cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting laterality of standard threshold shift in occupational hearing conservation programs

Although noise-induced hearing loss is generally characterized as bilaterally symmetrical, 80% of audiometric shifts meeting Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) criteria were unilateral in a large industrial sample. The primary factor related to unilateral OSHA shifts was asymmetric baseline hearing level. Better ears at baseline audiogram were more likely to demonstrate OSHA shifts than poorer ears. When hearing levels were symmetric at baseline, left ears were more likely to demonstrate OSHA shifts. Although OSHA shifts were primarily unilateral, cumulative effects of noise exposure were judged to be bilaterally symmetrical due to larger hearing shifts occurring in better ears of subjects with preexisting hearing asymmetries. Recovery from temporary threshold shift in second ears tested was judged not to be a significant determinant for high prevalence of unilateral shifts. Many factors likely interact to confound interpretive value of OSHA shift laterality in occupationally noise-exposed populations. This holds important implications for hearing conservation program professionals considering hearing shift laterality as a factor in shift etiology.
An alternative extradural exposure to the anterior clinoid process: the superior orbital fissure as a surgical corridor.

OBJECTIVE: Dolenc has pioneered the extradural approach to the anterior clinoid process (ACP) in approaching the cavernous sinus, clinoidal space, and orbital apex. A key step is the division of the frontotemporal dural fold (FTDF). Less experienced surgeons may not be as versatile in their three-dimensional understanding of the superior orbital fissure and thus may risk injury to its contents. Through our cadaveric and subsequent clinical subsequent clinical experience we have devised a modification of the approach that permits safer handling of the contents of the superior orbital fissure. METHODS: In five consecutive injected cadaveric heads (TO sides), we performed on one side a traditional extradural exposure of the ACP. On the other side, we performed our alternative dissection. Instead of exposing the ACP from medial to lateral and dividing the frontotemporal dural fold along the assumed path of safety, we followed the edge of the lesset wing from lateral to medial, uncovered the superior orbital fissure, and peeled the outer alyer of the cavernous sinus medial to the foramen rotundum along the greatur wing, thus uncovering the inferolateral surface of the ACP. This allowed dural division under full visualization. RESULTS: The alternative method proved easier and more reliable in every case. We applied this technical modification in seven patients with no complications. Specifically, there was no injury to the oculomotor, lacrimal, frontal, or trigeminal nerves or branches. We present detalled anatomic expositions of the injected specimens. CONCLUSION: This technical modification of the extradural approach of Dolenc is a simple, safe, and valuable adjunct to the exposure of the ACP. We recommend its use particularly by relatively inexperienced surgeons.
Technical efficiency, allocative efficiency, and the impact of incentive regulation in telecommunications in the United States

Abstract Incentive regulation is now an important regulatory tool in the telecommunications industry in the United States. The objective of incentive regulation is to improve productive efficiency, enhance service quality and consumer welfare, and reduce the costs of regulation. The issue that is considered here is whether incentive regulation in the form of a price cap applicable to interstate access service to local loops has resulted in an increase in the technical efficiency and allocative efficiency of local exchange carriers (LECs). After discussing the reasons for adopting incentive regulation, the nature of price caps is explored followed by an overview of the methodology for measuring the effects of incentive regulation on productive efficiency. The results indicate that for changes in technical efficiency, there is a definite randomness between 1985 and 1993 with technical efficiency increasing in some years and decreasing in others. Subsequent to 1993, however, there is a consistent improvement in technical efficiency. Given that incentive regulation in the forin of price caps was implemented for LECs in 1991, it is likely that some portion of the improvement in technical efficiency subsequent to 1993 is attributable to incentive regulation. A pronounced upward trend in allocative efficiency is observed beginning in 1985. It is problematic, however, to attribute the improvement in allocative efficiency to the adoption of incentive regulation. It is more likely an artifact of the divestiture of AT&T although some indeterminant portion is probably associated with the implementation of price caps. JEL classification: L51, L96
Comparison of fire temperature and fractional area modeled from SWIR, MIR, and TIR multispectral and SWIR hyperspectral airborne data

Spectral mixture modeling has previously been used to retrieve fire temperature and fractional area from multiband radiance data containing emitted radiance from fires. While this type of temperature modeling has potential for improving understanding of fire behavior and emissions, modeled temperature and fractional area may depend on the wavelength region used for modeling. Using airborne hyperspectral (Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer; AVIRIS) and multispectral (MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator; MASTER) data acquired simultaneously over the 2008 Indians Fire in California, we examined changes in modeled fire temperature and fractional area that occurred when input wavelength regions were varied. Temperature and fractional area modeled from multiple MASTER runs were directly compared. Incompatible spatial resolutions prevented direct comparison of the AVIRIS and MASTER model runs, so total area modeled at each temperature was used to indirectly compare temperature and fractional area retrieved from these two sensors. AVIRIS and MASTER model runs using shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands produced consistent fire temperatures and fractional areas when modeled temperatures exceeded 800 K. Temperatures and fire fractional areas were poorly correlated for temperatures below 800 K and when the SWIR bands were excluded as model inputs. The single temperature blackbody assumption commonly used in mixing model retrieval of fire temperature is potentially useful for modeling higher temperature fires, but is likely not valid for lower temperature smoldering combustion due to mixed radiance from multiple fuel elements combusting at different temperatures. SWIR data contain limited emitted radiance from combustion at lower temperatures, and are thus essential for consistent modeling of fire temperature and fractional area at higher fire temperatures.
Mexican Immigrant Wives Acculturative Stress and Spouses Marital Quality: The Role of Wives Marriage Work With Husbands and Close Friends

With a sample of 120 Mexican-origin couples, we examined the extent to which wives’ marriage work (i.e., discussions about marital concerns) with husband and marriage work with friend moderated associations between wives’ acculturative stress and spouses’ marital satisfaction and marital negativity. Results from a series of multiple regression analyses showed that wives’ marriage work with husbands (a) served to protect husbands’ marital quality from wives’ acculturative stress and (b) was linked with greater marital satisfaction for wives. These findings represent an important first step in understanding the sociocultural factors that compromise and protect marital quality for couples of Mexican origin as they navigate the challenges of adapting to life in the United States.
Metal film crawling in interconnect structures caused by cyclic temperatures

Thermal cycling is widely used as a qualification test in the microelectronic industry. This paper investigates an intriguing failure mode observed in such a test. Near the corners of a silicon die, shear stresses arise due to thermal expansion mismatch between the silicon and the packaging substrate. These shear stresses may have a small magnitude, being transmitted through packaging polymers, but sometimes motivate metallic interconnect films to crawl toward the center of the die during thermal cycling, even when the temperatures are low and the metal creeps negligibly. The phenomenon has been observed for two decades, but no mechanistic explanation has been given so far. This paper shows that the metal films can crawl by ratcheting plastic deformation. When the temperature cycles, the thermal expansion mismatch between the silicon and the metal causes the metal films to yield. Directed by the small shear stresses, the films shear plastically by a small amount in each cycle, and accumulate a large deformation after many cycles. We develop an idealized model to demonstrate this mechanism, and to study the effects of temperature-dependent yield strength and strain hardening. Several analytical solutions are obtained. Implications for the qualification test and interconnect design are discussed. The study clearly shows the need for basic research on large plastic deformation at small length scales.
Efficient methods to assimilate remotely sensed data based on information content

Two basic approaches have evolved to utilize measurements of radiance (i.e. thermal or scattered solar radiation) by satellite-borne instruments in data assimilation systems: radiances (raw or cloud-corrected) may be assimilated directly, or they may be pre-processed to retrieve geophysical parameters for subsequent assimilation. The retrieval process is often ill-posed, and therefore requires the use of prior information to constrain the solution. For example, temperature and humidity profiles retrieved using radiances from nadir-viewing infrared and microwave sounders often incorporate prior information in the form of climatology or forecasts. The use of prior information presents difficulties when assimilating retrievals. Here we present methods to remove prior information from retrievals in order to achieve a more consistent assimilation of the data. In addition, these methods can be used as a data compression device, which can reduce the amount of computation required by some analysis systems compared with radiance assimilation. The methods are implemented and compared in a one-dimensional assimilation system using simulated data from current and future infrared-temperature profiling instruments.
Communicating data-parallel tasks: an MPI library for HPF

High Performance Fortran (HPF) has emerged as a standard dialect of Fortran for data-parallel computing. However, HPF does not support task parallelism or heterogeneous computing adequately. This paper presents a summary of our work on a library-based approach to support task parallelism, using MPI as a coordination layer for HPF. This library enables a wide variety of applications, such as multidisciplinary simulations and pipeline computations, to take advantage of combined task and data parallelism. An HPF banding for MPI raises several interface and communication issues. We discuss these issues and describe our implementation of an HPF/MPI library that operates with a commercial HPF compiler. We also evaluate the performance of our library using a synthetic communication benchmark and a multiblock application.
Decoupling higher order cumulant sequences resulting from three wave coupling processes

Using cumulant projections, the authors reduce the complexity of the frequency estimation problem for quadratically coupled sinusoids. The bispectrum is viewed along a single radial slice whose defining frequencies are related by a simple ratio. This procedure of taking projections along lines orthogonal to projection axes corresponding to those slices decouples the sinusoids. The projected cumulants contain one-dimensional sinusoids. Projections comprise frequency decoupling. Separating the projected cumulants into symmetric and skew-symmetric cumulants, phase decoupling is achieved. Sinusoidal frequency estimation can be derived from a purely autoregressive (AR) modeling of the skew-symmetric and symmetric cumulants. The predictor polynomials derived from this scheme combine both causal and non-causal components. >
Clustering hosts in P2P and global computing platforms

Being able to identify clusters of nearby hosts among Internet clients provides very useful information for a number of internet and p2p applications. Examples of such applications include web applications, request routing in peer-to-peer overlay network, and distributed computing applications. In this paper, we present and formulate the internet host clustering problem. Leveraging previous work on internet host distance measurement, we propose two hierarchical clustering techniques to solve this problem. The first technique is a marker based hierarchical partitioning approach. The second technique is based on the well known K-means clustering algorithm. We evaluated these two approaches in simulation using a representative Internet topology generated with the GT ITM generator for over 1,000 hosts. Our simulation results demonstrate that our algorithmic clustering approaches effectively identify clusters with arbitrary diameters. Our conclusion is that by leveraging previous work on internet host distance estimation, it is possible to cluster Internet hosts to benefit various applications with various requirements.
Infection and Inflammation Induce LDL Oxidation In Vivo

Abstract —Epidemiological studies have shown an increased incidence of coronary artery disease in patients with chronic infections and inflammatory disorders. Because oxidative modification of lipoproteins plays a major role in atherosclerosis, the present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the host response to infection and inflammation induces lipoprotein oxidation in vivo. Lipoprotein oxidation was measured in 3 distinct models of infection and inflammation. Syrian hamsters were injected with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), zymosan, or turpentine to mimic acute infection, acute systemic inflammation, and acute localized inflammation, respectively. Levels of oxidized fatty acids in serum and lipoprotein fractions were measured by determining levels of conjugated dienes, thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances, and lipid hydroperoxides. Our results demonstrate a significant increase in conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances in serum in all 3 models. Moreover, LPS and zymosan produced a 4-fold to 6-fold increase in conjugated diene and lipid hydroperoxide levels in LDL fraction. LPS also produced a 17-fold increase in LDL content of lysophosphatidylcholine that is formed during the oxidative modification of LDL. Finally, LDL isolated from animals treated with LPS was significantly more susceptible to ex vivo oxidation with copper than LDL isolated from saline-treated animals, and a 3-fold decrease occurred in the lag phase of oxidation. These results demonstrate that the host response to infection and inflammation increases oxidized lipids in serum and induces LDL oxidation in vivo. Increased LDL oxidation during infection and inflammation may promote atherogenesis and could be a mechanism for increased incidence of coronary artery disease in patients with chronic infections and inflammatory disorders.
Low-power programmable gain CMOS distributed LNA

A design methodology for low power MOS distributed amplifiers (DAs) is presented. The bias point of the MOS devices is optimized so that the DA can be used as a low-noise amplifier (LNA) in broadband applications. A prototype 9-mW LNA with programmable gain was implemented in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The LNA provides a flat gain, S/sub 21/, of 8 /spl plusmn/ 0.6dB from DC to 6.2 GHz, with an input impedance match, S/sub 11/, of -16 dB and an output impedance match, S/sub 22/, of -10 dB over the entire band. The 3-dB bandwidth of the distributed amplifier is 7GHz, the IIP3 is +3 dBm, and the noise figure ranges from 4.2 to 6.2 dB. The gain is programmable from -10 dB to +8 dB while gain flatness and matching are maintained.
Control of spectral dynamics in concatenative speech synthesis

Current speech synthesis methods based on the concatenation of waveform units can produce highly intelligible speech capturing the identity of a particular speaker. However, the quality of concatenated speech often suffers from discontinuities between the acoustic units, due to contextual differences and variations in speaking style across the database. In this paper, we present methods to spectrally modify speech units in a concatenative synthesizer to correspond more closely to the acoustic transitions observed in natural speech. First, a technique called "unit fusion" is proposed to reduce spectral mismatch between units. In addition to concatenation units, a second, independent tier of units is selected that defines the desired spectral dynamics at concatenation points. Both unit tiers are "fused" to obtain natural transitions throughout the synthesized utterance. The unit fusion method is further extended to control the perceived degree of articulation of concatenated units. A signal processing technique based on sinusoidal modeling is also presented that enables high-quality resynthesis of units with a modified spectral shape.
High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of 32P-postlabeled DNA-aromatic carcinogen adducts.

The technique of 32P postlabeling of DNA-carcinogen adducts is a useful and extremely sensitive method of detecting and quantitating DNA damage by carcinogens. We have adapted the 32P method to analysis by high-pressure liquid chromatography, making the procedure more rapid and convenient than when thin-layer chromatography is used. Following DNA isolation and hydrolysis, nucleotide-carcinogen adducts are enhanced relative to normal nucleotides by solvent extraction and then labeled with high-specific-activity [T-~~P]ATP. The resulting 32Ppostlabeled nucleotides are resolved by reverse-phase ion-pair HPLC. After as little as 3 h of exposure to carcinogens, DNA adducts can be demonstrated from 1 pg or less of mouse hepatic DNA. Acetylated and nonacetylated adducts can be resolved from hepatic DNA of mice treated with 2-aminofluorene. Differences in DNA damage as measured by adduct formation were demonstrated between “rapid” and “slow” acetylator mouse strains. Rapid-acetylator C57BL/6J mice had three times the amount of hepatic DNA adducts as slow-acetylator A/J mice 3 h after a 60 mg/kg dose of 2-aminofluorene. 4-Aminobiphenyl and 2-naphthylamine each showed an adduct peak with retention time similar to that of the nonacetylated 2-aminofluorene adduct, while benzidine gave a major adduct that eluted somewhat earlier as would be expected for an acetylated adduct. The alkenylbenzenes, safrole and methyleugenol, also formed DNA adducts detectable by this method. DNA prepared from skin of mice painted with benzo[a]pyrene also contained carcinogen-DNA adducts detectable and resolvable by HPLC analysis following 32P postlabeling. The combination of HPLC with “P postlabeling appears to be a useful technique for the rapid detection and quantitation of DNA damage caused by several classes of aromatic carcinogens. 0 1988 Academic F’ress, Inc.
Effects of Particulate Silica Coatings on Localized Corrosion Behavior of AISI 304SS under Atmospheric Corrosion Conditions

The effects of a coating of silica particles on the localized corrosion behavior of AISI 304 stainless steel (304SS) during drying of thin electrolyte layers in controlled relative humidity environments were investigated by measurements of the transients of open-circuit potential (OCP) and galvanic current. The silica coatings were composed of spherical silica particles and were deposited on 304SS by cathodic electrophoretic deposition. It was confirmed that the silica layer worked very well as a host layer to soak up electrolyte solutions and that it remained intact under wet and dry conditions. OCP and galvanic current transients indicated that the silica layer affected propagation more than initiation of pitting corrosion. The propagation of pitting corrosion for silica-coated samples was slower than for uncoated 304SS.
Neuroimaging of Rapidly Progressive Dementias, Part 2: Prion, Inflammatory, Neoplastic, and Other Etiologies

Most dementias begin insidiously, developing slowly and generally occurring in the elderly age group. The so-called rapidly progressive dementias constitute a different, diverse collection of conditions, many of which are reversible or treatable. For this reason, accurate identification and assessment of acute and subacute forms of dementia are critical to effective treatment; neuroimaging aids greatly in narrowing the diagnosis of these conditions. This second installment of a 2-part review of rapidly progressive dementias examines the use of imaging in an assortment of other etiologies in the differential diagnosis, from prion disease and neoplastic-related conditions to rare metabolic and other conditions such as Wernicke encephalopathy. In these clinical conditions, MR imaging has the potential to narrow this broad differential diagnosis and, at times, can definitively aid in the diagnosis of certain conditions on the basis of typical imaging patterns.
Insurance and remittances: New evidence from Latin American immigrants to the US

This paper examines how the probability of sending remittances and the level of remittances sent are influenced by immigrants’ desire to insure against uncertainty, as opposed to factors that result in remittances with altruistic motives. Using for the first time both 1) data from the Mexican Migration Project and the Latin American Migration Project and 2) the predicted probability of unemployment in the destination country as a measure of immigrants’ economic uncertainty, we find that for Latin American Immigrants insurance motives play a more dominant role than altruistic motives.
Predicting intermediate outcomes for prevention coalitions: a developmental perspective

Abstract Longitudinal data from 35 substance abuse prevention coalitions were used to examine whether success in addressing initial coalition developmental tasks predicted intermediate outcomes one year later. Organizational climate, member skill development and coalition linkages predicted key informants’ ratings of coalition effects on community norms, policies, and prevention resources.
Simultaneous versus sequential knowledge transfer in an organization

Abstract This paper studies an organizational knowledge sharing process which requires costly “teaching” and “learning” efforts on the part of the sender and receiver, respectively. The process is a team problem in which the principal rewards successful sharing by optimally rewarding performance. In this setting we compare two modes of knowledge transfer with regard to efficiency. The first is sequential in which the sender precommits to teaching and the receiver acts as a follower. The second is simultaneous where each agent simultaneously exerts effort. A key result is that the sequential mode dominates when teaching and learning are complements, but the simultaneous mode dominates if teaching and learning are substitutes.
Constancy of masseter muscle structure and function with age in F344 rats

Senile muscle atrophy is a characteristic feature of advancing age. Despite the growing body of knowledge about weight-bearing muscles in rodents and man, there is relatively little such information on the muscles of mastication. Therefore, the primary goal here was to develop a masseter muscle preparation from male Fischer 344 rats suitable for studying contractile characteristics in vitro. And, secondarily, the goal was to examine this preparation for evidence of age-related changes in muscle composition and function in rats aged 4--24 months. Histochemical analysis of the composition of the four anatomical regions (branches) of the masseter revealed a mixture of rapidly contracting, fatiguable and fatigue-resistant muscle fibres with no significant differences between branches. Fibre type and size were determined with myosin ATPase, NADH-TR and toluidine blue staining of quick- frozen muscle sections. No significant changes in fibre type or fibre area were found with increasing age. One branch of the masseter, the anterior deep masseter, is sufficiently thin (less than 0.8 mm thickness) for adequate diffusion of oxygen and nutrients in studies of isometric contractile properties in vitro. Contraction time, half-relaxation time, dry weight:wet weight ratio and maximum force per unit area were found to be similar in muscles of young and old rats. Our results demonstrate that the anterior deep masseter of the rat is a suitable preparation for investigating masseter function in vitro. The surprising absence of age-related changes in composition and function is consistent with some, but not all, data on ageing rodent limb muscles. The results suggest that masticatory muscle performance is preserved with age in rats.
Predictors of sudden cardiac death: A competing risk approach in the hemodialysis study

Summary Background and objectives There are few data on risk factors for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The study objective was to identify predictors associated with various causes of death in the Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study and to develop a prediction model for SCD using a competing risk approach. Design, setting, participants, & measurements In this analysis of 1745 HEMO participants, all-cause mortality was classified as SCD, non-SCD, and noncardiac death. Predictors for each cause of death were evaluated using cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models, and a competing risk approach was used to calculate absolute risk predictions for SCD. Results During a median follow-up of 2.5 years, 808 patients died. Rates of SCD, non-SCD, and noncardiac death were 22%, 17%, and 61%, respectively. Predictors of various causes of death differ somewhat in HD patients. Age, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, ischemic heart disease, serum creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase were independent predictors of SCD. The 3-year C-statistic for SCD was 0.75 (95% confidence interval, 0.70–0.79), and calibration was good (χ2=1.1; P=0.89). At years 3 and 5 of follow-up, the standard Cox model overestimated the risk for SCD as compared with the competing risk approach on the relative scale by 25% and 46%, respectively, and on the absolute scale by 2% and 6%, respectively. Conclusions Predictors of various causes of death differ in HD patients. The proposed prediction model for SCD accounts for competing causes of death. External validation of this model is required.
Formulation of Seismic Fragilities for a Wood-Frame Building Based on Visually Determined Damage Indexes

The study of earthquake engineering has made significant strides over the last one-half century with scientists developing methods to better understand the basis and mechanisms of earthquakes and engineers working to mitigate economic loss and fatalities. A paradigm known as performance-based seismic design (PBSD) not only provides life safety to building occupants, but seeks to control structural and nonstructural damage in buildings and other structures. The development of fragility curves based on the well-known Park-Ang damage index is examined herein. This type of formulation can provide the information needed to assess the seismic vulnerability of a structure. Existing shake table test data from the NEESWood Project's test of a 223 m 2 (1,800 sq ft) two-story house was combined with a participant survey to calibrate a damage model. The result was the development of damage fragilities based exclusively on nonlinear time history analysis. Then, the proposed numerical damage model was applied and fragility curves were developed for a six-story light-frame wood condominium building. The results appear logical based on observations of system-level shake table tests over the last decade, and thus the method shows promise provided significant torsion is not present in the system.
Molecular mousetraps: gas-phase studies of the covalent coupling of noncovalent complexes initiated by reactive carbenes formed by controlled activation of diazo precursors.

The covalent linking of noncovalently bound host–guest complexes in the gas phase is achieved by the formation of a highly reactive carbene from the host molecule, which is generated by collision-activated dissociation. Possible mechanisms for the resulting intermolecular reactions are explored by theory and experiment.
Computing monodromy via parallel homotopy continuation

Numerical homotopy continuation gives a powerful tool for the applied scientist who seeks solutions to a system of polynomial equations. Techniques from numerical homotopy continuation can also be useful in pure mathematical research. We discuss applications of a particular homotopy continuation idea that leads to probabilistic numerical algorithms for construction of monodromy groups. One such application is used to analyze positive-dimensional solutions of polynomial systems. It is called the monodromy breakup method and partitions a witness set representing a positive-dimensional solution into irreducible components. The first author in collaboration with Jan Verschelde has implemented two parallel versions of this algorithm which show good speedup.We use numerical homotopy continuation to compute Galois groups of certain enumerative geometric problems coming from Schubert calculus.The basic idea is similar: given a parametric family of 0-dimensional polynomial systems, we construct loops in the parameter space, follow the solution paths along these loops to obtain a permutation of the set of the solutions.These permutations are used to compute the subgroup of the full symmetric group that they generate.
Metallization of a polymer substrate for microfluidic-cooled RF laminates

A new method for metallization of a polymer substrate has been demonstrated. This method allows for RF devices, including integrated circuits, to be fabricated on substrates which may feature microfluidic channels for cooling. Conventional hot-embossing was used to integrate copper mesh into a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), forming a microwave laminate. The laminate was machined into a microstrip patch antenna with a resonant frequency of 2.916 GHz.
Genetic and biochemical analysis of the MetR activator-binding site in the metE metR control region of Salmonella typhimurium.

The Salmonella typhimurium metE and metR genes share a common control region, with overlapping, divergently transcribed promoters. A double gene fusion was constructed in which the metE promoter directs expression of the Escherichia coli lacZ gene and the metR promoter directs expression of the E. coli galK gene. By using an E. coli strain lysogenized with a lambda bacteriophage carrying the metE-lacZ metR-galK double fusion (lambda Elac.Rgal), two classes of cis-acting mutations were isolated that increase metR-galK expression. The first class of mutations causes a simultaneous decrease in metE-lacZ expression by disrupting the normal MetR-mediated activation of the metE promoter. The mutations are located within a region extending from 17 to 34 base pairs upstream of the -35 region of the metE promoter. Gel mobility shift assays and DNaseI protection experiments demonstrated that the MetR protein specifically binds to a 24-base-pair region encompassing these mutations. The second class of mutations increases metR-galK expression by directly altering the promoter consensus sequences of the metE and metR promoters.
Buttercup Squash Provides a Marketable Alternative to Blue Hubbard as a Trap Crop for Control of Striped Cucumber Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Winter squash is a vital agricultural commodity worldwide. In the Northeastern United States, the primary insect pest is the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum F. Using a Blue Hubbard squash (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) perimeter trap crop system can reduce insecticide use by >90% in butternut squash (C. moschata Poir), the primary winter squash grown in this region. Despite the savings in insecticide costs, growers may be reluctant to give up field space for a perimeter crop of Blue Hubbard squash, which comprises only 5% of the winter squash market in New England as compared with 19% for buttercup squash. Finding a more marketable trap crop would lower the barrier for adoption of this system. We tested eight varieties of three species of cucurbits for attractiveness to beetles relative to Blue Hubbard and butternut squash, and chose buttercup squash as the most promising replacement. We compared the effect of a buttercup border, Blue Hubbard border, or control (no border) on beetle numbers, herbivory, insecticide use, pollination, and pollen limitation in the main crop. We found that buttercup squash performed equally well as Blue Hubbard as a trap crop, with 97% reduction in total insecticide use compared with control fields. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa Say) were the predominant pollinators, and border treatments did not affect visitation. Hand pollination did not increase reproduction or yield, indicating that natural pollination was sufficient for full yield. This study confirms the effectiveness of perimeter trap crop systems and offers growers a more marketable trap crop for managing cucumber beetle damage.
Measurement of Intraocular Pressure from the Extra-Ocular Space of the Eye using a MEMS Pressure Sensor

Intraocular pressure measurements are recorded in porcine eyes that have been surgically modified. The vitreous pressure is manipulated by an external connection to a fluidic reservoir and measured directly by a Millar mikro-tip catheter. Indirect vitreous pressure is measured with a Freescale medical grade pressure sensor at the choroid surface, within a scleral recess, and at the sclera surface. Results suggest improved strain transfer mechanisms may yield accurate indirect IOP monitoring at the sclera surface via a MEMS sensor.
Consumer Cognition and Pricing in the Nines in Oligopolistic Markets

The paper fully characterizes the Bertrand equilibria of oligopolistic markets where consumers may ignore the last (i.e., the right-most) digits of prices. Consumers, in this model, do not do this reflexively or out of irrationality, but only when they expect the time cost of acquiring full cognizance of the exact price to exceed the expected loss caused by the slightly erroneous amounts that are likely to be purchased or the slightly higher price that may be paid by virtue of ignoring the information concerning the last digits of prices. It is shown that in this setting there will always exist firms that set prices that end in nine though there may also be some (nonstrict) equilibria where a non-nine price ending occurs. It is shown that all firms earn positive profits even in Bertrand equilibria. The model helps us understand in what kinds of markets we are most likely to encounter pricing in the nines.
Vulnerability of ecosystems of the mid-Atlantic region, USA, to climate change.

Changes in the distribution of vegetation in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States were explored for two climate-change scenarios. The equilibrium vegetation ecology (EVE) model was used to project the distribution of life forms and to combine these into hiomes for a doubled-CO 2 scenario generated by the GENESIS earth system model. The species model, a climate-envelope model, was used to project the distribution of 200 woody plant species for a climate-change scenario with mean 2°C warming, enhanced winter warming, and no net evapotranspiration. Results from EVE suggest a considerable northward shift of both northern and southern boundaries of the biomes that occur in the mid-Atlantic region. The species model, using the climate scenario with no net evapotranspiration, more closely examines the isolated effect of temperature. This model predicts that most species will persist in their present location, with considerable expansion northward and with a small fraction of the species throughout the region experiencing dieback. Present-day ranges of several vertebrate species, considered with anticipated climatic changes, suggest that animal range changes will also occur.
Constructivisme radical et enseignement

Resume: L'apprentissage est ici entendu comme une activite conceptuelle, et l'enseignement differencie du dressage. Le role du langage dans ces processus est examine. Pour l'auteur, il ne peut y avoir de comprehension sans reflexion. Celle‐ci est induite par la verbalisation et peut, par consequent, etre favorisee a travers la conversation. On montre aussi la pertinence de la notion de ≪ conscience operationnelle ≫ de Ceccato (1974) pour l'enseignement, et sa compatibilite avec le modele theorique de Piaget (1936).
Migrating an energy management system to a networked architecture

This paper chronicles the activity at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC) that resulted in the complete migration of a traditional, late 1970s vintage, energy management system (EMS). The new environment includes networked microcomputers, minicomputers, and a corporate mainframe, and provides online access to employees outside the energy control center and some WPSC customers. In the late 1980s, WPSC was forecasting an EMS computer upgrade or replacement to address both capacity and technology needs. Reasoning that access to diverse computing resources would best position the company to accommodate the uncertain needs of the energy industry in the 1990s, WPSC chose to investigate an in-place migration to a network of computers, able to support heterogeneous hardware and operating systems. The system was developed in a modular fashion, with individual modules being deployed as soon as they were completed. The functional and technical specification was continuously enhanced as operating experience was gained from each operational module. With the migration off the original EMS computers complete, the networked system called DEMAXX (distributed energy management architecture with extensive expandability) has exceeded expectations in the areas of cost, performance, flexibility, and reliability.
Trouble at the Source: The Debates Over the Public Disclosure Provisions of the False Claims Act's Original Source Rule

The federal False Claims Act has long been a major tool in rectifying frauds, including healthcare frauds, perpetrated against the federal government. One of the most useful aspects of the Act is the ability of private citizens to sue on behalf of the government when they detect a fraud for which the government has not yet commenced an enforcement action.Unfortunately, these private citizen suit provisions of the Act are less effective than they could be due to disagreement over how to interpret and apply them. In particular, the statutory language relating to “public disclosure,” critical to determining when citizens may sue, is hopelessly vague and has engendered numerous conflicts among courts.This Article explains the confusion that has resulted from the public disclosure provisions of the Act, and suggests logical ways to interpret and apply them. Ultimately, the Article urges a clarification of the statutory language, so that the Act will provide clearer guidance to citizens contemplating suing under the Act. Ultimately, such clarification will encourage citizens to detect frauds against the government and to spearhead collections for violations of the Act, to the benefit of all of us and as the Act was intended.
Tools for Discourse Analysis

Critical media analysis is one means by which educators can present complex issues that affect the lives of young people effectively. Contemporary literacy theorists such as Kellner (1995), the New London Group (1996), and researchers such as Morrell (2002) have argued that such analysis is key to connecting literacy practices to the daily lives of today’s youth, particularly those for whom home literacy practices are not consonant with the demands of academic literacy.
Schwinger pair production at finite temperature

Thermal corrections to Schwinger pair production are potentially important in particle physics, nuclear physics and cosmology. However, the lowest-order contribution, arising at one loop, has proved difficult to calculate unambiguously. We show that this thermal correction may be calculated for charged scalars using the worldline formalism, where each term in the decay rate is associated with a worldline instanton. We calculate all finite-temperature worldline instantons, their actions and fluctuation prefactors, thus determining the complete one-loop decay rate at finite temperature. The thermal contribution to the decay rate becomes nonzero at a threshold temperature $T=eE/2m$, above which it dominates the zero-temperature result. This is the lowest of an infinite set of thresholds at $T=neE/2m$. The decay rate is singular at each threshold as a consequence of the failure of the quadratic approximation to the worldline path integral. We argue that higher-order effects will make the decay rates finite everywhere and model those effects by the inclusion of hard thermal loop damping rates. We also demonstrate that the formalism developed here generalizes to the case of finite-temperature pair production in inhomogeneous fields.
Criminalizing Day-to-Day Life: A Socio-Legal Critique of Gang Injunctions

Civil gang injunctions criminalize a wide range of day-to-day activities, such as riding bicycles or appearing in public view with others subject to an injunction. In practice, gang injunctions severely limit people's rights. However, the California Supreme Court has found that injunctions do not violate the United States Constitution. Their reasoning is based on misconceptions about the impacts of injunctions on people's lives and, in turn, their liberty interests. This article incorporates social science theory about gang involvement with narrative examples demonstrating the extent to which gang injunctions burden people's liberty interests to highlight unconstitutional aspects of gang injunctions.
The Toscanini Archives

The Toscanini Memorial Archives had its inception on May 13, 1936, when the New York Public Library announced plans to establish the Arturo Toscanini Collection of Musical Autographs. The purpose of establishing the collection of original musical manuscripts was to honor the great conductor at the time of his retirement as conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and to make possible the housing in one location, open to public, scholar, and performer alike, photographic reproductions of musical works in the handwriting of the composers. Conductors, musicians, and musical scholars in this country have had considerable difficulty in gaining access to copies of originals and early musical manuscripts. New York, center for so much musical activity, was an appropriate locality at which all available musical archival material could be brought together. With the outbreak of World War II in Europe, many priceless musical manuscripts were destroyed, a number of private collections were scattered, and very little material could be obtained for the Toscanini Memorial Archives. The idea and purpose remained,
The Elusive Paradigm of the Press

This is a review of Lee C. Bollinger's book, Images of a Free Press (University of Chicago Press, 1991). At the time, Lee Bollinger was the Dean of the University of Michigan Law School. He subsequently became the Provost of Dartmouth College and the President of the University of Michigan. He is currently serving as the President of Columbia University. The book sets forth a central image of the press that embodies two distinct claims. One is that the larger structure of democratic government requires for its proper functioning a grant of a broad freedom of expression to citizens who must give their consent to the exercise of governmental authority. The second is that the institutional press, as the necessary conduit by which citizens receive critical information about the operation of the government, should enjoy special free speech protections. The review critically analyzes each of these positions, which it respectively refers to as the "self-governance" and the "fourth estate" rationales. While generally supportive of President Bollinger's perspective, the review seeks to point out some of the less frequently noted characteristics, and logical limitations, of each of these rationales. It also discusses some of the larger institutional challenges faced by what Bollinger terms as the "grand experiment" in the disparate formal constitutional treatment of print and broadcast media.
The Influence of Foliar Applications of GA3 GA4,7 and PBA on Breaking Flower Bud Dormancy on Azalea CVS Redwing and Dogwood

SummaryFoliar applications of gibberellins (GA3, GA4,7) and 6-benzylamino-9-(2-tetra- hydropyranyl)-9H-purine (PBA) were compared with untreated controls and the conventional low temperature treatment for breaking flower bud dormancy. GA3 and GA4, 7 were compared for their role in promoting flower development. Treatments were initiated when microscopic examination showed the flower buds had reached Stage 6 (style elongated and closed). Plants that did not receive a dormancy-breaking treatment failed to reach anthesis. Application of GA3 or GA4, 7 hastened flowering and increased flower size and pedicel length.
When Regulators Collide: Financial Market Stability, Systemic Risk, Clearinghouses and CDS

This Article demonstrates that regulatory collisions are an unintended consequence of well-meaning, post-financial crisis reforms by both public and private market regulators in the over-the-counter derivatives market. Many of these reforms are designed to regulate systemic risk. As this Article argues, however, potential regulatory collisions are themselves a critical, but hidden, source of systemic risk. Such collisions are problematic both because they hamper the effective regulation of systemic risk and because effective mechanisms for preventing or resolving such conflicts do not exist.This Article analyzes the potential for regulatory collisions among domestic, international, public, and private market regulators overseeing the over-the-counter derivatives market. It uses case studies to illustrate several types of regulatory collision risks. These case studies focus on post-financial crisis reforms, including the Credit Derivative Determination Committees of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, the G20’s clearinghouse mandates, and Dodd-Frank’s Titles VII and VIII.In sum, this Article argues that the effective regulation of systemic risk in the over-the-counter derivatives market requires both (1) ex-ante, preventative conflict resolution mechanisms to decrease the risk of regulatory collisions, and (2) ex-post, restorative conflict resolution mechanisms to promote market stability when regulators collide. It concludes by proposing strategies oriented towards the development of such resolution mechanisms.
Inhibition of Inosine-5'-monophosphate Dehydrogenase from Bacillus anthracis: Mechanism Revealed by Pre-Steady-State Kinetics.

Inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) catalyzes the conversion of inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP) to xanthosine 5′-monophosphate (XMP). The enzyme is an emerging target for antimicrobial therapy. The small molecule inhibitor A110 has been identified as a potent and selective inhibitor of IMPDHs from a variety of pathogenic microorganisms. A recent X-ray crystallographic study reported that the inhibitor binds to the NAD+ cofactor site and forms a ternary complex with IMP. Here we report a pre-steady-state stopped-flow kinetic investigation of IMPDH from Bacillus anthracis designed to assess the kinetic significance of the crystallographic results. Stopped-flow kinetic experiments defined nine microscopic rate constants and two equilibrium constants that characterize both the catalytic cycle and details of the inhibition mechanism. In combination with steady-state initial rate studies, the results show that the inhibitor binds with high affinity (Kd ≈ 50 nM) predominantly to the covalent intermedia...