cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What mathematical images are in a typical mathematics textbook? Implications for students with visual impairments

IntroductionVisually impaired students (that is, those who are blind or have low vision) have difficulty accessing curricular material in mathematical textbooks because many mathematics texts have ...
A culture of rent seeking

Tullock [J Dev Econ 67(2):455–470, 1967] introduced the concept of rent seeking and highlighted the social costs associated with collecting and lobbying for or against tariffs, investing in human and physical capital to facilitate or protect against theft, and expending resources to establish a monopoly. A large portion of the rent-seeking literature suggests how formal and informal institutions impact for rent-seeking activities. Culture also affects rent seeking. Communities can have a culture of rent seeking (CoRS), i.e., a perception shared by members of a society that having influence over political allocations is an important and potentially preferable source of private benefit than other avenues of pursuing economic gain. In this paper, we explore how culture affects the nature and level of rent seeking that a society pursues, and whether institutional shifts can strengthen or break down a CoRS.
Autism and the amygdala: commentary on Hewitson and coauthors (2010).

In their recent paper in this journal Hewitson and coauthors (2010) reported that exposing infant macaques to the standard US vaccine regimen resulted in increased amygdalae growth, based on neuroimaging results, in the exposed animals compared to control animals. The paper also reported the effects of vaccination on binding of opioids in the amygdala. This claim that vaccination led to increased amygdala volume has attracted considerable attention in the autism media. Unfortunately, there are several serious problems with the methods and analyses used in the study. Further, the results reported by the authors are directly contradicted by their own earlier published findings and the findings of other researchers. These problems render the conclusions drawn by Hewitson and coworkers invalid.
Thayerian Deference to Congress and Supreme Court Supermajority Rule

Over the past eight years, the Supreme Court has been unusually aggressive in its exercise of judicial review over federal statutes challenged on federalism grounds. Eleven times the Court has invalidated provisions in federal statutes after determining that Congress exceeded the scope of its limited regulatory authority; in ten of the eleven cases, the vote was five-to-four. Many scholars have recently considered ways in which Congress can either work within the new doctrinal constraints laid down by the Court, or circumvent those constraints entirely. In this Symposium Essay, I explore a more direct congressional mechanism for tempering the Court's aggressive review: imposition of a supermajority consensus requirement (say, six Justices rather than five) before the Court can invalidate a federal statute on federalism grounds. While virtually unheard-of today, this was a popular congressional proposal at earlier times in our history, especially during the Progressive Era. Indeed, two states that adopted a supermajority protocol during that period still operate under such a rule today. The notion was that such a supermajority requirement would institutionalize the prevailing view (then generally associated with James Bradley Thayer) that the Court shouldn't invalidate a federal statute unless it was perceived to be unconstitutional "beyond reasonable doubt." In this Essay I bracket questions regarding the constitutionality and logistical feasibility of such a proposal today, and simply use the supermajority concept as a heuristic lens through which to explore different ways of institutionalizing what today's Court would articulate more loosely as a "presumption of constitutionality." Drawing upon the Progressive Era debates, I try to offer new insights into the operation of such a presumption, as well as to remind us of an additional mechanism for consideration by those who would advocate beefing up this presumption in the federalism (or any other) context.
The Effects of Trans Isomerized Trilinolein on Plasma Lipids of Man

Double bonds in naturally occurring dietary fatty acids are in the cis configuration. The trans isomers of these acids, such as those appearing during hydrogenation of oils, differ markedly in their spatial configuration from the natural form (Pig- 1). Since we have been interested in the relationship between the configuration of dietary fatty acids and their effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in man (1, 2), we selected trans isomerized fat as a model to use in studies designed to determine whether the lipid-lowering effect of unsaturated fats is related to their configuration or whether unsaturation per se produces the observed effect.
Is a Reduction in Access to Prescription Opioids the Cure for the Current Opioid Crisis

The article explores whether or not a reduction in access to prescription opioids could be a cure for the current opioid crisis in the U.S. Particular focus is given to how users often transition to using other drugs including heroin and fentanyl, which can result in overdose. Additional topics include access points for PODs (Prescription Opioid Drugs), complications from injecting and snorting opioids and medication for addiction treatment.
Is outcome of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in Parkinson disease predictable

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an established treatment for advanced Parkinson disease (PD) with severe motor fluctuations.1,2 More recently, in a randomized controlled trial of patients with PD with early fluctuating impairment (motor fluctuation onset <3 years), STN DBS was more effective than best medical treatment in improving quality of life (QoL) 2 years after operation.3 Nevertheless, when considering a relatively invasive and costly intervention, the balance between benefits and risks should be carefully weighed. Clinical factors that might be predictive of better outcome after DBS would be helpful in this regard.
Chemical Durability and Dissolution Kinetics of Iodoapatite in Aqueous Solutions

Understanding the long-term release of radionuclides from nuclear waste to the environment is critical for public acceptance and sustainability of nuclear energy. Iodoapatite, a synthetic material ...
A multi-method study of social ties and crowdfunding success: Opening the black box to get the cash inside

Abstract We conducted one field experiment and three controlled experiments to explore how to increase crowdfunding success, focusing on the relationship between individuals soliciting funds and potential contributors. Specifically, we examined how social closeness, contact frequency and trust influenced contribution likelihood and investigated the mediating effects of obligation, fear of loss of relationship and happiness. Finally, we tested whether requesting higher contribution amounts increased the average dollars contributed. We found that closeness and frequency, but not trust, increased the contribution likelihood and that feelings of obligation and the fear of loss, but not happiness, mediated the relationship. Requesting higher contribution amounts increased a person's average contribution.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the PROMIS Pediatric Pain Intensity Measure in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain

Abstract The goal of the current study was to enhance the measurement of the pediatric chronic pain experience through a methodologically rigorous approach. This paper outlines the development and initial validation of a pain intensity measure for pediatric patients with chronic pain using PROMIS® methodology. Measure development incorporated feedback from children with painful conditions. Based on input from pediatric participants and content experts, four candidate items assessing pain intensity were included for large scale testing. Children completed self-report items pertaining to their pain experience that were developed as part of a larger pool of new candidate PROMIS® pediatric pain domain items as well as measures of pain interference, depressive symptoms, fatigue, pain behavior, pain intensity, and pain catastrophizing. The final sample for the large scale testing included N = 442 pediatric patients between the ages 8 to 18 years (Mean age = 13.54, SD = 2.78; 71.27% female) experiencing chronic pain. Psychometric analysis resulted in a final measure that included three items with evidence of reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.82) and convergent validity. The Likert format of the response options may be preferable to the traditional numeric rating scale for use in pediatric populations who experience chronic pain based on patients’ feedback, which was directly utilized in designing the scale. Further, the inclusion of fewer and clinically meaningful response options should reduce ambiguity for young respondents. Perspective: We have developed and evaluated a clinically sensitive and psychometrically precise 3-item pain intensity measure with Likert-type responses for self-report use among children and adolescents ages 8-18 with chronic pain. Development of the item content and response options included input from children and adolescents with chronic pain. The development of pain intensity items with pediatric appropriate language, and labeled, fewer response options to yield maximal clinically meaningful information improves the precision of pain intensity measurement in children.
Adversity History Predicts Self-Reported Autonomic Reactivity and Mental Health in US Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The spread of the COVID-19 virus presents an unprecedented event that rapidly introduced widespread life threat, economic destabilization, and social isolation. The human nervous system is tuned to detect safety and danger, integrating body and brain responses via the autonomic nervous system. Shifts in brain-body states toward danger responses can compromise mental health. For those who have experienced prior potentially traumatic events, the autonomic threat response system may be sensitive to new dangers and these threat responses may mediate the association between prior adversity and current mental health. Method: The present study collected survey data from adult U.S. residents (n = 1,666; 68% female; Age M = 46.24, SD = 15.14) recruited through websites, mailing lists, social media, and demographically-targeted sampling collected between March and May 2020. Participants reported on their adversity history, subjective experiences of autonomic reactivity, PTSD and depression symptoms, and intensity of worry related to the COVID-19 pandemic using a combination of standardized questionnaires and questions developed for the study. Formal mediation testing was conducted using path analysis and structural equation modeling. Results: Respondents with prior adversities reported higher levels of destabilized autonomic reactivity, PTSD and depression symptoms, and worry related to COVID-19. Autonomic reactivity mediated the relation between adversity and all mental health variables (standardized indirect effect range for unadjusted models: 0.212-0.340; covariate-adjusted model: 0.183-0.301). Discussion: The data highlight the important role of autonomic regulation as an intervening variable in mediating the impact of adversity on mental health. Because of the important role that autonomic function plays in the expression of mental health vulnerability, brain-body oriented therapies that promote threat response reduction should be investigated as possible therapeutic targets.
The microwave spectrum and molecular structure of the gas-phase heterodimer formed between argon and glycidol

Abstract The microwave rotational spectrum of the gas-phase heterodimer formed between glycidol and the argon atom is measured from 5.6 to 18.1 GHz. Despite the existence of two low energy conformers for the glycidol molecule, the spectrum of only one argon-glycidol complex is observed, corresponding to the global minimum energy structure. Higher energy isomers, and indeed less abundant isotopologues of the observed species, are presumably not produced with sufficient number density to be detected under the conditions of the experiment. The spectroscopic constants obtained from the analysis of the spectrum are combined with ab initio quantum chemistry predictions for the dipole moment components to determine the structure of the lowest energy arrangement for argon-glycidol. This structure is compared with those previously observed for the argon complexes of analogous fluoromethyloxirane molecules.
Exploring pharmacogenetics of paclitaxel- and docetaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy by evaluating the direct pharmacogenetic-pharmacokinetic and pharmacokinetic-neuropathy relationships.

Introduction: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is an adverse effect of several classes of chemotherapy including the taxanes. Predictive PN biomarkers could inform individualized taxane treatment to redu...
Inconsistencies in English Learner Identification: An Inventory of How Home Language Surveys Across U.S. States Screen Multilingual Students:

Home Language Surveys (HLS) are widely used by states as an initial screening tool to determine whether students should receive English as a Second Language (ESL) services. Parents/guardians are as...
Alleloscope: Integrative single cell analysis of allele-specific copy number alterations and chromatin accessibility in cancer

Abstract Cancer progression is driven by both somatic copy number aberrations (CNAs) and chromatin remodeling, yet little is known about the interplay between these two classes of events in shaping the clonal diversity of cancers. We present Alleloscope, a method for allele-specific copy number estimation that can be applied to single cell DNA and ATAC sequencing data, either separately or in combination. This approach allows for integrative multi-omic analysis of allele-specific copy number and chromatin accessibility on the same cell. On scDNA-seq data from gastric, colorectal, and breast cancer samples, with extensive validation using matched linked-read sequencing, Alleloscope finds pervasive occurrence of highly complex, multi-allelic copy number aberrations, where cells that carry varying allelic configurations adding to the same total copy number co-evolve within a tumor. The contributions of such allele-specific events to intratumor heterogeneity have been under-reported and under-studied due to the lack of methods for their detection. On scATAC-seq from two basal cell carcinoma samples and a gastric cancer cell line, Alleloscope detects multi-allelic copy number events and copy neutral loss-of-heterozygosity, enabling the dissection of the contributions of chromosomal instability and chromatin remodeling in tumor evolution.
De lo efímero a lo ético: Diálogo entre Don Quijote de la Mancha, La vida es sueño y Groundhog Day

Lo tenue de la separacion entre la realidad y el sueno es una preocupacion constante del barroco iberoamericano, como se puede ver en obras como Don Quijote de la Mancha (1605 y 1615) y La vida es sueno (1635). El tema constituye, sin embargo, una constante tambien en expresiones artisticas de otras eras, de otras esferas culturales y de otros generos y registros, como por ejemplo en la ya clasica pelicula comica norteamericana Groundhog Day, dirigida por Harold Ramis y estrenada en 1993. En este ensayo, estas tres obras aparentemente disimiles son puestas en dialogo para trazar momentos en los que la conciencia de lo efimero, asi como del caracter onirico de sus experiencias, lleva a los protagonistas de estas ficciones a una transformacion etica que afecta tambien sus practicas y sus convicciones en el mundo considerado como “real”.
Role of Exosomes in Dermal Wound Healing: A Systematic Review

Cell-based therapy imparts its therapeutic effects through soluble GFs and vesicular bodies such as exosomes. A systematic review with a meta-analysis of preclinical studies was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the modified Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable guidelines to identify exosomes as an archetype biological therapy for dermal wound healing and to provide guidelines for the concentrations to be used in preclinical studies. A total of 51 rodent studies were included in the systematic review and 9 were included in the meta-analysis section. Three independent reviewers cross-screened eligibility and selected studies for quality assessment from 3,064 published studies on exosomes and wound healing. The mean quality scores for all studies were 5.08 ± 0.752 and 5.11 ± 1.13 for systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. Exosome effects were reported to have the highest efficacy at 7 days (OR = 1.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.69‒2.95) than at 14 days (OR = 2.29, 95% confidence interval = 0.01‒4.56) after administration. Exosomes were reported to regulate all phases of skin wound healing, mostly by the actions of circulating microRNA. The outcome of this review may be used to guide preclinical and clinical studies on the role of exosomes in wound healing.
Les Patriotes bas-canadiens déportés en 1839. La perception des habitants de la Nouvelle-Galles du Sud

Le present texte se penche sur l’accueil donne en la Nouvelle-Galles du Sud aux Patriotes bas-canadiens exiles. Il est decoupe en cinq sections. La premiere decrit l’impression favorable que firent les detenus bas-canadiens au moment de leur arrivee en Nouvelle-Galles du Sud. La deuxieme met en relief comment le statut de prisonnier politique que certains ont voulu leur attribuer a constitue un des principaux facteurs ayant nourri le sentiment de sympathie dont ils furent entoures. Tres rapidement, comme le montre la troisieme partie, les detenus bas-canadiens ont recu des appuis importants, non seulement de la part de journalistes et de citoyens gagnes a leur cause, mais aussi de la part de la hierarchie catholique et des autorites coloniales. La quatrieme partie insiste sur les comportements juges admirables des exiles bas-canadiens pendant leur sejour en terre etrangere. On ne peut donc s’etonner, comme le rappelle la cinquieme et derniere section, qu’ils aient obtenu un pardon relativement rapide. Ils etaient, croyait-on, des « detenus exemplaires ». En tout et partout, le present contribue a l’etude transnationale des Rebellions et, plus generalement, a l’histoire des relations ethniques et politiques a l’echelle de l’Empire britannique.
Chemical Vapor Deposition of Single Crystal β-SiC

Single crystal films of β-SiC were grown on vicinal (001)Si substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). This paper describes the following developments in this CVD process. Silicon substrates whose surfaces were tilted from the (001) plane by only 0.5° were effective in producing β-SiC films that were free of antiphase disorder. In other experiments, it was found that hydrogen reacts with both the SiC coating on the graphite susceptor and the β-SiC film on the Si substrate. This reaction can cause the formation of Si droplet-like islands on the β-SiC film. The quality of the susceptor SiC coating can have a significant effect on the electrical properties of the β-SiC film. It is argued that the process chemistry and the flow conditions are important factors in the β-SiC film quality.
Adaptive control of rigid-link electrically-driven robots

In this paper, we combine the approaches presented previously by us (1991, 1992) to design an adaptive controller for rigid-link electrically-driven (RLED) robot manipulators. With the proposed controller, we prove that the link position tracking error is globally asymptotically stable in spite of parametric uncertainty and the presence of electrical motor dynamics. >
Oligomerization and the Affinity of Maize Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase for Its Substrate

When two different forms of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from maize (Zea mays L.) leaves are present in an assay it is possible to estimate the ratio of Vmax to Km (V/K) for the two forms separately. This measure of the binding of the substrate by the enzyme permits evaluation of the effects of various treatments on the relative substrate-binding velocity of the enzyme. PEPC diluted 1/20 is present in a mixture of a tetrameric form with a high affinity for phosphoenolpyruvate and a dimeric form with a low affinity (M.-X. Wu, C.R. Meyer, K.O. Willeford, R.T. Wedding [1990] Arch Biochem Biophys 281: 324-329). Malate at 5 mM reduced (V/K)1,[mdash]the V/K of the probable tetrameric form[mdash]almost to zero, but reduced (V/K)2[mdash]the V/K of the probable dimer[mdash]by only about 80%. Glucose-6-phosphate (Glc-6-P) at 5 mM increased (V/K)1 to 155% of the control but had no effect on (V/K)2. Glycerol (20%) alone increased both V/Ks, and its effects are additive to the Glc-6-P effects, implying different mechanisms for activation by Glc-6-P and glycerol.
The cognitive work of metaphor and analogy in scientific practice

In this paper I consider how contemporary research from cognitive science and philosophy of science reinforce and can be used to articulate further Mary Hesse’s project of a “family resemblance research program” for analyzing scientific change. After briefly discussing Hesse’s insights about the metaphorical nature of scientific language, the analysis shifts the discussion to the current philosophical focus on models and on scientific practices, rather than language. Using cases drawn from historical and ethnographic research on scientific practices, I argue for the centrality of a family resemblance notion for capturing the dynamics of concept representation and of analogy for model-based reasoning processes in concept formation and problem solving more broadly.
Genetic Information, Legal, Regulating Genetic Services

Introduction Public Health Role Assurance of Quality Genetic Services Licensure Public Education Primary Care Professional Certification Funding Licensure Scope of Personnel Licensure Facilities Licensure Federal and State Licensing Responsibilities Licensure Considerations Legislation and Regulations Technology Assessment Federal Role State Role Private Sector Problems with Legislation and Regulation Keywords: genetics; legal issues
Antipneumococcal activities of levofloxacin and clarithromycin as determined by agar dilution, microdilution, E-test, and disk diffusion methodologies.

The activities of levofloxacin and clarithromycin against 199 penicillin- and macrolide-susceptible and -resistant pneumococci were tested by agar and microdilution methods in air and by disk diffusion and E-test methods in air and CO 2 . For levofloxacin, ≥99.0% of strains were susceptible at ≤2.0 μg/ml with zone diameters of ≥17 mm, regardless of incubation in air or CO 2 . Although zone sizes were smaller and E-test MICs were higher for clarithromycin in CO 2 than those in air, category differences were minor, and susceptibility rates for clarithromycin were similar to those obtained by agar and microdilution in air (range, 76.9 to 80.9% by all methods). For clarithromycin, adjustment of breakpoints based upon distribution of results resulted in susceptibility rates which were similar by all methods (75.8 to 76.9% susceptible, 0 to 1.5% intermediate, 22.6 to 23.1% resistant). Minor discrepancies were obtained with levofloxacin for one strain (0.5%) by microdilution and two strains (1.0%) by disk diffusion in CO 2 . For clarithromycin, minor discrepancies were found in three strains (1.5%) by microdilution, seven strains (3.5%) by agar dilution, four strains (2.0%) by E-test in air, six strains (3.0%) by disk diffusion in air, and five strains (2.5%) by disk diffusion in CO 2 . Major discrepancies occurred with levofloxacin in one strain (0.5%) by microdilution but were not found with clarithromycin. Very major discrepancies were not seen with levofloxacin, but occurred with clarithromycin in five strains (2.5%) by microdilution, three strains (1.5%) by agar dilution, two strains (1.0%) by E-test in air, eight strains (4.0%) by disk diffusion in air, and one strain (0.5%) by disk diffusion in CO 2 .
Assessing the effect of varying sequence length on DNA barcoding of fungi.

DNA barcoding shows enormous promise for the rapid identification of organisms at the species level. There has been much recent debate, however, about the need for longer barcode sequences, especially when these sequences are used to construct molecular phylogenies. Here, we have analysed a set of fungal mitochondrial sequences — of various lengths — and we have monitored the effect of reducing sequence length on the utility of the data for both species identification and phylogenetic reconstruction. Our results demonstrate that reducing sequence length has a profound effect on the accuracy of resulting phylogenetic trees, but surprisingly short sequences still yield accurate species identifications. We conclude that the standard short barcode sequences (∼600 bp) are not suitable for inferring accurate phylogenetic relationships, but they are sufficient for species identification among the fungi.
Subjective logic with uncertain partial observations

Subjective logic (SL) is an effective tool to manage and update beliefs over a set of mutually exclusive assertions. The method to update subjective beliefs from direct observations of assertions is well understood. Recent work has incorporated the SL framework to derive the belief update equations for partial observations where the measurements are only statistically related to the assertions. This work further expands the notion of SL to consider uncertainty in the underlying statistical relationship between measurements and assertions. In other words, new methods are derived for SL that incorporate uncertainty in the reported likelihood of the assertions. Simulations demonstrate the utility of the new likelihood uncertainty aware belief update methods.
Primary anterior congenital dislocation of the hip.

Primary anterior congenital dislocation of the hip does exist as a true clinical entity. The findings are such that it can be accurately differentiated from the more common posterior dislocations or the simple upward subluxations. Each of the ten cases reported has presented the following cardinal characteristics: 1. Lumbar lordosis is absent. 2. There is less shortening in such individuals than is usually seen in the other two types. 3. The buttock on the affected side is flatter than normal. 4. A bulge is present anteriorly just below the anterior superior spine, marking the position of the femoral head, which can often be outlined visually. 5. The femoral head can be felt pointing directly forward just below the anterior superior spine. 6. Lateral roentgenograms of the pelvis reveal a true anterior position. 7. All anterior dislocations have recurred following closed reduction, even when preceded by preliminary skeletal traction. The treatment now being used in these cases consists of preliminary skeletal traction followed by attempted closed reduction; if this is successful, the torsion is corrected by supracondylar osteotomy. In our experience, however, the anterior dislocations have invariably recurred after weight-bearing was instituted. Preliminary skeletal traction is again used, and, at open operation, an attempt is made to reduce the femoral head, although this is usually impossible. In either instance, a wide shelf of bone is placed extracapsularly above the femoral head along the superior rim of the acetabulum, extending forward to include the anterior superior spine. In this way adequate stability is assured even though reduction is not possible or does not persist. Results in these cases have been entirely satisfactory up to the present time, although no case has been followed longer than one year after removal of the final plaster.
Functional connectivity hubs in the human brain

Brain networks appear to have few and well localized regions with high functional connectivity density (hubs) for fast integration of neural processing, and their dysfunction could contribute to neuropsychiatric diseases. However the variability in the distribution of these brain hubs is unknown due in part to the overwhelming computational demands associated to their localization. Recently we developed a fast algorithm to map the local functional connectivity density (lFCD). Here we extend our method to map the global density (gFDC) taking advantage of parallel computing. We mapped the gFCD in the brain of 1031 subjects from the 1000 Functional Connectomes project and show that the strongest hubs are located in regions of the default mode network (DMN) and in sensory cortices, whereas subcortical regions exhibited the weakest hubs. The strongest hubs were consistently located in ventral precuneus/cingulate gyrus (previously identified by other analytical methods including lFCD) and in primary visual cortex (BA 17/18), which highlights their centrality to resting connectivity networks. In contrast and after rescaling, hubs in prefrontal regions had lower gFCD than lFCD, which suggests that their local functional connectivity (as opposed to long-range connectivity) prevails in the resting state. The power scaling of the probability distribution of gFCD hubs (as for lFCD) was consistent across research centers further corroborating the “scale-free” topology of brain networks. Within and between-subject variability for gFCD were twice than that for lFCD (20% vs. 12% and 84% vs. 34%, respectively) suggesting that gFCD is more sensitive to individual differences in functional connectivity.
More on aggregating multiple indicators into a single index for sustainability analyses

Sustainability analyses of systems are successful when one can ascertain unambiguous overall superiority of a state of a system compared to alternative states. These alternative states can be system conditions over time intervals, or alternative products or processes for the same function or market application. In such analyses, indicators or metrics that satisfactorily characterize the system can be used to obtain an aggregate index for easy decision making. Previously, the geometric mean of the ratios of the applied indicators was demonstrated to be useful in showing superior or inferior status of any specific state of the system compared to a chosen reference state. This multidimensional index D, in a pairwise comparison, however, does not work if any indicator can assume the value of zero, infinity, or negative numbers. The present work shows that by shifting the multidimensional reference point, this difficulty can be easily avoided. In addition, this technique of shifting the reference point also has been shown to work when the standard multidimensional Euclidean distance, i.e., the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences of the indicator values, appropriately normalized, is used to differentiate among competing alternatives for determining comparative sustainability. Two sets of data, one on fender designs for automobiles, and the other on alternate means of treating automotive shredder residues, were used to illustrate the application of the indicator integration.
Massive osteolysis with histologic features of eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis

Background Massive osteolysis (MO) is a rare destructive process of unknown etiology, first described by Gorham and Stout in 1954. This condition is exceedingly rare with approximately 150 cases described in the literature and 20% involving the jaws and skull. The disease is characterized by a proliferation of thin-walled vasculature channels and inflammation with regional osteolysis. Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a newly described entity also of unknown etiology. Previously reported cases of EAF have been restricted to the nose and upper airway tract. The histology of EAF is characterized by a perivascular fibrosis and associated tissue eosinophilia. A 16-year-old girl with MO affecting the right mandible and bilateral maxilla and histologic features of EAF is described. Objective We attempt to determine whether similarities exist between MO and EAF and if these 2 entities can be distinguished based on the clinical, radiographic, or histopathologic features. Study design A comprehensive search of the Medline database from 1966 through 2003 and a review of the reference lists of relevant articles of MO and EAF formed the basis of this study. These data were compared to the present case of MO with histologic features of EAF. Results The case report has clinical and radiographic features of MO. The process was progressive, with uncontrolled osteolysis despite aggressive surgery and radiation therapy. The histologic features identified are comparable to those described for EAF. However our literature review could not identify clinical and radiographic similarities between this case and those of EAF reported in the literature. Conclusion The clinical and radiographic features of this case are consistent with a diagnosis of MO, yet the histopathology is more typical of EAF. The relationship between these 2 poorly understood conditions, if any, remains obscure.
Independent modulation of contractile performance by cardiac troponin I Ser43 and Ser45 in the dynamic sarcomere.

Abstract Protein kinase C (PKC) targets cardiac troponin I (cTnI) S43/45 for phosphorylation in addition to other residues. During heart failure, cTnI S43/45 phosphorylation is elevated, and yet there is ongoing debate about its functional role due, in part, to the emergence of complex phenotypes in animal models. The individual functional influences of phosphorylated S43 and S45 also are not yet known. The present study utilizes viral gene transfer of cTnI with phosphomimetic S43D and/or S45D substitutions to evaluate their individual and combined influences on function in intact adult cardiac myocytes. Partial replacement (≤ 40%) with either cTnIS43D or cTnIS45D reduced the amplitude of contraction, and cTnIS45D slowed contraction and relaxation rates, while there were no significant changes in function with cTnIS43/45D. More extensive replacement (≥ 70%) with cTnIS43D, cTnIS45D, and cTnIS43/45D each reduced the amplitude of contraction. Additional experiments also showed cTnIS45D reduced myofilament Ca2 + sensitivity of tension. At the same time, shortening rates returned toward control values with cTnIS45D and the later stages of relaxation also became accelerated in myocytes expressing cTnIS43D and/or S45D. Further studies demonstrated this behavior coincided with adaptive changes in myofilament protein phosphorylation. Taken together, the results observed in myocytes expressing cTnIS43D and/or S45D suggest these 2 residues reduce function via independent mechanism(s). The changes in function associated with the onset of adaptive myofilament signaling suggest the sarcomere is capable of fine tuning PKC-mediated cTnIS43/45 phosphorylation and contractile performance. This modulatory behavior also provides insight into divergent phenotypes reported in animal models with cTnI S43/45 phosphomimetic substitutions.
Invisible axion in a Randall-Sundrum universe

We study the problem of integrating an invisible axion into the Randall-Sundrum scenario as an example of how to generate new energy scales between the extremes of the Planck mass and the electroweak scale. In this scenario, the axion corresponds to the phase of a complex bulk scalar field. We show how to generate an intermediate energy scale by including a third brane in the scenario. We discuss the stabilization of this brane in detail to demonstrate that no additional fine tunings arise.
Dopaminergic regulation of striatonigral tachykinin and dynorphin gene expression: a study with the dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR-12909.

Abstract The present study examined the modulatory role of dopamine (DA) on striatonigral preprotachykinin (PPT) and prodynorphin (PD) gene expression, employing the DA uptake inhibitor, GBR-12909 (GBR), as a tool. The striatal and nigral levels of tachykinin (substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and dynorphin (dynorphin A(1–8) (DYN)) peptides were determined by radioimmunoassays. The abundance of mRNAs in the striatum was quantified by Northern blot analysis. The rate of transcription of PPT and PD genes in the striatum was measured by transcription run-on assays. A regimen of repeated administration of GBR (20 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 1–4 days) to female Sprague-Dawley rats increased striatal and nigral SP, NKA, and DYN peptide levels. The increased peptide levels were associated with increases in the abundance of PD mRNA and PPT mRNA and increases in the rate of transcription of PD and PPT genes in the striatum, suggesting a GBR-induced activation of the striatonigral tachykinin and dynorphin neurons. Dopaminergic denervation with 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) blocked the GBR-induced increases in SP and DYN and PPT and PD mRNAs. The concurrent administration of the D1 DA antagonist, SCH-23390, blocked the GBR-induced increases in SP, NKA and PPT mRNA but failed to affect DYN or PD mRNA levels; the concurrent administration of the D2 DA antagonist, spiperone, blocked the GBR-induced increases in SP, NKA and PPT mRNA and also DYN and PD mRNA. The study reveals that repeated administration of GBR enhances the levels of tachykinin and dynorphin peptides in striatonigral neurons by a stimulus-transcription-biosynthesis coupling mechanism. The GBR-induced effects are dependent on the integrity of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and the presence of D1 and/or D2 DA receptors.
Controlling Adsorption of Polymers at Polymer-Modified Surfaces

Monte Carlo simulation is used to study the adsorption of diblock copolymers and homopolymers on bare surfaces and surfaces modified by end-grafted polymers at densities well below the brush limit. Monomer distribution profiles for the adsorbed polymer are used to compute the surface excess (Γexc). The competitive adsorption of asymmetric diblock polymers on bare surfaces is studied first, in order to compare with experimental results and to test the validity of our method. Γexc values can be used to obtain the adsorption isotherm, which are fit to a Langmuir model in order to estimate the maximum surface excess, Γexcmax, as a function of end-grafted polymer coverage and molecular weight. Competitive adsorption of different molecular weight polymers is simulated and the relative adsorbed amounts correlate well with Γexcmax for the individual polymer. We find that the adsorption of symmetric diblock polymers is very similar to that of homopolymers. Surfaces modified by end-grafting mixtures of two differen...
Deglycosylation of a bifunctional lutropin- follitropin agonist reduced its follitropin activity more than its lutropin activity

Abstract Objective: To design a drug that blocks the gonadal actions of lutropins and follitropins. Design: Controlled in vitro study. Setting: Academic laboratory. Patient(s): None. Intervention(s): We removed three glycosylation signals from an hCG-hFSH chimera known to have high affinity for LH and FSH receptors, expecting this would create a bifunctional antagonist (dgCFC). To offset the inhibition of subunit combination caused by deglycosylation of α-subunit loop 2, we prepared dgCFC as a single-chain fusion protein containing the α-subunit downstream of the chimeric β-subunit. Main Outcome Measure(s): Receptor binding, cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation. Result(s): dgCFC bound LH or FSH receptors similar to hCG or hFSH. It was a partial agonist and had one tenth the efficacy of hFSH and two thirds the efficacy of hCG. Conclusion(s): The surprising high residual lutropin activity of dgCFC indicated that its FSH residues offset the effects of deglycosylation, suggesting this approach to preparing a bifunctional antagonist is unlikely to lead to a useful drug. The increased lutropin efficacy of dgCFC relative to deglycosylated hCG supports the idea that oligosaccharides modulate glycoprotein hormone efficacy through an influence on hormone conformation.
Note on "Applying After-Tax Asset Allocation"

The author discusses an area within the field of after-tax asset allocation in which he and his co-author William Jennings disagree with the point proposed in the preceding article by Stephen Horan. But, more importantly, the author expresses the importance of those areas in which Horan, Jennings and he, as well as other scholars, agree. In particular, there appears to be wide agreement among scholars that, when calculating an individual9s asset allocation, one should distinguish between pretax funds and after-tax funds. In short, taxes matter! He concludes with a crucial message: if it is indeed right to argue that funds in tax-deferred or tax-exempt portfolios should be accounted differently than those held through fully taxable structures, then the profession is currently miscalculating individuals9 asset allocations, and the measurement errors can be substantial.
Intracavernous injections of papaverine and phentolamine: correlation with penile brachial index.

Abstract Eighty-two patients were evaluated for erectile failure with a comprehensive history, physical examination, hormonal testing, noninvasive Doppler examination (PBI), and nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT). After these studies all patients received intracavernous injection with a combination of papaverine (50 mg) and phentolamine (1.66 mg), and both tumescence and rigidity were monitored. Rigidity response was compared with the PBI. The number of patients with a poor rigidity response in each PBI category were: 3 of 5 with a PBI of less than 0.6 (vasculogenic), 7 of 11 with a PBI of 0.6–0.75 (ambiguous), and 25 of 66 with a PBI of 0.75–1.0 (normal). These results indicate only a marginally significant association between PBI and intracavernous injection. The procedure was safe with no long-term sequelae from injection observed, and no surgical intervention was required. Complications of injections included reversible priapism in II patients (13.4 %), transient dizziness in 10 patients (12.2 %), and hematoma in 5 patients (6.2 %). This study suggests that intracavernous injection with a drug combination may be a more sensitive screening test for vasculogenic impotence than noninvasive Doppler studies because it more closely simulates the erectile response.
Three-dimensional fluid simulations of plasma asymmetries in the Martian magnetotail caused by the magnetic anomalies

[1] Three-dimensional single fluid nonideal MHD simulations of the solar wind interaction with Mars show that the strong magnetic anomalies in the Southern Hemisphere of Mars cause asymmetries in the near tail plasma. The simulations were run with the strong southern magnetic anomalies (SSMA) facing midnight, dawn, or dusk. The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was set to 1 nT in the By direction. The steady state results were then compared to the case when no surface magnetic field is present. The comparisons show regions of plasma depletion of ∼60% and enhanced plasma densities of over 200% for different SSMA orientations. The depleted plasma regions are similar to the plasma voids detected by Mars Global Surveyor. A minimagnetopause forms inside the magnetic pileup boundary for all three cases. When the SSMA are at the dusk terminator, the IMF drapes over dipole-like surface magnetic fields, creating a magnetic field geometry reminiscent of a closed magnetosphere at Earth. When the SSMA are at dawn, the magnetic field geometry resembles that of an open magnetosphere at Earth, as the IMF reconnects substantially to the surface magnetic field. The complex magnetic field geometry for all three cases presented leads to large-scale modification of the plasma flow in the tail.
An interatomic potential model for halogen crystals

We propose an interatomic potential model for halogen crystals based on central dispersion-repulsion forces and non-central electrostatic charge interactions. The electronic charge around each atom is represented by a dipole and the molecule as a whole acts like a quadrupole. The ten potential parameters are determined by fitting the model to the observed static and dynamic properties for each of chlorine, bromine and iodine. The static properties include the equilibrium conditions for a given atom in the crystal and the cohesive energy of the lattice. The dynamic properties constitute nine experimental zone centre frequencies determined by Raman and infrared measurements. The phonon dispersion relations are then calculated along the symmetry directions [100], [010] and [001]. In the case of iodine where measured dispersion curves are available, the agreement between our calculations and the phonon frequencies measured by inelastic neutron scattering is satisfactory along [001] direction, and less so alon...
Dare we define user-interface design?

What do experts in user interfaces actually design? Many definitions have been proposed, some of which may leave out key ingredients. The author proposes a general definition.
Power broadening of coherent energy transfer in semiconductor gain media

Coherent energy transfer gives rise to a new peak and dip in the probe gain spectrum that moveproportionally with the mtracavity injected power, showing that stimulated emission and absorptionsignificantly speed up the semiconductor response.1. INTRODUCFIONThe interaction of two optical beams in a nonlinear medium leads to important nonlinearprocesses'. These include coherent energy transfer (CET) where nondegenerate fields, copropagating ina nonlinear medium may exchange energy [an example of multi-wave mixing (MWM)]. If the responseof the medium is "nonlocal, "'
Who Is at the Wheel When Communities Drive Development? Evidence from the Philippines

Summary Community-Driven Development (CDD) approaches have become an important part of development operations. Using data from 1,200 households in 66 communities participating in a CDD project in the Philippines, we analyze how communities select their proposals and how resources are allocated across villages. Resources flow to the poorest and more politically active villages. Controlling for poverty, more unequal villages are more likely to receive funding. This surprising result is because in more unequal villages, the elected village leader is more likely to override community preferences, and to influence inter-village competition such that project resources flow to their villages.
Application of probability limit theorems to measurements

Abstract The growth of physics and mathematics as separate disciplines has at times made interchange of techniques between the two difficult. One area where interchange has been incomplete has been in statistics. There have been consequent misunderstandings of the limitations of (1) the law of large numbers and (2) the Gaussian convergence theorem, resulting in misinterpretation of physical data. This paper investigates the use of the law (1) and the theorem (2) in physics, shows that physical data cannot be made to fit exactly within the limitations of these two statements, and discusses a distribution (and its consequences) that can describe the statistics of physical data.
Respiratory control in kidney and liver mitochondria isolated from rats treated with the potent nephrotogenic aminonucleoside of puromycin

Abstract Rates of oxygen uptake of kidney mitochondria from normal and aminonucleoside-nephrotic rats have been determined by means of an oxygen electrode. The rates of oxygen uptake in state 3 (as defined by Chance and Williams) were lower for nephrotic rat kidney mitochondria than for normal kidney mitochondria. This change suggests that kidney mitochondrial enzymes from aminonucleoside-nephrotic rats may be decreased in amount, activity, or accessibility. It is also possible that mitochondria from aminonucleoside-nephrotic rats are less capable of maintaining structural integrity, and thus are damaged more during the isolation procedure. When livers of nephrotic rats were used as the source of mitochondria, impairment of respiratory control was not observed but, in fact, respiratory control ratios were higher than those of normal rat liver mitochondria. Respiratory rates were also obtained by preincubating normal kidney and liver mitochondria with aminonucleoside. No pronounced effect of aminonucleoside upon normal rat kidney mitochondria was observed in vitro .