cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Does Research Start

Editor's note: This is the first article in a new series on clinical research by nurses. The series is designed to give nurses the knowledge and skills they need to participate in research, step by step. Each column will present the concepts that underpin evidence-based practice-from research design to data interpretation. The articles will also be accompanied by a podcast offering more insight and context from the author.
Making Sense of the World: Substances

In my first published piece on Aristotle I claimed that he saw the world as consisting primarily of material objects, ordinary natural things of form and matter. A thing, or substance, is its form and has matter: its form—what makes it what it is—may persist even as its matter changes. Things are not reducible to their components. This river is not its present water, so we can step into the same river twice even if not the same water twice. A person, whose form is a soul, is not just flesh and blood. Aristotle has a bodily criterion of personal identity, but the body in question is a living, functioning body. In recent years this conception has been criticized, as has his view that persons have abiding character. If we acknowledge that a thing is not its components, we probably will not believe that science undermines our understanding of the world or our ordinary ways of dealing with it. Nor is the relative precision of science any reason for trying to make a science of organization theory. Thirty years ago I claimed that an organization can be considered a persisting entity, an artifact with form and matter, though in a sense less strict and less permanent than natural substances. Since then I have thought further about the purposes of organizations and about the issues that new organizational forms raise. Aristotle’s claim that humans are essentially sociable creatures gives us reason to consider the crucial roles in human life of associations of various sorts, including organizations.
Organisational citizenship behaviour: a review

Organisational effectiveness is fundamental for sustainability and profitability. Effectiveness is measured observing the degree of profit, the reduction of the costs, the production quantity, efficiency and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB). OCB is the willingness of an employee to perform tasks which are not officially and directly required by the employer, thus do not have any official and direct recompense from the contractual relations. This discretionary behaviour is always related to an enhancement perceived by the organisation. The review covers the last three decades of research and development in the organisational citizenship behaviour literature and has a special focus on literature from 2010 to 2019. Research led to consider these main outcomes of OCB namely compliance, altruism, organisational justice related to a fair environment workplace, perceived organisational support (POS) related and enhanced by a higher level of collectivism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance; procedural justice (PJ); transformational leadership (TSL) and the psychological contract (PC). This research would assist academicians, corporates and the general public understands the concept by the critical analysis conducted.
On joint distributions, counterfactual values and hidden variables in understanding contextuality.

This paper deals with three traditional ways of defining contextuality: (C1) in terms of (non)existence of certain joint distributions involving measurements made in several mutually exclusive cont...
The Dollar Cycle of International Development, 1973–2017

Since the 1970s, developing countries across the world have collectively experienced a series of economic upswings and downturns. Existing theories of international development, which mostly focus on country-specific factors that facilitate or hinder growth, cannot explain this across-the-board cycle. We argue that the cycle is driven by changes in the global supply of the US dollar, the default currency of transaction and foreign exchange reserves in the world economy. Based on a time-series—cross-section analysis with fixed effects on 170 developing countries from 1973 to 2017, we find that an increase in the global dollar supply brings lower borrowing costs and greater availability of external financial resources, enabling higher growth rates in the developing world. Conversely, a contraction in the global dollar supply increases borrowing costs and dries up financial resources, slowing down growth in developing countries. The vagaries of the dollar supply, determined largely by the domestic political economy of the USA, have formed the context for international development contributing to the “golden age of development” in the 1970s, the international debt crisis of the 1980s, the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997–1998, and the beginning and end of rapid growth in the 2000s, among others.
Microscopic theory of electron spin relaxation in N@ C 60

Endohedral N@${\text{C}}_{60}$ exhibits an extremely long electron spin relaxation time and offers a great potential in storing and processing quantum information. Here, we present a microscopic theory of electron spin relaxation in N@${\text{C}}_{60}$. The theory combines (1) the spin-orbit interaction of $\text{N}\text{ }2p$ electrons, which mixes the ground-state $^{4}S$ with excited $^{2}P$ and $^{2}D$ states, and (2) the coupling between the $\text{N}\text{ }2p$ electrons and ${\text{C}}_{60}$ ${H}_{g}$ vibrations, which facilitates transitions between $^{2}P$ and $^{2}D$ states. The spin relaxation occurs via a two-phonon (Raman) process by absorbing a ${H}_{g}$ phonon and emitting another at the (approximately) same frequency. The theory consistently explains measured spin relaxation time ${T}_{1}$ and its temperature dependence, and predicts two independent spin decoherence ${T}_{2}$ constants for $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3/2\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1/2$ transitions.
Right atrial septal pouch--a potential nidus for thrombosis.

During embryological development, an incomplete fusion of septum primum (SP) and septum secundum (SS) occurring cranially results in an inverted pouch-like structure with its base opening into the right atrium. This has been recently termed as right atrial septal pouch (RASP). Whether this pouch predisposes to intracardiac thrombosis by creating a milieu of localized stasis is unknown. Although some case reports have alluded to thromboembolic potential of left atrial septal pouch with similar origin, there has been no description regarding RASP acting as a thrombogenic nidus. We present a case of thrombus in the RASP with sequential imaging. (Echocardiography 2012;29:E1-E4)
Discovering discovery tools: Evaluating vendors and implementing Web 2.0 environments

Purpose – Many libraries are now designing and implementing their own tools to meet users' needs for search and data discovery. The aim of this study is to share the experiences of the HAM‐TMC Library, one of the largest US medical libraries, in creating and implementing such a tool.Design/methodology/approach – A narrative of the process demonstrates the genesis of the project and highlights the importance of collaboration with entities outside the usual library sphere.Findings – Results show that libraries have choices to make in designing their own futures and in offering innovative services to their users. Taking a proactive approach can yield exciting results.Originality/value – Many libraries accept federated search and other technologies directly from their library management system vendors as the simplest way to proceed with implementing new technologies. The HAM‐TMC Library recognized that its particular information environment required learning the “problem space” thoroughly before investigating...
Observations of Natural, Seeding Beneath Anvil Clouds

Natural seeding events were observed during aircraft and radar observations of a moderate cumulonimbus storm. The storm produced a relatively large anvil which may have resulted from natural over-seeding of the p~rent cloud by ice pertic!es from the remains of an older storm which merged with the primary system. Ice particles from the anvil were incorporated into the top of a convective cloud beneath the anvil. Subsequently, rapid glaciation of the cloud top was observed followed by a substant.ial increase in the redar return from the cloud.
Frequency domain analysis of crosstalk in coupled microstrip lines

A method for the analysis of coupled transmission lines in the Fourier transform (frequency domain) is presented. This enables an easy interpretation of results along with means of direct comparison of measurements done in the frequency domain. The results obtained are compared with those obtained through computer simulation carried out in the frequency domain using the SPICE simulation package. Measurements of the forward and backward crosstalk are conducted for various coupled microstrip line parameters and presented for comparison. >
Reversal of optic disc cupping after glaucoma surgery analyzed with a scanning laser tomograph.

Abstract Objective To detect and quantitate changes in optic nerve morphology after glaucoma surgery using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT, Heidelberg Instruments, Heidelberg, Germany). Design Nonconsecutive observational case series. Participants and intervention The authors prospectively enrolled 21 adult patients undergoing incisional glaucoma surgery for progressive glaucoma damage. Quantitative analysis of the optic nerve head by scanning laser tomography and automated perimetry were performed before and after glaucoma surgery. Main outcome measures Changes in optic nerve parameters were subjected to linear regression analysis with respect to percent of postoperative reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), as well as with respect to age, refraction, preoperative cup:disc ratio, and change in visual field parameters. Results Seventeen patients had pre- and postoperative images suitable for analysis. Mean IOP at the time of image acquisition before surgery was 30.5 ± 12 mmHg, and after surgery 11.8 ± 5.2 mmHg (mean follow-up, 26 ± 7 weeks). Eleven of 13 (85%) patients having IOP reduction of greater than 40% showed improvement in optic disc parameters. All four patients with less than 25% reduction in IOP showed worsening of most parameters. Changes in optic disc parameters were highly correlated with percent IOP reduction and with age. The parameters in which change most strongly correlated with percent change of IOP were cup area, rim area, cup:disc ratio, and mean cup depth (each, P P P = 0.025). Conclusion Most patients showing a 40% lowering of IOP after glaucoma surgery show improved optic nerve morphology as measured by the HRT. The amount of improvement correlated highly with the percent reduction of IOP.
ETHNOGRAPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND COMPARATIVE RELIGIOUS ETHICS: Or Ethnography and the Comparative Religious Ethics Local

Recent ethnographic studies of lived ethics, such as those of Leela Prasad and Saba Mahmood, present valuable opportunities for comparative religious ethics. This essay argues that developments in philosophical and religious ethics over the last three decades have supported a strong interest in thick descriptions of what it means to be human. This anthropological turn has thereby laid important groundwork for the encounter between these scholars and new ethnographic studies. Nonetheless, an encounter it is. Each side brings novel questions to the other. The second part of the essay focuses on one of these questions: How, exactly, are these ethnographic studies to inform normative reflection on ethical questions?
Memory CD4 T Cells That Express CXCR5 Provide Accelerated Help to B Cells

CD4 T cell help for B cells is critical for effective Ab responses. Although many of the molecules involved in helper functions of naive CD4 T cells have been characterized, much less is known about the helper capabilities of memory CD4 T cells, an important consideration for the design of vaccines that aim to prime protective memory CD4 T cells. In this study, we demonstrate that memory CD4 T cells enable B cells to expand more rapidly and class switch earlier than do primary responding CD4 T cells. This accelerated response does not require large numbers of memory cells, and similar numbers of primary responding cells provide less effective help than do memory cells. However, only memory CD4 T cells that express the B cell follicle homing molecule, CXCR5, are able to accelerate the response, suggesting that the rapidity of the Ab response depends on the ability of CD4 memory T cells to migrate quickly toward B cells.
Paramagnetic resonance of GdB6

Abstract Paramagnetic resonance measurements were performed at 9.074 GHz on powdered samples of metallic GdB 6 . A curve fitting technique involving linear combinations of Lorentzian dispersion and absorption susceptibility components was used to determine g -factors of 1.994, 1.992, and 1.992 and associated half-power linewidths of 732, 609, and 630 oe at 77, 195, and 295°K, respectively.
Exploiting market fluctuations and price volatility through feedback control

Abstract We explore how feedback control can make chemical producers responsive to market forces through the use of dynamic operating policies. Using a toy model of a marginal chemical producer operating in a dynamic market, we examine two different control strategies for dealing with stochastic price fluctuations. The key contribution of this work is the derivation of switching rules under risk-neutral and risk-sensitive control formulations for problems where the dynamics arise from the market. These results provide a basis for exploring more complex control problems that include the effects of market forces.
Relating sentences and semantic networks with procedural logic

A system of symmetric clausal logic axioms is shown to transform a thirteen-sentence narrative about a v-2 rocket flight into semantic case relations. The same axioms translate the case relations into english sentences. An approach to defining schemas in clausal logic is presented and applied in the form of a mini-flight schema to two paragraphs of the text to compute a partitioning of the semantic network into the causal organization of a flight. Properties of rule symmetry and network condensibility are noted to be of importance for natural language processing. Because of the conciseness of the logic interpreter and the clausal representation for grammars and schemes, it is concluded that the procedural logic approach provides an effective programming system that is promising for accomplishing natural language computations on mini- and microcomputers as well as on large mainframes. 29 references.
Thinking about terrorism and just war

Since 2001 a new urge to moralize the use of violence as an instrument of state policy has appeared in liberal democracies. The American idea of a War against Terror, and the European notion of confronting a global terrorist threat, have together merged with a discourse on humanitarian military action: the political/moral ‘responsibility to protect’ is no longer to be confined to one's own citizens. Renewed interest among academics in ‘just war’ theory, the tradition that seeks to humanize war through law, reflects this development. This article questions the assumption that there is an essential difference between war (civilized violence) and terrorism (barbaric violence). It argues that their similarity appears more clearly if we set intentions aside—such as the deliberate or accidental killing of ‘innocents’—and focus instead on three main facts: (a) modern war strategies and technologies are uniquely destructive, (b) armed hostilities increasingly occupy a single space of violence in which war and pea...
Exchange of marine sodium for calcium during chemical weathering in the Isle aux Morts River basin, Newfoundland

Abstract Seasalt corrections applied to major-ion data for the Isle aux Morts River, Newfoundland, using Cl− as the seawater indicator species, produce numerous negative values of Na+ that occur chiefly in the winter, when the seasalt concentrations are high. The negative values of Na+ are accompanied by slightly higher than usual concentrations of Ca++, suggesting an exchange reaction of the form: Ca silicate + 2 Na + = Na 2 silicate + Ca ++ , that is driven by seasalt. That the river receives seasalt inputs of normal major-ion seawater composition is indicated by analysis of precipitation chemistry data for nearby coastal stations.
TOO SIMPLE A STORY: A RESPONSE TO ROLLIN

Rollin’s ambitious paper is provocative, but, in trying to do too much, it oversimplifies complex issues. Specifically, Rollin gives an account of the origin of behaviorism, a set of criticisms of behaviorism, and ethical arguments and exhortations toward the better treatment of animals in research, but he does each of these things sketchily, weakening his conclusion about the use and abuse of animals in research. In general, I agree with Rollin’s ethical qualms concerning animal studies, but I am afraid I have little more to actually say on the subject. Instead, I will discuss Rollin’s oversimplified and contradictory treatment of the rise and philosophy of behaviorism, and his misplaced hopes for cognitive psychology. Rollin says that the early comparative psychologists happily imputed mental states to animals, and that Lloyd Morgan’s famous canon was meant not to outlaw inference to mind but only reasonably to restrict it. So much is true, but there is an important complication. In a paper in Milld, Morgan (1886) distinguished two kinds of inferences from animal behavior to animal mind. First, there are objective inferences from behavior to objectively characterizable cognitive powers. So, if I see a dog pick its master out from a crowd of other little boys, I may reasonably infer that the dog possesses recognition memory and some level of discriminative ability. Objective inferences are not made on the basis of analogy to our own minds, and posit powers and processes that may be further characterized by research. The other kind of inference Morgan called “ejective inference”, using a now unfamiliar term that we may change to “subjective” inference. Subjective inferences are inferences of emotions and feelings made on analogy with our own experience and do not posit objective, positively characterizable mental powers or processes. Saying the dog is /~U~PJ to see its master is making a subjective inference. Morgan then argued that objective inferences are acceptable to the science of animal intelligence, because the powers and processes imputed to animals are objectively characterizable. Subjective inferences, however, involving no objectively characterizable power or process, therefore have no place in the science of animal intelligence. Morgan was careful not to deny that animals have emotions and feelings - they do - but he did maintain that subjective states of awareness can find no place in science. Morgan’s point is worth making, for it anticipates
On the statistics of fixed-point roundoff error

Roundoff error after fixed-point multiplication is commonly modeled as uniformly distributed white noise that is uncorrelated with the signal. This paper presents a statistical analysis of fixed-point roundoff error that identifies the conditions under which this model is valid, and examines the statistical behavior of roundoff error when these conditions are not satisfied. The results show that if the multiplier coefficient is expressed as a = N/M, where M is a positive integral power of two and N is an odd integer, then the errors generated by roundoff after multiplication can generally be modeled as uniformly distributed, white, and uncorrelated with the signal, if the signal has sufficiently wide bandwidth and has a dynamic range that extends over approximately M quantum steps. For narrow-band low-level signals, the roundoff error statistics can differ significantly from the uniform, white, uncorrelated model. In addition, these results show that statistical behavior of roundoff error can differ significantly from that of the quantization error that is generated when a continuous random variable is quantized.
Research Challenges and Opportunities in Mobile Applications [DSP Education]

Following the rapid proliferation of mobile devices, especially smartphones, both server-based and embedded speech and multimodal applications started to emerge. These range from simpler applications where speech recognition is followed by a known task such as voice search or messaging, to more complex systems such as speech-to-speech translation, educational applications, or personal assistants.
Identification and characterization of IS1138, a transposable element from Mycoplasma pulmonis that belongs to the IS3 family

Insertion sequence (IS) elements are mobile genetic elements found in prokaryotes. We have identified a repetitive element from Mycoplasma pulmonis, a murine pathogen, that is similar to eubacterial IS elements. By subcloning a single strain of M. pulmonis, we isolated a variant clone in which the IS element had undergone an apparent transposition event. The nucleotide sequences of the element, designated IS1138, and the target site into which it inserted were determined. IS1138 consists of 1288 bp with 18 bp perfect terminal inverted repeats. Sequence analysis of the target site before and after insertion of IS1138 identified a 3 bp duplication of target DNA flanking the element. The predicted amino acids encoded by the major open reading frame of IS1138 share significant similarity with the transposases of the IS3 family. Southern hybridization analysis indicates that repetitive sequences similar to IS1138 are present in most, if not all, strains of M. pulmonis, but IS1138-like sequences were not detected in other mycoplasmal species.
Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis following topical cardiac hypothermia

Topical cardiac hypothermia has been shown to be a safe and effective means of providing protection for the ischemic myocardium during aortic cross-clamping. We report herein two cases of postoperative bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis which we believe resulted from hypothermic injury to the phrenic nerves. After open-heart surgery, both patients experienced prolonged weaning from assisted ventilation and severe orthopnea. Return of normal diaphragmatic and phrenic nerve function was demonstrated in one patient ten months after surgery. Failure to correctly interpret the respiratory failure and orthopnea led to confusion and erroneous types of therapy. Awareness of this complication should lead to improved care and postoperative management of patients.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetate, iron and ceruloplasmin activity

Abstract 1. 1. The influence of iron and EDTA on the oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin was studied using psilocin ( N , N -dimethyl-4-hydroxytryptamine) and p -phenylenediamine as substrates. 2. 2. Fe 2+ greatly stimulated p -phenylenediamine oxidation at low concentration and inhibited at high concentration. No stimulation was seen with Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , Ni 2+ , Zn 2+ , Co 2+ or Mn 2+ . Both Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ stimulated psilocin oxidation. Fe 2+ has been detected in samples of highly purified p -phenylenediamine. 3. 3. Micromolar quantities of EDTA and other chelating agents inhibited p -phenylenediamine oxidation, while millimolar quantities of these reagents were required to inhibit psilocin oxidation. Millimolar quantities of chloride inhibited both p -phenylenediamine and psilocin oxidation. 4. 4. It is concluded that EDTA inhibits ceruloplasmin oxidation of p -phenylenediamine by chelation of contaminating Fe 2+ while inhibiting psilocin oxidation by an ionic-strength effect. 5. 5. Dialysis of ceruloplasmin against buffered EDTA resulted in a minor loss of copper and enzymic activity which was no greater than that seen upon dialysis against buffer alone.
Direct formation of thin films and epitaxial overlayers at low temperatures using a low-energy (10-500 eV) ion beam deposition system

A low-energy ion beam deposition system has been developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and has been applied successfully to the growth of epitaxial films at low temperatures for a number of different elements. The deposition system utilizes the ion source and optics of a commercial ion implantation accelerator. The 35 keV mass- and energy-analyzed ion beam from the accelerator is decelerated in a four-element electrostatic lens assembly to energies between 10 and 500 eV for direct deposition onto a target under UHV conditions. Current densities on the order of 10 ..mu..A/cm/sup 2/ are achieved with good uniformity over a 1.4 cm diameter spot. The completed films are characterized by Rutherford backscattering, ion channeling, cross-section transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The effects of substrate temperature, ion energy, and substrate cleaning have been studied. Epitaxial overlayers which show good minimum yields by ion channeling (3 to 4%) have been produced at temperatures as low as 375/sup 0/C for Si on Si(100) and 250/sup 0/C for Ge on Ge(100) at growth rates that exceed the solid-phase epitaxy rates at these temperatures by more than an order of magnitude.
Hyphema associated with pupillary dilation in a patient with exfoliation glaucoma and warfarin therapy.

Abstract PURPOSE: To describe an unusual hemorrhagic complication associated with pupillary dilation in a patient with exfoliation glaucoma taking anticoagulation therapy. METHODS: A 78-year-old woman with bilateral exfoliation glaucoma who was receiving warfarin, 2 mg daily, for systemic anticoagulation developed acute visual loss in the right eye several hours after pupillary dilation. RESULT: Examination disclosed bilateral advanced exfoliation glaucoma, localized vascularized iridolenticular adhesions in the right eye, and a 4-mm layered hyphema in the right eye. CONCLUSION: Patients with exfoliation glaucoma and vascularized posterior synechiae who are receiving anticoagulation therapy are at increased risk for visually significant spontaneous hyphema after pupillary dilation.
Effects of a tanker accident and an oil blowout in Bristol Bay, Alaska, on returning adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)—A simulation study☆

Abstract The effects of a tanker accident releasing 34000 tons of diesel fuel and a blowout releasing 3000 t/day of crude oil on adult sockeye salmon returning through Bristol Bay, Alaska, were simulated. Parameters in the simulation were chosen to maximize possible effects of the oil. Mortalities from the tanker accident were predicted to range from 2% to 18% of the adults passing through the spill area or 1% to 5% of the total returning population. From 3% to 7% of the adults surviving migration through the spill area, or 1% to 2% of the total population, could be tainted at or above 0·6 ppm of hydrocarbons in the flesh. As many as 30% of the adults returning to fishing grounds closest to the spill area could be tainted. Effects of the blowout on returning salmon were less severe than those of the tanker accident, with mortalities reaching a maximum of 0·2% of the adults passing through the area of the blowout, and no tainting predicted above 0·6 ppm.
Changes to articulatory kinematics in response to loudness cues in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Purpose Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) exhibit differences in displacement and velocity of the articulators as compared with older adults. The purpose of the current study was to examine...
New Agents and New Targets for Renal Cell Carcinoma

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway blockers and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have dramatically improved the treatment options and outcome for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, because the vast majority of patients will still succumb to their disease, novel treatment approaches are still necessary. Efforts to identify novel therapeutic target treatments are focused on better understanding unique aspects of tumor cell biology guided the Cancer Genome Atlas analyses and the interaction of the tumor with its microenvironment. Areas of promising investigation include a) the identification of mechanisms of acquired resistance to VEGF pathway inhibition and developing agents targeting these in combination with VEGF receptor (VEGFR) pathway blockade; b) the identification of novel therapeutic targets, particularly for patients with VEGF pathway blocker refractory disease; and c) the development of novel immunotherapies, particularly those involving checkpoint inhibitors used alone or in combination with other immunotherapies of VEGF pathway blockers. Specific targets or agents of interest include angiopoietins (trebaninib), c-Met (cabozantinib), activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ALK-1; dalantercept), interleukin (IL)-8, and HDM2 for acquired resistance to VEGF pathway inhibition; hypoxia inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2 alpha), TORC1/2, and the Hippo pathway for novel targets, and PD1 and PDL1 antibodies given either alone or in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors, other immunotherapies, or VEGF pathway blockers for novel immunotherapies. In addition, the application of genetic, immunologic, or other biomarkers developed in the context of this research has the potential to select patients with specific tumor types for therapy targeted to specific vulnerabilities within the tumor or tumor microenvironment. Together, these developments should enable the transition to a new era of rational and more effective therapy for patients with advanced RCC.
Posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy: clinical features, pathogenesis, and management.

Purpose To investigate and present a comprehensive account of the clinical features, pathogenesis, and management of posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (PION). Methods This retrospective study is based on 53 consecutive eyes of 42 patients with PION seen in my clinic since 1973, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. They were systematically evaluated, treated, and followed by me. All patients had initially detailed ophthalmic evaluation of the anterior and posterior segments, including visual field with Goldmann perimeter and fluorescein fundus angiography. All patients aged 50 years and older were also investigated for giant cell arteritis (GCA). Every attempt was made to rule out other causes of visual loss. Follow-up evaluation was similar to the initial evaluation except angiography. Aetiologically, PION can be divided into three types: arteritic due to GCA, nonarteritic not due to GCA, and surgical following a surgical procedure. Steroid therapy was given to only those nonarteritic PION patients who opted to try that, but was given to all arteritic PION patients. Results PION was nonarteritic in 28 patients (35 eyes), arteritic in 12 (14 eyes), and surgical in three (four eyes). Visual acuity varied between 20/20 and no light perception—it was count fingers or less in 19 of 35 eyes with nonarteritic PION, four of 14 in arteritic, and all four with surgical PION. The most common visual field defect was central visual loss, alone or in combination with other types of visual field defects. Initially, optic disc and fundus showed no abnormality but the disc usually developed pallor in about 6–8 weeks. Aggressive treatment with high-dose systemic steroid during the very early stages of nonarteritic PION produced significant improvement of visual acuity as well as visual fields, but not so in arteritic or surgical PION. However, some spontaneous visual improvement also occurred in some untreated nonarteritic PION cases. Conclusions PION is a distinct clinical entity but should be diagnosed only after exclusion of all other causes of visual loss. In all patients older than 50, GCA must be ruled out. There is usually marked visual loss, with central field defect being the most common. The study suggests that high-dose steroid therapy in nonarteritic PION, soon after the onset of visual loss, resulted in significant visual improvement compared to the untreated cases, but not in arteritic and surgical PION.
Public Attitudes About the Use of Chronological Age as a Criterion for Allocating Health Care Resources

We present the first systematic national survey of public opinion on age-based rationing of health care resources. Older people were oversampled in order to allow more precise comparisons of attitude by age cohort as well as by other demographic variables. We found that the majority of people accept the withholding of life-prolonging medical care to hopelessly ill patients, but few would categorically withhold such care on the basis of age. The majority of all ages felt that it was the duty of individual patients regardless of age to refuse medical care that is likely to be futile.
Bcl-x and Bax Regulate Mouse Primordial Germ Cell Survival and Apoptosis during Embryogenesis

Restricted germ cell loss through apoptosis is initiated in the fetal gonad around embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) as part of normal germ cell development. The mechanism of this germ cell attrition is unknown. We show that Bcl-x plays a crucial role in maintaining the survival of mouse germ cells during gonadogenesis. A bcl-x hypomorphic mouse was generated through the introduction of a neomycin (neo) gene into the promoter of the bcl-x gene by homologous recombination. Mice that contained two copies of the hypomorphic allele had severe reproductive defects attributed to compromised germ cell development. Males with two mutant alleles lacked spermatogonia and were sterile; females showed a severely reduced population of primordial and primary follicles and exhibited greatly impaired fertility. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in bcl-x hypomorph mice migrated to the genital ridge by E12.5 but were depleted by E15.5, a time when Bcl-x and Bax were present. Two additional bcl-x transcripts were identified in fetal germ cells more than 300 bp upstream of previously reported start sites. Insertion of a neo cassette led to a down-regulation of the bcl-x gene at E12.5 in the hypomorph. Bax was detected by immunohistochemistry in germ cells from bcl-x hypomorph and control testes at E12.5 and E13.5. Bcl-x function was restored, and animals of both genders were fertile after removal of the neo selection cassette using Cre-mediated recombination. Alternatively, the loss of Bcl-x function in the hypomorph was corrected by the deletion of both copies of the bax gene, resulting in a restoration of germ cell survival. These findings demonstrate that the balance of Bcl-x and Bax control PGC survival and apoptosis.
Exact and inexact methods for selecting views and indexes for OLAP performance improvement

In on-line analytical processing (OLAP), precomputing (materializing as views) and indexing auxiliary data aggregations is a common way of reducing query-evaluation time costs for important data-analysis queries. We consider an OLAP view- and index-selection problem stated as an optimization problem, where (i) the inputs include the data-warehouse schema, a set of data-analysis queries of interest, and a storage-limit constraint, and (ii) the output is a set of views and indexes that minimizes the costs of the input queries, subject to the storage limit. While greedy and other heuristic strategies for choosing views or indexes might help to some extent in improving the costs, it is highly nontrivial to arrive at a globally optimum solution, one that reduces the processing costs of typical OLAP queries as much as is theoretically possible. In fact, as observed in [17] and to the best of our knowledge, there is no known approximation algorithm for OLAP view or index selection with nontrivial performance guarantees.In this paper we propose a systematic study of the OLAP view- and index-selection problem. Our specific contributions are as follows: (1) We develop an algorithm that effectively and efficiently prunes the space of potentially beneficial views and indexes when given realistic-size instances of the problem. (2) We provide formal proofs that our pruning algorithm keeps at least one globally optimum solution in the search space, thus the resulting integer-programming model is guaranteed to find an optimal solution. (3) We develop a family of algorithms to further reduce the size of the search space, so that we are able to solve larger problem instances, although we no longer guarantee the global optimality of the resulting solution. (4) Finally, we present an experimental comparison of our proposed approaches with the state-of-the-art approaches of [2, 12]. Our experiments show that our approaches to view and index selection result in high-quality solutions --- in fact, in globally optimum solutions for many realistic-size problem instances. Thus, they compare favorably with the well-known OLAP-centered approach of [12] and provide for a winning combination with the end-to-end framework of [2] for generic view and index selection.
Nonergodicity in nanoscale electrodes

The response of nanoscale electrodes displays deviations from conventional voltammetry theory that include a reduction in the limiting current and enhanced current fluctuations. We study the power spectra of these fluctuations in well characterized conical electrodes with radii between 2 and 10 nm. The fluctuations are found to display non-trivial power laws. We propose a model based on reversible adsorption of the redox species onto the nanoelectrode. This model is consistent with the non-stationary character of both the limiting current and the adsorption of molecules onto metal electrodes. Our model predicts the electrochemical reaction is nonergodic and sets fundamental limits on the sensitivity of uncoated nanoelectrodes.
Pituitary-adrenocortical activity and intermale aggressiveness in isolated mice.

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to clarify the role of the hormones of the pituitary adrenocortical axis in the control of intermale aggressiveness in mice. The first experiment tested the possibility that adrenalectomy decreases aggressiveness through decreasing androgen levels by treating adrenalectomized mice with testosterone propionate. None of the dosages of testosterone used in this study were effective in restoring the aggressiveness of adrenalectomized mice. The second and third experiments examined whether manipulations of pituitary adrenocortical activity affect aggressiveness because of changes in ACTH levels or because of changes in circulating glucocorticoid levels. In the second experiment, dexamethasone treatment restored the aggressiveness of adrenalectomized mice; and in the third experiment, ACTH decreased the aggressiveness of both intact mice and mice with controlled levels of corticosterone and/or testosterone. These findings suggest that ACTH levels, rather than glucocorticoid levels, are the critical parameters in the control of aggressiveness by the hormones of the pituitary adrenocortical axis and that ACTH affects aggressiveness independently of its effects on either adrenocortical or gonadal activity.
Unpacking Autocracy: Political Regimes and IMF Program Participation

Why do some countries participate in IMF programs while others refuse to do so? We suggest an answer to the question by unpacking one side of the typical democracy–autocracy dichotomy. Specifically, we utilize the growing literature on the varieties of authoritarianism to develop an argument linking the different incentives and constraints that leaders in party-based, personalist, and military regimes face when considering whether to sign agreements with the IMF. Empirically, we demonstrate that distinguishing among autocracies uncovers important variations in the sensitivity of such regimes to the political costs incurred by IMF participation. Party-based autocracies, for instance, respond to both sovereignty costs and the benefits of program participation during severe economic crises. Personalist regimes, however, are not sensitive to the sovereignty costs incurred with IMF participation and thus only participate when doing so provides needed revenue during economic crises. The unique features of milit...
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding--the role of endoscopy.

Endoscopy is the method of choice in diagnosing the cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and it offers the opportunity to treat patients suffering from lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopic procedures must be integrated with other approaches to reach a correct diagnosis rapidly, safely, and economically. In all patients, evaluation begins with a history and physical examination. The sequence of other tests depends on many factors, especially the rate of bleeding. New technologies such as wireless capsule endoscopy will influence the management of patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
Flow of Uterine Blood, and the Œstrous Cycle

ALTHOUGH much has been written describing vasular changes in the endometrium with the œstrous cycle, little information is available regarding the changes in flow of blood to the whole uterus, which is largely myometrium, during this cyclic physiological event. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the fraction of an intravenously administered physiological dose of tritiated-epinephrine which is taken up from the circulation and bound in the uterus varies more than 4-fold between œstrus and diœstrus1. Since tritiated-epinephrine is rapidly removed from the circulation, such a change could be a consequence of an alteration in the fraction of the administered catecholamine which is delivered to this organ. Sapirstein's method2 was used to evaluate the fraction of the cardiac output which perfuses the uterus at various times in the œstrous cycle. (The legitimacy of applying this method for determining uterine blood flow was confirmed by demonstrating that, during the first minute after injection of potassium-42, there was no dependence of uterine uptake upon time, despite continuing recirculation of the indicator2.) It will be shown that during all phases of the œstrous cycle the uterus receives 0.2–0.3 per cent of the cardiac output.
Physical association and functional interaction between β1 integrin and CD98 on human T lymphocytes

CD98 is a cell surface protein previously characterized as a cell activation marker, an amino acid transporter, and has recently been implicated in integrin-related functions. Integrins are cell surface proteins, important for homotypic cell aggregation, cell adhesion, and coactivation of T lymphocytes. We have previously shown that the anti-CD98 mAb 80A10, when coimmobilized with anti-CD3 mAb OKT3, is able to mediate human T cell coactivation that is inhibited by anti-beta1 integrin specific mAb 18D3. These results indicated a functional association of CD98 and beta1 integrin signaling but left open the question of a physical association. We now show the induction of homotypic aggregation through CD98 among human T cells and this aggregation was inhibited by anti-beta1 integrin mAb. Therefore, CD98-dependent lymphocyte proliferation and adhesion may involve integrins. Competitive binding assays and fluorescence colocalization analysis suggested that CD98 and beta1 integrin were physically associated. Differential extraction techniques and immunoprecipitations provided the first evidence that the alpha4beta1 integrin and CD98 are specifically associated on human T lymphocytes.
Measurement of structure (disease) modification in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) research is beginning to focus on developing structure (disease) modifying treatments that will stabilize or reverse morphological changes, thereby altering the underlying pathologic process. The ability of anti-arthritic agents to modify the course of disease has been investigated in a limited number of clinical trials. Agents studied in published clinical trials include glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex (GP-C), glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (GAGPS), diacerein, and glucosamine sulphate. These clinical trials have been difficult to interpret and compare because the patients studied are often inadequately characterized or are not comparable across studies. Studies also vary with respect to the outcome measures analyzed and the methodology applied to measurement and data analysis. Further, in general, the rate of radiographic progression of OA is slow and is not consistent across populations and patients with varying disease severity. In man, the radiograph has been the gold standard for evaluating treatments. Further longitudinal validation of the radiograph is needed. As techniques improve, variation in the system and the number of patients needed in studies are decreasing. It may be that the radiograph will not achieve the needed degree of validation and will be supplanted by magnetic resonance imaging as the surrogate marker of joint status.
Responses of soil‐mantled hillslopes to transient channel incision rates

[1] Channel incision drives hillslope morphology in humid soil-mantled landscapes. When channel incision rates change, numerous hillslope soil properties (e.g., erosion rates, soil thickness, and soil production) adjust in response to this change. Here we investigate the timescales of adjustment of hillslope soil properties when channel incision rates change in time. An idealized soil-mantled hillslope (linear sediment flux law and soil density equal to bedrock density) is investigated, and the transient evolution of this hillslope is determined analytically. This analysis reveals two dominant adjustment timescales. The longer of these two timescales determines the rate at which the entire hillslope adjusts to a change in channel incision rates and is proportional to 4λ2/(π2D), where λ is the length of the hillslope and D is the sediment diffusivity. Numerical simulations are then used to examine responses of hillslopes that involve nonlinear behavior (e.g., hillslopes that experience nonlinear sediment transport or have soil thicknesses that respond to the soil production function). Using these numerical models, we show that the ratio between the soil density (ρs) and the density of the soil parent material (ρη) can alter the long-term response of the hillslope such that the characteristic timescale becomes 4ρηλ2/(π2Dρs). In addition, we show that the adjustments of the soil erosion rate, the soil production rate, and the soil thickness have different characteristic response timescales. Hillslopes that experience sediment flux that is proportional to the depth slope product respond on longer timescales than hillslopes that experience a linear sediment flux law when channel incision rates increase. We illustrate how the spatial pattern of hillslope response to changes in channel incision rates can be used to constrain either channel incision histories or hillslope response timescales. If the hillslope response timescale is known, the pattern of hillslope disturbance can be used to constrain the celerity of a incision wave as it moves upstream through a channel. If the channel incision history is known, the hillslope response timescale may be evaluated on the basis of the spatial pattern of hillslope disturbance.