cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in psychiatric billing patterns by beneficiary characteristics

This study describes the policy change in Medicare outpatient psychiatric services and its impact on volume and allowed charges from the period of 1987 to 1990, and reviews the trends for services billed by psychiatric providers by beneficiary age, gender, race, and location. Across all the beneficiary characteristics, the study found that in terms of psychiatric services, diagnostic procedures were growing at a faster rate than therapeutic services. More importantly, the findings show that Medicare patients over 85 years of age had the highest volume growth rate for all psychiatric services.
Time-Resolved Emission Spectra Of Tryptophan And Proteins From Frequency-Domain Fluorescence Spectroscopy

We report measurements of time-resolved emission spectra of N-acetyl-L-tryptophanamide (NATA), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, residues 1-24), and of S. Nuclease. These spectra were calculated from the frequency-response of the emission, measured at several wavelengths across the emission spectra. Measurements were performed on samples not quenched and quenched by acrylamide, the latter providing additional information on the short time events. The time-resolved center-of-gravity does not decay as a single exponential. At least two spectral relaxation times are needed to account for the present data. NATA and ACTH each display relaxation times near 50 and 800 ps, which may be characteristic of exposed tryptophan residues. S. nuclease displayed slower relaxation times near 0.5 and 10 ns, which probably reflect the dynamic protein matrix which surrounds the residue.
Methods for assessing accuracy and reliability in functional MRI

In this paper, methods for assessing the accuracy and the reliability of functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques are presented. First, a modified receiver operating characteristic analysis is described for evaluating the accuracy of fMRI studies. With this modified approach, the true positives or the activated pixels are estimated based on highly averaged experimental data acquired with the same stimulation/task. Unlike ROC analysis based on simulated activation data, the present approach can be applied to experimentally acquired data without simplifying the activation related changes. To assess the reliability of fMRI studies, the kappa statistic was adopted for evaluating the overall agreement of functional activation maps from repeated experiments in individual subjects. To demonstrate the utility of these techniques, both the ROC analysis and the reliability assessment were applied to quantitatively evaluate the improvement in accuracy and reliability of a retrospective technique for physiological noise reduction in fMRI.
Purification and Characterization of a Mitochondrial Thymine Glycol Endonuclease from Rat Liver

Abstract Mitochondrial DNA is exposed to oxygen radicals produced during oxidative phosphorylation. Accumulation of several kinds of oxidative lesions in mitochondrial DNA may lead to structural genomic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, and associated degenerative diseases. The pyrimidine hydrate thymine glycol, one of many oxidative lesions, can block DNA and RNA polymerases and thereby exert negative biological effects. Mitochondrial DNA repair of this lesion is important to ensure normal mitochondrial DNA metabolism. Here, we report the purification of a novel rat liver mitochondrial thymine glycol endonuclease (mtTGendo). By using a radiolabeled oligonucleotide duplex containing a single thymine glycol lesion, damage-specific incision at the modified thymine was observed upon incubation with mitochondrial protein extracts. After purification using cation exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size exclusion chromatography, the most pure active fractions contained a single band of ∼37 kDa on a silver-stained gel. MtTGendo is active within a broad KCl concentration range and is EDTA-resistant. Furthermore, mtTGendo has an associated apurinic/apyrimidinic-lyase activity. MtTGendo does not incise 8-oxodeoxyguanosine or uracil-containing duplexes or thymine glycol in single-stranded DNA. Based upon functional similarity, we conclude that mtTGendo may be a rat mitochondrial homolog of theEscherichia coli endonuclease III protein.
Continuous epidural butorphanol relieves pruritus associated with epidural morphine infusions in children

We examined the efficacy of epidural butorphanol to either prevent or relieve pruritus associated with epidural morphine infusion in children. Forty-six children were randomized to receive either epidural morphine (M) or epidural M with butorphanol (B) for postoperative analgesia. They received bupivacaine and either M 50 microg.kg-1 or the same dose of M plus B 10 microg.kg-1. Following surgery, a continuous infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine with either M 20 microg.ml-1 or M 20 microg.ml-1 + B 4 microg.ml-1 was given at a rate of 0.3 ml.kg-1.h-1. Pain scores and pruritus scores were recorded every 4 h during epidural infusion. Subjects with a pruritus score=2 received diphenhydramine 0.5 mg.kg-1 i.v. and were switched to an alternate epidural infusion; subjects receiving M (group M) were switched to M+B while subjects receiving M+B (group B) were switched to hydromorphone (H) 4 microg.ml-1. There was no difference in the initial incidence of pruritus (group M 11/18; group B 13/28). No subject in group M required a second change of epidural infusion because of continued pruritus after being switched to M+B; five of 13 subjects in group B continued to experience pruritus after being switched to H and required a second change of epidural infusion or an alternate analgesic modality (P=0.038). The median pruritus score in the first 24 h after changing epidural infusions was 0 in subjects in group MDelta (changed from M to M+B) and 1 in subjects in group BDelta (changed from M+B to H; P=0.012). While the median sedation score in the first 24 h was 1 in both groups, there was a greater incidence of sedation scores of 2 in group B than group M (28% vs 12.3%; P=0.021). B 10 microg.kg-1 was not effective in preventing pruritus associated with bolus epidural administration of M 50 microg.kg-1 in children. B 1.2 microg.kg-1. h-1 was effective in relieving pruritus associated with continuous epidural infusion of M 6 microg.kg-1.h-1.
Regional simulations of greenhouse warming including natural variability

Abstract The perception of the hypothesized greenhouse effect will differ dramatically depending upon the location on the earth at which the effect is analyzed. This is due mainly to two causes: 1) the warming signal depends upon the position on the earth, and 2) the natural variability of the warming has a strong position dependence. To demonstrate these phenomena, simulations were conducted of the surface temperature field with a simple stochastic climate model that has enough geographical resolution to see the geographic dependence. The model was tuned to reproduce the geographical distribution of the present climate, including its natural variability in both the variance and the space-time correlation structure. While such effects have been discussed elsewhere with even more realistic climate models, it is instructive to actually see simulations of time series laid side by side in order to easily compare their differences and similarities. Because of the model's simplicity, the causes of the variation...
Isomers of uroporphyrin free acids separated by HPLC

A synthetic mixture of uroporphyrin isomers I, II, III and IV as free acids in the synthetic ratio of 1:1:4:2 was resolved by reverse-phase HPLC using a C0:PEL (ODS) 37-50 micron precolumn and a Micro Bondapak C18 analytical column eluted with acetonitrile (4%) in phosphate buffer (pH 6.95). Clinically important I and III isomers of uroporphyrin were readily resolved directly from acidified urine as porphyrin free acids.
Mice lacking transforming growth factor alpha have an increased susceptibility to dextran sulfate-induced colitis

rats. 15 These findings, together with the abundant local- Results: In response to DSS, nearly 60% of the entire ization of TGF-a in columnar epithelial and goblet colonic mucosa was destroyed in knockout and wa-1 cells 16 and in neural structures innervating vascular tissue mice, compared with 22% in GC mice and 16% in BALB/ c mice. Body weight loss was doubled in knockout throughout the colon of the rat 17 suggest that locally (28%) and wa-1 mice (23%) compared with GC (11%) expressed TGF-a may be an important mediator in the and Balb/c mice (12%). TGF-a application to wa-1 mice maintenance and protection of the colonic mucosa. reduced the severity of mucosal injury by almost 70% The availability of TGF-a knockout mice and of a compared with controls. Conclusions: The marked sus- TGF-a-deficient mutant mice strain, wa-1, provides a ceptibility of TGF-a knockout and wa-1 mice to DSS novel means by which to evaluate the role of TGF-a as and the obvious amelioration of the colonic injury by a mediator of protection and/or repair mechanisms in the exogenous TGF-a application in wa-1 mice suggest that colonic mucosa in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis TGF-a is a mediator of protection and/or healing mech- model. In additional experiments, we studied the effect of anisms in the colon. exogenous TGF-a on the severity of DSS-induced colonic injury in wa-1 mice. DSS is an agent that, when adminis-
Kinetics of isotope exchange reactions involving intra- and intermolecular reactions: I. Rate law for a system with two chemical compounds and three exchangeable atoms

Intramolecular isotope fractionation within a molecule containing two exchangeable atoms in structurally non-equivalent positions (E.G., the two sulfur atoms in thiosulfate) leads to the complexity of the isotopic exchange between the molecule and another compound (E.G., H2S). We have derived a rate law for the isotopic exchange reactions in a homogeneous (gaseous or aqueous) system of two-compound (X and AB) system with three exchangeable components (X, A, and B) where one overall intramolecular exchange (A ⇔ B) and two overall intermolecular exchange (X ⇔ A and X ⇔ B) reactions exist. The isotopic δ value of each component (X, A, and B) at any time can be expressed as a function of the initial δ values of the three components, the concentrations of the two compounds, and the overall rate constants for the intra- and intermolecular isotope exchange reactions. Differing from the isotopic exchange behavior in a simple two-compound system described by previous investigators (E.G., Ohmoto and Lasaga, 1982), the changes with time of the δ values of X, A, and B may not be monotonie, because the isotopic exchange rates may not be identical for the three overall isotope exchange reactions (A ⇔ B, X ⇔ A, and X ⇔ B). The In (1 − F) vs. time curve for the overall reaction between the two compounds (X ⇔ AB) is generally non-linear. The rate law derived in this study was applied to a set of experimental data obtained by Uyama et al. (1985) on sulfur isotope exchange reactions between H2S and thiosulfate (Run 120-A), where the δ34S values of H2S(X) and sulfane sulfur (A) and sulfonate sulfur (B) of thiosulfate were measured during reaction for various run times at 120°C and at near-neutral pH. From their experimental data, we were able to deduce the following sets of rate constants and equilibrium fractionation factors: logkH2S ⇔ SH of thiosulfate = −1.4, log kH2S ⇔ SO3H of thiosulfate = −2.6, log kSH ⇔ 2SO3H of thiosulfate = −8, 1000 In αSH of thiosulfate-H2S = −4.6, 1000 In αSO3H of thiosulfate-H2S = 29.2 and 1000 In αSO3H-SH of thiosulfate = 33.7.
Providence College Library+Commons: A Case Study

ABSTRACT Adapting concepts and experience from Information and Learning Commons, Providence College (PC) has developed a somewhat different model—organic (i.e., based on local library and institutional culture, needs, change-readiness; emerging in increments as opportunities arise, at a pace, at costs, and to degrees apropos institutional resources), hybrid (i.e., a seamless blend of services and resources, of new and high-tech with traditional and high-touch), and infused (i.e., the blend of services and resources is pushed out explicitly or implicitly into, and distributed among, all aspects of the physical and virtual library). PC's Library+Commons incorporates resources and characteristics of Information and Learning Commons distributed throughout the entire library.
Diurnal Changes in Volume and Solute Transport Coefficients of Phaseolus Roots

Volume (J(v)) and solute (J(s)) fluxes through Phaseolus root systems were observed over a 24-hour period. The volume flux was varied in a pressure chamber by altering the hydrostatic pressure in 10 steps, from 0 to 0.41 megapascals. All root systems showed strong diurnal peaks in volume flux. The five transport coefficients (sigma, omega, J(s) (*), L(p), and pi(*)) were estimated from a nonlinear least squares algorithm. Analysis of the data revealed that all the coefficients exhibited a diurnal rhythm. When the total differential of the volume flux was considered it was possible to show that the diurnal changes in volume flux were due to a complex interaction between the diurnally shifting coefficients with the role of each highly dependent on the level of volume flux. At low volume fluxes, omega, J(s) (*), and pi(*) accounted for nearly all the diurnal change in volume flux. At high volume fluxes, however, the major influence shifted to L(p) and pi(*), while omega and J(s) (*) became relatively unimportant. Thus, pi(*) was the only coefficient of interest across the entire range of J(v) and appeared to be the single most important one in determining the diurnal rhythm of J(v) under conditions of a constant applied pressure.
On the numerical condition of algebraic curves and surfaces 1. Implicit equations

Abstract The numerical stability of algebraic curves and surfaces represented by implicit equations is investigated. The condition number at a point of a curve or surface is defined as the ratio of the maximum normal displacement of that point to the relative magnitude ϵ of the random perturbations in the curve or surface coefficients, in the limit ϵ → 0. Closed-form expressions for such condition numbers are presented, and the singular points of implicitly defined curves and surfaces are shown to be inherently ill-conditioned. Condition numbers for curve and surface intersections may be expressed in terms of those of the participant entities at the given point and certain geometric factors determined by the normal directions there. Tangential intersections are also seen to be inherently ill-conditioned. The dependence of condition numbers on the chosen multivariate polynomial basis is then examined. In particular, we compare power expansions about a given center, barycentric Bernstein bases over simplicial domains, and tensor-product Bernstein bases over rectangular domains. Configurations are enumerated in which one of these bases provides better conditioning than another at each point of every curve or surface in a given domain. The subdivision and degree elevation of multivariate Bernstein forms (barycentric or tensor-product) exhibit such behavior.
Course Crash in Hybrid Space: An Exploration and Recommendations for Virtual Course Space.

Understanding what hybrid space is, much less understanding what happens in that virtual realm, can raise difficult questions. For example, our campus's question “How do we define hybrid?” has kept us busy and guessing for over a year now. In this article, we offer a few suggestions on how to proceed with hybrid issues, including how to deal with hybrid space during a “crash,” which we experienced across our four course case study. We combine qualitative narrative and quantitative analysis to reach some preliminary conclusions and to provide initial recommendations.
Drug metabolism in the Novikoff hepatoma: evidence for a mixed function oxidase system and partial purification of cytochrome P-450 reductase.

Abstract Novikoff hepatoma microsomes catalyze the hydroxylation o benzphetamine and ethylmorphine at rates less than 1% of those of liver microsomes but catalyze the hydroxylation of p- nitroanisole and p- nitrophenetole at rates about 40% of those of liver microsomes. Benzo[ a ]pyrene hydroxylation is also catalyzed by Novikoff hepatoma microsomes at about 2% of the rate of liver microsomes. Like the hepatic microsomal system the rates of substrate hydroxylation by Novikoff hepatoma microsomes can be increased by pretreatment with phenobarbital/hydrocortisone or β-naphthoflavone and inhibited by carbon monoxide, SKF-525A, and 7,8-benzoflavone. In addition, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (NADPH:ferricytochrome oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.2.4) has been partially purified from Novikoff hepatoma ascites cells and some properties are described. The induction and inhibition characteristics of the Novikoff hepatoma microsomal hydroxylation activities and the isolation of a cytochrome P-450 reductase from the hepatoma are consistent with the presence of a functional mixed function oxidase system in the Novikoff hepatoma, analogous to that present in liver endoplasmic reticulum.
Comparison of Two Independent Crystal Structures of Human Dihydrofolate Reductase Ternary Complexes Reduced with Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate and the Very Tight-Binding Inhibitor PT523†,‡

Structural data for two independent crystal forms (monoclinic, C2, and orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1)) of the ternary complex of the potent antitumor agent PT523 [N alpha-(4-amino-4-deoxypteroyl)-N delta-hemiphthaloyl-L-ornithine], reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and recombinant human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) reveals multiple binding orientations for the hemiphthaloyl group of the inhibitor. Analysis of these data shows that PT523 binds with its pteridine ring in the same orientation observed for methotrexate (MTX) analogues. However, in each structure, the hemiphthaloyl ring occupies three alternate conformations. In the C2 lattice, the phthaloyl moiety binds in two extended conformations, A and C, with each conformer having a 180 degrees flip of the o-carboxylate group, and a third, lower occupancy conformer B, with the phthaloyl group folded within contact of the active-site pocket. In the orthorhombic lattice, PT523 also has three conformers for the phthaloyl group; however, these differ from those observed in the monoclinic lattice. Two major conformers, A and C, are displaced on either side of the extended position observed in the C2 lattice, one near the folded B conformer of the C2 lattice and the other extended. These conformers form tighter intermolecular contacts than those in the C2 lattice. Conformer B is folded back away from the active site in a unique position. There are also significant differences in the conformation of the adenine-ribose moiety of NADPH in both complexes that differ from that observed for other inhibitor-NADPH-hDHFR ternary complexes. These data suggest that the added intermolecular contacts made by the hemiphaloyl group of PT523 contribute to its tighter binding to hDHFR than MTX, which does not extend as far from the active site and cannot make these contacts. These crystallographic observations of multiple conformations for the hemiphthaloyl group are in general agreement with solution NMR data for the binding of PT523 to hDHFR [Johnson et al. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 4399-4411], which show that the hemiphthaloyl group may adopt more than one conformation. However, the crystallographic data reveal more discretely occupied positions than can be interpreted from the solution data. These results suggest that crystal packing interactions may influence their stability.
Cyclic AMP and the nicotinic response of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.

Abstract The effects of cAMP analogs on the nicotinic responses of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were examined by monitoring nicotine-induced whole cell currents. [3H]norepinephrine release, and membrane conductance changes. None of the three methods revealed an increased nicotinic response after treatment with cAMP analogs. The compounds did increase [3H]norepinephrine release from the cells but the effect was not exerted at the level of nicotinic receptors. Bovine adrenal chromaffin cells differ in this respect from chick ciliary ganglion neurons which do show increased nicotinic responses after treatment with cAMP analogs.
Books vs. articles: Two ways of publishing sociology

Sociologists tend to publish either in the form of articles in scholarly journals or in the form of books. This paper attempts to show that not only do specific university departments have scholarly cultures emphasizing one or the other, but that structural and demographic factors — such as location, public or private status, and size — are correlated with each. Book departments tend to be found at exclusive private universities in or near big cities on both coasts, while article-producing departments tend to be in land grant universities in the South and Midwest. Recognizing that such publication decisions are not purely scientific in nature but are also partially socially constructed ought to allow us to have more diversity in how departments structure their scholarly cultures.
Adaptive web-page content identification

Identifying which parts of a Web-page contain target content (e.g., the portion of an online news page that contains the actual article) is a significant problem that must be addressed for many Web-based applications. Most approaches to this problem involve crafting hand-tailored rules or scripts to extract the content, customized separately for particular Web sites. Besides requiring considerable time and effort to implement, hand-built extraction routines are brittle: they fail to properly extract content in some cases and break when the structure of a site's Web-pages changes. In this work we treat the problem of identifying content as a sequence labeling problem, a common problem structure in machine learning and natural language processing. Using a Conditional Random Field sequence labeling model, we correctly identify the content portion of web-pages anywhere from 80-97% of the time depending on experimental factors such as ensuring the absence of duplicate documents and application of the model against unseen sources.
Electrochemical micropump and its application in a DNA mixing and analysis system

The research work reported in this paper focuses on developing an electrochemical micropump and a DNA mixing and analysis system using the electrochemical pumps for actuation. The micropum consists of two swing-door check valves and an electrochemical pumping chamber. In the prototype system, two micropumps were used to deliver the reagents and DNA samples respectively. The SU-8 based UV-lithography process was used to fabricate the system on a glass substrate.
Effect of molecular orientation on the dielectric properties of spin-coated polyimide films

The effect of molecular orientation on the dielectric properties of spin-coated polymide films has been studied in Situ for pyromellitic dianhydride with 4,4′-oxydianiline (PMDA/ODA) and biphenyldianhydride with p-phenylendiamine (BPDA/PPD). The degree of molecular orientation is characterized by the optical anisotropy between the in-plane and the through-plane, refractive indices. The through-plane dielectric properties are measured by fabricating parallel-plate capacitors directly onto the silicon substrate. Both the birefringence and the dielectric constant of PMDA/ODA polyimide vary with film thickness; however, these properties are independent of film thickness for BPDA/PPD films. To confirm that the measured dielectric constant obtained from the parallel-plate structures is free from a significant edge effect, finite element modeling of the electrstatic potential within the dielectric edge effect, finite element modeling of the electrostatic potential within the dielectric is performed. Models for both isotropic and anisotropic dielectric properties indicated that the fringing effects are indeed negligible for the film thicknesses examined. Thus, the changes observed in the measured dielectric constant are attributed to the variations in the molecular orientation. The optical anisotropy observed for the polyimides suggests a corresponding dielectric anisotropy in the films. An estimation using the Maxwell relation indicates that the dielectric anisotropy at 105 Hz is 0.31 for PMDA/ODA and 0.85 for BPDA/PPD. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effects of amphetamine and amfonelic acid on the disposition of striatal newly synthesized dopamine.

A comparison of the in vivo biochemical actions of the psychotomimetic central stimulants, d-amphetamine (d-AMPH) and amfonelic acid (AFA), on the metabolism of rat striatal newly synthesized [3H]dopamine (DA) was made by pulse labeling with [3H]tyrosine. No evidence for the formation of the alcoholic DA metabolites [3H]3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethanol (MOPET) or [3H]3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol (DOPET) was found in control or drug-treated animals. Both [3H]3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and [3H]homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations were increased by AFA in the presence of haloperidol, while [3H]DA content was decreased. In contrast, d-AMPH, in the presence of haloperidol, decreased [3H]DOPAC and increased [3H]DA, even in monoamine oxidase-blocked rats. Thus monoamine oxidase inhibition did not appear to be a major factor in the action of amphetamine to increase [3H]DA, but cannot be excluded as a contributing factor to the lowering of [3H]DOPAC. Similar actions of d-AMPH were seen on preformed DA. Amphetamine may release newly synthesized DA in such away that some of the release DA enters the neuronal storage system.
Making judgments in a two-sequence cue environment: The effects of differential cue strengths, order sequence, and distraction

Abstract Consumers frequently evaluate multiple sequential cues of varying strengths in order to draw inferences about a product's quality. The results of three experiments show that when consumers are not distracted, they judge a product's quality more favorably following a strong–weak cue sequence relative to a weak–strong sequence (a primacy effect). However once consumers are distracted from the evaluation task, the primacy effect reverses to a recency effect, whereby consumers judge a product's quality more favorably following a weak–strong cue sequence. Process tests suggest that distraction crowds consumers' short-term working memory and inhibits the spontaneous rehearsal and the subsequent recall of the cue presented first in the information sequence.
Substrate binding by crude membranes and solubilized membrane extracts from Pseudomonas natriegens.

A component formed in the membranes ofPseudomonas natriegens during induction to utilization of mannitol orl-arabinose was found to bind the specific inducing substrate. Chloramphenicol inhibited the synthesis of the component. Binding was optimal at 25–30 C in the presence of Na+ and K+. Trypsin, KCN, and N-ethylmaleimide destroyed or suppressed the capacity to bind, but DNase and RNase had little effect. Specific binding was demonstrated by equilibrium dialysis with labeled substrate on one side of the dialysis cell and membranes or alkaline extracts of membranes on the other. Membranes from mannitol-grown cells broke the equilibrium established for C14-labeled mannitol, whereas membranes from cells grown in sea water nutrient broth did not. The substrate was unchanged after binding. Simple alkaline extraction followed by centrifugation at 105,000 ×g for 60 min gave significant purification of the binding component. Specific requirement of Na+ and K+ for substrate binding by alkaline extracts of membranes could not be demonstrated. The binding capacity of the solubilized component in alkaline extracts was destroyed by heating, but was stable to storage at 0 C for several days.
Microwave spectrum and molecular constants of 16 O 18 O

Measurements of millimeter-wave fine-structure transitions and the $n(J)=0(1)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2(1)$ rotational transition of $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ have been made with high precision. From analysis of the results the following molecular constants of $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ were obtained: ${B}_{0}=40707.408(10)$ MHz, ${B}_{1}=\ensuremath{-}0.129$ MHz, ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{0}=59499.097(43)$ MHz, ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{1}=0.05312(80)$ MHz, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}238.488(7)$ MHz, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{1}=\ensuremath{-}0.000619(116)$ MHz, ${B}_{e}=40931.7(6.9)$ MHz, ${r}_{0}=1.210751(16)$ \AA{}, and ${r}_{e}=1.207429(103)$ \AA{}. The equilibrium values were obtained with the aid of vibration-rotation interaction constants from optical spectroscopy.
Energy-Efficient Computations on FPGAs

Recently, energy dissipation for computations on FPGAs has become an important performance metric. In this paper, we summarize our recent efforts in developing an algorithm-level design methodology for optimizing the energy performance of FPGA based implementations. For kernels, our design methodology consists of four steps: domain selection, domain-specific energy modeling, domain-space exploration and low-level simulation. To achieve system-level energy-efficiency, we outline a design methodology that integrates the kernel-level design methodology. Both the design methodologies can be used to achieve not only energy-efficiency but also latency, area, and power efficiency. We consider signal processing kernels as illustrative examples and demonstrate energy and time efficient algorithms and implementations for these on FPGAs. Example energy performance optimization through algorithmic optimizations include the 29--51% improvement in energy performance for a matrix multiplication kernel, 57--78% improvement for a FFT kernel and the 10--60% improvement for a floating-point LU decomposition kernel over state-of-the-art implementations. Similarly, an improvement of 41 to 46% in energy performance was achieved by the system-level design approach over a greedy approach for a MVDR adaptive beamforming application. Finally we briefly describe a high-level tool for obtaining parameterized and energy-efficient designs on FPGAs.
Redox-active polymers by group-transfer polymerization: physical, electrochemical and electronic properties

Abstract A variety of redox-active polymers and copolymers containing N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkyl-1,4-phenylenediamine were synthesized, preferentially based on methacrylates and sorbates. Group-transfer polymerization proved to be the polymerization method of choice, in order to protect the rather sensitive functional groups. Electrochemical studies indicated that oxidation of the redox-active group generally occurred at low oxidation potentials (∼0.25 V vs. SCE), generating stable poly(radical ions). Structural variation of the polymers did not alter the redox behaviour significantly. Owing to their low oxidation potential, the polymers are easily oxidized, or form charge-transfer complexes with many electron acceptors. Whereas the native polymers are insulators, exhibiting electrical conductivities smaller than 10 −12 Ω −1 cm −1 , exposure to iodine yielded materials that absorbed up to 85% iodine (w/w) with conductivities in the range 10−2 to 10 −4 Ω −1 cm −1 . The conductivities measured are virtually equal for all polymers studied, being rather insensitive to the detailed polymer structure.
Refractory trace elements in Ca-Al-rich inclusions in the Allende meteorite

The condensation temperatures are calculated for a number of refractory trace metals from a gas of solar composition at 10−3 and 10−4 atm. total pressure. Instrumental neutron activation analysis of Ca-Al-rich inclusions in the Allende carbonaceous chondrite reveals enrichments of 22.8 ± 2.2 in the concentrations of Ir, Sc and the rare earths relative to Cl chondrites. Such enrichments cannot be due to magmatic differentiation processes because of the marked differences in chemical behavior between Ir and Sc, exhibited by their distributions in terrestrial igneous rocks and meteorites. All of these elements should have condensed from a cooling gas of solar composition above or within the range of condensation temperatures of the major mineral phases of the inclusions, which suggests that these inclusions are high-temperature condensates from the primitive solar nebula. Gas-dust fractionation of these materials may have been responsible for the depletion of refractory elements in the ordinary and enstatite chondrites relative to the carbonaceous chondrites.
Evaluation of self-administered rational emotive therapy programs for interpersonal anxiety

Self-administered rational emotive therapy (RET), withA New Guide to Rational Living (Ellis & Harper, 1975), as the treatment manual, was evaluated by comparing three groups which varied in terms of therapist contact (therapist administered, minimal contact, self-administered). University students who volunteered for the research program involving the treatment of interpersonal anxiety were randomly assigned to one of these treatments or to a wait-list control group. The results for 72 subjects who completed the 5-week program indicated the three treatment groups made significant gains over untreated controls on some of the self-report measures. No between-group differences appeared on ratings by significant others. A four- to five-month follow-up, which obtained data from 41 (58%) of the subjects, provided some support for the maintenance of treatment effects for the therapist administered and minimal contact groups. Correlations of assessed irrational beliefs with outcome measures provided some support for the RET model.
Self-Biased 215MHz Magnetoelectric NEMS Resonator for Ultra-Sensitive DC Magnetic Field Detection

High sensitivity magnetoelectric sensors with their electromechanical resonance frequencies < 200 kHz have been recently demonstrated using magnetostrictive/piezoelectric magnetoelectric heterostructures. In this work, we demonstrate a novel magnetoelectric nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) resonator with an electromechanical resonance frequency of 215 MHz based on an AlN/(FeGaB/Al2O3) × 10 magnetoelectric heterostructure for detecting DC magnetic fields. This magnetoelectric NEMS resonator showed a high quality factor of 735, and strong magnetoelectric coupling with a large voltage tunable sensitivity. The admittance of the magnetoelectric NEMS resonator was very sensitive to DC magnetic fields at its electromechanical resonance, which led to a new detection mechanism for ultra-sensitive self-biased RF NEMS magnetoelectric sensor with a low limit of detection of DC magnetic fields of ~300 picoTelsa. The magnetic/piezoelectric heterostructure based RF NEMS magnetoelectric sensor is compact, power efficient and readily integrated with CMOS technology, which represents a new class of ultra-sensitive magnetometers for DC and low frequency AC magnetic fields.
Admission interviews: questions of utility and cost in masters of physical therapy programs in the United States

Purpose The purpose of this research was twofold. The first purpose was to assess the predictive validity of the interview process in student completion of entry level Masters of Physical Therapy programs on the conventional schedule for the university. The second was to provide a descriptive study of interview formats currently used by these institutions and the cost to the institution, estimated by hours of labor used exclusively for the interview process. Method A questionnaire was mailed to the Director of Admissions of 63 accredited Masters of Physical Therapy programs in the United States. Forty-three responded to the questionnaire for a response rate of 68.3%. Twenty-eight programs (65.1%) performed interviews and fifteen (34.9%) programs did not. Results A two-tailed t-test revealed that no significant difference existed between programs that interview and those that did not with regards to the attrition rate of students. There was great diversity between the programs in interview content and structure. The cost to the institutions in terms of hours averaged 261 hours per school for faculty and support staff combined. Conclusion The schools of physical therapy that award the Masters of Physical Therapy degree vary markedly in the interview content and format both between schools and with recommendations known to enhance validity and reliability. Since, no difference exists in attrition of students between schools that interview and those that do not, the expense and time invested by both the institution and the students are important considerations. The findings of this study indicate the need for continued investigation of the effectiveness of the interview process and alternative methods of valid and reliable student selection. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Some reactive properties of chlorooxirane, a likely carcinogenic metabolite of vinyl chloride

We have carried out a computational study of the reactive properties of chlorooxirane, the metabolically produced epoxide of vinyl chloride that is believed to be a direct-acting carcinogenic form of this molecule. An ab initioSCF-MO procedure (GAUSSIAN 70) was used to compute the energy requirements for stretching the CCl and both CO bonds (SN1 reactivity) and to determine the course of the epoxide's possible SN2 reactions with ammonia, taken as a model for nucleophilic sites on DNA. The epoxide was assumed to be protonated; both the oxygen- and chloro-protonated forms were considered. At each step along the various reaction pathways, the structure of the system was reoptimized. For the oxygen-protonated epoxide, the C1O bond has a significantly lower energy barrier to stretching than does the C2O. (The carbon bearing the chlorine is designated C1.) However, both are very much higher than that of the CCl bond in the chloro-protonated form, confirming our earlier finding of the relative weakness of this bond. In the SN2 processes involving ammonia, intermediate complexes are formed with both carbons of the oxygen-protonated epoxide, the C2-complex being the more stable. However, the most stable ammonia complex occurs at C1 of the chloro-protonated epoxide. Our calculated results, both the energies and also the geometry changes, allow us to propose two possible mechanisms for the formation of the 7-N-(2-oxoethyl) derivative of guanine that has been observed to be the major in vivo DNA alkylation product of vinyl chloride and has been suggested as possibly being responsible for its carcinogenicity. One of these mechanisms is SN1 and starts with the chloro-protonated epoxide; the other is SN2 and involves the oxygen-protonated form.
Effects of client personality on dominance and affiliation during early sessions of rational-emotive psychotherapy

This is a study of effects of client personality on interpersonal presentation during early Rational-Emotive therapy (RET). Independent variables were intake scores for clients from the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI; Millon, 1983). Dependent variables, from audiotapes of sessions at the Institute for RET (IRET), were Revised Interpersonal Adjective Scale (IAS-R; Wiggins, Trapnell and Phillips, 1988) ratings of clients and therapists. Three commonly adaptive axis II traits (histrionic, narcissistic and antisocial) had significant positive effects on clients, increasing their apparent interpersonal dominance. Paranoid traits, which have previously shown either neutral or positive patterns, mirrored the adaptive patterns. Compulsive traits, which have also been helpful in other stressful situations, seemed maladaptive, however, here. Finally, six commonly maladaptive axis II traits (schizoid, avoidant, dependent, passive-aggressive, schizotypal and borderline) had weak, insignificant effects on clients. In general, these findings suggest that the IRET therapeutic setting may be a psychologically “safe” place for clients. Personality traits that are usually troublesome did not impair self presentation in early sessions of RET, and several usually positive traits appear helpful.
An Empirical Estimation of the Investor Loss Function Associated with the Use of Analysts' Forecasts of Earnings

The aggregate investor loss function associated with the use of analysts' forecasts of earnings expresses the relation between loss and prediction error. Prior research suggested that the shape of this loss function should provide guidance in decision rules for investors. This study empirically estimates the investor loss function and finds an asymmetry in the relation between loss and analysts' prediction error. For overestimates of earnings, loss is a quadratic function of error; while for underestimates of earnings, loss is a linear function of error.
The transepithelial transport of a G-CSF-transferrin conjugate in Caco-2 cells and its myelopoietic effect in BDF1 mice.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the transferrin-receptor (TfR)-mediated transepithelial transport of G-CSF-transferrin (Tf) conjugate in cultured enterocyte-like Caco-2 monolayers and the myelopoietic effect of subcutaneously and orally administered G-CSF-Tf in BDF1 mice. Methods. Caco-2 monolayers exhibiting a minimum transepithelial electrical resistance of 500 Ω PYcm2 and BDF1 mice were used as in vitro and in vivo models, respectively. TfR-mediated transcytosis was measured by using 125I-G-CSF-Tf and analyzing the downstream compartment by gamma counter. The efficacy of subcutaneously and orally administered G-CSF-Tf was determined by performing daily absolute neutrophil counts. Results. Transport experiments in Caco-2 cells revealed that the monolayers that received 125I-G-CSF-Tf exhibited significantly higher apical-to-basolateral transport rates compared to the monolayers that received 125I-G-CSF. Inclusion of 100-fold excess unlabeled Tf reduced the extent of 125I-G-CSF-Tf transport by 80%. Chromatographic and bioactivity assays revealed that the protein recovered from the basolateral compartment was the intact conjugate, and it retained full ability to stimulate the proliferation of the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) dependent cell line, NFS-60, upon reduction. Subcutaneous administration of G-CSF-Tf in BDF1 mice demonstrated that the conjugate is able to elicit a statistically significant enhancement in therapeutic effect relative to filgrastim, which includes a longer duration of action with higher absolute neutrophil counts. Oral administration of G-CSF-Tf in BDF1 mice demonstrated that G-CSF-Tf is able to elicit a significant, and apparently dose-dependent, increase in absolute neutrophil counts whereas filgrastim had no effect. Conclusions. Our data indicate that G-CSF-Tf is transported across Caco-2 monolayers by TfR-specific processes at a rate that is significantly higher than the nonspecific flux of G-CSF. G-CSF-Tf is also able to elicit a prolonged myelopoietic effect relative to filgrastim when administered subcutaneously or orally in BDF1 mice. The development of an orally bioavailable G-CSF has the potential to provide great benefit to patients under sustained G-CSF dosing regimes.
Crowding out and the rate of return on capital in Japan

Abstract It is often argued that a crowding out of capital must be accompanied by a rise in the rate of return on capital and in the interest rate. This paper demonstrates that this does not need to be the case by showing that the hypothesis of a crowding out of capital in Japan during the 1990s is consistent with a fall in the rate of return on capital and in the interest rate. In the model economy constructed in the paper, persistent increases in government debt which crowd out capital also induce a decline in the price of existing capital goods. This decline leads to capital losses. When these capital losses are large enough to offset increases in the marginal product of capital stemming from the fall in the stock of capital, the rate of return on capital will fall. Numerical exercises suggest that the crowding out of capital contributed to the decline in the rate of return of capital observed in Japan during the 1990s.
Evidence for zonally-trapped propagating waves in the eastern atlantic from satellite sea surface temperature observations

It has been hypothesized (Moore et al., 1978; O'Brien et al., 1978), that equatorial upwelling and subsequent coastal upwelling on the eastern boundary of the Atlantic Ocean are the result of eastward propagating equatorially trapped Kelvin waves in the Atlantic. Concurrent satellite and ship sea surface temperature observations taken during the GATE experiment permit validation of the satellite data as well as relating sea surface temperature (SST) variability to the local current dynamics. A method based on cross-correlations and cross-spectra of the SST field at various locations is utilized to test the Kelvin wave hypothesis. Significant periodic variation of time lags in the SST variability in the eastern Atlantic is observed by the spectral techniques. Satellite data for the 1974 summer show periodic variability which fits either eastward or westward propagating waves with 1 m s-1 phase speed, i.e., SST supports the quasi-continuous presence of Kelvin or Yanai waves. We find no evidence for a seasonally solitary eastward propagating signal in the eastern Atlantic from SST.
Micro-Scale Velocity Measurements Using Molecular Tagging Velocimetry: Methodology and Uncertainty

Micro-scale fluidic devices are now being designed and manufactured for a host of new applications, and it is certain that new applications will emerge. There is, therefore, a need for increased understanding of the momentum transport phenomena at this scale to aid in the understanding, and design and optimization of such devices. This need is behind the development of new techniques for making flow measurements at the micro-scale. Molecular Tagging Velocimetry (MTV) is a laser-based non-intrusive technique for obtaining detailed measurements of velocity profiles. This paper reports on the extension of the method to microtubes of inside diameter of order 100 µm. Fully developed velocity profile measurements are reported here for a Reynolds number of about 140 in a capillary of inside diameter 148 µm. Two image analysis techniques were compared—the line center method, and the correlation method. It was found that the correlation method produced better results and smaller overall uncertainty. Volumetric flow rate determined from integration of the measured velocity profiles agree with accumulation measurements made over a specified time interval to within 3%; the agreement was usually 1–2%. This work reports on the difficulties encountered in applying MTV at these physical scales, the influence of measurement and analysis parameters on results, and the uncertainty associated with measurements.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Estrogen-induced changes in the microtubular system correlate with a decreased susceptibility of aging neurons to beta amyloid neurotoxicity

A growing body of evidence suggests that estrogen has beneficial effects on Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanisms underlying estrogen's neuroprotective effects are not completely understood. In the present study, we analyzed first whether estrogen protects mature hippocampal neurons against fibrillar Abeta-induced neurotoxicity. 17alpha-Estradiol and 17beta-estradiol partially prevented neuronal death induced by fibrillar Abeta. Estrogen-induced neuroprotection correlated with the formation of a more dynamic microtubular system, including an increase in the pool of unstable microtubules and the expression of juvenile microtubule-associated proteins MAP2c and MAP1b. These results provide further evidence that experimental conditions capable of increasing the pool of unstable microtubules might render mature hippocampal neurons resistant to the degeneration caused by fibrillar Abeta deposits.