cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Skepticism About Judicial Review - A Perspective from the United States

This essay, to be a chapter in a volume on Skeptical Approaches to Human Rights to be published by Oxford University Press in 2001, provides a summary of the history of judicial review in the United States as the basis for developing a skeptical perspective on the utility of the particular U.S. form of judicial review as a means of protecting fundamental human rights, at least beyond classical liberal, first-generation rights. It identifies a number of features of the U.S. system of judicial review that caution against drawing strong inferences about the utility of entrenching human rights from the U.S. experience, which in many ways arises from the specific institutional form and history of judicial review in the United States. The historical sketch suggests that the Supreme Court's actions have rarely deviated significantly from the positions taken by the political forces controlling the political process, and that when those decisions have deviated from what the political process produces, the decisions' implications for protecting fundamental human rights have frequently been quite ambiguous. The essay concludes with a brief discussion of normative concerns about the U.S. form of judicial review as a means of enforcing entrenched human rights. Drawing on Frank Michelman's argument that the paradox of constitutional democracy can be resolved if the institution enforced entrenched rights is open to what Michelman calls the "full blast" of argument, it argues that the Supreme Court's recent decisions express a more authoritarian sense of the justices' role than is compatible with Michelman's resolution of the paradox of constitutional democracy.
SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN THE GRAMINEAE

There are 2 principal pathways of plant regeneration in tissue cultures: organogenesis (shoot morphogenesis) and somatic embryogenesis. Organogenesis is accomplished by the development of axillary buds in cultured shoot segments or by the de novo organization of shoot meristems in callus tissues. The shoots are later rooted to give rise to plants. Somatic embryos are formed both in callus and cell suspension cultures and directly give rise to plants. The development of axillary shoot buds is perhaps the most common phenomenon, and is widely exploited in the large-scale clonal propagation of horticultural plants.
Unsuccessful Attempts to Influence the Court

By no means have all attempts by the American Psychological Association led to court decisions consistent with the APA’s orientation. In fact, attempts that had no discernible impact may tell us more about the bases of judicial decision making than do the successful ones. This chapter describes several recent cases for which the APA submitted an amicus brief only to have its contents ignored in the majority decision, or worse, to have the majority opinion disparage its efforts. A goal of this and the concluding chapter is to understand why the briefs had little influence.
Bobbes and Zeydes

When I received a grant three years ago to study the cultural characteristics of an aged, ethnic group living in an urban setting, my first inclination was to examine Chicanos. I had previously worked in Mexico and the comparative basis thus provided would be useful. But the political climate was not hospitable, and American ethnic minorities were not welcoming outside investigators at that time. “Why don’t you study your own people?” I was frequently asked. The idea had never occurred to me, since anthropologists are conventionally trained to study remote, often simpler cultures, or, when they work in urban, complex settings, they do not usually do fieldwork within ethnic or subcultural groups to which they belong. Of course, there would be hazards in such a study, particularly that of overidentification with people about whom one was supposed to be objective and detached, but there might be advantages too. The idea was intriguing. And there was no alternative.
Structure of mouse protocadherin 15 of the stereocilia tip link in complex with LHFPL5.

Hearing and balance involve the transduction of mechanical stimuli into electrical signals by deflection of bundles of stereocilia linked together by protocadherin 15 (PCDH15) and cadherin 23 ‘tip links’. PCDH15 transduces tip link tension into opening of a mechano-electrical transduction (MET) ion channel. PCDH15 also interacts with LHFPL5, a candidate subunit of the MET channel. Here we illuminate the PCDH15-LHFPL5 structure, showing how the complex is composed of PCDH15 and LHFPL5 subunit pairs related by a 2-fold axis. The extracellular cadherin domains define a mobile tether coupled to a rigid, 2-fold symmetric ‘collar’ proximal to the membrane bilayer. LHFPL5 forms extensive interactions with the PCDH15 transmembrane helices and stabilizes the overall PCDH15-LHFPL5 assembly. Our studies illuminate the architecture of the PCDH15-LHFPL5 complex, localize mutations associated with deafness, and shed new light on how forces in the PCDH15 tether may be transduced into the stereocilia membrane.
Monitoring of Overhead Transmission Conductors Subjected to Static and Impact Loads Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

It has previously been shown that the next-generation polymer core composite high-voltage transmission line conductors under severe transverse impact conditions develop complex failure modes strongly dependent on the type and magnitude of external multiaxial loads. In this paper, we greatly improve our understanding of the dynamic structural response of the conductor subjected to low-velocity impacts. We successfully demonstrate that fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors could be a viable technique for in-service monitoring of the conductors subjected to a variety of static and impact situations. It is shown that under static and low-energy/velocity conditions, the sensors can accurately measure strains both on the bare rods and inside the conductors. The accuracy of the sensors is independently verified by performing finite-element calculations of associated strains in the rods under axial tension and three- and four-point bend loading conditions. The tests on the full-scale conductors under low-energy impact also show that the sensors can identify the location and magnitude of impact with a very high degree of sensitivity. These results, combined with the intrinsic properties of optical sensors and fibers, indicate the FBG sensors could be especially useful in the monitoring of low- and high-energy impact events in service.
Positively resilient? Public perceptions of urban resilience

Cities must grapple with rapid changes and an array of risks and hazards. For decades, academics and policymakers have been developing plans and policies to cope with these challenges. These efforts have been couched in terms of building sustainability, hazard mitigation, disaster risk reduction, reducing vulnerability, adaptation, and more recently as a need to build resilience. One common explanation for the concept’s growing popularity is that resilience has a better social connotation and is more positive than related concepts. Empirical evidence supporting this claim is lacking. Moreover, there is no consensus on how to define resilience. Previous work revealed that definitions differ significantly within the academic literature and among practitioners, but it is still unclear how these ‘expert’ conceptualizations compare with the broader public’s. This study uses three survey experiments to test 1) the widely stated, but largely unsubstantiated claim that resilience has a more positive connotation than other concepts; 2) whether the public is more likely to support policies when they are framed in terms of ‘resilience;’ and 3) how the public conceptualizes resilience. Specifically, we test support for policies and conceptualization of four terms that are commonly used in the literature: making cities “more resilient,” “less vulnerable,” “more adaptive,” and “more sustainable.” Survey 1 was conducted on a convenience sample (n=500) of US-based adults drawn from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform. Surveys 2 and 3 were conducted on broad national samples of US adults (n=1000) fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI). Overall, we find significant differences in policy support and perceived importance, which we trace back to variations in how the concepts are interpreted. The study confirms that framing likely affects public support for policies, but complicates claims that resilience is inherently a more appealing frame.
A Low-Complexity Detection Algorithm for Uplink Massive MIMO Systems Based on Alternating Minimization

In this letter, we propose an algorithm based on the alternating minimization technique to solve the uplink massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detection problem. The proposed algorithm is specifically designed to avoid any matrix inversion and any computations of the Gram matrix at the receiver. The algorithm provides a lower complexity compared to the conventional minimum mean square error detection technique, especially when the total number of user equipment antennas (across all users) is close to the number of base station antennas. The idea is that the algorithm re-formulates the maximum-likelihood detection problem as a sum of convex functions based on decomposing the received vector into multiple vectors. Each vector represents the contribution of one of the transmitted symbols in the received vector. Alternating minimization is used to solve the new formulated problem in an iterative manner with a closed-form solution update in every iteration. Simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm in the uplink massive MIMO setting for both coded and uncoded cases.
Coethnicity and Corruption: Field Experimental Evidence from Public Officials in Malawi

Corruption is widespread in many developing countries, though public officials’ discretion in the solicitation of bribes may expose some citizens to more corruption than others. We derive expectations about how shared ethnicity between government officials and citizens should influence the likelihood of bribe solicitation. We evaluate these expectations through a field experiment in which Malawian confederates seek electricity connections from real government offices – an interaction that is often accompanied by bribe solicitation. Our field experiment exogenously varied coethnicity between the official and the confederate. We find that coethnicity increases the likelihood of expediting an electricity connection, both with and without a bribe, which we interpret as evidence of parochial corruption.
Alterations in Nitric Oxide-Mediated Signals in Coronary Arteries Following Spaceflight

Proportional cardiovascular disease mortality rates are not different between US astronauts that have flown in low Earth orbit (LEO) and those that have never flown orbital missions in space. While...
All Quiet on the Western Front: Remarque's Contribution to Lorca's Poeta en Nueva York

In the introduction to Ben Belitt's edition of Federico Garcia Lorca's Poeta en Nueva York, Angel del Rio mentions three sources that he thought could have influenced the poet while he was staying in John Hay Hall at Columbia University and writing some of the poems that would be included in the volume. Del Rio writes: "Of the books that he read while in New York there are two which may have some significance as indirect sources: Manhattan Transfer by Dos Passos and All Quiet on the Western Front by Eric Remarque." The third source, he adds, was Eliot's The Waste Land.
Whatever Happened to Civil Islam? Islam and Democratisation in Indonesia, 20 Years On

ABSTRACTAs the hopeful dreams of the 2011 “Arab spring” have given way to anti-democratic repression in most Arab-majority nations, the question of Islam and democracy in Indonesia has been thrust ...
Why I Fought

Don Nakanishi writes about how thoughts on why he decided to fight for his tenure. He explores the major issues to help others who find themselves in a difficult situation, be it in academics or other areas of employment, and are giving serious thought to doing something about it. The selection of these issues is based, in large measure, on the conversation which Nakanishi had with over thirty assistant professors from across the nation, practically all of whom are Asian American, other people of color, or women, who have contacted Nakanishi in the one-year period after he received tenure.
Smart Parking System Based On Optical Character Recognition

Successful implementation of smart parking systems can effectively reduce a lot of problems related to traffic congestion in urban areas. Wastage of fuel and time in search of a vacant parking space will be significantly reduced and the complete utilization of the available parking areas can make our cities really smart. Parking slot detection and user notification are the two major sections of a smart parking system. The empty parking space detection was initially done by deploying a number of sensors in the parking lot. It is highly expensive and complicated to install. But the advancement of image processing has enabled us to use images of the parking area to find out empty spaces. In this paper a comparative study of the various parking space identification techniques has been done. Also the image processing based system models has been presented as a replacement for sensor based systems. A very efficient and simple technique for parking slot identification based on optical character recognition (OCR) has been introduced in this paper. The camera installed in the parking lot captures the image of the parking area with specially numbered parking spaces. The OCR system recognizes the numbers which are not hidden by a vehicle parked over it and this information is used for identifying the empty spaces.
Decay Schemes of the Isomers of Tc 95 and Tc 97

An investigation of the decay schemes of ${\mathrm{Tc}}^{95}$ and ${\mathrm{Tc}}^{97}$ has been made by using high-resolution conversion-electron spectrographs, gamma-ray scintillation detectors, and coincidence techniques.In addition to the 38.9-kev isomeric transition in ${\mathrm{Tc}}^{95}$, eight transitions of the following energies have been assigned to ${\mathrm{Mo}}^{95}$: 204.2, 583.9, 763, 767.9, 784, 788.0, 822.5, and 837.3 kev. A decay scheme is proposed.The isomer of ${\mathrm{Tc}}^{97}$ has been shown to decay by a single $M4$ transition of 96.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 kev. The experimental $K:L:M$ relative conversion-electron intensities for this transition are 1:0.48:0.13.
Recurrent glomangioma ("true" glomus tumor) of the middle ear and mastoid.

Abstract Objective To review current literature and experience with glomangiomas, or true glomus tumors of the middle ear and mastoid as well asto report on the exceptionally rare case of a glomangiomastemming from the middle ear space with multiple recurrences. Methods Review of existing world literature and description of personal experience with rare cases of a glomangioma of the middle ear and mastoid. Results Review of existing literature revealed two cases of patients presenting with tinnitus and hearing loss refractory to medical management. Both patients were ultimately diagnosed with glomangioma on histopathology. Complete surgical excision is thought to be curative. Patient A 36-year-old woman presented with a rare case of a glomangioma of the middle ear presenting with unilateral hearing loss. She was noted to have a mass behind the tympanic membrane. Imaging revealed a diffuse mass filling the mastoid air cells. Imaging characteristics and histology were consistent with a glomangioma. Intervention Initial resection via mastoidectomy using a postauricular approach. The tympanic membrane was reconstructed with temporalis tissue. Follow-up revision tympanomastoidectomy was performed upon recurrence of disease. The chorda tympani were sacrificed due to tumor involvement. The incus and head of the malleus were removed to gain better access to the tumor. The ossicular chain was reconstructed with a Goldenberg Total Ossicular Prosthesis. Main outcome measure Recurrence of disease. Follow-up In the 67 months since her most recent surgery, there has been no evidence of recurrence by CT or physical exam. Conclusion Glomangioma of the middle ear represents an exceptionally rare entity that can present in a similar fashion to a paraganglioma.
Clinical and electrophysiological evaluation of myasthenic features in an alpha-dystroglycanopathy cohort (FKRP-predominant)

Abstract A postsynaptic dysfunction of the neuromuscular junction has been reported in patients with alpha-dystroglycanopathy associated with mutations in guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-mannose pyrophosphorylase B gene (GMPPB), some of whom benefit from symptomatic treatment. In this study, we determine the frequency of myasthenic and fatigue symptoms and neuromuscular junction transmission defects in a fukutin-related protein (FKRP)-predominant alpha-dystroglycanopathy cohort. Thirty-one patients with alpha-dystroglycanopathies due to mutations in FKRP (n = 25), GMPPB (n = 4), POMGNT1 (n = 1), and POMT2 (n = 1) completed a six-question modified questionnaire for myasthenic symptoms and the PROMIS Short Form v1.0-Fatigue 8a survey, and they underwent 3 Hz repetitive nerve stimulation of spinal accessory nerve-trapezius and radial nerve-anconeus pairs. Results showed that fatigue with activity was common; 63% of the cohort reported fatigue with chewing. A defective postsynaptic neuromuscular junction transmission was not identified in any of the patients carrying FKRP mutations but only in one mildly affected patient with GMPPB mutations (c.79 G>C, p.D27H and c.402+1G>A, splice site variant). We conclude that symptoms of fatigue with activity did not predict abnormal neuromuscular junction transmission on electrodiagnostic studies in this cohort and that, unlike GMPPB subgroup, a defective neuromuscular junction transmission does not appear to be present in patients with FKRP-associated muscular dystrophies.
The Understudied Side of Contemplation: Words, Images, and Intentions in a Syncretic Spiritual Practice

The science of contemplation has focused on mindfulness in a manner quite disproportionate to its use in contemplative traditions. Mindfulness, as understood within the scientific community, is a practice that invites practitioners to disattend to words and images. The practitioner is meant to experience things as they "really are," unfolding here and now in the flux of embodied sensations. Yet the use of words and images, together with intentions, is a far more common contemplative practice. The authors present ethnographic research with a syncretic contemplative tradition, Integral Transformative practice (ITP), which grew out of the Human Potential Movement of the 1960s. The authors focus on the practice of "affirmations," in which practitioners seek to actualize spiritual goals by imagining future possibilities. Our ethnographic account invites new avenues for psychological research to illuminate the role of words and images in contemplation.
A Novel Frameshift Mutation in KAT6A Is Associated with Pancraniosynostosis

De novo heterozygous mutations in the KAT6A gene give rise to a distinct intellectual disability syndrome, with features including speech delay, cardiac anomalies, craniofacial dysmorphisms, and craniosynostosis. Here, we reported a 16-year-old girl with a novel pathogenic variant of the KAT6A gene. She is the first case to possess pancraniosynostosis, a rare suture fusion pattern, affecting all her major cranial sutures. The diagnosis of KAT6A syndrome is established via recognition of its inherent phenotypic features and the utilization of whole exome sequencing. Thorough craniofacial evaluation is imperative, craniosynostosis may require operative intervention, the delay of which may be detrimental.
Early Surgical Closure of Atrial Septal Defect Improves Clinical Status of Symptomatic Young Children with Underlying Pulmonary Abnormalities

Elective closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) is usually recommended during preschool ages. However, ASD may contribute to deteriorating health in the presence of significant comorbidity and, thus, may need earlier closure. There is a lack of clarity regarding the indications for and outcomes after ASD closure in infancy and early childhood. We investigated the benefits and safety of surgical ASD closure in symptomatic patients under 2 years of age. Retrospective chart review was conducted in patients who underwent surgical ASD closure within the first 2 years of life. Of 31 symptomatic ASD patients, 22 had persistent respiratory symptoms, 24 failure to thrive, and 9 pulmonary hypertension. Overall, 26 patients (84.0%) showed clinical improvement after ASD closure, including improved respiratory status (17/22; 77.3%), resumption of normal growth (15/24; 62.5%), and resolution of pulmonary hypertension (7/7; 100%, 2 patients unable to assess postoperatively). Two medically complicated patients died a few months after surgery unrelated to surgical complications. Four out of 8 ventilator-dependent patients were weaned from mechanical ventilation within 1 month after ASD closure. Closure of ASD did not improve those patients with highly advanced lung disease and/or medically complex conditions including underlying genetic abnormalities. Surgical complications were uncommon. Postoperative hospital stay was 4 to 298 days (median 8 days). The majority of our patients demonstrated significant clinical improvement after ASD closure. Early ASD closure is safe and beneficial for symptomatic infants and young children with associated underlying pulmonary abnormalities, especially bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
3D printed deformable sensors

The ability to directly print compliant biomedical devices on live human organs could benefit patient monitoring and wound treatment, which requires the 3D printer to adapt to the various deformations of the biological surface. We developed an in situ 3D printing system that estimates the motion and deformation of the target surface to adapt the toolpath in real time. With this printing system, a hydrogel-based sensor was printed on a porcine lung under respiration-induced deformation. The sensor was compliant to the tissue surface and provided continuous spatial mapping of deformation via electrical impedance tomography. This adaptive 3D printing approach may enhance robot-assisted medical treatments with additive manufacturing capabilities, enabling autonomous and direct printing of wearable electronics and biological materials on and inside the human body.
Superdense matter

We review recent work on the phase structure of QCD at very high baryon density. We introduce the phenomenon of color superconductivity and discuss the use of weak coupling methods. We study the phase structure as a function of the number of flavors and their masses. We also introduce effective theories that describe low energy excitations at high baryon density. Finally, we comment on the possibility of kaon condensation at very large baryon density.
Disclosure and the Cost-of Capital: Evidence from FOMC Announcements

We investigate the effect of shocks to firms’ cost of capital on firms’ disclosure decisions. Specifically, we examine the extent to which firms issue press releases and/or Form 8-K disclosures following unexpected changes to the Fed funds rate. We find consistent evidence that unexpected decreases in the cost of capital lead to larger increases in disclosure by firms that are more sensitive to shocks to their cost of capital. Furthermore, the disclosure response to cost-of-capital surprises appears concentrated in Form 8-K items that require a materiality-based decision. Extended tests show that Fed funds rate shocks lead to capital markets being more responsive to earnings information for firms that are more affected by Fed funds rate changes and that our results are not attributable to changes in the cost of capital leading to increased disclosure because firms are raising capital or hyping their stock. Overall, these results are consistent with concerns raised in recent research papers that changes in cost of capital likely affect disclosure decisions.
Zagadnienie obciążenia wierzyciela - ZUS opłatą egzekucyjną w postępowaniu egzekucyjnym umorzonym w trybie art. 824 § 1 pkt 4 kodeksu postępowania cywilnego

The purpose of the investigations described in this study was the analysis of the exemptions granted to the Social Insurance Institution concerning the payment of enforcement fees resulting from the conduct of civil enforcement proceedings concluded with discontinuance. The scope of the study has been limited to situations in which, at the request of the Social Insurance Institution, enforcement proceedings are conducted in respect of their operation specified in the act and conducted by this entity, and only to situations where the proceedings are discontinued due to the lack of the activity needed to continue the proceedings or failure to demand the suspension of proceedings within six months.The purpose of the research is to answer the question whether the judicial officer can effectively charge the Social Insurance Institution with an enforcement fee in connection with the discontinuance of enforcement proceedings under Article 824 paragraph 1 point 4 of the Code of Civil Proceedings. The conducted research leads to the conclusion that de lege lata neither Article 114 paragraph 4 of the Act on the social insurance system in connection with Article 45 paragraph 1 of the Act on enforcement fees nor any other provision introduces a sufficient legal basis for exempting the Social Insurance Institution from the enforcement fee when the enforcement proceedings are discontinued as in the described situation.
The intergenerational interplay of adversity on salivary inflammation in young children and caregivers

Systemic inflammation links exposure to early childhood adversity to later disease. The associations among adversity and disease risk might in part operate through poor oral hygiene and subsequent periodontal inflammation, which can be measured in saliva. Few studies, however, have examined the association between adversity and salivary inflammation in young children. Further, there is a dearth of literature investigating adverse experiences and salivary inflammation in children and caregivers together, limiting our understanding of the intergenerational, dual effects of adversity on inflammation for both members of the caregiver-child dyad. This study tested child and caregiver adversity and their associations with an inflammatory composite (i.e., IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α) and CRP in 93 preschool-age children and their caregivers. Caregivers reported on their child's experiences of adversity, as well as on their own adverse experiences, using a comprehensive questionnaire synthesized from previous checklists for complete coverage of possible adverse events. Results showed that caregivers' salivary inflammatory markers (i.e., IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, and CRP) were not significantly correlated with the same five inflammatory markers in children's saliva. Among children, adversity was associated with significantly higher levels of the inflammatory composite, though not CRP. This association was amplified among children whose caregivers also experienced more adversity during adulthood. Among caregivers, childhood adversity and adulthood adversity were each independently associated with significantly higher levels of the inflammatory composite and CRP. The association between caregivers' own childhood adversity and inflammation was amplified among caregivers whose children also experienced more adversity during their childhoods. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the possible dual role of young children's and caregivers' adverse experiences in contributing to salivary inflammation for both members of the dyad, suggesting possible implications for systemic inflammation and future disease.
Development of a breast cancer-specific prognostic tool using CancerLinQ Discovery.

275Background: Oncologists often struggle to know which patients are near end of life to enable a timely transition to supportive care. We developed a breast cancer-specific prognostic tool, using ...
NRPyElliptic: A Fast Hyperbolic Relaxation Elliptic Solver for Numerical Relativity, I: Conformally Flat, Binary Puncture Initial Data.

We introduce NRPyElliptic, an elliptic solver for numerical relativity (NR) built within the NRPy+ framework. As its first application, NRPyElliptic sets up conformally flat, binary black hole (BBH) puncture initial data (ID) on a single numerical domain, similar to the widely used TwoPunctures code. Unlike TwoPunctures, NRPyElliptic employs a hyperbolic relaxation scheme, whereby arbitrary elliptic PDEs are trivially transformed into a hyperbolic system of PDEs. As consumers of NR ID generally already possess expertise in solving hyperbolic PDEs, they will generally find NRPyElliptic easier to tweak and extend than other NR elliptic solvers. When evolved forward in (pseudo)time, the hyperbolic system exponentially reaches a steady state that solves the elliptic PDEs. Notably NRPyElliptic accelerates the relaxation waves, which makes it many orders of magnitude faster than the usual constant-wavespeed approach. While it is still ${\sim}12$x slower than TwoPunctures at setting up full-3D BBH ID, NRPyElliptic requires only ${\approx}0.3\%$ of the runtime for a full BBH simulation in the Einstein Toolkit. Future work will focus on improving performance and generating other types of ID, such as binary neutron star.
A Motion Planning Approach to Flexible Ligand Binding

Most computational models of protein-ligand interactions consider only the energetics of the final bound state of the complex and do not examine the dynamics of the ligand as it enters the binding site. We have developed a novel technique for studying the dynamics of protein-ligand interactions based on motion planning algorithms from the field of robotics. Our algorithm uses electrostatic and van der Waals potentials to compute the most energetically favorable path between any given initial and goal ligand configurations. We use probabilistic motion planning to sample the distribution of possible paths to a given goal configuration and compute an energy-based "difficulty weight" for each path. By statistically averaging this weight over several randomly generated starting configurations, we compute the relative difficulty of entering and leaving a given binding configuration. This approach yields details of the energy contours around the binding site and can be used to characterize and predict good binding sites. Results from tests with three protein-ligand complexes indicate that our algorithm is able to detect energy barriers around the true binding site that distinguish this site from other predicted low-energy binding sites.
The Structure of the Limbic System

The term “limbic system” derives from the concept of a “limbic lobe” presented by the French anatomist Broca, in 1878. The word limbic refers to a border, fringe, or hem. Broca used the term “limbic lobe” to designate that brain tissue which surrounds the brain stem and which lies beneath the neocortical mantle. In a gross fashion, this includes the cingulate and hippocampal gyri, as well as the isthmus which connects the two. It also includes the various gyri which surround the olfactory fibers running back from the olfactory bulb and stalk. Within this inner lobe of the brain, the structures are presumed to be organized into two layers. The tissue thought to be phyletically the oldest (allocortex) makes up the inner ring. The outer limbic ring does not resemble either neocortex or allocortex based on study of its cellular structure. It is therefore called transitional cortex or juxtallocortex (next to the allocortex). This approach is of some value as a general conceptual scheme, but it fails to recognize that the inner ring is not a uniform band of tissue. In fact, it is a discrete set of structures which can be identified more or less readily by gross dissection, and it is these structural subunits of the inner ring of the limbic lobe on which our attention will be centered during the remainder of this book.
Socioeconomic status and ethnicity of deceased donor kidney recipients compared to their donors.

Public perception and misperceptions of socioeconomic disparities affect the willingness to donate organs. To improve our understanding of the flow of deceased donor kidneys, we analyzed socioeconomic status (SES) and racial/ethnic gradients between donors and recipients. In a retrospective cohort study, traditional demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as an SES index, were compared in 56,697 deceased kidney donor and recipient pairs transplanted between 2007 and 2012. Kidneys were more likely to be transplanted in recipients of the same racial/ethnic group as the donor (p < 0.001). Kidneys tended to go to recipients of lower SES index (50.5% of the time, p < 0.001), a relationship that remained after adjusting for other available markers of donor organ quality and SES (p < 0.001). Deceased donor kidneys do not appear to be transplanted from donors of lower SES to recipients of higher SES; this information may be useful in counseling potential donors and their families regarding the distribution of their organ gifts.
Genetic interactions with diet influence the risk of cardiovascular disease

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms are an integral component of the evolutionary process that over millennia have resulted from the interaction between the environment and the human genome. Relatively recent changes in diet have upset this interaction with respect to the nutritional environment, but nutritional science is beginning to better understand the interaction between genes and diet, with the resulting potential to influence cardiovascular disease risk by dietary modification. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in several genes have been linked to differential effects in terms of lipid metabolism; however, even a simple model of benefit and risk is difficult to interpret in terms of dietary advice to carriers of the various alleles because of conflicting interactions between different genes. The n-3 family of polyunsaturated fatty acids is underrepresented in our modern diet; much of the benefit of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in studies of various polymorphisms seems to be linked to increased n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake. The nascent science of nutrigenomics faces many challenges; more and better research is needed to clarify the picture, rebut scepticism, and re-invigorate the discussion concerning genetic polymorphism and its interaction with diet.
Challenges at the Clinical Interface, Case Histories for Clinical Biochemists. Danielle B. Freedman, James Hooper, Philip J. Wood, David J. Worthington, and Christopher Price, eds. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 2001, 252 pp., $58.00 ($46.00 AACC members), softcover. ISBN 1-890883-52-2.

This book consists of 48 interesting clinical cases that are presented in a common format and in an interactive style that challenges the reader’s knowledge in a way that might pertain to routine practice. The first page of each case sets out the presenting symptoms and the information gleaned from the initial consultation. The reader is then asked to consider provisional diagnoses and the investigations that are likely to be requested. Next, the answers to the questions are provided, including the results of investigations actually performed. There may also be …
The Neuromuscular Transform: The Dynamic, Nonlinear Link Between Motor Neuron Firing Patterns and Muscle Contraction in Rhythmic Behaviors

The nervous system issues motor commands to muscles to generate behavior. All such commands must, however, pass through a filter that we call here the neuromuscular transform (NMT). The NMT transfo...
A low-device-count single-stage direct-power-conversion solar microinverter for microgrid

This paper covers the design and analysis of a compact inverter for photovoltaic (PV) and fuel-cell applications. The inverter is made up of two isolated Cuk converters working differentially to create a 60-Hz sinusoidal output. This enables direct dc/ac conversion with low device count and yields a simple drive-circuitry. This configuration will lower converter cost and size and can achieve an estimated efficiency of ≥ 95%. Key topics covered in this paper include analysis of the inverter topology and its design.
Usefulness of a state-legislated, comparative database to evaluate quality in colorectal surgery.

PURPOSE: Colorectal surgery, a high-volume procedure, has been targeted for performance improvement to reduce length of stay. Specific postoperative quality indicators and readmission rates should be analyzed concomitantly to assure that adverse events are not associated with earlier discharge. METHODS: From July 1, 1990, to June 30, 1997, 1,218 consecutive patients who underwent transabdominal colorectal surgery were analyzed for length of stay, mortality, morbidity, and discharge disposition. Each patient was assigned an Admission Severity Group rating 0 to 4 using a hospital-based state-legislated software system (Atlas™) to validate comparative performance internally and externally. Readmission data within 120 days of discharge were available for the last 678 consecutive patients from July 1, 1993, to June 30, 1997, using Lastword™ (computerized medical records). RESULTS: The annual frequencies of the 1,218 procedures were 173, 183, 175, 146, 167, 189, and 185, respectively, from July 1990 through June 1997. Severity distribution was 32 for Admission Severity Group 0, 517 for Admission Severity Group 1, 540 for Admission Severity Group 2, 128 for Admission Severity Group 3, and 1 for Admission Severity Group 4, with no annual difference (P=0.012). There was a significant reduction in total length of stay of 3.1 (12.9–9.8) days during the seven years (P=0.001). The overall operative mortality rate was 1.4 percent, and the morbidity was 2.6 percent, with no annual differences (P=0.655 andP=0.033, respectively). The disposition to home did not change (P=0.21). Of the 678 patients followed up for readmission, 100 (14.7 percent) were readmitted within 120 days, with no annual difference (P=0.302). CONCLUSION: Mortality, morbidity, disposition, and readmission rates were not affected by a decreased length of stay after colorectal surgery.
Pyrophosphate phosphohydrolase in mammary tissue of pregnant and lactating rats.

The activities of pyrophosphate phosphohydrolase in the soluble fraction of mammary tissue of rats at various stages of pregnancy or lactation were assessed under conditions which provided optimum rates of hydrolysis of the substrate. Accurate assessment of the activity of this enzyme in mammary tissue depends upon adequate removal of calcium ion from preparations of the gland. Subsequent incubation of the enzyme with 2-mercaptoethanol for 10 min prior to addition of pyrophosphate provided activities above those obtained by removal of calcium alone. During the last third of pregnancy, the specific activity of the enzyme rose rapidly but leveled off as the end of pregnancy was approached.approached. Beyond parturition, only a small, insignificant increase in specific activity could be measured. The activity of this enzyme increases in a manner similar to the increase in DNA content of the tissue in accord with the concept that this enzyme may be constitutive to the presecretory, epithelial cells of the gla...
House Prices and Bequests

House price growth has been documented to have real effects on economic behavior through the availability of wealth gains. This paper examines the response of a specific source of bequests — life insurance death benefits — to changes in house prices for 50 US states and over the period 1977–2011. Our panel data analysis reveals that house price appreciation is associated with increases in life insurance death benefits. This result is consistent with wealth gains generated by house price appreciation being partially passed on in the form of bequests.
Copyright and Interlibrary Loan Rights

ABSTRACT This article will review relevant copyright and contract laws and literature to show that ILL at academic libraries is suffering and will continue to suffer under new laws and legal contracts intended to reduce legitimate access to copyrighted materials. With the combined restrictions that publishers advocate, the question is how effective can libraries continue to be to act as the primary agents to provide access to information for the public good. Academic libraries, in particular, have an important educational and research mission that tightening copyright and contractual restrictions may severely damage. This article will discuss the likely effects of those restrictions and explore ways to ease the problems.
Synthesis Gas: A Raw Material for Industrial Chemicals

Rapid increases in the price of imported crude oil have accelerated a shift in the raw material base for chemical feedstocks from natural gas to crude oil to coal. Widespread use of ethylene as a feedstock has depended on the availability at attractive prices of natural gas and petroleum. As the resource base shifts from natural gas and petroleum to coal, ethylene is being replaced by synthesis gas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide of varying composition), which can be manufactured directly from any of these carbonaceous sources. This trend is expected to accelerate in the 1980's. Organics likely to be produced from synthesis gas include ethanol, ethylene glycol, and vinyl acetate.
Parameter Sensitivity Study of Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Models in CFD

This work presents a sensitivity study of boiling and two phase flow models for thermal hydraulics simulations in nuclear reactors. This study quantifies sources of uncertainty and error in these simulations by computing global sensitivities of figures of merit, or output, to model parameters, inputs, and mesh resolution. Results are obtained for the DEBORA benchmark problem of boiling in a channel driven by a heated wall section. Scalar outputs of interest consist of axial pressure drop, average wall temperature in the heated section, average void fraction at the end of the heated section, and the centroid of the radial distribution of the void fraction at the end of the heated test section. Sensitivities to both individual heat fluxes and to the parameters in the models for these heat fluxes are computed.
Imaging performance of the fiber optic image-bundle confocal microscope

The imaging performance of a confocal microscope including a fiber-optic imaging bundle is discussed. The goal of such a system is to examine objects which would otherwise be prohibited to confocal microscopy. It is found that this system can produce images comparable to that of a commercial confocal microscope.
Combining experiences over time: the effects of duration, intensity changes and on‐line measurements on retrospective pain evaluations

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of various factors on retrospective pain evaluation. The factors examined in Experiment 1 were the rate and pattern of change, the intensity (particularly the final intensity), and the duration of the painful experience. Experiment 2 manipulated these factors and, in addition, examined the effect of continuous (on-line) ratings on the overall retrospective evaluation. The two experiments utilized different pain modalities, heat in the first and mechanical pressure in the second. In addition, all subjects in Experiment 1 experienced stimuli with the same physical magnitude, while in Experiment 2 stimuli were individually tailored to make them subjectively equivalent. In both experiments, subjects were presented with a series of painful stimuli and evaluated the intensity of each stimulus immediately upon its termination. The stimuli themselves were composed of multiple intensity levels that differentially changed over time (Intensity-Patterns). Subjects' on-line ratings in Experiment 2 closely mirrored the physical patterns of the intensities. The main conclusion from both experiments is that the retrospective evaluations of painful experiences are influenced primarily by a combination of the final pain intensity and the intensity trend during the latter half of the experience. In addition, results indicated that duration has little impact on retrospective evaluations for stimuli of relatively constant intensity. However, when the stimulus intensity changes over time, duration does play a role. Finally, the task of continuously reporting the stimulus intensity had a moderating impact on the retrospective evaluations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross-sensitivity to Dilantin (diphenylhydantoin)and Celontin (methsuximide)

Summary A description is presented of the clinical manifestations of a patient with exfoliative dermatitis and hepatitis apparently secondary to administration of Dilantin. A similar reaction subsequent to administration of Celontin is described in the same patient.
In Vitro Synthesis of 12-Hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic Acid Is Increased in Uninvolved Psoriatic Epidermis

Abstract Certain arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites have been detected in psoriatic skin lesions. In this study the capacity of normal epidermis and clinically uninvolved psoriatic epidermis to transform AA into lipoxygenase products was determined in vitro. After incubating homogenized epidermis with exogenous AA, the extracted lipids were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Each chromatographic peak was characterized by its UV absorption spectrum and identified by its co-elution with the appropriate authentic standard and by radioimmunoassay of its eluate fraction. Identified compounds were quantitated by integrated UV absorbance. Leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ) was also identified by neutrophil chemokinesis. Normal epidermis generated 15-hydroxy-eicosatetracnoic acid (15-HETE) and 12-HETE, the latter being more abundant. 5-Lipoxygenase products (LTB 4 , LTC 4 , and 5-HETE) were not detected. However, an unknown compound exhibiting a triplet UV absorbtion spectrum with maximum at 274 mm was formed. Its formation was inhibited by 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, but not by indomethacin or a specific 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (REV 5901). These data suggest that a di-HETE with a triene structure is one possible candidate for the unknown compound. Compared with normal epidermis, the formation of 12-HETE and the unknown di-HETE by uninvolved psoriatic epidermis was increased by 54% and 63%, respectively. The formation of 12-HETE and the unknown di-HETE in uninvolved psoriatic epidermis was stimulated to the same degree in the presence of the phospholipase inhibitor quinacrine. These results indicate that uninvolved psoriatic epidermis has an increased capacity to metabolize free AA into 12-lipoxygenase products.
Design and control of a prototype platform manipulator for workholding and workhandling applications

Abstract This paper presents the strategy of combined workholding and workhandling to reduce machine setup time using a three degrees-of-freedom (DOF) in-parallel actuated manipulator. The manipulator is characterized by its short-arm rigidity, high force-to-weight ratio and relatively simple inverse kinematics. It has two orientation freedoms to adapt to a complex surface and a translation freedom for clamping actuation. Unlike workhandling which requires the robotic arm to have the ability to follow a path in three dimensions at specified accuracy and speed, workholding requires the part and the manipulator to be over-constrained. The reactions result in time-varying, path-dependent and load-dependent Coulomb friction and stiction, which have significant influences in joint motion. To investigate the effects of the nonlinearities on the joint motion control, a prototype manipulator has been built. A digital tracking control algorithm under the influences of the nonlinearities was experimentally evaluated.