cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services State Innovation Models Initiative and Social Risk Factors: Improved Diagnosis Among Hospitalized Adults With Diabetes.

Introduction Unaddressed social risks among hospitalized patients with chronic conditions contribute to costly complications and preventable hospitalizations. This study examines whether the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services State Innovation Models initiative, through payment and delivery system reforms, accelerates the diagnosis of social risk factors among hospitalized adults with diabetes. Methods Encounter-level data were from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases (2010–2015, N=5,040,456). Difference-in-difference logistic regression estimated the extent to which hospitalized adults with diabetes in 4 State Innovation Models states (Arkansas, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont) had increased odds of having a social risk factor diagnosed with an ICD-9 V code compared with hospitalized adults with diabetes in 4 comparison states (Arizona, Georgia, New Jersey, and New Mexico) 2 years after implementation. Data were analyzed between June and December 2019. Results Adults with diabetes who were hospitalized in State Innovation Models states had a 30% greater increase in the odds of having a V code documented after implementation than adults with diabetes who were hospitalized in comparison states (AOR=1.29, 95% CI=1.07, 1.56). However, V code use remained infrequent, with only 2.05% of encounters, on average, having any V codes on record in State Innovation Models states after implementation. Conclusions The State Innovation Models initiative slightly but significantly improved the diagnosis of social risks among hospitalized adults with diabetes. State-led delivery system and payment reform may help support movement of hospitals toward better recognition and management of social determinants of health.
Building the Payment System of the Future: How Central Banks Can Improve Payments to Enhance Financial Inclusion

This brief is part of the Central Bank of the Future Project (“CBOTF” or the “Project”), which is designed to identify ways that central banks can improve access to financial products and services for underserved communities. The Project engages with central bankers, regulators, futurists, financial institutions, FinTechs, consumer and community organizations, and other stakeholders to develop technologies, processes, and tools that enhance inclusion. The Project also works to find ways that businesses and nonprofits can support official sector efforts. One output is a series of working papers and policy briefs focused on specific topics. This working paper, our third, explores how central banks can design more inclusive payment systems. Payment systems are critical infrastructure that generate positive network externalities. The more people who use them, the better off everyone using them is. They allow households, businesses, governments, and nonprofits to clear and settle transactions. Consumers use payment systems when they swipe their credit or debit cards; homeowners use them when they write checks; and businesses use them when they wire money.
Precautionary Reasoning and Moral Theory

In the previous chapter, we explored decision-theoretic approaches to precautionary reasoning and found them wanting. While decision theory offers important insights into making individual and group choices involving risks and benefits, it does not provide use with adequate guidance for precautionary reasoning, because it lacks moral content. Decision theory can tell us how to make decisions, given our values, but it cannot tell us what those values should be or how to rank them. For insight into values, we need to look beyond decision theory toward moral theory.
Learning to Synthesize Cortical Morphological Changes using Graph Conditional Variational Autoencoder

Changes in brain morphology, such as cortical thinning are of great value for understanding the trajectory of brain aging and various neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, we employed a generative neural network variational autoencoder (VAE) that is conditional on age and is able to generate cortical thickness maps at various ages given an input cortical thickness map. To take into account the mesh topology in the model, we proposed a loss function based on weighted adjacency to integrate the surface topography defined as edge connections with the cortical thickness mapped as vertices. Compared to traditional conditional VAE that did not use the surface topological information, our method better predicted “future” cortical thickness maps, especially when the age gap became wider. Our model has the potential to predict the distinctive temporo-spatial pattern of individual cortical morphology in relation to aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
Validating the Use of a Quick-Read Glucometer to Assess the Glycemic Response to Short-Term Capture Stress in Two Species of Snake, Nerodia sipedon and Sistrurus miliarius

The vertebrate stress response involves the release of adrenal hormones which make stored energy available to respond to stressors. The ability to effectively mobilize and distribute glucose is an important component of successful stress coping mechanisms. While many studies of reptiles have examined the hormonal response to stress under diverse contexts, comparatively few studies have focused on the glycemic response. Here we analyze the glycemic response to short-term capture stress in two species of snake, the Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) and the Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius), across reproductive contexts using a FreeStyle Lite (FSL) glucometer. The FSL is a point-of-care glucometer that provides a fast, inexpensive, and efficient method to monitor glucose concentrations in human whole blood. However, despite increasing use in reptiles, no studies have thoroughly validated their use in snakes or other squamates. We used a traditional colorimetric glucose assay to validate results using the FSL on both fresh whole blood and stored plasma. Hyperglycemia was induced by short-term capture stress in both species. The hyperglycemic response did not vary by sex, reproductive condition, or energetic status (body condition index, BCI). However, baseline and stress-induced glucose was higher in male compared to non-reproductive female N. sipedon. In S. miliarius, the magnitude of the glycemic response was positively correlated with cloacal body temperature. Baseline glucose was below the limit of detection in many individuals of both species, which may limit the utility of the FSL and other handheld glucometers in studies that seek to describe baseline values. Glucose estimates were strongly correlated when comparing all methods, indicating that the FreeStyle Lite is a potentially valuable tool to effectively compare the glycemic response to experimental treatment or to track changes in the glycemic response of snakes over time. However, significant bias was observed when comparing the three methodologies, suggesting that caution should be used when comparing results from the FSL and other point-of-care glucometers to reference intervals generated using other methodologies.
Estimation of shrub willow leaf chlorophyll concentration across different growth stages using a hand-held chlorophyll meter to monitor plant health and production

Abstract Perennial shrub willow crops can simultaneously address environmental issues and produce biomass for biofuels, bioproducts and bioenergy. Chlorophyll is an essential biochemical property for characterizing plant health and growth and remote sensing techniques have been developed to quantify plant chlorophyll concentration. However, these techniques are highly dependent on the ability to obtain a large number of ground-based observations to train and validate the models. Given the species-specific and growth stage-dependent nature of leaf chlorophyll concentration (LCC), and the limited research about LCC estimation for shrub willow, we proposed a new model for quantifying shrub willow LCC from chlorophyll meter (CM) readings. Results indicated that there were statistically significant interaction effects in CM readings between cultivar and root age across willow growth stages. However, neither the cultivar, root age, nor their interaction were statistically significant predictor variables in a model for LCC, so separate response curves for different cultivars or root ages were not necessary. To consider changes in LCC across the growing season, we included growing degree days (GDD) as an additional predictor for estimating LCC from CM readings. The model including GDD performed better (R2 = 0.92, RMSE = 4.81 μg/cm2) than the model (R2 = 0.90, RMSE = 5.38 μg/cm2) using only CM readings. Compared to previous studies, this model reduced complexity and achieved more accurate predictions of seasonal LCC, thus providing a readily applicable approach for mapping willow LCC using remote sensing technologies.
Adaptive Rhetoric: A Biocultural Paradigm for the Study of Persuasion

The first body chapter describes a few aspects of the biocultural paradigm I have adopted in my research program, which includes information from both biological and cultural influences on behaviors like communication and persuasion. This type of inquiry requires a more contextualized approach than the more highly focused rhetorical treatises that put words and parts of speech under a microscope. Adaptive rhetoric is expansive, and reveals information at the broader population level that can then be compared to the microscopy of more traditional work in the discipline.
Globalization from above and below: Rejecting superficial multiculturalism and igniting anti-Korean sentiment in Japan:

Nike Japan’s distribution of a commercial included a message of superficial multiculturalism presented through the narratives of three Japanese girls – ethnic Japanese, “hafu,” and zainichi – who o...
The False Compass

The question answered in this chapter is, why does the world work in such an unexpected way? Why is it often easier to succeed without objectives? To expose the way that objectives hamper discovery, this chapter surveys scientific experiments, natural evolution, and technological innovation. The problem is that the precursors to a great achievement often do not resemble that achievement. However, pursuing objectives relies upon exactly there being a recognizable pattern of steps to the desired objective that pursuing objectives relies one. This disconnect between the structure of great accomplishments and how accomplishments are pursued leads to deception, when focusing too much on reaching an ambitious objective actually prevents its accomplishment. While deception implies that we cannot simply accomplish anything we desire through brute force, by examining how innovation actually happens we can adopt a more realistic and (ultimately more interesting) perspective on accomplishment. Successful innovation proceeds more smoothly not through attempts to muscle one’s way towards a particular discovery, but by collecting stepping stones with an open mind and investigating to where they lead without preconceived judgement.
Protecting Sensitive Information in Directory Services Using Virtual Directories

Directory services are commonly used to store information related to individuals, and often act as a source for security services, such as authentication and access control, in collaborative applications within/across organizations. Hence, there is an urgent need to protect the sensitive information they contain. Existing solutions offer minimal protection against insider attacks, a growing threat to both government and industry data services. In this paper we present a solution for data protection that leverages virtual directories and data encryption to provide a user-centric approach to data protection, delegation, and collaboration. A security architecture is presented, along with the discussion of the benefits and vulnerabilities of our approach. We also discuss a proof-of-concept implementation and performance testing results.
Effects of opioid narcotic drugs on energy reserves of skeletal muscle. I. Glycogen.

Abstract Morphine, at concentrations of 0·77 to 8 mM, did not significantly alter the rate of glucose uptake by diaphragm muscles from normal rats. At concentrations of 5 mM and higher, however, morphine reduced the glycogen content of diaphragm muscle. In isolated intact extensor digitorum longus and soleus (EDL + SOL)muscles of the rat, glucose uptake was likewise unaffected by morphine but the glycogen content was decreased. Of the narcotic drugs that were tested in vitro for glycogenolytic activity, methadone was the most potent, followed in order by meperidine, morphine and hydromorphone. After incubation in vitro , the glycogen content of diaphragm muscles from rats injected with a single dose of morphine was lower than that of muscles from corresponding control rats. Under identical experimental conditions, the glycogen content of diaphragm muscles from rats chronicall treated with increasing doses of morphine was essentially the same as that of muscles from corresponding control rats, suggesting that the sensitivity of the muscle glycogen system to morphine decreased during chronic morphine treatment. Tolerance was not observed in vitro where methadone had a greater glycogenolytic effect in the diaphragm muscles from rats chronically treated with morphine than in muscles from the control rats. Propranolol, in a concentration sufficient to block the glycogenolytic action of epinephrine in EDL + SOL muscles, did not block the glycogenolytic action of methadone. The activities of both phosphorylase and glycogen synthase were greatly depressed, while phosphoglucomutase activity was unchanged in muscles incubated with methadone. It is concluded that the glycogenolytic effect of methadone in skeletal muscle is not mediated through the release of catecholamines in the muscles, nor can it be explained by a differential action on the activities of the enzymes involved in the last stage of synthesis and the first stage of breakdown of muscle glycogen.
Pharmacokinetics of systemically administered tyrosine: a comparison of serum, brain tissue and in vivo microdialysate levels in the rat.

Tyrosine uptake has been reported to differ across brain regions. However, such studies have typically been conducted over brief intervals and in anesthetized rats; anesthesia itself affects amino acid transport across the blood-brain barrier. To address these concerns, serum, brain tissue and in vivo microdialysate tyrosine levels were compared for 0-3 h after administration of tyrosine [0.138-1.10 mmol/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.)] to groups of awake rats. Serum and brain tissue tyrosine levels increased linearly with respect to dose. Basal tissue tyrosine levels varied significantly across brain regions [medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), striatum, hypothalamus, and cerebellum], but the rate of tyrosine uptake was similar for hypothalamus, striatum and MPFC. For brain regions in which tyrosine levels in both microdialysate and tissue were assayed, namely MPFC and striatum, there was a high degree of correlation between tyrosine levels in tissue and in microdialysate. Increasing brain tyrosine levels had no effect on DA levels in MPFC microdialysate. We conclude that (i) regional differences in the response of dopamine neurons to systemic tyrosine administration cannot be attributed to pharmacokinetic factors; (ii) in vivo microdialysate provides an excellent index over time and across a wide range of tyrosine doses, of brain tissue tyrosine levels; and (iii) increases in brain tyrosine levels do not affect basal DA release in the MPFC.
Effect of endophyte type on carcass traits, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of beef cattle grazing tall fescue

Fourteen Hereford steers were used to compare carcass traits, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of beef from cattle grazing tall fescue infected with either wild-type (E+; n = 6) or novel, nil ergot alkaloid (AR542; n = 8) endophyte for 209 d. Average daily gain, live weight, and HCW were greater (P < 0.05) for AR542 cattle than for E+. No differences in LM color or pH were observed between AR542 and E+. Steaks from E+ cattle tended (P = 0.10) to have higher L* and b* than those from AR542 cattle at 0 d of display. Ground beef from E+ cattle also had higher (P < 0.05) L* than AR542 cattle, with no differences in a* or b* at 0 d of display. Color changes during display did not differ for both steaks and ground beef from E+ and AR542. Lipid oxidation levels increased (P < 0.05) during simulated retail display, but they did not differ between endophyte treatments. Adipose tissues from E+ cattle had a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of SFA, and a lower (P < 0.05) percentage of MUFA than adipose from AR542 cattle. Ground beef and i.m. fat had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of SFA, MUFA, and cis-9, trans-11 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid, and lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of PUFA and PUFA:SFA ratio than s.c. fat. The n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio did not differ among fat depots. Ergot-alkaloids were detected in s.c. adipose tissues, and alkaloid concentration was greater (P < 0.05) for E+ than AR542. Warner-Bratzler shear force values did not differ between endophyte types, but it decreased (P < 0.01) across the postmortem aging period. Conversely, sensory panel evaluation detected greater (P < 0.01) chewiness and lower (P < 0.05) juiciness for AR542 than for E+ steaks aged for 14 d. Although grazing cattle on tall fescue pastures infected with nil ergot alkaloid endophyte improved cattle performance, these results suggest that endophyte type has minor effects on carcass traits and meat quality of pasture-fed beef. Moreover, finishing cattle on tall fescue pastures showed the potential to enhance the fatty acid profile of beef from a human health perspective. Alkaloid concentration was greater (P < 0.05) in s.c. fat from E+ than AR542 (2.81 vs. 0.92 ppb; fresh-tissue basis). This is the first published report demonstrating the presence of alkaloids in beef tissues.
Una nova frontera del poder. El control psíquic

El objeto central del analisis consiste en la determinacion de la naturaleza politica de la psicotecnologia del control, como base para una reflexion mas general acerca de la funcion de la psicologia como agente y como aparato de poder. Se destacan en primer lugar ciertos elementos de racionalizacion psicosociologica de las relaciones de dominio-sumision aportados concretamente por Weber y Freud. Establecido este marco de referencia, se procede a la descripcion de las propuestas de planificacion del hombre futuro realizadas por Skinner y Delgado en base a los medios de control humano proporcionados por la ingenieria de la conducta y del cerebro. Las consideraciones finales inducen a percibir la urgencia de trasladar al ambito de la politica explicita la estrategia inherente a proyectos tecnologicos como los expuestos.
CIRIMS: Calibrated Infrared In situ Measurement System

There is a growing international consensus that sea surface temperature products derived from satellite-based infrared measurements should include ocean skin temperature. The skin temperature is most relevant to fluxes across the air-sea interface and it corresponds directly to the measured radiance. In order to achieve useful accuracy from a satellite-based measurement of skin temperature, widespread in situ skin temperature measurement will be necessary for operational calibration. A number of investigators have combined commercially available infrared thermometers with in situ calibration. The success achieved by these researchers has demonstrated the feasibility of developing an autonomous instrument that could be deployed on ships of opportunity to provide the coverage necessary for global validation of a satellite-derived skin temperature product. Here we report on the development of such an instrument that we call the Calibrated Infrared In situ Measurement System, or CIRIMS.
Control of Magnetic Levitation Systems With Reduced Steady-State Power Losses

In this paper, we address the problem of controlling a magnetic levitation system with reduced electric power losses. A general control/biasing strategy is proposed which introduces a bias flux in the nonlinear control law, function of the mechanical states. The bias flux ensures the power losses converge to zero as the mechanical states converge to zero and a singularity-free control, without affecting the closed-loop stability. General conditions on the functional form of the bias are provided along with a design example of the control/biasing strategy. An experimental study illustrates that the proposed time-varying-bias controller yields a stabilization performance comparable to the constant-bias version of the controller, but with significantly less ohmic power losses.
IL-33/ST2 promotes tissue mastocytosis under conditions of inflammation (CCR3P.219)

Mast cells (MC) are potent innate immune cells that accumulate in chronically inflamed tissues, where they have been implicated in multiple allergic and inflammatory diseases. MC express the IL-33 receptor ST2, and this new member of the IL-1 cytokine family is recognized as an important pathway both for direct MC activation and for priming MC to respond to other pro-inflammatory signals. However, IL-33 has no known role in tissue mastocytosis. Using primary MC cultured from human skin, we found that IL-33 did not alter MC proliferation but instead protected MC from apoptosis, principally through upregulation of the anti-apoptotic molecule BCLXL. Murine bone marrow-derived MC demonstrated a similar response to IL-33, dependent entirely upon ST2, allowing us to test the role of this biology in vivo. Mice lacking ST2 exhibited fewer peritoneal MC as well as reduced accumulation of MC in inflamed arthritic joints and helminth-infected intestine. Upon engraftment into the peritoneum, WT MC exhibited a clear, IL-33-mediated survival advantage over ST2-deficient MC, in particular after thioglycollate-induced peritonitis. Together, these data reveal a novel, cell-intrinsic role for the IL-33/ST2 axis in tissue mastocytosis, especially under conditions of local inflammation.
Spatial variability of seasonal extreme precipitation in the western United States

We examine the characteristics of 3 day total extreme precipitation in the western United States. Coherent seasonal spatial patterns of timing and magnitude are evident in the data, motivating a seasonally based analysis. Using a clustering method that is consistent with extreme value theory, we identify coherent regions for extremes that vary seasonally. Based on storm back trajectory analysis, we demonstrate unique moisture sources and dominant moisture pathways for each spatial region. In the winter the Pacific Ocean is the dominant moisture source across the west, but in other seasons the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of California, and the land surface over the midwestern U.S. play an important role. We find the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to not have a strong impact on dominant moisture delivery pathways or moisture sources. The frequency of extremes under ENSO is spatially coherent and seasonally dependent with certain regions tending to have more (less) frequent extreme events in El Nino (La Nina) conditions.
Interfacial Shear Calculation of Concrete Beams Strengthened with FRP Plate under Temperature and Creep Effect

Concrete beam reinforced with FRP plate has many advantages—high bearing capacity, light weight, fast construction progress, corrosion resistance, etc. The collaborative work between FRP and concrete is achieved through the binder, so the interface of them is the weak link. Under external loads, the interface of FRP-concrete will emerge inevitable internal force redistribution, and the FRP plate is a kind of resin material and its physical and mechanical properties will change with temperature and time. In this paper, using energy method, the differential equations of interfacial shear, meanwhile considering temperature and creep effect of FRP plate strengthening concrete beams were established. And the calculating formulas of interfacial shear under different loads were given.
Kierkegaard's critique of the bourgeois state

Kierkegaard recognized that the changes ushered in by the revolutions of 1848 would profoundly affect human existence in both its political and personal dimensions. At the political level he was concerned that the new forms of government would not be able to govern any more effectively than the previous forms. Loquacity would be substituted for policy. Then, too, the new forms of government encouraged confusion about the actual locus of power; the appearances and the reality of power did not conform. Also, the actual state represents ‘interests’, and as a result, justice is jeopardized. To be sure, compromise will be evident in such an actual state, but is governing possible in and through such conflictual arrangements? What is the relation of the press (media) to the public, and these in turn to politics?
Oscillatory Driven Cavity with an Air/Water Interface and an Insoluble Monolayer: Surface Viscosity Effects

Abstract Flow in a planar cavity bounded by stationary side walls, a flat gas/liquid interface covered by an insoluble monolayer, and driven by sinusoidal motion of the floor is examined numerically. Navier–Stokes computations with the Boussinesq–Scriven surface model are presented utilizing the equation-of-state measured for a vitamin K1 monolayer on the air/water interface. The results identify a range of initial surfactant concentration for which the surface velocity is sensitive to the surface viscosity B (sum of surface shear and dilatational viscosities) down to 10−2 surface Poise. Thus, the study suggests a practical method for determining surface viscosities consisting of the measurement of the motion of a tracer particle on the interface and comparisons with numerical computations at various values of B .
Orthogonal Column Latin Hypercubes and Their Application in Computer Experiments

Abstract Latin hypercubes have been frequently used in conducting computer experiments. In this paper, a class of orthogonal Latin hypercubes that preserves orthogonality among columns is proposed. Applying an orthogonal Latin hypercube design to a computer experiment benefits the data analysis in two ways. First, it retains the orthogonality of traditional experimental designs. The estimates of linear effects of all factors are uncorrelated not only with each other, but also with the estimates of all quadratic effects and bilinear interactions. Second, it can facilitate nonparametric fitting procedures, because one can select good space-filling designs within the class of orthogonal Latin hypercubes according to selection criteria.
Nonparametric estimation of conditional expectation

Abstract Denote the integer lattice points in the N-dimensional Euclidean space by Z N and assume that ( X i , Y i ) , i ∈ Z N is a mixing random field. Estimators of the conditional expectation r ( x ) = E [ Y i | X i = x ] by nearest neighbor methods are established and investigated. The main analytical result of this study is that, under general mixing assumptions, the estimators considered are asymptotically normal. Many difficulties arise since points in higher dimensional space N ⩾ 2 cannot be linearly ordered. Our result applies to many situations where parametric methods cannot be adopted with confidence.
Effects of Olisthodiscus luteus on the Growth and Abundance of Tintinnids

The effects of the red tide flagellate Olisthodiscus luteus Carter on the growth of two tintinnid species, Tintinnopsis lubulosoides Meunier and Favella sp. (Clap. & Lach.) Jorg., were measured in batch culture. T. tubulosoides and Favella sp. grew at rates equivalent to 1.2 (10°C) and 2.0 (20°C) population doublings per day, respectively, when offered nutritionally adequate phytoplankton species. The growth rates of both tintinnid species were reduced in the presence of 102–103O. luteus cells · ml-1 in multialgal treatments. Growth rate inhibition was proportionately greater at higher O. luteus densities. Lethal effects were observed for both tintinnid species at O. luteus concentrations of 5x103 cells · ml-1 in multi-algal treatments. T. tubulosoides mortality occurred at all O. luteus concentrations in unialgal culture. O. luteus-conditioned medium did not substantially inhibit tintinnid growth when combined with acceptable food species, suggesting that toxicity is induced by ingestion or direct contact with O. luteus cells, or by exposure to a short-lived exudate. In agreement with these results, an inverse relationship between O. luteus concentration and tintinnid abundance was observed in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, over a two year period. The small lorica diameter of the species apparently inhibited by these O. luteus blooms suggests a detrimental effect independent of cell ingestion. In addition to the absolute concentration of O. luteus cells, the availability of nutritionally adequate algal food may be an important factor determining the impact of O. luteus blooms on tintinnid populations.
Studies on the Mode of Action of Tomatine as a Fungitoxic Agent

Removal of 1 or more sugar residues from the α-tomatine molecule markedly decreased its fungitoxicity. While partial hydrolysis of α-tomatine did not greatly affect its surfactant properties, it did destroy the ability of this alkaloid to form a complex with cholesterol. Only unprotonated α-tomatine was capable of binding cholesterol; the protonated form did not. Since α-tomatine was far more toxic at a high pH than at a low pH, this suggests that the unprotonated alkaloid is the active form and that it acts by complexing with fungal sterols.
P21-activated kinase-1 phosphorylates and transactivates estrogen receptor-α and promotes hyperplasia in mammary epithelium

Stimulation of p21-activated kinase-1 (Pak1) induces cytoskeleton reorganization and signaling pathways in mammary cancer cells. Here, we show that inhibition of Pak1 kinase activity by a dominant-negative fragment or by short interference RNA markedly reduced the estrogen receptor-α (ER) transactivation functions. To understand the role of Pak1 in mammary glands, we developed a murine model expressing constitutively active Thr423 glutamic acid Pak1 driven by the β-lactoglobulin promoter. We show that mammary glands from these mice developed widespread hyperplasia associated with apocrine metaplasia and lobuloalveolar hyperdevelopment during lactation. Mammary tissues with active Pak1 also exhibited an increased activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and stimulated transactivation functions of the ER and expression of endogenous ER target genes. Furthermore, Pak1 directly phosphorylated the activation function-2 domain of the ER at the N-terminal residue Ser305, and its mutation to Ala (S305A) abolished the Pak1-mediated phosphorylation and transactivation functions of the ER, while its mutation to glutamic acid (S305E) promoted transactivation activity of ER. These findings reveal a novel role for the Pak1–ER pathway in promoting hyperplasia in mammary epithelium.
Effect of preparation parameters on the catalytic nature of potassium promoted CuCoCr higher alcohol catalysts

Abstract The catalytic activity and selectivity for synthesis gas conversion to higher alcohols over potassium-promoted copper-cobalt-chromium oxide catalysts have been studied as a function of preparation parameters. Specifically, the effects of (i) metal salts used as precursors, (ii) the amount of citric acid used as a “complexant”, (iii) the amoun calcination temperature have been studied. Alcohol selectivities as great as 70 wt.-% have been achieved where the C 2 and higher alcohols account for 50 wt.-% to 60 wt.-% of the alcohols produced. Special attention must be paid to calcination temperature and, to a lesser extent, the other parameters mentioned.
Interaction of the carbon-tin bond with beta positive charge

Abstract Participation of the CSn bond in the development of beta positive charge in aqueous trifluoroethanol does not depend on solvent nucleophilicity but does depend on SnCCX stereochemistry. These observations favor a hyperconjugative interaction and predict a phenomenal acceleration in the antiperiplanar arrangement.
Controlling prescription of benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines-including diazepam and triazolam-are among the most frequently prescribed drugs in the United States. They play important roles in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, panic disorder, and epilepsy (1). Recently, however, the therapeutic virtues of benzodiazepines have been overshadowed in both the lay and the professional media by concerns about adverse effects that may accompany their use, including physical dependence, functional impairment, and behavioral abnormalities (2-4). States are now beginning to respond to these concerns with new statutes aimed at controlling and monitoring the prescription of benzodiazepines. Whether special procedures are needed to prevent abuse and misuse of benzodiazepines is a matter of some controversy. Reviews of epidemiologic data suggest that few patients who are prescribed benzodiazepines for legitimate indications become abusers of the drugs (5). In household surveys, most persons who report benzodiazepine use appear to have taken the medications appropriately (6). Only a select portion of the population, who may have some propensity to abuse substances in
Neuregulin Inhibits Acetylcholine Receptor Aggregation in Myotubes

The high local concentration of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction results from their aggregation by the agrin/MuSK signaling pathway and their synthetic up-regulation by the neuregulin/ErbB pathway. Here, we show a novel role for the neuregulin/ErbB pathway, the inhibition of AChR aggregation on the muscle surface. Treatment of C2C12 myotubes with the neuregulin epidermal growth factor domain decreased the number of both spontaneous and agrin-induced AChR clusters, in part by increasing the rate of cluster disassembly. Upon cluster disassembly, AChRs were internalized into caveolae (as identified by caveolin-3). Time-lapse microscopy revealed that individual AChR clusters fragmented into puncta, and application of neuregulin accelerated the rate at which AChR clusters decreased in area without affecting the density of AChRs remaining in individual clusters (as measured by the fluorescence intensity/unit area). We propose that this novel action of neuregulin regulates synaptic competition at the developing neuromuscular junction.
Comparing the allocative efficiencies of hospitals

Abstract A new technique for comparing the performance of firms in controlling costs is introduced and applied to a sample of 60 hospitals. The multi-output, multi-input approach utilizes observed costs, process counts and non-controllable factors for a sample of hospitals to form peer groups to build allocative cost frontiers. The approach can be used to provide insights regarding conjectures about the relative efficiencies of various institutional types as well as the cost differentials associated with different levels of quality of care. The programming approach handles environmental factors such as case mix severity, the teaching mission of the institution, etc. Our illustrative results found an average of a 14% differential in the efficient cost between public and not-for-profits. Much better data is needed before any definitive findings can be stated, but the type of insights regarding the varying degree of separation of the cost frontiers for different levels of outputs is concretely illustrated.
Luminescent Fluorene-Based Bis-Pyrazolyl Aniline Ligand for Aluminum Detection

The design, synthesis, and photophysical properties of a new fluorene-based fluorescent chemosensor, 4-((E)-2-(2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-9,9-diethyl-9H-fluoren-7-yl)vinyl)-N,N-bis((3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)benzenamine (AXF-Al), is described for the detection of Al3+. AXF-Al exhibited absorption at 382 nm and strong fluorescence emission at 542 nm (fluorescence quantum yield, Φ F, of 0.80). The capture of Al3+ by the pyrazolyl aniline receptor resulted in nominal change in the linear absorption (372 nm) but a large hypsochromic shift of 161 nm in the fluorescence spectrum (542 to 433 nm, Φ F = 0.88), from which Al3+ was detected both ratiometrically and colorimetrically. The addition of other metal ions, namely Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg 2+ and Pb2+, produced only minimal changes in the optical properties of this probe. The emission band of this probe was also accessed by two-photon excitation in the near-IR, as two-photon absorption (2PA) is important for potential applications in two-photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) imaging. The 2PA cross section of the free fluorenyl ligand AXF-Al was 220 GM at 810 nm and 235 GM at 810 nm for the Al-ligand complex, practically useful properties for 2PFM.
Hematologic and Blood Biochemistry Monitoring During Methylphenidate Treatment in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: 2-Year, Open-Label Study Results

Objectives Patients receiving methylphenidate for the management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are recommended to receive periodic hematologic monitoring. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of methylphenidate treatment on blood biochemistry and hematologic values. Methods This study involved a detailed analysis of changes in hematologic and blood biochemistry values over the course of a 2-year study of once-daily OROS methylphenidate in otherwise healthy children aged 6 to 13 years with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Routine hematologic and blood biochemistry assessments were performed at baseline, at 6 and 12 months during study treatment, and at the end of the study. Results Of the 407 subjects enrolled in the study, 289 completed year 1, and 229 completed 21 of 24 months. No subject was excluded from entry into the study or discontinued from the study because of abnormalities of any of the blood chemistries evaluated. There were no clinically significant changes from baseline in mean values for hematologic or blood biochemistry parameters. For most values, the mean change in value over the course of the study was Conclusions These longer-term data suggest that chronic therapy with OROS methylphenidate has no clinically significant impact on laboratory values, challenging the necessity of routine hematologic monitoring in otherwise healthy children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder who are treated with methylphenidate.
Haikonen's Philosophy of Machine Consciousness

In his recent book, Consciousness and Robot Sentience (World Scienti c, 2012) Pentti Haikonen promises to tackle \the real problem of consciousness" (p. vii); a task worth applauding. He de nes this problem as the search for \a phenomenon, process or a system property that causes some neural activity to appear internally as subjective experience" (pp. 13, 14). According to Haikonen the problem consists of three issues:
Imaging transcription dynamics at endogenous genes in living Drosophila tissues

How transcription of individual genes is regulated in a single, intact, three-dimensionally organized cell nucleus remains mysterious. Recently, live cell imaging has become an essential tool to dissect the in vivo mechanisms of gene transcription. It not only examines functions of transcription factors at their gene targets within the chromatin context, but it also provides a non-disruptive approach for observing the dynamics of a transcription cycle in real time. However, the identification of any endogenous gene loci and their associated transcription factors remains technically difficult. Here, we describe the method of imaging the transcriptional dynamics of heat shock genes in Drosophila polytene chromosomes in living salivary gland tissues by multiphoton microscopy (MPM). This method has provided the experimental capability to visualize the assembly and dynamics of individual transcription factors and regulators and to dissect their functions at their endogenous gene targets in living cells.
The enzymic breakdown of lipids in potato tuber by phospholipid- and galactolipid-acyl hydrolase activities and by lipoxygenase.

Abstract Homogenization of potato tubers at 0° results in rapid enzymic hydrolysis of the endogenous phospholipids and galactolipids to produce free fatty acids and fatty acid hydroperoxides. The enzymes responsible for these effects have been identified as acyl hydrolases and lipoxygenase. Monogalactosyl diglyceride is particularly susceptible to hydrolysis and monogalactosyl monoglyceride was detected as an intermediate product. Acyl transferase activity was also associated with the acyl hydrolase action. Properties of the various enzyme activities are described; all are present mainly in the particle-free supernatant fraction and have acidic pH optima. Evidence is presented which indicates that free lipids are hydrolysed more readily than the lipids of lipoprotein membranes. The results are discussed with particular reference to the lipid composition and enzyme activities of subcellular organelles prepared from tissue homogenates.
Existence of traveling waves in the Stokes–Boussinesq system for reactive flows

Abstract We consider the Stokes–Boussinesq equations in a slanted (that is, not aligned with gravity's direction) cylinder of any dimension and with an arbitrary Rayleigh number. We prove the existence of a non-planar traveling wave solution, propagating at a constant speed, and satisfying the Dirichlet boundary condition in the velocity and the Neumann condition in the temperature.
The effects of organic phosphates on the oxygenation behavior of eel multiple hemoglobins

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) † and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the oxygenation behavior of the two major hemoglobins of the American eel, Antuilla rostrata , were determined. 2. 2. Both phosphates lower the oxygen affinities of the individual hemoglobins but the effect of GTP is greater than that of ATP. 3. 3. The allosteric effect of these phosphates is more pronounced with HbI than with HbII. 4. 4. Combinations of GTP and ATP at intraerythrocytic ocnentrations lower the oxygen affinities of the pigments to a greater extent than either phosphate alone. 5. 5. Sodium chloride decreases the affinity of HbI but increases the affinity of HbII. 6. 6. The interaction between these phosphates and NaCl in modulating the oxygenation behavior of the multiple hemoglobins of marine and fresh-water eels is discussed.
Finding Multiple Solutions to Elliptic PDE with Nonlinear Boundary Conditions

In this paper, in order to solve an elliptic partial differential equation with a nonlinear boundary condition for multiple solutions, the authors combine a minimax approach with a boundary integral-boundary element method, and identify a subspace and its special expression so that all numerical computation and analysis can be carried out more efficiently based on information of functions only on the boundary. Some mathematical justification of the new approach is established. An efficient and reliable local minimax-boundary element method is developed to numerically search for solutions. Details on implementation of the algorithm are also addressed. The existence and multiplicity of solutions to the problem are established under certain regular assumptions. Some conditions related to convergence of the algorithm and instability of solutions found by the algorithm are verified. To illustrated the method, numerical multiple solutions to some examples on domains with different geometry are displayed with their profile and contour plots.
Prednisolone-3,20-bisguanylhydrazone: binding in vitro to sodium-and-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase of guinea pig heart ventricular muscle.

Abstract The binding of prednisolone-3,20-bisguanylhydrazone (PBGH), a steroid derivative with a positive inotropic action, to crude guinea pig heart Na+,K+-ATPase preparations was studied in vitro using (3H)-labeled PBGH. The binding was assayed at 37°C in a solution containing 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM MgCl2 and 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) in the presence or absence of 5 mM ATP. Both ATP-dependent and -independent binding reached their binding plateau within 1 min. The resulting complexes had the half-life of less than 1 min. ATP-dependent binding (20–25% of the total binding) was promoted by Mg2+ and inhibited by K+. When ATP-dependent PBGH binding was estimated in the presence of 10 nM (3H)-PBGH, 0.1 ∼ 0.2 μM unlabeled PBGH produced a 50% inhibition of the labeled drug binding. ATP-dependent PBGH binding was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by ouabain but not by prednisolone. ATP-independent binding of (3H)-PBGH was inhibited by unlabeled PBGH. The concentration of unlabeled PBGH, however, needed to inhibit independent binding was significantly greater than that which produced a comparable inhibition of ATP-dependent binding. The ATP-independent PBGH binding was not inhibited by ouabain, prednisolone or l-arginine. These results suggest that PBGH binds to a phosphorylated form of Na+,K+-ATPase and thereby inhibits (3H)-ouabain binding and the enzyme activity.
The Effects of Synthetic α-Subunit Peptides on Thyrotropin Interaction with its Receptor

Synthetic peptides of the α-subunit of human glycoprotein hormones have been shown previously to inhibit binding of [125I]iodo-hCG to ovarian membranes, thus indicating the importance of the α-subunit in the structure-function relationships of the gonadotropic hormone. These same synthetic α-subunit peptides, the sequences of which are common to all human glycoprotein hormones, were found to inhibit the binding of [126I]iodo-TSH to human thyroid membrane preparations and FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells. The active portions of the subunit were represented in synthetic peptides α21–35, α31–45, α26–46, and α81–92, indicating that 2 separate sites within the α-subunit have binding activity for TSH. Peptides α26–46 and α31–45 were also found to potently inhibit the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by bovine TSH in TSH bioassay using FRTL-5 cells. Seven other synthetic peptides, including the remainder of the 92-amino acid sequence of the α-subunit, demonstrated little or no ability to inhibit binding of the ...
Friction Stir Welding Combined with Superplastic Forming for Monolithic Titanium Aircraft Structure: Influence of Post Welding Thermal Treatments on Weld Nugget Residual Stress

This paper includes a review of the manufacturing technologies related to the combination of friction stir welding (FSW) and superplastic forming (SPF) to fabricate large monolithic titanium structures for aircraft. The particular focus is on the post FSW residual stress measured on the weld nugget after thermal treatments and SPF forming.
We can eradicate the global scourge of tobacco.

Asia, Africa and Latin America are at particular risk of marketing efforts by tobacco companies, with children being the most vulnerable. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has now become legally binding in the countries that have adopted it. John Seffrin discusses the global measures designed to prevent tobacco companies gaining a stronghold in developing countries, and reiterates why the US needs to be at the forefront in implementing these measures.
Current understanding of congenital myasthenic syndromes

Investigation of congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMSs) disclosed a diverse array of molecular targets at the motor endplate. Clinical, electrophysiologic and morphologic studies paved the way for detecting CMS-related mutations in proteins such as the acetylcholine receptor, acetylcholinesterase, choline acetyltransferase, rapsyn, MuSK and Na(v)1.4. Analysis of electrophysiologic and biochemical properties of mutant proteins expressed in heterologous systems contributed crucially to defining the molecular consequences of the observed mutations and resulted in improved therapy of different CMSs. Recent crystallography studies of choline acetyltransferase and homology structural models of the acetylcholine receptor are providing further clues to how point mutations alter protein function.