cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Alice Affects Bioinformatics Patent Applications

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding patent-eligible subject matter in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank has been in effect for more than five years, and it has made a significant impact on inventions in the life science industry. Statistics have shown that patent applications and allowance rate decreased significantly after Alice due to legal uncertainties created by this decision. This work develops a causal empirical study (using difference-in-difference regressions) of Alice and carefully explores how this decision impacts patent examiners and patent applicants in bioinformatics. We deploy and analyze patent application data between 2012 and 2016 for all the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) office actions in bioinformatics and manufacturing devices, a total of 0.14 million patent office actions and patentee responses. Patent applications in bioinformatics are defined as broad and narrow according to specific technology centers or art units and compared with the patent applications in manufacturing devices before and after Alice. We find that applicants in bioinformatics, regardless of the broad or narrow definitions, received more Sec. 101 rejections after Alice, and they are positively associated with Alice-based rejections. Alice-based rejections are not always positively associated with other types of statutory rejections (i.e., Sec. 102, Sec. 103, and Sec. 112 rejections). Moreover, applicants gradually filed fewer patent applications, compared to the time period before Alice, with the greatest reduction in patent applications occurring in June 2014, when the Alice decision was delivered by the Supreme Court. In addition, patentees received many more Sec. 101 rejections based on Alice, but these applicants also faced difficulties in overcoming these rejections, especially in the sub-areas of data processing and combinatorial chemistry technology in bioinformatics. Due to the high costs of patenting on bioinformatics imposed by Alice, this study suggests legislation by Congress is the best hope to bring more certainty to this area of patent law.
Molecular Alignment of Homoleptic Iridium Phosphors in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

The orientation of facial (fac) tris-cyclometalated iridium complexes in doped films prepared by vacuum deposition is investigated by altering the physical shape and electronic asymmetry in the molecular structure. Angle-dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy and Fourier-plane imaging microscopy show that the orientation of roughly spherical fac-tris(2-phenylpyridyl)iridium (Ir(ppy)3 ) is isotropic, whereas complexes that are oblate spheroids, fac-tris(mesityl-2-phenyl-1H-imidazole)iridium (Ir(mi)3 ) and fac-tris((3,5-dimethyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2-phenyl-1H-imidazole)iridium (Ir(mip)3 ), have a net horizontal alignment of their transition dipole moments. Optical anisotropy factors of 0.26 and 0.15, respectively, are obtained from the latter complexes when doped into tris(4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)amine host thin films. The horizontal alignment is attributed to the favorable van der Waals interaction between the oblate Ir complexes and host material. Trifluoromethyl groups substituted on one polar face of the Ir(ppy)3 and Ir(mi)3 complexes introduce chemical asymmetries in the molecules at the expense of their oblate shapes. The anisotropy factors of films doped with these substituted derivatives are lower relative to the parent complexes, indicating that the fluorinated patches reinforce horizontal alignment during deposition. High efficiencies obtained from organic light emitting diodes prepared using the Ir dopants is attributed, in part, to improved outcoupling of electroluminescence brought about by molecular alignment.
Collaborative energy demand response with decentralized actor and centralized critic

The ongoing industrialization and rising technology adoption around the world are leading to ever higher energy consumption. The benefits of electrification are enormous, but the growing demand also comes with challenges with respect to associated greenhouse gas emissions. Although continuing progress in energy research has brought up new technologies in energy generation, storage, and distribution, most of those technologies focus on increasing efficiency of individual components. Work on integration and coordination abilities between individual components in micro-grids will lead to further improvements and gains in efficiency that are necessary to reduce carbon footprints and slow down climate change. To this end, the CityLearn environment provides a simulation framework that allows the control of energy components in buildings that are organized in districts. In this paper, we propose an energy management system based on the decentralized actor-critic reinforcement learning algorithm MARLISA but integrate a centralized critic and call it MARLISADSCC. In this way, we are training a model to autonomously control the energy storage of individual buildings in a CityLearn district to improve demand response guided by a better informed training signal. We show performance increases over baseline control techniques for a district but also discuss the resulting action selection for individual buildings.
DISCUSSION OF DEFORMATION OF SAND IN SHEAR

LOADING TESTS WHICH IMPOSE A NONHOMOGENEOUS STRESS STATE ON SOIL SAMPLES ARE OBJECTIONABLE IN STRESS-STRAIN RESEARCH. THE QUALITY OF THE SOIL TEST BOX ON THIS ACCOUNT IS OPEN TO QUESTION. THE WRITER PRESENTED ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE NUMERICALLY SUBSTANTIATING GREEN'S CONCLUSIONS FOR THE SPECIFIC CASE OF TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION. THE REALIBILITY OF THE DATA AND THE INTERPRETATIONS REPORTED BY THE AUTHORS IS THOUGHT TO DECREASE WITH SHEARING STRESS FROM THE HYDROSTATIC STATE AND IS PROBABLY DEPENDENT IN A LARGE DEGREE UPON THE STRESS PATH. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE ARCHING EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH EDGE RESTRAINT WOULD PRIMARILY DEPEND UPON THE DIRECTION OF GRAIN MOVEMENT ADJACENT AND WITH RESPECT TO THE SPACING FRAME. THE APPARENT STIFFNESS OF MEDIUM DENSE OTTOWA SAND SUBJECTED TO APPRECIABLE SHEARING STRESSES SEEMS UNREASONABLY HIGH. THE AUTHORS' TREATMENT OF FAILURE VERSUS YIELD COULD BE PHYSICALLY CLARIFIED IF THE DISCONTINUITIES IN THE STRESS DEFORMATION CURVES ACTUALLY REPRESENTED THE OCCURRENCE OF LOCAL YIELDING VERY CLOSE TO THE SPACING FRAME. THE DISCONTINUITY COULD BE REGARDED SIMPLY AS THE RESULT OF STRESS CONCENTRATION AND WOULD CERTAINLY NOT REFLECT A TRUE STRESS-STRAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SAND. THE AUTHORS' ATTEMPTS TO BETTER DEFINE THE STRESS- STRAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF A PARTICULAR OTTOWA SAND ARE COMMENDABLE. THE NEWLY DEVELOPED STRESS CONTROL DEVICE SEEMS WELL SUITED TO THE TASK WHILE THE SOIL TEST BOX DOES NOT. REFERENCES: DEFORMATION OF SAND IN SHEAR, HON-YIM KO, RONALD F. SCOTT, ASCE, (PROC. PAPER 5470), SEPTEMBER 1967.
Spectral characterization of brain and macrophage nitric oxide synthases : cytochrome P-450-like hemeproteins that contain A flavin semiquinone radical

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized in mammals where it acts as a signal molecule for neurotransmission, vasorelaxation, and cytotoxicity. The NO synthases isolated from brain and cytokine-activated macrophages are FAD- and FMN-containing flavoproteins that display considerable sequence homology to NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. However, the nature of their catalytic centers is unknown. We have found that both isoenzymes contain 2 mol of iron-protoporphyrin IX/mol of enzyme homodimer. The optical and EPR spectroscopic properties of the heme groups were found to be remarkably similar to those of high-spin cytochrome P-450. The heme iron in the resting NO synthase is ferric and five-coordinate with a cysteine thiolate as the proximal axial ligand. In addition, the EPR spectra of the resting NO synthases contained a free radical signal attributable to a bound flavin semiquinone that appeared to interact magnetically with the ferric heme iron. NO production was inhibited by carbon monoxide, implying a role for the heme groups in catalysis.
Capillary heterogeneity trapping of CO2 in a sandstone rock at reservoir conditions

[1] The storage of CO2 in deep subsurface porous rocks is being developed worldwide for the mitigation of emission from large industrial sources such as power plants and steel manufacturing. A main concern of this technology is in ensuring that the upwardly buoyant CO2 does not migrate to the surface. Simulation studies suggest that substantial amounts of CO2 can be trapped within permeable sections of a reservoir by capillary forces and intra-reservoir heterogenities, but there is little experimental observation of these phenomena. We report the results of CO2 core flooding experiments at high pressure and temperature performed to investigate the impact of natural capillary heterogeneity in a sandstone rock on CO2 saturation buildup and trapping. CO2 and water were injected through a Mt. Simon sandstone core at 9 MPa pore pressure and 50°C. The core had two regions of distinct capillarity: An upstream 10 cm long region of the core consisted of a relatively high permeability and homogenous sand. A downstream 3 cm long region of the core consisted of a low permeability region characterized by significant cross-bedding and a high capillary entry pressure for CO2. During a drainage process of CO2 displacing water, CO2 builds up upstream of the capillary barrier. Once in place, CO2 on the upstream side of the barrier cannot be displaced during 100% water flooding leading to trapped saturations that are a factor 2–5 times higher than what would be expected from residual trapping alone.
Improving Vehicular Window Control with Haptic and Visual Feedback

When paired with a user-friendly GUI, a haptic-enabled rotary control knob provides a convenient and easy to use interface to control vehicle instrumentation. Such a haptic knob helps to reduce distractions on the driver. As a result, driver safety and performance is increased. Means of integrating current window control systems within such a knob is examined through human factors studies. The effects of varying forces on a knob are also investigated to further increase accuracy and performance during window selection. Results show that when forces are applied to the knob, drivers are better able to maintain control of the simulated vehicle while selecting a window.
Topography of Bence-Jones Protein DETERMINATION OF THE REACTIVITIES OF TYROSINES AND HISTIDINES TO IODINATION

Abstract The relative reactivities to iodination of the variable region tyrosines of a κ Bence-Jones protein, Col, were found to be in the order 49 g 91 g 36, 86 g 87, with tyrosine 87 completely unreactive. The relative reactivities of all of the tyrosines of Protein Col are concluded to be 173 >> 49 g 91 g 186, 192, 36, 86, 140 g 87. Histidine 198 is more reactive than histidine 189. The parts of the polypeptide chain containing tyrosines 173, 49, and 91 appear to be close enough to the surface of the molecule to expose these tyrosines to the solvent since they are reactive with iodine. On the other hand, tyrosine 87 appears to be buried. These findings were based on a study of the iodotyrosine and iodohistidine peptides from radioiodinated Protein Col. Several paper chromatography and electrophoresis systems for separating iodopeptides were established. This protein contains four tyrosines and two histidines in the constant region and five tyrosines in the variable region. Seventeen iodopeptides were isolated and account for the nine tyrosines and both histidines. Of these 17 iodopeptides, eight contained only monoiodotyrosine as the iodinated residue, six contained only diiodotyrosine, two contained only monoiodohistidine, and one contained one intact tyrosine, one monoiodotyrosine, and one diiodotyrosine. One of the monoiodoand one of the diiodotyrosine peptides were shown to contain one intact tyrosine in addition to the one iodotyrosine. An assignment of the position of the iodinated residue in each of these iodopeptides in the sequence of Protein Col was made on the bases of the characterization of the iodopeptides and of the published sequences of other κ Bence-Jones proteins. The identification of the residues iodinated in other κ Bence-Jones proteins will be greatly facilitated by the characterization of the iodopeptides reported here. The chymotryptic activity of l-(1-tosylamido-2-phenyl)ethyl chloromethyl ketone-treated trypsin which is frequently overlooked was made apparent by the high sensitivity of the radioiodine label used.
DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT: LAW SCHOOL INNOVATIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION'S CRITIQUE OF AMERICAN LEGAL EDUCATION

In 2007, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching issued a booklength report on American legal education, criticizing American law schools and issuing a call for reform. This chapter draws on concepts from the field of moral psychology, which have been used in other American professional schools, to explain the Carnegie Report’s critique as a call for teaching professional judgment in legal education. The chapter then describes innovations taking place since the publication of the Carnegie Report at three American law schools. The first innovation summarized is the new approach to clinical education at Stanford Law School, which includes a semester-long “rotation” in which students are entirely immersed in clinical education, and a new course taught exclusively for clinical students in which students act as the “ethics committee” to resolve actual professional and ethical challenges arising in one or more of Stanford’s many clinics. The second innovative law school described is the Indiana University Maurer School of Law (Bloomington) which has become the first American law school to move the required course in legal ethics into the first year curriculum with the same number of credits as other core courses such as contracts and property. The course at Indiana employs a number of teaching methods intended to develop professional judgement: students learn about professional norms in a variety of settings, including interacting with exemplary members of the legal profession, and reflect about their own developing identities as legal professionals. The third, and perhaps most innovative, development is taking place at the Washington & Lee School of Law where an entirely experiential program replaces the traditional classroom-based third year
Similar 24-h pattern and rate of carbon dioxide production, by indirect calorimetry vs. stable isotope dilution, in healthy adults under standardized metabolic conditions.

We investigated the applicability of the bicarbonate stable isotope dilution technique for accurate determination of 24-h energy expenditure in humans and in reference to the conduct of short-term (< or = 8 h) metabolic studies. Five healthy adult subjects consumed for 4 d a standard diet providing approximately 188 kJ.kg-1.d-1 and 1.0 g.kg-1.d-1 of egg protein. From d 4 at 1800 h to d 5 at 1800 h, a 24-h metabolic study, combining indirect calorimetry with an intravenous infusion of 13C-labeled sodium bicarbonate, was performed under standardized conditions of 12 h fasting-12 h feeding. "Measured" CO2 production (VCO2) (indirect calorimetry) over 24 h was not significantly different from "predicted" VCO2 (bicarbonate dilution) (218.31 +/- 20.91 vs. 221.51 +/- 19.44 mmol CO2.kg-1.d-1, respectively) (P = 0.34). Further, 24-h VCO2 and energy expenditure were determined by extrapolating from "predicted" VCO2 during the last hour of fasting (15th hour following last meal) and the fifth hour of the small hourly meal-feeding phase. The maximum difference for an individual subject between the above-calculated 24-h energy expenditure and that from 24-h indirect calorimetry measurements was < 4%. These results support use of the present experimental protocol, and the bicarbonate dilution technique, lasting < or = 8 h, to obtain reliable quantitative estimates of 24-h CO2 production and energy expenditure in healthy adult humans.
Neighborhoods: a framework for enabling Web based synchronous collaboration and hierarchical navigation

The World Wide Web (WWW) is an extremely effective mechanism for sharing information throughout the world via a web of links. These links allow anyone with a connection to the Internet to unearth large amounts of information on multitudes of topics. However, access to this information is asynchronous, with no way for users to interact with each other in real time. We have developed Neighborhoods to support synchronous interaction between users. Related documents can be grouped together into a Neighborhood, which acts as a meeting place where Web users can find and contact others with similar interests. Neighborhoods are based on underlying protocols for creating collections of documents and for establishing collaborative sessions. The collection protocol allows material on the Web to be organized into categories and subcategories, providing context and a readable graphical representation of a set of related documents. The Neighborhoods protocol adds to this a method for specifying and establishing new collaborative sessions, as well as locating existing ones.
Open trial of nefazodone among Hispanics with major depression: Efficacy, tolerability, and adherence issues

The efficacy and tolerability of nefazodone in the treatment of major depression among Spanish-monolingual Hispanics was examined and compared to historical controls among English-speaking, predominantly non-Hispanic subjects. Fifty monolingual Hispanic outpatients with major depression and a HAM-D17 score ≥18 were treated with nefazodone in a flexible-dose 8-week open-label protocol. Sixty-three percent of the intent-to-treat (ITT) sample with ≥1 efficacy visit were considered responders according to CGI-I criteria, falling within the range of response rates (58–69%) reported in six prior nefazodone trials with non-Hispanic subjects. Significant improvement was found for the ITT and completer samples in HAM-D17, HAM-D28, and SCL-90 scores and in two measures of psychosocial functioning. Endpoint mean dose in the ITT sample was 379 mg/day (SD=170), also within the range of previous trials (321–472mg/day). Adverse effects were not elevated, with only dry mouth (8%) reported by >6% of subjects. However, 42% of the sample dropped out of treatment before study termination, usually because of side effects or due to family or work difficulties, a higher rate than previously reported for nefazodone (21–33%). This open trial finds nefazodone to be an efficacious treatment for major depression among monolingual Hispanics, with comparable efficacy to previous controlled trials among non-Hispanic subjects. Double-blind studies are required to confirm this comparable efficacy. Mean endpoint doses and adverse effect rates similar to previous trials do not support the need for reduced doses of nefazodone among Hispanics. However, an elevated rate of treatment discontinuation threatens treatment efficacy among this population. Causes for this elevated rate require explanation, given the apparently unremarkable pattern of adverse effect reports. Depression and Anxiety 13:118–124, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the Origin of the Earth's Magnetic Field

The terrestrial field is traced here to the existence of thermoelectric currents in the metallic interior of the earth. The currents owe their existence to inhomogeneities continually created by turbulent convective motions. In order to obtain a nonvanishing resultant angular momentum of the currents around the earth's axis, the current system must exhibit a particular asymmetry. The latter is shown to originate through the preponderant influence of the Coriolis force upon the convective motions. In Part I the well-known proof, based on potential theory, of the fact that the currents must flow inside and not outside the earth, is briefly reproduced. In Part II an analysis of the formal expression for the current density is given. By means of a development in spherical harmonics the conditions for a nonvanishing current momentum can be formulated. It appears that temperature fluctuations in an otherwise homogeneous medium always yield a zero momentum, therefore the existence of inhomogeneities in the material is also required. In Part III it is pointed out that geophysicists have previously obtained evidence of the existence of a metallic core of the earth in which the viscosity is extremely low as compared to the viscosity of the rocks. Radioactive impurities which are very small compared to the total radioactivity of the earth are sufficient to maintain thermally driven convective motions in the metallic core. An estimate of the various terms in the hydrodynamic equations shows that the Coriolis force is much larger than all other dynamical effects. In Part IV we discuss the effect of the Coriolis force in producing that particular asymmetry which leads to a resultant angular momentum of the currents. It is shown that the inhomogeneities in material required according to the analysis of Part II can be accounted for by phase transformations of the material induced by the pressure changes which are connected with the vertical component of the motions. In Part V an attempt is made to estimate numerically the current density, basing the estimate on some general results of the theory of conductivity. For temperature variations of the order of 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} the calculated value of the current is in satisfactory agreement with the observed magnitude of the earth's magnetic moment. At the end, the bearing of these ideas upon the magnetism of sunspots is briefly discussed.
Hemodynamic Compromise Associated with Air Trapping Following Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Cardiovascular collapse due to pulmonary hyperinflation was noted in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following median sternotomy for cardiac surgery. Treatment included bronchodilator therapy to reduce airway obstruction, limitation of minute ventilation, and increasing time available for exhalation. High inspiratory flow rates and expiratory retard may be beneficial.
Steroidogenic Enzyme Expression in Porcine Conceptuses during and after Elongation

The following studies were performed to investigate levels of expression of steroidogenic enzymes in porcine conceptuses between days 12 and 21 postmating and to correlate these findings with estrogen levels in conceptus tissues. In the first experiment, levels of steroidogenic enzymes in individual day 12 blastocysts were examined by Western immunoblot analyses. In a second experiment, Northern blot, slot blot, and Western immunoblot analyses for 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(17) alpha) were performed on conceptus tissue pooled for each uterine horn of sows on days 12, 14, 16, and 21 postmating. On day 12, P450(17) alpha) protein was detectable in 6-mm blastocysts, with highest levels apparent in 10- to 15-mm (tubular) blastocysts. Filamentous blastocysts appeared to have less P450(17) alpha) protein than did littermate tubular blastocysts. Side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc) and aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) followed a pattern similar to that of P450(17) alpha. 3 beta-Hydro...
Incorporation of thymine-containing DNA precursors in wild-type and mutant T4-infected plasmolysed cells

T4-infected cells, plasmolysed 15 min after infection, incorporate low concentrations (>20 μM) of deoxythymidine (TdR) into DNA at a significantly greater rate than dTMP, dTTP or thymine. At higher concentrations (>40 μM), dTMP incorporation rate is high, approaching that of TdR at 200 μM. TdR is selectively incorporated at all concentrations tested, and is not inhibited by the other thymine containing DNA precursors. Incorporation of low concentrations of TdR requires the T4-induced thymidine kinase (tk) and is not significantly affected by the presence or absence of T4-induced thymidylate synthetase (td). We show that, in T4-infected plasmolysed cells, exogenously added TdR is preferentially incorporated into short DNA fragments during short pulse times. To explain these and other data a model is proposed in which thymidine plays a modulatory role between leading and lagging strand precursor feeds.
Oxygen adsorption on Cs covered GaAs(110) surfaces

Abstract Cs covered GaAs(110) was exposed to oxygen and studied with soft X-ray photoemission (SXPS). Oxygen was found to bond to the surface As atoms with 106 times greater initial oxygen uptake. A second Cs layer added after the Cs/GaAs (110) surface had been exposed to oxygen brings effects similar to the oxidation of GaAs by excited oxygen. Possible inadequacies of the conventional models of NEA photocathodes assuming noninteracting substrate and Cs2O layer are discussed.
On the Effects of a Weak Magnetic Field on Turbulent Transport

We discuss the effects of a weak large-scale magnetic field on turbulent transport. We show by means of a series of two-dimensional numerical experiments that turbulent diffusion can be effectively suppressed by a (large scale) magnetic field whose energy is small compared to equipartition. The suppression mechanism is associated with a subtle modification of the Lagrangian energy spectrum, and it does not require any substantial reduction of the turbulent amplitude. We exploit the relation between diffusion and random walking to emphasize that the effect of a large-scale magnetic field is to induce a long-term memory in the field of turbulence. The implications of the general case of three-dimensional transport are briefly discussed.
An accurate ray-based offset-to-angle transform from normal moveout uncorrected multicomponent data in a transversely isotropic medium with vertical symmetry axis

A new ray-based approach for converting multicomponent normal moveout uncorrected offset domain prestack seismic data into angles is presented. From any two-way zero-offset time sample and a given angle of incidence, the exact ray and a few neighboring rays that contribute to the given angle of incidence are traced through the medium to their corresponding source and receiver locations to compute their raypath lengths, traveltimes, and offsets. A polynomial then is fitted locally between these computed offsets and their corresponding traveltimes. Next the traveltimes for the actual offsets on data that lie within these traced rays are computed from this local polynomial fit, and their corresponding time samples are partially stacked and moved to their two-way zero-offset times. Repetition of this procedure for all zero-offset time samples and for all desired angles produces an angle gather. The procedure allows computation of both primary (P-P) and mode-converted (P-SV) angle gathers. Also, by calculating the exact raypath length, an accurate geometric spreading compensation can be computed and applied to these gathers. By using the methodology for a horizontally stratified transversely isotopic medium with a vertical symmetry axis (a VTI medium), it is possible to extract a much more accurate angle-domain response from the ray-based method than is possible from a traditional NMO-based method. Accuracy out to large angles for both primary and mode-converted reflection suggests that this ray-based transform potentially could be used in a multicomponent prestack waveform inversion scheme.
Mechanisms of Vascular Calcification

Vascular calcification is highly prevalent and correlated with high rates of cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease patients. Recent evidence suggests that mineral, hormonal, and metabolic imbalances that promote phenotype change in vascular cells as well as deficiencies in specific mineralization inhibitory pathways may be important contributory factors for vascular calcification in these patients. This article reviews current mechanisms proposed for the regulation of vascular calcification and data supporting their potential contribution to this process in chronic kidney disease.
Color and pulsed Doppler sonography, gray-scale imaging, and serum CA 125 in the assessment of adnexal disease

Objective To compare color and pulsed Doppler sonography with gray-scale ultrasound imaging and serum CA 125 levels in establishing accurate preoperative diagnoses of adnexal masses. Methods Medical records of 109 patients referred with preexisting adnexal lesions were reviewed retrospectively by comparing preoperative ultrasonic data (gray-scale imaging and color and pulsed Doppler findings) with serum CA 125 levels. Results Eighty-three masses were removed surgically, confirming seven malignancies and 76 benign tumors, and 26 masses were followed; 15 regressed and 11 persisted. Color and pulsed Doppler sonography showed the highest sensitivity, followed by gray-scale imaging, whereas serum CA 125 levels revealed the highest specificity in distinguishing malignant from benign adnexal tumors. All three methods had high negative predictive values (96–100%), whereas only serum CA 125 had a positive predictive value greater than 50%. Conclusion Color and pulsed Doppler sonography, which demonstrate a tumor angiogenic activity, are as accurate as gray-scale imaging in the assessment of adnexal lesions. Together with serum CA 125 marker levels, they produce high negative predictive values, providing reassurance that an adnexal mass is benign.
Multi-level qualitative reasoning applied to CMOS digital circuits

Abstract This paper develops a general framework for efficient problem solving at multiple levels of abstraction in complex systems. The goal is to address two important control issues in the behavior generation process: (i) the selection problem, which deals with the right level of detail to solve a problem; and (ii) the efficiency problem, which deals with information transfer from higher levels of abstraction to focus problem solving at more detailed levels. A problem solver has been developed for CMOS circuit analysis. This problem solver produces solution traces that integrates information from various levels, and uses information derived at more abstract levels to guide problem solving at more detailed levels. The next step is to apply this problem solver to a wide variety of tasks such as integrated circuit design and diagnosis.
EXPLORING THE EFFECT OF LTL PRICING DISCOUNTS IN THE LTL VERSUS MULTIPLE-STOP TL CARRIER SELECTION DECISION.

This paper explores the carrier selection problem of choosing either a less‐than‐truckload (LTL) or a multiple‐stop truckload (TL) motor carrier to deliver products. Specifically the paper presents a methodology for analyzing the cost implications of different carrier selection decisions. Shippers and carriers can use this methodology to analyze how changes in input variables could affect a shipper's carrier selection decision. To illustrate the methodology, the paper reports the results of a case study showing how changes in one variable, an LTL carrier's price, influence carrier selection. This selection shows how a cost minimizing shipper assigns shipments to each carrier, LTL or multiple‐stop TL, at different LTL pricing discounts. Results from this study indicate a direct relationship between LTL pricing discount and LTL shipment volume in the context of multiple‐stop TL competition. While results from this application only directly apply to the shipper in the study, this application does show how shippers and carriers can use the methodology to make/study decisions in the LTL versus multiple‐stop TL problem.
STUDIES ON ROOTS. III. AN ANALYSIS OF ROOT GROWTH IN PHLEUM PRATENSE USING PHOTOMICROGRAPHIC RECORDS

THE GROWING ROOT TIP has long been considered a favorable object for experiments on growth and differentiation. In contrast to the shoot it has a relatively simple structure, unencumbered with foliar and floral appendages. The literature on this subject has been well reviewed in the recent papers of Erickson and Sax (1956a, 1956b). In 1939 Sinnott pointed out the suitability for growth studies of the roots produced by certain species of small-seeded grasses. The transparency of the fine roots and the rudimentary character of the root cap permit unobscured microscopic observation of the surface of the living meristem. Investigations on the growth of one of these species, Phleum pratense L., were reported by Sinnott and Bloch (1939a) and by Brumfield (1942).
The Impact of Statistically Adjusting for Rater Effects on Conditional Standard Errors of Performance Ratings.

Prior research indicates that the overall reliability of performance ratings can be improved by using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to adjust for rater effects. The present investigation ...
Role of uptake hydrogenase in providing reductant for nitrogenase in rhizobium leguminosarum bacteroids

Abstract The role of uptake hydrogenase in providing reducing power to nitrogenase was investigated in Rhizobium leguminosarum bacteroids from nodules of Pisum sativum L. (cv. Homesteader). H 2 increased the rate of C 2 H 2 reduction in the absence of added substrates. Malate also increased nitrogenase (C 2 H 2 ) activity while decreasing the effect of H 2 . At exogenous malate concentrations above 0.05 mM no effect of H 2 was seen. Malate appeared to be more important as a source of reductant than of ATP. When iodoacetate was used to minimize the contribution of endogenous substrates to nitrogenase activity in an isolate in which H 2 uptake was not coupled to ATP formation, H 2 increased the rate of C 2 H 2 reduction by 77%. In the presence of iodoacetate, an ATP-generating system did not enhance C 2 H 2 reduction, but when H 2 was also included, the rate of C 2 H 2 reduction was increased by 280% over that with the ATP-generating system alone. The data suggest that, under conditions of substrate starvation, the uptake hydrogenase in R. leguminosarum could provide reductant as well as ATP in an isolate in which the H 2 uptake is coupled to ATP formation, to the nitrogenase complex.
Postlaunch analysis of Swift's gamma-ray burst detection sensitivity

The dependence of Swift#s detection sensitivity on a burst#s temporal and spectral properties shapes the detected burst population. Using s implified models of the detector hardware and the burst trigger syste m I find that Swift is more sensitive to long, soft bursts than CGRO# s BATSE, a reference mission because of its large burst database. Thu s Swift has increased sensitivity in the parameter space region into which time dilation and spectral redshifting shift high redshift burs ts.
The Emergence of Markets and Marketing Systems in Transition Economies of Europe and Central Asia

Summary A brief overview of the transitional economies of Europe and Central Asia reveals that none of the economies are poised to achieve superlative economic performance in the coming years. This paper re-addresses some of the initial debates in economic transition and argues in favor of a micro-approach to the creation of a market economy. Specifically, the paper identifies some core priorities in the development of markets, marketing systems and market-friendly institutions.
Hormonal factors and risk of recurrent venous thrombosis: the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism trial.

To cite this article: Cushman M, Glynn RJ, Goldhaber SZ, Moll S, Bauer KA, Deitcher S, Shrivastava S, Ridker PM. Hormonal factors and risk of recurrent venous thrombosis: the Prevention of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism trial. J Thromb Haemost 2006; 4: 2199–203. Summary. Background: In some but not all studies, men with venous thrombosis had a higher risk of recurrence than women. Information on women with initial hormone-related thrombosis is scant.Objective: We assessed the incidence of recurrent thrombosis by gender, and among women using exogenous hormones or pregnant/postpartum at the time of index thrombosis. Patients/methods: A total of 508 men and women with one or more previous venous thrombosis episodes were observed while participating in a randomized trial of lowintensity warfarin or placebo for 2.1 years. Index thrombosis events during treatment with postmenopausal hormones, oral contraceptives, or during pregnancy, or the puerperium were considered to be hormone-related events. Results: Among 268 men the 3-year probability of recurrent thrombosis was 18.4% (95% confidence intervals; CI 12.3–24.4). Among 109 women without hormone-related thrombosis, the rate was 15.0% (95% CI 6.3–23.8). Among 129 women with hormone-related thrombosis, the rate was 5.0% (95% CI 1.1–8.9). Adjusting for other risk factors and treatment assignment, women had a 39% lower thrombosis recurrence risk than men: hazard ratio (HR) 0.61 (95% CI 0.34–1.08). Women with hormone-related thrombosis had a 58% lower risk than men: HR 0.42 (95% CI 0.19–0.97); and a 46% lower recurrence risk than other women; HR 0.54 (95% CI 0.19–1.54). Women without hormone-related index events had a recurrence rate similar to men; HR 0.83 (95% CI 0.42–1.66). Conclusions: In this trial population, women had a lower risk of recurrent venous thrombosis than men. This difference was explained by a low risk of recurrence among women with hormone-related index thrombosis.
The effects of individual differences on CS2 course performance across universities

Research is presented that examined the effects of various measures of prior computer science experience and cognitive abilities on overall performance in a CS2 course. Participants selected from the CS2 course at two southeastern state universities were used within this study, resulting in a sample size of 161 (School A, n = 76; School B, n = 85). School A is a mid-sized comprehensive university and School B is a large research-intensive university.Self-reported data were collected on measures of experience in object-oriented processing, UNIX programming, web design, computing platforms, and various CS experience. Further, cognitive abilities measures of spatial orientation, visualization, logical reasoning, and flexibility were administered.The results show that the schools significantly differed on all measures of cognitive ability and most measures of prior computer science experience. The schools also differed on the extent to which these measures were related to overall course performance. The results suggest that, for school A, the cognitive ability visualization and the prior computer science experience measure of OO processing were significantly related to course performance. However, when examining school B, no measures were found significant.
Identifying buyers with similar seller rating models and using their opinions to choose sellers in electronic markets

In this paper, we provide a model for designing buyers that can learn to identify trustworthy friends that are honest and share similar opinions in a decentralised electronic market. The buyer rates a seller after having purchased goods from it. It also evaluates friends who provide seller information when requested, to determine their truthfulness, similarity in opinions regarding product expectations, and to identify the differences between its own and its friends' seller rating mechanisms. Trustworthy friends are identified, and the seller ratings provided by them are adjusted to account for the differences in rating systems and then utilised to evaluate sellers. We conducted experiments to confirm that a buyer using the proposed model is able to accurately identify trustworthy friends, accurately adjust the seller reputation ratings provided by them and has higher gains than a buyer acting alone.
Glycine transport by membrane vesicles from pigeon red cells.

Abstract Small membrane vesicles were prepared from pigeon red blood cells. They took up glycine by a Na + -dependent process resembling that of the intact cells. Also, the same modest inhibition of glycine uptake by alanine appears in both. Some 2–7% of the vesicle water space retained glycine. Taking into account this low retention space, and also the difference in surface: volume ratio, the calculated Na + -dependent glycine uptake activity of the membrane vesicles is the same order of magnitude as that of the intact cells. Sedimentation in Ficoll gradients was examined with the aim of separating transport-active from inactive vesicles.
Navigating the “Abyss” A Narrative Analysis of Whistle-Blowing, Retaliation, and Identity Within Texas Public School Systems

Whistle-blowers frequently face severe retaliation for their actions. This retaliation has power to destroy, marginalize, and even metaphorically murder those who speak out. Perhaps the greatest lo...
Surface Modification of SU-8 for Enhanced Biofunctionality and Nonfouling Properties

SU-8 is a chemically amplified, epoxy-based negative photoresist typically used for producing ultrathick resist layers during device manufacturing in the semiconductor industry. As a simple resist, SU-8 has garnered attention as a possible material for a variety of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, as well as cell-based screening and sensing. However, as a hydrophobic material, the use of SU-8 is limited due to a high degree of nonspecific adsorption of biomolecules, as well as limited cell attachment. In this work, surface chemistry is utilized to modify the SU-8 surface by covalently attaching poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to increase biofunctionality and improve its nonfouling properties. Different molecular weights and concentrations of PEG were used to form films of various grafting densities on SU-8 surfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to verify the presence of PEG moieties on the SU-8 surface. High-resolution C1s spectra show that, with an increase in concentration and immobilization time, the grafting density of PEG also increases. Further, a standard overlayer model was used to calculate the thickness of the PEG films formed. The effect of PEG-modified SU-8 was examined in terms of protein adsorption on the surface and fibroblast-surface interactions.
Changing Income Inequalities within and between Nations: New Evidence

Fresh data sources on cross-national income are examined to document recent changes in the composition of world income inequality within and between nations. New evidence shows that during the 1980s and 1990s the composition of world income inequality experienced a fundamental change, characterized by the diminishing significance of between-nation income differences and the growing prominence of within-nation inequalities. Two competing trends account for this change: (1) steady growth in the average level of income inequality within nations, and (2) a decline in income inequality between nations. These recent trends signify a reversal in one of the major legacies of the Industrial Revolution-the internationalization of world income inequality across national borders. The findings raise important questions for future studies of cross-national inequality and development.
The Latent and Sequential Costs (and Benefits) of Being Low Income: New Insights About Employment for Poverty Measurement

ABSTRACT This paper explores the added costs of being low income that derive from people's employment in the low-wage labor market. While prior research on poverty measurement identifies “work-related expenses” as being important to discount in assessing economic well-being, we propose defining these expenses as including not only the common items of transportation and child care, but also training, education opportunities and job characteristics that are differentially expensive for low-income people. The research analyzes qualitative data from a sample of welfare- and wage-reliant individuals and families and proposes a reconceptualization of poverty measurement and policy implications.
Hfe and Service Industries: New Directions for Ietg?

The service sector of enterprise is increasing in size compared to manufacturing. To properly serve enterprises and individuals, Human Factors/Ergonomics (HFE) needs to be ahead of this trend rather than catching up. The IETG has a long history of theory and intervention endeavors in manufacturing and also in service industries. This paper provides data on the importance of service industries, and how a broader practice of industrial ergonomics can provide more impact on the enterprise and its workforce.
Instabilities of low frequency, parallel propagating electromagnetic waves in the Earth's foreshock region

An instability analysis is presented for parallel and antiparallel propagating electromagnetic waves generated by reflected and diffuse suprathermal ions upstream of the earth's bow shock. Calculations are performed on the basis of upstream particle observations made by the ISEE 1 Quadrispheric Lepedea instrument and low-energy electron measurements made by the ISEE 1 electron spectrometer for a single period. The electromagnetic dispersion relation is computed and the unstable modes and growth times of the fastest growing waves are determined. It is found that the reflected ions destabilize the plasma most strongly at a wave frequency 0.1 that of the ion gyrofrequency by a resonant ion beam instability for waves propagating upstream and by a nonresonant firehose-like instability for waves propagating downstream. The diffuse ions also destabilize the plasma most strongly at the same frequency by means of resonant instabilities of both right- and left-hand polarized waves propagating away from the bow shock.
Prevalence and molecular analyses of Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella spp. in co-grazing small ruminants and wild-living birds

Abstract A total of 689 co-grazing small ruminants along with 446 wild-living birds were tested during two springs and autumns (2007–2009) under two management systems at two Mid-Atlantic locations (~187 km in aerial distance) of the U.S. Fecal shedding of Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella spp. were, respectively, detected in 9.3% and 3.5% of small ruminants and in 7.4% and 0.2% of wild-living birds. Sheep had a significantly higher prevalence of C. jejuni and Salmonella than goats, but there were no differences due to season, location, or management. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of isolated strains revealed geographic specificity and genomic diversity of both pathogens from small ruminants. However, C. jejuni strains with indistinguishable PFGE profiles were isolated from one Rock Dove and two European Starlings caught at separate locations. Matching C. jejuni or Salmonella strain profiles were not found between small ruminants and wild-living birds. This study found that sheep pose a greater risk than goats in C. jejuni and Salmonella contamination at co-grazing small ruminant farms. Wild-living birds also are potential carriers of C. jejuni and Salmonella although no evidence of cross-contamination with small ruminants was established.
Changes in the subunit structure of Cancer magister hemocyanin during larval development

Hemocyanin is present in the megalops and young juvenile stages of the Dungeness crab Cancer magister. The hemocyanin of these early developmental stages resembles that of the adult in molecular weight, appearance in the electron microscope, and copper content. The six subunits of megalops and early juvenile hemocyanins are similar in molecular weight to those of the adult (Mr = 67,000–82,000); however, the larval 25S hemocyanins and the adult 25S hemocyanin each contain one unique subunit. The five other 25S hemocyanin subunits are present in different relative amounts in the youngs crabs than in the adult. The subunit composition of adult 16S hemocyanin includes only five of the six adult 25S subunits. The 16S hemocyanin fractions of the megalops and juvenile crabs are different from adult 16S as well as adult, juvenile, and megalops 25S hemocyanins. This is the first ontogenic structural change in crustacean hemocyanins that has been documented.