cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Codetermination in Theory and Practice

A system of shared corporate governance between shareholders and workers, codetermination has been mostly ignored within the U.S. corporate governance literature. When it has made an appearance, it has largely served as a foil for shareholder primacy and an example of corporate deviance. However, over the last twenty years—and especially in the last five—empirical research on codetermination has shown surprising results as to the system’s efficiency, resilience, and benefits to stakeholders. This Article reviews the extant American legal scholarship on codetermination and provides a fresh look at the current state of codetermination theory and practice. Rather than experiencing the failures predicted by our law-and-economics framework of shareholder primacy, codetermination has fared better than alternative systems, particularly with respect to the ravages of the Global Financial Crisis. At a time when corporate leaders, politicians, and academics are rethinking the shareholder primacy model, the Article presents an updated perspective on codetermination and invites U.S. scholars to reexamine their prior assumptions.
The Role of Co-Occurrence Statistics in Developing Semantic Knowledge.

The organization of our knowledge about the world into an interconnected network of concepts linked by relations profoundly impacts many facets of cognition, including attention, memory retrieval, reasoning, and learning. It is therefore crucial to understand how organized semantic representations are acquired. The present experiment investigated the contributions of readily observable environmental statistical regularities to semantic organization in childhood. Specifically, we investigated whether co-occurrence regularities with which entities or their labels more reliably occur together than with others (a) contribute to relations between concepts independently and (b) contribute to relations between concepts belonging to the same taxonomic category. Using child-directed speech corpora to estimate reliable co-occurrences between labels for familiar items, we constructed triads consisting of a target, a related distractor, and an unrelated distractor in which targets and related distractors consistently co-occurred (e.g., sock-foot), belonged to the same taxonomic category (e.g., sock-coat), or both (e.g., sock-shoe). We used an implicit, eye-gaze measure of relations between concepts based on the degree to which children (N = 72, age 4-7 years) looked at related versus unrelated distractors when asked to look for a target. The results indicated that co-occurrence both independently contributes to relations between concepts and contributes to relations between concepts belonging to the same taxonomic category. These findings suggest that sensitivity to the regularity with which different entities co-occur in children's environments shapes the organization of semantic knowledge during development. Implications for theoretical accounts and empirical investigations of semantic organization are discussed.
Habitual sleep disturbances and migraine: a Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE Sleep disturbances are associated with increased risk of migraine, however the extent of shared underlying biology and the direction of causal relationships between these traits is unclear. Delineating causality between sleep patterns and migraine may offer new pathophysiologic insights and inform subsequent intervention studies. Here, we used genetic approaches to test for shared genetic influences between sleep patterns and migraine, and to test whether habitual sleep patterns may be causal risk factors for migraine and vice versa. METHODS To quantify genetic overlap, we performed genome-wide genetic correlation analyses using genome-wide association studies of nine sleep traits in the UK Biobank (n ≥ 237,627), and migraine from the International Headache Genetics Consortium (59,674 cases and 316,078 controls). We then tested for potential causal effects between sleep traits and migraine using bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization. RESULTS Seven sleep traits demonstrated genetic overlap with migraine, including insomnia symptoms (rg = 0.29, P < 10-31 ) and difficulty awakening (rg = 0.11, P < 10-4 ). Mendelian randomization analyses provided evidence for potential causal effects of difficulty awakening on risk of migraine (OR [95% CI] = 1.37 [1.12-1.68], P = 0.002), and nominal evidence that liability to insomnia symptoms increased the risk of migraine (1.09 [1.02-1.16], P = 0.02). In contrast, there was minimal evidence for an effect of migraine liability on sleep patterns or disturbances. INTERPRETATION These data support a shared genetic basis between several sleep traits and migraine, and support potential causal effects of difficulty awakening and insomnia symptoms on migraine risk. Treatment of sleep disturbances may therefore be a promising clinical intervention in the management of migraine.
Stripe Fluctuations, Carriers, Spectroscopies, Transport, and BCS-BEC Crossover in the High-T_c Cuprates

The quasiparticles of the high-T_c cuprates are found to consist of: polaron-like "stripons" carrying charge, and associated primarily with large-U orbitals in stripe-like inhomogeneities; "quasielectrons" carrying charge and spin, and associated with hybridized small-U and large-U orbitals; and "svivons" carrying spin and lattice distortion. It is shown that this electronic structure leads to the systematic behavior of spectroscopic and transport properties of the cuprates. High-T_c pairing results from transitions between pair states of stripons and quasielectrons through the exchange of svivons. The cuprates fall in the regime of crossover between BCS and preformed-pairs Bose-Einstein condensation behaviors.
Associations of prenatal metabolomics profiles with early childhood growth trajectories and obesity risk in African Americans: the CANDLE study.

Objective Prenatal metabolomics profiles, providing measures of in utero nutritional and environmental exposures, may improve the prediction of childhood outcomes. We aimed to identify prenatal plasma metabolites associated with early childhood body mass index (BMI) trajectories and overweight/obesity risk in offspring. Methods This study included 450 African American mother-child pairs from the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood Study. An untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed on the mothers' plasma samples collected during the second trimester. The children's BMI-z-score trajectories from birth to age 4 [rising-high- (9.8%), moderate- (68.2%), and low-BMI (22.0%)] and overweight/obesity status at age 4 were the main outcomes. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to select the prenatal metabolites associated with childhood outcomes. Results The mothers were 24.5 years old on average at recruitment, 76.4% having education less than 12 years and 80.0% with Medicaid or Medicare. In LASSO, seven and five prenatal metabolites were associated with the BMI-z-score trajectories and overweight/obese at age 4, respectively. These metabolites are mainly from/relevant to the pathways of steroid biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, vitamin B complex, and xenobiotics metabolism (e.g., caffeine and nicotine). The odds ratios (95% CI) associated with a one SD increase in the prenatal metabolite risk scores (MRSs) constructed from the LASSO-selected metabolites were 2.97 (1.95-4.54) and 2.03 (1.54-2.67) for children being in the rising-high-BMI trajectory group and overweight/obesity at age 4, respectively. The MRSs significantly improved the risk prediction for childhood outcomes beyond traditional prenatal risk factors. The increase (95% CI) in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.10 (0.03-0.18) and 0.07 (0.02-0.12) for the rising-high-BMI trajectory (P = 0.005) and overweight/obesity at age 4 (P = 0.007), respectively. Conclusions Prenatal metabolomics profiles advanced prediction of early childhood growth trajectories and obesity risk in offspring.
The Antisocial Fabric: German and American Approaches to Flags As Hate Speech in Public Demonstration

Flag use by far-right demonstrators at the 2017 Unite the Right rally is similar to historical flag use in public demonstration by antidemocratic groups seeking to deprive others of equal democratic rights, such as the Nazi Party between 1920 and 1945 and American segregationists during the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-twentieth century. This sort of flag use brings democratic values such as free speech and equal protections into conflict. Since World War II, international democratic norms have shifted to emphasize human dignity and equality, even if it requires limitations on free speech. Germany’s constitutional order is designed to protect democracy from antidemocratic groups in part by criminalizing display of flags representing them. Meanwhile, free speech absolutism in the United States makes it exceedingly difficult to impose legal sanctions for flag use, allowing flags that are in fact hate speech to masquerade as protected political speech.
Family characteristics of female-headed households in Pakistan in the context of health promotion.

Objective of this project is to describe characteristics of Pakistani women household heads and investigate effect differences with men in the context of health behavior. We used 2012 - 13 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey data to conduct secondary data analysis of 10 868 households. In this article, methods that we described household head and household characteristics, and polio vaccination compliance as a proxy for health behavior. Univariate analysis was conducted to assess the relationship of household head gender with household characteristics and health behavior, first for the whole sample and then for currently married household heads. Significant relationships were entered in two multivariate logistic models. Results show that all demographic covariates were statistically significant (p < 0.05) except employment status. Adjusted associations were significant for age, marital status, wealth and ethnicity (p < 0.05). Polio compliance score was significantly higher for households headed by currently married men compared with currently married women, when adjusted for covariates and concluded certain household and head characteristic associations with gender suggest a greater likelihood of female-headed households, while male-headed households were associated with better polio vaccine compliance. Further research is needed with more complex health behavior composites to assess any relationship between gender and health behavior.
The Relation between Auditors' Fees for Nonaudit Services and Earnings Management

This paper examines whether auditor fees are associated with earnings management and the market reaction to the disclosure of auditor fees. Using data collected from proxy statements, we present evidence that nonaudit fees are positively associated with small earnings surprises and the magnitude of discretionary accruals, while audit fees are negatively associated with these earnings management indicators. We also find evidence of a negative association between nonaudit fees and share values on the date the fees were disclosed, although the effect is small in economic terms.
A general hidden Markov model for multi-parent populations

A common step in the analysis of multi-parent populations is genotype reconstruction: identifying the founder origin of haplotypes from dense marker data. This process often makes use of a model for the exchange process along chromosomes, including the relative frequency of founder alleles and of the probability of exchanges among them. While the precise experimental design used to generate the population may be used to derive a precise characterization of the exchange process, this can be tedious, particularly given the great variety of experimental designs that have been proposed. We describe an approximate model that can be applied for a variety of multi-parent populations. We have implemented the approach in the R/qtl2 software, and we illustrate its use in applications to publicly available data on Diversity Outbred and Collaborative Cross mice.
Evidence that Additions of Grignard Reagents to Aliphatic Aldehydes Do Not Involve Single-Electron-Transfer Processes

Addition of allylmagnesium reagents to an aliphatic aldehyde bearing a radical clock gave only addition products and no evidence of ring-opened products that would suggest single-electron-transfer reactions. The analogous Barbier reaction also did not provide evidence for a single-electron-transfer mechanism in the addition step. Other Grignard reagents (methyl-, vinyl-, t-Bu-, and triphenylmethylmagnesium halides) also do not appear to add to an alkyl aldehyde by a single-electron-transfer mechanism.
A Parallel Algorithm to Solve Near-Shortest Path Problems on Raster Graphs

The Near-Shortest Path (NSP) algorithm (Carlyle and Wood, Networks 46(2): 98–109, 2005; Medrano and Church, GeoTrans RP-01-12-01, UC Santa Barbara, 2012) has been identified as being effective at generating sets of good route alternatives for designing new infrastructure. While the algorithm itself is faster than other enumerative shortest path set approaches including the Kth-shortest path problem, the solution set size and computation time grow exponentially as the problem size or parameters increase, and requires the use of high-performance parallel computing to solve for real-world problems. We present a new breadth-first-search parallelization of the NSP algorithm. Computational results and future work for parallel efficiency improvements are discussed.
The role of aureomycin in the production of pruritus vulvae

Abstract Four patients receiving aureomycin developed pruritus vulvae during the course of treatment or shortly thereafter. Fatty acid therapy, usually in the form of an ointment containing calcium and sodium proprionates and proprionic acid, caused the disappearance of this symptom. In addition to the local treatment, vitamin B complex capsules were given to Cases 3 and 4. Whether this condition is produced by a deprivation of vitamin B in the body, 1 an effect the manufacturer of the antibiotic admits it possesses, or by a selective effect of aureomycin on other organisms in the vagina, sparing the yeast cells, 2 remains to be established. A report of four instances encompasses too little upon which to base definite conclusions.
Spreadable Connected Autonomic Networks (SCAN)

A Spreadable Connected Autonomic Network (SCAN) is a mobile network that automatically maintains its own connectivity as nodes move. We envision SCANs to enable a diverse set of applications such as self-spreading mesh networks and robotic search and rescue systems. This paper describes our experiences developing a prototype robotic SCAN built from commercial, off-the-shelf hardware, to support such applications. A major contribution of our work is the development of a protocol, called SCAN1, which maintains network connectivity by enabling individual nodes to determine when they must constrain their mobility in order to avoid disconnecting the network. SCAN1 achieves its goal through an entirely distributed process in which individual nodes utilize only local (2-hop) knowledge of the network’s topology to periodically make a simple decision: move, or freeze in place. Along with experimental results from our hardware testbed, wemodel SCAN1’s performance, providing both supporting analysis and simulation for the efficacy of SCAN1 as a solution to enable SCANs. While our evaluation of SCAN1 in this paper is limited to systems whose capabilities match those of our testbed, SCAN1 can be utilized in conjunction with a wide-range of potential applications and environments, as either a primary or backup connectivity maintenance mechanism.
Consensus-Locally Linear Embedding (C-LLE): Application to Prostate Cancer Detection on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Locally Linear Embedding (LLE) is a widely used non-lineardimensionality reduction (NLDR) method that projectsmulti-dimensional data into a low-dimensional embedding space whileattempting to preserve object adjacencies from the originalhigh-dimensional feature space. A limitation of LLE, however, isthe presence of free parameters, changing the values of which maydramatically change the low dimensional representations of thedata. In this paper, we present a novel Consensus-LLE (C-LLE)scheme which constructs a stable consensus embedding from acrossmultiple low dimensional unstable LLE data representations obtainedby varying the parameter (κ) controlling locallylinearity. The approach is analogous to Breiman's Bagging algorithmfor generating ensemble classifiers by combining multiple weakpredictors into a single predictor. In this paper we demonstratethe utility of C-LLE in creating a low dimensional stablerepresentation of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) data foridentifying prostate cancer. Results of quantitative evaluationdemonstrate that our C-LLE scheme has higher cancer detectionsensitivity (86.90%) and specificity (85.14%) compared to LLE andother state of the art schemes currently employed for analysis ofMRS data.
The Teacher's Corner

In words: The expectation of the reciprocal of a nondegenerate positive random variable is greater than the reciprocal of its expectation. The reverse inequality holds if X assumes only negative values. This inequality is quite useful in statistical inference and stochastic processes and has been proven by using various approaches, such as Schwarz inequality [2], the concept of convexity [3], and others [1]. The present proof is somewhat simpler.
Freeze-etch localization of concanavalin A receptors to the membrane intercalated particles of human erythrocyte ghost membranes.

Freeze-fracture, freeze-etch and molecular labeling techniques localize concanavalin A receptors to the membrane intercalated particles of human erythrocyte ghost membranes. The concanavalin A receptor is a Band III component [4]. We propose that the membrane intercalated particle represents an oligomeric structure containing, at least, the principal integral proteins [glycophorin and Band III component(s) interacting with the protein spectrin at the membrane inner surface. Previous work implies Band III component(s), integral membrane proteins and the membrane intercalated particles in a variety of transmembrane phenomena. We hypothesize that the membrane intercalated particles represent an amphipatic structure (“permeaphore.”∗) which topologically and structurally interrupts hydrophobic bilayer membrane domains.
Electrical contact failure mechanisms relevant to electronic packages

The most common failure mechanisms for electrical contacts are classified, defined, and discussed. Time- and temperature-dependent mechanisms include metallurgical diffusion, surface migration, evaporation, decomposition, outgassing, stress relaxation, and creep. Concentration gradients and mechanical loads also affect the rate of these mechanisms. Other mechanisms are induced from a mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion and are triggered by thermal cycling. Corrosion mechanisms result from corrosive gases and particulates. Wear mechanisms result from motion at interfaces. Mechanical failures occur from structural defects and foreign particulate contamination. Various parameters influence these failure mechanisms. The ultimate single effect is a degradation of the contact interface resulting in high contact resistance, an open, or an intermittent open. It is concluded that, with sound understanding, these failure mechanisms and their undesirable effects can be avoided by appropriate connector design or selection, implementation, and quality control. >
Transvaginal color Doppler sonography and conventional sonography in the preoperative assessment of adnexal masses.

Objective This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the predictive value of the blood flow velocity as measured by transvaginal color Doppler sonography (CDS) and conventional sonographic criteria in the preoperative assessment of ovarian tumors. Methods 98 patients who were admitted for surgery with a suspicion of an adnexal mass (69 benign tumors, 4 borderline tumors, and 25 malignant tumors) were prospectively studied with transvaginal sonography (TVS) and CDS. Pulsatility index of blood flow velocity waveforms was evaluated by CDS and compared with established sonographic criteria for discriminating between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. Results TVS had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 84% in detecting malignant ovarian tumors compared with CDS with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 74%, using 1.1 as a cut-off value for the pulsatility index. The specificity of CDS was higher in postmenopausal (88%) than in premenopausal (63%) patients. Using TVS and CDS combined, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing malignant ovarian tumors could be increased to 95% and 86%. Conclusion In premenopausal patients, TVS is clearly a more sensitive and more specific technique than CDS in correctly identifying benign and malignant ovarian tumors, whereas in postmenopausal patients, CDS gives useful additional information concerning blood vessel resistance. If CDS is used as an additional technique to TVS, it can increase the sensitivity and specificity of TVS in discriminating between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 25:217–225, 1997
Diphosphine ring expansion and π-bond reduction in the reaction between 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino) cyclobutenedione (bpcbd) and Ru3(CO)10(MeCN)2: X-ray diffraction structures of Ru3(CO)10[2,3- bis(diphenylphosphino)succinic anhydride] and Ru2(CO)6(bma)

Replacement of the acetonitrile ligands in Ru3(CO)10(MeCN)2 by the diphosphine ligand 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)cyclobutenedione (bpcbd) initially gives the unstable bpcbd-bridged cluster Ru3(CO)10(bpcbd) (1), followed by its subsequent transformation to the triruthenium cluster Ru3(CO)10(bma) (2). The decomposition of cluster 2 serves to produce the ruthenium compounds Ru3(CO)10[2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)succinic anhydride] (3) and Ru2(CO)6(bma) (4). Compounds 2–4 provide the experimental evidence for the ring expansion of the cyclobutenedione ring via the formal insertion of an oxygen atom into the four-membered ring and hydrogen addition to the π bond upon exposure to the atmosphere and/or moisture. Both 3 and 4 have been isolated and characterized in solution by IR and 31P NMR spectroscopies, and the molecular structure of each product has been verified by X-ray crystallography. Ru3(CO)10[2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)succinic anhydride] crystallizes, as the CH2Cl2 solvate, in the monoclinic space group P21/c, a = 12.178(2)A, b = 15.988(2)A, c = 22.472(3)A, β = 95.115(2)°, V = 4358(1)A3, Z = 4, and dcalc = 1.732 Mg/m3; R = 0.0344, Rw = 0.0931 for 5683 reflections with I > 2σ(I). The dinuclear compound Ru2(CO)6(bma) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, a = 9.298(3)A, b = 12.020(3)A, c = 30.858(8)A, α = 81.774(5)°, β = 89.276(5)°, γ = 83.545(4)°, V = 3391(1)A3, Z = 4, and dcalc = 1.730 Mg/m3; R = 0.0670, Rw = 0.1444 for 8766 reflections with I > 2a(I).
Release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in a salt-wedge estuary as induced by dredging of contaminated sediments

An evaluation of the input of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in the Duwamish River, Seattle, Wash., resulting from the dredging of contaminated sediments is presented. The mean concentrations of PCB during the monitoring period were 12.8 to 24.5 ng/liter in water and 1.03 to 1.77 microgram/g dry weight in suspended particulate matter. These values were within the ranges normally observed in the river, suggesting that the dredging operations did not induce a significant PCB pulse of potential hazard to the estuary. The fractionation of PCB in suspended particulate matter was determined by computing component concentration ratios, KN(d). These quantities indicate an enrichment factor of 10(5) from ambient water. Based on the ambient PCB load and normal discharge, the input of PCB into Puget Sound via the Duwamish River was estimated to be 36 kg/year.
Divorced Mothers and Higher Education in Utah

Drawing on human capital theory and role strain theory, we analyzed survey responses from 133 divorced mothers in Utah and in-depth interviews with a subsample of mothers to examine investment in higher education. In models predictive of postdivorce college degree attainment, having a college educated parent was the strongest predictor of receiving a college degree. Computer skills and student loans were also associated with completing college. In modeling the relationship between college degree (associate or bachelor) and employment income, only completion of a 4-year degree was predictive of increased future income. Drawing from both survey data and in-depth interviews, we found that increased income, personal improvement, and career advancement were the primary reasons given for pursuing higher education. In contrast, the role strain from fulfilling multiple roles as a single parent and the need for career counseling were the primary barriers to investing in higher education.
An On-Chip Multi-Voltage Power Converter With Leakage Current Prevention Using 0.18 $\mu$ m High-Voltage CMOS Process

In this paper, we present an on-chip multi-voltage power converter incorporating of a quad-voltage timing-control rectifier and regulators to produce ${\pm}12$ V and ${\pm}1.8$ V simultaneously through inductive powering. The power converter achieves a PCE of 77.3% with the delivery of more than 100 mW to the implant. The proposed rectifier adopts a two-phase start-up scheme and mixed-voltage gate controller to avoid substrate leakage current. This current cannot be prevented by the conventional dynamic substrate biasing technique when using the high-voltage CMOS process with transistor threshold voltage higher than the turn-on voltage of parasitic diodes. High power conversion efficiency is achieved by 1) substrate leakage current prevention, 2) operating all rectifying transistors as switches with boosted gate control voltages, and 3) compensating the delayed turn-on and preventing reverse leakage current of rectifying switches with the proposed look-ahead comparator. This chip occupies an area of 970 $\mu$ m $\,\times\,$ 4500 $\mu$ m in a 0.18 $\mu$ m 32 V HV CMOS process. The quad-voltage timing-control rectifier alone is able to output a high DC voltage at the range of [2.5 V, 25 V]. With this power converter, both bench-top experiment and in-vivo power link test using a rat model were validated.
Inhibition of radiation-induced neoplastic transformation by beta-lapachone.

Abstract Beta-lapachone is a potent inhibitor of DNA repair in mammalian cells and activates topoisomerase I. We show that beta-lapachone can prevent the oncogenic transformation of CHEF/18A cells by ionizing radiation. Potentially lethal DNA damage repair (PLDR) occurs while x-irradiated cells are held in medium containing low serum prior to replating. PLDR processes permitted survival recovery but also drastically increased the number of foci per plate (i.e., transformation) of CHEF/18A cells. By blocking PLDR with beta-lapachone, both survival recovery and enhanced transformation were prevented. At equivalent survival levels, exposure of x-irradiated cells to beta-lapachone resulted in an 8-fold decrease in the number of foci per dish as compared to the number of transformants produced after PLDR. Early PLDR-derived increases in transformation may be the result of error-prone genetic rearrangements dependent on topoisomerase I, which are thereby prevented by beta-lapachone. Beta-lapachone exposure decreased the rejoining of DNA strand breaks and produced additional double-strand breaks in x-irradiated cells during PLDR. The activation of topoisomerase I by beta-lapachone may convert repairable single-strand DNA breaks into the more repair-resistant double-strand breaks, thereby preventing PLDR and neoplastic transformation. These results suggest a new direction for the development of anticarcinogenic agents.
Interpretation of high-frequency coda at large distances: stochastic modelling and method of inversion

SUMMARY Based on previous work, a stochastic convolution model is proposed for the Lg coda observed at large epicentral distances (Δ > 200 km). Coda at these distances differ from local coda in several respects. Effects of various physical processes, such as dispersion, scattering, and mode conversion on coda at large distances are discussed in detail. A spectral ratio method is developed for inversion of Lg coda Q, in which the large variance associated with inversion is greatly reduced. The method is also extended to the inversion of seismic source parameters by jointly using Lg and its coda. We have tested the model and method exhaustively using data from two GDSN stations and found the results to be superior to other methods when those methods used only a small number of stations.
The jelly and vitelline coats of the sea urchin egg: new ultrastructural features

External coats of unfertilized eggs of sea urchins Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytechinus pictus were studied ultrastructurally, before and after removal of egg jelly. A method was used which facilitated fast processing of the eggs. The vitelline layer was resolved into two components, one sheet-like (the vitelline sheet) connected to the plasma membrane by thin links (the vitelline posts). Staining with ruthenium red confirmed that the vitelline posts were attached to the plasma membrane in a regular (but nonperiodic) array; they could be outer peripheral plasma membrane components modulating the membrane's function, as suggested from earlier experimental findings. Jelly material consisted of ruthenium red-stainable strands bathed in an amorphous component. Exposure of eggs to acidified seawater (pH 5 through 3.5) removed the amorphous material, but not the jelly strands attached to the vitelline sheet. Tannic acid mordanting confirmed that these two jelly structures differ chemically from each other.
A Framework for the Evaluation of System Safety Benefits of Intelligent Cruise Control Systems

ABSTRACT This paper describes a framework for assessing the system safety impacts of an adaptive or intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system. This framework incorporates a time-to-collision model that is developed from vehicle headway, speed, and acceleration data that are typically gathered as part of field operational tests. Specifically, the framework combines car-following models with vehicle deceleration and acceleration constraints to compute instantaneous rear-end time-to-collision estimates. These instantaneous time-to-collision estimates are then translated into an accident risk estimate that is accumulated over the entire trip. The proposed approach can be applied directly to field data that are typically gathered as part of field operational tests. In addition, the proposed approach can be easily incorporated within microscopic traffic simulation models
Interaction of technetium 99m-labeled teboroxime with red blood cells reduces the compound’s extraction and increases apparent cardiac washout

99mTc-labeled teboroxime shows high myocardial extraction in both in vivo animal and in vitro cell culture and isolated heart studies. Whereas in vivo studies show rapid myocardial clearance of teboroxime, in vitro cell culture and isolated heart studies show slower washout comparable to that of201Tl. Binding of teboroxime to blood components may contribute to these conflicting results. We measured teboroxime extraction in the isolated blood-perfused rabbit heart after injection in saline solution, brief incubation in red blood cell perfusate, or 4-hour incubation with human red blood cells. Teboroxime in saline solution showed high extraction (Emax=0.89±0.02; Enet=0.69±0.02), whereas brief incubation in perfusate (Emax=0.60±0.06; Enet=0.48±0.05) or prolonged incubation with human red blood cells (Emax=0.43±0.09; Ene=0.38±0.07) resulted in reduced extraction. Teboroxime clearance was similar for all groups and was slower than201Tl clearance. Analysis of total residual cardiac teboroxime (comparable to external imaging) showed that teboroxime clearance was biexponential. Reduced extraction of teboroxime in red blood cells resulted in an increased size of the rapidly clearing (unextracted) fraction, giving the appearance of rapid myocardial washout. Teboroxime has a high myocardial extraction. Binding to blood components reduces teboroxime extraction and increases the rate of cardiac teboroxime clearance.
A modeling study of the physical processes affecting the development of seasonal hypoxia over the inner Louisiana-Texas shelf: Circulation and stratification

The physical processes affecting the development of seasonal hypoxia over the Louisiana-Texas shelf were examined using a high-resolution, three-dimensional, unstructured-grid, Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM). The model was forced with the observed freshwater fluxes from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, surface winds, heat fluxes, tides and offshore conditions. The simulations were carried out over a six-month period, from April to September 2002, and the model performance was evaluated against several independent series of observations that included tidal gauge data, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data, shipboard measurements of temperature and salinity, vertical salinity and sigma-t profiles, and satellite imagery. The model accurately described the offshore circulation mode generated over the Louisiana-Texas shelf by the westerly winds during summer months, as well as the prevalent westward flow along the coast caused by the easterly winds during the rest of the study period. The seasonal cycle of stratification also was well represented by the model. During 2002, the stratification was initiated in early spring and subsequently enhanced by the intensity and phasing of riverine freshwater discharges. Strong stratification persisted throughout the summer and was finally broken down in September by tropical storms. The model simulations also revealed a quasi-permanent anticyclonic gyre in the Louisiana Bight region formed by the rotational transformation of the Mississippi River plume, whose existence during 2002 was supported by the satellite imagery and ADCP current measurements. Model simulations support the conclusion that local wind forcing and buoyancy flux resulting from riverine freshwater discharges were the dominant mechanisms affecting the circulation and stratification over the inner Louisiana-Texas shelf.
The diffusion of the Internet: Trend and causes

Abstract Over the last two decades, the Internet has changed various facets of social life, creating many social concerns. To better assess the impact of the Internet, it is important to understand the pattern of its diffusion. Using the Current Population Survey, this paper examines the diffusion process of the Internet between 1994 and 2007. The CPS provides seven cross-sectional data sets on Internet use over the period, four of which are spaced close enough to be turned into panel data sets. Simple trend analyses show that a logistic S-curve fits the seven observations very well, and that the diffusion took off around the time when the graphical user interface was introduced. Findings from multivariate trend analyses and panel data analyses include; (1) the digital divide is not likely to be closed in the near future, (2) exposure to the technology at school and workplace are important factors of initial and continued use of the Internet, and (3) of different online activities, email use is the most important predictor of continued use, implying that the diffusion process is highly social, rather than individualistic.
A comparative study and empirical evaluation of global view High performance Linpack program in X10

High-performance Linpack (HPL) benchmark is used to evaluate the performance of super computers. It implements blocked, right-looking Gaussian elimination with row partial pivoting. Block cyclic distribution is used in the parallel variant.In this paper, we implement the HPL in X10. X10 is a high level high-performance programming language based on the sequential semantics of Java augmented with new concurrency constructs, namely, places, asyncs, finish, atomic and clock. X10 also provides a rich array language which includes region, distributions and distributed arrays. We use HPL as a case study to evaluate the global view paradigm of X10. A global view program uses globally distributed arrays and global array indices without any process-specific code. We compare the elegance of global view programs over the local view version. We also show that the performance of global view program is no worse than the local view version.
Taking inflammatory bowel disease up a Notch

The epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract, which represents the largest surface area of the body, is constantly exposed to the contents of its surrounding environment. The intestinal epithelium forms barriers that are essential in maintaining equilibrium within the human body. This barrier supports nutrient and water transport while preventing microbial invasion. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) sit at the interface between an antigen-rich lumen and a lymphocyte-rich lamina propria (LP). IECs have the capability to discriminate between “peaceful” and “harmful” antigens. The epithelium is constantly sampling luminal contents and making molecular adjustments accordingly. These molecular changes influence the actions of innate and adaptive immune cells. The crosstalk that occurs between the epithelium and the immune compartments serves to maintain intestinal homeostasis. A better understanding of the nature of the interactions between normal LP lymphocytes (LPLs) and IECs will ultimately provide insights into the defects occurring in inflammatory bowel disease patients.
Competing reaction pathways from α-halo-α-protioalkyl aryl sulfoxides initiated by organometallic reagents

Abstract The reactions of syn -1-haloethyl p -chlorophenyl sulfoxides (halogen = Cl, Br) with main-group organometallic reagents ( n -BuMgCl, MeLi, n -BuLi, s -BuLi, and t -BuLi) in THF and PhMe solvents were examined. Product distributions were analyzed to determine the extent of competing sulfoxide ligand exchange, halogen–metal exchange, and deprotonation reaction pathways. A combination of t -BuLi in PhMe was optimal for initiation of sulfoxide ligand exchange from syn -1-chloroethyl p -chlorophenyl sulfoxide.
Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Pimephales as inferred from ND4 and ND4L nucleotide sequences

In phylogenetic analyses, conducted on the ND4L gene and part of the ND4 gene from species of the genus Pimephales, maximum parsimony yielded four trees, with the strict consensus providing no resolution of relationships among species. Maximum likelihood and minimum evolution methods yielded identical tree topologies, which differed from previous hypotheses of relationships for these species. If this topology is correct, it implies independent evolution of morphological characters, possibly associated with convergent trophic specialization.
Observations of periodic intensity bursts from a free electron laser oscillator

Abstract Observations of periodic intensity bursts from a free electron laser oscillator operating in the microwave regime are reported. Their periodic separation (∼ 40 ns) equals the radiation round-trip time, and their width is approximately the slippage time (∼ 5 ns). Unlike previous studies, the bursts occur in the small-signal regime, near the oscillation threshold. The observations are compared with theoretical results from an impulse response model of the free electron laser.
Comparison of the Absorption and Excretion of Calcium from Precipitated Calcium Carbonate USP XVII and Egg Shells

Experiments were conducted to evaluate relative absorption and excretion of calcium from precipitated calcium carbonate USP and powdered egg shells (93.7 percent). Samples from 24-hr. specimens of urine and feces were collected after the fourth day of a repeated daily diet of the same food containing approximately 1 Gm. of calcium. The subjects were continued on the same regimen and samples were collected for 10 consecutive days from each person tested. The calcium content of the samples was determined by means of a flame photometer and a spectrophotometer. This procedure was repeated with addition of 2.5 Gm. of the official precipitated CaCO 3 and again with 2.6 Gm. of powdered egg shells to each daily diet. The calcium balance, that is, the difference between the quantity of calcium ingested and the total amount excreted, was positive for each type of experiment. When the diet was supplemented with the precipitated CaCO 3 and egg shells, calcium retention was increased 86.3 and 97.9 percent, respectively. Increased calcium absorption was reflected in increased urinary calcium. Egg shells compared favorably with the precipitated calcium carbonate as a source of absorbed calcium.
A biochemical hypothesis explaining the response of enhanced biological phosphorus removal biomass to organic substrates.

Anaerobic/aerobic batch experiments were conducted with a variety of volatile fatty (VFAs) and amino acids on two sequencing batch reactor populations displaying enhanced biological phosphorus removal. The batch experiments were consistent between the two systems and with the past literature: acetic and isovaleric acid were the most efficient substrates, and propionic acid was the least efficient of the 2-5 carbon VFAs (lack of acclimation was ruled out). A survey of the engineering and biochemical literature revealed that both acetic and isovaleric acid resulted in a negative reaction redox balance (i.e. it requires reducing equivalents such as NADH2) during their biotransformation to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). In addition, the survey indicated that acetic and isovaleric acid resulted in 3HB rather than 3HV or 3H2MV formation. Two possible hypotheses were put forward for evaluation: (1) it was hypothesized that a negative intracellular redox balance might result in higher PHA content since PHA biosynthesis could be sustained under anaerobic conditions (no NADH2 build up), and/or (2) it was hypothesized that 3HB resulted in greater P-uptake than other PHA forms such as 3HV.
On writing form

In the design methodology group in the school of architecture and planning at MIT, we have become increasingly interested in the issue of design-rules. To the extent that design is conventional, coherent, or just plain systematic, it is based on implicit or explicit rules. These rules must be about the identity of elements that are admissible, about the relations of such elements in space and about the dimensions involved in that spatial deployment. There are of course many other possible rules, but to have an impact on the form to be built, all questions must eventually be answered in the way of statements about the identity and relation of elements in space and the dimensions connected to those. Thus we are interested in rules about form. We want to know about rule formulation, relations of rules (their compatibility), and the impact of rules. We hope to learn about better ways to use rules and to predict their impact. In brief, we would like to discuss designing in terms of rules. To work with rules one must know how to express them. It seems that the first step to arrive at a way to notate rules is to have a way to describe form. We must be able to say what a form is before we can say how it must behave. This has led to the search for a notation system that will allow us to describe forms correctly and without undue confusion. This notation system may allow us also to make rule-statements in an unambiguous way. Another, closely related motivation was the use of the computer. As long as the computer is only a graphics tool we need not talk to it but can limit our interaction by pointing to forms on the screen and directly 'draw' them. But as soon as we want the computer to become our companion in a design effort we must be able to instruct it about the forms and the form behaviour we are interested in. In turn the computer must talk to us, if only to answer questions about form and form behaviour. Here again it would be an advantage to have a notation system that is independent of the particular program or program language we are working in. The results of this effort so far in this regard is available in a report und~, the title of Writing form and we are presently engaged in making a computer program that understands the notation system. In this paper I will briefly explain the basic premises the philosophy if you like behind the Writing form study. I will also touch upon the methodological principles on which the system rests.
Effects of Geometrical Parameters on Improving the Transversal Mass Transport in PEM Fuel Cells

A computational model using Lattice Boltzmann Equation (LBE) method is employed to investigate the fluid transport on the anode side of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, with an emphasis on mass transfer enhancement. A 3-dimensional LBE code is developed to solve the flows in the channel and the porous media in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) simultaneously. Multiple flow enhancers (obstructions in the flow channel) are placed in the channel to enhance the transversal flow across the GDL. The mass flow rate, the velocity field and the pressure distribution are analyzed. The effects of flow enhancers are assessed. The results show that the transversal flow across the GDL is enhanced by placing flow enhancers in the channel. Increasing flow enhancer size can significantly increase the transversal flow rate, with high pressure-loss through the flow channel. The results also demonstrate that the location of flow enhancers in the flow channel have a remarkable impact on the transversal flow rate. The transversal flow rate increases as the GDL porosity increases.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein and Lung Injury

2002;122;1494-1495 Chest Randolph H. Hastings and Leonard J. Deftos Lung Injury Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein and http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/122/4/1494.full.html services can be found online on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and ISSN:0012-3692 ) http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/site/misc/reprints.xhtml ( written permission of the copyright holder. this article or PDF may be reproduced or distributed without the prior Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. All rights reserved. No part of Copyright2002by the American College of Chest Physicians, 3300 Physicians. It has been published monthly since 1935. is the official journal of the American College of Chest Chest