cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Language skills of children with different preschool experiences.

This study examined the language at age 5 of socioeconomically disadvantaged children who had been randomly assigned at birth to a language-enriched day care program with a parent education component, a parent education program without a language-enriched day care, or no treatment. The interventions were administered between the ages of 3 months to 5 years. Language measures, reflecting children's ability to manipulate topics, as well as their structural complexity, semantic diversity, and general talkativeness were examined. The results showed that the disadvantaged children who attended the language-enriched day care program with the parent education component used a significantly greater proportion of high quality topic manipulation skills and less low quality topic manipulation skills during conversation than did children in the other two groups. The day care effect on high quality topic manipulation was present even after adjusting for children's intelligence and for the amount of community day care ...
Structural and functional analysis of SET8, a histone H4 Lys-20 methyltransferase

SET8 (also known as PR-SET7) is a histone H4-Lys-20-specific methyltransferase that is implicated in cell-cycle-dependent transcriptional silencing and mitotic regulation in metazoans. Herein we report the crystal structure of human SET8 (hSET8) bound to a histone H4 peptide bearing Lys-20 and the product cofactor S-adenosylhomocysteine. Histone H4 intercalates in the substrate-binding cleft as an extended parallel β-strand. Residues preceding Lys-20 in H4 engage in an extensive array of salt bridge, hydrogen bond, and van der Waals interactions with hSET8, while the C-terminal residues bind through predominantly hydrophobic interactions. Mutational analysis of both the substrate-binding cleft and histone H4 reveals that interactions with residues in the N and C termini of the H4 peptide are critical for conferring substrate specificity. Finally, analysis of the product specificity indicates that hSET8 is a monomethylase, consistent with its role in the maintenance of Lys-20 monomethylation during cell division.
Electronic structure of multiple vacancies in rutile TiO2 by the equation-of-motion method

We report calculations of the electronic structure of a model of ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ which contains oxygen vacancies. The model uses the full tight-binding model of Vos. We use a screened Coulomb potential and a soft positive core to describe the oxygen vacancy. We study the electronic density of states as a function of the thickness of a layer of ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ and of the number of oxygen vacancies up to 10% vacancies. We show that the structure of the density of states in the neighborhood of the conduction-band edge cannot be even approximately described by a crystal-field calculation involving only a few metal ions near the vacancy. The evolution of the density of states as the layer is made thicker is described.
The Politics of Rapid Legal Change: Immigration Policy in the 1980s *

Conventional wisdom maintains that the enduring structures of American politics make rapid policy change unlikely. This proposition is confirmed by much political science. Our institutions are designed to bridle and domesticate reform impulses, dissipating the constant pressures for new political and social arrangements. The separation of powers establishes numerous veto points, making initiatives of any kind difficult. The political culture's firm commitment to broad participation and due process places a much higher value on consultation than on decisiveness or direction. Special interests tolerate only incremental changes. The major parties clothe themselves in the familiar as they move toward the political center and its embrace of the status quo. New ideas are of only marginal importance; their transformative power is routinely blunted by one of America's oldest ideas, pragmatism. Stability, not innovation, is the master theme of our politics.
Polyacrylamide as an agglomeration additive for copper heap leaching

Abstract Heap leaching has significant challenges associated with permeability. Low permeability decreases recovery rates and recovery. It is believed that low heap permeability is caused by the migration of fine particles. This fines migration clogs the natural flow path of leach solutions, forcing it to flow around some regions of the heap, leaving them un-leached. Binders show significant promise in this application because they will increase agglomerate strength leading to a reduction in fines migration. However, most binders have been used without any systematic reasoning. Using a novel soak test, systematic studies have been completed on a wide range of binders. A non-ionic polyacrylamide was found to reduce fines migration as much as 93%. It is believed that this binder was successful due to electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and physical bonding.
SU‐FF‐J‐72: The Effect of MV Cone‐Beam CT Cupping Artifacts On Dose Calculation Accuracy

Purpose: MV cone‐beam (CB) CTimaging can be used to position the patient prior to external‐beam radiotherapy. If calibrated, these images may also be used in dose calculations, opening the possibility to reconstruct the delivered dose or re‐optimize the treatment plan before delivery. This study investigates the effect of imaging artifacts on dosimetric accuracy. Method and Materials: Two water cylinders of 13 cm and 22.5 cm diameters were imaged using A) a MV CBCT system integrated with a Siemens accelerator and B) a conventional kV CTimager. Cupping trends observed in the MV CBCT were imposed on the kV CTimages to create artificial data with simulated artifacts. Using the Phillips Pinnacle planning system, a 6 MV 10 × 16 cm2 field was applied to 1) the original kV CT of the smaller cylinder and 2) the kV CT with simulated artifacts. Similarly, a 18 × 18 cm2 field was applied to the original and artificial kV CT of the larger cylinder. Results: For the smaller cylinder, the MV CBCTwater signal relative to air at the cylinder center differs from the radial and axial extremities by approximately 14% and 17% respectively. For the larger cylinder, the differences are 38% and 20% in radial and axial directions. The dose distributions for the artificial images show a systematic deviation which increases with depth. In the high‐dose, low‐gradient regions, the largest deviation for the smaller cylinder is 1% of the maximum delivered dose. For the larger cylinder, the largest deviation is 4%. Conclusion: Cupping artifacts in water phantoms produce dosimetric errors much smaller in magnitude than the cupping trend itself but as large as 4% for large phantoms. These results suggest that rough correction of MV CBCT artifacts may be sufficient for dosimetric accuracy. Conflict of Interest: Research supported by Siemens OCS.
Ultra-High-Resolution Spectroscopy of a Nearby High-Latitude Filament

We report new observations of Na I and Ca II interstellar absorption in a nearby (230 ^ 30 pc) southern high-latitude —lament obtained at a spectroscopic resolution of D0.32 km s~1 using HD 22252 as the background probe. Complex absorption is present for both species with total column densities of N(Ca II) D 1.3 ) 1012 cm~2 and N(Na I) ( 7 ) 1012 cm~2. Over a velocity range of 25 km s~1 we —nd 11 Ca II velocity components loosely grouped into three velocity aggregates. Unusually narrow Ca II absorption is present with b-values in the range 0.25¨0.5 km s~1; such small values are rarely dis- covered. Each of these narrow Ca II components has an associated broader component at a slightly shifted velocity. Finally, there are two Ca II clouds with large b-values (D 5k m s~1) but no detectable Na I that —ank the three aggregates. At our particular intercept we may be observing the —lament edge-on and seeing cold interior condensations each with a warm outer shellall contained within a further exterior envelope of ionized gas. We estimate that a typical interior condensation will have a linear dimension d in the range 104 \ d \ 6 ) 104 AU and a pressure nT of 1.5 \ nT \ 9 ) 104 cm~3 K, but with large uncertainties. This result is consistent with the picture of small and relatively dense cloud cores expanding into the local bubble. Subject headings: ISM: kinematics and dynamicsline: pro—lesstars: individual (HD 22252)
Active transportation to school: trends among U.S. schoolchildren, 1969-2001

BACKGROUND: Rising rates of overweight children have focused attention on walking and biking to school as a means to increase children's physical activity levels. Despite this attention, there has been little documentation of trends in school travel over the past 30 years or analysis of what has caused the changes in mode choice for school trips. METHODS: This article analyzes data from the 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990, 1995, and 2001 National Personal Transportation Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation to document the proportion of students actively commuting to school in aggregate and by subgroups and analyze the relative influence of trip, child, and household characteristics across survey years. All analyses were done in 2006. RESULTS: The National Personal Transportation Survey data show that in 1969, 40.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]=37.9-43.5) of students walked or biked to school; by 2001, the proportion was 12.9% (95% CI=11.8-13.9). Distance to school has increased over time and may account for half of the decline in active transportation to school. It also has the strongest influence on the decision to walk or bike across survey years. CONCLUSIONS: Declining rates of active transportation among school travelers represents a worrisome loss of physical activity. Policymakers should continue to support programs designed to encourage children to walk to school such as Safe Routes to School and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's KidsWalk. In addition, officials need to design policies that encourage schools to be placed within neighborhoods to ensure that the distance to school is not beyond an acceptable walking distance. Language: en
Kinetic and Spectroscopic Characterization of the Gamma-Carbonic Anhydrase from the Methanoarchaeon Methanosarcina thermophila†

The zinc and cobalt forms of the prototypic γ-carbonic anhydrase from Methanosarcina thermophila were characterized by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and the kinetics were investigated using steady-state spectrophotometric and 18O exchange equilibrium assays. EXAFS results indicate that cobalt isomorphously replaces zinc and that the metals coordinate three histidines and two or three water molecules. The efficiency of either Zn−Cam or Co−Cam for CO2 hydration (kcat/Km) was severalfold greater than HCO3- dehydration at physiological pH values, a result consistent with the proposed physiological function for Cam during growth on acetate. For both Zn− and Co−Cam, the steady-state parameter kcat for CO2 hydration was pH-dependent with a pKa of 6.5−6.8, whereas kcat/Km was dependent on two ionizations with pKa values of 6.7−6.9 and 8.2−8.4. The 18O exchange assay also identified two ionizable groups in the pH profile of kcat/Km with apparent pKa values of 6.0 and 8.1. The steady-state parame...
Geographic variation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation rates.

Background Exacerbations are important disease events for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as they are relatively frequent, result in significant resource use and can indicate worsening disease. Little is known about variation in COPD exacerbation rates across a health system in various geographic regions.
Expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-3 in the somatosensory cortex of the mature rat: coexpression with high-affinity neurotrophin receptors.

Neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), are critical for the maintenance and plasticity of central nervous system (CNS) neurons. We tested the hypothesis that cortical neurons participate in redundant autocrine/paracrine systems. Three sets of studies determined the distribution of NGF-, BDNF-, and NT-3-expressing neurons, the frequency of neurons coexpressing NGF and BDNF, and the frequency of neurons expressing a neurotrophin and its associated high-affinity receptor. The distribution of NGF-, BDNF, and NT-3-immunoreactive neurons was identical. Neurotrophin-positive cells were parceled throughout the cortex, although the labeling frequency was not the same in all layers. More than 30% of the neurons in layers II/III, V, and VI were labeled, whereas only 5-10% of the neurons in layer IV was immunopositive for a neurotrophin. Some glia were also neurotrophin positive, particularly BDNF-positive glia. About 70% of the neurons in layers II/III and V coexpressed NGF and BDNF or coexpressed NGF and NT-3. Ligand-receptor colabeling was also common among cortical neurons. For example, nearly 70% of the NGF-, BDNF-, and NT-3-positive neurons in layer V colabeled with their respective high-affinity receptors, i.e., trkA, trkB, and trkC, respectively. Thus, (a) neurons express multiple neurotrophins and (b) cortical neurons (e.g., layer V neurons) contain the components required for autocrine/paracrine and/or anterograde communication (e.g., neurons in layer II/III support layer V neurons). These systems mean that the cortex is capable of regulating itself autonomously.
Quantizing a self-trapping transition

Abstract Stationary state energy levels of the quantum discrete self-trapping equation (DST) dimer are computed numerically and estimated analytically. Quantum-mechanical manifestations of a self-trapping transition that occurs in the corresponding classical DST dimer are found in both quantum energy levels and quantum wavefunctions. The work is motivated by applications of the DST equation as a model for local vibrational modes in polyatomic molecules.
Ecological stress and linear enamel hypoplasia in Cebus.

Although it is assumed that monkeys in some environments experience more nutritional or physiological stress than others, little research has been conducted on this topic. This study examines the relationship between linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) frequency, a physiological indicator of stress, and environmental stressors. To test this relationship, LEH frequencies were calculated for 144 Cebus from 54 locations in Brazil. Habitat, temperature range, and annual rainfall were compared between individuals with and without LEH. The LEH frequency for Cebus from semideciduous forests was significantly higher than that for monkeys from coastal areas, the rainforest, and the savanna (χ2 = 9.97, df = 1; P = 0.0016). A significantly higher LEH frequency was also found for monkeys living in environments with the mean annual temperature between 15 and 18°C than for those in environments greater than 18°C (χ2 = 7.74, df = 1, P = 0.0054). However, no significant difference was found between LEH frequency and annual rainfall (t = 1.22, P = 0.23) or the average difference in rainfall between the driest and wettest months (t = 0.77, P = 0.44). These results indicate that levels of physiological stress can differ among environments and that habitat and temperature, but not precipitation, may be driving the difference in stress levels among environments. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A second tryptophan hydroxylase isoform, TPH-2 mRNA, is increased by ovarian steroids in the raphe region of macaques

Recently, a second gene that codes for the rate-limiting enzyme in serotonin synthesis was found in brain, named tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH-2). We sequenced overlapping segments (251 and 510 bp) of 5' monkey TPH-2 and questioned whether TPH-2 is regulated by estrogen (E) and progesterone (P) in serotonin neurons of macaques. Monkey TPH-2 was 97% homologous to human TPH-2 and 65% homologous to monkey TPH-1 in the coding region. Spayed monkeys were administered placebo, E-only, P-only, or E + P for 1 month via Silastic implants (n = 4/treatment) and the midbrain was utilized for TPH-2 in situ hybridization (ISH). Additional monkeys (n = 3/treatment) were used to determine the relative abundance of TPH-2 mRNA with quantitative (q) RT-PCR. In the ISH assay, all of the hormone treatments caused a significant and similar increase in TPH-2 mRNA optical density (fourfold; P < 0.004) and positive pixel area (twofold; P < 0.002) over spayed controls. Treatment with E or E + P for 1 month increased the relative abundance of TPH-2 mRNA over spayed controls in the qRT-PCR assay (ANOVA P < 0.05 and P < 0.007, respectively). In conclusion, ovarian steroids stimulate TPH-2 mRNA expression, which could in turn cause an increase in serotonin synthesis. This would impact many of the neural functions that are governed by serotonin.
Gender-Specific Effects of an Augmented Written Emotional Disclosure Intervention on Posttraumatic, Depressive, and HIV-Disease-Related Outcomes: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Objective Trauma histories and symptoms of PTSD occur at very high rates in people with HIV and are associated with poor disease management and accelerated disease progression. The authors of this study examined the efficacy of a brief written trauma disclosure intervention on posttraumatic stress, depression, HIV-related physical symptoms, and biological markers of HIV disease progression.
Priority river metrics for residents of an urbanized arid watershed

Abstract In river and stream assessment and management, a persistent question is isolating appropriate indicators of resource condition. We employ qualitative research techniques to identify features of rivers and streams important to the general public in an urbanized arid watershed of the southwestern US, based on interview and focus group data. After detailed analysis of transcriptions, findings were member-checked with new study participants and further revised. Theme frequencies are reported to provide an indication of participants’ informational priorities. Recurrent ecological themes were Water, Vegetation, and Fish and Wildlife; recurrent human themes were Garbage and Graffiti, Odor, Infrastructure, Other People, and Noise. Themes are further described along with illustrative quotes from participants. We interpret participant input into actionable metrics which could serve to track resource condition. Results are compared to previous research and current monitoring practice. The findings are particularly relevant for scientists and managers interested in the perspectives on rivers and streams held by residents of urbanized watersheds in arid landscapes.
Low-lying bifurcations in cavity quantum electrodynamics

The interplay of quantum fluctuations with nonlinear dynamics is a central topic in the study of open quantum systems, connected to fundamental issues (such as decoherence and the quantum-classical transition) and practical applications (such as coherent information processing and the development of mesoscopic sensors and amplifiers). With this context in mind, we here present a computational study of some elementary bifurcations that occur in a driven and damped cavity quantum electrodynamics (cavity QED) model at low intracavity photon number. In particular, we utilize the single-atom cavity QED master equation and associated stochastic Schrodinger equations to characterize the equilibrium distribution and dynamical behavior of the quantized intracavity optical field in parameter regimes near points in the semiclassical (mean-field, Maxwell-Bloch) bifurcation set. Our numerical results show that the semiclassical limit sets are qualitatively preserved in the quantum stationary states, although quantum fluctuations apparently induce phase diffusion within periodic orbits and stochastic transitions between attractors. We restrict our attention to an experimentally realistic parameter regime.
Immunosuppressive therapy: Current limitations and future prospects

Immunosuppression is the cornerstone of clinical organ transplantation. The introduction of azathioprine (AZA) in 1962, followed by the empirical addition of corticosteroids (CS), ushered in the modern era of pharmacological immunosuppression for kidney transplantation. This therapeutic regimen displayed a slippery slope of insufficient effect, allowing rejection and graft loss or excessive effect with toxic, sometimes lethal side effects. Graft survival improved markedly with use of the T-cell-selective agent cyclosporine (CsA), allowing the successful transplantation of extrarenal organs as well. However, drug-induced toxicities preclude CsA use at optimally immunosuppressive drug concentrations. An alternative strategy to reduce CsA exposure and ameliorate toxicity substitutes anti-lymphocyte preparations during induction and/or combines CsA with other immunosuppressants (AZA/CS) for maintenance therapy. Unfortunately, the benefit of these empirical strategies has not been evaluated in a rigorous fashion. Additionally, concentration-controlled regimens are necessary to optimize transplant results, because of significant inter-individual variability in CsA pharmacokinetics. A variety of promising new immunosuppressants — FK-506, rapamycin, brequinar, RS61443, and a series of monoclonal antibodies — are under investigation. In order to expedite the process and ensure the safety of the transition from the laboratory into the clinic, a rigorous, standardized clinical trial methodology must be developed. Recent progress employing mathematical models to evaluate the effects of drug interactions, such as the median-effect analysis, may help to focus future studies. Finally, only controlled, randomized, blinded clinical trials can reliably establish the utility of new drugs and/or drug combinations. Because of the success of CsA-based regimens, large groups of patients must be entered to prevent Type I and Type II statistical errors, both of which ultimately harm the patient. Although this enterprise requires cooperation and discipline between transplant centers, adherence to these principles portends a bright future for clinical transplantation.
Estimation of Stochastic Frontier Cost Function Using Data Envelopment Analysis: an Application to the AT&T Divestiture

This study develops a new use of data envelopment analysis for estimating a stochastic frontier cost function that is assumed to have two different error components: a one-sided disturbance (representing technical and allocative inefficiencies) and a two-sided disturbance (representing an observational error). The two error components are handled by data envelopment analysis in combination with goal programming/constrained regression. The approach proposed in this study can avoid several statistical assumptions used in conventional methods for estimating a stochastic frontier function. As an important application, this study uses the estimation technique to obtain an AT&T stochastic frontier cost function. As a result, this study measures technical and allocative efficiencies of AT&T production process and review its natural monopoly issue. The estimated stochastic frontier cost function is also compared with the other cost function models used for previous studies concerning the divestiture of the telephone industry.
Preclusion of steady-state statistical equilibrium in a population model with environmental stochasticity

Abstract For a species population model with size and genetic composition influenced by randomly varying environmental factors, it is shown by exact analysis that a steady-state statistical equilibrium is precluded if a measure of the environmental stochasticity is sufficiently large. In such cases, the form of the probability distribution for the population size and genetic composition continues to change for arbitrarily large values of t and steady-state statistical equilibrium is unattainable.
Defective antigen processing correlates with a low level of intracellular glutathione

Previously, we reported that Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with murine mouse major histocompatibility complex class II genes, exhibit a unique antigen (Ag) processing defect whereby these cells are impaired in processing only Ag with disulfide bonds. Here, we examined various aspects of the intracellular reducing environment in the CHO cells to understand the underlying mechanism causing the defect. A cell hybrid generated by the fusion of CHO cells and L cell fibroblasts was used for comparison due to their competency in processing Ag. The transport pathway of cysteine within the CHO cells appeared normal. However, these cells had a significantly lower level of glutathione, a major physiological reducing thiol, compared to the cell hybrid. Treatment of the CHO cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine did not augment their glutathione content nor their ability to process Ag. When the cell hybrid was treated with L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO), which significantly decreased their glutathione level, the hybrid poorly processed hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and ovalbumin, which have disulfide bonds. In contrast, BSO treatment did not affect the capacity of the hybrid to process pigeon cytochrome c and carboxymethylated HEL, which lack disulfide bonds. Therefore, low intracellular glutathione levels in antigen-presenting cells correlated with defective processing of Ag with disulfide bonds, indicating that this thiol may be a critical factor in regulating productive Ag processing.
Little Emperors grown up: a case study of cosmetic usage

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how the pressures of being a Little Emperor in a rapidly changing society are reflected in consumer experiences, particularly in the meanings attached to products and brands. The paper aims to focus on young adults in urban China, specifically young professional women.Design/methodology/approach – The subject was shadowed at work for two weeks during the Spring of 2007 and for an additional two weeks during the Spring of 2008. Social interactions and purchasing behavior were carefully observed, as well as conducting a series of informal interviews. During the Summer of 2008, a formal, in‐depth interview was conducted with an informant in the USA.Findings – The unique pressures of growing up as a Little Emperor in a changing society are widely reflected in product usage and are ways in which to ease the tension and anxiety associated with the pressure of maintaining expectations from friends, family, and society.Research limitations/implications – The study...
Analysis of cosmetic results following primary radiation therapy for stages I and II carcinoma of the breast.

Abstract In 31 cases of Stages I or II carcinoma of the breast treated by primary radiation therapy, the cosmetic results were analyzed with regard to the details of treatment. Three principal treatment factors were identified which influenced the cosmetic outcome: (1) the extent and location of the biopsy procedure, (2) the time/dose factors of the radiation therapy and (3) the technique of the radiation therapy. Cosmetic results were lessened when the biopsy procedure included a wide resection of adjacent breast tissue or when the biopsy scar was obvious. Increasing doses of external beam radiation were associated with greater degrees of retraction and fibrosis of the treated breast. All 6 patients who received 6000 rad by external beam had significant retraction and fibrosis while patients who received 5000 rad rarely showed significant changes. Local boost doses by interstitial implantation did not diminish the cosmetic outcome. All patients were treated using supervoltage equipment without bolus and skin changes secondary to treatment were infrequent. Seventeen patients developed localized areas of fibrosis and skin changes at the matchline between adjacent radiation fields. Recommendations are made for improved cosmetic results based on these findings.
Survival of endstage renal disease patients: Age-adjusted differences in treatment outcomes

Abstract A previous analysis of the survival of endstage renal disease (ESRD) patients stressed that survival on a second ESRD treatment modality, such as home dialysis or transplantation, must consider survival experience on the first treatment modality, which commonly is center dialysis [1]. That study found differences in survival between center dialysis patients and patients transplanted with kidneys from related donors for patients between 15 and 44 years of age, but not for older patients between 45 and 60 years of age. Furthermore, in comparing the survival of cadaver transplant patients to that of center dialysis patients, the relative risk of death for all ages combined was slightly less than one, yet for each of the three age groups considered the relative risk of death was greater than one [1]. These findings strongly suggested that valid analyses of such differences in outcomes must adjust for the age of patients. This study does so by re-analyzing the data reported by Weller et al [1] with an improved statistical method referred to in the previous report [1] and which has been used by Hutchinson, Thomas, and MacGibbon [2]. It, again, looks at survival on the second treatment modality, home dialysis or transplantation, while evaluating survival experience on the first treatment modality, center dialysis. This new analysis provides additional insights into the effect of age of ESRD patients on treatment differences.
An updated algorithm for choosing among smoking cessation treatments.

Abstract Although meta-analyses have documented the efficacy of treatments for smoking cessation, and guidelines have outlined treatment elements, few algorithms for choosing among treatments have been described. The current algorithm updates the author's prior algorithm. The major decisions in the algorithm are (a) use a motivational treatment if the smoker is not currently interested in quitting, (b) assess factors that influence choice of treatment, (c) consider both gradual and abrupt cessation, (d) use combined patch + gum/inhaler/lozenge or varenicline as first line medications, (e) use individual, group, Internet, and phone counseling as first line psychosocial treatments, and (f) continue treatment after a lapse or relapse. Further research is needed to determine whether algorithms improve treatment outcomes.
The Efficacy of Trading Based on Moving AverageIndicators: An Extension

The debate over market efficiency continues to rage, yet it is difficult to argue with published evidence surrounding the efficacy of momentum trading based on moving average indicators. While prior studies find that a comparison of the market price to the 200-day simple moving average provides a profitable trading strategy, such studies overlook many other popular price comparisons and calculation methodologies. Thus, I explore different trading rules, comparing strategies based on combinations of market price, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages. In addition, I calculate moving averages using three alternative methods: simple, linear, and exponential. I find that a comparison of the market price to the 50-day exponential moving average generally provides the highest risk-adjusted performance, with the exception of high volatility periods, where a comparison of 50-day versus 200-day exponential moving averages performs better.
Optical crosstalk in silicon nanowaveguides

We characterize optical crosstalk and the associated bit-error rate degradation in silicon nanowaveguides. Our results indicate that the crosstalk decreases with increasing modulation frequency and decreases with input power, which we attribute to free-carrier absorption.
Tactile Scanning and Memory for a Spatial Display By Blind Students

A primary purpose of maps is to convey information about space and spatial relationships. This study was an attempt to determine whether specific training in scanning a tactile display would enable blind students to more effectively organize the spatial relationships presented than would students not so trained. Thirty-six braille students in grades 4 to 12 were asked to inspect a tactile display consisting of 9 removable symbols. After inspection, the 9 symbols were removed and the students were asked to replace the parts in their correct location. There were 2 groups: a control group that received no training and an experimental group that was trained to systematically search the display using a vertical search technique. The results showed that the students in the lower grade levels benefited most from the training and were superior to the control group in the same grades. However, training interfered with the performance of the students in the upper grade levels (10 to 12), with the control group perf...
Gas phase holdup in slurry bubble columns for two- and three-phase systems

Abstract Experimental air holdup data are reported for air-water and air-water-glass bead systems. The data are obtained as a function of superficial air velocity, dispersion temperature and slurry concentration of glass bead powders of different average diameters. The bubble column employed in this work is 0.305 m in diameter and is equipped with 19 mm tubes simulating the heat exchanger configurations of increasing sizes and configurations of five, seven and 37 tubes. The dependencies of air holdup on operating parameters are highlighted and these are not adequately reproduced for all parameters by existing correlations developed for columns without internals. The data are successfully correlated by a semiempirical correlation.
Plasma β‐endorphin, cortisol and immune responses to acute exercise are altered by age and exercise training in horses

Summary Reasons for performing study: Ageing appears to affect immune and neuroendocirne function in horses and response to acute exercise. No studies have examined the combined effects of training and ageing on immune and neuroendocirne function in horses. Hypothesis: To ascertain whether training and age would affect the plasma β-endorphin (BE) and cortisol (C) as well as immune function responses to acute exercise in Standardbred mares. Methods: Graded exercise tests (GXT) and simulated race tests (SRT) were performed before and after 12 weeks training at 60% HRmax. BE and C were measured at rest and at 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 120 min post GXT. Leucocyte cell number, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets, and mitogen stimulated lymphoproliferative response (LPR), were measured in jugular blood before and after the SRTs. Results: Cortisol rose by 5 min post GXT in young (Y) and middle-age (MA) mares (P 0.05). Pretraining BE rose (P<0.05) by 5 min post GXT in all mares. After training, BE was higher in Y and O vs. MA (P<0.05) at 5 min post GXT. Post training BE was higher at 5 min post GXT in Y and O vs. pretraining (P<0.05). After SRT, lymphocyte number rose in all mares (P<0.05); however, lower lymphocyte numbers (P<0.05) were seen in MA vs. Y and O vs. MA (P<0.05). The O had reduced LPR to Con A and PHA stimulation (P<0.05) compared to Y and MA after the SRT after both pre- and post training SRT. LPR to PWM was lower (P<0.05) in O vs. Y and MA after the pretraining SRT. Training caused an increase in resting LPR to PWM in MA only (P<0.05). Conclusion: Both age and training altered the plasma β-endorphin and cortisol responses as well as and immune responses to acute exercise. Potential relevance: This study provides important information on the effects of ageing and training that will aid in the management and care of an increasing number of active older horses.
Differential effects of acute alcohol on prepulse inhibition and event-related potentials in adolescent and adult Wistar rats.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that adolescent and adult rats show differential sensitivity to many of the acute effects of alcohol. We recently reported evidence of developmental differences in the effects of acute alcohol on the cortical electroencephalogram. However, it is unclear whether developmental differences are also observed in other neurophysiological and neurobehavioral measurements known to be sensitive to alcohol exposure. The present study determined the age-related effects of acute alcohol on behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) responses to acoustic startle (AS) and prepulse inhibition (PPI). Methods: Male adolescent and adult Wistar rats were implanted with cortical recording electrodes. The effects of acute alcohol (0.0, 0.75, and 1.5 g/kg) on behavioral and ERP responses to AS and PPI were assessed. Results: Acute alcohol (0.75 and 1.5 g/kg) significantly reduced the behavioral and electrophysiological response to AS in adolescent and adult rats. Both 0.75 and 1.5 g/kg alcohol significantly enhanced the behavioral response to PPI in adolescent, but not in adult rats. During prepulse + pulse trials, 1.5 g/kg alcohol significantly increased the N10 pulse response in the adolescent frontal cortex. Acute alcohol (0.75 and 1.5 g/kg) also increased the N1 ERP pulse response to prepulse stimuli in frontal and parietal cortices in adult rats, but not in adolescent rats. Conclusions: These data suggest that alcohol’s effect on behavioral and electrophysiological indices of AS do not differ between adults and adolescents whereas developmental stage does appear to significantly modify alcohol-influenced response to PPI.
Processor preallocation and load balancing of DOALL loops

Load balance is important because it may affect the speedup attained through the concurrent execution of loop iterations on a parallel processor. We study loop load balance in the context of the well-known Perfect benchmarks. Several static and dynamic characteristics of the Perfect benchmark DOALL loops are observed and interpreted. Thelate arrival of processors is noted as a major source of load imbalance. This observation suggested the idea ofprocessor preallocation. An analytic cost model is presented and the advantages of processor preallocation are demonstrated by experimental evaluation on a CRAY Y-MP8 under the Unicos operating system.
Minimization of Bacterial Size Allows for Complement Evasion and Is Overcome by the Agglutinating Effect of Antibody

The complement system, which functions by lysing pathogens directly or by promoting their uptake by phagocytes, is critical for controlling many microbial infections. Here, we show that in Streptococcus pneumoniae, increasing bacterial chain length sensitizes this pathogen to complement deposition and subsequent uptake by human neutrophils. Consistent with this, we show that minimizing chain length provides wild-type bacteria with a competitive advantage in vivo in a model of systemic infection. Investigating how the host overcomes this virulence strategy, we find that antibody promotes complement-dependent opsonophagocytic killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae and lysis of Haemophilus influenzae independent of Fc-mediated effector functions. Consistent with the agglutinating effect of antibody, F(ab')(2) but not Fab could promote this effect. Therefore, increasing pathogen size, whether by natural changes in cellular morphology or via antibody-mediated agglutination, promotes complement-dependent killing. These observations have broad implications for how cell size and morphology can affect virulence among pathogenic microbes.
Reliability of Inhibition Models to Correctly Identify Type of Inhibition

Purpose Type of inhibition (e.g. competitive, noncompetitive) is frequently evaluated to understand transporter structure/function relationships, but reliability of nonlinear regression to correctly identify inhibition type has not been assessed. The purpose was to assess the ability of nonlinear regression to correctly identify inhibition type.
Predictors of Positive Immunofixation Testing in Patients With Acute Kidney Injury

Abstract Introduction Acute kidney injury may be the presenting manifestation of multiple myeloma, although optimal use of immunofixation testing in this setting is incompletely defined. The authors attempted to determine clinical and laboratory predictors of positive immunofixation testing in patients with acute kidney injury. Patients and Methods The authors did a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with acute kidney injury who had immunofixation studies done. Various clinical and laboratory variables that may be predictive of the presence of multiple myeloma were evaluated and correlations with immunofixation test results determined. Results One hundred twenty-eight patients were studied. Thirteen had a monoclonal paraprotein detected by immunofixation testing (positive result). Patients with positive testing had higher total, ionized and corrected calcium levels, although the median total calcium in immunofixation-positive patients was normal at 9.7 mg/dL. Patients with positive testing also had lower hemoglobin and platelet counts. An anion gap of 4 g/dL were also associated with positive results. Conclusions In patients with acute kidney injury, relatively higher total, ionized and corrected calcium levels and lower hemoglobin and platelet counts may predict the presence of a monoclonal paraprotein. An anion gap of 4 g/dL may also be predictors. The metabolic consequences of acute kidney injury may attenuate some of these abnormalities as well. These findings may help guide optimal use of immunofixation testing and hence help potentially identify patients who may have multiple myeloma.
Effect of Dietary Sand on the Performance of Young Broiler Chickens

Abstract Three experiments were conducted with day-old broiler chicks given diets varying in the level of sand, protein, and energy. In all experiments when a level of 6% oven-dried builders’ sand was added by weight at the expense of basal feed to a 23% protein and 3200 kcal ME/kg broiler starter feed, 21-day body weights were increased (4.46, 2.19, and 1.15%). Adjusted feed conversion values (diluted feed minus sand portion) were decreased in two trials (.68 and 2.10%) but were unaffected in the third trial. Since dietary sand improved feed utilization and caloric efficiency and currently costs only a fraction as much as feed, the use of sand in broiler-starter diets appears to be economically advantageous. It was concluded that a level of 6% sand may be added to a broiler-starter basal feed containing 23% protein and 3050 or 3200 kcal ME/kg, or 26% protein and 2900, 3050, or 3200 kcal ME/kg to improve feed utilization without adversely affecting body weights.
TIME-DEPENDENT COVARIATES IN THE COX PROPORTIONAL-HAZARDS REGRESSION MODEL

▪ Abstract The Cox proportional-hazards regression model has achieved widespread use in the analysis of time-to-event data with censoring and covariates. The covariates may change their values over time. This article discusses the use of such time-dependent covariates, which offer additional opportunities but must be used with caution. The interrelationships between the outcome and variable over time can lead to bias unless the relationships are well understood. The form of a time-dependent covariate is much more complex than in Cox models with fixed (non–time-dependent) covariates. It involves constructing a function of time. Further, the model does not have some of the properties of the fixed-covariate model; it cannot usually be used to predict the survival (time-to-event) curve over time. The estimated probability of an event over time is not related to the hazard function in the usual fashion. An appendix summarizes the mathematics of time-dependent covariates.
Effects of annealing on the polarization switching of phase I poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Abstract : To obtain information about microscopic processes involved in the polarization switching in uniaxially oriented poly vinylidene fluoride film, a least squares estimation of nonlinear parameters was developed to yield parameters of an equation which describes the nucleation and domain growth process. Time domain measurements of polarization reversal revealed that switching times decreased as the annealing temperature, Ta, increased (67.0 micro s, 52.4 micro s and 41.3 micro s at -20 C under a 200 MV/m pulse field for the as-stretched samples, the samples being annealed at Ta = 120 C, and Ta = 160 C, respectively). The analysis showed that the value of the domain growth speed increased as Ta increased. This is consistent with X ray diffraction data which indicated that the annealing process brought about better chain packing and increased crystallite perfection. The analysis also showed that the nucleation probably significantly increased as Ta increased. This result was interpreted in terms of a morphological transformation, which was indicated by the decrease in elastic modulus with increasing Ta with no corresponding loss of orientation. It is suggested that the annealing process brought about an increase in the number of nucleation sites as a result of a transformation from a fibrous structure to a crystal-amorphous series structure which has increased boundary zone area.
Follicle-stimulating hormone administered at the time of human chorionic gonadotropin trigger improves oocyte developmental competence in in vitro fertilization cycles: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Objective To determine whether an additional follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) bolus administered at the time of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger can improve the developmental competence of the oocyte. Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Women undergoing a long agonist suppression in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocol for treatment of infertility. Intervention(s) FSH bolus at time of hCG trigger versus placebo. Main Outcome Measure(s) Primary outcome; fertilization; secondary outcomes: oocyte recovery, implantation rate, and clinical and ongoing pregnancy/live birth rates. Result(s) A total of 188 women (mean age: 36.2 years; range: 25 to 40 years) were randomized. Fertilization (2PN/#oocyte) was statistically significantly improved in the treatment arm (63% vs. 55%) as was the likelihood of oocyte recovery (70% vs. 57%). There was no statistically significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate (56.8% vs. 46.2%) or ongoing/live birth rate (51.6% vs. 43.0%). Conclusion(s) Improvements in IVF success rates have largely been due to optimization of embryo culture and stimulation protocols; less attention has been directed toward methods to improve induction of final oocyte maturation. This was the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to modify the ovulation trigger to improve oocyte competence, as demonstrated by the statistically significant improvement in fertilization.
Context-based literature digital collection search

We identify two issues with searching literature digital collections within digital libraries: (a) there are no effective paper-scoring and ranking mechanisms. Without a scoring and ranking system, users are often forced to scan a large and diverse set of publications listed as search results and potentially miss the important ones. (b) Topic diffusion is a common problem: publications returned by a keyword-based search query often fall into multiple topic areas, not all of which are of interest to users. This paper proposes a new literature digital collection search paradigm that effectively ranks search outputs, while controlling the diversity of keyword-based search query output topics. Our approach is as follows. First, during pre-querying, publications are assigned into pre-specified ontology-based contexts, and query-independent context scores are attached to papers with respect to the assigned contexts. When a query is posed, relevant contexts are selected, search is performed within the selected contexts, context scores of publications are revised into relevancy scores with respect to the query at hand and the context that they are in, and query outputs are ranked within each relevant context. This way, we (1) minimize query output topic diversity, (2) reduce query output size, (3) decrease user time spent scanning query results, and (4) increase query output ranking accuracy. Using genomics-oriented PubMed publications as the testbed and Gene Ontology terms as contexts, our experiments indicate that the proposed context-based search approach produces search results with up to 50% higher precision, and reduces the query output size by up to 70%.