cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antenatal corticosteroid administration and neonatal outcome in very low birth weight infants: The NICHD neonatal research network

Air leak: Extrapleural air diagnosed by CXR or thoracentesis; NICHD included pneumothorax or pneumopericardium; VT-OX included only pneumothorax. BW and ROSS included pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and pneumopericardium; BW also included pulmonary interstitial emphysema and pneumoperitoneum. Covariates GA: NICHD defined by best obstetric estimate; VT OX defined by best neonatology estimate. BW trials defined GA by menstrual history; if this GA differed by more than 2 weeks from the neonatologists’ estimate, the neonatologists estimate was used. RUM: NICHD used premature rupture of membranes (ROM) (ROM 2 1 hour before labor). ROSS analyzed ROM 2 24 hours; BW defined as 2 1 hour between ROM and delivery. Steroid treatment NICHD: Any form of corticosteroids given within 1 week of delivery; a complete course defined as 2 two doses for lung maturity with delivery occurring at least 12 hours after the second dose or at least 24 hours after the first dose. VT-OX: Any corticosteroid administered before delivery. A complete course defined as delivery occurring more than 24 hours and less than 1 week after any dose of corticosteroids. A partial dose defined as delivery occurring ~24 hours after the first dose or more than 1 week after the last dose of steroids. ROSS: Any corticosteroid administered before delivery. A complete course defined as ~two doses at least 12 hours apart with delivery occ&ing 24 hours to 7 days after first dose. Incomplete defined as any other steroid exposure. B W/BW TIND: Partial defined as < 24 hours from corticosteroid dose to delivery. Full defined as corticosteroid dose ~-24 hours before delivery.
Students' Imagined Interactions as Intrapersonal Explanations for Instructional Dissent

The purpose of this study was to examine how college students' intrapersonal communication experiences (i.e., imagined interactions) with disliked instructors contribute to their proclivity to communicate instructional dissent (i.e., expressive, rhetorical, vengeful). Student participants (N = 181) completed a self-report questionnaire measuring their use of imagined interactions with their worst instructor in the past academic year, along with reports of their course-related dissent. Results of a canonical correlation revealed that the frequency, valence, and rehearsal of students' imagined interactions with a low affect instructor are related to forms of instructional dissent.
A rate theory of dislocation mobility

Abstract The direct and indirect methods of dislocation velocity (ν) measurements usually lead to the empirical expression ν ∝ τn or ν ∝ exp ( −C τ ) where r is the stress and n, c are experimental constants. It is shown that the dislocation velocity can be described in terms of physical concepts by using the rate theory model of the asymmetrical energy barrier and assuming that the activation energy of the rate controlling process is linearly dependent on the stress. The equation obtained describes well the dislocation velocity in LiF, Ge, Si, InSb, GaSb, NaCl, FeSi, Ni, W, Zr, Pb, and in ice. An interpretation of the stress exponent n was also obtained in terms of the size and the shape of the energy barrier. This expression can be directly related to the yield drop and delay time phenomena.
The Effect of Race and Personality on Mock Jurors' Decisions

Summary The present study examined the effects of the race of the mock juror, defendant, and victim and the impact of the juror's personality on his verdict. Subjects, 191 black and white university students who were pretested for dogmatism and Machiavellianism, heard taped descriptions of a trial in which the race of the defendant and the race of the victim were varied. Subjects were requested to indicate the likelihood of guilt of the defendant. Mock juror's race and level of dogmatism and race of the defendant and the victim had an impact on perceptions of the defendants' guilt. There is a strong indication that dogmatism had differing dynamics for black and white subjects.
Conceptualizing maritime environmental and natural resources law enforcement – The case of illegal fishing ☆

Abstract Environmental and natural resource crime (ENRC) is a growing criminal enterprise with significant adverse effects on ecosystems, livelihoods, and the global economy. While the theoretical knowledge and understanding of ENRC has advanced well for terrestrial ecosystems, leading to the application of a portfolio of successful response mechanisms, parallel knowledge and application in the context of aquatic resources is only poorly developed. Given the importance of ENRC for the world's oceans, this paper uses the example of illegal fishing to analyze the dimensions of ENRC, describe the magnitude of the problem, and discuss appropriate response mechanisms. The paper translates recent theoretical advances in analyzing and systematizing ENRC to help inform policy design and investment decisions. Bridging the gap between academia and practitioners, it introduces a conceptual framework of Environmental and Natural Resources Law Enforcement (ENRLE) developed for terrestrial ecosystems and illustrates its applicability for illegal fishing. The paper shows that the structured approach of crime Prevention, Detection, Suppression, and Recovery (PDSR) is important for developing efficient and effective responses to ENRC in the context of illegal fishing in a real-world scenario. Building on first-hand project experience, it demonstrates how the conceptual framework of PDSR can serve as a tool for mapping out institutions and actors for identifying investment and reform needs, rather than randomly mixing and matching upstream and downstream interventions. The paper concludes by proposing to further integrate the concept of ENRLE into policy design and implementation in the context of illegal fishing and identifies areas of additional research.
Identifying critical cross-cultural school psychology competencies

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify critical cross-cultural competencies for school psychologists. This study used a Delphi procedure to bring together the expertise of a national sample of cross-cultural experts, including school psychology practitioners, faculty, and supervisors/administrators of whom 62% represented a racial/ethnic minority group member. To identify the competencies, we conducted an extensive literature search about cross-cultural school psychology competencies then used a questionnaire to ask expert panelists to rate the importance of the literature based competencies and to delineate additional competencies not represented in the integrated literature but based on expert opinion. The literature yielded 185 competencies and the panelists generated 75 additional competencies. Following the second questionnaire round, 102 competencies were identified as critical cross-cultural competencies. The 102 competencies cover 14 major domains of professional activities and practices for school psychologists (e.g., Academic Interventions, Assessment, Consultation, Counseling, Culture, Language, Laws and Regulations, Organizational Skills, Professional Characteristics, Report Writing, Research Methods, Theoretical Paradigms, Working with Interpreters, and Working with Parents). Implications for research and training are discussed.
Insulin and somatemedin MSA promote nerve growth factor-independent neurite formation by cultured chick dorsal root ganglionic sensory neurons.

Sensory neurons isolated from 8-day chick embryo dorsal root ganglia are shown to be capable of surviving in tissue culture and extending neurites in the absence of nerve growth factor. Survival and formation of neurites by cells cultured in medium supplemented with 2% fetal calf serum is stimulated by insulin, proinsulin or somatemedin MSA. MSA is effective at much lower concentrations (50 ng/ml) than insulin or proinsulin and is suggested to be a physiological regulator of sensory neuronal development. It is demonstrated that at least part of the neuronal population is responsive to both nerve growth factor and insulin homologs.
Combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting versus coronary artery bypass grafting alone: a retrospective review of outcomes at our institution.

Background: It remains controversial whether patients with concomitant carotid and coronary disease should undergo operative repair separately or in combination. Methods: Patients with documented cerebrovascular disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) alone were matched by propensity scoring with patients undergoing combined carotid endarterectomy (CEA)/CABG procedures and compared for the occurrence of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and mortality. Results: Of the 4943 patients undergoing CABG, 908 had known cerebrovascular disease. Among these, 134 underwent concomitant CEA, and these were propensity matched with 134 patients undergoing CABG only. No differences were observed in the perioperative risks of stroke (4% vs 3%, odds ratio [OR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.4-5.5), MI (0.7% vs 0.7%, not significant [NS]), or combined cardiovascular events (6% vs 10%, OR 0.5, 95% CI [0.2-1.3]), although mortality (1% vs 8%, OR 0.2, 95% CI [0.04-0.8] was higher with CABG only. Discus...
Dynamic crack growth modeling technique based upon the SGBEM in the Laplace domain

This paper presents a new dynamic crack growth prediction tool based upon the symmetric Galerkin boundary element method (SGBEM) in the Laplace domain, combined with the maximum hoop stress (MHS) criterion. The fast Laplace inverse transform developed by Durbin is employed to obtain time-domain solutions of the stress intensity factors required by the MHS criterion. In this work, the proposed Laplace SGBEM tool is used to predict crack trajectories in homogeneous and non-homogeneous isotropic brittle materials under dynamic loading conditions. The effect of the elastic constant mismatches is investigated for the influence of crack–inclusion interaction on crack growth.
A case of bilateral optic neuropathy in a patient on tacrolimus (FK506) therapy after liver transplantation

Abstract PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral optic neuropathy in a patient receiving tacrolimus (FK 506, Prograf; Fujisawa USA, Inc, Deerfield, Illinois) for immunosuppression after orthotropic liver transplantation. METHOD: Case report. In a 58-year-old man receiving tacrolimus after orthotropic liver transplantation, serial neuro-ophthalmologic examinations and laboratory studies were performed. RESULTS: The patient had episodic deterioration of vision in both eyes, with clinical features resembling ischemic optic neuropathies. Deterioration of vision occurred despite discontinuation of the tacrolimus. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus and other immunosuppressive agents may be associated with optic nerve toxicity.
Phosphopeptides: synthesis and enzymic studies.

Abstract Phosphoprotein phosphatase obtained from chick embryo readily dephosphorylates casein which is characterized by sequences of O -phosphorylserine residues and by a high content of glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Dipeptides incorporating these amino acids and (SerP) 3 were synthesized. The phosphopeptides, equivalent to 380 μg phosphorous in acetate buffer (pH 5.8), were dephosphorylated by acid phosphatase but not by phosphoprotein phosphatase. Possible minimum structural features of a peptide required for phosphoprotein phosphatase activity are discussed.
Abstract 3225: LEDGF IBD domain represents therapeutic target for MLL leukemia and HIV

Lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF) is a chromatin associated protein implicated in cell survival, cancer, autoimmune diseases and HIV pathogenesis. LEDGF is also involved in recurring chromosomal translocations with nucleoporin NUP98 in acute leukemia, and the LEDGF/p75 isoform is consistently upregulated in a subset of acute myeloid leukemias (AML) resistant to chemotherapy. Moreover, it has been established that LEDGF is an essential co-factor required for oncogenic activity of MLL fusion proteins in leukemia. LEDGF interacts simultaneously with MLL and menin and is necessary for up-regulation of HOXA9 gene and for leukemogenic transformation by MLL fusion proteins in vivo. Therefore, LEDGF represent a valuable molecular target for therapeutic intervention as a novel targeted therapy for MLL leukemia patients. Furthermore, targeting LEDGF may represent an attractive alternative to inhibition of the menin-MLL interaction as it will allow preserving the function of menin, a known tumor suppressor in endocrine tissues. We determined the solution structure of MLL fragment bound to LEDGF IBD domain and identified a novel hydrophobic motif within MLL, which we called IBM2, that is required for high affinity interaction with LEDGF. Point mutations within IBM2 abolished leukemogenic activity of MLL-AF9, indicating that IBM2 represents a critical site for formation of a high affinity menin-MLL-LEDGF complex. Furthermore, we found that short peptide corresponding to IBM2 binds to IBD domain and disrupts the interaction of LEDGF with the menin-MLL complex, providing a proof of concept that the novel interface on IBD domain we identified represents a druggable site for small molecule intervention. LEDGF plays also an essential role in pathogenesis of HIV-1 virus and is required for integration of viral cDNA. Targeting HIV integrase to disrupt the interaction with LEDGF has been recognized as an attractive approach to develop new anti-viral agents. Importantly, the new MLL binding site on IBD domain we found overlaps with the binding site of HIV integrase. Therefore, targeting the IBM2 site on IBD may represent a novel approach to target the LEDGF-integrase interaction. In summary, our findings pave the way towards development of new therapeutic agents with dual applications for both MLL leukemias and HIV. Citation Format: Tomasz Cierpicki, Marcelo J. Murai, Jonathan Pollock, Trupta Purohit, Shihan He, Adam Yokom, Jay L. Hess, Andrew G. Muntean, Jolanta Grembecka. LEDGF IBD domain represents therapeutic target for MLL leukemia and HIV. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3225. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3225
Matrix norm inequalities and the relative Dixmier property

If x is a selfadjoint matrix with zero diagonal and non-negative entries, then there exists a decomposition of the identity into k diagonal orthogonal projections {pm} for which $$\parallel \sum p_m xp_m \parallel \leqslant (1/k)\parallel x\parallel $$ From this follows that all bounded matrices with non-negative entries satisfy the relative Dixmier property or, equivalently, the Kadison Singer extension property. This inequality fails for large Hadamard matrices. However a similar inequality holds for all matrices with respect to the Hilbert-Schmidt norm with constant k−1/2 and for Hadamard matrices with respect to the Schatten 4-norm with constant 21/4k−1/2.
Dichotomous effects of forskolin on somatic and germ cell components of the ovarian follicle: Evidence of cAMP involvement in steroid production and action

The role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in ovarian follicular functions in Rana pipiens was investigated with the use of the adenylate cyclase stimulator, forskolin, which is thought to elevate intracellular level of cAMP. Effects offorskolin on oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and on progesterone production by the follicles were assessed during the course of in vitro culture. Addition of forskolin to culture medium suppressed both progesterone-and frog pituitary homogenate (FPH)-induced meiotic maturation of the oocytes. Inhibitory effects of forskolin were essentially reversible and forskolin completely inhibited GVBD when added during the first four hours of incubation following exposure to progesterone. Forskolin alone stimulated a low level progesterone production by isolated follicles, but markedly stimulated progesterone production when it was supplemented with a low dose of FPH (0.005 pituitary equivalent/ml). Thus, forskolin acts synergistically with FPH on follicle cells to stimulate progesterone production. A higher dose of FPH (0.05 pitui. eq./ml) produced no additional synergistic effect of forskolin. Therefore, forskolin appears to have two contradictory functions in ovarian follicles: it augments FPH induced follicle secretion of meiosis initiator, progesterone, and simultaneously suppresses the maturation of the oocytes triggered by exogenous progesterone or FPH. The data presented indicate that there are two independent adenylate cyclase systems in the ovarian follicles which have separate functions: one in the follicle cells and the other in the oocyte. The two enzyme systems are thus compartmentalized and regulate different biological functions using the same messenger, cAMP. The data provide evidence that in amphibians, as in mammals, pituitary hormones regulate steroid hormone production by follicle cells via a cyclic AMP system. Thus, control of oocyte maturation induction appears to be determined by the relative levels of cAMP present in the follicle cells and oocytes.
STUDIES ON THE REGULATION OF OSMOTIC PRESSURE : II. THE EFFECT OF INCREASING CONCENTRATIONS OF ALBUMIN ON THE CONDUCTIVITY OF A SODIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION.

1. In pure gelatin solutions the conductivity of the solution increases with increasing concentrations, regardless of the hydrogen ion concentration. The actual value of the specific conductivity is greater at that reaction where the degree of ionization is greater. 2. The addition of gelatin in increasing concentrations to a 0.6 per cent sodium chloride solution affects the conductivity of that solution in two ways: (a) At pH 3.3, (where gelatin is highly ionized) the conductivity increases with each added increment of gelatin. (b) At pH 5.1 and 7.4 (where gelatin is less highly ionized) the conductivity decreases with each added increment of gelatin. A similar study is being made of crystalline egg albumin.
Multiple injections of thyrotropin releasing hormone fail to reverse learning and memory deficits in rats with lesions of the nucleus basalis of meynert.

The learning and memory enhancing effects of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was examined in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Adult rats were prepared with either sham surgeries or cholinergic lesions of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM). Subjects were injected (ip) with one of three doses of TRH (0, 5, 10 mg/kg) starting on the day of surgery and continuing once every other day for a total of four injections. Performance (four trials/day for 4 days, 30 m inter-trial interval) in a Morris water maze was assessed one week after the last TRH injection (i.e., 2 weeks postoperatively). Latency to find the hidden platform served as the dependent variable. Results indicated that damage to the nbM impaired task performance in that animals with nbM lesions generally required more time to find the platform and showed less trial-to-trial improvement. Treatment with TRH failed to reverse this lesion-induced deficit. These results suggest that multiple injections of TRH do not provide residual protection against the deleterious effects on learning and memory produced by cholinergic lesions of the basal forebrain. Other doses and administration parameters, however, need to be studied in order to determine the generalizability of these findings.
From sequence to spike to spark: evo-devo-neuroethology of electric communication in mormyrid fishes.

AbstractMormyrid fishes communicate using pulses of electricity, conveying information about their identity, behavioral state, and location. They have long been used as neuroethological model systems because they are uniquely suited to identifying cellular mechanisms for behavior. They are also remarkably diverse, and they have recently emerged as a model system for studying how communication systems may influence the process of speciation. These two lines of inquiry have now converged, generating insights into the neural basis of evolutionary change in behavior, as well as the influence of sensory and motor systems on behavioral diversification and speciation. Here, we review the mechanisms of electric signal generation, reception, and analysis and relate these to our current understanding of the evolution and development of electromotor and electrosensory systems. We highlight the enormous potential of mormyrids for studying evolutionary developmental mechanisms of behavioral diversification, and make t...
Stability of the tricritical point in a three-dimensional next-nearest-neighbor Ising antiferromagnet: A Monte Carlo simulation.

We investigate via Monte Carlo simulations the multicritical behavior of Ising antiferromagnets in three dimensions. Even for ratios between the intrasublattice and intersublattice couplings as small as R=0.05, we find tricritical behavior and no evidence for a decomposition into a critical end point and a double critical end point as predicted by mean-field theories.
The extension facilities of IMP

The objective for the extension feature of the programming language Imp is to provide an extension capability powerful enough to describe in detail the construction of a useful compiler for common programming languages, yet simple enough to allow unsophisticated programmers to make useful modifications to the language. Particular emphasis is given to keeping the concepts and constructions concise and few in number.
Effective action for the standard model with large Higgs mass

Abstract The covariant derivative expansion of the one-loop effective action is briefly reviewed, and applied to the problem of calculating the heavy Higgs effects in the standard Glashow-Weinberg-Salam model. All terms which grow with the Higgs mass M H at one loop are found. The result of this calculation is used to find the dependence of the gauge boson mass ratio ϱ on M H , and also to estimate the size of corrections to W and Z scattering theorems.
Estuary/ocean exchange and tidal mixing in a Gulf of Maine Estuary: A Lagrangian modeling study

Abstract A Lagrangian particle method embedded within a 2-D finite element code, is used to study the transport and ocean–estuary exchange processes in the well-mixed Great Bay Estuarine System in New Hampshire, USA. The 2-D finite element model, driven by residual, semi-diurnal and diurnal tidal constituents, includes the effects of wetting and drying of estuarine mud flats through the use of a porous medium transport module. The particle method includes tidal advection, plus a random walk model in the horizontal that simulates sub-grid scale turbulent transport processes. Our approach involves instantaneous, massive [O(500,000)] particle releases that enable the quantification of ocean–estuary and inter-bay exchanges in a Markovian framework. The effects of the release time, spring–neap cycle, riverine discharge and diffusion strength on the intra-estuary and estuary–ocean exchange are also investigated. The results show a rather dynamic interaction between the ocean and the estuary with a fraction of the exiting particles being caught up in the Gulf of Maine Coastal Current and swept away. Three somewhat different estimates of estuarine residence time are calculated to provide complementary views of estuary flushing. Maps of residence time versus release location uncover a strong spatial dependency of residence time within the estuary that has very important ramifications for local water quality. Simulations with and without the turbulent random walk show that the combined effect of advective shear and turbulent diffusion is very effective at spreading particles throughout the estuary relatively quickly, even at low (1 m 2 /s) diffusivity. The results presented here show that a first-order Markov Chain approach has applicability and a high potential for improving our understanding of the mixing processes in estuaries.
Cloning of a probable potassium channel gene from mouse brain.

Potassium channels comprise a diverse class of ion channels important for neuronal excitability and plasticity1,2. The recent cloning of the Shaker locus from Drosophila melanogaster has provided a starting point for molecular studies of potassium channels3–5. Predicted Shaker proteins6,7 appear to be integral membrane proteins and have a sequence similar to the sequence of the S4 segment of the vertebrate sodium channel8, where the S4 segment has been proposed to be the voltage sensor8–11. Expression studies in frog oocytes confirm that Shaker encodes a component of a potassium channel (the A channel) that conducts a fast transient potassium current12. Here we report the isolation of complementary DNA clones from the mouse brain, the nucleotide sequences of which predict a protein remarkably similar to the Shaker protein. The strong conservation of the predicted protein sequence in flies and mammals suggests that these mouse clones encode a potassium channel component and that the conserved amino acids may be essential to some aspect of potassium channel function.
A Developmental Analysis of Self-Concept in Mexican American and Anglo School Children

Measures of self-concept and level of acculturation were obtained from 44 male and 48 female Anglo American and 103 male and 116 female Mexican American students from two school districts, one rural and one urban. The scores were then analyzed using the following independent variables: school setting (urban vs. rural), grade level (first, third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth), student ethnicity (Anglo vs. Mexican American), and level of acculturation (high vs. low). The major dependent variable was total self-concept score based on the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale but the following self-concept subscales were also analyzed: Behavior, Happiness-Satisfaction, Intellectual and School Status, Physical Appearance, Anxiety, and Popularity The only significant main effect was level of acculturation, but this was more a function of highly acculturated Anglos! No overall ethnic differences were found. Third-grade Anglo students obtained higher self-concept scores than all other groups. Ethnic differences...
Theoretical Investigation of Relationships between Characteristic Energy and Pore Size for Adsorption in Micropores

Abstract Starting from the relationship between the mean field (Φ) and the characteristic adsorption energy (E), relationships are derived for the dependence of the characteristic energy on pore size. Specifically, relationships between the characteristic adsorption energyEin the Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) and Dubinin–Astakhov (D–A) equations and the pore dimension of the slit-shaped pores are derived and discussed for three adsorption regions: the Henry's law region, the moderate coverage region, and the high coverage region. The results show that the characteristic energyEis a complicated function of many factors including pore size and coverage (θ), as well as temperature (T). There is no simple correlation between characteristic energyEand pore sizeLfor the whole range of θ. Nevertheless, in the moderate coverage region, θ ≈ 0.2–0.8, the simple inverse proportionality may apply although it is only a crude approximation. The characteristic energy depends on the pore size more strongly in the high coverage region and less strongly in the Henry's law region. Moreover, the results reveal that, when the pore size is in the range of 1–2 times the diameter of the adsorbate molecule, different potential average schemes yield very close values for the mean field, indicating that the average scheme is not important in this case.
Effects of growth hormone on body composition and bone metabolism.

Physiologic effects of growth hormone (GH) extend beyond the stimulation of linear growth during childhood and adolescence. These effects include building and sustaining lean body mass, facilitating the utilization of fat mass for energy needs, and maintaining bone mineral density. These nongrowth effects of GH appear to be important throughout life. Children and adults with severe GHD demonstrate marked reductions in lean body mass, increases in percent body fat, and subnormal bone mineral density. Replacement of GH attenuates these abnormalities, though it remains unknown whether it does so completely. Children with body composition abnormalities resembling the GHD state (e.g., Prader-Willi syndrome) also appear to respond fovorably to administration of GH treatment, and demonstrate concomitant improvements in strength and agility. Long-term body composition benefits of GH supplementation in these and other non-GHD individuals remain unproven.
Inhibition of the shake response in rats by adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine

Shaking movements, similar to those made by a dog when wet, were elicited in rats by a) immersion in ice-water, b) injections of icilin, a chemical that produces sensations of cold, and c) naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine produced dose-dependent inhibition of shaking to ice-water and icilin. The 2-chloroadenosine effect was mediated centrally because the ICV dose required to produce inhibition was not effective when given IP. Caffeine antagonized the inhibitory effects of adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine. 2-Chloroadenosine suppressed morphine-abstinence shaking as well as the body weight loss that normally accompanies withdrawal.
Vicarious Learning from the Failures and Near-Failures of Others: Evidence from the U.S. Commercial Banking Industry

We examine whether organizations vicariously learn from near-failures and failures of others. We propose that the impact of such failure-related experience depends on the geographic market and industry origin of the experience. Our findings indicate that the local failure-related experience of both banks and thrifts have higher survival-enhancing learning value for banks than nonlocal experience, supporting the value of accessibility and applicability for useful learning. Bank near-failure experience had more value than bank failure experience, but thrift failure and near-failure experience had equivalent impact, suggesting that the learning impact of types of failure-related experience varies with its industry origin.
The role of imperfection chemistry in the characterization of materials

Abstract For a complete characterization of a crystalline material it is necessary to supplement the classic characterization data such as the chemical composition, the crystal structure and the gross thermodynamic parameters by information concerning the types of native and foreign defects and the thermodynamic parameters regulating their formation. For quenched crystals, data referring to the method of preparation and quenching, and the parameters of possible precipitation processes involving both the phase diagram and kinetic data, are required in addition. The situation in pure and doped CdTe is discussed as an example.
Plasmonic- and Blue-Phase liquid crystalline photonics materials

We present a critical review of recent work on novel liquid crystal cladded plasmonic nano-structures and Blue-Phase liquid crystals containing photosensitive molecules, including tunable metamaterials, reflective or transmission optics, large optical nonlinearities and random lasing action.
Conflicting information integration for decision support

Abstract The integration of information from multiple sources is a topic of increasing importance to the design of advanced decision support systems for a variety of situation assessment tasks. The integration of information is especially difficult when the multiple sources provide conflicting information. In general, approaches to this problem have used either probability-based techniques or techniques based on one of the newer theories of uncertainty. This paper surveys these current approaches to the conflicting information problem and then describes a new approach based on information theory.
Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure determination of monomeric cis-Pd(2,2′-bipyridine)(NO3)2

Abstract Complex cis-Pd(2,2′-bipyridine)(NO3)2 was synthesized by the reaction of cis-Pd(2,2′-bipyridine)Cl2 with AgNO3 in water and crystallized by vapor diffusion of diethyl ether into an acetonitrile solution of the complex. The crystal structure obtained shows that each of the two nitrate ligands are coordinated through oxygen atoms to the Pd(2,2′-bipyridine)2+ center in unidentate fashion. IR and 1H NMR spectral data were also obtained.
Rheological Properties of Rodlike Polymers in Solution III. Transient and Steady-State Studies on Nematic Solutions

Rheological Properties of Rodlike Polymers in Solution III. Transient and Steady-State Studies on Nematic Solutions
Evaluation of dairy powder products implicates thermophilic sporeformers as the primary organisms of interest.

Abstract Dairy powder products (e.g., sweet whey, nonfat dry milk, acid whey, and whey protein concentrate-80) are of economic interest to the dairy industry. According to the US Dairy Export Council, customers have set strict tolerances (
Radiopaque epoxy resins

Transparent, X-ray contrast (radiopaque) epoxy resins were obtained by dissolving up to 25 wt % triphenylbismuth in the commercial epoxy resin prepolymers EPON-815, DER-330, DER-383, and DEN-431 which were then hardened with diethylenetriamine. The radiopacities of the mixtures were found to be proportional to the molar concentration of the radiopaque additive. The systems follow the relationship, R = Ro + (Ra − Ro) VaMa where R, Ro, and Ra are the radiopacities of the mixture, the pure epoxy resin, and triphenylbismuth, respectively (expressed in mm aluminum/mm resin); Ma and Va denote the molar concentration and molar volume of the bismuth compound. Ra for triphenylbismuth was found to be 7.4 ± 0.2 mm Al/mm resin; the average value of Ro for the four epoxies equals 0.16 ± 0.1 mm Al/mm resin. The amount of amine required to harden the radiopaque resins was far less for the epoxy novolac resin DEN-431 than for the three bisphenol-A based epoxies. The concentration of triphenylbismuth required to impart a radiopacity equivalent to that of aluminum measures 14.6 wt % in EPON-815, 14.8 wt % in DER-330, 14.9 wt % in DER-383, and 15.9 wt % in DEN-431. The radiopaque resins remain transparent indefinitely, even when exposed to water. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Design characteristics of new types of drill and evaluation of their performance drilling cast iron—I. Drill with four major cutting edges

Abstract This paper describes the performance characteristics of a new type of carbide head twist drill with four flutes, four major cutting edges, and one chisel edge. This drill shows great potential for significantly improving drilling accuracy and productivity. The drill produces holes that are as good as reamed holes. The body and point geometries and the cutting characteristics of the four-flute drill are described, along with the accuracies of hole location, angularity, size and roundness. Cutting forces, drill wear and chip morphology during cast iron drilling are also discussed. The four-flute drill deflects and vibrates much less than two-flute drills, especially in interrupted cutting cases. A patent is pending for this drill.
Hydrogen-Bonded Multilayers of Silk Fibroin: From Coatings to Cell-Mimicking Shaped Microcontainers

We present a novel type of all-aqueous non-ionic layer-by-layer films of silk fibroin with synthetic macromolecules and a natural polyphenol. We found the multilayer growth and stability to be strongly pH-dependent. Silk assembled with poly(methacrylic) and tannic acids at pH=3.5 disintegrated at pH~5; while silk/poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) interactions were stable at low and high pH values but resulting in thinner films at high pH. The results suggest that the intermolecular interactions are primary driven by hydrogen bonding with a considerable contribution of hydrophobic forces. We also demonstrated that cubical, spherical and platelet capsules with silk-containing walls can be constructed using particulate sacrificial templates. This work sets a foundation for future explorations of natural and synthetic macromolecules assemblies as biomimetic materials with tunable properties.
Autonomous Semantic Web services

The Web is a collection of human-readable pages that are virtually unintelligible to computer programs. While the Web emerged as a global repository of digitized information, this very information is, by and large, unavailable for automatic computation. Two parallel efforts have emerged in recent years that could overcome this paradox: the Semantic Web is providing tools for explicit markup of Web content, and Web services could create a network in which programs act as independent agents that produce and consume information, enabling automated business transactions. The DARPA Agent Markup Language for Services (DAML-S) provides a mechanism that begins to bridge the gap between the Web services infrastructure and the Semantic Web.
The effect of nanocrystalline magnetite size on arsenic removal

AbstractHigher environmental standards have made the removal of arsenic from water an important problem for environmental engineering. Iron oxide is a particularly interesting sorbent to consider for this application. Its magnetic properties allow relatively routine dispersal and recovery of the adsorbent into and from groundwater or industrial processing facilities; in addition, iron oxide has strong and specific interactions with both As(III) and As(V). Finally, this material can be produced with nanoscale dimensions, which enhance both its capacity and removal. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential arsenic adsorption by nanoscale iron oxides, specifically magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. We focus on the effect of Fe3O4 particle size on the adsorption and desorption behavior of As(III) and As(V). The results show that the nanoparticle size has a dramatic effect on the adsorption and desorption of arsenic. As particle size is decreased from 300 to 12 nm the adsorption capacities for bo...
Responses of Adult Face Flies to Relative Humidities

Responses of 5-day-old Musca autumnalis De Geer (Diptera: Muscidae) to alternative humidities were studied using 2-choice humidity chambers. Humidity was controlled with aqueous salt solutions. Timed tracings of movements of individual flies were made using a television camera and monitor. Both males and females spent significantly more time on the drier sides of the humidity chambers. More females than males stayed on the drier sides, and males moved faster than females. Orthokinesis and probably klinokinesis were involved in their responses.
A fusion-promoting macromolecular factor in muscle conditioned medium☆

Abstract A system has been developed for the in vitro study of myogenic chick cell fusion in monolayer culture under defined medium conditions. Using this method, we analysed the properties and components of muscle conditioned medium (M-CM) which cause precocious myogenic cell fusion. The data indicate that the activity of M-CM reflects both the depletion of nutrient components from the medium and the secretion of high molecular weight protein(s) by the muscle cell population. When levels of the secreted protein(s) reach a critical point, the muscle cells commence terminal muscle differentiation.
Transient and long-term differential modulations of branched-chain α-keto acid decarboxylase activity in hypophysectomized rats

Abstract Hypophysectomy caused a marked but transient increase in branched-chain α-keto acid decarboxylase activities in rat liver mitochondria, peaking at about nine days post-surgery. The magnitude of increase is different for each of the three branched-chain α-keto acids. The activities then fall to a new steady state in three weeks with α-ketoisovalerate decarboxylase activity within the normal range, α-keto-β-methylvalerate decarboxylase activity at twice normal, and α-ketoisocaproate decarboxylase activity decreased to a level too low for accurate measurements.
ALTERNATIVE MATING STRATEGIES AND THE EVOLUTION OF SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM IN THE SIDE‐BLOTCHED LIZARD, UTA STANSBURIANA: A POPULATION‐LEVEL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Population-level comparative analyses can link microevolutionary processes within populations to macroevolutionary patterns of diversification. We used the comparative method to study the evolution of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) among populations of side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana). Uta stansburiana is polymorphic for different male mating and female life-history strategies in some populations, but monomorphic in others. We tested whether intrasexual selection among males, fecundity selection on females, and the presence of polymorphic strategies affected levels of SSD. We first resolved a phylogeny for 41 populations across the range of the species and documented a substantial regional structure. Our intraspecific data had significant phylogenetic signal, and correcting for phylogeny using independent contrasts had large effects on our results. Polymorphic populations had male-biased SSD and changes in male body size, levels of tail breaks, and SSD consistent with the intrasexual selection hypothesis. Monomorphic populations had changes in female size, clutch size, and SSD consistent with the fecundity selection hypothesis. Fecundity selection is a likely cause of some monomorphic populations having no SSD or female-biased SSD. Our results suggest that changes in mating strategies are associated with phenotypic diversification and multiple evolutionary forces can shape SSD.
Factors affecting diabetes treatment and patient education among Latinos: results of a preliminary study in Chicago

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a major health problem among Latinos, yet the quality of diabetes treatment among them has not been fully examined.Goals: A pilot study was conducted with adult diabetic patients for the purposes of describing their diabetes-related knowledge and behaviors and evaluating whether these patients were receiving effective outpatient care.
Ultraviolet, optical, and infrared observations of the high-latitude molecular cloud toward HD 210121

Low-resolution UV spectra of the B3 V star HD 210121, located behind the high-latitude molecular cloud DBB 80, yield an extinction curve exhibiting a far-UV rise that is among the steepest known. The apparently simple line of sight affords an excellent opportunity for investigating the absorption and emission characteristics of a single, isolated interstellar cloud characterized by extreme UV extinction. The low ratios of the IRAS bands with respect to I(100 microns) suggest that the radiation field incident on the cloud is lower than the average interstellar field, with further attenuation of the field within the cloud. The apparent relative enhancement of I(12 microns) compared with models of dust emission, and the extremely steep far-UV extinction together are consistent with the presence of an enhanced population of very small grains; the normal calcium depletion suggests that there has been little wholesale grain destruction. The steep far-UV extinction may help to explain the relatively high abundances of CO and CN. The disagreement in density for this cloud inferred from C2 absorption versus that inferred from CO emission may be due in part to clumping in the gas sample by the radio beams.
Hybrid DS/FFH spread-spectrum: A robust, secure transmission technique for communication in harsh environments

Spread-spectrum modulation techniques have been adopted for many current and future military communication systems to accommodate high data rates with high link integrity, even in the presence of significant multipath effects and interfering signals. A more recent synergistic combination is a direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) signaling with the use of integrally coordinated frequency hopping (FH) and/or time-hopping (TH) modulation, generically dubbed hybrid spread-spectrum (HSS). A highly useful form of this transmission scheme for many types of command, control, and sensing applications is the specific code-related combination of standard DSSS modulation with "fast" frequency hopping (FFH), wherein multiple frequency hops occur within a single data-bit time. In this paper, detailed error-probability analyses are performed for a hybrid DS/FFH system over standard Gaussian and fading-type channels, progressively including the effects from wide-band, partial-band, and follow-on jamming, multi-user interference and/or varying degrees of Rayleigh and Rician fading. In addition, a simulation-based study of the DS/FFH performance is performed and compared to several forms of existing standard DSSS and FHSS wireless networks. The parameter space of HSS is also explored to further demonstrate the adaptability of the waveform for varied harsh RF signal environments.
Do lab modules in CS actually help students?: an empirical study

Three laboratory modules were developed to teach C pointers to novice programming students, using two different versions of software. The first version was an intelligent tutoring system; the second was a multimedia tutorial. Six classes of students participated in an empirical study involving both versions of software. What was discovered as a result of this experiment was more than just the answer to whether or not a particular piece of software helped the students to learn the subject matter. We discovered who used the software, given the freedom of choice. We learned about the characteristics of software users, which software was more helpful, and what the students think about using software to learn. The more significant results of this study are presented in this paper.
Chemical transformations of the condensation products of pyridoxal with L-α-alanine and D-α-alanine

The kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of pyridoxal with L- and D-α-alanine were studied. Under comparable conditions, the condensation of L- and D-α-alanines with pyridoxal includes three kinetically different steps. The first fast step is addition of the amino acid to pyridoxal with formation of the corresponding amino alcohol, the second (slower) step is dehydration of the amino alcohol to give Schiff base, and the third (very slow) step is elimination of α-hydrogen atom from the L-α-amino acid fragment or decarboxylation of the D-α-amino acid fragment, followed by isomerization of the Schiff base to quinoid structure whose subsequent hydrolysis yields pyridoxamine and pyruvic acid or acetaldehyde, respectively. A scheme was proposed for chemical transformations of the pyridoxal condensation products with L- and D-α-alanines.
Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific Northwest). Sea-Run Cutthroat Trout

Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, morphology, range, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic species. They are designed to assist with environmental impact assessments. The sea-run cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki clarki) is anadromous and is found in most coastal streams from Southeast Alaska to Northern California. A thriving sport fishery exists both in these freshwater streams and in protected marine waters. Many of the small streams containing cutthroat trout can be adversely altered by poor timber operations. Optimum temperature for incubating is 10 to 11 /degree/C and eggs hatch in 28-40 days. Optimum temperature for juveniles is 15/degree/C and ability to swim is lost at about 28/degree/C. Adults prefer fairly slow-moving water with plenty of cover. Spawning occurs in small diameter gravel. Like steelhead trout, they may return from saltwater to spawn several times. 102 refs., 4 figs.