cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of lumateperone tosylate for the treatment of schizophrenia.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Schizophrenia, a devastating disorder with onset in adolescence or young adulthood, afflicts 1% of the population leading to severe social, educational, and occupational impai...
Symmetric triangle quadrature rules for arbitrary functions

Abstract Despite extensive research on symmetric polynomial quadrature rules for triangles, as well as approaches to their calculation, few studies have focused on non-polynomial functions, particularly on their integration using symmetric triangle rules. In this paper, we present two approaches to computing symmetric triangle rules for singular integrands by developing rules that can integrate arbitrary functions. The first approach is well suited for a moderate amount of points and retains much of the efficiency of polynomial quadrature rules. The second approach better addresses large amounts of points, though it is less efficient than the first approach. We demonstrate the effectiveness of both approaches on singular integrands, which can often yield relative errors two orders of magnitude less than those from polynomial quadrature rules.
Supporters and opposition in authoritarian legislatures

Do supporters and opposition behave differently in authoritarian legislatures? This paper examines this question by analysing legislative activity in an authoritarian regime with a multiparty legis...
Applying Business Analytic Methods To Improve Organizational Performance In The Public School System

This work takes common and innovative business analytics techniques and seeks to apply them in the setting of the school system to improve educational attainment in both primary and secondary schools in the United States. In particular, this paper reviews common factors identified in the literature as influencing a student’s success in secondary school, discusses how those factors could be digitized and collected through information systems, and theorizes how big data and analytics could be further applied to these organization to manage their performance. We then look at the uses of analytics in schools to see how well they match and identify areas for improvement. This work shows that there has been an effort to digitize some of the prediction factors; however, a number of the more readily influenced factors have yet to be digitized and used to make evidence based decisions to improve student outcomes in the school system.
An Evaluation of the Causes and Consequences of In-Process Research and Development Restatements*

This paper uses several approaches to assess the impact of the Security and Exchange Commission's (SEC) scrutiny of firms' purchase accounting and in-process research and development (IPRD thus, investors are, for the most part, not misled by aggressive IPR&D practices as claimed by the SEC.
A dynamic four-bit carry lookahead adder circuit for complementary gallium arsenide (CGaAs) fabrication processes

The design and implementation of three, 4-bit carry lookahead adders using Complementary Gallium Arsenide (CGaAs) HIGFETs is presented, including static, pipelined static and dynamic versions. The designs are compared for speed, power consumption and layout area. The dynamic implementation operates at the highest speed (1.2 GHz) and consumes the best power (0.01 /spl mu/W/MHz/gate).
Information Technology and Credit Markets

This paper analyzes the impact of an information technology revolution on credit markets. We focus on two aspects of technological progress. On the one hand, better information technology may result in improved information processing; on the other, it might also lead to low cost or even free access to information through, for example, informational spillovers. In the context of credit screening, we show that an improved ability to process information increases interest rates and bank profits. However, better access to information decreases interest rates and the returns from screening. Hence, predictions regarding the pricing of financial claims hinge on the overall effect ascribed to the technological progress. Furthermore, we show that our results generalize to other financial markets where informational asymmetries are prime determinants of profitability, such as insurance and securities markets.
Wagnerpedia: a study of social cognition and wikis, linking academic courses and community partners

Wagnerpedia was created for Wagner College to offer a place for students, faculty, and administrators to create and edit dynamic web content. Its design and implementation are based on participatory design theory, social cognitive theory, and web 2.0 technology. An ongoing mixed model study of Wagnerpedia is being conducted as part of a three-semester-long doctoral certificate program. In this study the process in which Wagnerpedia has evolved is being examined. The poster presented represents several milestones Wagnerpedia has undergone since its implementation in Spring of 2008.
Continuous Removal of Lactic Acid from Wastewater by Candida utilis

Under steady-state conditions, the maximum rate of lactic acid removal was found to be 588 mg/h per liter of continuous culture.
Production of Antibodies that Recognize Specific Tyrosine‐Phosphorylated Peptides

It is possible to produce anti-phosphopeptide antibodies (i.e., antibodies recognizing phosphorylated peptides) that recognize a protein only in its phosphorylated state, and that do not cross-react with either the cognate unphosphorylated protein or other phosphoproteins. This unit describes production of antibodies against tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides, with which the authors have the most expertise, but the principles discussed here also apply to peptides phosphorylated on serine and threonine. Protocols are presented for the production of polyclonal and monoclonal anti-phosphopeptide antibodies. Support protocols are provided for the coupling of peptides and phosphotyrosine to an affinity matrix (Affi-Gel 10); BSA-agarose affinity matrix is commercially available.
A Unit Root Test Using a Fourier Series to Approximate Smooth Breaks

We develop a unit-root test based on a simple variant of Gallant's (1981) flexible Fourier form. The test relies on the fact that a series with several smooth structural breaks can often be approximated using the low frequency components of a Fourier expansion. Hence, it is possible to test for a unit root without having to model the precise form of the break. Our unit-root test employing Fourier approximation has good size and power for the types of breaks often used in economic analysis. The appropriate use of the test is illustrated using several interest rate spreads.
Secondary mutation in a coding mononucleotide tract in MSH6 causes loss of immunoexpression of MSH6 in colorectal carcinomas with MLH1/PMS2 deficiency.

Immunohistochemical staining for DNA mismatch repair proteins may be affected by various biological and technical factors. Staining variations that could potentially lead to erroneous interpretations have been recognized. A recently recognized staining variation is the significant reduction of staining for MSH6 in some colorectal carcinomas. The frequency and specific characteristics of this aberrant MSH6 staining pattern, however, have not been well analyzed. In this study of 420 colorectal carcinoma samples obtained from patients fulfilling the Revised Bethesda Guidelines, we detected 9 tumors (2%) showing extremely limited staining for MSH6 with positive staining present in <5% of the tumor cells. Our analyses showed that these tumors belonged to two distinct categories: (1) MLH1 and/or PMS2 protein-deficient carcinomas (n=5, including 1 with a pathogenic mutation in PMS2); and (2) MLH1, PMS2 and MSH2 normal but with chemotherapy or chemoradiation therapy before surgery (n=4). To test our hypothesis that somatic mutation in the coding region microsatellite of the MSH6 gene might be a potential underlying mechanism for such limited MSH6 staining, we evaluated frameshift mutation in a (C)8 tract in exon 5 of the MSH6 gene in seven tumors that had sufficient DNA for analysis, and detected mutation in four; all four tumors belonged to the MLH1/PMS2-deficient group. In conclusion, our data outline the main scenarios where significant reduction of MSH6 staining is more likely to occur in colorectal carcinoma, and suggest that somatic mutations of the coding region microsatellites of the MSH6 gene is an underlying mechanism for this staining phenomenon in MLH1/PMS2-deficient carcinomas.
Standards for electronic message systems

Abstract Electronic message systems (EMS) are beginning to proliferate. Nearly two dozen commercial message systems already exist. At least two private message systems already carry several million messages annually. There will soon be dozens of EMS communities, each with thousands of users. However, unless dramatic breakthroughs in standards are made soon, each of these communities will be isolated, unable to exchange messages. This article describes the major stadardization issues raised by EMS: message structure standards; delivery standards; address identification standards; and, user interface standards. The problem of how to set EMS standards is also discussed.
Accuracy considerations in the computational analysis of jet noise

The application of computational fluid dynamics methods to the analysis of problems in aerodynamic noise has resulted in the extension and adaptation of conventional CFD to the discipline now referred to as computational aeroacoustics (CAA). In the analysis of jet noise accurate resolution of a wide range of spatial and temporal scales in the flow field is essential if the acoustic far field is to be predicted. The numerical simulation of unsteady jet flow has been successfully demonstrated and many flow features have been computed with reasonable accuracy. Grid refinement and increased solution time are discussed as means of improving accuracy of Navier-Stokes solutions of unsteady jet flow. In addition various properties of different numerical procedures which influence accuracy are examined with particular emphasis on dispersion and dissipation characteristics. These properties are investigated by using selected schemes to solve model problems for the propagation of a shock wave and a sinusoidal disturbance. The results are compared for the different schemes.
Consumer Perceptions of Transparency: A Scale Development and Validation

Transparency is an essential part of the effort to build a socially responsible brand. Communicating with stakeholders about labor violations in manufacturing is an important aspect of this transparency. Previous research has suggested that consumer perception of transparency is related to brand trust, which in turn increases aspects of the consumer–brand relationship such as loyalty. In this study, items measuring consumer attitudes toward the transparency of social responsibility were developed, and multistep analysis was used to demonstrate that the resulting measure called Transparency is reliable and valid. The measure developed in this study can be used to explore consumer perceptions of the social responsibility efforts of brands and other organizations.
Effects of Photovoice: Civic Engagement Among Older Youth in Urban Communities

Youth civic engagement is critical to many community empowerment initiatives. Photovoice is a popular empowerment technique for disenfranchised groups, including youth. The technique has little published empirical support. This research assesses Photovoice as a youth mobilization project within the context of an ongoing community development initiative. It was hypothesized that Photovoice participation would (a) improve students' interest in civic engagement and (b) have greater impact on older rather than younger adolescents. Thirty-three (33) youths (15–21 years of age) completed a Survey of Youth Engagement before and after Photovoice participation. Results indicate a main effect for age, with youths 18 years of age and older scoring significantly higher than youths under 18 years of age. This study suggests that Photovoice promotes significant changes in perceived civic engagement among older youths.
On-line kinetic monitoring for biochemical reactions using multi-point detection in high-performance capillary electrophoresis

Abstract The potential utility of high-performance capillary electrophoresis for on-line kinetic monitoring of biochemical reactions is demonstrated using a multi-point detection method. The adenosine deaminase-catalyzed deamination of adenosine to inosine is studied. The deamination speed increases with the increase in enzyme concentration in the run buffer. Degradation of heme protein, myoglobin, has been investigated by this method. Under certain electrophoretic conditions, the degradation follows first-order kinetics. The degradation rate constant increases with an increase in temperature and the electric field applied to the capillary does not appreciably effect the degradation rate.
Economically Optimal Compost Rates for Organic Crop Production

Current guidelines for the use of compost in organic agriculture are based on nutrient targets, which represent the conditions needed for maximum yield. Due to the high cost of inputs, however, a maximum-yield strategy may be far from economically optimal in some organic cropping systems. In this article we formulate a theory of economically optimal rates (EORs) for compost that incorporates the effects on yield in the years after application. When carryover is neglected, it is well known that the slope of the yield response at the EOR equals the fertilizer/crop price ratio. We show that when carry-over effects are modeled with a decay series, the critical slope is reduced by the sum of the decay series, and this criterion holds for each crop in a rotation. To demonstrate the application of these theoretical results, we used data from a previous study in which the dryland wheat yield response to compost was measured on organic farmland in northern Utah. Since a decay series was not measured, EORs are presented for a range of values of the cumulative carryover, as well as for different compost/wheat price ratios. The EOR for compost sold by one of the region's main composting facilities was predicted to be zero, which highlights the challenging nature of organic fertility management in northern Utah's dryland agriculture. Confidence in the EOR was hindered by our limited understanding of carryover in dryland systems, which should be a priority for future research.
Homoepitaxial Growth of GaN Using Seeded Supersonic Molecular Beams

Homoepitaxial growth of GaN on MOCVD-grown GaN/AlN/6H-SiC substrates was investigated using NH 3 -seeded supersonic molecular beams and an effusive Ga source. Ga-limited growth is observed at 730 and 770°C for incident Ga fluxes ≤ 1.2×10 15 cm −2 s −1 using a 0.25 eV NH 3 beam. A Ga incorporation efficiency of 20–25% is observed under these conditions. Increasing NH 3 kinetic energy in the 0.25 to 0.61 eV range results in a modest increase in the GaN growth rate which we ascribe to an enhancement in NH 3 reactivity. A concomitant increase in surface roughness is observed with increasing GaN growth rate.
Dietary modification of UV-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase.

The effect of several dietary antioxidant supplements upon ultraviolet light-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity was determined. Hairless mice received diets supplemented with either butylated hydroxytoluene, disulfiram, phenobarbital, glutathione (reduced), or a special antioxidant mixture for 2 weeks before irradiation with FS-20 fluorescent sun lamps. Epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity, the induction of which is thought to be a necessary component of skin tumor promotion, was determined at designated post-irradiation periods. Significant inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase induction was found in epidermis from animals receiving diets containing butylated hydroxytoluene, at physiological concentrations, had no effect upon ornithine decarboxylase activity when added directly to the reaction mixture. Nor did this compound, when provided in the diet of animals, evoke a notable effect upon 12-0-teradcanoylphorbol-13-acetate induced ornithine decarboxylase. The latter finding suggests that dietary butylated hydroxytoluene inhibition of ultraviolet light-induced ornithine decarboxylase is a response related directly to the degree of irradiation insult rather than a general effect upon the processes associated with carcinogenic promotion.
Time-resolved study of surface disordering of Pb(110).

Laser-induced surface disordering of Pb(110) is studied using reflection high-energy electron diffraction with 180-ps time resolution. By monitoring the time-dependent modulation of the diffraction streak intensity, information is obtained on the time scales for the disordering of the first few atomic layers and the regrowth of crystalline order at the surface. These are determined to be reversible within the time resolution of our experiment.
Reference and comprehension: A topic-comment analysis of sentence-picture verification☆

Abstract A sentence often contains two components: a topic, which refers to a nonlinguistic object whose existence is presupposed; and a comment, which asserts some thought about this object. In addition, a sentence will often repeat (or refer back to) information that was expressed earlier in a text or conversation. The purpose of this article is to propose a single theoretical framework to describe the mechanisms that relate a sentence to its nonlinguistic environment as well as those that relate a sentence to its linguistic context. The theory developed in this article suggests that sentences can strongly influence the representation of visible nonlinguistic events and that this representation is sensitive to the distinction between presupposed and asserted information. To evaluate this theory, a sentence-picture verification priming task was developed. In this task, subjects were presented with pairs of sentence-picture displays, and were asked to verify whether or not the sentence in each display correctly applied to an accompanying picture. The relationship between pairs of sentence-picture displays was varied systematically. Across five experiments, three hypotheses were supported: (a) The processes which evaluate presupposed information and the processes which evaluate asserted information are differentially affected by nonlinguistic factors, (b) only those aspects of the picture which are referred to by the sentence are encoded for future use, and (c) coherence between successive sentences is in part a function of the referential continuity of the presupposed information.
Higher-order contrast functions improve performance of independent component analysis of fMRI data.

PURPOSE To evaluate the performance of different contrast functions used in Independent Component Analysis (ICA) of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), present in fMRI paradigms such as resting-state acquisitions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Metrics were defined to estimate both the accuracy and robustness of contrast functions under varying source distributions. Simulations were performed to compare the performance of lower-order (such as ln cosh) to higher-order (such as kurtosis) contrast functions using Laplacian source distributions corrupted with Gaussian noise. The ln cosh and kurtosis contrast functions were also compared using resting-state fMRI data from 10 normal adult volunteers. RESULTS Higher-order contrast functions provided superior performance compared to lower-order contrast functions in the evaluation of metrics and via the simulations in the presence of a significant amount of noise. The performance of kurtosis was not statistically significantly different from that of a theoretically optimized contrast function. The choice of contrast function was found to result in substantial (R < 0.9) differences in 40% of the components found from the resting-state fMRI data. CONCLUSION The use of higher-order contrast functions, such as kurtosis, may provide superior performance in ICA analysis of fMRI data with low SNR.
Seasonality of diel cycles of dissolved trace-metal concentrations in a Rocky Mountain stream

Substantial diel (24-h) cycles in dissolved (0.1-μm filtration) metal concentrations were observed during summer low flow, winter low flow, and snowmelt runoff in Prickly Pear Creek, Montana. During seven diel sampling episodes lasting 34–61.5 h, dissolved Mn and Zn concentrations increased from afternoon minimum values to maximum values shortly after sunrise. Dissolved As concentrations exhibited the inverse timing. The magnitude of diel concentration increases varied in the range 17–152% for Mn and 70–500% for Zn. Diel increases of As concentrations (17–55%) were less variable. The timing of minimum and maximum values of diel streamflow cycles was inconsistent among sampling episodes and had little relation to the timing of metal concentration cycles, suggesting that geochemical rather than hydrological processes are the primary control of diel metal cycles. Diel cycles of dissolved metal concentrations should be assumed to occur at any time of year in any stream with dissolved metals and neutral to alkaline pH.
A survey of the methods for the chemical analysis of transient species with microsecond resolution

Chemical kinetics at elevated temperatures has recently become an exciting field of research as a consequence of the application of shock tube technology; one may thus readily heat a gas very rapidly and homogeneously to a predetermined high temperature. The full exploitation of this powerful tool depends on the development of analytical procedures which have short response times compared to the half-times of the very fast reactions being studied and are not only specific for the chemical species which are generated in appreciable concentrations under these conditions but also for their states of excitation. Determination of the time dependence of a gross variable, such as the temperature or density, gives kinetic information which is generally useful only as a limiting condition. In this paper, we shall first outline the variety of procedures which have been developed in other laboratories for the measurement of gross variables and suggest two methods for the direct estimation of temperatures. We shall then discuss the utility of absorption measurements in the infrared. In many respects, this is a desirable portion of the spectrum for investigation since practically all substances (except homatomic diatoms) have bands in that region. Several restricted configurations have been tested, and we have completed a feasibility analysis for a much more versatile arrangement. To this end, we developed a large infrared source (6 × 12 mm) which operates at an effective temperature of about 5000°K. Interference filters and a grating monochromator will permit the isolation of band widths of approximately 18 cm−1 to be incident on a cooled gold-doped germanium detector (response time, 1 μsec) and will operate at a signal/noise ratio of 401, over the spectral range 1·5–7 μ. Additional discrimination can be provided by a double-path geometry, whereby the sensitivity toward specified components may be either enhanced or greatly reduced by the insertion of extra absorption cells. A very useful analytical procedure for estimating concentrations of reaction intermediates is measurement of the absorption of characteristic radiation by diatomic species. The essential feature of the method is the use of an intense source of radiation emitted by the species under study, as excited by a condensed discharge in a suitable gas. Of course, one must select bands (with a monochromator) of which the final state is that in which the species to be measured is present in the shocked gas. One thus avoids the need for a high resolution, high aperture spectrograph and a continuous source of very high intensity. The disparity in the rotational line widths between the electrically excited source and the shocked gas proved less troublesome than had been anticipated. Examples of the analysis for OH, CN and C2 will be cited.
Fluorescence imaging enabled urethane-doped citrate-based biodegradable elastomers.

The field of tissue engineering and drug delivery calls for new measurement tools, non-invasive real-time assays, and design methods for the next wave of innovations. Based on our recent progress in developing intrinsically biodegradable photoluminescent polymers (BPLPs) without conjugating organic dyes or quantum dots, in this paper, we developed a new type urethane-doped biodegradable photoluminescent polymers (UBPLPs) that could potentially serve as a new tool to respond the above call for innovations. Inherited from BPLPs, UBPLPs demonstrated strong inherent photoluminescence and excellent cytocompatibility in vitro. Crosslinked UBPLPs (CUBPLPs) showed soft, elastic, but strong mechanical properties with a tensile strength as high as 49.41 ± 6.17 MPa and a corresponding elongation at break of 334.87 ± 26.31%. Porous triphasic CUBPLP vascular scaffolds showed a burst pressure of 769.33 ± 70.88 mmHg and a suture retention strength of 1.79 ± 0.11 N. Stable but photoluminescent nanoparticles with average size of 103 nm were also obtained by nanoprecipitation. High loading efficiency (91.84%) and sustained release of 5-fluorouracil (up to 120 h) were achieved from UBPLP nanoparticles. With a quantum yield as high as 38.65%, both triphasic scaffold and nanoparticle solutions could be non-invasively detected in vivo. UBPLPs represent an innovation in fluorescent biomaterial design and may offer great potential in advancing the field of tissue engineering and drug delivery where bioimaging has gained increasing interest.
From Caracas to Geneva to New York: The international seabed authority as a creator of grants

Abstract An economic approach seldom discussed in the literature on the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, the grants approach, is applied here to help explain the conflict between the US and the Group of 77 on the proposed International Seabed Authority (ISA). We hypothesize that agreement on the Authority would occur when the different assumptions as to who is grantor and who is grantee coincide and that at that point the mix of grants and exchanges would be acceptable to the US and the Group of 77. After defining three types of economic transactions (grants, exchanges, and a mix thereof) in relation to the mining industry, the mix of grants and exchange transactions in relevant recommendations of the US and the Group of 77 at the Caracas, Geneva, and New York sessions of the Conference is identified and rough estimates of the size of the grant are made. Then the implications of the grant approach for reaching agreement on the proposed Authority are discussed. The application of this approach helps ex...
Influence of sample preparation on assay of phenolic acids from eggplant

Sample preparation is often overlooked and is frequently considered as "a means to an end". This systematic study with a phenolic-enriched substrate, eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), was undertaken to evaluate the substantial variations in the extraction techniques, solvents, and parameters as described in the published literature. Direct comparison of over 10 extraction procedures or conditions was performed to show the importance and influence of sample preparation on the assay of phenolic compounds. Chlorogenic acid (CA) was the most abundant phenolic acid accounting for >75% of the total phenolic acids content extracted from the eggplant sample. Optimum extraction of CA and total phenolics (TP) from Black Bell cultivar of eggplant were obtained when extractions were performed with a mixture of MeOH/H2O at a ratio of 80:20% v/v using a pressurized liquid extractor (PLE) at 100 degrees C. The amount of CA and TP extracted from eggplant by the previously reported procedures using a wrist shaker, rotary shaker, stirring, sonication, or reflux with different extraction solvents (acetone or varying composition of MeOH/H2O solvent mixtures) varied significantly between 5 and 95% as compared to PLE. The predominant phenolic acids in the free phenolic acid fraction of Black Beauty cultivar of eggplant were CA isomers. However, caffeic acid isomers were the major phenolic acids extracted from the base-hydrolyzed fraction. The total amount of caffeic acid extracted from the Italian Neon cultivar was more that twice that of four other eggplant cultivars (Orient Express, Calliope Zebra Stripe, Orient Charm Neon, and Black Beauty).
The reaction of the alkaline earth metal oxides with iodine in the presence of water as part of a thermochemical hydrogen cycle

Abstract When iodine was reacted with aqueous alkaline earth metal oxides (MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO) both metal iodate and iodide were formed. However these reactions were never complete. The percentage of products obtained was increased with excess I2 and water, and higher molecular weight oxide. Both single and mixed oxides were used. Product separation between insoluble iodide was often incomplete, and much I2 remained occluded on the insoluble reaction product when MgO was one reactant. The results show that, from the mixed oxides examined, the highest yield (76%) and best product separation was obtained using 5MgO/BaO, which may be of value in a thermochemical hydrogen cycle.
The catalytic exchange of iodine in alkyl iodides

Abstract The exchange of iodine between ethyl and propyl iodides has been studied over Cu, Fe, Ni, Pd, Rh, and Ir powder catalysts in a flow reactor at temperatures less than 200 °C. The exchange between ethyl iodide and methyl, butyl, and isopropyl iodides was studied over Rh. Decomposition, accompanied by catalyst poisoning, occurred over metals having high heats of formation of the corresponding metal iodide such as Ni and Fe. The energy of activation for the exchange between ethyl and propyl iodides over various metals was in the range 11.6–12.7 kcal/mole. For ethyl iodide with other alkyl iodides over Rh the energy of activation increased slightly with the chain length from 11.2 to 14.4 kcal/mole. The rates suggest a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, but the heats of adsorption apparently decrease with increasing surface coverage. There is good correlation between relative exchange activity and both relative hydrogenation efficiency and d character of the catalysts.
Integrating chemistry scholarship with web architectures, grid computing and semantic web

A chemist given a compound would be interested in knowing the experiments performed using the compound, journals containing the compound and also molecular properties of the compound. If there is a way to integrate this data, it would enhance the chemist's knowledge about a given compound. The Object Reuse and Exchange (ORE) specification may provide a solution to this problem. ORE is a model proposed by the digital libraries community to aggregate resources on the web. OREChem is a research project funded by Microsoft External Research that aims to apply and extend ORE to enable the integration of experimental, bibliographical and molecular properties data. OREChem targets crystallography as its primary application domain. This effort will design a prototypical, semantic-based eScience infrastructure for chemistry and chemical informatics. In this paper we describe how we have used REST as well as SOAP web services, TeraGrid cyberinfrastructure and Semantic Web technologies, such as RDF and triple stores, to facilitate the metadata integration.
Band-gap grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells

Abstract The quaternary system Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) allows the band gap of the semiconductor to be adjusted over a range of 1.04–1.67 eV. Using a non-uniform Ga/In ratio throughout the film thickness, additional fields can be built into p-type CIGS-based solar cells, and some researchers have asserted that these fields can enhance performance. The experimental evidence that grading improves device performance, however, has not been compelling, mostly because the addition of Ga itself improves device performance and hence a consistent separation of the grading benefit has not always been achieved. Numerical modeling tools are used in this contribution to show that (1) there can be a beneficial effect of grading, (2) in standard thickness CIGS cells the benefit is smaller than commonly believed, (3) there is also the strong possibility of reduced rather than of increased device performance, and (4) thin-absorber cells derive more substantial benefit.
Effects of mesencephalic reticular formation lesions on optokinetic nystagmus.

Abstract Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) was studied in monkeys after lesions of the mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF). After the MRF was damaged, there was gaze preference and spontaneous nystagmus to the side of the lesion. Gaze palsy was not produced. Originally OKN could not be induced to the contralateral side. Later, contralateral OKN was evoked, but the beats were smaller and less frequent than beats of ipsilateral OKN, and the maximum velocity of the slow phases was low. In several animals, changes in contralateral OKN were permanent. Ipsilateral OKN and caloric nystagmus to either side were little affected by MRF lesions. It is inferred that an important part of the descending visual-oculomotor pathways responsible for optokinetic nystagmus in the horizontal plane lies in the MRF. It is postulated that the primary defect in OKN after MRF lesions was an inability to generate ipsilateral slow phases of adequate velocity. If so, activity carried in the MRF responsible for OKN may be more closely related to production of slow than quick phases of nystagmus.
On duality between estimation and control for linear stochastic functional evolution equations in Hilbert spaces

Abstract This paper treats a linear least-squares estimation problem in which both the state and observation processes are governed by infinite-dimensional linear stochastic functional evolution equations. The main result obtained in this paper is expressed in terms of a duality principle between the estimation and a linear-quadratic control problem. As a by-product, the representation of the solution process of the equation is also obtained.
Shared Decision Making and Behavioral Support Interventions for People With Severe Mental Illness and Tobacco Dependence

Objective: People with severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia and severe mood disorders) are more likely to smoke tobacco and less likely to quit than the general population. Current recommendations for treatment combine evidence-based medications and behavioral interventions tailored to each individual's needs. One way to individualize treatment is through shared decision making, in which the patient and the provider negotiate a research-based plan that accommodates the patient's preferences and values. This paper examines the current literature and discusses what role shared decision making might have in the treatment of tobacco dependence for people with severe mental illness. Methods: We conducted a search of Ovid/Medline using search terms (decision aid OR shared decision-making OR decision support) AND (smoking cessation OR tobacco dependence OR nicotine dependence). Results: Of the 202 reports found, three met the review criteria of assessing the impact of a decision aid or behavioral support i...
Effects of test line position and age on the magnitude of the Ponzo illusion

An earlier study by Quina and Pollack (1971) suggested that the two test lines of the classical Ponzo figure underwent simultaneous distortion in opposite directions. In the present study, test lines were shown individually with comparison lines outside the influence of the wedge to 70 school children in Grades 2–8 and to 10 adults. The apical test line was overestimated by all age groups, and the distal line was consistently underestimated. Dissimilar age trends were found, supporting the concept of the Ponzo illusion as the product of two distinct processes.
Analytical Approach to Marketing Decisions in Health-Care Organizations

We discuss the potential applicability of a new choice model and scaling procedure to the marketing decisions of health-care organizations. After a brief exposition of this analytical procedure the paper focuses on an illustrative application to the hospital selection decision under two scenarios-surgery with a rapid recovery period and serious surgery that requires a long hospitalization period. The paper concludes with some suggestions for future use of conjoint measurement and related techniques in marketing studies of health care organizations.
Altered protein kinase a in brain of learned helpless rats: effects of acute and repeated stress.

Abstract Background Stress-induced learned helplessness (LH) in animals serves as a model of behavioral depression and some aspects of posttraumatic stress disorder. We examined whether LH behavior is associated with alterations in protein kinase A (PKA), a critical phosphorylating enzyme, how long these alterations persist after inescapable shock (IS), and whether repetition of IS prolongs the duration of LH behavior and changes in PKA. Methods Rats were exposed to IS either on day 1 or twice, on day 1 and day 7. Rats were tested for escape latency on days 2 and 4 after day 1 IS or days 2, 8, and 14 after day 1 and day 7 IS. [3H]cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) binding, catalytic activity and expression of PKA subunits were determined in frontal cortex and hippocampus. Results Higher escape latencies were observed in rats tested on day 2 after single IS and on day 14 after repeated IS. Concurrently, reduced [3H]cAMP binding, PKA activity, and expression of selective PKA RIIβ and Cα and Cβ subunits were observed in the brains of these rats. Conclusions Repeated IS prolongs the duration of LH behavior, and LH behavior is associated with reductions in apparent activity and expression of PKA. These reductions in PKA may be critical in the pathophysiology of depression and other stress-related disorders.
A variable temperature test station for extraction of semiconductor device modeling parameters

The authors describe the equipment and software necessary to integrate a variable-temperature setup and an automated data-collection system to extract semiconductor device modeling parameters over a wide temperature range. A cryogenic test station with a temperature range of 1.8-300 K is used for semiconductor device evaluation, with the test structure mounted in an 8-pin, TO-99-style header. The system consists of a custom low-temperature apparatus and state-of-the-art electrical instrumentation under control of a minicomputer. An electromagnet suitable for Hall studies with a custom-designed 1.1-kW programmable power supply for automated control of the magnetic field completes the system. The cryogenic test station has been used to study the characteristics of n-channel Hall-effect MOSFETs from 1.8 K to room temperature. >
Xylanolytic activity of commercial juice-processing enzyme preparations

Of 22 commercial juice-processing enzyme preparations investigated, Clarex ML was found to exhibit the highest xylanase activity. The xylanase from Clarex ML was most active at 50-60°C and pH 5.0-5.5. The K m and V max values of the enzyme with oat-spelt xylan as the substrate werc 8.6 mg ml -1 and 0.42 μmol xylose l -1 min -1 , respectively. Xylobiose was the main product of enzymatic hydrolysis of xylan.
The 20th international conference on the history of cartography

The 20th International Conference on the History of Cartography (ICHC 2003) took place June 15 to 20, 2003, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine. The conference was co-hosted by the Harvard Map Collection, Harvard University, and by the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, University of Southern Maine. The New England organizers were David Cobb (Curator of the Harvard Map Collection), Matthew Edney (Associate Professor of Geography-Anthropology and American & New England Studies, University of Southern Maine), and Yolanda Theunissen (Curator of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education). They were ably assisted by their hospitable and efficient committees who put on an excellent program of paper and poster sessions, workshops, exhibitions, receptions and tours. As on previous occasions, international coordination was provided by Imago Mundi Ltd. The conference opened on June 15 at Harvard University in historic Memorial Hall, a Victorian temple of learning richly decorated with polychrome brickwork, stained glass windows and dark wood panelling. The daily schedule of paper and poster sessions and workshops was punctuated by tours, receptions and exhibitions. Preconference meetings of the International Society of Curators of Early Maps (ISCEM) and the
THE MEASUREMENT OF HOUSING OUTPUT: U.S. AND SOVIET CASE STUDIES

This paper examines the measurement of the output of the Housing industry in real GNP accounts of the U.S., the Soviet Union, and selected OECD countries. These real GNP accounts make use of quite different Housing indexes, based on different types of data. This paper's major empirical finding is that the (measured) growth rate of Housing output can be extremely sensitive to the type of index used. After reviewing the concept of housing quality, the paper presents U.S. and Soviet case studies. The BEA and the CIA do not use identical procedures to measure Housing output for the U.S. and the Soviet Union: the BEA measures many more aspects of housing quality improvements than the CIA does. This difference in the two agencies’ procedures increases the growth rate of the US. Real Estate industry relative to the growth rate of the Soviet Housing industry. The idea behind the two case studies is to remeasure Housing output far the Soviet Union (U.S.) using an index that approximates the BEA (CIA) index. The purpose of these studies is the calculation of numerical magnitudes: to what degrees are the levels and growth rates of Housing sensitive to the type of index that is used. The calculations for the U.S. are useful because they show the important role of housing quality growth in the U.S., and because they make the magnitudes reported for the Soviet Union more credible. The Soviet case study provides numerical support for the proposition that the post-WWII growth rate of Soviet housing quality has been considerable and exceeds the growth rate implicit in the CIA output figures.
Trends in the multimodality treatment of resectable colorectal liver metastases: an underutilized strategy.

Advances in multimodality therapy have led to increased survival for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, but the impact on patients undergoing resection for colorectal liver metastases is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patterns of treatment for resectable colorectal liver metastases in the USA over the last two decades. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database, 1,926 patients who underwent hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis between 1991 and 2007 were included and divided into two cohorts: period 1 (1991–2000) and period 2 (2001–2007). Demographic data, treatment patterns, and outcomes of the two periods were compared by univariate methods. Multivariable regression models were constructed to predict the use of perioperative chemotherapy, postoperative complications, and 90-day mortality following liver resection. The overall use of perioperative chemotherapy was 33 % and did not differ between periods, but shifted from postoperative to preoperative over time. By multivariable analysis, older age, black race, stage III primary cancer, and metachronous disease were predictive of lesser likelihood of chemotherapy use. The use of preoperative chemotherapy was not associated with any increase in perioperative morbidity or mortality. Despite increased survival and widespread recommendations for the use of multimodality therapy, the overall resection rate and use of perioperative chemotherapy for resectable colorectal liver metastases remain underutilized and have not increased over time. Efforts to investigate barriers to the widespread use of multimodality therapy for these patients are warranted.
The biologic basis for the treatment of acute stroke

This is a review of therapeutic modalities that have been utilized in the treatment of stroke. Each is based upon data obtained from the study of the biologic events that occur during experimentally induced cerebral ischemia in animals. The type of information obtained from these studies could not have been obtained in any other manner. Despite the apparent effectiveness of some of these modalities in modifying stroke in animals, their application to humans with stroke has been disappointingly ineffectual. The delay between onset of stroke symptoms and initiation of treatment is usually several hours or more, which may be too late to rescue ischemia neurons. In order to be effective, treatment will have to be initiated as early as possible (preferably within 1 hour) to take advantage of the biologic window of opportunity. There is evidence that this can be accomplished by proper planning and training of personnel.
Community Health Systems as Complex Adaptive Systems: Ontology and Praxis Lessons from an Urban Health Experience with Demonstrated Sustainability

The global health and development field, which has been reasonably dominated by linear models of planning, is witnessing increased interest in complexity, non-linear processes, and systems thinking. This welcome interest is challenged by both language and ability to discern whether complex development phenomena are discussed from the perspective of the nature of particular health systems (ontology), from the identification of more fitting intervention modalities (praxis), or from our approach to learning and evidence (epistemology). This paper is an experience-based contribution to the first two perspectives. Two Bangladeshi municipal health systems provide an example of how sustainable outcomes were achieved through complex adaptive system behaviors, during and after intervention by Concern Worldwide, Inc. (Concern). Concern provided support to the Municipal Health Departments and then assessed the sustainability of health achievements several years after its intervention. We examine complexity in municipal health systems behavior, and the nonlinearity of project effects. We identify ways in which Concern’s program, beyond technical design, followed recommendations on leading complex systems towards positive sustainable outcomes. We conclude on the necessity for global community health planners and practitioners to (1) better understand the complexity of the context and issues they are facing, (2) make more reasonable assumptions about the “shock to the system” caused by projects both when they start and when they end, and (3) learn to balance strategic designs with respect for self-organization principles.
The Impact and Valuation of Off‐Balance‐Sheet Activities Concealed by Equity Method Accounting

This paper reports the results of a study of the financial reporting effects of off‐balance‐sheet activities concealed by the equity method of accounting. The study examines footnote disclosures relating to equity method investees, offers suggestions for improving the usefulness of those disclosures, and estimates the valuation effects of information in the disclosures. An important empirical finding is that the market places significant negative values on investor‐guaranteed off‐balance‐sheet obligations.