cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trickle-up report writing: The impact of a proarrest policy for domestic disturbances

This study used police reports to examine the impact of a proarrest policy change for domestic disturbances. Insofar as the new policy reflected a “get tough” approach, the policy was expected to have a “trickle-up effect”: more official attention would be given to cases stereotyped as being less serious. Seven indicators, reflecting both legal and social definitions of seriousness, were taken from systematic samples of 96 police reports before the proarrest policy and 157 incident reports after the policy went into effect. No changes in the monthly arrests and no differences in the type of cases in which arrests were made corresponded to the policy change. We found differences, however, in the kinds of cases that were written up after the policy was instituted. The changes in report writing were consistent with a trickle-up effect.
Corporatism run amok: job stability and industrial policy in Belgium and the United States

Corporatism Jonathan S. Leonard and Marc Van Audenrode In explaining high and persistent unemployment in Western Europe, as compared to the United States, this article shifts the emphasis away from the now familiar institutions and policies directly related to the labour market. Instead, it focuses on the active and pervasive industrial policies which distinguish many European countries from the United States. During the seventies and eighties, a large share of European countries' industrial policy has been directed towards schemes to help declining firms and industries. Using the example of Belgium, we show that this policy of supporting declining industries has actually contributed to higher unemployment, through two channels. First, the subsidization of failing firms has imposed a tax on growing firms, which has contributed to the freezing of the labour market and to low levels of job creation. Second, by partially insuring against the threat of business failure, the policy has contributed to the rapid growth of real wages.
Rail Safety: Targeting Oversight and Assessing Results

Rail safety has emerged as a significant issue in the past two years as a result of two major factors: a statistical lack of improvement in rail safety in the past decade, and a catalytic event in the form of a major derailment involving loss of life at Graniteville, South Carolina, in January 2005. The convergence of long-term leveling of rail safety indicators and the shock of a major rail accident prompted the Senate Appropriations Committee to ask the Government Accountability Office to assess the oversight role of the Federal Railroad Administration, the modal agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation charged with overseeing rail safety. The report is a reminder of the continuing importance of regulatory activities and the general movement in federal management toward greater use of data and performance measures since the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993.
Practitioner Summary of Can Auditors Reduce Negligence Verdicts? An Examination of Remedial Tactics

SUMMARY: This article summarizes our recent study, “The Use of Remedial Tactics in Negligence Litigation” (Cornell et al. 2009). Auditors face significant litigation risk when adverse economic events occur with clients, even when the auditors followed Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) when they conducted the audit. Civil litigation rules in many U.S. jurisdictions allow plaintiffs to compel testimony from defendants during trial proceedings. We investigated whether auditors could use verbal remediation tactics to reduce the likelihood of guilty verdicts when accused of professional negligence. In a mock trial setting, we examined whether an apology and/or a first-person justification offered by an auditor-defendant results in fewer negligence verdicts against audit firms. Our results indicate that, when an auditor testifies and expresses an apology and/or a first-person justification, jurors find the auditor guilty of negligence about half as often as when no remedial tactic is used. These find...
Reducing polyatomic interferences in the ICP-MS determination of chromium and vanadium in biofluids and tissues

The suitability of inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of Cr and V in biofluids and tissues has been studied. High-pressure thermal and moderatepressure microwave sample preparation with vapor-phase acid digestion successfully minimized blanks and carbon and chloride interferences. The remaining ArC 1 interferences on 52Cr were corrected mathematically. Analysis of standard reference materials verified the accuracy of the method.
Elevated systolic blood pressure is associated with increased incidence of chronic kidney disease but not mortality in elderly veterans.

Abstract The optimal blood pressure to prevent development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mortality in the elderly is unclear. Our objective was to determine the effect of differing levels of blood pressure on incidence of CKD and mortality in elderly veterans. This retrospective cohort study included 15,221 individuals ≥70 years of age without CKD (outpatient estimated glomular filtration rate >60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) seen in the primary care clinic in the Veterans Affairs Health Care Upstate New York with Veterans Integrated Service Network 2 between 2001 and 2008. To examine the association of explanatory variables on hazard ratios for outcomes of interest, incident CKD, and death, competing risk analysis (with death as competing risk) was used for the analysis of incident CKD outcome, and time–dependent Cox model with CKD as the time–dependent covariate was used for the analysis of death outcome. The incidence of CKD was 16% over a median follow–up of 19 quarters. Compared with reference of systolic blood pressure of 130–139 mm Hg, there was an increased hazard of development of CKD with systolic blood pressure of 140–149 mm Hg or higher. As compared with a reference range of 130–139 mm Hg systolic blood pressure, the relative risk of mortality was higher in the range of 120–129 mm Hg systolic or less. The optimal achieved systolic blood pressure in elderly patients to prevent the development of CKD was
Enveloping the Shock Response Spectrum (SRS) Does Not Always Produce a Conservative Test

When the shock response spectrum (SRS) of a test envelops the SRS of the environment at all frequencies for a given mechanical system, typically the assumption is that a conservative test will result; that is, the peak response observed in the environment will be less than the peak response observed in the test. Other suggested measures characterizing a shock include the Fourier energy spectrum (with the assumption that the energy is larger in the test than in the environment), input duration (if the duration of the test is shorter than the duration of the environment), and peak velocity or pseudo velocity (if the peak velocity is greater in the test than in the environment). If these assumptions are met the test will be conservative. This paper shows that a test that complies with all of the suggested measures mentioned above could still produce a response that is smaller than the response from a hypothetical baseline environment.
Impurity Phases in Hot-Pressed Si3N4

Impurity phases in commercial hot-pressed Si3N4 were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. In addition to the dominant, β-Si3N4 phase, small amounts of Si2N2O, SiC, and WC were found. Significantly, a continuous grain-boundary phase was observed in the ∼ 25 high-angle boundaries examined. This film is ∼ 10 A thick between, β-Si3N4 grains and ∼ 30 A thick between Si2N2O and β-Si3N4 grains.
Predicting Aggregate Milk Production: An Empirical Study

There is a need for predictive and aggregate output response models suitable for answering questions about short-term changes in agricultural output. In this study, short-term milk output projections for Southeast Pennsylvania between 1961 and 1965 were derived with a linear programming, a recursive programming, and a regression model. The predictiveness of each model is evaluated by comparing its estimate of aggregate milk production with reported output for target years. Differences are expressed as percentage error from reported production. PUBLIC policy makers, agricultural program administrators, and farm leaders often need knowledge of expected changes in agricultural production one or two years hence. Usually their inquiries will focus on what level of output will most likely be produced, and their interest will be areal, regional, or national in scope rather than limited to farm level. There is a need for predictive and aggregate output response models suitable for answering such questions about short-term changes in agricultural production. Generally, empirical studies of agricultural output response can be categorized into one of two types: (1) historical or (2) synthetic. Nerlove and Bachman have reviewed the formal approaches and discussed some problems encountered in estimating farm output response [4]. Historical studies, mostly regression analysis, are based on examination of farmers' past responses to observable independent variables. Output projections from such an analysis are developed by extending past relationships into the future and are not founded on any well-defined theory of production. Synthetic studies, primarily linear programming in recent years, are based on an economic analysis of the conditions underlying the production process. Such an analysis is more adaptable than the regression technique for studying the effects upon output of future changes in production conditions. The linear programming approach gives profit-maximizing output estimates that usually are considerably greater than actual production. Recently, much effort has been devoted to improving the predictive quality of the linear programming model by introducing "flexibility" constraints to limit the yearly rate of adoption of new technology and change in enterprise combinations to those rates experienced in the past.' Such a 'This technique utilizes the concept of a cobweb model where production is estiGLENN A. ZEPP is an agricultural economist with the Farm Production Economics Division, Economic Research Service, USDA. ROBERT H. MCALEXANDER is professor of farm management at The Pennsylvania State University.
Descriptive analysis of ICU patients with hospital-acquired, ventilator-associated, and healthcare-associated pneumonia at four academic medical centers

We developed an ICU performance improvement project to evaluate patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) using the 2005 American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines. Below is a descriptive analysis of the patients enrolled and their outcomes.
Discriminative Stimulus Properties of (−)Ephedrine

Ephedrine, a structural analog of methamphetamine, is one of the major constituents of legally available herbal dietary supplements. Although racemic ephedrine and ephedra extract have been previously used as training drugs in drug discrimination studies, there is evidence that the two optical isomers of ephedrine do not produce identical amphetamine-like stimulus effects in rats. Consequently, we trained a group of six male Sprague-Dawley rats to discriminate 4 mg/kg of the more potent optical isomer of ephedrine, (-)ephedrine, from saline vehicle. The (-)ephedrine stimulus (ED50 = 0.8 mg/kg) generalized to other central stimulants such as S(+)amphetamine (ED50 = 0.4 mg/kg), cocaine (ED50 = 2.7 mg/kg), methylphenidate (ED50 = 1.2 mg/kg), S(-)methcathinone (ED50 = 0.3 mg/kg), and caffeine (ED50 = 36.7 mg/kg), but stimulus generalization failed to occur to either S(+)methamphetamine or N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (MDMA). In addition, although we have previously shown that a (+)amphetamine stimulus generalizes to (-)ephedrine but not to (+)ephedrine, in the present investigation the (-)ephedrine stimulus generalized to (+)ephedrine (ED50 = 2.6 mg/kg). From the findings (a) that (-)ephedrine is approximately 10 times less potent than (+)amphetamine in (+)amphetamine-trained rats, whereas it is only half as potent as (+)amphetamine in (-)ephedrine-trained animals; (b) that the (-)ephedrine stimulus failed to generalize to (+)methamphetamine; and (c) that the (-)ephedrine stimulus generalized to (+)ephedrine, it is concluded that the stimulus effects of (+)amphetamine and (-)ephedrine as training drugs, while similar, are not identical. It is also concluded that the stimulus effects of (-)ephedrine and those of the designer drug MDMA, while perhaps sharing some amphetaminergic commonality, are nonidentical.
Polymer insulator profiles evaluated in a fog chamber

The authors present the results of fog chamber experiments done to examine the tracking and erosion performance of polymer insulator profiles. The effect of weathershed material, construction, orientation, and AC and DC voltage are examined. Correlation between cylindrical rod specimens of materials and insulator profiles is shown. The protected leakage path provided by the weathershed is found to play a major role in the tracking and erosion performances of polymer insulators. The resistance to tracking and erosion of insulator profiles with DC is shown to be reduced in comparison to AC. Cylindrical rods of material yielded the same ranking of material performance as insulator profiles but in a shorter time. >
TcR Recognition of the MHC-Peptide Dimer: Structural Properties of a Ternary Complex

We have developed a method that utilizes site-specific mutation data, sequence analysis, immunological data and free-energy minimization, to determine structural features of the ternary complex formed by the T-cell receptor (TcR) and the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule bound by peptide. The analysis focuses on the mouse Kd MHC system, for which a large set of clones with sequenced T-cell receptors is available for specific peptides. The general philosophy is to reduce the uncertainties and computation time in a free-energy minimization procedure by identifying and imposing experimental constraints. In addition to assessing compatibility with various kinds of immunological data, we are particularly interested in differentiating the structural features peculiar to this particular system from generic features, and in ascertaining the robustness of the structure; i.e. determining, in so far as possible, the variations in the structure that leave its compatibility with experiment unaltered from those that do not. This last is equivalent to recognizing that certain features of the model are presented with a reasonable degree of confidence, while others remain highly tentative. The central conclusion in the former category is a placement of the TcR on the Kd peptide complex, which has its beta 2, beta 3 and alpha 3 loops (i.e. the second and third complementarity-determining region of the TcR beta chain, and the third complementarity-determining region of the alpha chain) covering the peptide; the alpha 1 and alpha 2 loops covering the MHC alpha 1 helix; the alpha 2 loop interacting with residues on the MHC beta sheet; and the beta 1 and (part of) the beta 2 loops covering the alpha 2 MHC helix. More specifically, our findings include the following. (1) A highly conserved histidine residue in the first complementarity-determining region of the TcR beta chain (beta:CDR1) points outward and interacts with highly conserved side-chains on the MHC alpha 2 helix. (2) The amino-terminal portion of the beta 2 loop interacts with the carboxyl portion of the peptide. A particularly important interaction is K4 of the loop interacting with E8 of the peptide. (3) Charged side-chains of the 11-residue TcR alpha 2 loop interact with conserved charged side-chains at positions 44, 58, 61 and 68 on the MHC. (4) The TcR beta 3 loop interacts with the amino-terminal part of the peptide, up through position 4. (5) the TcR alpha 3 loop interacts with the central portion of the peptide and stacks against the beta 2 loop. (6) Because of the interaction between the beta 2 loop and the peptide, and stacking of beta 2 on alpha 3, alpha 3 gene and V beta gene selection can be correlated. (7) Using the topology of the recently solved TcR alpha chain we predict that the alpha 2 loop interacts with the loop on the MHC beta sheet floor, which encompasses residues 42 to 44.
Fostering Effective Parental Participation in Education: Lessons from a Comparison of Reform Processes in Nicaragua and Mexico

Abstract Despite the trend to augment parental participation in school governance, we know little about what forms of participation work; nor do we know enough about the nature of reform processes that foster the most constructive forms of participation. This article compares reform experiences in Nicaragua and Mexico and finds certain responsibilities—primarily resource and personnel management—that governments should give participatory groups in order for them to take root and function. This article argues that participation can play a constructive role in education administration, but it is not an end in itself, nor can it simply be legislated. The time and effort of parents must be treated as any scarce resource and put to its most productive use.
Confinement-Controlled Self Assembly of Colloids with Simultaneous Isotropic and Anisotropic Cross-Section

The phase behavior of building blocks with mushroom cap-shaped particle morphology is explored under 2D and quasi-2D confinement conditions. Fast confocal microscopy imaging of the particles sedimented in a wedge cell reveals a range of mono- and bilayer structures partially directed by the isotropic and anisotropic profiles of the particle geometry. The sequence of phases tracked with increasing confinement height includes those reported in spheres, in addition to the more complex rotator and orientation-dependent phases observed for a class of short rod-like colloids. In the later case, the major particle axis reorients with respect to the substrate. Closest packing considerations provide rationale for the observed 1Delta (hexagonal)-1Buckled-1Sides (rotator)-2square (square)-2Delta (hexagonal)-2Sides (rotator) structural transitions with height.
Optical fiber crossbar switch

Advances in high performance computers and signal processing systems have led to parallel system architectures. The main limitation in achieving the performance expected of these parallel systems has been the realization of an efficient means to interconnect many processors into a effective parallel system. Electronic interconnections have proved cumbersome, costly and ineffective. The Optical Fiber Crossbar Switch (OFCS) is a compact low power, multi-gigahertz bandwidth multi-channel switch which can be used in large scale computer and telecommunication applications. The switch operates in the optical domain using GaAs semiconductor lasers to transmit wideband multiple channel optical data over fiber optic cables. Recently, a 32 X 32 crossbar switching system was completed and demonstrated. Error free performance was obtained at a data bandwidth of 410 MBPS, using a silicon switch IC. The switch can be completely reconfigured in less than 50 nanoseconds under computer control. The fully populated OFCS has the capability to handle 12.8 gigabits per second (GBPS) of data while switching this data over 32 channels without the loss of a single bit during switching. GaAs IC technology has now progressed to the point that 16 X 16 GaAs based crossbar switch Ics are available which have increased the data bandwidth capability to 2.4 GBPS. The present optical interfaces are integrated GaAs transmitter drivers, GaAs lasers, and integrated GaAs optical receivers with data bandwidths exceeding 2.4 GBPS. A system using all Ill-V switching and optoelectronic components is presently under development for both NASA and DoD programs. The overall system is designed to operate at 1.3 GBPS. It is expected that these systems will find wide application in high capacity computing systems based on parallel microprocessor architecture which require high data bandwidth communication between processors. The OFCS will also have application in commercial optical telecommunication systems where high bandwidth communication has already exceeded 2 GBPS. There are also critical requirements for a secure fiber optic switching system in military Command Control Communication (C3) situations.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Biodegradation and tissue reaction to intravitreous biodegradable poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic)acid microspheres

We studied the biodegradation of and the tissue reaction to microspheres of 50:50 poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic)acid (PLGA) (viscosity-average MW: 3000 d), injected intravitreous in rabbits. These microspheres are under investigation as injectable devices for intravitreous sustained drug delivery. The rate of intravitreous degradation of PLGA microspheres has not been well documented in the literature. Twenty two pigmented rabbits underwent gas vitrectomy in one eye: 19 eyes received 2.5 mg of PLGA microspheres in 1 ml of balanced salt solution (BSS) and 3 control eyes received 1 ml of BSS only. Slit lamp exam and indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed periodically from day 1 to 6 months after surgery. The eyes were enucleated and studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry at various time points. The electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded in a subgroup of rabbits before injection and after 1 and 6 months. The amount of microspheres in the vitreous cavity progressively decreased. At 6 months microspheres were found in 1/4 rabbits at indirect ophthalmoscopy and in 4/4 rabbits histopathologically. A mild localized, non progressive foreign body reaction was observed. The cell reaction was composed mostly of vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cells which probably represent glial cells and fibroblasts. The choroid and retina were normal. The ERG showed no abnormalities. No clinical inflammatory signs were observed 4 days postoperatively and thereafter.
1027 MASSIVE HEMORRHAGE IN THE NEWBORN LAMB

We studied responses of newborn lambs to acute hemorrhage. Seventeen lambs, aged 4-70 days, were bled either 45-52% or 58-65% of their measured blood volumes. We measured red cell volumes with cesium chloride labeling and fluorescent excitation analysis. We assumed an Fcell ratio of .85 to calculate blood volume. We used only local anesthesia and bled at a rate of 1.4-3.0% blood volume per minute. In the group hemorrhaged 45-52%, hematocrit, total serum solids, heart rate, and blood pressure fell significantly by the end of the hemorrhage. Respiratory rate and paO2 increased, while paCO2 decreased. pH remained unchanged. Nine of 12 animals survived more than 24 hours post hemorrhage with no IV replacement. In contrast, in the lambs bled 58-65%, heart rate increased significantly, while other variables showed changes similar to the other group. In this group, however, only 1 animal survived, while 4 died within 90 minutes after the end of the hemorrhage(P<.01). We conclude that newborn lambs can tolerate approximately 50% acute loss of blood volume. Further decrease in blood volume significantly increases mortality.
Topological analysis of a class of lumped vibrational systems

Abstract An alternative way of solving a class of lumped mechanical vibration system using topological method is proposed. A simple proof of the relation between the trees and two-trees of undirected topological graphs and unisignants is presented using mathematical induction. Three examples to which the method has been applied are given.
Dynamic incentive design in multi-stage linear-Gaussian games with asymmetric information: A common information based approach

We study a finite-horizon multi-stage N + 1-player incentive design problem with a hierarchical information structure at each stage. Each controller (or player) is assumed to have a stagewise additive cost function, in which the cost to a controller at any stage depends on the state of the system at that stage and the actions taken by all the controllers at that stage. We also assume that the controllers do not necessarily acquire the same information at the beginning of each stage. This leads to a multi-stage incentive design problem with dynamic asymmetric information. During each stage, Controller 0 is assumed to have access to private information and actions of all controllers, and announces its control law so that it is in the best interest of other controllers to act in a specific manner. We introduce a new notion of dynamic incentive strategies, called common information based subgame-perfect incentive scheme (CISPIS), along the lines of subgame-perfect Nash equilibrium concept for perfect information games. We show that under certain sufficient conditions, the multi-stage incentive design problem admits a CISPIS. The control law of Controller 0 at every stage is affine in the actions of other controllers under this scheme.
Additive effects of phenobarbital and high protein diet on liver growth in immature male rats.

Abstract Feeding a high-protein diet to immature male rats results within 7 days in significant increases in liver weight and total liver protein. Daily subcutaneous injections of phenobarbital into immature male rats results in an increase in liver weight and total protein, compared to rats fed a 15% protein diet. Immature male rats given both a high-protein diet and injected with phenobarbital show additive increases in liver weight and total protein. The feeding of a high-protein diet, or the injection of phenobarbital each results in increases in hepatocyte mitotic activity in immature male rats. The simultaneous feeding of a high-protein diet and the injection of phenobarbital results in additive effects on hepatocyte mitotic activity. Associated with the increase in liver size and hepatocyte mitotic activity induced by the feeding of a high-protein diet is an increase in the specific activity of ornithine transcarbamylase, a urea cycle enzyme. Aminopyrine demethylase activity, a drug-metabolizing enzyme, is not increased. Marked increase in aminopyrine demethylase activity is however, associated with the increase in liver size produced by the injection of phenobarbital. Ornithine transcarbamylase activity is not increased after phenobarbital treatment. Marked increases in both aminopyrine demethylase and ornithine transcarbamylase activities are associated with the additive increase in liver size produced by the combined treatment with 64% protein diet and phenobarbital. These results suggest that there may be two separate growth compartments in the liver, one which responds to phenobarbital, and one to high-protein diet.
Subcellular imaging of RNA distribution and DNA replication in single mammalian cells with SIMS: the localization of heat shock induced RNA in relation to the distribution of intranuclear bound calcium

Summary The subcellular localization of RNA for understanding transcriptional activity by using RNA precursors, like 5-bromouridine (BrU), generally requires chemical fixation and staining of cells with monoclonal antibody for imaging BrU-containingRNAinindividualcells.Althougheffectivefor RNAlocalization,thenativechemicalcompositionofdiffusible ions and molecules is destroyed in this approach and one cannot study their spatial relationship with RNA localization sitesinthissampletype.Thisworkpresentsanovelsecondary ion mass spectrometry approach in cryogenically prepared cells, which allows the same cell imaging of RNA (and/or replicating DNA) distribution in relation to intracellular chemical composition. The heat shock treatment of HeLa cells was used as a model system because the transcription of heat shock genes is activated during heat shock while other transcriptional activities of the cell are suppressed. The HeLa cells were heat-shocked for 1 h at 42 ◦ C in presence of
Coating water‐swellable polymer latexes by interfacial polymerization

Two techniques of coating water-swellable polymer latexes (hydrogels) with an inorganic or organic layer were developed, based on interfacial polymerization. The hydrogel latexes were prepared by inverse suspension polymerization. The first kind of interfacial polymerization is hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) or 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate (TMS-PMA) on the surface of hydrogel latexes. The hydrochloric acid, which is the catalyst for this reaction, was previously loaded into the hydrogel latexes. The HCL-containing hydrogel latexes were then suspended in an organic solution of TEOS or TMS-PMA. The hydrolysis and condensation occur only at the surface of each hydrogel particle and the generated SiO2 or SiO(PMA) network covers the hydrogel latexes. The second interfacial polymerization is polymerization of methylenedi-p-phenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and triethylene glycol (TEG) on the surface of hydrogel latexes. TEG was deposited on the hydrogel by suspending the hydrogel powder in a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of TEG and evaporating the THF. The TEG-deposited hydrogel powder was then suspended in an organic solution containing both MDI and the catalyst dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTL). The MDI and DBTL molecules react with the TEG molecules only at the surface of the hydrogel particles, and the polyurethane P(MDI-TEG) thus formed wraps the particles. Based on these two coating procedures, three kinds of materials were obtained: SiO2 coated hydrogels, SiO-(PMA) coated hydrogels and P(MDI-TEG) coated hydrogels. Soft polyether brushes were grafted to the SiO-(PAM) coated latexes. The P(MDI-TEG) coated hydrogels were used as reservoirs for β-hydroethyltheophylline (β-HETP), and the release of the latter molecules from the coated hydrogels was investigated. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Current Problems in the Field of Respiratory Protection

(1958). Current Problems in the Field of Respiratory Protection. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal: Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 121-122.
Extracting the resource rent from the CDM projects: Can the Chinese Government do better?

The revenue generated from a CDM project in China will be shared by the government and the project owner, and is also subject to the corporate income tax. This paper studies the impacts of the revenue sharing policy and income tax on the CDM market. The economic model presented in this paper shows that higher-cost CDM projects will be more affected by the CDM policies than lower-cost projects. In addition, the majority of CERs will be generated from lower-cost projects. This kind of distribution of CERs across different types of CDM projects, which is in line with the current picture of the CDM market in China, is not consistent with the goal of sustainable development. A simulation shows that a type-by-type tax/fee scheme would be more effective in assisting sustainable development than the current CDM policies. The study also suggests the government use negative tax/fee with the type-by-type scheme to subsidize the CDM projects that generate large sustainability benefits but would otherwise not be developed due to high costs. If all of the revenue from the CDM is recycled, it is estimated that CERs generation will increase by 98.28 MtC, mainly from the CDM projects that have substantial sustainability benefits for the host country.
Glycerol, sucrose, and other diol-containing reagents are not inert components in in vitro incubations containing aminoacyl-tRNA

The addition of glycerol, sucrose, or other diol-containing reagents to solutions of aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) substantially increased the rate of hydrolysis of the aminoacyl ester bond. Glycerol at 4.9% (v/v) doubled the rate of deacylation for several aa-tRNAs and peptidyl-tRNAs, including fMet-tRNAMetf, while 1% (v/v) glycerol increased the deacylation rate by 20%. This effect was not caused by a nuclease contamination, and tRNA deacylated in the presence of glycerol could be fully recharged. The deacylation of aa-tRNA was accelerated by glycerol and sucrose even in the presence of EF-Tu X GTP. In addition, the extent of tRNA aminoacylation was reduced when glycerol was present at concentrations above 2% (v/v). Thus, glycerol and sucrose are not necessarily inert or neutral additions to an in vitro incubation.
SAAO adaptive optics system

After successful testing at the Raytheon facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the completed SAAO adaptive optical system has been shipped to the AEOS site on Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii. The system is undergoing final integration with the AEOS observatory. This paper describes the adaptive optics system design, including an overview of al major subsystems, the electronics, and the software. We discuss the design trades and system engineering that led to the final configuration. Also included is a review of opto-mechanical aspects of the system.
Pathways of human T lymphocyte development and activation.

The T lymphocyte receptor for antigen, which operates in conjunction with gene products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), is a molecular complex comprised of five polypeptide chains. Both the 49 kDa alpha and 43 kDa beta chains are immunoglobulin-like and thus contain variable domains responsible for ligand binding. In contrast, the 20–25 kDa T3 gamma, delta and epsilon chains are monomorphic structures presumably involved in transmembrane signalling. The alpha and beta subunits are disulfide bonded to each other and held in noncovalent association with the T3 chains. T3-Ti receptor crosslinking leads to conformational modification of a second T lineage specific molecule, termed the 50 kDa T11 structure which in turn leads to protein kinase C activation, elevation in intracytoplasmic free calcium and Na+/H+ antiport stimulation.
Topology of viral evolution

The tree structure is currently the accepted paradigm to represent evolutionary relationships between organisms, species or other taxa. However, horizontal, or reticulate, genomic exchanges are pervasive in nature and confound characterization of phylogenetic trees. Drawing from algebraic topology, we present a unique evolutionary framework that comprehensively captures both clonal and reticulate evolution. We show that whereas clonal evolution can be summarized as a tree, reticulate evolution exhibits nontrivial topology of dimension greater than zero. Our method effectively characterizes clonal evolution, reassortment, and recombination in RNA viruses. Beyond detecting reticulate evolution, we succinctly recapitulate the history of complex genetic exchanges involving more than two parental strains, such as the triple reassortment of H7N9 avian influenza and the formation of circulating HIV-1 recombinants. In addition, we identify recurrent, large-scale patterns of reticulate evolution, including frequent PB2-PB1-PA-NP cosegregation during avian influenza reassortment. Finally, we bound the rate of reticulate events (i.e., 20 reassortments per year in avian influenza). Our method provides an evolutionary perspective that not only captures reticulate events precluding phylogeny, but also indicates the evolutionary scales where phylogenetic inference could be accurate.
The Clinician-Directed Hierarchy: Effective Clinical Instruction Across University Settings

In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a hierarchical approach to clinical instruction aimed at developing clinical techniques and promoting independent decision-making in student clinician...
Testing of quantum dot cellular automata based designs

There has been considerable research on quantum dots cellular automata as a new computing scheme in the nano-scale regimes. The basic logic element of this technology is a majority voter. In this paper, testing of these devices is investigated and compared with conventional CMOS-based designs. A testing technique is presented; it requires only a constant number of test vectors to achieve 100% fault coverage with respect to the fault list of the original design. A design-for-test scheme is also presented which results in the generation of a reduced test set.
The Accessory Sec Protein Asp2 Modulates GlcNAc Deposition onto the Serine-Rich Repeat Glycoprotein GspB

The accessory Sec system is a specialized transport system that exports serine-rich repeat (SRR) glycoproteins of Gram-positive bacteria. This system contains two homologues of the general secretory (Sec) pathway (SecA2 and SecY2) and several other essential proteins (Asp1 to Asp5) that share no homology to proteins of known function. In Streptococcus gordonii, Asp2 is required for the transport of the SRR adhesin GspB, but its role in export is unknown. Tertiary structure predictions suggest that the carboxyl terminus of Asp2 resembles the catalytic region of numerous enzymes that function through a Ser-Asp-His catalytic triad. Sequence alignment of all Asp2 homologues identified a highly conserved pentapeptide motif (Gly-X-Ser(362)-X-Gly) typical of most Ser-Asp-His catalytic triads, where Ser forms the reactive residue. Site-directed mutagenesis of residues comprising the predicted catalytic triad of Asp2 of S. gordonii had no effect upon GspB transport but did result in a marked change in the electrophoretic mobility of the protein. Lectin-binding studies and monosaccharide content analysis of this altered glycoform revealed an increase in glucosamine deposition. Random mutagenesis of the Asp2 region containing this catalytic domain also disrupted GspB transport. Collectively, our findings suggest that Asp2 is a bifunctional protein that is essential for both GspB transport and correct glycosylation. The catalytic domain may be responsible for controlling the glycosylation of GspB, while other surrounding regions are functionally required for glycoprotein transport.
Relative importance of leader influences for subordinates' proactive behaviors, prosocial behaviors, and task performance: A meta-analysis

We meta-analytically examine the relationships between three forms of leader influence, contingent reward (transactional), leader-member exchange (LMX; relational), and transformational (change-oriented) on subordinates’ proactive behaviors. Using non-self-reported data from a combined sample of more than 9,000 employees, we confirm positive relationships between leader influences and employee proactive outcomes. We examine the extent to which one leadership influence is stronger than the others in promoting subordinate proactivity. By combining our new meta-analytic data with existing meta-analytic correlations, we further investigate the extent to which various leadership predictors are differentially related to proactive and prosocial contextual performance, and to task performance. For all outcomes, there are only minimal differences between the contingent reward, LMX, and transformational leadership predictors. Using our results, we propose future research directions for the relationship between lead...
Expression of D-type cyclins in AL amyloidosis plasma cells

Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a plasma cell (PC) disorder characterised by the overproduction of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains (LC). It can be treated effectively with chemotherapy with or without stem cell transplantation, proteasome inhibitors or immunomodulatory drugs. Diagnosing AL amyloidosis requires the detection of tissue amyloid deposits in association with monoclonal immunoglobulin LC production, which can be detected by serum or urine immunofixation electrophoresis (S/UIFE), serum free light chain (FLC) assay and/or bone marrow assessment of clonal PCs.1 ,2 In some clinical circumstances, it may be necessary to prove the monoclonal LC nature of the amyloid using immunoelectron microscopy or mass spectrometry.3 The current modalities to demonstrate the clonality of amyloidogenic PCs in the bone marrow include flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridisation (ISH). Owing to the small volume of the PC population in AL amyloidosis, however, detection of clonal PCs is often difficult.4 ,5 Cyclin D dysregulation has been proposed to be a common mechanism in PC disorders, as in multiple myeloma; the majority of patients have dysregulated cyclin D expression.6 This has not been extensively investigated in AL amyloidosis. In this study, we evaluated cyclin D1, D2 and D3 protein expression in AL amyloidosis, and compared cyclin D positivity to other conventional laboratory parameters as a diagnostic tool and as a potential biomarker for minimal residual disease. ### Patient selection Thirty-four AL amyloidosis patients diagnosed based on published guidelines7 ,8 who had a bone marrow biopsy between June and August 2008 were included in this study, with permission of the Boston University Medical Center Institutional Review Board. Six patients were newly diagnosed, while 28 had received prior treatment including intravenous melphalan with autologous stem cell transplantation, oral melphalan or lenalidomide or intravenous bortezomib. Ten patients with no evidence of …
Interprofessional Simulation: A Concept Analysis

Abstract To enhance patient care, the Institute of Medicine made an appeal for learning with an interprofessional focus. The authors analyzed the concept of interprofessional simulation as it pertains to collaborative work within the health care setting. The goal was to operationally define interprofessional simulation and to determine its attributes and characteristics. An improved understanding of the concept will allow health care professionals to understand each others' roles and perspectives and to foster cohesiveness and common goal setting. This cohesiveness may ideally align health care professionals leading to enhanced practice and improvement in patient care.
Suppression of Propagating TE Modes in the FNAL Antiproton Source Stochastic Beam Cooling System

A method of attenuating the propagation of waveguide modes in the stochastic cooling array beam pipes to be utilized in the accumulator and debuncher rings of the Fermilab antiproton source is described. The attenuation method treated involves lining the vertical walls of the beam pipes with a ferrimagnetic material. The general solution for propagation in a nonhomogeneously loaded waveguide is presented along with numerical results specific to the antiproton source beam cooling system. Also described is a broadband, automated technique for the simultaneous measurement of complex ? and ? developed to aid in the characterization of different ferrite materials. Permittivity and permeability data for a typical ferrite is presented along with a discussion of the effects of these parameters on waveguide mode attenuation in the ferrite lined beam pipes.
Specificity of preformed alloantibodies causing B cell positive flow crossmatch in renal transplantation

The specificity of alloantibodies (alloAb) and their clinical significance in association with T-/B+ flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) in kidney transplantation are not clearly defined. This study was undertaken to examine the HLA specificity and clinical relevance of Ab causing B+ FCXM in pre-transplant (final XM) recipients' serum samples. Final FCXM serum samples were analyzed from 457 renal transplant patients followed for 10 months post-transplantation. Two hundred and sixty patients had T-/B+ final FCXM. The control group included 197 recipients with T-/B- FCXM at time of transplantation. Class I/class II PRA and specificity of anti-HLA class I and class II Ab in final FCXM serum samples were analyzed by FlowPRA Class I Screening Test and FlowPRA Class II Screening Test. We found no correlation between graft outcome and pre-transplant T-/B- and T-/B+ FCXM status. Additionally, we observed no clinical relevance of B+ FCXM in retransplant patients. However, MCS > or =200 in B+ FCXM retransplant recipients was associated with anti-class II Ab to previous mismatches in regrafted patients (n = 46). This finding was confirmed by specificity analysis of anti-DR/DQ Ab in patients with high ( > or =15%) class II PRA. In 63% (12 of 19) of retransplants having T-/B+ FCXM, we defined the specificity of alloAb to first graft mismatched class II antigens. In contrast, anti-class II Ab was detected in only 5.7% (2 of 35) of single-graft recipients with different PRA values. Significantly greater MCS (240 +/- 61 vs. 163 +/- 48; p = 0.022) was observed in retransplant patients having short ( or =5 m). Only 2% of retransplant recipients with B + FCXM had non-HLA Ab. In contrast, the overwhelming majority of primary recipients had no detectable alloAbs. No significant difference in class I PRA was found between B- and B+ FCXM recipients. However, class II PRA was significantly higher in patients having B + FCXM (p = 0.028). Collectively, these data show that MCS intensity is not always a reliable criterion for anti-HLA Ab detection because of the presence of non-HLA Ab. These results can be explained by low titers of anti-class II Ab, at which concentration these Ab cannot produce a deleterious effect. FlowPRA and Flow screen beads appeared to be reliable and sensitive methods for detection and specificity analysis of anti-class II alloAb.
Insertion-Duplication Mutagenesis of Neisseria: Use in Characterization of DNA Transfer Genes in the Gonococcal Genetic Island

We created plasmids for use in insertion-duplication mutagenesis (IDM) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This mutagenesis method has the advantage that it requires only a single cloning step prior to transformation into gonococci. Chromosomal DNA cloned into the plasmid directs insertion into the chromosome at the site of homology by a single-crossover (Campbell-type) recombination event. Two of the vectors contain an erythromycin resistance gene, ermC, with a strong promoter and in an orientation such that transcription will proceed into the cloned insert. Thus, these plasmids can be used to create insertions that are effectively nonpolar on the transcription of downstream genes. In addition to the improved ermC, the vector contains two copies of the neisserial DNA uptake sequence to facilitate high-frequency DNA uptake during transformation. Using various chromosomal DNA insert sizes, we have determined that even small inserts can target insertion mutation by this method and that the insertions are stably maintained in the gonococcal chromosome. We have used IDM to create knockouts in two genes in the gonococcal genetic island (GGI) and to clone additional regions of the GGI by a chromosome-walking procedure. Phenotypic characterization of traG and traH mutants suggests a role for the encoded proteins in DNA secretion by a novel type IV secretion system.
Central angiotensin II-enhanced splenic cytokine gene expression is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system

We tested the hypothesis that central angiotensin II (ANG II) administration would activate splenic sympathetic nerve discharge (SND), which in turn would alter splenic cytokine gene expression. Ex...
Development of a massage robot for medical therapy

This paper addresses the development of a robotic system that can provide basic massage manipulations for medical therapy. A PUMA 562 robot is employed to perform the massage task through a properly controlled end-effector following the desired trajectories. The present work includes studying the massage mechanism and the features of the PUMA 562, generating the proper trajectories, and designing the control laws so that the robot can provide the ideal massage movement with proper force. The proposed algorithms are verified through data collected using a compliant surface representing human tissue.