cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing State SAT Scores: Problems, Biases, and Corrections

Comparing SA T scores among states using regression analysis leads to biased results because states differ in the proportion of students taking the exam. When the proportion of students taking the exam is included in the regression equation, the results can be biased because of misspecification bias. A method intended to correct for selection bias is presented, and empirical results suggest that sample selection bias is present in SAT score regressions. Regression equations and state rankings are compared between the selection-corrected equation and equations for which the selection problem is not addressed. The proposed method is one of many available as possible solutions to the selection problem. Alternative methods may produce different results. The recent availability of data for scholastic aptitude test (SAT) scores by state has led to comparisons of these scores among states. Powell and Steelman (1984) examine differences in state SAT scores for 1982 and argue that making state-by-state comparisons without accounting for the difference between states in the percentage of SAT test takers is unsound. They reason that states with low percentages of test takers are more likely to be represented by higher scorers, because as the percentage of test takers increases, the sample will include a larger percentage of low scorers. Powell and Steelman include the percentage of test takers as an independent variable in their regression analysis and rank the states by residuals. They find that these rankings differ drastically from state rankings that do not adjust for the percentage of test takers. They also investigate the effect of other variables on state scores such as race, sex, and income. Page and Feifs (1985), in a similar study for 1983 data, also argue that the percentage of test takers is an important determinant of the SAT score.
Oral cancer chemotherapy in paediatric patients: obstacles and potential for development and utilisation.

Although most cancer chemotherapy in children is administered parenterally, oral formulations are becoming increasingly available for use in patients as young as infants. Incentives for this approach include safety, flexibility, reduced financial cost, improved quality of life, and the potential for improved efficacy. The ability to deliver chemotherapy at home and apply schedules of administration that increase the agent’s efficacy because patients do not require hospitalisation or visits to the clinic renders oral chemotherapy particularly attractive. Obstacles to oral chemotherapy in paediatric patients include restrictions in dose size and schedule, uncertain or low bioavailability, adverse effects of malabsorption, and adherence (noncompliance and refusal to take oral chemotherapy). Techniques to overcome most of these limitations are available or can be developed, and lack of an oral formulation can be solved in many instances by the pharmaceutical industry. Future developments in oral chemotherapy should not be limited to adult patient applications.
A poroelastic immersed boundary method with applications to cell biology

The immersed boundary method is a widely used mixed Eulerian/Lagrangian framework for simulating the motion of elastic structures immersed in viscous fluids. In the traditional immersed boundary method, the fluid and structure move with the same velocity field. In this work, a model based on the immersed boundary method is presented for simulating poroelastic media in which the fluid permeates a porous, elastic structure of small volume fraction that moves with its own velocity field. Two distinct methods for calculating elastic stresses are presented and compared. The methods are validated on a radially symmetric test problem by comparing with a finite difference solution of the classical equations of poroelasticity. Finally, two applications of the modeling framework to cell biology are provided: cellular blebbing and cell crawling. It is shown that in both examples, poroelastic effects are necessary to explain the relevant mechanics.
A reciprocal translocation 46,XY,t(8;9)(p11.2;q13) in a bladder exstrophy patient disrupts CNTNAP3 and presents evidence of a pericentromeric duplication on chromosome 9.

Abstract A patient with sporadic bladder exstrophy and de novo apparently balanced chromosomal translocation 46,XY,t(8;9)(p11.2;q13) was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and molecular methods. We were able to map both translocation breakpoints to single genomic clones. The chromosome 8p11.2 breakpoint was mapped to BAC clone RP4-547J18, predicted to contain several hypothetical genes. Characterization of the chromosome 9q13 breakpoint indicated a disruption in the 5′ region of CNTNAP3 within BAC RP11-292B8. This observation suggests possible involvement of CNTNAP3 in the etiology of bladder exstrophy. Additionally, FISH analysis identified several genomic copies of CNTNAP3 on both sides of the chromosome 9 centromere flanking the polymorphic heterochromatin. Northern blot analysis of lymphoblast and bladder RNA confirmed CNTNAP3 transcripts in these tissues and did not show abnormal CNTNAP3 expression in the proband and two unrelated patients with bladder exstrophy. The identification of multiple copies of three BAC clones in the proband, his parents, and unrelated controls suggests that duplications of CNTNAP3 and the surrounding genomic region have occurred as a result of repeated events of unequal crossing over and pericentric inversions during chromosome 9 evolution.
CEO-shareholder incentive alignment around SEOs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine CEO wealth changes around seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) to explore the shareholder-manager incentive alignment in major corporate equity financing decisions. Design/methodology/approach – The authors decompose CEO wealth into three major components: price effect, board compensation grant, and CEO’s own portfolio adjustment. The authors then compare SEO-event sample vs non-event samples; and evaluate the dynamic and long-run CEO wealth effect. Findings – The authors find when market reacts negatively to SEO announcement leading to losses in CEO’s existing firm-related wealth, CEO gets additional grants to offset the losses. Although this appears to be a rent-seeking activity, the authors find that the additional grants are mainly in the form of stock options which would have no value if stock price failed to pick up in the future. In this sense, the additional grants align the interests between shareholders and managers. Consistent with this argument, th...
Exploring Patient Risk Groups with Incomplete Knowledge

Patient risk stratification, which aims to stratify a patient cohort into a set of homogeneous groups according to some risk evaluation criteria, is an important task in modern medical informatics. Good risk stratification is the key to good personalized care plan design and delivery. The typical procedure for risk stratification is to first identify a set of risk-relevant medical features (also called risk factors), and then construct a predictive model to estimate the risk scores for individual patients. However, due to the heterogeneity of patients' clinical conditions, the risk factors and their importance vary across different patient groups. Therefore a better approach is to first segment the patient cohort into a set of homogeneous groups with consistent clinical conditions, namely risk groups, and then develop group-specific risk prediction models. In this paper, we propose RISGAL (RISk Group Analysis), a novel semi-supervised learning framework for patient risk group exploration. Our method segments a patient similarity graph into a set of risk groups such that some risk groups are in alignment with (incomplete) prior knowledge from the domain experts while the remaining groups reveal new knowledge from the data. Our method is validated on public benchmark datasets as well as a real electronic medical record database to identify risk groups from a set of potential Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients.
Fever Evaluations after Colorectal Surgery: Identification of Risk Factors that Increase Yield and Decrease Cost

This study was designed to evaluate the yield and cost of fever evaluations in average-risk inpatients after elective colorectal surgery. A 12-month, retrospective study was performed on patients who developed a postoperative fever ≥ 38°C after elective colorectal surgery. A positive fever evaluation was defined as a blood culture, urine culture, chest x-ray, or abdominal CT result that led to a change in patient management. Logistic regression, Fisher’s exact test, and chi-squared test were used; odds ratios were calculated. Of 133 patients, 26 percent had a positive evaluation. Blood culture, urine culture, chest x-ray, and CT were positive in 3, 8, 7, and 46 percent, respectively. Risk factors for a positive fever evaluation were temperature ≥ 38.5°C, fever evaluation after postoperative Day 6, and a clinical manifestation of systemic inflammatory response syndrome other than fever (all, P < 0.01). The cost per positive fever evaluation for the entire group, patients with 2 risk factors, or patients with 3 risk factors was $5,600, $4,200, and $2,140, respectively. The current approach to fever evaluation after elective colorectal surgery is low yield and costly. High fever, late postoperative fever, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome are risk factors for a positive fever evaluation after colorectal surgery.
Motivational influences on school‐prompted interest

Some argue that the goal of education is to influence out‐of‐school learning activity, yet little research exists on how teachers can help students develop an interest in a topic and continue to pursue that interest outside of school. The current study tested classroom context variables from self‐determination theory (teachers’ autonomy support) and from achievement goal theory (teachers’ mastery goals) that may predict students’ school‐prompted interest above and beyond students’ mastery goals and self‐efficacy. Survey data were collected from 178 high school students in 15 mathematics classes. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that students’ perceptions of a teacher who focuses on mastery goals account for little variance above and beyond students’ own motivation, whereas perceived teachers’ autonomy support emerged as a significant predictor. While the results are correlational and do not support causal claims, they suggest that teachers who support student autonomy might foster school‐prompted...
Hydration and the internal dynamics of hen egg-white lysozyme

Proteins exist in a predominately aqueous solvent environment. Hydration of the protein surface significantly affects many aspects of the protein's structure and function; these effects may be related to influences on the internal dynamics of the protein. We are examining the influence of hydration on the internal dynamics of hen egg white lysozyme using room temperature phosphorescence from the intrinsic tryptophan residues; since lysozyme is not phosphorescent in solution, the emission intensity serves as a probe of protein conformational fluctuations. Powders of lyophilized lysozyme are hydrated in situ (in the phosphorimeter) using a flow system that allows for continuous manipulation of relative humidity (RH) over the range from 0.5 to 100%; this system allows us to directly compare intensity differences that result from changes in hydration. Lysozyme phosphorescence intensity decreases monotonically as a function of hydration over the entire accessible RH range; the decrease is not linear but appears to occur in distinct phases. The phosphorescence intensity decays are multiexponential over the hydration range and hydration has the largest influence on the long lifetime component. These studies confirm previous work on the effect of hydration on the internal dynamics of globular proteins.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
New and Extended Applications of the Divide-and-Conquer Algorithm for Multibody Dynamics

This work presents a survey of the current and ongoing research by the authors who use the divide-and-conquer algorithm (DCA) to reduce the computational burden associated with various aspects of multibody dynamics. This work provides a brief discussion of various topics that are extensions of previous DCA-based algorithms or novel uses of this algorithm in the multibody dynamics context. These topics include constraint error stabilization, spline-based modeling of flexible bodies, model fidelity transitions for flexible-body systems, and large deformations of flexible bodies. It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the “Advances in the Application of the DCA to Multibody System Dynamics” text as the notation used in this work is explained therein and provides a summary of how the DCA has been used previously.
PROSPECTS FOR LASER WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS AND COLLIDERS USING CO2 LASER DRIVERS

Abstract Energy directly acquired by an electron from the laser electromagnetic field is quadratically proportional to the laser wavelength. Exploiting this feature, the emerging terawatt picosecond (TWps) CO 2 lasers, having an order of magnitude longer wavelength than the well-known table-top terawatt (T 3 ) picosecond solid state lasers, offer new opportunities for strong-field physics research. Laser accelerators serve as an example where application of the new class of lasers will result in enhancement in gas ionization, plasma wave excitation, and relativistic self-focusing. Ponderomotively strong CO 2 laser permits a 100 times reduction in the plasma density without impeding the acceleration. The improved performance of the low-pressure laser wakefield accelerators (LWFA) is potentially due to higher electric charge per accelerated bunch and better monochromaticity. The multi-kilowatt average power, high repetition rate capability of the TWps-CO 2 laser technology opens new opportunities in development of compact, ∼1 m long, GeV accelerators and 2 laser is under construction at the BNL Accelerator Test Facility (ATF).
Leiomyosarcoma of the parotid gland: a case report and review of the literature.

Background A primary leiomyosarcoma of the parotid gland has been reported only three times in the English literature. This type of tumor represents an extremely rare group of salivary gland neoplasm. Methods A 44 year old man was initially seen with a 5 cm right parotid mass which was resected with a total parotidectomy, preserving the facial nerve. The patient had no palpable cervical lymph nodes. Results The majority of the specimen was made up of a relatively well demarcated tumor 5 cm in diameter. The tumor was noted to contain moderate to poorly differentiated primary leiomyosarcoma of the parotid. Conclusions A primary leiomyosarcoma of the parotid gland is an extremely rare existing entity. A review of the literature reveals that primary leiomyosarcoma and other sarcomas of the major salivary glands may share similar histogenesis and biologic behavior with their soft tissue counterparts. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 21: 168–171, 1999.
Thermolytic removal of t-butyloxycarbonyl (BOC) protecting group on indoles and pyrroles

Abstract The t-Butyloxycarbonyl (BOC) group on indoles and pyrroles can be removed cleanly and in high yield by simple thermolysis: no acid, no base, no solvent is required.
Difference in Response Time of Creative Persons and Patients with Depressive and Schizophrenic Disorders

The mean response time to 99 stimulus words of the Kent-Rosanoff Word Association Test was used to differentiate creative subjects from two homogeneous groups of psychiatric inpatients, one with depressive disorders and another with schizophrenic disorders. The creative group had significantly faster mean response times than the depressive group. While the schizophrenic group did not differ significantly from the creative or depressive groups, speed of responding in the schizophrenic group ranked both slower than the creative group and a good deal faster than the. depressives. These results do not support previous claims of a connection between depressive illness and creativity. The role of level of creative achievement and social success in relation to depressive symptomatology is briefly discussed.
Development of gerbil outer hair cells after the onset of cochlear function: An ultrastructural study

Abstract It has recently been proposed that elements which contribute to active cochlear processes develop at the same time (between postnatal day (PND) 12 and 21) as the shift of the place code in the developing gerbil cochlea. Since outer hair cells (OHCs) have been implicated in these processes, we have hypothesized that developing OHCs will exhibit changes in anatomical features that contribute to cochlear maturation. Our results demonstrate that the ultrastructural characteristics of OHCs change after the onset of hearing (PND 12), during the time that cochlear nonlinearities are being established (PND 12–21). Differences are primarily associated with the distribution of cytoplasmic organelles. The subsurface cisternae (SSC), which are thought to be related to the mechanical support of the outer hair cell, to cell motility, and therefore to cochlear mechanics, are present at PND 10 but remain immature, with cisternal layers added during the preweanling period. In immature OHCs, more mitochondria are centrally-located than in mature OHCs. During development mitochondria come to form a continuous row near the innermost leaflet of the SSC. These ultrastructural features undergo rapid change during the maturation of peripheral auditory function.
Structure of Hydrous Ruthenium Oxides: Implications for Charge Storage

Hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuO2·xH2O or RuOxHy) is a mixed electron−proton conductor with a specific capacitance as high as 720 F/g/proton, making it a candidate material for energy storage. The correlation between the structure and properties of RuO2·xH2O materials is not well understood due to their amorphous nature and compositional variability. In this study, ruthenium oxides with the compositions RuO2·2.32H2O, RuO2·0.29H2O, and anhydrous RuO2 are characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray fine structure (EXAFS) analyses. XANES cannot be used to distinguish between Ru(III) and Ru(IV) in the hydrous oxides, but the EXAFS analyses show large differences in the short-range structures of the materials. Whereas anhydrous RuO2 has the rutile structure comprising chains of RuO6 octahedra linked in three dimensions, the structure of RuO2·0.29H2O is rutile-like at the RuO6 core, but less connected and progress...
Metabolism of [1,2]3H-vitamin D3 and [26,27]3H-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in rachitic Chicks☆

Abstract Chickens metabolize vitamin D 3 more rapidly than do rats. Both species generate similar if not identical metabolites. 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol represents the major plasma form of vitamin D 3 suggesting it to be the circulating or hormonal form of the vitamin. Metabolites more polar than 25-HCC appear in target and nontarget tissues of vitamin D action from either 25-HCC or vitamin D 3 . In the intestine two of these metabolites are present early enough and in amounts large enough to be considered as candidates for the role of the tissue or metabolically active form of the vitamin. These metabolites however exhibit no more than one-half the activity of vitamin D 3 in the in vivo stimulation of calcium absorption in chicks.
Isolation and characterization of DNA from the mitochondrial fraction of Euglena.

DNA purified from streptomycin-bleached cells of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris exhibits a main band (1·707 g/cm3) and a satellite band (1·691 g/cm3) upon ultra-centrifugation in cesium chloride. Using recently established procedures, a purified mitochondrial fraction was prepared which consists almost exclusively of intact mitochondria on the basis of its electron microscopic appearance. DNA extracted from this fraction exhibits a three- to fourfold enrichment of the satellite band. However, treatment of the mitochondrial fraction with DNase prior to DNA extraction eliminates adhering main-band material and yields a cesium chloride density profile consisting entirely of satellite DNA. This DNA is double stranded and is estimated to be present per Euglena mitochondrion in an amount equal to 9 to 22 × 106 daltons.
Thyroid disorders in pregnancy

The thyroid gland is substantially challenged during pregnancy. Total T(3) and T(4) levels increase by 50% during pregnancy owing to a 50% increase in thyroxine-binding globulin levels. Serum TSH levels decrease in the first trimester and increase in the second and third trimesters; however, not to prepregnancy levels. Hypothyroidism is present in up to 3% of all pregnant women. Subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with an increased rate of miscarriage and preterm delivery, and a decrease in the IQ of the child. Overt hyperthyroidism is present in less than 1% of pregnant women but is linked to increased rates of miscarriage, preterm delivery and maternal congestive heart failure. In women who are euthyroid, thyroid autoantibodies are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage and preterm delivery. Postpartum thyroiditis occurs in 5.4% of all women following pregnancy; moreover, 50% of women who are euthyroid in the first trimester of pregnancy but test positive for thyroid autoantibodies will develop postpartum thyroiditis. The need for the essential nutrient iodine increases during pregnancy and in women who are breastfeeding, and the effect of treatment of mild iodine deficiency on maternal and fetal outcomes is consequently being evaluated in a prospective study. The debate regarding the pros and cons of universal screening for thyroid disease during pregnancy is ongoing.
Psychotropic medication patterns among youth in juvenile justice.

This paper aims to determine the prevalence, patterns, and demographic and diagnostic correlates of psychotropic medication use in a sample of youth in one state’s post-adjudicatory secure facilities. The health records database of the facilities was the source of linked demographic, diagnostic and pharmacy information for the 1-year period ending June 30, 2008. Age, gender, race, offense, prior petitions and diagnoses were examined across groups, and concomitant psychotropic pharmacotherapy patterns were identified. Period prevalence was 10.2% for youth ranging in age from 12 through 22 years who had any psychotropic drug prescribed during the first 30 days after intake to the facility. Among medicated youths, almost half received concomitant therapy. Medicated youth were significantly less likely to be Hispanic and more likely to endorse one or more diagnoses. Antidepressants, antipsychotics and antihistamines were the most commonly dispensed agents. Our findings revealed that the rate of psychotropic medication use was low, concomitant medication use was common, and ethnic/race differences in psychopharmacologic treatment were present in this sample of youths in post-adjudicatory secure facilities.
Lectin-receptor interactions in liposomes II. Interaction of wheat germ agglutinin with phospatidylcholine liposomes containing incorporated monosialoganglioside

Abstract Bovine brain gangliosides incorporated into phospholipid liposomes provide receptors for wheat germ agglutinin. Purified monosialogangliosides were mixed with egg phosphatidylcholine, and unilamellar liposomes were generated. Addition of wheat germ agglutinin induced the liposomes to fuse, and gel filtration analysis revealed that the lectin was incorporated into the fused liposomes. The fusion process was studied by following the changes in the 190° light scattering. Increasing the proportion of the monosialoganglioside in the liposomes was found to increase both the extent of the lectin-induced liposome fusion and the rate of the reaction; below a threshold of approx. 5 mol %, the process was extremely slow. The increase in light scattering could be prevented by the addition of the hapten inhibitor, N- acetyl- d -glucosamine (1 mM). Addition of the inhibitor, subsequent to the lectin, caused a partial decrease in light scattering due to the dissociation of unfused vesicle aggregates. Electron microscopic examination revealed that the ganglioside-containing liposomes were vesicles, 244±25 A (S.D.) in diameter. Upon addition of wheat germ agglutinin, the vesicles appeared to fuse to form larger vesicles, corresponding to dimers and trimers of the initial vesicles. Inhibition studies with a variety of monosaccharides indicated that the sialic acid moieties present in the gangliosides acted as the lectin-receptor sites. This was confirmed by the observation that wheat germ agglutinin did not interact with phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing desialyated ganglioside.
VPAC receptor modulation of neuroexcitability in intracardiac neurons: dependence on intracellular calcium mobilization and synergistic enhancement by PAC1 receptor activation

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) have been found within mammalian intracardiac ganglia, but the cellular effects of these neuropeptides remain poorly understood. Fluorometric calcium imaging and whole cell patch clamp recordings were used to examine the effects of PACAP and VIP on [Ca2+]i and neuroexcitability, respectively, in intracardiac neurons of neonatal rats. PACAP and VIP evoked rapid increases in [Ca2+]i that exhibited both transient and sustained components. Pharmacological experiments using PAC1 and VPAC receptor-selective antagonists demonstrated that the elevations in [Ca2+]i result from the activation of VPAC receptors. The transient increases in [Ca2+]i were shown to be the product of Ca2+ mobilization from caffeine/ryanodine-sensitive intracellular stores and were not due to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated calcium release. In contrast, the sustained [Ca2+]i elevations were dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and were blocked by the transient receptor channel antagonist, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, which suggests that they are due to Ca2+ entry via store-operated channels. In addition to elevating [Ca2+]i, both PACAP and VIP depolarized intracardiac neurons, and PACAP was further shown to augment action potential firing in these cells. Depolarization of intracardiac neurons by the neuropeptides was dependent on activation of VPAC receptors and the concomitant increases in [Ca2+]i. Although activation of PAC1 receptors alone had no direct effects on neuroexcitability, PAC1 receptor stimulation potentiated the VPAC receptor-induced depolarizations. Furthermore, enhanced action potential firing was only observed upon concurrent stimulation of PAC1 and VPAC receptors, which indicates that these receptors act synergistically to enhance neuroexcitability in intracardiac neurons.
Hemophilia lives: the impact of prophylaxis

High-cost prophylaxis for hemophilia has decreased morbidity, but its long-term impact on quality of life needs expanded investigation. This Arbeit takes a hard look at this and underscores its additional effects on the lives of these patients.
Improving industrial performance through integrating quality and productivity advances

Abstract After reviewing reasons/or the belated emphasis in U.S. industry on substantial advances in quality standards, attention turns to developing a diagnostic basis for organizing a continuing improvement program. This is followed by a detailed review of the elements of a program to identify and to overcome some common sources of shortcomings in productivity as well as in product quality.
Intramolecular exciplexes in the electrogenerated chemiluminescence of 1-amino-3-anthryl-(9)-propanes

Abstract The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of five 1-amino-3-anthryl-(9)-propane derivatives was studied in tetrahydrofuran at a rotating platinum ring-disc electrode and in square-wave voltage experiments. In addition to the broad emission band of the intramolecular exciplexes in the ECL-spectra the luminescence of the local excited anthracene moiety was found, the intensity of which was considerably smaller than in the fluorescence spectra. An increase of the ECL intensity by 16% to 24% in a magnetic field and the results of energy transfer experiments in mixed ECL systems suggest the participation of triplet states in the ECL process. A mechanistic interpretation is given involving the intramolecular triplet exciplex and the triplet state of the anthracene moiety beside the emitting singlet exciplex as primary products in the electron transfer between the electrogenerated ion radicals.
Men, women and the use of power: is it based on the person or the situation?

Investigates whether leadership styles, particularly relating to the use of power and the sharing of goal information, differ between men and women in autocratic situations and whether such potential leadership model differences affect decision effectiveness. Reviews relevant research, and describes a subject‐blind experiment designed to favour an autocratic approach, involving 40 teams of US graduate business school students, who were given a limited time to complete a problem‐solving exercise using written correspondence as the only communication method. Finds that greater task‐information sharing behaviour existed where both leaders were female, and, surprisingly, that problem‐solving effectiveness was greater where the leader used a participative leadership style. Reveals no evidence that subordinates evaluated the competence of male and female leaders differently, but suggests that subordinates are happier to initiate correspondence where the leader is of the same gender. Discusses the implications of the findings, concluding that leadership styles are situation‐ rather than people‐based, and acknowledges certain limitations of the study.
Energy transmission by photon tunneling in multilayer structures including negative index materials

The phenomenon of photon tunneling, which depends on evanescent waves for radiative transfer, has important applications in microscale energy conversion devices and near-field optical microscopy. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the so-called negative index materials (NIMs), which have simultaneously negative electric permittivity and negative magnetic permeability. The present work investigates photon tunneling in multilayer structures consisting of positive index materials (PIMs) and NIMs. Some features, such as the enhancement of radiative transfer by the excitation of surface polaritons for both polarizations, are observed in the predicted transmittance spectra. The influence of the number of layers on the transmittance is also examined. The results suggest that the enhanced tunneling transmittance by polaritons also depends on the NIM layer thickness and that subdividing the PIM/NIM layers to enhance polariton coupling can reduce the effect of material loss on the tunneling transmittance.
Administrative Culture and Civil Society A Comparative Perspective

This article explores the relationship between civil society and public administration. It is argued that the disjunction between reform movements in the two fields can be repaired by a focus on administrative culture. The role of administrative culture is explained through a comparative case study of the political response to official corruption involving organized crime in the United States and the Netherlands. In rejecting the American solution to the problem, the Dutch reflect an administrative culture that differs sharply from the control-oriented culture in American government. The conclusion proposes the adoption of civic engagement benchmarks in American public administration.
Recent charm results from BES

The BES detector on the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC) has collected 22.3 pb−1 of data at √s = 4.03 GeV and ≈ 3.6 × 106 ψ′ events from 1992 to 1994. Preliminary results are presented in this paper for total observed charm cross section at √s = 4.03 GeV, inclusive branching fractions for Br(D → X) and Br(Ds → X), and branching fractions for J/ψ and ψ(2S) decays to axialvector-pseudoscalar pairs.
A community transplanted: the formative experience of a Swedish immigrant community in the Upper Middle West

Abstract Nineteenth-century European migration to the agricultural frontiers of the American Upper Middle West established axes of communication and migration between localities on both sides of the Atlantic. This study is a detailed examination of the transplantation of community between two such localities. It traces the emigration of approximately 85 households from the Swedish parish of Rattvik to the daughter settlement they founded in Isanti County, Minnesota, and compares the fabric of life they had known in the old parish to the one they established during the formative years of the new community. While patterns of social life were transplanted to the New World, economic adjustments to a new environment were unavoidable.
Medievalisms in the postcolonial world: The idea of ‘the Middle Ages’ outside Europe

Medievalisms in the postcolonial world: The idea of ‘the Middle Ages’ outside Europe, edited by Kathleen Davis and Nadia Altschul, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009, 444 pp., U$72.00 ...
Determination of Resilient Modulus of Subgrade Using Cyclic Plate Loading Tests

Resilient modulus of subgrade is often necessary for pavement design and determined by cyclic triaxial tests or correlation with other laboratory or insitu test results (such as CBR and DCP data). Cyclic plate loading tests were conducted in this study to determine the resilient modulus of a weak subgrade. The weak subgrade was made of 75% Kansas River sand and 25% kaolin and compacted at wet of optimum in a large geotechnical testing box (2m × 2.2m × 2m). This subgrade was first evaluated by DCP tests and then tested under a 30-cm diameter rigid plate at four different magnitudes of cyclic loading. During the tests, the deformations of the plate and the subgrade surface were monitored. The test results showed that the plate deformation increased with the number of cycles. An elastic solution was used based on the rebound deformation of the plate to calculate the resilient modulus of the subgrade. The calculated resilient modulus of the subgrade decreased and approached a stable value with the number of cycles under different magnitudes of cyclic loading. The calculated resilient modulus from the cyclic plate loading tests was compared with that determined based on the correlation with the CBR value of the subgrade.
High resolution proton magnetic resonance spectra of heterocyclics 1,4‐benzodithiin and 1,4‐benzodioxin

The proton magnetic resonance spectra of 1,4-benzodithiin and 1,4-benzodioxin have been fully analyzed. The effects of the substituent heteroatoms on the chemical shifts of the various protons in the two molecules have been discussed.
Forceps and vacuum delivery: expectations of residency and fellowship training program directors.

The objective of this study is to compare current forceps training practices in North American obstetrical residency training programs with that in maternal-fetal medicine fellowship programs. We sent a survey to all obstetrics and gynecology residency training programs and to all maternal-fetal medicine fellowship programs in North America. After sending out 354 questionnaires, 219 were returned for a response rate of 62%. The response rate for fellowship programs (52 of 59; 88%) was significantly greater than that of residency training programs (167 of 295; 56.6%) (p 45 degrees of rotation, 82% of fellowship directors and 80% of residency directors expected proficiency. For low-vacuum deliveries with >45 degrees of rotation, 80% of fellowship directors and 76% of residency directors expected proficiency. Significantly more fellowship directors expected midforceps proficiency (47%) than did residency program directors (38%) (p < 0.05). Midvacuum proficiency was expected by 73% of fellowship directors and 69% of residency directors. The ACOG 1988 forceps classification system has now achieved wide acceptance and is taught by both residency and fellowship program directors. Most program directors favor using the same classification system for vacuum extraction deliveries. In general, the expectations of the residency program directors mirror those of maternal-fetal medicine fellowship directors. While outlet and low operations with < or =45 degrees of rotation are taught and proficiency is expected, most programs no longer expect proficiency in midforceps delivery, but do expect proficiency in midvacuum delivery. Proficiency in low operations with rotations < or =45 degrees is still expected.
Role of Actin Polymerization in Cell Locomotion: Molecules and Models

Actin filaments forming at the anterior margin of a migrating cell are essential for the formation of filopodia, lamellipodia, and pseudopodia, the “feet” that the cell extends before it. These structures in turn are required for cell locomotion. Yet the molecular nature of the “nucleator” that seeds the polymerization of actin at the leading edge is unknown. Recent advances, including video microscopy of actin dynamics, discovery of proteins unique to the leading edge such as ponticulin, the Mab 2E4 antigen, and ABP 120, and novel experimental models of actin polymerization such as the actin-based movements of intracellular parasites, promise to shed light on this problem in the near future.
Retension of the bridge diagrams in the pair-distribution function's integral equation

Abstract A convenient theoretical method for calculating the structure properties of a homogeneous fluid, retaining the bridge diagrams, is developed. Using the diagrammatic expansion theory, the exact pair-distribution function's integral equation is reduced to a hypernetted chain-like equation in which the interaction between particles is replaced by an effective pair potential depending on the bridge function. The bridge diagrams are classified according to their number of field points. The contributions of these different diagrams are analyzed and an approximation for the bridge function is proposed.
Growth of mechanically fixed and isolated vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and nanofibers by DC plasma-enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Vertically aligned, mechanically isolated, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nanofibers (MWCNFs) were grown using an array of catalyst nickel nanowires embedded in an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanopore template using DC plasma-enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). The nickel nanowire array, prepared by electrodeposition of nickel into the pores of a commercially available AAO membrane, acts as a template for CNT and CNF growth. It also provides both a mechanical “fixed support” boundary condition and enforces sufficient spatial separation of the CNT/CNFs from each other to enable reliable and well-controlled mechanical testing of individual vertically aligned CNT/CNFs. In contrast with other AAO-templated growth methods, no post-growth etching of the AAO is required, since the CNTs/CNFs grow out of the pores and remain vertically aligned. A mixture of hydrogen and methane was used for the growth, with hydrogen acting as a dilution and source gas for the DC plasma, and methane as the carbon source. A negative bias was applied to the sample mount to generate the DC plasma. The filaments provided the necessary heat for dissociation of molecular species, and also heat the sample itself significantly. Both of these effects assist the CNT/CNF growth. Minimal heating came from the low-power plasma. However, the associated DC field was essential for the vertical alignment of the CNTs and CNFs. Scanning electron, transmission electron, and atomic force microscopy confirm that the CNT/CNFs are composed of graphitic layers, and form a vertically aligned, relatively uniform, and dense array across the AAO template. A significant number of the structures grown are indeed high quality nanotubes, as opposed to more defective nanofibers that are often predominant in other growth methods. This method has the advantage of being scalable and consuming less power than other techniques that grow vertically aligned CNTs/CNFs.
Computations of the symmetric cosine transform using Forsythe and Clenshaw's recurrence formulae

The discrete cosine transform (DCT) is commonly used in signal processing, image processing, communication systems and control systems. We use two methods based on the algorithms of Clenshaw and Forsyth to compute the recursive DCT in parallel. The symmetrical discrete cosine transform (SCT) is computed first and then it can be used as an intermediate tool to compute other forms of the DCT. The advantage of the SCT is that both the forward SCT and its inverse can be computed by the same method and hardware implementation. Although Clenshaw’s algorithm is the more efficient in computational complexity, it is not necessarily the more accurate one. The computational accuracy of these algorithms is discussed. In addition, the front-to-back forms of Clenshaw and Forsyth’s algorithms are implemented in aCe C, a parallel programming language.
A multivariate adaptive regression splines cutting plane approach for solving a two-stage stochastic programming fleet assignment model

Abstract The fleet assignment model assigns a fleet of aircraft types to the scheduled flight legs in an airline timetable published six to twelve weeks prior to the departure of the aircraft. The objective is to maximize profit. While costs associated with assigning a particular fleet type to a leg are easy to estimate, the revenues are based upon demand, which is realized close to departure. The uncertainty in demand makes it challenging to assign the right type of aircraft to each flight leg based on forecasts taken six to twelve weeks prior to departure. Therefore, in this paper, a two-stage stochastic programming framework has been developed to model the uncertainty in demand, along with the Boeing concept of demand driven dispatch to reallocate aircraft closer to the departure of the aircraft. Traditionally, two-stage stochastic programming problems are solved using the L-shaped method. Due to the slow convergence of the L-shaped method, a novel multivariate adaptive regression splines cutting plane method has been developed. The results obtained from our approach are compared to that of the L-shaped method, and the value of demand-driven dispatch is estimated.
S-nitrosoglutathione inhibits α1-adrenergic receptor-mediated vasoconstriction and ligand binding in pulmonary artery

Endogenous nitric oxide donor compounds (S-nitrosothiols) contribute to low vascular tone by both cGMP-dependent and -independent pathways. We have reported that S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) inhibit...
cis-Acting Sequences in Addition to Donor and Acceptor Sites Are Required for Template Switching during Synthesis of Plus-Strand DNA for Duck Hepatitis B Virus

A characteristic of all hepadnaviruses is the relaxed-circular conformation of the DNA genome within an infectious virion. Synthesis of the relaxed-circular genome by reverse transcription requires three template switches. These template switches, as for the template switches or strand transfers of other reverse-transcribing genetic elements, require repeated sequences (the donor and acceptor sites) between which a complementary strand of nucleic acid is transferred. The mechanism for each of the template switches in hepadnaviruses is poorly understood. To determine whether sequences other than the donor and acceptor sites are involved in the template switches of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), a series of molecular clones which express viral genomes bearing deletion mutations were analyzed. We found that three regions of the DHBV genome, which are distinct from the donor and acceptor sites, are required for the synthesis of relaxed-circular DNA. One region, located near the 3' end of the minus-strand template, is required for the template switch that circularizes the genome. The other two regions, located in the middle of the genome and near DR2, appear to be required for plus-strand primer translocation. We speculate that these cis-acting sequences may play a role in the organization of the minus-strand DNA template within the capsid particle so that it supports efficient template switching during plus-strand DNA synthesis.
An exclusively nuclear RNA-binding protein affects asymmetric localization of ASH1 mRNA and Ash1p in yeast.

The localization of ASH1 mRNA to the distal tip of budding yeast cells is essential for the proper regulation of mating type switching in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A localization element that is predominantly in the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) can direct this mRNA to the bud. Using this element in the three-hybrid in vivo RNA-binding assay, we identified a protein, Loc1p, that binds in vitro directly to the wild-type ASH1 3′-UTR RNA, but not to a mutant RNA incapable of localizing to the bud nor to several other mRNAs. LOC1 codes for a novel protein that recognizes double-stranded RNA structures and is required for efficient localization of ASH1 mRNA. Accordingly, Ash1p gets symmetrically distributed between daughter and mother cells in a loc1 strain. Surprisingly, Loc1p was found to be strictly nuclear, unlike other known RNA-binding proteins involved in mRNA localization which shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. We propose that efficient cytoplasmic ASH1 mRNA localization requires a previous interaction with specific nuclear factors.
Animal Models of Reye's Syndrome

The etiology and pathogenesis of Reye's syndrome, an often-fatal childhood disorder, is not completely understood. Although Reye's syndrome is initiated with a prodromal viral illness, the viral infection alone is not sufficient to cause the syndrome. Interactions of virus with dietary or environmental agents such as pesticides, solvents, or drugs may be important in the development of Reye's syndrome. The roles of viruses, drugs, or other agents and their interactions in causing Reye's syndrome are difficult to study in patients because viral infection and ingestion of drugs (or exposure to environmental toxins) occur in the prodromal period. An animal model can therefore be useful in studying the etiology of Reye's syndrome because in such a model, the etiologic factors can be manipulated under controlled conditions. The proposed roles of various compounds in the etiology of Reye's syndrome are discussed in relation to the application of these compounds for studying Reye's syndrome in various animal models. Suggested animal models of Reye's syndrome are reviewed in terms of their relevance and eventual contribution toward a better understanding of the disorder in humans.