cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are House Prices Rising Too Fast in Hong Kong SAR

Sharp increase in house prices in Hong Kong SAR in 2009-2010 has led to concerns of an emerging real estate bubble. According to our measure of price deviation from fundamentals, which should be taken as an early warning indicator of market exuberance, the current level of house prices in Hong Kong SAR does not seem to be significantly higher than would be justified by underlying fundamentals. Moreover, unlike advanced economies before 2007-8, deviation from fundamentals has not been persistent in Hong Kong.Going forward, low interest rate and improving growth prospects, as well as a tight supply, particularly in the mass market, means that house price growth will continue to be strong.This is the period in which vulnerability may be accumulating, and tight prudential standards and fiscal measures will be required to tame price inflation.
Multiple Light Echoes from SN 1993J

Using the technique of point-spread function-matched image subtraction, we have analyzed archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 data to reveal details of at least two light echo structures, including some unknown before now, around SN 1993J in the galaxy M81. In particular, we see one partial sheet of material 81 pc in front of the supernova (SN) and tilted ~60° relative to the disk plane of M81 and another 220 pc in front of the SN, roughly parallel to the disk. The inferred echoing material is consistent with the H I surface density detected in this region of M81's disk; however, these data imply a fragmented covering factor for the echoing structures. We discuss prospects for future (roughly annual) visits by HST to image these and yet undiscovered echoes in the interstellar and circumstellar environment of SN 1993J.
Microwave spectra and electric dipole moments of X4Σ12−1 VO and NbO

Abstract Microwave spectra and electric dipole moments have been measured for the X 4 Σ 1 2 −1 states of VO and NbO using a pulsed-nozzle Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer with a laser-vaporization source. An analysis of the Stark effect of hyperfine components of the J = 3 2 ← 1 2 transition yields dipole moments of 3.355(14) and 3.498(7) D for VO and NbO, respectively. The dipole-moment measurements are compared with recent ab initio calculations.
Plazentabeteiligung bei fetaler und mütterlicher Erkrankung

Als totgeboren gilt in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland eine intrauterin abgestorbene Leibesfrucht mit einem Mindestgewicht von 1000 g. Diese Definition berucksichtigt jedoch nicht die Gruppe der Totgeborenen mit schwerer intrauteriner Wachstumsretardierung (Vogel u. Schuhmacher 1986). Die Definition bedarf der Erganzung durch das Schwangerschaftsalter.
Research Note: Rosa Luxemburg and the Global Violence of Capitalism

Rosa Luxemburg’s pungent honesty is evident in her critical-minded and ‘unorthodox’ analysis of the economic expansionism of imperialism that arose out of the accumulation of capital. Despite an idiosyncratic reading and critique of Marx’s Capital, she sought to defend and advance the revolutionary perspectives of classical Marxism. Criticisms and counterpoised analyses offered by Rosdolsky, Bukharin, Lenin, and Robinson have not diminished what are generally seen as brilliant contributions. Militarism, war, and inhumanity are perceived as essential to imperialism in her analyses, and imperialism is seen as central to the nature of capitalism. Luxemburg’s account of global economic development reflect impressive economic insight, historical sweep, and anthropological sensitivity that impress critics as well partisans. Le franc parler de Rosa Luxemburg est evident dans ses analyses critiques et ‘heterodoxes’ de l’expansionnisme economique de l’imperialisme qui a emerge de l’accumulation du capital. Malgre une lecture idiosyncratique et critique du Capital de Marx, elle cherchait a defendre et a avancer les perspectives revolutionnaires du marxisme classique. Les critiques et contre-analyses offertes par Rosdolsky, Boukharine, Lenine et Robinson n’ont pas diminue des contributions communement admises comme brillantes. Dans ses analyses, le militarisme, la guerre et l’inhumanite sont percues comme essentiels a l’imperialisme et l’imperialisme occupe une place centrale dans la nature du capitalisme. La description du developpement economique mondial par Luxemburg montre une acuite economique impressionnante, un sens de l’histoire, et une sensitivite anthropologique qui ont impressionne ses critiques comme ses partisans.
Optical properties of breast tumor phantoms containing carbon nanotubes and nanohorns

The degree by which optical properties of tumors are altered following introduction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of varying concentration and type is poorly understood, making it difficult to predict the impact of CNT inclusion on the photothermal response to laser therapies. Optical properties were measured of phantoms representative of breast tumor tissue incorporated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), and single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) of varying concentration (0.01-0.1 mg/ml). Tissue phantoms were made from sodium alginate (3 g/ml) incorporated with polystyrene microbeads (3 μm diam and 1 mg/ml) and talc-France powder (40 mg/ml). Absorption (μa) and reduced scattering (μs′) coefficients of phantoms containing CNTs were determined by the inverse adding-doubling algorithm for the wavelength range of 400-1300 nm. Optical properties of phantoms without CNTs were in the range of μa = 1.04-0.06 mm−1 and μs′ = 0.05-0.07 mm−1 at a wavelength of 900 nm, which corresponds with published data for human breast tumor tissue. Incorporating MWNTs, SWNTs, and SWNHs in phantoms with a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml increased (μa) by 20- to 30-fold, 5- to 6-fold, and 9- to 14-fold, respectively, for the wavelength range of 800-1100 nm with minimal change in μs′ (1.2- to 1.3-fold). Introduction of CNTs into tissue phantoms increased absorption, providing a means to enhance photothermal therapy.
Metamaterial microwave holographic imaging system

We demonstrate a microwave imaging system that combines advances in metamaterial aperture design with emerging computational imaging techniques. The flexibility inherent to guided-wave, complementary metamaterials enables the design of a planar antenna that illuminates a scene with dramatically varying radiation patterns as a function of frequency. As frequency is swept over the K-band (17.5–26.5 GHz), a sequence of pseudorandom radiation patterns interrogates a scene. Measurements of the return signal versus frequency are then acquired and the scene is reconstructed using computational imaging methods. The low-cost, frequency-diverse static aperture allows three-dimensional images to be formed without mechanical scanning or dynamic beam-forming elements. The metamaterial aperture is complementary to a variety of computational imaging schemes, and can be used in conjunction with other sensors to form a multifunctional imaging platform. We illustrate the potential of multisensor fusion by integrating an infrared structured-light and optical image sensor to accelerate the microwave scene reconstruction and to provide a simultaneous visualization of the scene.
Comparison of Semen Analyses in Youths with a History of Cryptorchidism or Varicocele

Purpose: We determined relative semen quality in youths diagnosed with cryptorchidism or varicocele as a surrogate for ultimate paternity potential. We hypothesized that youths with varicocele would be at lower risk for subfertility based on semen analysis than their counterparts with surgically corrected cryptorchidism.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with a history of cryptorchidism or varicocele. Patients were placed in 1 of 3 groups based on diagnosis, including group 1—untreated varicocele, group 2—treated bilateral cryptorchidism and group 3—treated unilateral cryptorchidism. Age and semen parameters (density, volume, count, motility and total motile count) were compared for each group.Results: A total of 193 subjects were studied. Median age was 18.3 (IQR 18.1-19.3), 18.6 (IQR 18.3-21.0) and 18.5 years (IQR 18.2-19.6) in the 76 group 1, 21 group 2 and 96 group 3 patients, respectively. Total motile count in groups 1, 2 and 3 was 14.6 (IQR 4.7-29.3), 4.0 (IQ...
Epitope randomization redefines the functional role of glutamic acid 110 in interleukin-5 receptor activation.

Abstract Sequence randomization through functional phage display of single chain human interleukin (IL)-5 was used to investigate the limits of replaceability of the Glu110 residues that form a part of the receptor-binding epitope. Mutational analysis revealed unexpected affinity for IL-5 receptor α chain with variants containing E110W or E110Y. Escherichia coli-expressed Glu110variants containing E110W in the otherwise sequence-intact N-terminal half, including a variant with an E110A replacement in the sequence-disabled C-terminal half, were shown by their CD spectra to be folded into secondary structures similar to that of single chain human IL-5 (scIL-5). Biosensor kinetics analysis revealed that (E110W/A5)scIL-5 and (E110W/A6)scIL-5 had receptor α chain binding affinities similar to that of (wt/A5)scIL-5. However, (E110W/A6)scIL-5 had a significantly reduced bioactivity in TF-1 cell proliferation compared with both (wt/A5)scIL-5 and (E110W/A5)scIL-5, and this activity reduction was disproportionately greater than the much smaller effect of Glu110 mutation on receptor binding affinity. The marked and disproportionate decrease in TF-1proliferation observed with (E110W/A6)scIL-5 suggests a role for Glu110 in the biological activity mediated by the signal transducing receptor βc subunit of the IL-5 receptor. This is also consistent with the lack of stimulation of JAK2phosphorylation by the (E110W/A6)scIL-5 mutant in recombinant 293T cells, as compared with the concentration-dependent stimulation seen for scIL-5. The results reveal the dispensability of charge in the Glu110 locus of IL-5 for receptor α chain binding and, in contrast, its heretofore underappreciated importance for receptor activation.
Psychometric Issues Relevant to Selecting Items and Assembling Parallel Forms of Language Proficiency Instruments

This paper provides theoretical and practical considerations necessary to construct useful language proficiency instruments by focussing on critical psychometric properties. Particular emphasis is placed on steps and criteria for evaluating individual items measuring specific linguistic skills and on the analysis of tests used to measure the language proficiency of individual students. By applying the Rasch latent trait model, it is shown how parallel measures may be built along a common language proficiency trait in both English and Spanish across three language-categorized populations: English-proficient, limited-English proficient, and Spanish-proficient. These issues are referenced to the New York City Language Assessment Battery (LAB).
Maxwell\(\xrightarrow[{t \to \infty }]{}\) Boltzmann

This paper presents a new approach to the solution of the Brownian motion problem in which a particle subject to Brownian forces is also subject to a potential. The dynamical description of this system is written in the form of a multiplicative, stochastic, differential equation. This equation is solved and the solution is simplified so that it may be written in terms of integrals of well-understood functions. Enough of the kinematic details of the system are revealed in this way to show that the infinite-time limit of this dynamical solution is a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. Although there are other approaches to this problem which yield the infinite-time limit directly, these methods cannot be extended to find the solution to this problem for finite times. In this paper the solution is exhibited for all times, and the details of the approach to the infinite-time limit are elucidated.
Stroke trials: A shift to shift analysis?

One of the most commonly used clinical outcomes in acute stroke trials is the 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS), an ordinal scale that ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death). Traditionally, the mRS is dichotomized into excellent (0–1 vs 2–6) or good (0–2 vs 3–6) outcome. Alternately, shift analysis compares the distribution of outcomes between the treatment and control groups across the entire ordinal scale, thus answering the question of whether there is any measurable improvement on the mRS associated with treatment. The two approaches target different types of departures from the null hypothesis of no difference in outcome between treatment and control groups. Hence, applying the appropriate analytic strategy to the expected departure can increase power and reduce the number needed to prove a benefit in clinical trials. In this issue of Neurology ®, Saver and Gornbein1 explored statistical approaches to ordinal outcome data …
Energy Consumption of Multiple Unit Cars

In this article are analyzed the effects of increasing the rate of acceleration, free running speed, and rate of braking upon the energy consumption of multiple unit electric passenger cars. Analyses of 4 typical one-mile runs are given.
The risky business of assessing research risk.

In an ongoing debate, researchers and ethicists propose methods to improve consistency among institutional review boards (IRBs) at different institutions. The fundamental goals are to ensure that c...
A Differential Delay Equation with Wideband Noise Perturbations

Abstract A differential delay equation with a small parameter and random noise perturbations is considered in this paper. Asymptotic properties are developed. The martingale averaging techniques are adopted to treat our problem, and the method of weak convergence is employed. The random fluctuation is assumed to be of the wideband noise type, which is quite realistic for various applications. It is shown that as e → 0, the underlying process converges weakly to a random process which satisfies a stochastic differential delay equation.
Antibody responses to polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine in infants with sickle cell anemia

R E F E R E N C E S 1. Klatte EC, Yardley J, Smith EB, Rohn R, and Campbell JA: The pulmonary manifestations and complications of leukemia, Am J Roentgenol 89:598, 1963. 2. Bodey GP, Powell RD Jr, Hersh EM, Yeterian H, and Freireich EJ: Pulmonary complications of acute leukemia, Cancer 19:781, 1966. 3. Nathan DG, and Sander M: Manifestations of acute leukemia in the parenchyma of the lung, N Engl J Med 252:797, 1955. 4. Ballantine TVN, Grosfeld JL, Knapek RM, and Baehner RL: Interstitial pneumonitis in the immunologically suppressed child. An urgent surgical condition, J Pediatr .'Surg 12:501, 1977. 5. Wolff L J, Bartlett MS, Baehner RL, Grosfeld JL, and Smith JW: The causes of interstitial pneumonitis in immunocompromised children: An aggressive systematic approach to diagnosis, Pediatrics 60:41, 1977.
Validation of Fanconi anemia complementation Group A assignment using molecular analysis.

Purpose: Fanconi anemia is a genetically heterogeneous chromosomal breakage disorder exhibiting a high degree of clinical variability. Clinical diagnoses are confirmed by testing patient cells for increased sensitivity to crosslinking agents. Fanconi anemia complementation group assignment, essential for efficient molecular diagnosis of the disease, had not been validated for clinical application before this study. The purpose of this study was (1) confirmation of the accuracy of Fanconi anemia complementation group assignment to Group A (FANCA) and (2) development of a rapid mutation detection strategy that ensures the efficient capture of all FANCA mutations. Methods: Using fibroblasts from 29 patients, diagnosis of Fanconi anemia and assignment to complementation Group A was made through breakage analysis studies. FANCA coding and flanking sequences were analyzed using denaturing high pressure liquid chromatography, sequencing, and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Patients in which two mutations were not identified were analyzed by cDNA sequencing. Patients with no mutations were sequenced for mutations in FANCC, G, E, and F. Results: Of the 56 putative mutant alleles studied, 89% had an identifiable FANCA pathogenic mutation. Eight unique novel mutations were identified. Conclusion: Complementation assignment to Group A was validated in a clinical laboratory setting using our FANCA rapid molecular testing strategy.
Effect of Foley catheters on seed positions and urethral dose in 125I and 103Pd prostate implants

Abstract Purpose: To estimate the perturbation of seed position and urethral dose, subsequent to withdrawal of urethral catheters. Methods and Materials: A mathematical model based on the volume incompressibility of tissues was used to compute seed positions and doses following removal of the Foley. The model assumed that the central axis of the urethra remains stationary, and that prostate tissue and seeds move radially toward the center of the urethra to fill the void left by the catheter. Seed motion has also been measured using transrectal ultrasound. Results: Based on the computations, seeds located originally close to the urethra travel relatively large distances toward the urethra upon Foley removal, whereas seeds located further away move substantially less. This seed motion leads to higher urethral doses than shown in a standard treatment plan. Dose enhancements increase with catheter size, decrease with increasing prostate volume, are more pronounced for 103 Pd than for 125 I, and range between 3.5% and 32.4%. Postimplant dosimetry is equally affected if images are taken with urethral catheters in place, showing lower urethral doses than actually delivered. Preliminary ultrasound based measurements of seed motion agree with the theory. Conclusion: During the implantation procedure, 12 fr or smaller urethral catheters are preferable to larger diameter catheters if urine drainage is sufficient. Treatment planners should avoid planning seeds at 5 mm or closer from the urethra. Special caution is indicated in prostates having about 20 cm 3 or smaller volumes, and when 103 Pd is used. Postimplant dosimetry is susceptible to the same errors.
Evaluation of Brewer's Waste as Partial Replacement of Fish Meal Protein in Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, Diets

Abstract.— Brewer’s waste is one of the promising protein source by-products for fish diets. A 10-wk feeding trial experiment involving five different diets with increasing levels of brewer’s waste (32% crude protein) was carried out to evaluate the use of brewer’s waste in tilapia diets in place of fish meal. Growth performance was compared against a control diet formulated to have similar composition to a typical commercial diet. Four experimental diets replaced successively 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the fish meal protein with brewer’s waste. The diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Results indicated that weight gain did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) with up to 50% replacement. Feed intake and utilization were depressed at high levels of brewer’s waste. In addition, methionine of high replacement level diets was low. The results of the digestibility trial demonstrated that the brewer’s waste used in this study has an apparent digestibility coefficient for protein of 70%. It was concluded that 50% of the fish meal protein in a typical commercial diet could be replaced with brewer’s waste with no adverse effect on growth and feed utilization for tilapia.
The Limited Construction of an Egalitarian Masculinity: College-Educated Men’s Dating and Relationship Narratives

According to dominant cultural representations, masculinity in heterosexual relationships is signified by men’s dominance, aggression, sexual promiscuity, and emotional unavailability. Yet, the pre...
Study of high-temperature multiplex HCl coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy spectra

A feasibility study of temperature measurement with multiplex HCl coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is investigated. The HCl CARS spectra of a 100% HCl gas sample are recorded in a quartz sample cell placed in a furnace at 1 atm pressure and at different temperatures. The nonlinear susceptibility of HCl (χnrHCl), which is measured with the present CARS experimental setup, is reported. The experimental spectra are fit by using a library of simulated HCl CARS spectra with a least-squares-fitting program to infer the temperature. The inferred temperatures from HCl CARS spectra are in agreement with thermocouple temperatures.
Biofeedback for community-dwelling individuals with urinary incontinence.

Abstract Objectives. To review the role of biofeedback in the management of community-dwelling individuals with urge urinary incontinence (UUI), and to present a practical approach to patient evaluation and treatment selection. Methods. In view of a lack of objective published information, perspectives on the use of biofeedback in UUI are derived from extrapolation of studies in patients with stress incontinence as well as from the author's personal experience. Results. Through the use of careful baseline evaluations, appropriate exercise and biofeedback treatment for UUI can be selected for specific patients. Office-based biofeedback is preferred for patients who have no or minimal ability to isolate and contract the levator muscles at baseline. Such individuals cannot be expected to exercise effectively without instruction but can be converted to home-based treatment once responses have been achieved. Patients with weak contractions but appropriate muscle isolation are appropriate candidates for Kegel exercises; biofeedback has not been conclusively demonstrated to be superior to exercise therapy alone in this group. Vaginal cones or simple home biofeedback units may be useful adjuncts in these cases. Patients who have good muscle isolation and strong pelvic contractions at baseline generally have more severe bladder dysfunction and require aggressive treatment aimed at the detrusor. Instruction in “quick flicks” may assist in inhibiting urgency, and motivated patients may be offered vaginal cones. Conclusions. Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is an important but often-overlooked component of UUI. The algorithm presented here can assist in tailoring exercise and biofeedback therapy to the individual patient. However, more research is needed to help stratify patients according to the degree of detrusor dysfunction and status of pelvic floor muscles before intervention.
A novel wet-chemistry method for the synthesis of multicomponent nanoparticles: A case study of BaCe0.7Zr0.1Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ

Abstract A wet-chemistry method comprised of sequential chelation, thickening, carbonization, dispersion, and calcination steps is demonstrated for the synthesis of multicomponent nanopowders. A state-of-the-art mixed ionic conductor BaCe 0.7 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3− δ (BCZYYb) is used as a case study and a powder particle size as small as 10 nm is successfully obtained using this approach. A synthesis mechanism is proposed which suggests that a mild butanol-solvent-mediated dispersion treatment prior to calcination can be used as a generic approach for the synthesis of multicomponent materials with extremely small nanoparticle size.
Radiative influences on drop and cloud condensation nuclei equilibrium in stratocumulus

[1] Radiative heating and cooling occurs throughout most of a stratocumulus cloud layer. Shortwave (SW) heating of individual drops can be strong enough that drop temperatures at equilibrium deviate by as much as 6°C from the surrounding environment. These large temperature differences lead to substantial errors when the classical equation for vapor growth is used. A new form of the vapor growth equation is derived for cases of strong radiative heating. The new equation is used to assess the equilibrium supersaturation (seq) state of drops and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) within a stratocumulus cloud. Longwave (LW) cloud top cooling has two primary effects on seq. It tends to reduce seq for large drops to values as low as −6%, providing for drop growth at subsaturations. It also tends to reduce the critical supersaturation and size at which larger CCN activate to become growing cloud drops. In contrast, LW heating of cloud base suppresses the growth of cloud drops and CCN. Larger CCN (sizes between 0.5 and 5 μm) lose their Kohler curve maximum, indicating restricted CCN growth. Solar heating produces seq up to 20% for drops with sizes between 500 and 1000 μm, indicating strong evaporation of drizzle drops. Since solar absorption increases more slowly with drop size than LW emission, a minimum appears in the Kohler curves at sizes between 20 and 100 μm, suggesting a preferred size range for vapor growth in SW heated clouds. Like LW heating, SW heating causes suppression of growth for larger CCN.
Sleep disorganization in cocaine-exposed neonates☆

Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of prenatal cocaine exposure on infant sleep and wakefulness. Four-hour recordings of sleep and wakefulness were obtained from 17 cocaine-exposed neonates and 14 control infants at 2 weeks of age. Each 1-min epoch was classified as quiet sleep, active sleep, indeterminate sleep, or waking based on eye and body movements and respiratory variability. Analyses of variance were performed on durations of total sleep versus wakefulness, and quiet sleep, active sleep, and indeterminate sleep. The cocaine-exposed infants showed proportions of sleep and wake time similar to those of the control infants. Sleep time was, however, distributed differently among the various sleep states in the cocaine-exposed infants. Infants with prenatal cocaine exposure showed significantly more indeterminate sleep and significantly less active sleep than the control infants, even when confounding variables were controlled statistically. Regression analyses indicated that infrequent cocaine use paradoxically increased indeterminate sleep time to a greater extent than frequent use, possibly due to differences in patterns of cocaine use of recency of exposure. These results suggest that active sleep is less organized at 2 weeks of age in infants of cocaine-abusing mothers than in infants without cocaine exposure.
Synthesis of rabbit globin by reticulocyte postribosomal supernatant and heterologous ribosomes.

Cell-free protein synthesis has been studied in heterologous systems using rabbit reticulocyte postribosomal supernatant and ribosomes obtained from HeLa or mouse myeloma cells. These cell-free systems are quite active and incorporate labelled amino acids linearly for more than 30 min. The proteins synthesized have been analyzed by acrylamide gel electrophoresis, column chromatography and paper electrophoresis of the tryptic peptides. More than 70% of the protein synthesized with either type of ribosomes is α chain of rabbit hemoglobin; a small amount of β chain is also synthesized. This result can only be explained by the presence in the postribosomal supernatant of reticulocytes of messenger RNA for hemoglobin. This mRNA is translated more efficiently than the endogenous mRNA present on HeLa or myeloma ribosomes; previous measurements of the mRNA of reticulocyte postribosomal supernatant indicate that it is less on a weight basis than 1/20 of the mRNA associated with the corresponding amount of ribosomes used in an incubation. The preferential translation of mRNA present in the supernatant, presumably in a ribonucleoprotein particle, is discussed.
Statistical moments of the hypsometric curve and its density function

A method, applicable to multivariate designs, describing the form of the percentage hypsometric curve is developed in this research. Emphasis is placed on the quantitative aspects of curve form, rather than on average slopes, inflection points, or hypsometric integrals. A question of uniqueness arises when values, like the integral, are used as landform surrogates in process-response models involving drainage basins. It is demonstrated that the hypsometric curve has a much greater potential for quantitative landform analysis than can be realized through employment of the integral value alone. Unlike the integral, the functional form of the curve is unique to a particular area, depicting, among other things, evolutionary changes in the form of drainage basins. The technique involves treating the “decumulation” of the hypsometric curve in its mirror image as a cumulative distribution function. Statistical moments of the curve, and expectations of (x)for the curve's density function are derived, projecting a vector of curve-form attributes.
Kinetics of Palm Oil Transesterification in a Batch Reactor

Methyl esters were produced by transesterification of palm oil with methanol in the presence of a catalyst (KOH). The rate of transesterification in a batch reactor increased with temperature up to 60°C. Higher temperatures did not reduce the time to reach maximal conversion. The conversion of triglycerides (TG), diglycerides (DG), and monoglycerides (MG) appeared to be second order up to 30 min of reaction time. Reaction rate constants for TG, DG, and MG hydrolysis reactions were 0.018–0.191 (wt%·min)−1, and were higher at higher temperatures and higher for the MG reaction than for TG hydrolysis. Activation energies were 14.7, 14.2, and 6.4 kcal/mol for the TG, DG, and MG hydrolysis reactions, respectively. The optimal catalyst concentration was 1% KOH.
Development of a compact displacement accumulation actuator device for both large force and large displacement

The design, fabrication, and testing of a compact displacement accumulation device is presented in this paper. The piezoelectric device provides both large displacement (mm) and large force (100 N). The device is based on conventional inchworm motor design that produces large displacement. The device integrates piezoelectric stacks for large force output and high-speed operation with MEMS ridges as a new clamping system. The device should be able to push and pull 450 N at 11 mm/s in a relatively compact size. FEM analysis is used for the design, EDM is used for the fabrication of a prototype, and conventional test techniques are used to evaluate performance. Stress and modal analysis are used to confirm that the device has an infinite fatigue life and a first modal frequency at 1309 Hz. Experimental data for clamping strength of the ridges and blocking force of the device validate that the device transfers the required load of 450 N. The device is successfully tested over a wide range of operating conditions at speeds up to 11 mm/s using open loop control. The stall load of the device is measured to be exceeding 2250 N. For the dynamic loading test, the device pushes test weights up to 50 N with the open loop control approach.
A Hafted Stone Celt from Genesee County, Michigan and Implications for Ground Stone Tool Use in the Eastern Woodlands

A ground stone celt in a wood handle from Genesee County, Michigan is one of a few hafted examples known in the Eastern Woodlands from an archaeological context. The artifact dates to late prehistoric or perhaps protohistoric times and has a haft configuration apparently used commonly in the prehistoric Eastern Woodlands and in ethnographic situations elsewhere in the world.
The Glass Slipper: 'Incorporating' Occupational Identity in Management Studies

Management scholars have long separated the study of work and diversity, assuming that the nature of work itself is not affected by race or gender. Research on occupational segregation invalidates this assumption, confirming that we judge the nature of work in large part by the social identities aligned with it. Management theorists have yet to digest this evidence because of a unilateral view of the work-practitioner relation (i.e., people derive identity from work), which conceals a reciprocal relation (i.e., work derives identity from associated people). I build a bilateral view that accommodates available evidence by theorizing a new glass metaphor—the glass slipper—to capture occupational identity by association as it yields systematic forms of advantage and disadvantage. The metaphor elucidates how occupations come to appear “naturally” possessed of features that fit certain people yet are improbable for others. This article thus contributes to management knowledge by redefining the current division...
Sterically hindered group IVB organometallics X. Preparation and some properties of biphenylylsilicon and -tin compounds

Summary A representative number of meta- and para-trialkylsilicon and trialkyltin substituted biphenyls have been synthesized and their thermostability determined. The silicon compounds were found to be more heat resistant than the corresponding tin compounds. No significant difference in the thermostability between the meta-and para-substituted compounds seems to exist.
Failure and wrinkling criteria and mathematical modeling of shrink and stretch flanging operations in sheet-metal forming

Flanging or contour bending (bending around a curve) is a common sheet-forming operation to produce structural sheet-metal components. Flanges are used for appearance, rigidity, hidden joints, and strengthening of the edge of sheet-metal parts such as automobile front fenders and complex panels formed by drawing or stretch forming. Flanging deformation also occurs in many deep-drawing and stretching processes for cups, boxes, and panels. Research work and mathematical modeling in this area have been limited, and trial-and-error is the most common approach for tooling and process design in flanging operations. In this paper, an approximate theory and failure criteria (fracturing and wrinkling) are established for two basic flanging operations, shrink and stretch flanging. The mathematical models were supported by experiments and implemented in a computer program-FLANGE. The mathematical models and failure criteria can be used as a design aid for a quick analysis of flanging operations.
Universality in polymer viscoelasticity

This paper brings together seven aspects of universality in viscoelasticity of linear flexible polymers: (1) the stress relaxation modulus G(t) being a universal function of the normalized molecular weight (MW), M/Me; (2) the MW dependence of the zero shear viscosity; (3) the MW dependence of the steady state compliance; (4) the MW dependence of the diffusion constant; (5) the damping functions; (6) slip-stick melt fracture being a universal phenomenon; and (7) the number of entanglement strands per cubed entanglement distance being a universal constant. As presented in the text, the consistency, agreement and relation among these different aspects of universality can be properly brought to light.
Enzyme loading of nucleated chicken erythrocytes.

Abstract Exogenous enzymes can be loaded into nucleated chicken erythrocytes by hypotonic hemolysis. The hemolysed and resealed cells retain the ability to activate transport ions and to survive while circulating in the blood of chickens. It is proposed that these cells may be useful for the investigation of several aspects of cellular biochemistry.
An effective web gateway to access services

Abstract After assessing the needs and preferences of access services users at the University of Connecticut Libraries, a Web site design team analyzed techniques for making users more aware of services and to access them via a revised Web site. A significant design goal was to make the Web page more effectively convey information and reduce the ambiguity and confusion of cluttered text and long lists of choices. Utilizing the basic service information already available, the Web creator integrated miscellaneous elements in the revised page‐including color, style, and various technologies‐to establish a user‐friendly and extremely navigable Web site. The resulting Web site became a virtual extension of the Access Services Department and a 24/7 vehicle for information not previously available in one discrete location.
Triviality and Minimality in the Degrees of Monotone Complexity

Monotone complexity, Km, is a variant of Kolmogorov complexity that was introduced independently by Levin and Schnorr. The relative randomness of reals may be defined via monotone complexity. Equivalence classes of reals under monotone complexity are the Km-degrees, similar to the K-degrees defined via prefix-free complexity. A real α is Km-trivial if Km(α ↾ n) Km(n). Here, an argument by Stephan is strengthened to show that each Turing degree d ≥ 0′ contains a Km-trivial real. In contrast, all K-trivial reals are Δ02 (Chaitin) and low, since they are low for random (Hirschfeldt and Nies). A non-decreasing, function f:ω → ω is defined to be computably infinitesimal if it is dominated by every computable, non-decreasing, unbounded function. It is shown that the monotone complexity of any Km-trivial real is computably infinitesimal. If a Km-minimal real exists, it is Km-trivial. The operation ⊗ horizontally stretches the complexity graph of a real α by a strictly increasing computable function f. Areal α is invariant under computable stretching if α ⊗f ≡ Kmα for any such f. It is shown that any Km-minimal real is invariant under computable stretching.
Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydro-2-arylquinazolin-4-ones: Methodology and Application to a Potent Fluorescent Tubulin Inhibitor with Anticancer Activity

For several decades the 2,3-dihydroquinazolinone (DHQZ) heterocycle has been known to possess a variety of important biological and medicinal properties. Despite the many interesting facets of these molecules, synthetic access to nonracemic DHQZ analogues has remained elusive. Herein, we disclose a synthetic route that allows access to either enantiomer of a variety of DHQZ derivatives. We illustrate the utility of this chemistry with the asymmetric preparation and biological evaluation of a new chiral fluorescent tubulin binding agent with extremely potent antiproliferative properties against human cancer cells. A computational rationale for the increased potency of the (S)-enantiomer over the (R)-enantiomer is given, based on the crystal structure of α,β-tubulin complexed with colchicine. Taking advantage of the inherent fluorescence of these molecules, confocal images of GMC-5-193 (compound 7) in the cytoplasm of human melanoma cells (MDA-MB-435) cells are presented.
Bioenergetics of Contractile Function in Heart Trabeculae from Diabetic Rats

Morbidity in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients is commonly linked to cardiomyopathy, but the mechanisms involved in heart dysfunction are not well understood. In this study, the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat was utilized as an animal model of NIDDM. Herein we present a comparative bioenergetic characterization of working heart trabeculae from ZDF and its lean control subjected to changes in workload through pacing frequency. We monitored in parallel the developed force and respiratory rate in the absence and presence of increasing levels of insulin. In the absence of insulin, and compared to lean controls, trabeculae from ZDF rats showed a decreased dependence of the respiratory rate as a function of pacing frequency. Respiration was stimulated by increase pacing frequency in the presence of 10 nM Insulin in the lean control but not in the ZDF-derived trabeculae. In contrast, at 100 nM Insulin, respiratory fluxes in both ZDF- and lean control-trabeculae were rather insensitive to the frequency changes.The relatively lower respiratory rates displayed by ZDF with respect to lean heart trabeculae is in agreement with respiration measurements performed in mitochondria isolated from these hearts. In the presence of substrates of complex I, II and IV, ZDF mitochondria displayed 30% to 50% reduction in respiratory state 3 and uncoupled activities, together with decreased NADH and mitochondrial membrane potential (DYm). Additionally, the build-up of DYm as a function of glutamate/malate concentration required higher levels of substrate in heart mitochondria from obese as compared to lean rats.Taken together, these results indicate that a compromised mitochondrial function may be at the origin of the reduced contractility exhibited by heart trabeculae from the obese ZDF rat.
Model-Based Engineering Techniques for QoS Auditing in Distributed Cloud Services

Given cloud-based realization of a distributed system S, QoS auditing enables risk analysis and accounting of SLA violations under various security threats and resource depletion faced by S. The problem of QoS failures and security infringements arises due to third-party control of the underlying cloud resources and components. Here, a major issue is to reason about how well the system internal mechanisms are engineered to offer a required level of service to the application. We employ computational models of S to determine the optimal feasible output trajectory and verify how close is the actual behavior of S to this trajectory. The less-than-100% trust between the various sub-systems of S necessitates our model-based analysis of the service behavior vis-a-vis the SLA negotiated with S. The paper describes a case study of CDN realized on a cloud to corroborate our model-based system auditing techniques.
Understanding Micro-Droplet Interface Bilayers for Developing Bioinspired Sensors

Droplet-based biomolecular arrays form the basis for a new class of bioinspired material system, whereby decreasing the sizes of the droplets and increasing the number of droplets can lead to higher functional density for the array. In this paper, we report on a non-microfluidic approach to form and connect nanoliter-to-femtoliter, lipid-coated aqueous droplets in oil to form micro-droplet interface bilayers (μDIBs). Two different modes of operation are reported for dispensing a wide range of droplet sizes (2–200μm radius). Due to the high surface-area-to-volume ratios of microdroplets at these length scales, droplet shrinking is prominent, which affects the stability and lifetime of the bilayer. To better quantify these effects, we measure the shrinkage rates for 8 different water droplet/oil compositions and study the effect of lipid placement and lipid type on morphological changes to μDIBs.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Semantic foundations of binding-time analysis for imperative programs

This paper examines the role of dependence analysis in defining bindingtime analyses (BTAs) for imperative programs and in establishing that such BTAs are safe. In particular, we are concerned with characterizing safety conditions under which a program specializer that uses the results of a BTA is guaranteed to terminate. Our safety conditions are formalized via semantic characterizations of the statements in a program along two dimensions: static versus dynamic, and finite versus infinite. This permits us to give a semantic definition of “static-infinite computation”, a concept that has not been previously formalized. To illustrate the concepts, we present three different BTAs for an imperative language; we show that two of them are safe in the absence of “static-infinite computations”. In developing these notions, we make use of program representation graphs, which are a program representation similar to the dependence graphs used in parallelizing and vectorizing compilers. In operational terms, our BTAs are related to the operation of program slicing, which can be implemented using such graphs.
Activator effects on urease kinetics

An experimental study of the effects of amino acid additives on the rates of urease kinetics showed that the degree of enhancement is sensitive to the relative levels of additives and substrate, and that enhancement can turn to inhibition at especially low concentrations of either arginine, DL-alanine, or glycine. Kinetic models developed to interpret these and prior literature data showed that all the data are consistent in the framework of the steady state model proposed but contradict the expectations that would follow from an equilibrium based treatment.
Cholinergic mediation of the inhibitory effect of methylphenidate on neuronal activity in the reticular formation.

Abstract Methylphenidate hydrochloride (1 and 2 mg/kg i.v.) markedly attenuated the discharge rates of neurones in the mcsencephalic reticular formation of immobilized rats. This effect of methyl-phenidate was mimicked by oxotremorine and nicotine, unaffected by atropine, and abolished by mecamylamine. A central action of oxotremorine and nicotine was indicated by the further finding that atropine but not methyl atropine blocked the effect of oxotremorine. and that mecamylamine but not hexamethonium blocked the effect of nicotine. These results suggest that cholinergic mechanisms might mediate the electrophysiological effect of methylphenidate in the mesencephalic reticular formation and also the therapeutic effect of this drug in hyperactive children.
Predicted Redistribution of Ceratomyxa shasta Genotypes with Salmonid Passage in the Deschutes River, Oregon

Abstract A series of dams on the Deschutes River, Oregon, act as migration barriers that segregate the river system into upper and lower basins. Proposed fish passage between basins would reunite populations of native potamodromous fish and allow anadromous fish of Deschutes River origin access to the upper basin. We assessed the potential redistribution of host-species-specific genotypes (O, I, II, III) of the myxozoan parasite Ceratomyxa shasta that could occur with fish passage and examined the influence of nonnative fish on genotype composition. To determine the present distribution of the parasite genotypes, we exposed eight salmonid species—three native and five stocked for sport fishing—in present and predicted anadromous salmonid habitats. We monitored fish for infection by C. shasta and sequenced a section of the parasite ribosomal DNA gene from fish and water samples to determine parasite genotype. Genotype O was present in both upper and lower basins and detected only in steelhead Oncorhynchus ...
Energia di massa elettrica nel caso del piano

Dato un insieme F, chiuso e limitato, del piano, si tratta dell'energia di una massa elettrica su F e dell'energia del suo potenziale, nel caso bidimensionale, e si dimostra, in modo diretto, la loro uguaglianza, se la massa totale e nulla.
Free recall, subjective organization, and learning to learn at three age levels

Free recall and subjective organization were studied with children in Grades 3, 5, and 7. Each S was presented with 10 trials on each of four different sets of associatively unrelated line drawings of common objects. Recall increased with age level, but subjective organization increased only slightly. There was some evidence of learning to learn effects for recall but not for subjective organization. Recall and subjective organization were correlated for Ss of Grades 5 and 7 but not 3. The absolute amounts of subjective organization were relatively small for all age groups.
Electronic structure and optical spectra of semiconducting carbon nanotubes functionalized by diazonium salts

We report density functional (DFT) calculations on finite-length semiconducting carbon nanotubes covalently and non-covalently functionalized by aryl diazonium moieties and their chlorinated derivatives. For these systems, we investigate (i) an accuracy of different functionals and basis sets, (ii) a solvent effect, and (iii) the impact of the chemical functionalization on optical properties of nanotubes. In contrast to B3LYP, only long-range-corrected functionals, such as CAM-B3LYP and wB97XD, properly describe the ground and excited state properties of physisorbed molecules. We found that physisorbed cation insignificantly perturbs the optical spectra of nanotubes. In contrast, covalently bound complexes demonstrate strong redshifts and brightening of the lowest exciton that is optically dark in pristine nanotubes. However, the energy and oscillator strength of the lowest state are dictated by the position of the molecule on the nanotube. Thus, if controllable and selective chemical functionalization is realized, the PL of nanotubes could be improved.