cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Incommensurability of Laws and Technical Mechanisms: Or, What Cryptography Can’t Do

We examine several technology-policy debates in which technical and legal perspectives are so at odds that they approach incommensurability. Investigating the use of digital rights management systems in the online-copyright debate and the dispute over the impact of end-to-end encryption on lawful surveillance, we offer an analysis of the source of this incommensurability. In these two policy debates, both sides invoke the rule of law to support their position, but in each case they draw selectively from the constituent parts of the rule of law, resulting in seemingly irreconcilable differences. We show that the rule of law is actually composed of rules (susceptible to deterministic evaluation against a set of facts) and principles (expressing important values but not susceptible to purely formal evaluation). The clash between rules and principles exacerbates the difference in perspective between system designers, who favor formal rules, and policy makers, who are more comfortable with situational application of principles. Following our observation that the rules-principles gap makes for incommensurate debate between legal and technical actors, we identify steps that each discipline can take to move toward more coherent policy for the networked, digital environment.
Some new estimates for the complex Monge-Ampère equation

In this paper, we consider the complex Monge-Ampere equation posed on a compact Kahler manifold. We show how to get Lp (p < ∞) and L∞ estimates for the gradient of the solution in terms of the continuity of the right-hand side.
Adverse Cutaneous Reactions to Chemotherapeutic Agents

As major advancements in cancer treatment are being made, adverse effects including cutaneous ones are increased in parallel. The cutaneous adverse events result in declined quality of life as well as increased cost of health care. Awareness of the spectrum of these adverse cutaneous reaction patterns is important since they can change the treatment strategy. In this chapter the common cutaneous adverse reactions associated with chemotherapy, tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, epidermal growth factor inhibitor, kinase inhibitors, immune checkpoint blockade, and other targeted therapies will be discussed.
Asymptotic normality of robust risk minimizers

This paper investigates asymptotic properties of a class of algorithms that can be viewed as robust analogues of the classical empirical risk minimization. These strategies are based on replacing the usual empirical average by a robust proxy of the mean, such as the (version of) the median-of-means estimator. It is well known by now that the excess risk of resulting estimators often converges to 0 at optimal rates under much weaker assumptions than those required by their "classical" counterparts. However, much less is known about the asymptotic properties of the estimators themselves, for instance, whether robust analogues of the maximum likelihood estimators are asymptotically efficient. We make a step towards answering these questions and show that for a wide class of parametric problems, minimizers of the appropriately defined robust proxy of the risk converge to the minimizers of the true risk at the same rate, and often have the same asymptotic variance, as the estimators obtained by minimizing the usual empirical risk. Moreover, our results show that robust algorithms based on the so-called "min-max" type procedures in many cases provably outperform, is the asymptotic sense, algorithms based on direct risk minimization.
Characterization of an anti-FLAG antibody binding protein in V. cholerae.

FLAG-tags are commonly used for protein abundance measurements and for identification of protein-protein interactions in living cells. We have observed that the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae encodes a FLAG-antibody-reactive protein and identified this protein as an outer membrane porin, Porin4, which contains a sequence very similar to the 3xFLAG epitope tag. We have demonstrated the binding affinity of the conserved peptide sequence (called Porin 4 tag) in Porin4 against monoclonal anti-FLAG M2 antibody. In addition, we created a porin4 deletion mutant, which can be used for background-less FLAG antibody detection experiments.
Optimizing the duration of trastuzumab: A fresh perspective

Prior to the introduction of trastuzumab, the first targeted anti-HER2 agent, in 1998, patients diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer felt like they were being handed a death sentence. Despite treatment with aggressive chemotherapy, their tumors recurred faster, more often spread to brain and liver, and were associated with higher rates of death than HER2-negative tumors. HER2-positive breast cancer was also more prevalent in younger patients, making the diagnosis even more devastating. However, in the 1980s, cancer researcher Axel Ullrich, PhD, and oncologist Dennis Slamon, MD, PhD, recognized that HER2 could be targeted by a small molecule that binds to the receptor on the cell surface and blocks the signal telling the cell to divide. This small molecule was called trastuzumab, and it eventually completely changed how HER2-positive breast cancer was treated.
PolyFrame: A Retargetable Query-based Approach to Scaling DataFrames (Extended Version).

In the last few years, the field of data science has been growing rapidly as various businesses have adopted statistical and machine learning techniques to empower their decision making and applications. Scaling data analysis, possibly including the application of custom machine learning models, to large volumes of data requires the utilization of distributed frameworks. This can lead to serious technical challenges for data analysts and reduce their productivity. AFrame, a Python data analytics library, is implemented as a layer on top of Apache AsterixDB, addressing these issues by incorporating the data scientists' development environment and transparently scaling out the evaluation of analytical operations through a Big Data management system. While AFrame is able to leverage data management facilities (e.g., indexes and query optimization) and allows users to interact with a very large volume of data, the initial version only generated SQL++ queries and only operated against Apache AsterixDB. In this work, we describe a new design that retargets AFrame's incremental query formation to other query-based database systems as well, making it more flexible for deployment against other data management systems with composable query languages.
Evaluation of a state law on opioid-prescribing behaviour and the void affecting codeine-containing antitussive syrup.

Background Government opioid policies—such as the North Carolina Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act—have aided in lowering the days’ supply of opioid prescriptions. However, what effect do these laws have on codeine-containing antitussive syrup? We aimed to assess the effect of the North Carolina STOP Act on ED opioid prescriptions written for >5 days for acute pain/non-pain diagnoses and whether it had an effect on the prescribing of codeine-containing antitussive syrup. Methods A retrospective study of two emergency departments, with an average annual census of 70 000 and 22 000 patients, from January to August of 2017 and 2018. We applied logistic regression techniques to calculate the odds of an opioid prescription for >5 days. Opioid medication categories were formed to determine relational proportions. Two-tailed z-tests were used to test the difference in proportions. Results Our study included 5366 verifiable opioid prescriptions. The percentage of an opioid prescription for >5 days decreased by 3.3% (95% CI −1.8% to −4.7%, p 5 days pre-STOP and post- STOP Act, respectively (91.5% and 90.4%; difference=−1.1%, p=0.83). Conclusion The North Carolina STOP Act was associated with a reduction in the overall percentage of opioid prescriptions for >5 days for acute pain/non-pain diagnoses. However, there was no statistically significant effect on the prescribing of codeine-containing antitussive syrup.
Racial/ethnic and gender disparities in the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and blood transfusions: cancer management under Medicare's reimbursement policy.

BACKGROUND: Because of increasing safety concerns related to erythropoiesisstimulating agents (ESAs), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a Medicare reimbursement policy change rega...
Characterization of the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: A Google Trends Analysis

BackgroundThe second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to considerable morbidity and mortality in India, in part due to lack of healthcare access, low health literacy, and poor disease surveillance. In this retrospective, descriptive ecological study, we utilized Google Trends (GT) to characterize the second COVID-19 wave and its association with official case counts based on search terms related to symptoms, testing, disease complications, medications, preventive behaviors, and healthcare utilization. MethodsGT is a publicly available, online tracking system of Google searches. Searches are presented as relative search volumes (RSV) from 0 (least) to 100 (most number of searches). We performed pre-defined Web searches in India from 2/12/2021 to 5/09/2021. We characterized the peak RSV, RSV doubling rates, and Spearman rank correlation of selected search terms with official case counts. We also used date-adjusted linear regression to estimate the association between highly correlated search terms and official case counts. We then qualitatively classified public search queries into thematic groups to better understand public awareness and needs related to COVID-19. ResultsWe observed that searches for symptoms (most searched terms in order: fever, cough, headache, fatigue, chest pain), disease states (infection, pneumonia), COVID-19-related medications (remdesivir, ivermectin, azithromycin, Fabiflu, dexamethasone), testing modalities (PCR, CT Scan, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, oxygen saturation), healthcare utilization (oxygen cylinders, hospital, physician), and preventive behaviors (lockdown, mask, pulse oximetry, hand sanitizer, quarantine) all demonstrated increases, in line with increases in official case counts. Symptoms, PCR testing, outpatient medications, and preventive behaviors peaked around April 24th, approximately two weeks prior to the peak RSV in official case counts. Contrarily, healthcare utilization factors, including searches for hospital, physicians, beds, disease states, and inpatient medications did not peak until the first week of May. There were highly significant correlations between Coronavirus Disease 2019 (r=0.959), fever (r=0.935), pulse oximetry (r=0.952), oxygen saturation (r=0.944), C-reactive protein (r=0.955), D-Dimer (r=0.945), & Fabiflu (r=0.943) and official case counts. ConclusionGT search terms related to symptoms, testing, and medications are highly correlated with official case counts in India, suggesting need for further studies examining GTs potential use as a disease surveillance and public informant tool for public health officials.
Enantioselective Lactonization by π-Acid-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution: A Complement to π-Allylmetal Chemistry

Asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) is a powerful method for the formation of highly useful, non-racemic allylic compounds. Here we present a complementary enantioselective process that generates allylic lactones via π-acid catalysis. More specifically, a catalytic enantioselective dehydrative lactonization of allylic alcohols using a novel Pd(II)-catalyst containing the imidazole-based P,N -ligand ( S )-StackPhos is reported. The high-yielding reactions are operationally simple to perform with enantioselectivities up to 99% ee. This strategy facilitates the replacement of a poor leaving group with what would ostensibly be a better leaving group in the product avoiding complications arising from racemization by equilibration.
Mobile Nurse Practitioner: A Pilot Program to Address Service Gaps Experienced by Homeless Individuals

An estimated 2.3 to 3.5 million individuals are homeless in the United States, many of whom have chronic medical and mental illnesses. Underserved individuals who are homeless experience gaps in services, resulting in poor health care outcomes and readmission to the hospital setting, often presenting in crisis through the emergency department. The financial state of hospitals is negatively impacted by the burden of patients returning to the hospital due to unresolved issues. The current article presents the role of a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner as part of a pilot program, Opportunity Village Mobile Health, that provides a comprehensive approach to meet the physical and mental health challenges of homeless individuals who are discharged from inpatient to outpatient services. Continuity of health care services are made available to this unique patient population to reduce hospital readmission rates and provide much needed transitional care.
Transgenerational Transmission of War-Related Trauma

Traumatic events affect individuals, families, and society in many different direct and indirect ways. In this chapter, I examine specific aspects of the intergenerational transmission of combat-related trauma by assessing the impact of a father’s combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on family life. What, if any, are the transgenerational effects of having a parent whose combat experiences have led to PTSD? In the United States, it is estimated that 30 million people (Lipsky et al., 1976), 13% of the total population has served in the Armed Forces and 50% percent have a first degree relative who is a veteran. Many of these veterans are combat soldiers who served in World War II, Korea, or the Vietnam War and may have combat-related PTSD. Investigation and understanding of intergenerational transmission are essential to comprehend the long-term outcome for the combat veteran with PTSD and his or her family.
Insurrections and the Cooptation of Human Rights Language

In this essay, I argue that the current international human rights discourse is by its nature an exclusionary and selective one. By privileging certain types of human rights over others, current international human rights law alleviates state responsibility to ensure human dignity at the most basic levels, such as adequate and meaningful access to food, water and shelter for all. Moreover, human rights rhetoric has been corrupted, coopted and poisoned by its utilization to justify neo-imperialist projects that use military force to ensure easy access to Middle Eastern natural resources, specifically oil and water. Current rhetoric of human rights is simply inadequate to address the realities on the ground, as it focuses on a specific set of rights, while rendering other fundamental points of human dignity as of secondary or of no importance.
The Fft, Fundamentals and Concepts

Simple and concise discussion of both Fourier Theory and the FFT (fast fourier transform) are provided.
Two-dimensional DNA electrophoresis: state of the art and applications

Abstract Two-dimensional DNA electrophoresis allows the analysis of multiple DNA fragments based on both their size and sequence properties. The often complex gel separation patterns represent information-rich data sets that may be analyzed with dedicated image analysis systems. The introduction of a denaturing gradient in the second dimension enhances the capability of the method to identify sequence variations, and the recent construction of automated instruments opens up new ways for the diffusion of the procedure into the laboratory routine. In this review, the state of the art of the technique, its general principles and basic methodology will be discussed together with major applications in different fields, including environmental microbiology, mutation detection and human genetics.
Die Chemie, Physiologie und Pharmakologie der Vitamine

In den vorhergehenden Kapiteln haben wir Tatsachen besprochen, die uns dazu bewogen haben, zum mindesten drei verschiedene Vitamintypen anzunehmen. Eine grose Anzahl von Arbeiten chemischer Art sind schon erschienen, die sich mit dem Wesen dieser merkwurdigen Substanzen befassen, ja man kann sogar sagen, das kein einziges Gebiet der physiologischen Chemie sich zur Zeit einer solchen Fulle von Publikationen erfreut wie das Vitamingebiet. Es hangt dies damit zusammen, das sich neue Tatsachen und Beobachtungen mit einer erstaunlichen Leichtigkeit gewinnen lassen. Aus diesen Grunden wird von den meisten Forschern ein tieferes Eindringen in das Gebiet vermieden. Sie begnugen sich in der Regel mit indirekten Schlusfolgerungen. Dieser Zustand der Erwartung eines entscheidenden Fortschrittes auf dem Gebiete der Vitamine bietet den Reprasentanten der destruktiven Richtung eine vorzugliche Gelegenheit, die hier mehr wie auf anderen wissenschaftlichen Gebieten tatig sind, die Losung unserer Fragen zu hindern. Trotz dieser Schwierigkeiten schreitet die Erkenntnis des Wesens der Vitamine langsam vorwarts und wir konnen hoffen, das mit der Wiederaufnahme der wissenschaftlichen Tatigkeit nach dem Kriege das endgultige Ziel, die chemische Isolierung der Vitamine, nicht sehr weit von uns entfernt bleibt.
Mutants of Aerobacter aerogenes Capable of Utilizing Xylitol as a Novel Carbon

Wild-type Aerobacter aerogenes 1033 is unable to utilize xylitol. A succession of mutants was isolated capable of growth on this compound (0.2%) at progressively faster rates. Whereas the ability to utilize xylitol was achieved in the first-stage mutant (X1) by constitutive production of ribitol dehydrogenase (for which xylitol is a substrate but not an inducer), the basis for enhanced utilization of xylitol in the second-stage mutant (X2) was an alteration of ribitol dehydrogenase. This enzyme was purified from the various mutants. The apparent K m for xylitol was 0.12 m with X2 enzyme and 0.29 m with X1 enzyme. The X2 enzyme was also less heat stable and, at 0.05 m substrate concentration, had a higher ratio of activity with xylitol compared to ribitol than did the X1 enzyme. The third mutant (X3), with an even faster growth rate on xylitol, produced a ribitol dehydrogenase indistinguishable physically or kinetically from that of X2. However, X3 produced constitutively an active transport system which accepts xylitol. The usual function of this system is apparently for the transport of d-arabitol since the latter is not only a substrate but also an inducer of the transport system in parental strains of X3. The sequence of mutations described herein illustrates how genes belonging to different metabolic systems can be mobilized to serve a new biochemical pathway. Images
Vasectomy: Indications, Technic, and Reversibility

All candidates for vasectomy should be very carefully screened prior to surgery. The biological effects as well as the permanency of the operation should be carefully explained to husband and wife. During surgery the vas should be interrupted high in the scrotum with the cut ends fulgurized rather than ligated. A fascial barrier should be constructed between the cut ends. There should be no excision of a portion of the vas. Because there is no guarantee that fertility can be restored in all vasectomized males it is suggested that vasectomy should never be done as a temporary procedure.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)
Sulforaphane inhibits multiple inflammasomes through an Nrf2-independent mechanism

The inflammasomes are intracellular complexes that have an important role in cytosolic innate immune sensing and pathogen defense. Inflammasome sensors detect a diversity of intracellular microbial ligands and endogenous danger signals and activate caspase-1, thus initiating maturation and release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. These events, although crucial to the innate immune response, have also been linked to the pathology of several inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The natural isothiocyanate sulforaphane, present in broccoli sprouts and available as a dietary supplement, has gained attention for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties. We discovered that sulforaphane inhibits caspase-1 autoproteolytic activation and interleukin-1β maturation and secretion downstream of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor leucine-rich repeat proteins NLRP1 and NLRP3, NLR family apoptosis inhibitory protein 5/NLR family caspase-1 recruitment domain-containing protein 4 (NAIP5/NLRC4), and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome receptors. Sulforaphane does not inhibit the inflammasome by direct modification of active caspase-1 and its mechanism is not dependent on protein degradation by the proteasome or de novo protein synthesis. Furthermore, sulforaphane-mediated inhibition of the inflammasomes is independent of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like factor 2 (Nrf2) and the antioxidant response-element pathway, to which many of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of sulforaphane have been attributed. Sulforaphane was also found to inhibit cell recruitment to the peritoneum and interleukin-1β secretion in an in vivo peritonitis model of acute gout and to reverse NLRP1-mediated murine resistance to Bacillus anthracis spore infection. These findings demonstrate that sulforaphane inhibits the inflammasomes through a novel mechanism and contributes to our understanding of the beneficial effects of sulforaphane.
DEVELOPMENT AND CRIME: A Cross‐National, Time‐Series Analysis of Competing Models

Current cross-national research indicates that economic development affects crime rates. Two competing models, the Durkheimian and opportunity, claim to explain this relationship. However, the rese...
Partitioning measurements of convective and radiative heat flux

Abstract New measurement techniques are presented to simultaneously determine the radiative and convective components in a mixed-mode heat transfer environment. These techniques rely on making hot surface heat flux measurements using a hybrid heat flux gage capable of measuring heat flux at surface temperatures up to 1000 °C without water cooling. Experiments were performed with an apparatus where the convection and radiation heat fluxes could be independently controlled to produce convection only, radiation only, and mixed convection and radiation environments. Using these experiments two methods were compared for quantifying the heat transfer coefficient: a reference method and a slope method. These methods yielded heat transfer coefficients of 1.11 kW/m2 °C with a relative uncertainty of ±14.0% and 1.00 kW/m2 °C with a relative uncertainty of ±11.3% for the mixed-mode heat transfer environment, respectively. The calculated heat transfer coefficients were then used to separate the radiative and convective heat fluxes. The separated irradiation heat flux was 18.1% less than in the radiation only case. This was thought to be caused by error in the gas temperature measurement as well as by the uncertainty in the convective heat transfer coefficient. Sensitivity of the separated irradiation heat flux values to the gas temperature was evaluated.
A longitudinal study of the effects of SRIF on growth and peripheral hormones in the male rat during pubertal developmant

Although many aspects of the biological activities of SRIF or somatostatin had been studied previously, its effects on body growth in relation to various blood hormones related to growth during pubertal development has not been clarified. In the current study SRIF (protamin-Zn) was administered S.C.(1mg/kg b.w.) to male Wistar rats daily over a period of 20-90 days of life, and body growth together with serum concentrations of GH,insulin,LH,FHS,T,DHA,SM(porc.cart.) and sugar were examined longitudinally. In parallel experiments effects of withdrawal of SRIF at various phases of development were also studied. Somatostatin inhibited secretion GH,insulin,and SM and had severe adverse effects on body growth and its velocity. Withdrawal of SRIF at various stages of life led to catch-up growth and normalization of GH and insulin levels. SM,however, remained low and DHA peaked in all animals. These multiple effects of SRIF leads to conclude that this hormone permanently blocks SM; and catch-up growth is perhaps SMindependent but GH and insulin dependent. Further, adrenarche is also present in the rat.
OPTIMAL GROWTH IN CONTINUOUS-TIME WITH CREDIT RISK

We consider asset allocation strategies for the case where an investor can allocate his wealth dynamically between a risky stock, whose price evolves according to a geometric Brownian motion, and a risky bond, whose price is subject to negative jumps due to its credit risk and therefore has discontinuous sample paths. We derive optimal policies for a number of objectives related to growth. In particular, we obtain the policy that minimizes the expected time to reach a given target value of wealth in an exact explicit form. We also show that this policy is exactly equivalent to the policy that is optimal for maximizing logarithmic utility of wealth and, hence, the expected average rate at which wealth grows, as well as to the policy that maximizes the actual asymptotic rate at which wealth grows. Our results generalize and unify results obtained previously for cases where the bond was risk-free in both continuous- and discrete-time.
Analysis of GLUT4 Distribution in Whole Skeletal Muscle Fibers: Identification of Distinct Storage Compartments That Are Recruited by Insulin and Muscle Contractions

The effects of insulin stimulation and muscle contractions on the subcellular distribution of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle have been studied on a preparation of single whole fibers from the rat soleus. The fibers were labeled for GLUT4 by a preembedding technique and observed as whole mounts by immunofluorescence microscopy, or after sectioning, by immunogold electron microscopy. The advantage of this preparation for cells of the size of muscle fibers is that it provides global views of the staining from one end of a fiber to the other and from one side to the other through the core of the fiber. In addition, the labeling efficiency is much higher than can be obtained with ultracryosections. In nonstimulated fibers, GLUT4 is excluded from the plasma membrane and T tubules. It is distributed throughout the muscle fibers with ∼23% associated with large structures including multivesicular endosomes located in the TGN region, and 77% with small tubulovesicular structures. The two stimuli cause translocation of GLUT4 to both plasma membrane and T tubules. Quantitation of the immunogold electron microscopy shows that the effects of insulin and contraction are additive and that each stimulus recruits GLUT4 from both large and small depots. Immunofluorescence double labeling for GLUT4 and transferrin receptor (TfR) shows that the small depots can be further subdivided into TfR-positive and TfR-negative elements. Interestingly, we observe that colocalization of TfR and GLUT4 is increased by insulin and decreased by contractions. These results, supported by subcellular fractionation experiments, suggest that TfR-positive depots are only recruited by contractions. We do not find evidence for stimulation-induced unmasking of resident surface membrane GLUT4 transporters or for dilation of the T tubule system (Wang, W., P.A. Hansen, B.A. Marshall, J.O. Holloszy, and M. Mueckler. 1996. J . Cell Biol . 135:415–430).
Genetic analysis of the gas vesicle gene cluster in haloarchaea

Abstract Gas vesicles are buoyant intracellular organelles composed of a rigid proteinaceous membrane surrounding a gas-filled space. Many prokaryotic microorganisms including photosynthetic and heterotrophic bacteria and halophilic and methanogenic archaea produce gas vesicles. In the majority of cases gas vesicles function in providing vertical motility to cells in aquatic environments. Recent genetic analysis of several halophilic archaeal (haloarchaeal) species has shown that a large cluster of genes [ gvp MLKJIHGFEDACN(O)] is necessary for gas vesicle formation.
Relationship Dynamics, Gender, and Criminal Offending in Fragile Families

Using data collected from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study investigated the links between intimate partners’ relationship dynamics and criminal offending in “fragile families.” We assessed the mechanisms underlying relationships among parents with young children from the perspective of three dominant theories in the field of criminology (i.e., strain, social control/bonding, and social learning theories), as well as the potential moderating effects of gender. In this study, criminal offending is operationalized as whether the respondents have been formally “booked or charged with breaking a law” since the last data collection period. Overall, our study lends some support for all three theories, but we found little evidence that the relationships among our substantive predictor variables and formal contact with the criminal justice system differed by gender.
The Estimated Cost of Treating Unmet Dental Restorative Needs of Mexican‐American Children from Southwestern US HHANES, 1982‐83

The dental restorative treatment needs of Mexican-American children, aged 1-17 years, were assessed from the 1982-83 Southwestern US Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES). This report analyzed those needs and applied a dollar cost to them, using 1982 median fees of US general practitioners. The total estimated cost required to meet those needs for the population estimate of 3,396,770 children was $236,856,772 (95% CI: $198,575,174 to $275,138,370). The mean cost per child was $69.73 (SE: 5.75). Although a majority of the children had no unmet need, 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds had extensive needs for crowns, endodontics, and prosthetic replacement of teeth, with accompanying high costs: mean total cost per examinee was $177 (SE: 28.97), $161 (SE: 32.20), and $237 (SE: 33.26), respectively. The treatment needs were compared with the previously published regional data from the 1979-80 NIDR survey, which used the same dental restorative treatment needs (DRTN) index. The findings indicated a great need for dental treatment among Mexican-American children that appeared to exceed that of the general school-aged population. Our analysis, in providing estimates of the cost of needed treatment, might be useful in planning dental treatment programs and in comparing surveys.
Efficiency of spermatogenesis: a comparative approach.

Abstract Efficiency of spermatogenesis is the estimated number of spermatozoa produced per day per gram of testicular parenchyma. Spermatogenesis is the process of cell division and cell differentiation by which spermatozoa are produced in testes. Efficiency of spermatogenesis is influenced by species differences in the numerical density of germ cell nuclei and in the life span of these cells. Activities of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids partition spermatogenesis into three major divisions (spermatocytogenesis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis, respectively). Spermatocytogenesis involves mitotic germ cell division to produce stem cells and primary spermatocytes. Meiosis involves duplication of chromosomes, exchange of genetic material, and two cell divisions that reduce the chromosome number and yield four spermatids. In spermiogenesis, spherical spermatids differentiate into mature spermatids which are released in the lumen of seminiferous tubules as spermatozoa. Spermatogenesis and germ cell degeneration can be quantified from numbers of germ cells in various developmental steps throughout spermatogenesis. Germ cell degeneration occurs throughout spermatogenesis; however, the greatest impact occurs during spermatocytogenesis and meiosis. There are species and seasonal influences on the developmental steps in spermatogenesis at which germ cell degeneration occurs. Number of Sertoli cells, amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum of Leydig cells, and the number of missing generations of germ cells within the spermatogenic stage of the cycle influence efficiency of spermatogenesis. Efficiency of spermatogenesis is influenced to the amount of germ cell degeneration, pubertal development, season of the year, and aging of humans and animals.
Note on Some Demographics of Laughter-Evoking Situations

Analysis of literature shows the number of laughs and targets evoking laughter are varied by contexts and situations.
A Cross-Disciplinary Examination of Firm Orientations’ Performance Outcomes: The Role of Supply Chain Flexibility

Although market orientation (MO) has long been considered an important business philosophy, the examination of MO outside the firm's boundaries has been rather limited. To address this, this study explores how supply chain orientation and operational flexibility (FLX) facilitate the implementation of MO. Although the positive impact of MO on firm performance has been well established, this study highlights that such benefits are enhanced by the development of supply chain related capabilities. Results indicate that market-oriented firms are more likely to realize the strategic importance of managing the supply chain when operating under conditions of high environmental munificence, dynamism, and complexity. This provides a better understanding of the complex relationship between the demand and supply sides of the firm. This study highlights the importance of marketing theory and concepts to supply chain management scholars, and vice versa. This further accentuates the importance of eliminating the disconnect between supply and demand-management processes, also described as the “Great Divide” (Drucker 1973; Esper et al. 2010a,b). A number of key managerial implications are offered as well.
Propellant potential of vaporized metals in temperature-limited rocket systems

Light metallic elements in association with hydrogen as carrier fluid for rocket propulsion
The arithmetic basis of special relativity

Under relatively general particle and rocket frame motions, it is shown that, for special relativity, the basic concepts can be formulated and the basic properties deduced using only arithmetic. Particular attention is directed toward velocity, acceleration, proper time, momentum, energy, and 4-vectors in both space-time and Minkowski space, and to relativistic generalizations of Newton's second law. The resulting mathematical simplification is not only completely compatible with modern computer technology, but it yields dynamical equations that can be solved directly by such computers. Particular applications of the numerical equations, which are either Lorentz invariant or are directly related to Lorentz-invariant formulas, are made to the study of a relativistic harmonic oscillator and to the motion of an electric particle in a magnetic field.
Upper extremity entrapment neuropathy and tourniquet use in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Patients with end-stage renal disease, undergoing hemodialysis, have been shown to have an increased prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome. From mid-1981 through 1986, 21 patients undergoing hemodialysis were operated on for 33 cases of clinically diagnosed entrapment of the median and/or ulnar nerves, including 14 extremities with functioning vascular access. All patients report improvement in symptoms and function in the affected extremity. Preoperative tourniquet use did not have a permanent adverse effect on any access site. Electrophysiologic studies were not reliable predictors of clinically resolvable nerve entrapment.
A cooperative game with applications to computer networks

We present a cooperative game theory problem encountered while working on broadcast algorithms for local area computer networks. The problem arises when one computer broadcast or multicast a message to a set of recipients and each recipient replies directly to the broadcast's originator.
The berry constituents quercetin, kaempferol, and pterostilbene synergistically attenuate reactive oxygen species: Involvement of the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway

Quercetin, kaempferol, and pterostilbene are abundant in berries. The anti-oxidative properties of these constituents may contribute to cancer chemoprevention. However, their precise mechanisms of action and their combinatorial effects are not completely understood. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) regulates anti-oxidative stress enzymes and Phase II drug metabolizing/detoxifying enzymes by binding to antioxidant response element (ARE). This study aimed to investigate the anti-oxidative stress activities of quercetin, kaempferol, and pterostilbene individually and in combination, as well as the involvement of the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway. Quercetin, kaempferol, and pterostilbene all exhibited strong free-radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay. The MTS assay revealed that low concentration combinations we tested were relatively non-toxic to HepG2-C8 cells. The results of the DCFH-DA assay and combination index (CI) indicated that quercetin, kaempferol, and pterostilbene attenuated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels when pretreated individually and had synergistic effects when used in combination. In addition, the combination treatment significantly induced ARE and increased the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2-regulated genes. Collectively, our study demonstrated that the berry constituents quercetin, kaempferol, and pterostilbene activated the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway and exhibited synergistic anti-oxidative stress activity at appropriate concentrations.
Nd-YAG Laser-Induced Endobronchial Burn: Management and Long-Term Follow-Up

Endobronchial fires are a rare complication of Nd-YAG laser photoresection. Short-term morbidity is secondary to sloughing mucosa and mucous plugging. Aggressive pulmonary hygiene, including frequent bronchoscopies and possibly a tracheostomy, may be required. The major long-term complication is obstruction of the airways from granulation tissue. Long-term follow-up is required to evaluate and treat clinically significant granulation tissue in the airways.
Control volume function approximation methods and their applications to modeling porous media flow

Abstract In this paper we introduce a new control volume method for the discretization of a partial differential equation. The interpolation in this method utilizes ‘bilinear’, spline, or weighted distance functions. We call this new method the control volume function approximation (CVFA) method. It can accurately approximate both the pressure and velocity in the simulation of multiphase flow in porous media, effectively reduce grid orientation effects, and be easily applied to arbitrarily shaped control volumes. It is suitable for hybrid grid porous media simulations. In this paper we focus on its development, numerical study, and comparison with a standard control volume finite element method. A two-phase incompressible flow problem is used to show the efficiency and accuracy of the CVFA.
Reaction-Layer Interfaces in SiC-Fiber-Reinforced Glass-Ceramics: A High-Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Analysis

The reaction layers between silicon carbide continuous fibers (Nicalon) and a calcium aluminosilicate glass-ceramic (anorthite composition) matrix in hot-pressed composites have been characterized both structurally and chemically using high-resolution, field-emission scanning transmission electron microscopy. Chemical compositions at 10-nm spacings, with a resolution of ∼5 nm, were collected across the fiber-matrix interface zone. The reaction sequence in the material is silicon carbide (fiber)—carbon (in this case, graphite)—silica-rich glass—anorthite. The composition of the carbon layer is constant across its width; the interfaces between the four phases are planar. This morphology and the chemical gradients observed are consistent with the simple, ‘carbon-condensed’ oxidation displacemetn reaction, SiC + O2→ SiO2+ C, being responsible for interface phase formation in the composites. The planar interfaces indicate that the rate-limiting process in the interface formation reaction is the diffusion of oxygen through the matrix and silica glass layer; a corollary of this conclusion is that the diffusion of silicon through the carbon layer is a relatively faster process.
The impact of municipal governments' renewable electricity use on greenhouse gas emissions in the United States

Abstract Local governments are increasingly taking initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, limited and inconsistent data makes evaluating the aggregate impact of relevant actions difficult. This paper focuses specifically on U.S. city governments' use of renewable electricity to power their own operations. It develops a range of rough estimates for the cumulative nationwide impact of this activity and finds that it results in an annual abatement of between 5.8 and 29.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 e), with the best approximation being 6.2 million tons CO 2 e a year. This is about 20% of the estimated total that could be reduced if city governments used only renewable electricity to power their operations. Despite the considerable potential that remains untapped, even the maximum direct impact resulting from local government renewable electricity use is roughly estimated as less than 0.5% of total annual U.S. GHG emissions. Government procurement policies and “leading by example” provide opportunity for additional indirect impact.
Synthesis of the New 2-Alkyl-nido-2,7,10-C3B8H11 Tricarbaborane by Protonation of [7-Alkyl-nido-7,8,10-C3B8H10]-: A Reversible Cage-Carbon Rearrangement

Protonation of the [7-R- nido -7,8,10-C 3 B 8 H 10 ] - (where R = PhCH 2 ( 1a ) or R = Me ( 1b )) tricarbollide anion, with concentrated H 2 SO 4 in a two-phase aqueous/CH 2 Cl 2 system, yields the new neutral tricarbaborane: 2-R- nido -2,7,10-C 3 B 8 H 11 (where R = PhCH 2 ( 2a ) or R = Me ( 2b )). The three cage-carbons of the [7-R- nido -7,8,10-C 3 B 8 H 10 ] - anion are located on the open face, but spectroscopic and DFT/GIAO/NMR studies of 2a and 2b show that during the protonation reaction, isomerization of the cage framework occurs to produce the neutral tricarbaborane having a 2,7,10-structure in which only two of the carbons remain on the open face. The third (R-substituted) carbon adopts a five-coordinate vertex off of the open face, thus enabling the incoming proton to adopt a bridging position on the B-B edge of the new C 2 B 3 -open face. The skeletal rearrangement is reversible, since deprotonation of 2a or 2b regenerates the anions 1a and 1b , respectively, having the 7,8,10-configuration. In agreement with the experimentally observed structures of the anionic (7,8,10-structure) and neutral (2,7,10-structure) species, DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G*-level show that the [7-Me- nido -7,8,10-C 3 B 8 H 10 ] - anion ( 1b , structure 16 ) is 28.9 kcal/mol more stable than the [2-Me- nido -2,7,10-C 3 B 8 H 10 ] - isomer ( 3b , structure 18 ), while for the neutral tricarbaborane, the 2-R- nido -2,7,10-C 3 B 8 H 11 ( 2b , structure 14 ) structure is more stable than any 7,8,10-structure (structures 7 - 11 ) which has the added proton in an endo position on the open face. Transition state calculations at the HF/6-31G*-level yielded a simple, low-energy pathway (activation barrier of only 6.5 kcal/mol for the transition state TS18/16 ) for the rearrangement of [2-Me- nido -2,7,10-C 3 B 8 H 10 ] - ( 3b , structure 18 ) to [7-Me- nido -7,8,10-C 3 B 8 H 10 ] - ( 1b , structure 16 ) requiring the movement of only one cage atom, B11, from its original position in the C7-B8-B9-C10-B11 plane of 3b , to the C7-C8-B9-C10-B11 plane of 1b .
Additional Experiences and Thoughts Concerning Local AAT Chapters

constructing texts has been very little exploited;3 yet it appears to us to be the inevitable direction. The profession needs books built on such principles in order to end the naggingly persistent split between language and literature. The era of demonstrating rules of French with apples and books that appear with maddening regularity on the table, of Alice and Frangois giving books and flowers to their mothers, fathers and teachers, is, we trust, drawing to a deservedly ignominious close.
Environmental, Economic and Policy Aspects of Biofuels

This review provides a timely summary of the current understanding of the various impacts and contributes positively to the policy debate. We have several key conclusions: (1) Biofuels are diverse and evolving; (2) Greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits vary significantly across various types of biofuels and are dependent on market conditions and policy situation; (3) Increase in income in the developing world would increase the demand for both food and fuel; (4) A diverse set of policies, which has been introduced or proposed, impacts biofuels directly; and (5) Much of the impact assessments of biofuels thus far are ex-ante estimates based on either optimization or equilibrium models. The short-term economic impacts of biofuels will depend on a variety of factors such as the harvest in any given year, the oil price, economic growth, strength of the dollar, and level of inventory. The long-term impacts will depend on factors such as investment in technological change, population and economic growth, climate change, and long-term policies toward energy, agriculture, and the environment. The biofuel policy debate is likely to be an ongoing one in the near future.
Identification of lactate dehydrogenase-x translated in vitro from mouse testicular poly a-containing mRNA

Abstract 1. 1. The LDH-X polypeptide was specifically immunoprecipitated from the cell-free translation products of poly A-containing mRNA from mouse testes, and it represents 1–2% of the total proteins synethesized in vitro . 2. 2. The in-vitro synthesized LDH-X polypeptide appears to have the same mol. wt of 36,000 as mouse authentic LDH-X and. thus, any presequence of LDH-X must be very short, if present at all. 3. 3. The LDH-X was not found in the mouse liver mRNA translation products immunoprecipitated by anti-LDH-X antibodies.
Age at Menopause: Imputing Age at Menopause for Women With a Hysterectomy With Application to Risk of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer

Purpose Age at menopause, a major marker in the reproductive life, may bias results for evaluation of breast cancer risk after menopause. Methods We followed 38,948 premenopausal women in 1980 and identified 2,586 who reported hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy and 31,626 who reported natural menopause during 22 years of follow-up. We evaluated risk factors for natural menopause, imputed age at natural menopause for women reporting a hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy, and estimated the hazard of reaching natural menopause in the next 2 years. We applied this imputed age at menopause to both increase sample size and to evaluate the relation between postmenopausal exposures and risk of breast cancer. Results Age, cigarette smoking, age at menarche, pregnancy history, body mass index, history of benign breast disease, and history of breast cancer were each significantly related to age at natural menopause; duration of oral contraceptive use and family history of breast cancer were not. The imputation increased sample size substantially, and although some risk factors after menopause were weaker in the expanded model (height, and alcohol use), use of hormone therapy is less biased. Conclusions Imputing age at menopause increases sample size, broadens generalizability making it applicable to women with hysterectomy, and reduces bias.