cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Critique of Modeled Credit Default Swap Duration

With the emergence and widespread adoption of credit derivatives, determining the price volatility of a credit default swap has become fundamental to fixed income trading and valuation. The author asserts that this problem has not received adequate treatment, and presents a brief case study that compares the modeled durations of three synthetic bonds with the duration of actual bonds. An alternative modeling approach is proposed that might better match the actual duration.
C 2 free-form surfaces of degree (3,5)

This paper introduces new techniques for modeling low degree, smooth free-form surfaces of unrestricted patch layout. In particular, surfaces that are C2 after reparametrization can be built from tensor-product Bezier or spline patches of degree (3, 3) and (3, d + 2); at extraordinary points, these surfaces have the flexibility of C2 splines of total degree d > 0. The particular choice, d = 3, yields more than n+5 vector-valued degree of freedom where n patches join. The techniques generalize to Gk constructions of free-form surfaces of degree (k + 1,d + 2k - 2).
On the Subexponential Decay of Detection Error Probabilities in Long Tandems

We consider the problem of Bayesian decentralized binary hypothesis testing in a network of sensors arranged in a tandem. We show that the rate of error probability decay is always subexponential, establishing the validity of a long-standing conjecture. Under the additional assumption of bounded Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergences, we show that for all d > 1/2, the error probability is Omega(e - c nd), where c is a positive constant. Furthermore, the bound Omega(e - c (logn)d) , for all d > 1, holds under an additional mild condition on the distributions. This latter bound is shown to be tight.
Big Data Infrastructure for Aviation Data Analytics

This paper describes our approach towards developing and using a big data infrastructure for analyzing aviation data. In this paper, we briefly introduce our data sources, nature of data collected, cluster design, data loading and storage strategy and our language and library of choice for analytics and visualization. We present some of the analytics we have implemented for health monitoring of auxiliary power units (APUs) using our big data infrastructure. Best practices to implement big data analytics and pitfalls are discussed and substantiated with our experiences.
Laser Diagnostics for Gas Turbine Combustion Research

Gas turbine combustors pose many modeling and design difficulties. This has created an urgent need for experimental research using laser diagnostics to validate and refine computer design models of combustors. In this paper, key practical problems, limitations, and our operational experience with laser diagnostic systems for gas turbine combustion research are described.It is found that unavailability of a good LDA seeder design and an unambiguous particle bias correction scheme present the main obstacles to using LDA in gas turbine combustor measurements. The practical problems of the Raman/Rayleigh system, particularly above 1200 K are high background luminosity, beam steering due to unmixedness, and high Poisson uncertainty in temperature and concentration measurements. The integration of LDA-Raman systems is beset by optical and data acquisition difficulties. Therefore, considerable work is still required to make the applications of advanced laser diagnostics to measurements in a practical gas turbine combustor a reality.Copyright © 1988 by ASME
Cytogenetic analysis of B-cell posttransplant lymphoproliferations validates the World Health Organization classification and suggests inclusion of florid follicular hyperplasia as a precursor lesion

Cytogenetic abnormalities in B-cell posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) have not been well characterized. We thus performed cytogenetic analysis of 28 cases of B-cell PTLD, 1 infectious mononucleosis (IM)-like lesion, 9 polymorphic PTLD, 17 monomorphic PTLD, and 1 classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and correlated the karyotypic findings with the phenotype, Epstein-Barr virus infection status, and clinical outcome. Karyotypes of 19 cases of posttransplant florid follicular hyperplasia (FFH) were also analyzed. Informative karyotypes were obtained in 20 (71.4%) of 28 PTLDs and 18 (94.7%) of 19 FFHs. Clonal karyotypic abnormalities were detected in 13 (65%) of 20 PTLDs, including 9 (75%) of 12 monomorphic PTLDs, 2 (33.3%) of 6 polymorphic PTLDs, 1 IM-like lesion, and 1 HL, and 2 (11.1%) of 18 FFHs. Recurrent chromosome breaks at 1q11-21 (n = 6, including 1 FFH), 14q32 (n = 3, including 1 FFH), 16p13 (n = 3), 11q23-24 (n = 2), and 8q24 (c-MYC) (n = 2); gains of chromosome 7 (n = 4), X (n = 3), 2 (n = 3), 12 (n = 2); and loss of chromosome 22 (n = 2, including 1 IM-like lesion) were identified. The presence of cytogenetic abnormalities did not correlate with PTLD phenotype, Epstein-Barr virus infection, or clinical outcome. We describe novel karyotypic aberrations in PTLD and report clonal cytogenetic abnormalities in posttransplant FFH and an IM-like lesion for the first time. Our findings provide validation of the current World Health Organization classification of PTLD and also suggest incorporation of FFH as the earliest recognizable precursor of PTLD.
Glycine immunoreactive projections from the dorsal to the anteroventral cochlear nucleus

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate whether projections from the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) to the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) use either of two inhibitory transmitters, glycine or GABA. Retrograde HRP labeling of DCN-to-AVCN projection neurons was combined with postembedding immunocytochemistry in the DCN of guinea pigs. Following injections of HRP in the anterior or posterior divisions of AVCN, large numbers of neurons were labeled in the DCN. All of these were located in the deep layer, except for a few granule cells. Nearly all (96%) of the projection neurons were immunoreactive for glycine and most had dendritic and somatic morphologies corresponding to those of elongate neurons (so-called ‘corn’ cells); only a few resembled small stellate neurons. Few (3%) retrogradely labeled neurons were immunoreactive for GABA. The results suggest that projections from the deep DCN to the AVCN are formed primarily by glycinergic elongate neurons. These projections could have a substantial inhibitory influence on the output of neurons in the AVCN.
Glucose concentration profiles of normal and ultraviolet radiation-exposed rabbit corneas.

Abstract The passage of glucose within the cornea has been thought to occur by passive diffusion processes. However, corneal glucose concentration profiles have not been established to support this notion. While microfluorometric methods of metabolite assay typically have been used as a means of assessing regional brain metabolism, this unique methodology of tissue isolation and metabolite determination has not previously been applied to the cornea. Since this technique permits metabolite quantification on microgram-sized tissue samples, a co-ordinated corneal glucose concentration profile can be obtained. Tissue preparation consisted of liquid nitrogen freezing, cryo-sectioning, and freeze-drying, with storage at −20°C. The sections were thawed under vacuum pump, subsectioned, weighed, and assayed for glucose concentration (by dry weight). This study established a glucose concentration profile of the epithelium, anterior stroma, midstroma, posterior stroma, and endothelium for the normal pigmented rabbit cornea. A glucose concentration profile for UV radiation-exposed rabbit corneas also was documented. The UV radiation glucose profile data indicate the presence of an active transport mechanism capable of delivering glucose into the corneal epithelium against a concentration gradient. The presence of a transport system that ‘pulls’ glucose through the deeper corneal layers thus would make epithelial integrity important for the maintenance of overall corneal viability.
Long-term crop rotations affect soybean yield, seed weight, and soil chemical properties

Abstract Crop rotation is an important management practice in the production of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). For the eastern Great Plains, more information is needed to determine whether current crop rotations are sustainable for soybean production over a long-term period. A field study was conducted in southeastern Kansas from 1979 to 1998 on a Parsons silt loam soil (fine, mixed, thermic, Mollic Albaqualf) to evaluate long-term effects of crop rotation on soybean yield, seed weight, and soil chemical properties. Treatments consisted of three 2-years rotations and one monoculture system: (1) W – S / S =( winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L .)– soybean doublecrop )/ full - season soybean ; (2) W – Fal / S =( winter wheat – summer fallow )/ full - season soybean ; (3) GS / S = grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ( L .) Moench )/ soybean ; (4) S/S=continuous soybean. Full-season soybean yields were compared across all treatments in even-numbered years. On average, crop rotation increased soybean yields 16% compared to monoculture soybean. Full-season soybean yields averaged 1.91 Mg ha−1 following wheat–double-cropped soybean, 2.09 Mg ha−1 following wheat–summer fallow, 1.99 Mg ha−1 following grain sorghum, and 1.68 Mg ha−1 following soybean. Soybean seed weights were also significantly greater in most years when grown in rotation compared to monoculture soybean. Crop rotation increased total soil C and total soil N concentrations by 25% in the upper soil profile compared to monoculture soybean. Differences in soil values among crop rotations were directly proportional to the total quantity of above-ground crop residues produced. On average, W–S/S, W–Fal/S, and GS/S rotations produced more than 8 Mg ha−1 of above-ground crop residues for each 2-years cropping cycle compared with only 3 Mg ha−1 for S/S. In the short-term, benefit of crop rotation was increased soybean yield, which would likely increase soybean profitability. In the long-term, rotations with high residue-producing crops, such as wheat and grain sorghum, significantly increase total soil C and N concentrations over time, which may further improve soil productivity.
Nondirect Processes and Optical Properties of Metals

Recent photoemission studies of noble and transition metals show a predominance of "nondirect" electronic excitations and indicate an anomalous density-of-states peak below the expected $d$-band. We attribute these observations to second-order (and higher) processes involving secondary phonon- and electron-pair excitations.
Human serum albumin and its N-terminal tetrapeptide (DAHK) block oxidant-induced neuronal death.

Background and Purpose— Studies using animal models of stroke have shown that human serum albumin (HSA) significantly ameliorates cerebral ischemic injury after both transient and permanent ischemia, even when administered after the onset of ischemia or reperfusion. The mechanism of this effect remains uncertain, and prior studies suggest both indirect hemodynamic and direct cytoprotective effects. HSA is a potent antioxidant, in part because of its strong copper-binding capacity. Here we examined the effect of HSA on oxidant-induced neuronal death in a cortical cell culture system. Methods— Murine cortical cultures were exposed to oxidative stress generated by hydrogen peroxide and by a mixture of copper plus ascorbic acid. We examined the ability of HSA and a tetrapeptide occupying its N-terminus (DAHK) to prevent neuronal death after these challenges. Results— H2O2 and CuCl2/ascorbic acid were used at concentrations that, in the absence of HSA, killed >90% of the neurons. HSA provided complete protecti...
Analysis of driver injury severity in rural single-vehicle crashes

Rural roads carry less than fifty percent of the traffic in the United States. However, more than half of the traffic accident fatalities occurred on rural roads. This research focuses on analyzing injury severities involving single-vehicle crashes on rural roads, utilizing a latent class logit (LCL) model. Similar to multinomial logit (MNL) models, the LCL model has the advantage of not restricting the coefficients of each explanatory variable in different severity functions to be the same, making it possible to identify the impacts of the same explanatory variable on different injury outcomes. In addition, its unique model structure allows the LCL model to better address issues pertinent to the independence from irrelevant alternatives (IIA) property. A MNL model is also included as the benchmark simply because of its popularity in injury severity modeling. The model fitting results of the MNL and LCL models are presented and discussed. Key injury severity impact factors are identified for rural single-vehicle crashes. Also, a comparison of the model fitting, analysis marginal effects, and prediction performance of the MNL and LCL models are conducted, suggesting that the LCL model may be another viable modeling alternative for crash-severity analysis.
13C NMR studies of the binding of soybean trypsin inhibitor to trypsin

NMR studies of the complex between trypsin and soybean trypsin inhibitor with 1-^(13)C-arginine and modified inhibitor with 1-^(13)C-lysine show that these complexes involve almost exclusively non-covalent binding of the inhibitor to the enzyme for trypsin/^(13)C-Lys-inhibitor at pH 6.5 and 8.1 and for trypsin/^(13)C-Arg-inhibitor at pH 5.0. At pH 7.1 for trypsin/^(13)C-Arg-inhibitor both non-covalent and acyl enzyme forms are observed. Under no conditions did we observe evidence for a tetrahedral adduct between enzyme and inhibitor.
Regulation of the arabidopsis floral homeotic gene APETALA1

The Arabidopsis floral homeotic gene APETALA1 (AP1) encodes a putative transcription factor that acts locally to specify the identity of the floral meristem and to determine sepal and petal development. RNA tissue in situ hybridization studies show that AP1 RNA accumulates uniformly throughout young floral primordia, but is absent from the inflorescence meristem. Later in development, AP1 RNA is excluded from cells that will give rise to the two inner whorls of organs. Here we show that AP1 expression is under the control of two negative regulators: the meristem identity gene TERMINAL FLOWER represses AP1 RNA accumulation in the inflorescence meristem, and the organ identity gene AGAMOUS prevents AP1 RNA accumulation in the two inner whorls of wild-type flowers. These and other data presented here lead to a revised model for the regulatory interactions among the genes specifying floral organ identity in Arabidopsis.
Left Atrial Volume, Geometry, and Function in Systolic and Diastolic Heart Failure of Persons ≥65 Years of Age (The Cardiovascular Health Study)

The left atrium enlarges in association with many factors, including aging, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, and heart failure (HF) with low ejection fraction. However, left atrial (LA) volume, geometry, and emptying have not been compared between diastolic and systolic HF, nor has the association of LA volume for new HF been determined in older subjects, many of whom have normal ejection fraction. We used echocardiography to measure the LA volume, geometry, and emptying in 851 community-dwelling subjects ≥65 years of age, including 180 with HF at baseline and 255 participants who subsequently developed HF. The LA volume, area, and linear dimensions were higher in the prevalent and incident HF groups than in controls and did not differ between those with systolic versus diastolic HF, independent of co-morbidities and Doppler measures of diastolic function. The fractional area change was associated with prevalent, but not incident, HF. In conclusion, in population-based older subjects, the LA size is increased and LA emptying decreased in patients with either systolic or diastolic HF. LA size is associated with the new development of HF. These findings highlight the important role of the left atrium in HF, with or without a decreased ejection fraction.
Necessity of hospital admission for pediatric minor head injury

The objective of this study was to evaluate the need for mandatory hospital admission of all pediatric patients with minor head injury (MHI) and negative computed tomographic (CT) scans for head injury. The study was a retrospective chart review of all patients admitted to a pediatric trauma service over a period of 4 years. MHI was defined as blunt head trauma with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15 and a nonfocal neurological examination. Only patients < or = 13 years of age and with a negative head CT scan were included, and during hospitalization all patients were observed for delayed complications. A total of 197 patients met the inclusion criteria. The patients' mean age was 7.1 years, with a range of 2 months to 13 years. The most common mechanisms of injury were being struck by a motor vehicle while walking (82 patients), and falling (75 patients). No complications were observed, and although persistent symptoms occurred in 5 patients, they did not delay discharge. We conclude that pediatric patients with MHI and negative CT scans of the head do not require routine admission for observation for delayed complications.
Construction of a Polyaniline Nanofiber Gas Sensor

The electrical properties of polyaniline changes by orders of magnitude upon exposure to analytes such as acids or bases, making it a useful material for detection of these analytes in the gas phase. The objectives of this lab are to synthesize different diameter polyaniline nanofibers and compare them as sensor materials. In this experiment polyaniline nanofibers are synthesized using a two-phase interfacial polymerization method that yields nanofibers with relatively narrow diameter distributions centered around 30, 50, and 120 nm. The sensors are then fabricated by drop-casting aqueous dispersions of nanofibers onto electrode arrays to form films and measuring their change in resistance upon exposure to acids or bases. The sensor response is dependent on the surface area, diameter, and porosity of the nanofiber films. The larger diameter nanofibers have slower response times because of the difficulty for gas to diffuse through more material. The advantages to this lab include simplicity and low cost, making it suitable for both high school and college students, particularly in departments with modest means.
Ready or not, here comes the smart grid!

The “smart grid” represents one of the greatest potential advances in electricity delivery infrastructure in the past century. While the technologies that collectively comprise the smart grid have existed for decades, the potential for changing the way that electricity is generated, delivered, utilized and priced is revolutionary. Not surprisingly, many countries have undertaken initiatives to rollout smart grid infrastructure at an aggressive pace. Understanding the fundamental changes that the smart grid is likely to introduce is important for the development of future energy scenarios and the environmental, social and economic implications of these scenarios. Here we present an overview of the emerging smart grid and outline a few implications for the energy modeling community. Specifically, we discuss the potential for the smart grid to act as an enabling technology for renewable energy integration, price-responsive electricity demand, electrified transportation and distributed energy production as examples of how the smart grid may fundamentally change future energy system scenario development. The smart grid is being deployed and implemented much faster than we are able to fully consider its implications, and in some cases public policy has a long way to go before it catches up with the pace of smart grid technology deployment.
HGAL is a novel interleukin-4-inducible gene that strongly predicts survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

We have cloned and characterized a novel human gene,HGAL (human germinal center–associated lymphoma), which predicts outcome in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The HGAL gene comprises 6 exons and encodes a cytoplasmic protein of 178 amino acids that contains an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). It is highly expressed in germinal center (GC) lymphocytes and GC-derived lymphomas and is homologous to the mouse GC-specific gene M17. Expression of the HGAL gene is specifically induced in B cells by interleukin-4 (IL-4). Patients with DLBCL expressing high levels of HGAL mRNA demonstrate significantly longer overall survival than do patients with low HGAL expression. This association was independent of the clinical international prognostic index. High HGAL mRNA expression should be used as a prognostic factor in DLBCL.
Effects of combined muscarinic and nicotinic blockade on choice accuracy in the radial-arm maze

Acetylcholine (ACh) systems have been found to be crucial for the maintenance of accurate cognitive performance. A great variety of studies have shown that the muscarinic ACh receptor blocker scopolamine impairs choice accuracy in the radial-arm maze. Recently, it has been found that the nicotinic ACh receptor blocker mecamylamine also impairs radial-arm maze choice accuracy. In the present study, we investigated the effects of combined administration of these two ACh blockers. Scopolamine (0.15 mg/kg) and mecamylamine (10 mg/kg) each moderately impaired choice accuracy. Combined treatment with scopolamine and mecamylamine significantly decreased choice accuracy relative to either drug alone. This combination treatment lowered choice accuracy to chance levels. These data show that nicotinic and muscarinic blockade have at least additive effects in producing an anterograde memory deficit. Concurrent blockade of these two components of ACh systems may provide a better animal model of cognitive impairments due to the loss of cholinergic neurons, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Plasma preparations of amorphous silicon films

Abstract A review is given of two plasma methods for the preparation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon films. The two methods, silane glow discharge decomposition and argon-hydrogen reactive sputtering, are compared. The principal differences in electronic properties between hydrogenated and “pure” amorphous silicon are summarized. Spectroscopic characterizations of hydrogen in amorphous silicon are discussed. Some of the present problems in the understanding of the plasma deposition processes and of the role of hydrogen in amorphous silicon are pointed out.
New insights into phosphate homeostasis: fibroblast growth factor 23 and frizzled-related protein-4 are phosphaturic factors derived from tumors associated with osteomalacia.

Purpose of review Studies of patients with tumors associated with osteomalacia (tumor-induced osteomalacia), X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) and autosomal-dominant hypophosphatemic rickets have provided important new insights into the identity and mechanisms of action of factors that play a role in controlling renal phosphate excretion and serum phosphate concentrations. In the present review I discuss how these disorders may be mechanistically related to one another. Recent findings Patients (or mice) with these disorders manifest rickets as a result of excessive urinary phosphate losses. Tumors associated with osteomalacia elaborate factors ('phosphatonins') that increase renal phosphate excretion and reduce serum phosphate concentrations. These factors include fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 and frizzled-related protein-4. Mice with XLH (Hyp) elaborate a circulating factor that induces changes in mineral metabolism similar to those in patients with tumor-induced osteomalacia. In mice and humans with XLH, a mutant enzyme, phex/PHEX, cannot degrade the phosphaturic factor. Patients with autosomal-dominant hypophosphatemic rickets produce a mutant FGF 23 that is resistant to proteolytic degradation. Excessive FGF 23 activity is associated with increased renal phosphate excretion and hypophosphatemia. Summary In tumor-induced osteomalacia, excessive production of factors such as FGF 23 and frizzled-related protein-4 is associated with inability of endogenous proteolytic enzymes to degrade these individual substances, with resultant hyperphosphaturia, hypophosphatemia, and rickets. In XLH, mutant PHEX/phex (phosphate-regulating gene with homology to endopeptidases located on the X-chromosome) activity prevents degradation of a phosphaturic factor. In autosomal-dominant hypophosphatemic rickets, a mutant form of FGF 23 that is resistant to proteolytic degradation causes increased renal phosphate losses and hypophosphatemia.
Dibenzotetraaza crown ethers: a new family of crown ethers based on o-phenylenediamine.

Dibenzotetraaza (DBTA) crown ethers possess two o-phenylenediamine moieties. They are homologues of dibenzo crown ether phase-transfer catalysts and were prepared from the condensation of benzimidazoles with oligo(ethyleneglycol) dichlorides and oligo(ethyleneglycol) ditosylates. Compounds with ring sizes ranging from 18-crown-6 to 42-crown-14 were prepared. In addition, various altered benzimidizoles were used to produce DBTA crown ethers with modified substituents and ether bridges, as well as benzimidazolidine crown ethers. The synthetic approach presented here proved to be a convenient route to a new family of crown ethers with overall yields of up to 48% based on the benzimidazole. Yields for the ring-closing step were generally high, ranging from 51% to 94%, without the need for high-dilution conditions. Reaction of the DBTA crown ethers with alkyl and benzyl halides was found to be a facile way to obtain the corresponding tetra(N-organyl) compounds. Picrate extraction studies were carried out to de...
Gallium-67 citrate scanning in Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Gallium-67 citrate scintigraphy was performed in 33 patients with Hodgkin's disease and 25 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Three hundred twenty-eight sites of potential involvement were investigated. Confirmation of involvement was made by physical examination, roentgenographic evaluation and histopathologic examination of tissue obtained at diagnostic laparotomy. The results of scintigraphy correlated with all other clinicopathologic data in only 35 percent of patients, the true-positive rate being significantly higher above the diaphragm (61 percent) than below (40 percent). The overall true-positive and true-negative rates were 53 and 90 percent, respectively. Gallium-67-citrate scintigraphy may be useful as an adjunct to established clinical staging procedures in untreated patients and in the detection of recurrent disease in treated patients. Our data indicate it is not sufficiently reliable to replace established methods presently used for clinical staging. (auth)
Interactive process control panel (a direct manipulation interface for process simulations)

Abstract The power and utility of dynamic process simulations can be enhanced by interactive interfaces which allow hands-on control of the model. Using modern software tools one can develop direct manipulation interfaces which attach to existing simulations. An example of such a system, the interactive process control panel, is presented.
Regulation of extracellular glutamate levels in the long-term anoxic turtle striatum: coordinated activity of glutamate transporters, adenosine, K (ATP) (+) channels and GABA.

Early in anoxia the mammalian brain experiences an uncontrolled release of glutamate, which combined with the failure of glutamate reuptake mechanisms, leads to massive neurotoxic increases in extracellular glutamate. By contrast, the anoxia tolerant turtle (Trachemys scripta) shows no increase in extracellular glutamate levels over many hours of anoxia. During the first hours of anoxia extracellular glutamate levels are maintained by a reduction in glutamate release (mainly due to the inhibition of neuronal vesicular glutamate release), combined with continued uptake by still active glutamate transporters. The early down-regulation in glutamate release is modulated by adenosine receptors and K ATP + channels, but is not affected by GABAA receptors. During long-term anoxia there is a further reduction in the rate of glutamate release,␣reaching 30% of normoxic control values at 5 h of anoxia. Adenosine and GABAA receptors but not K ATP + channels regulate this reduction in glutamate release. We conclude that the reduction in glutamate release during progressive anoxia is a dynamic process requiring continuous but changing synergistic activity of K ATP + channels, adenosine and GABAA receptors. The fact that there is a still active glutamate release and uptake in prolonged anoxia suggests that extracellular glutamate has a vital function in the deeply hypometabolic brain.
Racial attitude effects on voting in the 2008 presidential election: Examining the unconventional factors shaping vote choice in a most unconventional election

Every election has unique elements, but the 2008 U.S. presidential race had it all: an African-American presidential candidate who won his party’s nomination by defeating a former first lady, an historically unpopular outgoing president, two ongoing wars, a failing economy, and a war hero running for president with a female vice-presidential running mate. With so many unique elements to account for, disentangling their independent effects to identify the dominant factors shaping the 2008 election is a tremendous challenge. This paper explores a wide variety of factors potentially influencing the 2008 vote, but it devotes particular attention to two exceptionally relevant factors: racial attitudes and succession effects. We begin this paper with a discussion of racial attitudes
Around the β-Turn: An Activity To Improve the Communication and Listening Skills of Biochemistry Students

An active-learning activity has been designed to improve communication and listening skills of students in an upper-level biochemistry course. The activity was modeled after “Around the Horn”, a popular television show that features a moderator asking questions to various sports reporters and assessing their answers in scored sessions. In “Around the β-Turn”, students are asked questions about a recent biochemistry publication in a rapid-fire manner. Responses are scored using a rubric with answers that are correct, concise, and appropriately detailed receiving the most points and answers that are incorrect or vague receiving no points or resulting in the loss of points. Students need opportunities to practice and learn how to answer tough and complex questions on the spot, and this activity provides a structure for them to learn biochemical content while developing transferable communication skills, which will be valuable on the job or in graduate or professional school. A student perspective describes t...
Vibration—vibration equilibration in CH3F—NO,CO mixtures

Abstract The rate vibration to vibration energy transfer from CH 3 F excited to ν 3 = 1 at 1050 cm −1 to the nitric oxide and carbon monoxide first vibrationally excited states at 1875 cm −1 and 2143 cm −1 , respectively, has been measured. The V—V crossover rate was determined to be 5.5 ± 0.5 msec −1 torr −1 for NO and 0.244 ± 0.004 for CO. These measurements demonstrate the capability of using the laser induced fluorescence technique for measurements of relaxation times with molecular species that are not directly pumped by the laser (CO, NO), but rather acquire excitation from another long lived collision partner which is in turn laser excited (CH 3 F). The fact that CH 3 F is a polyatomic molecule with many infrared active modes is beneficial since many near resonant crossover can be found for other species. Fluorescence from the parent CH 3 F species can usually be reduced or eliminated when desired by using appropriate interference filters.
Radical vulvectomy combined with elective node irradiation for TxN0 squamous carcinoma of the vulva

The conventional treatment for squamous carcinoma of the vulva with negative nodes (N0) is radical vulvectomy and bilateral node dissections. Approximately 20–30% of N0 patients will have involved nodes in the surgical specimen. The morbidity/mortality added by the node dissections may be considerable, especially for the two of three patients who are not aided by the procedure. Radical vulvectomy followed by elective node irradiation of 4500 R in 5 weeks has been used in six patients. The treatment combination is well tolerated with no node failures, no radiation complications, no delay in healing of the surgical site, and an average hospitalization of 13 days.
Prospective study of alcohol consumption and risk of coronary disease in men

Although an inverse association between alcohol consumption and risk of coronary artery disease has been consistently found in several types of studies, some have argued that the association is due at least partly to the inclusion in the non-drinking reference group of men who abstain because of pre-existing disease. The association between self-reported alcohol intake and coronary disease was studied prospectively among 51,529 male health professionals. In 1986 the participants completed questionnaires about food and alcohol intake and medical history, heart disease risk factors, and dietary changes in the previous 10 years. Follow-up questionnaires in 1988 sought information about newly diagnosed coronary disease. 350 confirmed cases of coronary disease occurred. After adjustment for coronary risk factors, including dietary intake of cholesterol, fat, and dietary fibre, increasing alcohol intake was inversely related to coronary disease incidence (p for trend less than 0.001). Exclusion of 10,302 current non-drinkers or 16,342 men with disorders potentially related to coronary disease (eg, hypertension, diabetes, and gout) which might have led men to reduce their alcohol intake, did not substantially affect the relative risks. These findings support the hypothesis that the inverse relation between alcohol consumption and risk of coronary disease is causal.
A sensitive, non-intrusive point diagnostic for atomic chlorine using coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering☆

Abstract Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy is used to detect chlorine atoms produced by microwave discharge in flowing Cl 2 /He mixtures. A detection limit of (4.5 = 1.7) × 10 15 chlorine atoms/cm 3 was established by titration with Br 2 . Methods for improvement of the detection limit are discussed.
Eye movement research on the propositional structure of short texts

The present paper describes the application of computer-based programs to the evaluation of eye movements during reading of short texts. These programs operate in background, that is, after an experimental session is completed and the raw data are collected on magnetic tape. The first program reduces the raw data into a sequence of fixation locations and durations, eye movements, and eye blinks. A second program utilizes calibration coordinates and line-of-text information to transform the reduced data into a standard grid format. Fixation order, locations, and durations for each line of text read are output with respect to the line of text. The final program summarizes fixation locations, frequencies, and durations with respect to analyses of the texts into levels within a hierarchy of propositions in the text base (Kintsch, 1974).
Formation of the 1,4-Diazabutadien-2-yl Complex [Mn(CNPh*)4{C(NPh*)C(CH3)N(Ph*)}] through Methylation of a Manganese(−I) Isonitrilate

Alkylation of [Mn(CNPh*)5]- with CH3I gives the 1,4-diazabutadien-2-yl in a 30% yield, as established by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The same product can be obtained in poor yield when CH3OSO2CF3 is used as the alkylating agent, and use of ethyl iodide gives the corresponding ethyl It is proposed that the first step in the formation of 2 is alkylation at manganese: transient [Mn(CNPh*)5CH3] is then converted into an iminoacyl complex by isonitrile/alkyl insertion. Insertion of a second isonitrile into the metal−iminoacyl bond leads to the 1,4-diazabutadien-2-yl complex. The addition of free CNPh* to the reaction solution leads to only a modest increase in the yield of 2, but the importance of exogenous isonitrile is supported by the formation in which 1 equiv of CNtBu is coordinated to Mn, when CNtBu is added to a solution of 1- before reaction with CH3I.
The social identity of Welsh learners

The process of the attempted acquisition of spoken Welsh by English speakers in Wales is examined ethnographically in relation to the native association of Welsh-language speech with a Welsh cultural identity. Perceptions of Welsh learners by members of other linguistic groups reveal the symbolic significance of the learning of a minority language. The status of learners as verbal performers is investigated, together with the psychological impact of that status and of the ambiguity of the learners' identity on the learning process. (Bilingualism, language learning, Wales/Welsh)
Markov chain model of HomePlug CSMA MAC for determining optimal fixed contention window size

This paper analyzes the optimum constant contention window (CW) for the HomePlug 1.0 and AV CSMA/CA MAC. A discrete time, homogenous Markov chain, with the state specified by both the backoff counter (BC) and deferral counter (DC), is used to model a single node contending for transmission. The structure of the Markov chain admits a generalized expression for the stationary state probability mass function (pmf) associated with each state. The recursively defined state pmfs can be analytically reduced to a single expression relating the probability p, of the node finding the medium idle, the maximum window size W, the maximum deferral counter size, and the number of nodes n. Optimizing the MAC efficiency provides a target value for p, which can be attained with the proper selection of W and. It is shown that an optimal contention window size can be chosen based on a linear relationship with the number of nodes.
Solving display-based problems

Display-based problems in current spreadsheet systems have been identified as conceptually simple problems requiring complex solutions. In this paper, we examine such display-based problems and discuss an approach aimed at keeping the solutions of conceptually simple problems simple. This approach is based on functional abstraction, direct manipulation of regions, and invocation polymorphism which is the process of resolving ambiguity in function invocations applied to regions. In this approach, the traditional cell-referencing mechanism is replaced by a region-referencing mechanism. Programs are then constructed visually by direct region manipulations. Unfortunately, region-referencing introduces ambiguity in function invocations. The resolution of this ambiguity requires intelligent assistance. We call the application of such intelligent assistance to resolve invocation polymorphism applicability checking.
Planar Curve Routing for Tethered-Robot Motion Planning

The following problem appears in robotics. A number of small, circular robots live in a common planar workspace. Each is attached by a flexible cable of finite length to a point on the boundary of this workspace. Each robot has a target point in the workspace it must reach. When a robot has reached its target, its cable will have been dragged out into the workspace and possibly pushed and bent by other robots. The cables remain taut at all times and may not overlap, but may bend around other robots. When only the target points are specified for the robots, their motion can produce arbitrarily complex cable configurations. The more complex a cable configuration is, the more restrictive it is to the motion of the robots. To keep restrictions on the robots' motions at a minimum, it is necessary to specify, in addition to the target points, a configuration of the cables that is as simple as possible but allows all robots to reach their targets. The problem of finding the simplest cable configuration for a given set of target points is shown to reduce to the problem of finding a minimal set of nonintersecting routes in a Euclidean graph whose nodes are the robots' cable line. That no set of edges can intersect any other set of edges is an unusual characteristic of this graph problem. This consideration leads to interesting geometric analysis used to determine which relative placements of the graph edges represent overlapping cable lines. An algorithm is suggested that uses an exhaustive search method with pruning to find a set of nonintersecting routes in the graph that is minimal according to a chosen criterion. The algorithm has been implemented and tested; examples of its performance are given.
Pharmacology of glutamate neurotoxicity in cortical cell culture: attenuation by NMDA antagonists

The antagonist pharmacology of glutamate neurotoxicity was quantitatively examined in murine cortical cell cultures. Addition of 1- 3 mM DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV), or its active isomer D-APV, acutely to the exposure solution selectively blocked the neuroexcitation and neuronal cell selectively blocked the neuroexcitation and neuronal cell loss produced by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), with relatively little effect on that produced by either kainate or quisqualate. As expected, this selective NMDA receptor blockade only partially reduced the neuroexcitation or acute neuronal swelling produced by the broad-spectrum agonist glutamate; surprisingly, however, this blockade was sufficient to reduce glutamate- induced neuronal cell loss markedly. Lower concentrations of APV or D- APV had much less protective effect, suggesting that the blockade of a large number of NMDA receptors was required to acutely antagonize glutamate neurotoxicity. This requirement may be caused by the amplification of small amounts of acute glutamate-induced injury by subsequent release of endogenous NMDA agonists from injured neurons, as the “late” addition of 10–1000 microM APV or D-APV (after termination of glutamate exposure) also reduced resultant neuronal damage. If APV or D-APV were present both during and after glutamate exposure, a summation dose-protection relationship was obtained, showing substantial protective efficacy at low micromolar antagonist concentrations. Screening of several other excitatory amino acid antagonists confirmed that the ability to antagonize glutamate neurotoxicity might correlate with ability to block NMDA-induced neuroexcitation: The reported NMDA antagonists ketamine and DL-2-amino- 7-phosphono-heptanoate, as well as the broad-spectrum antagonist kynurenate, were all found to attenuate glutamate neurotoxicity substantially; whereas gamma-D-glutamylaminomethyl sulfonate and L- glutamate diethyl ester, compounds reported to block predominantly quisqualate or kainate receptors, did not affect glutamate neurotoxicity. The present study suggests that glutamate neurotoxicity may be predominantly mediated by the activation of the NMDA subclass of glutamate receptors--occurring both directly, during exposure to exogenous compound, and indirectly, due to the subsequent release of endogenous NMDA agonists. Given other studies linking NMDA receptors to channels with unusually high calcium permeability, this suggestion is consistent with previous data showing that glutamate neurotoxicity depends heavily on extracellular calcium.
Family satisfaction with nursing facility care.

Background. We present the psychometric properties of our nursing facility family satisfaction questionnaire (NF-FSQ), and the steps used to develop this instrument. Methods. Family members from 14 nursing facilities in Pennsylvania were mailed the NF-FSQ. Factor analyses were used to test the extent to which the items in each domain represented the same underlying construct. To further report the applied psychometric properties of the instrument we used the completeness of data, score distributions, item–scale consistency and reliability of domain scores. Results. Of the 550 surveys mailed, 387 usable surveys were returned (70% response rate). Factor analyses show that the items were representative of the underlying factors. The percentage of family members not providing responses for each question was low, and varied from 1.0% to 3.4%. The floor and ceiling effects of the responses for each of the 20 questions were low. The item–scale internal consistency analyses determined that the correlation of items within indexes were higher than those with other indexes. Cronbach’s alphas for the domains were all higher than usually recommended levels. Conclusions. We believe we have produced a short, psychometrically sound family member satisfaction instrument for use in nursing homes. We also show that response rates from family members can be very high.
Stm1 Modulates mRNA Decay and Dhh1 Function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The control of mRNA degradation and translation are important for the regulation of gene expression. mRNA degradation is often initiated by deadenylation, which leads to decapping and 5′–3′ decay. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae, decapping is promoted by the Dhh1 and Pat1 proteins, which appear to both inhibit translation initiation and promote decapping. To understand the function of these factors, we identified the ribosome binding protein Stm1 as a multicopy suppressor of the temperature sensitivity of the pat1Δ strain. Stm1 loss-of-function alleles and overexpression strains show several genetic interactions with Pat1 and Dhh1 alleles in a manner consistent with Stm1 working upstream of Dhh1 to promote Dhh1 function. Consistent with Stm1 affecting Dhh1 function, stm1Δ strains are defective in the degradation of the EDC1 and COX17 mRNAs, whose decay is strongly affected by the loss of Dhh1. These results identify Stm1 as an additional component of the mRNA degradation machinery and suggest a possible connection of mRNA decapping to ribosome function.
Sprint network survivability

Survivability is the ability of a network to cope with facility outages, capacity overloads and natural disasters. It includes such factors as architecture, construction quality, dispersion of facilities, facility and support system redundancy, and network management and management processes. Sprint provides telecommunications services within the United States and its possessions and worldwide through partnership agreements with foreign host governments or foreign government telecommunications authorities. This paper focuses on survivability attributes of the Continental United States (CONUS) Sprint network which is wholly owned and/or controlled by Sprint. Both present capabilities and future enhancements are addressed. >