cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Natural Energy Decomposition Analysis: The Linear Response Electrical Self Energy

An extension of the natural energy decomposition analysis (NEDA) is described that leads to a reduced, three-component treatment of ab initio molecular interaction potentials. These components include the classical electrical (static and induced) and quantum mechanical core (σ−σ) and charge transfer (σ−σ*) interactions. The electrical component is, in turn, represented by three terms: the static interaction of unperturbed fragment charge densities, a contribution involving polarized charge densities, and an electrical self polarization energy. Extended basis set calculations demonstrate the high numerical stability of the three-component NEDA approach. Applications are presented for the Li+(H2O) and water dimer complexes. The long-range behavior of the interaction potentials of these complexes is entirely determined by the classical electrical interaction of the fragments. Core and charge transfer effects are only significant for molecular separations within roughly 1 A of equilibrium.
Impoliteness in polylogal interaction: Accounting for face-threat witnesses’ responses

Abstract Though, in recent years, impoliteness research has embraced a view of impoliteness as dynamically co-constructed in interaction, the role of impoliteness in polylogal discourse is still in need of further examination. Drawing from a corpus of naturally occurring classroom discourse, this paper uses a genre approach ( Garces-Conejos Blitvich, 2010a , Garces-Conejos Blitvich, 2010b , Garces-Conejos Blitvich, 2010c ) to examine the role of face-threat witnesses in small-group discussion practices among adolescents. Our research shows that face-threat witnesses respond to impoliteness in complex and dynamic ways that are integral to the co-construction of impoliteness, and that would have been missed entirely if the focus of our analysis had been purely dyadic. In view of our findings, we propose a refinement of extant models of response options ( Culpeper et al., 2003 , Bousfield, 2007 , Bousfield, 2008 ) that incorporates the response options available to face-threat witnesses, thus moving beyond the dyad. Accounting for the multifunctionality of impoliteness in polylogal interaction allows for an understanding of impoliteness as constitutive, not just disruptive, of social life. With further application, our proposed refinement of extant models can help expand research that examines manifestations of impoliteness in a wide range of (non)institutional, polylogal discourse.
Demo: Michigan's IoT Toolkit

Building connected, pervasive, human-facing, and responsive applications that incorporate local sensors, smartphone interactions, device actuation, and cloud-based learning--the promised features of the Internet of Things (IoT)---requires a complete suite of tools spanning both hardware and software. We present a set of these pieces, including a gateway, four hardware building blocks, multiple sensor platforms, an indoor localization system, and software for connecting users and devices. Each piece plays an integral role towards enabling applications, from facilitating rapid development of wireless smart devices to composing data streams and services from a diverse set of components. By providing layered interoperable systems, our toolkit offers cohesive support for moving beyond single-device, cloud-centric applications---typical in today's IoT landscape--and towards richer applications that incorporate multiple data streams, human interaction, cloud processing, location awareness, multiple communication protocols, historical data, access control, and on-demand user interfaces. To show how the pieces in the toolkit cooperate, we demonstrate a location-based access control application where a user's smartphone can control a room's lighting, but only from within the room. Further, data streams from the phone and nearby sensors are used to provide a constant lighting service which attempts to maintain a user-set brightness under variable external lighting conditions.
Tailoring the response time of shape memory alloy wires through active cooling and pre-stress

Application of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators is limited to low frequencies due to slow cooling time especially in the embedded conditions where heat transfer rate is the controlling factor. In this study, we investigate various active cooling techniques and effect of pre-stress to improve the response time of two commercially available SMAs: Flexinol from Dynalloy Inc. and Biometal fiber from Toki Corporation. Flexinol and Biometal fiber of equal length and diameter were found to exhibit different actuation behavior under pre-stress. Time domain force response of SMA actuators was found to be dependent upon the applied pre-stress, heating rate, and amplitude of applied electrical stimulus. Compared to Biometal fibers, time domain response of Flexinol was found to decrease significantly with increasing pre-stress indicating the difference in transformation behavior. Fluid flow and heat sinking were found to be suitable methods for improving the response time by reducing the cooling cycle from 1.6 s to...
Externally caused deaths for adults with substance use and mental disorders.

For decades, there have been reports of shorter life expectancy among those with mental illness, especially those with more serious psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to compare the risk of mortality among Medicaid beneficiaries, aged 18–64 years, treated for mental illness to a comparable group who were not mentally ill and to the general population. The data used were from the Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance and records of deaths from the Department of Public Health in Massachusetts. Individuals treated for both psychiatric illness and substance use disorders (dual diagnoses) were compared separately from those whose treatment was only for a psychiatric disorder. For all Medicaid beneficiaries, the most common causes of death were attributed to heart disease and cancer. When compared to the general population, adjusted odds ratios estimated death by injury to be twice as likely among the mentally ill when compared to the general population. Medicaid beneficiaries with dual diagnoses are 6–8 times more likely to die of injury, primarily poisoning, than their counterparts treated for medical conditions only.
Assessing Prior Learning of Adults in a Coordinated Program

Abstract Adult students entering a coordinated program may have already acquired extensive knowledge and skills from previous college coursework and work experience. Evaluating that learning in order to award college credit has been successfully accomplished by traditional and nontraditional means. Transcript and course description evaluation, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, Dantes tests and challenge exams developed by course professors have been used to award credit for didactic courses. Adapting methods used throughout the college, faculty members assess knowledge acquired through experiential learning for students 25 years and older by using portfolio evaluation or performance appraisal. Using competencies from the first food service management supervised practice, students develop a portfolio including their resume, examples documenting proficiency for each competency and a letter from employer substantiating achievement. To obtain credit for the health care systems supervised practice, where interviewing skills are developed, students document work experiences and obtain a diet history from a diabetic patient at a local hospital while being observed by two faculty members. Students analyze findings using a computer program and complete the nutrition care plan, recommending appropriate medical nutrition therapy. Faculty members assess prior learning at least one semester before course is to be scheduled. Partial or complete credit and hours may be awarded for supervised practice. Credit cannot be obtained for final supervised practices in medical nutrition therapy, food service systems management or community nutrition, as these supervised practices are the hallmark of the program. Students achieving credit by these methods have been successful in higher level courses and supervised practices as well as on the registration exam.
Heterologous expression of the C-terminal antigenic domain of the malaria vaccine candidate Pfs48/45 in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Malaria is a widespread and infectious disease that is a leading cause of death in many parts of the world. Eradication of malaria has been a major world health goal for decades, but one that still remains elusive. Other diseases have been eradicated using vaccination, but traditional vaccination methods have thus far been unsuccessful for malaria. Infection by Plasmodium species, the causative agent of malaria, is currently treated with drug-based therapies, but an increase in drug resistance has led to the need for new methods of treatment. A promising strategy for malaria treatment is to combine transmission blocking vaccines (TBVs) that prevent spread of disease with drug-based therapies to treat infected individuals. TBVs can be developed against surface protein antigens that are expressed during parasite reproduction in the mosquito. When the mosquito ingests blood from a vaccinated individual harboring the Plasmodium parasite, the antibodies generated by vaccination prevent completion of the parasites life-cycle. Animal studies have shown that immunization with Pfs48/45 results in the production of malaria transmission blocking antibodies; however, the development of this vaccine candidate has been hindered by poor expression in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. Recently, the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been used to express complex recombinant proteins. In this study, we show that the C-terminal antigenic region of the Pfs48/45 antigen can be expressed in the chloroplast of the green algae C. reinhardtii and that this recombinant protein has a conformation recognized by known transmission blocking antibodies. Production of this protein in algae has the potential to scale to the very large volumes required to meet the needs of millions at risk for contracting malaria.
Chromatography of Non-Ionic Organic Compounds on Ion-Exchange Resins

Abstract It is well known that organic compounds need not carry ionic charges in order to be absorbed by ion-exchange resins. Resin polymers are organic solvents in their own right. Swollen with water or another liquid, the polymer network is like a sponge, freely penetrated by molecules from the surrounding solution, Non-Coulombic attractions often reinforce the ionic or Coulombic attraction between the fixed ions of the resin and organic counter-ions. This fact was recognized by Moore and Stein in their famous paper1 on the cation-exchange chromatography of amino acids: “The rate of travel on a column of sulfonated polystyrene resin … ia a result of the affinity of the resin for both the ionic and the non-ionic portions of the molecule.”
Analysis of the products from the electrochemical fluorination of octanoyl chloride

Abstract The perfluorinated products from the electrochemical fluorination of octanoyl chloride were analyzed using several techniques. Capillary gas chromatography was used for quantitative analysis of the desired product, perfluorooctanoyl fluoride, and for perfluorinated cyclic ether by-products. Isopropyl ether was an effective solvent, and ethylbenzene served as an internal Acidimetric titration was used to quantify the amount of acid derivative products present in the sample. Since the products have limited solubility in water, alternative solvents were developed. Taking advantage of the facile hydrolysis of the acyl fluoride product, the perfluorinated acid was isolated. Details of the application of these chemical techniques to perfluorinated products and the corresponding results will be discussed. ca]To whom correspondence should be addressed
TERROR AND THE COLONIAL IMAGINATION AT WORK IN THE TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATE SPACES OF JAKARTA, INDONESIA

This article examines the role of the imagination in the construction of meaningful places out of economically defined and organized spaces. It seeks to understand the processes through which a colonial imagery is deployed in the negotiation of a complex and continually transforming transnational corporate order. This article is based on research conducted while working as a cross-cultural trainer within a transnational corporate office space in Jakarta, Indonesia. I discuss cross-cultural training as a space within which a colonial discourse based on terror and uncertainty persists, producing an ambivalent understanding of foreign overseas labor. I argue that a colonial approach to the social relations that take place within trans-national spaces persists for both Western-born and Indonesian members of the transnational capitalist class and is central to their perspective on capitalist expansion.
Simultaneous Imaging of Multiple Focal Planes via Multiphoton, Photon-Counting Microscopy

We present an inexpensive design for multiphoton, multifocal microscopy by coupling a home-built Yb:KGW laser to an Olympus IX-71 microscope, while performing photon-counting detection with single-element detectors and field programmable gate arrays.
Cyclic Peptides from Linear Unprotected Peptide Precursors through Thiazolidine Formation

We describe a general method for the preparation of cyclic peptides by intramolecular thiazolidine formation from linear, unprotected peptide precursors. The precursors contain a protected 1,2-aminothiol from an N-terminal cysteine and a 1,2-amino alcohol or 1,2-diol as a masked aldehyde. Thiazolidine formation was effected by oxidation of the 1,2-amino alcohol or 1,2-diol by sodium periodate to give an aldehyde, followed by deprotection of the masked 1,2-aminothiol. The cyclization could be effected at concentrations as high as 20 mM and was free from any polymerized side products. Such high efficiency of macrocyclization may be attributed to the ring-chain” tautomerism of the open chain amino-aldehyde precursor that favors a macrocyclic thiazolidine ring. Thiazolidine formation was further exploited as a capture device to position the N and C termini covalently close together and then to allow a proximity-driven O to N acyl transfer through a novel tricyclic ring contraction to yield an all amide, end-t...
The asymmetric epoxidation of tert-butyl substituted allylic alcohols

Abstract The response of the asymmetric epoxidation reaction to steric bulk in the substrate is tested by use of allylic alcohols with tert -butyl groups at each one of four possible positions.
Treatment of limb-threatening ischemia with percutaneous intentional extraluminal recanalization: a preliminary evaluation.

Abstract Objective We assessed the technical success, safety, and short-term effectiveness of percutaneous intentional extraluminal recanalization (PIER) in patients with limb-threatening ischemia and no autologous vein or with a major contraindication to surgery. Methods From 1999 through 2002, 25 patients with femoropopliteal occlusion and rest pain or tissue loss underwent PIER. Thirteen patients had undergone one or more failed bypass surgeries in the treated lower extremity, and no patient had suitable vein for bypass grafting. In four patients the ejection fraction was less than 15%; four patients had severe nonreconstructable coronary artery disease; and two patients with metastatic cancer refused amputation. All patients underwent subintimal wire placement, followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and intracoil stent placement. Occlusions ranged in length from 6 to 18 cm, and 1 to 10 stents were placed. Technical success required no residual stenosis greater than 30% on arteriography, velocity ratio less than 1.5 on duplex ultrasound scanning, and improvement in ankle-brachial index of 0.15 or greater. Follow-up duplex scanning was performed every 3 months. Results Initial success was obtained in 23 of 25 patients (92%), with ankle-brachial index improvement of .31 to .54. All successful procedures resulted in symptomatic improvement. Mean follow-up was 13.3 months (range, 4-30 months). During follow-up, 10 patients died and 2 arteries demonstrated recurrent occlusion. With life table analysis, success rate was 92% at 12 months. Of the 4 patients in whom the procedure failed, 3 required major amputation and symptoms persisted in one. Complications occurred after two procedures, one myocardial infarction and one groin hematoma. Conclusions PIER is technically possible in patients with femoropopliteal occlusion, and the procedure is associated with a low complication rate. Most procedures provide at least short-term clinical success and have enabled successful wound healing and pain relief in patients without other effective options. Further studies and longer follow-up are required to determine long-term success and the role of PIER in treatment of femoropopliteal occlusion.
Does Commercialization Undermine the Benefits of Decentralization for Local Services Provision? Evidence from Mexico’s Urban Water and Sanitation Sector

Summary Decentralization has been promoted as a means to better reflect citizen preferences and improve local services. Many developing countries decentralized and promoted neoliberal policies such as commercialization simultaneously, leaving mayors with the responsibility of improving public services through self-financing reforms. This study evaluates experiences in three Mexican cities to assess whether decentralization and commercialization practices have resulted in improved water and sanitation services. It finds that commercialization has increased social conflict surrounding urban services provision and that local institutional constraints further undermine mayor’s ability to adopt politically contentious policies. The result has been stalled and uneven service improvements.
Intestinal neuronal dysplasia: results of treatment in 33 patients.

Abstract Purpose: Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) is a disease of the enteric nervous system, which clinically resembles Hirschsprung's disease. The authors reviewed their experience of IND over an 8-year period. Methods: Between 1992 and 1999, 418 patients underwent rectal suction biopsy for persistent constipation. Thirty-three (7.8%) patients had histologic evidence of IND. There were 26 boys and 7 girls (age range, 1 week to 10 years). The diagnosis of IND was based on the presence of hyperganglionosis of the submucous plexus and giant ganglia and at least one of the following features in rectal biopsies: (1) ectopic ganglia, (2) increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the lamina propria, and (3) increased AChE nerve fibers around the submucosal blood vessels. All patients were started on laxatives with or without enemas after the diagnosis was made. Patients have been followed up from 1 to 8 years (mean, 2.4 years). Results: Twenty-one (64%) patients had a good response to conservative management and currently have normal bowel habits. Twelve patients (36%) underwent internal sphincter myectomy after failed conservative management. Seven of these patients now have normal bowel habits. Two patients are able to stay clean with regular enemas. Three patients who continued to have persistent constipation after myectomy and underwent resection of redundant and dilated sigmoid colon now have normal bowel habits. Conclusion: The majority of patients with IND can be treated successfully with conservative treatment. J Pediatr Surg 36:777-779. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Should I stay or should I go?: the role of trust and risk in determining behavior in an IS development team

This research extends the Mayer, Davis & Schoorman (1995) model of interpersonal trust to examine the evolution of trust between teams. Risk-taking actions by teams were found to predict the evolution of trust over time. Using a controlled setting to reduce the impact of extraneous variables and a cross-source design to collect data, we studied reciprocal trust between managers and developers, specifically examining whether trusting behaviors exhibited by one team influence perceptions of that team's trustworthiness held by an interdependent team. Findings indicate that ability, benevolence and integrity are stable predictors of trust in this interteam context. Further, trust was found to significantly influence teams' risk-taking behaviors. Finally, risk-taking behaviors by one team were found to have a reciprocal effect on perceptions of trustworthiness by the interdependent team.
Mio-Pliocene mammals from the Middle Awash, Ethiopia

Abstract The Middle Awash paleontological study area, located in the Afar Rift of Ethiopia, has yielded fossils spanning the last six million years. The geology and geochronology of the Mio-Pliocene sites of the study area have been refined and a reliable chronostratigraphy has been established by 40 Ar/ 39 Ar radiometric dating. The latest Miocene Adu-Asa Formation is divided into four members distinguished from each other by silicic and basaltic tuff marker horizons, most of which are dated basaltic tuffs. Radiometric dating has constrained the age of the Adu-Asa Formation to between 5.2-5.8 Ma. These dates are also supported by paleomagnetic results and biochronology. More than 2,000 fossil specimens were collected from the Adu-Asa Formation between 1992 and 2000. These fossils document 64 mammalian species belonging to 32 genera, 23 families, and 8 orders. This assemblage includes a number of new taxa. Included in the assemblage are First and Last Appearance Datums (FADs and LADs) of some groups, including the earliest record of the hominid genus Ardipithecus . Most of the taxa indicate a predominance of mesic and wooded habitat during the deposition of the Adu-Asa Formation. In these deposits, colobines, viverrids, mustelids, bovines, boselaphines, and tragelaphines are abundant, whereas alcelaphines are absent. Quantitative analyses of biogeographic relationships of the Middle Awash Late Miocene (MALM) mammalian fauna indicate stronger relationships with other African sites than with faunas from Eurasian sites. The MALM deposits have generated a critical dataset for analytic work on past environments, biogeographic relationships, and African vertebrate evolution. Moreover, the geographic position of the Middle Awash, coupled with its precise calibration and chronological span, make it a key section for interpreting latest Miocene faunal interchanges between Africa and Eurasia.
Applications of fast 21 cm power spectrum estimation

The challenge of 21 cm Cosmology is to tease out faint statistical signals of cosmological hyperfine emission from astrophysical foregrounds several orders of magnitude stronger. This problem requires rigorous statistical tools which in turn need novel implementations to remain feasible when scaled to the size of modern data sets. I present an acceleration to of optimal power spectrum estimation from N3 to N logN, where N is the number of voxels in an observed data cube. With it, I discuss analysis of data from the Murchinson Wide field Array prototype and project how well current and next generation interferometers will be able to perform interesting astrophysical measurements.
The mean intercept length polygons for systems of planar nets

With a view towards the characterization of microstructural anisotropy of fibrous materials, we have shown that the mean intercept figure for a planarN-net system of straight lines is a convex 2N-sided polygon. A very simple method of constructing the mean intercept figure for a planarN-net system is presented. It is shown, by example, that there is an inversion process by which one may construct a planarN-net system from its mean intercept polygon. The significance of these results with respect to the characterization of microstructural anisotropy of fibrous materials is discussed.
Novel Reverse Micelles Partitioning Nonaqueous Polar Solvents in a Hydrocarbon Continuous Phase

Reverse microemulsions have been characterized in isooctane and decane using the surfactant Aerosol-OT (AOT) and the polar solvents formamide, ethylene glycol, acetonitrile, methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, and 1,2-propanediol. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments show that reverse micelles form in these solutions. The DLS data and steady-state absorption spectra of Coumarin 343 in these solutions reveal that the character of these reverse micelles depends partially upon the solubility of the polar solvent in the hydrocarbon. For formamide and ethylene glycol, which are highly immiscible in the hydrocarbon solvents, changes in micellar size occur for variations in the volume fraction φ of the polar solvent and surfactant in the continuous phase as well as for the traditional changes in w. These reverse micelles with w = 1.1 and φ = 0.006−0.051 exhibit diameters ranging from 5.0 to 26.1 nm. For the solvents acetonitrile, methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, and 1,2-propanediol, which are slightly miscibl...
Comparison of the metabolism and elimination of pyrilamine maleate in the rat, mouse and female rhesus monkey

Abstract Elimination and metabolic profiles of the O -glucuronide conjugated products of pyrilamine and their nonconjugated O -dealkylated and N -desmethyl pyrilamine products were determined after the oral administration of ( 14 C)-pyrilamine maleate to Fischer 344 rats, B 6 C 3 F1 mice and female rhesus monkeys by stomach tube or i.v. The total cumulative urinary and fecal pyrilamine products were determined. The conjugated pyrilamine metabolites, isolated and identified were the glucuronide products of O -dealkylated pyrilamine and ring-hydroxylated pyrilamine, and the nonconjugated metabolites were predominately the N -desmethylpyrilamine and O -dealkylated pyrilamine and their ring-hydroxylated products. Statistically significant differences were observed in the percentages of the conjugated and nonconjugated metabolites of pyrilamine excreted by the three species studied.
The Role of Innervation in Induction and Differentiation of Taste Organs: Introduction and Background

: To establish lingual receptive fields that are the basic unit of taste function, ganglion cells must extend neurites to peripheral and central targets and form connections. This symposium concerns developmental interactions between the geniculate, trigeminal and petrosal ganglia and peripheral taste organs, the gustatory papillae and resident taste buds. Investigators present data from organ and tissue culture, from mice with targeted gene deletions and from grafting experiments, in pursuit of principles that direct early innervation of the taste system. The lingual ganglia and the taste papillae initially develop independently, but then become reciprocally dependent as ganglia derive neurotrophin support from gustatory papillae and the papillae require sensory innervation for growth and morphogenesis. The issue of subsequent taste bud induction is discussed with results from amphibian and mammalian models, yielding conclusions that are not yet totally convergent. However, an essential role for sensory innervation in mammalian taste bud differentiation and acquisition of appropriate quantitative relations between ganglion cells and target organs is clearly demonstrated. A working outline is presented for periods of ganglion cell/target organ independence and interdependence during early innervation of the peripheral taste system.
Design and analysis of an automated feed-buoy for submerged cages

Abstract A research prototype feed-buoy was developed to supply a submerged net pen at an exposed site south of the Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire, in the Gulf of Maine. The system, designed for a quarter-ton feed capacity, consists of a surface feed-buoy, rubber tether moorings attached to a submerged grid, a feed transfer hose, feed dispensing machinery, and telemetry/control components. The buoy is taut-moored above the cage by compliant members in order to allow for the tidal range and large storm waves. The feeding mechanism uses a small, electric powered pump to actively force feed slurry down to the cage. A wind generator and solar panels provide power to this pump, bilge pumps, and the telemetry/control system. The control system switches the power to the various pumps on a user-set schedule and also monitors the operation of the electric power system. A spread spectrum radio is used to send diagnostic and status information to shore and via Internet to the project manager. The high-stretch feed hose has integrated, spiral-wound conductive wires to transmit power down to, and receive data back from, instrumentation in the fish cage. The mooring system design was analyzed using the University of New Hampshire (UNH) developed, finite element program, Aqua-FE. Modified to include nonlinear material behavior, Aqua-FE was applied to evaluate various buoy-mooring line-submerged cage/grid configurations. To complement the computer modeling, a 1:15.2 scale model of the buoy was built for wave tank testing. Free release tests were conducted to determine heave and pitch natural frequencies and damping ratios. Heave and pitch responses to single frequency waves were measured in order to characterize seakeeping behavior. The three-point mooring system has operated successfully for over 10 months at the site. After correcting start-up problems, due in part to a winter ice storm, the internal systems have functioned as designed enabling the buoy to provide regular, metered fish feeding.
Selective killing of mixed lineage leukemia cells by a potent small-molecule DOT1L inhibitor

Mislocated enzymatic activity of DOT1L has been proposed as a driver of leukemogenesis in mixed lineage leukemia (MLL). The characterization of EPZ004777, a potent, selective inhibitor of DOT1L is reported. Treatment of MLL cells with the compound selectively inhibits H3K79 methylation and blocks expression of leukemogenic genes. Exposure of leukemic cells to EPZ004777 results in selective killing of those cells bearing the MLL gene translocation, with little effect on non-MLL-translocated cells. Finally, in vivo administration of EPZ004777 leads to extension of survival in a mouse MLL xenograft model. These results provide compelling support for DOT1L inhibition as a basis for targeted therapeutics against MLL.
Effects of interest rate swaps

Abstract In this paper we examine the effect of interest rate swaps on the firm, and identify characteristics of firms that use interest rate swaps, reporting findings consistent with interest rate swaps being used as a risk-reducing instrument. Relative to nonswappers, firms using swaps are more likely to experience decreased cash flow variance in the five-year period subsequent to swap initiation. In addition, firms that engage in swaps are found to be larger and more highly levered than a control sample of nonswappers. Dividing our sample based upon type of swap, we find different characteristics explain different types of swap. In particular we find evidence consistent with swaps from variable to fixed interest rates being engaged in for risk reduction, i.e., hedging purposes.
Application of sorption–desorption moisture transfer modeling to the study of chemical stability of a moisture sensitive drug product in different packaging configurations

The sorption--desorption moisture transfer (SDMT) model was used to predict the effect of desiccant quantity, tablet quantity and tablet initial moisture content on the relative humidity inside high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles containing a moisture sensitive drug product, roxifiban tablets. The effect of these variables on the stability of roxifiban tablets in the HDPE bottles was also evaluated. There was a good correlation between the calculated relative humidity values inside the package and stability results. Tablet degradant concentration increased with the increase in the relative humidity calculated by the SDMT model. Desiccant quantity was the most important factor in controlling degradation rate, which decreased as the quantity of desiccant in the bottle was increased. For a given desiccant quantity, degradation rate increased with an increase in the weight of tablets in the bottle. The inclusion of a desiccant in the package significantly reduced the effect of initial tablet moisture content on stability. Nevertheless, the effect of initial moisture content was still discernible. This study demonstrated the practical utility of the SDMT model in understanding the correlation between packaging variables and the stability of a moisture sensitive product.
A Central Question in Cross-Cultural Research: Do Employees of Different Cultures Interpret Work-related Measures in an Equivalent Manner?:

Within the present research, a covariance structure analytic procedure is applied to test the stability and transferability of organizational measures between groups in cross-cultural research. Findings support the need to establish the equivalency of constructs and measures prior to interpreting differences in means of self-report variables between culturally diverse groups. Indeed, for two measures, the cultural groups were using different conceptual frames of reference when responding to the items. For a third measure, the groups were calibrating the true scores differently. However, the source of the calibration difference was identified and subsequently accounted for in later analyses. Thus, differences between latent means for the culturally diverse groups were calculated and interpreted. The approach outlined in this paper is proffered as yielding valuable insights regarding the appropriateness of comparative cross-cultural studies.
An implementation of N-party synchronization using tokens

In N-party synchronization, an arbitrary number of processes synchronize together and in their synchronized state these processes can execute an arbitrary computation consisting of asynchronous message transfers among them and local computations. The author presents an algorithm to implement N-party synchronization on a distributed system where processes communicate with each other via asynchronous message communication over one-to-one communication lines. The algorithm is developed in stages for better understandability. N-party synchronization is a generalization of the usual two-party synchronization. >
The Comparative Psychology of Avian Visual Cognition

How do small-brained, highly mobile animals like birds so readily perceive the visual world? Despite the computational complexity of vision, recent behavioral tests have suggested that these evolutionarily distant animals may use visual mechanisms that operate in the same manner as the visual mechanisms of primates. This article reviews new evidence regarding the processes of early vision and object perception in pigeons and considers speculations about the similarities and differences between avian and primate visual cognition.
Binaural sound source separation motivated by auditory processing

In this paper we present a new method of signal processing for robust speech recognition using two microphones. The method, loosely based on the human binaural hearing system, consists of passing the speech signals detected by two microphones through bandpass filtering. We develop a spatial masking function based on normalized cross-correlation, which provides rejection of off-axis interfering signals. To obtain improvements in reverberant environments, a temporal masking component, which is closely related to our previously-described de-reverberation technique known as SSF. We demonstrate that this approach provides substantially better recognition accuracy than conventional binaural sound-source separation algorithms.
Reliability of a softcore processor in a commercial SRAM-based FPGA

Softcore processors are an attractive alternative to using radiation-hardened processors in space-based applications. Unlike traditional processors however, the logic and routing of a softcore processor are vulnerable to the effects of single-event upsets (SEUs). This paper applies two common SEU mitigation techniques, TMR with checkpointing and DWC with checkpointing, to the LEON3 softcore processor. The improvement in reliabilty over an unmitigated version of the processor is measured using three metrics: the architectural vulnerability factor (AVF), mean time to failure (MTTF), and mean useful instructions to failure (MuITF). Using configuration memory fault injection, we found that DWC with checkpointing improves the MTTF and MuITF by over 35x, and that TMR with triplicated input and outputs improves the MTTF and MITF by over 6000x.
Intimate Victimization of Latina Farm Workers: A Research Summary:

This article summarizes the findings from an analysis of domestic abuse experienced by low income, Latina farm workers in a nine-state area. Using logistic regression analysis, we analyzed factors ...
Age Distribution of Helicobactor pulori Seroprevalence among Young Children in a United Sates/MexicoBorder Community: Evidence for Transitory Infection

Helicobacter pylori infection has been linked to a spectrum of gastroduodenal diseases of broad public health impact, yet the natural history of this frequently asymptomatic infection remains poorly understood. Evidence suggests that initial acquisition occurs primarily during childhood and may persist throughout life. The seroprevalence of H. pylori antibodies was examined in 365 primary schoolchildren aged 4-7 years in a low-income United States/Mexico border community from January to May 1996. Overall, 21% of the 365 children tested positive, with a significant monotonic decrease in seroprevalence by 1-year age intervals (36% in children aged 4 years, 24% in those aged 5 years, 20% in those aged 6 years, and 14% in those aged 7 years). The odds ratio for each 1-year age increase was 0.76 (95% confidence interval: 0.6, 1.0) after adjustment for relevant covariates. Given that H. pylori antibodies diminish after infection clears, this trend suggests that transient infection may be common in young children. In contrast, hepatitis A virus seroprevalence increased with age. There was a moderate association (odds ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.8, 2.9) of H. pylori with hepatitis A virus seroprevalence that weakened after adjustment for age and socioeconomic status (odds ratio = 1.26, 95% confidence interval: 0.6, 2.5). Follow-up studies are needed to clarify the natural history of Helicobacter pylori infection and identify predictors of initial acquisition, persistence, and recurrence.
Including Children With Autism in Inclusive Preschools Strategies That Work

The authors would like to thank Jennifer Annable, Janet Bauer, Pat Close, Ann Garfinkle, Jennifer Hessl, Kim Lundy, Ruth Rust, Misty Wood, and Connie Pious for their contributions to this project. This work was supported in part by U.S. Department of Education Grant H023C20212 and Cooperative Agreement HO86A20003. The content and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and no official endorsement should be inferred. Requests for reprints or additional information should be sent to Ilene Schwartz, University of Washington, Experimental Education Unit, Box 357925, Seattle WA, 98195.
The transition from affective to linguistic meaning

This paper reports a transition from affective to linguistic meaning in 15-month-old infants. Behaviour regulation in the context of a social referencing procedure is used as a measure of the meaning of stimulus messages for infants. Of particular interest is the extent to which receptive vocabulary predicts behaviour regulation by language and paralanguage. Approving and disapproving lexical content was completely crossed with approving and disapproving facial and vocal paralanguage to produce stimulus messages. At the group level, the behaviour of 15-month-olds was better regulated by paralanguage than by lexical content. However, receptive vocabulary was a significant predictor of the relative primacy of language and paralanguage: infants who understood the lexical content of stimulus messages were better regulated by lexical content than by paralanguage. These data suggest a transition from affective to linguistic meaning in comprehension that parallels the transition from affective expression to expression that integrates affect and language.
Role of Acetaldehyde in Ethanol-Induced Elevation of the Neuroactive Steroid 3α-Hydroxy-5α-Pregnan-20-One in Rats

BACKGROUND Systemic ethanol administration increases neuroactive steroid levels that increase ethanol sensitivity. Acetaldehyde is a biologically active compound that may contribute to behavioral and rewarding effects of ethanol. We investigated the role of acetaldehyde in ethanol-induced elevations of 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP) levels in cerebral cortex. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered ethanol, and plasma acetaldehyde concentrations were measured by gas chromatography to determine relevant concentrations. Rats were then administered acetaldehyde directly, acetaldehyde plus cyanamide to block its degradation, or ethanol in the presence of inhibitors of ethanol metabolism, to determine effects on 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels in cerebral cortex. RESULTS Ethanol administration (2 g/kg) to rats results in a peak acetaldehyde concentration of 6-7 microM at 10 minutes that remains stable for the duration of the time points tested. Direct administration of acetaldehyde eliciting this plasma concentration does not increase cerebral cortical 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels, and inhibition of ethanol-metabolizing enzymes to modify acetaldehyde formation does not alter ethanol-induced 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels. However, higher doses of acetaldehyde (75 and 100 mg/kg), in the presence of cyanamide to prevent its metabolism, are capable of increasing cortical 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels. CONCLUSIONS Physiological concentrations of acetaldehyde are not responsible for ethanol-induced increases in 3alpha,5alpha-THP, but a synergistic role for acetaldehyde with ethanol may contribute to increases in 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels and ethanol sensitivity.
Reconciling differential gene expression data with molecular interaction networks

Motivation: Many techniques have been developed to compute the response network of a cell. A recent trend in this area is to compute response networks of small size, with the rationale that only part of a pathway is often changed by disease and that interpreting small subnetworks is easier than interpreting larger ones. However, these methods may not uncover the spectrum of pathways perturbed in a particular experiment or disease. Results: To avoid these difficulties, we propose to use algorithms that reconcile case-control DNA microarray data with a molecular interaction network by modifying per-gene differential expression P-values such that two genes connected by an interaction show similar changes in their gene expression values. We provide a novel evaluation of four methods from this class of algorithms. We enumerate three desirable properties that this class of algorithms should address. These properties seek to maintain that the returned gene rankings are specific to the condition being studied. Moreover, to ease interpretation, highly ranked genes should participate in coherent network structures and should be functionally enriched with relevant biological pathways. We comprehensively evaluate the extent to which each algorithm addresses these properties on a compendium of gene expression data for 54 diverse human diseases. We show that the reconciled gene rankings can identify novel disease-related functions that are missed by analyzing expression data alone. Availability: C++ software implementing our algorithms is available in the NetworkReconciliation package as part of the Biorithm software suite under the GNU General Public License: http://bioinformatics.cs.vt.edu/~murali/software/biorithm-docs. Contact: murali@cs.vt.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Solitary-wave stability in birefringent optical fibers

Soliton stability in birefringent optical fibers that is due to cross-phase modulation has been studied. The relationship between the threshold amplitude of stable solitons and the strength of the linear birefringence is obtained by using a virial theorem. It is found that the threshold amplitude depends on the birefringence nonlinearly. Above threshold each partial pulse will bind to the other, and a solitonlike state is formed; otherwise the partial pulses will split, which is undesirable for communication applications. Several conservation laws are found for the coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations (NSE’s), and it is shown that the conservation of momentum results in symmetric frequency shifts of both partial pulses, which is crucial for the understanding of soliton collisions involving the walk-off effect. Based on momentum conservation and the linear dispersion of the coupled NSE’s, a solitary-wave solution is found, and the physical meaning of the solution is explained. It is also found that the interaction of the partial pulses can be treated as a nonlinear oscillator, with gain or loss depending on pulse shape and pulse amplitude, when birefringence is small and the pulse shape does not change much. Some other trapping behavior is analyzed also.
Multiple hypothesis object tracking for unsupervised self-learning: an ocean eddy tracking application

Mesoscale ocean eddies transport heat, salt, energy, and nutrients across oceans. As a result, accurately identifying and tracking such phenomena are crucial for understanding ocean dynamics and marine ecosystem sustainability. Traditionally, ocean eddies are monitored through two phases: identification and tracking. A major challenge for such an approach is that the tracking phase is dependent on the performance of the identification scheme, which can be susceptible to noise and sampling errors. In this paper, we focus on tracking, and introduce the concept of multiple hypothesis assignment (MHA), which extends traditional multiple hypothesis tracking for cases where the features tracked are noisy or uncertain. Under this scheme, features are assigned to multiple potential tracks, and the final assignment is deferred until more data are available to make a relatively unambiguous decision. Unlike the most widely used methods in the eddy tracking literature, MHA uses contextual spatio-temporal information to take corrective measures autonomously on the detection step a posteriori and performs significantly better in the presence of noise. This study is also the first to empirically analyze the relative robustness of eddy tracking algorithms.