cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On solving two-stage distributionally robust disjunctive programs with a general ambiguity set

Abstract We introduce two-stage distributionally robust disjunctive programs (TSDR-DPs) with disjunctive constraints in both stages and a general ambiguity set for the probability distributions. The TSDR-DPs subsume various classes of two-stage distributionally robust programs where the second stage problems are non-convex programs (such as mixed binary programs, semi-continuous program, nonconvex quadratic programs, separable non-linear programs, etc.). TSDR-DP is an optimization model in which the degree of risk aversion can be chosen by decision makers. It generalizes two-stage stochastic disjunctive program (risk-neutral) and two-stage robust disjunctive program (most-conservative). To our knowledge, the foregoing special cases of TSDR-DPs have not been studied until now. In this paper, we develop decomposition algorithms, which utilize Balas’ linear programming equivalent for deterministic disjunctive programs or his sequential convexification approach within L-shaped method, to solve TSDR-DPs. We present sufficient conditions under which our algorithms are finitely convergent. These algorithms generalize the distributionally robust integer L-shaped algorithm of Bansal et al. (SIAM J. on Optimization 28: 2360-2388, 2018) for TSDR mixed binary programs, a subclass of TSDR-DPs. Furthermore, we formulate a semi-continuous program (SCP) as a disjunctive program and use our results for TSDR-DPs to solve general two-stage distributionally robust SCPs (TSDR-SCPs) and TSDR-SCP having semi-continuous inflow set in the second stage.
Experimental Tests of QCD

I would like to discuss the possibility of testing Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) in deep inelastic muon scattering from an experimental viewpoint. I will show you the instruments and quality of data that are available for such tests, and then an indication of what our very first attempts to make a comparison between these and QCD predictions in semi inclusive hadron production looks like. These results are very preliminary and in some cases merely suggestive of the possibilities that avail themselves. In all cases I think they are instructive.
Race, Postoperative Complications, and Death in Apparently Healthy Children.

BACKGROUND: That African American (AA) patients have poorer surgical outcomes compared with their white peers is established. The prevailing presumption is that these disparities operate within the context of a higher preoperative comorbidity burden among AA patients. Whether these racial differences in outcomes exist among apparently healthy children (traditionally expected to have low risk of postsurgical complications) has not been previously investigated. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study by analyzing the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program–Pediatric database from 2012 through 2017 and identifying children who underwent inpatient operations and were assigned American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 or 2. We used univariable and risk-adjusted logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of postsurgical outcomes comparing AA to white children. RESULTS: Among 172 549 apparently healthy children, the incidence of 30-day mortality, postoperative complications, and serious adverse events were 0.02%, 13.9%, and 5.7%, respectively. Compared with their white peers, AA children had 3.43 times the odds of dying within 30 days after surgery (odds ratio: 3.43; 95% CI: 1.73–6.79). Compared with being white, AA had 18% relative greater odds of developing postoperative complications (odds ratio: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.13–1.23) and 7% relative higher odds of developing serious adverse events (odds ratio: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01–1.14). CONCLUSIONS: Even among apparently healthy children, being AA is strongly associated with a higher risk of postoperative complications and mortality. Mechanisms underlying the established racial differences in postoperative outcomes may not be fully explained by the racial variation in preoperative comorbidity.
Comparing pediatric airway variability to standard laryngoscope sizes for 3D printing patient specific blades.

Commercially available pediatric laryngoscope blades have limited variability in shape and sizes. Difficult airway intubations may require physicians to improvise in their selection of a patient’s blade size and could potentially lead to physical trauma and complications. With advancements in three-dimensional (3D) imaging, modeling, and printing, we are introducing a method for the design and fabrication of patient specific pediatric laryngoscopes at the point of care and comparing our methods to current industry standards.
Review of Ted Galen Carpenter, Gullible Superpower: U.S. Support for Bogus Foreign Democratic Movements. Washington, D.C.: Cato Institute, 2019. Pp. 302. $24.95 Hardcover.

This is a review of Ted Galen Carpenter's book, Gullible Superpower: U.S. Support for Bogus Foreign Democratic Movements. Gullible Superpower highlights an important, yet often overlooked consequence of a proactive, militaristic foreign policy. Like domestic government policies, a government’s foreign policies create rents that otherwise would not exist. Acting like any other interest groups, foreign movements are often in the best position to capture these rents. Their lobbying efforts include investing in signaling their supposed commitment to “democracy” to political gatekeepers in the U.S. government. Where successful, these movements concentrate the benefits of the U.S. government’s foreign policy on their members while dispersing the costs on others. These “others” include American taxpayers, who incur the monetary costs of foreign support, and regional and global actors who suffer reductions in welfare due to the American government’s support for illiberal, and often brutal, movements. Yet another cost is the erosion of the very values that U.S. politicians claim to support. By actively supporting movements that are the antithesis of liberal values, U.S. politicians become the very thing they seek to combat. Among other things this frames how others around the globe view America and the rhetoric its government so confidently broadcasts. Instead of seeing the United States as a “city upon a shining hill,” they instead see the U.S. government as a hypocritical empire intervening in other societies to support illiberal movements in the pursuit of narrow interests.
Managing nonperennial headwater streams in temperate forests of the United States

Abstract Forest management guidelines are designed to protect water quality from unintended effects of land use changes such as timber harvest, mining, or forest road construction. Although streams that periodically cease to flow (nonperennial) drain the majority of forested areas, these streams are not consistently included in forest management guidelines. This paper reviews management guidelines for nonperennial (intermittent and ephemeral) streams draining temperate forests in the continental U.S., evaluates potential impacts of land use activities on ecosystem services provided by these streams, and identifies information needed to incorporate nonperennial streams into water quality protection practices. For federally administered lands, national management guidance is deliberately nonprescriptive, deferring to regional and forest-level recommendations for both perennial and nonperennial streams. Most state guidelines recommend riparian management zone (RMZ) protection for perennial streams (48/50 states) and intermittent streams (45/50 states), but only Alaska and West Virginia require RMZs around ephemeral streams. Based on the National Hydrography Dataset, an average of 58% of forested land area in the U.S. drains to nonperennial headwater streams, making these stream types the most common connectors between forested lands and the aquatic system. Land uses that modify flow regimes in these streams can affect sediment and organic matter transport and distribution, stream temperature dynamics, and biogeochemical processing. Nonperennial streams also provide material subsidies to downstream waters and serve as temporary habitats for some aquatic species. However, limited research has examined how forest land uses affect ecosystem services and biota in these streams. Therefore we highlight a set of key questions about nonperennial streams in forests, not the least of which is simply understanding where headwater stream channels are located and associated patterns of flow duration. Although many questions remain, we also note where recent advances in data collection, modeling and process-level research provide opportunties to resolve uncertainties around nonperennial streams in forested landscapes of the continental U.S.
Creativity and Resilience in LGBT Organizing in Nigeria after the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act

In Nigeria, The Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, ratified by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, criminalized all kinds of same-sex relationships among LGBTQ Nigerians, including nonsexual relationships such as participation in gay-affiliated groups and organizations. The 2014 Act extended existing sections of the Penal Code that already criminalized same-sex sex. This paper examines how Nigerian LGBTQ organizations and other social justice oriented organizations operating in health and development have strategically responded to this sudden and dramatic change in political and popular sentiment towards LGBTQ-identified Nigerians following the passage of this new law. Despite increases in hostility, arrests, and harassment since 2014, interviews with activists and some government officials suggest that work targeting LGBTQ-identified populations continues and has adopted new forms, such as trainings for securing personal information on cell phones and safely navigating online dating, developing targeted campaigns for media and police, and strategically emphasizing rights to health and access to HIV treatment among "key populations," which is in line with global HIV funding priorities. We examine these strategies through Currier's managed visibility framework and consider the ramifications of these new strategies for constituent mobilization, coalition building, and the advancement of rights claims.
Victorian Honeymoons: Journeys to the Conjugal

While Victorian tourism and Victorian sexuality have been the subject of much critical interest, there has been little research on a characteristically nineteenth-century phenomenon relating to both sex and travel: the honeymoon, or wedding journey. Although the term 'honeymoon' was coined in the eighteenth century, the ritual increased in popularity throughout the Victorian period, until by the end of the century it became a familiar accompaniment to the wedding for all but the poorest classes. Using letters and diaries of 61 real-life honeymooning couples, as well as novels from Frankenstein to Middlemarch that feature honeymoon scenarios, Michie explores the cultural meanings of the honeymoon, arguing that, with its emphasis on privacy and displacement, the honeymoon was central to emerging ideals of conjugality and to ideas of the couple as a primary social unit.
Reply to Ellery Eells

Not surprisingly, I do not agree with Ellery Eells that in his example “C is causally neutral for E.” I do agree that C “doesn’t affect the chance of E’s occurring,” nevertheless I think that it is a true causal “law” in Eells’ constructed universe that C’s cause E’s. It is also a true law that C’s prevent E’s. His example resembles in this respect the version of Hesslow’s example in which the contraceptives both cause and prevent thrombosis although, all-told, they leave the probabilities unaffected.
Commentary: Physical and Mental Health of Contemporary Chinese Children

Cet article propose un commentaire du rapport presente par Sun Hongyan dans le present numero, et consacre a la sante physique et mentale des enfants chinois
On the dynamic performance of the Abbott Safeset blood-conserving arterial line system.

Objective. Critically ill patients frequently have indwelling arterial lines placed during their Intensive Care Unit stay. The lines are used to monitor blood pressure continuously, administer drugs and to draw blood for a variety of physiologic tests. Several blood-conserving arterial line systems have been developed to eliminate the need to discard blood in the process of obtaining undiluted and uncontaminated blood samples. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dynamic performance of one such system – the Abbott Clinical Care System Safeset™ blood conserving arterial line system – in comparison to a conventional arterial line system. Methods. We studied ninety-nine patients who had indwelling arterial lines placed during surgery and who were admitted to our Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). The patients were randomly placed into one of two groups. The control group received a conventional indwelling arterial line system; the experimental group received the Abbott Safeset™ system. We measured the damping coefficient and resonant frequency daily in order to evaluate and compare the dynamic performance of the two systems. We also measured discard volumes (in the control group) and blood sample sizes during the patients’ stays in the SICU. Results. The two patient groups were similar in regards to demographics and baseline clinical characteristics. A median 3 ml of blood per draw and 17.5 ml of blood per patient was discarded in purging the conventional arterial line system while, by design, no blood was discarded with the experimental system. There was no difference between the two groups with regard to damping coefficient. Both systems were underdamped. However, the conventional arterial line system had a significantly higher resonant frequency (16.7 Hz) compared to the Safeset™ system (12.5 Hz). Conclusions. Because the Abbott Safeset™ blood-conserving arterial line system is underdamped and has a lower resonant frequency compared to the traditional arterial system, it may overestimate systolic blood pressure, particularly in patients with high heart rates.
Load-balanced location management for cellular mobile systems using quorums and dynamic hashing

This paper presents a new distributed location management strategy for cellular mobile systems. Its salient features are fast location update and query, load balancing among location servers, and scalability. The strategy employs dynamic hashing techniques and quorums to manage location update and query operations. The proposed strategy does not require a home location register (HLR) to be associated with each mobile node. Location updates and queries for a mobile node are multicast to subsets of location servers, which change with time depending on the location of mobile node/querying node and load on the servers. Simulation experiments demonstrate that such dynamism prevents situations of heavy load on some location servers when mobile nodes are not uniformly distributed in space, or when some mobile nodes have their location updated or queried more often than others. Also, queries return the latest location information of a mobile node with a very high probability. The proposed scheme requires at most one unicast and two rounds of message multicasting for location update and query operations. All multicast messages have a small payload and are restricted to the high bandwidth wired part of the mobile network resulting in low communication overhead. Moreover, if a quorum of location servers gets overloaded, part of its load can be transferred to another lightly loaded quorum using dynamic hashing techniques.
Expression of Wound Tumor Virus Gene Products In Vivo and In Vitro

Infection of Agallia constricta vector cell monolayers with wound tumor virus results in the synthesis of 12 virus-specific polypeptides. Confirmation that these polypeptides are virus encoded rather than virus induced was obtained by cell-free translation of in vitro synthesized viral mRNA. In addition, transcription by purified wound tumor virus particles was coupled with translation of the resulting transcripts in a wheat embryo cell-free extract. Six previously described structural polypeptides, one presumptive structural polypeptide, and five previously unidentified nonstructural polypeptides were synthesized in infected vector cell monolayers, in cell-free extracts directed by in vitro synthesized viral mRNA, and in the homologous plant cell-free system, in which viral transcription was coupled with translation. Pulse-chase experiments revealed no evidence of precursor-product relationships for the wound tumor virus-specific polypeptides.
Giant superconducting anisotropy in Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8+ delta.

Using torque magnetometry, the superconducting anisotropy of a single crystal of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Ca}}_{1}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8+\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ has been measured in the temperature range 77.5lTl83 K (${T}_{c}$=85 K). The data provide direct experimental evidence for a giant anisotropy. A London analysis provides an excellent description of the results and establishes a temperature-independent value of 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{3}$ for the superconducting effective-mass anisotropy.
Imaging Receptor Changes in Human Drug Abusers

This chapter will review the literature on differences in the brain chemistry of alcohol- and drug-dependent individuals compared to healthy controls as measured with positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography. Specifically, alterations in dopamine, serotonin, opioid, and GABA systems in cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, and heroin dependence have been examined. These neurochemical systems are integrated and play significant roles in a final common pathway mediating addiction in the brain. One recurrent finding is that dopaminergic dysfunction is prevalent in both alcohol and drug dependent populations, and specifically there is a lower availability of dopamine type 2/3 receptors in cocaine-, alcohol-, nicotine-, and heroin-dependent individuals compared to healthy controls. The development of novel radiotracers that target additional receptor systems will further our understanding of the neurochemical basis of addiction.
Biochemical Studies of Two Bacillus pumilus Plasmids

Abstract Bacillus pumilus NRS 576 harbored an estimated two copies per chromosome of a covalently closed, circular (CCC) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule, the 576 plasmid. The 576 plasmid has a buoyant density of 1.698 g/cm3 and a molecular weight of about 28 × 106. Plasmid copy number remained about the same in both exponentially growing and stationary-phase cells. Spontaneous variants of NRS 576 that formed spores at an elevated frequency were designated as W mutants. W mutants appeared to have lost the 576 plasmid on the basis of the following: W mutants (38 tested) lacked detectable CCC DNA, and the majority of the plasmid homologous sequences in bulk NRS 576 DNA were absent from bulk W mutant DNA. B. pumilus ATCC 7065 harbored at least 10 copies per chromosome of a CCC DNA element, the 7065 plasmid. The 7065 plasmid has a buoyant density of 1.696 g/cm3 and a molecular weight of about 6 × 106. Although the copy number of the plasmid appeared to remain the same in exponentially growing and stationary-phase cells, an additional CCC form of higher molecular weight was detected in stationary-phase cells.
State Fragility and Structural Gender Inequality in Family Law: An Empirical Investigation

In this paper we examine the linkage of male-dominant family law systems and levels of nation-state security and stability. We expect such societies to be predisposed to parasitical rent-seeking and inefficiency, combined with coercive conflict resolution, resulting in higher levels of violence within the society. We demonstrate empirically that states with inequitable family law also exhibit higher levels of state fragility. Using standard indicators of state stability and security, our empirical results show that the ability to predict levels of state stability and security is significantly enhanced by examining a measure of Inequity in Family Law in addition to more conventional explanatory variables such as literacy rate, level of democracy, and civilizational influence.
Correlation Between Pathogenicity of Shigella and Intraperitoneal Survival in Mice

Phagocytosis of virulent and avirulent strains of Shigella and Escherichia coli in the mouse peritoneum was studied. A direct correlation between bacterial virulence and resistance to phagocytosis by peritoneal phagocytes was demonstrated. Virulent strains were less readily cleared and were able to multiply to a limited extent within the peritoneal cavity. An epimerase-deficient, rough mutant of S. flexneri 2a was highly susceptible to phagocytosis. Restoration of the cell wall structure in these mutants resulted in a significant increase in their resistance to phagocytosis. Susceptibility to phagocytosis in smooth S. flexneri was age-dependent. Cells from 16-hr cultures were more resistant to removal from the peritoneum than were cells from 48- and 72-hr cultures.
Synthesis of monodisperse polymer microspheres by photopolymerization of microdroplets

We have examined photopolymerization of highly monodisperse microdroplets of monomer solutions under UV-light radiation. Microdroplets were generated using a modified vibrating aerosol generator, and the diameter of the droplets can be tuned to any size between 5 to 100 ${\upmu}$ m. Polymer particles derived from the droplets were characterized by optical microscopy and SEM. The results show that the polymer particles, under optimum conditions, can be highly spherical and monodisperse. The diameter and morphology of resulting microspheres depend on the diameter of the monomer solution droplets, monomer concentration, photopolymerization reaction temperature, residence time, and droplet dispersion.
Osteoporosis and physical activity.

Bone involution poses serious health risks for aging women. Bone mass is subject to both local (mechanical) and systemic (hormonal) homeostatic control mechanisms. The local forces acting on bone are due to gravity and muscular contraction. There are several theories concerning the mechanisms of local control. When bent, bone functions as a piezoelectric crystal with calcium accumulation on the negatively charged concave surface. Microfractures that occur in response to stress greater than normal levels stimulate osteoclastic activity to remove the damaged structure. Studies of astronauts and immobilized subjects have consistently found bone atrophy. The degree of bone loss is related to the difference in levels of stress normally applied and those at bedrest in the site studied. Correspondingly, athletes have greater bone mass than the sedentary population, with the greatest hypertrophy found in the areas most stressed. Exercise intervention also promotes bone hypertrophy. Both middle-aged and elderly women increase bone mass or reduce the rate of loss in response to physical activity intervention programs. Language: en
Differential binding modes of diacylglycerol (DAG) and DAG lactones to protein kinase C (PK-C).

Diacylglycerol lactones (DAG lactones), analogous to highly potent diacylglycerols (DAGs) were synthesized to demonstrate the ability of PK-C to discriminate between two differential binding modes, sn-1 and sn-2. While both sn-1 and sn-2 binding modes are allowable in terms of hydrogen bonding, it has been found that in general, DAGs prefer to bind sn-1, while the corresponding analogous DAG lactones prefer to bind sn-2. However, this binding orientation can be directly influenced by the disposition and nature of the acyl substituent, particularly if it is highly branched. When the “binding driving force” (i.e., the larger branched acyl chain) is in the sn-2 position, a dramatic increase in binding affinity is observed in the DAG lactone as compared to its open chain DAG counterpart. As these analogous DAGs and DAG lactones have almost identical log P values, this difference in binding affinity is a direct result of the entropic advantage of constraining the glycerol backbone.
Observation of Two-Photon Absorption without Doppler Broadening on the 3 S − 5 S Transition in Sodium Vapor

The $3S\ensuremath{-}5S$ transition of Na atoms is induced by absorption of two photons, one each from two circularly polarized beams traveling in opposite directions through the vapor. The beams are derived from a tunable, narrow-band pulsed dye laser. Doppler broadening is absent and the hyperfine structure is resolved. The hyperfine interaction constant ${A}_{5S}$ in the $5S$ state of the ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}$ atom is determined to be 101\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15 MHz.
Psychiatric Disorder Among American Indian Adolescents: Prevalence in Northern Plains Youth

ABSTRACT This article presents data on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among American Indian adolescents, using DSM-III-R criteria. Objective To generate current prevalence data using a structured diagnostic instrument, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Version 2.1C (DISC-2.1C). Method Youths from a Northern Plains tribe who had participated in an earlier study comprised the sample. At reinterview, respondents were between 14 and 16 years of age, when Indian adolescents are thought to be at particularly high risk for manifesting emotional disorders. One hundred nine of the original sample of 251 were still in schools on the reservation. Trained indigenous lay interviewers administered the DISC-2.1C to respondents in a private setting within the school. Results The findings indicate that rates of some psychiatric problems (e.g., disruptive behavior disorders, substance-related disorders, and their comorbidity) are high among these high school students. Conclusions These data, as well as national statistics, suggest that, compared with non-Indian populations, a greater percentage of Northern Plains adolescents manifest significant psychiatric symptoms which warrant treatment.
Aesthetic and ecological disharmonies of highways

This paper discusses the aesthetic and ecological effects of highways. Little is known about the subject at the present time, and thus this treatment cannot be considered in any sense definitive.
Activity and structural changes of purified kallikrein with detergent treatment.

Abstract The esterase activity of rat urinary kallikrein is increased up to fourfold by the anionic detergent, deoxycholate and the nonionic detergents, Triton X-100, Lubrol PX, and Brij 58. The cationic detergents, benzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride and cetyltri-methylammonium bromide, inhibit kallikrein activity. Certain trypsin inhibitors stimulate kallikrein activity but this stimulation is not observed when kallikrein is preincubated with deoxycholate. In addition, deoxycholate weakens the inhibition of kallikrein activity by Trasylol. Deoxycholate-induced conformational changes of kallikrein are noted by a change in circular dichroism spectra in the far and near ultraviolet region. A maximal change of ellipticity at 275 nm suggests binding of deoxycholate to kallikrein at or around the tyrosine residue(s) or changes in the microenvironment of these residue(s).
Scintillation response of CaF2 to H and He over a continuous energy range

Abstract Recent demands for new radiation detector materials with improved γ-ray detection performance at room temperature have prompted research efforts on both accelerated material discovery and efficient techniques that can be used to identify material properties relevant to detector performance. New material discovery has been limited due to the difficulties of large crystal growth to completely absorb γ-energies; whereas high-quality thin films or small crystals of candidate materials can be readily produced by various modern growth techniques. In this work, an ion-scintillator technique is demonstrated that can be applied to study scintillation properties of thin films and small crystals. The scintillation response of a benchmark scintillator, europium-doped calcium fluoride (CaF 2 :Eu), to energetic proton and helium ions is studied using the ion-scintillator approach based on a time-of-flight (TOF) telescope. Excellent energy resolution and fast response of the TOF telescope allow quantitative measurement of light yield, nonlinearity and energy resolution over an energy range from a few tens to a few thousands of keV.
Disposal of municipal waste water through forest irrigation

Abstract Serious pollution problems are often created by the disposal of municipal waste water into surface waters. An obvious alternative method is diversion of these waste waters to the land. Such non-aqueous methods of disposal might eliminate or alleviate many water pollution problems and, in some cases, could even provide secondary benefits such as recharge of groundwater reservoirs, and increased production of crops and wood fibre. Research results indicate that, with properly programmed application rates, large volumes of waste water can be satisfactorily renovated through irrigation of forestland, and considerable amounts of high-quality water recharged to the ground-water reservoir. In addition, secondary benefits such as increased tree growth, increased site productivity, and site amelioration have also been obtained. The deliberate reclamation of waste water for potential reuse is one of the keys to optimum utilisation of our water resources. Such reclamation for reuse will receive increased attention in the future as we struggle to improve our environment and maintain an equilibrium with nature.
Comparison of Three Methods of Size Grading Channel Catfish Stockers

Abstract The stocking of size-graded catfish into production ponds should increase production efficiency, but grading large numbers of fish with existing technology is laborious. We evaluated the effectiveness of a mechanical grader recently developed at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) relative to that of box and sock graders and assessed injuries sustained by stocker channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus during grading. Three 0.25-acre ponds were stocked at 11,777 lb/acre. Initial total length (TL) ranged from 6.3 to 15.7 in, and initial weight of individuals ranged from 0.04 to 1.10 lb. The fish population in each pond was divided into three groups graded with the box grader, UAPB grader, or sock grader. Fish were graded twice with the box and UAPB graders; a bar spacing of 13/32 in was used to grade off small fish and a spacing of 13/8 in to grade off large fish. Sock grader mesh size was 13/8 in. Mean weights and lengths of the size-classes produced by grading (small, medium, and large) ...
Trends in Ground-State Entropies for Transition Metal Based Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reactions

Reported herein are thermochemical studies of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions involving transition metal H-atom donors MIILH and oxyl radicals. [FeII(H2bip)3]2+, [FeII(H2bim)3]2+, [CoII(H2bim)3]2+, and RuII(acac)2(py-imH) [H2bip = 2,2′-bi-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine, H2bim = 2,2′-bi-imidazoline, acac = 2,4-pentandionato, py-imH = 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole)] each react with TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxyl) or tBu3PhO• (2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxyl) to give the deprotonated, oxidized metal complex MIIIL and TEMPOH or tBu3PhOH. Solution equilibrium measurements for the reaction of [CoII(H2bim)3]2+ with TEMPO show a large, negative ground-state entropy for hydrogen atom transfer, −41 ± 2 cal mol−1 K−1. This is even more negative than the ΔS°HAT = −30 ± 2 cal mol−1 K−1 for the two iron complexes and the ΔS°HAT for RuII(acac)2(py-imH) + TEMPO, 4.9 ± 1.1 cal mol−1 K−1, as reported earlier. Calorimetric measurements quantitatively confirm the enthalpy of reaction for [FeII(H2bip)3]2+ + TEMPO, thu...
A note on the solution of the Schroedinger equation in momentum space

We describe a simple method for solving the integral form of the Schroedinger equation in momentum space. For positive energies (the scattering problem) the potential must vanish in coordinate space faster thanr−1 forr ∼∞. We have tested the method for the Yukawa potential (at positive energies) and the Coulomb potential (at negative energies).
Integral Equation Theory for the Interactions between Passivated Nanocrystals in Supercritical Fluids: Solvophobic and Solvophilic Cases

A study of the interactions between nanocrystals in supercritical fluids for the solvophobic and solvophilic cases is presented. The model for the nanocrystal consists of a highly polarizable core and a passivation layer, both of which are uniformly composed of Lennard-Jones particles. A nonlocal integral equation theory is applied to study the excess and total potential of mean force between the nanocrystals. The effects of solvent density, and thickness and density of passivation layer, on the total potential of mean force and on solubility of nanocrystals in solutions is discussed. Important differences observed between solvophobic and solvophilic cases are analyzed in terms of the local solvent density profile around the nanocrystals. Interesting characteristic features, such as the disappearance of anomalous behavior previously reported by us for nonpassivated attractive solutes, are predicted. Certain qualitative feature observed in experimental studies of nanocrystal interactions in supercritical s...
Sympathetic cooling of trapped ions: A laser-cooled two-species nonneutral ion plasma.

Sympathetic cooling of trapped ions has been demonstrated in an experiment where $^{198}\mathrm{Hg}^{+}$ ions were confined in a Penning ion trap with laser-cooled $^{9}\mathrm{Be}^{+}$ ions. $^{198}\mathrm{Hg}^{+}$ temperatures below 1 K were achieved. Ion plasma sizes, shapes, and rotation frequencies were measured. Dramatic changes in the $^{9}\mathrm{Be}^{+}$ plasma were observed when the $^{198}\mathrm{Hg}^{+}$ ions were introduced into the trap. These observations are consistent with the prediction of centrifugal separation for ions of different charge-to-mass ratios.
COPD in perspective.

In the last 200 years or so, the recognition, diagnosis, and understanding of the pathogenesis of COPD have evolved considerably. Over the past few decades, various definitions of COPD and its "components" also have developed. Despite this, however, the treatment options for patients with this relentlessly progressive disorder are relatively limited. In the mid-19th century, the introduction of the spirometer yielded a powerful tool for the diagnosis of COPD. The currently available small, cheap spirometers hold great promise to help patients and their physicians closely monitor lung function. Early recognition of the close associations among emphysema and, more recently, small airways disease, and impaired airflow is discussed. This review also stresses the importance of the identification of COPD in its initial stages and the early onset of appropriate treatment. The therapy for COPD has changed in the last 40 years. Drug therapies in the 1960s included potassium iodide and ephedrine. Corticosteroids were not used, and oxygen therapy and exercise were actually contraindicated. Modern therapy for COPD is now more systematic and includes the use of bronchodilators and corticosteroids to improve airflow, in addition to oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and, in selected patients, lung volume reduction surgery. The causal link between the chronic inhalation of tobacco smoke and COPD is beyond doubt, and smoking cessation remains the most important goal for patients. It is hoped that new, more effective therapies will soon be available for the treatment of this disabling disorder to provide improvement in symptoms and patient quality of life and to reduce or stop the rate of disease progression and mortality in patients with COPD.
Non-Abelian bremsstrahlung in a quark-gluon plasma

Non-Abelian induced bremsstrahlung associated with multiple scattering of high-energy parton in a quark-gluon plasma is investigated in the context of semiclassical gauge-covariant kinetic theory. New collisions terms are derived involving the scattering of virtual gluons by the self-charge of the high-energy parton (Compton bremsstrahlung) as well as by dynamical polarization (nonlinear bremsstrahlung).
Elastomer modified polypropylene–polyethylene blends as matrices for wood flour–plastic composites

Abstract Blends of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) could potentially be used as matrices for wood–plastic composites (WPCs). The mechanical performance and morphology of both the unfilled blends and wood-filled composites with various elastomers and coupling agents were investigated. Blending of the plastics resulted in either small domains of the minor phase in a matrix of major phase or a co-continuous morphology if equal amounts of HDPE and PP were added. The tensile moduli and yield properties of the blends were clearly proportional to the relative amounts of HDPE and PP in the blends. However, the nominal strain at break and the notched Izod impact energies of HDPE were greatly reduced by adding as little as 25% of the PP. Adding an ethylene–propylene–diene (EPDM) elastomer to the blends, reduced moduli and strength but increased elongational properties and impact energies, especially in HDPE-rich blends. Adding wood flour to the blends stiffened but embrittled them, especially the tougher, HDPE-rich blends, though the reductions in performance could be offset somewhat by adding elastomers and coupling agents or a combination of both.
Notch1 Signaling Promotes the Maturation of CD4 and CD8 SP Thymocytes

Notch proteins regulate many developmental processes. Notch1 is highly expressed on thymocytes, but its role in regulating their development is not known. We show that activation of Notch1 signaling in CD4+CD8+ double positive thymocytes promotes the maturation of both CD4+ and CD8+ single positive thymocytes and that this occurs in the absence of interactions between the T cell receptor and MHC molecules expressed on thymic epithelial cells. We have also identified several genes that are transcriptionally regulated by Notch1 in T cells and show that they are upregulated during maturation into both single positive lineages. These observations suggest that Notch1 signaling plays a role in promoting maturation into both the CD4 and CD8 T cell lineages.
Tangential vs Sagittal Videokeratographs in the “Early” Detection of Keratoconus

Purpose To illustrate the difference between tangential and sagittal videokeratographs in the "early" (subclinical) detection of keratoconus. Methods The clinically normal fellow eye of a patient with unilateral keratoconus was studied with a topographer, which can display both a sagittal and a tangential map on the same page using the same color scale. Results The tangential map depicted a pattern more consistent with keratoconus and provided a maximum power of 51 diopters compared with the 46 diopters of the sagittal map. Conclusions Tangential videokeratographs, derived from instantaneous radius of curvature algorithms, may be more useful than sagittal displays for detecting subtle corneal topographic abnormalities.
Hip fracture in the older patient: reasons for delay in hospitalization and timing of surgical repair.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the interval between injury and hospitalization in older hip fracture patients, to quantify the time from hospital arrival to surgical repair of hip fracture, and to describe factors contributing to extended intervals between injury, hospitalization, and surgical repair of hip fracture. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Four hospitals in the New York City metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients aged 50 and older admitted with diagnosis of hip fracture to these four hospitals between August 1997 and August 1998. MEASUREMENTS: Time of injury, time of arrival to the emergency room, and time of surgery were recorded and used to calculate intervals between injury and hospital arrival and between hospital arrival and surgical repair. RESULTS: Of the 571 patients enrolled, 99 (17%) arrived at the hospital more than 24 hours after injury. After hospital arrival, 17 (3%) patients did not have surgery, 166 (29%) had surgery within 24 hours of arrival, and 388 (68.0%) had surgery more than 24 hours after arrival (median 41 hours, range 25–584). For those patients who had surgery after 24 hours, 163 (29.4%) had surgery 25 to 36 hours after hospital arrival, 102 (18.4%) had surgery 37 to 48 hours after arrival, and 123 (22.2%) had surgery more than 48 hours after arrival. The primary reasons for delaying surgery more than 24 hours after hospital arrival were waiting for routine medical clearance (52%) and unavailability of the operating suite or surgeon (29%). Stabilization of associated medical conditions resulted in the lengthiest periods of delay. CONCLUSION: A wait time of more than 24 hours from hospitalization to surgical repair of hip fracture in older patients is common. Some of this delay time is patient related and some occurs because of systems factors and may be avoidable. The extent to which surgical timing affects survival and functional recovery needs more detailed examination.
A study of the cholinolytic actions of strychnine using the technique of concentration jump relaxation analysis

1. The blocking actions of strychnine on excitatory acetylcholine (ACh) responses in isolated, voltage clampedAplysia neuronal cell bodies has been studied using a rapid drug application technique. 2. Rapid microperfusion of strychnine (10–50µM) produced a reduction of the steady-state ACh-induced inward current inAplysia neurons which decayed exponentially with a highly dose-dependent time constant. At the cessation of strychnine perfusion the ACh-induced current recovered to its original value with an exponential time course which was not sensitive to the dose of strychnine previously applied. 3. The calculated association (k1) and dissociation (k-1) constants for a pseudo-first-order reaction between strychnine and its binding site werek1 = 1.2 × 104M−1 · sec−1 andk-1 = 0.12 sec−1 (KD = 1 × 10−5M−1). 4. These results demonstrate that concentration jump relaxation experiments can be performed on isolated neurons for the study of voltage-independent antagonists by the use of rapid microperfusion systems and provide the first direct estimates to date of the rate constants of the cholinolytic effect of strychnine.
Low-dimensional models for describing mixing effects in laminar flow tubular reactors

Abstract The Liapunov–Schmidt (LS) technique of bifurcation theory is used to average the convective-diffusion equation in the transverse direction and obtain low-dimensional two-mode models that describe mixing effects in laminar flow tubular reactors. For the isothermal case, these models are described by a pair of equations involving two modes, namely, the spatially averaged (〈 C 〉) and the mixing-cup ( C m ) concentration vectors. The first equation traces the evolution of C m with residence time, while the second is a local balance equation that describes local mixing as an exchange between the reaction scale (represented by 〈 C 〉) and the convection scale (represented by C m ) in terms of the local mixing time . The LS method also shows that such low-dimensional description is possible only if the local Damkohler number (ratio of local mixing time to reaction time) satisfies the convergence criteria of being less than 0.858. It is shown that the two-mode models have the same accuracy as the infinite (radial) mode convection model, within the range of validity of the latter. The two-mode models for homogeneous reactors have many similarities with the classical two-phase models for heterogeneous catalytic reactors, with the transfer coefficient concept (between surface and mixing cup concentrations, C S and C m , respectively) being replaced by that of an exchange coefficient (between 〈 C 〉 and C m ). Examples are presented to illustrate the usefulness of the two-mode models in predicting the effects of non-identical local mixing times, non-uniform reactant feeding and non-linear kinetics on conversion and yields of products for single and multiple reactions in laminar flow tubular reactors.
Finding minimax codes for discrete and continuous classes of sources

This paper suggests a signal processing method for finding the minimax codes which minimize the maximum redundancies over a class of sources with either a discrete or a continuous alphabet, and where relative entropy (cross entropy; discrimination information) is a criterion to measure the redundancy. A complexity analysis and numerical studies demonstrate the efficiency of the method.
Monte Carlo evaluation of multivariate normal probabilities

Abstract This paper extends research on the simulation of multivariate normal probabilities of high-order dimension by developing a new family of simulators. Such simulators are useful for models with limited dependent variables, including multinomial probit, in panel studies, spatial analysis, and time series analysis. The simulators are derived from a Cholesky decomposition of the covariance matrix, combined with a suitable choice of an importance sampling distribution. The paper studies, among others, the impact of antithetical sampling. The insights gained in this paper are of use in Bayesian analysis as well, in the evaluation of posterior densities.
Comorbidity in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

The growing literature shows the pervasiveness and importance of comorbidity in youth with bipolar disorder (BPD). For instance, up to 90% of youth with BPD have been described to manifest comorbidity with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Multiple anxiety, substance use, and disruptive behavior disorders are the other most commonly reported comorbidities with BPD. Moreover, important recent data highlight the importance of obsessive–compulsive and pervasive developmental illness in the context of BPD. Data suggest that not only special developmental relationships are operant in the context of comorbidity but also that the presence of comorbid disorders with BPD results in a more severe clinical condition. Moreover, the presence of comorbidity has therapeutic implications for the treatment response for both BPD and the associated comorbid disorder. Future longitudinal studies to address the relationship and the impact of comorbid disorders on course and therapeutic response over time are required in youth with BPD.
Interference from multiple cations in MALDI-MS spectra of copolymers

Abstract A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectral (MALDI–FTMS) investigation of copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl methacrylate (BMA) is reported here. A key to the analysis of copolymers by mass spectrometry is the accurate assignment of a unique composition to each ion signal observed in a spectrum. In the present case, the spectra reveal numerous ions with nominal mass separations of 16 Da. This results from the presence of oligomers differing in composition by three extra MMA units and two lesser BMA units. Lithium–sodium and sodium–potassium adduct pairs produce ions that also differ by a nominal mass of 16 Da. Therefore, ambiguous assignments of compositions are possible, especially when the identities of the cations are unknown. When cesium ions are added to the sample, the adducts produced allow high resolution Fourier transform mass spectra to be used for assignment of unambiguous compositions to ions. Spectra with overlap from multiple cations were compared with the cesium adduct spectra using a mathematical analysis of relative ion abundances to determine the fraction of ionization that each cation contributed. When two cations were simultaneously added to a sample, the resulting fraction of ionization by one of the cations was related to the ratio of the two added salts. This relationship is well described by an empirical equation that allows the prediction of the ionization fraction for a given ratio and vice versa.