cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributional Coalitions and the Politics of Economic Reform in Latin America

For much of the discipline of economics, a closed economy is seen as the result of efforts of distributional coalitions and rent seekers to maintain sector-specific protections. Accordingly, economic liberalization is explained by the policy consistency of uncompromising reform elites. Students of the politics of economic adjustment in the developing world, in turn, have argued that reform programs concentrate costs in the present and disperse benefits in the future. Hence, losers are prepared to engage in collective action, whereas prospective winners, facing uncertainty about payoffs, remain disorganized. They thus posit the cohesiveness and insularity of policymakers as the main variable for explaining successful reform. Both economists and political scientists, therefore, adopt a collective action approach that overlooks how groups organize in support of liberalization. In the recent Latin American experience, however, these reforms have preserved market reserves for firms that provided vital political support to, and often colluded with, policymaking elites. This setting has thus reproduced incentives for rent-seeking behavior, even in the presence of comprehensive liberalization. This evidence supports two interrelated theoretical claims. First, distributional coalitions may proliferate when the state withdraws from the economy, not only when it intervenes. Second, interest-based variables retain explanatory power in political economy--which state autonomy arguments disregard--irrespective of whether the economy is closed or open--which neoclassical perspectives overlook. To highlight the centrality of interest groups favoring marketization, therefore, the article suggests modifications to the dominant theories of collective action and the literature on the politics of economic adjustment.
A nanoscale CMOS charge pump with near perfect current matching

A drain-switching charge pump (CP) design is presented with near perfect current matching and extended flat current response over a range of process, voltage, and temperature variations. Current mismatch is compensated dynamically without the need for a replica charge pump or extended digitally-assisted calibration routines. The self-regulated circuit uses several simple yet effective feedback mechanisms to overcome the basic shortcomings of nanometer devices and reduced power supplies. The circuit is designed in 90nm CMOS and simulated extensively using Monte Carlo analysis while sweeping the operating temperature to provide statistically relevant operating conditions. The proposed design achieves near perfect current matching at output voltages between 0.16V and 0.98V for temperatures ranging from -30 to 90 degrees Celsius and a power supply between 1.08V and 1.32V.
Atomic displacements caused by carbon interstitials in austenite

Abstract Full reciprocal volume diffuse X-ray scattering measurements were performed on a single crystal austenite specimen of composition Fe25 wt% Ni0.088 wt% C employing a synchrotron radiation source. An X-ray energy of 8800 eV was used to minimize the scattering contrast between Fe and Ni which allowed the data to be treated as a binary “Fe”C system, greatly simplifying the analysis. The intensity data was used to determine directly the FeC pair displacements in this alloy. These were compared to both lattice statics computations and a recent molecular dynamics simulation of C in austenite. The measured first neighbor FeC distance of 1.886 (±0.006) A indicates that Johnson's FeC potential underestimates the pair interaction. A pair potential which will produce this measured FeC separation is presented. The diffuse components associated with possible CC ordering were not of sufficient intensity for conclusions to be drawn about the state of order on the interstitial sublattice in this alloy.
Mutational Analysis of TraR CORRELATING FUNCTION WITH MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF A QUORUM-SENSING TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVATOR

Abstract TraR, the quorum-sensing activator of theAgrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid conjugation system, induces gene expression in response to its quormone,N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone. Ligand binding results in dimerization of TraR and is required for its activity. Analysis of N- and C-terminal deletion mutants of TraR localized the quormone-binding domain to a region between residues 39 and 140 and the primary dimerization domain to a region between residues 119 and 156. The dominant-negative properties of these mutants predicted a second dimerization domain at the C terminus of the protein. Analysis of fusions of N-terminal fragments of TraR to λcI′ confirmed the dimerization activity of these two domains. Fifteen single amino acid substitution mutants of TraR defective in dimerization were isolated. According to the analysis of these mutants, Asp-70 and Gly-113 are essential for quormone binding, whereas Ala-38 and Ala-105 are important, but not essential. Additional residues located within the N-terminal half of TraR, including three located in α-helix 9, contribute to dimerization, but are not required for ligand binding. These results and the recently reported crystal structure of TraR are consistent with and complement each other and together define some of the structural and functional relationships of this quorum-sensing activator.
Philosophy and religion: Attention to language and the role of reason

Philosophy of religion has indeed found a niche for itself within the range of sub-disciplines which makes up philosophy today, yet the factors contributing to that emergence over the past 25 years have been much larger than the discipline itself, and some of them stand to threaten the enterprise as it has attempted to reconstitute itself in full philosophical rigor. For it is precisely the notion of rigor which has itself come up for re-assessment, and notably so with regard to religious understanding. In tracing some of the factors contributing to this — factors loosely grouped under the rubric ‘postmodernism’ — I shall try to show how these considerations in fact link us with classical inquiries in ways which make the study of medieval Jewish, Christian, and Islamic efforts illuminating for us, especially as we are in a better position to appreciate their uses of philosophy than were our modern predecessors. In fact, a comparative study of the ways in which different religious traditions use conceptual tools to develop the implications of their initial and shaping revelations has emerged as one of the more exciting frontiers of current philosophical theology. Moreover, with a generous dose of hindsight, one can trace a relatively direct path to this liminal point of comparative philosophy of religion from the more careful attention to religious uses of language pressed upon us by followers of Wittgenstein a quarter-century ago.
Impact of a statewide home visiting program to prevent child abuse.

Abstract Objectives To assess the impact of a voluntary, paraprofessional home visiting program in preventing child maltreatment and reducing the multiple, malleable psychosocial risks for maltreatment for which families had been targeted. Methods This collaborative, experimental study focused on 6 Healthy Families Alaska (HFAK) programs; 325 families were enrolled in 2000–2001, randomized to intervention and control groups, and interviewed to measure baseline attributes. Follow-up data were collected when children were 2 years old (85% follow-up rate). Outcomes included maltreatment reports, measures of potential maltreatment and parental risks, for example, poor mental health, substance use, and partner violence. HFAK records were reviewed to measure home visiting services. Home visitors were surveyed to measure perceived effectiveness and training adequacy. Results Parental risks were common at baseline, and one-sixth of families had a substantiated child protective services report in the child's first 2 years of life. There was no overall program effect on maltreatment reports, and most measures of potential maltreatment. Home visited mothers reported using mild forms of physical discipline less often than control mothers. The groups were similar in their use of more severe forms of physical discipline. There was no program impact on parental risks. There was no impact on outcomes for families with a ‘high dose’ of home visiting. Home visitors often failed to address parental risks and seldom linked families with community resources. Contradictions in the model compromised effectiveness. Conclusions The program did not prevent child maltreatment, nor reduce the parental risks that had made families eligible for service. Research is needed to develop and test strategies to improve the effectiveness of home visiting.
RELIABILITY DESIGN OF FLEXIBLE AIRFIELD PAVEMENTS: ELASTIC LAYERED METHOD

A design procedure was developed for layered elastic flexible airfield pavement systems in terms of probability and reliability. A user-friendly computer program, RELIFLEX, was prepared to carry out the computations. The Rosenblueth method is used to estimate the expected value and variance of the computed strains (dependent parameters) on the basis of the input mean values of independent parameters (i.e., aircraft load, layer thicknesses, and material moduli). RELIFLEX has the capability of considering the strain distribution to be normal, lognormal, or beta, and a capacity-demand analysis is included. Only normal distribution is presented. Environmental effects and the lack of fit of the prediction models are not considered in RELIFLEX. The relationships between the reliability level and the allowable strain repetition of the designed system, established using RELIFLEX, provide a decision-making tool for engineers to design pavement at the desired reliability level. For a desired reliability level of th...
The mammalian blastema: regeneration at our fingertips

In the mouse, digit tip regeneration progresses through a series of discrete stages that include inflammation, histolysis, epidermal closure, blastema formation, and redifferentiation. Recent studies reveal how each regenerative stage influences subsequent stages to establish a blastema that directs the successful regeneration of a complex mammalian structure. The focus of this review is on early events of healing and how an amputation wound transitions into a functional blastema. The stepwise formation of a mammalian blastema is proposed to provide a model for how specific targeted treatments can enhance regenerative performance in humans.
Tumor-specific killer cells in paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration

Models for immune-mediated tumor regression in mice have defined an essential role for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs); however, naturally occurring tumor immunity in humans is poorly understood 1 . Patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) provide an opportunity to explore the mechanisms underlying tumor immunity to breast and ovarian cancer. Although tumor immunity and autoimmune neuronal degeneration in PCD correlates with a specific antibody response to the tumor and brain antigen cdr2 2, 3 , this humoral response has not been shown to be pathogenic 3, 4 . Here we present evidence for a specific cellular immune response in PCD patients. We have detected expanded populations of MHC class I-restricted cdr2-specific CTLs in the blood of 3/3 HLA-A2.1 + PCD patients, providing the first description, to our knowledge, of tumor-specific CTLs using primary human cells in a simple recall assay. Cross-presentation of apoptotic cells by dendritic cells also led to a potent CTL response. These results indicate a model whereby immature dendritic cells that engulf apoptotic tumor cells can mature and migrate to draining lymph organs where they could induce a CTL response to tissue-restricted antigens. In PCD, peripheral activation of cdr2-specific CTLs is likely to contribute to the subsequent development of the autoimmune neuronal degeneration.
Self-lubricating polymer composites and polymer transfer film lubrication for space applications

The use of self-lubricating polymers and polymer composites in space is somewhat limited today. In general, they are only used when other methods are inadequate. There is potential, however, for these materials to make a significant impact on future space missions if properly utilized. Some of the different polymers and fillers used to make self-lubricating composites are surveyed. The mechanisms of composite lubrication and wear, the theory behind transfer film lubricating mechanisms, and some factors which affect polymer composite wear and transfer are examined. In addition, some of the current space tribology application areas for self-lubricating polymer composites and polymer transfer are mentioned.
SEARCH FOR ALUMINUM-26 IN DUST FROM THE GREENLAND ICE SHEET

Abstract : Large volumes of approximately 250-year-old Greenland glacier ice were filtered. Approximately 20,000 liters passed through 0.45 micron retention paper with a 2.5 ft surface area, and approximately 200,000 1. passed through 3 micron retention paper. Less than 4 x 10/> dpm/1. of aluminum-26 was found in the 3 micron collections, and less than 3 x 10/6 dpm/1. in the 0.45 micron collection. These limits are significant for determinations of the exposure age, the chemical composition, and the accretion rate of extraterrestrial dust. For an accretion rate for the Earth of a million tons per year of silicates, the limit of 4 x 10/> dpm/1. corresponds to an exposure age of 4000 years. Although the filter collections do not contain aluminum-26, they do contain radioactivities. The principal one is thallium208, a thorium decay product attributed to terrestrial material in the collection. There is also a small positron activity, which disappeared with the purification of aluminum. (Author)
The Implicit Association Test and sociolinguistic meaning

Abstract The Implicit Association Test (IAT), designed to measure how strongly an individual implicitly aligns two dichotomies, such as male/female vs. home/career, is adapted in this study to analyze sociolinguistic variation. Three experiments test the IAT's ability to detect relationships between sociolinguistic variables and social categories and between related sociolinguistic variables. In Experiment 1, associations are shown between the English variable (ING) on the one hand and Northern/Southern states, blue collar/white collar professions and country singers/news anchors on the other, using written forms. In Experiment 2, associations are shown between audio tokens of (ING) and Northern/Southern states and between (ING) and /ay/ monophthongization, both tied to the ideologically well-defined Southern accent, but not between (ING) and /t/ release, which do not share an enregistered variety. Experiment 3 documents the lack of correlation between IAT measures and two more explicit measures of association: direct question and social evaluation. These results suggest that sociolinguists should take dual processing models of social cognition into account in considering the cognitive processing of socially loaded linguistic forms and that the IAT may be useful tool for the analysis of sociolinguistic meaning.
Loss of muscarinic cholinergic receptors from the temporal cortex of alcohol abusers.

It is currently controversial whether all the brain damage in alcohol abusers in the result of thiamine deficiency (Wernicke-Korsakoff's disease) or whether, in addition, alcohol abuse may affect the brain by other mechanisms as well. The purpose of this study was to determine if alcohol abuse affects muscarinic cholinergic and benzodiazepine receptors in histologically normal brains obtained at autopsy in a general hospital population. Patients were excluded from this study if they had clinical brain diseases (including Wernicke's disease), died in coma, or had liver disease, significant brain atrophy, or dementia severe enough to require institutionalization. We found that muscarinic cholinergic synaptic receptor density determined with [3H] quinuclidinly benzilate was decreased by 40% in homogenates of the tempeoral cortex of 26 alcohol abusers compared with 26 matched nonalcoholic controls. The affinities of the muscarinic receptors were not significantly different between the two groups. In contrast, receptor densities and affinities of benzodiazepine receptors determined with [3H]flunitrazepam were not significantly different in the two groups. Age and death-autopsy time interval had no significant effects on either wet tissue protein concentrations, yields of protein after centrifugation, or receptor binding. The contributions of age and time interval were each less than 2% of the total variance of protein concentrations and receptor binding. When patients were excluded or included who had received cholinergic, anti-cholinergic, or benzodiazepine medications before death, no significant effects on the final results were observed. Pneumonia, known to be associated with acute hypoxia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, known to be associated with chronic hypoxia, where approximately equally distributed between the two groups and had no significant effects on the results reported here. The loss of muscarinic and the sparing of benzodiazepine receptors occurs in the temporal cortex of histologically normal brains in the absence of significant atrophy and of gross dementia. This means that these changes are early in the development of an alcohol encephalopathy. We have previously reported a decrease in both muscarinic and benzodiazepine receptor binding in the frontal cortex and a decreasing muscarinic but not benzodiazepine receptors in the temporal cortex of alcohol abusers. Taken together, these findings suggest that alcohol neurotoxicity does not simply result in a random loss of neurons and/or their associated synapses with their receptors. Instead, different types of receptors, depending upon their location in different brain regions, are specifically affected or spared. This suggests the involvement of region- and receptor-specific mechanisms in chronic alcohol toxicity. These and other changes in synaptic receptors may be the molecular basis for some of the specific behavior patterns of certain alcohol abusers.
Error probability bounds for nonlinear channels with intersymbol interference and signal-dependent correlated noise

We derive the performance bounds for the signal-dependent correlation-sensitive maximum likelihood sequence detector. Due to the correlation asymmetry of the channel, computations of the bounds are numerically intensive. For this reason, we develop Q-function approximations. An example illustrates the applicability of the bound computing method.
Inflammasomes and intestinal homeostasis: regulating and connecting infection, inflammation and the microbiota

Inflammasomes are large cytosolic protein complexes that detect infection and stress-associated signals and promote immediate inflammatory responses. In the intestine, activation of the inflammasome leads to an inflammatory response that is important for controlling enteric infections but can also result in pathological tissue damage. Recent studies have suggested that the inflammasome also regulates intestinal homeostasis through its effects on the intestinal microbiota. Notably, many conflicting studies have been published regarding the effect of inflammasome deficiencies on intestinal homeostasis. Here, we attempt to reconcile these contrasting data by highlighting the many ways that the inflammasome contributes to intestinal homeostasis and pathology and exploring the potential role of alterations in the microbiota in these conflicting studies.
A Urologist's Guide to Ingredients Found in Top-Selling Nutraceuticals for Men's Sexual Health.

Abstract Introduction Use of supplements is common among men seeking urologic evaluation for sexual health matters. With a dizzying array of formulations available and little regulation on the dosage, purity, or ingredients found in these products, the health effects of nutraceuticals are often confusing to patients and medical practitioners alike. Aim In this review, we set out to concisely summarize the data on ingredients found within the top-selling nutraceutical agents marketed for men's sexual health in order to provide a clinical guide for urologists. Methods We used sales data from the most popular retail provider of men's health supplements to identify the top-selling products marketed toward improvement of men's sexual health. We summarized the available information related to the ingredients, dosage, cost, and mechanism of action for these substances and performed an extensive literature search to identify and review the current evidence available for each of the most common ingredients found in these nutraceuticals. Results The top-selling nutraceuticals marked for men's sexual health contain a blend of multiple supplements (up to 33 in one formulation identified), the most common being ginseng, tribulus, zinc, horny goat weed, B complex vitamins/trace minerals, fenugreek, L-arginine, maca, DHEA, ginkgo, and yohimbine. The currently available medical literature evaluating the efficacy of these substances is generally of low quality. Conclusions Despite the dearth of evidence supporting nutraceutical agents in the men's health arena, these substances are still commonly used by patients. As these products can affect the health and well-being of men presenting to a urology clinic, a familiarity with commonly used agents can help the urologist appropriately counsel their patients.
Physician knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding a widely implemented guideline.

Rationale, aims and objectives Although clinical practice guidelines have been promoted widely, there is considerable concern that physicians have not incorporated them into their practice. Models suggest that a ‘knowledge‐attitude‐behaviour’ sequence is important in modifying physician practice patterns. To address this, we examined physicians’ knowledge of, attitudes towards and compliance with a widely implemented guideline ‐ the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) smoking cessation guideline. Methods A survey was mailed to a random sample of physicians at 128 veterans health administration facilities, which had implemented the guideline 2 years previously. Results Completed surveys were received from 879 physicians (50.3% response rate). Only 26% of physicians reported receiving a copy or summary of the guideline, 44% reported little or no familiarity with it, 42% did not know if they agreed with it, 40% did not know if they complied with it and 46% did not know if it was effective. However, a high percentage of physicians reported that they always or usually explain the health risks of smoking (86%) and that they always or usually suggest that their smoking patients stop (94%). Conclusions In spite of little familiarity with the guideline, the responding physicians reported practice patterns consistent with adherence to it. Knowledge is only one of a spectrum of barriers that affects physician adherence to guidelines. There are numerous opportunities for health care organizations to overcome the barriers to physician adoption of clinical practice guidelines in their day-to-day practice.
Implementation of a PSO based online design of an optimal excitation controller

The Navypsilas future electric ships will contain a number of pulsed power loads for high-energy applications such as radar, railguns, and advanced weapons. This pulse energy demand has to be provided by the ship energy sources, while not impacting the operation of the rest of the system. It is clear from studies carried out earlier that disturbances are created at the generator ac bus. This paper describes an online design and laboratory hardware implementation of an optimal excitation controller using particle swarm optimization (PSO) to minimize the effects of pulsed loads. The PSO algorithm has been implemented on a digital signal processor. Laboratory results show that the PSO designed excitation controller provides an effective control of a generatorpsilas terminal voltage during pulsed loads, restoring and stabilizing it quickly.
Dynamic DC ramp shift digital control technique for improved transient response

A new control scheme aiming to improve the dynamic behavior of digitally controlled DC-DC converters in terms of improved settling time and overshoot is presented in this paper. The proposed approach enhances the transient response by dynamically controlling the ramp of the Digital Pulse Width Modulator (DPWM) unit by applying DC shift to the conventional ramp-based PWM during load change. This will help the compensator reach the steady-state value faster. The dynamic DC ramp shift design method presented in this paper utilizes the existing system digital controller, and does not require any additional circuitry. The presented control scheme is first analyzed, then simulated and finally experimentally verified using a DSP implementation.
Combined surgical and ablative cure for localized sternal compression–induced cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachyarrhythmia

FIGURE 1. A, Preprocedure electrocardiogram showing monomorphic nonsu block morphology. B, Postprocedure electrocardiogram showing sinus rhythm From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Pediatric Surgery, and the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Disclosures: Authors have nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication Feb 17, 2012; accepted for publication March 16, 2012; available ahead of print April 16, 2012. Address for reprints: Samuel J. Asirvatham, MD, Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine and Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 (E-mail: asirvatham.samuel@mayo.edu). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012;144:e85-7 0022-5223/$0.00 Published byElsevier Inc. on behalf of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.03.033
A reconfigurable stochastic architecture for highly reliable computing

Mounting concerns over variability, defects and noise motivate a new approach for integrated circuits: the design of stochastic logic, that is to say, digital circuitry that operates on probabilistic signals, and so can cope with errors and uncertainty. Techniques for probabilistic analysis are well established. We advocate a strategy for synthesis. In this paper, we present a reconfigurable architecture that implements the computation of arbitrary continuous functions with stochastic logic. We analyze the sources of error: approximation, quantization, and random fluctuations. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on a collection of benchmarks for image processing. Synthesis trials show that our stochastic architecture requires less area than conventional hardware implementations. It achieves a large speed up compared to software conventional implementations. Most importantly, it is much more tolerant of soft errors (bit flips) than these deterministic implementations.
Are overreferrals on developmental screening tests really a problem

Background Developmental screening tests, even those meeting standards for screening test accuracy, produce numerous false-positive results for 15% to 30% of children. This is thought to produce unnecessary referrals for diagnostic testing or special services and increase the cost of screening programs. Objectives To explore whether children who pass screening tests differ in important ways from those who do not and to determine whether children overreferred for testing benefit from the scrutiny of diagnostic testing and treatment planning. Methods Subjects were a national sample of 512 parents and their children (age range of the children, 7 months to 8 years) who participated in validation studies of various screening tests. Psychological examiners adhering to standardized directions obtained informed consent and administered at least 2 developmental screening measures (the Brigance Screens, the Battelle Developmental Inventory Screening Test, the Denver-II, and the Parents' Evaluations of Developmental Status) and a concurrent battery of diagnostic measures, including tests of intelligence, language, and academic achievement (for children aged 2½ years and older). The performance on diagnostic measures of children who failed screening but were not found to have a disability (false positives) was compared with that of children who passed screening and did not have a disability on diagnostic testing (true negatives). Results Children with false-positive scores performed significantly ( P P Conclusions Children overreferred for diagnostic testing by developmental screens perform substantially lower than children with true-negative scores on measures of intelligence, language, and academic achievement—the 3 best predictors of school success. These children also carry more psychosocial risk factors, such as limited parental education and minority status. Thus, children with false-positive screening results are an at-risk group for whom diagnostic testing may not be an unnecessary expense but rather a beneficial and needed service that can help focus intervention efforts. Although such testing will not indicate a need for special education placement, it can be useful in identifying children's needs for other programs known to improve language, cognitive, and academic skills, such as Head Start, Title I services, tutoring, private speech-language therapy, and quality day care.
Acute exposure of ceramide enhances cardiac contractile function in isolated ventricular myocytes.

The sphingolipid ceramide, a primary building block for all other sphingolipids, is associated with growth arrest, apoptosis, and lipotoxic dysfunction. Interestingly, ceramide may attenuate high glucose-induced myocyte dysfunction, produce Ca2+ influx, and augment smooth muscle contraction. To determine the role of ceramide on cardiac excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling, electrically paced adult rat ventricular myocytes were acutely exposed to a cell-permeable ceramide analog (10 pM–100 μM) and the following indices were determined: peak shortening (PS), time-to-P., time-to-90% relengthening, and the maximal velocity of shortening and relengthening (±dLdt). Intracellular Ca2+ properties were assessed using fura-2AM fluorescent microscopy. Our results revealed a concentration- and time-dependent increase of PS in ventricular myocytes in response to ceramide associated with an increase in ±dLdt. The maximal increase in PS was ∼35% from control value and was maintained throughout the first 20 min of ceramide exposure. However, the ceramide-induced increase in PS was not maintained once the exposure time was beyond 20 min. Acute exposure of ceramide significantly enhanced intracellular Ca2+ release, although at a much lower concentration range. The ceramide-induced augmentation of PS was not significantly affected by inhibition of phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3-kinase, protein kinase C (PKC), ceramide-activated protein phosphatase (CAPP), and nitric oxide (NO) synthase. Our data suggest that ceramide acutely augments the contractile function of cardiac myocytes through an alternative mechanism(s) rather than PI-3-kinase, PKC, CAPP, or NO. British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 140, 1163–1168. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705510
The Effect of Advance Notice of Plant Closings on Firm Value

The issue of workers displaced because of plant closings gained prominence in the 1980’S because of their growing numbers. With the increased attention focused on plant closings, the topic of advance notice has also gained prominence. This paper examines the issue of advance notice for plant closings and its effect on firm value. The findings of this study indicate that longer periods of advance notice have significant negative effects on firm value.
A Novel Role for Non-Neutralizing Antibodies against Nucleoprotein in Facilitating Resistance to Influenza Virus

Current influenza vaccines elicit Abs to the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase envelope proteins. Due to antigenic drift, these vaccines must be reformulated annually to include the envelope proteins predicted to dominate in the following season. By contrast, vaccination with the conserved nucleoprotein (NP) elicits immunity against multiple serotypes (heterosubtypic immunity). NP vaccination is generally thought to convey protection primarily via CD8 effector mechanisms. However, significant titers of anti-NP Abs are also induced, yet the involvement of Abs in protection has largely been disregarded. To investigate how Ab responses might contribute to heterosubtypic immunity, we vaccinated C57BL/6 mice with soluble rNP. This approach induced high titers of NP-specific serum Ab, but only poorly detectable NP-specific T cell responses. Nevertheless, rNP immunization significantly reduced morbidity and viral titers after influenza challenge. Importantly, Ab-deficient mice were not protected by this vaccination strategy. Furthermore, rNP-immune serum could transfer protection to naive hosts in an Ab-dependent manner. Therefore, Ab to conserved, internal viral proteins, such as NP, provides an unexpected, yet important mechanism of protection against influenza. These results suggest that vaccines designed to elicit optimal heterosubtypic immunity to influenza should promote both Ab and T cell responses to conserved internal proteins.
Practical considerations in making CORBA services fault-tolerant

This paper examines the CORBA Naming, Event, Notification, Trading, Time and Security Services, with the objective of identifying the issues that must be addressed in order make these services fault-tolerant. The reliability considerations for each of these services involves strategies for replicating the service objects, and for keeping the states of the replicas consistent. Of particular interest are the sources of non-determinism in each of these services, along with the means for addressing the non-deterministic behavior in the interests of ensuring strong fault tolerance.
Compliance with the recommendations for 2 doses of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children less than 9 years of age receiving influenza vaccine for the first time: a Vaccine Safety Datalink study.

OBJECTIVES. Children <9 years of age do not respond optimally to a first dose of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, and so 2 doses of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine are recommended for children <9 years of age who are being vaccinated for the first time. We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study to evaluate compliance with the 2-dose trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine recommendations. POPULATION AND SETTING. We evaluated 125 928 children 6 months through 8 years of age who were enrolled in health maintenance organizations in the United States participating in the Vaccine Safety Datalink project and who received their first dose of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in the 2001-2002, 2002-2003, or 2003-2004 influenza seasons. RESULTS. Compliance with the 2 dose recommendations varied by age group and influenza season. Among children 6 to 23 months of age, the proportion of first-vaccinated children who received a second vaccination was 44% in 2001-2002, 54% in 2002-2003, and 29% in 2003-2004. Among children 2 to 8 years of age, the corresponding proportions were 15%, 24%, and 12%, respectively. In all seasons, compliance with the second vaccination was highest in children first vaccinated by mid-November. CONCLUSIONS. The majority of children who received their first dose of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine did not complete the 2-dose series. The recently expanded recommendation for universal vaccination of children 6 to 59 months of age and their household contacts will substantially increase the number of children targeted for a first influenza vaccination. Noncompliance with the 2-dose trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine series may be associated with suboptimal protection against infection, which may impact the magnitude of the direct and indirect benefits achieved by the vaccination program.
Scaling for speed on the water

Dimensional analysis combined with limited experimental data for the performance of fully submerged propellers have been available since the 1950s. I present two new scale-free hydrodynamic predictions for the relative performance of both submerged and surface-piercing propellers. Larger p/D (pitch to diameter ratio) are more favorable for peak peopeller efficiency and higher speeds; lower p/D are more favorable for carrying loads at low speeds. This conflicts with the common advice to swing as large a diameter as slowly as possible but diameter D has dimensions while p/D is dimensionless, and useful hydrodynamic recommendations must be given in terms of dimensionless variables. For the surface piercing case I compare my scaling predictions with empirical data using a single case in each class as a baseline. One scaling law allows propeller diameter to be predicted from an established baseline where shaft hp and shaft RPM are the variables. The second prediction is inferred from Froude nr. scaling and allows boat speed to be predicted based on shaft horsepower (shp) and weight, given a known baseline in the same class of drag coefficient. I also discuss the existing available data on surface piercing propellers and compare the data with both typical competition data and speed records. In the context of the p/D ratio I discuss the limits on both too high and too low gear ratios. I state for the first time a basic requirement for setting the leading edge camber of surface piercing propellers for optimal acceleration and top speed. I end by using the basic hydrodynamic ideas of circulation conservation and vortex stretching to provide a qualitative picture via the tip vortices of the physics of blade ventilation in surface piercing.
Multi-kW coherent combining of fiber lasers seeded with pseudo random phase modulated light

We report efficient coherent beam combining of five kilowatt-class fiber amplifiers with a diffractive optical element (DOE). Based on a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configuration, the amplifiers were seeded with pseudo random phase modulated light. Each non-polarization maintaining fiber amplifier was optically path length matched and provides approximately 1.2 kW of near diffraction-limited output power (measured M2<1.1). Consequently, a low power sample of each laser was utilized for active linear polarization control. A low power sample of the combined beam after the DOE provided an error signal for active phase locking which was performed via Locking of Optical Coherence by Single-Detector Electronic-Frequency Tagging (LOCSET). After phase stabilization, the beams were coherently combined via the 1x5 DOE. A total combined output power of 4.9 kW was achieved with 82% combining efficiency and excellent beam quality (M2<1.1). The intrinsic DOE splitter loss was 5%. Similarly, losses due in part to non-ideal polarization, ASE content, uncorrelated wavefront errors, and misalignment errors contributed to the efficiency reduction.
Ion transport by heart mitochondria: XI. The spontaneous and induced permeability of heart mitochondria to cations

Abstract 1. 1. Isolated heart mitochondria show low permeability to most cations in the absence of a source of energy and of inducers of ion transport. Mitochondria are rapidly penetrated by NH4+ and to a lesser degree by Na+ under these conditions, however. In the presence of a source of energy, all cations tested appear to enter the mitochondrion by an energy-linked process. The extensive penetration of the mitochondrion by cations which results in osmotic swelling is dependent on the presence of a permeant anion. These studies suggest that the mitochondrial mechanism for cation uptake shows relatively little specificity as to cation. 2. 2. Gramicidin, an inducer of Na+ and K+ transport, increases the rate of swelling in isotonic Na+ or K+ acetate in the absence of an energy source. Addition of an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation lowers by two orders of magnitude the concentration of gramicidin which brings about this increased permeability. Gramicidin also releases the endogenous K+ of mitochondria suspended in K+-free media in the absence of a source of energy. These observations are compatible with the suggestion of a number of authors that gramicidin increases the permeability of the mitochondrial membrane to Na+ and K+. 3. 3. In contrast to gramicidin, Zn++ appears to have little effect on the permeability of the mitochondrion to cations in the absence of an energy source. However, once bound by an energy-linked reaction in the presence of phosphate, Zn++ causes an increase in passive permeability to K+, Na+, and Cl−. Mitochondria treated with Zn++ under these conditions remain impermeable to sucrose.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Avian Parental Care

Phylogenetic patterns can be used to generate detailed historical hypotheses about the evolution of character systems, including parental-care behavior. Phylogenetic analysis of 60 taxa using parental-care data (15 characters) in combination with anatomical data (69 characters) shows that biparental care is primitive for birds, and that biparental incubation arose from an ancestral condition in which neither parent incubated. Components of parental care may be decoupled, such that incubation and feeding of nestlings is biparental,
How Not to Reform Medicare

Medicare reform has become a hot political issue. The program is wildly popular but expensive. It is the principal source of projected increases in budget deficits. With deficits increasingly seen as a mortal economic threat, many believe that now is the time for Medicare reform. The reform flavor of the day is “premium support.” What is it? What are its strengths and weaknesses? The idea dates from the mid-1990s, when traditional Medicare provided nearly all beneficiaries “defined benefit” health insurance coverage — payment for most of the cost of whatever covered services enrollees and their health care providers deemed medically . . .
In Vivo Pharmacodynamic Target Assessment of Delafloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Murine Lung Infection Model

Delafloxacin is a broad-spectrum anionic fluoroquinolone under development for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia. The goal of the study was to determine the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) targets in the murine lung infection model for Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae Four isolates of each species were utilized for in vivo studies: for S. aureus, one methicillin-susceptible and three methicillin-resistant isolates; S. pneumoniae, two penicillin-susceptible and two penicillin-resistant isolates; K. pneumoniae, one wild-type and three extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing isolates. MICs were determined using CLSI methods. A neutropenic murine lung infection model was utilized for all treatment studies, and drug dosing was by the subcutaneous route. Single-dose plasma pharmacokinetics was determined in the mouse model after administration of 2.5, 10, 40, and 160 mg/kg. For in vivo studies, 4-fold-increasing doses of delafloxacin (range, 0.03 to 160 mg/kg) were administered every 6 h (q6h) to infected mice. Treatment outcome was measured by determining organism burden in the lung (CFU counts) at the end of each experiment (24 h). The Hill equation for maximum effect (Emax) was used to model the dose-response data. The magnitude of the PK/PD index, the area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h in the steady state divided by the MIC (AUC/MIC), associated with net stasis and 1-log kill endpoints was determined in the lung model for all isolates. MICs ranged from 0.004 to 1 mg/liter. Single-dose PK parameter ranges include the following: for maximum concentration of drug in serum (Cmax), 2 to 70.7 mg/liter; AUC from 0 h to infinity (AUC0-∞), 2.8 to 152 mg · h/liter; half-life (t1/2), 0.7 to 1 h. At the start of therapy mice had 6.3 ± 0.09 log10 CFU/lung. In control mice the organism burden increased 2.1 ± 0.44 log10 CFU/lung over the study period. There was a relatively steep dose-response relationship observed with escalating doses of delafloxacin. Maximal organism reductions ranged from 2 log10 to more than 4 log10 The median free-drug AUC/MIC magnitude associated with net stasis for each species group was 1.45, 0.56, and 40.3 for S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, and K. pneumoniae, respectively. AUC/MIC targets for the 1-log kill endpoint were 2- to 5-fold higher. Delafloxacin demonstrated in vitro and in vivo potency against a diverse group of pathogens, including those with phenotypic drug resistance to other classes. These results have potential relevance for clinical dose selection and evaluation of susceptibility breakpoints for delafloxacin for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections involving these pathogens.
Shielding Design and Dose Assessment for an Accelerator-Based BNCT Facility

Preparations are ongoing to test the viability and usefulness of an accelerator source of epithermal neutrons for ultimate use in a clinical environment. This feasibility study is to be conducted in a shielded room located on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus and will not involve patient irradiations. The accelerator production of neutrons is based on the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction. A maximum proton beam current of 4 mA at an energy of 2.5 MeV is anticipated. The resultant 3.58 × 1012 neutrons sec−1 have a maximum energy of 800 keV and will be substantially moderated. This paper describes the Monte Carlo methods used to estimate the neutron and photon dose rates in a variety of locations in the vicinity of the accelerator, as well as the shielding configuration required when the device is run at maximum current. Results indicate that the highest absorbed dose rate to which any individual will be exposed is 3 μSv hr−1 (0.3 mrem hr−1). The highest possible yearly dose is 0.2 μSv (2 × 10−2 mrem) to the general public or 0.9 mSv (90 mrem) to a radiation worker in close proximity to the accelerator facility. The shielding necessary to achieve these dose levels is also discussed. The shielding design has been completed and installation of the accelerator has begun.
Design choices for learning-by-doing software: when to choose Advise

While there is growing awareness of the value of developing computer-based learning-by-doing environments, there is still a need to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of particular architectures. This paper examines some of the common design issues faced when building learning-by-doing environments and analyzes the relationship between those design issues and the key features of learning architectures, especially an architecture we are currently developing called Advise. We also discuss the circumstances under which Advise is appropriate and when other architectures would be a better choice.
Geriatric Syndromes Defined and Explained for Oncology Practice

This chapter addresses three goals. The first is to explain the concept of geriatric syndromes. The second goal is to provide guidance so that geriatric syndromes can be anticipated and recognized in oncology practice. The third is to offer suggestions for managing and preventing selected geriatric complications of cancer treatment. As such, this chapter is not intended to be a pocket guide to geriatrics. It is intended to raise awareness of geriatric syndromes to trigger appropriate geriatric referral as an adjunct to cancer treatment. The reason why it is important for oncologists to recognize and appreciate geriatric syndromes is that most solid tumors and many hematologic malignancies are diseases of old people. There are projected to be about 40million people over age 65 in the United States in 2010. That number is expected to double by 2050 [1, 2]. The most common cancers are the solid tumors that occur most frequently in older people. As shown in Table 1, more than half of all new cases in 10 of the 15 most common adult malignancies are diagnosed in Medicare-age patients; and more than half of all cancer deaths occur in