cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TRANSDUCER AND BOND PHASE SHIFTS IN ULTRASONICS, AND THEIR EFFECTS ON MEASURED PRESSURE DERIVATIVES OF ELASTIC MODULI

Abstract Phase shifts introduced into ultrasonic signals by the presence of transducers and bonds at sample surfaces have been measured using an automated variable frequency ultrasonic interferometer. At zero pressure, phase shifts have been resolved due to transducers, bonds between transducers and samples, and bonds between buffer rods and samples. Observed transducer-bond-sample phase shifts are in good accord with theoretical estimates, and bond thicknesses of about 0.3 μ are inferred. Measurements to 7 kbar are consistent with theoretical estimates of the effect of pressure on transducer-bond-phase shifts. Providing the frequency of the ultrasonic signal is within a few percent of the resonance frequency of the transducer, and the effect of pressure on the transducer resonance frequency is accounted for (as recommended by McSkimin, [1961]), the effect of the bond phase shift on the measured pressure derivative of the elastic modulus should amount to less than about 0.02. If the frequency deviates substantially from the transducer resonance frequency, especially at zero pressure, errors of the order of 0.25 could be incurred in the pressure derivatives. The nonlinearity of transducer-bond phase shifts could cause significant errors in second-pressure derivatives, even under favorable conditions. For shear waves at zero pressure, the observed buffer-bond-sample phase shifts are consistent with those estimated theoretically for a bond of about 1 μ thickness. For compressional waves at zero pressure, phase shifts are very sensitive to the buffer-sample contact: large differences in phase are observed between dry lapped, “wetted” immersed, and resin-bonded contacts. The sources of these differences are not fully understood, but they may be due to variations in contact area produced by the ultrasonic wave. “Normal” buffer-sample bonds are estimated to be capable of affecting measured pressure derivatives by about 0.25. The behavior of the anomalous buffer-sample phase shifts under pressure is unknown, but the shifts could easily give rise to substantial errors in measured pressure derivatives.
Developing knowledge-in-action with a learning progression: Sequential analysis of teachers' questions and responses to student ideas

Abstract Researchers have argued that teachers' knowledge can be evidenced by the ways they elicit and respond to student ideas. We analyze data from a four-year study of nine high school teachers who designed formative assessment tasks and learned about student thinking with a learning progression for natural selection. We coded teacher questions, student responses, and teacher feedback in classroom videos collected across four years. Through sequential analysis, we found that teachers came to ask more questions that elicited student ideas, and also became more likely to respond to student ideas with pushing feedback at the end of the study.
Differences among U.S. states in estimating the number of people living with HIV/AIDS: Impact on allocation of federal Ryan White funding

OBJECTIVE We assessed the impact of differing laboratory reporting scenarios on the completeness of estimates of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLWHA) in the U.S., which are used to guide allocation of federal Ryan White funds. METHODS We conducted a four-year simulation study using clinical and laboratory data on 1,337 HIV-positive women, including 477 (36%) who did not have AIDS at baseline. We estimated the completeness of HIV (non-AIDS) case ascertainment for three laboratory reporting scenarios: CD4 < 200 cells/microL and detectable viral load (Scenario A); CD4 < 500 cells/microL and no viral load reporting (Scenario B); and CD4 < 500 cells/microL and detectable viral load (Scenario C). RESULTS Each scenario resulted in an increasing proportion of HIV (non-AIDS) cases being ascertained over time, with Scenario C yielding the highest by Year 4 (Year 1: 69.0%, Year 4: 88.1%), followed by Scenario A (Year 1: 63.3%, Year 4: 84.5%), and Scenario B (Year 1: 43.0%, Year 4: 67.7%). Overall completeness of PLWHA ascertainment after four years was highest for Scenario C (95.8%), followed by Scenario A (94.5%), and Scenario B (88.5%). CONCLUSIONS Differences in laboratory reporting regulations lead to substantial variations in the completeness of PLWHA estimates, and may penalize jurisdictions that are most successful at treating HIV/AIDS patients or those with weak or incomplete HIV/AIDS surveillance systems.
Enhancing Diagnosis of Autism With Optimized Machine Learning Models and Personal Characteristic Data

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder, affecting about 1% of the global population. Currently, the only clinical method for diagnosing ASD are standardized ASD tests which require prolonged diagnostic time and increased medical costs. Our objective was to explore the predictive power of personal characteristic data (PCD) from a large well-characterized dataset to improve upon prior diagnostic models of ASD. We extracted six personal characteristics (age, sex, handedness, and three individual measures of IQ) from 851 subjects in the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) database. ABIDE is an international collaborative project that collected data from a large number of ASD patients and typical non-ASD controls from 17 research and clinical institutes. We employed this publicly available database to test nine supervised machine learning models. We implemented a cross-validation strategy to train and test those machine learning models for classification between typical non-ASD controls and ASD patients. We assessed classification performance using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Of the nine models we tested using six personal characteristics, the neural network model performed the best with a mean AUC (SD) of 0.646 (0.005), followed by k-nearest neighbor with a mean AUC (SD) of 0.641 (0.004). This study established an optimal ASD classification performance with PCD as features. With additional discriminative features (e.g., neuroimaging), machine learning models may ultimately enable automated clinical diagnosis of autism.
Titanium-Substituted Zeolites and Molecular Sieves Investigated by NMR

29Si MAS NMR spectra for TS-1, TiMCM-41, and Ti-β, and 31P MAS NMR spectrum for TiAlPO4-11 have been obtained before and after CO treatment that reduces Ti4+ to Ti3+. We have used the large paramag...
Decentralized & Collaborative AI on Blockchain

Machine learning has recently enabled large advances in artificial intelligence, but these tend to be highly centralized. The large datasets required are generally proprietary; predictions are often sold on a per-query basis; and published models can quickly become out of date without effort to acquire more data and re-train them. We propose a framework for participants to collaboratively build a dataset and use smart contracts to host a continuously updated model. This model will be shared publicly on a blockchain where it can be free to use for inference. Ideal learning problems include scenarios where a model is used many times for similar input such as personal assistants, playing games, recommender systems, etc. In order to maintain the model's accuracy with respect to some test set we propose both financial and non-financial (gamified) incentive structures for providing good data. A free and open source implementation for the Ethereum blockchain is provided at this https URL.
Can Ordered Precursors Promote the Nucleation of Solid Solutions

Crystallization often proceeds through successive stages that lead to a gradual increase in organization. Using molecular simulation, we determine the nucleation pathway for solid solutions of copper and gold. We identify a new nucleation mechanism ($\text{liquid}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}L{1}_{2}$ $\text{precursor}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\text{solid}$ solution) involving a chemically ordered intermediate that is more organized than the end product. This nucleation pathway arises from the low formation energy of $L{1}_{2}$ clusters which, in turn, promote crystal nucleation. We also show that this mechanism is composition dependent since the high formation energy of other ordered phases precludes them from acting as precursors.
DC-HIL/Gpnmb is a Negative Regulator of Tumor Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Purpose: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) benefit only a minority of treated patients with cancer. Identification of biomarkers distinguishing responders and nonresponders will improve management of patients with cancer. Because the DC-HIL checkpoint differs from the PD1 pathway in expression and inhibitory mechanisms, we examined whether DC-HIL expression regulates ICI responsiveness. Experimental Design: Plasma samples were collected from patients with advanced non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) (n = 76) at baseline and/or follow-up after ICI monotherapy. Blood-soluble DC-HIL (sDC-HIL) was determined and analyzed for correlation with the early tumor response. To study the mechanisms, we measured effect of anti-DC-HIL versus anti-PDL1 mAb on growth of mouse tumor cells in experimentally metastatic lung. Influence of DC-HIL to anti-PDL1 treatment was assessed by changes in tumor response after deletion of host-DC-HIL gene, injection of DC-HIL–expressing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), or induction of sDC-HIL expression. Results: Nonresponders expressed significantly higher levels of baseline sDC-HIL levels than responders. Among patients (n = 28) for fluctuation with time, nonresponders (14/15 cases) showed increasing or persistently elevated levels. Responders (12/13) had decreasing or persistently low levels. Among various tumors, B16 melanoma exhibited resistance to anti-PDL1 but responded to anti-DC-HIL mAb. Using B16 melanoma and LL2 lung cancer, we showed that deletion of host-derived DC-HIL expression converted the resistant tumor to one responsive to anti-PDL1 mAb. The responsive state was reversed by infusion of DC-HIL+MDSC or induction of sDC-HIL expression. Conclusions: sDC-HIL in the blood and probably DC-HIL receptor expressed by MDSC play an important role in regulating response to ICI in advanced NSCLC.
Creating a Tool for Assessing Domestic Violence Risk and Impact Among TANF Clients

The Family Violence Option (FVO), a provision of the 1996 welfare legislation, allows states to waive certain program requirements for domestic violence (DV) survivors in order to protect them from danger or penalties. The absence of a standardized method for assessing risk and impact has been an impediment to states’ use of the FVO, particularly in the granting of waivers. The purpose of this study was to address this limitation by developing and testing a risk and impact assessment tool for DV survivors applying for waivers under the FVO. Therefore, a collaborative effort between state administrators and researchers was formed which included input from welfare staff and DV advocates. Background research included reviews of validated risk assessments and FVO policies, as well as primary data from focus groups and surveys with staff from the state human services organization, county welfare agencies, and DV organizations. A tool was then created with 131 questions covering demographics, abuse experiences, partner access and risk, perceptions of safety, and emotional health, and piloted in four counties. Two hundred and thirty-seven completed assessments were analyzed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and feedback from assessors. The final tool (n= 95 items) was informed by validated evidence and frontline practice wisdom, recommended to improve FVO utilization and survivor outcomes. From this study, the authors recommend that other states seeking changes to their FVO risk assessment policy and practice explore collaborative partnerships between practitioners and researchers in order to make decisions informed by best practices and systematic research. They should also pursue cross departmental training of risk assessment tools to prevent a siloed approach to FVO implementation.
Acoustic radiation from an infrasonic ball-valve siren

The concept of a ball-valve siren is developed through experimentation and theoretical modeling. The ball-valve siren is a source transducer developed for the purpose of establishing the concept of infrasound generation through the modulation of compressed air flowing through a rotating ball valve and released into the atmosphere, in the context of a siren. Directivity, frequency response, and propagation experiments were performed for the fundamental frequency component, and the results compare favorably to an empirical model based on monopole and dipole radiation. The results show that a small ball-valve siren can generate useful infrasound radiation with nominal directivity at frequencies in the range 1 to 8 Hz.
Recycling the Unrecyclable with Dynamic Covalent Chemistry.

Plastics once destined to become trash can now be recycled into new materials by using a simple catalyst.
Are Mothers and Fathers Interchangeable Caregivers

Recent debates about same-sex marriage have raised questions concerning the interchangeability of mothers and fathers. This paper provides three pieces of empirical evidence that highlight the dist...
Adult Chronic Respiratory Disease in Rural Versus Urban Areas: Is Age of Housing an Environmental Justice Issue?

Background: This research investigated and identified significant spatial clusters of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related emergency department (ED) visits and in-patient...
Fenfluramine in the successful treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus in a patient with Dravet syndrome.

Abstract A 20-year-old woman with Dravet syndrome and multiple prior episodes of status epilepticus presented to our hospital in November 2018 in super-refractory status epilepticus. After 5 weeks of unsuccessful continuous treatment with anesthetics, including pentobarbital and ketamine, we sought and were granted an emergency approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration to administer fenfluramine, an investigational new drug, to this patient. One week of treatment with fenfluramine at 0.4 mg/kg/day was ineffective. The dose of fenfluramine was titrated to 0.7 mg/kg/day, and after 1 week, electrographic seizures ceased. One week later, the patient was seizure-free and off all anesthetic agents. Add-on treatment with fenfluramine was continued with no further episodes of status epilepticus and >90% reduction in tonic-clonic seizures. This case report illustrates the potential for fenfluramine to prevent reoccurrence of status epilepticus and to manage super-refractory status epilepticus in patients with Dravet syndrome.
metapredict: a fast, accurate, and easy-to-use cross-platform predictor of consensus disorder

Abstract Intrinsically disordered proteins and protein regions make up a substantial fraction of many proteomes where they play a wide variety of essential roles. A critical first step in understanding the role of disordered protein regions in biological function is to identify those disordered regions correctly. Computational methods for disorder prediction have emerged as a core set of tools to guide experiments, interpret results, and develop hypotheses. Given the multiple different predictors available, consensus scores have emerged as a popular approach to mitigate biases or limitations of any single method. Consensus scores integrate the outcome of multiple independent disorder predictors and provide a per-residue value that reflects the number of tools that predict a residue to be disordered. Although consensus scores help mitigate the inherent problems of using any single disorder predictor, they are computationally expensive to generate. They also necessitate the installation of multiple different software tools, which can be prohibitively difficult. To address this challenge, we developed a deep-learning-based predictor of consensus disorder scores. Our predictor, metapredict, utilizes a bidirectional recurrent neural network trained on the consensus disorder scores from 12 proteomes. By benchmarking metapredict using two orthogonal approaches, we found that metapredict is among the most accurate disorder predictors currently available. Metapredict is also remarkably fast, enabling proteome-scale disorder prediction in minutes. Metapredict is fully open source and is distributed as a Python package, a collection of command-line tools, and a web server. We believe metapredict offers a convenient, accessible, accurate, and high-performance predictor for single-proteins and proteomes alike.
The instant Cellular Response to Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has shown its promising application in medicine, including wound healing, sterilization, and cancer treatment. The CAP-originated reactive species including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are regarded as the major factors of the cellular response to a CAP treatment, such as apoptosis, DNA damage, and mitochondrial damage. Cancer cells have been just regarded as a passive target of the CAP treatment.
Management Of Programs By Federal Contract Research Center (FCRC) Organizations

The Federal Contract Research Center (FCRC) operates in the region between that of a government organization and an industrial contractor. The organization, responsibilities and limitations of an FCRC are described. The advantages that accrue from such an organizational entity and the constraints imposed on the centers are discussed. The way in which programs are originated with the various government agencies and the organizational structures established in response to government needs are described. Several different case histories are presented to illustrate the various ways in which programs are managed depending upon the nature of the work to be performed.
Application to AC Circuits

In this chapter we extend our measurement based approach to the domain of AC circuits operating in steady state at a fixed frequency. The main difference between the approach presented here for AC circuits and its DC circuit counterpart (Chap. 2) is that in an AC circuit the signals and variables are complex quantities usually called phasors and impedances, rather than real quantities.
SURGERY IN PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL FACTOR VII DEFICIENCY (CONGENITAL HYPOPROCONVERTINEMIA). EXPERIENCE WITH ONE CASE AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.

Experience with surgery in a patient with congenital deficiency of Factor VII (SPCA, proconvertin) is presented and the pertinent literature reviewed. Factor VII deficiency is not associated with a bleeding tendency, unless levels are lower than 5 per cent of normal, as measured by a true assay. Factor VII levels between 5 and 10 per cent of normal, easily achieved by infusions of bank plasma, appear adequate for hemostasis during surgery. No replacement therapy seems necessary beyond the first postoperative day.
Orientalism Reconsidered: China and the Chinese in Nineteenth‐Century Literature and Victorian Studies

Until very recently, critical attention to literary relations and aesthetic exchanges between Britain and China in the 19th century has been scant. However with the current shifting of focus in Victorian studies away from canonical, mainstream concerns toward the disenfranchised people and productions that inhabited the vibrant, often carnivalesque, world of popular culture, China has made its way – if not into the floodlights – at least into the well-lit recesses of literary-critical consciousness. This essay provides both an overview of China’s pervasive influence on British life and letters in the 19th century as well as an assessment of scholarship in the developing field of Sino-British studies. Aside from surveying a number of approaches to this relatively new field of inquiry, I suggest that past critical neglect of 19th-century, Sino-British literary relations is, in one part, residual from the seemingly dismissive, at times sinophobic, and overwhelmingly negative attitudes of the Victorians toward China and, in another part, to China’s awkward situation within a dominant theoretical framework of Orientalism that largely fails to account for the cultural and historical nuances of its special relations with the West. In offering an overview both of China’s appearance in Victorian literature and of the developing field of Sino-British studies, this essay aims not only to draw attention to a previously overlooked aspect of Victorian literature and culture but to suggest the vital revisions of critical perspective occasioned by its exploration.
Sequence Homology and Role of Cysteine in Plant and Animal Arginine-rich Histones*

The two arginine-rich histones III and IV, isolated from pea buds and calf thymus glands, were separated by preparative disc electrophoresis and each was shown to be homogeneous by amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal analysis. Homologous arginine-rich components from calf thymus and pea bud were found to be extremely similar or identical in their amino- and carboxyl-terminal amino acids, amino acid compositions, electrophoretic mobilities, and tryptic peptide maps. The complex electrophoretic behavior of calf thymus histone III was shown to be artifactual and due to the formation of disulfide bridges between electrophoretically identical monomer units. Each monomer was found to contain 2 moles of cysteinyl residues per 20,000 g of protein (presumably 2 residues per molecule). Pea bud histone III was shown to differ from calf thymus histone III in that the former contains only 1 cysteinyl residue per molecule; thus only dimers can be formed by oxidative polymerization. It is proposed on the basis of the extensive sequence homology between calf and pea histone III that histone III performs the same function in pea and calf and that consequently no more than 1 cysteinyl residue per molecule may be required in histone III function. Thus calf thymus histone III polymers are artifacts of preparation. The question is raised: are histone III-nonhistone protein complexes, linked by disulfide bridges, biologically meaningful?
Nitrogen cycling in the Middle Atlantic Bight: Results from a three‐dimensional model and implications for the North Atlantic nitrogen budget

[1] The biogeochemistry of continental shelf systems plays an important role in the global elemental cycling of nitrogen and carbon, but remains poorly quantified. We have developed a high-resolution physical-biological model for the U.S. east coast continental shelf and adjacent deep ocean that is nested within a basin-wide North Atlantic circulation model in order to estimate nitrogen fluxes in the shelf area of the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB). Our biological model is a relatively simple representation of nitrogen cycling processes in the water column and organic matter remineralization at the water-sediment interface that explicitly accounts for sediment denitrification. Climatological and regionally integrated means of nitrate, ammonium, and surface chlorophyll are compared with its model equivalents and were found to agree within 1 standard deviation. We also present regional means of primary production and denitrification, and statistical measures of chlorophyll pattern variability. A nitrogen budget for the MAB shows that the sediment denitrification flux is quantitatively important in determining the availability of fixed nitrogen and shelf primary production (it was found to remove 90% of all the nitrogen entering the MAB). Extrapolation of nitrogen fluxes estimated for the MAB to the North Atlantic basin suggests that shelf denitrification removes 2.3 � 10 12 mol N annually; this estimate exceeds estimates of N2 fixation by up to an order of magnitude. Our results emphasize the importance of representing shelf processes in biogeochemical models.
Endorsement and Framing Effects in Experimental and Natural Settings: The Supreme Court, the Media and the American Public

Political communications scholars worry that the field is based almost entirely on experiments in artificial environments, and that key propositions have not yet been confirmed in natural settings. To address this concern, we conducted a study in a natural setting that confirms key theoretical propositions, and compares experimental and real-life treatments. We surveyed a representative sample of Americans shortly before and shortly after two Supreme Court decisions. We observe endorsement effects in natural settings, and find that the Supreme Court can increase support for controversial policies. We also observe framing effects, and find that people who watch news programs that emphasize the Court majority’s frame are especially likely to follow the Court’s lead. An experiment embedded in the post-decision survey illustrates that people who receive information for the first time in the course of an experiment respond in similar ways to people who receive it from the news media.
Depressed mood predicts pulmonary rehabilitation completion among women, but not men

Summary Background As many as 30% of patients who start pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) fail to complete it, and depressed mood has been associated with PR non-completion. Depression is more common in women than men with COPD and historically women with COPD have been under studied. However, no studies to date have investigated gender-specific predictors of PR completion. Methods The study included 111 patients with COPD who enrolled in a community based outpatient PR program in Providence, RI. Patients who attended 20 or more sessions were designated "completers". Depression was measured using the CES-D. Logistic regression models were evaluated to test depressed mood as a predictor of PR completion. Analyses controlled for demographic and health variables found to differ between completers and non-completers. Results Patients were 95% white and 49.5% women, and 74% had a GOLD stage ≥3. Sixty-eight percent of patients were PR completers. A logistic regression model, showed that lower depressed mood independently predicted PR completion across all patients (adjusted OR = 0.92, p = .002). In gender-stratified analyses, lower depressed mood was an independent predictor of PR completion for women (adjusted OR = .91, p = .024) but not men (adjusted OR = .97, p = .45). Greater 6-min walk test distance was also an independent predictor of PR completion among women. Conclusion Depressed mood is an important predictor of completion of community based PR among women. Screening and brief treatment of depression should be considered in practice.
Self-sufficiency at Ages 27 to 33 Years: Factors Present Between Birth and 18 Years That Predict Educational Attainment Among Children Born to Inner-city Families

Objectives. Some inner-city infants grow to be successful, self-sufficient adults. This study is designed to identify characteristics from early childhood that foster or impede favorable outcomes and are useful for formulation of public policy. Methods. Population : 2694 children (G-2s), born 1960 through 1965, to 2307 inner-city women (G-ls) enrolled in the Johns Hopkins Collaborative Perinatal Study. Data : 1) prospective observations (birth through 8 years) of neurologic and cognitive development, health, behavior, and family and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics and 2) completed interviews with 1758 G-2s (age 27 to 33) and 1552 G-ls, bridging the period from age 9 to present status. An intergenerational, life course model of development identified significant characteristics and events associated with G-2 outcome (education, physical and mental health, healthy lifestyle, and financial independence of public support, emphasizing educational attainment of a high school diploma or a graduate equivalency degree). Multiple logistic regression equations identified independent, predictive variables during infancy, preschool and early school years, and adolescence. The probability of a good outcome was estimated in the presence of combinations of the six variables most strongly associated with that outcome. Results. Among G-2s, 79% had a successful outcome for education, 60% health, 70% lifestyle, and 76% for financial independence. Black G-2s had more favorable outcomes than white G-2s in education and lifestyle, whites for financial outcome ; health did not differ by race. The six variables most predictive of adult education were : G-1 education at G-2 birth and G-2 attainment of honor roll, average or better reading skills at 8 years, avoidance of regular smoking, and pregnancy before age 18, and not repeating a grade in school. Conclusions. Substantial proportions of inner-city children become successful adults. Attention to improving public education, particularly language and reading skills, and the prevention of smoking and adolescent pregnancy are clearly indicated.
New environmentalism and Transition Pittsburgh

‘New environmentalism’ refers to efforts to create social and economic sustainability in local communities, emphasizing ‘Green entrepreneurship’ as a means of achieving its goals. New environmentalism is the type of diffuse, fluid movement not typically studied by social movement researchers. As a worldwide network of groups aiming to create sustainable communities, Transition exemplifies new environmentalism. This study examines the local Transition initiative in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using participant observation and in-depth interviews. We argue that the group’s fluid structure attracts grass-roots members, but may ultimately undermine its efficacy in mobilizing a social movement to achieve collective goals. Transition Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurial orientation and commitment to the open space model of organizing support a fluid movement, but limit its capacity to devise strategies and grow as an organization.
Energetics of cooperative binding of oligonucleotides with discrete dimerization domains to DNA by triple helix formation.

Abstract Cooperativity in oligonucleotide-directed sequence-specific recognition of DNA by triple helix formation can be enhanced by the addition of discrete dimerization domains. The equilibrium association constants for cooperative binding of oligonucleotides that dimerize by Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds and occupy adjacent sites on double helical DNA by triple helix formation have been measured by quantitative affinity cleavage titration. For two oligonucleotides that bind unique neighboring 11-bp and 15-bp sites on double helical DNA, and dimerize by formation of an 8-bp Watson-Crick mini-helix, the free energy of binding is -8.0 and -9.7 kcal.mol-1, respectively, and the cooperative energy of interaction is -2.3 kcal.mol-1 (1 kcal = 4.18 kJ). The energetics of this artificial nucleic acid cooperative intermolecular assembly can mimic naturally occurring cooperative protein-DNA systems, such as the phage lambda repressor.
Positive outcomes from an immediate and ongoing intervention for child witnesses of intimate partner violence.

OBJECTIVE: Children who witness intimate partner violence (IPV) experience many psychological and social problems similar to those of the victimized parent. Intervention programs for children who witness IPV have not been adequately evaluated. Two of the most important target areas in treating the children are to improve understanding that (1) the violence is not their fault and that (2) development of a safety plan is valuable in case of future violence. We evaluated a unique immediate and ongoing intervention program for children who witness adult IPV. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of progress report results both pre- and postintervention of an ongoing IPV intervention program. POPULATION AND INTERVENTION: The study was completed in a largely Hispanic city of 500,000. The intervention program included a number of unique aspects including immediate intervention at the time of police calls for adult IPV, children's art therapy and sand tray therapy, and a unique coloring book to establish a child safety plan in the event of recurrent IPV. Progress report forms included 16 qualitative questions that evaluated the child's understanding of various important concepts pre- and postintervention. INCLUSION: All children who entered the program in the last 3 years and had completed data sets for all 16 questions were included. Responses to questions pre- vs postintervention were compared using Wilcoxon signed ranks test. RESULTS: Fifty-eight children had complete data sets pre- and postintervention. Mean age was 8.5 +/- 3.5 years (range, 3-17), and 49% were male. Mean length of therapy was 7.4 +/- 5.2 months (range, 1-31), with a mean number of sessions of 9.7 +/- 11.7 (range, 1-59). For 15 of the 16 evaluation questions, a statistically significant improvement in postintervention evaluations compared with preintervention evaluations was found (P Language: en
1212 MINERAL METABOLIC PARAMETERS IN THE SERUM OF TERM INFANTS FOLLOWING THEIR SUPPLEMENTATION WITH VITAMIN D2, D3 or 25-HYDROXY VITAMIN D3

Mineral metabolic parameters were studied in 14 term infants supplemented from birth with vitamin D2, D3 or 25OHD3 for 16 wks. Serum was collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 wks. Samples were analyzed for: vitamin D2;D3;1, 25(OH)2;25OHD3;24, 25(OH)2D2;24, 25(OH)2D3;1, 25(OH)2D2;1, 25(OH)2D3;Ca++;PO4;PTH and alkaline phosphatase(AP). Bone mineral content(BMC) and bone width(BW) were determined on the radius at 8 and 16 wks. Serum levels of PO4, PTH, 1, 25(OH)2D and AP increased in infants following birth and remained elevated throughout the study. Infants supplemented with vitamin D2, D3 or 25(OH)D3 demonstrated a corresponding rise in the 25(OH) and 24, 25(OH)2 metabolites. However, supplemental vitamin D2, D3 or 25(OH)D3 demonstrated different abilities to elevate the infant's 25OHD status. On a weight basis, 25OHD3 was most effective at increasing the infant's 25OHD status(11.6ng 25OHD3/ml serum/1μg 25OHD3 intake) followed by D3(2.10ng 25OHD3/ml serum/1μg D3 intake) and D2(1.15ng 25OHD2/ml serum/1μg D2 intake). The infants demonstrated a substrate-product relationship for D3 vs 25OHD3(r=.7, p<.001), D2 vs 25OHD2(r=.8,p<.001), 25OHD2 vs 24, 25(OH)2D2(r=.7,p<.001) and 25OHD3 vs 24, 25(OH)2D3(r=.6, p<.001). 250HD and 1, 25(OH)2D serum levels did not correlate in infant serum. Serum Ca++ levels demonstrated an inverse correlation(-.22, p<.05) with serum 24, 25(OH)2D levels indicating a possible role of this metabolite in Ca homeostasis of the rapidly growing infant. BMC remained constant in all infants although BW increased between 8 and 16 weeks.
Cosolvent-buffer mixtures as models for the cytoplasmic milieu: The enzymology of adenosine aminohydrolase.

Adenosine aminohydrolase from calf intestinal mucosa is sensitive to changes in its environment produced by small mole fractions of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). At a mole fraction of 0.1 where the dielectric constant is lowered from that of 78 of neat water to about 76.5,Vmax was reduced by 65% and affinity for substrate (adenosine) and the two competitive inhibitors, inosine and N6-benzyladenosine, was decreased markedly. However, this decreased affinity was such that Ki/Km remained virtually constant for both inhibitors. DMSO itself showed the kinetics of a mixed inhibitor with Ki decreasing with increasing mole fraction. This cosolvent also decreased the heat stability of the enzyme which suggests that enzyme conformation is altered by DMSO.
Structure of an adaptive grid computational method from the viewpoint of dynamic chaos, part II: grid addition and probability distribution

Abstract Further advancement has been made in understanding the spatial-temporal dynamic structure of an adaptive grid computational method based on the concept of equidistribution. A one-dimensional convection-diffusion equation with source term is used as a model problem. The effects of the number of grid points on the behavior of the grid adaptation are studied. The intermittency scenario of the route to chaos is found to be identifiable to the variations of total number of grid points and free parameters in the weighting function. The spatial evolution of the structure of grid distribution can be observed from a collection of one-dimensional maps. The increase of the total number of grid points does not necessarily stabilize the grid adaptation procedure; the probability distribution function of grid locations indicate that the pattern of grid adaptation can become more complicated, from single-modal to multiple-modal shapes, with increasing number of total grid points. The histograms also reveal that the oscillations of grid locations can appear either as a series of short bursts or as continuously unsettling grid movements. The results presented show some success in unifying the scattered observations to form a more coherent understanding of the phenomena.
Phosphorylation of the α-subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2α) reduces protein synthesis and enhances apoptosis in response to proteasome inhibition

Protein ubiquitination and subsequent degradation by the proteasome are important mechanisms regulating cell cycle, growth and differentiation, and apoptosis. Recent studies in cancer therapy suggest that drugs that disrupt the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway induce apoptosis and sensitize malignant cells and tumors to conventional chemotherapy. In this study we addressed the role of phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2), and its attendant regulation of gene expression, in the cellular stress response to proteasome inhibition. Phosphorylation of eIF2alpha in mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) cells subjected to proteasome inhibition leads to a significant reduction in protein synthesis, concomitant with induced expression of the bZIP transcription regulator, ATF4, and its target gene CHOP/GADD153. The primary eIF2alpha kinase activated by exposure of these fibroblast cells to proteasome inhibition is GCN2 (EIF2AK4), which has a central role in the recognition of cytoplasmic stress signals. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is not effectively induced in MEF cells subjected to proteasome inhibition, with minimal activation of the ER stress sensory proteins, eIF2alpha kinase PEK (PERK/EIF2AK3), IRE1 protein kinase and the transcription regulator ATF6 following up to 6 h of proteasome inhibitor treatment. Loss of eIF2alpha phosphorylation thwarts caspase activation and delays apoptosis. Central to this pro-apoptotic function of eIF2alpha kinases during proteasome inhibition is the transcriptional regulator CHOP, as deletion of CHOP in MEF cells impedes apoptosis. We conclude that eIF2alpha kinases are integral to cellular stress pathways induced by proteasome inhibitors, and may be central to the efficacy of anticancer drugs that target the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway.
Why do minorities participate less? The effects of immigration, education, and electoral process on Asian American voter registration and turnout

Abstract Despite their interest in racial differences in voting behavior, especially those between Blacks and Whites, social scientists typically have not focused explicitly on the relatively low participation rates of Asian Americans. Using the Current Population Survey Voting and Registration Supplements (1994–2000), I evaluate the utility of four explanations (socioeconomic, acculturation, differential return, and institutional barriers) for the low voter participation rates of Asian Americans and other racial minorities. I introduce a statistical model that permits a simultaneous estimation of voter registration and turnout. My results are 4-fold. First, socioeconomic explanations are less effective in understanding White-Asian differences than other White-minority comparisons. Second, immigration status and length of residency in the United States, as primary indicators of acculturation, represent the major hurdles to both Asian Americans and Hispanics for registering, but much less so for their vote-casting. Third, the positive effect of education on voter participation is relatively limited for Asian Americans, especially compared with that of Whites. Fourth, institutional barriers, most notably registration requirements, have disproportionately screened Asian Americans, and to a lesser degree Hispanics, from the final stage of vote-casting. My counterfactual analyses suggest that the differences in voter turnout between Asian Americans and Whites would virtually disappear in the absence of voter registration.
Boson fields with bounded interaction densities

We consider interaction densities of the formV(φ(x)), where φ(x) is a scalar boson field andV(α) is a bounded real continuous function. We define the cut-off interaction by\(V_{\varepsilon ,r} = \int\limits_{\left| x \right|< r} {V(\phi _E (x))} \), where φE(x) is the momentum cut-off field. We prove that the scattering operator Ser(V) corresponding to the cut-off interaction exists, and we study the behavior of the scattering operator as well as the Heisenberg picture fields, as the cut-off is removed.
Diabetes burden and access to preventive care in the rural United States.

Context: National databases can be used to investigate diabetes prevalence and health care use. Guideline-based care can reduce diabetes complications and morbidity. Yet little is known about the prevalence of diabetes and compliance with diabetes care guidelines among rural residents and whether different national databases provide similar results. Purpose: To examine rural-urban differences in the prevalence of diabetes and compliance with guidelines, and to compare the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS). Methods: Data for 2001-2002 were analyzed and compared by rural-urban status. Prevalence was calculated as simple unadjusted, weighted unadjusted, and weighted adjusted using a multivariate approach. Results from the 2 databases were compared. Findings: A slightly higher prevalence of diabetes among rural residents, 7.9% versus 6.0% in MEPS and 7.6% versus 6.6% in BRFSS, was found and persisted after adjustment for age, BMI, insurance coverage, and other demographic characteristics (adjusted OR 1.16 [1.02-1.31] in MEPS; 1.19 [1.01-1.20] in BRFSS). Rural persons in MEPS were less likely to receive an annual eye examination (aOR = 0.85) and a feet check (aOR = 0.89). A significantly (P < .05) smaller proportion of rural residents in BRFSS received an annual eye examination (aOR = 0.88), feet check (aOR = 0.85), or diabetes education (aOR = 0.83). Rural residents in both datasets were more likely to get a quarterly HbA1c test done. Conclusion: Rural residents in both datasets had higher prevalence of diabetes. Though not always statistically significant, the trend was to less guideline compliance in rural areas.
Differential associations between alcohol expectancies and adolescent alcohol use as a function of childhood ADHD.

Objective:Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for experiencing alcohol-related problems. However, previous research has not examined alcohol expectancies, a widely studied risk factor for alcohol use, in this population. The current study examined mean differences in alcohol expectancies for adolescents with and without a history of childhood ADHD. The differential association between alcohol expectancies and alcohol use 1 year later as a function of ADHD status was also examined.Method:Two hundred and eighty-six adolescents ages 11–17 (ADHD: n = 165; non-ADHD: n = 121) reported their alcohol expectancies and alcohol use over a 1-year period as part of the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study.Results:Individuals with a history of ADHD had lower mean levels of alcohol expectancies compared with individuals without ADHD. Specifically, at Time 1, individuals with ADHD reported lower levels of sociability, cognitive and behavioral impairment, and liquid courage...
Systems approach to identification of feedback enhanced optical tweezers

Feedback enhanced optical tweezers, based on Proportional and Integral (PI) control, are routinely used for increasing the stiffness of optical traps. Digital implementation of PI controller, using DSP or FPGA, enables easy maneuverability of feedback gains. In this paper, we report occurrence of a peak in the thermal noise power spectrum of the trapped bead as the proportional gain is cranked up, which imposes a limit on how stiff a trap can be made using position feedback. We explain the reasons for the deviant behavior in the power spectrum and present a mathematical formula to account for the anomaly, which is in very good agreement with the experimental observations. Further, we present a new method to do the closed loop system identification of feedback enhanced optical tweezers by applying a frequency chirp. The system model thus obtained greatly predicts the closed loop behavior of our feedback based optical tweezers system.
Inhibitory control by one stimulus after an increase in the frequency of reinforcement associated with another stimulus

Pigeons were trained on a multiple variable-interval 5-min variable-interval 5-min schedule and then shifted to either a multiple variable-interval 1-min variable-interval 5-min or a multiple variable-interval 30-sec variable-interval 5-min schedule. A generalization test was subsequently administered along the dimension containing the stimulus associated with the variable-interval 5-min component. The generalization gradients for subjects that received multiple variable-interval 1-min variable-interval 5-min training were not consistent in shape. However, an incremental gradient was obtained from each subject that received multiple variable-interval 30-sec variable-interval 5-min training. Thus, a sufficiently large reduction in merely the relative frequency of reinforcement during a stimulus resulted in that stimulus’ acquiring inhibitory control over responding.
A multi-method approach to study robustness of social–ecological systems: the case of small-scale irrigation systems

Elinor Ostrom was a leader in using multiple methods to perform institutional analysis. In this paper, we discuss how a multi-method approach she pioneered may be used to study the robustness of social–ecological systems. We synthesize lessons learned from a series of studies on small-scale irrigation systems in which we use case-study analysis, experimental methods in laboratory and field settings, and mathematical models. The accumulated insights show the importance of creating institutional arrangements that fit the human ecology within the biophysical constraints of the system. The examples of work based on multiple methods approaches presented here highlight several lessons. For example, experimental work helps us better understand the details of how the ability to maintain trust relationships, low levels of inequality, and low transaction costs of coordination are critical for success. Likewise, the integration of case-study analysis and modeling helps us better understand how systems that can leverage biophysical characteristics to help address challenges of monitoring, sanctioning, and coordination may be able to increase their chances of success.