cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond the supply side: Use and impact of municipal open data in the U.S

Abstract While the number of open government data initiatives has increased considerably over the past decade, the impact of these initiatives remains uncertain. Recent studies have been critical of the “bias toward the supply side” and lack of “sufficient attention to the user perspective” in the way that open government data initiatives are implemented. This article asks: (1) who is using municipal open government data resources and for what purposes? and (2) what impact are municipal open government data having in cities where they have been implemented? We performed a qualitative analysis of 26 semi-structured telephone interviews conducted with government staff, civic technologists, and private sector stakeholders in nine cities around the United States. Each of these 30 to 45-minute telephone interviews were transcribed and analyzed to distill insights regarding the use and impact of municipal open government data in the nine cities considered. We find that the array of actors within open government data ecosystems at the local level is expanding as distinctions between the public and private sectors becomes increasingly blurred and that the demands of managing and sustaining these initiatives has led to changes in the services offered by local government, as well as in the duties of government staff. The impact of these data resources has been primarily felt within local government itself, although the lack of monitoring mechanisms makes it difficult to systematically evaluate their broader effects. We conclude that open government data initiatives should be coordinated and better integrated with digital equity and digital inclusion efforts in order to advance their political and social goals.
Uncertain times: the redshift–time relation from cosmology and stars

Planck data provide precise constraints on cosmological parameters when assuming the base $\Lambda$CDM model, including a $0.17\%$ measurement of the age of the Universe, $t_0=13.797 \pm 0.023\,{\rm Gyr}$. However, the persistence of the "Hubble tension" calls the base $\Lambda$CDM model's completeness into question and has spurred interest in models such as Early Dark Energy (EDE) that modify the assumed expansion history of the Universe. We investigate the effect of EDE on the redshift-time relation $z \leftrightarrow t$ and find that it differs from the base $\Lambda$CDM model by at least ${\approx} 4\%$ at all $t$ and $z$. As long as EDE remains observationally viable, any inferred $t \leftarrow z$ or $z \leftarrow t$ quoted to a higher level of precision do not reflect the current status of our understanding of cosmology. This uncertainty has important astrophysical implications: the reionization epoch - $10>z>6$ - corresponds to disjoint lookback time periods in the base $\Lambda$CDM and EDE models, and the EDE value of $t_0=13.25 \pm 0.17~{\rm Gyr}$ is in tension with published ages of some stars, star clusters, and ultra-faint dwarf galaxies. However, most published stellar ages do not include an uncertainty in accuracy (due to, e.g., uncertain distances and stellar physics) that is estimated to be $\sim7-10\%$, potentially reconciling stellar ages with $t_{0,\rm EDE}$. We discuss how the big data era for stars is providing extremely precise ages ($<1\%$) and how improved distances and treatment of stellar physics such as convection could result in ages accurate to $4-5\%$, comparable to the current accuracy of $t \leftrightarrow z$. Such precise and accurate stellar ages can provide detailed insight into the high-redshift Universe independent of a cosmological model.
Understanding and Designing for Disaster Preparation on Social Media

The widespread adoption of social media brings both challenges and opportunities for the field of disaster management. However, there has been limited scholarly work on social media usage for disaster preparation. Our work explores how social media sites can be designed to help individuals and communities prepare for disasters, in particular with regard to crowdsourcing information, digital mobilization, and community resilience. We present preliminary findings from 4 online focus groups (N=31), which reveal two emergent themes that may prove useful for future research and design in HCI. We also propose four design recommendations for social media sites as tools for disaster preparation. These findings support the design and evaluation of social media sites to aid in community-based disaster preparedness.
Work-family conflict is a public health concern

Abstract Objectives The objective of this commentary is to describe how the deleterious health effects of the competing demands of work and family roles are a public health issue that deserves immediate attention. Study design This is a commentary article; therefore, there is no study design. Method I reviewed and summarized existing research on work-family conflict as it relates to public health action. Results Work-to-family conflict (WFC) is pervasive among US working adults and is higher in the US than in other developed countries. Time, energy, and behaviors invested in fulfilling work responsibilities often compete with fulfilling family responsibilities, with numerous deleterious effects on employee health including sleep, cardiometabolic risk, stress, depression, and anxiety. WFC is a potent source of stress for working Americans, a major contributor to healthcare costs, and a predictor of mortality. US policies have lagged woefully behind the increasing competition between work and family demands. Conclusion Work-to-family conflict is a public health concern that deserves immediate attention. Until governmental support for adults’ work and family lives improves, WFC will continue to be a significant risk factor for public health. Including WFC in public health research and interventions will improve population health and advance health equity.
Problematizing the Binary: A Poststructural Understanding of Dis/Ability in Schools

The purpose of this chapter is to offer a critique of traditional conceptions of dis/ability in U.S. public schools and propose a shift toward an adoption of poststructural perspectives that trouble the dichotomy between ability and dis/ability. We discuss the perspectives of dis/ability that currently exist within the public-school system and grapple with the way these perspectives impact the material realities of students traditionally labeled as dis/abled. A set of case studies are presented to reimagine the possibilities of alternative approaches to the way that dis/ability is conceptualized and understood in the public-school system, offering a radical possibility of engaging all students as unique members of the learning community. Perspectives will be discussed across a continuum of disciplines with an emphasis on poststructuralist traditions.
Mind-body therapies and control of inflammatory biology: A descriptive review

The use of mind-body therapies, including Tai Chi, Qigong, yoga, and meditation, has grown steadily in recent years. These approaches have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life, and research has begun to examine the impact of these therapies on biological processes, including inflammation. A review of 26 randomized controlled trials was conducted to describe the effects of mind-body therapies (MBTs) on circulating, cellular, and genomic markers of inflammation. This qualitative evaluation showed mixed effects of MBTs on circulating inflammatory markers, including CRP and IL-6, and on measures of stimulated cytokine production. More consistent findings were seen for genomic markers, with trials showing decreased expression of inflammation-related genes and reduced signaling through the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB. Potential mechanisms for these effects are discussed, including alterations in neuroendocrine, neural, and psychological and behavioral processes.
Clonal Propagation of Chilopsis Linearis (CAV.) Through Tissue Culture

Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis Cav.) is a valuable tree native to the southwest United States that is used as an ornamental in landscaping, offering low maintenance and drought tolerance. Desert willow is also useful in soil stabilization and mine reclamation. Elite selections of desert willow are generally propagated asexually because it is not true-breeding. An efficient means of rapid clonal propagation through tissue culture could facilitate the use of elite selections.
Making a Meaningful Contribution to Clinical Research

Participation in research activities as an undergraduate is a critical part of applying to medical school, or to other similar programs. This research involvement is usually acquired by working in a lab on campus, assisting with either bench or field research. Alternatively involvement in clinical or translational research can be a fitting substitute, but it can be more difficult to be involved on more than a superficial level. It is my assertion that by first assessing ones unique skills, and then seeking an opportunity to apply those skills a more meaningful contribution to the research program can be made. My own participation with the Critical Care Academic Associates program at OHSU lead to an opportunity to make such a contribution to the Post Intensive Care Syndrome study. The PICS study is a 3 year prospective study and no data will be available for analysis until the study is closed so I have elected to present my thesis as a creative writing project; A memoir of my participation with CCAAP.
Smoking policy in long-term care: a survey of administrators in San Francisco.

Abstract Despite the fact that smoking is a ubiquitous yet potentially hazardous behavior in long-term care settings, little previous investigation has been made into the construction or implementation of policy to manage smoking by elderly residents. This survey of administrators in long-term care facilities in San Francisco city and county reveals that fire and safety issues were the prime forces motivating smoking policy, which operated through control of behavior rather than by other available means, such as the use of fire retardant aprons. Although all facilities permitted smoking, a hierarchy of limit setting strategies was adopted, strategies which successively and evermore intrusively overrode the resident's autonomy and turned smoking policy from beneficent philosophy into a coercive moral statement. Arranged in order of frequency of occurrence and increasing degree of restriction, these strategies were: (a) designating appropriate locations; (b) controlling smoking opportunities and materials; ...
Self-Presentation of Beliefs About Gender Discrimination and Feminism

This study examined whether college students' expressed beliefs about gender discrimination and feminism are due to concerns about self-presentation rather than an accurate reflection of their beliefs. Fifty-eight women and 45 men (82% Caucasian) completed scales measuring their beliefs about gender discrimination and feminism and responded to scenarios about hypothetical court cases involving discrimination. Participants were told their personal views would be either shared publicly or remain private during a small group discussion. Results showed that men expressed more belief in gender discrimination and feminism in the public groups compared to men in private groups and women. Responses to hypothetical court cases also showed some evidence of self-presentation. Implications for changes in self-identity and behavior toward incidents of gender discrimination are discussed.
Neutrino Transport in Strongly Magnetized Proto-Neutron Stars and the Origin of Pulsar Kicks: I. The Effect of Parity Violation in Weak Interactions

The original paper describes neutrino cooling calculations in the presence of asymmetric neutrino opacities due to parity violation in strong magnetic fields. In early April, through the work of P. Arras and D. Lai at Cornell (see astro-ph/9806285) we became aware that the paper contains a serious flaw: although the neutrino scattering opacities depend asymmetrically on the initial and final neutrino momenta, detailed balance requires that there be no cumulative effect from multiple scatterings in the bulk interior of the proto-neutron star where local thermodynamic equilibrium applies to a good approximation. This paper was therefore withdrawn from ApJ in April. Also in April, we submitted an erratum to ApJ Lett. pointing out this error. (The erratum will appear in the July 1, 1998 issue of ApJ Lett.)
The substrate specificity of brain microsomal phospholipase D.

Neurotransmitters activate a phospholipase D that is though to specifically hydrolyse phosphatidylcholine. This enzyme has a unique property known as transphosphatidylation: in the presence of an appropriate nucleophilic receptor such as an alcohol, phospholipase D will catalyse the production of phosphatidyl-alcohol. We have studied phospholipase D using an in vitro assay that uses [3H]butanol of high specific radioactivity (15 Ci/mmol) as an acceptor. In the presence of [3H]butanol and phosphatidylcholine, a microsomal membrane fraction from rat brain catalysed the production of phosphatidyl[3H]butanol. Phospholipase D activity was dependent upon the presence of a detergent; the optimal sodium oleate concentration was between 4 and 6 mM. The RF of the phosphatidyl[3H]butanol on t.l.c. was identical to the RF of the phosphatidylbutanol formed when [3H]phosphatidylcholine was incubated with 100 mM butanol. These data confirm the identity of phosphatidyl[3H]butanol. One important advantage of this assay is that the substrate does not need to be labelled. We have used this advantage to examine the substrate specificity of phospholipase D. Microsomal phospholipase D appears to hydrolyse phosphatidylcholine most efficiently. There is a relatively small but significant activity against phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, and there is no significant activity against phosphatidylinositol. As the head-group becomes more like choline, the phospholipid becomes a better substrate for phospholipase D. The addition of one methyl group leads to a large increase in activity. Fatty acid composition does not play a role in determining the substrate specificity. This assay should be useful in furthering our understanding of this important enzyme.
A Sustainable Budget Should Endure Any Storm

The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) was enacted to bind Congress to certain annual discretionary spending levels. With respect to disaster relief funding, the BCA contained mechanisms to constrain disaster relief spending, while allowing for some flexibility in times of "emergency." However, the supplemental appropriation of over $60 billion in response to Hurricane Sandy demonstrated that these constraints were illusory. With natural disasters expected to multiply and intensify and federal resources likely to be constrained by increased entitlement obligations, the BCA yearned for a more effective mechanism to control disaster relief spending.This Note argues that disaster relief appropriations should predominantly be made ex ante, through the regular budgetary process, so that disaster relief spending will be considered along with other demands on the federal budget. This impedes legislators’ ability to evade discretionary spending caps by disguising non-disaster related or foreseeable funding needs as “emergency” disaster relief; facilitates congressional oversight; leads to a more realistic budget, fostering public debate about spending tradeoffs; and promotes greater and more equitable mitigation funding.From this base, the Note identifies three problems: first, the ex ante “regular” budgeting process, while normatively preferable, has yielded woefully inadequate appropriations; second, the BCA “disaster relief” escape clause is poorly designed and wholly inappropriate for the expected increase in funding needs; and third, the BCA “emergency” clause is too loose, providing free rein to spend inequitably and inefficiently.To remedy these shortcomings, the Note recommends that the President request, and Congress appropriate, fuller funding of FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. Additionally, the disaster relief funding adjustment to the BCA’s discretionary caps should reflect inflation and be adjusted to account for expected increases in disaster expenditures, thereby limiting the need to resort to emergency-designated appropriations. However, as all fiscal rules need flexibility to encourage adherence, the “emergency” escape clause should be retained, with its definition narrowed to preclude supplemental mitigation or prevention spending, and an affirmative and separate vote should be required to “emergency”-designate any appropriations, creating greater accountability.
Burdens and difficulties experienced by caregivers of children and adolescents with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: a qualitative study.

Aim: The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the burdens and difficulties associated with the experience of caring for youth with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Methods: Ten caregivers participated in a modified version of the Knowledge about Schizophrenia Illness interview. Results: The most common areas of general difficulties reported by caregivers were emotional burdens and the everyday practical demands and sacrifices required in caring for their dependents. Results also suggested high levels of burden for caregivers concerning difficulties with mental health services. Conclusion: Additional work is needed to learn more about the challenges that caregivers of youth with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders are facing, as well as to develop empirically based strategies for helping these caregivers and their dependents.
Characterization of generic light sources

The purpose of this note is to describe the degenerate critical point behavior of illumination functions as function of light direction and to use this description to characterize the set of light source directions whose image intensities have no degenerate critical points. A relationship, the accidental axis theorem, between certain degeneracies and the intrinsic geometry of the scene is established.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cretaceous Arctic silicoflagellates

Cretaceous silicoflagellate assemblages from Arctic Ocean USGS Core 437 showVallacerta siderea the most abundant species; most species ofLyramula disappear halfway up the core; onlyL. burchardae, n. sp., persists into the upper sections. These occurrences are untypical of the few documented Cretaceous assemblages from other areas. A Campanian or Maestrichtian age is suggested by correlation, but the uniquely high abundance ofV. siderea and lack ofCorbisema suggests that a difference in both age and general environment could be involved. If Core 437 is latest Maestrichtian, then the evidence from this core would constrain the timing of the ocean-freshening model for the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary extinctions.
Teasing and ambivalent face in Japanese multi-party discourse

Abstract This paper examines teasing – an interactionally delicate social action, which appears to be both face threatening and face enhancing – situated in Japanese institutional multi-party discourse. Adopting conversation analytic and ethnographic approaches to discourse, this paper first reconsiders the notion of face and facework as discursively constructed phenomena. The paper then documents how the face of tease recipients is displayed and contested in discourse: the linguistic behavior of the teased immediately before the onset of a teasing sequence exhibits certain deviations, which trigger the subsequent tease. The paper takes a closer look at the emerging face of the teased from the perspective of their community of practice. It demonstrates how the tease recipients’ modes of participation are related to face threats occurring in teasing segments and how their active role in the joint act of teasing may impact the construction of their evolving identities within their community of practice. The findings suggest that teasing sequences represent instances in which a tacit norm of appropriateness becomes observable in discourse, that facework can be depicted as an argumentative process in which one's face ascription is contested and altered, and that the face threats involved in specific teasing segments are related to the tease recipients’ mode of participation in their community of practice.
Docetaxel and bortezomib downregulate Bcl-2 and sensitize PC-3-Bcl-2 expressing prostate cancer cells to irradiation

Background Currently, docetaxel is used to treat hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer. Docetaxel not only inhibits microtubule formation but can also downregulate expression of Bcl-2, a known antiapoptotic oncogene. Furthermore, the 26S proteasome inhibitor bortezomib can downregulate Bcl-2 expression. Previously, we demonstrated that overexpression of Bcl-2 renders cells resistant to radiation therapy. In this study, we investigated whether treating human prostate cancer cells with docetaxel, bortezomib, or both could modulate Bcl-2 expression and whether such modulation could render Bcl-2-overexpressing cells more susceptible to radiation.
Basic Limitations on the Performance of Stirling Engines

The performance of Stirling engines is subject to limitations resulting from power dissipation in the regenerator. The dissipation is caused by pressure gradients in the regenerator to generate flow. Without this flow the power output would by zero. Hence the dissipation is an essential element of the operation of the engine. Using linearized theory, the equation for pressure in the regenerator is solved for the case of a linear temperature distribution. The regenerator is taken to be thermally perfect. All various are taken to be sinusoidal in time. Expressions are derived for the net power output and the thermal efficiency. The net power output is optimized under various constraints. The constraint yielding the best results is fixed piston amplitude in the compression chamber. Upper bounds on the dimensionless power output are found as function of regenerator void volume and regenerator temperature. These bounds are derived in the limit of zero frequency, and ae independent of the conductance of the regenerator. Both power output and thermal efficiency decrease decreases as frequency and regenerator void volume increase.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Multimodality Treatment of Cancer Arising from Barrett's Epithelium

Adenocarcinoma arising in Barrett's epithelium is seen with increasing frequency. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced cancer, and the overall survival is less than 15%. Therefore novel preventive and therapeutic strategies are needed. Molecular markers are being developed that may predict which patients with Barrett's will develop cancer. Combined modality therapy with chemotherapy and surgery has been studied extensively in clinical trials. Although the results of these studies suggest improved survival, definitive proof must awit completion of ongoing randomized trials. Surgical resection of adenocarcinoma provides restoration of swallowing and local tumor control with a low operative mortality.
Total synthesis of (+)-gliocladin C enabled by visible-light photoredox catalysis.

Hexahydropyrroloindoline alkaloids are a large class of natural products that are formally derived from two molecules of tryptophan.[1] A subset of this class, the C3–C3′ indole alkaloids, contain the 3a-(3-indolyl)-hexahydropyrrolo-[2,3-b]indole skeleton and include compounds such as gliocladin C,[2] gliocladine C,[3] leptosin D,[4] and the bionectins[5] (Figure 1). Aside from their interesting structural features, they exhibit a broad range of potent biological activities. For example, gliocladin C[2] and leptosin D[4] are cytotoxic against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cell lines with ED50 values of 240 ng mL−1 and 86 ng mL−1, respectively, while bionectins A and B[5] exhibit antibacterial activity against MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) and QRSA (quinolone-resistant S. aureus) with MIC = 10–30 µm mL−1.
Structural and Electro-Optical Properties of CdTe Films Used in CdTe/CdS Solar Cells Grown with Substrate Configuration

In this work, we study CdTe thin films used in CdTe/CdS solar cells with a substrate configuration, which allows for better control in forming the junction, and the possibility for using flexible non-transparent substrates. We studied the properties of CdTe films grown at 450° and 550°C, with and without a CuxTe layer, and before and after CdCl2 treatment. We analyzed the structural and electro-optical properties using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), cathodoluminescence (CL) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and investigated how the film structure, stress, and defect structure changes with the different growth conditions.
Brain growth during ethanol-induced hypoplasia

Abstract The inhibition of fetal brain growth resulting from in utero ethanol exposure may impair central nervous system (CNS) development and thereby result in mental retardation. Studies of ethanol-induced brain hypoplasia using chick embryos have shown that the early development of the chick is significantly growth inhibited by a single dose of ethanol (1.0 g/ kg) given at the start of incubation (day 0). However, this level of ethanol exposure has been reported to have no effect on chick weight measured at hatching, suggesting that the weights of ethanol-treated chicks were regained during their development. The present experiments were undertaken to determine the biochemical changes associated with the varying growth rates believed to occur in the alcohol-treated embryos. The results indicated that between days 5 and 8 of development, the rates of DNA and protein synthesis (measured as radioactive thymidine and leucine incorporation, respectively) were inhibited by ethanol. The growth inhibition was highly correlated with blood alcohol content and there were associated increases in brain prostaglandin E (PGE) levels relative to vehicle-treated embryos. Further, there was a significant, inverse correlation between brain cyclic AMP content and individual brain weight. By day 10, the ethanoltreated embryos remained smaller than controls but their rates of DNA and protein synthesis were comparable to those of control animals. The normal rates of synthesis observed on day 10 appeared to correlate with clearance of the ethanol dose and with restoration of normal brain levels of PGE relative to 10-day vehicle-dosed embryos.
Nanoengineered optical resonance sensor for composite material refractive-index measurements

We present an optical resonance sensor capable of measurement of refractive index in highly nonhomogeneous materials. Traditional optical resonance sensors fail when the size of particles is comparable with the wavelength (100 nm and larger). Our new nanoengineered design allows incorporation of a highly delocalized mode into a resonance structure. The sensing depth of the device was measured to be 1 μm, the largest reported in the literature as far as we know, with a quality factor of 500. We demonstrate two applications.
Expression of the rat arginine vasopressin gene in transgenic mice.

A line of mice has been developed which are transgenic for an 8.2-kilobase (kb) genomic clone of the rat vasopressin (VP) gene. Using a polymerase chain reaction technique, the rat VP (rVP) transgene was shown to have tissue-specific mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, temporal lobe, parietal cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and posterior pituitary, similar to the tissue distribution of endogenous mouse and rat VP expression. Expression of transgenic rVP mRNA was also found in the lung and pancreas of the transgenic mice, sites of known ectopic expression of VP. Using two methods, Northern blot analysis with species-specific cRNA probes and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique, the quantity of rVP transgene mRNA was shown to regulate appropriately in response to an osmotic stimulus. After 72 h of water deprivation, the quantity of transgenic rVP mRNA increased 6.8 +/- 3.0-fold. This was not significantly different than the fold increase in mouse VP mRNA quantity seen in nontransgenic mice (4.8 ...
Dioxin in the Agricultural Food Chain

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin's (PCDD) behavior in the agricultural food chain was modeled in this study. The source of PCDD was a municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator. Of the farm livestock investigated only the beef cow and the milk cow were shown to contribute significant amounts of PCDD to humans. Milk was the single highest dietary source of PCDD. Comparison of the calculated human dose of PCDD from the agricultural food chain with an estimate human PCDD dose from inhalation of contaminated air revealed that the agricultural food chain could be responsible for a vast majority of the dose to an individual impacted by these facilities. Thus, these data suggest that operating MSW facilities in agricultural areas may result in enhanced PCDD exposure to individuals via the agricultural food chain. The data also suggest that milk and beef may be good sentinels to evaluate environmental impacts of these facilities.
The cardiac L-type calcium channel distal carboxy terminus autoinhibition is regulated by calcium.

The L-type calcium channel (LTCC) provides trigger Ca2+ for sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-release, and LTCC function is influenced by interacting proteins including the LTCC distal COOH terminus (DCT) ...
Fatigue behavior of thermosetting‐polyester‐matrix sheet‐molding compounds

Two sheet molding compounds, one containing 65 weight percent E-glass fiber and no filler (SMC-65) and the other containing 50 weight percent glass and 15 weight percent CaCO3 filler were subjected to sinusoidal, load-control, tension-tension fatigue. The macroscopic behavior showed some notch sensitivity for both materials, but particularly for SMC-65. The extent of failure damage over the specimen length decreased with decreasing load amplitude. Different failure mechanisms appear to operate under high- and low-cycle fatigue conditions. Microscopic surface damage studies at stresses near the endurance limit showed several stages in the fatigue failure. For SMC-65, these stages are, sequentially, matrix crack initiation and growth, matrix pulverization, fiber fracture, and fiber pullout. A similar, but less distinct pattern was observed for SMC-50. Acoustic emission was also followed during fatigue cycling near the endurance limit. Distinct amplitude distribution peaks for each failure process were seen. It is suggested that matrix fracture, permanent deformation and Euler buckling are all important in high cycle fatigue failure.
Magnetic properties of Ln2−xLn′xCo17 compounds (Ln = Gd, Dy, Ho, or Er, Ln′ = Th or Ce)

Abstract Magnetic and structural characteristics of the ternary systems Ln 2− x Th x Co 17 (Ln = Gd, Dy, Ho, and Er) and Ln 2− x Ce x Co 17 (Ln = Gd, Dy, and Ho) are presented. Incorporation of Th in the lattice stabilizes the Th 2 Zn 17 structure, whereas incorporation of Ce does not; if the binary system has the Th 2 Ni 17 structure the incorporation of Ce leaves the structure unchanged. The antiferromagnetic LnCo coupling observed in the Ln 2 Co 17 systems persists in the ternary alloys. The moment of the cobalt sublattice is decreased when more than half of the Ln is replaced by Th, suggesting that the extra electron contributed by Th enters the Co d -band or d -shell. The direction of easy magnetization is in the basal plane for all composition in the Gd, Dy, and Ho systems. In Er 2− x Th x Co 17 the easy direction is along the c -axis for x = 0 and 0.2, but is in the basal plane for higher thorium contents.
On the fluid approximation to a nonlinear Schrödinger equation

Abstract We present a heuristic proof that the nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLS) - iϑΨ ϑt = 1 2 ΔΨ+ 1 2 (1-|Ψ| 2 )Ψ in 2 + 1 dimensions has a family of solutions which can be well approximated by a collection of point vortices for a planar incompressible fluid. The novelty of our approach is that we begin with a representation of the NLS as a compressible perturbation of Euler's equations for hydrodynamics.
Modeling ethics: the impact of management actions on restaurant workers' ethical optimism.

Abstract Unethical behavior is a significant problem for all members of society. One of the ways workers learn acceptable ethical behavior is by observing successful members of the organization. This paper examines the actions of management and the subsequent affect on the ethical optimism of workers in the restaurant industry. Ethical optimism refers to the belief that if an individual behaves ethically they will enjoy success within the organization. Beyond extending the work on ethical optimism this study produced several results of particular interest. Significant differences were identified between ethnic groups, men and women, and length of employment of workers.
Image database categorisation using robust modelling of finite generalised Dirichlet mixture

We propose a novel image database categorisation approach using Robust Modelling of finite Generalised Dirichlet Mixture (RM-GDM). The proposed algorithm is based on optimising an objective function that associates two types of memberships with each data sample. The first one is the posterior probability and indicates how well a sample fits each estimated distribution. The second membership represents the degree of typicality and is used to identify and discard noise points and outliers. These properties make RM-GDM suitable for noisy and high-dimensional feature spaces. We use the RM-GDM to categorise a large collection of colour images. Its performance is illustrated and compared to similar algorithms.
First-order phase transition in a one-dimensional nonequilibrium model

We present an example of a single-component, one-dimensional interacting particle system with a discontinuous transition into an absorbing state. The basic processes in the model are spontaneous annihilation (X\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0), autocatalytic creation by trimers (3X\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4X), and hopping. The transition is continuous, and in the directed percolation class, for low diffusion rates, and first order for sufficiently high diffusion rates. The transition in a similar model with creation by pairs (2X\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3X) remains continuous even at high diffusion rates.
A little language for rapidly constructing automated performance tests

In order to effectively measure the performance of large scale data management solutions at NetApp, we use a fully automated infrastructure to execute end-to-end system performance tests. Both the software and user requirements of this infrastructure are complex: the system under test runs a multi-protocol, highly specialized operating system and the infrastructure serves a diverse audience of developers, analysts, and field engineers (including both sales and support). In this paper we describe our approach to rapidly constructing automated performance system tests by using a lightweight, little, or domain-specific language called SLSL in order to more effectively express test specifications.Using a real world example, we illustrate the efficacy of SLSL in terms of its expressiveness, flexibility, and ease of use by showing a complex test configuration expressed with just a few language constructs. We also demonstrate how SLSL can be used in conjunction with our performance measurement lab to quickly deploy performance tests that yield highly repeatable measurements.
Fracture patterns in battered children.

We reviewed cases of 75 battered children with fractures over a 2-year period. The average age was 16 months; 57% were boys. There were 154 fractures (2.0 per child); 77% were acute and 23% were old. The most common fracture occurred in the skull (32%) and the most common long bone fracture occurred in the tibia (16%). The most common long bone fracture pattern was transverse (41%); corner fractures accounted for 28% of long bone fractures. An isolated acute fracture was the orthopaedic injury in 65% of the children, whereas multiple fractures in various stages of healing were present in only 13% of children. Language: en
A privacy-aware, end-to-end, CFG-based regression test selection framework for web services using only local information

Web services are composable, interoperable, and autonomous which means that a single web service interaction could involve services written in several different languages provided by several different service providers. Such interactions hamper the development of RTS techniques because RTS techniques generally require some form of implementation details which service providers in separate autonomous systems are unlikely to expose. In this work, a privacy-aware, end-to-end regression testing framework employing a RTS technique using Control-Flow Graphs (CFGs) built using only locally available information at each service and a publish/subscribe mechanism will be presented. The proposed framework is unique because it does not require service providers to expose private and sensitive implementation details in order to participate in the regression testing framework. Also, a case study will be presented to highlight the approach and be used in an empirical study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the approach.
Phosphorylation of Cytosolic Domain Ser937 Affects Both Biosynthetic and Endocytic Trafficking of Peptidylglycine α-Amidating Monooxygenase

Peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM), a bifunctional enzyme, catalyzes the COOH-terminal amidation of bioactive peptides. In test tube assays, PAM is phosphorylated by protein kinase C at Ser937. The roles of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Ser937 in the biosynthetic and endocytic trafficking of integral membrane PAM were examined using an antiserum specific for the phosphorylation of Ser937 and using AtT-20 cells expressing membrane PAM in which Ser937 was mutated to Ala or Asp. Although phosphorylation at Ser937 can occur while PAM is in the endoplasmic reticulum, early steps in the biosynthetic trafficking of membrane PAM were not affected by Ser937 phosphorylation. The inability to phosphorylate PAM/S937A increased its intracellular degradation and decreased secretion of the soluble monooxygenase portion of PAM. In contrast, the biosynthetic trafficking of PAM/S937D was indistinguishable from wild-type PAM. Despite the fact that Ser937 is adjacent to the only Tyr-based internalization motif in PAM, internalization and trafficking through early endosomes were unaffected by phosphorylation. However, PAM antibody internalized by wild-type PAM acquired a perinuclear localization, while antibody internalized by PAM/S937A was routed to lysosomes, and antibody bound to PAM/S937D maintained a dispersed, punctate pattern. In cells stimulated with phorbol ester, phosphorylation of Ser937increased and phosphorylated PAM accumulated in large vesicular structures. Therefore, phosphorylation of PAM-1 at Ser937directs newly synthesized and internalized protein away from lysosomes, while dephosphorylation is needed for a different step in the late endocytic pathway.
A decision framework for SME Information Technology (IT) managers: Factors for evaluating whether to outsource internal applications to Application Service Providers

Abstract Businesses have been seeking new ways to improve their Information Technology that will better fit the company's needs with limited investment or even cost cutting. In order to achieve this many businesses have been turning toward Application Service Providers (ASPs). There are a number of factors supporting ASPs. ASP's can provide one service that connects multiple applications through one access point. The technology is very simple, straightforward, and easy to use for various businesses. There are also factors that do not favor ASPs, including service reliability, customization, integration, upgrades, and security issues. This study examines the paradigm shift from the traditional software model to the ASP model, and explores the favorable and unfavorable trends in ASPs. While the on-demand model seems to be a promising model for companies, there are certainly many decisions for a business to consider before making commitments to an ASP. Hence, this study aims to help IT managers evaluate each factor very carefully before outsourcing their internal applications to ASPs. It develops and provides a methodology for better IT decision-making with regard to ASPs which could be provided to other IT decisions as well. As “cloud” technologies, exemplified by ASPs, transform the world we live-in, better decision-making tools for small businesses will impact their success in the 21st century business world where SMEs can effectively compete with large businesses leveraging these services.
Quantum state control in optical lattices

We study the means of preparing and coherently manipulating atomic wave packets in optical lattices, with particular emphasis on alkali-metal atoms in the far-detuned limit. We derive a general, basis-independent expression for the lattice potential operator, and show that its off-diagonal elements can be tailored to couple the vibrational manifolds of separate magnetic sublevels. Using these couplings one can evolve the state of a trapped atom in a quantum coherent fashion, and prepare pure quantum states by resolved-sideband Raman cooling. We explore the use of atoms bound in optical lattices to study quantum tunneling and the generation of macroscopic superposition states in a double-well potential. Far-off-resonance optical potentials lend themselves particularly well to reservoir engineering via well-controlled fluctuations in the potential, making the atom-lattice system attractive for the study of decoherence and the connection between classical and quantum physics. @S1050-2947~98!00803-8#
K63 polyubiquitination is a new modulator of the oxidative stress response

Oxidative stress induces a number of cellular responses. Silva et al. uncover a peroxide-mediated K63-linked polyubiquitination pathway, and identify its targets and regulators.
Lac repressor binding to operator analogues: Comparison of poly[d(A-T)], poly[d(A-BrU)], and poly[d(A-U)]

Abstract Previous work has established that Escherichia coli lac repressor binds strongly to poly[d(A-T)]. Here we use competition experiments to measure repressor binding to synthetic DNA's related to this polymer. Poly[d(A-BrU)] competes about forty times more effectively for repressor than does poly[d(A-T)], whereas poly[d(A-U)] competes twenty fold less effectively. This result suggests that the atom or group occupying the 5-position of the pyrimidine ring is important for recognition by repressor.
Bayes Estimation of Intraclass Correlation Coefficients Under Unequal Family Sizes

Bayesian inference for the intraclass correlation ρ is considered under unequal family sizes. We obtain the posterior distribution of ρ and then compare the performance of the Bayes estimator (posterior mean of ρ) with that of Srivastava's (1984) estimator through simulation. Simulation study shows that the Bayes estimator performs better than the Srivastava's estimator in terms of lower mean square error. We also obtain large sample posteriors of ρ based on the asymptotic posterior distribution and based on the Laplace approximation.
An Ultra-High Resolution Spectrometer with Successive Combination of a Fabry-Perot Etalon and a Cylindrical Beam Volume Hologram

We have designed a compact spectrometer by cascading a simple Fabry-Perot etalon and a cylindrical beam volume hologram. The combination of these two elements results in a two-dimensional spatial-spectral mapping in the output plane. Using this spectrometer, ultra-high resolution (better than 0.2 nm) over a large bandwidth (larger than 300 nm) has been experimentally demonstrated for diffuse light sources.
Thermodynamics of Environment-Dependent Oxygen Chemisorption on Pt(111)

The reactivity of heterogeneous metal catalysts can be a strong function of the coverage of adsorbates. For example, Pt-catalyzed NO oxidation to NO2 requires high concentrations of chemisorbed (surface-bound) O, but the development of surface oxides is detrimental to reaction kinetics. Quantifying the structures, properties, and especially the conditions that produce various adsorbate coverages is essential to developing qualitatively and quantitatively correct models of surface reactivity. In this work, we examine these ideas in the context of oxidation reactions on Pt(111), the lowest energy face of bulk Pt. We use extensive supercell density functional theory (DFT) calculations to catalog and characterize the stable binding sites and arrangements of chemisorbed O on Pt(111), as a function of O coverage, θ. O atoms are found to uniformly prefer FCC binding sites and to arrange to minimize various destabilizing interactions with neighbor O. These destabilizing interactions are shown to have electronic a...
Direct pattern transfer for sub-45nm features using nanoimprint lithography

Recent advancements made in step and flash imprint lithography (S-FIL) have enhanced the attractiveness of nanoimprint technology for sub-100nm resolution. Improvements in the area of material dispensing and refinement of the etch barrier itself have resulted in more uniform printing while producing a much thinner residual layer. These improvements, coupled with changes to the etch processes have facilitated direct pattern transfer of sub-45nm line/space (1:3) features. This leading-edge research could define the pathway for nanoimprint to become a competitive solution for advanced high resolution pattern transfer.
Lateral sequestration of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate by the basic effector domain of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate is due to nonspecific electrostatic interactions.

Abstract A peptide corresponding to the basic (+13), unstructured effector domain of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) binds strongly to membranes containing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Although aromatic residues contribute to the binding, three experiments suggest the binding is driven mainly by nonspecific local electrostatic interactions. First, peptides with 13 basic residues, Lys-13 and Arg-13, bind to PIP2-containing vesicles with the same high affinity as the effector domain peptide. Second, removing basic residues from the effector domain peptide reduces the binding energy by an amount that correlates with the number of charges removed. Third, peptides corresponding to a basic region in GAP43 and MARCKS effector domain-like regions in other proteins (e.g. MacMARCKS, adducin, Drosophila A kinase anchor protein 200, and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor) also bind with an energy that correlates with the number of basic residues. Kinetic measurements suggest the effector domain binds to several PIP2. Theoretical calculations show the effector domain produces a local positive potential, even when bound to a bilayer with 33% monovalent acidic lipids, and should thus sequester PIP2 laterally. This electrostatic sequestration was observed experimentally using a phospholipase C assay. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that MARCKS could reversibly sequester much of the PIP2 in the plasma membrane.