cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study of interpenetration using fluorescence quenching of chromophore-labelled polymers

Abstract Fluorescence quenching was used to investigate the onset and extent of overlap and interpenetration in poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) solutions using polystyrene with a dilute level of anthracene labelling (APS) as a probe. A low, constant concentration of APS was added to solutions varying in PVME concentration. The critical overlap concentration, c∗ , was taken to be the PVME concentration at which quenching of the probe anthracene-labelled polymer molecules commenced. Variations in probe molecular weight and concentration produced no significant changes in c∗ or in the rate of decrease in fluorescence intensity above c∗ , lending credibility to the idea that the APS is simply probing the PVME system. The values of c∗ [η] from these experiments were found to lie in the range of 0.87–1.7 which agrees with the results from previous studies. The sensitivity of this method to small differences in solvent quality for PVME was also investigated.
Dynamic congestion pricing in disequilibrium

A theory of dynamic congestion pricing for the day-to-day time scale is presented which takes the form of a continuous time optimal control problem. The formulation accomodates elastic nonseparable travel demands and nonseparable travel costs. Necessary conditions for optimal congestion prices are analyzed to uncover bang-bang, singular and synthesized optimal control decison rules for setting network tolls in a dynamic environment. These decision rules are shown to be sufficient for optimality under plausible regularity conditions.
Characteristics and Admission Patterns of Patients Presenting with Syncope to U.S. Emergency Departments, 1992–2000

Objectives: To describe the characteristics and admission patterns of patients with syncope presenting to U.S. emergency departments (EDs). Methods: The ED portion of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1992–2000, was analyzed. Nationally representative weighted estimates for incidence and admission rates were estimated and stratified by demographic variables. Presence of cardiovascular diagnoses on ED discharge was noted. Results: Of the 865 million ED visits during the nine-year study period, an estimated 6.7 million (0.77%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.69% to 0.85%) were related to syncope. Higher incidences of ED visits for syncope were found in elder, female, and non-Hispanic patients compared with their reference groups. The overall admission rate was 32% (95% CI = 28% to 36%). Older, male, and white patients were admitted more frequently than their counterparts. Of patients older than 80 years of age, 58% (95% CI = 49% to 67%) were admitted. Associated cardiovascular International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), codes for ischemic, structural, and arrhythmic heart disease were noted in 10% (95% CI = 8% to 13%) of patients, and 66% (95% CI = 56% to 76%) of these patients were admitted. Conclusions: Syncope is a frequent reason for ED visits and admissions. Elders and patients with associated cardiovascular diagnoses are frequently discharged, and admission practices appear to deviate from consensus panel guidelines.
Polymerization of olefins through heterogeneous catalysis. II. Kinetics of gas phase propylene polymerization with Ziegler–Natta catalysts

Propylene was polymerized in gas phase over a (Stauffer Type AA) Catalyst with AlEt2Cl cocatalyst both with and without H2 present. The effects of polymerization temperature, monomer concentration, catalyst composition, and hydrogen were investigated. The experiments were carried out at operating conditions approaching industrial practice.
On the existence of solitary waves in rotating fluids

This paper considers the existence of axisymmetric solitary waves in an inviscid and incompressible rotating fluid bounded by a rigid cylinder. It has been obtained by many experiments and formal derivations that this flow has internal solitary waves in the fluid when equilibrium state at infinity satisfies certain conditions. This paper gives a rigorous proof of the existence of solitary wave solutions for the exact equations governing the flow under such conditions at infinity, and shows that the first-order approximations of the solitary wave solutions for the exact equations are solitary wave solutions derived formally using long-wave approximation. The ideas in the proof of the existence of solitary waves in two-dimensional stratified fluids are used and a main difficulty from the singularity at axis of rotation is overcome.
Etoys for One Laptop Per Child

We present an overview of the “OLPC Etoys” system, describe the intensive two-year development effort that produced the system, and discuss lessons learned. OLPC Etoys is an end-user authoring system for children, which was chosen to be distributed with the OLPC XO laptops at an early stage of the OLPC project.Since we planned to derive OLPC Etoys by evolving an existing, mature system (“Squeakland”), it was expected to be a relatively straightforward undertaking. However, the OLPC XO platform’s special hardware characteristics, the evolution of the Sugar software stack, and the fundamentally international and multilingual nature of the project, all conspired to make the development effort challenging.Over the two-year course of the project, we successfully kept up with the challenges, and delivered usable Etoys systems for every OLPC release. We steadily improved the UI, added a few high-leverage features, and fixed bugs, with a small and widely-distributed team and with help from the community.
Batesian mimics influence the evolution of conspicuousness in an aposematic salamander.

Conspicuousness, or having high contrast relative to the surrounding background, is a common feature of unpalatable species. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the occurrence of conspicuousness, and while most involve the role of conspicuousness as a direct signal of unpalatability to potential predators, one hypothesis suggests that exaggerated conspicuousness may evolve in unpalatable species to reduce predator confusion with palatable species (potential Batesian mimics). This hypothesis of antagonistic coevolution between palatable and unpalatable species hinges on the ‘cost of conspicuousness’, in which conspicuousness increases the likelihood of predation more in palatable species than in unpalatable species. Under this mimicry scenario, four patterns are expected: (i) mimics will more closely resemble local models than models from other localities, (ii) there will be a positive relationship between mimic and model conspicuousness, (iii) models will be more conspicuous in the presence of mimics, and (iv) when models and mimics differ in conspicuousness, mimics will be less conspicuous than models. We tested these predictions in the salamander mimicry system involving Notophthalmus viridescens (model) and one colour morph of Plethodon cinereus (mimic). All predictions were supported, indicating that selection for Batesian mimicry not only influences the evolution of mimics, but also the evolution of the models they resemble. These findings indicate that mimicry plays a large role in the evolution of model warning signals, particularly influencing the evolution of conspicuousness.
Variable energy photoelectron spectroscopy: Electronic structure and electronic relaxation

Use of variable photon energy with polarization available from synchrotron radiation has revolutionized the use of photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) in the study of transition metal complexes. The intensity dependence of PES peaks allows their definite assignment, a quantitation of the covalent mixing of the metal and ligand valence orbitals over the entire valence band, and an experimental determination of electronic relaxation. The last effect is the change in electronic structure with ionization, which is found to be large for transition metal complexes. Variable energy PES (VEPES) provides a powerful method to study bonding and its change with ionization and this provides fundamental insight into redox processes in inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry.
Combined SAXS/EM Based Models of the S. elongatus Post-Translational Circadian Oscillator and its Interactions with the Output His-Kinase SasA

The circadian clock in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus is composed of a post-translational oscillator (PTO) that can be reconstituted in vitro from three different proteins in the presence of ATP and a transcription-translation feedback loop (TTFL). The homo-hexameric KaiC kinase, phosphatase and ATPase alternates between hypo- and hyper-phosphorylated states over the 24-h cycle, with KaiA enhancing phosphorylation, and KaiB antagonizing KaiA and promoting KaiC subunit exchange. SasA is a His kinase that relays output signals from the PTO formed by the three Kai proteins to the TTFL. Although the crystal structures for all three Kai proteins are known, atomic resolution structures of Kai and Kai/SasA protein complexes have remained elusive. Here, we present models of the KaiAC and KaiBC complexes derived from solution small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), which are consistent with previous EM based models. We also present a combined SAXS/EM model of the KaiC/SasA complex, which has two N-terminal SasA sensory domains occupying positions on the C-terminal KaiC ring reminiscent of the orientations adopted by KaiB dimers. Using EM we demonstrate that KaiB and SasA compete for similar binding sites on KaiC. We also propose an EM based model of the ternary KaiABC complex that is consistent with the sequestering of KaiA by KaiB on KaiC during the PTO dephosphorylation phase. This work provides the first 3D-catalogue of protein-protein interactions in the KaiABC PTO and the output pathway mediated by SasA.
Tibial loading increases osteogenic gene expression and cortical bone volume in mature and middle-aged mice.

There are conflicting data on whether age reduces the response of the skeleton to mechanical stimuli. We examined this question in female BALB/c mice of different ages, ranging from young to middle-aged (2, 4, 7, 12 months). We first assessed markers of bone turnover in control (non-loaded) mice. Serum osteocalcin and CTX declined significantly from 2 to 4 months (p<0.001). There were similar age-related declines in tibial mRNA expression of osteoblast- and osteoclast-related genes, most notably in late osteoblast/matrix genes. For example, Col1a1 expression declined 90% from 2 to 7 months (p<0.001). We then assessed tibial responses to mechanical loading using age-specific forces to produce similar peak strains (−1300 µe endocortical; −2350 µe periosteal). Axial tibial compression was applied to the right leg for 60 cycles/day on alternate days for 1 or 6 weeks. qPCR after 1 week revealed no effect of loading in young (2-month) mice, but significant increases in osteoblast/matrix genes in older mice. For example, in 12-month old mice Col1a1 was increased 6-fold in loaded tibias vs. controls (p = 0.001). In vivo microCT after 6 weeks revealed that loaded tibias in each age group had greater cortical bone volume (BV) than contralateral control tibias (p<0.05), due to relative periosteal expansion. The loading-induced increase in cortical BV was greatest in 4-month old mice (+13%; p<0.05 vs. other ages). In summary, non-loaded female BALB/c mice exhibit an age-related decline in measures related to bone formation. Yet when subjected to tibial compression, mice from 2–12 months have an increase in cortical bone volume. Older mice respond with an upregulation of osteoblast/matrix genes, which increase to levels comparable to young mice. We conclude that mechanical loading of the tibia is anabolic for cortical bone in young and middle-aged female BALB/c mice.
Importance of amine pKa and distribution coefficient in the metabolism of fluorinated propranolol analogs: metabolism by CYP1A2.

A series of 1-mono-, di-, and trifluorinated analogs of propranolol and related steric congeners was prepared, and their metabolism was examined with recombinant-expressed CYP1A2. The structural changes in this series of compounds, principally added fluorines and methyl groups in the 1-position of the N-isopropyl group, provided compounds that varied in pKa by more than 5 log units, in log D by 3 log units, and in size of the added substituents. NDealkylation and aromatic hydroxylation (formation of the 4- and 5-regioisomers) were catalyzed by CYP1A2. Correlations of the metabolic kinetic parameters Km and catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with physicochemical properties pKa and log D showed that increased lipophilicity (higher log D values) was associated with increased affinity (lower Km) and increased catalytic efficiency for CYP1A2. Comparison of log Km and log kcat/Km with pKa showed that the less basic analogs had higher affinities and increased catalytic efficiencies. The changes associated with pKa reflect increased lipid partitioning of substrate (increased log D) caused by an increase in the proportion of nonionized substrate. Increased steric bulk in the N-substituent alone did not decrease substrate affinity for CYP1A2 but did increase the amount of aromatic hydroxylation versus N-dealkylation. Removal of the hydroxyl group from the propanolamine side chain of propranolol resulted in a similar change in regioselectivity of metabolism.
Prevention of Spinal Cord Injury: An Elementary Education Approach

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in permanent paralysis and most often happens to teenagers and young adults. High risk behaviors are most often the cause; therefore these injuries are often preventable. In response to a gap in existing prevention programs, an elementary age SCI prevention program was developed, designed for implementation by teachers. Evaluation was carried out via a quasi-experimental pre-post comparison group design. Experimental students demonstrated significantly improved knowledge of SCI and its prevention. Similar changes in self-reported safety belt use were not noted. Development of the curriculum, related grant activities, and plans for national dissemination are described.
Partial Uncoupling of Impulse Source to Atrial Tissue by Ablation Triggers De Novo Ectopic Beats Through Paradoxical Improvement of Impulse Propagation

Background A source-sink mechanism plays a crucial role in transmission of electrical impulse to tissue. We hypothesized that partial uncoupling of impulse source to tissue by ablation might generate ectopic beats. Methods Canine right atrial preparations (n = 5) were coronary perfused and optically mapped using ANBDQBS, a near-infrared voltage-sensitive dye, to assess the origin and spread of excitation in transmural layers. The sinus node (SN) and surrounding atrial tissue in the field of view were reconstructed after Masson-trichrome, H&E, and immunofluorescence. Masson-trichrome histology was merged with the optical mapping. Cryoablation at –70°C for >3 minutes was performed in the SN and the atrial tissue. Results At baseline, sinus impulse originated from a specific cluster of the histologically demarcated SN (n = 5, 124 ± 23 bpm). Random extensive cryoablation on the SN and atrial tissue caused de novo activation of the ectopic foci outside the field of view (n = 3/5). We also observed the ectopic focus outside the histologic SN independently producing only spontaneous electrical oscillatory waves at baseline before ablation (n = 1), which was composed of HCN4 + cells in immunohistochemistry. However, this isolated electrical activity failed to propagate to the large atrium, as evidenced by the inability of this cluster to generate P waves on the pseudo-ECG. We created partial uncoupling of the nonpropagated ectopic source to the large atrium by cryoablation. In contrast to preablation, the nonpropagated ectopic source acquired the ability to propagate to the surviving atrial myocardium and generated ectopic beats. Conclusions The current study suggests that incomplete ablation may induce ectopic beats through paradoxical improvement of impulse conduction to the cardiac tissue by reducing coupling of impulse source to atrial sink. The current study may provide a mechanistic insight and clinical implications on generation of ectopic beats.
Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space Approach for the Online Update of Radial Bases in Neuro-Adaptive Control

Classical work in model reference adaptive control for uncertain nonlinear dynamical systems with a radial basis function (RBF) neural network adaptive element does not guarantee that the network weights stay bounded in a compact neighborhood of the ideal weights when the system signals are not persistently exciting (PE). Recent work has shown, however, that an adaptive controller using specifically recorded data concurrently with instantaneous data guarantees boundedness without PE signals. However, the work assumes fixed RBF network centers, which requires domain knowledge of the uncertainty. Motivated by reproducing kernel Hilbert space theory, we propose an online algorithm for updating the RBF centers to remove the assumption. In addition to proving boundedness of the resulting neuro-adaptive controller, a connection is made between PE signals and kernel methods. Simulation results show improved performance.
Efficient Assembly of Ribosomes Is Inhibited by Deletion of bipA in Escherichia coli

The bacterial BipA protein belongs to the EF-G family of translational GTPases and has been postulated to be either a regulatory translation factor or a ribosome assembly factor. To distinguish between these hypotheses, we analyzed the effect of bipA deletion on three phenotypes associated with ribosome assembly factors: cold sensitivity, ribosome subunit distribution, and rRNA processing. We demonstrated that a ΔbipA strain exhibits a cold-sensitive phenotype that is similar to, and synergistic with, that of a strain with a known ribosome assembly factor, deaD. Additionally, the bipA deletion strain displayed a perturbed ribosome subunit distribution when grown at low temperature, similar to that of a deaD mutant, and again, the double mutant showed additive effects. The primary ribosomal deficiency noted was a decreased level of the 50S subunit and the appearance of a presumed pre-50S particle. Finally, deletion of bipA resulted in accumulation of pre23S rRNA, as did deletion of deaD. We further found that deletion of rluC, which encodes a pseudouridine synthase that modifies the 23S rRNA at three sites, suppressed all three phenotypes of the bipA mutant, supporting and extending previous findings. Together, these results suggest that BipA is important for the correct and efficient assembly of the 50S subunit of the ribosome at low temperature but when unmodified by RluC, the ribosomes become BipA independent for assembly. IMPORTANCE The ribosome is the complex ribonucleoprotein machine responsible for protein synthesis in all cells. Although much has been learned about the structure and function of the ribosome, we do not fully understand how it is assembled or the accessory proteins that increase efficiency of biogenesis and function. This study examined one such protein, BipA. Our results indicate that BipA either directly or indirectly enhances the formation of the 50S subunit of the ribosome, particularly at low temperature. In addition, ribosomes contain a large number of modified nucleosides, including pseudouridines. This work demonstrates that the function of BipA is tied to the modification status of the ribosome and may help us understand why these modifications have been retained.
Structure and action in distributed organizations

An organization's structure specifies the formal relationships between the objects which comprise the organization. An organization's action is initiated by the communication of messages between the organizational objects. This paper describes some of the organization's structural relationships and message passing patterns. It also explores the relationship between structure and action. An organization is described using the Ubik system. Within this system, the organizational representation is specified using a distributed semantic net consisting of objects called configurators; the message passing action is based on the Actor model of parallel and distributed processing. The structure is related to the action by the use of special configurators called constructors, tapeworms, questers and sponsors. These configurator build, maintain, monitor and reason over the distributed networks.
A Molecular-Rotor Device for Nonvolatile High-Density Memory Applications

A novel memory device based on an electrically driven molecular rotor was fabricated and demonstrated to have bistable switching effects. The device showed an on/off ratio of approximately 104, a read window of about 2.5 V, and retention performance of greater than 104 s. The analysis of the device I-V characteristics suggests the source of the observed switching effects to be the redox-induced ligand rotation around the copper metal center, which is consistent with the observed temperature dependence of the switching behavior. This organic monolayer device holds a potential for nonvolatile high-density memory applications due to its scalability and reduced cost.
Quality of service provision in mobile multimedia - a survey

The prevalence of multimedia applications has drastically increased the amount of multimedia data. With the drop of the hardware cost, more and more mobile devices with higher capacities are now used. The widely deployed wireless LAN and broadband wireless networks provide the ubiquitous network access for multimedia applications. Provision of Quality of Service (QoS) is challenging in mobile ad hoc networks because of the dynamic characteristics of mobile networks and the limited resources of the mobile devices. The wireless network is not reliable due to node mobility, multi-access channel and multi-hop communication. In this paper, we provide a survey of QoS provision in mobile multimedia, addressing the technologies at different network layers and cross-layer design. This paper focuses on the QoS techniques over IEEE 802.11e networks. We also provide some thoughts about the challenges and directions for future research.
On the effect of Lüders bands on the bending of steel tubes. Part I: Experiments

Abstract In several practical applications hot-finished steel pipe that exhibits Luders bands is bent to strains of 2–3%. Luders banding is a material instability that leads to inhomogeneous plastic deformation in the range of 1–4%. This work investigates the influence of Luders banding on the inelastic response and stability of tubes under rotation controlled pure bending. Part I presents the results of an experimental study involving tubes of several diameter-to-thickness ratios in the range of 33.2–14.7 and Luders strains of 1.8–2.7%. In all cases the initial elastic regime terminates at a local moment maximum and the local nucleation of narrow angled Luders bands of higher strain on the tension and compression sides of the tube. As the rotation continues the bands multiply and spread axially causing the affected zone to bend to a higher curvature while the rest of the tube is still at the curvature corresponding to the initial moment maximum. With further rotation of the ends the higher curvature zone(s) gradually spreads while the moment remains essentially unchanged. For relatively low D / t tubes and/or short Luders strains, the whole tube eventually is deformed to the higher curvature entering the usual hardening regime. Subsequently it continues to deform uniformly until the usual limit moment instability is reached. For high D / t tubes and/or materials with longer Luders strains, the propagation of the larger curvature is interrupted by collapse when a critical length is Luders deformed leaving behind part of the structure essentially undeformed. The higher the D / t and/or the longer the Luders strain is, the shorter the critical length. Part II presents a numerical modeling framework for simulating this behavior.
CMOS ADCs for Optical Communications

This paper provides a systematic view of ADCs embedded in DSP receivers of coherent optical communications systems. The functionality, performance and CMOS implementation trade-offs are discussed with the focus on techniques achieving high sampling rate and bandwidth. High conversion rate is efficiently addressed by massive interleaving of lower speed SAR ADCs, while the bandwidth limitation is dealt with on both architectural and circuit design levels. In conclusion, results of a 40 Gs/s 6b-ADC implemented in 65 nm CMOS are demonstrated.
Core/Alloyed-Shell Quantum Dot Robust Solid Films with High Optical Gains

We report high optical gain from freestanding, optically stable, and mechanically robust films that are loaded with cross-linked CdSe/Cd1–xZnxSe1–ySy core/alloyed shell quantum dots (QD). These solid films display very high net optical gain as high as 650 cm–1 combined with a low pump excitation gain threshold of 44 μJ/cm2. The functionalization of the QDs using short-chain bifunctional cross-linkers not only significantly improves the net optical gain by allowing for a nearly 2-fold increase in QD loading but also provides stable passivation of the QDs which imparts excellent thermal stability, mechanical robustness, and stability under harsh chemical environments. The gain achieved here is up to 3-fold higher than that typically reported for traditional drop-cast QD films. Moreover, stable photoluminescence over long shelf storage time is a distinguished characteristic of the films. The QD films fabricated here span large areas (several cm2), can be readily micropatterned and sustain multiple harsh chem...
Contribution of Axial Motor Impairment to Physical Inactivity in Parkinson Disease.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between motor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) and activity limitations in persons with PD. DESIGN/METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of persons with mild to moderate PD (N = 90). Associations among axial motor features, limb motor signs, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, the ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and level of ADL dependency were studied. A composite score of axial motor features included the following Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale items: speech, rigidity of the neck, arising from chair, posture, gait, and postural stability. A composite score of limb motor signs included the following Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale items: tremor at rest of all extremities, action tremor, rigidity of all extremities, finger taps, hand movement, rapid alternating hand movements, and foot tapping. RESULTS Axial motor features of PD were significantly correlated with physical inactivity (P < 0.001), decreased ADL (P < 0.001), and increase in ADL dependency (P < 0.001). Limb motor signs significantly correlated with decreased ADL (P < 0.001) and level of ADL dependency (P = 0.035) but did not correlate with physical inactivity. After controlling for age, sex, disease duration, and comorbidity, axial motor features contributed significantly to physical inactivity, decreased ADL, and increase in ADL dependency, whereas the limb motor signs did not. CONCLUSIONS Axial motor impairment contributed to physical inactivity and decreased ability to perform ADLs in persons with PD.
Electroless Deposition and Patterning of Morphologically Complex Precious Metal Films on Semiconductor Surfaces

Precious metals are choice materials for a myriad of applications due their high electrical conductivity, resistance to corrosion, and ligand binding specificity. Indispensable in modern electronics fabrication, precious metals also enjoy widespread use as catalysts, support substrates, and sensor elements. Recent progress towards metallization on diminishing size regimes has imposed increasingly stringent demands upon thin film preparation methodologies. Metallization techniques employed in ultra large scale integration (ULSI) device fabrication, nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), and arrayed nanosensors will require unparalleled control of surface morphology, deposition rate, and substrate adhesion without sacrificing throughput or cost effectiveness. Furthermore, precious metal films of this type are essential for fundamental investigations aimed at elucidating the intricate nature of interfacial topics ranging from self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to heterogeneous catalysis. In contrast to complex and expensive vacuum methods of metallization, research in our laboratory has focused on the preparation of precious metal thin films on semiconductor substrates via electroless deposition. Thin and thick films of gold, platinum, and palladium nanoparticles have been prepared as a result of the immersion of germanium and gallium arsenide substrates into dilute, aqueous solutions of tetrachloraurate (III), tetrachloroplatinate (II), and tetrachloropalladate (II), respectively. This methodology yields nanostructured precious metal films with control over surface morphology and deposition rate. Moreover, metal films prepared in this manner exhibit excellent adhesion to the underlying semiconductor substrate. The resultant films were characterized utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). This method provides for the facile interfacing of metal nanostructures with group (IV) and III-IV compound semiconductor surfaces.
Processing Fluency and Investors’ Reactions to Disclosure Readability: disclosure readability and investors’ reactions

The SEC's emphasis on the use of plain English is designed to make disclosures more readable and more informative. Using an experiment, I find that more readable disclosures lead to stronger reactions from small investors, so that changes in valuation judgments are more positive when news is good and more negative when news is bad. Drawing on research in psychology to explain this result, I predict and find that processing fluency from a more readable disclosure acts as a subconscious heuristic cue and increases investors’ beliefs that they can rely on the disclosure. Although I do not find that more readable disclosures directly increase perceptions of management credibility, I do find evidence of an indirect effect operating through feelings of processing fluency. In supplemental analyses, I find that investors who receive more readable disclosures revise their valuation judgments to be less extreme when they are explicitly made aware of the potential for variation in readability. I discuss potential explanations for these revised valuation judgments.
Directional Returns for Gold and Silver: A Cluster Analysis Approach

This paper considers the directional predictability of daily returns for both gold and silver. These two metals have had a long history behaving sometimes as complements and other times as substitutes. We use daily data from June of 2008 through February of 2015. The last 2 years were removed as a set for validation of the model and the remainder, almost 5 years, was used as training. A cluster analysis yields six important clusters. An evaluation of these clusters leads to the formation of three strategies for directional predictions – up or down—for both gold and silver returns. The results of this analysis suggest that each strategy has its own advantages: the first strategy suggests that gold returns can be predicted better than those of silver; the second strategy shows that predicting up for gold also means predicting down for silver and the final strategy confirms that predicting up for silver also validates predicting down for gold.
Role of protein kinase C in proximal bicarbonate absorption and angiotensin signaling

Using in vivo microperfusion in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) of the Munich-Wistar rat, we investigated the impact of varying protein kinase C (PKC) activity on the rate of bicarbonate reabs...
Household Food Waste: Multivariate Regression and Principal Components Analyses of Awareness and Attitudes among U.S. Consumers

We estimate models of consumer food waste awareness and attitudes using responses from a national survey of U.S. residents. Our models are interpreted through the lens of several theories that describe how pro-social behaviors relate to awareness, attitudes and opinions. Our analysis of patterns among respondents’ food waste attitudes yields a model with three principal components: one that represents perceived practical benefits households may lose if food waste were reduced, one that represents the guilt associated with food waste, and one that represents whether households feel they could be doing more to reduce food waste. We find our respondents express significant agreement that some perceived practical benefits are ascribed to throwing away uneaten food, e.g., nearly 70% of respondents agree that throwing away food after the package date has passed reduces the odds of foodborne illness, while nearly 60% agree that some food waste is necessary to ensure meals taste fresh. We identify that these attitudinal responses significantly load onto a single principal component that may represent a key attitudinal construct useful for policy guidance. Further, multivariate regression analysis reveals a significant positive association between the strength of this component and household income, suggesting that higher income households most strongly agree with statements that link throwing away uneaten food to perceived private benefits.
Anesthesia for Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy

Summary TMJ arthroscopy is a new diagnostic and therapeutic modality added to the armamentarium of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The procedure allows direct vision of the joint and provides information about the articular surfaces that is frequently not available by other diagnostic methods and is an excellent method for differentiation of TMJ disorders. Over time, arthroscopy of the knee joint has replaced open arthrotomy, and similarly, TMJ arthroscopy has the ability to replace previously used diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of the TMJ. It is not only a diagnostic procedure but can be therapeutic as well. Internal derangement with persistent closed lock and arthrosis with adhesive capsulitis are examples of problems where arthroscopy can be utilized as a therapeutic procedure. The anesthetic requirements include complete relaxation of the joint, a secure airway that minimally interferes with the joint, maintenance of head and TMJ mobility, and rapid recovery so the patient can pursue physiotherapy soon after the procedure. A knowledgeable team of anesthesia personnel and oral surgeons with good communication will facilitate the care of the patient.
Conservation implications of late Holocene freshwater mussel remains of the Leon River in central Texas

Zooarchaeology is the study of animal remains (bone, shell, antler, and other organic tissues) from archaeological sites, which can provide conservation biologists with data on human–environmental interactions with greater time depth than historical records. Such data are of interest because they can be used to study whether or not contemporary animal communities (in this case of freshwater mussels) have changed in terms of species composition or range as a result of human-induced changes to habitat, which is essential for determining a species’ conservation status and formulating actions to protect remaining populations. This study considers whether or not the taxonomic composition of the freshwater mussel community from the Leon River in central Texas differs between the late Holocene and today. Specifically, we analyzed two zooarchaeological assemblages and compared those results with recent surveys conducted within the Leon River. Three species proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act are found in the zooarchaeological record, of which two are now extirpated from the river basin (Truncilla macrodon and Fusconaia mitchelli). The results of this study provide an example of how zooarchaeological data can be used to evaluate mussel community change through time and provide evidence of range curtailment for threatened mussel species.
If You Can Recite It You Can Play It: The Transmission and Transcription of Jingju (Peking Opera) Percussion Music

This article focuses on the transmission of the percussion music of Jingju (Peking opera) through a system of transcription known as luogu jing in both oral and written forms. It examines how luogu jing, an onomatopoeic system that uses verbal syllables to represent percussion sounds with indication of instruments, playing techniques, and musical expression, is used by Jingju practitioners as a special musical “language” to “speak” of music, transmit musical concepts, and communicate with each other in rehearsal, training, and even daily conversation. It then analyzes the forms, concepts, and uses of notational representations of luogu jing, with a discussion of how these written forms correspond to or contradict the “oral notation” and have influenced scholarship and musical practice in Jingju percussion music. These written forms, which all strive to authentically represent the music, have failed to gain significant acceptance (particularly among the musicians and actors) due to their limitations when i...
Reinterpretation of adcoh and cocorp seismic reflection data with constraints from detailed forward modeling of potential field data — Implications for Laurentia-Peri-Gondwana suture

Abstract To better constrain the structure of the Laurentian – Peri-Gondwana suture zone, maps and a 2-dimensional regional cross-section model constrained by seismic data and surface geology have been developed by forward and inverse modeling the aeromagnetic and gravity fields. The Central Piedmont Suture (CPS), the boundary between the Laurentian Inner Piedmont and the Peri-Gondwanan Carolina terrane is a low-angle thrust fault (~ 30°) ramping up from an Alleghanian mid-crustal detachment at depths of about 12 km. ADCOH and COCORP seismic data image anticlinal structures in the footwalls of the Hayesville thrust and the CPS, above the Alleghanian decollement. The footwall rocks have previously been interpreted as Paleozoic shelf strata on the basis of sub-horizontal seismic reflectors; however, the high densities required to fit the observed gravity anomaly suggest that the folded footwall reflectors may need to be reinterpreted as horse blocks or duplex structures of Grenvillian basement. The Appalachian paired gravity anomaly can be explained by an increase in crustal thickness and a decrease in upper crustal density moving northwestward from the Carolina Terrane toward the Appalachian core. A change in lower crustal density is not required, so that Grenville basement rocks may extend farther to the southeast than previously thought. The 5 to 10 km of Alleghanian uplift and exhumation predicted by P-T crystallization data compiled in this paper can be easily accommodated by thrusting on four major low-angle thrust systems: Great Smoky Mountain Thrust (GSMT), Hayesville, Brevard, and CPS. Unroofing of metamorphic core complexes by normal faulting may therefore not be required to explain the observed exhumation. Alleghanian collision along the southeastern Appalachian margin was predominately orthogonal to strike consistent with the previous reconstructions that call for the counter-clockwise rotation of Gondwanan West Africa, creating head-on collision in the southern Appalachians and at least 370 km of shortening.
1550-nm InGaAsP multi-quantum-well structures selectively grown on v-groove-patterned SOI substrates

We report direct growth of 1550-nm InGaAsP multi-quantum-well (MQW) structures in densely packed, smooth, highly crystalline, and millimeter-long InP nanoridges grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. Aspect-ratio-trapping and selective area growth techniques were combined with a two-step growth process to obtain good material quality as revealed by photoluminescence, scanning electronic microscopy, and high-resolution X-ray diffraction characterization. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed sharp MQW/InP interfaces as well as thickness variation of the MQW layer. This was confirmed by atom probe tomography analysis, which also suggests homogenous incorporation of the various III-V elements of the MQW structure. This approach is suitable for the integration of InP-based nanoridges in the SOI platform for new classes of ultra-compact, low-power, nano-electronic, and photonic devices for future tele- and data-communications applications.
Toll-like receptor expression in human non-small cell lung carcinoma: Potential prognostic indicators of disease

// Alison K. Bauer 1 , Brad L. Upham 2 , Elizabeth A. Rondini 3 , Meredith A. Tennis 4 , Kalpana Velmuragan 1 and David Wiese 5 1 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA 2 Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA 3 Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA 4 Department of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA 5 McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint, MI, 48532, USA Correspondence to: Alison K. Bauer, email: alison.bauer@ucdenver.edu Keywords: adenocarcinoma, innate immunity, non-small cell lung carcinoma, prognostic, toll-like receptor Received: September 30, 2016 Accepted: June 02, 2017 Published: July 22, 2017 ABSTRACT Introduction. Lung cancer remains the highest cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are innate immune receptors that have both pro- and anti-tumorigenic properties. Based on findings from epidemiological studies and in rodents, we hypothesized that elevated TLR expression would be a positive prognostic indicator of disease in non-small cell lung carcinoma patients. Results. Higher mRNA expression of TLR1-3 and 5-8 were significantly associated with increased overall survival (OS) when analyzed individually or as a group in both non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients and in the adenocarcinoma (ADC) subtype. Significant co-expression of many TLR combinations in ADC patients were also observed via RNA sequencing. Immunostaining demonstrated TLR4 and 8 significantly correlated in tumor tissue, similar to RNA. Methods. We used kmplot.com to perform a meta-analysis on mRNA expression of TLR1-10 to determine any significant associations with OS in NSCLC and the ADC subtype. cBioportal was also used simultaneously to assess co-expression in TLR1-10 in ADC patients via RNA sequencing and to identify any molecular alterations. Lastly, immunostaining for a subset of TLRs was conducted on ADC patients. Conclusions. Expression of innate immune receptors TLR1-10 is associated with improved survival outcomes in NSCLC. Thus, further evaluation of their predictive capacity and therapeutic utility is warranted.
Low-Cost Approaches to III–V Semiconductor Growth for Photovoltaic Applications

III–V semiconductors form the most efficient single- and multijunction photovoltaics. Metal–organic vapor-phase epitaxy, which uses toxic and pyrophoric gas-phase precursors, is the primary commercial growth method for these materials. In order for the use of highly efficient III–V-based devices to be expanded as the demand for renewable electricity grows, a lower-cost approach to the growth of these materials is needed. This Review focuses on three deposition techniques compatible with current device architectures: hydride vapor-phase epitaxy, close-spaced vapor transport, and thin-film vapor–liquid–solid growth. We consider recent advances in each technique, including the available materials space, before providing an in-depth comparison of growth technology advantages and limitations and considering the impact of modifications to the method of production on the cost of the final photovoltaics.
From silence to condemnation: Institutional responses to “travel ban” Executive Order 13769

Abstract On January 27, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order that attempted to bar citizens and refugees from seven countries from entering the U.S. for a certain time period. One of the contexts most directly affected by this order was higher education. This study examined college and university communicative responses to the order from a public relations perspective. We qualitatively determined a range of responses from U.S. universities then quantitatively determined variables of particular colleges and universities that had a correlation to the nature of the responses. Responses were then assessed using public relations best practices. The data suggest variables with relationships to type of institutional response were number of international students and political stance of the state where the institution is located. While there was no single “correct” type of response, best practices suggest two options for appropriate responses to the order.
Brief Report: Developmental Trajectories of Adaptive Behavior in Children and Adolescents with ASD

Research suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have significant difficulties with adaptive behavior skills including daily living and functional communication skills. Few studies have examined the developmental trajectory of adaptive behavior across childhood and adolescence. The present study examined longitudinal trajectories of adaptive behavior in a community-based clinic sample of 186 individuals with ASD. The overall pattern indicated an initial increase in adaptive behavior during early childhood followed by a plateau in skills during adolescence for individuals of all IQ groups. Given the importance of adaptive behavior for employment and quality of life, this study emphasizes the importance of targeting adaptive behavior during adolescence to insure continued gains.
The Roles of Neurokinins and Endogenous Opioid Peptides in Control of Pulsatile LH Secretion

Work over the last 15 years on the control of pulsatile LH secretion has focused largely on a set of neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) that contains two stimulatory neuropeptides, critical for fertility in humans (kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB)) and the inhibitory endogenous opioid peptide (EOP), dynorphin, and are now known as KNDy (kisspeptin-NKB-dynorphin) neurons. In this review, we consider the role of each of the KNDy peptides in the generation of GnRH pulses and the negative feedback actions of ovarian steroids, with an emphasis on NKB and dynorphin. With regard to negative feedback, there appear to be important species differences. In sheep, progesterone inhibits GnRH pulse frequency by stimulating dynorphin release, and estradiol inhibits pulse amplitude by suppressing kisspeptin. In rodents, the role of KNDy neurons in estrogen negative feedback remains controversial, progesterone may inhibit GnRH via dynorphin, but the physiological significance of this action is unclear. In primates, an EOP, probably dynorphin, mediates progesterone negative feedback, and estrogen inhibits kisspeptin expression. In contrast, there is now compelling evidence from several species that kisspeptin is the output signal from KNDy neurons that drives GnRH release during a pulse and may also act within the KNDy network to affect pulse frequency. NKB is thought to act within this network to initiate each pulse, although there is some redundancy in tachykinin signaling in rodents. In ruminants, dynorphin terminates GnRH secretion at the end of pulse, most likely acting on both KNDy and GnRH neurons, but the data on the role of this EOP in rodents are conflicting.