cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expanding the labor pool: Recruiting, hiring, and retaining workers with visual impairments

© 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ert.10050 People are still talking about “that blind man who was on Jeopardy and answered all those tough questions!” What Jeopardy fans do not know or do not remember is that the contestant, Eddie Timanus, works everyday—not as a quiz show participant, but as a sports reporter for USA Today. Sports fans discuss the performances of Marla Runyan, the first visually impaired athlete to qualify for the Olympics, and Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind man to scale Mount Everest. What they may not know is that both Marla and Erik had full-time teaching jobs that supported them as they trained to become worldclass athletes. These three individuals have excelled not just because of their innate abilities, but also through being productive members of the workforce. Unfortunately, the simple act of working is not a reality for many adults with visual impairments in this country. The most recent data available from the Census Bureau (1997)1 on employment rates indicate that only 31 percent of blind and 44 percent of visually impaired individuals between the ages of 21 and 64 are employed. However, when asked if they want to work, two-thirds of disabled adults without jobs indicate that they want to work. What, then, is keeping these eager-to-work adults out of the labor market? The greatest barrier to employment for people with visual impairments may well be employers’ lack of awareness concerning the abilities of blind and visually impaired people. Not understanding something tends to result in avoiding it. Most people do not understand blindness because they have never experienced it or have never met anyone who is blind or severely visually impaired. Given the low incidence of blindness in the general population, that is not surprising. Although there are estimates that as many as 10 million people in the United States are visually impaired, only 1.3 million are legally blind (meaning that they qualify for social security benefits and rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities). One might ask, “Can such people work successfully in a world where the vast majority of people are not only sighted, but rely heavily upon their sight for gathering and processing information?” The answer is a resounding, “Yes.” People without sight or with limited sight can perform almost any job imaginable. There are visually impaired lawyers, artists, architects, accountants, secretaries, customer service representatives, food-service workers, factory workers, financial analysts, teachers, medical transcriptionists, day-care workers, counselors, computer programmers, cooks, salespeople, and more. They ply their trades by using residual vision enhanced by spectacles and other optical devices, large-print documents and labels, or video magnifiers. If they have little or no residual vision, they may use computers with speech or braille output devices attached, portable speech-output PDAs,
Retrovirus Integrase-DNA Structure Elucidates Concerted Integration Mechanisms

Commentary on Hare, S.; Gupta, S.S.; Valkov, E.; Engelman, A.; Cherepanov, P. Retroviral intasome assembly and inhibition of DNA strand transfer. Nature 2010, 464, 232–236.
An analog store and multiplexer for pulse-height analysis

Abstract The report describes an electronic analog pulse storage unit. Used in conjunction with on-line computers, the unit allows high-resolution pulse-height analysis of eight-parameter coincidence events by use of a single ADC.
Enhanced Aspartate Release Related to Epilepsy in (EL) Mice

Previous studies have shown that potassium-evoked, calcium-dependent, endogenous aspartate release is greater from hippocampal slices of adult epileptic (EL) mice than from nonepileptic control C57BL/6J (B6) mice. To examine further the association between epilepsy and enhanced aspartate release in EL mice, endogenous neurotransmitter release from hippocampal slices was studied in young, seizure-free EL mice and in two nonseizure control mouse strains, DDY and B6. DDY is the parental strain from which EL arose, and it has a genetic background similar to EL. Released amino acid neurotransmitters were quantitated by HPLC with fluorescent detection and were expressed as picomoles of amino acid released per minute of incubation per slice +/- SEM. Aspartate release was significantly higher in EL mice (15.8 +/- 0.8) than in either the control B6 or DDY mice (8.5 +/- 1.4 and 8.4 +/- 1.7, respectively). No significant differences were found among the B6, DDY, and EL mice for the release of glutamate (23.0 +/- 2.0, 32.3 +/- 5.8, and 25.9 +/- 2.6, respectively) or GABA (23.5 +/- 0.7, 19.5 +/- 3.2, and 21.8 +/- 3.2, respectively). Thus, enhanced aspartate release precedes the onset of EL seizures and may be related to the cause rather than to the effects of seizure activity.
Determination of the structure of lipid vesicle-bound angiotensin II and angiotensin I.

Abstract A mass spectrometry (MS)-based strategy was developed to determine the structure of lipid vesicle-bound angiotensin II (AII) and angiotensin I (AI). It involves hydrogen–deuterium exchange (HDX), chemical modifications (e.g., nitration of tyrosine, acetylation of free amino group), and ladder sequencing. HDX is also combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to provide structural details at individual amino acid residues. It was observed that a major portion of both of these peptide hormones interacts with the phospholipid head groups on the surface of the vesicles and that Tyr residue is embedded in the vesicles. Both peptides have a U-shaped structure in the lipid environment.
Introduction of full body image scanners at the airports: a delicate balance of protecting privacy and ensuring national security

There has been so much public uproar over the use of the full body image scanners because of alleged invasion of privacy. This study uses primary data collected over 2 days (Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day 2010) at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to examine the perception of the travelling public about the new airport screening procedures. Findings suggest that majority of air travelers are worried about terrorism when they travel; they also considered their privacy would be invaded by the enhanced pat down procedures and the new full body image scanners; travelers would support profiling even if it would invade their privacy while investigating acts of terrorism and majority also supported the use of one’s religion if profiling is done at the airports. The study recommended more rigorous educational campaign by TSA to address the privacy and health risk concerns of the new machines. Future research studies in view of the findings included interviewing TSA and Homeland Security officials and also studying airport security systems in Israel and other European countries.
Microbial killing: hold the bleach and pass the salt!

The current paradigm is that reactive oxygen species produced by leukocytes directly kill bacteria. Data in a recent Nature article belie that simplicity.
Approximate marginal densities of nonlinear functions

This paper presents an asymptotic approximation for the marginal density of a nonlinear function g(0) that is applicable when the joint density of 0 is dominated by a single mode and the Jacobian of g is of full rank near that mode. The approximation is based on Laplace's method and its asymptotic properties are similar to those of the saddlepoint approximation. The approximation is applied to the computation of a marginal posterior density, a marginal sampling density and a marginal density based on a multivariate saddlepoint approximation to a joint density.
THERMODYNAMIC CRITICAL FIELD OF La2-xSrxCuO4

Thermodynamic critical fields, Hc, have been measured for the La2-xSrxCuO4 family of superconductors in order to determine the changes in free energy of the system as the number of carriers is reduced. Magnetization vs. magnetic field curves are thermodynamically reversible over large portions of the H-T plane, so the free energy is well defined in these regions. Magnetization vs. field data are then fit to theoretical models to determine the thermodynamic critical fields. As the Sr concentration is changed from x=0.10 to 0.23, the values of Hc(T=0) goes through a maximum at optimum doping in a manner similar to the Tc vs x curve. The ratio of Hc(T = 0)/Tc also peaks in the region of x somewhat larger than optimum doping. As the value of x increases from underdoped to optimum doping, the cross-over temperature in the Msc vs. T curve, T*, approaches the transition temperature. In the overdoped regime there is no crossing in these Msc vs. T curves.
Visualisation tool for peptide fractionation data in proteomics: application to OFFGEL isoelectric focussing

OFFGEL isoelectric focussing (IEF) has become a popular tool in proteomics to fractionate peptides or proteins. As a consequence there is a need for software solutions supporting data mining, interpretation and characterisation of experimental quality. We can assess performance characteristics of OFFGEL IEF peptide fractionation in proteomics by generating plots of the overall fractionation patterns and the pairwise comparisons of adjacent fractions. A visualisation tool for peptide fractionation has been developed to support the evaluation of IEF data quality and can be implemented in proteomics research.
A Bayesian Behrens-Fisher solution to a problem in Taxonomy

Abstract The raw data from a sample of 75 sturgeon (45 listed as shovelnose and 30 described as Alabama sturgeon) were examined to determine if there were two distinct species in this sample. Earlier work by the authors (AAB, PDB, WMH) concluded that the Alabama and shovelnose were indistinguishable based on principal component analyses of the meristic and mensural data. In our present work we perform formal Bayesian sharp hypothesis testing on the distinct principal components from the two groups (Alabama vs. Shovelnose). The question of inference on the difference of two normal means when both the variances are unknown is the celebrated Behrens-Fisher Problem. This methodology applied in the Bayesian context leads to coherent inference on the sharp null hypothesis for the difference of the two component means. Realistic prior parameters are engaged in conjugate normal prior distributions which when combined with the sampling distributions lead to the usual prior to posterior constructs. We further derive the Bayes Factor or Weighted Likelihood Ratio (WLR) for inference on our sharp null hypotheses. The evaluation of the WLR for the prior structure requires at most one dimensional quadratures which are easily computed because the integrands are products of known density functions with familiar properties.
Fine-Scale Habitat Associations of a Terrestrial Salamander: The Role of Environmental Gradients and Implications for Population Dynamics

Environmental gradients are instrumental in shaping the distribution and local abundance of species because at the most fundamental level, an organism’s performance is constrained by the environment it inhabits. In topographically complex landscapes, slope, aspect, and vegetative cover interact to affect solar exposure, creating temperature-moisture gradients and unique microclimates. The significance of the interaction of abiotic gradients and biotic factors such as competition, movement, or physiology has long been recognized, but the scale at which these factors vary on the landscape has generally precluded their inclusion in spatial abundance models. We used fine-scale spatial data relating to surface-soil moisture, temperature, and canopy cover to describe the spatial distribution of abundance of a terrestrial salamander, Plethodon albagula, across the landscape. Abundance was greatest in dense-canopy ravine habitats with high moisture and low solar exposure, resulting in a patchy distribution of abundance. We hypothesize that these patterns reflect the physiological constraints of Plethodontid salamanders. Furthermore, demographic cohorts were not uniformly distributed among occupied plots on the landscape. The probability of gravid female occurrence was nearly uniform among occupied plots, but juveniles were much more likely to occur on plots with lower surface temperatures. The disconnect between reproductive effort and recruitment suggests that survival differs across the landscape and that local population dynamics vary spatially. Our study demonstrates a connection between abundance, fine-scale environmental gradients, and population dynamics, providing a foundation for future research concerning movement, population connectivity, and physiology.
Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) puertoricensis (Acari: Argasidae): Redescription by Scanning Electron Microscopy

The female, male, nymphal instars, and larva of Ornithodoros puertoricensis Fox are redescribed from specimens collected in Haiti. Data on host species and geographic distribution are also presented.
Juvenile crime and the transformation of juvenile justice: Is there a juvenile crime wave?

ABSTRACT Current get-tough juvenile policy reforms are based on an assumption that juvenile crime has been increasing for some time. Official and victimization data on juvenile crime are examined to see whether such a trend can be documented. The data show many conflicting trends, but the article argues that the most consistent interpretation is that juvenile crime, with the exception of homicide, has declined by about one-third over the last twenty years. In addition, the article argues that homicide trends, by themselves, do not justify a wholesale transformation of juvenile justice.
Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Association of Atrial Fibrillation with Prior and New Thromboembolic Stroke in Older Patients

OBJECTIVE: To correlate atrial fibrillation with the incidence of new thromboembolic (TE) stroke in older patients with and without prior TE stroke. DESIGN: In a prospective study of 2101 older patients, electrocardiograms showed that atrial fibrillation was present in 283 patients (13%). At 42-month mean follow-up, atrial fibrillation was associated with the incidence of new TE stroke in patients with and without prior TE stroke. SETTING: A large long-term health care facility where 2101 older patients were studied. PATIENTS: The 2101 patients included 1451 women and 650 men, mean age 81 ± 8 years (range 60 to 103). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation was present in 283 of 2101 patients (13%). The mean age was 84 ± 7 years in patients with atrial fibrillation and 81 ± 8 years in patients with sinus rhythm (P = .0001). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 5% in patients aged 60 to 70 years, 14% in patients aged 71 to 80 years, 13% in patients aged 81 to 90 years, and 22% in patients aged 91 to 103 years (P < .0001). Mean follow-up was 31 ± 18 months in patients with atrial fibrillation and 44 ± 27 months in patients with sinus rhythm (P = .0001). Previous TE stroke occurred in 123 of 283 patients (43%) with atrial fibrillation and in 431 of 1818 patients (24%) with sinus rhythm (P < .0001). New TE stroke occurred in 131 of 283 patients (46%) with atrial fibrillation and in 303 of 1818 patients (17%) with sinus rhythm (P < .0001). The log-rank test showed that patients with atrial fibrillation had a significantly higher probability of developing new TE stroke than those with sinus rhythm (P < .0001). The multivariate Cox regression model showed that independent risk factors for new TE stroke were male sex (relative risk = 1.3), prior TE stroke (relative risk = 3.1), and atrial fibrillation (relative risk = 3.3). CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation, prior TE stroke, and male sex are independent risk factors for the development of new TE stroke in older patients.
An lmproved method for photofootprinting yeast genes in vivo using Taq polymerase

Abstract We have developed an improved method for photofootprinting in vivo which utilizes the thermostable DNA polymerase from T. aquaticus (Taq) in a primer extension assay. UV light is used to introduce photoproducts into the genomic DNA of intact yeast cells. The photoproducts are then detected and mapped at the nucleotide level by multiple rounds of annealing and extension using Taq polymerase, which is blocked by photoproducts in the template DNA. The method is more rapid, sensitive, and reproducible than the previously described chemical photofootprinting procedure developed in this laboratory (Nature 325. 173-177), and detects photoproducts with a specificity which is similar, but not identical to that of the previously described procedure. Binding of GAL4 protein to its binding sites within the GAL1-10 upstream activating sequence is demonstrated using the primer extension photofootprinting method. The primer extension assay can also be used to map DNA strand breakage generated by other footprinting methods, and to determine DNA sequence directly from the yeast genome.
International transmission on information in corn futures markets

Abstract This paper examines the information transmission mechanism between corn futures traded in Tokyo and Chicago for the 1993–1995 period. Corn futures contracts traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBT) and the Tokyo Grain Exchange (TGE) have almost identical specifications. Different trading systems are used by the two exchanges, and their trading times do not overlap. Dynamic vector autoregression models are employed to test for price and volatility spillovers between the markets. The results indicate that the TGE is dependent on the CBT for information generation, which is reflected in the opening price of the TGE.
Challenges in providing services in methadone maintenance therapy clinics in China: Service providers’ perceptions

Background The Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) program has been initiated in China since 2004. As of the end of November, 2008, 558 MMT clinics had been established countrywide. The objective of this study was to elucidate the difficulties and challenges as perceived by service providers working in MMT clinics.
Initiation and characterization of five embryonic cell lines from the cotton boll weevil Anthonomus grandis in a commercial serum-free medium

Five continuous cell lines were initiated from embryonic tissue of the cotton boll weevilAnthonomus grandis Boheman in a commercially available, serum-free medium (Excell 401) and have undergone in excess of 60 passages. Isoenzyme analysis confirmed that the lines originated from boll weevil tissue. Four of the lines grew as single attached cells of either epithelioid or fibroblastoid morphology. The fifth line, BRL-AG-2, grew primarily as cell aggregates and was found to release ecdysteroids (primarily ecdysone) into the culture medium. Evidence was also obtained suggesting that line BRL-AG-2 synthesizes chitin. Three lines, BRL-AG-1, BRL-AG-3A, and BRL-AG-3C, could be induced to produce an antibacterial factor(s) which was released into the culture medium.
Children's Use of Nonegocentric Standards in Judgments of Functional Size.

Dimensional adjectives are inherently relative in meaning, and so provide a test of children's ability to apply nonegocentric standards. The present research investigates children's ability to apply one kind of relative standard assessing the size of an object with regard to its intended use (a functional interpretation). In 3 experiments, children 3-5 years of age were asked to judge objects as "big" or "little" according to their function (e.g., a hat for a doll; a key for a door). Contrary to previous claims, the ability to use nonegocentric functional standards was present by age 3. However, 3-year-olds performed above chance only when their attention was directed to the relevant function, either by means of action (when actually shown how the objects fit together) or by means of language. In contrast, 4-year-olds performed well without additional action-based or linguistic cues. It is suggested that children have an implicit ordering in their interpretations of big and little, such that functional judgments are lower in priority than 2 other standards: normative (the size of an object is compared to a stored mental standard, e.g., a chihuahua is small for a dog) and perceptual (the size of an object is compared to another physically present object of the same type, e.g., a chihuahua 6 inches tall is big compared to a chihuahua 4 inches tall). Even 3-year-olds can make nonegocentric functional judgments of relative size, but the basis of the judgment must be unambiguous.
Tauberian Theorems via Statistical Convergence

The concept of statistical convergence, which is related to the usual concept of convergence in probability, provides a regular summability method for abstract metric spaces. By using probabilistic tools, we provide some Tauberian theorems which have best possible order Tauberian conditions. Furthermore, these methods can be used to unify and improve the classical pointwise Tauberian theorems of summability theory for the random walk type methods as proved by Bingham, and Hausdorff methods as proved by Lorentz.
A Measure of Distributive Justice in Distribution Channels: Scale Development and Validation

ABSTRACT The construct of distributive justice has been conceptualized largely along the three allocation rules of equity, equality, and need. Extant empirical research in the marketing channels area, however, treats distributive justice as a unidimensional, global construct focusing almost exclusively on the allocation rule of equity. As a result, the measurement of equality and need, two distinct and significant allocation rules, has been largely overlooked in the context of people and organizations involved in interorganizational exchange. The current study tests a measure of distributive justice that takes into account each of the three allocation rules. Results indicate valid scales that accurately measure three rules of distributive justice across two independent samples of channel participants in franchise systems. This research represents an important step toward accurately, concisely, and efficiently measuring this important and socially relevant construct in an interorganizational setting.
Pollen pool heterogeneity in shortleaf pine, Pinus echinata Mill.

Pollen is the dominant vector of gamete exchange for most temperate tree species. Because pollen movement influences the creation, maintenance and erosion of genetic structure in adult populations, it is important to understand what factors influence the process of pollen movement. Isolation by distance in pollen donor populations can create highly structured pollen polls by increased sampling of local fathers. Extrinsic factors, such as the intervening vegetative structure and local pollen donor densities, can also influence the genetic composition of local pollen pools. Using paternally inherited chloroplast microsatellite markers, we examined the structure and diversity of pollen pools in Pinus echinata Mill. in southern Missouri, USA. Our analysis is based on a multivariate AMOVA analysis of stands ( ∪ 1 ha; six per region) nested within regions ( ∪ 800 ha; four each). Significant multilocus structure of the pollen pool within regions ( φ SR = 0.095), but not among regions ( φ RT = 0.010), indicates that pollen movement is relatively restricted. Furthermore, the significant correlation between pairwise genetic and physical distances (Mantel correlation; ρ = 0.32) provided support for the isolation by distance hypothesis. Our results indicated that availability of pollen donors did not affect diversity of the pollen pool, measured by the number of unique multilocus genotypes at each stand. However, pollen pool diversity was negatively associated with vegetative structure, measured as total forest tree density. Our findings indicated that on-going pollen movement within continuous forest is relatively restricted as a result of both isolation by distance and vegetative structure.
II. The developmental progression from infancy to rapprochement.

In the preceding paper (Meissner, 2009a), I focused on aspects of the self and the sense in which they could undergo development along disparate lines and stages of development, and in their respective ways contribute to the integration of a functional self-system and human personality. In this paper I consider the developmental process sequentially from its starting in infancy through the rapprochement period. In a following paper (Meissner, 2009b) I focus on further development of the self beyond rapprochement, through oedipal and latency periods to adolescence. The literature is vast and my discussion will of necessity be highly selective, focusing on what seem to me the most salient findings and studies relevant to the development of the self. My discussion will be centered on the dimensions of the self I previously delineated. In general terms, Tyson (1996) has noted the decline in confidence in specifiable and differentiable stages of development, so that the idea of a clearly delineated oedipal phase, for example, has become anachronistic. Discriminable parameters of the developmental process are not always synchronous and the process may unfold with different degrees of delay, deviation, or deficit. As Tyson put it,
Central somatosensory changes associated with improved dynamic balance in subjects with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency

To examine the mechanisms underlying return to pre-injury function in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency (ACL-D), we grouped 15 individuals (18-50 years of age) with ACL-D by functional status and strength (i.e. copers, non-copers and adapters) and compared measures of proprioception, somatosensory evoked potentials and neuromuscular responses to dynamic testing between groups. Seven subjects without ACL-D provided a comparative sample for dynamic balance testing (DBT). DBT consisted of bilateral EMG recordings of anterior tibialis, medial gastrocnemius, medial hamstrings and quadriceps during toes-down platform rotation. Relative latencies and relative amplitudes were calculated. Somatosensory evoked potential (SEPs) testing was based on identifying the presence or absence of the P27 potential. Proprioception was tested using threshold to detection of passive movement (TDPM). Those with the highest level of function, the copers, had a proprioceptive deficit, loss of P27 and altered postural synergies consisting of earlier and larger hamstring activation. Conversely, those with the lowest functional status, the non-copers, had strength and proprioception deficits, intact SEPs and inconsistent postural synergies. These results suggest that changes in central sensory representation may facilitate altered postural synergies that enable return to pre-injury functional status.
Halogenated diazirines as photolabel mimics of the inhaled haloalkane anesthetics.

The inhaled anesthetics are low affinity volatile compounds whose mechanism of action remains unclear, in part due to the difficulty of determining their binding targets. Photolabeling may help resolve this difficulty, and thus we have synthesized six compounds (four previously unreported) with structural and physical similarity to halothane (1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane), a commonly used clinical anesthetic. These compounds incorporate either a diazo, diazirine, or azido group to provide photolability in the long-UV range and to provide a highly reactive photolysis product. While several of the compounds have immobilizing activity in tadpoles, it is complicated by either toxicity or very low potency. One compound however, a halogenated three-carbon diazirine 4, is a potent anesthetic, is apparently nontoxic, potentiates GABAA Cl- currents, and stabilizes serum albumin, all of which are features of halothane. When tagged with radioactivity, this compound should serve as a reasonable probe of hal...
Patient preferences for physician persuasion strategies.

This study investigated patient preferences for various types of physician persuasion strategies. Four types of persuasion strategies were utilized which involved combination of high and low levels of affectivity and information. In addition, patient variables, receiver apprehension and health beliefs were introduced to predict preference choices by patients. Results indicated that patients are influenced in their decision-making (preferences) by the type of persuasive strategy employed. Further, patients with different characteristics and predispositions prefer different persuasive strategies. The results of this study suggest that the success of physician persuasiveness is dependent upon the type of strategy used and the type of patient being persuaded.
Evaluation of the nursing intervention classification for use by flight nurses.

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to determine if terminology used for nursing interventions in air transport records is consistent with the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) system. Methods: A retrospective descriptive design was used to examine the terminology used in air transport records. The sample included the transport records for 46 cardiac patients transported by air. Results: Of the 7958 data elements obtained from the transport records, 1435 were nursing interventions. Ninety-nine percent of the interventions could be classified into the NIC. However, 8.5% of the NIC interventions listed did not reflect the advanced level of practice demonstrated by the flight nurses. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that the current version of the NIC was a useful but not a sufficient classification system for flight nurse documentation. More than 90% of the interventions could be categorized using the NIC. However, modifications are needed to reflect the advanced level of practice used by flight nurses and deal with the inconsistencies in the data classification system structure.
Analytically Modeling Power and Performance of a CNN System

Cellular neural networks (CNNs) are a powerful analog architecture that can outperform traditional von Neumann architecture for spatio-temporal information processing applications, e.g., image processing and speech recognition. Much existing work reports energy dissipation for CNNs at the chip level, which includes dissipation of sensors, actuators, and other components. As such, the impacts of various system variables, e.g., application templates, characteristics of the resistive element, etc., on the energy profile of a CNN cannot be easily determined. In this work, we propose analytical models to estimate CNN power and performance (measured by settling time). Power dissipations, and settling times obtained via the models for different linear, and non-linear characteristics are verified through circuit simulation. Simulation results show that the proposed models predict power dissipation and settling time with less than 1% and 3% errors, respectively. By using these models, we have also performed case studies for a tactile sensing problem, and a pattern recognition problem to compare power and performance between tunneling field effect transistor (TFET) based non-linear CNN and conventional linear resistor based CNN.
Coordinated Action of Calcium Ion and Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate upon the Release of α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone from the Intermediate Lobe of the Rat Pituitary Gland

Stimulation of the release of alpha MSH from dispersed rat melanotrophs by L-isoproterenol, 8-bromo-cAMP, or cholera toxin requires calcium ion (Ca++) in the incubation medium; the stimulatory effect of each of these agents is attenuated by D-600, a Ca++ antagonist. In contrast, stimulation of the formation of cAMP by L-isoproterenol, isobutyl methylxanthine, or cholera toxin does not require Ca++ in the incubation medium. Ca++ diminishes the amount of cAMP formed by cholera toxin-treated melanotrophs. Ca++ inhibits adenylate cyclase activity and enhances cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in cell-free homogenates of intermediate lobe tissue. A23187, a calcium ionophore, increases the accumulation of 45Ca by melanotrophs and enhances the release of alpha MSH. Furthermore, when tested upon cholera toxin-treated melanotrophs, A23187 potentiates the Ca++-induced inhibition of cAMP formation. The results indicate that Ca++ is essential for the release of alpha MSH, and that cAMP in some way enhances the effects of Ca++ upon the release process.
Development of the GPU-based Stony-Brook University 5-class microphysics scheme in the weather research and forecasting model

The weather research and Forecasting (WRF) model in an atmospheric simulation system, which is designed for both operational and research use. This common tool aspect promotes closer ties between research and operational communities. It contains a lot a different physics and dynamics options reflecting the experience and input of the broad scientific community. The WRF physics categories and microphysics, cumulus parametrization, planetary boundary layer, land-surface model and radiation. Explicitly resolved water vapor, cloud and precipitation processes are included in microphysics. Several bulk water microphysics schemes are available within the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, with different numbers of simulated hydrometeor classes and methods for estimating their size fall speeds, distributions and densities. Stony-Brook University (SBU-YLIN) microphysics scheme is a 5-class scheme with riming intensity predicted to account for mixed-phase processes. In this paper, we develop an efficient graphics processing unit (GPU) based SBU-YLIN scheme. WRF computation domain is 3D grid layed over the earth. SBU-YLIN performs the same computation for each spatial position in the whole domain. This repletion of the same computation on different data sets allows using GPU's Single Instruction Multiple Dataset (SIMD) architecture. The GPU-based SBUYLIN scheme will be compared to a CPU-based single-threaded counterpart. The implementation achieves 213x speedup with I/O compared to a Fortran implementation running on a CPU. Without I/O the speedup is 896x.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the β-lactamase Oih-1 from Oceanobacillus iheyensis

Bacterial resistance to the β-lactam family of antibiotics is primarily the result of the deactivation of the drugs by β-lactamase enzymes. The gene encoding the proficient β-lactamase Oih-1 from the alkaliphilic and halotolerant Gram-positive bacterium Oceanobacillus iheyensis has been cloned and the mature wild-type protein (comprising 274 amino-acid residues) has been expressed in Escherichia coli and subsequently purified to homogeneity. Oih-1 crystallized in two crystal forms both belonging to the trigonal space group P3121 but with distinctly different unit-cell parameters. Synchrotron diffraction data were collected to high resolution (1.65–1.75 A) from both crystal forms on beamlines BL7-1 and BL11-1 at SSRL (Stanford, California, USA).
Refraction of evanescent waves at an air and optically pumped Ti:Sapphire interface

The refraction of evanescent waves at an air and optically pumped Ti:Sapphire interface is investigated. The experimental results qualitatively support the theory of optical gain-assisted evanescent wave conversion at a passive/active boundary.
Liquid backmixing in bubble columns

Abstract A noninvasive Computer Automated Radioactive Particle Tracking (CARPT) technique is used to quantify liquid backmixing in bubble columns of three different diameters over the range of gas velocities that span the bubble, transitional and churn turbulent flow regimes. The obtained axial dispersion coefficients (eddy diffusivities) are much larger than radial values and exhibit a stronger dependence on gas velocity. Column averaged axial diffusivities differ from the lumped effective axial dispersion coefficients, calculated from correlations, especially in smaller columns. Hurst's rescaled range (R/S) statistical analysis of the fluctuating velocities indicates different mixing mechanisms in the radial and axial direction. For the radial direction Hurst's exponent is about 0.5 indicating a diffusion type mixing mechanism. For the axial direction, Hurst's exponent is larger than 0.5 indicating the persistence of long range effects due to random turbulent eddies.
Admission uric acid levels and length of expectant management in preterm preeclampsia

Uric acid is known to be elevated in preeclampsia. We sought to determine if uric acid levels on admission correlate with the length of expectant management in preterm patients with preeclampsia. A retrospective chart review was conducted on singleton preeclamptic pregnancies delivered between 24 0/7 and 37 0/7 weeks’ gestation at Tufts Medical Center between January 2005 and December 2007. Patients with a multiple gestation and those transferred or discharged before delivery were excluded. Data regarding signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, laboratory values, pregnancy complications and outcome were abstracted from the medical records. Correlation between admission uric acid level and days of expectant management was assessed. The relative risk (RR) was used to estimate the effect of uric acid levels on expectant management length >7 days. Mantel–Haenszel χ2 values were used to construct 95% confidence intervals (CIs) around the RR. Four hundred seventy-one charts were reviewed. Of these, 190 met inclusion criteria. In all, 55 patients (28.9%) were managed expectantly for >1 week. Admission uric acid level correlated with days of expectant management (P 1 week among women with low uric acid level (7.0; 95% CI: 3.34 to 14.68). Women with medium uric acid levels at admission also had a higher likelihood of prolonging pregnancy relative to women with high uric acid levels (RR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.32 to 5.96) (P-value for trend 1 week is significantly more likely in patients with low and medium uric acid levels at the time of admission. Uric acid levels may be helpful in assessing disease severity and counseling preeclamptic patients regarding likelihood of extended expectant management.
Surgical, medical, and percutaneous therapies for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) are now faced with a number of treatment choices, including coronary artery bypass graft surgery, medical therapy, and percutaneous coronary interventions (using bare-metal or drug-eluting stents). Each carries certain benefits and risks: bypass surgery is favored in the subset of patients with multivessel disease and diabetes or impaired left ventricular systolic function who are able to receive a left internal mammary artery graft; medical therapy consisting of β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, statins, aspirin, and nitrates is offered to patients with stable angina. Percutaneous procedures have previously been limited in their efficacy by restenosis and resulting morbidity, but contemporary stenting procedures appear to show equivalent mortality and morbidity outcomes (to bypass surgery) at 5 years. Drugeluting stents are the newest percutaneous technique and show significant reduction in restenosis compared with older catheter-based therapies, but further investigation is needed to definitively define the role of drug-eluting stents in the treatment of multivessel CAD. This review summarizes the data comparing medical, surgical, and percutaneous treatment approaches for patients with multivessel CAD.
Sensitivity of Transcranial Doppler Versus Intracardiac Echocardiography in the Detection of Right-to-Left Shunt

Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand the reason for variation in the sensitivity of different methods of detecting right-to-left shunts (RLS). Background Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is implicated in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic stroke, decompression illness, and migraine headaches. Intravenous agitated saline injections with tomographic imaging (transthoracic, transesophageal, and intracardiac echocardiography) has been used for detecting intracardiac shunts. Some patients with a high clinical suspicion of PFO have inconclusive echocardiographic study results. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is an alternative method for detecting RLS that is not dependent on tomographic imaging. Methods Thirty-eight consecutive patients who were undergoing PFO closure had simultaneous transcranial Doppler and intracardiac echocardiography performed. Agitated saline injections were performed at rest, with Valsalva maneuver, and with forced expiration into a manometer to 40 mm Hg before and after closure, as well as 3 or more months after closure. Right atrial pressures were measured in the periprocedural period, and RLS were graded according to standard methods during these maneuvers. Results Right atrial pressures were significantly higher with Valsalva maneuver compared with rest (before closure 21.6 ± 11.9 mm Hg vs. 6.6 ± 2.6 mm Hg, p Conclusions Transcranial Doppler with immediate feedback provided by forced expiration against a manometer to 40 mm Hg is more sensitive than echocardiographic imaging for the detection of RLS. These observations have significant implications for determining the incidence of RLS in patients with stroke or migraine.
Probing the molecular basis for solvent-induced dephasing using resonance Raman spectroscopy: betaine-30 in CH3OH, CH3OD, and CD3OD

Abstract Absolute Raman cross-sections are reported for fourteen normal modes of betaine-30 dye in CH 3 OH, CH 3 OD, and CD 3 OD solution, at five different excitation frequencies within the visible absorption band. Consistent with previous results from our lab, the Raman intensities of betaine-30 in CD 3 OD solution are generally stronger than in CH 3 OH solution. For most of the betaine-30 normal modes, however, the resonance Raman cross-sections are similar in CH 3 OD and CH 3 OH solution. The results suggest that methyl group motion, more so than hydroxyl group motion, is responsible for dephasing of the resonant electronic transition of betaine-30 in methanol.
Stable CW operating waveguide lasers at room temperature in rare-earth-diffused lithium niobate

A means of reproducibly fabricating stable cw channel waveguide lasers in rare-earth-doped Ti:LiNbO3 is demonstrated, through careful choice of the light propagation direction. Z-propagating waveguides have been fabricated in Nd:Ti:LiNbO3 and room-temperature cw laser operation has been obtained by pumping in the 800 nm-band, with greatly reduced photorefractive instability. The reduced photorefractive damage susceptibility in this waveguide configuration has been used to our advantage in the realization, for the first time, of a 980 nm-pumped laser in Er:Ti:LiNbO3. The device showed a lasing threshold of 10.5 mW of absorbed pump power and a slope efficiency of 8.5 percent.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Schaueria calycobractea (Acanthaceae), a new species from Veracruz, Mexico

Schaueria calycobractea, a new species of Acanthaceae from Mexico and a genus new to the Mexican flora is described. Pollen morphology of the new species is discussed with reference to generic and tribal concepts in the family.
Multiphoton dissociation of a rotating molecule

Abstract A formalism is outlined for multiphoton pumping and dissociation within a molecular rotational-vibrational ladder. The density matrix is expanded in spherical tensors, leading to a set of Bloch equations which take full account of the rotational degeneracy of the levels. Time-dependent solutions of these “ladder” equations are analyzed in terms of normal modes, providing fresh insight into the mechanism of dissociation.
Young vs. Old in 1984: Generations and Life Stages in Presidential Nomination Politics

Gary Hart enjoyed his greatest support among young voters, while Walter Mondale's strength was drawn from older voters, especially those over 65. The appeal of Jesse Jackson varied by age as well. Young blacks flocked to the Jackson banner. Older blacks, perhaps no less excited by the presence of an attractive black candidate for president, were more reluctant to follow, giving a greater share of their vote than did young blacks to Walter Mondale. Not since the protest candidacies of McCarthy and Kennedy in 1968 or the more successful insurgency of McGovern in 1972 has so much attention been paid to the contrasting responses of Americans of different ages to candidates for the presidency.
Housing Cost Burden and Marital Satisfaction

This study assessed the relationship between housing burden ratios and marital satisfaction. We also examined whether economic pressure might mediate this association and whether housing satisfaction would moderate it. Using existing data from the National Survey of Families and Households (n = 5,109 participants), results suggested that participants' housing burden ratio was negatively associated with marital satisfaction. Among homeowners, having a paid-off home mortgage was positively associated with marital satisfaction. These relationships were fully mediated by feelings of economic pressure. Although housing satisfaction was positively associated with marital satisfaction, it did not mediate the association between participants' housing burden ratio and their reported marital satisfaction.
Direct observation of adsorbed H2-framework interactions in the Prussian Blue analogue MnII3[CoIII(CN)6]2: The relative importance of accessible coordination sites and van der Waals interactions

Selective recovery of the guest–framework interactions for H2 adsorbed in a nanoporous Prussian Blue analogue, through differential X-ray and neutron pair distribution function analysis at ca. 77 K, suggests that the H2 molecule is disordered about a single position at the centre of the pore, (¼,¼,¼), without binding at accessible MnII sites.
Law, Policymaking, and the Policy Process: Closing the Gaps

Public policy scholars and public Law scholars often study the same substantive issues and have similar theoretical interests Yet students of the public policy process rarely consider the courts as policymakers in the same manner as do their public law counterpart We seek to explain this difference in approaches between the two Subfield on the question of the courts as policymakers, and we ask. how models of the public policy process should incorporate the judiciary.
Models for decay of Escherichia coli lac messenger RNA and evidence for inactivating cleavages between its messages.

Abstract The size distributions of decaying polycistronic Escherichia coli lac messenger RNA have been followed on polyacrylamide gels. At the same time, equations have been derived that generate the theoretical size distributions of decaying macromolecules for different mechanisms of degradation. Using observed values of lac mRNA metabolism, it was possible to reproduce the in vivo patterns with a model in which cleavage occurs at the start of each of the three messages † and is followed by a net 5′ to 3′ wave of mass loss. Other models of degradation could not generate the observed in vivo patterns. These alternative mechanisms include: (1) the same number of primary cleavage sites (three) but at different positions on the full-length molecule; (2) an exclusive 5′ to 3′ directional degradation from the start of the lac mRNA (no cleavages); or (3) the presence of many internal targets. Further support for primary cleavage at the start of messages came from the observed accumulation of the intact z mRNA released by cleavage at the z y boundary and from the predictable effects of specific deletions on the resultant size distributions. The significance of these cleavages has been assessed; they could be necessary “processing” events or, conversely, inactivate the message for translation. Full-length molecules as well as cleavage fragments have been fractionated by successive sucrose gradient centrifugation and tested for their capacity to form translation initiation complexes in vitro. Full-length lac RNA could form such complexes at one or more of its three ribosome-loading sites, whereas the y or a message fragments were inactive. These results suggest that a cleavage at or near the start of a message inactivates it.