cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic support in old age: The role of social insurance in developing countries

The origins of social insurance in industrialized and developing countries are discussed. In recent years social insurance programmes in many developing countries have come under sharp attack. Major issues have been raised with regard to how these programmes are operating, especially with regard to problems of inadequate coverage, adequacy and equity, shortfalls in financing, and administrative mismanagement. In addition to discussing these problem areas, the article reviews the major social insurance options: the family, social assistance, employer sponsored pensions, and savings plans encouraged or operated by governments.
Decompression in the Surgical Management of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: Advantages of a Conservative Approach in 290 Patients

SummaryThe management of degenerative spondylolisthesis with laminectomy alone or laminectomy with fusion remains controversial. From the early 1970s to 1996, 290 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis were treated with 249 laminec-tomies and 41 fenestration procedures over an average of 3.2 l
Long-term follow-up of surgically corrected patients with common arterial trunk

Abstract The first successful surgical correction of truncus arteriosus (common arterial trunk) was performed in 1967 and long-term follow-up is now available on 137 operative survivors. Actuarial survival was 46.4% at 24 years. Late survival was statistically significantly improved in patients having correction during the first 2 years of life when compared to those corrected after the age of 2. Late mortality was secondary to reoperation, most commonly for truncal valve replacement, progressive pulmonary vascular obstructive disease and right ventricular failure, or progressive left ventricular deterioration and failure. Reoperation for isolated conduit replacement was associated with low mortality (one death in 54 reoperations) and morbidity. Reoperation for truncal valve replacement was frequently necessary in patients showing significant truncal incompetence immediately after operative correction, but had not been observed in any patients showing no or minimal incompetence at the time of initial hospital discharge. Of the 86 presently surviving patients, many of whom are now adults, 78 (91%) were NYHA Class I or II, capable of full-time school or employment, at the time of most recent follow-up. Operative correction of truncus arteriosus is now possible at low mortality during the first few months of life, and this is the approach now utilized in all centers to relieve the large left ventricular volume load and its detrimental effects on left ventricular function as soon as possible, as well as to minimize the risk of irreversible pulmonary vascular obstructive disease. With this present approach, late mortality and morbidity could be expected to be significantly less in infants operated today than the late results seen in our unique group of patients corrected, for the most part, at older ages, many even as adolescents or young adults. An infant born with truncus arteriosus today has an excellent chance of survival with good quality of life well into adulthood years.
Dissolution of the Wabamun Salts: A Seismic Perspective

The Wabamun Qroup salts were widely distributed and uniformly deposited across southeastern Alberta. Subsequently, these salts were extensively dissolved. Due to the relationship between leaching and hydrocarbon trapping mechanisms it is imperative that the explorationist recognize salt dissolutional features and differentiate them from reefs and/or faulted structure. In this paper seismic data across remnant Wabamun salts are presented. The seismic signatures of these salts are described and potential misinterpretations are discussed. These data illustrate clearly the application of the seismic technique to the search for salt related hydrocarbon traps.
The development of an instrument to measure perceived emotional, instrumental, and informational support in breastfeeding mothers.

The Hughes Breastfeeding Support Scale, an instrument to measure emotional, instrumental, and informational support for breastfeeding mothers, has been developed by the investigator. A preliminary study to test reliability and face validity was conducted using 30 breastfeeding primiparae who delivered in 1982 and 1983 at a regional hospital in the southeastern United States. Findings from testing thus far using corrected split half reliability scores and alpha coefficients indicate moderately high internal consistency. Face validity is also present. Further work is planned to establish concurrent validity. The findings suggest that the Hughes Breastfeeding Support Scale (HBSS) may be a useful instrument for lactation research. A refined instrument with established reliability and validity might add to the body of knowledge on the relationship of support and lactation outcomes.
Federal Highway Assistance Funds in the State Infrastructure Bank Programs: Mechanisms, Merits, and Modifications

In response to the declining financial resources for state transportation infrastructures, the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (P. L. 104–159) authorized the establishment of the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) Pilot Programs. This paper shows how the federal assistance funds deposited into the SIB equity fund can maximize state highway resources through a simulation. From 1998 to 2003, one dollar of the federal funds augmented state highway expenditures by 5.24 dollars in a specific year in contrast to the original intention of perpetuating state highway spending. This study further suggests ways to modify and improve the current SIB mechanism.
PKCδ survival signaling in cells containing an activated p21Ras protein requires PDK1

Protein kinase C delta (PKCdelta) modulates cell survival and apoptosis in diverse cellular systems. We recently reported that PKCdelta functions as a critical anti-apoptotic signal transducer in cells containing activated p21(Ras) and results in the activation of AKT, thereby promoting cell survival. How PKCdelta is regulated by p21(Ras), however, remains incompletely understood. In this study, we show that PKCdelta, as a transducer of anti-apoptotic signals, is activated by phosphotidylinositol 3' kinase/phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PI(3)K-PDK1) to deliver the survival signal to Akt in the environment of activated p21(Ras). PDK1 is upregulated in cells containing an activated p21Ras. Knock-down of PDK1, PKCdelta, or AKT forces cells containing activated p21(Ras) to undergo apoptosis. PDK1 regulates PKCdelta activity, and constitutive expression of PDK1 increases PKCdelta activity in different cell types. Conversely, expression of a kinase-dead (dominant-negative) PDK1 significantly suppresses PKCdelta activity. p21(Ras)-mediated survival signaling is therefore regulated by via a PI(3)K-AKT pathway, which is dependent upon both PDK1 and PKCdelta, and PDK1 activates and regulates PKCdelta to determine the fate of cells containing a mutated, activated p21(Ras).
Infrared spectroscopy to probe the electrochemical double layer

Abstract-Infrared spectra of molecules and ions which are specifically adsorbed on an electrode surface can be used to investigate the dynamics and structure of the interfacial region. In this work we use a semiempirical method to calculate theoretical ir frequencies for model cyanide and thiocyanate adsorbates on various metal surfaces. The predicted ir energies for the surface specie8 are then compared with the observed experimental vibrational frequencies obtained by spectroelectrochemistry. The potential depen- dence of ir band frequencies (dv,/dE) for adsorbed cyanide species are also estimated using a theoretical model. Key words: infrared spectroelectrochemistry, pseudohalides, adsorption, electrodesolution interface. INTRODUCTION Since fist reported more than a decade ago[l], ir spectroelectrochemistry at fully conducting elec- trodes has been shown to be an invaluable tool for probing the electrical double layer and for investigating surfaceadsorbate interactions[2]. The methodology has been used to study a wide variety of systems of interest, including the oxidation of small organic acids[3], polymer electrodeposition[4], pseudohalide adsorption[5], and recently, diffusion layer studies of redox reactions[6], among other systems. For investigation of the dynamics of the interfacial region, it is advantageous to employ pseu- dohalide ion species (eg cyanide, thiocyanate, axide) as specific adsorbates on an electrode surface. The reason for this is that the available double layer region is much wider in pseudohalide systems than in cases where, for example, adsorbed carbon monoxide is the predominate adsorbate. With pseudohalide systems, we attain a greater range of applicable potentials over which the electrode is “ideally polar- ized”, and it therefore becomes easier to probe the potential-dependent dynamics of the interface in the absence of complications from electrode-mediated reactions. In this work we use experimental results from cyanide and thiocyanate specifically adsorbed on electrode surfaces, and employ the classical model of Korzeniewski et u1.[7] to approximate observed vi- brational frequencies of the adsorbed species. We have also modelled the potential dependence of the
Orderings and prime-like subsets of a commutative ring

Abstract We show that CMC subsets of a ring arise via orderings on the ring and the unit intervals that they determine. In rings with large Jacobson radical these unit intervals completely determine the orderings. While there are examples of CMC subsets that do not come from unit interval considerations, we completely characterize those that do whenever the ring has a large Jacobson radical and 2 a unit. We also investigate the connections between orderings and real-valued preplaces. For local rings we show that the presence of a real-valued preplace is equivalent to the presence of an ordering.
Nigral and cortical Lewy bodies and dystrophic nigral neurites in Parkinson's disease and cortical Lewy body disease contain alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity

A mutation in the α-synuclein gene has recently been linked to some cases of familial Parkinson's disease (PD). We characterized the expression of this presynaptic protein in the midbrain, striatum, and temporal cortex of control, PD, and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) brain. Control brain showed punctate pericellular immunostaining. PD brain demonstrated α-synuclein immunoreactivity in nigral Lewy bodies, pale bodies and abnormal neurites. Rare neuronal soma in PD brain were immunoreactive for α-synuclein. DLB cases demonstrated these findings as well as α-synuclein immunoreactivity in cortical Lewy bodies and CA2-3 neurites. These results suggest that, even in sporadic cases, there is an early and direct role for α-synuclein in the pathogenesis of PD and the neuropathologically related disorder DLB.
Optic chiasm and infundibular decussation sites in the developing rat diencephalon are defined by Glial Raphes expressing p35 (Lipocortin 1, Annexin I)

p35, a Ca++-phospholipid-binding protein that serves as a substrate for the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase, is expressed by primitive glial ependymal cells to define a raphe occupying the ventral midline in the spinal cord and hindbrain of rat embryos (McKanna and Cohen, Science 243:1477–1479, 1989). p35 appears transiently in the median one-third (80 μ) of the floor plate at precisely the time and place where axons cross to form the ventral commissure. We postulated that if p35 is involved with commissure development, homologous p35 raphes might be found at decussation sites rostral to the floor plate, including the optic chiasm. The present report describes two developmentally regulated p35 raphes in the diencephalon. One raphe is present for 2–3 days at the rostral lip of the nascent infundibulum, the reported decussation site of axons running from the supraoptic nucleus to the neurohypophysis; the other raphe appears in the rostral two-thirds of the optic chiasm, the site traversed by the optic axons. p35 is never expressed in the caudal one-third of the chiasm that accommodates non-retinal axons. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first identification of a specific marker for the retinal component of the optic chiasm. Because the p35 is gone by embryonic day 18.5, it is absent during final stages of chiasm formation when axons from the temporal retina decussate. Thus, p35 also may contribute to the “barrier” perceived by fibers that remain ipsilateral. Our data suggest that the p35 raphe contributes to the midline's role in commisure morphogenesis. Putative lipocortin activities including regulating PLA2, eicosanoids, or intracellular Ca++ could be involved in altering cue specificity as decussating axon growth cones traverse the p35 compartment. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
High-precision three-dimensional position measurement of particles by digital Gabor holography

A single exposure of digital Gabor holography (DGH) is used for simultaneous three-dimensional measurement of particle position. The particle sample is set up such that its position can be electro-mechanically manipulated using calibrated piezoelectric transducers in both the lateral and axial directions. The central position of the reconstructed image of the particle is determined by low-pass filtering, thresholding, and center-of-mass calculation. We have obtained less than 20 nm resolution in both the lateral and axial directions in a direct and unambiguous manner. The method is applied to calibration of optical trap strength.
Microdialysis techniques in the study of brain and skeletal muscle

Traditionally, plasma measurements have been used to monitor metabolic events and the actions of hormones that are actually taking place within tissue beds that are anatomically separated from the vascular compartment. It is generally assumed that the extracellular fluid (ECF) within metabolically active tissues is composed of substrates and hormones in concentrations that closely approximate those in plasma. Indeed, this view is implicit in non-steady-state tracer calculations. However, through the use of microdialysis techniques in the study of tissue metabolism this view is being challenged. Our data suggest that there may be substantial concentration gradients for a variety of fuels between plasma and ECF, i. e. fuels (e. g. glucose) removed from the circulation being lower and fuels (e. g. glycerol, lactate, some amino acids) produced by tissues being higher than plasma levels. In short, the metabolic milieu seen by individual tissues (and hormone receptors?) may, at least in some instances, be strikingly different from that in plasma, and as a result, plasma measurements by themselves may not appropriately define the contributions of specific tissues to metabolic events, and overlook the importance of metabolic processes which are largely restricted to individual tissue beds. Through the use of microdialysis as a means of directly sampling ECF from metabolically important body tissues and with the evolution of its use in animal and human research, this technique will continue to offer exciting new insights into tissue metabolism and to investigate fundamental issues that cannot be addressed by other methods. [Diabetologia (1997) 40: S 75–S 82]
Mortality, growth, swimming activity and gill morphology of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) exposed to low pH with and without aluminum.

Abstract Measurements were made of mortality, growth, swimming activity, and gill morphology of young-of-the-year brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), exposed for 30 days to pH 5·6 ± 0·5 (mean ± 1 standard deviation) with and without addition of 107 ± 57 μg liter−1 exchangeable (labile monomeric) aluminum. The experiment was conducted in artificial stream channels adjacent to a natural stream and subject to daily and seasonal changes in temperature, light, and chemical conditions. There were no differences in survival or growth for brook trout in any treatment; Atlantic salmon survival and growth were significantly decreased in the acid + Al treatment. Scanning electron microscopy showed no damage to gills of either species in the acid treatments, but the acid + Al treatment caused slight swelling of brook trout gills near the filament tips and significant swelling and fusion of secondary lamellae of Atlantic salmon gills. The acid treatment increased swimming activity in brook trout, but both the acid and acid + Al treatments reduced activity in Atlantic salmon.
Steady state penetration of thermoviscoplastic targets

Steady state thermomechanical deformations of a target hit by a rigid cylindrical penetrator with an ellipsoidal nose are studied. The material of the target is assumed to be thermally softening but strain and strain-rate hardening. Results computed and presented graphically include the pressure distribution on the nose of the penetrator, dependence of the axial resisting force upon the speed of the penetrator, and the variation of field quantities such as the temperature and strain-rate in the target. Computed results show that the ratio of the major to minor axes of the ellipsoidal nose has a significant effect on the deformations of the target particles in the vicinity of the penetrator nose.
Stability of polar rings around Neptune

An analytical and numerical study of the stability of polar rings around Neptune is presented. The stability proofs are based on various methods used to study gas disks in galaxies. It is shown that stable polar rings can exist despite energy dissipation by collisions between particles. Also, four equilibrium orientations which pass nearly over the pole of Neptune are found, two of which are stable in the presence of dissipation.
Architectures and Technologies for the Future Mobile Internet

This position paper outlines the author's view on architectural directions and key technology enablers for the future mobile Internet. It is pointed out that mobile and wireless services will dominate Internet usage in the near future, and it is therefore important to design next-generation network protocols with features suitable for efficiently serving emerging wireless scenarios and applications. Several key requirements for mobile/wireless scenarios are identified - these include new capabilities such as dynamic spectrum coordination, cross-layer support, disconnection tolerant routing, content addressing, and location awareness. Specific examples of enabling technologies which address some of these requirements are given from ongoing research projects at WINLAB. Topics covered briefly include wireless network virtualization, the cache-and-forward (CNF) protocol, geographic (GEO) protocol stack, cognitive radio protocols, and open networking testbeds.
Chronic Effects of [D-Trp6-Pro9-NEt]Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Factor on Reproductive Processes in the Female Rat*

LRF and one of its highly potent analogs, [D-Trp6-Pro9-NEt]LRF (A), were tested for their effects on pregnancy. Daily doses of A prevented implantation and/or caused resorption of implanted blastocysts in mated female rats. This effect was dose related and was most evident when given in regimens including days 5–7 or days 9–10 of pregnancy. LRF also has antigonadal effects, but at much higher doses than A. The use of corn oil vs. 0.1% gelatin-saline improved the effectiveness of low doses of A. Termination of pregnancy in A or LRF-treated rats is most probably due to the markedly diminished progesterone secretion, which could result from the secretion of biologically inactive gonadotropins, reduced pituitary responsiveness to endogenous LRF, or downregulation of gonadal receptors for LH.
All Opinions Are Not Equal

To the Editor: Gibbons et al1 detail the “noble” and Herculean task of developing American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association cardiovascular guidelines. Recommendations are based on either experimental results or opinion, with the latter being considered of uniformly lower evidentiary importance. The contribution of opinion to the guidelines is substantial in that opinion supports more than half of the current recommendations and appears to contribute continuity and cohesiveness to recommendations that would otherwise be fragmented in large part as a result of insufficient experimental data. On closer reading, it becomes apparent that the treatment of all nonexperimental support as “opinion” masks at least 2 different, distinct, and incommensurable, types of opinion evidence. A low level of evidentiary importance may be quite appropriate for the many opinions that deal with issues that are open …
Quality-of-service specification in distributed object systems

Traditional object-oriented design methods deal with the functional aspects of systems, but they do not address quality-of-service (QoS) aspects, such as reliability, availability, performance, security and timing. However, deciding which QoS properties should be provided by individual system components is an important part of the design process. Different decisions are likely to result in different component implementations and system structures. Thus, decisions about component-level QoS should commonly be made at design time, before the implementation is begun. Since these decisions are an important part of the design process, they should be captured as part of the design. We propose a general quality-of-service specification language, which we call QML. In this paper we show how QML can be used to capture QoS properties as part of designs. In addition, we extend UML, the de facto standard object-oriented modelling language, to support the concepts of QML. QML is designed to integrate with object-oriented features, such as interfaces, classes and inheritance. In particular, it allows specification of QoS properties through refinement of existing QoS specifications. Although we exemplify the use of QML to specify QoS properties within the categories of reliability and performance, QML can be used for specification within any QoS category - QoS categories are user-defined types in QML. Sometimes, QoS characteristics and requirements change dynamically due to changing user preferences, or changes in the environment. For such situations static specification is insufficient. To allow for dynamic systems that change and evolve over time, we provide a QoS specification runtime representation. This representation enables systems to create, manipulate and exchange QoS information, and thereby negotiate and adapt to changing QoS requirements and conditions.
Evaluation of Knudsen Measurements of the Sublimation of Manganese(II) Selenide

MnSe sublimation Knudsen measurements at various temperatures and pressures noting congruent vaporization
Higher-derivative gravity, surface terms, and string theory

We consider adding Euler densities to the Einstein action as new gravity interactions in higher-dimensional theories. When the appropriate surface terms are included, the surface geometry is sufficient data for the boundary-value problem associated with the new Lagrangians. We also discuss the relevance of such interactions in the context of string theory.
Legal Ramifications for Physicians of Patients Who Drive With Hepatic Encephalopathy

Background & Aims Hepatic encephalopathy, a spectrum of neuropsychiatric abnormalities that can occur in patients with liver dysfunction, negatively affects driving performance, but no study has examined legal ramifications. We studied state requirements for reporting hepatic encephalopathy and investigated whether lawsuits have been completed against physicians or patients for motor vehicle accidents that were related to hepatic encephalopathy. Methods We contacted motor vehicle departments from all 50 states and examined motor vehicle codes and legal databases to search for hepatic encephalopathy–related lawsuits. Results Definitions of a medically impaired driver varied considerably. No state specifically mentioned hepatic encephalopathy or patients with advanced liver disease. Only 6 (12%) of the states had mandatory reporting laws for drivers who have medical impairment, and 25 of the remaining 44 states (57%) provided legal immunity to physicians for reporting such patients. The legal databases did not contain any cases against physicians for failure to warn against driving or diagnose hepatic encephalopathy that resulted in an accident. There were no lawsuits identified against an encephalopathic patient for causing a motor vehicle accident. Conclusions Only 6 states require physicians to report drivers with medical impairments. Hepatic encephalopathy is not specifically addressed in any state vehicle code. There are no completed lawsuits against physicians or patients for motor vehicle accidents associated with driving impairment from hepatic encephalopathy. In the absence of definitive laws, the onus of responsibility for identifying potentially hazardous drivers might still lie with the physician; physicians should carefully evaluate patients for driving abilities.
GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE-1 RECEPTOR ACTIVATION REDUCES COMPENSATORY HYPERTROPHY AND LEFT VENTRICULAR REMODELING IN A PORCINE MODEL OF ISCHEMIA AND REPERFUSION

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an intestinal hormone important for glucose metabolism. Recent attention has focused on its anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective actions. Exenatide is a GLP-1 mimetic used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Our group has demonstrated that Exenatide-mediated GLP-1receptor (GLP-
Regulation of Cell Shape in Euglena gracilis: I. Involvement of the Biological Clock, Respiration, Photosynthesis, and Cytoskeleton.

The alga Euglena gracilis Z. changes its shape two times per day when grown under the synchronizing effect of a daily light-dark cycle. At the beginning of the light period when photosynthetic capacity is low, the population of cells is largely spherical in shape. The mean cell length of the population increases to a maximum in the middle of the light period when photosynthetic capacity is greatest, and then decreases for the remainder of the 24-hour period. The population becomes spherical by the end of the 24-hour period when the cycle reinitiates. These changes are also observed under constant dim light conditions (up to 72 hours) and are therefore controlled by the biological clock and represent a circadian rhythm in cell shape. In constant dim light, the cell division rhythm is either arrested or slowed considerably, while the cell shape rhythm continues.The involvement of respiratory and photosynthetic pathways in the cell shape changes was investigated with energy pathway inhibitors. Antimycin A and NaN(3) both inhibited the round to long and long to round shape changes, indicating that the respiratory pathways are involved. DCMU and atrazine inhibited the round to long shape change but did not affect the long to round transition, indicating that light-induced electron flow is necessary only for the round to long shape change.The influence of the cell shape changes on the photosynthetic reactions was investigated by altering cell shape with the cytoskeletal inhibitors cytochalasin and colchicine. Both inhibitors blocked the round to long and long to round shape changes. Cytochalasin B was found to have minimal cytotoxic effects on the photosynthetic reactions, but colchicine significantly inhibited light-induced electron flow and the in vivo expression of the photosynthetic rhythm.
Rewriting systems and word problems in a free partially commutative monoid

Abstract We show that, for finite Thue systems that are confluent modulo the equivalence relation induced by partial commutativity, the word problem is decidable in linear time. In addition, we show that there is a polynomial-time algorithm that on input a finite Thue system will determine whether the Thue system is confluent modulo the equivalence relation induced by partial commutativity.
Prediction of clustered RNA-binding protein motif sites in the mammalian genome

Sequence-specific interactions of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with their target transcripts are essential for post-transcriptional gene expression regulation in mammals. However, accurate prediction of RBP motif sites has been difficult because many RBPs recognize short and degenerate sequences. Here we describe a hidden Markov model (HMM)-based algorithm mCarts to predict clustered functional RBP-binding sites by effectively integrating the number and spacing of individual motif sites, their accessibility in local RNA secondary structures and cross-species conservation. This algorithm learns and quantifies rules of these features, taking advantage of a large number of in vivo RBP-binding sites obtained from cross-linking and immunoprecipitation data. We applied this algorithm to study two representative RBP families, Nova and Mbnl, which regulate tissue-specific alternative splicing through interacting with clustered YCAY and YGCY elements, respectively, and predicted their binding sites in the mouse transcriptome. Despite the low information content in individual motif elements, our algorithm made specific predictions for successful experimental validation. Analysis of predicted sites also revealed cases of extensive and distal RBP-binding sites important for splicing regulation. This algorithm can be readily applied to other RBPs to infer their RNA-regulatory networks. The software is freely available at http://zhanglab.c2b2.columbia.edu/index.php/MCarts.
Emulsion Polymerization of n-Butyl Methacrylate by Reverse Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

The controlled/“living” radical polymerization of n-butyl methacrylate was conducted in an emulsion under reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions. The initiators used were conventional water-soluble initiators, such as potassium persulfate (KPS), 2,2‘-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (V-50), and 2,2‘-azobis[2-(2-dimidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride (VA-044). The transition metal catalyst employed was copper(II) dibromide with 4,4‘-dialkyl-2,2‘-bipyridine as the ligands.
Do private transfers 'displace' the benefits of public transfers? Evidence from South Africa

Abstract This paper investigates whether government transfer programs displace or ‘crowd out’ private support, focusing on a large increase in state old age pensions in South Africa. Using data spanning the period of the expansion, we find that each rand of public pension income to the elderly leads to a 0.25–0.30 rand reduction in private transfers from children living away from home. However, despite the large increase in income, there were no significant changes in migration, labor supply or household composition. We also show that evaluations of the distributional effects of the pension are overstated when crowding out is ignored.
The National Transonic Facility

The National Transonic Facility, NTF, is a high Reynolds Number facility where the increase in Reynolds Number is obtained by operating at high pressures and low temperatures. Liquid nitrogen is allowed to vaporize, making gaseous nitrogen the test medium with temperatures extending down to approximately 100 degrees Kelvin. These factors have created unique, new challenges to those developing sensors and instrumentation. Pressure vessels, thermal enclosures or elaborate temperature compensations schemes, are needed for environmental protection and special materials are needed for sensors and model fabrication. The need for a new measurement, model deformation, was also created. An extensive program to develop the unique sensors and instrumentation was initiated. The data acquisition system and systems to measure aerodynamic forces and pressures, model attitude, and model deformation, are discussed.
Brain Activity Mapping with Optogenetic Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Optogenetic functional magnetic resonance imaging (ofMRI) technology enables us to control brain circuit elements with high precision while tracking the multi-synapse activity across the whole brain in vivo. This talk will describe new approaches to studying brain activity dynamics with ofMRI and its application to neurological disease network analysis including epilepsy.
Identification and immunochemical characterization of a major placental secretory protein related to the prolactin-growth hormone family, prolactin-like protein-C.

Trophoblast cells of the rat chorioallantoic placenta synthesize and secrete a number of proteins structurally related to pituitary PRL. During the purification of one member of the placental PRL family, PRL-like protein-A (PLP-A), we identified a major contaminating protein with a similar mol wt but possessing a more acidic pi (5.9–6.1) and different immunoreactivities. After isolation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the more acidic contaminating protein was electroeluted, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined by gas phase sequencing. The N-terminal sequence showed considerable homology with members of the PRL family, including characteristic positioning of cysteine residues at amino acids 4 and 11. The newly identified protein species have been termed PLP-C based on their structural similarity with pituitary PRL. The protein was further characterized by the generation of specific immunological probes. Antibodies were generated to electrophoretically purified protein and to a chem...
Phylogenetic relationships in Asarum (Aristolochiaceae) based on morphology and ITS sequences

A cladistic analysis of Asarum was conducted using data from morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS) to examine the relationships among several groups of taxa that have often been treated as segregate genera. Morphological and molecular data were analyzed simultaneously for a set of 36 terminals representing the taxonomic, morphological, and geographic diversity of the genus. The two data sources are generally congruent and together provide more resolution than either by itself. The data support two main clades in the genus: an Asarum sensu stricto clade and an Asiasarum + Hexastylis + Heterotropa clade. The former consists of - 17 species and is distributed through North America, Europe, and Asia. Within this group, the North American species are monophyletic and derived from within the paraphyletic Asiatic species group. The Asiasarum + Hexastylis + Heterotropa clade consists of two Asiatic segregates and the North American segregate, Hexastylis. Resolution within this group supports both the monophyly of Heterotropa and a sister group relationship of Asiasarum to Hexastylis + Heterotropa. Hexastylis is paraphyletic and occurs as two separate clades on the tree; one of these is sister to Heterotropa and the other is sister to the latter plus Heterotropa. The phylogenetic data provide several clues about the biogeographic history of Asarum and suggest that: (1) the genus likely originated in Asia and underwent substantial diversification prior to colonizing North America; and (2) Asarum in North America represents at least two historically distinct groups that likely achieved their North American distributions at different times. The results of these analyses support recognition of two subgenera, Asarum and Heterotropa, each with two sections: Asarum and Geotaenium of the former, and Asiasarum and Heterotropa of the latter. Asarum sect. Ceratasarum (Hexastylis) is here treated as a synonym of Asarum sect. Heterotropa. A taxonomic conspectus of the genus is provided, and the combination Asarum sect. Geotaenium (F Maek.) L. Kelly is made in accordance with the revised circumscription of taxa.
Catalytic effectiveness in multicomponent and variable diffusivity systems

A method of evaluating catalytic effectiveness in systems of variable diffusivity is proposed. These systems are encountered when catalysts with bi-disperse pore-size distributions are employed or when multicomponent mixtures are involved. The diffusivity is taken to be a linear function of length, and an effectiveness factor is defined for this case. Application of the method is discussed and a numerical example is given.
Levan Formation by Odontomyces viscosus

The authors present some physiological parameters involved in levan formation by Odontomyces viscosus, a filamentous organism in gingival plaque of the hamster.
Claudin proteins in ovarian cancer

Members of the claudin family of tight junction proteins have been found altered in several malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Because claudin-3 and -4 are elevated in the vast majority of ovarian tumors, they may represent useful biomarkers for detection and prognosis, as well as ideal targets for therapy using the Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin.
STAT1 expression is not required for polyp formation in Min mice.

Recent studies have suggested the importance of interleukin (IL)-6 signaling in the development of colon cancer. Expression of IL-6 and the IL-6 receptor have been found to be elevated in colorectal carcinoma tissue, and IL-6 has been found to be critical for tumor formation in mouse models of colon cancer. IL-6 mediated activation of the transcription factor STAT1 has been shown to be important in protection of colorectal carcinoma cells from apoptotic signals. To test the hypothesis that the IL-6-STAT1 axis plays a role in early stages of colon cancer development, we examined the role of this pathway in the mouse multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) model of intestinal tumorigenesis. Due to low fecundity, we were unable to generate Min mice lacking expression of IL-6. We then focused on the role of STAT1 in intestinal polyp formation in these animals. Min mice lacking STAT1 or heterozygous for STAT1 developed polyps in similar numbers as those expressing STAT1. Furthermore, the anatomic distribution and histological characteristics of these polyps did not vary among these populations. These results indicate that STAT1 does not play a role in the pathogenesis of the Min model for colon cancer. However, they do not rule out the possibility that STAT1 plays a role in other stages of colon cancer development. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Thomas Hobbes and the Perils of Pluralism

Scholarly opinion has been split uneasily between those who view Thomas Hobbes as a defender of Royalist absolutism and those who see him as the intellectual forefather of liberal individualism. While both these positions are compatible with Hobbes's deep-seated fear of intermediary associations between individual and state, this article will contend that it is his fear of the violent and irrational properties of groups that motivates his well-known individualism and gives a potentially illiberal bent to his political thought. Attending to Hobbes's neglected thoughts on the dangers posed by parties, sects, and other groups between individual and state sheds light on both the historical context and intellectual legacy of his thought. Hobbes's metaphorical complaints about those "lesser Common-wealths" akin to "wormes in the entrayles of a naturall man" also should prompt us to rethink many versions of contemporary pluralism and the vogue of civil society: Much of what today is recommended as "civil society...
HIV infection and AIDS in children.

As of January 1990 the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 8-10 million persons are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide. Approximately 3 million women mostly of reproductive age and more than 500000 infants and children are infected. Eighty percent these infected women and children reside in sub-Saharan Africa where the estimated prevalence of HIV infection is 2500/100000 women aged 15-49. In some African cities HIV prevalence rates of up to 30% have been documented. As heterosexual transmission of HIV increases other areas of the world the numbers of infected women and consequently their children also increase. In Latin America an estimated 200000 women are infected with a prevalence of 200/100000 women aged 15-49 years. There is a rapid increase in HIV infection among drug users and prostitutes in some Asian countries. In the United States women comprise 10% of the 171865 adult cases of AIDS reported to the Centers for Disease Control as of May 1 1991. In 1991 AIDS was the fifth leading cause of premature death in women aged 15-49; in New York City AIDS was the leading cause of death for women aged 20-40. The World Health Organization estimates that the HIV pandemic will kill 3 million or more women and 2.7 million children worldwide during the 1990s. AIDS will become the leading cause of death for women aged 15-49 in major cities throughout the Americas western Europe and sub-Saharan Africa with infant and child mortality rates as much as 30% greater than previously projected. In addition it is estimated that up to 5.5 million children under 15 will be orphaned because of the premature death of their HIV-infected mothers and fathers from AIDS. (excerpt)
Normative neurocognitive data for National Football League players: an initial compendium.

The use of clinical neuropsychological tests in the evaluation of National Football League (NFL) players has been ongoing for more than two decades. Prior research has demonstrated that the NFL population may perform differently than the general population on standard paper and pencil neuropsychological tests. Given the increased interest in the longitudinal and long-term assessment of neurocognitive functioning in this group of athletes, we reviewed the published neuropsychological literature in an attempt to compile an initial compendium of available normative data on paper and pencil as well as computerized neuropsychological tests for this group of football players. Thirteen published studies met the inclusion criteria, and the results are presented by athlete status (active vs. retired) and classified by neuropsychological domain. Suggestions for potential core batteries with this population are discussed, as are directions for future research. Language: en
Arytenoid dislocation: Techniques of surgical reduction*

Arytenoid dislocation is commonly misdiagnosed as vocal fold paralysis. Accurate, early diagnosis increases the likelihood of easy surgical reduction and good functional outcome. However, successful reduction can be accomplished even many years after arytenoid dislocation. Anterior, posterior, and complex dislocation can occur. Different surgical techniques are appropriate for each arytenoid malposition.
A 2D study of the effects of the size of a solid core on the equatorial flow in giant planets

Zonal winds simulated in two-dimensional computer models of turbulent convection in the equatorial plane of giant planets have greater surface amplitudes for cases with smaller solid cores, and therefore larger buoyancy driving, all other properties being equal. This differential rotation in radius is maintained by the convergence of angular momentum flux, which occurs because of the convective flow that develops due to the effects of planetary rotation and density stratification. The superposition of the convective flow and the stronger zonal flow produces wave-like, instead of cellular convection.
The challenge of "teaching" large groups of learners: strategies to increase active participation and learning.

While teaching in a tutorial, seminar, or problem-based learning group format may be the most fun and most active/interactive for both learner and faculty mentor, there are situations in medical student education in which various constraints require the use of the "lecture" format. Similar constraints may occur in the field of continuing medical education, or graduate medical education, as well. When this occurs, the faculty mentor can increase the active participation of the learners in the audience by continuously stressing seven key pedagogical (androgogical) principles. These include: 1) begin the learning exercise with a clinical example or anecdote to show the relevance of the material to the student; 2) frequently ask the students whether they have ever seen examples of what you describe in their previous experience with patients, personal experience, experience with relatives, etc.; 3) ask students frequently whether they have heard similar material presented differently in other courses; 4) recruit students to help solve "mystery cases"; 5) show examples of similar material from real life (e.g., patient descriptions, or even excerpts from favorite TV shows); 6) ask students to help summarize key points at the end of the session; and 7) allow, or even encourage, whispering during the class. Using some or all of these techniques can help turn a "lecture format" into a much more fun, interactive, and valuable session that emphasizes "learning" rather than "teaching."
Autoantibodies as predictors of disease

Summary Context Many human diseases are the result of autoimmune attack, presumably related to a loss of tolerance to self. Autoimmune disease can be divided into either organ-specific illnesses, such as thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, and mysasthenia gravis, or systemic illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The pathogenesis of autoimmune damage also segregates autoimmune disease in that some diseases or manifestations are mainly induced by autoantibodies. Pathogenesis may be mainly mediated by autoimmune T lymphocytes. Notwithstanding the underlying mechanism of disease, virtually all autoimmune diseases are associated with circulating autoantibodies, which bind self-protein. Furthermore, for many diseases these autoantibodies are found in serum samples many years before disease onset. Starting point In the past several years a new autoantibody specificity has been identified in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These autoantibodies bind citrulline, a post-translational modification of arginine. Markus Nielen and colleagues recently studied the presence of these autoantibodies and rheumatoid factor in blood donors who later developed rheumatoid arthritis ( Arthritis Rheum 2004; 50 : 380–86). About half the patients were positive for at least autoantibody at a median of 4·5 years before the onset of disease. The negative predictive value of these tests was high, while the positive predictive value was very high. Where next? Autoantibodies might not be directly responsible for many of the manifestations of autoimmune disease, but they are markers of future disease in presently healthy individuals. Long-term large studies of outcome are needed to assess the use of assaying autoantibodies for prediction of disease. Such data could lead to intervention trials to prevent autoimmune disease, as are already underway in type 1 diabetes.
8×10 Gbit/s WDM repeaterless transmission over 240km SMF using modified duobinary RZ signals

We have experimentally demonstrated 8 times 10 Gbit/s modified duo-binary RZ (MD-RZ) signal repeaterless transmission over a record length of 240 km standard fibre (SMF-28). A Raman amplifier was used to enhance the OSNR and extend the repeaterless transmission distance with low receiver penalty.
Visual Analytics for Requirements-driven Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is a complex decision making process during certification and accreditation (C&A) activities. It requires to understand the multidimensional correlations among numerous C&A requirements to reason about their collective and adequate behavior to minimize risks to a software system. Also, diverse stakeholders in the organizational hierarchy should be able to comprehend and utilize the risk assessment artifacts to agree upon an acceptable level of risks and justify the criticality and cost of mitigation strategies related to C&A requirements. We believe requirements visualization plays an important role in providing rich contextual information for understanding and analyzing risk assessment artifacts and present our initial experiences in using intuitive visual metaphors and their explanations for requirements-driven risk assessment.