cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-linear phenomena during CO oxidation in the mbar pressure range : a comparison between Pt/SiO2 and Pt(100)

Abstract We report a comparative study of unsteady behavior of CO oxidation over silica-supported platinum and Pt(100). Experiments were performed in a reaction cell allowing the first direct comparison between both catalyst types under the same conditions at pressures between 10 and 100 mTorr. The reaction is examined with mass spectrometry, time-resolved FT-IR spectroscopy, and ellipsomicroscopy for surface imaging (EMSI). For the supported catalyst, our measurements concentrated on the reaction rate as a function of control parameters pressure and temperature and time-resolved FT-IR, EMSI was used to follow spatio-temporal pattern formation on the Pt(100) single crystal. The parameter space (partial pressures of the reactants, catalyst temperature, pumping speed of the reactor) for unsteady behavior of the CO oxidation is much wider for the supported catalyst. In certain parameter ranges, spatio-temporal pattern formation governs the unsteady behavior of the single crystal, while for other parameters, very regular oscillations with no pattern formation are observed. Time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy was used to follow the CO coverages under reaction conditions, which stayed below 15% of the maximum coverage
High Apparent Dielectric Constant Inside a Protein Reflects Structural Reorganization Coupled to the Ionization of an Internal Asp

The dielectric properties of proteins are poorly understood and difficult to describe quantitatively. This limits the accuracy of methods for structure-based calculation of electrostatic energies and pKa values. The pKa values of many internal groups report apparent protein dielectric constants of 10 or higher. These values are substantially higher than the dielectric constants of 2–4 measured experimentally with dry proteins. The structural origins of these high apparent dielectric constants are not well understood. Here we report on structural and equilibrium thermodynamic studies of the effects of pH on the V66D variant of staphylococcal nuclease. In a crystal structure of this protein the neutral side chain of Asp-66 is buried in the hydrophobic core of the protein and hydrated by internal water molecules. Asp-66 titrates with a pKa value near 9. A decrease in the far UV-CD signal was observed, concomitant with ionization of this aspartic acid, and consistent with the loss of 1.5 turns of α-helix. These data suggest that the protein dielectric constant needed to reproduce the pKa value of Asp-66 with continuum electrostatics calculations is high because the dielectric constant has to capture, implicitly, the energetic consequences of the structural reorganization that are not treated explicitly in continuum calculations with static structures.
STUDIES OF THE MODE OF ACTION OF DICOUMARIN.

Abstract From chemical, Chromatographic and immunological results, it appears likely that the qualitative nature of the synthesis of prothrombin remains intact during therapy with dicoumarin (Dicumarol), and what small amount of prothrombin is produced is structurally normal. Certain problems concerned with the isolation of prothrombin and the apparent heterogeneity of the available preparations have been discussed as they relate to the problem of the mode of action of dicoumarin.
CANCER EXPERIENCE AMONG COKE BY‐PRODUCT WORKERS

This paper presents the site-specific cancer mortality, 1953-1966, for men employed in by-product coke plants in Allegheny County, Pa. Approximate relative risks, which take into account race, age, and calendar years of follow-up, have been calculated for various work areas of the coke plant. The major findings are: 1. As indicated previously by Lloyd and Redmond, men with five or more years at the coke ovens have an excess risk of dying from lung cancer and kidney cancer. 2. Cancers of the digestive system are significantly elevated in nonoven workers. Cancers of two sites, the colon and pancreas, account for the total excess in cancers of the digestive system. 3. Cancers of the buccal cavity and pharynx appear high in nonoven workers, although the number of deaths involved is small. These observations clearly indicate the need to consider nonoven as well as oven workers when evaluating cancer hazards in the coke plant.
Religious background and educational attainment: The effects of Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism

Abstract The effects of Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism on educational attainment in the United States are examined. OLS estimates of educational attainment and Probit estimates of college attainment are undertaken. It is shown that Islam and Judaism have similar positive effects on attainment relative to Protestants and Catholics. The effect of Buddhism is specific to respondents who were living in the United States at age sixteen and/or were born in the United States. Data from the National Opinion Research Center's “General Social Survey: 1998–2008” are used.
Dielectric response of solvent surrounding an ion pair: Ewald potential versus spherical truncation

Abstract The solvent dielectric response has been evaluated for a system of two oppositely charged ions in aqueous solution. When the Ewald potential is used to model the long-range interactions, the correct high dielectric shielding of the ions by the water is obtained by either of two methods; from the ion charging free energies, or the slope of the ion-ion potential of mean force in the asymptotic region. In contrast, simply truncating the Coulomb interactions leads to unphysical dielectric behavior.
17-N-Allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin induces a diverse response in human acute myelogenous cells

The goal of this study was to ascertain the specific effects of 17-N-Allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) treatment in human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Four human leukemia cell lines were treated with varying doses of 17-AAG followed by analysis of toxicity, apoptosis, proliferation, and cell cycle. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the cells accumulate in G2/M phase within 96 h of treatment, although the effect was not equivalent among the cell lines. p21, p53 expression and MDR1 activity were among the possible mechanisms uncovered for the differing responses. Exploiting these differences may allow for more effective combinatory treatments in patients with AML.
Basic mechanisms of photochemical aerosol formation

Abstract A previously described dynamic photochemical reactor was applied to studies of the effects of sulfur dioxide humidity, and order of mixing of reactants on the photochemical production of aerosol from 1-octene and nitrogen dioxide in air. The effects of all three parameters are complex but explainable from a few reasonable assumptions, the most important of which is probably that initial contact between the aerosol nuclei and the more polar reactants has a governing effect on the nature of the product.
Advances in communication technology: implications for new nursing skills.

Nurses receive little to no formal training in communication technology. That may need to change in the very near future. EVERY PRACTICING NURSE has a mental album filled with memorable patients. One of our most remarkable patients was a young man named Joe, whom we cared for in the early 1990s. Joe was 16 years old, smart, social, and mischievous, with a wicked sense of humor. Joe was diagnosed with a severe and progressive neuromuscular disease when he was a toddler. Now at age 16, Joe's disease had progressed to the point that he had minimal strength and motor function below the level of his chin. He required a tracheostomy tube and ventilator to support his breathing. Joe was able to make good use of facial grins, grimaces, and eyebrows to communicate with others. To support Joe's remaining strengths, his brothers devised a very large and unwieldy—but clever—plywood communication board. Two people struggled just to hold the board in an upward position. In the center was a basic alphabet. Around the perimeter were drawings and pictures, common phrases, and some choice words not meant for polite company. One person (usually a nurse) held the board and would take on the role of “interpreter”. The nurse would follow Joe's eye gaze and figure out which letter, phrase, or “curse” that he wanted to communicate, and then vocalize it for him. This primitive augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tool was a trial-and-error process, but it served the intended purpose. No matter how awkward the board was to use, the nurses supported Joe's efforts. This reciprocal exchange of words, feelings, jokes, and frustrations were how our nursing team came to know Joe as a person, and how he achieved personal dignity when he had little control of his world. Patients today with disabilities similar to that of Joe's have access to a wide range of technologic devices that support independent communication and even environmen-
Acting Without Asking: An Ethical Analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Waiver of Informed Consent for Emergency Research

This article summarizes the current requirements for a waiver of informed consent for emergency research and analyzes ethical issues that are involved. Researchers who intend to apply for a waiver of informed consent for emergency research must understand that they are asking for the major protector of human subjects, the informed consent process, to be removed. In its absence, other protections are required. These include communication with the community, family members, and others close to the patient. It is unlikely that even these additional protections can equal that afforded by an adequate consent process. With this understanding, investigators' actions must be in accordance with the highest ethical standards. It is therefore necessary for investigators to know the ethical implications of conducting controlled research without the subjects' consent.
Behavior of Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Relation to Simulated Thermal Effluent

Abstract Instantaneous responses of juvenile salmonids that encounter a simulated river-thermal plume interface were assessed in a model raceway with a thermal discharge. Fish movement and response to the discharge were recorded on videotape. Juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) tested under three discharge conditions (no plume, ambient plume, and heated plume) avoided heated plumes when plume Δ T's were greater than 9–11 C above ambient. Fish occasionally oriented to the discharge current, but were not attracted to the thermal component of the plume when plume Δ T's were below the avoidance level of 11 C. Fish did not pass to the lower end of the raceway when plume Δ T exceeded 9–11 C.
Specification of synaptic action

A testable model for part of the neuronal specificity problem is proposed here, based on work from several different laboratories. The model suggests that specification of synaptic action is not determined independently for each synapse in a nervous system, but instead is determined by specifying two properties that are suggested to be characteristic of entire neurons - the types of transmitters and synaptic receptors produced by each neuron. The evidence supporting the hypotheses that the transmitters and synaptic receptors used by a neuron are properties that are specified on the level of whole neurons is reviewed here. Also discussed is the current understanding of factors influencing how the transmitters used by a neuron are specified.
Infant cardiopulmonary bypass: a procoagulant state ☆

Abstract Background . Procoagulant activity after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in infants may predispose to thrombotic and bleeding complications. The induction of tissue factor and prothrombinase activity on endothelial cell membranes is a primary step in the activation of the extrinsic clotting cascade. The purpose of this study is to characterize the fibrinolytic and endothelial procoagulant state in infants undergoing congenital cardiac repairs with and without CPB. Methods . Fourteen infants (aged 1 to 12 weeks) underwent repair of congenital cardiac defects. Two patients had closed procedures (controls) and 12 had open cardiac procedures. Serum samples were taken before and after CPB, 1, 4, and 24 hours after CPB. Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, plasma tissue factor, and factor V levels were measured. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures were incubated with serum taken from the above time points and assayed for induction of tissue factor and prothrombinase activity. Results . Control patients had no change from preoperative values in any of the parameters examined. In experimental patients, tissue plasminogen activator levels peaked at 1 hour after CPB and then decreased to normal by 24 hours. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels peaked at 4 hours after CPB and returned to baseline by 24 hours. The plasma of all patients had no intrinsic tissue factor activity. Induction of tissue factor activity on umbilical vein endothelial cells peaked immediately and again at 24 hours, whereas prothrombinase activity peaked early and stayed elevated. Serum factor V levels were significantly reduced after CPB, but returned to near baseline levels by 24 hours. Conclusions . Cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with derangement of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in infants. The serum of these patients promotes the induction of endothelial procoagulant activity, suggesting that there may be a hypercoagulable state in the postbypass period.
Antihypertensive and metabolic effects of single and combined atenolol regimens.

The antihypertensive and metabolic effects of placebo (PL), a fixed combination of hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg) and triamterene (50 mg) (HCTZ/TRI), atenolol (25 mg) (Ate-25), atenolol (50 mg) (Ate-50) and their combination with HCTZ/TRI given once daily, were tested on 256 patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. After 3 weeks of PL monotherapy, 43 patients were randomized to PL (group 1), 41 patients to HCTZ/TRI (group 2), 44 patients to Ate-25 (group 3), 42 patients to Ate-50 (group 4), 43 patients to Ate-25/HCTZ/TRI (group 5), and 43 patients to Ate-50/HCTZ/TRI (group 6) in a double-blind parallel design study and were followed for 4 weeks. At the end of week 7, those patients who were randomized to groups 5 and 6 were allowed to continue for an additional 12 weeks, if their arterial pressure was satisfactorily controlled. Complete blood counts, blood chemistries, urinalyses, and electrocardiograms were done initially and during the study. Monotherapy with HCTZ/TRI, Ate-25, and Ate-50 had significant and equal antihypertensive effects compared with placebo. (P <.01). However, the combination of Ate-25/HCTZ/TRI and Ate-50/HCTZ/TRI resulted in further reduction of arterial pressure with the effect being greatest with Ate-50/HCTZ/TRI (P <.001). Patient groups 3 through 6 had also slower heart rates compared with groups 1 and 2 (P <.01). Mild, but statistically significant, increases in BUN, glucose, triglycerides, and uric acid were noted in groups 2, 5, and 6 (P <.05). These results suggest: 1) Ate-25 was equipotent to Ate-50, 2) their antihypertensive effectiveness was further enhanced with the addition of HCTZ/TRI, and 3) the greatest effect was noted with the combination of Ate-50/HCTZ/TRI.
Tripartite Motif Ligases Catalyze Polyubiquitin Chain Formation through a Cooperative Allosteric Mechanism

Ligation of polyubiquitin chains to proteins is a fundamental post-translational modification, often resulting in targeted degradation of conjugated proteins. Attachment of polyubiquitin chains requires the activities of an E1 activating enzyme, an E2 carrier protein, and an E3 ligase. The mechanism by which polyubiquitin chains are formed remains largely speculative, especially for RING-based ligases. The tripartite motif (TRIM) superfamily of ligases functions in many cellular processes including innate immunity, cellular localization, development and differentiation, signaling, and cancer progression. The present results show that TRIM ligases catalyze polyubiquitin chain formation in the absence of substrate, the rates of which can be used as a functional readout of enzyme function. Initial rate studies under biochemically defined conditions show that TRIM32 and TRIM25 are specific for the Ubc5 family of E2-conjugating proteins and, along with TRIM5α, exhibit cooperative kinetics with respect to Ubc5 concentration, with submicromolar [S]0.5 and Hill coefficients of 3–5, suggesting they possess multiple binding sites for their cognate E2-ubiquitin thioester. Mutation studies reveal a second, non-canonical binding site encompassing the C-terminal Ubc5α-helix. Polyubiquitin chain formation requires TRIM subunit oligomerization through the conserved coiled-coil domain, but can be partially replaced by fusing the catalytic domain to GST to promote dimerization. Other results suggest that TRIM32 assembles polyubiquitin chains as a Ubc5-linked thioester intermediate. These results represent the first detailed mechanistic study of TRIM ligase activity and provide a functional context for oligomerization observed in the superfamily.
Prognosis —A Wearable Health-Monitoring System for People at Risk: Methodology and Modeling

Wearable health-monitoring systems (WHMSs) represent the new generation of healthcare by providing real-time unobtrusive monitoring of patients' physiological parameters through the deployment of several on-body and even intrabody biosensors. Although several technological issues regarding WHMS still need to be resolved in order to become more applicable in real-life scenarios, it is expected that continuous ambulatory monitoring of vital signs will enable proactive personal health management and better treatment of patients suffering from chronic diseases, of the elderly population, and of emergency situations. In this paper, we present a physiological data fusion model for multisensor WHMS called Prognosis. The proposed methodology is based on a fuzzy regular language for the generation of the prognoses of the health conditions of the patient, whereby the current state of the corresponding fuzzy finite-state machine signifies the current estimated health state and context of the patient. The operation of the proposed scheme is explained via detailed examples in hypothetical scenarios. Finally, a stochastic Petri net model of the human-device interaction is presented, which illustrates how additional health status feedback can be obtained from the WHMS' user.
A simpler proof for O (congestion+dilation) packet routing

In the store-and-forward routing problem, packets have to be routed along given paths such that the arrival time of the latest packet is minimized. A groundbreaking result of Leighton, Maggs and Rao says that this can always be done in time $O(\textrm{congestion} + \textrm{dilation})$, where the congestion is the maximum number of paths using an edge and the dilation is the maximum length of a path. However, the analysis is quite arcane and complicated and works by iteratively improving an infeasible schedule. Here, we provide a more accessible analysis which is based on conditional expectations. Like [LMR94], our easier analysis also guarantees that constant size edge buffers suffice. Moreover, it was an open problem stated e.g. by Wiese [Wie11], whether there is any instance where all schedules need at least $(1+\varepsilon)\cdot(\textrm{congestion}+\textrm{dilation})$ steps, for a constant e>0. We answer this question affirmatively by making use of a probabilistic construction.
Rates of reaction in a recycling system—dehydration of ethanol and diethyl ether over alumina

A new method for measuring isothermal rates of heterogeneously catalyzed gas reactions is described. The method involves a differential reactor incorporated in a recycling system and affords ease of control, accuracy, and many rate measurements in one run. The results for the reaction system investigated show that four reactions are important: the dehydration of ethanol to ethylene, the reaction of ethanol to form diethyl ether, the dehydration of diethyl ether to ethylene, and the reaction of diethyl ether to form ethanol. It is also shown that the rate controlling steps are the monomolecular surface reactions for the two dehydrations and for the formation of ethanol from diethyl ether, and the bimolecular surface reaction for the formation of diethyl ether from ethanol. The values and the temperature dependence of all pertinent rate and adsorption constants are determined and reported, and they are shown to correlate very well the data up to 80% conversion.
S100A4 accelerates tumorigenesis and invasion of human prostate cancer through the transcriptional regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9

We previously showed that the calcium-binding protein S100A4 is overexpressed during the progression of prostate cancer (CaP) in humans and in the TRAMP (transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate) mouse model. We tested a hypothesis that the S100A4 gene plays a role in the invasiveness of human CaP and may be associated with its metastatic spread. We observed that siRNA-mediated suppression of the S100A4 gene significantly reduced the proliferative and invasive capability of the highly invasive CaP cells PC-3. We evaluated the mechanism through which the S100A4 gene controls invasiveness of cells by using a macroarray containing 96 well characterized metastatic genes. We found that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1) were highly responsive to S100A4 gene suppression. Furthermore, S100A4 suppression significantly reduced the expression and proteolytic activity of MMP-9. By employing an MMP-9-promoter reporter, we observed a significant reduction in the transcriptional activation of the MMP-9 gene in S100A4-siRNA-transfected cells. Cells overexpressing the S100A4 gene (when transfected with pcDNA3.1-S100A4 plasmid) also significantly expressed MMP-9 and TIMP-1 genes with increased proteolytic activity of MMP-9 concomitant to increased transcriptional activation of the MMP-9 gene. S100A4-siRNA-transfected cells exhibited a reduced rate of tumor growth under in vivo conditions. Our data demonstrate that the S100A4 gene controls the invasive potential of human CaP cells through regulation of MMP-9 and that this association may contribute to metastasis of CaP cells. We suggest that S100A4 could be used as a biomarker for CaP progression and a novel therapeutic or chemopreventive target for human CaP treatment.
Do UN Interventions Cause Peace? Using Matching to Improve Causal Inference

Previous statistical studies of the effects of UN peacekeeping have generally suggested that UN interventions have a positive effect on building a sustainable peace after civil war. Recent methodological developments have questioned this result because the cases in which the United Nations intervened were quite different from those in which they did not. Therefore the estimated causal effect may be due to the assumptions of the model that the researchers chose rather than to peacekeeping itself. The root of the problem is that UN missions are not randomly assigned. We argue that standard approaches for dealing with this problem (Heckman regression and instrumental variables) are invalid and impracticable in the context of UN peacekeeping and would lead to estimates of the effects of UN operations that are largely a result of the assumptions of the statistical model rather than the data. We correct for the effects of nonrandom assignment with matching techniques on a sample of UN interventions in post-Cold-War conflicts and find that UN interventions are indeed effective in the sample of post-civil-conflict interventions, but that UN interventions while civil wars are still ongoing have no causal effect.
Ligand-specific activation of Escherichia coli chemoreceptor transmethylation

Adaptation in the chemosensory pathways of bacteria like Escherichia coli is mediated by the enzyme-catalyzed methylation (and demethylation) of glutamate residues in the signaling domains of methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). MCPs can be methylated in trans, where the methyltransferase (CheR) molecule catalyzing methyl group transfer is tethered to the C terminus of a neighboring receptor. Here, it was shown that E. coli cells exhibited adaptation to attractant stimuli mediated through either engineered or naturally occurring MCPs that were unable to tether CheR as long as another MCP capable of tethering CheR was also present, e.g., either the full-length aspartate or serine receptor (Tar or Tsr). Methylation of isolated membrane samples in which engineered tethering and substrate receptors were coexpressed demonstrated that the truncated substrate receptors (trTsr) were efficiently methylated in the presence of tethering receptors (Tar with methylation sites blocked) relative to samples in which none of the MCPs had tethering sites. The effects of ligand binding on methylation were investigated, and an increase in rate was produced only with serine (the ligand specific for the substrate receptor trTsr); no significant change in rate was produced by aspartate (the ligand specific for the tethering receptor Tar). Although the overall efficiency of methylation was lower, receptor-specific effects were also observed in trTar- and trTsr-containing samples, where neither Tar nor Tsr possessed the CheR binding site at the C terminus. Altogether, the results are consistent with a ligand-induced conformational change that is limited to the methylated receptor dimer and does not spread to adjacent receptor dimers.
Student Persistence in College: A Review of Research

This article features a review of the published research in selected areas of student persistence. The results of major studies in the areas of involvement in campus life, ethnicity, gender, age, on-campus versus off-campus residency and membership in fraternities and sororities are summarized. The areas selected indicate interests of the authors and are not necessarily the most significant factors in student persistence.
Female axillary secretions influence women's menstrual cycles: a critique.

Abstract Preti, Cutler, Garcia, Huggins, and Lawley report (1986, Horm. Behav.20, 474–482) that women's menstrual cycles can be modulated with applications of female-derived secretions. An experimental sample of 10 women who reported that they had 29.5 ± 3 day menstrual cycles was treated on a 22- to 25-day cycle with an extract of axillary secretions from a group of female donors. After two menstrual cycles, the mean absolute difference between the women's menses onsets and the treatment applications decreased significantly. A control sample of 9 women similarly treated with blank/ethanol showed no significant change. Reanalysis of the data indicates that four subjects in the extract sample synchronized with the extract cycles because of “errors” in the extract applications and another four synchronized as a result of experimental design, mathematical properties of cocycling menses onsets, and chance variations. After these factors are accounted for, no evidence suggests that the cycles of the subjects in the extract sample were modulated by the female-derived axillary secretion.
Objective and subjective assessment of long-term community integration in minority groups following traumatic brain injury.

Previous studies that used objective measures of community integration found that in the first year after injury, minority groups with traumatic brain injury (TBI) exhibit lower levels of community integration than White participants. The objective of this study was to determine if this discrepancy persists beyond one year post injury, and if assessing subjective components of community integration helps understand these differences. Participants were 360 community dwelling adults with TBI including 29% from minority backgrounds. Mean time post injury was 8.66 years (SD = 9.94). Main outcome measure utilized was the Participation Objective Participation Subjective (POPS). Multiple regression indicated that minority status predicted levels of transportation use (p Language: en
Miller Fisher's syndrome.

Miller Fisher's syndrome is a rare variant of Guillain-Barre's syndrome characterized by the acute development of ataxia, ophthalmoparesis, and areflexia. Most patients have a measureable antibody in serum directed against the GQ1b ganglioside. This antibody is also present in the serum of patients with other forms of Guillain-Barre's syndrome who have prominent ataxia or ophthalmoplegia as part of their clinical presentation. Miller Fisher's syndrome generally is self-limited and has an excellent prognosis.
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell–Derived Transforming Growth Factor-β Promotes Maturation of Activated, Neointima Lesion–Like Macrophages

Objective—To define the contribution of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC)–derived factors to macrophage phenotypic modulation in the setting of vascular injury. Approach and Results—By flow cytometry, macrophages (M4) were the predominant myeloid cell type recruited to wire-injured femoral arteries, in mouse, compared with neutrophils or eosinophils. Recruited macrophages from injured vessels exhibited a distinct expression profile relative to circulating mononuclear cells (peripheral blood monocytes; increased: interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interleukin-12b, CC chemokine receptor [CCR]3, CCR7, tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase, arginase 1; decreased: interleukin-12a, matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]9). This phenotype was recapitulated in vitro by maturing rat bone marrow cells in the presence of macrophage-colony stimulating factor and 20% conditioned media from cultured rat SMC (sMφ) compared with maturation in macrophage-colony stimulating factor alone (M0). Recombinant transformin...
The Foreclosure Crisis and Community Development: Exploring REO Dynamics in Hard-Hit Neighborhoods

Since the onset of the foreclosure crisis, many communities have faced a glut of properties that have completed the foreclosure process and are now owned by banks or other mortgage lenders. Policy-makers worry that large concentrations of these properties, referred to as ‘real estate owned’ or ‘REO,’ impose spillover effects on the price of homes and quality of life in surrounding neighborhood. Despite receiving significant policy attention, our understanding of the size, nature, and distribution of current REO stocks, as well as what becomes of properties after being sold, is extremely limited or anecdotal. Our paper shines new empirical light on the REO problem in hard-hit neighborhoods by using local data sources to analyze recent REO trends in New York City and the core counties of the Atlanta and Miami areas. For each, we calculate the size of the REO stock over time in different neighborhood types, estimate the types of purchasers, and determine whether purchased REO properties are flipped.
Picosecond Signal Processing With Planar Nonlinear Integrated Optics

AbstractThe first application of nonlinear integrated optics to signal processing is described.The nonlinear mixing of two oppositely propagating waves guided in a titanium in- diffusedlithium niobate waveguide has been demonstrated to produce the real -time convolution of twopulses of picosecond duration.IntroductionReal -time signal processing based on wave interactions, both acoustic and acousto-optic,1,2 have been reported previously. For example, the nonlinear mixing of oppositelypropagating collinear surface acoustic waves has been used to achieve various processingfunctions.' In that case the intrinsic material nonlinearities provided the basic mechanismfor generating the signal of interest during the overlap of two input sound waves thatrepresented the waveforms to be processed. In piezoelectric media, the convolution of thetwo waves appears as both a spatially periodic voltage that is sampled by means of an inter -digital transducer on the surface,' or as a bulk acoustic wave generated at the sum fre-quency in a direction normal to the surface.3 This type of device operates in the 10 ns to1 ps time domain. However, the recent development of fiber optical communications has stim-ulated interest in ultrafast, subnanosecond signal processing. In this paper we describenonlinear, integrated optics, wave phenomena that are the optical analog of those used insurface wave devices and that should provide signal processing capabilities in the 1 ps to1 ns range.Integrated optics waveguides are ideal vehicles for nonlinear interactions. Since propa-gation losses are typically a few decibels per centimeter and the propagation is diffraction -less (at least in the depth dimension), long interaction lengths are possible. High powerdensities are obtained with small input powers, for example 1 W of power produces densitiesof 105 W /cm2 in millimeter wide beams. Furthermore, we have been successful`' in fabricatingoptical waveguides that can carry power densities comparable to those of bulk materials, i.e.tens of gigawatts per square centimeter. To date, previous work has been limited primarilyto second harmonic generation,5 -6 sum and difference frequency generation,6'7 and parametricamplification.8 The work summarized here has been reported previously in letter form.
Improved in situ measurements of lead isotopes in silicate glasses by LA-MC-ICPMS using multiple ion counters

A new technique that improves the spatial resolution and quantification limits of the measurement of lead isotope ratios in silicate glasses with <15 μg g−1 total Pb by LA-MC-ICPMS is presented. The new method provides the capability of making quantitative, in situ lead isotope measurements on tiny objects of geologic interest such as mineral growth bands, melt inclusions, and accessory minerals, even where they are lead poor. The method allows for the concurrent, static measurement of 204Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb along with 202Hg in five Channeltron ion counters. Standard-sample-standard bracketing using USGS BCR2-G as the calibrant is used to correct for instrumental mass bias. Accuracy and precision of the method was evaluated by replicate analyses of various MPI-DING reference glasses with low lead concentrations (∼1–11 μg g−1) and well-determined isotopic ratios. Spot sizes for in situ analyses were as small as 40–69 μm, providing better spatial resolution than previous LA-MC-ICPMS results reporting 204Pb. Measured lead isotope ratios for the MPI-DING reference glasses T1-G (11.6 μg g−1 total Pb) and ATHO-G (5.67 μg g−1 total Pb) agree within 0.10% and 0.15% respectively of the preferred values using 40 μm spots. For MPI-DING KL2-G (2.07 μg g−1 total Pb) and ML3B-G (1.38 μg g−1 total Pb) measured lead ratios agree within 0.75% of the accepted values with typical precisions of <1.9% (2RSD) using 69 μm spots; measured 207Pb/206Pb and 208Pb/206Pb are within 0.45% of preferred values with precisions of <0.50% (2RSD). These results demonstrate improvement over previous LA-MC-ICPMS data in terms of both quantification limits and spatial resolution, while retaining similar levels of accuracy and precision.
`N-Body' Problems in Statistical Learning

We present efficient algorithms for all-point-pairs problems, or 'N-body'- like problems, which are ubiquitous in statistical learning. We focus on six examples, including nearest-neighbor classification, kernel density estimation, outlier detection, and the two-point correlation. These include any problem which abstractly requires a comparison of each of the N points in a dataset with each other point and would naively be solved using N2 distance computations. In practice N is often large enough to make this infeasible. We present a suite of new geometric techniques which are applicable in principle to any 'N-body' computation including large-scale mixtures of Gaussians, RBF neural networks, and HMM's. Our algorithms exhibit favorable asymptotic scaling and are empirically several orders of magnitude faster than the naive computation, even for small datasets. We are aware of no exact algorithms for these problems which are more efficient either empirically or theoretically. In addition, our framework yields simple and elegant algorithms. It also permits two important generalizations beyond the standard all-point-pairs problems, which are more difficult. These are represented by our final examples, the multiple two-point correlation and the notorious n-point correlation.
Regression Tree Cartography

We illustrate several types of cartographic displays that can enhance understanding from hierarchical analysis techniques such as regression trees. When the observations have spatial locations, maps of the predicted values, maps of the residuals, and maps of the predicting relationships of the tree may help to reveal associations between predictors and response. We propose an objective method for constructing maps that may help to show the geographical similarities and differences between observations based on their positions in the prediction tree. This mapping method divides the color spectrum to assign colors to the leaves, using the same hierarchical pattern as the prediction tree does to divide the data. We illustrate regression tree cartography with two examples and suggest how the prediction tree mapping method could be used for classification trees and for dendrograms produced by hierarchical clustering methods.
APIC State-of-the-Art Report: the role of the infection preventionist in emergency management

Background: This report summarizes the scope and role of infection preventionists in emergency management for all types of disasters. Preventing the transmission of infectious agents during a disaster is an essential component of emergency management. Previous disasters have illustrated the need for better infection prevention and the involvement of an infection prevention professional in planning for and responding to such events. Methods: An evidence-based approach was used, consisting of a literature review and review by members of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc, Emergency Preparedness Committee. Results: Nine domains were identified that describe the role of the infection preventionist in emergency management: knowledge of disasters and emergency management, assessing readiness and emergency management plans, infection prevention coverage, participation in disaster response and recovery, health care policy development, surveillance, patient management, physical plant issues, and infection preventionist as educator. Details for each domain are provided. Conclusion: Infection preventionists need to become more involved in emergency management at the personal, facility, and community level. This report outlines the infection preventionist’s responsibilities related to emergency management.
Recurrent Chromosomal Copy Number Alterations in Sporadic Chordomas

The molecular events in chordoma pathogenesis have not been fully delineated, particularly with respect to copy number changes. Understanding copy number alterations in chordoma may reveal critical disease mechanisms that could be exploited for tumor classification and therapy. We report the copy number analysis of 21 sporadic chordomas using array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Recurrent copy changes were further evaluated with immunohistochemistry, methylation specific PCR, and quantitative real-time PCR. Similar to previous findings, large copy number losses, involving chromosomes 1p, 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 18, were more common than copy number gains. Loss of CDKN2A with or without loss of CDKN2B on 9p21.3 was observed in 16/20 (80%) unique cases of which six (30%) showed homozygous deletions ranging from 76 kilobases to 4.7 megabases. One copy loss of the 10q23.31 region which encodes PTEN was found in 16/20 (80%) cases. Loss of CDKN2A and PTEN expression in the majority of cases was not attributed to promoter methylation. Our sporadic chordoma cases did not show hotspot point mutations in some common cancer gene targets. Moreover, most of these sporadic tumors are not associated with T (brachyury) duplication or amplification. Deficiency of CDKN2A and PTEN expression, although shared across many other different types of tumors, likely represents a key aspect of chordoma pathogenesis. Sporadic chordomas may rely on mechanisms other than copy number gain if they indeed exploit T/brachyury for proliferation.
Inhibition of the MAPK/ERK cascade: a potential transcription-dependent mechanism for the amnesic effect of anesthetic propofol

Intravenous anesthetics are known to cause amnesia, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. To identify a possible molecular mechanism, we recently turned our attention to a key intracellular signaling pathway organized by a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). As a prominent synapse-to-nucleus superhighway, MAPKs couple surface glutamate receptors to nuclear transcriptional events essential for the development and/or maintenance of different forms of synaptic plasticity (long-term potentiation and long-term depression) and memory formation. To define the role of MAPK-dependent transcription in the amnesic property of anesthetics, we conducted a series of studies to examine the effect of a prototype intravenous anesthetic propofol on the MAPK response to N-methyl-Daspartate receptor (NMDAR) stimulation in hippocampal neurons. Our results suggest that propofol possesses the ability to inhibit NMDAR-mediated activation of a classic subclass of MAPKs, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Concurrent inhibition of transcriptional activity also occurs as a result of inhibited responses of ERK1/2 to NMDA. These findings provide first evidence for an inhibitory modulation of the NMDAR-MAPK pathway by an intravenous anesthetic and introduce a new avenue to elucidate a transcription-dependent mechanism processing the amnesic effect of anesthetics.
Judicial Intervention and Its Key Battleground: Natural Justice

This paper explores what has been the most successful attempt to date to introduce an “escape hatch” into the adjudication process for those on the wrong end of decisions: the area of natural justice. The decisions of the Technology and Construction Court relating to this area reflect the complexity of the key policy consideration underlying them: the extent to which judges should second guess adjudicators when it comes to matters of procedure. The paper argues that the Technology and Construction Court has in recent years reached a high water mark of intervention before being reigned in by the then senior judge of that court and by the Court of Appeal. It suggests that a more stable and predictable position now prevails. That certainty, common approach, and balance have been welcomed by the construction industry. This paper suggests that welcome is a better benchmark of whether the intervention/nonintervention debate has been correctly resolved than any academic or theoretical approach.
An historical review of iterative methods

*The preparation of this paper was supported in part by The National Science Foundation through Grant DCR - 8518722, by the Department of Energy through Grant A505-81ER10954, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and Development through Grant AF-85-0052. The U.S. Government retains a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or allow others to do so for U.S. Government purposes.
On the Inhibition of Muscle Contraction Caused by Exposure to Hypertonic Solutions

The evidence supporting a site of inhibition of excitation contraction (E-C) coupling near the plasma membrane (the "glycerol effect," the K+-potentiating effect) for muscle in hypertonic solution was reinvestigated. It was found, using whole frog sartorii, that there was a rehydration of muscle soaked in glycerol Ringer after 30 min and a large swelling (to 140% after 1 hr soaking) upon return of the muscle to normal Ringer, suggesting that significant amounts of glycerol enter the fibers during this time. While contrary to the original report of the glycerol effect, this finding was consistent with other studies involving the use of single fibers. Also reexamined was the potentiating effect of K+ on the hypertonic inhibition of muscle contraction. It was found that muscles exposed to this KCl pretreatment swell so that they are less dehydrated in hypertonic solutions, thus accounting for the observed potentiation. After being treated instead with a K2-tartrate Ringer solution, muscles did not swell and, as determined with twitch recordings, did not display any potentiation in hypertonic solutions—even though the [K+] was higher than an osmotically equivalent KCl solution. The evidence was thus consistent with alternative hypotheses in which inhibition of contraction occurs at a later stage in E-C coupling or involves the contractile process itself.
I/Q imbalance in MIMO STBC communication systems: Impact and solution

In this work we study the performance degradation caused by the in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) imbalance of the transceivers in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) space-time block coded (STBC) communication systems. The 2-Tx orthogonal STBC (OSTBC) systems, 4-Tx quasi-orthogonal STBC (QOSTBC) systems, and 4-Tx rotated QOSTBC (RQOSTBC) systems in the presence of I/Q imbalance are studied in detail. Our work shows that I/Q imbalance causes severe distortion in MIMO STBC communication systems. By exploiting the structure of the received signal, low-complexity solutions are proposed to mitigate the distortion caused by I/Q imbalance successfully.
A systematic review of the management of acute pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis

Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (PFT) is an aggressive closed-space infection that can result in severe morbidity. Although surgical treatment of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis has been widely described, the role of antibiotic therapy is inadequately understood. We conducted a literature review of studies reporting on acute pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis management. A total of 28 case series articles were obtained, all of which used surgical intervention with varied use of antibiotics. Inconsistencies among the studies limited summative statistical analysis. Our results showed that use of antibiotics as a component of therapy resulted in improved range of motion outcomes (54% excellent vs. 14% excellent), as did using catheter irrigation rather than open washout (71% excellent vs. 26% excellent). These studies showed benefits of early treatment of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis and of systemic antibiotic use. As broad-spectrum antibiotics have changed the management of other infectious conditions, we must more...
Academic red-shirting and academic achievement among students with ADHD

Abstract Academic red-shirting via voluntary delayed school entry is a debatable practice for students but has been argued a potentially viable practice for children with a range of disabilities by providing students “the gift of time.” The current study ( n = 21,409) indicated that children with ADHD ( n = 1057) were more likely to be red-shirted as compared to children without ADHD ( n = 20,352). We examined the academic trajectories of those children with ADHD who were red-shirted versus children with ADHD who were not red-shirted. Results revealed no meaningful association of red-shirting with academic achievement across time. We subsequently examined the relationship of red-shirting and academic achievement among children with ADHD who received medication ( n = 426) versus children with ADHD who did not receive medication ( n = 631). Among children with medicated ADHD, the negative association of red-shirting with achievement across time was stronger but medication received was also associated with more severe symptoms of inattention across time, which may account for this relationship. Academic red-shirting does not appear to be especially beneficial for students with ADHD (medicated or not) in terms of academic achievement across time.