cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Portfolio Selection with Higher Moments

We propose a method for optimal portfolio selection using a Bayesian decision theoretic framework that addresses two major shortcomings of the Markowitz approach: the ability to handle higher moments and estimation error. We employ the skew normal distribution which has many attractive features for modeling multivariate returns. Our results suggest that it is important to incorporate higher order moments in portfolio selection. Further, our comparison to other methods where parameter uncertainty is either ignored or accommodated in an ad hoc way, shows that our approach leads to higher expected utility than the resampling methods that are common in the practice of finance.
Systems biology: its practice and challenges.

Systems biology will bring about a revolution in the practice of medicine. Knowledge of specific genetic traits, coupled with multiparameter diagnostics, will generate routine procedures for assessing health and disease status. Knowledge of disease-perturbed networks will facilitate drug discovery, and pharmacological intervention will focus on preventing disease-mediated transitions. This predictive and preventative medicine will lead naturally to a personalized medicine, in which therapeutic strategies will be tailored to individual needs. In this sense, systems biology will fundamentally transform society.
Powerful Allele Sharing Statistics for Nonparametric Linkage Analysis

Nonparametric linkage analysis is widely used to map susceptibility genes for complex diseases. This paper introduces six nonparametric statistics for measuring marker allele sharing among the affecte
Sex Differences in Rotary Pursuit Performance of Young Children: A Follow-up

A 30-rpm or a 45-rpm rotary pursuit task was given to 72 boys and 72 girls from Grades 1 to 5 of a lower-class and a middle-class school; each S was given 5 125-sec. trials with a 1-min. rest period between trials. Analyses of time-on-target showed a different pattern of results for each school. No significant sex differences were found except through interaction with sex of E. Level of performance was determined primarily by speed of rotation and grade level of S, but there was a lag in performance of Ss from the first two grades of the lower-class school.
RE-AIM evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration's MOVE! Weight Management Program

Over one-third of patients treated in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) are obese. VHA introduced the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans in 2006 to provide comprehensive weight management services. An evolving, periodic evaluation using the RE-AIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) has been conducted to gauge success and opportunities for improvement. Key metrics were identified in each RE-AIM dimension. Data were compiled over fiscal years (FY) 2006 through 2010 from a variety of sources including VHA administrative and clinical databases, electronic medical record reviews, and an annual, structured VHA facility self-report. REACH: Screening for obesity and offering weight management treatment to eligible patients increased from 66% to 95% over the past 3 years. MOVE! is currently provided at every VHA hospital facility and at over one-half of VHA community-based outpatient clinics. The percent of eligible patients who participate in at least one weight management visit has doubled since implementation began but has stabilized at 10 to 12%. EFFECTIVENESS: About 18.6% of the 31,854 patients with available weight data who participated in at least two treatment visits between Jul 1, 2008 and Sep 30, 2009 had at least a 5% body weight loss by 6 months as did almost one-third of those who participated in more intense and sustained treatment. By contrast, only 12.5% of a comparison group of patients matched on age, gender, body mass index (BMI) class, and comorbidity status who were not treated with MOVE! had at least a 5% body weight loss. ADOPTION: The median full-time staff equivalent providing weight management services at each facility has increased over time and was 1.76 in FY 2010. IMPLEMENTATION: Staff from multiple disciplines typically provide MOVE!-related care although not all disciplines are involved with providing care at every facility. Group-based treatment has become increasingly utilized, and in FY 2010 it represented 72% of all MOVE!-related visits. Intensity of treatment has increased from an average of 3.6 visits per patient per year in FY 2007 to 4.6 in FY 2010, but more than half of patients have two visits or less. Almost all facilities now report the consistent use of key evidence-based behavioral strategies with patients. MAINTENANCE: While participation in MOVE! by patients continues to grow each year, facility self-reported program staffing and space/equipment challenges are potential barriers to long-term program maintenance. Evidence-based weight management treatment can be delivered at VHA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics, but the REACH remains limited after several years of implementation. Intense and sustained treatment with MOVE! results in a modest positive impact on short-term weight loss outcomes, but a relatively small proportion of patients engage in this level of care. Increasing reach, improving effectiveness of care, and keeping patients engaged in treatment are areas for future policy, practice, and research.
Public opinion: Stunted policy support

Energy policy is widely debated, with regards to climate change, alternative energy use and responsibility for policy. Research now highlights the role of citizens in public debates about energy and how it can be swayed.
Temperature-dependent surface structure, composition, and electronic properties of the clean SrTi O 3 (111) crystal face: Low-energy-electron diffraction, Auger-electron spectroscopy, electron energy loss, and ultraviolet-photoelectron spectroscopy studies

Low-energy-electron diffraction, Auger-electron spectroscopy, electron-energy-loss, and ultraviolet-photoelectron spectroscopies were used to study the structure, composition, and electron energy distribution of a clean single-crystal (111) face of strontium titanate (perovskite). The dependence of the surface chemical composition on the temperature has been observed along with corresponding changes in the surface electronic properties. High-temperature Ar-ion bombardment causes an irreversible change in the surface structure, stoichiometry, and electron energy distribution. In contrast to the Ti${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ surface, there are always significant concentrations of ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{3+}$ in an annealed ordered SrTi${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (111) surface. This stable active ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{3+}$ monolayer on top of a substrate with large surface dipole potential makes SrTi${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ superior to Ti${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ when used as a photoanode in the photoelectrochemical cell.
Surface Micropatterning of Pure Titanium for Biomedical Applications Via High Energy Pulse Laser Peening

Pure titanium is an ideal material for biomedical implant applications for its superior biocompatibility, but it lacks of the mechanical strength required in these applications compared with titanium alloys. This research is concerned with an innovative laser peening-based material process to improve the mechanical strength and cell attachment property of pure titanium in biomedical applications. Evidence has shown that engineered surface with unsmooth topologies will contribute to the osteoblast differentiation in human mesenchymal pre-osteoblastic cells, which is helpful to avoid long-term peri-abutment inflammation issues for the dental implant therapy with transcutaneous devices. However, surface quality is difficult to control or mechanical strength is not enhanced using conventional approaches. In this paper, a novel high energy pulse laser peening (HEPLP) process is proposed to both improve the mechanical strength and introduce a micropattern into the biomedical implant material of a commercially pure Titanium (cpTi). The strong shock wave generated by HEPLP presses a stainless steel grid, used as a stamp, on cpTi foils to imprint a micropattern. To understand the basic science during the process, the HEPLP induced shock wave pressure profile and history are modeled by a multiphysics hydrodynamic numerical analysis. The micropatterns and strength enhancement are then simulated using a dislocation density-based finite element (FE) framework. Finally, cell culture tests are conducted to investigate the biomedical performance of the patterned surface.
Assessment of Properties of a Harkey Soil under Organic and Conventional Farming Systems

Farming practices involving less intense chemical use are becoming popular in the United States primarily because of environmental concerns related to the use of chemicals in conventional farming systems. Physical and chemical soil properties were assessed on four farms, one conventional farm and three organic farms 3 (OF3), 6 (OF6), and 9 (OF9) years after certification. All farms were located in Dona Ana County of southern New Mexico, sited on Harkey soil (coarse silty, mixed, calcareous, thermic typic Torrifluvents). OF3, OF6, and OF9 were planted to cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.), chile (Capsicum annuum), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in 2006, respectively, and the conventional farm was planted to cotton. Core and bulk soil samples were collected from each farm at three different locations and three depths during September 2005, June 2006, and November 2006. Clay content was positively correlated with field capacity, wilting point, and available water capacity (AWC) and negatively correlated with tran...
Curve-fitting formulas for fast determination of accurate resonant frequency of circular microstrip patches

A further study is made of the resonant frequency of circular microstrip patches. Based on earlier work, the resonant frequency problem is formulated in terms of an integral equation. Galerkin's method is used to calculate the resonant frequencies of nonaxial symmetric modes in different circular microstrip patches. Using the database built by Galerkin's method, a curvefitting formula is developed to reproduce the accurate resonant frequency rapidly. The accuracy of this formula is within 1.0%. This formula is useful for the computer-aided design of microstrip antennas and microwave integrated circuits.
The dilemma between dividends and safety and a generalization of the Lundberg-Cramér formulas

Abstract The question how a company should payout dividends has led to some controversy (see [2], p. 164). At first sight it seems that the payment of dividends could be reconciled with the safety of a company by the following rule: “At any payment date, determine the dividend such that the resulting probability of ruin is equal to some given level e.” But, as De Finetti points out (see [5]), repeated application of this rule leads to eventual ruin of the company (with probability one). Alternatively, he suggested that dividends could be determined in order to maximize the expected sum of the discounted dividends. This idea has inspired a series of writers, among others Borch, Morrill, Miyasawa (the reader will find references in [2], pp. 164–178, and [9], pp. 163–166).
Direct Synthesis of Mesostructured Lamellar Molybdenum Disulfides Using a Molten Neutral n-Alkylamine as the Solvent and Template

A series of novel mesostructured lamellar molybdenum disulfides with the d spacings from 17 to 30 A can be prepared by the reaction of Mo(CO)6 with elemental sulfur using a molten n-alkylamine as the solvent as well as the template at 140 °C. Such intercalated phases can be transformed into mesoporous molybdenum disulfides by slow thermal treatments at 200 °C.
76 The Pneumocystis sam:smt, an atypical fungal enzyme protein

Pneumocystis, an opportunistic fungal protist, causes a type of pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients. Rat-derived P. carinii and human-derived P. jiroveci contain a large number of sterols with C-24 alkyl groups. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine:sterol C-24 methyl transferase (SAM:SMT) is the enzyme that transfers methyl groups from SAM to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain. An alkyl group at the C-24 sterol side chain position appears to be essential for the organism to proliferate. Thus SAM:SMT, which is absent in mammals, is an attractive target for chemotherapeutic attack against the pathogen. The P. carinii erg6 gene that codes for SAM:SMT has been sequenced, cloned, and the protein expressed in E. coli. Since bacteria do not synthesize sterols, and do not have SAM:SMT, the P. carinii erg6 gene product expressed in E. coli would only transmethylate exogenously provided sterol substrates. The P. carinii recombinant SAM:SMT is unique because lanosterol, a central intermediate in sterol biosynthesis, is its preferred substrate for enzyme activity. Most SAM:SMT from other organisms do not bind lanosterol and prefer other sterol substrates produced from lanosterol. Furthermore, it appears that this unusual P. carinii SAM:SMT can also methylate cholesterol, which is readily scavenged from the lungs of its rat host. The recombinant enzyme protein is being purified by affinity chromatography techniques, which will be used to obtain definitive structural analyses of the sterol compounds formed by the enzyme reaction using different sterols substrates and allow detailed structural analysis of this unusual SAM:SMT enzyme protein.
The Duration of [s] in English Words

The duration of the phonetic segment [s] has been measured from recordings made by three talkers of English words embedded in the frame sentence “Say ________instead.” Results indicate that the dur...
Effect of electron-electron scattering on Monte Carlo studies of transport in submicron semiconductors devices

Abstract In the Ensemble Monte Carlo (E.M.C.) Method, the fact that a distribution function exists and evolves with the ensemble can be used to include e-e scattering in the calculation without any a priori assumptions on the form of the distribution function. The straightforward and time-saving algorithm used to introduce e-e scattering in the E.M.C. is presented by considering n-Si in the presence of very high electric fields.
BDD-based spectral approach for Reed-Muller circuit realisation

In the past, the use of spectral coefficients the realisation of Reed-Muller circuits led to computational difficulties for functions of even moderate size, due to large memory requirements. A new approach is presented that overcomes these difficulties by allowing the function to be represented using a binary decision diagram, thus reducing the storage requirements, In addition, the computational requirements are also reduced since an efficient method for computing the spectral coefficients is employed. Furthermore, the approach is illustrated with examples.
Region-specific alteration in brain glutamate: Possible relationship to risk-taking behavior

Risk-taking behaviors involve increased motor activity and reduced anxiety in humans. Total sleep deprivation (SD) in animals produces a similar change in motor and fear behaviors. Investigators studied region-specific brain levels of glutamate in rats after TSD, an animal model of risk-taking behavior. We investigated the effects of sleep deprivation on these behaviors and associated levels of brain glutamate. Compared to the controls, the sleep-deprived rats spent a significantly greater percentage of time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM), demonstrating reduced fear-like and increased risk-taking behaviors. Additionally, sleep deprivation was associated with a significant increase in glutamate levels in the hippocampus and thalamus. An inverse relationship between glutamate in the medial prefrontal cortex and risk taking in the EPM and a positive association between the ratio of glutamate in the hippocampus to medial prefrontal cortex and risk taking was revealed. The role of sleep deprivation-induced changes in brain glutamate and its relationship to anxiety, fear, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is discussed.
Dialogue management for gestural interfaces

Gestural interfaces are electronic analogues to pencil and paper. Since the effectiveness of such interfaces depends heavily on enduser familiarity with pencil markup of printed documents, the interface must conform to the user's behaviour and not rely on educating the enduser. Spatial relationships among the gestural forms partially determine the syntactic interpretation of gestures, along with information about the context in the neighborhood of the gesture. Temporal grouping of gestural forms is more important than their temporal sequence. Such characteristics suggest a form of dialogue recognition in which rules do not specify temporal ordering of forms, and in which multiple parses are carried out in parallel.
Large Class Student-Centered Pharmaceutical Science Instruction: Is Classroom Attendance Necessary? Does Performance Affect Course Assessment?

ABSTRACTApplication of new instructional methods in a medicinal chemistry course offered to a class of 103 second-year pharmacy enrollees in 1995 resulted in marked improvements in rate and efficiency of content retention compared to traditional approaches. Review of student performance in and evaluation of this course suggested two matters for subsequent study: (a) the degree to which student acquisition of course content was related to regular attendance and the extent to which student course rating was affected by final exam performance. Composite data for the 1996–1998 course offerings indicated that final exam performance of students who attended class regularly was about one letter grade (9%) higher than the performance of students who attended class infrequently (p < 0.001), even though both groups had similar overall aptitude (PCAT chemistry scores) and ability (prerequisite course grades). Parameters assessing support of student learning were independent of final exam average; that which directly...
SULFHYDRYL AND DISULFIDE GROUPS OF PROTEINS : IV. SULFHYDRYL GROUPS OF THE PROTEINS OF MUSCLE.

1. In the denatured proteins of skeletal muscle, the ratio of SH to S-S groups is higher than in the mixed denatured proteins of other tissues, with a single exception—the proteins of the crystalline lens. 2. The number of active SH groups in the proteins of minced muscle or in any of the protein fractions of muscle is only a fraction of the number found after the proteins have been treated with a denaturing agent. 3. The SH groups of the native proteins of muscle are activated by a rise in pH. 4. The relation between pH and number of active SH groups in the proteins of minced muscle and in the various protein fractions of muscle shows that little, if any, denatured protein is present in minced muscle.
Successful interscalene block with a nerve stimulator may also result after a pectoralis major motor response

Background and Objectives Interscalene block of the brachial plexus is a well-established anesthetic and analgesia technique for shoulder surgery. The endpoint for successful block using the nerve stimulator has been described by previous authors as a bicep motor response (twitch) and recently by a deltoid motor response. This retrospective observational case study of regular clinical practice examined the efficacy of using the pectoralis major motor response as an endpoint for a successful block. Methods A total of 120 patients who were scheduled for elective ambulatory shoulder surgery were retrospectively studied. All interscalene blocks were performed with aid of a nerve stimulator. Patients were categorized into 3 groups of 40 patients. Group 1 (biceps twitch), group 2 (deltoid twitch), and group 3 (pectoralis major twitch) were compared on success of the block. This retrospective study was conducted by reviewing interscalene block data sheets from the last 40 patients consecutively receiving interscalene block from either a bicep, deltoid, or pectoralis major motor response. A successful block was defined by the inability of the patient to raise their arm against gravity 20 minutes after injection of the local anesthetic. Results Pectoralis major motor response as an endpoint for local anesthetic injection was examined. Of 40 patients studied in this group, 38/40 were judged successful. This was comparable to the success rate in biceps (38/40 successful) and deltoid groups (37/40 successful). Conclusions This retrospective observational case study of regular clinical practice suggests that a pectoralis major motor response can be a satisfactory endpoint for interscalene block.
Automated assay of lactate dehydrogenase in urine

Abstract As part of a program under way in our laboratory to assess the significance of certain enzyme activities in urine as a diagnostic aid in urinary tract disease, we were prompted to seek a rapid, convenient method for determination of urinary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The procedure to be described is a modification of an automated enzymic procedure developed by us for determination of l -lactic acid in body fluids and tissues (1) utilizing the AutoAnalyzer. 3 The oxidation of l -lactate by NAD + catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase is coupled, via diaphorase, to the reduction of a tetrazolium dye, and the absorbance is measured at 500 mμ. Under the conditions to be described, the reaction rate is strictly proportional to the enzyme activity, and the method is convenient also for determination of the enzyme in body fluids and tissues. The method is similar in principle but differs in detail from a manual procedure described by Nachlas et al. (2) and an automated method published recently by Hicks and Updike (3) while this work was in progress.
Structure and evolution of Uranus and Neptune

Three-layer interior models of Uranus and Neptune with central rocky cores, mantles of water, methane, and ammonia (the 'ices'), and outer envelopes primarily composed of hydrogen and helium are presented. The models incorporate a new H2O equation of state based on experimental data which is considerably 'softer' than previous H2O equations of state. Corrections for interior temperatures approximately 5000 K are included in the models, and the thermal evolution of both planets is investigated using recent heat flow measurements. It is found that the evolutionary considerations are consistent with gravitational field data in supporting models with approximately solar abundances of 'ice' and 'rock'. Evolutionary considerations indicate that initial temperatures and luminosities for Uranus and Neptune were not substantially higher than the present value. Both planets apparently have relatively small approximately 1-2 earth masses) hydrogen-helium envelopes, with Neptune's envelope smaller than Uranus'. A monotonic trend is evident among the Jovian planets: all have central rock-ice cores of approximately 15 earth masses, but with hydrogen-helium envelopes which decrease in mass from Jupiter to Saturn to Uranus to Neptune.
“Indian Blood”: Reflections on the Reckoning and Refiguring of Native North American Identity

In one panel of her provocative installation Preservation of a Species: DECONSTRUCTIVISTS (This is the house that Joe built), the Canadian artist Joane Cardinal-Schubert has arranged, as if on a chalkboard, photographs of herself, her father (Joe Cardinal) and other members of her family. In the midst of the photographs-often displayed in multiple copies-she has chalked in the question "What does part Indian mean? (Which part?)" (see Figure 1). Which part, indeed, since, as her text goes on to state, "you don't get 50% or 25% or 16% treatment when you experience racism-it is always 100%." Spelling out the nature of the 100% racism she has experienced are scarlet letters stamped across her own photographs, letters that brand her "government issue/nonstatus"-a reference to the Canadian classification for persons of mixed ancestry, the Metis and "Halfbreeds," who have been excluded from the rights accorded to "treaty" or "status" Indians.' A superficially similar panel features Cardinal-Schubert's brother Douglas Cardinal, the designer of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Smithsonian's new Museum of the American Indian. In chalk the artist
Pressure Dependence of a Deep Excitonic Level in Silicon

Certain optically active defects in silicon provide a unique opportunity to observe, in detail, the effect of hydrostatic pressure on a deep level. We present a photoluminescence (5 – 100K) study of one such defect, the I, radiation-damage center, under high hydrostatic pressures (1–50 kbar). While the energy variation of this level indicates the expected mutli-band nature typical of a deep level, a severe and continuous reduction in the observed luminescence intensity was also observed. Temperature dependence, time resolved photoluminescence, and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy are employed to attempt to discern the mechanism involved.
Molecular characterization of Russian wheat aphid consumption by spiders in winter wheat

Accurate characterization of predator-prey linkages in agroecosystems is important prior to the implementation of conservation biological programs. The Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a significant pest of wheat and barley in the United States. This research utilized molecular gut-content analysis as a minimally disruptive technique to characterize the trophic connectivity between two spider species, Tetragnatha laboriosa Hentz 1850 and Pardosa sternalis (Thorell 1877), and D. noxia. We describe the development of species-specific primers that amplify a 227 bp fragment of D. noxia COI mtDNA to identify the frequency of predation under varying aphid densities and developmental stages of winter wheat. We tested the hypotheses that predation rates on D. noxia would be highest for both spider species at the greatest aphid infestation level in the aphid-resistant wheat cultivar plots and that densities of T. laboriosa would be highest at the highest aphid infestation level in the aphid-resistant cultivars. Despite short detection periods of prey DNA in the laboratory, 32% and 48% of field-collected T. laboriosa and P. sternalis spiders screened positive for D. noxia DNA, respectively. T. laboriosa densities were highest at the highest aphid infestation level. Aphid- resistant wheat cultivars did not impact predation rates or densities. Additionally, P. sternalis predation on D. noxia increased with increasing aphid infestation levels. Given the high predation rates on D. noxia and their association with increased aphid densities, both spider species represent important natural enemies within wheat agroecosystems, and further research is required to quantify their impact on aphid populations.
The effect of flexibility on the photodegradation of aromatic diisocyanate‐based polyurethanes

Abstract : The photolytic degradation of 2, 4-TDI/aliphatic diol polyurethanes is directly dependent on the flexibility of the polymer backbone. The extent of photodegradation is accelerated above the glass transition temperature indicating the role of chain flexibility and/or oxygen diffusion in the decomposition process. Photolysis of the model compound ethyl N-phenylcarbamate (EPC) in neutral host polymer matrices indicates that the para photo-Fries to ortho photo-Fries product ratio experiences an accelerated increase with temperature above the glass transistion of the polymer matrix.
Drosophila primordial germ cell migration requires epithelial remodeling of the endoderm

Trans-epithelial migration describes the ability of migrating cells to cross epithelial tissues and occurs during development, infection, inflammation, immune surveillance, wound healing and cancer metastasis. Here we investigate Drosophila primordial germ cells (PGCs), which migrate through the endodermal epithelium. Through live imaging and genetic experimentation we demonstrate that PGCs take advantage of endodermal tissue remodeling to gain access to the gonadal mesoderm and are unable to migrate through intact epithelial tissues. These results are in contrast to the behavior of leukocytes, which actively loosen epithelial junctions to migrate, and raise the possibility that in other contexts in which migrating cells appear to breach tissue barriers, they are actually exploiting existing tissue permeability. Therefore, the use of active invasive programs is not the sole mechanism to infiltrate tissues.
NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLAND BIRDS: AN UNFOLDING CONSERVATION CRISIS?

Abstract The widespread and ongoing declines of North American bird populations that have affinities for grassland and grass–shrub habitats (hereafter referred to as grassland birds) are on track to become a prominent wildlife conservation crisis of the 21st century. There is no single cause responsible for the declines of grassland birds. Rather, a cumulative set of factors such as afforestation in the eastern United States, fragmentation and replacement of prairie vegetation with a modern agricultural landscape, and large-scale deterioration of western U.S. rangelands are the major causes for these declines. The North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) is a set of comprehensive and coordinated strategic actions modeled on the Joint Venture initiatives that were used to successfully implement the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The NABCI is emerging as a potential broad-scale solution for conserving populations of grassland birds. Coordinating grassland bird conservation efforts with...
The Drosophila fusome, organelle biogenesis and germ cell differentiation: If you build it…

From stem cells to oocyte, Drosophila germ cells undergo a short, defined lineage. Molecular genetic analyses of a collection of female sterile mutations have indicated that a germ cell-specific organelle called the fusome has a central role at several steps in this lineage. The fusome grows from a prominent spherical organelle to an elongated and branched structure that connects all mitotic sisters in a germ cell syncytium. The organelle is assembled from proteins normally found in the membrane skeleton and, additionally, contains an extensive membranous reticulum, the probable product of differentiation-dependent vesicle trafficking. This review briefly summarizes a current view of the processes that drive germ cell differentiation, particularly the various roles that the fusome might play in regulating the developmental events. Future efforts will consider to what extent an organelle assembly-dependent model for differentiation is heuristic and whether the Drosophila fusome represents a homolog of a similar organelle in vertebrate lymphocytes.
A Study of the Shapiro–Wilk Test for the Detection of Pulsed Sinusoidal Radio Frequency Interference

The performance of the Shapiro-Wilk (S-W) test of normality for the detection of pulsed sinusoidal radio frequency interference (RFI) in microwave radiometry is analyzed. The study is motivated by the fact that the S-W test has been shown in the statistical literature to be effective in detecting a wide variety of non-Gaussian signal types. The basic properties of the S-W test statistic are reviewed, and the implementation of the test in digital hardware is discussed. Because the properties of the test statistic are difficult to obtain analytically, Monte Carlo simulations are utilized to compute performance. Results show that the test can provide reasonable performance in detecting pulsed sinusoidal RFI and that quantization of data has only a minimal impact on the sensitivity achieved. Detection performance is also compared with that of the kurtosis test for normality. It is shown that the S-W test produces comparable but degraded sensitivity compared to that of the kurtosis test in most cases while avoiding the ldquoblind spotrdquo associated with the kurtosis test for pulsed interferers having 50% duty cycle. Test performance is also shown to be improved if a priori knowledge of expected RFI pulse lengths is incorporated.
Pollen morphology and its phylogenetic significance in tribe Sanguisorbeae (Rosaceae)

Pollen grains of tribe Sanguisorbeae (Rosaceae, Rosoideae) were examined using scanning electron microscopy to identify useful characters, test taxonomic and phylogenetic hypotheses among genera, and elucidate pollen character evolution based on a molecular phylogeny. Aperture number, aperture structure, pollen shape, and exine sculpturing were variable within Sanguisorbeae and were used to delineate six pollen types. Four types (I–IV) were observed only in subtribe Sanguisorbinae whereas two types (V–VI) were found only in subtribe Agrimoniinae. Pollen grains of tribe Sanguisorbeae were generally subprolate to spheroidal in shape, had operculate or pontoperculate apertures, and had three apertures, except for Margyricarpus (tetraperturate). Exine sculpturing within Sanguisorbinae represented variations of striate, verrucate, rugulate, and perforate patterns often with microechinate sculpturing. Striate exine patterns and prolate shapes characterized the pollen of the Agrimoniinae, except for the microechinate-verrucate pattern and subprolate to spheroidal shapes observed in Hagenia. Pollen characters are most useful at the generic level and, when mapped on to a molecular phylogenetic tree of the tribe, are concordant with a monophyletic Agrimoniinae and a clade comprising Margyricarpus + Acaena + Polylepis + Cliffortia + Sanguisorba in the Sanguisorbinae. Outgroup comparison indicated that operculate colpi, three apertures, and polymorphism for striate or microverrucate exines represented primitive states for tribe Sanguisorbeae.
Contract, renegotiation, and holdup: Results on the technology of trade and investment

This paper examines a class of contractual relationships with specific investment, a nondurable trading opportunity, and renegotiation. Trade actions are modeled as individual and trade-action-based option contracts (“nonforcing contracts”) are explored. The paper introduces the distinction between divided and unified investment and trade actions, and it shows the key role this distinction plays in determining whether efficient investment and trade can be achieved. Under a nonforcing dual-option contract, the party without the trade action is made the residual claimant with regard to the investment action, which induces efficient investment in the divided case. The unified case is more problematic: here, efficiency is typically not attainable, but the dual-option contract is still optimal in a wide class of settings. More generally, the paper shows that, with ex post renegotiation, constraining parties to use “forcing contracts” implies a strict reduction in the set of implementable value functions.
Assessing clinical trial eligibility with logic expression queries

This paper introduces a system that processes clinical trials using a combination of natural language processing and database techniques. We process web-based clinical trial recruitment pages to extract semantic information reflecting eligibility criteria for potential participants. From this information we then formulate a query that can match criteria against medical data in patient records. The resulting system reflects a tight coupling of web-based information extraction, natural language processing, medical informatic approaches to clinical knowledge representation, and large-scale database technologies. We present an evaluation of the system and future directions for further system development.
The association between overactive bladder and diuretic use in the elderly

Several recent population-based studies have provided insight into the clinical importance and impact of overactive bladder (OAB). Although OAB can affect anyone at any age, the prevalence tends to increase with advancing age. Diuretic use is also common among older adults, as the prevalence of clinical conditions such as hypertension and heart failure requiring its use increases markedly with age. By causing increased formation of urine by the kidneys, diuretics increase urinary frequency and may cause urinary urgency and incontinence. This review provides a summary of available data, focusing on the association between OAB and diuretic use in the elderly. Although there is very little research work in this area, available studies have provided insight into the possible contribution of diuretic use to OAB in the elderly. Based on a recent report, OAB symptoms are common among older adults using diuretics, particularly the loop-type, and are associated with poor quality of life. More studies are required to fully understand the association between diuretic use and OAB, particularly its impact on health-related quality of life.
An XML based framework for enterprise application integration

Enterprise applications are increasingly moving towards providing Web access to their users through "thin clients". There is a strong case for their integration using Web-oriented technologies. We bring out the need for a framework for Web-based enterprise application integration and evolves it. The framework provides a very flexible architecture for seamless integration of enterprise applications using available technologies. XML (Extensible Markup Language) is used as a complete solution for EAI. We describe the design of the framework and explains the implementation of a prototype based on the framework.
The effect of photobleaching and velocity fluctuations on single-point LIF measurements

This study investigates the effect of photobleaching on laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements. Photobleaching causes the fluorescence to be velocity-dependent, which is undesirable if quantitative measurements are being made. To quantify this effect, simultaneous and coincident measurements of fluorescence and velocity were made within the measuring volume of a three-beam laser-Doppler anemometer (LDA), using both fluorescein and rhodamine 6G dyes in water. In addition, analytical expressions were developed for photobleaching in the LDA measuring volume, and a parameter was identified which predicts the degree of velocity sensitivity. Fluorescein was found to be far more susceptible to photobleaching than rhodamine 6G. Finally, the impact of photobleaching on statistical quantities (such as scalar fluxes) obtained from simultaneous LDA/LIF measurements is discussed.
The Effects of Childhood Exposure to Neighborhood and Community Violence: Impacts on the Safety and Well-being of Low-Income, Minority Children

In any given year, more than 6 out of 10 children in the United States are exposed to some form of violence in the neighborhood, at school, or within the home; half of these children experience polyvictimization, or exposure to multiple forms of violence. Despite widespread concern about childhood exposure to violence, researchers continue to have remarkable gaps in their knowledge about causal pathways that link exposure to neighborhood or community violence and the short- and long-term consequences on the safety and well-being of low-income, minority children. Notably absent from contemporary scholarly and policy debates on such exposure are the voices of community practitioners and community practice scholars. In this article, we identify the major theoretical and empirical challenges associated with conducting this line of community research. Next, we assess the state of the current theoretical and empirical research related to neighborhood and community effects on childhood exposure to violence and a...
Interactions of TLC1 (Which Encodes the RNA Subunit of Telomerase), TEL1, and MEC1 in Regulating Telomere Length in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, chromosomes terminate with a repetitive sequence [poly(TG1‐3)] 350 to 500 bp in length. Strains with a mutation of TEL1, a homolog of the human gene (ATM) mutated in patients with ataxia telangiectasia, have short but stable telomeric repeats. Mutations of TLC1 (encoding the RNA subunit of telomerase) result in strains that have continually shortening telomeres and a gradual loss of cell viability; survivors of senescence arise as a consequence of a Rad52p-dependent recombination events that amplify telomeric and subtelomeric repeats. We show that a mutation in MEC1 (a gene related in sequence to TEL1 and ATM) reduces telomere length and that tel1 mec1 double mutant strains have a senescent phenotype similar to that found in tlc1 strains. As observed in tlc1 strains, survivors of senescence in the tel1 mec1 strains occur by a Rad52p-dependent amplification of telomeric and subtelomeric repeats. In addition, we find that strains with both tel1 and tlc1 mutations have a delayed loss of cell viability compared to strains with the single tlc1 mutation. This result argues that the role of Tel1p in telomere maintenance is not solely a direct activation of telomerase.
Control variates for stochastic network simulation

Examines procedures for using path control variates to improve the accuracy of simulation-based point and confidence-interval estimators of the mean completion time of a stochastic activity networks (SAN). Because each path control variate is the duration of the corresponding directed path in the network from the source to the sink, the vector of selected path controls has a known mean and a known covariance matrix. This information is incorporated into control-variate estimation procedures that do not require normally distributed responses. The simulation-generated observations are split into three groups, and control-variate procedures, applied within each group, are combined in such a way that the overall point estimator and the associated variance estimator are always unbiased. The performance of these procedures is evaluated experimentally. In comparison to standard linear control-variate procedures, the proposed procedures can yield substantial improvements in point-estimator accuracy and confidence-interval coverage while achieving almost the same magnitude of variance reduction. >
Safe Lithium Use in a Non-Psychiatric Versus a Psychiatric Inpatient Veterans Affairs Hospital Setting: A Retrospective Assessment

ABSTRACTObjective: This study examined practices for monitoring lithium in a non-psychiatric versus psychiatric inpatient setting at a Veterans Affairs facility. Methodology: This retrospective chart review included veterans who had an active order of lithium during their non-psychiatric or psychiatric inpatient stay over the time period of January 2000 to September 2011. Chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Frequency of appropriate lithium monitoring was assessed using standards set by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines for bipolar disorder. Results: A total of 200 patients (100 for each group) were included in the final analysis. Psychiatric inpatients had more frequent serum lithium levels measured during inpatient stay (p = 0.0002), whereas nonpsychiatric patients had more frequent renal monitoring (p = 0.0001). Non-psychiatric patients were significantly more likely to have action taken upon abnormal safety assessments (p ...
Designing-in performance: towards cloud based simulation and multidisciplinary design solution space search

This research is built upon a previously established multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) framework and further explores the impact of this framework on the early stages of design. Specifically, this paper addresses the potential of introducing a cloud-based approach to tackle geometrically complex design problems and to facilitate early stage design exploration. To address these interests two experiment sets are presented and then discussed in the context of the application of cloud-based computing. First, is a hypothetical scenario possessing complex geometry to understand how the existing established framework assists in the exploration of complex geometric design problems. Second, is a pedagogical benchmark case allowing for the observation of the human versus automated decision making process. By comparing these processes the impact of the established MDO approach on "designing-in performance" and the potential impact of applying cloud-based computing to the MDO framework can be revealed and discussed.
Anticipating the Brethren: The Reverend Charles Nisbet Critiques the French Revolution

Charles Nisbet, the Scots-Presbyterian minister who came to America in 1785 to become principal of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, abhorred the French Revolution from the moment he learned of it in 1789. Nearly fifty when he immigrated, Nisbet had for twenty years been pastor in the Church of Scotland at Montrose on the northeast coast. Although he was a conservative in religious matters, he had while in Scotland been an advocate of political reform and a supporter of the American Revolution. But he did not countenance the French upris ing. In private letters and occasional public pronouncements he criticized the French popular movement so thoroughly that, by early 1793, fully two years before his fellow American clergy began to speak out against it, he had an ticipated virtually every argument they would make. Charles Nisbet's antipathy toward the French Revolution would prove prophetic. After 1795 many other American ministers deplored the anarchy, the destruction, the fiscal, social, and diplomatic damage that the Revolution
Elevated red cell distribution width at initiation of critical care is associated with mortality in surgical intensive care unit patients.

Abstract Purpose Recent evidence suggests that red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with mortality in mixed cohorts of critically ill patients. Our goal was to investigate whether elevated RDW at initiation of critical care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with 90-day mortality in surgical patients. Methods We performed a retrospective, single-center cohort study. Normal RDW was defined as 11.5%–14.5%. To investigate the association of admission RDW with 90-day mortality, we performed a logistic regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, race, body mass index, Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, hospital length of stay, as well as levels of creatinine, albumin, and mean corpuscular volume. Results 500 patients comprised the analytic cohort; 47% patients had elevated RDW and overall 90-day mortality was 28%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that patients with elevated RDW had a greater than two-fold increased odds of mortality (OR 2.28: 95%CI 1.20–4.33) compared to patients with normal RDW. Conclusions Elevated RDW at initiation of care is associated with increased odds of 90-day mortality in surgical ICU patients. These data support the need for prospective studies to determine whether RDW can improve risk stratification in surgical ICU patients.
Morphology of Ag islands grown on GaAs (110) at low coverage: Monte Carlo simulations

The growth morphology of Ag on GaAs (110) surfaces, at low coverages, is investigated with Monte Carlo simulations using a solid-on-solid model. Experimentally Ag deposited at room temperature forms 3D isotropic islands and forms needle-like islands elongated along the direction when deposited at 250°C. Preliminary simulation results using 2D island growth model indicated that the elongation of islands at 250°C deposition is due to anisotropic surface diffusion and nearest-neighbor interactions along the and directions. The island morphologies obtained using a 3D island growth model are in good agreement with experimentally observed morphologies.