cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Firm Entry, Survival, and Growth in the United States: A Comparison of Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas

Problem: Many policymakers and planners believe that entrepreneurship is key to rejuvenating American communities amid continued pressures of globalization and technological change; yet, despite its present popularity, we still know relatively little about the influence of different types of locations on new business creation and performance. Purpose: This study examines how new firms' entry, survival, and growth differ among central cities, suburbs, small cities, and rural areas inside and outside metropolitan areas, to allow policymakers and planners to develop more informed development strategies. Methods: I use a unique establishment-level longitudinal database to examine the formation, survival, and growth of new manufacturing and advanced services firms in the continental United States using a mix of descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results and conclusions: This study shows that entrepreneurial performance differs across a continuum of locations from nonmetropolitan rural to urban co...
Interconfigurational two-photon transitions in Nd 3+ :Y 3 Al 5 O 12

Resonantly enhanced, near-ultraviolet 4f3 → 4f25d two-photon transitions have been observed in trivalent neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd3+:Y3Al5O12). The two-photon excitation spectra over the 40 400–46 730 cm−1 transition energy range are characterized by sharp resonance peaks on a slowly varying background caused by nonresonant transitions. The peak two-photon cross section involving the 2P1/2 resonant intermediate state is 9 × 10−51 cm4 s, and the integrated cross section is 2.2 × 10−38 cm4.
The Interpretation of Frequency Adjectives

What I have attempted to show in the foregoing is that: (1) For any frequency adjective f, there is an element of meaning common to both the adverbial and the generic usage of f; this is a function f′ from propositions to truth-values such that f′(Φ)′ is true at an interval i iff Φ′ is true at subintervals of i distributed through i in a certain way. (2) In an adverbial use of f, f′ functions like the corresponding frequency adverb. (3) In a generic use of f, f′ quantifies the times intervals which a specified object is realized by some stage. (4) In their adverbial usage, frequency adjectives are not regular attributive adjectives at the level at which interpretation takes place, but are perhaps determiners. And (5) in their generic usage, frequency adjectives are adjectives at the level at which interpretation takes place. More generally, I hope to have suggested something of the range of uses to which frequency is put in natural language. That we effortlessly grasp what is meants by Monday, the Columbus Dispatch, autumn, the Today Show, and so on, demonstrates our fluency in interpreting certain sequences of objects, events, or states of affairs as sequences of values of some function cycling on a time-axis. Much more must ultimately be told about the psychological and anthropological significance of frequency.
Thermodynamic and kinetic observations on lialo2: adsorption, dissolution, and evolution of water vapor

Abstract Isotherms for 673 and 773 K are presented for surface adsorption of H2O(g) and for solubility of OH− in LiAlO2 as a function of H2O(g) partial pressure. The Freundlich adsorption isotherms for 673 and 773 K, respectively, are: log(θ) = (−1.590 ± 0.691) + (0.497 ± 0.064) log(p H 2 O ) , and log(θ) = (−1.112 ± 0.061) + (0.497 ± 0.052) log(p H 2 O ) , where θ is the fraction of surface covered, and pH2O is the partial pressure of H2O(g) in Pa. Hydroxide dissolution is exothermic. LiAl5O8 can be a second phase or a solute depending on conditions to give isotherms with slopes of 0.5 or 0.4, respectively. The hydroxide solubility isotherms for 673 and 773 K, respectively, are: log(x OH ) = (−4.667 ± 0.096) + (0.399 ± 0.088) log(p H 2 ) , and log(x OH ) = (−4.899 ± 0.079) + (0.499 ± 0.063) log(p H 2 O ) , where xOH is the mole fraction OH−. The rate of H2O(g) evolution from LiAlO2 showed the kinetics of the process to be second order in hydroxide with an activation energy of 61.5 ± 7.9 kj , a value less than that reported for H2O(g) evolution from Li2O or from LiOH.
Thermodynamic properties of some binary fused chloride mixtures obtained from e.m.f. measurements

Abstract The Gibbs free energies of mixing have been measured over the entire composition range for the following molten binary chloride mixtures: LiCl + MgCl 2 , LiCl + CaCl 2 LiCl + SrCl 2 , LiCl + CeCl 3 , LiCl + PbCl 2 , NaCl + MgCl 2 , NaCl + CaCl 2 , NaCl + SrCl 2 , NaCl + BaCl 2 , NaCl + CeCl 3 , KCl + MgCl 2 , KCl + CaCl 2 , KCl + SrCl 2 , KCl + BaCl 2 , and KCl + CeCl 3 . Results were obtained from e.m.f. measurements on cells of the following type: where Me I represents the alkali metals Li, Na, or K, and Me II represents an alkaline earth metal or lead.
Flow of power-law fluids in fixed beds of cylinders or spheres

An ensemble average of the equations of motion for a Newtonian fluid over particle configurations in a dilute fixed bed of spheres or cylinders yields Brinkman’s equations of motion, where the disturbance velocity produced by a test particle is influenced by the Newtonian fluid stress and a body force representing the linear drag on the surrounding particles. We consider a similar analysis for a power-law fluid where the stress is related to the rate of strain by , where and are constants. In this case, the ensemble-averaged momentum equation includes a body force resulting from the nonlinear drag exerted on the surrounding particles, a power-law stress associated with the disturbance velocity of the test particle, and a stress term that is linear with respect to the test particle’s disturbance velocity. The latter term results from the interaction of the test particle’s velocity disturbance with the random straining motions produced by the neighbouring particles and is important only in shear-thickening fluids where the velocity disturbances of the particles are long-ranged. The solutions to these equations using scaling analyses for dilute beds and numerical simulations using the finite element method are presented. We show that the drag force acting on a particle in a fixed bed can be written as a function of a particle-concentration-dependent length scale at which the fluid velocity disturbance produced by a particle is modified by hydrodynamic interactions with its neighbours. This is also true of the drag on a particle in a periodic array where the length scale is the lattice spacing. The effects of particle interactions on the drag in dilute arrays (periodic or random) of cylinders and spheres in shear-thickening fluids is dramatic, where it arrests the algebraic growth of the disturbance velocity with radial position when for cylinders and for spheres. For concentrated random arrays of particles, we adopt an effective medium theory in which the drag force per unit volume in the medium surrounding a test particle is assumed to be proportional to the local volume fraction of the neighbouring particles, which is derived from the hard-particle packing. The predictions of the averaged equations of motion are validated by comparison with simulations of randomly distributed hydrodynamically interacting cylinders.
Studies on the biosynthesis of prodigiosin in Serratia marcescens.

Abstract Prodigiosin, the blood-red pigment produced by Serratia marcescens , is a linear tripyrrole. Through a series of isotope incorporation experiments, it has been possible to show that this pigment, although a pryrrolic compound, is not closely related to the porphyrins biosynthetically. It has been demonstrated that δ-aminolevulinic acid a specific precursor of porphyrins, is capable of penetrating the membrane of Serratia marcescens but is not used in the formation of prodigiosin. The possibility that prodigiosin may be derived from four proline units has been studied and found to be untenable. The carboxyl carbon of proline is probably incorporated, as a single carbon unit, into the dipyrrolic precursor of prodigiosin produced by Serratia marcescens mutant 9-3-3. Incorporation experiments utilizing [ 14 C]proline (uniformly labeled), [1- 14 C]proline, and [2- 14 C]proline into both prodigiosin and its dipyrrolic precursor, indicate that C-2, and perhaps the entire ring, of proline is utilized mainly in the formation of the 2-methyl-3-amylpyrrole part of prodigiosin. Hydroxyproline is not utilized in the formation of ring II of prodigiosin. On the basis of [2- 14 C]glycine incorporation into both prodigiosin and its dipyrrolic precursor, it is apparent that the methyl carbon atom of glycine is incorporated with equal efficiency into both halves of the prodigiosin molecule. It is, however, probable that rings I and II are formed by a different mechanism than ring III.
Theoretical Models of the Antecedents and Consequences of Organizational, Workgroup, and Professional Esprit De Corps

This article formally defines the construct of esprit de corps and develops propositions which explain how it emerges in individuals and impacts on individual and group level behavior. Building from social exchange theory and Jones and James (1979) framework, we propose the premise that an individual can simultaneously develop three different types of esprit de corps: organizational esprit de corps, workgroup esprit de corps, and professional esprit de corps. Propositions that explain how high levels of these types of esprit de corps develop and the consequences they have on an individual’s behavior and performance within a group or organization are presented.
Hydrocarbon absorption coefficients at the 3.39-μm He-Ne laser transition

In view of the application of light-extinction techniques for fuel-specie-concentration measurements in combustion systems, the vapor-absorption coefficient of several hydrocarbon species at the 3.39-μm He-Ne laser transition has been measured. The hydrocarbon species include paraffins, olefins, and aromatics. Results are included for total pressure over the range of approximately 200–650 Torr at 295 K with air as the buffer gas. Observations are made regarding the difference in the absorption coefficient within and between hydrocarbon classifications.
Hunter-Gatherer Foraging Strategies in Tropical Grasslands: Model Building and Testing in the East African Middle and Later Stone Age

Abstract Hunter–gatherer adaptations to moist tropical grasslands are not well known from either the ethnographic or the archaeological record. This is unfortunate as grassland adaptations are clearly significant to human biological and behavioral evolution. The most effective strategy for remedying this problem is to develop models for grassland exploitation based on strong understandings of the ecological similarities and differences between cold, temperate, and tropical grasslands. Cold, temperate, and tropical grasslands are similar in that water and raw materials are often scarce and the most abundant large mammals are gregarious and mobile. Tropical grasslands differ from cold and temperate grasslands by having a greater diversity and biomass of edible above-ground plants and plants with underground storage organs, making carbohydrate availability greater and less seasonal. Large mobile mammals and resident large mammals are more diverse and have greater biomass in tropical grasslands. Overall, tropical grasslands are a richer and less seasonally punctuated environment than either cold or temperate grasslands. A comparison of ethnographic data regarding variation in foraging strategies in different cold, temperate, and tropical settings lead to the construction of three models for hunter–gatherer exploitation of tropical grasslands: a Generalized Grassland Model (no specialized tactical hunting—considered the favored model given modern African grassland conditions), a Seasonal Grassland Model (only seasonal use of specialized tactical hunting techniques—considered unlikely for Africa), and a Specialized Grassland Model (regular use of specialized tactical hunting strategies—considered highly unlikely for Africa). A preliminary test of these models shows the Athi-Kapiti Plains Holocene archaeological evidence is most consistent with the Generalized Grassland Model. The Last Glacial Maximum is most consistent with the Seasonal Grassland Model. A single MSA occupation also suggests that specialized tactical hunting strategies were used. These differences in hunting strategies were probably due to the differences in ecological conditions between the Holocene and the Last Glacial Maximum.
Optimized Spoofing and Jamming a Cognitive Radio

Author(s): Soysa, M; Cosman, PC; Milstein, LB | Abstract: We examine the performance of a cognitive radio system in a hostile environment where an intelligent adversary tries to disrupt communications by minimizing the system throughput. We investigate the optimal strategy for spoofing and jamming a cognitive radio network with a Gaussian noise signal over a Rayleigh fading channel. We analyze a cluster-based network of secondary users (SUs). The adversary may attack during the sensing interval to limit access for SUs by transmitting a spoofing signal. By jamming the network during the transmission interval, the adversary may reduce the rate of successful transmission. We present how the adversary can optimally allocate power across subcarriers during sensing and transmission intervals with knowledge of the system, using a simple optimization approach specific to this problem. We determine a worst-case optimal energy allocation for spoofing and jamming, which gives a lower bound to the overall information throughput of SUs under attack. © 1972-2012 IEEE.
Thrombosis in myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic syndromes

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and myelodisplastic syndromes (MDs) are clonal disorders caused by mutations of myeloid stem cells. Among MPNs, polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia are relatively benign disorders in which arterial and venous thromboses represent the main cause of morbidity and mortality. The natural history of MDs is often complicated by both thromboses and haemorrhages, mainly due to platelet quantitative and quantitative anomalies, as well as to treatment complications. In this short review, we focus the attention on the main aspects of thrombophilia in both disorders.
Total versus urban: Well-to-wheels assessment of criteria pollutant emissions from various vehicle/fuel systems

Abstract The potential impact on the environment of alternative vehicle/fuel systems needs to be evaluated, especially with respect to human health effects resulting from air pollution. We used the G reenhouse gases, R egulated E missions, and E nergy use in T ransportation (GREET) model to examine the well-to-wheels (WTW) emissions of five criteria pollutants (VOCs, NOx, PM10, PM2.5, and CO) for nine vehicle/fuel systems: (1) conventional gasoline vehicles; (2) conventional diesel vehicles; (3) ethanol (E85) flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) fueled with corn-based ethanol; (4) E85 FFVs fueled with switchgrass-based ethanol; (5) gasoline hybrid vehicles (HEVs); (6) diesel HEVs; (7) electric vehicles (EVs) charged using the average U.S. generation mix; (8) EVs charged using the California generation mix; and (9) hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Pollutant emissions were separated into total and urban emissions to differentiate the locations of emissions, and emissions were presented by sources. The results show that WTW emissions of the vehicle/fuel systems differ significantly, in terms of not only the amounts but also with respect to locations and sources, both of which are important in evaluating alternative vehicle/fuel systems. E85 FFVs increase total emissions but reduce urban emissions by up to 30% because the majority of emissions are released from farming equipment, fertilizer manufacture, and ethanol plants, all of which are located in rural areas. HEVs reduce both total and urban emissions because of the improved fuel economy and lower emissions. While EVs significantly reduce total emissions of VOCs and CO by more than 90%, they increase total emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 by 35–325%. However, EVs can reduce urban PM emissions by more than 40%. FCVs reduce VOCs, CO, and NOx emissions, but they increase both total and urban PM emissions because of the high process emissions that occur during hydrogen production. This study emphasizes the importance of specifying a thorough life-cycle emissions inventory that can account for both the locations and sources of the emissions to assist in achieving a fair comparison of alternative vehicle/fuel options in terms of their environmental impacts.
Poor outcomes in cirrhosis-associated hernia repair: a nationwide cohort study of 32,033 patients

Cirrhosis is a significant marker of adverse postoperative outcome. A large national database was analyzed for abdominal wall hernia repair outcomes in cirrhotic vs. non-cirrhotic patients. Data from cirrhotics and non-cirrhotics undergoing inpatient repair of abdominal wall hernias (excluding inguinal) from 1999 to 2004 were obtained from the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) database. Differences (P < 0.05) were determined using standard statistical methods. Inpatient hernia repair was performed in 30,836 non-cirrhotic (41.5% male) and 1,197 cirrhotic patients (62.7% male; P < 0.0001). Cirrhotics had a higher age distribution (P < 0.0001), no race differences (P = 0.64), underwent ICU admission more commonly (15.9% vs. 6%; P < 0.0001), had a longer LOS (5.4 vs. 3.7 days), and higher morbidity (16.5% vs. 13.8%; P = 0.008), and mortality (2.5% vs. 0.2%; P < 0.0001) compared to non-cirrhotics. Several comorbidities had a higher associated mortality in cirrhosis: functional impairment, congestive heart failure, renal failure, nutritional deficiencies, and peripheral vascular disease. The complications with the highest associated mortality in cirrhotics were aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary compromise, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, and metabolic derangements. Cirrhotics underwent emergent surgery more commonly than non-cirrhotics (58.9% vs. 29.5%; P < 0.0001), with longer LOS regardless of elective or emergent surgery. Although elective surgical morbidity in cirrhotics was no different from non-cirrhotics (15.6% vs. 13.5%; P = 0.18), emergent surgery morbidity was (17.3% vs. 14.5%; P = 0.04). While differences in elective surgical mortality in cirrhotics approached significance (0.6% vs. 0.1%; P = 0.06), mortality was 7-fold higher in emergencies (3.8% vs. 0.5%; P < 0.0001). Patients with cirrhosis carry a significant risk of adverse outcome after abdominal wall hernia repair compared to non-cirrhotics, particularly with emergent surgery. It may, however, be safer than previously thought. Ideally, patients with cirrhosis should undergo elective hernia repair after medical optimization.
A Novel Device to Apply Controlled Flexion and Extension to the Rat Knee Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

We designed and validated a novel device for applying flexion-extension cycles to a rat knee in an in vivo model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R). Our device is intended to simulate rehabilitation motion and exercise post ACL-R to optimize physical rehabilitation treatments for the improved healing of tendon graft ligament reconstructions. The device was validated for repeatability of the knee kinematic motion by measuring the force versus angular rotation response from repeated trials using cadaver rats. The average maximum force required for rotating an ACL reconstructed rat knee through 100 degrees of flexion-extension was 0.4 N with 95% variability for all trials within ±0.1 N.
Genetically engineered theranostic mesenchymal stem cells for the evaluation of the anticancer efficacy of enzyme/prodrug systems

Over the past decade, various enzyme/prodrug systems such as thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (TK/GCV), yeast cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine (yCD/5-FC) and nitroreductase/CB1954 (NTR/CB1954) have been used for stem cell mediated suicide gene therapy of cancer. Yet, no study has been conducted to compare and demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of using one system over another. Knowing that each enzyme/prodrug system has its own strengths and weaknesses, we utilized mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a medium to perform for the first time a comparative study that illustrated the impact of subtle differences among these systems on the therapeutic outcome. For therapeutic purposes, we first genetically modified MSCs to stably express a panel of four suicide genes including TK (TK007 and TK(SR39) mutants), yeast cytosine deaminase:uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (yCD:UPRT) and nitroreductase (NTR). Then, we evaluated the anticancer efficacies of the genetically engineered MSCs in vitro and in vivo by using SKOV3 cell line which is sensitive to all four enzyme/prodrug systems. In addition, all MSCs were engineered to stably express luciferase gene making them suitable for quantitative imaging and dose-response relationship studies in animals. Considering the limitations imposed by the prodrugs' bystander effects, our findings show that yCD:UPRT/5-FC is the most effective enzyme/prodrug system among the ones tested. Our findings also demonstrate that theranostic MSCs are a reliable medium for the side-by-side evaluation and screening of the enzyme/prodrug systems at the preclinical level. The results of this study could help scientists who utilize cell-based, non-viral or viral vectors for suicide gene therapy of cancer make more informed decisions when choosing enzyme/prodrug systems.
Evaluating mechanisms of nutrient depletion and 13C enrichment in the intermediate-depth Atlantic during the last ice age

[1] Using an ocean box model, we have studied the effect of altered circulation on the oceanic distributions of phosphate (PO4−3) and the 13C/12C and 14C/12C of dissolved inorganic carbon to evaluate competing hypotheses for the cause of observed nutrient depletion and 13C enrichment at intermediate depths of the Atlantic during the last ice age. Because of “nutrient trapping” and limited air-sea carbon isotopic equilibration, the simple imposition of an intense meridional overturning cell in the Atlantic fails to simultaneously lower nutrient concentrations and raise 13C/12C to observed glacial levels. Export of intermediate water out of the Atlantic causes a basin-to-basin nutrient transfer, thus providing a more efficient mechanism of intermediate-depth Atlantic nutrient depletion and improved carbon isotopic equilibration at low temperatures (i.e., 13C enrichment). Although this export adds nutrients to the intermediate depths of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the simulated glacial intermediate-depth Indo-Pacific is nevertheless moderately depleted in PO4−3 relative to the model's interglacial control, in agreement with consensus paleoceanographic evidence. This Indo-Pacific PO4−3 depletion results from our use of a “glacial base case” in which nutrient-rich Antarctic Intermediate Water formation is absent as part of the elimination of the modern North-Atlantic-Deep-Water-based “conveyor” circulation.
Elective nodal irradiation for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: it's called cancer for a reason.

Radiation therapy, typically combined with chemotherapy, is the current standard for locally advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Conventional radiation fields are directed at sites of gross disease as well as regional lymph nodes possibly harboring microscopic disease. Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) has recently come under scrutiny and has been somewhat marginalized by the radiation oncology community (1). Many factors have driven this reversal in practice as detailed below. However, it is possible that such a tactic may undermine the overall strategy of curing lung cancer. A primary justification for abandoning ENI is the ‘‘low’’ isolated failure rate in elective nodal regions when only gross disease is targeted (2, 3). This observation, assessed principally with radiographic methods, conflicts with relatively high rates of subclinical disease involvement reported in the surgical literature. After staging with positron emission tomography (PET), approximately 13% to 16% of patients with early-stage NSCLC will be found to have involved mediastinal lymph nodes after thoracotomy (4, 5). The risk of occult disease in the setting of locally advanced NSCLC, in which mediastinal spread has already occurred, is surely higher. Indeed, in a recent analysis of patients with stage III NSCLC undergoing mediastinoscopy, PET underestimated the extent of mediastinal involvement in 39% of patients (6). Furthermore, reported rates of isolated nodal failures may be artificially low because of ascertainment bias. The utility of routine CT imaging to screen for a local/regional recurrence after definitive treatment of locally advanced NSCLC is questionable at best. Thus, many patients do not receive standardized and frequent follow-up examinations. Even when imaging studies are obtained, local/regional failures are often
Metabolism of chlorpromazine by pulmonary microsomal enzymes in the rat and rabbit

Abstract Pulmonary metabolism of chlorpromazine (CPZ) was compared using isolated microsomes of rat and rabbit lungs. CPZ-metabolizing activity of the rat lung was found to be 10-fold higher than that of the rabbit lung. The principal metabolic pathways were N -oxidation in the rat lung and N -demethylation in the rabbit lung. Kinetic analyses revealed that, although the values for apparent K m were roughly similar for both pathways, V max for N -oxidation by the rat lung was approximately ten times greater than that for N -demethylation by the rabbit lung. N -Oxidation by the rat lung had a broad range of pH optimum of 7–8, whereas N -demethylation by the rabbit lung had a pH optimum 8–9. SKF525-A, piperonyl butoxide, n -octylamine and CO did not inhibit N -oxidation by the rat lung, but inhibited N -demethylation by the rabbit lung. SKF525-A and n -octylamine stimulated the CPZ- N -oxidation by the rat lung. Hg 2+ and Mg 2+ inhibited N -oxidation by the rat lung. These results indicate that pulmonary metabolism of CPZ in the rat is catalyzed by a microsomal flavoprotein monooxygenase, while pulmonary metabolism in the rabbit is catalyzed by a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system, and that a marked species variation exists with respect to pulmonary metabolism of CPZ.
Impotence following pelvic fracture urethral injury: incidence, aetiology and management

Objective To evaluate the potency status of patients undergoing delayed perineal repair following a pelvic fracture urethral injury to determine the incidence and aetiology of impotence. Patients and methods Long-term potency (> 6 months post-operatively) was subjectively evaluated in 92 patients and correlated with their pre-operative and intra-operative findings. The management of their impotence was also reviewed. Thirty original pelvic radiographs were assessed independently to determine if the pattern of bony injury was associated with the development of impotence. Results Fifty-seven patients (62%) remained impotent in the long term with a median follow-up of 48 months (range 12–128) and the operation did not render any potent patient impotent. Self-injection with vasoactive agents was successful in 24 of 27 (89%), suggesting a neurogenic aetiology in the majority. Bilateral pubic rami fracture was also associated with a high incidence of impotence. Conclusion Disruption of the cavernosal nerves lateral to the prostatomembranous urethra behind the sym-physis pubis is the most likely cause of impotence in this injury.
Roadkill on the electronic highway? The threat to the mathematical literature

This article begins with an analysis of reliability and usability in the mathematical literature. Mathematical practice is seen to be adapted to very high standards in these respects, and quite sensitive to even modest declines in quality. Unfortunately most scenarios for the transition to electronic publication suggest serious loss of quality. This is a problem special to mathematics: other sciences are adapted to lower standards, and should be much less sensitive to changes. Some ways to prevent this decline are suggested.
SET-LRP of acrylates in air

Single Electron Transfer-Living Radical Polymerization (SET-LRP) represents a robust and versatile method for the rapid synthesis of macromolecules with well defined topology. In SET-LRP, certain combinations of solvents and ligands facilitate the disproportionation of in situ generated Cu(I) species into “nascent” Cu(0) and Cu(II) species. A combination of heterogeneous and “nascent” Cu(0) activation yields polymers with very high chain end functionality. Under suitable conditions the tolerance toward oxygen must be increased since Cu(0), the activator in SET-LRP, acts as an oxygen scavenger in all inert gas purification systems. Here we demonstrate that SET-LRP of methyl acrylate can be conducted in the presence of air. The addition of a small amount of reducing agent hydrazine hydrate to the reaction mixture reduces Cu2O generated by the oxidation of Cu(0) with air, regenerating Cu(0) and allowing for the synthesis of polymers with predictable molecular weight and perfect retention of chain end functionality. The kinetics plots obtained under these conditions were identical to these generated by degassed samples. High conversions were achieved within a very short reaction time. In these SET-LRP experiments, the reagents were not deoxygenated or subjected to standard degassing procedures such as freeze-pump-thaw or nitrogen sparging. This simple SET-LRP procedure provides an efficient and economical approach to the synthesis of functional macromolecules. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1190–1196, 2010
Evaluation of a cancer prevention and detection curriculum for medical students

Background. Undergraduate medical education needs revision to ensure that medical students graduate with the skills necessary to assist their patients in cancer prevention and detection. We sought to implement and incorporate a cancer education curriculum into the students' core curriculum and to assess their skill levels prior to (1996), during (1997), and at the peak (1998–1999) of the incorporation of new hours. Methods. We conducted pretest and posttest surveys of students at Boston University School of Medicine (medical student years 1–4) enrolled in each of the four study years (1996–1999). A total of 1,956 surveys (response rate, 82%) were completed. The primary outcome measure was the student's self-reported skill level (with responses ranging from 1 (very unskilled) to 5 (very skilled)) for counseling for tobacco cessation, tobacco prevention, and sun protection and for the early detection of breast, skin, and cervical cancer. Mean scores were computed for each chronological year of the study and medical school year. Differences and trends over time in mean scores of students in each medical school year were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Results. The number of hours of cancer education increased from 6 in 1996 to 15 in 1999. Strong improvements in self-rated skill levels were recorded for four of the six measures. In particular, tobacco cessation counseling skill rose from 2.16 (1996) to 3.13 (1999) for second year students (P < 0.001) and from 3.27 (1996) to 4.17 (1999) for fourth year students (P < 0.001). Among fourth year students, the percentage reporting that cancer prevention was given too little emphasis declined from 62% (1996) to 26% (1999) (P < 0.001), suggesting that the expanded curriculum reflected the students' preferences. Conclusions. Cancer education can be interwoven into the existing medical school curriculum and produce improvements in students' skill levels for counseling and examinations. Strategies to enhance prevention teaching can use this model.
Multi-Radio Platforms in Scaled CMOS Technology

Notebook computers and handheld devices employ multi-radio platforms to stay connected anywhere, anytime. This presents many challenges in terms of economics and coexistence. This paper reviews some of these challenges, and describes how CMOS technology can be used to implement low-cost radio platforms
Endothelial Cells Elicit Immune-Enhancing Responses to Dengue Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Dengue viruses cause two severe diseases that alter vascular fluid barrier functions, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Preexisting antibodies to dengue virus disposes patients to immune-enhanced edema (DSS) or hemorrhagic (DHF) disease following infection by a discrete dengue virus serotype. Although the endothelium is the primary vascular fluid barrier, direct effects of dengue virus on endothelial cells (ECs) have not been considered primary factors in pathogenesis. Here, we show that dengue virus infection of human ECs elicits immune-enhancing EC responses. Our results suggest that rapid early dengue virus proliferation within ECs is permitted by dengue virus regulation of early, but not late, beta interferon (IFN-β) responses. The analysis of EC responses following synchronous dengue virus infection revealed the high-level induction and secretion of immune cells (T cells, B cells, and mast cells) as well as activating and recruiting cytokines BAFF (119-fold), IL-6/8 (4- to 7-fold), CXCL9/10/11 (45- to 338-fold), RANTES (724-fold), and interleukin-7 (IL-7; 128-fold). Moreover, we found that properdin factor B, an alternative pathway complement activator that directs chemotactic anaphylatoxin C3a and C5a production, was induced 34-fold. Thus, dengue virus-infected ECs evoke key inflammatory responses observed in dengue virus patients which are linked to DHF and DSS. Our findings suggest that dengue virus-infected ECs directly contribute to immune enhancement, capillary permeability, viremia, and immune targeting of the endothelium. These data implicate EC responses in dengue virus pathogenesis and further rationalize therapeutic targeting of the endothelium as a means of reducing the severity of dengue virus disease.
Extraction of accurate behavioral models for power amplifiers with memory effects using two-tone measurements

This paper proposes a system-level behavioral model for RF power amplifiers (PAs) that exhibit memory effects. PAs with memory effects are shown to have two-tone intermodulation distortion (IMD) levels that vary depending on tone-spacing. Thus, typical single tone extracted AM/AM and AM/PM characteristics cannot accurately model PA memory effects. By varying the frequency spacing of two-tone signals, envelope frequency dependent transfer functions can be derived. Using these transfer functions, a behavioral model is developed which is based on the parallel-cascade linear and nonlinear (LN) system. This model gives more accurate results in predicting the behavior of PAs with memory effects close to the carrier frequency. The model is validated by comparing the predicted and measured adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) of a CDMA signal amplified by a high power class-AB PA. It is found that the parallel cascade model improves ACPR prediction accuracy by as much as 4 dB compared to the single tone derived memoryless model.
The role of the suckling stimulus in regulating pituitary prolactin mRNA in the rat

Prolactin (PRL) gene expression and the synthesis and secretion of PRL were examined in ovarian-intact lactating rats suckling eight pups on 10 days postpartum. Plasma samples were assayed for PRL concentrations, and pituitary glands were analyzed for total PRL content and PRL mRNA levels. We found that suckling-induced hyperprolactinemia was associated with very high levels of plasma PRL and a doubling in pituitary PRL mRNA levels, whereas pituitary PRL content was not changed. Removal of the suckling pups decreased plasma PRL concentrations 15-fold within 24 h. This decrease in PRL secretion was not accompanied by any significant change in pituitary PRL content. Evidently, both synthesis and secretion of PRL were decreased in the pituitary gland within 24 h following cessation of suckling, as pituitary PRL mRNA content had returned to diestrous levels at this time. To determine whether or not ovarian steroids might have contributed to the changes in PRL synthesis and secretion during lactation and after withdrawal of the suckling stimulus, the experiments were repeated in lactating rats ovariectomized (OVX) on day 2 postpartum. The results in these OVX rats were qualitatively similar to those described in ovarian-intact rats. We concluded from these findings that the stimulus of suckling induces increases in PRL mRNA levels in the pituitary which provides for the increased PRL synthesis accompanying increased PRL secretion. The cessation of suckling led to prompt decreases in PRL synthesis and secretion within 24 h.
Erratum to: Effects of Premature Termination Codon Polymorphisms in the Drosophila pseudoobscura Subclade

Erratum to: J Mol Evol (2012) 75:141–150DOI 10.1007/s00239-012-9528-xOur original paper neglected to acknowledge that SteveSchaeffer and Andre Wallace genotyped and provided thePikes Peak lines of Drosophila pseudoobscura forsequencing. We thank them for this contribution andapologies for neglecting to mention it directly.
Adolescent risk behavior and the influence of parents and education.

Background: Adolescent involvement with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sexual relationships, and gang violence begins at increasingly younger ages. Awareness of the dangers and consequences of risk-taking behavior has not had a profound or lasting impact on adolescent behavior, and there appears to be no relation between risk behavior and general knowledge concerning these topics. Methods: Using paired anonymous questionnaires, we surveyed 215 seventh-grade students and their parents about their experience with and attitudes toward adolescent risk-taking behaviors. The results of each student questionnaire were compared with results of his or her own parents. The survey instrument contained questions concerning tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, sexual activity, gang membership, general knowledge concerning these topics, and parental guidance given. Data were analyzed using the χ2 test of significance. Results: Parent and student recollection of issues discussed and guidance given differed widely, as did the students9 understanding of their parents9 guidance. Factors found to have a meaningful impact on the reduction of risk behavior in the adolescent population were (1) students perceiving a satisfactory relationship with their parents, and (2) parents successfully communicating their expectations regarding these behaviors to their children. Conclusions: Parental direction has a powerful effect on the reduction of risk behavior in young adolescents. A limited ability for abstract reasoning during early adolescence requires clear anticipatory guidance by parents and an active effort to maintain communication in the child-parent relationship.
On-line hierarchy of general linear models for selecting and ranking the best predicted protein structures

To predict the three dimensional structure of proteins, many computational methods sample the conformational space, generating a large number of candidate structures. Subsequently, such methods rank the generated structures using a variety of model quality assessment programs in order to obtain a small set of structures that are most likely to resemble the unknown experimentally determined structure. Model quality assessment programs suffer from two main limitations: (i) the rank-one structure is not always the best predicted structure; in other words, the best predicted structure could be ranked as the 10th structure (ii) no single assessment method can correctly rank the predicted structures for all target proteins. However, because often at least some of the methods achieve a good ranking, a model quality assessment method that is based on a consensus of a number of model quality assessment methods is likely to perform better. We have devised the STPdata algorithm, a consensus method based on five model quality assessment programs. We have applied it to build an on-line “custom-trained” hierarchy of general linear models to select and rank the best predicted structures. By “custom-trained”, we mean for each target protein the STPdata algorithm trains a unique model on data related to the input target protein. To evaluate our method we participated in CASP8 as human predictors. In CASP8, the STPdata algorithm has trained 128 hierarchical models for each of the 128 target proteins. Based on the official results of CASP8 our method outperformed the best server by 6% and won the fourth position among human predictors. Our CASP results are purely based on computational methods without any human intervention.
Cosmopolitan Attitudes and International Relations Courses: Some Tentative Correlations

T HE POST-WORLD WAR II PERIOD has seen a steadily increasing number of reports, inquiries, and surveys regarding the degree to which our educational system is preparing Americans to assume an effective and responsible role in world affairs.' While there has been more viewing with alarm than pointing with pride, the empirical basis for both the negative and affirmative appraisals remains scanty and many of the studies are essentially impressionistic. Moreover, those of us concerned with this problem have not always made what seems to be an essential differentiation: that between technical, substantive, and informational preparation on the one hand, and the attitudinal,, emotional, and evaluative on the other. To put it another way, the distinction that needs to be made is between matters of knowledge and matters of belief.2
Letter by Lederman et al Regarding Article, “MRI-Induced Stent Dislodgment Soon After Left Main Coronary Artery Stenting”

It is important to dispute that magnetic resonance imaging caused coronary stent dislodgement in the patient described by Parthasarathy and colleagues.1 The BX Velocity stent used in the Cypher device in their report is composed of 316 L stainless steel,2 which is weakly ferromagnetic. According to the industry standard applied in its commercial development,3 a …
Deer Track Bioreactor Experiment: Field-Scale Evaluation of Municipal Solid Waste Bioreactor Performance

AbstractThe Deer Track Bioreactor Experiment (DTBE) was a field-scale experiment conducted in a drainage lysimeter (8.2-m height, 2.4-m diameter) to assess the physical, chemical, and biological response of municipal solid waste with leachate addition. The experiment was operated for 1,067 days, with leachate dosing initiated on Day 399. Fresh leachate collected from a full-scale landfill was used for each dose. The ratio of cumulative leachate effluent to influent volume increased during dosing and leveled off at approximately 80%, indicating field capacity was achieved. Peak Darcy flux ranged from 2×10-7 m/s to 4×10-5 m/s, with larger flux computed for the last four doses when waste saturation was higher. During the experiment, the average dry unit weight of the waste increased 28% and the dry-weight water content (wd) increased 18%; field capacity of the waste was 44 to 48% on a dry-weight basis. Biochemical methane potential decreased from 51.4 to 3.4 mL-CH4/g-dry, indicating that 93% of the potent...
Simultaneous disturbance attenuation and fault detection using proportional integral observers

This paper considers the design of a proportional integral observer (PIO) for simultaneous disturbance attenuation and fault detection. Unlike the proportional observer, an integral observer alone suffices to achieve good convergence and filtering properties when sensor noise is present in the system. On the other hand, a proportional integral observer makes it possible to decouple the modeling uncertainties while estimating the states and faults with satisfactory convergence properties. We show that a generalized PIO structure, a proportional integral fading observer, facilitates the design procedure for achieving the above goal.
Lack of systemic absorption of lidocaine from 5% patches placed on horses

Abstract Objective To measure concentrations of lidocaine serum after application of two 5% patches on horses. Study design Prospective experimental trial Animals Six client-owned, systemically healthy horses. Methods The hair was clipped on the medial aspect above the carpus of both fore limbs and 2 patches of 5% lidocaine were applied within 30 minutes of jugular catheter placement and the area was then bandaged. Venous blood was drawn from a jugular vein catheter that was inserted using lidocaine as a local block. Samples were drawn immediately before and at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after patch application. The presence of lidocaine in serum was determined using an ELISA test. Results Lidocaine was detected in the serum of three horses at 0 hours immediately following the local block for catheter placement. Lidocaine was not detected at any other time from 2 to 12 hours. There was mild erythema at the site of patch placement at 12 hours in one horse but this resolved within 1 hour of patch removal. There were no other apparent adverse effects from the patches on any other horse. Conclusion Five percent lidocaine patches applied proximally to the carpus did not result in detectable systemic concentrations of lidocaine. Clinical relevance Any analgesic effects that might be produced by application of 5% lidocaine patches on horses will not be due to systemic absorption of the drug.
Molecular mechanism of histone H3K4me3 recognition by plant homeodomain of ING2

Covalent modifications of histone tails have a key role in regulating chromatin structure and controlling transcriptional activity. In eukaryotes, histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) is associated with active chromatin and gene expression. We recently found that plant homeodomain (PHD) finger of tumour suppressor ING2 (inhibitor of growth 2) binds H3K4me3 and represents a new family of modules that target this epigenetic mark. The molecular mechanism of H3K4me3 recognition, however, remains unknown. Here we report a 2.0 A resolution structure of the mouse ING2 PHD finger in complex with a histone H3 peptide trimethylated at lysine 4. The H3K4me3 tail is bound in an extended conformation in a deep and extensive binding site consisting of elements that are conserved among the ING family of proteins. The trimethylammonium group of Lys 4 is recognized by the aromatic side chains of Y215 and W238 residues, whereas the intermolecular hydrogen-bonding and complementary surface interactions, involving Ala 1, Arg 2, Thr 3 and Thr 6 of the peptide, account for the PHD finger's high specificity and affinity. Substitution of the binding site residues disrupts H3K4me3 interaction in vitro and impairs the ability of ING2 to induce apoptosis in vivo. Strong binding of other ING and YNG PHD fingers suggests that the recognition of H3K4me3 histone code is a general feature of the ING/YNG proteins. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying this novel function of PHD fingers provides a basis for deciphering the role of the ING family of tumour suppressors in chromatin regulation and signalling.
Carbon conversion efficiency for bacterial growth on lignocellulose: Implications for detritus‐based food webs

Carbon conversion efficiencies were determined for the bacterial utilization of lignocellulosic detritus in waters from an estuarine and a freshwater wetland. Conversion efhciencies during bacterial growth on lignocellulose averaged -309’0 in both estuarine (salt marsh) and freshwater (Okefenokec Swamp) samples. Our estimates of bacterial growth efficiencies on refractory particulate detritus arc twofold to threefold higher than previous estimates owing, in large part, to the higher biovolumc-to-carbon conversion factor (0.22 g C cm-3) used in the present study to convert bacterial biovolumes into units of carbon. Bacterial growth cm lignocellulosic detritus was N limited in salt-marsh water and P limited in Okefenokec water; carbon conversion efficiencies increased to 450/0upon addition of ammonium and phosphate to salt-marsh and Okefenokee incubations, respectively. These results indicate that bacterial biomass produced at the expense of lignocellulosic detritus is likely to be an importan ( nutrient source to food webs in aquatic ecosystems with an abundance of macrophyte detritus and favorable conditions for microbial decomposition.