cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultraviolet picosecond optical pulse generation from external cavity modelocked GaN based laser/diodes

Summary form only given. Modelocked semiconductor lasers have been studied quite extensively by many research groups motivated by their compactness and capability of generating subpicosecond optical pulses. Those works are, however, mostly done in near infrared wavelength range owing to the lack of available semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) in visible or ultraviolet region. Recent developments of GaN based semiconductor lasers have made it possible that semiconductor lasers can cover entire wavelength range from UV to IR. Ultrashort optical pulses of wavelength near 400 nm are typically generated by the frequency doubling of modelocked Ti:Sapphire lasers or dye lasers output. In view of this fact, modelocked semiconductor lasers at these wavelengths are very attractive light sources due to their compact and efficient nature. In addition, subsequent frequency doubling of these semiconductor lasers output can generate light at /spl sim/200 nm for lithography applications. We present ultraviolet picosecond optical pulse generation from external cavity actively modelocked InGaN lasers.
Exercise capacity is the strongest predictor of mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the predictive value of clinical and exercise test variables in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods A customized symptom-limited ramp treadmill protocol was used to assess 725 PAD patients referred for exercise testing at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital between 1997 and 2011. Detailed clinical and exercise test data were collected at baseline, and patients were followed up for a mean of 11.3 ± 6.3 years. Results During follow-up, there were 364 deaths. Baseline exercise capacity was 7.0 ± 2.6 metabolic equivalents (METs) among survivors and 5.5 ± 2.4 METs in those who died (P Conclusions Among PAD patients, reduced exercise capacity is the most powerful harbinger of long-term mortality. This factor has predictive power beyond traditional risk factors and confirms the critical importance of fitness in this cohort.
A BRIEF REPORT ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF RESONATING-VALENCE-BOND THEORY

We report on the current status of the Resonating-Valence-Bond theory, reviewing recent progress made by the Princeton group. We outline new developments concerning the topology of spinons, the geometric “meron” description, the SU(2) gauge theory for the insulating state and the possible connection between fractional quantum Hall state and an RVB state on a square lattice. The current understanding of the normal metallic and superconducting states is also summarized.
Data-driven portfolio management with quantile constraints

We investigate an iterative, data-driven approximation to a problem where the investor seeks to maximize the expected return of her portfolio subject to a quantile constraint, given historical realizations of the stock returns. The approach, which was developed independently from Calafiore (SIAM J Optim 20:3427---3464 2010) but uses a similar idea, involves solving a series of linear programming problems and thus can be solved quickly for problems of large scale. We compare its performance to that of methods commonly used in the finance literature, such as fitting a Gaussian distribution to the returns (Keisler, Decision Anal 1:177---189 2004; Rachev et al. Advanced stochastic models, risk assessment and portfolio optimization: the ideal risk, uncertainty and performance measures, Wiley, New York 2008). We also analyze the resulting efficient frontier and extend our approach to the case where portfolio risk is measured by the inter-quartile range of its return. Our main contribution is in the detail of the implementation, i.e., the choice of the constraints to be generated in the master problem, as well as the numerical simulations and empirical tests, and the application to the inter-quartile range as a risk measure.
Thyroxine-serum protein complexes in various animals.

Thyroxine-protein interactions in a variety of vertebrate species of the Classes Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia and Pisces have been studied by electrophoresis in filter paper and starch gel. It has been found that a specific thyroxine-binding alphaglobulin occurs only in mammals. All other vertebrates probably have proteins capable of binding thyroxine less strongly. Intraspecies genetic variability in thyroxine-binding patterns may occur. Each animal should be investigated thoroughly by a variety of methods in order to comprehend fully the thyroxinebinding capabilities of its serum proteins.
A comparison of combined amrinone and glucagon therapy to glucagon alone for cardiovascular depression associated with propranolol toxicity in a canine model

Abstract Multiple inotropic agents may be required to improve hypotension associated with β-blocker toxicity. This study compared combined amrinone and glucagon therapy to glucagon alone and saline control for the treatment of propranolol-induced cardiovascular depression in a canine model. Six animals were pretreated with 10 mg/kg of propranolol intravenously (IV), which resulted in significant depression in heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and maximal left ventricular change in pressure over time ( dP dt max) (P dP dt max compared with glucagon alone. Total systemic peripheral resistance was reduced significantly during 31 minutes of observation after the administration of combined therapy compared with the control; glucagon alone also reduced systemic peripheral resistance at 1 and 6 minutes. At all time periods except 1 minute of observation there was a significant reduction in MAP when comparing combined therapy with that of glucagon therapy alone. In this model, the addition of amrinone to glucagon therapy seems to have a detrimental effect on the ability of glucagon to increase MAP resulting from propranolol toxicity.
Bone Marrow Cell Mobilization by the Systemic Use of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (GCSF) Improves Wound Bed Preparation

Innovative approaches are needed to accelerate the healing of human chronic wounds not responding to conventional therapies. An evolving and promising treatment is the use of stem cells. Our group has previously described the use of expanded (in vitro) autologous stem cells aspirated from human bone marrow and applied topically in a fibrin spray to human acute and chronic wounds. More recently, we have sought ways to mobilize stem cells directly from the bone marrow, without in vitro expansion. In this report, we show that systemic injections of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) can mobilize stem cells from bone marrow into the peripheral blood and then to the wound site. Our objectives were to optimize parameters for this method by using mouse models and proof of principle in a human chronic wound situation. Mice were injected for 5 days with 2 different formulations of GCSF and compared to control saline. To monitor stem cell mobilization, flow cytometric measurements of Sca-1 and c-Kit and colony-forming cell assays were performed. Full-thickness tail wounds in mice were created and monitored for healing, and polyvinyl alcohol sponges were implanted dorsally to assess collagen accumulation. To determine bone marrow stem cell homing to the wound site, chimeric mice transplanted with Green Fluorescent Protein bone marrow cells were scanned by live imaging. Additionally, as proof of principle, we tested the systemic GCSF approach in a patient with a nonhealing venous ulcer. Our findings lay the ground work and indicate that the systemic administration of GCSF is effective in mobilizing bone marrow stem cells into the peripheral blood and to the wound site. These findings are associated with an increased accumulation of collagen and promising results in terms of wound bed preparation and healing.
TU-FF-A4-03: Improving the Accuracy of Optical-Emission-CT Imaging Through Application of a Non-Uniform Attenuation Correction

Purpose: Optical computed tomography (optical‐CT) and emission tomography (optical‐ECT) are new techniques with demonstrated potential for imaging structure and function (including gene expression) in unsectioned tissue samples. This work presents the first attempts to improve the accuracy of optical‐ECT by incorporating an attenuation correction analogous to that applied in SPECT.Method and Materials: Optical‐ECT can be described as a linear system Ax=b, where x is the fluorescing distribution, b is the expected value of measured projections, and A describes the mapping from x to b. An in‐house code (Spect‐Map) originally developed for SPECTreconstruction was adapted for application to optical‐ECT. Verification of the method was performed by imaging a phantom containing a known distribution of fluorescing wires. Optical‐CT/ECT projections were taken consecutively to ensure accurate co‐registration. Attenuation‐uncorrected and ‐corrected optical‐ECT images were reconstructed by calculating A assuming zero attenuation and the optical‐CT‐measured non‐uniform attenuation, respectively. Successful preliminary verification led to the application of attenuation correction to optical‐ECT images of unsectioned human breast xenograft tumors which had transcribed fluorescing proteins labeling viable tumor burden (RFP) and HIF1 distribution (GFP). Results: Significant attenuation artifacts were observed in the uncorrected optical‐ECT image of the phantom. The middle wire appeared artificially less intense due to greater attenuation from the surrounding ink‐doped gel. This artifact was successfully removed in the attenuation‐correctedimage, demonstrating basic performance of the method. Fluorescence intensities of the wires varied by as much as 29% in the uncorrected image versus 3% in the corrected image. Application of the attenuation correction to xenograft tumorimages shows significant changes in apparent expression of fluorescing proteins. Interpretation and results will be presented. Conclusion: These results suggest that Spect‐Map has been successfully adapted to perform attenuation correction for optical‐ECT imaging. Preliminary xenograft tumorreconstructions indicate that attenuation correction is vital for accurate optical‐ECT imaging.
On the graphical containment of discrete metric spaces

Abstract This paper presents certain definitions, results and problems concerning the problem of representing a finite metric space with integer distances within a graph. Results are derived for the special cases of “regular” metric spaces, very small metric spaces, and for those metric spaces contained by cycles and trees. It is shown that a tree is the smallest container of the metric space defined on its leaves.
Maximizing data gathering capacity of wireless sensor networks using mobile relays

Recently, the availability of numerous low-cost robotic units (e.g., Packbot, Robomote, and Khepera) has made it possible to massively deploy mobile sensors in a network and use them in a disposable manner. It has been shown that the controlled mobility offered by sensors can be exploited to improve the energy efficiency of a network. In this paper, we study a new problem called max-data mobile relay configuration (MMRC) that finds the positions of a set of mobile sensors, referred to as relays, that maximize the total amount of data gathered by the network during its lifetime. Different from previous controlled mobility approaches, we account for several characteristics of existing practical mobile sensing platforms including limited mobility and the high energy consumption of locomotion. We show that the MMRC problem is surprisingly complex even for a trivial network topology due to the joint consideration of the energy consumption of both wireless communication and mechanical locomotion. We present optimal MMRC algorithms and practical distributed implementations for several important network topologies. Our extensive simulations based on realistic energy models of existing mobile sensing platforms show that our approach can increase the data gathering capacity by a factor of at least 2 in most scenarios. Moreover, our distributed algorithms converge quickly and incur low messaging overhead.
Pyromagnetic Test of Spin Wave Theory in Metallic Nickel

The temperature dependence of the spontaneous magnetization of metallic nickel has been studied between 4.2° and 120°K by a pyromagnetic technique developed by the authors. Fractional changes in magnetization as small as a few parts per million could be detected near 4.2°K. The resultant data were fitted by the method of least squares to a theoretical equation containing terms descriptive of thermal excitation of spin waves in the presence of an effective magnetic field plus a T 2 term descriptive of collective electron behavior. The best fit of the data to this equation is obtained using the spin wave terms alone, provided an intrinsic energy gap is assumed in the spin wave dispersion law of 2.7°K for magnetization parallel to the [111] axis and 1.9°K parallel to the [100] axis. Enhancement of this gap by an externally applied field follows theoretical predictions. It is noted that the measured difference between the gap temperature along the two principal axes has the value theoretically predicted from previous measurements of magnetic anisotropy energy, however the isotropic contribution observed in this experiment has not been theoretically anticipated. A possible origin for the isotropic gap is proposed in terms of interaction of polarized s and d electrons. It is also pointed out, however, that the “isotropic effective field” may be a spurious result, originating in thermal expansion effects not included in the theoretical equation to which the data were fitted. Finally, a new type of pyromagnetic measurement is described which can be used to determine the temperature dependence of the magnetic anisotropy.
Efficacy of Listerine antiseptic in inhibiting the development of plaque and gingivitis

A 9-month double-blind controlled clinical study was conducted on adult subjects using either Listerine antiseptic, its vehicle control, or a water control in order to determine the efficacy of the antiseptic mouthrinse in inhibiting the development of plaque and gingivitis. Following screening examinations for minimal entry levels of plaque and gingivitis, all subjects received a complete prophylaxis. Subjects then continued their usual oral hygiene habits for a 3-week normalization period and were examined for soft tissue abnormalities and baseline measurements of plaque, gingivitis, and tooth stain. 2 additional prophylaxes were then performed, followed by a second baseline gingival examination. Zero plaque was re-established by rubber cup polishing and twice daily rinsing was begun. Soft tissue, plaque, gingivitis, and extrinsic tooth stain were evaluated after 1, 3, 6 and 9 months of rinsing with the randomly assigned mouthrinses. Results demonstrated that Listerine antiseptic significantly reduced the development of plaque at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months and the development of gingivitis at 9 months, as compared to its vehicle control or water control.
GABA synapses enter the molecular big time

Activity-dependent changes in the number and composition of GABA A receptors provide the basis for inhibitory synaptic plasticity and may be a key feature of the chronic epileptic state ( ).
Outsourcing and the Search for `Flexibility':

Organizational restructuring during the 1980s consisted in part of efforts by large and small firms alike to achieve functional, wage or numerical `flexibility' in their relationships with employee...
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy Complicated by Postoperative Cecal Volvulus

Background: Cecal volvulus is a rare condition in which the bowel twists around its mesenteric axis and can lead to gangrene of the bowel. Whereas it may be clinically indistinguishable from bowel obstruction, its treatment is different, and therefore, warrants accurate, early diagnosis. Case: A 48-year-old woman with symptomatic leiomyomata and adenomyosis underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy. She was diagnosed with a cecal volvulus on postoperative day 3. Colonoscopic decompression was attempted unsuccessfully, and the patient underwent a right hemicolectomy. Conclusions: Increased awareness and a high clinical index of suspicion are necessary for the diagnosis of cecal volvulus, particularly in the postoperative period, as it clinically resembles bowel obstruction. Early diagnosis is imperative because of the risk of gangrene.
Oral Vitamin A in Acne Vulgaris Preliminary Report

Oral vitamin A (retinol) is generally not considered useful in the treatment of acne vulgaris. We conducted a study which showed that retinol was indeed ineffective at the usual doses of 50,000 to 100,000 IU daily. Retinol was highly efficacious in doses of 300,000 units for women and 400,000 to 500,000 units for men, toxicity was slight and limited mainly to skin (xerosis) and mucous membranes (cheilitis). The danger of hypervitaminosis A in this dosage range has been exaggerated. Retinol is a valuable drug for treating stubborn, severely inflammatory acne vulgaris. It is administered until the disease is brought under control, usually within three to four months. Then the dosage is progressively reduced relying on conventional drugs to keep the disease in abeyance.
Use of a cyclophosphamide-induction methotrexate-maintenance regimen for the treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis: extended follow-up and rate of relapse.

Abstract Purpose To determine the relapse rate and outcome in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis treated with daily cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids to induce remission followed by methotrexate for remission maintenance. Methods We performed an open-label prospective study in 42 patients with active Wegener's granulomatosis. All patients were treated with a standardized regimen. Outcomes were assessed using predetermined definitions based on clinical characteristics and pathologic, laboratory, and radiographic findings. Results All patients achieved disease remission. The median time to remission was 3 months, and the median time to discontinuation of glucocorticoids was 8 months. During a median of 32 months of follow-up, 1 patient died (of a myocardial infarction not related to vasculitis). Two patients (5%) had to withdraw from the study because of medication toxicity. Twenty-two patients (52%) relapsed, with glomerulonephritis occurring in 16 patients. Of these 16 patients, 4 had an increase of >0.2 mg/dL in serum creatinine level. All 4 patients returned to their prior level of renal function with treatment. None of the 22 relapses met the criteria for severe disease. Conclusion The use of cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids for induction and methotrexate for maintaining remission is an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic approach in patients with active Wegener's granulomatosis.
BAND STRUCTURE, METALLIZATION, AND SUPERCONDUCTIVITY OF GaAs AND InAs UNDER HIGH PRESSURE

The electronic band structure, metallization, structural phase transition, and superconductivity of cubic zinc blende type GaAs and InAs are investigated. The equilibrium lattice constant, bulk modulus, and the phase transition pressure at which the compounds undergo structural phase transition from ZnS to NaCl are predicted from the total energy calculations. The density of states at the Fermi level (N(EF)) get enhanced after metallization, which leads to the superconductivity in GaAs and InAs. The superconducting transition temperatures (Tc) of GaAs and InAs are obtained as a function of pressure for both the ZnS and NaCl structures. GaAs and InAs come under the class of pressure-induced superconductors. When pressure is increased Tc increases in both the normal and high pressure-structures. The dependence of Tc on electron–phonon mass enhancement factor λ shows that GaAs and InAs are electron–phonon-mediated superconductors. Also, it is found that GaAs and InAs retained in their normal structure under ...
Thymidylate metabolism in fragile X syndrome cells.

The observation that decreased thymidylate supply in vitro induces the expression of the Xq27 chromosome fragile site prompted us to examine cellular thymidylate metabolism. Using a sensitive enzyme assay for deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates, we found that the total cellular thymidine triphosphate pools in cell lines from fragile X patients and carriers do not differ from normal controls under either basal or folate-deficient conditions. This agrees with our earlier observation that the thymidylate synthase enzyme activities in crude cell extracts of five fragile X syndrome lymphoblast lines do not differ from those in normal controls under standard assay conditions (1). Although a difference in the amount of thymidine triphosphate available at the replication fork for DNA synthesis remains a possibility, our results indicate that a readily demonstrable defect in thymidylate metabolism is not present in fragile X syndrome cells.
The relationship between ruptured aneurysm location, subarachnoid hemorrhage clot thickness, and incidence of radiographic or symptomatic vasospasm in patients enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Object Cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes significant morbidity in a delayed fashion. The authors recently published a new scale that grades the maximum thickness of SAH on axial CT and is predictive of vasospasm incidence. In this study, the authors further investigate whether different aneurysm locations result in different SAH clot burdens and whether any concurrent differences in ruptured aneurysm location and maximum SAH clot burden affect vasospasm incidence. Methods Two hundred fifty patients who were part of a prospective randomized controlled trial were reviewed. Most outcome and demographic variables were included as part of the prospective randomized controlled trial. Additional variables were also collected at a later time, including vasospasm data and maximum clot thickness. Results Aneurysms were categorized into 1 of 6 groups: intradural internal carotid artery aneurysms, vertebral artery (VA) aneurysms (including the posterior inferior cerebellar artery), bas...
Fourier transform mechanical spectroscopy of the sol-gel transition in zirconium alkoxide ceramic gels

The gelation of a ceramic precursor, zirconium alkoxide, has been studied using dynamic oscillatory measurements. The gelation time is controlled by varying the concentrations of zirconium propoxide, hydrolysis with water, and acetylacetone concentration which acts as a chelating ligand. Gelation times were varied from minutes to months. The gelation time varied with zirconium concentration to the −10 power, hydrolysis to the −7 power, and ligand concentration of the −17 power. The sol-gel transition was monitored using the criteria of Winter in which G′∼G″∼ω n and tan (δ) = tan $$\tan (\delta ) = \tan \left( {\frac{{n\pi }}{2}} \right)$$ . It is shown that the use of multiple superimposed sinusoidal waves to simultaneously measure the moduli at several frequencies is faster than using individual frequency sweep experiments. The selection of rate and strain criteria for brittle network gels is discussed in detail.
The role of the retinoblastoma/E2F1 tumor suppressor pathway in the lesion recognition step of nucleotide excision repair

The retinoblastoma Rb/E2F tumor suppressor pathway plays a major role in the regulation of mammalian cell cycle progression. The pRb protein, along with closely related proteins p107 and p130, exerts its anti-proliferative effects by binding to the E2F family of transcription factors known to regulate essential genes throughout the cell cycle. We sought to investigate the role of the Rb/E2F1 pathway in the lesion recognition step of nucleotide excision repair (NER) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Rb-/-, p107-/-, p130-/- MEFs repaired both cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs) at higher efficiency than did wildtype cells following UV-C irradiation. The expression of damaged DNA binding gene DDB2 involved in the DNA lesion recognition step was elevated in the Rb family-deficient MEFs. To determine if the enhanced DNA repair in the absence of the Rb gene family is due to the derepression of E2F1, we assayed the ability of E2F1-deficient cells to repair damaged DNA and demonstrated that E2F1-/- MEFs are impaired for the removal of both CPDs and 6-4PPs. Furthermore, wildtype cells induced a higher expression of DDB2 and xeroderma pigmentosum gene XPC transcript levels than did E2F1-/- cells following UV-C irradiation. Using an E2F SiteScan algorithm, we uncovered a putative E2F-responsive element in the XPC promoter upstream of the transcription start site. We showed with chromatin immunoprecipitation assays the binding of E2F1 to the XPC promoter in a UV-dependent manner, suggesting that E2F1 is a transcriptional regulator of XPC. Our study identifies a novel E2F1 gene target and further supports the growing body of evidence that the Rb/E2F1 tumor suppressor pathway is involved in the regulation of the DNA lesion recognition step of nucleotide excision repair.
Social epistemology as a rhetoric of inquiry

Fuller's program of social epistemology engages a rhetoric of inquiry that can be usefully compared and contrasted with other discursive theories of knowledge, such as that of Richard Rorty. Resisting the model of “conversation,” Fuller strikes an activist posture and lays the groundwork for normative “knowledge policy,” in which persuasion and credibility play key roles. The image of investigation is one that overtly rejects the “storehouse” conception of knowledge and invokes the metaphors of distributive economics. Productive questions arise as to how notions of creation and distribution might guide this rhetoric.
"Not getting tanked": definitions of moderate drinking and their health implications

Abstract Background People encounter large amounts of sometimes-inconsistent information about risks and benefits of alcohol consumption, and about what constitutes “low-risk” or “moderate” drinking. Methods We used 150 in-depth interviews linked to questionnaire data to learn how people define moderate drinking and to describe the relationships between definitions, attitudes, and beliefs about moderate drinking and individuals’ drinking patterns. Results People adhere to definitions of moderate alcohol consumption that could put them, or others, at risk for short- or long-term negative consequences of drinking. Definitions that confused increased tolerance of alcohol with moderate drinking, and those that defined moderate drinking by the absence of short-term negative consequences or ability to maintain control over drinking, ignore long-term risks of heavy consumption. Individuals with risky attitudes were also more likely to report at-risk drinking practices. Conclusions Americans have complex beliefs about benefits and risks of alcohol consumption, and public health officials have not succeeded in conveying strong or clear messages about what constitutes low-risk drinking or about dose–response effects. Different (but more consistent) approaches to public education may be needed to increase knowledge about drinking-related risks. The prevalence of diverse norm-based definitions suggests that alternative normative information could help people reassess their own consumption.
On the control applications of a determinant equality related to eigenvalue computation

A determinant equality known in linear algebra is shown to be an effective tool for control engineers in reducing complexity of eigenvalue computation and increasing insight into system behavior. Included are its applications to matrix products and singular matrices, to the study of systems with poles at the origin, and to the problem of finding the characteristic equation of an optimal regulator problem.
From Global Management to Global Appreciation A Transformative Epistemology for Aperspectival Worlds

This article begins by deconstructing the rhetoric of sustainable development and global management, revealing such schemes as furthering industrial imperatives. Further analysis shows that a global management perspective is guided by an epistemology of abstraction, hidden power relations, objectivism, and a technological bias. Environmental degradation and societal turbulence are consequences of a restrictive focal setting on space, time, and knowledge. To counter the limitations associated with modernist objectivist knowing, a new vision of reality is needed. This article argues that transformation to a sustainable society requires a global appreciation for the space and time in which we live. Such appreciation amounts to the emergence of a transformative epistemology that can open up restrictive focal settings. This aperspectival view is offered as a means to enhance environmental sensitivity and access to wisdom and creativity.
From Craft to Art: The Case of Sound Mixers and Popular Music

The paper studies popular music as a production process and delineates the varieties of its social organization. It explores the problems endemic to the collaborative nature of the production process and examines in detail the job experiences of one collaborator in particular, the sound mixer, during a period when craft activities were being transformed into artistic activities.
Public-Private Cooperation in Infrastructure Development: A Principal-Agent Story of Contingent Liabilities, Fiscal Risks, and Other (Un)pleasant Surprises

With increasing pressure on physical infrastructure and limited resources, most governments have turned to various forms of collaboration with the private sector to help finance, build, and/or operate public assets. While the benefits of such joint efforts are potentially numerous, they also entail major risks that are hard to assess adequately. This paper discusses the economic and financial rationale, including risks, for partnerships between the public and the private sectors as a way to share the burden of developing infrastructure. It also proposes a principal-agent framework to help conceptualize the relations between the government and the private firm in public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Quantifying Parsimony in Structural Equation Modeling

Fitting propensity (FP) is defined as a model's average ability to fit diverse data patterns, all else being equal. The relevance of FP to model selection is examined in the context of structural equation modeling (SEM). In SEM it is well known that the number of free model parameters influences FP, but other facets of FP are routinely excluded from consideration. It is shown that models possessing the same number of free parameters but different structures may exhibit different FPs. The consequences of this fact are demonstrated using illustrative examples and models culled from published research. The case is made that further attention should be given to quantifying FP in SEM and considering it in model selection. Practical approaches are suggested.
Membership modification and level sets

We introduce the concept of a membership modification function and describe its role in transforming one fuzzy set into another. We discuss the related idea of a membership modification program consisting of a collection of related membership modification functions and show how the concept of level sets is an example of a membership modification program. Using this idea of membership modification allows us to consider other transformations of fuzzy sets that soften the idea of level sets. Using these ideas we provide an extension of the Jaccard similarity index.
Analytic solutions for vibration characteristics of a multi-beam structure

Abstract The first purpose of this paper is to mathematically analyze the vibration characteristics of four parallel and uniform beams that are joined by a tip body at their free ends. This beam structure is often found in many mechanical structures such as robots, space constructions, and optical pickup actuators in optical disc drives (ODDs). To analyze the vibration characteristics of this beam structure, this paper considers the motions in all six directions that are coupled to each other. Mathematical expansion using the energy conservation law applied to this beam structure yields four characteristic equations, which are related to a pure-axial (PA) vibration, a coupled bending–torsional (CBT) vibration, and two coupled axial–bending (CAB) vibrations. In addition, the correctness of the equations is verified by showing that the natural frequencies from these equations match those from a finite element (FE) analysis. The second purpose of this paper is to contribute to the performance improvement of an optical pickup actuator for ODDs by analyzing key parameters of the characteristic equations. This is one of the few papers that analytically derives solutions for the natural frequencies and modes of optical pickup actuators in all six directions. From the perspective of practical usefulness for the design of optical pickup actuators, this paper describes how to reduce rotation in the two CAB beam vibrations by investigating the relationship between design parameters and rotating properties.
Speed to Global Markets: An Empirical Prediction of New Product Success in the Ethical Pharmaceutical Industry

Speed in new product introduction is a critical dimension of competition facing many firms in high‐tech industries. This is especially becoming more evident with shorter technological life cycles and increasing global competition. The dependent variable of interest studied is pharmaceutical firms′ ability to develop global new chemical entities (NCEs). Defines global NCEs as drugs that are approved in six major industrialized countries within four years of introduction. Using logistic regression, four variables were found to have a significant influence on firms′ ability to develop global NCEs: technological familiarity, product differentiation, competitive intensity and internal R&D skills. Discusses the managerial implications of these findings.
The enigmatic reception of DEET — the gold standard of insect repellents

Repellents are important prophylactic tools for travelers and populations living in endemic areas of malaria, dengue, encephalitis, and other vector-borne diseases. DEET is a safe, broad spectrum repellent, which provides complete protection over a long period of time. Despite its low cost, more affordable alternatives are highly desirable, particularly for those in endemic areas where cost is an impediment. Alternative compounds like IR 3535 and picaridin have been developed using molecular modeling, but the lack of knowledge of the molecular target(s) for DEET has retarded progress toward low cost alternatives. It is known that DEET acts at a distance as an odorant as well as by direct contact, that is, as a tastant, although DEET reception is primarily mediated by the olfactory system. There is unambiguous evidence that olfactory receptor neurons are involved, and that an odorant receptor co-receptor Orco is essential for DEET reception. In the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, DEET triggers repellence by direct activation of an odorant receptor, CquiOR136, which is also sensitive to a plant defense compound, methyl jasmonate.
Impurity-band tails in superlattices

A calculation of the band tailing in heavily doped $n$-type superlattices is presented. We extend the semiclassical approach developed by Halperin and Lax for bulk materials and calculate the density of states in the low-energy tail for ${\mathrm{Al}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{s}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{G}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{s}$ superlattices. It is found that the density-of-states curve is shifted in energy in roughly the same way as the position of the lowest subband edge as the layer width is varied. The form of the band tailing is similar to bulk material if the superlattice is homogeneously doped.
Modeling Pacing Behavior and Test Speededness Using Latent Growth Curve Models

This research explores the usefulness of latent growth curve modeling in the study of pacing behavior and test speededness. Examinee response times from a high-stakes, computerized examination, col...
Prolonged sirolimus administration after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is associated with decreased risk for moderate-severe chronic graft-versus-host disease

Effective pharmacological strategies employed in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation should prevent serious chronic graft-versus-host disease and facilitate donor-recipient immune tolerance. Based on demonstrated pro-tolerogenic activity, sirolimus (rapamycin) is an agent with promise to achieve these goals. In a long-term follow-up analysis of a randomized phase II trial comparing sirolimus/tacrolimus versus methotrexate/tacrolimus for graft-versus-host disease prevention in matched sibling or unrelated donor transplant, we examined the impact of prolonged sirolimus administration (≥ 1 year post-transplant). Median follow-up time for surviving patients at time of this analysis was 41 months (range 27–60) for sirolimus/tacrolimus and 49 months (range 29–63) for methotrexate/tacrolimus. Sirolimus/tacrolimus patients had significantly lower National Institutes of Health Consensus moderate-severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (34% vs. 65%; P=0.004) and late acute graft-versus-host disease (20% vs. 43%; P=0.04). While sirolimus/tacrolimus patients had lower prednisone exposure and earlier discontinuation of tacrolimus (median time to tacrolimus discontinuation 368 days vs. 821 days; P=0.002), there was no significant difference in complete immune suppression discontinuation (60-month estimate: 43% vs. 31%; P=0.78). Prolonged sirolimus administration represents a viable approach to mitigate risk for moderate-severe chronic and late acute graft-versus-host disease. Further study of determinants of successful immune suppression discontinuation is needed.
Reliability and Validity of Aids Victim Blaming Scales

Scales were developed to measure the tendencies to blame AIDS victims or the society in which victims live. Data from a sample of 874 students were used to examine the construct validity and reliability of the scales. The list-wise deletion reduced the sample size to the usable sample size of 824. The data showed satisfactory validity and reliability of the scales so they may be used to study attitudes toward those who are suffering from AIDS and related problems.
Kinetics of wet oxidation of nylon 66

The kinetics of the aqueous phase oxidation of nylon 66 was studied at temperatures up to 190°C. The nylon 66, in the form of a cylindrical disc, was attached to the shaft of a variable-speed drive inside the reactor. With a rotating disc geometry, the chemical kinetics of the surface reaction can be separated from the mass transfer effects. By measuring the reaction rates at different temperatures, pressures, and disc rotational speeds, a kinetic rate expression was developed relating nylon degradation to dissolved oxygen concentration and temperature. The order of reaction with respect to dissolved oxygen concentration was 0.6, and the activation energy was 42 kcal/g-mole.
Progress in the application of optimal control theory to dynamic routing in data communication networks

In [1] Segall introduces a state space model and associated optimal control problem for dynamic routing of messages in a data communication network. The optimal control problem is completely linear with state and control variable inequality constraints. In this paper we report on progress in solving the optimal control problem for a feed-back solution. In particular, we describe an approach for determining the feedback solution when all the inputs to the network are constant in time. For networks which have only a single destination (multiple sources) it is found that the approach has some appealing simplifying properties. The details underlying the approach described here are presented in Moss [2].
Improving the power consumption characteristics of piezoelectric actuators

A study of the application of power factor correction methods to piezoceramic actua tors is performed. The power factor is corrected by adding an inductor both parallel to and in series with the piezoceramic actuator. The actuator consists of two lead zirconate titanate (PZT) patches mounted symmetrically to a cantilever beam. The inductance values were chosen such that each inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit was at resonance at the second natural frequency of the beam. Imple menting the parallel LC circuit reduced the current consumption of the piezoceramic actuator by 75 % when compared to the current consumption of the actuator used without an inductor. Imple menting the series LC circuit produced a 300 % increase in the voltage applied to the actuator com pared to the case when no inductor was used. In both cases, employing power factor correction methods corrected the power factor to near unity and reduced the apparent power by 12 dB. A theo retical model of each circuit was developed, and the analytica...
Templating Nanopores Into Poly(MethylSilsesquioxane): New Lowdielectric Coatings Suitable for MicroElectronic Applications

Thin films of nanoporous poly(methylsilsesquioxane) have been prepared from organic/inorganic polymer hybrids. Low molecular weight 6-arm star poly(caprolactone)s are incorporated into partially pre-condensed methylsilsesquioxane resin. Upon heating, the glass resin cross-links around the organic polymer templates. Thermal decomposition of the orgainc polymer produces nanoporous thin films which show tunable dielectric constants as low as 1.9 and exhibit properties suitable for use in interconnect devices. Experimental data including porosity, morphology, and dielectric constants are presented.
CAESARISM AND THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY

Since the New Deal, the American presidency has been the focal point of demands made upon the central government by all segments of society. Franklin Roosevelt's successors have found themselves in the difficult position of living up to his progressive example. They have found it difficult to serve the multitude of interests in American society through a government naturally bound by a scarcity of resources. As a result, according to some scholars, a successful presidency is now less likely. Contemporary presidents, however, have shown themselves to be unable or unwilling to confront directly the transformation of the presidency effected by FDR. In this article, I investigate the nature of that transformation by comparing the presidencies of Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Through this comparison, we see the distinctiveness of what I call the “Caesarean” leadership style adopted by Roosevelt and advocated by his progressive forebears.
The wavelength dependence of 8-methoxypsoralen photosensitization of host capacity inactivation in a mammalian cell-virus system.

— The addition of 8-methoxypsoralen to cultures of African green monkey cells (CV-I) sensitized the inactivation by near UV radiation (302–370 nm) of the ability of the cells to host herpes simplex virus. No sensitizing effect by drug addition was noted for far UV radiation (232–297 nm). An action spectrum for the photosensitized inactivation of this cellular parameter was obtained. This action spectrum is consistent with the absorption spectrum of 8-methoxypsoralen.
Electrical transport, magnetic, and structural properties of the vortex lattice of V 3 Si in the vicinity of the peak effect

The peak effect in critical current density ${J}_{c}$ is investigated by studying the flux dynamics in ${\mathrm{V}}_{3}\mathrm{Si}$ using bulk magnetometry, small-angle neutron scattering, and transport measurements on clean single-crystal samples from the same ingot. For a field-cooled history, well-defined structure in the vortex lattice was found for fields and temperatures (H,T) below the peak-effect line ${H}_{P}(T);$ above this line, the structure disappeared. History-dependent, metastable disorder is found only for (H,T) below ${H}_{P}(T)$ but the vortex system is reproducibly re-ordered either by field cooling or a low-frequency, pulsed ``shaking'' transport current. The latter is shown to attain Bardeen-Stephen flux flow. In addition, flux flow is observed at ${H}_{P}(T)$ at high current levels. The results support the traditional picture of ${H}_{P}(T)$ as an order-disorder transition due to the competition between elasticity and pinning.
Genetic variation of single nucleotide polymorphisms identified at the mating type locus correlates with form-specific disease phenotype in the barley net blotch fungus Pyrenophora teres

Mating-type (MAT) locus-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to be sufficient for conventional PCR-based differentiation of Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt) and P. teres f. maculata (Ptm), the cause of the net and spot form, respectively, of barley net blotch. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the MAT locus from 10 California isolates that cause atypical blotch symptoms on barley. Analysis of the full-length nucleotide sequences of one MAT1-1 (1,993 bp) and nine MAT1-2 (2,149 or 2,161 bp) idiomorphs revealed high (98–99 %) similarity to those of Ptt isolates. However, distinct SNP patterns were identified in the newly cloned MAT idiomorphs. Two new MAT1-2-specific SNPs were found to be conserved in one Australia and eight California isolates that all cause similar atypical blotch symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all 10 California isolates form a separate branch (or clade) within the Ptt group, except for one that appears to be ancestral to both Ptt and Ptm. PCR primers designed based on the identified SNP patterns were used successfully to differentiate each atypical isolate from highly virulent forms. This study extends our previous work and, taken together, the results demonstrate that the genetic variation at the MAT locus correlates with variation in the form-specific disease phenotype, and that MAT-specific SNPs can serve as reliable and convenient markers for subspecies level differentiation in P. teres, an economically important plant-pathogenic ascomycete (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_nucleotide_polymorphism).
Vapor‐liquid equilibria from perturbation gas chromatography. Part I: Multicomponent parameter estimation

Elution times determined from perturbation chromatography experiments are functions of all sorbing species isotherms through the concentration partial derivatives. Measurements at a sufficient number of appropriate compositions along with isotherm models and adjustable parameters allow reduction of the retention time data to VLE by a nonlinear parameter estimation procedure described in this paper. The method can be implemented for both empirical isotherm models, which can be used to minimize model deficiencies, and for theoretical thermodynamic models, which have extrapolation potential and may require fewer parameters.
Hard real-time communication in multiple-access networks

With the increasing use of distributed hard real-time systems, the ability of computer networks to handle hard real-time message traffic is becoming more important. For traditional networks, maximizing the throughput or minimizing the average message delay is the most important performance criteria. In the hard real-time domain, however, concern focuses on satisfying the time constraints of individual messages. This paper examines recent developments in hard real-time communication in local area multiple-access networks. Two general strategies are used in hard real-time communication: the guarantee strategy and the best-effort strategy. In the former, messages are guaranteed to meet their deadlines during normal operation of the network. In the best-effort strategy, the network will attempt to send messages before their deadlines, but no guarantees are given. Real-time message traffic can be distinguished according to whether it is best suited for the guarantee strategy or the best-effort strategy. Although this paper concentrates on multiple-access networks, many of the concepts presented and lessons learned are also applicable to other types of networks.