cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Luminescence of Intraporous Cerium(III) Complexes in Alkyl Sulfonic Mesoporous Silica

Mesoporous silica materials derivatized with propyl-sulfonic groups (SBA-15) with a monovalent cation-exchange capacity of ∼1 meq/g were exchanged with Ce(III) ions to ∼0.5 meq/g to form Ce(III)SBA material displaying high-intensity purple photoluminescence. XPS and NIR-DRS analysis suggests the Ce(III) ion is bound to two proximal propyl-sulfonate groups and capped with a hydroxyl in a complex [≡Si−(CH2)3SO3]2Ce(III)OH·xH2O (x > 4), where the coordinated water can be almost completely removed by anoxic dehydration at 350 C to x < 0.2. The white hydrated (x ≥ 4) CeSBA and the brown-colored dehydrated (x < 0.2) CeSBA exhibit fluorescence with comparable integrated intensities at 368 and 394 nm, respectively. The Ce(III) 4f electron is located by XPS above the top of the Si 3p O 2p valence band, thus identifying the Ce(III) 4f orbital as the HOMO. Photoluminescence emission and excitation spectra of the 5d → 4f transition display Stokes shifts and structure sensitivity consistent with a direct transition pr...
Labor Market Experience of Teenagers with and without High School Diplomas.

Abstract The rationale for programs to reduce the high school dropout rate rests mainly on evidence that high school graduates are more successful than dropouts in the labor market. However, both high school completion and labor market success are to some extent results of prior characteristics. This paper estimates the effect of a high school diploma itself on success in the labor market, over and above the effects of prior characteristics, of which some are measured and some are not. Results indicate that differences in unemployment and wages between teenagers with and without high school diplomas are mainly not attributable to differences in measured prior characteristics.
A descriptive report of features of initial unexpected panic attacks in minimal and extensive avoiders

Abstract Interview data from 162 subjects assigned a diagnosis of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia were analyzed regarding descriptive features of initial panic attacks. The extent to which groups of minimal and extensive avoiders were differentiated by such features was examined. Overall, initial panic attacks were likely to occur at any time of year, and were associated with reported Stressors in 72% of the cases. The most frequently reported Stressors were somatic in nature. Approximately half of the subjects reported experiencing similar although milder experiences prior to the first panic attack. No differences were found between minimal and extensive avoiders in terms of the presence of others, behavioral response, or location of the first panic attack. Nor did the groups differ with respect to the presence of other anxiety disorders prior to the first panic. However, extensive avoiders tended subsequently to develop additional anxiety disorders moreso than minimal avoiders. Initial panic attack locations were also judged to be more capable of blocking escape action tendencies associated with the fear/panic response in the extensive avoidance group.
Magnetic noise evolution in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB tunnel junctions during annealing

We report on the evolution of equilibrium magnetoresistive (MR) 1/f noise due to the exchange-biased magnetic layer in MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions as a function of annealing time at 380 and 430 °C. The resistance susceptibility and MR noise are observed to increase rapidly with annealing time at a fixed temperature. The magnetic losses responsible for MR noise are not significantly affected by the structural crystallization at the CoFeB/MgO interface during short annealing times. After prolonged annealing, the decrease in magnetic losses is attributed to reduced disorder in the magnetic layers that result in thermally driven fluctuations in local micromagnetic structure.
Dielectric Surface Flashover at Atmospheric Conditions with Unipolar Pulsed Voltage Excitation

Dielectric surface flashover along insulators in atmospheric conditions has only been empirically characterized over the years. The underlying physics involved in atmospheric flashover has yet to be understood, where parameters such as background gas, humidity, surface roughness, and temporal characteristics of the applied voltage play a role. Understanding the fundamental physical mechanisms and the extent to which these parameters influence the discharge behavior is vital to characterizing and modeling surface flashover for various structures and conditions. A solid state high voltage pulser with an adjustable pulse width of ~500 ns at FWHM and amplitudes in excess of 30 kV was developed to replicate the non-standard temporal shape of the transient voltage observed inside a rebar enforced building during a lightning strike. Based on experimental results, the phenomenology of pulsed unipolar surface flashover is discussed, with the emphasis on the influence of external parameters (applied voltage pulse shape/risetime, environment, UV illumination, humidity, etc.) on spatial and temporal discharge channel behavior.
Barriers and facilitators to routine HIV testing in VA primary care.

BACKGROUND Approximately 21% of the 1.1 million HIV-infected persons in the United States are unaware of their HIV status. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend routine opt-out HIV testing for all patients aged 13–64. Yet little is known about patient and provider perspectives on routine HIV testing.
Optimized communication using the SOAP infoset for mobile multimedia collaboration applications

Mobile computing is growing in popularity due to continuing improvements in mobile devices and their connectivity. Collaboration systems enable users at geographically distributed locations to collaborate each other. Community Grids Lab's GlobalMMCS is a Web services based, integrated videoconferencing system that allows heterogeneous clients to join the same session. Integration of mobile devices into the Web services based collaboration system will give mobility to users and heterogeneity to the system. However, there are performance limitations if we use the current SOAP approaches to integrate mobile applications with Web services based collaboration systems, especially for multimedia applications. In this paper, we propose a SOAP infoset preserving flexible representation and its specialization for mobile computing environment - handheld flexible representation (HHFR). We provide a flexible representation of binary encoding with a description file for message format and include a QoS framework in the architecture, such as reliability and security
Thermal Radiation Properties of Acetylene

The spectral absorptivities of the ν3 and ν5 fundamental and the ν4 + ν5 combination bands of acetylene have been measured at low resolution for temperatures between 290 and 600 K. These measurements allow the determination of spectral-mean (narrow-band) parameters for the three bands based on the Elsasser and Goody models and the correlation of the band absorptance data using the Edwards exponential wide-band model. Charts for the total emissivity and Planck mean absorption coefficient have been developed for acetylene based on the wide-band parameters.
Erratum to: Fibers of tropicalization

This note explains an error in Proposition 5.1 of “Fibers of tropicalization”, Math. Z. 262 (2009), no. 2, 301–311, discovered by W. Buczynska and F. Sottile, and fills the resulting gap in the proof of the paper’s main theorem. Part (3) of Proposition 5.1 in [8] claims that if X is a subvariety of a torus T containing the identity then there is a split surjection φ : T → T ′ such that the image of X is a hypersurface and the intersection of the initial degeneration X0 with the kernel of φ0 is {1T }. This claim is false, and the following is a counterexample. Example 1 Suppose the characteristic of K is not 2, and let X be a curve in a threedimensional torus containing all eight 2-torsion points of T . Then X0 contains all eight 2-torsion points of T0 and, for any projection φ from T to a two dimensional torus, the kernel of φ0 contains four 2-torsion points, all of which are in X0. The falsehood of part (3) of Proposition 5.1 leaves an essential gap in the proof of Theorem 4.1, which is the main result of [8]. This result has now been proved independently by different means, including nonarchimedean analysis [4, Proposition 4.14] and noetherian approximation [7, Theorem 4.2.5]. The original proposed method of proof using split surjections of tori to decrease the codimension may be of independent interest, but the error in Proposition 5.1 interferes with the reduction to the hypersurface case. Here, we complete the proof of Theorem 4.1 via the original method of split surjections of tori by projecting even further, onto a torus of dimension equal to dim X , and using the going-down theorem for finite extensions of an integrally closed domain. The online version of the original article can be found under doi:10.1007/s00209-008-0374-x. S. Payne (B) Department of Mathematics, Yale University, 10 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven, CT 06511, USA e-mail: sam.payne@yale.edu
Does Space Matter? Classroom Design and Team-Based Learning

This study analyzes how student learning and attitudes toward the learning experience in a team-based learning environment are affected by classroom design. Three alternative classroom set-ups are considered: one with large tables oriented in rows facing the front of the room, one with desks, and one with small tables and office-type chairs, both with rollers for easy mobility. Neither individual nor team performance on graded assignments is significantly affected by the different classrooms, but student attitudes about team-based learning improve with both comfort and physical ease of communication within teams.
Coulometric reduction of iridiumIV in perchloric acid media

Abstract The anomalous behaviour of iridium IV during electrolysis in perchloric acid media has been investigated by controlled-potential coulometric techniques. The observed variation in apparent n values is attributed to a chemical interaction between the initial electrolysis product, iridium III , and perchlorate ion, to regenerate iridium IV .
Fail-safe FPGA design features for high-reliability systems

FPGAs have become a ubiquitous part of today's processing technology. Their use has grown from traditional glue logic interfaces of the past to the most advanced information processing systems used by core Internet routers and high-performance computing systems. What remains common throughout this evolution is the desire to integrate more functionality in less space while using less power and at a lower cost.
Multiple commitments at work and extrarole behavior during three stages of organizational tenure

This study examines the relationships among multiple commitments at work and extrarole behavior during three stages of organizational tenure. Initially, factor analysis identified four facets of commitment: top management, supervisors, coworkers, and customers. Utilizing these four facets of commitment and the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, regression analysis found that neither organizational commitment nor any facet of commitment was significantly related to extrarole behavior for respondents with 2 or less years of organizational tenure. In contrast, commitment to proximal supervisors and organizational commitment exhibited significant positive relationships with extrarole behavior for those with between 2 and 8 years of organizational tenure. Finally, commitment to immediate supervisors was a positive correlate of extrarole behavior for respondents with the highest organizational tenure (more than 8 years); however, commitment to top management was a negative correlate of extrarole behavior for this high tenure group. Implications of these results are discussed.
Synthesis and characterization of functionalized silicon phthalocyanines for fabrication of self-assembled monolayers

Novel octasubstituted phthalocyanine derivatives XYSiPc(OR)8 (X=alkyl, Y=alkoxy, R=alkane or alkene) were synthesized by reaction of alkoxy-substituted diiminoisoindolines with XSiCl3 followed by quenching with an alcohol YOH. Three synthetic routes for adding anchoring groups to the phthalocyanines were explored: variation of the axial groups X and Y, or incorporation of vinyl groups around the periphery of the phthalocyanine ring. The latter approach yielded silicon and copper phthalocyanines with eight terminal vinyl groups, which reacted cleanly with thioacetic acid/AIBN to give products with eight protected terminal thiols.
A phase I pharmacokinetic study of pulse-dose vorinostat with flavopiridol in solid tumors

Purpose Vorinostat (V) at levels >2.5 µM enhances chemotherapy in vitro. Yet the approved oral dose of 400 mg inconsistently achieves this level in patients. We developed an intermittent oral pulse-dose schedule of V to increase serum levels. We combined V with the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor flavopiridol (F) which increases V-induced apoptosis. Experimental Design One week before combination treatment, V alone was given daily for 3d (cycle -1). Then V was given on d1-3 and d8-10, and F on d2 and d9, every 21-d. Due to neutropenia, this was modified to V on d1-3 and d15–17, and F on d2 and d16, every 28-d. Bolus and split-dose F schedules were studied. Results 34 patients were treated. On the 21-d schedule, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was V 600 mg/d and F 60 mg/m2 bolus. On the 28-d schedule, the MTD was V 800 mg/d and F 30 mg/m2 over 30 min and 30 mg/m2 over 4 h. V Cmax at the 800 mg dose was 4.8 µM (± 2.8). V Cmax ≥2.5 µM was achieved in 86% of patients at the MTD. F increased the Cmax of V by 27% (95% CI 11%–43%). F Cmax of ≥2 µM was achieved in 90% of patients. 8 patients had stable disease for on average 5.5 m (range 1.6–13.2 m). Conclusions Intermittent high dose oral V in combination with F is feasible and achieves target serum levels >2.5 µM. V concentrations higher than previously reported with oral dosing were achieved.
BDSR: instrument design and initial calibration results

We present the design, characterization, and flight performance of a sounding rocket instrument developed to address unanswered scientific questions regarding the extreme ultraviolet emissions of the star (epsilon) Canis Majoris (Adhara). The payload consists of an off axis parabolic telescope feeding a standard Rowland circle spectrograph and provides between 2 and 4 cm2 of effective area at the short and long wavelength ends of the bandpass, repectively. The spectrograph has a resolution of approximately 800 and covers the wavelength range 600 - 919 angstrom. In this paper we discuss specifics of the optical and mechanical design and present results from the initial calibration. The payload is presently scheduled for launch from Woomera, Australia, in the fall of 1995.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Translocation of Calcium. Exchange versus Mass Flow.

In the field of plant nutrition there are many problems which require, for their solution, an understanding of the distribution of accumulated mineral salts between various plant parts. In their discussion of interrelations of salt accumulation with growth and development of the plant body, Steward and Sutcliffe (14) have provided a background for understanding distribution problems. But, they have concluded that despite the fact that the pattern of distribution is controlled and integrated, the method by which it is accomplished is totally unknown. In a discussion of upward movement of solutes, Biddulph (2) suggests that adsorptive forces residing in the biocolloids constituting the walls of the conducting channels might operate differentially to regulate the ascent of various ions towards their receiving tissues or organs. This suggestion could be justified from an experiment of Hewett and Gardner (8) showing an adsorption of zinc ions passing through sections of grape canes. Pursuing the matter further, Biddulph et al. (5) showed that labeled calcium did not ascend the stem of bean plants with the labeled water (THO) of the transpiration stream as would be expected in a mass flow system. Instead, the ascending calcium was shown to participate in exchange and deposition reactions. In short, the data indicated that calcium ascended the stem by an exchange mechanism. In recent years studies of solute uptake by roots and other tissues have been much emphasized, and the active phase of the process, as it relates to mineral accumulation in tissues, has been quite well described (12). However, agreement concerning the mechanics of uptake by roots of those ions destined for translocation to the shoots has not been attained. One of the questions which remains unanswered is the role of the ascending transpiration stream on both the uptake and release of nutrient ions into the vascular tissues (6,10, 13, and others). Since knowledge of the mechanisms of entry into the roots of translocatable ions is limited, the present experiments on the mechanism of ascent were designed in such a way that their interpretation would be independent of the mode of entrance. This was accomplished by studying the ascent of calcium, and the arresting of its ascent, w: thout interfering with the transpiration stream. The experiments were considered to be conclusive when, after arresting the ascent of calcium, it could be started again, at will, by introducing replacement ions of Ca, Sr, and MIg, but not with K. In this respect, the results displayed features which were consistent with exchange reactions, but which were wholly incompatible with mass flow.
The transfer of systems technology: logistics systems for underdeveloped countries

Abstract New approaches to large scale industrial development in less developed countries require closer attention to the design of the support systems needed to keep the plants running after construction. System redundancy, loose coupling of subsystems and the capability for adaptive learning become particularly important design principles given the complexity of the operating environment. This paper discusses the application of these principles to logistics systems design for a multibillion dollar steel plant. Specific guidelines are developed for the requisitioning process for spare parts and materials, for item identification, for the use of assemblies and for the organization of storage and retrieval procedures.
Evidence of a transnational capitalist class-for-itself: the determinants of PAC activity among foreign firms in the Global Fortune 500, 2000–2006

Transnational capitalist class (TCC) theory is rooted in the claim that the globalization of the economy has led to a globalization of economic interests and of class formation. However, systematic evidence linking the indicators of transnational class formation with political behaviour is largely missing. In this article, I combine data on board of director interlocks among the 500 largest business firms in the world between 2000 and 2006 with data on the political donations to US elections of foreign corporations via the corporate political action committees (PACs) of their subsidiaries, divisions or affiliates. Controlling for the various interests of individual firms, I find that foreign firms that are highly central in the transnational intercorporate network contribute more money to US elections than do the less central foreign firms. Given prior research on board of director interlocks, this finding suggests that a segment of the transnational business community has emerged as a class-for-itself.
Interactions between glide dislocations and parallel interfacial dislocations in nanoscale strained layers

Plastic deformation in nanoscale multilayered structures is thought to proceed by the successive propagation of single dislocation loops at the interfaces. Based on this view, we simulate the effect of predeposited interfacial dislocation on the stress (channeling stress) needed to propagate a new loop parallel to existing loops. Single interfacial dislocations as well as finite parallel arrays are considered in the computation. When the gliding dislocation and the predeposited interfacial array have collinear Burgers vectors, the channeling stress increases monotonically as the density of dislocations in the array increases. In the case when their Burgers vectors are inclined at 60°, a regime of perfect plasticity is observed which can be traced back to an instability in the flow stress arising from the interaction between the glide dislocation and a single interfacial dislocation dipole. This interaction leads to a tendency for dislocations of alternating Burgers vectors to propagate during deformation ...
Comment on “broadening of the Raman resonance in photon scattering in plasmas”

Abstract A recent examination of photon scattering in the solar interior by Tsytovich et al. [JQSRT 55, 787 (1996)] is shown to interpret incorrectly past calculations of the Raman resonance and Doppler shift contributions.
Disparities in Stroke Symptomology Knowledge among US Midlife Women: An Analysis of Population Survey Data

Objective A higher prevalence of stroke appears to exist among women aged 45 to 54 years compared with same-aged men. In addition, compared with their male counterparts, women have a threefold risk of delay in hospital arrival time. Inadequate knowledge of stroke symptomology may account for this disparity in hospital arrival time. We assessed current knowledge of stroke symptoms among US women in midlife and examined the relationship between symptom knowledge and race, income, education, deferring medical care, having a primary care provider, and health insurance status. Methods This was a cross-sectional study analyzing 2003-2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data. From the 7 stroke symptom knowledge questions asked on the survey, a Stroke Knowledge Score was computed for each respondent. Multivariate data analysis techniques were used. Results Multivariate analysis revealed that US women aged 45 to 54 years with low stroke knowledge scores were: more likely to be Hispanic (OR = 4.44, CI=4.37-4.51) or African-American (OR = 2.55, CI=2.52-2.58); have less than a high school education (OR = 2.67, CI=2.63-2.71); have an annual household income Conclusions Disparities in stroke symptom knowledge exist along racial/ethnic and socioeconomic lines. Nevertheless, mid-life women have high levels of knowledge about the symptoms of stroke, hence strategies aimed at encouraging women to act promptly when experiencing symptoms could yield more benefit in reducing delays in stroke treatment than educational programs.
The posttranslational processing of prodynorphin in the rat anterior pituitary

The posttranslational processing of prodynorphin (Pro-Dyn) is not well understood. The rat anterior pituitary is an interesting tissue which merits examination to address this issue since it is known that Dyn immunoreactivity is stored as high mol wt (HMW) intermediates and not as free products such as dynorphin-A-(l-17) (Dyn-Al7) or dynorphin-B-(l-13) (Dyn-B). The aim of our study is to characterize the Pro-Dyn products in the rat anterior pituitary quantitatively as well as qualitatively by keeping a close account of each of the possible domains that are known to compose the protein structure. This was achieved by a convergence of tools: designing RIA with antibodies to each of these domains, including antibodies to Dyn-A17, Dyn-B, α-neo-endorphin, bridge peptide, and Pro- Dyn carboxyl-terminal peptide (C-peptide), and using these antisera with gel filtration chromatography, reverse phase HPLC, immunoaffinity, and immunoprecipitation techniques. Our data indicate the presence of at least six distinct mo...
X-ray emission lines from three Galactic bulge sources

X-ray spectroscopic observations obtained with the Einstein objective grating spectrometer (OGS) and monitor proportional counter (MPC) instruments of three Galactic bulge sources, the globular cluster burst source 1820-30, the burster Serpens X-1, and the GX 9+9 are presented. Joint spectral fits to the OGS and MPC data are consistent for all three sources with either a thermal bremsstrahlung model with temperature ranging from 6 to 10 keV or with a two-component blackbody model, where one component may be associated with the neutron star and one with the accretion disk. The spectra of Serpens X-1 and 1820-30 harden with increases in intensity. The implications of the results for recent models of low-mass X-ray binaries are discussed.
Gazing with soft eyes: envisioning a responsive, integrative healthcare system.

If there is something that every sector of our global society can agree on, it is the need for a transformed healthcare system. Broad stakeholder constituencies, including consumers, educators, providers, policy makers, executives, payers, and scientists, have all issued calls for sweeping changes that address access, quality, safety, patient/family-centeredness, prevention and community-based intervention, and affordability.1-3 Interestingly, consumers and providers alike long for relationship-centered care that is culturally safe, personalized, and meaningful in a system where the delivery of care is supported by our administrative requirements and financing. Recommendations abound, and the points of agreement seem to recede into the swirl of political and ideological controversy.
Tilletia walkeri on Annual Ryegrass in Wheat Fields in the Southeastern United States

Surveys for Tilletia walkeri on annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) were conducted during 1997 and 1998 in the southeastern United States, where suspect teliospores of the Karnal bunt fungus, Tilletia indica, were found in USDA-APHIS surveys of wheat (Triticum aestivum) seed in 1996. T. walkeri is morphologically similar to T. indica. Annual ryegrass is a common weed in wheat fields in the southeastern United States. Between April and June 1997, ryegrass seed samples were collected from 190 fields of wheat in 47 counties in Georgia and from 26 fields in 17 counties in Alabama and south-central Tennessee. In 1998, 70 samples were collected from 40 counties in the same regions of the three states. The teliospores from these samples were 23 to 45 μm in diameter (average about 33 μm) and ranged from light brown to dark reddish brown. They had coarse, widely spaced cerebriform ridges on the surface and were surrounded by a gelatinous sheath. The ryegrass bunt was identified as the recently described species T. walkeri, occurring on ryegrass seed from Australia and Oregon. In 1997, teliospores of T. walkeri were found in 13 samples from eight counties in central Georgia and from one field in Tennessee. In 1998, more teliospores and bunted seeds were found, possibly due to frequent rain in the region throughout the flowering period for ryegrass. Teliospores were found in 26/70 of the samples, and among these, only a small number of bunted seed were found in 12 of 13/70 samples. In one wheat field in Morgan County, Georgia, about 50% of the ryegrass seed collected was partially bunted, and a small percentage was completely bunted. Fields with teliospores were widely distributed and generally matched the locations where teliospores were found in APHIS wheat seed surveys in 1996 to 1998. T. walkeri occurs at very low levels on ryegrass in the Southeast and is the source of teliospores, initially identified as those of T. indica, associated with wheat seed in APHIS surveys. No bunted wheat seeds or teliospores of T. indica were found in the survey.
A Significance Test For Congruence Coefficients For Cattell's Factors Matched By Scanning

The personality theory of Cattell depends heavily on the methodology og factor analysis. One of the critical matters for the theory is the replication of factors both within and between variable domains, which depends on the development of significance levels for matching indices like the congruence coefficient. The tables of Schneewind & Cattell have been used to evaluate congruence coefficients, even though the tables are appropriately constructed and the null hypothesis which is tested is not appropriate. A Monte Carlo method is used to construct new tables that test the hypothesis that an independent set of random vectors has been matched. Less than half of the congruence coefficients reported by Cattell in two articles exceed the critical values thus created. There is some non-random structure in Cattell's results, but not enough to support the conclusion that factors have been replicated.
The PMR spectral parameters of some 2- and 2,3-substituted naphthoquinones and their relation to electronic structures

Abstract The PMR spectra of twenty 2- and 2,3-substituted naphthoquinones were analyzed. The chemical shifts for three of the compounds were assigned by selective deuteration. Additivity of the chemical shift substituent effects was established for the disubstituted quinones, thus making it possible to assign the chemical shifts in the remaining monosubstituted derivatives. Correlations with the redox potential and σp have been developed for the chemical shifts of H7 and H3. The PMR parameters are discussed in relation to the electronic structure of the quinone systems.
Highly unsaturated fatty acids in diets for red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) larvae

Abstract Red drum larvae were reared from first feeding to 18 days (26°C) post-hatching on semipurified microparticulate diets supplemented with ICES Reference Oils blended to contain varied percentages of n −3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) (2.87, 5.12, 8.89, and 9.61%) and varied ratios of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (0.66, 1.25, 2.42 and 3.78). Growth was depressed in larvae fed diets with high percentages of n −3 HUFA (>5%) but improved as the percentage of n −3 HUFA was reduced. Growth and survival of larvae fed diets with varied DHA to EPA ratios was unaffected; however, larvae fed a diet with the highest ratio (3.78) exhibited significantly superior performance in a salinity challenge test indicating a possible nutritional requirement for DHA over EPA.
Estimating tail decay for stationary sequences via extreme values

We study estimation of the tail decay parameter of the marginal distribution corresponding to a discrete time, real valued stationary stochastic process. Assuming that the underlying process is short-range dependent, we investigate properties of estimators of the tail decay parameter which are based on the maximal extreme value of the process observed over a sampled time interval. These estimators only assume that the tail of the marginal distribution is roughly exponential, plus some modest “mixing” conditions. Consistency properties of these estimators are established, as well as rates of convergence and robustness in a minimax sense. We also provide some discussion on estimating the pre-exponent, when a more refined tail asymptotic is assumed. Properties of a certain moving-average variant of the extremal-based estimator are investigated as well. In passing, we also characterize the precise dependence (mixing) assumptions that support almost sure limit theory for normalized extreme values and related first passage times in stationary sequences. Short Title: Estimating tail decay using extremes
Number of deaths due to lung diseases: how large is the problem?

The importance of lung disease as an indicator of environmentally induced adverse health effects has been recognized by inclusion among the Health Objectives for the Nation. The 1990 Health Objectives for the Nation (US Department of Health and Human Services, 1986) includes an objective that there should be virtually no new cases among newly exposed workers for four preventable occupational lung diseases-asbestosis, byssinosis, silicosis, and coal workers' pneumoconiosis. This brief communication describes two types of cause-of-death statistics- underlying and multiple cause-and demonstrates the differences between the two statistics using lung disease deaths among adult men. The choice of statistic has a large impact on estimated lung disease mortality rates. The choice of statistics also may have large effect on the estimated mortality rates due to other chromic diseases thought to be environmentally mediated. Issues of comorbidity and the way causes of death are reported become important in the interpretation of these statistics. The choice of which statistic to use when comparing data from a study population with national statistics may greatly affect the interpretations of the study findings.
Failure of Neuraminidase to unmask Histocompatibility Antigens on Trophoblast

DURING outbred pregnancy the mother is exposed to genetically foreign tissue because the offspring inherits transplantation antigens from the father. The survival of the foetus is ensured by the intervention of the trophoblast which does not express transplantation antigens between mother and foetus: mouse trophoblast is not rejected even when transplanted into immune recipients1,3. The mechanism of this failure to express histocompatibility antigens is not understood1–4, but Kirby et al. have suggested that the extracellular fibrinoid surrounding trophoblast cells is involved5,6. Currie has suggested that the thick sialomucinous glycocalyx of the trophoblast cell might “mask” the histocompatibility antigens on the trophoblast7,8 and has demonstrated that neuraminidase unmasked these antigens8. Our experiments, however, show that trophoblast incubated with neuraminidase cannot sensitize allogeneic mice to donor histocompatibility antigens. Furthermore, pretreatment of trophoblastic implants with neuraminidase did not interfere with their proliferation and growth in highly immune allogeneic recipients.
Greedy algorithms for generalized k-rankings of paths

A k-ranking of a graph is a labeling of the vertices with positive integers 1,2,...,k so that every path connecting two vertices with the same label contains a vertex of larger label. An optimal ranking is one in which k is minimized. Let P"n be a path with n vertices. A greedy algorithm can be used to successively label each vertex with the smallest possible label that preserves the ranking property. We seek to show that when a greedy algorithm is used to label the vertices successively from left to right, we obtain an optimal ranking. A greedy algorithm of this type was given by Bodlaender et al. in 1998 [1] which generates an optimal k-ranking of P"n. In this paper we investigate two generalizations of rankings. We first consider bounded (k,s)-rankings in which the number of times a label can be used is bounded by a predetermined integer s. We then consider k"t-rankings where any path connecting two vertices with the same label contains t vertices with larger labels. We show for both generalizations that when G is a path, the analogous greedy algorithms generate optimal k-rankings. We then proceed to quantify the minimum number of labels that can be used in these rankings. We define the bounded rank number (G)r,s to be the smallest number of labels that can be used in a (k,s)-ranking and show for n>=2, (P"n)r,[email protected]?((n-(2^i-1))/s)@?+i where [email protected]?log"2(s)@?+1. We define the k"t-rank number, (G)rt to be the smallest number of labels that can be used in a k"t-ranking. We present a recursive formula that gives the k"t-rank numbers for paths, showing (P"j)rt=n for all a"n"-"1
A preliminary report on the use of laser-Doppler flowmetry during tethered spinal cord release

Neurological deterioration in the tethered cord syndrome has been postulated to result from a compromise of blood flow in the distal spinal cord. In order to evaluate vascular perfusion in human subjects, a new technique of laser-Doppler flowmetry was used to monitor continuously the microcirculation of the distal spinal cord during surgery for tethered cord release in 10 children. For further comparison, five children undergoing selective dorsal rhizotomy were also monitored. In the tethered cord syndrome group, spinal cord blood flow before untethering was a mean of 12.6 ml/min per 100 g of tissue and increased in all cases after release to a mean of 29.4 ml/min per 100 g of tissue. All patients improved neurologically. The selective dorsal rhizotomy group had a preoperative mean spinal cord blood flow of 30.8 ml/min per 100 g of tissue, which was not altered by the operative procedure. Significant improvement occurs in distal spinal cord blood flow after tethered cord release, which may be representative of an important mechanism in the pathophysiology of the tethered cord syndrome.
Echocardiographic Predictors for Persistent Functional Mitral Regurgitation After Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Aortic Valve Stenosis

Moderate functional mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) is often left unaddressed at the time of aortic valve replacement (AVR) because it is expected to decrease after AVR. However, some patients have persistent moderate MR after AVR. We sought to determine the preoperative echocardiographic predictor for persistent functional MR after AVR in patients with AS. Pre- and postoperative echocardiograms were reviewed in 110 patients with severe AS and functional MR who underwent AVR without mitral valve (MV) surgery. Fifty-eight patients received concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In patients with MV tenting, defined as apical displacement of mitral leaflets in the apical 4-chamber view, MV tenting area and tenting height were measured at midsystole. Eighty patients had MV tenting (mean MV tenting area 1.4 ± 0.5 cm 2 , mean MV tenting height 0.8 ± 0.2 cm) and 30 did not have it before AVR. MR severity decreased in 51 of 80 patients (64%) with MV tenting after AVR and in 25 of 30 patients (83%) without MV tenting (p 1.4 cm 2 . In conclusion, preoperative MV tenting predicts persistent functional MR after AVR in patients with severe AS.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Chronic Opioid Use

The use of opioids has been associated with development of sleep-disordered breathing, including central apneas, nocturnal oxygen desaturations, and abnormal breathing patterns. We describe sleep-disordered breathing and its subsequent treatment in a group of obstructive sleep apneic patients on chronic opioid therapy. Clinical evaluation followed by diagnostic overnight polysomnogram was performed in subjects on chronic opioid therapy who met the study criteria. All subjects had an initial CPAP titration followed by a repeat clinical evaluation. Subjects with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 continued to report symptoms and had follow-up titration with bilevel positive therapy; then bilevel positive-pressure therapy with a back-up rate was then performed. Age-, sex-, and disease-severity-matched obstructive sleep apnea patients served as controls. Forty-four study participants, including a large group of women (50%), and 44 controls were enrolled in the study. Opioid subjects had AHI = 43.86 ± 1.19, with a central apnea index of 0.64 ± 1.36. Two abnormal breathing patterns were seen, including decreased inspiratory effort during an obstructive event and longer than expected pauses in breathing. Despite adequate titration with CPAP and bilevel positive-pressure therapy, nocturnal awakenings and central apnea awakenings persisted (AHI and central apnea indices of 13.81 ± 2.77 and 11.52 ± 2.12, respectively). Treatment with bilevel positive-pressure therapy with a back-up rate controlled the problem. Nonobese OSA patients with opioid intake have obstructive breathing with a different pattern. In this study, bilevel positive-pressure therapy with a back-up rate was the most effective treatment.
A Catalogue of Stable Equilibria of Planar Extensible or Inextensible Elastic Rods for All Possible Dirichlet Boundary Conditions

We catalogue configurations that locally minimize energy for a planar elastic rod (extensible-shearable or inextensible-unshearable) subject to arbitrary Dirichlet boundary conditions in position and orientation. Via a combination of analysis and computation, we determine several bifurcation surfaces in the 3-parameter space of boundary conditions and explore how they depend on the rod material parameters, including in the inextensible limit. For each possible boundary condition, we find all stable equilibria with sufficiently low energy that they might be competitive within a Boltzmann distribution if the rod were used to model DNA with tens or hundreds of base pairs, the length-scale relevant for DNA looping. Depending on the boundary conditions, there are as many as three such equilibria.
Tabanid (Diptera) Populations Associated with an Equine Infectious Anemia Outbreak in an Inapparently Infected Herd of Horses

Seven horses positive for antibodies to equine infectious anemia virus in the agar gel immunodiffusion test were maintained together with 8 test-negative horses in an isolated pasture in south Louisiana for 1 year. Although the test-positive horses were inapparently infected (exhibiting no clinical signs of equine infectious anemia), 6 of the 8 test-negative horses became test-positive during 1 vector season. Canopy trap surveillance revealed Hybomitra lasiophthalma as the only tabanid species present during 2 equine infectious anemia virus transmissions in March. A high population of Tabanus lineola was present during the remaining 4 virus transmissions in July, September, and October.
The Population Ecology of Interest Group Formation: Mobilizing for Gay and Lesbian Rights in the United States, 1950–98

This article analyses the founding rate of nationally active homosexual rights interest groups in the United States for the period 1950–98. Drawing upon the extensive organizational ecology literature, we test the hypothesis that the founding rate of homosexual rights interest groups is related non-monotonically to the number of groups in the population. Our statistical analyses support the hypothesis that as population density rises from very low to high, the founding rate first rises but eventually decreases. This pattern holds when we control for a number of contextual variables. In all, the data provide a great deal of support for the theory of density dependence – a novel approach to the study of interest group formation.
An X-band, 2.5 watt continuous wave dielectric resonator oscillator for future military systems

A 9 GHz dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) generating a continuous wave (CW) power output of 2.5 watts at room temperature has been designed and fabricated by incorporating a high power GaAs FET amplifier and a dielectric resonator (DR) in a feedback loop oscillator configuration. The DC to RF conversion efficiency of this DRO is about 11%. The oscillator exhibits a frequency stability of less than 130 ppm over the temperature range of -50 degrees C to +50 degrees C. Measured single-sideband phase noise levels are -105 dBc/Hz and -135 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz and 100 kHz carrier offset frequencies, respectively. The output power varies from +35 dBm (3.2 watts) at -50 degrees C to +33 dBm (2 watt) at +50 degrees C. The DRO output power is fed into a single-stage GaAs FET amplifier, resulting in a total power output of 6.5 watts at X-band. The overall efficiency of the 6.5 watt DRO unit is about 12%. The pulse power capability of the DRO unit is investigated. The unit can deliver 10 watts of pulse power for a pulse duration of one microsecond or less. >
RF-IDraw: virtual touch screen in the air using RF signals

Prior work in RF-based positioning has mainly focused on discovering the absolute location of an RF source, where state-of-the-art systems can achieve an accuracy on the order of tens of centimeters using a large number of antennas. However, many applications in gaming and gesture based interface see more benefits in knowing the detailed shape of a motion. Such trajectory tracing requires a resolution several fold higher than what existing RF-based positioning systems can offer. This paper shows that one can provide a dramatic increase in trajectory tracing accuracy, even with a small number of antennas. The key enabler for our design is a multi-resolution positioning technique that exploits an intrinsic tradeoff between improving the resolution and resolving ambiguity in the location of the RF source. The unique property of this design is its ability to precisely reconstruct the minute details in the trajectory shape, even when the absolute position might have an offset. We built a prototype of our design with commercial off-the-shelf RFID readers and tags and used it to enable a virtual touch screen, which allows a user to interact with a desired computing device by gesturing or writing her commands in the air, where each letter is only a few centimeters wide.
Targeting cell metabolism in cancer patients.

![Figure][1] CREDIT: C. DRONSFIELD In this issue of Science Translational Medicine , Michelakis et al . report the first use of dichloroacetate (DCA) to treat cancer in humans ([ 1 ][2]). DCA was administered to five patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive primary brain cancer with limited
The association of socioemotional problems with early sexual initiation.

CONTEXT: Research on the association between socioemotional problems and early sexual initiation has not evaluated differences across types of problems, by gender, or by race or ethnicity. METHODS: Data were analyzed for a sample derived from the Children of the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth: 1,836 youth who were 10–11 years old at the 1992, 1994 and 1996 waves. Mothers’ reports of their child’s socioemotional problems at age 10–11 were assessed; sexual initiation before age 15 was assessed using youth self-reports. Logistic regression analyses estimated associations between socioemotional problems and early initiation; predicted probabilities and group differences were calculated using various regression techniques. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of youth had had intercourse before turning 15, and their average level of each problem was higher than the level of those who had not. Both internalizing problems (e.g., depression and dependency) and externalizing problems (e.g., hyperactivity and antisocial behavior) were associated with early sexual initiation (odds ratios, 1.1 and 1.2, respectively), but only externalizing problems retained significance when both types were included in the model (1.2). Among specific problems, only hyperactivity and antisocial behavior were associated with early initiation (1.2 for each). Youth with a high level of externalizing problems had a higher predicted probability of having early sex than did those with a low level (0.28 vs. 0.21). Associations between socioemotional problems and early initiation did not differ by gender or by race or ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions should be targeted at youth with externalizing problems, especially those who engage in antisocial or hyperactive behavior, in an effort to promote positive social interactions.
Microfluidic Protein Detection through Genetically Engineered Bacterial Cells

Protein microarray technology, in which a large number of capture ligands are spatially arrayed at a high density, presents an attractive method for high-through- put proteomic analysis. Toward this end, we demonstrate the first cell-based protein detection in a microsystem, wherein Escherichia coli cells are genetically engineered to express the desired capture proteins on the membrane surface and are spatially arrayed as sensing elements in a microfluidic device. An E. coli clone expressing peptide ligands with high affinity and high specificity for target molecules was isolated a priori. Then these cells were electrokinetically immobilized on gold electrodes using dielectrophoresis, thus allowing each sensor element to be electrically addressable. Flow cytometry and subse- quent fluorescence analysis verified the highly specific capture and detection of target molecules by the bacteria. Finally, through the coexpression of peptide-based cap- ture ligands on the cell surface and fluorescent protein in the cytoplasm, we demonstrate an effective means of directly linking the fluorescence intensity to the density of capture ligands.