cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Service Corporation International and Note on Value Drivers

SUBJECT AREAS: Managing growth and value creation, acquisition strategy, venture capital, capital structure, financial and competitive strategy. CASE SETTING: July 1995, USA, funeral homes (death care industry), $1.7 billion sales, growth company. This case is part of a module on managing growth and value creation in an advanced corporate finance course. An overview note (Note on Value Drivers) provides a theoretical framework for the module while individual cases highlight specific value drivers. For example, this case focuses on acquisitions as a form of investment and challenges students to understand the relation between growth and value creation. The case opens as Service Corporation International (SCI), the world's largest funeral services company, has just announced its acquisition of two French death care companies for $423 million. This acquisition is the culmination of a 30-year acquisition program which has transformed SCI from being a single, Houston-based funeral home to an international company owning 2,680 funeral homes and 320 cemeteries around the world. Through acquisitions, SCI has grown, and expects to grow, in earnings per share, sales, and operations at 20% per year even though underlying demand--the death rate--is growing at approximately 1% per year. SCI's Chief Financial Officer, George Champagne, is worried that investors do not understand SCI's growth strategy and its ability to create value. In addition, he is concerned about how to finance future growth and what constitutes an appropriate capital structure for a high- growth company. SCI creates value by acquiring funeral homes, incorporating them into clusters, and eliminating redundant costs--a strategy known by venture capitalists as a "roll-up". Through consolidation, SCI is able to quintuple the value of a stand-alone funeral home. The biggest threat to value creation, however, is overpaying for deals and SCI has recently paid record prices for international targets. The key questions in the case are whether SCI has lost is pricing discipline and whether its future acquisition strategy is value enhancing or not. Different answers to these questions yield different implications regarding the advisability of future growth and the appropriateness of debt financing. Finally, the case illustrates how difficult it can be to communicate a strategic vision.
The Federal Reserve and Panic Prevention: The Roles of Financial Regulation and Lender of Last Resort

This paper surveys the role of the Federal Reserve within the financial regulatory system, with particular attention to the interaction of the Fed's role as both a supervisor and a lender-of-last-resort. The institutional design of the Federal Reserve System was aimed at preventing banking panics, primarily due to the permanent presence of the discount window. This new system was successful at preventing a panic in the early 1920s, after which the Fed began to discourage the use of the discount window and intentionally create "stigma" for window borrowing -- policies that contributed to the panics of the Great Depression. The legislation of the New Deal era centralized Fed power in the Board of Governors, and over the next 75 years the Fed expanded its role as a supervisor of the largest banks. Nevertheless, prior to the recent crisis the Fed had large gaps in its authority as a supervisor and as lender of last resort, with the latter role weakened further by stigma. The Fed was unable to prevent the recent crisis, during which its lender of last resort function expanded significantly. As the Fed begins its second century, there are still great challenges to fulfilling its original intention of panic prevention.
DIMENSION REDUCTION FOR ANALYSIS OF UNSTABLE PERIODIC ORBITS USING LOCALLY LINEAR EMBEDDING

An autonomous four-dimensional dynamical system is investigated through a topological analysis. This system generates a chaotic attractor for the range of control parameters studied and we determin...
Cocaine-induced cerebrovascular impairment: Challenges to neuropsychological assessment

The patient who presents for evaluation and/or subsequent treatment of a neurological or psychiatric complaint accompanied by a positive history of substance abuse has generally received only modest attention in the clinical practice literature. Significantly more clinical attention has focused on the neurobehavioral sequelae of more pronounced brain insults, despite the rapid emergence of literature detailing psychopharmacologic-induced changes in brain-behavior functioning. This article describes recent clinical research findings related to the neuropsychology of cocaine use and associated issues of neurobiology and psychopharmacology. A description of strategies that have proven effective for assessing this population will be discussed. An emphasis on neurocognitive impairment that may precede as well as occur consequent to cocaine use are also examined. The literature reviewed here generally supports the conclusion that subgroups of cocaine abusing patients may demonstrate sustained brain perfusion anomalies and persistent neurocognitive deficits.
Testosterone in royal jelly

A compound with immunoreactivity, and TLC and GLC mobility of testosterone was isolated from royal jelly of honeybee (Apis mellifera). This is the first demonstration of vertebrate steroid hormone in this species.
Regulatory constraints in the generation and differentiation of IgE-expressing B cells

B cells expressing antibodies of the immunoglobulin E (IgE) isotype are rare, yet are heavily implicated in the pathogenesis of allergies and asthma. This review discusses recent methodological advances that permit sensitive probing of IgE-expressing (IgE+) B cells in vivo and have accordingly clarified the basic behavior and fate of IgE+ B cells during immune responses in mouse models. IgE antibody secreting plasma cells can arise from extrafollicular foci, germinal centers, and memory B cells. However, compared to B cells expressing other isotypes, IgE+ B cells are susceptible to multiple additional regulatory constraints that restrict the size of the IgE+ B cell pool at each stage, coordinately limiting the overall magnitude, affinity, and duration of the IgE antibody response.
Nonlinear study of convective heat transfer and fluid flows induced by travelling thermal waves

A nonlinear study is made of the convective heat transfer and the fluid flow in an incompressible viscous fluid confined to a vertical wavy channel in four different geometrical configurations. The flow is generated by the periodic thermal waves prescribed at the wavy walls of the channel. The problem is solved by a perturbation technique with the assumption that the solution consists of a mean part and a perturbed part. The mean, perturbed and the total solutions are numerically evaluated for various values of the physical parameters involved in the problem. The mean solution is found to be in good agreement with that obtained by Vajravelu and Sastri [4]. The perturbed part of the solution is made of the contributions from the waviness of the channel walls and the travelling thermal waves. Of all the parameters, the heat source parameter plays an important role in augmenting (diminishing) the skin friction (the heat transfer) at the wally=1. Several interesting properties of the flow field and the heat transfer are discussed. The results of this analysis are also graphically presented.
Treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome: molecular characteristics and therapy.

Purpose of review Treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) is a serious complication of cancer treatment. Here we review recent advances in knowledge of the risk factors, pathogenesis, and treatment of t-MDS. Recent findings Recent studies have provided important new information regarding genetic risk factors that may predispose individual patients to develop t-MDS after exposure to cytotoxic therapeutic agents and that may be used to predict individuals at enhanced risk for this complication. The role of specific candidate genes associated with commonly involved genetic lesions in the pathogenesis of t-MDS has also been investigated. Finally, factors determining outcomes of transplantation treatment for this disorder have been elucidated. Hematopoietic cell transplantation provides potentially curative therapy for t-MDS, but additional improvements are necessary to improve outcomes. Summary Improved understanding of genetic risk factors is expected to facilitate early identification of patients at risk for t-MDS, guiding therapeutic decision making, and allowing early application of preventive or therapeutic strategies.
Stochastic inverse method for estimation of geostatistical representation of hydrogeologic stratigraphy using borehole logs and pressure observations

An approach is presented for identifying statistical characteristics of stratigraphies from borehole and hydraulic data. The approach employs a Markov-chain based geostatistical framework in a stochastic inversion. Borehole data provide information on the stratigraphy while pressure and flux data provide information on the hydraulic performance of the medium. The use of Markov-chain geostatistics as opposed to covariance-based geostatistics can provide a more easily interpreted model geologically and geometrically. The approach hinges on the use of mean facies lengths (negative inverse auto-transition rates) and mean transition lengths (inverse cross-transition rates) as adjustable parameters in the stochastic inversion. Along with an unconstrained Markov-chain model, simplifying constraints to the Markov-chain model, including (1) proportionally-random and (2) symmetric spatial correlations, are evaluated in the stochastic inversion. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the simplifying constraints can facilitate the inversion at the cost of spatial correlation model generality. Inverse analyses demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, indicating that despite some low parameter sensitivities, all adjustable parameters do converge for a sufficient number of ensemble realizations towards their “true” values. This paper extends the approach presented in Harp et al. (doi:10.1029/2008GL033585, 2008) to (1) statistically characterize the hydraulic response of a geostatistical model, thereby incorporating an uncertainty analysis directly in the inverse method, (2) demonstrate that a gradient-based optimization strategy is sufficient, thereby providing relative computational efficiency compared to global optimization strategies, (3) demonstrate that the approach can be extended to a 3-D analysis, and (4) introduce the use of mean facies lengths and mean transition lengths as adjustable parameters in a geostatistical inversion, thereby allowing the approach to be extended to greater than two category Markov-chain models.
On the electron affinities of ethylene and 1,3-butadiene

Abstract Temporary negative ion formation in ethylene and 1,3-butadiene has been studied using high resolution, low energy electron scattering. Sharp structure in the total electron scattering cross section allows the adiabatic electron affinity of each molecule to be determined leading to values of −1.55 ± 0.1 eV for ethylene and −0.62 ± 0.05 eV for 1,3-butadiene.
Quantitative trait loci for body size components in mice

Do body size components, such as weights of internal organs and long bone lengths, with different functions and different developmental histories also have different genetic architectures and pleiotropic patterns? We examine murine quantitative trait loci (QTL) for necropsy weight, four long bone lengths, and four organ weights in the LG/J × SM/J intercross. Differences between trait categories were found in number of QTL, dominance, and pleiotropic patterns. Ninety-seven QTLs for individual traits were identified: 52 for long bone lengths, 30 for organ weights, and 15 for necropsy weight. Results for long bones are typically more highly significant than for organs. Organ weights were more frequently over- or underdominant than long bone lengths or necropsy weight. The single-trait QTLs map to 35 pleiotropic loci. Long bones are much more frequently affected in groups while organs tend to be affected singly or in pairs. Organs and long bones are found at the same locus in only 11 cases, 8 of which also include necropsy weight. Our results suggest mainly separate genetic modules for organ weights and long bone lengths, with a few loci that affect overall body size. Antagonistic pleiotropy, in which a locus has opposite effects on different characteristics, is uncommon.
Exploitation and Application of Galloping Database based on PMS System

Abstract Our country is rich of line galloping, there are many important galloping data failed to collect systematically and completely because there is no unified management platform. After the galloping occurrence in 2009–2010's winter the department of productive of the State Grid Corporation organized a lot of human to carry out the research of galloping information, this work is time–consuming and inefficient. The State Grid Corporation has used the production management system (PMS) which is a powerful and easy to use. With the help of the system we can create a galloping database which can save resources and storage the galloping data. To build and put it into application of database can provide technical support for line galloping prevention and galloping research work.
The puzzle of the singlet states of charmonium: A possible resolution

Abstract It is proposed that the combination of a nonrelativistic scalar and spin-spin static potential, giving rise to a repulsive core in singlet states, can account qualitatively for most of the observations of spectra, decays of the pseudoscalars, and M1 radiative transitions between singlet and triplet charmonium S states.
Experimental demonstration of fanout for Nanomagnet Logic

Nanoscale magnets can process and move information via fringing field interactions. Wires, gates, and inverters have been demonstrated (Fig. 1a-c)1 - all at room temperature. Nanomagnet Logic (NML) devices can be made with standard lithographic techniques, and even with drive circuitry overhead, energy/performance gains over CMOS are possible2. Still, demonstrating wires and gates in isolation does not equate to a deployable digital system. For systems, it is widely accepted that a technology must meet five criteria3 - (i) a device should have non- linear response characteristics, (ii) the output of one device must drive another, (iii) unwanted dataflow (or feedback) should not occur, (iv) a device must enable a functionally complete logic set, and (v) power amplification (or gain greater than 1) is needed. We report experimental demonstration of the fifth tenet of digital logic - fanout.
OpenGGCM Simulations for the THEMIS Mission

The THEMIS mission provides unprecedented multi-point observations of the magnetosphere in conjunction with an equally unprecedented dense network of ground measurements. However, coverage of the magnetosphere is still sparse. In order to tie together the THEMIS observations and to understand the data better, we will use the Open Geospace General Circulation Model (OpenGGCM), a global model of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. OpenGGCM solves the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in the outer magnetosphere and couples via field aligned current (FAC), electric potential, and electron precipitation to a ionosphere potential solver and the Coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere Model (CTIM). The OpenGGCM thus provides a global comprehensive view of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. An OpenGGCM simulation of one of the first substorms observed by THEMIS on 23 March 2007 shows that the OpenGGCM reproduces the observed substorm signatures very well, thus laying the groundwork for future use of the OpenGGCM to aid in understanding THEMIS data and ultimately contributing to a comprehensive model of the substorm process.
Anisotropy of single crystal HoxDyyTb1−x−yFe2 Laves phase compounds

Abstract The large magnetostrictive strain exhibited by the RFe 2 ( R = rare earth ) compounds are potentially useful in magnetostrictive device applications provided the typically large magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy can be reduced. Anisotropy and magnetostriction measurements on single crystal Ho x Dy y Tb 1− x − y Fe 2 compounds have established that the two lowest order anisotropy constants, κ 4 and κ 6 , can be made zero near the composition, Ho 0.58 Dy 0.22 Tb 0.20 Fe 2 while still retaining relatively large magnetostriction.
Near-Field Modeling of Particle-Particle Interactions

We demonstrate an extension of the coupled dipole approximation to model particle-particle or probe-object interactions in optical near fields. These interactions determine the properties of both optical forces and scattered intensities.
Alginate hydrogel based 3-dimensional cell culture and chemical screening platform using digital microfluidics

We report the development of a microfluidic device that is the first of its kind to generate uniform arrays of individually addressable cell seeded calcium alginate gels for 3D cell culture using electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) digital microfluidics (DMF). This is combined with EWOD DMF's multiplexing abilities to demonstrate how a single device is capable of forming cell seeded alginate hydrogels, generating different concentrations of chemicals and delivering these generated chemical concentrations to different alginate gels to observe the effect of chemicals on 3D cultured cells. This lays the foundation for a more efficient and versatile 3D cell culture and chemical screening platform.
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis of conformational changes in adsorbed protein films

The characterization of adsorbed protein films with ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) surface analysis techniques requires dehydration of the samples, which can cause significant alterations in protein confor...
The disk generator, its status and its potential

Abstract The MHD disk generator has been used as an experimental tool to study plasma properties and to explore new diagnostic techniques, since it provides a near-ideal geometry for plasma studies due to its electrodeless configuration combined with near-perfect insulating walls. Both experimental and theoretical studies have also determined the conditions for favorable performance of the disk, often with inlet swirl, as a configuration for electrical power generation in both open and closed cycle applications. This paper describes the state-of-the-art of the disk geometry for power generation, and it also reviews recent system studies which have integrated the disk generator in electrical power plants using coal as a fuel. These studies indicate that the disk system can achieve overall efficiencies comparable to linear generator systems, but they also show that the disk configuration might provide significant reliability and require lower capital investments. These cost advantages are derived from the simplicity of the superconducting magnet and power management systems.
Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of the Water Disinfection Byproduct, Dibromoacetic Acid, in Rats and Mice

Dibromoacetic acid (DBA) is a water disinfection byproduct formed by the reaction of chlorine oxidizing compounds with natural organic matter in water containing bromide. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F(1) mice were exposed to DBA in drinking water for 2 weeks (N=5), 3 months (N=10), or 2 years (N=50). Concentrations of DBA in drinking water were 0, 125, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000mg/L in the 2-week and 3-month studies, and 0, 50, 500, and 1000mg/L in the 2-year studies. Toxic effects of DBA in the prechronic studies were detected in the liver (hepatocellular cytoplasmic vacuolization in rats and mice) and testes (delayed spermiation and atypical residual bodies in male rats and mice, and atrophy of the germinal epithelium in rats). In the 2-year studies, neoplasms were induced at multiple sites in rats and mice exposed to DBA; these included mononuclear cell leukemia and abdominal cavity mesothliomas in rats, and neoplasms of the liver (hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma and hepatoblastoma) and lung (alveolar adenoma or carcinoma) in mice. The increase in incidence of hepatocellular neoplasms in male mice was significant even at the lowest exposure concentration of 50mg/L, which is equivalent to an average daily dose of approximately 4mg/kg. These studies provide critical information for future re-evaluations of health-based drinking water standards for haloacetic acids.
The dissociation of phosphoric acid in NaCl and NaMgCl solutions at 25°C

The pK 1 * , pK 1 * and pK 3 * for the dissociation of H3PO4 have been measured in NaCl solutions from 0.5 to 6m at 25°C. The results have been used to evaluate Pitzer interaction parameters ψ(NaClH2PO4)=−0.028±0.005, λ(NaH3PO4)=−0.075±0.025, θ(HPO4Cl)=0.105±0.009, θ(PO4Cl)=−0.59±0.02 and ψ(NaClHPO4)=−0.003±0.004, ψ(PO4NaClH)=0.110±0.008. These parameters yield values of pK 1 * , pK 2 * and pK 3 * in NaCl that agree with the measured values with average deviations of ±0.04, ±0.03 and ±0.05 in pK 1 * . Measurements of pK 1 * and pK 2 * were also made in NaMgCl solutions. These results have been used to evaluate β(O)(MgH 2 PO 4)=−3.55±0.07,β(1)(MgH 2 PO 4=−16.9±0.03, β(O)(MgH 2 PO 4=−17.5±0.03 and β(1)(MgH 2 PO 4)=27.4±0.8 at 25°C. The results for pK 2 * in NaMg−Cl solutions were also used to calculate log K MX * =3.2±0.1 for the formation of the ion pair MgHPO 4 o .
A MODIFIED GAUSS‐NEWTON ALGORITHM AND NINETY‐SIX WELL MICRO‐TECHNIQUE FOR CALCULATING MPN USING EXCEL SPREADSHEETS1

Conventional most probable number (MPN) methods seek a calculated value for microbial concentration (Δ, mL-1) which induces the total binomial probability function (Ptotal) to approach its maximum limit. In fact, such techniques are the only statistically compelling procedures available for determining MPN when utilizing a small set of observations per dilution (e.g., n = 3–8). However, as n approaches a large value, statistical routines which assume a normal distribution might be applied to ascertain the MPN. With this in mind, we produce herein a modified Gauss-Newton “linearization” (curve fitting) algorithm for determining Δ (n = 96) from binomial micro-plate assays which are readily automated using 96-well micro-plate readers. This technique, an iterative protocol, is less cumbersome than many traditional MPN procedures and has certain advantages. Data derived from this method were not only close to MPN estimations using a direct technique based on the conventional maximum probability resolution (MPR) concept but also displayed more favorable chi-squared (X2) statistics.
Effect of prednisone on adrenal responsiveness to corticotropin in normal subjects and in patients with treated and untreated Cushing's syndrome.

A study of the adrenocortical response to the injection of corticotropin before and following the daily oral administration of 40 mg. of prednisone for seven or more days has been made in 13 normal subjects, in 2 patients with active untreated non-tumorous Cushing’s syndrome, and in 3 patients with partial remission and in 4 patients with complete remission of the disease following therapy. The level of plasma 17-hydroxycorticoids was used as the index of adrenocortical response. In the subjects without evidence of adrenocortical hyperfunction, a significant suppression of the adrenocortical response to corticotropin was uniformly noted following the administration of prednisone. In he 2 patients with active, untreated Cushing’s syndrome due to bilateral adrenocortical hyperfunction there was no suppression of the adrenocortical response to corticotropin under the conditions of the prednisone suppression test. Studies conducted in the 7 cases of non-tumorous Cushing’s syndrome, in partial or in complete c...
Spatial memory following shifts of gaze. I. Saccades to memorized world-fixed and gaze-fixed targets.

During a shift of gaze, an object can move along with gaze or stay fixed in the world. To examine the effect of an object's reference frame on spatial working memory, we trained monkeys to memorize...
Structural biology: Spliceosome subunit revealed

The spliceosome enzyme binds to RNA transcripts at splice sites and removes intron sequences. The crystal structure of a spliceosome subunit shows how the enzyme recognizes one end of the intron.
Vine-Kill Treatment and Harvest Date have Persistent Effects on Tuber Physiology

The quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers coming out of storage depends on the state of the tubers going into storage. Experiments determined the effects of vine-kill treatment and harvest date on the post-harvest physiology of potato tubers stored for up to 12 weeks. Potato cultivar Russet Burbank grown in central Wisconsin was harvested in late July when tubers were immature, in late August, and in early September after complete natural senescence of vines. Prior to the first two harvests, vines were either desiccated with diquat dibromide or were untreated. Data were collected at harvest and in storage for skin set, tuber respiration rate, and tuber sucrose, glucose, and fructose contents. Skin set at harvest was increased by use of the desiccant at the early harvest date, but not at the middle harvest date. Early harvest without vine kill resulted in elevated tuber bud-end glucose contents in storage. Early harvest with vine kill treatment resulted in increased rates of respiration in storage that persisted through December. Neither tuber sucrose nor glucose content 6 weeks after harvest was a good predictor of tuber glucose content 12 weeks after harvest. These data demonstrate that vine-kill treatment and tuber maturity at harvest have long-term effects on tuber quality.
Underlying event studies and charged particle multiplicities in inelastic pp events with the ATLAS detector

Abstract Underlying event studies and charged particle multiplicities with the ATLAS detector in inelastic p–p collisions at center of mass energy of 900 GeV and 7 TeV are presented. The charged particle density, its dependence on pseudo-rapidity and transverse momentum and its correlation with the average transverse momentum are measured for events with at least two charged particles in the kinematic range | η | 2.5 and p T > 100 MeV . For Underlying Event studies, the transverse momentum of charged tracks is required to be greater than 500 MeV. The measurements are compared with different Monte Carlo model predictions.
A comparative multiobjective programming study

Multiobjective programming seeks to aid decision making in complex problems where it is difficult to explicitly state decision-maker (DM) utility. A variety of techniques have been presented, seeming to trace a movement from a direct nonlinear programming approach tomore indirect methods of searching for higher utility. Experiments have been conducted on small problems comparing a number of these approaches usually employing specialized computer codes. This study presents a larger decision problem involving an oil pipeline operations planning model involving three objectives. Basic concepts of multiple objective programming are applied, utilizing only a standard linear programming code. A nonlinear utility function is assumed, and a comparative study of how the major multiobjective programming techniques perform is reported. Evaluation factors include accuracy in reflecting the nonlinear utility function, enhancement of DM learning, and burden upon the DM.
NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM OF THE CORNEAL EPITHELIUM.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were extracted from dried, defatted, homogenized corneal epithelium with hot 10% NaCl. The KOH-hydrolyzed RNA and the acid-precipitated DNA were estimated from their phosphate contents. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of these nucleic acids and the identification of the RNA indicate that the epithelium is rich in both of these nucleic acids. Improved methods are needed to obtain comparable data for the stroma. The in vitro incorporation of 32 P into the nucleic acid fractions was also measured. After 2-hr incubations of corneas in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium containing 32 P-phosphate, the nucleic acids were extracted and samples of the DNA fractions dissolved in KOH were counted, as were the eluted ribonucleotides after separation by paper electrophoresis. Radioactivity was found to be present in the DNA- and RNA-nucleotides, indicating that the corneal epithelium synthesizes nucleic acids in vitro. The presence of the stroma decreased the rate of incorporation into the epithelium.
Surrender as a Response to our Crisis

Many commentators on our time (dimly remembered fellows who are receding) have spoken of our alienation. Alienation may be of the essence of our crisis — but not only in the traditional meanings of alienation. It cannot only mean, as in Hegel, the Opposition between the institutions we create and the frustrations we receive back from them. Nor as in Feuerbach, only the reification of man’s religious ideas that confront him as nonhuman objects; nor, finally, as in Marx, a human phenomenon indeed, but one that is anchored in the relations of production. Today, it means our alienation from history itself. It did not for those thinkers, who were not alienated from history as we are. Had Hegel been, he could not have afforded what may strike us as the luxury (if not outright potlatch) of locating alienation in the history of the spirit, thus intrinsic to the dialectic of history; and he could not have made his peace, uneasy as it may have been, with Prussia. Had Feuerbach been alienated from history as we are, he would not have stopped at the plea to Substitute anthropology for theology. And had Marx been, he would not have been driven to what to us now may appear as the transcendence of alienation by eschatology. These men must have been deeply convinced — more deeply than knew probably and than we can feel unless we make an extraordinary effort — that history would go on, even though, as Marx believed, through a revolution whose consequences could not be anticipated, because we have experience with life in freedom only with life under necessity.
Enabling Efficient Wireless Communications: The Role of Secondary Spectrum Markets

Abstract Despite the potentially critical nature of secondary markets in maintaining efficient spectrum and wireless markets, research has to date has focused primarily on the Federal Communication Commission’s rules for initial distribution of spectrum. To redress this lacuna, we first examine the evolution of conceptual and policy developments directed toward secondary spectrum markets. Then, we seek to move beyond those efforts to empirically document the development of secondary spectrum activity in the United States and the relationship of that development to the evolving policy toward such markets. We categorize and explore different types of secondary spectrum markets. Then, by drawing on a database of every spectrum license transaction since 1994, we explore the depth and breadth of spectrum trading in secondary markets. We find that the FCC has radically reduced the time it takes to approve trades, making the system more akin to notification than to approval. We also find that a large amount of spectrum changes hands each year. While these conclusions do not necessarily imply that secondary markets work efficiently, they do show that policy efforts to facilitate and energize the growth of secondary spectrum markets are bearing considerable fruit.
Modeling of amplitude and exit location variations of light propagation under ultrasonic modulation

While phase variation due to ultrasonic modulation of coherent light has been extensively studied in acousto-optical imaging, fewer groups have studied non-phase mechanisms of ultrasonic modulation, which may be important in exploring ultrasonic modulation of incoherent light for imaging. We have developed a versatile Monte Carlo based method that can model not only phase variation due to refractive index changes and scatterer displacement, but also amplitude and exit location variations due to the changes in optical properties and refractive index under ultrasonic modulation, in which the exit location variation has not been modeled previously to our knowledge. Our results show that the modulation depth due to the exit location variation is one to two orders of magnitude higher than that due to amplitude variation, but two to three orders of magnitude lower than that due to phase variation for monochromatic light. Furthermore, it is found that the modulation depth in reflectance due to the exit location variation is larger than that in transmittance for small source-detector separations.
Salt Effects In Anion Exchange Displacement Chromatography: Comparison Of Pentosan Polysulfate And Dextran Sulfate Displacers

Experimental studies were carried out to investigate the utility of pentosan polysulfate as a low molecular weight polyelectrolyte displacer for the purification of proteins in anion-exchange displacement systems. In addition, the influence of mobile phase salt concentration on displacer efficacy, protein-protein resolution, and displacement development were studied for several anionic displacers. It was found that while large polyelectrolytes (50 kd dextran sulfate) were efficient displacers for a wide range of salt concentrations, relatively small polyelectrolytes (3 kd pentosan polysulfate) were seen to act as an efficient displacer only under conditions of high salt micro-environments. In addition, for proteins exhibiting similar affinities, zone mixing at the protein-protein boundary was found to be quite sensitive to the salt concentration. Finally, displacement chromatography was successfully implemented for the separation of proteins from milk whey.
Indazole Estrogens: Highly Selective Ligands for the Estrogen Receptor β

The estrogen receptors, ERalpha and ERbeta, are important pharmaceutical targets. To develop ERbeta-selective ligands, we synthesized a series of nonsteroidal compounds having a phenyl-2H-indazole core with different groups at C-3. Several of these show high affinity and good ERbetaselectivity, especially those with polar and/or polarizable substituents at this site (halogen, CF(3), nitrile); the best compounds have affinities for ERbeta comparable to estradiol, with ERbetaaffinity selectivity >100. This potency and ERbeta selectivity is also seen in cell-based transcriptional assays, where several compounds showed ERbeta efficacies equivalent to that of estradiol with ERbeta potency selectivities of 100. These compounds might prove useful as selective pharmacological probes to study the biological actions of estrogens mediated through ERbeta, and they might lead to the development of useful pharmaceuticals. These findings also contribute to an evolving pharmacophore that characterizes certain nonsteroidal ligands having high ERbeta subtype affinity and potency selectivity.
Computed tomography of bowel perforation

The authors present 2 cases of intestinal perforation which were not associated with free intraperitoneal air detectable on abdominal radiographs. Computed tomography demonstrated evidence of intraperitoneal leakage of orally administered contrast material and thereby provided the correct diagnosis.
Two-fluid model of the solar wind.

Solar wind studied with two fluid model, using proton and electron fluid type heat equations, equation of motion and continuity equation
Lipid-associated chlorophyll Evidence from 13C-NMR of the photosynthetic spinach thylakoid membrane

Abstract The 13 C-NMR spectrum at 90.5 MHz has been obtained for the photosynthetic thylakoid membrane of spinach. Specific lipid and chlorophyll resonances can be assigned in the high resolution spectrum, although protein resonances are not observed. It can be estimated from resonance intensities that at least 30% of the plant chlorophyll contributes to the high resolution 13 C spectrum with the remainder broadened by incomplete motional averaging. The resonance linewidths of the observed chlorophyll phytol chains are approximately the same as those of the lipid hydrocarbon chains, indicating a similar motional state and suggesting that this particular pool of chlorophyll is lipidbound or at most only loosely associated with proteins.
Can disease management target patients most likely to generate high costs? The impact of comorbidity

Context Disease management programs are increasingly used to manage costs of patients with chronic disease.
Tertiary uplift and shortening in the Basin and Range; the Echo Hills, southeastern Nevada

The Echo Hills is a distinctive area of tectonic uplift and shortening located at a right step in the left-lateral Bitter Spring Valley fault of the late Tertiary Lake Mead fault system, Nevada. The fundamental internal structure of the Echo Hills is an asymmetric anticline disrupted by reverse and oblique faulting. An analysis of the stress distribution within the stepover indicates that the interaction between the two segments of the Bitter Spring Valley fault is responsible for the compressive deformation and structural uplift in the Echo Hills. Given the number of strike-slip faults in the Basin and Range, similar examples of Tertiary uplift and shortening probably occur elsewhere within the province.
A Statewide Common Elements Initiative for Children’s Mental Health

Many evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for child and adolescent mental health disorders have been developed, but few are available in public mental health settings. This paper describes initial implementation outcomes for a state-funded effort in Washington State to increase EBT availability, via a common elements training and consultation approach focused on four major problem areas (anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and behavioral problems). Clinicians (N = 180) reported significant improvement in their ability to assess and treat all problem areas at post-consultation. Clinicians from organizations with a supervisor-level “EBT champion” had higher baseline scores on a range of outcomes, but many differences disappeared at post-consultation. Outcomes suggest that a common elements initiative, which includes training and consultation, may positively impact clinician-level outcomes and that having “in-house” EBT expertise may provide additional benefits.
The Role of Media Use in the Recall Versus Recognition of Political Knowledge

A knowledgeable electorate is one of the fundamental assumptions of a healthy democracy, and yet studies consistently find the public underperforms in tests of political knowledge. In addition, television news exposure is often poorly associated with political knowledge. Explanations for this include the kinds of knowledge measured. Using an experiment nested in a national survey, this study finds television news exposure is a significant predictor of recognition knowledge while exposure to news via the Internet is a predictor of recall knowledge.
The College Presidency: An Interview with Stephen J. Nelson

College presidents continue to fill prominent critical roles in colleges and universities and society. Thus an examination of the reasons for their success and failure is vital. Four major criteria are presented as a baseline for fair judgments of presidents and their leadership. Current trends in the presidency and presidential selection are explored and presented in order to increase understanding about how presidents can best "fit" the demands of these important leadership posts.
In Search of the "Last-Ups" Advantage in Baseball: A Game-Theoretic Approach

Received wisdom in baseball takes it as a given that it is an advantage have the last turn at bat in a baseball game. This belief is supported, implicitly or explicitly, by an argument that the team on offense benefits by knowing with certainty the number of runs it must score in the final inning. Because the discrete nature of plays in baseball lends itself naturally to a model of a baseball contest as a zero-sum Markov game, this hypothesis can be tested formally. In a model where teams may employ the bunt, stolen base, and intentional walk, there is no significant quantitative advantage conferred by the order in which teams bat, and in some cases batting first may be of slight advantage. In practice, the answer to the question may be determined by actions more subtle than previously considered, such as the extent to which the defensive team can influence the distribution of run-scoring by pitch selection or fielder positioning.
A computational framework for finding interestingness hotspots in large spatio-temporal grids

Gridded datasets are quite common in scientific computing as many disciplines produce large amounts of samples relying on regular spatial grid-structures that identify locations where measurements are taken. Very large gridded datasets with a lot of variables and measurements pose challenging problems on how to store, query, summarize, visualize and mine such datasets. One interesting and important task when analyzing such datasets is to find interesting contiguous regions, called interestingness hotspots, based on the domain expert's notion of interestingness which is captured in an interestingness function. There has been significant work in using spatio-temporal clustering for mining spatio-temporal datasets in literature. However, in this paper, we present a computational framework which uses an alternative non-clustering approach to obtain interestingness hotspots. We present a novel hotspot growing algorithm which grows interestingness hotspots from seed hotspots, and then post-processes the obtained hotspots to remove or merge overlapping hotspots. We claim that our approach is capable of identifying a much broader class of hotspots, which cannot be identified by traditional distance-based clustering algorithms. Our framework is evaluated in a case study for a very large 4-dimensional gridded air pollution dataset in which we find high correlation hotspots and low variance hotspots with respect to pollutants; moreover, we analyze the scalability of the proposed hotspot growing algorithm.
Bioavailability of propylthiouracil in humans

Single lots of five commercially available 50-mg propyl-thiouracil formulations were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Each product met the USP XIX specifications for drug content, content uniformity, and disintegration time. However, major differences were noted among products in their rate and extent of dissolution. Statistically significant differences (p less than 0.05) were observed in vivo among the drug formulations at all but one of the sampling times, as determined from crossover blood level studies in 12 healthy male volunteers. The differences among the areas under the plasma level-time curves for the various products were not statistically significant. No statistically significant correlations were found between the in vitro and in vivo parameters studied.
Simplified techniques for identifying foodborne yeasts

Four problematic areas associated with the identification of foodborne yeasts are discussed. These consist of (1) the inability of conventional identification tests to recognize some common and important foodborne yeasts characterized by genomic differences (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. bayanus and S. pastorianus); (2) the delay in application of non-traditional identification methods such as DNA fingerprinting, chromosome karyotyping, protein electrophoretic patterns and fatty acid profiles for routine identification purposes; (3) the lack of commercially available manual or automated identification systems dedicated to the diagnosis of foodborne yeasts; and (4) the disregard for considering ecological frequency of yeasts in computerized probabilistic identification systems.
Lack of an effect of oral iron administration on mycophenolic acid pharmacokinetics in stable renal transplant recipients.

Study Objectives. To determine if coadministration of polysaccharide iron complex and slow-release ferrous sulfate alter the absorption of mycophenolic acid (MPA), and to examine the potential influence of dosing relative to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) administration and the effect of immediate- versus sustainedrelease iron products on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of MPA. Design. Prospective, open-label, three-phase, crossover, steady-state pharmacokinetic study. Setting. National Institutes of Health‐sponsored General Clinical Research Center at a university medical center.
The Relative Accuracy of Analysts’ Published Forecasts Versus Whisper Forecasts Surrounding the Adoption of Regulation FD

Abstract This paper examines the accuracy and information content of analysts’ published forecasts relative to whisper forecasts before and after the effective date of Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD). We find that whisper forecasts are generally more accurate than analysts’ consensus forecasts in our pre-Reg FD period (consistent with prior literature), but less accurate during the post-Reg FD period. We also find in the post-Reg FD period that analysts’ forecast errors earn significantly larger abnormal returns compared to whisper forecast errors. These results suggest that Reg FD has had its desired effect of mitigating private communications from management to market participants.
Narrative Processing in Typically Developing Children and Children With Early Unilateral Brain Injury: Seeing Gesture Matters

Narrative skill in kindergarteners has been shown to be a reliable predictor of later reading comprehension and school achievement. However, we know little about how to scaffold children's narrative skill. Here we examine whether the quality of kindergarten children's narrative retellings depends on the kind of narrative elicitation they are given. We asked this question with respect to typically developing (TD) kindergarten children and children with pre- or perinatal unilateral brain injury (PL), a group that has been shown to have difficulty with narrative production. We compared children's skill in retelling stories originally presented to them in 4 different elicitation formats: (a) wordless cartoons, (b) stories told by a narrator through the auditory modality, (c) stories told by a narrator through the audiovisual modality without co-speech gestures, and (e) stories told by a narrator in the audiovisual modality with co-speech gestures. We found that children told better structured narratives in response to the audiovisual + gesture elicitation format than in response to the other 3 elicitation formats, consistent with findings that co-speech gestures can scaffold other aspects of language and memory. The audiovisual + gesture elicitation format was particularly beneficial for children who had the most difficulty telling a well-structured narrative, a group that included children with larger lesions associated with cerebrovascular infarcts.
Resonance neutron methods for determining statistical properties of phonon spectra

Abstract The quantal expression for Doppler broadening of neutron resonances by creation and annihilation of phonons in a crystal is developed into expansions in terms of moments of the phonon frequency spectrum, one incorporating the recoilles line, the other explicity excluding this term. Such expressions are useful for calculating the details of resonance line-shapes when some knowledge of the phonon spectrum is available or, conversely if it is wished to use measurements of resonance Doppler broadening to extract information on the phonon spectrum of the target material (specifically, that portion of the spectrum centred on the atomic species in which the resonance occurs). The possible sensitivity of the method is tested by simulating sets of neutron transmission data for low energy resonances in the cross sections of a number of different nuclides and doing a least-squares analysis on these to determine resonance parameters simultaneously with phonon moments. It is found that phonon moments can be determined independently of the resonance parameters and with very useful precision for at least the first three moments.