cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Exchange Rates and Efficiency

This paper analyzes an exchange economy in which several assets serve as stores of value and where agents have completely heterogeneous preferences and endowments. It describes the set of perfect foresight equilibria in which all assets have positive prices. There are international policies with determinate exchange rates if the world economy satisfies a strong efficiency criterion. Also, the corresponding equilibrium allocations are in the core of the world economy for certain international policies. Hence, a system of fixed exchange rates can support efficient allocations to the extent that countries agree on a division of seigniorage in the creation of international reserves.
Hypertension and lens opacities from the Beaver Dam Eye Study.

Purpose To examine the relationship between hypertension and lens opacities, and the use of antihypertensive agents. Methods A total of 4,926 adults, 43 to 84 years of age, living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, at the time of a private census, were invited to participate in a study that included a medical interview and an examination that included ocular photography. All study procedures and photographic grading were done according to standard protocols. Results According to analysis with the Liang-Zeger multiple logistic regression model, people with hypertension were more likely to have posterior subcapsular opacities than people without hypertension (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.05, 1.84). Specific medications for hypertension did not meaningfully affect the risk. Hypertension was associated with increased risk in both those with and without diabetes. Conclusions Hypertension is associated with increased risk of posterior subcapsular opacities. The pathophysiologic mechanisms that may explain the relationship are unknown. Incidence data will give a better indication of temporal relationship between hypertension, medications to lower blood pressure, and lens opacities.
Transient analysis of sharp thermal gradients using coarse finite element meshes

Abstract This paper investigates the application of the generalized finite element method with global–local enrichments (GFEMgl) to problems of transient heat transfer involving localized features. The GFEMgl is utilized in order to numerically construct general, specially-tailored shape functions yielding high levels of accuracy on coarse FEM meshes. The use of time-dependent shape functions requires that the system of equations be discretized temporally first, and then spatially in order to properly account for the time-dependency. The standard α-method is used for the time integration scheme. The transient three-dimensional GFEMgl is then applied to a laser heating example in order to demonstrate its ability to resolve localized, transient features on a fixed, coarse mesh. Convergence analysis of the proposed method as well as applications to heterogeneous materials, and moving heat sources are also provided.
A Formative Evaluation of Organizational Readiness to Implement Nurse-Initiated HIV Rapid Testing in Two Veterans Health Administration Substance Use Disorder Clinics

Within the Veterans Health Administration, substance use disorder clinics can be important locations for identifying HIV-infected patients. In this formative evaluation we assessed organizational readiness to implement a nurse-initiated HIV rapid test strategy in two Veterans Health Administration substance use disorder clinics. We conducted 34 quantitative surveys and 21 key informant interviews with front-line staff and management to assess attitudes regarding HIV testing in general and nurse-initiated HIV rapid testing specifically. We also assessed potential organizational impediments and facilitators to the implementation of nurse-initiated HIV rapid testing. Staff agreed that nurse-initiated HIV rapid testing is supported by research evidence, clinical experience, and patient need. Staff differed on the degree to which nurse-initiated HIV rapid test strategy fit within the substance use disorder clinic mission. We identified barriers to the implementation of nurse-initiated HIV rapid testing, includ...
PolicyMorph: interactive policy transformations for a logical attribute-based access control framework

Constraint systems provide techniques for automatically analyzing the conformance of low-level access control policies to high-level business rules formalized as logical constraints. However, there are likely to be priorities for solutions that are not easy to encode formally, so administrator input is often important. This paper introduces PolicyMorph, a constraint system that supports interactive development and maintenance of access control policies that respect both formalized and un-formalized business rules and priorities. We provide a mathematical description of the system and an architecture for implementing it. We constructed a prototype that is validated using a case study in which constraints are imposed on a building automation system that controls door locks. PolicyMorph advances the state-of-the-art in constraint systems by suggesting predictable policy model modifications that will resolve specific constraint violations and then allowing policy administrators to select the appropriate modifications using knowledge that is not formally encoded in the constraint system.
Four Subtypes of Self-Neglect in Older Adults: Results of a Latent Class Analysis

Objectives: To determine whether there are subtypes of elder self-neglect (SN) with different risk factors that can be targeted using medical and social interventions. Design: Cohort study using archived data of Adult Protective Services (APS) substantiated cases of elder SN between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2008. Setting: Houston, Harris County, Texas. Participants: Adults aged 65 and older with APS region VI substantiated SN between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2008 (N = 5,686). Measurements: Adult Protective Services caseworkers used the Client Assessment and Risk Evaluation (CARE) tool during home investigations, assessing risk of harm in the domains of living conditions, financial status, physical and medical status, mental health, and social connectedness. Latent class analysis was used to identify unique subtypes of elder SN. Results: Four unique subtypes of elder SN were identified, with approximately 50% of individuals manifesting physical and medical neglect problems. Other subtypes included environmental neglect (22%), global neglect (21%), and financial neglect (9%). Older age, Caucasian descent, and mental status problems were more strongly associated with global neglect behaviors. African Americans were more likely to experience financial and environmental neglect than Caucasians and non-white Hispanics. Conclusion: Elder SN consists of unique subtypes that may be amenable to customized multidisciplinary interventions. Future studies are needed to determine whether these subtypes impose differential mortality risks and whether multidisciplinary tailored interventions can reduce SN and prevent early mortality.
Required enhancer–matrin-3 network interactions for a homeodomain transcription program

Homeodomain proteins, described 30 years ago, exert essential roles in development as regulators of target gene expression; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional activity of homeodomain factors remain poorly understood. Here investigation of a developmentally required POU-homeodomain transcription factor, Pit1 (also known as Pou1f1), has revealed that, unexpectedly, binding of Pit1-occupied enhancers to a nuclear matrin-3-rich network/architecture is a key event in effective activation of the Pit1-regulated enhancer/coding gene transcriptional program. Pit1 association with Satb1 (ref. 8) and β-catenin is required for this tethering event. A naturally occurring, dominant negative, point mutation in human PIT1(R271W), causing combined pituitary hormone deficiency, results in loss of Pit1 association with β-catenin and Satb1 and therefore the matrin-3-rich network, blocking Pit1-dependent enhancer/coding target gene activation. This defective activation can be rescued by artificial tethering of the mutant R271W Pit1 protein to the matrin-3 network, bypassing the pre-requisite association with β-catenin and Satb1 otherwise required. The matrin-3 network-tethered R271W Pit1 mutant, but not the untethered protein, restores Pit1-dependent activation of the enhancers and recruitment of co-activators, exemplified by p300, causing both enhancer RNA transcription and target gene activation. These studies have thus revealed an unanticipated homeodomain factor/β-catenin/Satb1-dependent localization of target gene regulatory enhancer regions to a subnuclear architectural structure that serves as an underlying mechanism by which an enhancer-bound homeodomain factor effectively activates developmental gene transcriptional programs.
Use of C-Reactive Protein in Minimizing Antibiotic Exposure: Experience With Infants Initially Admitted to a Well-Baby Nursery

Objective. To evaluate the use of a clinical pathway for neonatal sepsis in decisions about initiating and continuing antibiotic treatment. Setting. A district hospital primarily served by private pediatricians practicing in a managed care environment. Patients and Laboratory Tests. All infants admitted to the well-baby nursery in 1997–1998 were eligible for this study. Infants born with a variety of risk factors (eg, borderline prematurity, membranes ruptured for over 18 hours, mother positive for group B streptococcus [GBS], and maternal fever) or clinical manifestations suggesting possible infection (either clinical signs or persistent hypoglycemia) were evaluated with white blood cell count, differential, and C-reactive protein (CRP) soon after birth and 12 hours later. Decisions to transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit and to treat with antibiotics were based on abnormal laboratory test results, particularly an increased level of CRP (>1 mg/dL), persistent hypoglycemia, or clinical signs. Discontinuation of antibiotic treatment was primarily based on return to normal of the CRP. Results. Of 8299 live births, 7562 initially went to the well-baby nursery. Evaluation occurred in 1894 (25%) and 425 were transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit. In 162, antibiotics were discontinued within 48 hours. The majority were treated for 3 to 5 days, with only 19 (3 with GBS sepsis) treated for 6 days or more. There were 216 infants transferred because of risk factors and 209 because of clinical findings. Peak CRP primarily determined the duration of antibiotic treatment, with the mean peak CRP rising from 2.8 mg/dL in those treated for 3 days, to 3.8, 4.3, 8.4, 8.9, and 13.7 mg/dL in those treated for 4, 5, 6, 7, or >7 days, respectively. The mean duration of treatment was 3.1 days. No infant initially treated with antibiotics and discharged when the CRP returned to normal was readmitted within the next month. No infant with normal values on the sepsis screen was readmitted within 1 month with evidence of bacterial infection, but 1 infant with no risk factors was readmitted at 22 days of age with GBS sepsis and meningitis. Conclusions. Using a clinical pathway for neonatal sepsis, which is based primarily on CRP determinations, can minimize antibiotic exposure and shorten hospital stays.
Identification and management of pain medication abuse and misuse: current state and future directions.

Long-term opioid therapy poses a risk for abuse and misuse in some patients. Identifying which patients may potentially be at risk prior to initiation of therapy, and identifying patients in whom these problems develop during therapy, are significant challenges. Outcome prediction is impeded by the complexity of the problem, where considerable heterogeneity results from psychological and socioeconomic factors, as well as interindividual variation in biological pathways due to genetic and epigenetic factors. Screening tools designed to detect opioid misuse and urine drug testing are both used clinically; scant evidence currently exists to allow the formulation of an algorithm for judicious use of these tools. Moreover, these tools may not be addressing the underlying alterations in biological pathways that occur owing to the development of chronic pain or in response to chronic opioid administration. An evidence-based algorithmic approach to risk mitigation that can be applied in a cost-effective manner to...
Adult neural stem cells stake their ground.

The birth of new neurons in the walls of the adult brain lateral ventricles has captured the attention of many neuroscientists for over 2 decades, yielding key insights into the identity and regulation of neural stem cells (NSCs). In the adult ventricular–subventricular zone (V–SVZ), NSCs are a specialized form of astrocyte that generates several types of neurons for the olfactory bulb. In this review, we discuss recent findings regarding the unique organization of the V–SVZ NSC niche, the multiple regulatory controls of neuronal production, the distinct regional identities of adult NSCs, and the epigenetic mechanisms that maintain adult neurogenesis. Understanding how V–SVZ NSCs establish and maintain lifelong neurogenesis continues to provide surprising insights into the cellular and molecular regulation of neural development.
Cadena: enabling CCM-based application development in Eclipse

To support the trend toward component-based systems, the Cadena project aims to provide an Eclipse-based development environment that includes support for design, behavior modeling, formal reasoning, and automated code synthesis for systems built using the CORBA Component Model. In this paper, we describe the basic functionality of the Cadena tool, and summarize how it is currently being evaluated by industrial partners for use in developing high-assurance avionics applications.
Influence of age, body size and heart rate on left ventricular diastolic indexes in young subjects.

Abstract Recently, a number of echocardiographic measurements have been proposed to assess diastolic function. 1,2 Isovolumic relaxation time is closely correlated with early cardiac relaxation. Isovolumic relaxation time increases as relaxation becomes abnormal and with aging. Deceleration time provides a measure of the end of relaxation and the beginning of the diastolic compliance phase. Shortening of deceleration time occurs with restriction to ventricular filling. We selected these 2 measurements for study because both are easily obtained from a Doppler mitral tracing. However, some echocardiographic indexes of systolic function are known to be influenced by heart rate, body size or age, or a combination of all 3. 3–5 Our purpose in this study was to determine if isovolumic relaxation time and deceleration time are age-, heart rate- or body size-dependent in a pediatrie and young adult group.
Low-temperature characteristics of 0.35 mu m AlSb/InAs HEMTs

The effects of low temperature on the characteristics of 0.35 µm gate-length AlSb/InAs HEMTS are reported. Measurements down to 15 K reveal an increase in transconductance and low-field source-drain conductance. The commonly-observed impact ionisation and its associated gate current were found to decrease significally at low temperature apparently due to a increase in bandgap.
How ethical are purchasing management professionals

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the ethics of purchasing management professionals. A multidimensional scale of ethics was used to measure their predispositions to act morally. The ethics measure from this scale was correlated to a series of ethical vignettes specific to the purchasing function to further assess the value of the scale. In addition, the consistency of values as rationale for decision making was also examined. The findings of the study indicate that purchasing professionals appear to be more ethical than indicated in previous studies as measured by both the multidimensional scale of ethics and their responses to ethical situations similar to those faced in their day-to-day work experiences. The utility of a multidimensional scale of ethics is further validated, and some preliminary assessments of the nature of values impacting on ethical decision making are also evaluated.
Active and passive immunization against herpesvirus infections

The availability of antivirals and passive immunization products has reduced the frequency and severity of some herpesvirus infections in immunocompromised hosts. Optimal control of such infections and prevention of infections in immunocompetent individuals will require the development of vaccines. Live-attenuated vaccines against varicella-zoster virus and cytomegalovirus stimulate humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and provide protection against severe diseases in some settings. Varicella has been licensed, based on data obtained in clinical trials in healthy children adults. Concerns about potential side effects of live-attenuated vaccines, particulary immunocompromised hosts, have stimulated the development of alternative vaccines consisting of recombinant glycoproteins, recombinant vectors containing genes coding for herpesvirus proteins, mutant viruses, or naked DNA. Several of these vaccines are immunogenic in animal models and will be tested in humans in the near future.
A comparative study of the enzymatic hydrolysis of acid-pretreated white pine and mixed hardwood

Removal of hemicellulose by acid pretreatment in a flow reactor followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of the neutralized slurry has resulted in glucose yields as high as 95% for mixed hardwood. For white pine, however, the maximum glucose yield is 65%. Although pine has a higher extractives content, removal of the extractives prior to enzymatic hydrolysis does not increases the glucose yield. Pore size measurements reveal that the increase in pore volume, in the size range of the cellulase molecule, following pretreatment for pine is only about one-half the value obtained with mixed hardwood. This suggests that pore volume is an important determinant of substrate-enzyme reactivity.
Private room as a test accommodation

The effects of a private vs. group test setting were examined on a reading comprehension test for a sample of typical college students. Participants took Forms G and H of the Nelson Denny Reading Comprehension Test in both private and group (classroom) settings. Contrary to expectations, performance was slightly better in the group setting. Performance was also better during the second session, regardless of setting. There was no setting by session interaction. The correlation between scores in the two settings was quite high, indicating that both settings produced similar results. The findings suggest that a private room does not produce a performance advantage for typical students, thus meeting one of the criteria of a valid test accommodation.
Decreased benzodiazepine receptor density in rat cerebellum following neurotoxic doses of phenytoin.

: The effect of acute and chronic administration of phenytoin on [3H]-flunitrazepam binding was examined in the rat cerebellum. There was no significant effect of phenytoin on [3H]flunitrazepam binding in the rat cerebellum 1 and 6 h after a single i.p. injection of 200 mg/kg of phenytoin. However, after 14 days and 28 days of chronic phenytoin administration, significant de-creases in [3H]flunitrazepam receptor density were observed, with no changes in apparent affinity constants in the rat cerebellum. This effect of phenytoin was dose-dependent, as lower doses of phenytoin (100 mg/kg/day) for 14 or 28 days produced no alterations in [3H]flunitrazepam binding in the rat cerebellum. Light-microscopic examination of the rat cerebellum treated with 200 mg/kg/day of phenytoin for 14 days showed degeneration of the Purkinje cells, with edematous Bergmann astrocytes. These data provide evidence for the neuronal localization of benzodiazepine receptors on cerebellar Purkinje cells.
Building important relationships

The Help Desk at the College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago and the Campus Information Technology and Educational Services (CITES) Help Desk at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign have created a strong relationship to share information, common tools, training costs, and more. You could say we have adopted one another and utilize the relationship to share the experiences in both help desks to learn how to overcome problems related to budgets, resources, and the tools we use. In this session we will provide an overview of each Help Desk and how we work together to share information, how we have benefited from partnering together for training, sharing internal Help Desk tools, and continue to find ways to support and learn from each other. We would also like to challenge attendees to find someone to partner with to build a similar relationship, and will briefly provide suggestions on how to succeed in that challenge.
Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia in Ovarian Cancer Patients: Does the Use of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents Worsen Survival?

Objective Considering the paucity of data relating erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) use to ovarian cancer survival, our objective was to evaluate the effect of ESA as used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) on survival in ovarian cancer patients. Materials and Methods A multi-institution retrospective chart review was performed on ovarian cancer patients. Data collection included patient demographic, surgicopathologic, chemotherapy, ESA, and survival data. Patients were stratified by ever-use of ESA and were compared using appropriate statistical methods. Results A total of 581 patients were eligible for analysis with 39% (n = 229) patients with ever-use of ESA (ESA-YES) and 61% (n = 352) never-use ESA (ESA-NO). Mean age was 60.4 years with most patients having stage IIIC (60%) of papillary serous histological diagnosis (64%) with an optimal cytoreduction (67%). Median follow-up for the cohort was 27 months. Both ESA-YES and ESA-NO groups were similar regarding age, body mass index, race, stage, histological diagnosis, and debulking status. Compared with the ESA-NO group, ESA-YES patients were significantly more likely to experience recurrence (56% vs 80%, P Conclusions Our data evaluating the use of ESA as a treatment of CIA in ovarian cancer patients are similar to reports in other tumor sites. Considering that patients who used ESA were more likely to experience recurrence and death and to have decreased survival, the use of ESA in ovarian cancer patients should be limited.
Crystal structure and the paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition of nanoscale BaTiO3.

We have investigated the paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition of various sizes of nanocrystalline barium titanate (BaTiO3) by using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Synchrotron X-ray scattering has been used to elucidate the room temperature structures of particles of different sizes by using both Rietveld refinement and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. We observe the ferroelectric tetragonal phase even for the smallest particles at 26 nm. By using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and XRD, we find that the phase transition is diffuse in temperature for the smaller particles, in contrast to the sharp transition that is found for the bulk sample. However, the actual transition temperature is almost unchanged. Rietveld and PDF analyses suggest increased distortions with decreasing particle size, albeit in conjunction with a tendency to a cubic average structure. These results suggest that although structural distortions are robust to cha...
Micro-macro interrelations and the order parameter concept in the field theory of societal systems

A historical review and interpretation of the concepts of field theory, field, field of forces, and order parameter is provided. The historical meaning of these concepts in physics and in psychology is discussed, but emphasis is placed on applications to complex societal systems. Evidence for longitudinal attitude and expectancy change and for social learning is reviewed and interpreted. The mathematical formalization of the key concepts is discussed and representative equations presented. The evolution of the world system-field over the next two decades is discussed and some likely sources of crises and reconfiguration pointed out. Policy implications of this evolution are noted.
TALENs: a widely applicable technology for targeted genome editing

Engineered nucleases enable the targeted alteration of nearly any gene in a wide range of cell types and organisms. The newly-developed transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) comprise a nonspecific DNA-cleaving nuclease fused to a DNA-binding domain that can be easily engineered so that TALENs can target essentially any sequence. The capability to quickly and efficiently alter genes using TALENs promises to have profound impacts on biological research and to yield potential therapeutic strategies for genetic diseases.
Effect of somatotropin, insulin, and glucocorticoid on lipolysis in chronic cultures of adipose tissue from lactating cows.

Abstract In vitro effects of bovine somatotropin (bST) and insulin plus dexamethasone on lipolysis were evaluated using chronic cultures (48h) of adipose tissue from lactating cows. Treatments were control (culture medium alone), bST (100ng/ml), insulin (100ng/ml) plus dexamethasome (10 n M ), and insulin plus dexamethasone plus bST. Following the 48-h cultures, rates of lipolysis were measured in 3-h incubations with isoproterenol (10 µ M ), adenosine deaminase (0.75 U/ml), and various concentrations of a nonhydrolyzable adenosine analog. The addition of bST to cultures did not alter basal or isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. However, the ability of adenosine to inhibit rates of lipolysis was reduced by bST. When measured in the presence of maximal concentrations of adenosine analog, isoproterenol caused an increase in lipolysis above basal, which was twofold greater for explants cultured with insulin plus dexamethasone plus bST than for explants cultured with insulin plus dexamethasone. Dose-response curves for adenosine inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis demonstrated that chronic culture with bST decreased adipose tissue responsiveness and sensitivity to adenosine. Overall, results demonstrated that an in vitro chronic culture system can be used to examine factors that regulate lipolysis. The addition of insulin plus dexamethasone to chronic cultures better maintained the intracellular signaling system, including sensitivity and responsiveness to adenosine inhibition of lipolysis. Results also confirm that bST alters the antilipolytic response to adenosine. Thus, bST effects are in large part due to a relief in the tonic inhibition of lipolysis via changes in the inhibitory G-protein signaling system.
Thirty-day prevalence of DSM-IV mental disorders among nondeployed soldiers in the US Army: results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS).

Importance Although high rates of current mental disorder are known to exist in the US Army, little is known about the proportions of these disorders that had onsets prior to enlistment. Objective To estimate the proportions of 30-day DSM-IV mental disorders among nondeployed US Army personnel with first onsets prior to enlistment and the extent which role impairments associated with 30-day disorders differ depending on whether the disorders had pre- vs post-enlistment onsets. Design, Setting, and Participants A representative sample of 5428 soldiers participating in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers completed self-administered questionnaires and consented to linkage of questionnaire responses with administrative records. Main Outcomes and Measures Thirty-day DSM-IV internalizing (major depressive, bipolar, generalized anxiety, panic, and posttraumatic stress) and externalizing (attention-deficit/hyperactivity, intermittent explosive, alcohol/drug) disorders were assessed with validated self-report scales. Age at onset was assessed retrospectively. Role impairment was assessed with a modified Sheehan Disability Scale. Results A total of 25.1% of respondents met criteria for any 30-day disorder (15.0% internalizing; 18.4% externalizing) and 11.1% for multiple disorders. A total of 76.6% of cases reported pre-enlistment age at onset of at least one 30-day disorder (49.6% internalizing; 81.7% externalizing). Also, 12.8% of respondents reported severe role impairment. Controlling for sociodemographic and Army career correlates, which were broadly consistent with other studies, 30-day disorders with pre-enlistment (χ 2 8 = 131.8, P 2 7 = 123.8, P Conclusions and Relevance Interventions to limit accession or increase resilience of new soldiers with pre-enlistment mental disorders might reduce prevalence and impairments of mental disorders in the US Army.
The "Opener" Highly Skilled as Interviewer or Interviewee

High or low "openers " (ie., persons who are more or less adept at eliciting self-disclosures) interviewed partners who themselves differed on the opener dimension to test the hypothesis that interview outcomes depend on both the interviewer's and the interviewee's standing on this attribute. As expected, high-opener interviewers were the more proficient at eliciting self-disclosures only when questioning low-opener interviewees, and socially unskilled, low-opener interviewers were quite successful at inducing high (but not low-) opener interviewees to talk about themselves. Supplementary data suggested that socially skilled, high-opener interviewees had a salutary influence on low-opener interviewers, relaxing these otherwise tense interrogators, who then took greater interest in their partners, thereby persuading them to self-disclose. A practical implication of these findings is discussed.
Comparative music aesthetics: Toward a universality of musicality

(1973). Comparative music aesthetics: Toward a universality of musicality. Music and Man: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 17-31.
Characterization of preearly genes in the terminal repetition of bacteriophage BF23 DNA by nucleotide sequencing and restriction mapping.

Abstract A finer restriction map of the terminal repetition of bacteriophage BF23 DNA was determined and used to localize a 3.4-kbp deletion in the terminal repetition and to determine the physical location of preearly gene A2–A3. The nucleotide sequence of gene A2–A3 was determined and shown to code for a protein of 125 amino acids with no indication of a membrane transport sequence. The beginning of an adjacent gene, probably gene A1, was also sequenced.
Multiple‐event relocation of historic earthquakes along Blanco Transform Fault Zone, NE Pacific

[1] Blanco Transform Fault Zone (BTFZ) is part of the Juan de Fuca Ridge system located ∼200–500 km west of the Oregon coastline. Individually located epicenters reported by the International Seismological Center (ISC) and National Earthquake Information Center along the BTFZ are not well correlated spatially with the active transform boundary. More accurate locations of 120 mb ≥ 5.0 earthquakes relative to each other have been obtained using a joint-relocation process that yields improved epicenter locations relative to each other. Six of these earthquakes have been independently located using data from the U.S. Navy's SOSUS hydrophone array, enabling specification of a static correction to improve absolute locations for all 120 relocated epicenters relative to the BTFZ. The final locations average ∼34.6 ± 15.2 km toward azimuth 196° ± 28° relative to the original ISC locations. The 95% confidence ellipses of most of the relocated epicenters fall on or very near active structural features along the BTFZ.
Henry's constants of n-alkanols (methanol through n-hexanol) in water at temperatures between 40°C and 90°C

Henry's constants of n-alkanols (methanol to n-hexanol) in water were measured at temperatures between 40°C and 90°C using a recently developed headspace gas chromatographic technique. The data were in good agreement with literature data when available. The consistency of the data was verified by comparing calculated partial molar enthalpies with calorimetric values. The temperature dependence of dimensionless Henry's constants was fitted with the classical van't Hoff equation and an empirical correlation was established for the dimensionless Henry's constants as a function of temperature and number of carbon atoms in the n-alkanol.
Menopausal Hormone Therapy for the Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review to Update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations

Background: Menopausal hormone therapy to prevent chronic conditions is currently not recommended because of its adverse effects. Purpose: To update evidence about the effectiveness of hormone therapy in reducing risk for chronic conditions and adverse effects, and to examine whether outcomes vary among women in different subgroups.
Microstructure of Whey Protein Isolate Gels Containing Emulsified Butterfat Droplets

The effects of concentration and droplet size of anhydrous butterfat globules on the microstructure of heat-induced whey protein isolate gels (pH 4.60) were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All fat globules were emulsified with whey protein isolate and incorporated into the system prior to gelation. Protein aggregates became more closely packed as whey protein concentration was increased from 8 to 15% by weight in gels without added fat. There was no notable change in overall gel microstructure upon addition of fat globules, up to 25% by weight, when viewed by scanning electron microscopy. However, it appeared fat globules were intimately associated with the gel protein matrix. A twofold difference in fat globule size was obvious by TEM. Clusters of droplets became more predominant as butterfat content increased.
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum presenting as jaw pain during labor.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Pneumomediastinum, or presence of free air within the mediastinum, is a rare complication of labor. Common symptoms of this condition include chest pain, dyspnea, and subcutaneous emphysema. CASE: A woman complained of right jaw pain 90 minutes after the onset of her second stage of labor. On examination, she was found to have swelling and crepitus over her face, neck, and supraclavicular region. A chest radiograph demonstrated a pneumomediastinum, which resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSION: Pneumomediastinum is associated with Valsalva maneuvers such as those seen during the second stage of labor. We report jaw pain as an unusual presenting symptom of this rare condition. Familiarity with the presenting symptoms of a pneumomediastinum is imperative for appropriate treatment and monitoring for significant complications.
Web Trends and Technology

The pace of change in Web trends and technology shows no signs of slowing down - making it increasingly difficult for the average person to keep up. Blogs. Podcasts. Social networks. Ajax. Flex. IPTV. Digg. YouTube. MySpace. All are examples of recent phenomenon that can impact Web site evolution.
New spiro derivatives of penicillin

Abstract The first example of carbenoid ring expansion of thiophene to a 2H-thiopyran has been observed in its Rh-catalysed reaction with benzhydryl 6-diazopenicillanate. Buchner ring expansion of anisole with the same carbenoid gives two isomeric methoxy-cycloheptatrienes by attack on the upper face of the β-lactam ring. In one of the isomers, the methoxyl group shows a strong conformational preference in solution, revealed by n.O.e. difference speotroscopy.
A discontinuous Galerkin method for seismic soil–structure interaction analysis in the time domain

A technique for modeling transient wave propagation in unbounded media is extended and applied to seismic soil-structure interaction analysis in the time domain. The technique, based on the discontinuous Galerkin method, requires lower computational cost and less storage than the boundary element method, and the time-stepping scheme resulting from Newmark's method in conjunction with the technique is unconditionally stable, allowing for efficient and robust time-domain computations. To extend the technique to cases characterized by seismic excitation, the free-field motion is used to compute effective forces, which are introduced on the boundary of the computational domain containing the structure and the soil in the vicinity of the structure. A numerical example on a dam-foundation system subjected to seismic excitation demonstrates the performance of the method.
Influence of a Juvenile Hormone Analog and Dietary Protein on Male Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae) Sexual Success

ABSTRACT Juvenile hormone levels and adult diet have important effects on the attractiveness and competitiveness of male Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Caribbean fruit fly). Because the success of the sterile insect technique requires the release of males that can compete in the wild, these effects are of crucial importance. Laboratory and field cage experiments were conducted to compare male sexual performance on a lifetime basis and daily basis when submitted to four different treatments: (M+P-) application of the juvenile hormone analog, methoprene (M) and sugar and hydrolyzed yeast as adult food; (M+P-) application of M and sugar as adult food; (M-P+) no application of M and sugar and hydrolyzed yeast as adult food; and (M-P-) no application of M and sugar as adult food. On a daily basis, M+P+ males always performed better sexually, and 10% of these individuals were able to mate three consecutive times in the same day. However, the copula duration decreased with the increased number of matings on same da...
THE N-TERMINAL DOMAIN OF VIMENTIN ALTERS BLADDER PERMEABILITY

ABSTRACTPurpose: We assessed the effect of the vimentin amino terminal polypeptide (NT1) on barrier function of rabbit bladder epithelium.Materials and Methods: The effect of NT1 on the properties of rabbit bladder epithelium were studied using Ussing chambers and electrophysiological methods.Results: NT1 increased transepithelial conductance (Gt) in a voltage dependent manner. At a transepithelial voltage (Vt) of −70 mV (serosal solution ground) the addition of NT1 to mucosal solution did not result in a change in Gt. When Vt was clamped to 0 mV, there was a time dependent increase in Gt. The increase in Gt was reversed by clamping Vt back to −70 mV or by removing NT1 from the mucosal bath at 0 mV. The polypeptide acts primarily at the apical membrane with a conductance increase that is concentration dependent. Induced conductance is nonselective for small monovalent cations and anions. The ability of NT1 to increase membrane conductance was decreased in the presence of bath calcium.Conclusions: The data...
Integrated information in discrete dynamical systems: motivation and theoretical framework.

This paper introduces a time- and state-dependent measure of integrated information, φ, which captures the repertoire of causal states available to a system as a whole. Specifically, φ quantifies how much information is generated (uncertainty is reduced) when a system enters a particular state through causal interactions among its elements, above and beyond the information generated independently by its parts. Such mathematical characterization is motivated by the observation that integrated information captures two key phenomenological properties of consciousness: (i) there is a large repertoire of conscious experiences so that, when one particular experience occurs, it generates a large amount of information by ruling out all the others; and (ii) this information is integrated, in that each experience appears as a whole that cannot be decomposed into independent parts. This paper extends previous work on stationary systems and applies integrated information to discrete networks as a function of their dynamics and causal architecture. An analysis of basic examples indicates the following: (i) φ varies depending on the state entered by a network, being higher if active and inactive elements are balanced and lower if the network is inactive or hyperactive. (ii) φ varies for systems with identical or similar surface dynamics depending on the underlying causal architecture, being low for systems that merely copy or replay activity states. (iii) φ varies as a function of network architecture. High φ values can be obtained by architectures that conjoin functional specialization with functional integration. Strictly modular and homogeneous systems cannot generate high φ because the former lack integration, whereas the latter lack information. Feedforward and lattice architectures are capable of generating high φ but are inefficient. (iv) In Hopfield networks, φ is low for attractor states and neutral states, but increases if the networks are optimized to achieve tension between local and global interactions. These basic examples appear to match well against neurobiological evidence concerning the neural substrates of consciousness. More generally, φ appears to be a useful metric to characterize the capacity of any physical system to integrate information.
Electret Polymer Materials for Dosimetry of γ-Irradiation

The structural and technological aspects of development of electrets, piezoelectric polymer thin films (PPTF) in dosimetry of γ-irradiation at wide range of absorbed doses of radiation are analyzed. The different ways of obtaining high effective thin electroactive polymer films and new composite materials are considered. The possible mechanism of increasing parameters of a dosimeter is discussed.
Treating the childhood bipolar controversy: a tale of two children.

Children for whom the differential diagnosis includes bipolar disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; combined type) are usually complex and present thorny assessment and treatment problems. The cases of “Seth” and “Eric” illustrate these issues. They are presented in tandem to illustrate how information might unfold and how the flow of information directs treatment in situations where the question of bipolar disorder and/ or ADHD is raised.
Strategic Test Cost Reduction with On-Chip Measurement Circuitry for RF Transceiver Front-Ends - An Overview

This paper addresses key technical and economic issues in the design of on-chip measurement circuitry that can be utilized to reduce the cost of testing. A brief outline is provided for research work related to analog/RF built-in self-provided (BIST), on-chip instrumentation, and testing requirements of RF front-end blocks. The overview is intended to present test cost reduction requirements and techniques from a circuit design perspective. One promising approach for the test of fully-integrated RF transceiver front-ends with on-chip loopback and strategically placed power detectors along the RF signal path will be discussed as a demonstrative example of the presented concepts. The main focus in this paper is on reported work that is relevant to improvement of test coverage and cost reduction for on-wafer functional test with minimal area overhead and test time.
Modulation of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ stability and transcriptional activity in adipocytes by resveratrol

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma is essential for the formation and function of adipocytes. It is also involved in regulating insulin sensitivity and is the functional target of the thiazolidinedione class of insulin-sensitizing drugs. Whereas thiazolidinediones activate PPARgamma and decrease PPARgamma protein levels, genetic models indicate that decreased expression of PPARgamma is also associated with increased insulin sensitivity. In this study, we show that resveratrol modulates PPARgamma protein levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via inhibition of PPARgamma gene expression coupled with increased ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of PPARgamma proteins. Resveratrol-mediated decreases in PPARgamma expression are associated with repression of PPARgamma transcriptional activity when assayed using a panel of PPARgamma target genes in adipocytes. Finally, we demonstrate that resveratrol inhibits insulin-dependent changes in glucose uptake and glycogen levels and decreases insulin receptor substrate 1 and glucose transporter 4 protein levels, indicating that resveratrol represses insulin sensitivity in adipocytes. These results indicate that the resveratrol-mediated effects in adipocytes involve regulation of PPARgamma expression and transcriptional activity along with decreased responsiveness to insulin.
A real-time Linux based system for flight testing of remotely piloted vehicles

The Linux in flight testing system is a versatile, general purpose avionics computer for flight testing remotely piloted vehicles. The tools provided with the Linux system allow an ease of use. The RTLinux subkernel has shown the hard real time capabilities of a Linux based system.
Phase stabilization to microwave frequency standards

An improved circuit for phase stabilization of a klystron oscillator to a microwave frequency standard (e.g., a maser oscillator or harmonics of a crystal oscillator) has been developed. Phase detection at a high level using IF transformers insulated for the klystron reflector voltage makes a floating amplifier unnecessary, and the use of an integrating filter makes it possible to maintain stabilization for relatively slow frequency deviations of the klystron (due to thermal drift, power supply variations and microphonic noise) up to \pm 3 mc. No acoustic isolation or extreme power supply stability is required, and the stabilized oscillator will track a frequency modulated signal. A number of stabilizing system are proposed by which a microwave oscillator is stabilized in synchronism with a microwave reference signal, offset by an intermediate frequency, or swept through the reference frequency. A stabilized variable frequency oscillator and tracking narrow band reciever is proposed for use in microwave spectroscopy.
Dynamically diverse legged locomotion for rough terrain

In this video, we demonstrate the effectiveness of a kinodynamic planning strategy that allows a high-impedance quadruped to operate across a variety of rough terrain. At one extreme, the robot can achieve precise foothold selection on intermittent terrain. More surprisingly, the same inherently-stiff robot can also execute highly dynamic and underactuated motions with high repeatability. This range of dynamic motion is possible through careful reasoning about the coupled dynamics during underactuated phases of motion. Our results demonstrate visceral progress toward realization of one of the central theoretically claims giving legged locomotion a “leg-up” over wheeled robotics: that appropriate design of control can produce a set of capabilities which span a dynamic range from deliberate foothold selection through acrobatic-style motion on a single, particular robot.