cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contract Complexity and Performance Under Asymmetric Demand Information: An Experimental Evaluation

Exploring the tension between theory and practice regarding complexity and performance in contract design is especially relevant. The goal of this paper is to understand why simpler contracts may commonly be preferred in practice despite being theoretically suboptimal. We study a two-tier supply chain with a single supplier and a single buyer to characterize the impact of contract complexity and asymmetric information on performance and to compare theoretical predictions to actual behavior in human subject experiments. In the experiments, the computerized buyer faces a newsvendor setting and has better information on end-consumer demand than the human supplier. The supplier offers either a quantity discount contract (with two or three price blocks) or a price-only contract, contracts that are commonplace in practice, yet different in complexity. Results show that, contrary to theoretical predictions, quantity discounts do not necessarily increase the supplier's profits. We also observe a more equitable distribution of profits between the supplier and the buyer than what theory predicts. These observations can be described with three decision biases (the probabilistic choice bias, the reinforcement bias, and the memory bias) and can be modeled using the experience-weighted attraction learning model. Our results demonstrate that simpler contracts, such as a price-only contract or a quantity discount contract with a low number of price blocks, are sufficient for a supplier designing contracts under asymmetric demand information. This paper was accepted by Christian Terwiesch, operations and supply chain management.
Altered Expression and Assembly of N-type Calcium Channel α1B and β Subunits in Epileptic lethargic(lh/lh) Mouse

Abstract Voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC) are multisubunit complexes whose expression and targeting require the assembly of the pore-forming α1 with auxiliary β and α2/δ subunits. The developmentally regulated expression and differential assembly of β isoforms with the α1B subunit to form N-type VDCC suggested a unique role for the β4 isoform in VDCC maturation (Vance, C. L., Begg, C. M., Lee, W.-L., Haase, H., Copeland, T. D., and McEnery, M. W. (1998) J.Biol. Chem. 273, 14495–14502). The focus of this study is the expression and assembly of α1B and β isoforms in the epileptic mouse, lethargic(lh/lh), a mutant anticipated to produce a truncated β4 subunit (Burgess, D. L., Jones, J. M., Meisler, M. H., and Noebels, J. L. (1997) Cell 88, 385–392). In this report, we demonstrate that neither full-length nor truncated β4 protein is expressed in lh/lh mice. The absence of β4 inlh/lh mice is associated with decreased expression of N-type VDCC in forebrain and cerebellum. The most surprising characteristic of the lh/lh mouse is increased expression of β1b protein. This result suggests a previously unidentified cellular mechanism wherein expression of the total pool of available β subunits is under tight metabolic regulation. As a consequence of increased β1b expression, the β1b is increased in its incorporation into α1B/β complexes relative to wild type. Thus, in striking similarity to the population of N-type VDCC present in immature rat brain, the population of N-type VDCC present in adultlh/lh mice is characterized by the absence of β4 with increased β1b expression and assembly into N-type VDCC. It is intriguing to speculate that the increased excitability and susceptibility to seizures observed in the lh/lhmouse arises from the inappropriate expression of an immature population of N-type VDCC throughout neuronal development.
Polyhalo-organometallic and -organometalloidal compounds XXVI. Preparation of some silylated allenes containing functional groups from hexachloropropene

Abstract The reaction of hexachloropropene with magnesium and some chlorosilanes containing SiH groups is described, producing persilylated allenes containing SiH groups intact.
Observer-based method for reduction of dc-link voltage ripple in two-stage boost inverters

This paper presents a control design method for reduction of dc-link voltage ripple in a two-stage boost inverter. The ripple reduction is achieved by using the harmonics of the dc-link voltage for feedback control of the dc-dc boost converter. The harmonics of the dc-link voltage are extracted by using a simple observer for linear systems. This observer based control was successfully implemented in experimental systems, where the ripple was reduced to about one third of the original magnitude. Robustness of the control algorithm was validated under different operating conditions.
Are Invisible Hands Good Hands? Moral Hazard, Competition, and the 2nd Best in Health Care Markets

The nature, and normative properties, of competition in health care markets has long been the subject of much debate. In particular, policymakers have exhibited a great deal of reservation toward competition in health care markets, as demonstrated by the plethora of regulations governing the health care sector. Currently, as consolidation rapidly occurs in health care markets, concern about reduced competition has arisen. This concern, however, cannot be properly evaluated without a normative standard. In this paper we consider what the optimal benchmark is in the presence of moral hazard effects on consumption due to health insurance. Moral hazard is widely recognized as one of the most important distortions in health care markets. Moral hazard due to health insurance leads to excess consumption, therefore it is not obvious that competition is second best optimal given this distortion. Intuitively, it seems that imperfect competition in the health care market may constrain this moral hazard by increasing prices. We show that this intuition cannot be correct if insurance markets are competitive. A competitive insurance market will always produce a contract that leaves consumers at least as well off under lower prices as under higher prices. Thus, imperfect competition in health care markets can not have efficiency enhancing effects if the only distortion is due to moral hazard.
Distribution of Carbon in Crust of Earth: GEOLOGICAL NOTES

The total carbon in crust of the earth is about 9 × 1022 g. Continental and oceanic sediments contain 1.2 × 1022 g of organic carbon and 6.4 × 1022 g of carbonate carbon. There is about three times as much organic carbon in claystones and shales as in carbonate rocks and sandstones. The carbon in the oil and gas of petroleum reservoirs totals 1 × 1018 g or about 0.01 percent of the organic carbon in sedimentary rocks. The hydrogen in the organic matter of sedimentary rocks totals 9 × 1020 g or about 32 times as much as is needed to form all the petroleum in both reservoir and nonreservoir rocks. This inventory shows not only that there is adequate hydrogen to form oil in the sediments, but als that the entire process of the origin, migration, and accumulation of petroleum is extremely inefficient.
Field effect on magnetoresistance of N-type indium antimonide

Abstract The field effect on the magnetoresistance of n-type indium antimonide was studied for various temperatures and magnetic fields. It was found that the ratio of the surface mobility to the bulk mobility decreases with increasing magnetic field beyond a given value of the magnetic field. This phenomenon is attributed to the quantization of the motion of electrons in the presence of an electric and magnetic field.
What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine: The Dark Triad and gambling with your neighbor's money

Abstract Risking other people’s money for personal gain is a growing problem. Three traits (termed the Dark Triad) predicted selfish financial behavior: (a) reckless psychopathy, and (b) overconfident narcissism, and (c) strategic Machiavellianism. Participants in Study 1 completed Dark Triad measures and were randomly assigned to gamble with their own bonus or a bonus belonging to the next participant. Psychopathy correlated with gambling with someone else’s money, but not one’s own money, in a game of certain loss. Narcissism correlated with losing more of someone else’s money. Study 2 produced similar results even when participants’ bonuses were untouched. Overall, psychopathy predicted gambling with someone else’s bonus, and narcissism predicted greater losses. These findings highlight differential financial consequences among the Dark Triad.
Time-dependent wave-packet forms of Schrödinger and Lippmann-Schwinger equations.

Time-independent wave-packet forms of the Schr\"odinger equation (TIWSE) and Lippmann-Schwinger equation (TIWLSB) have been derived by a partial time-to-energy Fourier transform of ${\mathit{L}}^{2}$ wave-packet solutions to the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. The new equations retain the initial wave packet \ensuremath{\chi}(${\mathit{t}}_{0}$) as a ``universal source'' of scattered waves, which applies for all collision energies E contained in the initial wave packet. The relationship between the solution ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Psi}}}_{\mathit{t}0}$(E) of the TIWSE or TIWLSE and the scattering solution ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Psi}}}^{(+)}$(E) of the standard time-independent Lippmann-Schwinger or Schr\"odinger equation is given and the method illustrated by a computational application.
Exchanging glances: Learning visual communication in Balzac's Eugénie Grandet

(1996). Exchanging glances: Learning visual communication in Balzac's Eugenie Grandet. European Romantic Review: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 153-161.
The role of interface states in controlling the electronic structure of Alq3/reactive metal contacts

Abstract Gap states induced by the formation of metal/organic interfaces have been observed in a number of instances. Yet, the role that these states play in determining the electronic structure of the interface and the carrier injection barriers has not been clearly established. In this paper, we provide a model for the role of chemistry-induced gap states at Mg/Alq3 and Al/Alq3 interfaces, in particular with regard to the formation of dipole barrier and level bending. We show that these states play a defining role in producing identical Fermi level positions at metal-on-organic and organic-on-metal interfaces. The model is supported by photoemission and current–voltage measurements.
Simian immunodeficiency virus selectively infects proliferating CD4+ T cells in neonatal rhesus macaques

Infants infected with HIV have a more severe course of disease and persistently higher viral loads than HIV-infected adults. However, the underlying pathogenesis of this exacerbation remains obscure. Here we compared the rate of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell proliferation in intestinal and systemic lymphoid tissues of neonatal and adult rhesus macaques, and of normal and age-matched simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–infected neonates. The results demonstrate infant primates have much greater rates of CD4+ T-cell proliferation than adult macaques, and that these proliferating, recently “activated” CD4+ T cells are infected in intestinal and other lymphoid tissues of neonates, resulting in selective depletion of proliferating CD4+ T cells in acute infection. This depletion is accompanied by a marked increase in CD8+ T-cell activation and production, particularly in the intestinal tract. The data indicate intestinal CD4+ T cells of infant primates have a markedly accelerated rate of proliferation and maturation resulting in more rapid and sustained production of optimal target cells (activated memory CD4+ T cells), which may explain the sustained “peak” viremia characteristic of pediatric HIV infection. Eventual failure of CD4+ T-cell turnover in intestinal tissues may indicate a poorer prognosis for HIV-infected infants.
How effective are current therapies for acromegaly

Currently available therapies for acromegaly are transsphenoidal surgery (TSS), radiotherapy (RT) and medical therapy with the dopamine agonists and somatostatin analogues. The goals of these therapies for acromegaly are to normalize excessive hormone secretion, thus normalizing serum levels of growth hormone (GH) and of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I), to reduce the clinical signs and symptoms of acromegaly and to reduce tumor size in order to relieve any symptoms due to tumor mass effect. These goals should be accomplished while preserving pituitary function and with as few side effects as possible.TSS, the initial choice of therapy in most patients, is the most effective therapy at reducing the signs and symptoms of mass effect such as visual or neurological compromise. TSS is potentially curative, but the outcome is highly dependent on the tumor size, the degree of tumor invasion and the expertise of the surgeon. TSS can achieve biochemical control with normalization of IGF-I in 80-90% of patients with microadenomas and in 50-60% of those with macroadenomas. RT may be used as adjunctive therapy after unsuccessful surgery. RT can lower GH levels and normalize IGF-I levels, but there is a long lag time before this effect is achieved. Biochemical control is not achieved for 6-10 years after conventional fractionated RT; the time to clinical effect after gamma knife RT seems to be shorter. The most common complication after all forms of RT for acromegaly is the development of new hypopituitarism. Medical therapy has assumed the major role as adjunctive therapy of acromegaly. The dopamine agonists used for the therapy of acromegaly include bromocriptine, quinagolide and cabergoline. Cabergoline seems to be the most efficacious of the dopamine agonists for the treatment of acromegaly, with normalization of IGF-I being achieved in up to 35% of patients treated. Dopamine agonists are generally not effective at reducing the size of pure GH-secreting pituitary tumors. Somatostatin analogues are the most effective medical therapy currently available for acromegaly. The clinically available long-acting somatostatin analogues are long-acting octreotide and slow-release lanreotide. Overall, IGF-I levels normalize in about 66% of patients treated with long-acting octreotide and in 48% of patients treated with lanreotide. About 30% of GH-secreting tumors treated with somatostatin analogues as adjunctive therapy will have some shrinkage, and the amount of shrinkage usually ranges between 20 and 50% of tumor size. Signs and symptoms of the disease improve in about two-thirds of patients treated with long-acting somatostatin analogues. Gastrointestinal side effects are common when initiating somatostatin analogue therapy, but these effects do not typically limit continued use. Multi-modality therapy for acromegaly is often needed to achieve disease control. However, even combinations of currently available therapies cannot achieve all the goals of therapy in many patients with acromegaly.
Conditional MN1-TEL knock-in mice develop acute myeloid leukemia in conjunction with overexpression of HOXA9.

The chromosomal translocation t(12; 22)(p13;q11) in human myeloid leukemia generates an MN1-TEL (meningioma 1-translocation-ETS-leukemia) fusion oncoprotein. This protein consists of N-terminal MN1 sequences, a transcriptional coactivator fused to C-terminal TEL sequences, an ETS (E26 transformation-specific) transcription factor. Enforced expression of MN1-TEL in multipotent hematopoietic progenitors in knock-in mice perturbed growth and differentiation of myeloid as well as lymphoid cells. Depending on obligatory secondary mutations, these mice developed T-cell lympholeukemia. Here we addressed the role of MN1-TEL in myeloid leukemogenesis using the same mouse model. Expression of MN1-TEL enhanced the growth of myeloid progenitors in an interleukin 3/stem cell factor (IL-3/SCF)–dependent manner in vitro whereas 10% of MN1-TEL–expressing mice developed altered myelopoiesis with severe anemia after long latency. Coexpression of MN1-TEL and IL-3, but not SCF, rapidly caused a fatal myeloproliferative disease rather than acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Because MN1-TEL+ AML patient cells overexpress HOXA9 (homeobox A9), we tested the effect of coexpression of MN1-TEL and HOXA9 in mice and found that 90% of MN1-TEL+/HOXA9+ mice developed AML much more rapidly than control HOXA9+ mice. Thus, the leukemogenic effect of MN1-TEL in our knock-in mice is pleiotropic, and the type of secondary mutation determines disease outcome.
Phonological processing during silent reading in aphasic patients

Abstract In a task involving the detection of a predesignated letter during the silent reading of a series of passages, left-brain-damaged aphasic patients and right-brain-damaged patients showed patterns of performance consistent with those of normal individuals. Both of the brain-damaged groups were more likely to detect letters when they were pronounced in a typical way (e.g., g in “ago”) than in an atypical way (e.g., g in “through”), suggesting the use of phonological recoding during silent reading. In addition, both of thse groups were more likely to detect letters when they occurred in content than in function words, suggesting a differential processing of these word types. Possible differences in the strategies predominantly relied on for phonological recoding and for the differential processing of content and function words by different groups of patients are discussed.
Reliability of three Benton Judgment of Line Orientation short forms in idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often exhibit deficits in visuospatial functioning throughout the course of their disease. These deficits should be carefully assessed as they may have implications for patient safety and disease severity. One of the most commonly administered tests of visuospatial ability, the Benton Judgment of Line Orientation (JLO), consists of 30 pairs of lines requiring the patient to match the orientation of two lines to an array of 11 lines on a separate page. Reliable short forms have been constructed out of the full JLO form, but the reliability of these forms in PD has yet to be examined. Recent functional MRI studies examining the JLO demonstrate right parietal and occipital activation, as well as bilateral frontal activation and PD is known to adversely affect these pathways. We compared the reliability of the original full form to three unique short forms in a sample of 141 non-demented, idiopathic PD patients and 56 age- and education-matched controls. Results indic...
On the formation of circulating patterns of excitation in anisotropic excitable media

We present a model of excitable media with the feature that it has a vulnerable phase during which a premature current stimulus will result in the formation of a reentrant selfsustained wave of excitation. The model exploits anisotropic coupling of identical cells, and is therefore useful as a model for the myocardium. We give rigorous verification that there is a vulnerable phase, and demonstrate numerically that permanently rotating waves are formed. Finally, it is shown that the direction of fastest propagation in myocardium is not necessarily the direction of highest safety factor, contrary to commonly accepted opinion.
Assessing hemodynamic status in critically ill patients: Do physicians use clinical information optimally?

Abstract Estimates of hemodynamic status in critically ill patients are frequently inaccurate. This may be because clinical information correlates poorly with hemodynamic status or because physicians do not use clinical information optimally. To distinguish between these two possibilities we used discriminant analysis to identify the clinical variables which were most predictive of the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac index in 69 right heart catheterizations. When discriminant functions were derived for all 69 catheterizations, they predicted the range (low, normal, or high) of wedge pressure and cardiac index 66.7% and 71.0% of the time, respectively. When discriminant functions were derived for specific clinical subgroups they predicted wedge pressure 78% to 94% of the time and cardiac index 73% to 92% of the time. Physicians, however predicted the range of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac index correctly only 49.7% and 42.5% of the time, respectively. Thus, optimal use of the clinical information by discriminant analysis resulted in significant improvement in the prediction of hemodynamic status in these critically ill patients when compared to physician judgments. Physician estimates of hemodynamic status in these patients were inaccurate apparently because physicians used the available clinical information suboptimally. Improved use of clinical information could allow more accurate clinical judgements, reducing the need for invasive hemodynamic measurements in critically ill patients.
PLASMAP: an interactive computational tool for storage, retrieval and device-independent graphic display of conventional restriction maps

We describe an interactive computational tool, PLASMAP, which allows the user to electronically store, retrieve, and display circular restriction maps. PLASMAP permits users to construct libraries of plasmid restriction maps as a set of files which may be edited in the laboratory at any time. The display feature of PLASMAP quickly generates device-independent, artist-quality, full-color or monochrome, hard copies or CRT screens of complex, conventional circular restriction maps.
The fecundity of porcine semen stored for 2 to 6 days in Androhep and X-CELL extenders.

Abstract Extending the raw ejaculate prior to artificial insemination (AI) is beneficial, in part, due to the increased number of females that are bred from an ejaculate, along with prolonged shelf life of the semen. The objective of this study was to examine the affects of storage time on the fecundity of porcine semen diluted in 2 semen extenders, Androhep® a and X-CELL™b. A completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement of treatments was utilized in which 429 high quality, gel-free ejaculates from 48 boars were used in a timed, double insemination of 1,431 first-service gilts. The gilts were divided into groups and inseminated with semen stored in Androhep® or X-CELL™ for 2 to 3 d, 3 to 4 d, 4 to 5 d, or 5 to 6 d prior to use (day of collection = Day 0). Sperm age was identical, and both extenders were used concurrently each day of the trial. Farrowing rate and litter size data were recorded. Farrowing rates did not differ between extenders through Days 4 to 5 of storage. Gilts inseminated with Androhep® diluted stored semen showed a decrease (P 0.1). The results of this study indicate that extender type influences the fertility potential of fresh porcine semen stored for 2 to 6 d. For optimal fecundity in gilts, semen extended with Androhep® extender should be used for AI within 3 d. The X-CELL™ extended semen can be used for up to 6 d without significant decrease in litter size or farrowing rate. These recommendations are dependent upon using high quality semen that is properly handled from collection through insemination.
Raman spectroscopic detection system for capillary zone electrophoresis

Jorgenson and co-workers have reported the use of capillary zone electrophoresis for high-resolution separation of proteins and small molecules. The technique has been shown to provide separation efficiencies of more than 100,000 theoretical plates per meter. Achievement of this efficiency requires use of capillaries with diameters of 75 μm or less. The narrow bore is required to make heat transfer to the capillary walls sufficiently efficient to keep the electrolyte at constant temperature. The narrow bore generates problems, both in sample introduction and in detection.
Gas gap at the surface of a horizontal tube in a bubbling fluidized bed

Previous research on bubbling fluidized beds found that the voidage in the vicinity of an immersed surface is dependent on distance from the surface. Some authors have reported the presence of a thin gas gap between the surface and the emulsion phase. In the present study, experiments were performed to measure the thickness of the gas gap by a fiber optic probe measurement technique. The experiments, with Geldart C and A powders, were carried out with acoustic excitation to promote bubbling. The gas gap thickness was found to depend strongly on angular position around the surface of a horizontal tube and to vary slightly with sound pressure level and superficial air velocity.
Identification of α-methylvalerate as a product of Ascaris lumbricoides fermentation.

Abstract On a quantitative basis, one of the major metabolites formed as a result of the fermentation of carbohydrate by Ascaris lumbricoides is a C6-volatile acid. This compound has been isolated and characterized as α-methylvaleric acid on the basis of studies involving gas chromatography of the free acid, melting point of the p-bromphenacyl ester, elementary analysis, infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction powder patterns.
THREE BASIC OPERATIONS TO DETERMINE FIELDS OF VELOCITIES AND STRAINS

This paper deals with three geometric operations that permit the determination of the fields of displacements and their time and space derivatives in any solid subjected to deformations. The first operation consists in the superposition of the image of a nondeformed on the image of a deformed network of parallel lines. The intersections of the two networks of lines give the loci of equal components of displacement (isothetics). The second operation gives the time derivatives of the components of displacement (isotachics) by superposition of two isothetics obtained at different times. The third operation gives the space derivatives of the components of displacement (isoparagogics) by superposing and shifting two images of the same isothetic. These three operations can also be applied to obtain acceleration, second-order space derivatives, combined space and time derivatives, and other related fields. For coarse networks, usually called grids, the results can be obtained by connecting the intersections by hand. For dense networks, usually called gratings, they can be obtained by the moire effect. Examples of applications are given.
Income inequality and cigarette consumption: evidence from the United States

There is enormous literature on the determinants of consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products, and on the magnitude of the impact of a wide variety of economic and noneconomic factors. Also, a huge amount of research has been done on the association between income inequality and health for which numerous proxies have been used. We seek to link these two strands of scholarship by treating smoking as a major health hazard and considering the association between income inequality and smoking. Using US state-level data for the year 2004, we estimate an augmented model of cigarette consumption in which income inequality is added to a fairly standard specification. Subject to the caveats appropriate for such studies, there is little indication of a significant association between income inequality and the health-retarding behaviour in the form of cigarette smoking. Estimates for other variables are broadly consistent with similar studies.
Local and Microdomain Concentration Fluctuation Effects in Block Copolymer Solutions

On the basis of the simplest Gaussian thread model for structurally symmetric copolymers, the polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM) theory is applied to study the equilibrium properties of diblock copolymer solutions under neutral solvent conditions. Analytic predictions are obtained for the influence of local and microdomain scale concentration fluctuations on the relationship between temperature, degree of polymerization, and polymer concentration at the order−disorder transition (ODT). In the semidilute regime, PRISM predictions agree with blob scaling and fluctuation-corrected field theoretic analyses. However, in the concentrated solution and melt regime strong disagreements occur, and the naive mean field dilution approximation is found to fail. Nevertheless, apparent scaling laws emerge under concentrated conditions with effective exponents which depend on solvent quality, melt screening length, and other nonuniversal structural features. The primary origin of the dilution approximation ...
Do quality perceptions of health and social services vary for different ethnic groups? An empirical investigation

The United States is now more ethnically diverse than any other time in its history. In 2000, minority ethnic groups comprised 26% of the US population; by 2010, they comprise 35%, and in 2080 they will form the majority of American citizens. And among these ethnic groups, African Americans (12.4%), Hispanics (15.4%) and Asians (4.4%) were the most predominant in 2000. The growth of this segment of the population is not only in terms of numbers but also in terms of economic development. Minority groups are showing marked improvement in income and education levels leading to greater purchasing power. As a result, for-profit companies are increasingly targeting minority populations with products and promotions specifically designed for specific minority groups. Even non profit organizations such as educational programs, social service and healthcare agencies are striving to design specific services and culturally competent outreach models in order to serve this increasingly diverse marketplace. But despite the strides made by non profit agencies, several studies note the tremendous disparities between the ethnic and racial groups in the seeking and the receipt of health-care and social services. Additionally, there is limited empirical information about the perceptions of minority consumers. In order to effectively serve minority groups, it is essential to understand their experiences with the non profit service industry and to assess their ongoing concerns. In this study, we focus on two critical components of the non profit world – healthcare and social services. We conducted a survey to compare and contrast the social service and health-care quality perceptions of three ethnic groups: Caucasians, African-Americans and Hispanics. Our study, undertaken in collaboration with community health centers, reveals distinct differences in perceptions between the three ethnic groups. Based on our findings, we outline a set of implementable strategies for social service and community health organizations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystal and molecular structure of W2(OBut)6 and electronic structure calculations on various conformers of W2(OMe)6

Abstract The structure of W2(OBut)6 was determined via a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. In the space group C2/c, there are 1.5 W2(OBut)6 molecules in the asymmetric unit, with one half molecule located on a crystallographic inversion center and one full molecule in a general position. The W W bond distances are 2.328(1) and 2.335(1) A and the average W–O distances are 1.89(1) A. The alkoxide alkyl groups are found oriented in the “one distal, two proximal” arrangement with respect to the W–W vector, giving on average, W–W–O angles of 99(1)° for the distal alkoxide and 110(1)° for the proximal. This arrangement is common to other W2(OR)6 compounds. Computational studies employing density functional theory on several conformers of the model compound W2(OMe)6 were undertaken. The results for the total bonding energies for each conformer indicate that this “one distal, two proximal” arrangement is only slightly more stable than the all-distal, D3d and the alkoxide-eclipsed D3h structures in the gas phase. This small difference in conformer energy suggests that the proximality preference is likely due to steric effects that are important in the solid state.
Removal of iron dextran by hemodialysis: An in vitro study

Intravenous iron dextran is frequently prescribed for iron-deficient hemodialysis patients, a practice that has increased during the erythropoietin era. Whether iron dextran is removed by hemodialysis has been a concern, especially for high permeability membranes. The purpose of this in vitro study was to measure iron dextran clearance by nine different hemodialyzers (Fresenius F3, F8, and F80B; Baxter CF25, CA150, CA210, and CT190; Toray BK2.1P; and Hospal Filtral 16) representing six types of membranes (polysulfone, cuprophane, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, polymethylmethacrylate, and polyacrylonitrile) and including membranes considered high efficiency and high flux. Clearances were assessed using a closed-loop, fixed-volume reservoir model. Absolute drug removal also was determined over the 30-minute experiments. Iron dextran clearance did not exceed 25 mL/min, and clearances also were minimal after a single automated reuse with glutaraldehyde sterilant. A maximum of 8% of iron dextran was removed during the experiment. We conclude that iron dextran clearance by the nine hemodialyzers studied was small or too low to be detected in this sensitive in vitro dialysis system and that adjusting dosing schedules is not needed.
Comparing Pivotal and REML-Based Confidence Intervals for Heritability

Heritability quantifies the extent to which a physical characteristic is passed from one generation to the next. From a statistical perspective, heritability is the proportion of the phenotypic variance attributable to (additive) genetic effects and is equal to a function of variance components in linear mixed models. Relying on normal distribution assumptions, one can compute exact confidence intervals for heritability using a pivotal quantity procedure. Alternatively, large-sample properties of the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimator can be used to construct asymptotic confidence intervals for heritability. Exact and asymptotic intervals are compared loineye muscle area measurements and balanced one-way random effects models having groups of correlated responses. In some cases the two interval methods yield vastly different results and the REML-based confidence interval does not maintain the nomiral coverate value even for seemingly large sample sizes. For finite sample size applications, the validity of the REML-based procedure depends on the correlation structure of the data.
Spectroscopic determination of condensation energy and density of electron-hole droplets in pure Ge

Abstract We report measurements of the luminescence of free exitons and electron-hole droplets in Ge. Agreement between lineshape theory and experiment is obtained; no extraneous broadening of the free exciton is observed. We find the condensation energy of electron-hole drops to be 2.06 ± 0.15 meV; the exciton ground state splitting to be 0.7 meV and the electron-hole density in the droplet phase, including temperature dependence, to be n(T) = 2.38 × 1017 (1-0.01T2) cm−3.
Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with antidepressant type in a national sample of the home health care elderly

Objective: The study examined in home health care (HHC) the demographic, functional and clinical factors by antidepressant (AD) type including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and “Other” ADs such as bupropion and mirtazapine. Method: Cross-sectional sample (N=909) was analyzed from the 2007 National Home Health and Hospice Care Survey that included patients 65 years and older [mean=78.79 years, confidence interval (CI)=77.88–79.69 years] taking one AD. Results: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most commonly used (63.89%) AD, followed by “Other” ADs (14.29%), TCAs (11.31%) and SNRIs. In a multinomial regression referencing SSRIs, blacks had increased odds of tricyclic use compared to whites [odds ratio (OR)=5.96, CI=1.85–19.19]. Hispanics had decreased odds of “Other” AD (OR=0.13, CI=0.02–0.73) and SNRI use (OR=0.06, CI=0.008–0.45) compared to non-Hispanics. The HHC elderly taking psychotropic medications besides ADs were less likely to use SNRIs (OR=0.31, CI=0.11– 0.88) and tricyclics (OR=0.27, CI=0.08–0.87). Advancing age was marginally associated with tricyclic use (OR=1.04, CI=0.99–1.09). Conclusion: Race/ethnicity and age differences by AD type — including blacks' increased TCA use, Hispanics' decreased SNRI and “Other” AD use, and older elderly's increased tricyclic use — suggest systematic differences in prescribing practice variations including differences by geography, patient preferences or access to care in the HHC elderly.
Pogonophora in the Western Atlantic Ocean

The occurrence of pogonophoran worms of the genus Siboglinum off the east coast of Florida is reported. Their presence in association with pennatulids is noted, and compared with a similar instance in the Bering Sea. This association is probably due to similar ecological requirements.
Efficient and automatic implementation of the adjoint state method

Combination of object-oriented programming with automatic differentiation techniques facilitates the solution of data fitting, control, and design problems driven by explicit time stepping schemes for initial-boundary value problems. The C++ class fdtd takes a complete specification of a single step, along with some associated code, and assembles from it a complete simulator, along with the linearized and adjoint simulations. The result is a (nonlinear) operator in the sense of the Hilbert Class Library (HCL), a C++ software package for optimization. The HCL operator so produced links directly with any of the HCL optimization algorithms. Moreover the performance of simulators constructed in this way is equivalent to that of optimized Fortran implementations.
Quantum Soldering of Individual Quantum Dots

Making contact to a quantum dot: Single quantum-dot electronic circuits are fabricated by wiring atomically precise metal chalcogenide clusters with conjugated molecular connectors. These wired clusters can couple electronically to nanoscale electrodes and be tuned to control the charge-transfer characteristics (see picture).
QoS aware multi-channel scheduling for IEEE 802.15.3 networks

From a multimedia applications perspective, there is an ever increasing demand for wireless devices with higher bandwidth to support high data rate flows. One possible solution to support the demand for higher bandwidth is to utilize the full spectrum by simultaneously using multiple channels for transmission. Recent approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has led to considerable interest in exploiting Ultra Wideband (UWB) access on an unlicensed basis in the 3.1-10.6 GHz band. Currently, the IEEE TG802.15.3a standards group is in the process of developing an alternative high-speed link layer design conformable with the IEEE 802.15.3 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) multiple access (MAC) protocol. One of the proposals, based on the concept of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), divides the spectrum into multiple bands and achieves channelization through the use of different time-frequency codes. These multiple channels can help satisfy the increasing demand for higher bandwidth in order to support high data rate multimedia applications. In this paper, we present a QoS-aware, multi-channel scheduling algorithm that simultaneously utilizes the various channels available in the UWB network.
Effects of craving and DRD4 VNTR genotype on the relative value of alcohol: an initial human laboratory study.

Craving for alcohol is a highly controversial subjective construct and may be clarified by Loewenstein's visceral theory, which emphasizes craving's behavioral effects on the relative value of alcohol. Based on the visceral theory, this study examined the effects of a craving induction on the relative value of alcohol as measured by a behavioral choice task. In addition, based on previous evidence of its role in the expression of craving, the influence of DRD4 VNTR genotype (DRD4-L vs. DRD4-S) was also examined. Thirty-five heavy drinkers (54% male; 31% DRD4-L) were randomly assigned to receive either a craving induction (exposure to personally relevant alcohol cues) or a control induction (exposure to neutral cues), which was followed by an alcohol-money choice task. Participants were assessed for craving and positive/negative affect throughout the procedure, and relative value of alcohol was derived from participant choices for alcohol versus money. DRD4 VNTR status was assessed retrospectively via buccal samples using previously established protocols. Factorial analysis of the craving induction revealed that it was associated with significant increase in craving (p < .001), but not greater relative value of alcohol. Factorial analyses including DRD4 VNTR genotype of did not suggest an influence on reactivity to the craving induction, although this analysis was substantially compromised by small cell sample sizes. Continuous analyses revealed that craving was significantly associated with the relative value of alcohol (p < .05) and possession of the DRD4-L allele further amplified this relationship (p < .001). These results are interpreted as generally supporting Loewenstein's visceral theory of craving and evidence of a functional role of DRD4 VNTR genotype in the expression of craving for alcohol. Methodological limitations, mechanisms underlying these findings, and future directions are discussed.
THE AMERICAN UROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SYMPTOM INDEX: DOES MODE OF ADMINISTRATION AFFECT ITS PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES?

AbstractPurpose: We determine whether self-administration and interviewer administration of the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index are equivalent.Materials and Methods: The AUA symptom index was administered twice to 41 visually impaired or illiterate men. Men who were able were randomized to self-administration first and then interviewer administration (43) or the reverse (40).Results: The scores in each group were reliable. However, because we could not reject a differential carryover effect, the nonsignificant test of mode effect in the crossover design may have been invalid. At time 1 there was no significant difference between group mean scores for randomized patients (p = 0.13).Conclusions: Although the AUA symptom index should be self-administered when possible, interviewer administration appears to be acceptable.
Signed real measure of regular languages

This paper formulates a signed real measure of sub-languages of a regular language based on the principles of automata theory and real analysis. The measure allows total ordering of any set of partially ordered sub-languages of the regular language for quantitative evaluation of the controlled behavior of deterministic finite state automata under different supervisors. The computational complexity of the language measure algorithm is of polynomial order in the number of states.
The evolution of cardiopulmonary bypass: lessons to be learned

John Gibbon conceived cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and performed the first intracardiac repair using extracorporeal perfusion in 1953. This achievement stimulated rapid development of the knowledge base and equipment necessary for accurate diagnoses and successful intracardiac operations. In the early 60s increasing evidence indicated that exposure of blood to nonendothelial cell surfaces produced bleeding and thrombotic complications and a massive inflammatory response. Early efforts to discover a synthetic, nonthrombogenic surface gave way to efforts to control the 'whole-body inflammatory response' by pharmacological means. These efforts are ongoing; progress is slow; and heparin is still required for most applications of extracorporeal perfusion technology. Nevertheless, CPB now enables over one million cardiac surgical operations each year. Future progress and the development of artificial internal organs that process blood depend upon control of the blood-surface interface without anticoagulants.
Coil occlusion of congenital vascular malformation and surgical shunts

Abstract This article reviews the applications (excluding patent ductus arteriosus) of Gianturco coils in pediatric cardiovascular disease. The most common application is closure of aortopulmonary collaterals. Multiple additional applications have been developed. Coil technology and delivery technique are also reviewed.
Validating the vitality strategy for fighting drug resistance.

The current challenge in designing effective drugs against HIV-1 is to find novel candidates with high potency, but with a lower susceptibility to mutations associated with drug resistance. Trying to address this challenge we developed in our previous study 1 a novel computational strategy for fighting drug resistance by predicting the likely moves of the virus through constraints on binding and catalysis. This has been based on calculating the vitality values (defined as the ratio ((Kikcat/ KM)mutant/ (Kikcat/KM)wild-type) and using it as guide for the moves of the virus. The corresponding calculations of the binding affinity, Ki, were based on using the semi-macroscopic version of the protein dipole Langevin dipole (PDLD/S) in its linear response approximation (LRA) in its β version (PDLD/S-LRA/β). We, also, calculate the proteolytic efficiency, kcat/KM, by evaluating the transition state (TS) binding free energies using the PDLD/S-LRA/β method. Here we provide an extensive validation of our strategy by calculating the vitality of six existing clinical and experimental drug candidates. It is found that the computationally determined vitalities correlate reasonably well with those derived from the corresponding experimental data. This indicates that the calculated vitality may be used to identify mutations that would be most effective for the survival of the virus. Thus, it should be possible to use our approach in screening for mutations that would provide the most effective resistance to any proposed antiviral drug. This ability should be very useful in guiding the design of drug molecules that will lead to the slowest resistance.
Leveraging human gait characteristics towards self-sustained operation of low-power mobile devices

The proliferation of mobile ubiquitous devices faces a hurdle in the form of high resource consumption rates that restrict longevity. Several low-power devices and application designs and optimization techniques have been proposed. Simultaneously, energy harvesting technologies are increasingly being viewed as a complementary technique to drive down resource consumption rates and even achieve self-sustenance. Towards this end, we propose a foot-strike powered harvester array composed of a novel high-energy density material called Dielectric Elastomers. To compensate for their control parameter sensitivity, we propose an adaptive closed-loop control algorithm based on general characteristics of human gait. From experimentally collected datasets of human plantar pressure and detailed characterization of DE behavior, we show that our algorithm yields enough accuracy to produce upwards of 85% of the maximum energy harvestable by the DE array. We also show that, in many cases, this is sufficient to fully drive low-power mobile ubiquitous applications.
Public Relations in the Airline Industry: The Crisis Response to the September 11th Attacks

ABSTRACT The public relations efforts of the U.S. airlines to restore consumer confidence in the industry in the wake of the 9/11 crisis are examined in this manuscript. The data demonstrate that following the crisis, the airlines engaged in strategic communication to restore their image and that of the industry as a whole. Also, following the prescriptions of crisis communication theory, the airlines enacted crisis-response strategies such as suffering, mortification and ingratiation. Crisis-response strategy selection was influenced by the type of crisis experienced, as predicted. The implications of these results for researchers and practitioners are discussed in this article.
Quantum phase diffusions of a spinor condensate.

We discuss the quantum phases and their diffusion in a spinor-1 atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. For ferromagnetic interactions, we obtain the exact ground state distribution of the phase fluctuations corresponding to the total atom number ($N$), the magnetization ($\mathcal{M}$), and the alignment (or hypercharge) ($Y$) of the system. The mean-field ground state is shown to be stable against these fluctuations, which dynamically recover the two continuous symmetries associated with the conservation of $N$ and $\mathcal{M}$ as in current experiments.