cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in ambulatory care fragmentation by race.

More fragmented ambulatory care (i.e., care spread across many providers without a dominant provider) has been associated with more subsequent healthcare utilization (such as more tests, procedures, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations) than less fragmented ambulatory care. It is not known if race and socioeconomic status are associated with fragmented ambulatory care. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, using the REGARDS baseline visit plus the first year of follow-up. We included participants ≥65 years old, who had linked fee-for-service Medicare claims, and ≥ 4 ambulatory visits in the first year of follow-up. We used Tobit regression to determine the associations between race, annual household income, and educational attainment at baseline and fragmentation score in the subsequent year (as measured with the reversed Bice-Boxerman Index). Covariates included other demographic characteristics, medical conditions, medication use, health behaviors, and psychosocial variables. Additional analyses categorized visits by the type of provider (primary care vs. specialist). The study participants (N = 6799) had an average age of 73.0 years, 53% were female, and 30% were black. Nearly half had low annual household income (<$35,000) and 41% had a high school education or less. Overall, participants had a median of 10 ambulatory visits to 4 providers in the 12 months following their baseline study visit. Participants in the highest quintile of fragmentation scores had a median of 11 visits to 7 providers. Black race was associated with an absolute adjusted 3% lower fragmentation score compared to white race (95% confidence interval (2% lower to 4% lower; p < 0.001). This difference was explained by blacks seeing fewer specialists than whites. Income and education were not independent predictors of fragmentation scores. Among Medicare beneficiaries, blacks had less fragmented ambulatory care than whites, due to lower utilization of specialty care. Future research is needed to determine the effect of fragmented care on health outcomes for blacks and whites.
Strategy-Proof and Efficient Fair Scheduling

In this paper, I study dynamic and sequential fair division problems for players with dichotomous preferences. I have devised a systematic approach of designing efficient, envy-free, and strategy-proof mechanisms for generic problems. The mechanisms developed in this paper can accommodate common discount factors to represent players’ time preferences between different periods. I also show that the mechanisms proposed in the current research outperform, in efficiency, the repeated applications of a static strategy-proof mechanism by a factor of the number of players in refined problems with unbounded demands. I contribute a novel comparative statics result on the egalitarian solutions to monotone and concave cooperative games with transferable utilities in characteristic function form. In the process, I have discovered a duality-like property of the egalitarian solutions and reconciled the seemingly contradictory proceedings to the goal of searching for the egalitarian solutions. Finally, I highlight the relative importance of identifying the correct order of priority over choices of payoffs in the pursuit of equality.
Characterization of RF magnetron-sputtered a-BOxNy/ZnO MIS structures for transparent electronics

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that RF magnetron sputtering of h-BN onto unheated substrates produced a-BOxNy films under all of the sputtering conditions studied. The surface roughness improved and pinholes were eliminated as the deposition pressure increased. Analysis of the current density dependence on the electric field of the a-BOxNy films suggests field-enhanced Schottky emission and/or Frenkel-Poole emission transport mechanisms. The highest breakdown strength obtained was 8 MV cm−1. A bandgap of 3.9 eV was confirmed by spectroscopic ellipsometry and UV–Vis spectroscopy. An interface trap concentration (Nit) of 7.3 × 1010 cm−2 and interface state density (Nss) of 7.5 × 1012 eV−1 cm−2 were measured for transparent ITO/a-BOxNy/ZnO metal–insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structures. Approximately, 2 V was required to switch the a-BOxNy/ZnO interface from accumulation to inversion.
The Allocation of a Prize (R)

Consider agents who undertake costly effort to produce stochastic outputs observable by a principal. The principal can award a prize deterministically to the agent with the highest output, or to all of them with probabilities that are proportional to their outputs. We show that, if there is sufficient diversity in agents' skills relative to the noise on output, then the proportional prize will, in a precise sense, elicit more output on average, than the deterministic prize. Indeed, assuming agents know each others' skills (the complete information case), this result holds when any Nash equilibrium selection, under the proportional prize, is compared with any individually rational selection under the deterministic prize. When there is incomplete information, the result is still true but now we must restrict to Nash selections for both prizes.We also compute the optimal scheme, from among a natural class of probabilistic schemes, for awarding the prize; namely that which elicits maximal effort from the agents for the least prize. In general the optimal scheme is a monotonic step function which lies "between" the proportional and deterministic schemes. When the competition is over small fractional increments, as happens in the presence of strong contestants whose base levels of production are high, the optimal scheme awards the prize according to the "log of the odds," with odds based upon the proportional prize.
Reversible Dissociation of Tetrameric 7.4 S Rabbit Muscle Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase into 4.4 S Dimers by Ammonium Sulfate and into 3.2 S Monomers by KCl

Abstract At 0°, native tetrameric rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (7.4 S) undergoes a reversible inactivation and dissociation into 4.4 S dimers or 3.2 S monomers, depending upon the species of salt present and upon the protein concentration. These dissociation processes have been studied using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. With 0.10 mg per ml of enzyme in 0.15 m ammonium sulfate, 4.4 S dimers predominate; with 0.05 mg per ml of enzyme in 0.15 m KCl, 3.2 S monomers predominate. At other protein concentrations in the two systems, mixtures are produced. KCl gives greater dissociation at all protein concentrations. It also destabilizes at high salt concentrations (1.0 to 2.5 m). In contrast, destabilization in ammonium sulfate is maximal at 0.15 m; 0.5 and 1.0 m ammonium sulfate stabilize against dissociation essentially completely. The native enzyme in the absence of salts shows very slow, very slight dissociation into dimers. Inactivation and dissociation do not occur at 23° in 0.15 m ammonium sulfate and only slightly in 0.15 m KCl, and then only at very low protein concentrations. Inactivation and dissociation are reversed by warming to 23° and greater than 80% of the activity is recovered. The reversible dissociation and inactivation occur at both pH 7.0 (0.1 m imidazole) and at pH 9.5 (0.2 m glycine). A reducing agent (0.1 m β-mercaptoethanol) has to be present for activity to be recovered. These data prove that this enzyme at 0° exists as an equilibrium mixture which favors association to tetramers at high protein concentrations and dissociation into dimers or monomers or both at low protein concentrations. The dimers and monomers appear to be fairly compact.
Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water: Analysis by Liquid-Liquid Extraction and a Comparison to Purge and Trap

A liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) procedure is discussed in relation to the proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulation of trihalomethane (THM) levels in drinking water. It consists of the extraction of THMs from aqueous samples into an organic solvent followed by electron capture gas chromatographic analysis. A comparison is made of the THM data obtained by both LLE and purge and trap analyses of duplicate samples of drinking water. Both procedures utilize aqueous THM standards and quality control samples. Given suitably purified solvents and blank water, the four THMs can be quantified at the low microgram per litre concentrations required in the proposed regulation. The stability of samples and standards, reagent purification, and the possible extension of the LLE procedure to the qualitative and quantitative measurement of other volatile organohalides are considered.
The Usefulness of Current Cost Information for Identifying Takeover Targets and Earning Above-Average Stock Returns

Prior studies constructed takeover prediction models using financial variables that incorporated historical cost data. The studies report conflicting findings concerning the models' abilities to id...
Control of a hummingbird minipositioner with a multi-transputer MARC controller

The authors describe a high-performance MARC (Multi-Transputer Apparatus for Real-Time Control) system and its application for controlling a three-degree-of-freedom positioning device (minipositioner). Integrated with the IEEE-959 (SBX) bus and INMOS TRAM sites, the MARC system provides the flexibility and extensibility for many industrial applications. Computed torque and near-minimum-time methods were implemented on the system to control and minipositioner for high-speed, point-to-point motion. Experimental data show that the position-servo bandwidth of the device exceeds 273 Hz. The minipositioner is able to move 5 mm in 11 ms, including move time and settling time. >
Lanthanide ions as redox probes of long-range electron transfer in proteins

Abstract Occupancy of the two calcium-binding sites of codfish parvalbumin by the redox-active probe ions Yb 3+ and Eu 3+ causes the average tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence lifetime in this protein to decrease and become non-exponential from the single exponential values found for Ca 2+ and La 3+ of 4.45 ns. These observations are interpreted in terms of an electron transfer (ET) deexcitation mechanism wherein excited singlet state Trp transfers an electron to the Ln 3+ ion, reducing it to the +2 oxidation state and producing a Trp cation radical. Back ET reestablishes the initial system. The driving forces, Δ G °, for the Eu 3+ and Yb 3+ ET systems are different, whereas the nuclear rearrangement factor, λ, and electron donor-acceptor coupling, H AB , of semiclassical ET theory should be nearly the same for both ions. This allows the λ -value to be determined from the measured rates (∼2.05 eV). Temperature dependence studies show that the rate constant for the Eu 3+ system is near the activationless maximum value. Yb 3+ and Eu 3+ are established as redox probes of long-range ET in proteins making Ln 3+ -substituted calcium-binding proteins convenient model systems for studying the distance-dependence of ET.
The emergence of community development corporations in urban neighborhoods.

In black and other non-white ghettos there has been a rapid growth of Community Development Corporations in answer to the demand for a shift of power to the local level. The economic, psychological and political climate of the ghetto is examined; it is concluded that lack of power is corrupting, and this move toward community enterprise should be supported. Some early and innovative CDCs are described, and conclusions are drawn from their experience.
Internal labor markets before World War I: On-the-job training and employee promotion

Abstract The recruitment and training of a firm's existing employees for more skilled positions within the firm was a widespread practice in U.S. firms at the turn of the century. Promotion ladders, although informal, provided a substantial number of employees with careers at a single firm. Evidence on internal recruitment from a New York State Bureau of Labor Statistics study early in the 20th century shows that promotion of workers was more likely in larger establishments and establishments employing a higher proportion of semiskilled operatives. Some plausible reasons for this pattern are discussed.
Implementing sorting in database systems

Most commercial database systems do (or should) exploit many sorting techniques that are publicly known, but not readily available in the research literature. These techniques improve both sort performance on modern computer systems and the ability to adapt gracefully to resource fluctuations in multiuser operations. This survey collects many of these techniques for easy reference by students, researchers, and product developers. It covers in-memory sorting, disk-based external sorting, and considerations that apply specifically to sorting in database systems.
Where Low and High Inference Data Converge: Validation of CLASS Assessment of Mathematics Instruction Using Mobile Eye Tracking with Expert and Novice Teachers

Classroom observation research and research on teacher expertise are similar in their reliance on observational data with high-inference procedure to assess the quality of instruction. Expertise research usually uses low-inference measures like eye tracking to identify qualitative difference between expert and novice behaviors and cognition. In this study, we used mobile eye-tracking technology to create a low inference quality indicator for the comparison of experienced and student teachers. The distribution of visual fixations on students was measured using Gini coefficients based on the observation of van den Bogert, van Bruggen, Kostons, and Jochems (Teacher and Teacher Education, 37, 208–216, 2014) that expert teachers show better classroom monitoring. Results confirm that student teachers have a higher Gini coefficient than experienced teachers indicating weaker classroom monitoring. However, the Gini coefficient did not correlate in the predicted way with trained observer coding of video footage of the same classrooms using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) (Pianta, Hamre, Haynes, Mintz, & La Paro, 2007) although the mean differences in behavioral management were higher for the experienced teachers as expected. The CLASS dimension Quality of Feedback was significantly related to the Gini coefficient as an interaction with expertise: Only for novice teachers that a high quality of feedback was negatively associated with monitoring of the classroom.
Intercollegiate athletics and modeling multiculturalism

The racial and other diversity that marks so many teams brings with it the benefits that come with being in a multicultural campus environment.
Hypothalamic monoamines and their metabolites in the deermouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, during daily torpor.

Deermice, subjected to food rationing, an ambient temperature below thermal neutrality and short photoperiod, were sacrificed in euthermia or during daily torpor. Hypothalamic monoamine and metabolite levels were quantified by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Significant elevations in the levels (pg/μg protein) of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and homovanillic acid were noted in the torpid animals. The concentrations of norepinephrine and serotonin displayed no significant alterations between the euthermic and torpid states. However, the serotonin metabolite, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, was elevated by almost 300%. These data suggest that an increase in activity of the hypothalamic serotonergic and dopaminergic systems occurs during daily torpor in the deermouse.
Comparison of efficiency of cation-exchange resins in the chromatographic separation of metal ions with aqueous acetone-hydrochloric acid solution

Abstract The efficiencies of macroreticular and microreticular cation-exchange resins in the column chromatography of metal ions with aqueous acetone-hydrochloric acid solutions were compared. The macroreticular resin Amberlite 200 was superior in the chromatographic separation of Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Cu(II), U(VI), Co(II), Fe(II), Mn(II), V(IV) and Ni(II). Trace amounts (10 -8 -10 -7 mole) of metal ions concentrated on the column resin from a large volume of very dilute concentration were separated from each other by stepwise elution chromatography and detected automatically by flow spectrophotometry in 35 min.
Support vector machines for speaker and language recognition

Abstract Support vector machines (SVMs) have proven to be a powerful technique for pattern classification. SVMs map inputs into a high-dimensional space and then separate classes with a hyperplane. A critical aspect of using SVMs successfully is the design of the inner product, the kernel, induced by the high dimensional mapping. We consider the application of SVMs to speaker and language recognition. A key part of our approach is the use of a kernel that compares sequences of feature vectors and produces a measure of similarity. Our sequence kernel is based upon generalized linear discriminants. We show that this strategy has several important properties. First, the kernel uses an explicit expansion into SVM feature space—this property makes it possible to collapse all support vectors into a single model vector and have low computational complexity. Second, the SVM builds upon a simpler mean-squared error classifier to produce a more accurate system. Finally, the system is competitive and complimentary to other approaches, such as Gaussian mixture models (GMMs). We give results for the 2003 NIST speaker and language evaluations of the system and also show fusion with the traditional GMM approach.
Second Resonance in Pion Photoproduction

An experiment to measure the differential cross section for polarized photons in ordcr to determine the second resonating state in pion photoproduction is described. ln particular, it is proposed that the differential cross section for photons polarized perpendicular to the production plane be measured. (W.D.M.)
Curcumin-mediated regulation of Notch1/hairy and enhancer of split-1/survivin: molecular targeting in cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract Background Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is highly malignant and characterized by poor prognosis with chemotherapeutic resistance. Therefore, continued development of novel, effective approaches are needed. Notch expression is markedly upregulated in CCA, but the utility of Notch1 inhibition is not defined. Based on recent findings, we hypothesized that curcumin, a polyphenolic phytochemical, suppresses CCA growth in vitro via inhibition of Notch1 signaling. Methods Established CCA cell lines CCLP-1 and SG-231 were treated with varying concentrations of curcumin (0–20 μM). Viability was assessed through 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and clonogenic assays. Evaluation of apoptosis was determined via Western analysis for apoptotic markers and Caspase-Glo 3/7 assay. Cell lysates were further analyzed via Western blotting for Notch1/HES-1/survivin pathway expression, cell cycle progression, and survival. Results Curcumin-treated CCA cells exhibited reduced viability compared with control treatment. Statistically significant reductions in cell viability were observed with curcumin treatment at concentrations of 7.5, 10, and 15 μM by approximately 10%, 48%, and 56% for CCLP-1 and 13%, 25%, and 50% for SG-231, respectively. On Western analysis, concentrations of ≥10 μM showed reductions in Notch1, HES-1, and survivin. Apoptosis was evidenced by an increase in expression of cleaved poly [ADP] ribose polymerase and an increase in caspase activity. Cyclin D1 (cell cycle progression) expression levels were also reduced with treatment. Conclusions Curcumin effectively induces CCA (CCLP-1 and SG-231) growth suppression and apoptosis at relatively low treatment concentrations when compared with the previous research. A concomitant reduction of Notch1, HES-1, and survivin expression in CCA cell lines provides novel evidence for a potential antitumorigenic mechanism-of-action. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing reduction in HES-1 expression via protein analysis after treatment with curcumin. Such findings merit further investigation of curcumin-mediated inhibition of Notch signaling in CCA either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents.
Helix-Forming Properties of Size-Expanded DNA, an Alternative Four-Base Genetic Form

We describe the chemical and biophysical characterization of a new four-base genetic system, in which all base pairs are larger than the natural pairs. A recent preliminary study showed that three sequences containing size-expanded DNA (xDNA) bases could form stable cooperative complexes. However, many of the standard and essential properties that natural DNA possesses were unexplored for this new class of helical assembly. We therefore undertook a study of several properties of this new genetic complex: strand stoichiometry, preferred strand polarity (i.e., parallel vs antiparallel), mismatch selectivity, base size selectivity, ionic strength dependence, fluorescence behavior, CD spectra, and sequence generality. Results showed that several sequences formed double-stranded helical complexes, and interestingly, a pyrimidine-rich strand of xDNA bases was shown to form a triple helical complex as well. A test of strand polarity showed a preference for antiparallel orientation, as does natural DNA. Mismatch...
Foreign Exchange Management: New Opportunities and a New Perspective

Foreign exchange exposure management has traditionally been viewed by corporate line management as a specialized and arcane corporate function. From its organizational position in Treasury or International Treasury, the function and the experts responsible for its execution, are frequently removed from the process of strategic planning and formulation of objectives. Foreign exchange experts are even less frequently consulted on matters of marketing and production investments and operation.
The Vps4p AAA ATPase regulates membrane association of a Vps protein complex required for normal endosome function

Vps4p is an AAA-type ATPase required for efficient transport of biosynthetic and endocytic cargo from an endosome to the lysosome-like vacuole of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Vps4p mutants that do not bind ATP or are defective in ATP hydrolysis were characterized both in vivo and in vitro. The nucleotide-free or ADP-bound form of Vps4p existed as a dimer, whereas in the ATP-locked state, Vps4p dimers assembled into a decameric complex. This suggests that ATP hydrolysis drives a cycle of association and dissociation of Vps4p dimers/decamers. Nucleotide binding also regulated the association of Vps4p with an endosomal compartment in vivo. This membrane association required the N-terminal coiled-coil motif of Vps4p, but deletion of the coiled-coil domain did not affect ATPase activity or oligomeric assembly of the protein. Membrane association of two previously uncharacterized class E Vps proteins, Vps24p and Vps32p/Snf7p, was also affected by mutations in VPS4. Upon inactivation of a temperature-conditional vps4 mutant, Vps24p and Vps32p/Snf7p rapidly accumulated in a large membrane-bound complex. Immunofluorescence indicated that both proteins function with Vps4p at a common endosomal compartment. Together, the data suggest that the Vps4 ATPase catalyzes the release (uncoating) of an endosomal membrane-associated class E protein complex(es) required for normal morphology and sorting activity of the endosome.
Atonal prolongational structure

The early atonal music of Schoenberg and his school is emblematic of the difficulties in comprehending twentieth-century music. Music theorists have tried to analyze this music either through a modified Schenkerian approach or through pitch-set theory. After discussing limitations in these approaches, this paper develops at length a different theory for atonal music, one that adapts Jackendoff's and my A Generative Theory of Tonal Music in appropriate ways. Analyses of three Schoenberg pieces (from op. 11 and op. 19) illustrate the theory. The paper closes with an informal discussion of atonal pitch space.
A simple two-stage model for the formation and expansion of the plasma induced by high intensity nanosecond laser metal ablation in vacuum

A simple two-stage model for the formation and expansion of the plasma induced by high intensity nanosecond laser metal ablation in vacuum has been developed. To simulate the first stage of plasma formation and initial expansion within the laser pulse, the one-dimensional hydrodynamic equations are supplemented by a wide-range equation of state and solved numerically. For the second stage of plasma expansion after the end of laser pulse, a three-dimensional semi-analytical model is applied, the input of which comes from the output of the model in the first stage. In this way, a self-closed calculation is realized. This two-stage model is easy to apply and has very small computational cost. Although simplified and approximate, its predictions, however, are reasonably accurate, which has been shown by the good agreements between simulations and experimental measurements for the plasma front location, temperature and electron number density.
Acid-catalysed dehydration of alcohols in supercritical water

At pressures exceeding its critical pressure water retains its ionic properties to temperatures of 400 °C or more. In water under these conditions trace amounts of Arrhenius acids dissociate and selectively catalyse the dehydration of alcohols, diols, and polyols. High yields of the desired dehydration product (ethene from ethanol, propene from propanol, acetaldehyde from ethylene glycol, and acrolein from glycerol) can be obtained with a residence time of less than one minute. However, for ethanol the equilibrium conversion appears to be less than predicted by ideal solution thermochemical calculations. This may be due to catalyst deactivation, or it may be an effect of hydrogen bonding between the water and the reactant alcohol. The dehydration of n-propanol proceeds by a first order reversible reaction whose equilibrium is close to that predicted by thermodynamics. Because these dehydration reactions proceed rapidly with a high degree of specificity, they appear to be good candidates for industrial exploitation.
Identification and its relation to identity development.

Two meanings of identification —as a developmental process and as a mechanism of defense —were investigated as they relate to identity status. Identification with parents was assessed by comparing participants’“ideal self” Adjective Q-sort (Block, 1978) with the same Q-sort done for either mother or father. Defense identification was assessed from TAT stories using Cramer’s (1991a) Defense Mechanism Manual. Marcia’s (1966, 1980) categories of identity status were determined from Mallory’s (1989) prototypes based on the California Adult Q-sort (Block, 1961/1978). The results indicated that the four identity statuses are differentially predicted by parent identification, by defense identification, and by an interaction between the two types of identification. Further, the nature of these relations differs by gender. Caution should be used in applying these findings to other populations.
SU‐GG‐T‐485: A Statistical and Radiobiological Analysis of Circulating Blood Heterogeneity in Conformal TBI

Purpose: Improvements in delivery techniques of Total Body Irradiation (TBI) using Tomotherapy® and intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) have been proven feasible. Despite the promise of improved dose conformality, application of these “sequential” techniques has been hampered by concerns over dose heterogeneity to circulating blood. The present study was conducted to provide quantitative evidence regarding the potential clinical impact of this heterogeneity. Method and Materials: Blood perfusion was modeled analytically as possessing linear, sinusoidal motion in the cranio‐caudal dimension. The average perfusion period for human circulation was estimated to be 50 s. Sequential treatment delivery was modeled as a Gaussian‐shaped dose cloud with a 10 cm length that traversed a 183 cm patient length at a uniform speed. Total dose to circulating blood voxels was calculated via numerical integration and normalized to 2 Gy per fraction. Dose statistics and equivalent uniform dose (EUD) were calculated for relevant treatment times, radiobiological parameters, blood perfusion rates and fractionation schemes. Results: The dose received by individual blood voxels exhibited asymmetric behavior that depended on coherence between the blood velocity, circulation phase and beam velocity. Heterogeneity increased with perfusion period and decreased with treatment time. Notwithstanding, heterogeneity was less than +/− 10% for perfusion periods less than 150 s. The EUD was compromised for radiosensitive cells, long perfusion periods and short treatment times. However, the EUD was unaffected (within 10%) for perfusion periods of less than 150 s or treatment times of 20 minutes or greater. Treatment over 6 fractions improved the EUD per fraction such that all parametric combinations resulted in unaffected EUD. Conclusion:Dose heterogeneity in circulating blood cells is clinically acceptable for typical treatment times, perfusion rates and cell types. Development of conformal, sequential TBI treatment techniques should not be withheld based on concerns over circulating blood dose heterogeneity.
Arm locking for space-based laser interferometry gravitational wave observatories

Laser frequency stabilization is a critical part of the interferometry measurement system of space-based gravitational wave observatories such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Arm locking as a proposed frequency stabilization technique transfers the stability of the long arm lengths to the laser frequency. The arm locking sensor synthesizes an adequately filtered linear combination of the interspacecraft phase measurements to estimate the laser frequency noise, which can be used to control the laser frequency. At the University of Florida we developed the hardware-based University of Florida LISA Interferometer Simulator to study and verify laser frequency noise reduction and suppression techniques under realistic LISA-like conditions. These conditions include the variable Doppler shifts among the spacecraft, LISA-like signal travel times, optical transponders, realistic laser frequency, and timing noise. We review the different types of arm locking sensors and discuss their expected performance in LISA. The presented results are supported by results obtained during experimental studies of arm locking under relevant LISA-like conditions. We measured the noise suppression as well as initial transients and frequency pulling in the presence of Doppler frequency errors. This work has demonstrated the validity and feasibility of arm locking in LISA.
Fatty acid synthesis in cell-free preparations of human adipose tissue.

Comparison of normal human omental adipose tissue with the lipoma has shown that both contain the same fatty acids. The soluble enzymes of both require the same confators for fatty acid synthesis and incorporate radioactive acetate mainly into myristic and palmitic acids. Avidin inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids by both tissues and this inhibition is reversed by biotin. However, the lipoma synthesizes more fatty acids per gram of protein than adjacent normal subcutaneous fat. It is concluded that the lipoma and normal adipose tissue synthesize fatty acids by a pathways similar to that found in liver and yeast involving the formation of malonyl-CoA. In both normal adipose tissue and the lipoma, only the mitochondrial fraction was found to be capable of incorporating [I-14C]acetate into a fatty acid which had the retention time on gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of an octadecatrienoic acid.
Organizing for survival and social change: The case of streetwise

This study explores how members of StreetWise organize for survival and social change. Through the publication of a street journal by the same name, StreetWise provides employment opportunities for...
Smaller is faster and more sensitive: the effect of wire size on the detection of hydrogen by single palladium nanowires.

Palladium nanowires prepared using the lithographically patterned nanowire electrodeposition (LPNE) method are used to detect hydrogen gas (H2). These palladium nanowires are prepared by electrodepositing palladium from EDTA-containing solutions under conditions favoring the formation of β-phase PdHx. The Pd nanowires produced by this procedure are characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These nanowires have a mean grain diameter of 15 nm and are composed of pure Pd with no XPS-detectable bulk carbon. The four-point resistance of 50−100 μm segments of individual nanowires is used to detect H2 in N2 and air at concentrations ranging from 2 ppm to 10%. For low [H2] < 1%, the response amplitude increases by a factor of 2−3 with a reduction in the lateral dimensions of the nanowire. Smaller nanowires show accelerated response and recovery rates at all H2 concentrations from, 5 ppm to 10%....
Reaction of coal with ferric chloride: effect on surface area and dependence on rank

Abstract The reaction of anhydrous FeCl 3 with coal was studied using a number of techniques including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, surface area determination and chemical analysis. The results of scanning electron microscopy showed that likely incorporation of the FeCl 3 into the coal forms smooth cracks in the coal particles. A large increase of surface area was observed. The X-ray and chemical analysis results showed that considerable Fe 3+ is incorporated into the coal structure even though no Fe 3+ salts could be determined in the coal by X-ray diffraction after reaction. Incorporation of Fe 3+ increased with increasing rank supporting the possibility that FeCl 3 may be incorporated between carbon planes in the coal structure of at least the high-rank coals.
Deposition of Ascospores of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum In and Near Potato Fields and the Potential to Impact Efficacy of a Biocontrol Agent in the Columbia Basin

The relative importance of ascospores of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum originating from within and external to potato fields on the development of white mold and the effectiveness of a commercial preparation of Coniothyrium minitans (Intercept®) in reducing white mold in potato fields were determined in the Columbia Basin. Such information would aid in developing disease management strategies. To determine the spatial origin of ascospores, Petri dishes containing a medium semi-selective for S. sclerotiorum were exposed on plant foliage for 25–30 min intervals for multiple days over a 6-week period. Petri dishes were placed along transects extending from 30 m outside of fields to 80 m within fields of four center irrigated potato fields each of 2 years. Numbers of trapped ascospores varied significantly among the four fields during both years of the study. Significantly more ascospores were trapped 30 m outside than at the edge of fields in 2003. Numbers of ascospores trapped 30 m outside of field did not differ significantly from those at 40 and 80 m within fields. Significant ascospore deposition gradients from the interior to exterior of circles were not detected using regression analysis. Number of apothecia, number of ascospores of S. sclerotiorum deposited in exposed Petri dishes, frequency of blossom infection, and incidence of stems with lesions did not differ between sections of the fields treated and not treated with Intercept®. The results suggest that airborne ascospores of S. sclerotiorum originating from external-field sources likely played an important role in initiating white mold of potato in the Columbia Basin of Washington State and therefore compromised the effectiveness of C. minitans in reducing inoculum of apothecia of S. sclerotiorum within the potato field.
Reinforcer interactions under concurrent schedules of food, water, and intravenous morphine.

Responding by six rats was maintained under a concurrent chained fixed-ratio 1, fixed-ratio 9 schedule (conc chain FR1 FR9) of food, water, and morphine presentations. The subjects had continuous access to the schedule contingencies on a reversed 12-h light-dark cycle. Local rates and temporal patterns were very similar for responding maintained by the three reinforcers with food and water intake occurring predominantly during the dark cycle, while morphine infusions were evenly distributed. Food and water extinction (24-h duration) decreased the number of ratios completed on both the food and water levers. Moreover, food extinction resulted in a large increase in I.V. morphine self-administration. Morphine extinction increased responding on the morphine lever while almost eliminating responding on the water lever. Changes in the dose of morphine (2.5–40 mg/kg/injection) did not significantly affect food and water intake, but were inversely related to responding on the morphine lever. Saline substitutions resulted in effects similar to those observed during morphine extinction. The schedule used in this study provides a method for examining the specificity of a number of pharmacological and neurochemical manipulations.
The effect of a lower boundary condition on the boundary-layer structure of an axisymmetric vortex

The effect of an injection of specific momentum at the bottom boundary of an axisymmetric, quasisteady maintained vortex is studied by extending the earlier investigation of Kuo (1971). Non-zero vertical velocities at the top of the surface layer representing the lower extremity of a vortex are prescribed. Positive values of the superimposed vertical velocity signified pumping; negative, sucking. The two second-order ordinary differential equations governing the tangential and radial velocities of the vortex are solved by employing Newton's iterative method.
Blood Glucose Regulation for Diabetic Mellitus Using a Hybrid Intelligent Techniques

In this paper, we use a mathematical model for the interaction between the blood glucose and insulin concentration and investigates the on-line control schemes necessary to accomplish an external blood glucose regulation. The dynamic model is described in terms of blood glucose level, and net insulin level in blood as two state variables and external rate of blood glucose concentration as control variable. Using optimal regulation results, an objective is chosen to minimize the deviation of blood glucose from a preset level. The closed-loop optimal control scheme is developed for the biosystem in which a blood glucose sensor feeds information to a pump to release computed amount of insulin into the circulation system. The performance of the proposed optimal control scheme is compared with experimental results. Further to improve the closed-loop optimal performance, a soft control strategy based on adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is devised leading to synergy of hard (optimal) and soft (artificial intelligent) control. ANFIS is a simple learning technique which is implemented in the framework of adaptive neural networks that provides the best optimization tool to find parameters that best fits the data. The application of this synergetic (hard and soft) control strategy to the diabetic regulation system shows good agreement between the experimental data and the theoretical/simulated results.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Accelerated cognitive aging in diabetic rats is prevented by lowering corticosterone levels

Diabetes and normal aging are both characterized by increases in levels of glucocorticoids. Because long-term exposure to elevated glucocorticoids can be detrimental to hippocampal function, we evaluated the performance of young diabetic rats in the 14-unit T-maze, a task that is sensitive to hippocampal deficits. To assess the contribution of diabetes-induced elevations in corticosterone levels, we examined maze learning in diabetic rats that had levels of corticosterone 'clamped' through adrenalectomy and low-dose corticosterone replacement. For comparison, we also tested a separate group of young and aged rats in the maze. Adrenally intact diabetic rats learned poorly in the 14-unit T-maze. Preventing the increases in corticosterone levels that accompanies the onset of experimental diabetes also prevented deficits in complex maze learning. The pattern of errors made by adrenally intact diabetic rats was similar to the pattern of errors made by aged rats, suggesting that the cognitive profiles of diabetic and aged rats share common features.
Quantification of phenolic metabolites of environmental chemicals in human urine using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and isotope dilution quantification

We have developed a method to measure 12 urinary phenolic metabolites of pesticides or related chemicals. The target chemicals for our method are 2-isopropoxyphenol; 2,4-dichlorophenol; 2,5-dichlorophenol; carbofuranphenol; 2,4,5-trichlorophenol; 2,4,6-trichlorophenol; 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol; para-nitrophenol, ortho-phenylphenol, pentachlorophenol, 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol. The sample preparation involves enzyme hydrolysis, isolation of the target chemicals using solid phase extraction cartridges, a phase-transfer catalyzed derivatization, cleanup using sorbent-immobilized liquid/liquid extraction cartridges, and concentration of the sample. Derivatized samples are analyzed by capillary gas chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy using isotope dilution calibration for quantification. The limits of detection are in the mid ng/L range and the average coefficient of variation was below 15% for most of the analytes. Using our method, we measured concentrations of the target chemicals in urine samples from the general population.
Structural insights into inhibition of the bivalent menin-MLL interaction by small molecules in leukemia

Menin functions as a critical oncogenic cofactor of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) fusion proteins in the development of acute leukemias, and inhibition of the menin interaction with MLL fusion proteins represents a very promising strategy to reverse their oncogenic activity. MLL interacts with menin in a bivalent mode involving 2 N-terminal fragments of MLL. In the present study, we reveal the first high-resolution crystal structure of human menin in complex with a small-molecule inhibitor of the menin-MLL interaction, MI-2. The structure shows that the compound binds to the MLL pocket in menin and mimics the key interactions of MLL with menin. Based on the menin–MI-2 structure, we developed MI-2-2, a compound that binds to menin with low nanomolar affinity (Kd = 22nM) and very effectively disrupts the bivalent protein-protein interaction between menin and MLL. MI-2-2 demonstrated specific and very pronounced activity in MLL leukemia cells, including inhibition of cell proliferation, down-regulation of Hoxa9 expression, and differentiation. Our results provide the rational and essential structural basis to design next generation of inhibitors for effective targeting of the menin-MLL interaction in leukemia and demonstrate a proof of concept that inhibition of complex multivalent protein-protein interactions can be achieved by a small-molecule inhibitor.
The surface and through crack problems in orthotropic plates

Abstract The general mode I crack problem for orthotropic plates under bending and membrane loading is considered. First the bending problem for a series of coplanar through cracks is formulated and the effect of material orthotropy on the stress intensity factors is studied. By varying the six independent material constants one at a time it is shown that, with the exception of Poisson's ratio, all other material constants may have a considerable effect on the stress intensity factors. The surface crack problem is then formulated by using the line spring model with a transverse shear theory of plate bonding. Examples are given for composite laminates and crystalline plates containing one or two semielliptic surface cracks and subjected to membrane loading or bending. Here. too. by comparing the results with the isotropic plate solution, it is shown that for severely orthotropic materials such as composite laminates the effect of material orthotropy on the stress intensity factors could be rather significant.
Fogging and pattern loading effect by writing strategy

As the CD specification on Masks is getting more tighten, the fogging effect by re-scattered incident electron at a high acceleration e-beam system and the loading effect at dry etching step due to pattern density are current critical issues for mask making. These give rise to the variation of mean CD value and the degradation of global CD uniformity. So we have to correct these effects accurately in order to meet the CD specification for design rule 0.15um or below devices. In this paper, we have applied a new positive CA (chemically amplified) resist from Fuji Film Arch co., It was written at 50 kV variable vector scan E-beam system and we tried to classify the CD error by the fogging and loading effect, respectively. Also we have compared with ZEP7000 resist, non-CAR positive type, which is used widely for conventional e-beam mask making to assess the CAR performance, especially in terms of CD error causing by the fogging effect. Through this comparison test, we found that the CD error due to the fogging effect shows somewhat different value according to resist type and writing strategy even though use same exposure dose. In this paper, we have assumed that such results are due to the difference of dose latitude. Dose latitude is different as intrinsic contrast value of each resist and writing strategy such as writing pass, should affect on beam profile (dose profile), it can also change pattern profile of resist and it can finally cause a dose latitude difference. Finally, we have evaluated for CD mean error and uniformity error by fogging and etch loading as open ratio changing, respectively.
Age-dependent alterations of peritoneal exudate macrophages in autoimmune-prone and autoimmune-resistant mouse strains

Comparisons were made with age on phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and esterase staining of autoimmune-resistant and autoimmune-susceptible mouse strains. Consistent increases of each parameter occurred with age. Autoimmune strains generally showed less change with age than autoimmune-resistant mice and the changes with aging were less consistent. These findings suggest that phagocytic cells may play an important role in the autoimmunities or the lymphoproliferative processes that occur in autoimmune-prone mice and/or in loss of immune function with aging.
Potential binding sites for relaxin in pregnant rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to identify tissues in the day 25 pregnant rabbit that bind relaxin. First, the clearance half-life of relaxin from the rabbit (n = 6) was determined by injecting 10 g porcine relaxin via themarginal ear vein. One-milliliter blood samples were collected via a cannula in the central ear artery. Samples were collected at 10- and 5-min pre-relaxin and at 1-min intervals post-relaxin injection, and the relaxin concentrations determined by radioimmunoassay. The clearance half-life was 4 min. Next, pregnant rabbits were infused with [ 1 2 5 I]-relaxin. Control rabbits (n = 3) received 10 g radio-inert relaxin via the marginal ear vein in order to saturate endogenous receptors. Ten minutes later, 10 ng[ 1 2 5 I]-relaxin was similarly injected. Treated rabbits (n = 3) received only [ 1 2 5 I]-relaxin. After allowing sufficient time for clearance (24 min), a 1-mL blood sample was removed via the central ear vein. Rabbits were euthanized, tissues of maternal and fetal origin excised, and cpm/ mg of tissue divided by cpm/mL of blood was determined. Differences in uptake of [ 1 2 5 I]-relaxin between control and treated animals, using the Student paired t test, were found for the uterus (P<.05), uterine cervix (P <.03), and mammary gland (P <.05). These data suggest potential rabbit tissues with the LGR-7 receptor.