and Z-line disintegration are required before emptying of muscle cell segments will occur.
The effects of selected iron compounds on the sensitized photooxidation of bromacil

Abstract Sensitized photooxidation processes using methylene blue, riboflavin, and rose bengal degraded bromacil from 70 to 100 percent on silica at pH of 9 or greater in a thirty-six hour irradiation period. The process, however, is inhibited by ferric oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), ferrous-ferric oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ), and ferric hydroxide (FeO(OH)), the most common forms of iron compounds found in soils. Rose bengal enhanced photolysis showed the least effect of the iron with 71–83 percent degradation of the herbicide in a 36 hour irradiation period at pH greater than 9.
A case of systemic lupus erythematosus showing invagination of the podocyte into the glomerular basement membrane: an electron microscopic observation of a repeated-renal biopsy

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) showing invagination of glomerular epithelial cells into the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) has been reported. The patient was a 30-year-old woman who was diagnosed with SLE at the age of 25 and had been medicated with corticosteroid. At the age of 30, she was re-admitted into our hospital because of the relapse of lupus nephritis. Renal biopsy was performed twice: at the onset of SLE and the second admission. Morphologically, the results of the first and second renal biopsies were compatible with the classification of lupus nephritis class II. Immunofluorescent study revealed the mesangial deposition of IgG, IgA, C1q, C3 and membrane attack complex (MAC) in two renal biopsies. Especially, in the second renal biopsy, numerous vesicular structures composed of a unit membrane going into the epithelial site of the GBM were observed by electron microscopy (EM), but not in the first renal biopsy. Moreover, observations of serial sections of EM suggested that these vesicular structures were invaginated into the GBM and derived from a part of the podocytes.
Heparan Sulfate Mediates bFGF Transport through Basement Membrane by Diffusion with Rapid Reversible Binding

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a pluripotent cytokine with a wide range of target cells. Heparan sulfate binds bFGF, and this interaction has been demonstrated to protect bFGF against physical denaturation and protease degradation. The high concentrations of heparan sulfate in basement membranes have implicated these matrices as storage sites for bFGF in vivo. However, the mechanisms by which basement membranes modulate bFGF storage and release is unknown. To gain insight into these mechanisms, we have developed experimental and mathematical models of extracellular growth factor transport through basement membrane. Intact Descemet's membranes isolated from bovine corneas were mounted within customized diffusion cells and growth factor transport was measured under a variety of conditions that decoupled the diffusion process from the heparan sulfate binding phenomenon. Transport experiments were conducted with bFGF and interleukin 1β. In addition, bFGF-heparan sulfate binding was disrupted in diffusion studies with high ionic strength buffer and buffers containing protamine sulfate. Transport of bFGF was enhanced dramatically when heparan sulfate binding was inhibited. This process was modeled as a problem of diffusion with fast reversible binding. Experimental parameters were incorporated into a mathematical model and independent simulations were run that showed that the experimental data were accurately predicted by the mathematical model. Thus, this study indicated that basement membranes function as dynamic regulators of growth factor transport, allowing for rapid response to changing environmental conditions. The fundamental principles controlling bFGF transport through basement membrane that have been identified here might have applications in understanding how growth factor distribution is regulated throughout an organism during development and in the adult state.
Effect of Acute Phase Response on Phenytoin Metabolism in Neurotrauma Patients

The purpose of this prospective study was to correlate measures of the acute phase response, associated therapeutic interventions, and other clinical variables with the process of altered drug metabolism previously observed in patients with severe neurotrauma. Nine patients with severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale < or = 8) requiring intravenous phenytoin were included in the study. A loading dose of phenytoin was followed by daily maintenance doses. Serial blood samples were taken after the loading dose and every even-numbered study day for 10 to 14 days for measurement of total and unbound concentrations of phenytoin, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha, alpha 1-acid-glycoprotein, C-reactive protein, and albumin. Time-invariant and time-variant Michaelis-Menten models were fit to the phenytoin concentration-time data. Protein intake was closely monitored. The mean (+/- SEM) unbound fraction of phenytoin increased from 0.17 +/- 0.02 on day 1 to 0.24 +/- 0.04 on day 10 (P < 0.05). The time-variant model was superior in describing the concentration-time data of unbound phenytoin in eight of nine patients. Mean (+/- SEM) pharmacokinetic parameter estimates for unbound phenytoin were: Vmax delta = 605 +/- 92 mg/day, VmaxB = 149 +/- 26.3 mg/day, K(ind) = 0.013 +/- 0.004 hr-1. Interleukin-6 was the only cytokine with significant concentration changes over time; it was inversely correlated with Vmax,t. Peak concentrations of interleukin-6 also proved to be inversely correlated with VmaxB. The daily amount of protein administered was significantly correlated with Vmax,t. Significant alterations in the metabolism of phenytoin occur after severe neurotrauma. The etiology of these changes is probably multifaceted. These results suggest that low initial phenytoin Vmax may be explained by the presence of interleukin-6. An increase in oxidative metabolism that correlated with nutritional protein administration was observed later in these patients.
THE DETERMINAL RANK IDEMPOTENTS OF A MATRIX

Abstract Let M R be the category of finite matrices over a commutative ring R with 1. For A ∈ M R of determinantal rank r let I r ( A ) be the ideal of R generated by the r × r minors of A . There exists a unique list ( e 1 , …, e t ) of pairwise orthogonal idempotents of R that sum to 1 such that, if r i = rank( e i A ), then rank A = r 1 > r 2 > … > r t , e i is the identity element of I r i ( e i A ) for 1 ≤ i t , and either e t A = 0 or I r t ( e t A ) does not possess an identity element. Characterizations are given for various generalized inverses of A = e 1 A + … + e t A . In particular, A is regular iff e t A = 0.
Food For Thought: Neural Stem Cells on a Diet

Growing evidence shows that stem cells are modulated by systemic factors that are integrated with local signals in response to physiological status. Two recent Cell (Chell and Brand, 2010) and Nature (Sousa-Nunes et al., 2011) papers reveal that Drosophila neural stem cell proliferation is controlled by a diet-dependent insulin/TOR signaling relay between tissues.
Pathophysiology of chaperone-mediated autophagy

In contrast to the classically described "in bulk" lysosomal degradation, the first evidence for selective degradation of cytosolic proteins in lysosomes was presented more than 20 years ago. Throughout this time, we have gained a better understanding about this process, now known as chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). The identification of new substrates for CMA and novel components, in both the cytosol and the lysosomes, along with better insights on how CMA is regulated, have all helped to shape the possible physiological roles of CMA. We review here different intracellular functions of CMA that arise from its unique characteristics when compared to other forms of autophagy. In view of these functions, we discuss the relevance of the changes in CMA activity in aging and in different pathological conditions.
Sex and Achievement Domain: Cognitive Patterns of Success and Failure.

Subjects (N=439) were asked to write an account of an achievement of failure, and to describe it in terms of locus of standards (internal-external), conceptual focus (process-impact), and initial expectations for success (or failure). Additionally, accounts were classified on the basis of achievement domain (personal, interpersonal, mastery). Analyses of variance [2 (sex)×3 (domain)] for each cognitive measure revealed few sex differences. However, cognitive responses did vary as a function of achievement domain. Main effects for domain were observed under success instructions for locus of control (p<.0002) and under failure instructions for locus of control (p<.05), conceptual focus (p<.05), and expectations (p<.06). Interaction effects of sex and achievement domain were observed on locus of standards for success (p<.0002) and initial expectations preceding failure (p<.025), indicating that women were more responsive to domain differences than were men. Discriminant analyses indicated that cognitions were more readily patterned in terms of achievement domain than sex. Elaboration and incorporation of the concept of domain in cognitive models of achievement is suggested.
Optimal Allocations in the Construction of k-Out-of-n Reliability Systems

We want to build n components so as to form an n component system which will function if at least k of the components function. If x dollars are invested in building a component, then this component will function with probability Px. Given a total income of A dollars, the problem of interest is to determine how much money we should invest in each component so as to maximize the probability of attaining a functioning system. This problem is considered both in the sequential and in the nonsequential cases. Conditions under which it is optimal to allocate A/n units at each stage, when A is your initial fortune, are presented. The special case Px = minx, 1 is also considered in detail.
Hypoxia, hormones, and endothelial progenitor cells in hemangioma.

Hemangiomas are the most common tumor of infancy, and although the natural history of these lesions is well described, their etiology remains unknown. One current theory attributes the development of hemangiomas to placentally-derived cells; however, conclusive evidence to support a placental origin is lacking. While placental tissue and hemangiomas do share molecular similarities, it is possible that these parallels are the result of analogous responses of endothelial cells and vascular progenitors to similar environmental cues. Specifically, both tissue types consist of actively proliferating cells that exist within a low oxygen, high estrogen environment. The hypoxic environment leads to an upregulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) responsive chemokines such as stromal cell derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), both of which are known to promote the recruitment and proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells. Increased hormone levels in the postpartum pe...
Inflammatory Cytokines and the Reactivation of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Replication

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a complex proliferative lesion long suspected of being dependent on exogenous paracrine signaling molecules to stimulate its proliferative, angiogenic, and inflammatory components. In particular, both clinical and experimental observations have pointed to a potential role for inflammatory cytokines as permissive factors for KS development, but KS pathogenesis is also critically dependent on infection by an exogenous herpesvirus, the KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). To examine the possible links between inflammatory cytokines and KSHV replication, we tested for the ability of such cytokines to induce lytic viral reactivation in the latently infected BCBL-1 cell line. Interferon-gamma consistently activated KSHV replication, whereas tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor did not. Glucocorticoids also failed to induce lytic KSHV growth in these cells, but ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, induced replication and strongly augmented the known inductive effects of phorbol esters. Interferon-alpha had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on KSHV induction by ionomycin. The identification of interferon-gamma as an activator and interferon-alpha as an inhibitor of KSHV induction in vitro correlates well with in vivo observations and demonstrates for the first time that inflammatory cytokines can directly modulate KSHV replication.
Shaping Public Opinion: The 9/11-Iraq Connection in the Bush Administration's Rhetoric

We suggest that the 2003 war in Iraq received high levels of public support because the Bush administration successfully framed the conflict as an extension of the war on terror, which was a response to the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Our analysis of Bush's speeches reveals that the administration consistently connected Iraq with 9/11. New York Times coverage of the president's speeches featured almost no debate over the framing of the Iraq conflict as part of the war on terror. This assertion had tremendous influence on public attitudes, as indicated by polling data from several sources.Amy Gershkoff (agershko@princeton.edu) and Shana Kushner (skushner@princeton.edu) are graduate students in the Department of Politics, Princeton University. The authors thank Larry Bartels, Gary Jacobson, Douglas Foyle, seminar participants at Princeton University, and three anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2004 annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association. Authors' names listed in alphabetical order.
Differential Use and Benefits of PowerPoint in Upper Level versus Lower Level Courses.

The study examines whether college instructors use PowerPoint differently in upper level versus lower level courses and whether PowerPoint differentially affects the learning and behaviours of students in those courses. The authors surveyed 191 students from 14 psychology classes and found that instructors teaching higher level courses use PowerPoint more frequently and are more likely to make the slides available to students than those teaching beginning‐level courses. We also found that students in upper level courses reported greater benefits associated with the use of PowerPoint than those in lower level courses.