cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender labels and play styles: their relative contribution to children's selection of playmates

The relative contribution of gender labels and play styles (masculine or feminine) in playmate selection was evaluated in 60 children between the ages of 4 and 8 years using a novel interview measure. In the interview, when targets' gender labels and targets' play styles were presented as independent dimensions, children showed predicted sex differences in preferences for gender labels and for play styles (including toys, rough-and-tumble play, and activity level). However, when targets' gender labels and targets' play styles were presented as competing dimensions, boys of all ages chose female targets with masculine play styles over male targets with feminine play styles. In contrast, younger girls (4-5-year-olds) chose female targets with masculine play styles, whereas older girls (6-8-year-olds) chose male targets with feminine play styles. This suggests possible sex differences in the contribution of gender labels and of play styles in the development of children's preferences for same-sexed playmates.
Pacing stress echocardiography: an alternative to pharmacologic stress testing.

Abstract OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of bedside pacing stress echocardiography (PASE) as a potential substitute for pharmacologic stress echocardiography in patients admitted to the hospital with new-onset chest pain or worsening angina pectoris. BACKGROUND Accurate and rapid noninvasive identification and evaluation of the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) is essential for optimal management of these patients. METHODS Bedside transthoracic stress echocardiography was performed in 54 consecutive patients admitted to a community hospital with new-onset chest pain, after acute myocardial infarction had been excluded. We used 10F transesophageal pacing catheters and a rapid and modified pacing protocol. The PASE results were validated in all patients by coronary angiography performed within 24 h of the test. Significant CAD was defined as ≥75% stenosis in at least one major epicardial coronary artery. RESULTS The sensitivity of PASE for identifying patients with significant CAD was 95%, specificity was 87% and accuracy was 92%. The extent of significant CAD (single- or multivessel disease) was highly concordant with coronary angiography (kappa = 0.73, p 85% of the age-predicted target was achieved in 94% of patients. The average duration of the bedside PASE test, including image interpretation, was 38 ± 6 min. CONCLUSIONS Bedside PASE is rapid, tolerable and accurate for identification of significant CAD in patients admitted to the hospital with new-onset chest pain or worsening angina pectoris.
Correlation between near-infrared tissue spectra and pH, temperature, and blood flow using partial least squares

It has been shown that near-infrared spectroscopy is a feasible technique to non-invasively measure tissue pH in vivo. Since this technique relies on pH-induced changes in heme protein spectra, other factors that affect those spectra were investigated. In this study, the correlation between spectra collected from the bowel (575-1100 nm) with local tissue temperature and blood flow were investigated simultaneously with pH changes during eight independent swine hemorrhagic shock experiments. Using Partial Least-squares (PLS) and cross-validation techniques to correlate changes in spectra to measured changes in the above parameters, we observed good pH correlation results. The same time points were then used to build PLS calibration models for temperature, and flow. Separate models for ischemia and reperfusion periods were calculated for each experiment. Average correlation coefficients (R 2 ) and standard error of prediction (SEP) are reported for models that had predictive ability. Blood flow was poorly correlated with pH, less than half of the data could be successfully modeled. Temperature showed some correlation with pH and PLS models could be built for most of the reperfusion data. This analysis affirms the ability to develop NIR pH calibration models based solely on pH reference measurements, however temperature correction may provide improved accuracy when large temperature changes occur.
Characterization and thermodynamic studies of the interactions of two chiral polymeric surfactants with model substances: phenylthiohydantoin amino acids.

Analytical ultracentrifugation is used for determination of the molecular weights and the sedimentation coefficients of poly(sodium undecanoyl-l-valinate) (PSUV) and poly(sodium undecanoyl-l-threoninate) (PSUT) at different temperatures. Plots of absorbance as a function of radius indicates that both PSUV and PSUT are highly monodispersed. A method for evaluating the partial specific volumes using density measurements is presented. The partial specific volumes of PSUV are slightly higher than those of PSUT. In addition, the temperature dependence of the retention factor in electrokinetic chromatography was used to estimate the enthalpy, the entropy, and the Gibbs free energy of the surfactant/analyte complexes. Five phenylthiohydantoin-dl-amino acids were separated and each enantiomeric pair was completely resolved. Comparison of the thermodynamic values obtained with PSUV vs PSUT using a van't Hoff relationship suggests that PSUT, with a less favorable free energy change (i.e., less negative Δ(ΔG)), gene...
Acid Removal from Sunflower Pectin Gel through Ethanol Washing

Sunflower heads remaining after seed removal is a potential source of low-methoxyl pectin. After extraction and acid precipitation of pectin gel, aqueous ethanol solution was used to purify the pectin. Ethanol washing of nitric acid-precipitated gel in a countercurrent process at 20°C removed acid. Concentration of nitric acid in the ethanol solvent varied depending on washing time, acid concentration in the gel, ethanol in washing solution, and ratio of gel to washing solution. Gel/solvent ratios of 1 :2, 1 :1.8, and 1 :1.5 increased gel pH at the rate of 0.024, 0.022, and 0.018 pH units per min, respectively. Diffusion rate constants of nitric acid from the gel to washing solution were 5.281 X 10 -2 , 4.855 x 10 -2 , and 4.282 x 10 -2 min -1 , respectively. A cubic regression equation was developed to express the relationship between nitric acid concentrations and pH.
Helicity probabilities for heavy quark fragmentation into excited mesons

In the fragmentation of a heavy quark into a heavy meson whose light degrees of freedom have angular momentum 3/2, all the helicity probabilities are completely determined in the heavy quark limit up to a single probability ${\mathit{w}}_{3/2}$. We point out that this probability depends on the longitudinal momentum fraction z of the meson and on its transverse momentum ${\mathit{p}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$ relative to the jet axis. We calculate ${\mathit{w}}_{3/2}$ as a function of scaling variables corresponding to z and ${\mathit{p}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$ by taking the heavy quark limit of the perturbative QCD fragmentation functions for a b quark to fragment into P-wave (bc\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}) mesons. In this model, the light degrees of freedom prefer to have their angular momentum aligned transverse to, rather than along, the jet axis. The implications for the production of excited heavy mesons, such as ${\mathit{D}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$ and ${\mathit{B}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$, are discussed.
Rat strain differences in susceptibility to alcohol-induced chronic liver injury and hepatic insulin resistance.

The finding of more severe steatohepatitis in alcohol fed Long Evans (LE) compared with Sprague Dawley (SD) and Fisher 344 (FS) rats prompted us to determine whether host factors related to alcohol metabolism, inflammation, and insulin/IGF signaling predict proneness to alcohol-mediated liver injury. Adult FS, SD, and LE rats were fed liquid diets containing 0% or 37% (calories) ethanol for 8 weeks. Among controls, LE rats had significantly higher ALT and reduced GAPDH relative to SD and FS rats. Among ethanol-fed rats, despite similar blood alcohol levels, LE rats had more pronounced steatohepatitis and fibrosis, higher levels of ALT, DNA damage, pro-inflammatory cytokines, ADH, ALDH, catalase, GFAP, desmin, and collagen expression, and reduced insulin receptor binding relative to FS rats. Ethanol-exposed SD rats had intermediate degrees of steatohepatitis, increased ALT, ADH and profibrogenesis gene expression, and suppressed insulin receptor binding and GAPDH expression, while pro-inflammatory cytokines were similarly increased as in LE rats. Ethanol feeding in FS rats only reduced IL-6, ALDH1–3, CYP2E1, and GAPDH expression in liver. In conclusion, susceptibility to chronic steatohepatitis may be driven by factors related to efficiency of ethanol metabolism and degree to which ethanol exposure causes hepatic insulin resistance and cytokine activation.
Von Willebrand disease, hemophilia A and B, and other factor deficiencies.

For anesthesiologists dealing with surgical patients with inherited coagulation disorders, understanding the pathophysiology of such disorders will help reduce excessive perioperative blood loss, unnecessary exposure to infectious agents, and the cost of using plasma and recombinant-derived coagulat
A fluorescent peptide substrate facilitates investigation of ghrelin recognition and acylation by ghrelin O-acyltransferase

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone involved in regulation of appetite, glucose homeostasis, and a range of other physiological processes. Ghrelin requires a unique posttranslational modification, octanoylation of a serine side chain, to bind its cognate receptor to activate signaling. The enzyme that catalyzes this modification, ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), is receiving increased interest as a potential drug target for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and other diseases proposed to be linked to ghrelin signaling. In this study, we report the development of a novel fluorescence-based assay for GOAT activity and the use of this assay to investigate GOAT inhibition and interactions underlying human GOAT (hGOAT) substrate selectivity. Using a series of mutations and chemical modifications of our fluorescent peptide substrate, we have identified specific groups on the first two amino acids of ghrelin that potentially contribute to ghrelin recognition by hGOAT. These data provide the first molecular-level information regarding interactions within the ghrelin-hGOAT complex. Defining the interactions used by hGOAT to bind and recognize ghrelin will provide insight into the structure of the hGOAT active site, aid in the design and optimization of targeted hGOAT inhibitors, and help to assess the possibility of novel hGOAT substrates beyond ghrelin.
Planning for research and development— the impact on society

Abstract This work upon which this article is based has been designed to identify only the most significant facets of future research and development (R & D) and planning in terms of their potential impact on the economic aspect of society. In order to see the impact in the United States, some contrasts have been drawn against the current and future R & D activities of other countries. In looking for overt directions in environmental developments, it is impossible to escape the realization that no other activity has the potential to affect the lives of all men to the extent of science and technology. Hopefully, by dealing briefly with many facets of R & D, the great scope of this activity may become more evident. The first part of this article provides the background against which future trends in R & D are examined. Next, separate considerations of the impact that R & D has on the economic elements of the environment are examined. These discussions form the basis for the hypothesis that R & D planning and decision making must not only consider the organizational viewpoint, but also must consider the environment. In this light, a hypothetical R & D planning model is presented in the last section which attempts to direct the selection of the ends in R & D planning toward some socially responsible goal.
The Information Highway as Revolution or Evolution

The potential of the information highway to revolutionize communication has become a popular media topic. This article, however, suggests that society is more likely in the midst of an information evolution. The author uses new media technology and forecasting literatures as a framework to evaluate current technology developments and public discussion about the information highway. In addition to delineating a series of technological, political, and economic factors that mitigate revolutionary development, the article compares the hopeful rhetoric that surrounds the information highway to the similar, unfulfilled discourse that accompanied previous innovations. The author points toward an historical tendency for over‐estimation of diffusion and exaggerated claims about benefits for previous technologies as additional factors that point toward an evolution.
Infrared optics of structured metal–insulator particulates

We show that rodlike particulates structured from interleaving layers of metal and insulator (or semiconductor) can exhibit novel infrared and far infrared characteristics that are tunable through the control of their geometric parameters. Results of scattering and absorption calculations are presented which demonstrate the validity of approximating the dielectric constant of the layered material by its effective medium value, thereby simplifying the prediction of the infrared properties. By clarifying the origin of the infrared absorption peaks, it is shown that the positions of the peaks are dependent on the transverse dimension of the particles as well as on the insulator dielectric constant and its relative fraction. The infrared characteristics of the structured particulates are contrasted with those of the metal, the insulator, and the semiconductor.
To switch or not to switch: understanding social influence in online choices

We designed and ran an experiment to measure social influence in online recommender systems, specifically how often people's choices are changed by others' recommendations when facing different levels of confirmation and conformity pressures. In our experiment participants were first asked to provide their preferences between pairs of items. They were then asked to make second choices about the same pairs with knowledge of others' preferences. Our results show that others people's opinions significantly sway people's own choices. The influence is stronger when people are required to make their second decision sometime later (22.4%) than immediately (14.1%). Moreover, people seem to be most likely to reverse their choices when facing a moderate, as opposed to large, number of opposing opinions. Finally, the time people spend making the first decision significantly predicts whether they will reverse their decisions later on, while demographics such as age and gender do not. These results have implications for consumer behavior research as well as online marketing strategies.
Hand preference in a captive island group of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Morphological cerebral asymmetries in chimpanzee brains, similar to those found in humans, in whom they are associated with speech and handedness, suggest the possibility of functional lateralization in the chimpanzee. This possibility was investigated by examining hand preferences in an island group of five chimpanzees on a series of unimanual and bimanual tasks that are diagnostic of human hand and cerebral dominance. Each subject was tested in a double compartment cage on three unimanual nonsequential, three unimanual sequential, and three bimanual coordination tasks. One of the three unimanual sequential tasks was a bar-press task that is analogous to the commonly used human finger-tapping task. For the unimanual tasks, exclusive of the bar-press, the chimpanzees showed a highly individualistic pattern of hand preference that did not change as a function of task complexity. On the bar-press task, four of five subjects produced higher rates with one hand compared to the other; however, relative hand performance on this task was unrelated to hand preference on the other unimanual tasks. For the group of subjects, performance rates did not differ between the left and right hands; however, a practice effect was observed for the right hand in all subjects. The bimanual tasks also revealed a complex pattern of individual handedness, with no trends apparent for the group as a whole. Consistent with previous findings, the results from these tests on this group of five chimpanzees suggest that cerebral morphological asymmetries in the chimpanzee are not associated with motor dominance as reflected in handedness.
A Simulated Annealing Approach to the Solution of Flexible Labour Scheduling Problems

This paper presents a new solution approach to the discontinuous labour tour scheduling problem where the objective is to minimize the number of full-time employees required to satisfy forecast demand. Previous heuristic approaches have often limited the number of allowable tours by restricting labour scheduling flexibility in terms of shift length, shift start-times, days-off, meal-break placement, and other factors. These restrictions were essential to the tractability of the heuristic approaches but often resulted in solutions that contained a substantial amount of excess labour. In this study, we relaxed many of the restrictions on scheduling flexibility assumed in previous studies. The resulting problem environment contained more than two billion allowable tours, precluding the use of previous heuristic methods. Consequently, we developed a simulated annealing heuristic for solving the problem. An important facet of this new approach is an ‘intelligent’ improvement routine which eliminates the need for long run-times typically associated with simulated annealing algorithms. The simulated annealing framework does not rely on a special problem structure and our implementation rapidly converged to near-optimal solutions for all problems in the test environment.
Pathology of selected abdominal masses in children.

EUROBLASTOMA is the most common neoplasm that causes abdominal enlargement in childhood. The adrenal medulla and the retroperitoneal sympathetic nerves are the principal primary sites. Long-established favorable prognostic factors in patients with neuroblastoma are diagnosis during infancy, clinical stage, thoracic location, and high degree of maturation in the primary tumor? Presumably all ganglioneuromas originate as neuroblastoma, and it is reasonable to think that the rapidity and extent of maturation is an important prognostic feature. Serum levels of ferritin, neuron-specific enolase, and E-rosette inhibition have all been reported to distinguish patients at high risk from those at low risk. ~ The amplification of the oncogene N-myc has been correlated with advanced stages of neuroblastoma and promises to be an excellent predictor of outcome) The broad spectrum of clinical behavior and stubborn resistance of many neuroblastomas to modern therapy has encouraged studies aimed at refining histologic criteria so as to improve prediction of outcome. The recent excellent effort by Shimada et al I has produced a scheme wherein the lesion is classified as stroma-poor (80% of cases) or stroma-rich (20% of cases) on the basis of neuritic (partially mature) or neuromatous (mature) stroma content. The stroma-poor group is further classified as favorable (84% survival) and unfavorable (4.5% survival) on the basis of age at diagnosis, degree of maturation, and frequency of mitosis/karyorhexis. The prospect that this approach may identify younger patients with aggressive tumors and older patients with less aggressive tumors is encouraging. The stromarich group is further classified into well-differentiated (100% survival), mixed (92% survival), and nodular (18% survival). Well-differentiated tumors are essentially ganglioneuromas with nearly complete maturation. The mixed and nodular lesions are composed of both neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma tissue, and have been termed composite neuroblastoma. 4 The ominous nodular form consists of a discrete mass of neuroblastoma surrounded by mature ganglioneuroma tissue (Fig 1). Nodular composite tumors may represent emergence of a clone of mutant malignant neuroblasts at a late stage in the orderly sequence of ganglioneuromotous maturation. Careful attention to surgical, radiologic, and pathologic technique is necessary to identify nodular stroma-rich composite neuroblastoma. RENAL MASSES
Spatial and temporal patterns in high-power ferromagnetic resonance.

Previous work on bifurcations and chaos in ferromagnetic resonance has singled out only the most unstable pair of spin waves for consideration, even though in general an entire manifold of spin wave is elegible for instability. This serious defect is removed here, and, as the result, we are able to calculate analytically the frequency of the limit cycle and its accompanying distinctive spatial correlation patterns.
Cellular immune response parameters that influence IgE sensitization

In vitro basophil responses have longed been used in mechanistic studies to help assess the human allergic diathesis, particularly during therapeutic intervention. Recent evidence points to the use of dendritic cells (DCs) in also being valuable in evaluating therapies aimed at lessening disease through immunomodulation. This review article therefore takes a look at some of the recent advances in old and new assays employing both basophils and DCs, with the added perception that the responses mediated by two cell types are insightful towards understanding immune cell mechanisms underlying allergic disease.
General anesthesia occurs frequently in elderly patients during propofol-based sedation and spinal anesthesia.

Abstract Study Objective To test the hypothesis that sedation in elderly patients is often electrophysiologically equivalent to general anesthesia (GA). Design Prospective, observational study. Setting Operating room of a university medical center. Patients 40 elderly patients (≥65 yrs of age) undergoing hip fracture repair with spinal anesthesia and propofol-based sedation. Interventions In the routine practice group (RP; n=15), propofol sedation was administered per the usual routine of the anesthesiologist. In the targeted sedation group (TS; n=25), sedation was titrated to an observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) score of 4 (ie, lethargic in response to name called) to 5 (ie, awake and alert). Measurements Both patient groups underwent processed electroencephalographic monitoring using bispectral index (BIS) intraoperatively. BIS levels were compared between groups to determine amount of surgical time spent in GA (BIS ≤ 60). Main Results In the RP group, subjects spent 32.2% of surgical time at BIS levels consistent with GA. Although averaged BIS values during surgery increased from (mean ± SD) 71 ± 16 to 88 ± 9 ( P P Conclusions BIS levels consistent with GA occur frequently in elderly patients during propofol-based sedation for spinal anesthesia. Altering routine practice such that sedation is titrated to a targeted clinically-determined sedation level reduces – but does not eliminate – this incidence.
Osmium isotope constraints on lower crustal recycling and pluton preservation at Lassen Volcanic Center, CA

Abstract Osmium isotope compositions of intermediate- to silicic-composition calc-alkaline volcanic rocks from the Lassen volcanic region of the Cascade arc are significantly more radiogenic (γOs=+23 to +224) than typical mantle. These evolved arc rocks in the Lassen region have unradiogenic Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope compositions which overlap with those of contemporaneous mafic lavas. Crystal fractionation of mafic- to intermediate-composition magmas produces Re/Os ratios that are high enough to evolve to very radiogenic Os isotope compositions in only a few million years, providing a potential fingerprint for detecting the involvement of such young, relatively mafic crust in magmatic systems. However, the Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope compositions will remain constant over such short time intervals due to relatively low parent/daughter enrichment during magmatic evolution. The radiogenic Os isotope compositions in typically evolved Lassen rocks are interpreted to reflect significant interaction with lower crustal material that has radiogenic Os isotope compositions. Beneath this section of the Cascade arc, large amounts of such high-γOs lower crust may have formed and been isolated from MASH zone mixing and homogenization processes during the Pliocene or Late Miocene. The results from this study indicate that Os isotopes may provide a unique glimpse into lower crustal processes, such as recycling, in primitive orogenic arcs.
Real Time Forward Kinematics Solutions for General Stewart Platforms

A new paradigm is introduced for solving the forward kinematics of general Stewart platforms in real-time. It consists of an off-line preprocessing phase and an online realtime evaluation phase. In the preprocessing phase, the platform leg (link) space is decomposed into cells, and a large set of data is generated for the platform position/orientation (pose), and their corresponding link lengths are computed using the known inverse kinematics. Due to the existence of multiple solutions (poses) for a particular link vector, a data classification technique is employed to identify various solutions. The classified data are used to find the parameters of a simple model that represents the forward kinematics within a cell. These parameters are stored in a lookup table. During the online phase, given the link lengths, the appropriate cell is identified, the model parameters are retrieved from the lookup table and the poses are computed. The proposed method is tested on a Stewart platform, and the accuracy and online times are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method for real-time applications.
Role of risk assessments in viral safety: an FDA perspective.

Available guidance documents, such as the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Q5a: Viral Safety Evaluation of Biotechnology Products Derived from Cell Lines of Human or Animal Origin, delineate principles to consider when assessing the viral safety of biotechnology products ([1][1]). The
Switching sliding mode force tracking control of piezoelectric-hydraulic pump-based friction element actuation systems for automotive transmissions

In this study, a nonlinear sliding-mode controller is designed for force tracking of a piezoelectric-hydraulic pump (PHP)-based actuation system, which is developed to replace the current electro-hydraulic actuation systems for automatic transmission (AT) friction elements, such as band brakes or clutches. By utilizing the PHP, one can eliminate the various hydraulic components (oil pump, regulating valve and control valve) in current ATs and achieve a simpler configuration with more efficient operation. With the derived governing equation of motion of the PHP-based actuation system integrated with the friction element (band brake), a switching control law is synthesized based on the sliding-mode theory. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed control law, its force tracking performance for the engagement of a friction element during an AT 1→ 2 up-shift is examined experimentally. It is shown that one can successfully track the desired force trajectory for AT shift control with small tracking error. This study demonstrates the potential of the PHP as a new controllable actuation system for AT friction elements. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
Craniofacial Inclination at 14 to 39 Weeks' Gestation in Normal Korean Fetuses

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate a normal range for prenatal craniofacial inclination using images of fetal profiles at 14 to 39 weeks' gestation in normal Korean fetuses. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 308 normal fetuses at 14 to 39 weeks' gestation. After the exclusion of images with inadequate quality, the sagittal plane of the sonographic fetal facial profile from 250 normal fetuses was evaluated. The frontomaxillary facial, frontonasal, maxilla-nasion-mandibular, and mandibulomaxillary facial angles were measured and are presented according to gestational age. RESULTS The overall mean frontomaxillary facial angle ± SD was 86.0° ± 7.6° between 14 weeks 6 days' and 39 weeks 2 days' gestation without a significant association between the frontomaxillary facial angle and gestational week. The overall mean frontonasal, maxilla-nasion-mandibular, and mandibulomaxillary facial angles were 125.8° ± 7.2°, 4.7° ± 3.3°, and 83.2° ± 8.5° between 14 weeks and 39 weeks 6 days. There was a significant linear correlation between gestational age and the frontonasal angle (r = -0.1534; P = .0187; y = -0.188 × gestational age + 130.7), maxilla-nasion-mandibular angle (r = -0.2773; P < .0001; y = -0.160 × gestational age + 9.0), and mandibulomaxillary facial angle (r = -0.2861; P < .0001; y = -0.432 × gestational age + 94.6). CONCLUSIONS We provide preliminary normative data for fetal facial angles related to craniofacial inclination across gestational ages in normal Korean fetuses. These data may be of help not only for the understanding of normal facial growth in utero but also for diagnosis of abnormal fetal facial dimensions.
PHYSIOLOGY OF RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE: REPORT ON PROGRESS

AN ATTEMPT has been made to evaluate the fundamental background of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis by understanding better the details of normal laryngeal and recurrent larygneal nerve function (1, 2, 3). We have been interested in demonstrating, if possible, true laryngeal motor function, and in eliminating controversial opinion as to recurrent nerve innervation. Accordingly we developed an apparatus with which we could record photographically changes produced by the alteration of vocal cord position when the various nerves supplying the larynx were stimulated in experimental animals. We wanted to know why abductor function is lost first in the recurrent laryngeal nerve in the presence of a lesion or following trauma to the nerve; why the vocal cord remains in the mid line or near mid line following injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve; whether there is motor function in the internal division of the superior laryngeal nerve (claimed by some authors) as an explanation for vocal cord position follow...
Interlacing Is Not Necessary for Adaptive Control

The stability and optimality of an adaptive minimum variance controller for stochastic systems was first established by Goodwin, Ramadge and Caines [1] for unit delay systems. Subsequently this was generalized by Goodwin, Sin and Saluja [2] to the general delay case, by using a direct approach and an interlaced multiple recursion. However, the interlaced algorithm is both practically cumbersome and theoretically unsatisfying. Hence it has been a long standing problem to determine whether interlacing is really necessary. We resolve this issue by showing that interlacing is not needed for the stability and optimality of direct adaptive minimum variance control based on either the stochastic gradient or the extended least squares algorithms. The results are immediately applicable to adaptive prediction.
Maternal respiratory sensitization and gestational allergen exposure does not affect subsequent pup responses to homologous or heterologous allergen.

Evidence suggests that the predisposition towards atopy begins early in life. Maternal allergy has been associated with an increased risk of the development of allergic disease in offspring. Some studies suggest that the development of childhood atopy may also be influenced by prenatal allergen exposure. In this study, a respiratory allergen exposure model was used to determine the impact of maternal sensitization (with or without additional exposures during pregnancy) on subsequent pup responses to homologous or heterologous allergen. Female BALB/c mice received two intratracheal aspiration (IA) exposures to Metarhizium anisopliae crude antigen (MACA) or Hank’s buffered salt solution (HBSS) prior to breeding. Some mice also received three additional exposures during pregnancy. Control mothers did not receive treatment. Young adult offspring received three IA exposures to MACA, house dust mite extract (HDM) or HBSS. Offspring sensitized as young adults to either HDM or MACA developed an airway inflammator...
The Historical Context of Voter Photo-ID Laws

The issue before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Crawford case (Crawford v. Marion County Election Bd. 2008) was whether a law (Indiana Senate Enrolled Act No. 483) passed by the Indiana legislature requiring most voters to show a photo ID in order to cast a ballot violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Plaintiffs argued that it works an unfair hardship on many people who do not have the government-issued documents that count as a legitimate ID (Indiana Democratic Party et al., 12–16). They argued that the law, in effect, constitutes a poll tax, inasmuch as there are costs to obtain the right kind of photo ID, costs that unduly burden many eligible citizens wanting to exercise their right to vote.
Older but Wiser? Effects of Age on Political Cognition

In experimental studies of voter's information processing, Lau and Redlawsk (2006) found one control variable to have pervasive effects in their analyses: age. Age was associated with less information search, less memory, less accurate memory, and a lower probability of making a correct vote. Reexamining those experimental studies, we find that inexperience with computers and slower manual dexterity are both associated with less information access, but controlling on these factors, age continues to have a strong negative effect on information processing. In other more familiar situations, however, political knowledge can accumulate with greater experience, as it does with memories for actual presidential candidates and political parties, although this effect reverses at very advanced ages. Age has minimal effects on the probability of correct voting until the mid-60s, but we observe very sharp drop-offs thereafter. The normative implications of these findings for democratic representativeness are discussed.
Tumor masses support naive T cell infiltration, activation, and differentiation into effectors

Studies of T cell responses to tumors have focused on the draining lymph node (LN) as the site of activation. We examined the tumor mass as a potential site of activation after adoptive transfer of naive tumor-specific CD8 T cells. Activated CD8 T cells were present in tumors within 24 h of adoptive transfer and proliferation of these cells was also evident 4–5 d later in mice treated with FTY720 to prevent infiltration of cells activated in LNs. To confirm that activation of these T cells occurred in the tumor and not the tumor-draining LNs, we used mice lacking LNs. Activated and proliferating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were evident in these mice 24 h and 4 d after naive cell transfer. T cells activated within tumors acquired effector function that was evident both ex vivo and in vivo. Both cross-presenting antigen presenting cells within the tumor and tumor cells directly presenting antigen activated these functional CD8 effectors. We conclude that tumors support the infiltration, activation, and effector differentiation of naive CD8 T cells, despite the presence of immunosuppressive mechanisms. Thus, targeting of T cell activation to tumors may present a tool in the development of cancer immunotherapy.
Rules, Radical Pragmatics and Restrictions on Regular Polysemy

Although regular polysemy [e.g. producer for product (John read Dickens )o r container for contents (John drank the bottle)] has been extensively studied, there has been little work on why certain polysemy patterns are more acceptable than others. We take an empirical approach to the question, in particular evaluating an account based on rules against a gradient account of polysemy that is based on various radical pragmatic theories (Fauconnier 1985; Nunberg 1995). Under the gradient approach, possible senses become more acceptable as they become more closely related to a word’s default meaning, and the apparent regularity of polysemy is an artefact of having many similarly structured concepts. Using methods for measuring conceptual structure drawn from cognitive psychology, Study 1 demonstrates that a variety of metrics along which possible senses can be related to a default meaning, including conceptual centrality, cue validity and similarity, are surprisingly poor predictors of whether shifts to those senses are acceptable. Instead, sense acceptability was better explained by rule-based approaches to polysemy (e.g. Copestake & Briscoe 1995). Study 2 replicated this finding using novel word meanings in which the relatedness of possible senses was varied. However, while individual word senses were better predicted by polysemy rules than conceptual metrics, our data suggested that rules (like producer for product) had themselves arisen to mark senses that, aggregated over many similar words, were particularly closely related.
The PsyD: Heterogeneity in practitioner training

The paucity of research on PsyD programs has led to unsubstantiated generalizations and uniformity myths about practitioner training. The authors collected information on the admission rates, financial assistance, theoretical orientations, and selected characteristics of American Psychological Association (APA)–accredited PsyD programs in clinical psychology (89% response rate). Systematic comparisons were made between PsyD programs housed in university departments, university professional schools, and freestanding institutions to describe the differences and commonalities among the heterogeneous PsyD programs. Empirical comparisons were provided among APA-accredited PsyD, practice-oriented PhD, and research-oriented PhD programs in clinical psychology to highlight the distinctive features of PsyD programs.
An Initial Ontology for System Qualities

This paper presents an initial ontology for reasoning about a system's System Qualities (SQs), ilities, or non-functional requirements (reliability, usability, affordability, etc.). The need for such an ontology is based primarily on two factors. One is the importance of getting the SQs sufficiently well defined that the system's definition, development and evolution result in a satisfactory balance of SQ values for the system's success-critical stakeholders, given the frequent system shortfalls and overruns that occur when this balance is not achieved. The other is that current system acquisition and evolution guidance descriptions have numerous deficiencies and inconsistencies in their coverage of SQ considerations. This situation is becoming more serious as systems and their stakeholders become increasingly complex, dynamic, and diverse. This paper provides an elaboration of the needs, a set of initial SQ ontology elements and definitions, examples of their application to some key SQs and their relationships, and an identification of further research and development needed to make the ontology fully useful and evolvable.
Synchronization of Na/K pump molecules by an oscillating electric field

Synchronization of the Na/K pump molecules in a cell membrane was studied in frog skeletal muscle fibers using double Vaseline-gap voltage-clamp techniques. We found that the pumping rate of naturally random-paced pump molecules can be artificially synchronized by a pulsed, symmetric, oscillating membrane potential with a frequency comparable to the physiological turnover rate. The synchronized pump currents show separated outward and inward components, where the magnitude of the outward component is about three times the randomly-paced pump currents, and the magnitude-ratio of the outward to inward pump currents is close to 3:2, which reflects the stoichiometric ratio of the pump molecules. Once synchronized, the pumping rate is restricted to the field frequency, and the pump currents are mainly dependent on the field frequency, but not the field strength. In contrast to previous work, which by restraining the pumps at a presteady state succeeded in triggering the steps of the pump cycle only individually and between interruptions, here we synchronize the pumps running continuously and in a normal running mode.
Natural History of Patients with Subcentimeter Pulmonary Nodules Undergoing Hepatic Resection for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Background CT imaging frequently detects subcentimeter pulmonary nodules (SPN) in patients undergoing resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases. Their clinical significance is unknown. Study Design Patients were identified who underwent hepatic resection for colorectal cancer liver metastases between October 2004 and March 2006. The presence and imaging features of preoperative SPN were analyzed for their association with progression-free survival (PFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and SPN progression. Results One hundred sixty patients underwent liver resection and 68 (43%) had SPN identified preoperatively. Median number of nodules was 1 (75th percentile: ≤2 nodules) and median size of the largest was 3 mm (25th to 75th percentile: 2 to 5 mm). SPN were unilateral in 77%, calcified in 19%, solid in 92%, and smooth in contour in 95% of patients. At median follow-up of 31 months for survivors, SPN were proven to be metastatic disease in 35% of patients (24 of 68), either by radiographic increase in size or number (n = 12) or histologic confirmation after resection (n = 12). Median PFS for the 160 patients was 16 months and 3-year DSS was 78%. There was a trend toward shorter median PFS in patients with preoperative SPN compared with patients with no SPN (12 versus 20 months; p=0.242). There was no difference in 3-year DSS (70% versus 83%; p=0.46). SPN progression after hepatic resection did not substantially affect 3-year DSS. Calcified nodules were less likely to progress compared with noncalcified nodules (8% versus 42%; p=0.03). Conclusion SPN are common among patients undergoing resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases and approximately one-third of these will prove to be metastatic disease. Presence of limited preoperative SPN might be associated with shorter PFS after hepatectomy, but does not substantially impact 3-year DSS, and should not necessarily preclude resection of hepatic metastases.
Assessing the evidence for value-based insurance design

High copayments for medical services can cause patients to underuse essential therapies. Value-based health insurance design attempts to address this problem by explicitly linking cost sharing and value. Copayments are set at low levels for high-value services. The Mercer National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans demonstrates that value-based insurance design use is increasing and that 81 percent of large employers plan to offer it in the near future. Despite this increase, few studies have adequately evaluated its ability to improve quality and reduce health spending. Maximizing the benefits of value-based insurance design will require mechanisms to target appropriate copayment reductions, offset short-run cost outlays, and expand its use to other health services.
Cutile air and bone conduction thresholds of the deaf.

This article reports an exploration of whether low frequency air and bone thresholds elicited at high intensity levels from deaf children reflect valid auditory sensitivity or are mediated through ...
Contributions of Residual Calcium to Fast Synaptic Transmission

Fast neurotransmitter release is driven by high calcium (10–100 μm) near open channels (Ca local ), followed by a much smaller ( res ). The most prominent component of release, phasic release, lasts several milliseconds and is thought to be triggered by Ca local . A transient tail of release then continues over the next 20 msec at 1–10% of peak rates. This transient component of release, which we refer to as TR, is poorly understood, and there is conflicting evidence regarding the role of Ca local and Ca res in its generation. We used optical methods to monitor Ca res and whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings to study TR at synapses between granule cells and stellate cells in rat cerebellar slices. After stimulation the probability of release is elevated greatly, peaking at 500 μsec and then slowly declining to prestimulus levels after tens of milliseconds. After speeding the decay of Ca res levels with EGTA, release is confined to a 3 msec interval, and TR is eliminated. Thus, we find that Ca res accounts for a transient tail of release on the millisecond time scale that helps to shape the average synaptic current and accounts for at least 20% of the synaptic charge in the 20 msec interval after stimulation. Ca res -dependent TR is likely to contribute significantly to fast synaptic transmission under physiological conditions, particularly during high-frequency bursts that elevate Ca res .
Satellite control of Jovian 2-6 MHz radio emission using Voyager data

[1] Jupiter's satellite Io no longer has the only known effect in controlling the low-frequency Jovian radio emissions. Menietti et al. (1998, 2001) used a long and contiguous set of data in the range of 2.0–5.6 MHz from the Galileo spacecraft and found correlations with the orbital phase of Ganymede and Callisto. Recently, Higgins et al. (2006) used all of the Galileo orbiter data and found that Europa's phase shows a minor but statistically significant effect on the lower range of decametric emissions. In this paper, results are found that confirm previous work for all four Galilean satellites by combining Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 flyby data in the frequency range of 2.1–5.8 MHz. The data were analyzed using the unique occurrence probability data compilation technique that includes 10-hour averaging and satellite bias removal. A statistical significance Z-test was computed to compare sample populations for each enhanced region of occurrence against the background. We find significance values greater than the 95% confidence level (Z > 2σ) for Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Least squares fits to histograms of relative occurrence probability also show similar results. The cause of these correlations is believed to be Alfvenic interactions between the individual satellite and Jupiter.
Uncertainty in the diagnosis of histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer cases

In doing a case-control study of cancer of the exocrine pancreas, a set of criteria was developed to classify cancer of the exocrine pancreas by pathological and diagnostic data as to the probability that the tumor arose in the pancreas. We applied these criteria to the records of 125 consecutive patients between the ages of 40-79 years who were identified as having adenocarcinomas of the exocrine pancreas from a population-based cancer registry. We found that histological confirmation by a cancer registry does not guarantee the site of origin is the pancreas. Of the histologically confirmed cases meeting our study criteria, 28.7% may not have arisen in the pancreas. Forty-seven per cent of non-histologically confirmed cases, which most studies exclude, were almost certainly of pancreatic origin based on computerized tomogram (CT) scan and/or surgical palpation and subsequent clinical course. These figures may underestimate the full extent of diagnostic misclassification, especially in older age groups. We conclude that epidemiological studies of cancer of the exocrine pancreas need more uniform criteria for defining cases, and these criteria should take into account uncertainty as to site of origin. Sufficient detail of our scheme is presented so it can be applied in other studies.