cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disentangling Value: Financing Needs, Firm Scope, and Divestitures

This paper presents a rationale for divestiture consistent with one of the frequently cited reasons by divesting firms, namely, that the firm is undervalued and splitting the firm into its component businesses will make it easier for the market to value the components accurately. When firms are undervalued due to unobservability of divisional cash flows, they may resort to divestiture to raise capital while overvalued firms will use external equity. Diversification thus might result in costly future divestiture. Firms trade off this expected cost of diversification against the benefit of higher levels of cheaper internal capital in deciding the scope of the firm.
Decentralized Multi-Agent Active Search for Sparse Signals

Active search refers to the problem of efficiently locating targets in an unknown environment by actively making data-collection decisions. In this paper, we are focusing on multiple aerial robots (agents) detecting targets such as gas leaks, radiation sources or human survivors of disasters. One of the main challenges of active search with multiple agents in unknown environments is impracticality of central coordination due to the difficulties of connectivity maintenance. In this paper, we propose two distinct active search algorithms that allow for multiple robots to independently make data-collection decisions without a central coordinator. Throughout we consider that targets are sparsely located around the environment in keeping with compressive sensing assumptions and its applicability in real world scenarios. Additionally, while most common sensing algorithms assume that agents can sense the entire environment (e.g. compressive sensing) or sense point-wise (e.g. Bayesian Optimization) at a time, we make a realistic assumption that each agent can only sense a contiguous region of space at each time step. We provide simulation results as well as theoretical analysis to demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed algorithms.
Models of kidney glomerulus derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells

Abstract Human pluripotent stem cells hold tremendous promise for understanding tissue development and disease mechanisms, and for in vitro modeling of organ function. However, the use of stem cells to model and understand human kidney development had remained elusive until recent advances in the establishment of protocols for the derivation of functional human kidney cells such as glomerular podocytes and organoids, and reconstitution of glomerular tissue structure and function as well as disease models using microfluidic organ-on-a-chip microphysiological system. In this chapter, we discuss recent approaches and progress in modeling the complex architecture of the kidney glomerulus using induced pluripotent stem cells interfaced with bioengineering technologies. We also provide an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the human kidney glomerulus as well as some pathological conditions associated with this functional subunit of the kidney. An overview of kidney development is also provided along with discussions of crucial nephrogenic events, the spatiotemporal regulation of nephrogenesis through secreted factors, and how this knowledge has been applied to develop new methodologies for the derivation of kidney tissues and functional in vitro models. Together, the technologies presented in this chapter could advance the field of nephrology by providing platforms for disease modeling, nephrotoxicity testing, and drug screening.
A Comparison of Models Predicting One-Year Mortality at Time of Admission.

Abstract Context : Hospitalization provides an opportunity to address end-of-life care (EoLC) preferences if patients at risk of death can be accurately identified while in the hospital. The modified Hospital One-Year Mortality Risk (mHOMR) uses demographic and admission data in a logistic regression algorithm to identify patients at risk of death one year from admission. Objective : This project sought to validate mHOMR and identify superior models. Methods : The mHOMR model was validated using historical data from an academic health system. Alternative logistic regression and random forest (RF) models were developed using the same variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and precision recall curves were developed, and sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were compared over a range of model thresholds. Results : The RF model demonstrated higher area under the ROC curve (0.950, 95% CI 0.947-0.954) as compared to the logistic regression models (0.818 [95% CI 0.812-0.825] and 0.841 [95% CI 0.836-0.847]). Area under the precision recall curve was higher with the random forest model compared to the logistic regression models (0.863 versus 0.458 and 0.494, respectively). Across a range of thresholds, the RF model demonstrated superior sensitivity, equivalent specificity, and higher positive and negative predictive values. Conclusion : A machine learning RF model, using common demographic and utilization data available on hospital admission, identified inpatients at risk of death more effectively than logistic regression models using the same variables. Machine learning models have promise for identifying admitted patients with elevated one-year mortality risk, increasing opportunities to prompt discussion of EoLC preferences.
Rebooting Cybertort Law

Cyberspace provides an ideal legal environment for tortfeasors and online criminals because Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have no duty to mitigate harms caused by ongoing torts, crimes, and infringing acts. Courts have stretched Congress's express language in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act from the narrow purpose of immunizing ISPs as publishers to the expanded purpose of shielding them from all tort liability. This Article proposes imposing a limited duty of crae on ISPs to remove or block ongoing tortious activities on their srvices when they have been given actual notice. This reform will harmonize American ISP liability law with the European union's Electronic Commerce Directive, which imposes an affirmative duty on ISPs to take down objectionable materials. It also will unify U.S. law by creating procedures consistent with the takedown policy mandated by the Digital Copyright Act.
Multivariable Calculus of Real Analytic Functions

Definition 2.1.1 Set ℤ+ = {0, 1,2, . . .}. A multiindex μ is an element of (ℤ+) m ; we will write $$\Lambda (m) = (\mathbb{Z}^ + )^m ,$$ but often the size m of a multiindex will be understood from the context.
Use of harsh wire bonding to evaluate various bond pad structures

IC bond pad structures having Al metallization and SiO 2 dielectric have been traditionally designed with full plates in underlying metallization layers, connected by vias. In addition, pads having bond over active circuitry (BOAC) which are much more sensitive to pad cracks, are likely present in the same IC. Cracks in the pad dielectric weaken the bond reliability and may cause electrical leakage or shorts to circuitry under the pad. Cracks are more likely to occur during Cu wire bond due to higher bonding stress as compared to Au alloy wire bonding. Experimental data from bonding with 1mil Au or Cu wires reveals dramatic differences in pad robustness against cracking, depending upon the underlying metal structures and patterns. A “harsh” Au wire bond recipe is also developed to produce the stress effects of Cu wire bond in experiments without having to upgrade older bonding equipment for Cu wire. Cratering test after wire bond is used to evaluate pad cracking. Ball shear testing followed by a cratering test further reveals pad cracking tendencies. Design principles for increased pad robustness to cracking are developed based on the data. Reliability data verifies the effectiveness of the design principles. Proper design of interconnects beneath the pad can greatly increase pad robustness to cracking, allowing much more margin in bonding stress, enabling the option of Au or Cu wire bond on the same IC without pad cracking.
Pain in Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.

Tolosa‐Hunt syndrome (THS) is a condition that includes recurrent attacks of retro-orbital, steady, and severe pain usually as the presenting symptom. Symptoms may include spontaneous recurrence of pain, chronic pain, and cranial nerve dysfunction that are responsive to steroid treatment. A patient with THS is described, with findings on craniotomy and biopsy, and the typical presentation of acute pain and recurrence of pain associated with response to steroid treatment. An overview of pain in this condition is presented. J Pain Symptom Manage 1998;16:199‐204. © U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 1998.
Combining locality analysis with online proactive job co-scheduling in chip multiprocessors

The shared-cache contention on Chip Multiprocessors causes performance degradation to applications and hurts system fairness. Many previously proposed solutions schedule programs according to runtime sampled cache performance to reduce cache contention. The strong dependence on runtime sampling inherently limits the scalability and effectiveness of those techniques. This work explores the combination of program locality analysis with job co-scheduling. The rationale is that program locality analysis typically offers a large-scope view of various facets of an application including data access patterns and cache requirement. That knowledge complements the local behaviors sampled by runtime systems. The combination offers the key to overcoming the limitations of prior co-scheduling techniques. Specifically, this work develops a lightweight locality model that enables efficient, proactive prediction of the performance of co-running processes, offering the potential for an integration in online scheduling systems. Compared to existing multicore scheduling systems, the technique reduces performance degradation by 34% (7% performance improvement) and unfairness by 47%. Its proactivity makes it resilient to the scalability issues that constraints the applicability of previous techniques.
Morphogenesis of Bacteriophage φ29 of Bacillus subtilis: Mapping and Functional Analysis of the Head Fiber Gene

A set of mutants of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage phi29 unable to synthesize the head fiber protein has been identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Infectious phage are produced during restrictive infection. We have focused on mutant sus 8.5(900) because the mutation is suppressible by both the su(+3) and su(+44) hosts, and it can be mapped by three- and four-factor crosses. After restrictive infection with mutant sus 8.5(900), a fragment about 70% of the size of the normal fiber is produced as well as particles that are fast-sedimenting in sucrose gradients relative to phi29(+). These particles have the buoyant density of particles with the fibers removed and have the absolute plating efficiency of phi29(+). Fiber protein is absent from prohead as well as virion. A second set of mutants produces fiber protein with a slightly altered electrophoretic mobility. This type of fiber protein is either present or absent on both prohead and virion. A third class of mutants, typified by 914, produces a "normal" fiber, but a major head protein of altered electrophoretic mobility. After infection by this mutant, the fiber is absent from both prohead and virion, and the biological and physical properties of the 914(-) particle are similar to those of particles produced after infection of the su(-) host by sus8.5(900). These observations suggest that the head fiber is not an essential component of the prohead or virion and that the assembly process is efficient in the absence of fiber protein. Three- and four-factor genetic crosses have established the order sus8(769)-8(914)-sus8.5(900)-sus9(756) and indicate that cistrons 8 and 8.5 code for the major head protein and head fiber protein, respectively.
Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulation of liquid Ga x As 1¿x alloys

We report the results of ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations of liquid GaxAs12x alloys at five different concentrations, at a temperature of 1600 K, just above the melting point of GaAs. The liquid is predicted to be metallic at all concentrations between x50.2 and x50.8, with a weak resistivity maximum near x50.5, consistent with the Faber-Ziman expression. The electronic density-of-states is finite at the Fermi energy for all concentrations; there is, however, a significant pseudogap especially in the As-rich samples. The Ga-rich density-of-states more closely resembles that of a free-electron metal. The partial structure factors show only a weak indication of chemical short-range order. There is also some residue of the covalent bonding found in the solid, which shows up in the bond-angle distribution functions of the liquid state. Finally, the atomic diffusion coefficients at 1600 K are calculated to be 2.1310 24 cm 2 /s for Ga ions in Ga0.8As0.2 and 1.7 310 24 cm 2 /s for As ions in Ga0.2As0.8 .
In vivo molecular target assessment of matrix metalloproteinase inhibition

A number of different matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors have been developed as cytostatic and anti-angiogenic agents and are currently in clinical testing. One major hurdle in assessing the efficacy of such drugs has been the inability to sense or image anti-proteinase activity directly and non-invasively in vivo. We show here that novel, biocompatible near-infrared fluorogenic MMP substrates can be used as activatable reporter probes to sense MMP activity in intact tumors in nude mice. Moreover, we show for the first time that the effect of MMP inhibition can be directly imaged using this approach within hours after initiation of treatment using the potent MMP inhibitor, prinomastat (AG3340). The developed probes, together with novel near-infrared fluorescence imaging technology will enable the detailed analysis of a number of proteinases critical for advancing the therapeutic use of clinical proteinase inhibitors.
Reproduction and the Drive for Survival

This chapter is an introduction to cell structure and biological reproduction and the effects that these have on the survival of species according to the Darwinian model of evolution. The Darwinian model of evolution postulates that all living systems must compete for resources that are too limited to sustain all the organisms that are born. Those organisms possessing properties that are best suited to the environment can survive and may pass the favored properties to their offspring. A system is said to be alive if it has certain properties. These life properties, e.g., metabolism, reproduction, and response to stimuli, interact with each other, and indeed, the interactions themselves must be part of the list of life properties. Cells contain organelles, which are subcellular inclusions dedicated to performing specific tasks such as photosynthesis and protein synthesis. Membranes are organelles that are components of other organelles and are functional in their own right–they regulate material transport into and out of cells. Prokaryotic organisms (bacteria and blue-green algae) lack most organelles. Eukaryotic organisms (protozoa, fungi, plants, and animals) have cells with a wide range of organelles.
Procedures for the Comparative Testing of Noninvasive Neuroassessment Devices.

Abstract A sequential process for comparison testing of noninvasive neuroassessment devices is presented. Comparison testing of devices in a clinical population should be preceded by computational research and reliability testing with healthy populations, as opposed to proceeding immediately to testing with clinical participants. A five-step process is outlined as follows: 1. Complete a preliminary literature review identifying candidate measures. 2. Conduct systematic simulation studies to determine the computational properties and data requirements of candidate measures. 3. Establish the test–retest reliability of each measure in a healthy comparison population and the clinical population of interest. 4. Investigate the clinical validity of reliable measures in appropriately defined clinical populations. 5. Complete device usability assessment (weight, simplicity of use, cost effectiveness, ruggedness) only for devices and measures that are promising after steps 1 through 4 are completed. Usability may ...
The Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency Program Meets Passage without Closure

A new federal energy bill was precariously passed in December 2007 after both proponents and opponents of the proposed increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) championed their viewpoints. Elucidating the concept of closure in light of the passage of this bill, this article aims to show that the notion, truce declared and debate deferred, is a function of the modern political process. The propensity of the main stakeholders within the debate to speak past one another with little respect to each other’s positions, advanced a compromise that satisfied nobody entirely, but most groups partially. In particular issues where compromise failed and went unresolved, loose and ambiguous wording filled the gaps. Hence the debate continues, despite a change in policy.
Positive Counsellor Characteristics with Sexual Minority Intimate Partner Violence Victims

Grounded theory procedures were combined with a queer theory perspective to examine what counsellor characteristics promote counsellor competency with sexual minority intimate partner violence victims (SMIPVVs). Ten counsellors participated in 2 rounds of individual interviews. Analysis of the textual data identified specific desirable counsellor traits that were identified to assist with developing counsellor competency. The author also discusses implications for counselling programs, supervision, and in-service seminars.
HEMORHEOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF INTENSIVE DIABETES MANAGEMENT IN THE DCCT

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), an NIH-sponsored study at 29 institutions in the US. and Canada, began in 1983 to examine the effects of intensive blood glucose management on the complications of type I diabetes. About half of the 1441 patients studied were randomized into a conventional treat­ ment group and half into an intensive management group. About half of each treatment group had diabetes of 1-5 years duration and no retinopathy at random­ ization (primary) and half had diabetes of 1-15 years duration and minimal retinopathy at randomization (secondary). Hemoglobin Ale levels were regularly measured. Information about complications collected systematically included retinal photographs, nerve conduction velocity assessment and evaluation of albu­ minuria and renal function. Differences in mean Hemoglobin Ale level between the intensively-treated group and the group continuing their usual treatment were sustained and substantial. Mean hemoglobin Al c levels were 1 % compared to 3% above the normal range. We measured fibrinogen, haptoglobin, albumin and total protein levels of 1347 patients from April to August of 1991. Mean fibrinogen (measured both by coagulation quantification and clotting time after dilution) and haptoglobin were elevated and albumin level modestly depressed in the overall DCCT group and gender-based differences were also noted. Despite past reports linking diabetes control to plasma protein levels, no trend to normalization was found in the intensively treated group. In fact, mean haptoglobin level was modestly higher in the intensively treated compared to the conventional group. The primary and secondary prevention components had a well-defined difference in total plasma globulin, linked to marginal differences in albumin and total protein level. The globulin was higher in the secondary prevention group, who by study design manifested more microvascular changes. Intensive management of diabetes has no direct favorable effect on the levels of the major blood proteins that influence blood's flow properties.
Benefits of grooming capable cross-connects in a Pan-European Optical Network

We demonstrate potential cost savings by placing electrical "grooming" cross-connects into a core network consisting predominantly of optical cross-connects while simultaneously improving bandwidth utilisation, relaxing unregenerated distance/hop count and lowering network capacity requirements.
Characterization of NY-ESO-1 and SSX gene families

Among tumor antigens identified to date, cancer/testis (CT) antigens are recognized as a group of highly attractive targets for cancer vaccines. CT antigens have highly restricted expression in normal tissues, predominantly in testis, and yet they are found to be expressed in a significant proportion of various human cancers. More than a dozen CT antigen genes or gene families have been defined, including the NY-ESO-1 family and the SSX family. NY-ESO-1 was initially discovered by autologous SEREX screening of an esophageal cancer cDNA library. It belongs to a gene family that has three distinct members, NY-ESO-1 (ESO1), LAGE-1 (ESO2), and ESO3. All three genes are within a 200 kb stretch on chromosome Xq28, and two exact copies of the ESO1 gene are present in tandem, but in reverse orientation. All three genes are consisted of three exons, and the exon-intron organization is conserved. NY-ESO-1 and LAGE-1 are highly homologous (84% amino acid, 94% nucleotide homology), whereas ESO3 is more distant, Both NY-ESO-1 and LAGE-1 have been shown to generate more than one protein product. For NY-ESO-1, the primary open reading frame encodes a 180 amino acid product, and a second ORF encodes a 58 amino acid polypeptide. For LAGE-1, in addition to the 180 amino acid product, two proteins have been shown, one derived from a second ORF, and the other from the first ORF, but from an alternative spliced transcript. Significantly, all variant protein products derived from NY-ESO-1 and LAGE-1 have been shown to contain peptide epitopes recognized by CD8+ T cells from cancer patients in an HLA-restricted fashion. In comparison, antibody responses have only been demonstrated against the 180-residue NY-ESO-1 and LAGE-1, but not the variant products. In addition to NY-ESO-1, another CT antigen that has been shown to elicit spontaneous humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in cancer patients is SSX. The SSX gene family is also located on the X chromosome, Xp11. We have now characterized 9 structurally complete genes in this family, SSX1-SSX9, and exact duplicates of the SSX2 gene also exist. All SSX genes are highly homologous at both nucleotide and DNA levels. Although none of the genes shows ubiquitous expression, the expression profile of different SSX genes do differ significantly. Among normal adult tissues tested, testis expresses SSX1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, but not SSX6, 8, and 9. In tumor tissues, SSX1, 2, and 4 are most frequently expressed (approx. 20-30% range); in contrast, SSX3, 5, 6, and 7 are rarely expressed ( This abstract was published in Cancer Immunity, a Cancer Research Institute journal that ceased publication in 2013 and is now provided online in association with Cancer Immunology Research.
Propagation of 3 relatively solvent-resistant arboviruses in Singh's Aedes albopictus and A. aegypti cell lines.

Propagation in Singh's Aedes cell lines was attempted with 3 relatively solvent-resistant arboviruses: Irituia of the Changuinola serogroup, presumed to be transmitted by phlebotomine flies; Palyam of the Palyam serogroup, mosquitoborne; and Lebombo, serologically ungrouped, also mosquitoborne. All 3 viruses multiplied in A. albopictus cells and in A. albopictus carrier cultures; only Irituia virus also multiplied in A. aegypti cells. These results, in combination with earlier studies, support an hypothesis that all mosquito-borne arboviruses, whether relatively resistant or sensitive to solvents, are able to multiply in 1 or both of Singh's Aedes cell lines; and that, of the arboviruses isolated from ticks and phlebotomine flies, those relatively solvent-resistant are able to multiply in 1 or both cell lines whereas those solvent-sensitive are unable to grow in either. The A. albopictus cell line appears to be the more sensitive to infection.
Comparative vaccine efficacy of different isoforms of recombinant protective antigen against Bacillus anthracis spore challenge in rabbits.

The next-generation human anthrax vaccine developed by the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) is based upon purified Bacillus anthracis recombinant protective antigen (rPA) adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (Alhydrogel). In addition to being safe, and effective, it is important that such a vaccine be fully characterized. Four major protein isoforms detected in purified rPA by native PAGE during research and development were reduced to two primary isoforms in bulk material produced by an improved process performed under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Analysis of both rPA preparations by a protein-isoaspartyl-methyltransferase assay (PIMT) revealed the presence of increasing amounts of iso-aspartic acid correlating with isoform content and suggesting deamidation as the source of rPA charge heterogeneity. Additional purification of GMP rPA by anion exchange chromatography separated and enriched the two principal isoforms. The in vitro and in vivo biological activities of each isoform were measured in comparison to the whole GMP preparation. There was no significant difference in the biological activity of each isoform compared to GMP rPA when analyzed in the presence of lethal factor using a macrophage lysis assay. Vaccination with the two individual isoforms revealed no differences in cytotoxicity neutralization antibody titers when compared to the GMP preparation although one isoform induced more anti-PA IgG antibody than the GMP material. Most importantly, each of the two isoforms as well as the whole GMP preparation protected 90–100% of rabbits challenged parenterally with 129 LD50 of B. anthracis Ames spores. The equivalent biological activity and vaccine efficacy of the two isoforms suggests that further processing to separate isoforms is unnecessary for continued testing of this next-generation anthrax vaccine. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Duplex Ultrasonography to Predict Internal Carotid Artery Stenoses Exceeding 50% and 70% as Defined by NASCET: The Need for Multiple Criteria

Carotid duplex scanning is being used more frequently as the sole preoperative diagnostic imaging modality for patients considered candidates for carotid endarterectomy. The North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) has demonstrated the benefit of surgical treatment in patients with carotid stenoses exceeding 70%. The purpose of this study was to determine duplex criteria that accurately predict carotid stenoses exceeding 50% and 70% as defined by NASCET arteriographic criteria. One hundred forty-one patients (264 carotid arteries) considered surgical candidates were prospectively studied over a 2-year period by use of both duplex scanning and digital subtraction cerebral arteriography. Carotid artery stenosis was determined by a single radiologist using NASCET arteriographic criteria. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) were measured in the internal carotid (ICA) and common carotid (CCA) arteries by use of duplex scanning. ICA/CCA velocity ratios were calculated for PSV and EDV. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy were calculated. PSV ICA/CCA provided the highest sensitivity, and EDV ICA the highest specificity in this study. Arteriographic stenoses exceeding 50% and 70% were reliably predicted with use of these duplex criteria. It is concluded that duplex criteria can predict carotid stenoses exceeding 50% and 70% as defined by NASCET arteriographic criteria. These criteria should be independently validated by other vascular laboratories.
Posterior cingulate cortex: adapting behavior to a changing world

When has the world changed enough to warrant a new approach? The answer depends on current needs, behavioral flexibility and prior knowledge about the environment. Formal approaches solve the problem by integrating the recent history of rewards, errors, uncertainty and context via Bayesian inference to detect changes in the world and alter behavioral policy. Neuronal activity in posterior cingulate cortex – a key node in the default network – is known to vary with learning, memory, reward and task engagement. We propose that these modulations reflect the underlying process of change detection and motivate subsequent shifts in behavior.
Global Sushi: Eating and Identity

AbstractRaw foods, especially raw fish, have not always been considered foodstuff in the US. Today, sushi has become so fused into Americans’ diets that it can even be purchased at popular supermarkets. Sushi’s growing popularity shows the influences of non-Western cultures in US society. What occurs as a result of this global mixing? What effects does this have on local food cultures? Through fieldwork in New York City, the Midwest and Japan, I explore the complexities of the global flow of both sushi and popular imaginings associated with it.
Does Experience Matter? Employee Selection in the National Basketball Association

Drawing from personnel selection and decision making literatures, we used a multilevel model to examine whether various types of experience predict employee selection outcomes in the National Basketball Association. We examined 289 selection events of basketball players by 63 General Managers. Measures of General Manager Experience included tenure, education level, family relations, experience as a college coach, experience as a National Basketball Association Player, experience as a National Basketball Association scout, and experience as a National Basketball Association coach. Results revealed that college coaching experience, length of tenure at time of the decision, and vicarious experience through family relations improved selection decision outcomes, while experience as a basketball player reduced the quality of selection decision outcomes. Additionally, length of tenure predicted General Managers’ ability to select employees with high Win Shares, a measure of individual contribution to team wins, ...
RIN-reduced light source for ultra-low noise interferometric fibre optic gyroscopes

Incoherent broadband light sources are used in interferometric fibre optic gyroscopes (IFOGs) to mitigate the deleterious effects of Kerr and polarisation nonreciprocity, and backscattering effects in gyroscopes. However, incoherent broadband sources suffer from excess noise or relative intensity noise (RIN), caused by the beating of different spectral components on the photodetector. Unless RIN noise is suppressed, IFOG performance cannot be improved once light on the photodetector exceeds one photon per coherence time (∼μW's). Demonstrated is a low RIN light source capable of significantly improving angle random walk of an IFOG by 12 dB.
Moving range EWMA control charts for monitoring the Weibull shape parameter

In this article, we propose an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart for the shape parameter β of Weibull processes. The chart is based on a moving range when a single measurement is taken per sampling period. We consider both one-sided (lower-sided and upper-sided) and two-sided control charts. We perform simulations to estimate control limits that achieve a specified average run length (ARL) when the process is in control. The control limits we derive are ARL unbiased in that they result in ARL that is shorter than the stable-process ARL when β has shifted. We also perform simulations to determine Phase I sample size requirements if control limits are based on an estimate of β. We compare the ARL performance of the proposed chart to that of the moving range chart proposed in the literature.
ConfChem Conference on Educating the Next Generation: Green and Sustainable Chemistry-Teaching Green Chemistry: The Driving Force behind the Numbers!

A special green chemistry course was offered at Grand Valley State University, GVSU, in 2006. Among other assignments, students designed an electronic survey probing the knowledge and the interest in learning about green chemistry. Over 1600 students responded. The responses to the questions “where did you hear about green chemistry” clearly showed the lack of green chemistry inclusion into the curricular program GVSU at that time. Under the driving force of the students’ interest and the imperative need to feel the gap between the traditional content of industrial processes teaching and the principles of green chemistry, we were compelled to change. The result is a new course, Green Chemistry and Industrial Processes, based on green industrial applications. It is a bridge between the principles of green chemistry and industrial processes currently in use, between traditional topics and real-life cases, provided by the global and the local economy. Partnership with local area businesses constitutes an ideal ground for challenging the students’ ability to analyze and understand the existing problems and to develop their critical thinking, while finding creative solutions. This communication summarizes one of the invited papers to the spring 2010 online ConfChem Conference on Educating the Next Generation: Green and Sustainable Chemistry, held from May 7 to June 30, 2010. ConfChem conferences are hosted by the ACS DivCHED Committee on Computers in Chemical Education (CCCE).
Migration in variable environments: exploring life-history evolution using structured population models.

In this paper, we explore the hypothesis that environmental variability favors the evolution of migration. Using the single-locus invasion condition for a novel allele in a variable environment, we derive conditions where increased migration rates between two sites are favored. We find that while there is a strong advantage to migrants entering a resident population with no migration, there is little advantage to migrants entering a population where the residents migrate at a different rate. Instead of an optimal rate of migration, there is a range of favored migration rates. Negative spatial correlation and a population structure including more than two sites accentuate the advantage of migration. Extending this model to include the effects of developmental delay (e.g. seed dormancy or diapause) on the evolution of migration, we find that higher levels of such delay reduce the advantage to migrants.
Resistance to hsv-1 in the mouse is governed by two major, independently segregating, non-h-2 loci.

Earlier studies showed that genetic resistance of adult, inbred strains of mice to Herpes Simplex Virus-type 1 (HSV-1) is a dominant genetic trait. The present studies were undertaken to determine the number of genetic loci involved and whether they were found within the major histocompatibility complex,H-2, of the mouse. Challenge with HSV-1 of progeny of mice backcrossed to moderately susceptible BALB/c mice, of progeny of mice backcrossed to very susceptible A/J strain mice, and of progeny of the F-2 cross using (C57BL/6 × A/J)F1 mice indicated that two major loci were responsible for resistance. The backcrosses to BALB/c mice suggested that additional genes on this background enhanced resistance, while further backcrosses with the A/J mice indicated that other genes on the A/J background (or the lack thereof) reduced resistance. Studies with congenic mice showed that genes within theH-2 did not influence resistance or susceptibility.
Cholesterol synthesis in the vertebrate retina: effects of U18666A on rat retinal structure, photoreceptor membrane assembly, and sterol metabolism and composition.

Treatment of neonatal rats with U18666A, an inhibitor of desmosterol Δ24-reductase, results in accumulation of desmosterol (Δ5,24) and depletion of cholesterol (Δ5) in various bodily tissues and also causes cataracts. We evaluated the effects of U18666A on the sterol composition, de novo sterol synthesis, and histological structure of the retina. Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with U18666A (15 mg/kg, in olive oil) every other day from birth through 3 wk of age; in parallel, control rats received olive oil alone. At 21 d, treated and control groups each were subdivided into two groups: one group of each was injected intravitreally with [3H]acetate; retinas were removed 20 h later and non-saponifiable lipids (NSL) were analyzed by radio-high-performance liquid chromatography. The other group was injected intravitreally with [3H]leucine; 4 d later, one eye of each animal was evaluated by light and electron microscopy and light microscopic autoradiography, while contralateral retinas and rod outer segment (ROS) membranes prepared thereform were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/fluorography. In the treated group, the Δ5/Δ5,24 mole ratio of retinas was ca. 1.0, and >88% of the NSL radioactivity was in Δ5,24; in contrast, control retinas had Δ5/Δ5,24 >170, with >80% of the NSL radioactivity in Δ5. Retinal histology, ultrastructure, ROS renewal rates, and rhodopsin synthesis and intracellular trafficking were comparable in both treated and control animals. These results suggest that desmosterol can either substitute functionally for cholesterol in the retina or it can complement subthreshold levels of cholesterol by sterol synergism.
Transnational activist: Magda Mortal and the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), 1926–1950

In March of 1929, die young Peruvian poet and political activist Magda Portal departed from die Yucatan in Mexico to give a series of lectures in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia. She traveled as an emissary of the Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana (American Popular Revolutionary Alliance, APRA), a recendy founded political organization that sought to transform Latin America by creating a united front against foreign imperialism. On July 14, in Santo Domingo she gave a lecture titled “Latin America Confronted by Imperialism,” at “the largest theater in town” to an audience of about 200. Her presence as an intelligent, energetic, and beautiful woman, standing on stages normally reserved to men, enhanced the power of her words, and she was well aware of the striking effect on audiences of seeing a woman in the traditionally male role of political orator.
The New Arab Media Phenomenon: Qatar's Al-Jazeera

This paper was given at the thirty-fourth annual meeting of the Middle East Studies Association, November 16–19, 2000, in Orlando, Florida.
Evaluation of neuronal connectivity: sensitivity of cross-correlation

Cross-correlation analysis of separable multi-unit activity is one of the most commonly used methods to investigate connectivity in neural networks. In the course of development of new analysis techniques which go beyond the study of pairs or triplets of neurons, the need arose for a simple yet versatile simulator to generate spike trains from networks of specified structure. The present paper describes such a simulator and presents some examples of its performance as analyzed by cross-correlation. We noted a distinct asymmetry in the sensitivity of cross-correlation for the presence of excitatory vs inhibitory connections. A theoretical analysis is given from which quantitative criteria for detectability were derived. It appears that indeed the sensitivity of cross-correlation for excitation is larger to an order of magnitude than it is for inhibition. Possible consequences of this finding are indicated, and the relation to commonly used methods to measure strength of interaction are discussed.
Density, Electric Conductivity, and Viscosity of Several N‐Alkylpyridinium Halides and Their Mixtures with Aluminum Chloride

The specific conductivities of molten N‐methyl‐, N‐ethyl‐, N‐(n‐propyl)‐, and N‐(n‐butyl)pyridinium chlorides and N‐ethylpyridinium bromide were measured from near the melting points to the thermal decomposition temperatures. Conductivities also were measured from 25° to 125°C for mixtures of each of these compounds with aluminum chloride. The composition of the mixtures was 1:2 . In addition, the equimolar melt 1:1 was investigated. Densities and viscosities were measured and equivalent conductivities calculated for each of the 1:2 melts. The viscosities of the mixtures displayed Arrhenius behavior, whereas the conductivities behaved as though a glass transition were involved.
Recognizing the parallelism of data-flow: Many computer architectures expedite parallel processing

Data flow is explained and compared with control flow. It is shown how the data-flow approach generates a dependency graph. The dependency graph relations may be expressed in a matrix, and the use of this matrix to detect parallelism is described.
Analytic continuation of group representations

Some general methods for analytically continuing group representations are presented. In favorable cases, this enables one to recognize the generalization of the “principal”, “discrete” and “supplementary” series.
Specific opioid-amphetamine interactions in the caudate putamen.

Bilateral microinjection of morphine (0.003–3 μg/side) into the caudate putamen enhances the behavior induced by the IP injection of 1 mg/kg d-amphetamine phosphate in a dose-related manner. The duration of activity was prolonged and ambulation was changed to d-amphetamine stereotypy, a behavior normally associated with higher doses of d-amphetamine. The opioid activity was stereospecific in that levorphanol was active, whereas dextrorphan was not. The enhancement of d-amphetamine-induced behavior by the opioids was blocked by naloxone. d-ala2-met-Enkephalin also enhanced the amphetamine-induced behavior. This enhancement appears to be specific to the caudate putamen because the oral stereotypy observed appears to be a unique action of amphetamine in this region of the brain.
Synthesis, structure, and bridge-terminal exchange kinetics of pyrazolate-bridged digallium and diindium complexes containing bridging phenyl groups

Treatment of triphenylgallium with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, 3,5-diphenylpyrazole, or 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the phenyl-bridged complexes (C6H5)2Ga(μ-Me2pz)(μ-C6H5)Ga...
Mode of inhibition of DNA synthesis induced by adenosine diphosphoribosylation of nuclear protein

Abstract DNA obtained after complete removal of the proteins from NAD-treated rat liver chromatin possessed template capacity equivalent to that obtained from untreated chromatin. The stepwise extraction of proteins from chromatin affected a gradual removal of labeled ADPR and a parallel decrease of the inhibition. The results of the present study suggest that the inhibition of the template capacity for DNA synthesis following preincubation of chromatin with NAD is dependent upon ADP-ribosylation of the associated proteins. The template capacity of chromatin and nucleoprotein complex (Weiss preparation) for DNA synthesis was inhibited, whereas the capacity for RNA synthesis was apparently not affected.
The Need for Ibogaine in Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Clearly, in a world devastated by addictions to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, methadone, and nicotine, with all the accompanying death, disease and crime, in a society where dysfunctional...
Relationship between lordosis and the position of the centre of reaction of the spinal disc

Whenever we stand upright in apparent static equilibrium, we are, in fact, continuously making minor adjustments in order to maintain our balance. For each intervertebral joint, a point must exist at which all moments applied to the joint are continually and dynamically balanced. This point, known as the centre of reaction, is a mathematical invention necessary to perform analyses of spinal motion, but which need not be associated with any real anatomical structure. As the spine flexes and extends, this centre is expected to move; where it moves and the rationale for its motion is worthy of enquiry. In this paper, we propose that the centre of reaction remains confined to the nucleus of the disc, but only if one simple but crucial assumption is made; that the motion of the spine and control of its musculature maintain a minimum and equal stress at each intervertebral joint. This is a simple hypothesis which imposes a very specific relationship between lordosis and the centre of reaction. We investigate this relationship and its consequences on the teaching of lifting. The impossibility of designing experiments adequately to verify this hypothesis prevents in vivo verification, and, therefore, the model's verification must be made through the inferred consequences. For example, the capability of correctly predicting physiological responses of the musculoskeletal system is an indication of the validity of a model; however, this is not universally accepted. In this particular case, additional experimental data are available in the form of the locus of the centre of rotation of a vertebra vis-a-vis its lower neighbour as the spine flexes and extends. It is instructive to compare the predicted locus of the centre of reaction to experimentally determined locus of the centre of rotation; more than just coincidental similarities are found.
LSD's effect on neuron populations in visual cortex gauged by transient responses of extracellular potassium evoked by optical stimuli.

Abstract The effects of systemic LSD (10–25 μg/kg) on visually evoked [K + ] o responses from the striate cortex have been investigated in cats. Elevation of [K + ] o was dependent on the orientation, and direction of stimulus movement and showed ocular dominance. LSD most commonly produced a depression of [K + ] o transients and a deterioration in their directional selectivity. These observations suggest that the effect of LSD is to produce a net depression in visually evoked neuronal firing.
Bayesian nonparametric functional data analysis through density estimation

In many modern experimental settings, observations are obtained in the form of functions, and interest focuses on inferences on a collection of such functions. We propose a hierarchical model that allows us to simultaneously estimate multiple curves nonparametrically by using dependent Dirichlet Process mixtures of Gaussians to characterize the joint distribution of predictors and outcomes. Function estimates are then induced through the conditional distribution of the outcome given the predictors. The resulting approach allows for flexible estimation and clustering, while borrowing information across curves. We also show that the function estimates we obtain are consistent on the space of integrable functions. As an illustration, we consider an application to the analysis of Conductivity and Temperature at Depth data in the north Atlantic.
Use of a bisubstrate inhibitor to distinguish between isocitrate dehydrogenase isozymes.

AbstractBisubstrate inhibitors, obtained by covalently linking 2-oxoglutarate with NAD+ and NADP+, were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit NAD+- and NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases from pig heart mitochondria. The NADP+-dependent enzyme was specifically inhibited by the NADP-oxoglutarate adduct and not by the NAD adduct. The NADP adduct was competitive with both coenzyme and substrate, isocitrate. In contrast, the NAD+-dependent enzyme was inhibited by both addncts. NAD-oxoglutarate is competitive with both NAD+ and isocitrate while the NADP adduct is competitive with isocitrate but not with NAD+. Nevertheless conditions could be set up so that use of these inhibitors would be feasible for a metabolic study.