cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Lessons from the Alaska Model: How the Permanent Fund Dividend provides a Model for Reform Worldwide”

Abstract Many resource-exporting nations have sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), but only the Alaska Permanent Fund (APF) pays a regular dividend to citizens. They call it the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). Every Alaskan citizen-resident has received a small share of the returns to the state's SWF since 1982. This article argues, using rigorous qualitative analysis of Alaska politics and of the social science literature on the effects of the APF and PFD that there are important lessons that all nations can learn from Alaska's unique experience. First, Resource dividends work and they're popular. Second, a state does not have to be resource rich to have a resource dividend. Third, states have resource dividends because the people took advantage of the opportunity. Therefore, the people must look for opportunities. Fourth, members of the political community must think not only like joint owners of their resources, not only like monopolistic owners of their resources, but also like custodians of their resources ...
Asymptotic stabilization of the bilinear time-invariant system via piecewise-constant feedback

Abstract Sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stabilization in a preassigned domain of the nonhomogeneous bilinear system (BLS) via piecewise-constant feedback are given, based on those for an auxillary BLS with additional control in the drift term. Application to the swing equation is also discussed.
Surface densities of Langerhans cells in relation to rodent epidermal sites with special immunologic properties.

Epidermal Langerhans cells bear surface receptors which implicate them as immunocompetent cells and they are now felt to play an important role both in delayed hypersensitivity and in skin allograft reactions. To determine the relationship between Langerhans cell availability and certain immunologic phenomena, surface densities were determined by ATP-ase and gold uptake in 3 rodent species: guinea pig, hamster, and mouse. Surface densities in epidermal specimens from the ear, back, foot pad, and buccal mucosa varied between 600 and 1500 cells/mm 2 . Significantly fewer cells were found in the hamster cheek pouch (130 cells/mm 2 ) and in the mouse tail (110 cells/mm 2 for C57BL/6J; 260 cells/mm 2 for BALB/c nu/nu). Langerhans cells were absent from the central portion of the cornea in all 3 species. Decreased Langerhans cell surface density may contribute to immunologic privilege as has been observed for the cornea and hamster cheek pouch and to the unusual allograft characteristics of mouse tail skin.
BeatBox: end-user interactive definition and training of recognizers for percussive vocalizations

Interactive end-user training of machine learning systems has received significant attention as a tool for personalizing recognizers. However, most research limits end users to training a fixed set of application-defined concepts. This paper considers additional challenges that arise in end-user support for defining the number and nature of concepts that a system must learn to recognize. We develop BeatBox, a new system that enables end-user creation of custom beatbox recognizers and interactive adaptation of recognizers to an end user's technique, environment, and musical goals. BeatBox proposes rapid end-user exploration of variations in the number and nature of learned concepts, and provides end users with feedback on the reliability of recognizers learned for different potential combinations of percussive vocalizations. In a preliminary evaluation, we observed that end users were able to quickly create usable classifiers, that they explored different combinations of concepts to test alternative vocalizations and to refine classifiers for new musical contexts, and that learnability feedback was often helpful in alerting them to potential difficulties with a desired learning concept.
An automatic language identification system

An automatic language identification system which makes use of several language specific features is described. The system concurrently utilizes features associated with two methodologies, the hidden Markov model, (HMM) and language-specific pitch contours. Experimental results show that transition probabilities and pitch contours show differences between the languages. However, each of the described criteria will not give in every case a definitive answer, but will lead in the correct direction. Therefore, a voting classifier should be used to combine the results from each of the criteria. >
Preparation and properties of LiAu(CN)2, NaAu(CN)2, and the double compound LiAu(CN)2·KAu(CN)2☆

Abstract Preparation and properties of LiAu(CN)2, NaAu(CN)2 and of the double compound LiAu(CN)2·KAu(CN)2 are presented. LiAu(CN)2 is brilliant yellow and very water soluble (1·8 kg/l. at 25°C); rhombohedral cell dimensions are: a 0 = 8·934 ± 0·0005 A , α = 21°48′. LiAu(CN)2·KAu(CN)2 is colourless, tetragonal, with a 0 = 7·1120 ± 0·0006 A , c 0 = 8·5896 ± 0·0006 A . An equimolar solution of LiAu(CN)2 and KAu(CN)2 is incongruently saturated at 25°C, depositing, on isothermal evaporation, first KAu(CN)2 and later LiAu(CN)2·KAu(CN)2. New values for the cell dimensions of NaAu(CN)2 were determined. NaAu(CN)2 is colourless, rhombohedral, with 0 = 9·24 A , α = 22°42′, calculated density, 4·38, measured 4·375. The cell dimensions of an earlier publication(1) which give a calculated density of 3·39 are apparently erroneous. No compound formation or solid solution was observed between LiAu(CN)2 and NaAu(CN)2.
Lessons From Tele-Emergency: Improving Care Quality And Health Outcomes By Expanding Support For Rural Care Systems

Tele-emergency services provide immediate and synchronous audio/video connections, most commonly between rural low-volume hospitals and an urban “hub” emergency department. We performed a systematic literature review to identify tele-emergency models and outcomes. We then studied a large tele-emergency service in the upper Midwest. We sent a user survey to all seventy-one hospitals that used the service and received 292 replies. We also conducted telephone interviews and site visits with ninety clinicians and administrators at twenty-nine of these hospitals. Participants reported that tele-emergency improves clinical quality, expands the care team, increases resources during critical events, shortens time to care, improves care coordination, promotes patient-centered care, improves the recruitment of family physicians, and stabilizes the rural hospital patient base. However, inconsistent reimbursement policy, cross-state licensing barriers, and other regulations hinder tele-emergency implementation. New v...
Evidence that Humans Can Taste Glucose Polymers

The sense of taste is essential for identifying potential nutrients and poisons. Accordingly, specialized taste receptor cells are activated by food-derived chemicals. Because of its importance in the human diet, oral detection of starch, or its degradation products, would presumably be highly beneficial. Yet, it has long been assumed that simple sugars are the only class of carbohydrates that humans can taste. There is, however, considerable evidence that rodents can taste starch degradation products (i.e., glucose polymers composed of maltooligosaccharides with 3–10 glucose units and maltopolysaccharides with >10 glucose units) and that their detection is independent of the sweet taste receptor, T1R2/T1R3. The present study was designed 1) to measure individual differences in human taste perception of glucose polymers, 2) to understand individual differences in the activity of salivary α-amylase, and 3) to investigate the role that salivary α-amylase may play in the taste perception of glucose polymers. In the first experiment, subjects rated taste intensity of glucose, sucrose, NaCl, and glucose polymers of various chain lengths, while their noses were clamped. Saliva samples from the subjects were also collected and their salivary α-amylase activity was assayed. Results showed that the perceived intensities of glucose, sucrose, and NaCl were significantly correlated ( r = 0.75–0.85, P < 0.001), but not with the longer chain glucose polymers, whereas intensity ratings of all glucose polymers were highly correlated with one another (r = 0.69–0.82, P < 0.001). Importantly, despite large individual differences in α-amylase activity among subjects, responsiveness to glucose polymers did not significantly differ between individuals with high and low α-amylase activity. A follow up experiment was conducted to quantify the concentrations of glucose and maltose that were inherently present in the glucose polymer stimuli and to determine whether the amounts were within a perceptually detectable range. Results revealed that the amounts of simple sugars present in the test stimuli were trivial and were mostly at an undetectable level. These data together provide strong evidence that humans can taste glucose polymers and that the responsiveness to glucose polymers is independent of that to simple sugars.
Integrating cognitive psychology, neurology and neuroimaging

In the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in research effectively integrating cognitive psychology, functional neuroimaging, and behavioral neurology. This new work is typically conducting basic research into aspects of the human mind and brain. The present review features as examples of such integrations two series of studies by the author and his colleagues. One series, employing object recognition, mental motor imagery, and mental rotation paradigms, clarifies the nature of a cognitive process, imagined spatial transformations used in shape recognition. Among other implications, it suggests that when recognizing a hand's handedness, imagining one's body movement depends on cerebrally lateralized sensory-motor structures and deciding upon handedness depends on exact match shape confirmation. The other series, using cutaneous, tactile, and auditory pitch discrimination paradigms, elucidates the function of a brain structure, the cerebellum. It suggests that the cerebellum has non-motor sensory support functions upon which optimally fine sensory discriminations depend. In addition, six key issues for this integrative approach are reviewed. These include arguments for the value and greater use of: rigorous quantitative meta-analyses of neuroimaging studies; stereotactic coordinate-based data, as opposed to surface landmark-based data; standardized vocabularies capturing the elementary component operations of cognitive and behavioral tasks; functional hypotheses about brain areas that are consistent with underlying microcircuitry; an awareness that not all brain areas implicated by neuroimaging or neurology are necessarily directly involved in the associated cognitive or behavioral task; and systematic approaches to integrations of this kind.
Analysis of aluminum hydroxyphosphate vaccine adjuvants by 27Al MAS NMR

Abstract The present study explores the use of 27 Al magic‐angle‐spinning (MAS) NMR for the characterization of aluminum hydroxyphosphate adjuvants. Adjuvants were prepared by two different methods: batch‐precipitation and precipitation at constant pH, using a wide range of different conditions. The adjuvant compositions showed no evident stoichiometric restrictions and varied as a function of the precipitation conditions. All the aluminum hydroxyphosphate adjuvants were found by 27 Al MAS NMR to contain both tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated aluminum. The octahedral form was always predominant. The chemical shifts corresponding to octahedral aluminum were at values intermediate between that of aluminum hydroxide (9 ppm) and those of phosphate‐containing aluminum minerals such as variscite (−9 ppm) and varied with the phosphate content of the adjuvant. This was true even for adjuvants precipitated above pH 6 indicating that the phosphate is incorporated into the bulk solid phase contrary to predictions in the literature. Aside from the presence of tetrahedral and octahedral aluminum, there was no evidence in any of the adjuvants of distinct, structurally defined phases indicating that the adjuvants are not mixtures of distinct phases which differ significantly in the number of phosphorus atoms in the next‐nearest‐neighbor (NNN) position to aluminum. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 89: 311–321, 2000
A qualitative study of atmospheric aerosols and particles deposited on flat membrane surfaces by microscopy and other techniques

Samples of atmospheric particulate matter placed on Nuclepore® filters were analyzed by microscopy and complementary techniques. Volcanic ash placed on glass surfaces and atmospheric material on Teflon® filters were also studied by microscopy. The analyzed samples are related to volcanic eruptions, urban environments, and mining activity. Nuclepore filters are thin sheets with smooth surfaces on which particles are fixed almost uniformly after filtration, which makes them especially adequate for study by microscopy. Here a selection of samples analyzed by microscopy is presented, along with information on the shape and size of particles and their distribution on the surface of the filter. Hypotheses are advanced on the origin of particles, their crystalline states, and the physical mechanisms to trap particles on the filter surface. A morphological classification of the particles was carried out according to their appearance in the several samples analyzed. Other complementary analyses performed by PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission), by electron microprobe, by X-ray diffraction and by granulometry, are commented. The implications of the particles studied to human health are also discussed.
Underwater Illumination & Imaging Measurements

Modulation transfer function measurements were carried out in relatively clear fresh water using separated narrow-beam transmitter and receiver and diffuse flectance bar and edge targets. The source was a mercury arc lamp. The detector was a multiplier phototube. The results show useful spatial frequency responses up to angular frequencies of 1000 to 2000 cycles per radian at target ranges up to 4 water attenuation lengths. The measured attenuation length for collimated light was 15 feet. With the narrow-beam apparatus, back-scatter was small and was reduced proportionally to the separation between the transmitter and the receiver. The relative backscatter was also reduced as the transmitter beam width was reduced. It was shown that from an examination of the signal response when a target edge was scanned, it was possible to deduce the relative amounts of unscattered and forward scattered light.
Identification of Gender in Yellow Perch by External Morphology: Validation in Four Geographic Strains and Effects of Estradiol

Abstract External morphological criteria that enable the rapid determination of gender have been developed for Yellow Perch Perca flavescens. Criteria are based upon (1) shape of the urogenital papilla (UGP), (2) size of the UGP relative to the anal (AN) opening, and (3) coloration of the UGP. In females, the UGP appeared (1) rounded at the anterior margin, (2) pointed at the posterior margin and had a V or U shape (crescent shaped in mature animals), (3) generally lacked reddish coloration, and (4) narrower relative to the AN. In males, the UGP (1) appeared circular or oval around the entire margin, (2) typically displayed reddish coloration, and (3) was generally wider relative to the AN. To verify accuracy of these criteria, gender was verified internally in perch of various sizes, sex, and maturity from four domesticated geographic strains (n = 1,389). For all perch tested, accuracy was 97.3% for both sexes, 98.8% for females, and 95.9% for males. To experimentally verify accuracy of these criteria, j...
Effects of dynein on microtubule mechanics and centrosome positioning

To determine forces on intracellular microtubules, we measured shape changes of individual microtubules following laser severing in bovine capillary endothelial cells. Surprisingly, regions near newly created minus ends increased in curvature following severing, whereas regions near new microtubule plus ends depolymerized without any observable change in shape. With dynein inhibited, regions near severed minus ends straightened rapidly following severing. These observations suggest that dynein exerts a pulling force on the microtubule that buckles the newly created minus end. Moreover, the lack of any observable straightening suggests that dynein prevents lateral motion of microtubules. To explain these results, we developed a model for intracellular microtubule mechanics that predicts the enhanced buckling at the minus end of a severed microtubule. Our results show that microtubule shapes reflect a dynamic force balance in which dynein motor and friction forces dominate elastic forces arising from bending moments. A centrosomal array of microtubules subjected to dynein pulling forces and resisted by dynein friction is predicted to center on the experimentally observed time scale, with or without the pushing forces derived from microtubule buckling at the cell periphery.
Evaluation of the Modified Olsen extracting reagent for copper, zinc and manganese

Abstract The Modified Olsen (MO) extracting reagent is used extensively as a soil test extractant in Latin America. Little correlation or calibration research hasbeenreportedonit, however, especially for the micronutrients. wheat, corn, and soybeans were grown successively in the greenhouse to evaluate Cu, Zn, and Mn, respectively. Lime and micronutrient variables (one micronutrient per crop) were imposed on six soils representing four orders. After each cropping the soils were extracted with MO and with three other extracting reagents for which there are referenced critical levels: Mehlich‐1 (Ml), Mehlich‐3 (M3) and Soltanpour‐Schwab (SS). The correlations between nutrient uptake and the concentrations extracted were fairly similar for the four solutions, but were better for Mn and Zn than Cu. The poor relationship for Cu occurred partly because a maximum wheat concentration of about 10 mg/kg was reached, creating a curvilinear function. The amounts of nutrients extracted by the four reagents were also w...
MAPIS: a mobile amphibian population information system

In recent years, amphibian populations in many parts of the world have experienced an apparent widespread, yet poorly understood decline. One of the obstacles comes from the difficulties in rapidly collecting and analyzing amphibian population data from the field sites. In this paper, we investigate how to apply wireless network and mobile computing technologies to build a mobile amphibian population information system (MAPIS). This system not only enhances communication between field biologists in different locations, but also speed onsite data entry and analysis. Thus, the field biologists can optimize collection efforts and better exploit narrow windows of ecologically relevant population behaviors.
Indirect effect of the strong metal-support interaction on the metal-metal inter-action in Rh-Ag/TiO2 catalysts

Abstract An indirect effect of support on the kind of bimetallic interaction has been observed on Rh-Ag catalysts supported on TiO 2 compared to SiO 2 . This effect occurs at significantly lower temperatures than the direct Strong Metal-Support Inter- action (SMSI) between Rh and TiO 2 . The main feature of this indirect effect is a pronounced decay in the H 2 chemisorption capability and activity for ethane hydrogenolysis with time when the catalysts are left in flowing H 2 at 523 K. This behavior can be rationalized in terms of a modification of the energetics of the metal-metal interaction, which may cause the Ag to spread over Rh particles. Hydrogenolysis activity and H 2 chemisorption capacity can be regenerated by an oxidation-reduction treatment.
Unequal transmission of mitochondrial haplotypes in natural populations of field mice with XY females (genus Akodon).

Abstract: In species with fertile XY females, such as South American field mice (genus Akodon), there are two types of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), one passing from XX females and one from XY females. The XX mothers pass their mtDNA to their XX daughters. The XY mothers, however, produce both XX and XY daughters. Because of this breeding scheme, the XY mtDNA remains isolated whereas the XX lineage is continuously invaded by XY mtDNA haplotypes. Using a set of recursion equations, I predicted that XY mtDNA haplotypes should rapidly spread through entire populations composed of both XX and XY females. I examined patterns of nucleotide polymorphism and divergence from the mtDNA control region as well as phylogenetic patterns for evidence of an mtDNA sweep. I compared patterns in two sister species, Akodon boliviensis and Akodon azarae, that are composed of 35% and 10% XY females, respectively. Akodon boliviensis XY females are found in all clades of a phylogenetic mtDNA tree consistent with the spread of mtDNA...
Failure of reflection positivity in the quantum Heisenberg ferromagnet

We show that reflection positivity does not hold in the finite-volume spin 1/2 quantum Heisenberg ferromagnet in two cases: (i) for any dimension or degree ofS1-invariant anisotropy, above a volume independent temperatureT0, and (ii) for the isotropic model in one dimension, below a volume dependent temperatureT1.
Identification of target genes of oncogenic transcription factors.

Disregulation of many transcription factors is associated with the develop- ment of human neoplasia. Transcription factors regulate cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis by binding to specific DNA sequences within the promoter regions of growth-regulatory genes and modulating expression of these genes. This simple model is complicated by the fact that mammalian transcription factors are often mem- bers of large protein families that bind to similar DNA sequences. This raises the question as to whether members of a particular family regulate expression of over- lapping or unique sets of genes. This review is focused on addressing this question using the Ets, Myc, and E2F transcription factor families as examples. Deregulated activity of some, but not all, members of these families is observed in cancer. Here, we summarize the data illustrating the concept that binding of individual members of these families of factors can result in promoter-specific responses and review the studies that have provided some insight into how target gene specificity is achieved. Since, for all of these oncogenic transcription factors, it remains unclear exactly which target genes are important in neoplasia, we have also reviewed the many ap- proaches researchers are using to identify target genes of the various Ets, Myc, and E2F family members. (P.S.E.B.M. 1999, Vol 222)
Clinical approach to the prostate: an update.

Prostatic disease continues to present clinicians with challenges. Although giant strides have been made in the medical and surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia, many fundamental questions about its pathogenesis, progression, and treatment efficacy remain unanswered. Prostate cancer also continues to be an area in which progress is needed despite major recent advancements. Numerous debates that include the value of prostate-specific antigen screening and the appropriate roles for each of the numerous therapeutic modalities await resolution. For millions of patients who suffer from prostatitis, a major breakthrough is yet to come. Current treatment regimens for prostatitis remain ineffective at best. Contemporary approaches to the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer, and prostatitis are discussed in this review.
Unstable and Damped Equatorial Modes in Simple Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Models

Abstract Free equatorial modes for several simple coupled ocean-atmosphere models are determined. They are found to include unstable and damped modes of large zonal scale and long period. The influence of ocean thermo-dynamics on unstable modal behavior is systematically explored. The Model I ocean features a local thermal equilibrium. In Model II, linearized temperature advection is the sole ocean thermal process. The Model III ocean features both advective and local thermal processes, while that of Model IV features only local thermal processes. The ocean and atmosphere are each represented by linear shallow water equations on the equatorial β-plane, and are linked by traditional couplings. A finite difference method with variable resolution is used to find eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the coupled systems. Key results are checked via a series method. Ocean modes are influenced most strongly by coupling, and are damped or destabilized depending on the configuration of induced atmospheric motion relati...
Isotope effects in dense solid hydrogen: Phase transition in deuterium at 190+/-20 GPa.

Raman measurements of solid normal deuterium compressed in a diamond-anvil cell indicate that the material undergoes a structural phase transformation at 190 + or - 20 GPa and 77 K. Spectroscopically, the transition appears analogous to that observed in hydrogen at 145 + or - 5 GPa. The large isotope effect on the transition pressure suggests there is a significant vibrational contribution to the relative stability of the solid phases of hydrogen at very high densities.
Pulmonary embolism in a woman taking oral contraceptives and valdecoxib.

A 25-y-old woman, who had been on an oral contraceptive pill for 3 years, presented with pulmonary embolism. One month prior to presentation she had been started on valdecoxib for neck pain.
SU-E-E-11: Results from the Tomotherapy Daily QA Using the Rotational Therapy Phantom

Purpose: In this study we will present results from the daily QA program used to monitor the tomotherapy machine over a period of eight months. Methods: The daily QA uses the Rotational Therapy Phantom, Gammex 507 (RTP). The RTP system allows for checking the rotational output, energy, gantry speed, gantry position, MLC‐Gantry position synchrony and beam profile constancies. All of these tests are done within one five‐minute procedure to check these metrics on the tomotherapy machine. The measurements are done using two ion chambers connected to the TomoElectrometer in rate collection mode. Daily QA data is analyzed using the Rotational Therapy Phantom Software(RTPS) to compare the constancy of these metrics relative to a standard set. The Daily QA protocol runs a dynamic MLC, five‐identical‐rotation procedure with a period of 40 seconds per rotation. Results: Measurements are taken using the TomoElectrometer with a sample time of 200ms, because the procedure utilizes dynamic MLC and rotational gantry, the procedure allows the software to detect variations in the output rate, energy constancies, gantry speed, position and MLC/Gantry position synchrony at the same rate. This work will present examples of these variations including evidence on gantry position/MLC asynchrony of up to 2 seconds. This corresponds to 18 degrees or 2.55 projections. Conclusions: Using the RTPS for daily QA on tomotherapy system shows that the system can run with up to 2 seconds (18 degrees) asynchrony between the MLC and the gantry position. This 18 degree discrepancy between the plan and the actual delivery could result in significant clinical outcome for a wide range of treatment sites, such as prostate, H&N, Lung and Brain treatments. Work is currently being done to expand the application of the RTPS to be applicable on the Varian and Elekta rotational therapy modalities. Kennith Freeman is an employee of Gammex Inc.
Global uncertainty assessments by high dimensional model representations (HDMR)

A general set of quantitative model assessment and analysis tools, termed high-dimensional model representations (HDMR), have been introduced recently for high dimensional input–output systems. HDMR are a particular family of representations where each term in the representation reflects the independent and cooperative contributions of the inputs upon the output. When data are randomly sampled, a RS(random sampling)-HDMR can be constructed, which is an efficient tool to provide a fully global statistical analysis of a model. The individual RS-HDMR component functions have a direct statistical correlation interpretation. This relation permits the model output variance σ2 to be decomposed into its input contributions σ2=∑iσi2+∑i<jσij2+⋯ due to the independent variable action σi2, the pair correlation action σij2, etc. The information gained from this decomposition can be valuable for attaining a physical understanding of the origins of output uncertainty as well as suggesting additional laboratory/field studies or model refinements to best improve the quality of the model. To reduce sampling effort, the RS-HDMR component functions are approximately represented by orthonormal polynomials. Only one randomly sampled set of input–output data is needed to determine all σi, σij, etc. and a few hundred samples may give reliable results. This paper presents its methodology and applications on an atmospheric photochemistry model and a trace metal bioremediation model.
Reply to Comments.

Evidence of prospective processes is increasingly common in psychological research, which suggests the fruitfulness of a theoretical framework for mind and brain built around future orientation. No metaphysics of determinism or indeterminism is presupposed by this framework, nor do considerations of scientific method require determinism—successful scientific theories in the natural sciences all involve probabilistic elements. We speculate that expressive behavior and moral decision making use prospective processes parallel to those used in nonmoral decisions.
The differential effects of leukotriene C4 and D4 on the pulmonary and systemic circulations in newborn lambs.

The Differential Effects of Leukotriene C 4 and D 4 on the Pulmonary and Systemic Circulations in Newborn Lambs
GaAs nanopillar-array solar cells employing in situ surface passivation.

Arrays of III–V semiconductor nanopillars are promising photovoltaic materials due to their favourable optical properties, however, they show low power conversion efficiencies. Mariani et al. fabricate a GaAs nanopillar solar cell achieving an efficiency of 6.63% owing to surface passivation.
Poverty Level and Cardiovascular Screening in Younger Adults: An Analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

PURPOSE: Many studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between socio-economic status and cardiovascular morbidity. This may in part be due to delayed treatment of risk factors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of poverty on blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening, and having had a general physical exam in young adults. METHODS: The 1996 data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was analyzed. The survey is representative of the civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. population. The main independent variable was poverty category. Covariates included health insurance status and having a usual source of care. The analysis was restricted to subjects aged 24 to 36. The proportion of subjects not having had a physical exam, blood pressure check, or cholesterol check within the past 5 years was calculated for each income, insurance, and usual source of care strata. Each group was compared to the reference group of middle income, insured subjects with a usual source of care. RESULTS: In comparison to the reference group, the probability of not having had a general exam (31% vs 21%), blood pressure check (11.4% vs 3.3%), or cholesterol check (57.4% vs 39.4%) within 5 years was higher in the low income group. High income individuals without a usual source of care or insurance were also less likely to have had a blood pressure check, but the effect was blunted compared to the low income group. Having insurance and a usual source of care ameliorated the difference in blood pressure check (2.9% vs 3.3%), cholesterol check (46% vs 39.4%), and general exam (20.3% vs 20.6%) in the low income strata vs the standard. CONCLUSION: Younger adults who were poor were less likely to have undergone a physical exam, blood pressure check, or cholesterol check within the preceeding five years. Having insurance and a usual source of care largely explained the discrepancy. More available and affordable health insurance may decrease the excess burden of cardiovascular disease in the poor.
Association of MBP peptides with Hsp70 in normal appearing human white matter

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease directed against myelin proteins. The etiology of MS is poorly defined though, with no definitive causative agent yet identified. It has been hypothesized that MS may be a multifactorial disease resulting in the same end product: the destruction of myelin by the immune system. In this report we describe a potential role for heat shock proteins in the pathogenesis of MS. We isolated Hsp70 from the normal appearing white matter of both MS and normal human brain and found this was actively associated with, among other things, immunodominant MBP peptides. Hsp70–MBP peptide complexes prepared in vitro were shown to be highly immunogenic, with adjuvant-like effects stimulating MBP peptide-specific T cell lines to respond to normally sub-optimal concentrations of peptide. This demonstration of a specific interaction between Hsp70 and different MBP peptides, coupled with the adjuvanticity of this association is suggestive of a possible role for Hsp70 in the immunopathology associated with MS.
Ontogenetic differences in the association of gustatory and tactile cues with lithium chloride and footshock.

Using a double dissociation design with 15% sucrose solution and exposure to a heat lamp (34°C) as CSs and 0.3 M LiCl and 1-mA footshock as USs, the present study found 15-day-old rats to show selective associations similar to those found in adults. Five-day-old pups, however, expressed similar sucrose aversions when this solution was paired with either LiCl or footshock, whereas they expressed heat aversions after heat—LiCl but not heat—shock pairings. Results are discussed with respect to previous data on selective associations in pups, current theories on selective associations, and ontogenetic differences in stimulus selection.
Sex steroid hormone binding globulin levels and free 17β-estradiol and testosterone in cynomolgus monkeys during different reproductive states

Abstract The effect of differences in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels associated with reproductive status on free 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) was characterized in cynomolgus monkeys. Cycling female cynomolgus monkeys had higher SHBG levels than males, pregnant and lactating females (P
Pulmonary hemodynamics in systemic hypertension. Long-term effect of minoxidil.

To assess the effect of minoxidil on pulmonary hemodynamics, we performed cardiac catheterization on ten patients, prior to the administration of minoxidil, at six months after its addition to their existing drag regimens, and on seven patients following 12 or more months of minoxidil therapy. Systemic blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance were significantly reduced at six months and following 12 or more months of minoxidil therapy. Before receiving minoxidil, nine of ten patients had elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. There were no significant changes in pulmonary vascular resistance following the initiation of minoxidil. The data suggest that pulmonary hypertension is common in patients with longstanding poorly controlled systemic hypertension, and that minoxidil, in doses sufficient to significantly reduce systemic blood pressure, does not cause or aggravate pulmonary hypertension.
Structure, conformation, and motions of polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) in the hexagonal form of the PTHF‐urea inclusion compound

Combination of differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance observations made on the crystalline inclusion compound (IC) formed between polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) and urea (U), together with their comparison to identical observations performed on bulk semicrystalline samples of PTHF, have permitted an analysis of the conformations, motions, and environments available to PTHF chains in both solid-state phases. The isolated PTHF chains occupying the narrow channels of the PTHF-U-IC are highly extended, though small rotational deviations averaging 24° from the nearly all trans, planar zig zag conformation of bulk crystalline PTHF chains produce some significant differences in their behaviors. PTHF chains in PTHF-U-IC possess much greater mobility than bulk crystalline PTHF chains as evidenced by C-13 spin lattice relaxation times, T1, 50 times shorter (1.5 s) than observed for bulk crystalline PTHF chains (75 s). FTIR observations are consistent with very little specific interaction between guest PTHF chains and host urea matrix molecules and result in similar spectra for bulk and IC PTHF, except for the presence of the CH2 rocking vibration band at 745 cm−1 observed for bulk PTHF. The absence of this band in the IC PTHF can be understood by considering the symmetry of the all trans, planar zig zag conformation of bulk crystalline PTHF chains, which prevents the CH2 rocking mode from coupling with skeletal stretching and bending modes as occurs in the nonplanar, helical PTHF chains in PTHF-U-IC. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Interstitial deletion of long arm of chromosome no. 5 with growth hormone deficiency-an emerging syndrome?

5p- is a well-defined syndrome, but phenotypic correlations of 5q are poorly described in the literature. We present a case of a female child with interstitial deletion in the 5q13.1q15 region. Comparison of the clinical features of this patient with others reported in the literature suggests an emerging clinical syndrome defined by short stature, failure to thrive, mental retardation, slanting palpebral fissures, malformed ears, short neck and depressed nasal bridge. Based on our endocrine testing, we hypothesize that the short stature could be, in part, due to growth hormone deficiency. The recent assignment of growth hormone receptor gene to the short arm of chromosome 5 and the presence of several genes for growth factors and growth factor receptors on 5q raise interesting possibilities for the explanation of short stature in such cases.
Using Word-Sense Disambiguation Methods to Classify Web Queries by Intent

Three methods are proposed to classify queries by intent (CQI), e.g., navigational, informational, commercial, etc. Following mixed-initiative dialog systems, search engines should distinguish navigational queries where the user is taking the initiative from other queries where there are more opportunities for system initiatives (e.g., suggestions, ads). The query intent problem has a number of useful applications for search engines, affecting how many (if any) advertisements to display, which results to return, and how to arrange the results page. Click logs are used as a substitute for annotation. Clicks on ads are evidence for commercial intent; other types of clicks are evidence for other intents. We start with a simple Naive Bayes baseline that works well when there is plenty of training data. When training data is less plentiful, we back off to nearby URLs in a click graph, using a method similar to Word-Sense Disambiguation. Thus, we can infer that designer trench is commercial because it is close to www.saksfifthavenue.com, which is known to be commercial. The baseline method was designed for precision and the backoff method was designed for recall. Both methods are fast and do not require crawling webpages. We recommend a third method, a hybrid of the two, that does no harm when there is plenty of training data, and generalizes better when there isn't, as a strong baseline for the CQI task.
Muscle relaxation by drugs which stimulate sensory nerve endings—II. The effect of nicotinic agents

Abstract Nicotine, given by i.v. or right intra-atrial injection in doses of 10–40 μg/kg, depressed the “spontaneous” electrical activity and tone in both extensor and flexor muscles of cats rendered rigid by intercollicular decerebration and in intact preparations under light chloraloseurethane anaesthesia. The latent periods of this action following intra-atrial injection varied from 1 to 2 sec, indicating that it must have originated from receptors located between the right atrium and the pulmonary capillary bed. The onset of the reflex motor depression frequently coincided with the onset of the vagovagal cardiodecelerator-hypotensive response, suggesting that both effects arose from the same type of receptor. These brief latency effects were dependent on vagal afferents. After vagotomy a motor depressant effect with delayed onset was seen. Instances of differential abolition, or absence, of the effect of nicotine and phenyldiguanide under varying conditions of decerebration and anesthesia suggest that the motor depressant effect of nicotine does not arise from the pulmonary deflation receptors, responsible for the effect of phenyldiguanide, but is initiated at the pulmonary arterial baroreceptors which have earlier been implicated in the hypotensive reflex response to nicotine. The motor depressant effect of nicotine was duplicated by the quaternary nicotinic agent sebacylcholine and also by acetylcholine, and was blocked by hexamethonium, confirming the peripheral reflex nature of the effect. Neuromuscular transmission was not impaired in the doses used. Dihydro-β-erythroidine, blocking the nicotinic synapse at the Renshaw interneuron, reduced or abolished the inhibition by nicotine of the knee jerk but had little influence on the reflex motor depression, while hexamethonium had the reverse effect. Thus, Renshaw inhibition was responsible for much of the depressant action of nicotine on the knee jerk but played only a minor part in the reflex motor depression. In several experiments hexamethonium itself depressed motor activity by an as yet unexplained mechanism.
Propagation of a crack due to shear waves in a medium of monoclinic type

In this paper the propagation of a crack due to shear waves in a medium having monoclinic symmetry is investigated. The stress intensity factor at the crack tip for concentrated force of a constant intensity and for constant loading is separately calculated. The Wiener-Hopf technique has been used to solve the problem. It has been shown that the stress intensity factor decreases as the length of the crack increases. The effect of anisotropy being distinctly marked.
Solidarity sans identity: Richard Wright and Simone de Beauvoir theorize political subjectivity

Starting with Richard Wright’s controversial address to the Paris Congress of Black Writers and Authors of 1956, this article explores Wright’s and Simone de Beauvoir’s focus on existential freedom as key to an emancipatory political subjectivity. Both Wright and Beauvoir reject the content of identity formed via oppression, seeking to move beyond categories of culture, religion, femininity and blackness. They argue that solidarity can be better forged across identity groups by nurturing a political subjectivity that recognizes the historical and political impact of embodied identities but is driven by ontological freedom expressed in collective action and dissociation with normative categories. Putting Wright’s 12 Million Black Voices in conversation with Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, we can more fully appreciate Wright’s political writing after he left the United States. Here we see the potential for solidarity across borders, and with women and other oppressed peoples. Most important, we witness these two thinkers imagining political invocations that do not reinforce political meanings given to bodies, thus allowing new forms of solidarity and collective action to emerge.
Picture perception in infancy

This research investigated simple picture perception in 5-month-old infants, one aspect of the general problem of the recognition of invariance across transformations. We were particularly concerned with two issues: (1) whether simple picture perception, i.e., the correspondence between objects and pictures of them, must be learned gradually; and (2) to what extent are infants capable of recognizing two-dimensional stimuli varying in degree of resemblance to three-dimensional objects. In Experiment 1, the infants were familiarized with a small doll. On subsequent novelty preference tests, they showed transfer to both color and black-and-white photographs of the doll. In Experiment 2 infants familiarized with a color photograph of a human face were able to recognize line drawings of the face. The results of the first two studies were interpreted as strongly supporting the view that simple picture perception does not have to be learned by infants. These results also indicated a surprising ability on the part of 5-month-olds to recognize relatively abstract two-dimensional stimuli. Experiment 3 demonstrated that the results of the first two studies were due to the infants' recognition of similarity among the various stimuli rather than a failure to discriminate between them.
The use of partial molal volume data to evaluate equations of state for supercritical fluid mixtures

Abstract Infinite dilution partial molal volumes have been measured for heavy organic solids in supercritical fluid solvents. The results are highly negative in the region of greatest compressibility and, when combined with solubility data, serve as a base for stringen testing of phase equilibrium models. Comparisons are made with some of the common cubic equations of state as well as for an ideal chemical theory approach.
Square-Shaped, Single-Crystal, Monolayer Graphene Domains by Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition

Square-shaped, single-crystal, monolayer graphene domains are grown on Cu foils by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition. The domains are remarkably well-aligned along the direction of flow of the gases. Scanning electron microscopy shows that these ‘square’ domains have clean, smooth edges which permit seamless, defect-free merging of the domains. Raman spectra and transmission electron microscopy together demonstrate that individual domains are single layer, and electron diffraction reveals that these domains are single crystals. The expansion mechanism of ‘square’ graphene domains is discussed in the context of our aligned, tailored domain shapes. This work represents an important step toward realization of fabrication of larger area, single-crystal monolayer graphene sheets with controllable shape and alignment.
Herbage Nutritive Value of Tall Fescue Fertilized with Broiler Litter and Inorganic Fertilizer

The nutrients in broiler litter can replace inorganic fertilizer additions, but must be managed to minimize soil nutrient build-up and off-site losses in the environment. Herbage dry matter (DM) and nutritive value were measured in tall fescue at litter rates of 0, 4.5, 9.0, 13.5, and 18.0 Mg/ha/year, as compared to inorganic fertilizer (INORG) that provided N, P O , and K O (224-112-224 kg/ha/year), in soil with no litter history. The treatments were split-applied in autumn and spring, and forage was harvested at early-, mid- and late-season. In general, nutritive value was greatest at early-season, based on low acid detergent fiber (ADF) and high in vitro true digestible DM (IVDDM). Herbage crude protein (CP) was similar in INORG and 9.0 Mg litter per ha at the early- and late-season harvests, with litter producing CP values of 105 to 125 g/kg. The litter effect was significant at late season in 2006, when CP increased approximately 42 g/kg, ADF decreased 35 g/kg, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) decreased 30 g/kg. The use of 9.0 Mg litter per ha produced forage with reasonably high DM yield and nutritive value, but elevated soil P, Cu, and Zn, as compared to INORG and 4.5 Mg litter per ha. Herbage nutritive value was generally lower at 4.5 Mg litter per ha than INORG, but both fertilizer sources appeared to minimize potential risks to the environment when tall fescue was grown for hay.