cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmaceutical pricing, price controls, and their effects on pharmaceutical sales and research and development expenditures in the European Union.

Abstract Background Each country in the European Union (EU) currently employs direct price controls or permutations of direct price controls, such as reference pricing or limitations on returns to capital. Some countries also use volume controls. A new proposal that is being discussed would have all of the countries in the EU adopt uniform pricing for each pharmaceutical. Objective This paper analyzes the economic effects of free-market pricing individual-country price controls, and uniform EU price controls. Methods Microeconomic and mathematical models were used to simulate and predict probable economic outcomes in a comparative static setting. Results Price controls may be in the form of price ceilings or price floors. Both forms of price control generate deadweight economic losses in the short run and long run. A uniform EU price for each pharmaceutical sold there would have elements of a price ceiling in some of the countries and of a price floor in other countries. The deadweight loss incurred would be a function of the level at which the uniform price was set by the EU and the price elasticity of demand for each pharmaceutical in each country. Conclusions Economic efficiency is maximized in both the short run and long run when prices are set in freely competitive markets. An additional important dimension of Ramsey pricing within a competitive context is that it generates funds for investment in pharmaceutical research and development, which enhances economic efficiency in the long run.
The Poisoning of Impregnated Cathodes

ABSTRACT The poisoning of barium— calcium aluminate impregnated tungsten cathodes by various gases has been investigated experimentally. It is shown that oxygen, water vapour, carbon dioxide and air poison these cathodes, while carbon monoxide, nitrogen and hydrogen do not. Poisoning takes place with the former gases if a critical pressure, depending on the gas is exceeded, this pressure increasing with cathode temperature. For a normal operating temperature of 1100° c the approximate critical pressures for the gases are as follows: O2 10−1mm, H20 3x I0−6 mm, C0210−6mm and air 5 x 10mm. Cathodes with two different porosities of tungsten show somewhat different poisoning characteristics. The amount of poisoning increases rapidly with the pressure when once the critical pressure pois exceeded, an equilibrium value of the emission poisoning ratio dependent on plp0 being reached. For very severe poisoning, tho reactivation time increases with the time the cathode has been held in the poisoned condition, but f...
The genesis of an editorial policy

With the merger of AIEE and IRE in 1963, a reappraisal of existing editorial policy was undertaken which resulted in the birth of a new journal and a serviceable publications policy for the voice of IEEE At the time of the merger of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers the two Institutes were producing 39 separate publications, which included the Proceedings of the IRE; Electrical Engineering; the three AIEE Bimonthlies — Power Apparatus and Systems, Applications and Industry, and Communication and Electronics; the annual bound volumes of these, entitled the AIEE Transactions; the 30 Professional Group Transactions of the IRE; the IRE Convention Record; and EE Digest and the IRE Student Journal for the student members of the two organizations. The circulation of these various journals ran from a few hundred to over 100 000, and among them all but the Proceedings were subsidized in some way.
Inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase rescues influenza epitope-specific human cytolytic T lymphocytes from activation-induced cell death.

Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) play an important role in defense against viral infections. Following clonal expansion and effector functions, a vast majority of the antigen-specific CTL undergoes programmed cell death to maintain homeostasis. We have shown earlier that melanoma epitope-specific CTL are quite sensitive to activation-induced cell death (AICD) even on the secondary encounter of the antigen. Excessive sensitivity of viral antigen-specific CTL to AICD, however, would be counterproductive. It might be argued that although CTL for a "self" epitope might be more prone to AICD for maintaining self-tolerance, viral antigen-specific CTL are likely to be less sensitive to AICD. We show here that influenza matrix protein-derived MP 58-66 epitope-specific CTL, activated in vitro and bearing a memory phenotype, are just as sensitive to AICD. The AICD in these CTL is not blocked by the pan-caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe)-fluoromethylketone or by soluble Ig-Fc chimeras of the death receptors [Fas, TNF receptor (TNF-R), TRAIL-RI, TRAIL-RII]. However, the MP 58-66 -specific CTL can be rescued from AICD by the c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125. These results have implications for immunotherapeutic intervention in rescuing viral epitope-specific CTL from AICD.
Temperature dependence of the electron-hole-liquid luminescence in Si

Detailed measurements and line-shape fits of the combined LO- and TO-phonon assisted electron-hole condensate luminescence lines from laser-excited, high-purity Si are reported in the temperature range from 2.2 to 13.0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. These data permit a determination of the liquid density $n$, chemical potential $\ensuremath{\mu}$, the Fermi energy ${E}_{F}$, and the work function $\ensuremath{\varphi}$, as functions of temperature. Fitting of these data to the ${T}^{2}$ dependence expected from Fermi-liquid theory gives $n(T)=[3.33\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03\ensuremath{-}(1.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}{T}^{2}]\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{18}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$; $\ensuremath{\mu}(T)=[(1088.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1)+\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{}\mathrm{h}}^{\mathrm{TO}}\ensuremath{-}(5.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}{T}^{2}]$ meV; ${E}_{F}(T)=[22.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1\ensuremath{-}(8.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}{T}^{2}]$ meV; and $\ensuremath{\varphi}(T)=[8.21\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1+(5.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}{T}^{2}]$ meV, where $T$ is in degrees Kelvin, and $\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{}\mathrm{h}}^{\mathrm{TO}}$ is the energy of the TO phonon assisting in the recombination. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the density gives a value for the second derivative of the ground-state energy per pair with respect to a density of 4.9 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}37}$ meV ${\mathrm{cm}}^{6}$. The value of the density and work function at zero temperature, and the values of the coefficients of the various ${T}^{2}$ terms are compared with various theoretical calculations.
Research and Application of Drilling Technology of Extended-reach Horizontally-intersected Well Used to Extract Coalbed Methane

Abstract The extended-reach horizontally-intersected well used to extract coalbed methane (CBM)can increase reservoir contact area, extend the influence scope of drainage-pressure drop and the district of CBM desorption. Furthermore, the extended-reach horizontally-intersected well can enhance unit well output and create favorable conditions for future workover. With the support of Major Projects of National Science and Technology, the research on key technologies of extended-reach horizontally-intersected well is done through theoretical analysis and experiment, the concrete research content includes selection of target formation and design of casing program, choice of survey instruments, research on the bottom hole assembly design and technique of steering wellpath, research on drilling fluid and extended-reach horizontally-intersected technology. As engineering examples of popularization and application of extended-reach horizontally-intersected well, a “U” shape well group located in Sihe mine field of Qinshui Basin and a “V” shape cluster well group located in Dafosi coal mine of Binchang mining area have been constructed successfully by using the integrated technologies.
Theory of two-phonon Raman spectrum of diamond

The Raman spectrum of diamond in the high-frequency part of the two-phonon region is investigated. An interpretation of the sharp line at the two-phonon cutoff as a simple overtone is supported in terms of a harmonic model for the potential and a bond polarizability approximation for the scattering Hamiltonian. Polarization features as well as the anomalous position and width of the peak are discussed and interpreted, giving general agreement between theory and experiment. A comparison is made with the Raman spectrum of silicon, and differences in the spectra are accounted for by a different behavior of the dispersion relation along $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ for the two lattices, which has its origin in the greater angle-stiffness forces in diamond, ultimately due to greater covalency in diamond. A new set of critical points for the LO branch of diamond is also proposed.
Wave propagation in optical systems with large apertures

The Kirchhoff-Huygens equation is used to investigate wave propagation in optical systems, with large propagation Fresnel numbers NF and aperture-to-length ratios (a/L) which are not small. The limit of applicability of the Fresnel approximation is analytically established for a thin rectangular aperture. It is shown that the error introduced by the Fresnel approximation to the Kirchhoff integral is comparable to the effects of diffraction, computed by the approximation, times the dimensionless parameter πNF(a/2L)2.
Synthesis of heterometallic butterfly carbide clusters containing three different metals: (PPN)[Fe2CoM(dmpm)(CO)11C] (MMo or W)

Abstract Cluster building reactions with the phosphine-substituted ketenylidene cluster (PPN)[Fe 2 Co(dmpm)(CO) 7 CCO] ( 1 ) provide a route to four-metal carbide clusters containing three different metals. The new clusters have the general formula (PPN)[Fe 2 CoM(dmpm)(CO) 11 C] (MMo ( 2a ), W ( 2b )) and were characterized by IR spectroscopy, variable temperature NMR spectroscopy, FAB mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and, for MW, a single crystal X-ray structure. The structure of (PPN)[Fe 2 CoW(dmpm)(CO) 11 C] ( 2b ) consists of a ‘butterfly’ arrangement of the four metals around the carbide. The tungsten atom is located on the hinge, the cobalt atom is at one wingtip, and the dmpm ligand spans the cobalt-tungsten bond. Mechanisms for the formation of these products are discussed. Crystal data for 2b : space group P 1 , a =9.458(4), b =15.408(6), c =19.472(9) A, α=73.73(4), β=76.52(3), γ=83.56(3)°, V =2646(3) A 3 , Z =2.
Discount Ratio Effect and Mental Accounting in Money Saving Decisions

The discount ratio effect, a systematic devaluation of savings as the ratio of the present to discounted values decreases, was demonstrated in the classic “Jacket and Calculator” problem by Kahneman and Tversky (1984). The effect is a clear violation of economics principle of fungibility for money. A specific type of mental accounting is considered to be responsible for this effect (Kahneman & Tversky, 1984). Our recent study suggested that the discount ratio effect diminishes when savings are in the context of intertemporal choices (Wang, 2004). The present research further explored some antecedent conditions of the discount ratio effect, and examined reasons for participants' purchasing decisions. Results showed that interactions between ratio of savings and delay were not consistent but dependent on the content of the purchase (books vs. cell phones). Participants were more likely to spend effort on savings for hedonic purposes in high discount ratio conditions and for utilitarian purposes in low disco...
A Psychological Education Curriculum for Immigrant Adolescents.

This article describes a psychological education curriculum, “Cross-Cultural Experiences,” directed to immigrant adolescents. It was taught as one part of a doctoral research study that looked into immigrants' ego development, moral reasoning, and identity. The major underlying assumption was that the immigrant adolescents were no different from their American-born contemporaries in these developmental processes. It was hypothesized that the experimental curriculum would stimulate their psychological development. This article discusses implications of the findings for counselors, educators, and social scientists.
PROBING SINGLE ICAM-1/LFA-1 INTERACTION UNDER EXTERNAL FORCE

RESULTS. The LFA-1/ICAM-1 bond was stretched by the cantilever until it finally ruptured, resulting in a sharp transition in the force-displacement curve. The measured unbinding force of the complex was derived from the magnitude of this transition. The unbinding of the LFA1/ICAM-1 complex by the application of external forces was examined in the context of the Bell model[4]. In this model, an applied force distorts the energy landscape of the LFA-1/ICAM-1 complex resulting in a lowering of the activation barrier(s). The AFM force measurements revealed two activation barriers in the dissociation of the LFA-1/ICAM-1 complex. The outer energy barrier was obtained at the slow loading regime of 10 to 10,000 pN/s. The for the dissociation of the low affinity LFA-1/ICAM-1 complex in this loading regime was 2 s , whereas the -1
Spectroscopy of buried interfaces

Abstract The options for electronic and vibrational spectroscopy of buried interfaces are investigated. It is shown how to combine the penetrating nature of photons with the breakdown of symmetry selection rules at an interface for penetrating many atomic layers, while still being able to detect the signal from a single interface layer.
Economies of Scale and Scope in Turkish Universities

The study reported in this paper examines the collegiate production and cost structures of the entire population of 28 universities in Turkey in order to estimate their degrees of economies of scale and scope. Multi-product cost functions are used to determine the most efficient level and product mix for differing types of colleges and for each individual university in Turkey. Three clusters of collegiate fields (i.e. the social, health and engineering sciences) are examined across 186 college faculties within 28 universities through the use of a four-output (i.e. undergraduate teaching, master and dactoral graduate levels of instruction and research productivity) quadratic cost function. At the collegiate level, both ray and product-specific econoies of scale and economies of scope are estimated. Estimates are given as to the most efficient level and mix of all outputs. The findings should help policy-makers in Turkey to determine whether some higher education institutions cad reap efficiences by an expa...
Strongyloides stercoralis: The First Rodent Model for Uncomplicated and Hyperinfective Strongyloidiasis, the Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Strongyloidiasis is the most common endemic helminthiasis in several of the world's industrialized nations, yet relatively little is known about its basic biology and immunobiology because a practical rodent model for the investigation of this clinically important parasitism is lacking. This study reports such a model for use in the investigation of Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Normal male gerbils infected subcutaneously with 1000 infective filariform larvae harbored moderate numbers (83.6 +/- 27.6) of adult worms at 35 days after infection, and a low-grade infection persisted for at least 131 days mimicking the chronicity of human infections. Gerbils treated weekly with 2 mg of methylprednisolone acetate developed hyperinfective strongyloidiasis with up to 8000 autoinfective larvae occurring in these animals at postinfection day 21. Autoinfection never occurred in normal (untreated) gerbils.
Parametric spin excitations in lateral quantum dots

In this work, the spin dynamics of a single electron under parametric modulation of a lateral quantum dot's electrostatic potential in the presence of spin-orbit coupling is investigated. Numerical and theoretical calculations demonstrate that, by squeezing and/or moving the electron's wave function, spin rotations with Rabi frequencies on the order of tens of megahertz can be achieved with experimentally accessible parameters in both parabolic and square lateral quantum dots. Applications of parametric excitations for determining spin-orbit coupling parameters and for increasing the spin polarization in the electronic ground are demonstrated.
Random walk of magnetic lines of force in astrophysics.

Magnetic field lines of force random walk and astrophysical magnetic fields random fluctuations, noting interplanetary magnetic field and solar photosphere turbulence
Not created equal: Institutional constraints and the democratic peace

A prominent explanation for the democratic peace is that democracies are by institutional design less likely to go to war than autocracies. In this review essay of the institutional constraints literature, we draw on research in comparative politics and other disciplines to suggest there is more intra-regime variation than generally accounted for by standard theories, encouraging scholars to revisit how constraints have been conceptualized. The prowess some democrats display in circumventing constitutional restrictions or shaping public opinion, and the ability of certain groups to limit autocrats’ actions, may have a significant impact on executive power in war, and we suggest that exploring these potential sources of variation in future research will lead to a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between regime type and interstate conflict.
Procedure for determination of d-amino acids☆

Abstract Through the use of highly purified d -amino acid oxidase and ionexchange chromatography a procedure has been developed for the determination of certain d -amino acids in the presence of their l -isomers. The method is particularly useful for the analysis of samples which contain relatively large quantities of d -amino acids and is not applicable to samples containing only trace amounts.
Microwave assisted coal conversion

Abstract This work presents initial results for small scale microwave assisted, low temperature and low pressure conversion of coal to heavy hydrocarbons (pyrolysis oils) in the presence of methane. These heavy hydrocarbons can subsequently be upgraded to liquid transportation fuels, including gasoline, jet, and diesel. Benchmark testing was performed to establish a baseline for the conventional method of pyrolysis oils production from coal. A microwave reactor for experimental demonstration was designed and built. Methane was added directly to the coal in the reactor, where the microwave energy was applied. Testing with Pittsburgh-8 coal has shown that the maximum oils yield under microwave and methane conditions was higher than 40%, representing more than a 100% increase in oils yield compared to benchmark testing. Test results also demonstrated that under microwave and methane conditions the oils yield from Black Thunder coal increased by almost four times reaching 25% at ∼800 °C. Analysis of char collected in microwave testing has shown that the carbon content in char was ∼80%, making char a valuable fuel.
ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT BY DISULFIRAM AND COMMUNITY REINFORCEMENT THERAPY

Traditional disulfiram treatment has often been ineffective because of a failure to maintain usage. The present study with 43 alcoholics compared: (1) a traditional disulfiram treatment, (2) a socially motivated Disulfiram Assurance program and (3) a Disulfiram Assurance program combined with reinforcement therapy. About five sessions were given for each program. At the 6-month follow-up, the traditional treatment clients were drinking on most days and no longer taking the medication. The Disulfiram Assurance treatment resulted in almost total sobriety for married or (cohabitating) clients but had little benefit for the single ones. The combined program produced near-total sobriety for the single and married clients. These results indicate a promising integration of chemical, psychological and social treatment of alcoholism.
Silicon germanium oxide (SixGe1-xOy) infrared material for uncooled infrared detection

Thin film Si x Ge 1-x O y infrared sensitive material was grown by RF magnetron sputtering, by depositing Si and Ge thin film simultaneously from two deposition targets in an oxygen (O) and argon environment at room temperature and at 400°C. Film composition was varied by adjusting RF power applied to the silicon target and by varying the oxygen flow of the gas mixture in the deposition chamber. The atomic compositions of Si, Ge, and O in the deposited thin film were determined and analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The influence of changing Ge and Si and O compositions on temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), and resistivity were studied. Different fabrication scenarios have been used to vary the Ge, Si and O concentrations. The highest achieved TCRs and the corresponding resistivities at room temperature were -4.86 %/K and -6.43 %/K, and 2.45×10 2 Ω cm and 3.34×10 2 Ω cm using Si 0.195 Ge 0.706 O 0.099 and Si 0.127 Ge 0.835 O 0.038 for films deposited at room temperature and at 400 o C, respectively.
Effects of predation by sea-run juvenile alewise (Alosa pseudoharengus) on the zooplankton community at Hamilton Reservoir, Rhode Island

The zooplankton of Mill Pond and Hamilton Reservoir in the Annaquatucket River drainage system, North Kingstown, R.I., were compared. While the taxonomic composition of the heleoplankton of the two ponds was similar, the ponds differed in dominant species of Cladocera, distribution of species during the year, and abundance of each taxonomic group. These differences are attributed to the abundance of juvenile Alosa pseudoharengus in Hamilton Reservoir. Overexploitation of food resources is the probable cause of reduced growth of juvenile alewives from Hamilton Reservoir.
Decreased risk of radiation pneumonitis with incidental concurrent use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and thoracic radiation therapy

Purpose Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to mitigate radiation-induced lung injury in preclinical models. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ACE inhibitors decrease the risk of radiation pneumonitis in lung cancer patients receiving thoracic irradiation. Methods and Materials Patients with Stage I through III small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancer treated definitively with radiation from 2004–2009 at the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. Acute pulmonary toxicity was quantified within 6 months of completion of treatment according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4. The use of ACE inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inhaled glucocorticosteroids, statins, and angiotensin receptor blockers; dose–volume histogram parameters; and patient factors were assessed for association with Grade 2 or higher pneumonitis. Results A total of 162 patients met the criteria for inclusion. The majority of patients had Stage III disease (64%) and received concurrent chemotherapy (61%). Sixty-two patients were identified as ACE inhibitor users (38%). All patients had acceptable radiation plans based on dose–volume histogram constraints (V20 [volume of lung receiving at least 20 Gy] ≤37% and mean lung dose ≤20 Gy) with the exception of 2 patients who did not meet both criteria. Grade 2 or higher pulmonary toxicity occurred in 12 patients (7.4%). The rate of Grade 2 or higher pneumonitis was lower in ACE inhibitor users vs. nonusers (2% vs. 11%, p = 0.032). Rates of Grade 2 or higher pneumonitis were significantly increased in patients aged greater than 70 years (16% vs. 2%, p = 0.005) or in whom V5 (volume of lung receiving at least 5 Gy) was 50% or greater (13% vs. 4%, p = 0.04). V10 (volume of lung receiving at least 10 Gy), V20, V30 (volume of lung receiving at least 30 Gy), and mean lung dose were not independently associated with Grade 2 or higher pneumonitis. Conclusion ACE inhibitors may decrease the incidence of radiation pneumonitis in patients receiving thoracic radiation for lung cancer. These findings are consistent with preclinical evidence and should be prospectively evaluated.
Upregulation of tissue factor in monocytes by cleaved high molecular weight kininogen is dependent on TNF-α and IL-1β

Inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis are associated with contact activation that results in cleavage of kininogen to form high molecular weight kininogen (HKa) and bradykinin. We have previously demonstrated that HKa can stimulate inflammatory cytokine and chemokine secretion from human monocytes. We now show that HKa can upregulate tissue factor antigen and procoagulant activity on human monocytes as a function of time (1–4 h) and HKa concentration (75–900 nM). The amino acid sequence responsible to block HKa effects is G440–H455. The HKa receptor macrophage-1 (Mac-1; CD11b18) is the binding site as shown by inhibition by a monoclonal antibody to CD11b/18. Chemical inhibitors of JNK, ERK, and p38 signaling pathways block cell signaling, as does an inhibitor to the transcription factor NF-κB. A combination of monoclonal antibodies to TNF-α and IL-1β but neither alone inhibited the HKa induction of tissue factor. These results suggest that HKa mimics LPS by triggering a paracrine pathway in monocytes that depends on TNF-α and IL-1β. Antibodies to kininogen or peptidomimetics might be a useful and safe therapy in inflammatory diseases or sepsis involving cytokines.
RECOVERY OF Salmonella FROM MILK CHOCOLATE USING A CHEMICALLY DEFINED MEDIUM AND FIVE NONDEFINED BROTHS

The efficiency of various pre-enrichment media for recovering Salmonella from milk chocolate was determined for the minimal, chemically defined M-9 medium and for nonfat dry milk with brilliant green dye (NFDM-BG), NFDM with crystal violet dye, lactose broth, trypticase soy broth and buffered peptone water (BPW). Pre-enrichment in NFDM-BG or BPW, incubated at 35°C, consistently gave the highest Salmonella MPNs, However, incubation of these pre-enrichment media or the two selective enrichment media, selenite cystine and tetrathionate, at 43°C resulted in lower Salmonella recoveries. Use of the optimal enrichment and incubation conditions established for recovering Salmonella from milk chocolate resulted in more effective recovery of nonstressed cells than heat-stressed cells from a variety of chocolate and chocolate-substitute products.
Optical absorption and localization of eigenmodes in disordered clusters.

Results of a large-scale computational project for the calculation of the dispersion relations of eigenmodes (surface plasmons) and optical-absorption spectra of disordered clusters (fractal and uncorrelated) are reported. Fractals (cluster-cluster aggregates and the random-walk clusters, both original and diluted) and random-gas clusters consisting of 100--300 monomers are studied. High-accuracy results of Monte Carlo simulations are obtained. Transition of the eigenmodes from extremely localized to fully delocalized is found. Scaling of the dispersion relation of the eigenmodes, i.e., their localization radius or coherence length as a function of the spectral variable [ital X], predicted earlier is quantitatively confirmed for diluted clusters. In contrast to the dispersion relations, the absorption spectra as functions of [ital X] do not show pronounced scaling in the intermediate region, but scale in the binary (spectral-wing) region. We suggest a new plot for the absorption profiles, namely absorption as a function of the coherence length of excitations. In such plots for most clusters, scaling is pronounced, but the indices differ dramatically from the predictions of the strong-localization theory. Possible reasons for the observed behavior are discussed.
Analysis of proton channeling by lead fluoride

Abstract Recent proton axial channeling measurements have endeavored to help explain the fast-ionic conduction mechanism of PbF2, but lattice location programs have been unavailable. As a start on this problem, and for the CaF2 structure in general, a computer simulation of angular scans is described in which thermally spread string potentials are used to establish the potential fields across, respectively, the (100) and (110) planes. The particle flux calculations assume statistical equilibrium. The axial channeling angular scan half-widths as a function of temperature give quite good agreement with experiment, but the apparent disappearance of 〈100〉-axis channeling at T > 700 K is not yet explained.
A modal decomposition approach to distributed observation and control for grid integration of renewable generation

To enable renewable generation to fully contribute to reliable grid operation with higher levels of penetration, it is important that such resources contribute to grid control, including faster time scale active power control that is valuable to small-signal electromechanical stability. However, given the small size and distributed nature of many renewables, it is unrealistic to assume that they will employ the type of centrally coordinated control schemes typical of large, central station synchronous generators. This paper proposes a distributed control design approach that allows each distributed renewable generator or energy storage device to be responsible for improving damping of a single oscillatory electromechanical mode. The consequence is that one may employ a static state feedback design (a classic LQ design is employed here) that requires information of state behavior only within a two-dimension invariant subspace associated with the mode of interest. Using a modal-focused Hautus matrix test of obervability, we develop simple tests to establish grid buses from which a desired mode may be most effectively observed from either local frequency measurement, or from a local measurement plus a single remote phasor measurement unit (PMU) signal. In this framework, the state information required may then be recovered by a Luenberger observer of as little as second order. That is, the local, distributed controller on a given renewable generator or energy storage device uses only one or two measurements, may be as simple as second order, and yet contributes to the system objective of improving modal damping.
LUMINESCENT AND TUNABLE 3D PHOTONIC CRYSTAL STRUCTURES

We report an investigation of luminescent and tunable photonic crystal structures formed by the infiltration and inversion of opal templates with high index and luminescent materials. Protocols are reported for the deposition of these materials and the properties of the resulting structures investigated by conventional structural and optical measurements. The properties of multi-layered and backfilled structures are reported and demonstrate the potential to modulate and statically tune the luminescence from photonic crystals.
Steps/day translation of the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity guideline for children and adolescents

An evidence-based steps/day translation of U.S. federal guidelines for youth to engage in ≥60 minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) would help health researchers, practitioners, and lay professionals charged with increasing youth’s physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to determine the number of free-living steps/day (both raw and adjusted to a pedometer scale) that correctly classified children (6–11 years) and adolescents (12–17 years) as meeting the 60-minute MVPA guideline using the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) accelerometer data, and to evaluate the 12,000 steps/day recommendation recently adopted by the President’s Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program. Analyses were conducted among children (n = 915) and adolescents (n = 1,302) in 2011 and 2012. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve plots and classification statistics revealed candidate steps/day cut points that discriminated meeting/not meeting the MVPA threshold by age group, gender and different accelerometer activity cut points. The Evenson and two Freedson age-specific (3 and 4 METs) cut points were used to define minimum MVPA, and optimal steps/day were examined for raw steps and adjusted to a pedometer-scale to facilitate translation to lay populations. For boys and girls (6–11 years) with ≥ 60 minutes/day of MVPA, a range of 11,500–13,500 uncensored steps/day for children was the optimal range that balanced classification errors. For adolescent boys and girls (12–17) with ≥60 minutes/day of MVPA, 11,500–14,000 uncensored steps/day was optimal. Translation to a pedometer-scaling reduced these minimum values by 2,500 step/day to 9,000 steps/day. Area under the curve was ≥84% in all analyses. No single study has definitively identified a precise and unyielding steps/day value for youth. Considering the other evidence to date, we propose a reasonable ‘rule of thumb’ value of ≥ 11,500 accelerometer-determined steps/day for both children and adolescents (and both genders), accepting that more is better. For practical applications, 9,000 steps/day appears to be a more pedometer-friendly value.
Retrospective Forecasts of the Hurricane Season Using a Global Atmospheric Model Assuming Persistence of SST Anomalies

Abstract Retrospective predictions of seasonal hurricane activity in the Atlantic and east Pacific are generated using an atmospheric model with 50-km horizontal resolution by simply persisting sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies from June through the hurricane season. Using an ensemble of 5 realizations for each year between 1982 and 2008, the correlations of the model mean predictions with observations of basin-wide hurricane frequency are 0.69 in the North Atlantic and 0.58 in the east Pacific. In the North Atlantic, a significant part of the degradation in skill as compared to a model forced with observed SSTs during the hurricane season (correlation of 0.78) can be explained by the change from June through the hurricane season in one parameter, the difference between the SST in the main development region and the tropical mean SST. In fact, simple linear regression models with this one predictor perform nearly as well as the full dynamical model for basin-wide hurricane frequency in both the east...
Systematic review of the comparative effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs for fibromyalgia.

Abstract Fibromyalgia is a difficult-to-treat chronic pain syndrome that affects 2% of the US population. Pregabalin is an antiepileptic recently FDA approved for fibromyalgia treatment. Other antiepileptics have been suggested for treatment. This systematic review examines the relative benefits and harms of antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of fibromyalgia. A literature search was conducted and 8 studies matched criteria (7 studies of pregabalin, 1 of gabapentin). Both drugs reduced mean pain scores more than placebo at a modest rate (pregabalin, 38% to 50%; gabapentin, 51%). In a 6-month trial of pregabalin responders, 32% continued to have response at 6 months, with a mean time to loss of response of 34 days. Compared to placebo, the drugs had similarly high rates of adverse events and withdrawals. Without a head-to-head trial it is not possible to conclude if 1 antiepileptic is more effective or harmful than the other, although limited evidence suggests potential differences. Future studies must directly compare the drugs, include a more broadly defined population, examine long term benefits and harms, and include cointerventions. We conclude that pregabalin and gabapentin are modestly effective for the treatment of fibromyalgia but that their long-term safety and efficacy remain unknown. Perspective This systematic review evaluates the benefits and harms of using the antiepileptic drugs gabapentin and pregabalin for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Conclusions from this paper can help clinicians to more effectively treat the pain associated with fibromyalgia.
Determination of the CoTi congruent melting point and thermodynamic reassessment of the Co-Ti system

New experimental results and a thermodynamic re-evaluation of the Co-Ti system are presented. Using differential thermal analysis (DTA) and a visual observation-of-melting (VOM) technique, the ≈220 K inconsistency in melting temperature in the literature for the B2 (CoTi) phase is resolved. The congruent melting point is determined to be 1776±5 K. The revised B2 melting temperature, along with other critically reviewed thermochemical and phase-equilibria data from the literature, are used to reassess the thermodynamic description of the Co-Ti system. As a result, a self-consistent set of optimized Gibbs-energy expressions for all CoTi phases is obtained.
Quantitative Areal Analysis of Dialect Features.

Traditional notions of dialect are qualitative, and perceived dialects are difficult to reconcile with the evidence of actual production of dialect feature. Traditional dialect boundaries are similarly tied to qualitative judgements. More recently, various quantitative approaches have been attempted to try to capture dialect boundaries, each with its won problems. We have achieved some success with an objective quantitative analysis of separate dialect features from the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States (LAMSAS). Our findings suggest that a mathematical modeling of areal variation of dialect features, combined with a reassessment of traditional notions of dialect, could contribute to our knowledge of language, as well as document regional differences at the time of the LAMSAS survey.
Sinonasal esthesioneuroblastoma with intracranial extension: marginal tumor cysts as a diagnostic MR finding.

PURPOSE To determine whether the MR finding of cysts along the intracranial margin of sinonasal esthesioneuroblastomas can be considered to suggest this tumor. METHODS MR scans of 54 patients who had sinonasal lesions with intracranial extension were examined specifically for cysts along the intracranial margins of the lesions. RESULTS Only 3 of the 54 patients had these cysts, and all 3 of these patients had esthesioneuroblastoma. Surgical pathologic findings of one specimen showed the cyst to be marginally located within the tumor. CONCLUSION If cysts are seen on MR along the intracranial margin of a sinonasal mass, this finding highly suggests esthesioneuroblastoma.
A flow through porous media model for pore pressure during heating of polymer-matrix composites

Abstract During heating of moisture saturated polymer composites that are damaged and has an interconnected pore network, the water from the damaged composite evaporates into the interconnected pore network and induces pore vapor pressure as it escapes out of the material. The model proposed by Sullivan and Stokes [A model for the effusion of water in carbon phenolic composites. Mech Mater 1997;26:197–207] is adopted to study the evolution of pore pressure in such a composite and is applied to study the pore pressure generated in a moisture saturated plate exposed to dry air and subjected to various heating rates. It is shown that the maximum pore vapor pressure, which occurs at the center of the plate for isothermal heating conditions, depends only on two dimensionless parameters; the porosity ϕ and the normalized heating rate τ = T ˙ L 2 μ ( T 0 ) / ( T 0 kp 0 ) , where T ˙ is the heating rate, L is the plate thickness, T0 is the initial temperature, k is the material permeability, μ(T0) and p0 are the vapor viscosity and saturated vapor pressure at the initial temperature, respectively. An exact self-similar solution of the non-linear equation is obtained for the special case of rapid heating of a thick plate. This solution is useful in understanding the short time behavior of pore pressure evolution and is used to check our numerical results.
Airborne dust transport to the eastern Pacific Ocean off southern California: Evidence from San Clemente Island

[1] Islands are natural dust traps, and San Clemente Island, California, is a good example. Soils on marine terraces cut into Miocene andesite on this island are clay-rich Vertisols or Alfisols with vertic properties. These soils are overlain by silt-rich mantles, 5–20 cm thick, that contrast sharply with the underlying clay-rich subsoils. The silt mantles have a mineralogy that is distinct from the island bedrock. Silt mantles are rich in quartz, which is rare in the island andesite. The clay fraction of the silt mantles is dominated by mica, also absent from local andesite, and contrasts with the subsoils, dominated by smectite. Ternary plots of immobile trace elements (Sc-Th-La and Ta-Nd-Cr) show that the island andesite has a composition intermediate between average upper continental crust and average oceanic crust. In contrast, the silt and, to a lesser extent, clay fractions of the silt mantles have compositions closer to average upper continental crust. The silt mantles have particle size distributions similar to loess and Mojave Desert dust, but are coarser than long-range-transported Asian dust. We infer from these observations that the silt mantles are derived from airborne dust from the North American mainland, probably river valleys in the coastal mountains of southern California and/or the Mojave Desert. Although average winds are from the northwest in coastal California, easterly winds occur numerous times of the year when “Santa Ana” conditions prevail, caused by a high-pressure cell centered over the Great Basin. Examination of satellite imagery shows that easterly Santa Ana winds carry abundant dust to the eastern Pacific Ocean and the California Channel Islands. Airborne dust from mainland North America may be an important component of the offshore sediment budget in the easternmost Pacific Ocean, a finding of potential biogeochemical and climatic significance.
Delirium and transition to a nursing home of hospitalized older adults: A controlled trial of assessing the interdisciplinary team-based “geriatric” care and care coordination by non-geriatrics specialist physicians

Aim: To examine whether a team-based inpatient “geriatric” care model provided by non-geriatrics specialist physicians was associated with changes in the occurrence of delirium and transition to a nursing home. Methods: We carried out an intervention (interdisciplinary; ITD group) control (usual care group) study comparing the outcomes of hospitalized older adults cared for by non-geriatrics specialist physicians. Compared with the usual care group, the ITD intervention group provided additional value: geriatric care and care coordination by leading daily ITD team meetings. Results: After adjusting for patient demographics and clinical characteristics, the probability of transition to a nursing home in the ITD intervention group was significantly lower (odds ratio 0.52; 95% confidence intervals, 0.16–0.94; P = 0.008) than that in the usual care group. However, there was no significant difference in the predicted probabilities of delirium between the ITD intervention and usual care groups. Conclusion: As compared with the usual care group, a significantly lower probability of transition to a nursing home was observed in the ITD intervention group, but the probabilities of delirium between the ITD intervention and usual care groups did not differ significantly. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 342–350.
Mechanism of Homologous Recombination and Implications for Aging-Related Deletions in Mitochondrial DNA

Homologous recombination is a universal process, conserved from bacteriophage to human, which is important for the repair of double-strand DNA breaks. Recombination in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was documented more than 4 decades ago, but the underlying molecular mechanism has remained elusive. Recent studies have revealed the presence of a Rad52-type recombination system of bacteriophage origin in mitochondria, which operates by a single-strand annealing mechanism independent of the canonical RecA/Rad51-type recombinases. Increasing evidence supports the notion that, like in bacteriophages, mtDNA inheritance is a coordinated interplay between recombination, repair, and replication. These findings could have profound implications for understanding the mechanism of mtDNA inheritance and the generation of mtDNA deletions in aging cells.
Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus L forms from experimentally induced bovine mastitis

Bacterial L forms were isolated from milk samples of dairy cattle infected experimentally with Staphylococcus aureus. Initially, bacterial L forms were induced in vitro from 12 of 44 S. aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis. Cows were experimentally infected in two experiments with strains shown in vitro to be easily inducible to L form and with S. aureus Newbould 305. Each quarter of the mammary gland was infected with either 10(3) or 10(6) CFU of the test strains. Treatment was initiated with 100,000 U of penicillin G per quarter at the first signs of clinical mastitis. Milk samples were collected daily and cultured on bovine blood agar and PPLO agar (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) with 10% horse serum and 5% NaCl. Staphylococcal L forms were isolated from milk samples collected from infected glands in both experiments after antibiotic therapy. Glands with the highest concentrations of leukocytes and bacteria were most likely to yield L forms in milk samples after treatment was initiated. Cows harboring L forms typically yielded parental organisms after cessation of antibiotic therapy. No detectable changes occurred in antibiotic susceptibilities, coagulase production, or biochemical activities in strains induced to L form followed by reversion to the parental form. These results demonstrated that L forms can occur during treatment of bovine mastitis and that L forms may be one explanation for the poor response of staphylococcal bovine mastitis to antibiotic therapy.
In-situ flow probe for improving the performance of electrochemical stripping analysis

Submersible flow probes, originally developed for in-situ electrochemical monitoring of trace metal contaminants, are used for minimizing common problems in stripping analysis, such as overlapping signals, intermetallic effects or ohmic distortions. These problems are alleviated via an internal delivery of an appropriate solution, containing a masking ligand, a third element, or a conductive matrix. Such attention to common problems, via in-situ manipulations of the collected metal, holds great promise for environmental and industrial applications. The coupling of fluid manipulations with the stripping sensor represents the first step towards the construction of miniaturised stripping analysers on a cable.
Improved modeling and retrieval of convective precipitation from spaceborne passive microwave measurements

This manuscript focuses on recent efforts for the development and validation of passive microwave precipitation retrieval algorithms for the NPOESS (National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System) satellite program. Emphasis will be placed on the following three critical components: a methodology for simulating passive microwave observations, a technique for validating the methodology with aircraft measurements, and a statistics-based algorithm for estimating precipitation rate.