cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hempel, Carl (1905–97)

Carl Hempel (1905–97) was a twentieth-century philosopher of science who was initially associated with logical positivism but went on to do important work on scientific explanation, induction, and the structure of scientific theories, particularly regarding problems of how theoretical terms relate to observational terms. Hempel claimed that there were two kinds of scientific explanations because there were two kinds of scientific laws. Deductive nomological explanations contain at least one universal law and have the form of a deductive argument with the explanandum in the conclusion. Inductive statistic explanations involve a probabilistic law but also take the form of a deductive argument with the explanandum in the conclusion. Keywords: Carl Hempel; confirmation; empiricism; explanation; positivism; research; scientific theories
Abstract 151: ZBTB46 is a Shear Stress Sensitive Transcription Factor in Endothelial Cells

Background: ZBTB46, also known as zDC or BTBD4, is a member of the BTB-ZF protein family which comprises a diverse group of transcription factors. Recently, ZBTB46 was identified as a transcription repressor specific to classical dendritic cells (cDCs) among immune cells and responsible for keeping cDCs in a quiescent state. ZBTB46 down-regulation by TLR signaling leads to cDC activation. Interestingly, endothelial cells also express ZBTB46, and may be viewed as part of the immune system; expressing functional TLRs and interacting with other immune cells. However, the role of ZBTB46 in endothelial cells has not been studied. Endothelial cell activation in areas of disturbed flow is a critical step in initiation of atherosclerosis, leading to heart attacks and stroke. Hypothesis: ZBTB46 is expressed in quiescent endothelial cells under laminar shear conditions and is down-regulated by low and oscillatory shear stress patterns as seen in areas of disturbed flow, leading to endothelial cell activation. Methods: We used the mouse partial carotid ligation model to assess ZBTB46 shear responsiveness in vivo and a cone and plate cell culture model to assess shear responsiveness in vitro . We measured endothelial cell mRNA using qPCR and protein via western blot. We used immunofluorescence to show localization of ZBTB46 in the arterial wall. Results: We showed that ZBTB46 is expressed in both human and mouse endothelial cells by mRNA and protein measurements. We also showed that ZBTB46 is down-regulated under low and oscillatory shear conditions after 48 hours both in vivo (Figure 1-A) and in vitro (Figure 1-B). Further functional studies including monocyte adhesion and migration assays as well as mechanistic studies assessing upstream and downstream pathways are currently underway.
Productivity, Performance, and Planning

This paper reviews the mounting pressures on state and local governments to provide and deliver better public services at low costs, and the accompanying changes in the role of the planner in the provision of these services. It then proposes a model for conceptualizing and measuring the efficiency effectiveness and impacts of changes in the delivery of public services and concludes by covering some of the methods of improving the productivity and performance of service delivery systems in state and local government. The paper reviews the state-of-the-art in productivity and performance evaluation and the impacts of the increased concern with productivity on the role of the engineer/planner in public service delivery systems.
First-principles thermal conductivity of warm-dense deuterium plasmas for inertial confinement fusion applications.

Thermal conductivity (\ensuremath{\kappa}) of both the ablator materials and deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel plays an important role in understanding and designing inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. The extensively used Spitzer model for thermal conduction in ideal plasmas breaks down for high-density, low-temperature shells that are compressed by shocks and spherical convergence in imploding targets. A variety of thermal-conductivity models have been proposed for ICF hydrodynamic simulations of such coupled and degenerate plasmas. The accuracy of these \ensuremath{\kappa} models for DT plasmas has recently been tested against first-principles calculations using the quantum molecular-dynamics (QMD) method; although mainly for high densities (\ensuremath{\rho} g 100 g/cm${}^{3}$), large discrepancies in \ensuremath{\kappa} have been identified for the peak-compression conditions in ICF. To cover the wide range of density-temperature conditions undergone by ICF imploding fuel shells, we have performed QMD calculations of \ensuremath{\kappa} for a variety of deuterium densities of \ensuremath{\rho} = 1.0 to 673.518 g/cm${}^{3}$, at temperatures varying from $T$ = 5 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 10${}^{3}$ K to $T$ = 8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 10${}^{6}$ K. The resulting ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{\mathrm{QMD}}$ of deuterium is fitted with a polynomial function of the coupling and degeneracy parameters \ensuremath{\Gamma} and \ensuremath{\theta}, which can then be used in hydrodynamic simulation codes. Compared with the ``hybrid'' Spitzer-Lee-More model currently adopted in our hydrocode lilac, the hydrosimulations using the fitted ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{\mathrm{QMD}}$ have shown up to \ensuremath{\sim}20% variations in predicting target performance for different ICF implosions on OMEGA and direct-drive--ignition designs for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The lower the adiabat of an imploding shell, the more variations in predicting target performance using ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{\mathrm{QMD}}$. Moreover, the use of ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{\mathrm{QMD}}$ also modifies the shock conditions and the density-temperature profiles of the imploding shell at early implosion stage, which predominantly affects the final target performance. This is in contrast to the previous speculation that ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{\mathrm{QMD}}$ changes mainly the inside ablation process during the hot-spot formation of an ICF implosion.
Scheduling Jobs on a Number of Identical Machines

Abstract Several theoretical results are developed to obtain an efficient branch-and-bound algorithm for the sequencing problem when all jobs are available to process at time zero and are independent (i.e., there are no a priori precedence relationships among jobs). The branch-and-bound algorithm and its computational results are given for the case of linear penalty functions. The computational experiences are very encouraging. The computer times required to solve the problems are very short and for most problems the optimum is achieved at the early stages of computation.
Alkali vapor lasers: history, current state and perspectives

This paper presents a short historical review of optically pumped alkali laser research and development and analysis of the most important achievements and existing problems in Diode Pumped Alkali Laser development and scaling
A Design Method for the Equipment System of Systems Based on the AD and IRMA Methods

Combining the AD and IRMA methods, this paper puts forward a method for designing the initial configure scheme of the equipment system of systems from the mission requirement extension. The configure scheme of the equipment system of systems advanced by this method is convenient for extension and upgrade.
Use of Erythropoietin in Premature Neonates: Controversies and the Future

Objective:To review and evaluate current research on the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) for the treatment of anemia of prematurity (AOP).Data Sources:A Medline search (1985–September 1994) was used to identify and retrieve pertinent data about erythropoietin's use in premature neonates. Bibliographies in the relevant literature and International Pharmacy Abstracts were reviewed as well.Study Selection:The authors extrapolated data from trials and other literature in which the entire paper or abstract was published. Because of the paucity of data on the use of rhEPO in neonates, all available literature was reviewed and cited, regardless of study methodology.Data Synthesis:Most data support that rhEPO is efficacious in treating AOP. Until recently, the published investigations have included only small numbers of patients. Larger, multicenter, placebo-controlled trials suggest that infants weighing less than 1500 g benefit from rhEPO therapy. Questions remain concerning the rhEPO dose and n...
The Promise of Recovery.

Chronic heart failure is a progressive disorder characterized by adverse structural, cellular, and molecular left ventricular remodeling. Advanced heart failure has generally been thought of as an irreversible process, but mechanical unloading with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD),
'Race' as a scientific and organizational construct: a critique

'Race' for many years has been a major construct of science and society. While its importance as such has not historically been particularly pronounced on a global scale, the emergence of its most forceful architects, the Anglophone countries, to pre-eminence since World War II has significantly extended its geographical range and added to its significance as an idea within commercialized culture as well as within social organization.
Treatment of Renal Cancer

The therapy of renal-cell carcinoma has evolved slowly. The earlier reports of increased benefit from radiotherapy, as adjuvant to nephrectomy, were tempered by the improved survival afforded to patients using a radical or extrafascial nephrectomy, (1–6). In this procedure the kidney, with its tumor, is removed along with the accompanying adrenal gland, perinephric fat and perinephric fascia of Gerota. An ipsilateral regional lymphadenectomy, removing tissue from the diaphragmatic crus to the bifurcation of the aorta or vena cava has been espoused by many. At this point, lymphadenectomy can be considered important for more accurate staging and therefore of prognostic value, but it is unlikely that many patients with tumor involvement in the regional lymph nodes (Stage III) are cured by this manoeuvre alone. Pre- or postoperative irradiation is not indicated.
An introduction to the octahedral algorithm for the computation of economic equilibria

Improvements in computational methods have resulted in the faster solution of general equilibrium economic models This paper gives a nontechnical introduction to the octahedral algorithm for the solution of economic models.
Optical neuroimaging of spoken language.

ABSTRACTIn this review, I introduce the historical context and methods of optical neuroimaging, leading to the modern use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) to study human brain function. In its most frequent application, optical neuroimaging measures a haemodynamically-mediated signal indirectly related to neural processing, similar to that captured by fMRI. Compared to other approaches to measuring human brain function, optical imaging has many advantages: it is noninvasive, frequently portable, acoustically silent, robust to motion and muscle movement, and appropriate in many situations in which fMRI is not possible (for example, due to implanted medical devices). Challenges include producing a full-brain field of view, homogenous spatial resolution, and accurate source localisation. Experimentally, optical neuroimaging has been used to study phoneme, word, and sentence processing in a variety of paradigms. With continuing technical and...
Natural Anti-Cancer Agents: Implications in Gemcitabine-Resistant Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Background & objective Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies accounting for the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Among several explored anticancer agents, Gemcitabine, a nucleoside analogue remained a front line chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. However, gemcitabine exerts a low response rate with limited progression free survival in patients due to cellular resistance of pancreatic tumors to this therapy. Several chemotherapeutic agents have been explored in combination with gemcitabine against pancreatic cancer with overall mixed responses and survival rates. Naturally occurring dietary agents possess promising anticancer properties and have been shown to target various oncogenic signaling pathways in in-vitro and in-vivo pancreatic cancer models. Results Multiple studies using natural compounds have shown increased therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer models. Conclusion This review is focused on recent updates on cellular, preclinical and clinical studies utilizing natural anticancer agents with gemcitabine against pancreatic cancer.
The evolution of cuticular fertility signals in eusocial insects.

A reproductive division of labor is a definitive characteristic of eusocial insect societies and it requires a means through which colony members can assess the presence and productivity of reproductive individuals. Cuticular hydrocarbons are the primary means of doing so across eusocial hymenopterans. However, recent experimental work presents conflicting views on how these chemical signals function, are interpreted by workers, and evolve. These recent advances include demonstrations of hydrocarbons as evolutionarily conserved ‘queen pheromones’ and as species-divergent ‘fertility signals’ used by both queens and workers. In this review, we synthesize conflicting studies into an evolutionary framework suggesting a transition of reproductive communication from cue-like signature mixtures, to learned fertility signals, to innate queen pheromones that evolved across eusocial insects.
Human Resource Information System Courses: An Examination of Instructional Methods

This study examines to what degree and with what method human resource information systems (HRIS) concepts and techniques are being taught at colleges and universities in the United States. Forty-three course descriptions for graduate or undergraduate courses in HRIS, human resource management systems (HRMS), or a specialty human resource (HR) course that specifically covers HRIS or HRMS, were analyzed. Results of this analysis provide benchmarks for developing collegiate HRIS courses. A discussion is given on various teaching methods, objectives, focuses, and topics.
Reliability and convergent validity of the Emotional Intelligence Admission Essay Scale, revised:

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to reassess the reliability and convergent validity of the revised Emotional Intelligence Admission Essay Scale, and determine whether the scale could iden...
Care and Capacities of Human-Centered Design

Human Centered Design is increasingly practiced and accepted within and for Healthcare. This acceptance is commonly methodologically grounded in the capacities of design—what design is uniquely abl...
General Features of Viral Disease Agents

Viruses, defined as biological macromolecules that have the ability to multiply within living cells, have been found to infect virtually all life forms. These pathogens, comprised of genomic RNA or DNA bound to a protein coat, are considered the smallest and simplest entities capable of replication. Viruses possess no intrinsic mobility, cannot respond to stimuli, and are obligate intracellular parasites. Virus reproduction (replication) requires the host cell’s machinery and occurs within the nuclear or the cytoplasmic compartment. Many viruses kill the host cell while other viruses result in sublethal infections. Additionally, certain viruses are capable of modifying the host cell genome, resulting in cellular transformation that leads to malignancies. Over the past 30 years the science of virology has blossomed into one of the major branches of biology. Presently, a great deal is known about the structure and the function of these simple disease agents. The studies on the different virus models have provided the framework for the fields of modern cell biology and molecular biology. Unfortunately, viruses are continuously evolving and have remained a major cause of disease in both animal and plant populations.
On possible applications of rough mereology to handling granularity in ontological knowledge

Representing and reasoning about knowledge is critical in Artificial Intelligence. There is a distinction between factual and ontological knowledge. Factual knowledge represents a set of facts about individual objects that are known or believed whereas ontological (background) knowledge represents implicit concepts and relationships that are assumed to exist in the world. Ontological knowledge is often represented as a hierarchy of concepts because splitting things of the real world into categories and sub-categories is a natural way of human thinking. One example of conceptual hierarchies in AI is ontologies that are widely used in such areas as Natural Language Processing, Semantic Web, etc. Representation of both types of knowledge becomes difficult when the knowledge is imprecise. One example of imprecision is granularity i.e. inability to distinguish between the individual objects. In this case, knowledge cannot be represented precisely but can be approximated with respect to the granularity of the domain. Approximation of factual knowledge has been extensively researched and often employs Rough Set Theory (Pawlak 1982) for dealing with indiscernibility of objects. Similar approach has been applied to ontologies to approximate concepts in the hierarchy (Doherty et al. 2003). The open problem is the approximations of hierarchical relationships (such as "is-a", "part-of') between concepts. This paper addresses this issue using Rough Mereology (Polkowski & Skowron 1996) complemented with Interval Analysis (Moore 1966). The principal contribution is to provide rough mereological functions that can be used for representation and reasoning with formal ontologies in approximation spaces. Specifically, approximate concept membership and approximate concept subsumption functions will be provided. It can be demonstrated that the interval based functions are free of the shortcomings of the previously suggested definitions (Cao, Sui, & Zhang 2003) (Klinov & Mazlack 2007).
REGULATION OF CYTOTOXIC REACTIVITY OF NK CELLS BY INTERFERON AND PGE 2

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights the regulation of cytotoxic reactivity of natural killer (NK) cells by interferon and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Human peripheral blood lymphocytes depleted of adherent cells by plastic and nylon wool adherence were used routinely. To enrich for the NK population consisting of large granular lymphocytes (LGL), a 5-step discontinuous Percoll density gradient was used in some experiments described in the chapter. The endogenous NK activity of all the mononuclear cells was inhibited by PGE2. The large granular lymphocytes (LGL) fraction as expected exhibited the highest level of cytotoxic activity. The loss of susceptibility to suppression by PGE2 was also observed with all the cell fractions, suggesting that both activation and acquisition of partial resistance to suppression by PGE2 are autonomous characteristics of LGL. The data shows that PGE2 can induce a loss of susceptibility to PGE2-mediated suppression by NK cells. PGE2 did not interfere with the activation of NK cells by IFNβ. Although NA cells do not synthesize appreciable amounts of PGE2, indomethacin was added to the NA cell culture to ensure a complete absence of PGE2 synthesis in the local environment of the cells.
IN VITRO INVESTIGATIONS OF THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER: ISOLATION AND CULTURE OF BRAIN CAPILLARY ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on the isolation and culture of the cells of capillary endothelium of the brain, which plays an important role in homeostasis within the central nervous system by limiting the blood to brain passage of some solutes while facilitating exchange of others. This selective permeability barrier—termed the blood–brain barrier—is produced by a combination of specific membrane transport systems, a low rate of pinocytosis, and the presence of continuous intercellular tight junctions, which seal adjacent endothelial cells together. It is difficult to study the properties of brain capillary endothelial cells in vivo because they represent a small fraction of the total cells in the brain. This chapter describes the successful culture of capillary endothelial cells derived from rat brain. Primary cultures retain both endothelial cell markers and some unique features, typical of brain capillary endothelial cells in vivo . This method provides a large number of endothelial cells, which would be useful for studies of brain capillary function. Although brain capillaries initially contain two cell types, the endothelial cells can be separated from the pericytes by gradient centrifugation.
Do Nationally Representative Cutpoints for Clinical Muscle Weakness Predict Mortality? Results From 9 Years of Follow-up in the Health and Retirement Study.

BACKGROUND Muscle weakness, as measured by handgrip strength, is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality; however, there are wide inconsistencies in the magnitude of these effects due to divergent definitions used to define muscle weakness across studies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between previously defined sex- and race-specific cutpoints of clinical muscle weakness and early mortality. METHODS Data come from the 2006-2014 Health and Retirement Study. Time-varying clinical muscle weakness, as defined by handgrip strength cutpoints, was the primary exposure. Time to death, ascertained from the National Death Index, was the outcome of interest. The association between time-varying clinical muscle weakness and early mortality across a 9-year observation period was determined using Kaplan-Meier methods and extended Cox regression. RESULTS Out of the 8,326 individuals in the study, 1,799 deaths (21%) occurred during the observation period. Median follow-up time was 8.3 years (SD ±1.9 years). Weak individuals had a steeper decline in their survival trajectory, compared to non-weak individuals (Log-Rank test, p < .001). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and time-varying smoking history, weak individuals were over 50% more likely to die earlier than non-weak individuals (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15, 1.47). CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to use muscle weakness cutpoints derived in a nationally representative sample to identify those individuals who may be at greatest risk for premature mortality. Results underscore the importance of muscle weakness, as defined by handgrip strength, as a key risk factor for premature mortality in older Americans.
Perioperative myocardial infarction: diagnostic clues and prevention

The diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction can be missed if the pain is masked by postoperative analgesia and the possibility is not considered. This report is the case of a patient with a missed diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction. Myocardial injury and infarction from noncardiac surgery is currently the subject of intense interest and research. This report illustrates the importance of the diagnosis and suggests clues that can be used to make the diagnosis.
Typologies and Argumentation Tactics in Religious Polemics - An Analysis of al-Jawāb al Sahih and the Cyprus Letter

Christian-Muslim polemical exchanges and the relationship between the two faiths’ religious authorities in the medieval period were often rigid. One exchange between Christian theologians in Cyprus and Muslim theologians in Damascus is evidently polemical and exemplifies the difficult relations that occurred early in the fourteenth century and the nature of challenging religious arguments. That is The Letter from the People of Cyprus and Ibn Taymiyya’s response to it. This article offers a new analysis through the perspective of particular theoretical typologies of religious polemics. Accordingly, the article shows that these two polemicists adhere to multiple scriptural and rational tactics in support of their biased understanding of religious truth and the definition of impeccable revelations. It also shows that both theologians were involved in forceful and sometimes contradictory argumentative techniques.
Life cycle assessment to quantify the impact of technology improvements in bike-sharing systems

The reduced environmental footprint of bicycle sharing systems (BSS) is one of the reasons for their rapid growth in popularity. BSS have evolved technologically, transitioning from smart dock systems to smart bicycle systems, and it is not clear if the increased use of electronics in BSS results in a net environmental benefit. This article provides an evaluation of the impact of incorporating additional technology into BSS and uses that analysis as guidance for future BSS development. By comparing the impacts of a private bicycle, a smart dock BSS, and smart bike BSS using a life cycle assessment (LCA), this work reveals breakeven points and tradeoffs between the technologies. This study is also the first published empirical LCA of a smart bike known to the authors. In the production phase, smart bikes generate approximately three times the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to the smart dock bikes per kilometer ridden over the lifetime, and when considering the endpoint categories of human health, ecosystem, and resources, smart bikes have approximately 2.7 times the environmental impact. The results suggest that shifting from smart dock to smart bike requires an increase in ridership by a factor of 1.8 to overcome the increased environmental impact based on the GHG emissions. We find that smart docks become preferable at a population density between 1,030 residents/km2 (in a bike friendly city) and 3,100 residents/km2 (in a city that is less likely to bike).
Remodeling Of Collagen-fibers In Deformed Tissues

One goal in the field of soft tissue biomechanics is to understand and to model the properties of collagen-fibers in biological tissues such as blood vessels, brain tissues, and skin which undergo growth and remodeling processes. Experimental studies of Bhole et al.\ [1] suggest that the mechanical properties of fibers in biological tissues depend not only on the current state of the deformation but also on the deformation history. Demirkoparan et al.\ [2] developed a hyperelasticity based framework taking this effect into account. The framework developed in [2] uses an additive hyperelastic material model for the strain energy density, $W = W_m + W_f$. The matrix contribution $W_m$ does not take time-dependent changes of the material properties into account yet the fiber contribution $W_f$ changes over time as it is modeled in terms of a constant creation rate and a deformation dependent dissolution rate of the fibers. Then Topol et al.\ [3] have investigated the predictions of such a model by studying the effect of fiber deformation state at the time of their creation on the overall mechanical properties of the material. This research investigates the relation between the change in the fiber density, the Cauchy stress development, and the deformation of the material.
The Geometric Argument

Rasmussen seeks to build upon the planks of the conversation in two ways. First, before interacting with Leon’s points, Rasmussen develops a new, Geometric Argument, against a purely material foundation. Rasmussen’s second task involves a more direct interaction with Leon’s latest points. Here, Rasmussen seeks to show why Leon’s observations can illuminate Rasmussen’s arguments for a necessary foundation, after we make some distinctions and clarifications. A key idea here is that Leon’s primary points—about modal caution and his principle of material causation—illuminate a path within the arguments for a necessary foundation. And, perhaps most significantly, we converge upon a vision of a foundation that is at least factually necessary.
Who wants a predictable life

Roguelike games are storytelling machines in which everyone's experience is different. But they only work if the balance between order and randomness feels right.
Counting the cost of caplacizumab.

In this issue of Blood, Goshua et al present a timely cost-effectiveness analysis of caplacizumab for immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) and conclude that adding caplacizumab to standard-of-care (SOC) therapy with plasma exchange and immunosuppression is not cost-effective based on outcomes including duration of hospitalization and iTTP recurrence.
Long-Term Care Resident Awareness and Interest in Spasticity Treatments.

Spasticity is common in long-term care settings (affecting up to one in three residents), yet it remains under-treated despite safe and effective, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies. One barrier to treatment may be lack of awareness of available therapies for long-term care residents living with spasticity. A standardized spasticity treatment awareness and interest interview was conducted with 18 nursing home residents and 11 veterans’ home residents in this cross-sectional study. Veterans’ home residents were also asked about potential barriers to receiving spasticity treatment. Many residents across both long-term care facilities were unaware of most of the treatment options for spasticity. Participants were most aware of physical/occupational therapy (83%, 95% CI: 65–93%) and least aware of intrathecal baclofen (21%, 95% CI: 9–39%). After learning about treatments, only 7% of participants (95% CI: 0–23%) were not interested in receiving any form of spasticity treatment. Among residents previously unaware of spasticity treatments, at least one quarter became interested in receiving treatment and at least one-fifth indicated possibly being interested in the treatment after learning about it. Potential barriers to receiving treatment included traveling to see a doctor and limited knowledge of insurance coverage of spasticity treatments. These results suggest that patient-centered approaches, including education and discerning patient preferences, may improve spasticity treatment in long-term care settings.
The Digitalization of Money

The ongoing digital revolution may lead to a radical departure from the traditional model of monetary exchange. We may see an unbundling of the separate roles of money, creating fiercer competition among specialized currencies. On the other hand, digital currencies associated with large platform ecosystems may lead to a re-bundling of money in which payment services are packaged with an array of data services, encouraging differentiation but discouraging interoperability between platforms. Digital currencies may also cause an upheaval of the international monetary system: countries that are socially or digitally integrated with their neighbors may face digital dollarization, and the prevalence of systemically important platforms could lead to the emergence of digital currency areas that transcend national borders. Central bank digital currency (CBDC) ensures that public money remains a relevant unit of account. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Dead Men (and Women) Should Tell Tales: Narrative, Intent, and the Construction of Wills

Intent is a foundational principle that is referenced in many varied aspects of succession. This article will focus on the role of intent in will construction proceedings where intent is referred to as the “touchstone” and “pole star.” When an issue arises as to the meaning of a provision in a will admitted to probate, the probate court must undertake a construction proceeding. This article posits that a will naturally forms a narrative that courts use when interpreting and construing the language of the will. This natural narrative form and tendency for courts to reference narrative during construction proceedings can be more effectively leveraged by the will-drafter in a manner that is consistent with succession’s intent-serving policies. When the drafter approaches the will as a narrative and uses narrative techniques to inform the customization of what may be one of the oldest-forms of legal documents, the resulting document becomes more meaningful for the testator, the beneficiaries, the personal representative, and, if needed, the court. To illustrate, this article presents standard will construction cases and revises the problematic testamentary language using narrative-based drafting techniques. This intent-effectuating approach to drafting promotes the ultimate implementation of the testator’s intent, especially when a construction proceeding is initiated by an interested person. The construction proceeding, after all, seek to determine and give effect to the testator’s intent. The narrative-based approach to drafting will support the court’s inquiry by providing more context and more meaning to the language of the will. This customization refers to the deliberate sequencing of provisions, accurately enhancing the description of the relationships and property, and even including a statement of purpose. This article acknowledges the potential dangers raised by using narrative-based drafting techniques. But, as this article stresses, narrative-based drafting does not refer to the inclusion of language that injects uncertainty and confusion in testamentary instruments. Instead, narrative-based drafting brings the person, the personality, and the personal into wills. Testators should tell tales.
A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of the effectiveness of melatonin on neurocognition and sleep in survivors of childhood cancer

Background Adult survivors of childhood cancer are at risk of developing sleep and neurocognitive problems, yet few efficacious interventions exist targeting these prevalent late effects. Melatonin has known sleep-promoting effects; however, it has not been well studied among childhood cancer survivors. Method Survivors (n = 580; mean age = 33.5 years; 26 years post-diagnosis) from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort were randomized (1:1) to a six-month double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 3 mg time-release melatonin within three strata (stratum 1: neurocognitive impairment only; stratum 2: neurocognitive and sleep impairment; stratum 3: sleep impairment only). Neurocognitive performance was assessed at baseline and post-intervention using standardized measures. Sleep was assessed via self-report and actigraphy. Independent sample t tests compared mean change scores from baseline to six months. Post-hoc analyses compared the prevalence of clinically significant treatment responders among melatonin and placebo conditions within and across strata. Results Intent-to-treat analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in neurocognitive performance or sleep from baseline to post-intervention. However, among survivors with neurocognitive impairment only, a larger proportion randomized to melatonin versus placebo demonstrated a treatment response for visuomotor speed (63% vs 41%, P = 0.02) and nonverbal reasoning (46% vs 28%, P = 0.04). Among survivors with sleep impairment only, a larger proportion treated with melatonin demonstrated a treatment response for shifting attention (44% vs 28%, P = 0.05), short-term memory (39% vs 19%, P = 0.01), and actigraphy-assessed sleep duration (47% vs 29%, P = 0.05). Conclusion Melatonin was not associated with improved neurocognitive performance or sleep in our intent-to-treat analyses; however, a subset of survivors demonstrated a clinically significant treatment response.
Graft-versus-leukemia reactions after bone marrow transplantation

To determine whether graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) reactions are important in preventing leukemia recurrence after bone marrow transplantation, we studied 2,254 persons receiving HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplants for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in first remission, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first remission, and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in first chronic phase. Four groups were investigated in detail: recipients of non--T-cell depleted allografts without graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), recipients of non--T-cell depleted allografts with GVHD, recipients of T-cell depleted allografts, and recipients of genetically identical twin transplants. Decreased relapse was observed in recipients of non--T-cell depleted allografts with acute (relative risk 0.68, P = .03), chronic (relative risk 0.43, P = .01), and both acute and chronic GVDH (relative risk 0.33, P = .0001) as compared with recipients of non--T-cell depleted allografts without GVHD. These data support an antileukemia effect of GVHD. AML patients who received identical twin transplants had an increased probability of relapse (relative risk 2.58, P = .008) compared with allograft recipients without GVHD. These data support an antileukemia effect of allogeneic grafts independent of GVHD. CML patients who received T-cell depleted transplants with or without GVHD had higher probabilities of relapse (relative risks 4.45 and 6.91, respectively, P = .0001) than recipients of non--T-cell depleted allografts without GVHD. These data support an antileukemia effect independent of GVHD that is altered by T-cell depletion. These results explain the efficacy of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in eradicating leukemia, provide evidence for a role of the immune system in controlling human cancers, and suggest future directions to improve leukemia therapy.
Public Servants, Political Activities and Policy Advocacy

By the late 1800's United States policy makers realized they had to adopt a model for selecting public servants based on job related requirements. The model would have to separate career public servants from politics and the unorthodox and often non-standardized approach to policy and program implementation employed by the ever changing administrations. The selection of employees based on merit and limited political influence could lead to a standardization in terms of policy implementation and equity in service delivery. The assassination of President James Garfield in 1881 by a person seeking employment was the event which finally compelled policy makers to act. Congress went on to pass the Pendleton Act of 1883 which established the Civil Service Commission and implemented a system of merit employment for most federal employees. In 1939 the United States Congress passed the Hatch Act, the legislation limited the political activities of public servants at all levels of government. This paper examines the relationship between career merit system employees and changing political administrations. While the merit system provides a clear division between administrations and career public servants and makes it possible for merit employees to carry out their duties based on a legislative charge, there still appears to be inequities in this system. The system limits the extent to which administrations can influence how agencies carry out their missions, however, it does not limit the impact merit employees have on how policies are formulated and implemented. Essentially, policy makers rely on information and expertise from career public servants to help them make informed policy decisions. This gives career merit system employees the opportunity be policy advocates. This paper is an attempt to determine whether not career merit system employees should be policy advocates particularly when they have the knowledge, experience and expertise in areas which could lead to greater efficiency, savings and an overall improvement in the quality of service. More importantly, when merit employees become policy advocates, does this constitute a political activity and does this activity run counter to the underlying premise of the Hatch Act of 1939.
Phase Transformations: Implications for Mantle Structure

The role of phase transformations on radial and lateral velocity and density variations in the Earth's mantle is examined. Pyrolite is taken as a reference chemical composition. Specific attention is given to the chemical interaction among the multiple components in the entire system. In particular, aluminum influences the width and depth of the 410 km discontinuity. The velocities and density at the 410 km discontinuity are rather insensitive to lateral variations of the temperature aside from the change in the depth of the discontinuity. Formation of CaSiO 3 perovskite may be an important contributor to the 520 km discontinuity. Aluminum also plays a major role in defining the character of the 660 km discontinuity. Slight variations in Al content or temperature from the reference model changes the magnitude of the 660 velocity increase by a factor of two. Ilmenite forming phase transitions will introduce lateral velocity variations resulting from lowered temperatures that can be mistaken as a slab sitting on the 660 km discontinuity. These many different implications result from considering the whole chemical system.
Hypospadias: a critical analysis of cosmetic outcomes using photography

Objective To analyse the cosmetic outcome of hypospadias surgery using photography, rather than the classical assessment by reoperation rate secondary to listula, diverticulum, stenosis and residual penile curvature. Patients and methods The study included 181 consecutive patients with hypospadias who underwent surgery between 1997 and 1999. Distal hypospadias (47) was repaired using either the meatal advancement and glanuloplasty' or the glans approximation procedure. Proximal hypospadias (68) was repaired using the onlay island-flap technique with preservation of the urethral plate. Penile curvature when present was corrected by dorsal plication ( 20%) ). Two patients with perineal hypospadias required a two-stage repair. Complex repeat repairs (36) were defined as those patients who had undergone previous surgery 1-7 times and required a new urethroplasty by a secondary onlay island-flap technique. The follow-up ranged from 6 months to 3 years. Photographs of the penis were taken before, immediately and 3-12 months after surgery; these were assessed to document objectively the cosmetic outcome. The final photographs were evaluated for overall appearance, a mucosal collar, the location and configuration of the meatus. The standard was to create a penis that would pass cosmetically as a normal circumcised penis. Results The patients who had chordee without hypospadias (15) and fistula repair (13) did not undergo glanuloplasty and therefore were not included in the final photographic analysis; this left 153 patients with follow-up photographs. There were five cases of urethral fistula (7%) and one of meatal stenosis (1%) in the proximal group, and three of fistula (8%) and two meatal stenosis (6%) in the complex group. The distal group had one complication (haematoma) and the two-stage group had no complications. Analysis of the photographs showed that most patients had the appearance of a normal circumcised penis. Not unexpectedly, the patients who had undergone previous surgery had the least satisfactory results (60% appearing normal) compared with the proximal and distal groups (76% and 82% appearing normal, respectively). Conclusions Hypospadias can be repaired safely with few complications in a single stage in most patients. Classical complications such as fistula and stenosis occur in < 10% of patients, including those undergoing complex revisions. Cosmetic outcomes are generally good and photography is an objective means to document the appearance.
HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE FROM BIRTH TO EIGHTEEN YEARS: Practical Composite International and Interracial Graphs

Head circumference graphs for boys and girls from birth to 18 years of age, calculated from reports in the world literature published since 1948, are presented. No significant racial, national, or geographic differences in head circumferences were found. A single "normal" head circumference, that is one which lies within two standard deviations above and below the mean for age and sex, may prove misleading, since it gives no clue as to rate of head growth. Serial head circumference measurements should, therefore, be a routine part of the physical examination of infants and children. When such measurements are plotted on the composite graphs, abnormal growth patterns are readily discernible. Rapid upward deviation may signify correctable conditions, such as hydrocephalus, subdural hematomas or effusions. Marked slowing or arrest of head growth offers a poor prognosis for mental development. But even a single measurement outside the range of normal should lead to further evaluation of the child.
Low-cost and high-throughput realization of metasurface-based absorber/emitter for thermal-photovoltaic cells

A thermal photovoltaic cell (TPV) is an optical heat engine that can extract energy from an emitter with elevated temperature. In theory, the efficiency of a TPV can reach to 80% by wavelength conversion, yet in practice, only 3.2% efficiency has been achieved. The main physical drawback is to maintain the device operation at very high temperature while managing total solar spectrum absorption and efficient coupling of the narrow-band thermal radiation into the photovoltaic cell. In this vein, utilizing of a nanophotonic structure to undergo the wavelength conversion of solar energy is inevitable. Furthermore, low cost, large area and high throughput realization of such a structure brings TPV beyond the research lab. Simultaneous tailoring of UV/visible and mid-infrared spectrums requires sub-100-nm feature size, which is challenging with conventional photolithography if it is not impossible. We have developed a microsphere deep-UV lithography that can produce minimum feature size of ~ 50 nm at extremely low cost and high throughput. In this work, we demonstrate a metasurface platform fabricated with this lithography technique which has omni-polarization and -angle absorption in visible spectrum and efficient emission at mid-infrared as confirmed both by FDTD simulation and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurement. The developed technique is promising technology to expedite TPV in real-life energy harvesting applications.
Electroless preparation of macroporous Cu thin film from large-scale-orderly colloid monolayer

A facile method to fabricate the highly ordered colloid monolayer of a large scale is demonstrated. The colloidal template involves the ordered array of ∼ 100 nm silica colloids functioned with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) by spin coating on the silicon wafer etched square pattern with an ∼ 100 nm depth. Based on the new nanostructure, highly ordered macroporous Cu thin film can be prepared from Pd nanoparticles-based electroless deposition. By the deposition time, the macroporous thin film of various thicknesses can be prepared. Additionally, the Cu film with (111) strong texture is deposited on the gold substrate of single crystalline (111) orientation.
A note on De Vylder's method of estimation of IBNR claims

Abstract De Vylder's method of estimation of IBNR claims precludes consideration of independently established trends. A modification of this method is suggested by means of which an actuary would, in certain cases, combine a suspected trend with the available data to estimate IBNR claims. A numerical example is provided to demonstrate this modification.