cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diversity and quality of information products in a monopolistically competitive industry

Abstract Producers of information products decide how much to invest in the ‘first copy’, a choice which determines product quality in economic terms. In this paper, we investigate equilibrium tradeoffs between quality and diversity (or variety) of information products in the framework of Steven Salop's monopolistically competitive model of circular product space. Specifically, we extend Salop's case of linear price support with fixed setup costs to consider three other regimes: non-price support with fixed setup costs, then price and non-price support with variable setup costs. Employing a utility function linear in price and multiplicative in quality, we find that when setup investments can vary, firms have a tendency to underinvest, and that there is an even greater tendency for the industry to overproduce variety relative to the welfare optimum than in Salop's original model. We also find that a conversion from non-price support (e.g., the conversion from advertiser to pay supported television) does not necessarily increase variety but may only lead to higher investment levels, and may or may not increase aggregate consumer welfare.
A comparison of palatal adaptation in acrylic resin denture bases using conventional and anchored polymerization techniques.

Purpose The study investigated the effects of palatal depth and a resin anchoring system on the adaptation of denture base resin to the master cast after compression molding and heat polymerization. Materials and Methods Forty-eight virtually identical polymethyl methacrylate dentures were fabricated on master casts with either a deep or shallow palatal vault. One half of the master casts of each palate type were altered by the addition of anchoring holes along the posterior land area, as well as perpendicularly in the midsaggital area. Anchoring holes were made with a #8 round bur to a depth of 5 mm. Twenty-four hours after polymerization, the bases on their casts were sectioned at the posterior border and evaluated for degree of adaptation using a traveling microscope. Maladaptation at the interface of the denture base and master cast was measured at predetermined mediolateral locations. A split-plot analysis of variance (α= 0.05) was performed followed by a post-hoc Dunn Multiple Comparison Test. Results In general, depth of the palatal vault did not significantly influence denture palatal discrepancy (p= .0780), but the use of the anchoring system significantly reduced mean gap distances (p= .000). At lateral and midpalate locations, gap distances between the denture bases and their casts were reduced from approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 0.1 mm when the anchoring system was used. Conclusion Mean gap distances for steep palate dentures were significantly less than shallow palate dentures at vestibule and lateral palate locations, and anchoring holes placed in an edentulous master cast along the posterior land area and at the midline significantly improved the adaptation of denture bases.
Digital subtraction angiography for renal donor evaluation

A consecutive series of 52 living related renal donors were evaluated preoperatively by angiography. The preoperative angiographic interpretation was compared with the anatomy found at donor nephrectomy. Standard selective renal arteriography was found to be 100 per cent accurate in defining single (25) or multiple (1) renal arteries. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) alone performed with an intra-arterial injection of contrast material was found to be 82 per cent accurate in determining the number of renal arteries. In five kidneys with multiple renal arteries, only two had the correct number of vessels identified. The errors are inherent in the DSA technology. DSA at the present time is not accurate enough to replace the standard arteriogram in the evaluation of the donor nephrectomy patient.
Psychosis, lithium-induced antipsychotic response, and seasonality

Lithium alone has previously been shown to effect antipsychotic response in approximately one-quarter of mood incongruent psychoses. Such lithium-responsive psychoses and/or the antipsychotic effects of lithium appear to be seasonal, with maximal response rates occurring in the 3-month periods surrounding January and July peaks. Within patients, retrials of lithium in formerly lithium-responsive psychotic patients demonstrate a trend toward greater continued antipsychotic effects of lithium during the periods surrounding January and July (80% response rates) vs. the remaining 6 months of the year (33% response rates).
Early growth of Mexican-American children: lagging in preliteracy skills but not social development.

Latino toddlers fall behind White peers at 24 months of age in oral language and interactive skills with their mothers in English or Spanish. But Latino children enter kindergarten with social skills that rival White peers, despite social-class disparities. We ask whether cognitive trajectories widen during the 24–48 month period, how these patterns differ for Latinos, especially Mexican–Americans, and whether similar gaps in social-emotional growth appear. We analyzed growth patterns for a nationally representative birth sample (n = 4,690) drawn in 2001, estimating levels of change in development from 24 to 48 months of age, focusing on Latino subgroups. The mean gap in cognitive processing for Mexican–American children, already wide at 24-months of age relative to Whites (three-fourths of a standard deviation), remained constant at 48 months. But differences in social-emotional status were statistically insignificant at both 24 and 48 months. Mexican–American mothers were observed to be equally warm and supportive relative to White peers during interaction tasks. Yet the former group engaged less frequently in cognitive facilitation, oral language, and preliteracy activities in the home. Growth in both cognitive and social domains was considerably lower in larger families, placing children raised in poor or Spanish-speaking homes within a large household at greater risk of delays. Pediatricians and practitioners must carefully gauge the social-emotional well-being of Latino children, in developmental surveillance activities. Growth in cognitive and social domains unfolds independently for children of Mexican heritage, even when raised in economically poor families.
The brain splits obesity and hypertension.

Obesity and high blood pressure are commonly associated. A study in mice now shows that hypothalamic inflammatory pathways may be the link connecting these two disorders and a potential target to uncouple obesity-related hypertension from weight gain (pages 883–887).
Positive Ego and Coping Functions in Chronic Pain and Depressed Patients

Three groups of elderly subjects (chronic pain patients, patients with major depression, and healthy individuals) were administered measures of self-esteem, ego defense mechanisms, and coping style to examine how these personality components are affected by illness. Ego defense mechanisms and self-esteem for all three groups were not found to be different and were positive except for depressed patients, who used greater levels of projection and demonstrated lower levels of self-esteem. Each subject group utilized equally problem-focused and emotion-focused coping styles. These findings from a preliminary study are consistent with previous research demonstrating stability of personality throughout the life span, and suggest that the psychological functioning of older individuals with chronic pain syndromes or depression remains positive and resilient. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1990; 3:48-52).
SU-FF-T-595: Correlations of Organ Growth with Age, Body Mass, and Height for Pediatric Radiotherapy Treatment Planning

Purpose: In an effort to accurately consider historical radiation in treatment planning and outcome analysis for pediatric radiotherapy patients, we investigate the correlations of the volume of the liver and kidneys with age, total body mass, and body height of pediatric patients. Method and Materials: The liver and kidneys were delineated upon CTimages acquired for 48 patients (27 male, 21 female) ranging in age from 0.7 to 19.3 years at the first CT acquisition. For age‐based correlations, statistics were compiled among all images and among only the images acquired pre‐treatment. For the mass‐based and height‐based correlations, total patient body mass and height were obtained from supplemental chart information. Plots of total‐kidney volume versus age were compiled among male and female patients separately. Plots of liver and total‐kidney volume versus body weight and body height were complied from among all patients. Linear fits were applied to each data set, and the standard deviation of the difference between the measurement and the linear fit was compiled. Results: Increased liver and kidney volume with increasing age, body mass, and height are apparent. Excluding post‐treatment image data led to improved linear correlations. Linear fits suggest larger kidney volume at birth for males (99 cm3 vs. 63 cm3 for females), although for both males and females the kidney growth rate is similar (approximately 17 cm3 per year). The ratio of the right‐ to left‐kidney volume was 0.95±0.14. Although there is relatively little variation in body mass among the patient set, greater body mass appears to predict greater organ volume. Conclusions: The correlation of liver and kidney volume with patient age, body mass, and height are apparent for pediatric patients, and can be used to construct organ‐growth models that may be useful in image registration, dose accumulation and radiation‐response assessment for pediatric radiotherapytreatment planning.
Angler Compliance with Lake Trout Length Limit Regulations in Great Lakes Waters

Abstract Recreational fishing regulations restrict harvest to protect fish, change size structure, equitably spread the take of public resources, or to meet harvest quotas. Both minimum size limits and slot limits have been used to keep yield below yearly management unit-specific harvest quotas for Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in Michigan waters of lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan. To determine the rates at which anglers complied with these length limits, I examined the biological data collected by Michigan Department of Natural Resources creel clerks in nine management units from 2001 to 2012. Across all lakes, the rate of noncompliance was significantly lower under minimum size limits (4.8%) than it was under slot limits (17.6%). Compliance did not improve with the length of time a regulation was in effect. Of the various size regulations in place, those that required more Lake Trout to be released were more likely to be violated, whether they were implemented as minimum size limits or slot limits...
Chimpanzee and human grips: A new classification with a focus on evolutionary morphology

We observed grips by the hand during locomotor and manipulative behavior of captive chimpanzees to improve our ability to interpret differences between chimpanzees and humans in hand morphology that are not easily explained by current behavioral data. The study generated a new classification of grips,which takes into account three elements of precision and power gripping that appear to distinguish between the chimpanzees and humans, and which have not been explored previously in relation to hand morphology. These elements are (1) the relative force of the precision grips (pinch versus hold), (2) the relative ability to translate and rotate objects by the thumb and fingers (precision handling), and (3) the relative ability to orient a cylindrical object so that it functions effectively as an extension of the forearm (power squeeze). We recommend that this classification be incorporated into protocols for field and laboratory studies of nonhuman primate manipulative behavior, in order to test our prediction that these three elements clearly distinguish humans from chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates. The results of this test will have direct bearing upon decisions as to which grips (with their associated behaviors) are most likely to guide us through kinematic and kinetic analysis to possible explanations for morphological differences between humans and other species. These explanations, in turn, are fundamental to our ability to discern evidence for potential grips and tool behaviors in the manual morphology of fossil hominids.
Cost analysis of recovery block scheme and its implementation issues

In this paper, a cost analysis of recovery block scheme has been presented. This study provides us the selection criterion for alternates and the software granularity under perfect acceptance tests. Two performance evaluation measures: a) cost-reliability index (CRI); b) cost of failure (COF) are studied and compared. CRI is shown to be a move restricted measure than COF. An experimental study has been carried out to supplement the analysis. Efficient placement of recovery blocks and the design of alternates has been discussed with reference to real-time applications.
A risk assessment tool for advanced metering infrastructures

The growing reliance on Cyber technology for Smart Grid and other Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) applications increases high assurance challenges. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is a critical part of smart grid and failure to address security risks in it might disrupt utilities in their mission to deliver power reliably. The objective of this paper is to find mitigation actions for attacks that might be launched against AMI. The paper introduces a tool called SecAMI that calculates the relationship between the speed at which an attack spreads, the speed at which it can be detected, and the consequences on the availability of the AMI. The results from SecAMI can be used as a performance metric to significantly improve the development and the deployment of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) in an AMI environment. Experimental results with an IDS called Amilyzer show that centralized IDS might not work efficiently in scalable systems comparing with distributed IDS in term of detection time, especially with a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack or remote disconnects on the AMI.
Disorder Identification in Hysteresis Data: Recognition Analysis of the Random-Bond-Random-Field Ising Model

An approach for the direct identification of disorder type and strength in physical systems based on recognition analysis of hysteresis loop shape is developed. A large number of theoretical examples uniformly distributed in the parameter space of the system is generated and is decorrelated using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA components are used to train a feed-forward neural network using the model parameters as targets. The trained network is used to analyze hysteresis loops for the investigated system. The approach is demonstrated using a 2D random-bond-random-field Ising model, and polarization switching in polycrystalline ferroelectric capacitors.
The perfect penicillin? Inhibition of a bacterial DD-peptidase by peptidoglycan-mimetic β-lactams

6-(Glycyl-l-alpha-aminopimelyl)-aminopenicillanic acid and 7-(glycyl-l-alpha-aminopimelyl)-aminocephalosporanic acid have been synthesized as Streptomyces sp. peptidoglycan-mimetic beta-lactams. These compounds inactivate the Streptomyces R61 DD-peptidase with rate constants of 1.5 x 107 s-1 M-1 and 5.6 x 105 s-1 M-1, respectively. The former compound is thus the most effective beta-lactam inhibitor of a DD-peptidase yet described. The analogous d-alanyl-d-alanine peptide has previously been shown to react with this enzyme with comparable efficiency, kcat/Km = 8.7 x 106 s-1 M-1. These results show that, in this case at least, incorporation of a peptidoglycan-mimetic side chain into a beta-lactam greatly enhances its activity as a DD-peptidase inhibitor. This result has interesting implications for beta-lactam design.
Improving mixture tree construction using better EM algorithms

This paper is concerned with hierarchical clustering of long binary sequence data. We propose two alternative improvements of the EM algorithm used in Chen and Lindsay (2006). One is the FixEM. It is just the regular EM but we no longer update the weights @ps used in the ancestral mixture models. The other is the ModalEM. In this we cluster data according to the modes of an estimated density function for the data. In order to compare these methods with each other and other popular hierarchical clustering methods, we use a data example from the international HapMap project. We compare the speed and the ability of these methods to separate out true clusters. In addition, simulation studies are performed to compare the efficiency and accuracy of these methods. Our conclusion is that the new EM methods are far superior to the original, and that both provide useful alternatives to other standard clustering methods.
Synthesis of Isotactic Rich Poly(methylphenylsiloxane) by Living Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization

Linear poly(methylphenylsiloxane) (PMPS) was prepared by the living anionic ring-opening polymerization of cis-2,4,6-trimethyl-2,4,6-triphenylcyclotrisiloxane (cis-P3). The resulting linear PMPS was shown by NMR to be highly stereoregular and remarkably high in meso-meso fraction and proposed isotactic content (~80%). Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was used as the solvent and it is noted that THF also acts as a promoter for the system by increasing the reactivity of the silanolate nucleophile at the end of the propagating chain. It is proposed that this increase in the reactivity occurs preferentially in the intermolecular (propagating) reaction. The evidence for this proposed hypothesis is the exclusive production of meso-meso and meso-racemic triads in the linear PMPS as evidenced by NMR. As the reaction temperature was increased, the rate of polymerization increased and yet the tacticity of the polymer was not affected. It is therefore clear that there was no significant amount of back-biting (intramolecular) reaction for the temperatures and time intervals studied here, despite the fact that ring-chain equilibration is commonly observed in ring-opening siloxane polymerizations. Had the reversion reaction been present, then scrambling of the chain stereoregular sequences would have been observed by an equilibration mechanism. It is well established that phenyl-phenyl interactions (π–π stacking) can stabilize certain local conformations in PMPS chains and hence we propose that these phenyl-phenyl interactions may prevent back-biting reactions for PMPS under the kinetic conditions employed here.
Induction of salivary proteins modifies measures of both orosensory and postingestive feedback during exposure to a tannic acid diet.

There are hundreds of proteins in saliva. Although it has long been hypothesized that these proteins modulate taste by interacting with taste receptors or taste stimuli, the functional impact of these proteins on feeding remains relatively unexplored. We have developed a new technique for saliva collection that does not interfere with daily behavioral testing and allows us to explore the relationship between feeding behavior and salivary protein expression. First, we monitored the alterations in salivary protein expression while simultaneously monitoring the animals' feeding behavior and meal patterns on a custom control diet or on the same diet mixed with 3% tannic acid. We demonstrated that six protein bands increased in density with dietary tannic acid exposure. Several of these bands were significantly correlated with behaviors thought to represent both orosensory and postingestive signaling. In a follow-up experiment, unconditioned licking to 0.01–3% tannic acid solutions was measured during a brief-access taste test before and after exposure to the tannic acid diet. In this experiment, rats with salivary proteins upregulated found the tannin solution less aversive (i.e., licked more) than those in the control condition. These data suggest a role for salivary proteins in mediating changes in both orosensory and postingestive feedback.
Female partner perception of small-carrion implant

Abstract Thirty-one female partners of penile implant recipients were intervie wed postoperatively. A majority of women exhibited anxiety regarding the outcome of the surgery. Preoperative visit with the urologist by almost 50 per cent of the women benefitted the couple's sexual satisfaction. It is suggested that the surgeon. include the female partner- in the preoperative consultation.
Inhibition of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 proteolysis in articular cartilage and joint fluid results in enhanced concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 and is associated with improved osteoarthritis

Objective The complement component C1s is present in dog joint fluid in an activated state. Since C1s degrades insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP-5), we undertook to determine whether inhibiting C1s in joint fluid would result in an increase in the amount of intact IGFBP-5 and IGF-1 in cartilage and joint fluid, and whether C1s inhibition would be associated with a reduction in cartilage destruction during the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Twenty-two dogs were randomized to 3 treatment groups. All dogs underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection and were exercised. Dogs received 1 of 3 treatments: buffer alone (controls; n = 6); PB-145, a peptide derived from the sequence of antithrombin III (n = 9); and pentosan polysulfate (PPS; n = 7). PB-145 or saline was injected into the joint space 3 times per week for 3 weeks. PPS was injected intramuscularly weekly for 3 weeks. Results Joint histology showed preservation of chondrocytes and a smooth joint surface in the animals treated with PB-145 and PPS. Mankin scoring showed statistically significant reductions in joint destruction with PB-145 and PPS treatments (P < 0.01) compared with buffer control. Mean active collagenase concentrations were decreased by these two treatments. Immunoblotting of joint fluid showed that both treatments increased concentrations of intact IGFBP-5. Direct analysis of IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 protease activity showed that IGFBP-5 was degraded more rapidly and that PB-145 and PPS inhibited the degradation of both proteins. Total IGF-1 concentrations in joint fluid were increased 5.6–5.8-fold by these two treatments. Analysis showed that C1s was being activated in joint fluid and that its activation was inhibited by the addition of PB-145 or PPS. Conclusion The findings suggest that direct inhibition of the serine protease C1s results in increased concentrations of intact IGFBP-5 and that proteolysis of IGFBP-3 is also inhibited, probably by the inhibition of some other protease. This increase in concentrations of intact IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 leads to an increase in IGF-1 which is associated with an improvement in joint architecture during the development of OA.
New nano-particle-strengthened ferritic/martensitic steels by conventional thermo-mechanical treatment

Abstract For increased fusion power plant efficiency, steels for operation at 650 °C and higher are sought. Based on the science of precipitate strengthening, a thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) was developed that increased the strength from room temperature to 700 °C of commercial nitrogen-containing steels and new steels designed for the TMT. At 700 °C increases in yield stress of 80 and 200% were observed for a commercial steel and a new steel, respectively, compared to commercial normalized-and-tempered steels. Creep–rupture strength was similarly improved. Depending on the TMT, precipitates were up to eight-times smaller at a number density four orders of magnitude greater than those in a conventionally heat treated steel of similar composition.
Extra-peritoneal laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy--a prospective cohort study of 293 patients with endometrial cancer.

Abstract Objective To determine if extra-peritoneal laparoscopic para-aortic (PA) lymphadenectomy allows a reliable assessment of PA nodes in patients with endometrial cancer (EC). Methods In October of 2005, a single surgeon began performing extra-peritoneal laparoscopic PA lymphadenectomy for patients with EC. A prospective cohort study was initiated from October 2005 through October 2007. Staging of Group A included extra-peritoneal laparoscopic PA lymphadenectomy, while Group B underwent staging via laparotomy. Results In a 24 month period, 293 patients underwent surgical treatment for EC, 203 of them underwent complete staging as determined by previously published criteria. Extra-peritoneal laparoscopic PA lymphadenectomy to the renal veins was successful in 35/38 patients (92%). Mean BMI was 33.0 for Group A and 32.3 for Group B ( p =NS). Mean EBL and hospital stay were lower in Group A compared to Group B (163 vs 373 cm 3 , p p 35, (21.6 vs 13.1), while in Group B fewer nodes were removed in obese patients (17.8 vs 20.5). Conclusions Extra-peritoneal laparoscopy is a reliable method to routinely reach the level of the renal veins, even in obese patients. This approach was feasible in over 90% of unselected patients and well-tolerated.
Encapsulation of superparamagnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 core/shell nanoparticles in MnO2 microflowers with high surface areas

Abstract Microflowers made of interconnected MnO2 nanosheets have been successfully synthesized in a microwave reactor through a hydrothermal reduction of KMnO4 with aqueous HCl at elevated temperatures in the presence of superparamagnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles. Due to the chemical compatibility between SiO2 and MnO2, the heterogeneous reaction leads to the spontaneous encapsulation of the Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles in the MnO2 microflowers. The resulting hybrid particles exhibit multiple properties including high surface area associated with the MnO2 nanosheets and superparamagnetism originated from the Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles, which are beneficial for applications requiring both high surface area and magnetic separation.
SUSCEPTIBILITY OF INTERLAYER POTASSIUM IN MICAS TO EXCHANGE WITH SODIUM

ABSTRACT INTERLAYER, K in muscovite, biotite, phlogopite, illite and vermiculite-hydrobiotite samples was replaced by cation exchange with Na. The rate and amount of exchange varied with the mineral and the level of K in solution. Essentially, all the K in muscovite, biotite, phlogopite and vermiculite was exchangeable when the mass-action effect of the replaced K was reduced by maintaining a very low level of K in solution. The time required for this exchange varied from 45 weeks with muscovite. Only 66% of the K in the illite was exchangeable under these conditions. When the replaced K was allowed to accumulate in the solution, the amount of exchange was determined by the level of K in solution required for equilibrium. These levels decreased with the degree of K-depletion and with the selectivity of the mica for K. The order of selectivity was muscovite > illite > biotite > phlogopite > vermiculite. Decreasing the K in solution from 10 to 7 ppm increased the exchangeable K in biotite from 30 to 100%. A K level of only 0.1 ppm restricted the exchange of K in muscovite to 17%. A decrease in layer charge was not required for K exchange, but a decrease did occur in K-depleted biotite and vermiculite. Muscovite with the highest layer charge (247 meq/100 g), least expansion with Na (12.3 a), and least sensitivity to solution pH had the highest selectivity for K and the slowest rate of exchange. The K in vermiculite was the most readily exchangeable.
NOGO is increased and binds to BACE1 in sporadic inclusion-body myositis and in AβPP-overexpressing cultured human muscle fibers

Increased amyloid-β precursor protein (AβPP) and amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation appear to be upstream steps in the pathogenesis of sporadic inclusion-body myositis (s-IBM). BACE1, participating in Aβ production is also increased in s-IBM muscle fibers. Nogo-B and Nogo-A belong to a family of integral membrane reticulons, and Nogo-B binding to BACE1 blocks BACE1 access to AβPP, decreasing Aβ production. We studied Nogo-B and Nogo-A in s-IBM muscle and in our IBM muscle culture models, based on AβPP-overexpression or ER-stress-induction in cultured human muscle fibers (CHMFs). We report that: (1) in biopsied s-IBM fibers, Nogo-B is increased, accumulates in aggregates, is immuno-co-localized with BACE1, and binds to BACE1; Nogo-A is undetectable. (2) In CHMFs, (a) AβPP overexpression increases Nogo-B, Nogo-A, and BACE1, (b) ER stress increases BACE1 but decreases Nogo-B and Nogo-A, (c) Nogo-B and Nogo-A associate with BACE1. Accordingly, two novel mechanisms, AβPP overexpression and ER stress, are involved in Nogo-B and Nogo-A expression in human muscle. We propose that in s-IBM muscle the Nogo-B increase may represent an attempt by muscle fiber to decrease Aβ production. However, the increase of Nogo-B seems insufficient because Aβ continues to accumulate and the disease progresses. We propose that manipulations, which increase Nogo-B in s-IBM muscle might offer a new therapeutic opportunity.
Alcohol state transfer effects with performance maintained by intracranial self-stimulation.

Abstract Rats were trained in bar-pressing for septal self-stimulation with and without ethyl alcohol, and subsequently tested under the reversed state. In addition, animals were shaped to ratio schedules of reinforcement and observed in different alcohol conditions. The results show that with moderate alcohol dosages the response was acquired with equal facility regardless of drug state, and that the transfer from different drug states was approximately as complete as that from the identical drug state. The results are discussed as they relate to associative stimulus effects in drugged performance.
Developmental changes in infant heart rate responses to head-up tilting.

Aim: Newborn infants produce significant heart rate responses to both head-up and head-down tilting: heart rate increases with head-up tilting and decreases with head-down tilting. However, previously we found that, at 2–4 mo of age, heart rate increases were no longer significant following slow head-up tilting. This study was designed to determine if 2–4-mo-old infants have significant increases in heart rate when tilted rapidly. Methods: Fifty-four infants were tested as newborns or at 2–4 mo of age. Heart rate was measured while infants were tilted to a 30° head-up angle either slowly over a period of 30 s or rapidly in 5 s. Results: Newborns exhibited increases in heart rate using both tilt speeds; however, at 2–4 mo of age, heart rate did not change significantly using either speed of tilting. Conclusion: There are significant early developmental changes in cardiac responses to hypotensive challenge. Newborns react like adults, mounting sustained increases in heart rate in response to head-up tilting, but at 2–4 mo of age sustained heart rate responses are no longer significant. Tilt tests may provide a standardized method for assessing autonomic competence during the period of maximum vulnerability to sudden infant death syndrome.
Strategic and automatic processes in prospective memory retrieval: a multiprocess framework

Prospective memory situations involve forming intentions and then realizing those intentions at some appropriate time in the future. An interesting feature of most prospective remembering is that recollection of the intended action occurs without an explicit request to attempt retrieval, and we present two views on how this type of remembering can be accomplished. One could strategically monitor the environment for the presence of the target event, or one could rely on anticipated environmental conditions more or less automatically reinstating the intended action. We present data supporting both views and argue that people use multiple approaches for solving the problem of retrieving an intention (prospective memory) after a delay. Moreover, we suggest that the extent to which prospective remembering is supported by relatively automatic processes (versus strategic resource-demanding monitoring) and the probability with which prospective memory is likely to be successful when relying on automatic processes varies as a function of the characteristics of the prospective memory task, target cue, ongoing task, and individual. We argue that the complexity of the empirical findings can best be understood by appealing to this multiprocess view of prospective memory. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Degradation of Methionine Hydroxy Analog in the Rumen of Lactatina Cows

Abstract Four lactating cows fitted with T-type cannulae in the proximal duodenum were utilized in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to study rumen microbial degradation of methionine hydroxy analog, a methionine supplement. A diet consisting of 55% concentrate and 45% corn silage was fed ad libitum four times daily. The four treatments were 1) control, no methionine hydroxy analog, 2) methionine hydroxy analog in the form of a calcium salt, 3) methionine hydroxy analog in the acid form, and 4) DL-methionine. The amino acids were incorporated into a grain mix, which was top-dressed. All diets were isonitrogenous. Twelve samples of duodenal digesta and fecal matter were collected during the last 3 d of each of the four 14-d periods. Samples were composited for analysis. Microbes either altered or degraded 99% of the methionine hydroxy analog in the rumen, since recovery of the analog in duodenal digesta was less than 1% of the amount fed for both the acid form and the calcium salt.
Water-resistant flame retardants for preventing forest fires

The authors examined and tested the possibility of encapsulating flame-retardant inorganic salts to prevent them from being dissolved by rainfall when used in forests. They question the practicality of the end product and introduce another approach currently under study.
Heating and Storage Conditions Affect Survival and Recovery of Listeria monocytogenes in Ground Pork

The effect of heating rate, heating atmosphere, and meat age on survival of Listeria monocytogenes was examined in ground pork, as well as the ability of injured cells to recover during storage under air and vacuum packaging at 4 and 30 o C. Significantly more survivors were observed when samples were heated at 1.3 o C/min than at 8.0 o C/min. Cells inoculated into 3-month-old pork were more sensitive to heating than cells inoculated into fresh ground pork (D 62oC =5.2 min and 7.7 min, respectively). More survivors were detected when the meat was heated aerobically than anaerobically. However, storage under vacuum at 4 or 30 o C resulted in faster recovery compared with cells packaged in air. Thus, heating and packaging conditions affected ability of this pathogen to survive and recover after a heat process in pork
MRI detection of thrombin with aptamer functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Design of smart MRI contrast agent based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and aptamers has been described for the detection of human α-thrombin protein. The contrast agent is based on the assembly of the aptamer functionalized nanoparticles in the presence of thrombin. A detectable change in MRI signal is observed with 25 nM thrombin in human serum. Changes were neither observed with control analytes, streptavidin, or bovine serum albumin, nor with inactive aptamer functionalized nanoparticles.
Stochastic Incompleteness of Quantum Mechanics

The purpose of this article is to bring out in as conceptually clear terms as possible what seems to be a major incompleteness in the probability theory of particles offered by classical quantum mechanics. The exact nature of this incompleteness is illustrated by consideration of some simple quantum-mechanical examples. In addition, these examples are contrasted with the fundamental assumptions of Brownian motion in classical physics on the one hand, and with a controversy of a decade ago in mathematical psychology. (The psychological example is described in detail in the appendix.) Our central claim is that classical quantum mechanics is radically incomplete in its probabilistic account of the motion of particles.
Results of microvascular decompression in 16 cases of glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Seven males and nine females with glossopharyngeal neuralgia were treated by microvascular decompression (MVD) over a 4-year period. Their ages ranged from 40 to 72 years (average, 54.7 years). The duration of pain ranged from 2 months to 13 years, and all except one patient had brief attacks of lancinating pain in the throat and/or ear. One patient reported dull, paroxysmal throat pain. At surgery, vascular compression of the 9th and 10th nerves at the root entry-exit zone was observed in all cases. The offending vessels were the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in 11 cases, the PICA and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) in two, the PICA and vertebral artery (VA), and AICA and VA in one case each. The patient with atypical pain had compression by a large vein. In 15 cases of arterial compression, the pain completely disappeared after MVD, and there was no recurrence during the follow-up period, which ranged from 1 month to 4 years. One patient with venous compression had significant pain relief, although mild throat pain persists. In one case, postoperative complications included transient 6th, 7th, and 10th nerve palsies and sensory disturbance, which were assumed to be due to disturbance of the circulation in the perforating branches from the compressing artery. The experience with these 16 patients indicates that vascular compression is the etiology of glossopharyngeal neuralgia and that MVD provides excellent results.
Friendly visiting as a means of informing homebound senior citizens of health-related community services.

Health-related community services designed for the senior population include delivered and congregate meals, visiting health-aides and nurses, adult day care and telephone and postal checks. Friendly visiting programs may prove helpful in informing homebound senior citizens of these health-related community services. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of friendly visiting as a means of informing homebound senior citizens of health-related community services.
Control of Exoskeletons Inspired by Fictitious Variable Gain in Human

A human wearing an exoskeleton-type assistive device results in a parallel control system that includes two controllers: the human brain and a digital exoskeleton controller. Unknown and complicated characteristics of the brain dynamically interact with the exoskeleton controller which makes the controller design challenging. In this paper, the motion control system of a human is regarded as a feedback control loop that consists of a brain, muscles and the dynamics of the extended human body. The brain is modeled as a control algorithm amplified by a fictitious variable gain. The variable gain compensates for characteristic changes in the muscle and dynamics. If a human is physically impaired or subjected to demanding work, the exoskeleton should generate proper assistive forces, which is equivalent to increasing the variable gain. In this paper, a control algorithm that realizes the fictitious variable gain is designed and its performance and robustness are discussed for single-input single-output cases. The control algorithm is then verified by simulation results.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Market Segmentation and the Cost of Capital in a Domestic Market: Evidence from Municipal Bonds

We study the implications of market segmentation in a domestic setting, the US municipal bond market. A (state-level) segmentation of this market emerges from asymmetric tax exemption. Municipal bond investors are exempt from state and local taxes on bonds issued by their own state, but not on bonds issued by other states. We demonstrate that market segmentation imposes significant costs on both issuers and investors in the form of higher yields and higher costs of financial intermediation. Our results provide insight into some well-documented artifacts of the municipal bond market, such as high yields and the popularity of insurance.
Scattering for the wave equation on the Schwarzschild Metric

We study the wave equation for the Schwarzschild metric. Wave operators are constructed which yield solutions with given asymptotic behavior either at infinity or on the horizon. We prove asymptotic completeness for these wave operators.
Global seismicity of 2001: centroid-moment tensor solutions for 961 earthquakes

Abstract Centroid-moment tensor (CMT) solutions are presented for 961 earthquakes occurring during 2001. The solutions are obtained using corrections for aspherical Earth structure represented by the whole-mantle shear-velocity model SH8/U4L8 of Dziewonski and Woodward [A.M. Dziewonski, R.L. Woodward, Acoustic imaging at the planetary scale, in: H. Emert, H.-P. Harjes (Eds.), Acoustical Imaging, vol. 19, Plenum Press, New York, 1992, pp. 785–797]. The model of anelastic attenuation of Durek and Ekstrom [Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 86 (1996) 144] is used to predict the decay of the waveforms.
Experience with a pharmacy technician medication history program.

Purpose The implementation and outcomes of a pharmacy technician medication history program are described. Summary An interprofessional medication reconciliation team, led by a clinical pharmacist and a clinical nurse specialist, was charged with implementing a new electronic medication reconciliation system to improve compliance with medication reconciliation at discharge and capture compliance-linked reimbursement. The team recommended that the pharmacy department be allocated new pharmacy technician full-time-equivalent positions to assume ownership of the medication history process. Concurrent with the implementation of this program, a medication history standard was developed to define rules for documentation of what a patient reports he or she is actually taking. The standard requires a structured interview with the patient or caregiver and validation with outside sources as indicated to determine which medications to document in the medication history. The standard is based on four medication administration category rules: scheduled, as-needed, short-term, and discontinued medications. The medication history standard forms the core of the medication history technician training and accountability program. Pharmacy technicians are supervised by pharmacists, using a defined accountability plan based on a set of medical staff approved rules for what medications comprise a best possible medication history. Medication history accuracy and completeness rates have been consistently over 90% and rates of provider compliance with medication reconciliation rose from under 20% to 100% since program implementation. Conclusion A defined medication history based on a medication history standard served as an effective foundation for a pharmacy technician medication history program, which helped improve provider compliance with discharge medication reconciliation.
Quantification of the yeast transcriptome by single-molecule sequencing

We present single-molecule sequencing digital gene expression (smsDGE), a high-throughput, amplification-free method for accurate quantification of the full range of cellular polyadenylated RNA transcripts using a Helicos Genetic Analysis system. smsDGE involves a reverse-transcription and polyA-tailing sample preparation procedure followed by sequencing that generates a single read per transcript. We applied smsDGE to the transcriptome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain DBY746, using 6 of the available 50 channels in a single sequencing run, yielding on average 12 million aligned reads per channel. Using spiked-in RNA, accurate quantitative measurements were obtained over four orders of magnitude. High correlation was demonstrated across independent flow-cell channels, instrument runs and sample preparations. Transcript counting in smsDGE is highly efficient due to the representation of each transcript molecule by a single read. This efficiency, coupled with the high throughput enabled by the single-molecule sequencing platform, provides an alternative method for expression profiling.
Gender differences in the inflammatory response and survival following haemorrhage and subsequent sepsis.

Studies have shown gender dimorphism in cell-mediated immune responses following haemorrhage, with depressed responses in young males and maintained or enhanced responses in proestrus females. However, it remains unknown whether or not the sexually dimorphic immune response to haemorrhage provides any protection against a subsequent in vivo polymicrobial septic challenge. To study this, male and proestrus female C3H/HeN mice were subjected to haemorrhage (35+/-5 mmHg for 90 min followed by fluid resuscitation) or sham operation. Twenty-four hours thereafter, all mice were subjected to polymicrobial sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and survival was assessed over a 10 day period. Haemorrhage prior to CLP significantly increased mortality in males as compared to shams. In contrast, mortality in females following CLP was comparable between the sham and haemorrhage groups. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL-)6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and prostaglandin E(2)(PGE(2)) at 5 h after CLP were significantly increased in males subjected to prior haemorrhage. In contrast, plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in females did not increase under such conditions. PGE(2)levels were comparable in males and females following CLP, however prior haemorrhage significantly reduced PGE(2)levels in females, whereas no change was observed in males. Liver and splenic expression of cyclooxygenase-2 protein paralleled the changes in plasma PGE(2). Female sex hormones, therefore, appear to play an important role not only in maintaining immune function following haemorrhage, but also provide a survival advantage against subsequent septic challenge.
Analysis of left ventricular wall motion based on volumetric deformable models and MRI-SPAMM

We present a new approach for the analysis of the left ventricular shape and motion based on the development of a new class of volumetric deformable models. We estimate the deformation and complex motion of the left ventricle (LV) in terms of a few parameters that are functions and whose values vary locally across the LV. These parameters capture the radial and longitudinal contraction, the axial twisting, and the long-axis deformation. Using Lagrangian dynamics and finite-element theory, we convert these volumetric primitives into dynamic models that deform due to forces exerted by the datapoints. We present experiments where we used magnetic tagging (MRI-SPAMM) to acquire datapoints from the LV during systole. By applying our method to MRI-SPAMM datapoints, we were able to characterize the 3-D shape and motion of the LV both locally and globally, in a clinically useful way. In addition, based on the model parameters we were able to extract quantitative differences between normal and abnormal hearts and visualize them in a way that is useful to physicians.
Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction evaluated by Doppler echocardiography in patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract Left ventricular diastolic function relates primarily to the instantaneous diastolic pressurevolume relation. Abnormalities in diastolic function require evaluation of this relation by invasive techniques. Dopp ler echocardiography noninvasively records the flow velocity profile, which reflects left ventricular filling patterns 1 comparable to the parameters obtained from radionuclide 2 and angiographic studies. 3