cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Did Regulation Fair Disclosure Level the Playing Field? Evidence from an Analysis of Changes in Trading Volume and Stock Price Reactions to Earnings Announcements

We contribute to the literature on Regulation Fair Disclosure (FD) in three ways. First, we provide evidence on whether FD has achieved its intended effect of leveling the information playing field by examining whether differences across investors' information quality prior to earnings announcements have declined after the pronouncement of the regulation. We find strong evidence of a decline in earnings announcement period trading volume attributable to differential prior precision after FD consistent with a more level playing field. Second, we re-examine whether FD has resulted in firms reducing or chilling their information flows (disclosures) to investors. Contrary to prior work, we find that there is evidence of an overall reduction or chill in information flows after FD relative to a "cleaner" pre-FD period than the pre-FD period used in other studies. Third, we document that while the leveling effect of FD is relatively wide-spread, the chill effect is driven by (i) relatively smaller, high technology firms and (ii) relatively larger firms with high book-to-market ratios. We interpret the latter result as evidence that firms with relatively high costs of public disclosure chose to eliminate the disclosure altogether rather than broadening access to the disclosure.
Electron Transfer Reactivity Patterns at Chemically Modified Electrodes: Fundamentals and Application to the Optimization of Redox Recycling Amplification Systems

Electroanalytical chemistry is often utilized in chemical analysis and Fundamental studies. Important advances have been made in these areas since the advent of chemically modified electrodes: the coating of an electrode with a chemical film in order to impart desirable, and ideally, predictable properties. These procedures enable the exploitation of unique reactivity patterns. This dissertation presents studies that investigate novel reaction mechanisms at self-assembled monolayers on gold. In particular, a unique electrochemical current amplification scheme is detailed that relies on a selective electrode to enable a reactivity pattern that results in regeneration of the analyte (redox recycling). This regenerating reaction can occur up to 250 times for each analyte molecule, leading to a notable enhancement in the observed current. The requirements of electrode selectivity and the resulting amplification and detection limit improvements are described with respect to the heterogeneous and homogeneous electron transfer rates that characterize the system. These studies revealed that the heterogeneous electrolysis of the analyte should ideally be electrochemically reversible, while that for the regenerating agent should be held to a low level. Moreover, the homogeneous reaction that recycles the analyte should occur at a rapid rate. The physical selectivity mechanism is also detailed with respect to the properties of the electrode and redox probes utilized. It is shown that partitioning of the analyte into/onto the adlayer leads to the extraordinary selectivity of the alkanethiolate monolayer modified electrode. Collectively, these studies enable a thorough understanding of the complex electrode mechanism required for successful redox recycling amplification systems, Finally, in a separate (but related) study, the effect of the akyl chain length on the heterogeneous electron transfer behavior of solution-based redox probes is reported, where an odd-even oscillation (with respect to the number of methylene units in the alkyl chain) was observed. Characterization of the adlayers by infrared reflection spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and wetting revealed odd-even effects in the orientation of the terminal methyl group and hydrophobic character of the adlayers. Using these structural characterizations as a basis, several possible mechanisms that can account for the odd-even effect in the heterogeneous electron transfer rates of solution-based redox couples are discussed.
Transatlantic Visa Politics

After British national Richard Reid boarded a transatlantic flight with only his passport and then tried to detonate a bomb in his shoes, members of Congress called for the elimination of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that enabled nationals of 27 states (including 15 EU member states) to travel to the US without a visa. In contrast, during a 2006 trip, President Bush argued that Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania should be allowed into the VWP because they joined the US in the “coalition of the willing” to fight the “war on terrorism” in Iraq. Instead of eliminating the VWP or adding new states to the existing program, the Congress and President Bush agreed to reform it with August 2007 legislation implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations. VWP reform demonstrates the political tensions emerging from conflicting objectives of increasing homeland security vs. satisfying allies and facilitating travel desired by economic interest groups. This paper examines the politics and diplomacy of recent US visa policy reforms, specifically the transgovernmental relations between the US Department of Homeland Security and EU member state interior ministries and the European Commission; considers the prospects for US-EU cooperation to maintain visa-free transatlantic travel while at the same time increasing security; and explains how implementation of VWP reform legislation is changing international norms on passports and border inspections.
Mechanism for Collective Cell Alignment in Myxococcus xanthus Bacteria

Myxococcus xanthus cells self-organize into aligned groups, clusters, at various stages of their lifecycle. Formation of these clusters is crucial for the complex dynamic multi-cellular behavior of these bacteria. However, the mechanism underlying the cell alignment and clustering is not fully understood. Motivated by studies of clustering in self-propelled rods, we hypothesized that M. xanthus cells can align and form clusters through pure mechanical interactions among cells and between cells and substrate. We test this hypothesis using an agent-based simulation framework in which each agent is based on the biophysical model of an individual M. xanthus cell. We show that model agents, under realistic cell flexibility values, can align and form cell clusters but only when periodic reversals of cell directions are suppressed. However, by extending our model to introduce the observed ability of cells to deposit and follow slime trails, we show that effective trail-following leads to clusters in reversing cells. Furthermore, we conclude that mechanical cell alignment combined with slime-trail-following is sufficient to explain the distinct clustering behaviors observed for wild-type and non-reversing M. xanthus mutants in recent experiments. Our results are robust to variation in model parameters, match the experimentally observed trends and can be applied to understand surface motility patterns of other bacterial species.
Measuring Service Accessibility in Telephone Nurse Triage Services

Telephone nurse triage (TNT) services are an important component of the health care delivery system. Thanks to the advancement of telephone/information technologies, abundant data on the daily operations of telephone triage centers are now readily available that can be used to assess their performance. However, the current way to use such data is very primitive, which mainly focuses on simple descriptive statistics of the data. This study provides an approach to mine information from count data from the TNT service, including the daily inbound and outbound call volumes. A class of overdispersed generalized linear models is proposed to model the outbound–inbound relationship, and Bayesian algorithms for model estimation and comparison are provided. The established model reveals the variation in the accessibility of the triage service and the effect of weekday/weekend, which will provide significant information for performance assessment and improvement in such services. In the case study, the proposed approach is applied to a dataset from a triage call center in Wisconsin to demonstrate its use in practice. A numerical study is also done to examine the properties of the proposed model and accuracy of parameter estimation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence-centered design for simulation-based assessment.

ABSTRACTSimulations provide opportunities for people to learn and to develop skills for situations that are expensive, time-consuming, or dangerous. Careful design can support their learning by tailoring the features of situations to their levels of skill, allowing repeated attempts, and providing timely feedback. The same environments provide opportunities for assessing people's capabilities to act in these situations. This article describes an assessment design framework that can help projects develop effective simulation-based assessments. It reviews the rationale and terminology of the “evidence-centered” assessment design framework, discusses how it aligns with the principles of simulation design, and illustrates ideas with examples from engineering and medicine. Advice is offered for designing a new simulation-based assessment and for adapting an existing simulation system for assessment purposes.
Soft and hard tissue management using lasers in esthetic restoration.

Laser technology has become preeminent in the evolution of appearance enhancements. Dentistry has seen a huge breakthrough with the introduction of a combination hard-soft tissue erbium wavelength. The conservative nature of this technique has created a firm footing in the antiaging trend that is spanning the globe. Among the many benefits of this technique are less invasive care and quicker healing responses. Furthermore, these techniques can allow a cosmetic dentist to control gingival and osseous contours with added artistry in the pursuit of esthetic dental principles and more efficient use of patient time; thus raising customer service experiences. In this article, conservative laser and cosmetic modalities are discussed that allows a clinician to be more comfortable in buying a soft/hard tissue laser and also to more quickly become adept with implementing these techniques.
A component of normal human serum which enhances the activity of vertebrate collagenases.

Abstract The activity of vertebrate collagenase is increased by approximately 3-fold in the presence of saturating amounts of a macromolecule found in normal human serum. The activities of collagenases from human skin, rat skin, and tadpole tailfin are all markedly enhanced in the presence of this molecule, but activities of bacterial collagenase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, and a gelatin-specific neutral protease from human skin are unchanged. The enhancer itself has no proteolytic activity and does not change the normal cleavage products of human skin collagenase. The collagenase enhancer is an extremely stable molecule. It is resistant to heat, to extremes of pH at physiological temperature, and appears to be protein in nature. Of particular interest is the requirement that the collagen substrate be in fibrillar form in order for the enhancer to be effective.
Determining depth profiles from angle dependent x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy: The effects of analyzer lens aperture size and geometry

Lens apertures that reduce the solid angle of photoelectrons directed to the detector can be used to better resolve the variations in x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) signals which occur with electron takeoff angle. The effects of aperture size and geometry on angle‐dependent XPS data, and on the depth profiles calculated from the data, have been investigated. Both theoretical calculations and angle‐dependent XPS experiments have been used in this study to determine the effects of apertures. Circular and slit geometry apertures varying in size from a 6° solid collection angle to a 30° solid collection angle were studied. Samples consisting of a substrate covered by a thin, uniform overlayer were examined. At low photoelectron takeoff angles, the differences between the apertures were insignificant. At high photoelectron takeoff angles, decreasing the size of the aperture improved surface sensitivity. Decreasing the width of the aperture also sharpened the transitions between layers in a generated de...
Spectroscopic characterization of explosives in the far-infrared region

Far infrared spectra of 14 commonly used explosive samples have been measured by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and THz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz TDS). New absorption resonances between 20 cm-1 and 650 cm-1 are reported. Below 20 cm-1, no clear absorption resonances are observed in all the explosives. There is a good consistency of far-IR spectrum measured by Far-FTIR and by THz TDS in explosives 3,5-DNA and 2,4-DNT. Observed far-IR spectrum of TNT is compared with a previously reported theoretical calculation.
Worldwide Experience With the MicroMed DeBakey Ventricular Assist Device® as a Bridge to Transplantation

Background— Ventricular assist device (VAD) support with pulsatile first generation pumps is a well-established therapy for bridging to transplantation. Shortcomings of this technology include limited applicability to small patients, noise, and high incidence of infection and pump malfunction. A second generation of pumps, spearheaded by the axial flow MicroMed DeBakey VAD®, is in clinical trials and potentially will address these shortcomings. Methods and Results— Between November 13, 1998 and May 7, 2002, 150 patients worldwide underwent placement of the Micromed DeBakey VAD® as a bridge to transplantation. Prospectively acquired data including demographics, adverse events and outcomes was collected. Follow up is 100% with 30.4 patient-years of cumulative support time. Mean age was 48±4 years and 18% were female. Twenty-three percent had prior sternotomy. Preoperatively, 25% were on balloon pump support, 20% had renal insufficiency, and 40% were on at least two inotropes with a mean cardiac index of 1.8 L/min/m 2 . Mean support time was 75±81 days. Linearized rates (events/patient-year) were: reoperation for bleeding 2.03, hemolysis 0.61, device infection 0.16, thromboembolic event 0.61, pump thrombus 0.61, and pump failure 0.13. Eight-two patients (55%) were either bridged to transplantation, recovery or are ongoing and 68 (45%) have died. Several patients have been supported as outpatients. Conclusions— This initial experience suggests that bridging to transplantation can be successfully approached with a small and quiet axial flow pump that provides low incidence of device infection and pump failure. The incidence of pump thrombus and thromboembolism is being addressed by incorporation of heparin coating to all device surfaces.
The Bush Administration's Proposal for Credit Reform: Background, Analysis, and Policy Issues

Large recent and forecasted federal outlays to cover losses on deposit insurance and federally-assisted credit have increased concern in the executive and legislative branches about potential future liabilities of the federal government. These potential liabilities include federal credit; consequently, this renewed interest in federal credit reform. Credit reform would have to change the budgetary treatment of federal direct loans and federal guaranteed loans. Currently, the unified budget measures the cost of federal credit on a cash flow basis. Critics (including the Bush Administration) maintain that the appropriate budgetary measure of the costs of federal credit is the present value of the subsidies to credit recipients in the fiscal year that the credit is advanced. The Bush Administration's proposal for credit reform is presented in most detail in the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1989 (the Act), which was proposed but not enacted. The Act would have had federal officials estimate credit subsidies based on the equivalent interest rates in private credit markets. These subsidies would have been used to measure the budgetary cost of federal credit and would have required annual appropriations. Two credit revolving funds would have been established in the Treasury to finance credit flows. Many of these credit reform practices were included in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 though.
Lake pigments facilitate analysis of fecal cortisol and behavior in group-housed macaques

Fecal steroid analyses are becoming more popular among both field and laboratory scientists. The benefits associated with sampling procedures that do not require restraint, anesthesia, and blood collection include less risk to both subject and investigator, as well as the potential to obtain endocrine profiles that do not reflect the influence of stress. However, the utility of the fecal steroid method has been limited in field conditions because of problems associated with sample identification. Here, we present evidence that Lake pigments are a valuable tool for the identification of individual fecal samples from group-housed female cynomolgus macaques. Further, we present data that suggest that excreted cortisol can be assayed from such samples, leading to the finding that time of day of sample collection influences cortisol concentrations, with morning samples producing higher values (t = 2.769, P = 0.024). Finally, the collection of physiological data from group-housed animals permits the evaluation of the relationship between endocrine status and behavior. This study demonstrated that morning fecal cortisol was significantly correlated with competitive and proximity behaviors, although not with rank in two stable social groups. In conclusion, the utility and validity of fecal steroid analyses continue to expand with further investigations.
Analysis of the rotational structure in the high-resolution infrared spectra of trans-hexatriene-2-d1 and -3-d1

Abstract The 2- d 1 and 3- d 1 isotopologues of trans -hexatriene have been synthesized, and their high-resolution (0.0015 cm −1 ) IR spectra have been recorded. For each of the isotopologues the rotational structure in four C-type bands for out-of-plane vibrational modes has been analyzed, and the ground state combination differences (GSCDs) have been pooled. Ground state rotational constants have been fitted to the GSCDs. For the 2- d species, A 0 , B 0 , and C 0 values of 0.7837254(5), 0.0442806(3), and 0.0419299(2) cm −1 were fitted to 2450 GSCDs. For the 3- d species, A 0 , B 0 , and C 0 values of 0.7952226(8), 0.0446149(7), and 0.0422661(4) cm −1 were fitted to 2234 GSCDs. For the eleven out-of-plane modes of the two isotopologues, predictions of wavenumbers corrected for anharmonicity and harmonic intensities have been computed and compared with experiment where possible.
Roux-Y gastrectomy for chronic gastric atony.

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcome after Roux-Y gastrectomy for chronic gastric atony. Forty patients (11 men, 29 women; age 47 ± 12 years) presented with severe chronic gastric atony: 32 patients had postvagotomy atony, 6 had idiopathic atony, and 2 had diabetic gastroparesis. The patients underwent either extensive subtotal or near-total gastrectomy and Roux-Y gastrojejunostomy. No early postoperative mortality occurred. Among the 39 patients followed for a mean of 32 months, 31 patients (79 percent) had fewer symptoms postoperatively than preoperatively, with 26 patients (66 percent) improving at least one Visick grade postoperatively and 22 patients (56 percent) going from grades III and IV preoperatively to grades I and II postoperatively. In contrast, 13 patients (33 percent) did not improve after operation. We concluded that extensive subtotal Roux-Y gastrectomy and near-total Roux-Y gastrectomy were safe procedures that led to improvement in two-thirds of the patients with chronic gastric atony; however, one-third of patients did not have improvement.
Information dissemination in early childhood education

Trends and issues in the dissemination of knowledge are discussed in terms of current trends. The general trends include the rapid rate at which new journals and documents are produced and increasing specialization in the field. Among the issues discussed are the optimum information hypothesis, optimum conceptual size of information, vividness and propitiousness of the information, and orientations to knowledge of subcultures within a professional field. The field of early childhood education is used as the example of each trend and issue.
Selective Broadcast Interconnection (sbi) For Wideband Fiber-Optic Local Area Networks

The selective broadcast interconnection (SBI) is a scheme for directly interconnecting transmitting stations, each equipped with CT transmitters, and receiving stations, each equipped with CR receivers, such that each transmitting station is always connected to all receiving stations through passive communication channels with no intermediate switches. S BI consists of CT CR separate broadcast subnetworks, each of which interconnects a subset of transmitting stations and a subset of receiving stations, such that each transmitting station and receiving station are interconnected through a single subnetwork. Each subnetwork is shared by its transmitting members via some multiple-access scheme. Comparing S B I with CT=CR=C with the use of C broadcast buses, each connecting all transmitting stations to all receiving stations, one finds that in some cases, including that of equal single-destination traffic requirements for all source-destination pairs, the aggregate throughput with S B I can be higher by a factor of C, while the stations' hardware is the same. For nonuniform traffic requirements, however, the maximum aggregate throughput with S B 1 can be C times lower (in extreme situations). For fiber-optic implementations employing a central wiring closet, the two schemes require the same amount of fiber and, if the same elementary couplers are used to construct the required star couplers, SBI requires fewer couplers. Clearly, the same number of couplers and up to C times more fibers may be required for S B I in a linear-bus implementation. In all cases, transmitter power need only reach N/C receivers with S B I (instead of N with C parallel buses); this allows to accommodate a larger number of stations when implementing the interconnection with passive components.
Frequency of ocular metastases in patients dying of cancer in eye bank populations

AIMS: To examine the frequency of intraocular metastases in patients who had died of cancer, in an eye bank and necropsy population sample. METHODS: The first group included 302 cancer cases received from the Wisconsin Eye Bank between 1988 and 1993. In the second group, ocular pathology records at the Wilmer Institute from 1976 to 1980 were analysed for ocular metastases in necropsy subjects dying of cancer. Nonocular cancer was the cause of death in 741 cases; among these, 510 were attributed to carcinomas. RESULTS: In the Wisconsin Eye Bank group, three cases (1%) had gross metastases. Out of 255 carcinoma cases, one (0.4%) had gross metastases. In the Wilmer Institute group, gross metastases were observed in 35 (4.7%) cases. Of the 510 patients dying of carcinomas, six (1.2%) had macroscopic metastases. Ocular metastases were detected histopathologically in 93 of 741 (12.6%) of cases. CONCLUSION: Even though it is difficult to assess the true frequency of ocular metastases in patients dying of cancer, the answer to this question was attempted by determining the frequency of ocular metastasis in patients who died of cancer and who donated their eyes to the Wisconsin Eye Bank or had postmortem examination at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Microscopic metastases were found in 12.6% of cases. The frequency of gross metastases has decreased over the past 12 years from 4.7% to 1% (p value = 0.005) owing to improved treatment of leukaemia; however, the frequency of macroscopic metastases due to carcinomas has not changed (p value = 0.38).
God's Empire: William Bell Riley and Midwestern Fundamentalism

More than any other individual, William Bell Riley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis, inspired the resurgence of Protestant fundamentalism in 1930s America. Trollinger explores the development of Riley s theology and social thought, examining in detail the rise of the Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School and other similar institutions. He sheds light upon the nature, successes, and failures of fundamentalist crusades and makes it clear that, to understand fundamentalist religion in America, one must focus upon its regional and local roots."
Gandhi's Rise to Power: Indian Politics 1915-1922

1. South African prelude: the creation of a leader and an idealist 2. Gandhi and Indian nationalist politics, 1915-16 3. Satygraha, 1917-18 4. Gandhi, the politicians and the raj, 1917-18 5. The Rowlatt Satyagraha 6. Khilafat 7. The Punjab: counterpoise to the Khilafat 8. Non-cooperation, 1920: crisis for the politicians 9. Non-cooperation, 1921-2: the test of Gandhi's political power Retrospect Conclusion.
Response to smoking as a function of prior smoking amounts

Smoking patterns are changing to accommodate new environmental smoking restrictions. The current study explored the effects of prior smoking amounts on the behavioral, physiological, and subjective effects of smoking a single cigarette. Ten smokers (six females, four males) each participated in four laboratory sessions of 6 h duration. During each session, they smoked 0, 2, 5, or 11 cigarettes which were evenly spaced throughout the 6-h period at intervals ranging from 30 min (11 cigarettes) to 120 min (2 cigarettes), with condition order determined by a Latin square. At the end of each session, all smoked a final cigarette. Response to the last cigarette of the 6-h session was influenced by pretreatment smoking amounts. Number of puffs drawn from the cigarette (15.0, 14.1, 13.3, and 10.1) was inversely related to prior smoking density, as was heart rate increase (5.8, 4.0, 2.4, and 1.3 bpm). Three physical symptoms of smoking, dizzy, lightheaded and tingling, were significantly greater when preceded by 6 h of no smoking than when preceded by smoking at 30-min intervals. However, these symptoms were rated as mild (19-27 on a 100-point scale) even when no cigarettes had been smoked. These results suggest some dissipation of acute tolerance after 6 h of smoking abstinence. Liking and satisfaction ratings were inversely related to the pretreatment density of smoking. Liking scores for the last cigarette were 85, 71, 68 and 48 (on a 100-point analog scale) when 0, 2, 5 and 11 cigarettes had been smoked. Overall, the study showed that physiological and subjective effects of smoking are modulated by recent histories of smoking.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Feasibility of nitric oxide administration by oxygen hood in neonatal pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hemodynamic efficacy and feasibility of nitric oxide (NO) administration by oxygen hood in neonatal pulmonary hypertension. STUDY DESIGN: A double-hood apparatus was used in which a combination of NO, O2, and N2 was introduced into the inner hood and suctioned from the outer hood. Chronically instrumented non-intubated piglets were exposed to 10% O2 (hypoxia; n=8) or group B streptococci infusion (GBS; n=5) to produce pulmonary hypertension and were then exposed to 20 ppm NO. RESULTS: NO decreased (>50%) pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance in both hypoxia- and GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension, with minimal effects on systemic arterial pressure and cardiac output. NO administration could be performed without detectable environmental leakage. CONCLUSION: Hood NO administration is feasible and shows hemodynamic efficacy in neonatal piglets with pulmonary hypertension.
Liquid and freeze preservation of baboon platelets.

Abstract Baboon platelet concentrates preserved in the liquid state at 4 or 22 °C or in the frozen state with 4 or 5% DMSO at −80 °C exhibited post-transfusion suvival values similar to those of human platelets preserved in an identical manner. The baboon can be used to study the viability of liquid-preserved and freeze-preserved platelets before studies in humans are done.
Stimulus control over operant galvanic skin responses.

Operant conditioning of the galvanic skin response (GSR) using a discrimination procedure was attempted in both acquisition and extinction. During acquisition male Ss were given contingent reinforcement during S+ intervals and noncontingent reinforcement during S– intervals. All reinforcement was withheld during extinction. A criterion response was defined as a .5% increase in skin resistance occurring in the absence of electromyogram (EMG) or respiration irregularities. A frequency analysis of GSRs showed that stimulus control was obtained in extinction but not in acquisition. Interpretations based upon skeletal mediation and adaptation were not supported.
Dioxygen mediated conversion of {Fe(NO)2}9 dinitrosyl iron complexes to Roussin's red esters.

The reactivity of a series of {Fe(NO)2}9 dinitrosyl iron complexes bearing thiolate ligands with molecular oxygen is reported. These reactions result in the formation of the corresponding Roussin's red esters along with thiolate oxidation. This reactivity is contrasted with that previously reported for {Fe(NO)2}10 complexes.
Shell Deposition Rates in Birds Selected for Thick and Thin Eggshell Production

Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to visualize and compare the shell deposition rates of two lines of White Leghorns selected for thick- and thin-shell production. Eggs were expelled by hormone injection at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 hr after entry into the shell gland, and percent shell was calculated. Results indicate that the thick-shell line exhibits a greater increase in shell weight and percent shell per unit of time in the shell gland than does the thin-shell line. Selection has produced two lines differing in eggshell quality due to different rates of shell deposition.
Understanding ion-ion interactions in bulk and aqueous interfaces using molecular simulations.

In addition to its scientific significance, the distribution of ions in the bulk and at aqueous interfaces is also very important for practical reasons. Providing a quantitative description of the ionic distribution, and describing interactions between ions in different environments, remains a challenge, and is the subject of current debate. In this study, we found that interionic potentials of mean force (PMFs) and interfacial properties are very sensitive to the ion–ion interaction potential models. Our study predicted a Sr2+–Cl− PMF with no contact ion-pair state and a shallow solvent-separated ion-pair state. In addition, we were able to quantitatively capture the experimental X-ray reflectivity results of the aqueous salt interface of the Sr2+–Cl− ion-pair, and provided a detailed physical description of the interfacial structure for this system. We also predicted the X-ray reflectivity results for SrBr2 and SrI2 systems.
Judging presidential character: The demise of Gary Hart

This article investigates the public reaction to the scandal which effectively ended Gary Hart's quest for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination. Employing NES panel data covering the period in which the scandal surfaced, and integrating arguments drawn from research on attitude change, media priming, and candidate evaluation, this analysis of the Hart case illuminates more general questions about how citizens respond to media communications during the course of an election campaign and of the factors that facilitate or inhibit attitude change. The investigation lends support to contemporary theories of attitude change that emphasize citizens' levels of political involvement and prior predispositions; uncovers evidence of media priming as views about controversial standards of morality were newly engaged in defining citizens' post-scandal evaluations of Hart; and yields evidence that negative responses to Hart in the wake of the scandal were tempered among citizens who typically weigh policy criteria alongisde candidate characteristics when formulating their overall candidate evaluations.
Pineal melatonin rhythms and the timing of puberty in mammals

The direction of change in daylength provides the seasonal time cue for the timing of puberty in many mammalian species. The pattern of melatonin secretion from the pineal gland transduces the environmental light-dark cycle into a signal influencing the neuroendocrine control of sexual maturation. The change in duration of nocturnal melatonin secretion is probably the key feature of the melatonin signal which conveys daylength information. This information may also be used by neuroendocrine axes controlling seasonal changes in pelage colour, growth and metabolism. The mechanism of action of melatonin on neuroendocrine pathways is unknown. Although the ability to synthesize and secrete melatonin in a pattern that reflects the duration of the night may not occur until the postnatal period, the rodent and ovine foetus has the ability to respond in utero to photoperiodic cues to which its mother is exposed in late gestation. Transplacental passage of maternal melatonin is likely to be the mechanism by which photoperiodic cues reach the foetus. Species which do not exhibit seasonal patterns of puberty, such as the human, also secrete melatonin in a pattern which reflects the environmental light-dark cycle, but they do not respond reproductively to the seasonal melatonin information.
Deformation and fracture of yttria-stabilized zirconia single crystals

Deformation and failure mechanisms are characterized for fully and partially yttria-stabilized single crystals tested in compression from 23 to 1150° C. It is found that both types of material exhibit extensive plastic flow over most of this temperature range, producing rapid decreases in strength with increasing temperature. Tetragonal to monoclinic transformation-induced plasticity is not observed; rather, plastic flow is related solely to dislocation activity. Evidence is found for apparent cubic to rhombohedral transformation during polishing, and reverse rhombohedral to cubic transformation during imposed compressive stress.
Highly reduced MoO3/Al2O3 catalysts. I: Characterization

MoO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} containing 0.89-7.4% Mo and reduced at 950{degree}C by H{sub 2} (MoO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3};H{sub 2};950{degree}C) is Mo(O)/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. It has been studied and compared with Mo(0)/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} prepared by Mo(CO){sub 6}/dehydroxylated Al{sub 2}O{sub 3};He,300-500{degree};H{sub 2},650-950{degree} and found to be essentially equivalent in chemisorptive behavior. MoO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3};H{sub 2},650 has also received some attention. The high purity alumina support treated H{sub 2},950{degree} becomes gray and is reduced by an amount representable as Al{sup 2+}/Al{sup 3+} = 0.0012. It is reoxidized to white material by O{sub 2},800{degree} but not by O{sub 2},650{degree}. Content in O{sub 2} must be kept below 0.03 ppm in the other gases if a clean metallic molybdenum surface is to be maintained for a reasonable period of time. The amount of CO adsorbed at 25{degree}C appears to be a measure of the percentage exposed of Mo(0)/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. If a molecule of CO is taken to occupy 1.5 sites, the percentage exposed of Mo varied from 25 to 58%. At 25{degree}C, H{sub 2} is chemisorbed rapidly but rather weakly on Mo(0)/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and at least two forms of activated adsorption exist at higher temperatures. Under the conditions of this workmore » the Mo particles in the samples of Mo(0)/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} are not carbide but rather,a s evidence by high resolution TEM and EXAFS, metallic bcc Mo.« less
Platform Embedded Slot Antenna Backed by Shielded Parallel Plate Resonator

A new cavity architecture for applications in design of resonator-backed slot antennas with a height less than λ/15 profile is presented. This architecture renders cavity heights as low as λ/130 and small lateral dimensions. Miniaturization of the supporting cavity resonator is achieved by meandering the passage from the bottom of the cavity resonator to the slot aperture. Unlike conventional cavity resonators, the proposed design operates in a TEM mode which allows for wider bandwidth operation and miniaturization of lateral dimensions. Ultrasonic consolidation technique is employed to fabricate the complicated cavity structure monolithically. Measurements verify the proposed antenna exhibits excellent gain and front-to-back ratio (FTBR). Wide-band mode of the antenna is achieved by using a carefully designed microstrip feed across the slot aperture which facilitates a fictitious short along the slot aperture. The antenna is then flush-mounted onto an arbitrarily built metallic platform and is shown to feature consistent impedance matching. The FTBR is found to improve when the antenna is embedded into the platform. The same antenna architecture is redesigned for VHF band operation using standard multi-layer PCB technology and consistent functionality is verified.
Study on Fluid Flow in a Large Round Bloom Continuous Casting Mold

The fluid flow in an 800 mm diameter bloom mold from two kinds of submerged entry nozzles (SEN) was investigated numerically with a mathematical model and experimentally in a water model. It was shown from the research results that the impacting depths measured in the water modeling experiments are in good agreement with the ones from the numerical calculation. The impacting depths obtained from the 4-port down 5° SEN are 140~220 mm at immersion depths from 100 to 180 mm, while those from 5-port up 5° SEN are 60~120 mm at immersion depths from 100 to 140 mm. There are an upper and a lower recirculating zone for these two SENs at the vertical section through a port center. Dimension of these two recirculating flow zones varies with the immersion depth of the SENs. At 100 mm immersion depth of the tow SENs the eye of the upper recirculating flow is not evident. The eyes of the upper recirculating flows for 5-port up 5° SEN are close to the SEN, while the ones for 4-port down 5° SEN are close to the mold wall. On the liquid surface in the mold, flow produced with the 4-port SEN creates 8 recirculating flow zones close to the SEN, while 10 recirculating flow zones close to the mold wall are formed with the 5-port SEN.
Wolves, trophic cascades, and rivers in the Olympic National Park, USA

Gray wolves (Canis lupus) were extirpated in the early 1900s from the Olympic Peninsula of northwestern Washington. Thus, we studied potential cascading effects of wolf removal by undertaking a retrospective study of Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus) populations, riparian forests, and river channel morphology. For three riparian sites within the western portion of Olympic National Park, the age structure of black cottonwood and bigleaf maple indicated a pattern of significantly decreased recruitment (growth of seedlings/sprouts into tall saplings and trees) associated with intensive elk browsing in the decades following the loss of wolves. At a riparian site outside the park, which represented a refugium from elk browsing, cottonwood recruitment has been ongoing during the 20th century, indicating that climate and flow regimes, in the absence of intensive herbivory, have not limited the establishment and growth of this deciduous woody species. Using 1994 orthophotos, we also measured channel dimensions and planform morphology of 8-km-long river reaches at each vegetation sampling site and an additional reach outside the park. Channels inside the park versus those outside the park had greater percent braiding (37 vs 2%) and larger ratios of active channel width/wetted width (3·0 vs 1·5 m/m). Results for western Olympic National Park were consistent with a truncated trophic cascade hypothesis whereby ungulate browsing following the extirpation of wolves caused significant long-term impacts to riparian plant communities which, in turn, allowed increased riverbank erosion and channel widening to occur. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and Validation of a Machine Learning Algorithm and Hybrid System to Predict the Need for Life-Saving Interventions in Trauma Patients

Accurate and effective diagnosis of actual injury severity can be problematic in trauma patients. Inherent physiologic compensatory mechanisms may prevent accurate diagnosis and mask true severity in many circumstances. The objective of this project was the development and validation of a multiparameter machine learning algorithm and system capable of predicting the need for life-saving interventions (LSIs) in trauma patients. Statistics based on means, slopes, and maxima of various vital sign measurements corresponding to 79 trauma patient records generated over 110,000 feature sets, which were used to develop, train, and implement the system. Comparisons among several machine learning models proved that a multilayer perceptron would best implement the algorithm in a hybrid system consisting of a machine learning component and basic detection rules. Additionally, 295,994 feature sets from 82 h of trauma patient data showed that the system can obtain 89.8 % accuracy within 5 min of recorded LSIs. Use of machine learning technologies combined with basic detection rules provides a potential approach for accurately assessing the need for LSIs in trauma patients. The performance of this system demonstrates that machine learning technology can be implemented in a real-time fashion and potentially used in a critical care environment.
Characterization and spectroelectrochemical studies of soluble polymerized 3-methoxythiophene

Abstract 3-Methoxythiophene was polymerized anodically on glassy carbon or carbon felt electrodes. The resulting polymer was reduced cathodically and then isolated as a red solid, soluble in a variety of organic solvents. Following purification, the product was characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR, UV-VIS, IR, HPLC and gel-permeation chromatography. These measurements indicated that the product is an oligomeric mixture n ~ 5–10, composed primarily of linearly linked 3-methoxythiophene units. The reduced polymer was coated onto various electrode materials and studied using cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry. Details of electrolyte effects are reported. The reduced polymer absorbed light with λ max 480 nm. Upon oxidation over the range of 0.2-0.8 V (SCE) it was converted to an oxidized film which had a broad band with λ max 635 nm extending into the near-IR region. The A 635 increased linearly with the charge passed, eventually leading to films that had about 10–20 cationic charges/100 monomer units. The electrochemical and optical behaviour of this soluble oligomeric mixture is quite similar to insoluble polythiophenes.
Syntheses and crystal structures of mono-, di- and trinuclear cobalt complexes of a salen type ligand

Abstract Three cobalt complexes containing the salen type ligand, bis(salicylidene)-meso-1,2-diphenylethylenediaminato (mdpSal2−), are reported. The complexes differ in nuclearity and include the mononuclear, Co(mdpSal) (1), which contains a Co(II) metal center bound to one mdpSal−2 ligand frame in a square planar geometry. The second complex is the dinuclear [Co(mdpSal)Cl]2 (2) in which both cobalt ions have been oxidized to the +3 oxidation state. The overall geometry of complex 2 is an edge-sharing bioctahedron with the coordination sphere around each cobalt metal center consisting of one mdpSal−2 ligand and one Cl− ion. The shared edge between the Co(III) ions contains two bridging phenolate groups, one from each ligand frame. Complex 3 is a linear, mixed valence, trinuclear species, [Co(mdpSal)(OAc)(μ-OAc)]2Co, with the oxidation states of the metal centers assigned as Co(III)–Co(II)–Co(III). The terminal Co(III) centers are equivalent with the central Co(II) lying on the inversion center of the molecule. Each cobalt ion in 3 adopts an octahedral geometry with the terminal Co(III) ions being bound to one mdpSal2− ligand each. All phenolate groups bridge to the central Co(II). The coordination sphere about each metal center in the trinuclear complex is completed by four acetate groups, two of which bind in a μ-fashion bridging from the terminal Co(III) metal centers to the central Co(II). The complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography as well as UV–Vis and IR spectroscopy.
Mismatch-specific post-meiotic segregation frequency in yeast suggests a heteroduplex recombination intermediate

Post-meiotic segregation of alleles, which is seen, for example, in the 5:3 distribution of alleles in the products of a single meiosis in fungi, has been thought to be due to the non-repair of heteroduplex regions formed during genetic recombination. In current models of genetic recombination, heteroduplex DNA is formed either as the primary intermediate generated by two interacting non-sister chromatids or as a short region flanking a double-stranded gap. The frequency of post-meiotic segregation differs for different alleles, and this is presumed to reflect the varying efficiencies with which different types of mismatches in the heteroduplex are repaired. To gain some insight into this process, we have now determined the nucleotide sequences of various yeast alleles with different post-meiotic segregation frequencies and compared the mismatches predicted to occur in heteroduplexes of these alleles with wild-type DNA with those repaired with varying efficiency in bacterial systems. A striking correlation is observed, with the mismatches predicted for high post-meiotic segregation frequency alleles being similar to mismatches repaired with low efficiency in bacteria. These results support the view that postmeiotic segregation frequency reflects heteroduplex repair efficiency and the contention that meiotic gene conversion is the result of the successful repair of heteroduplex mismatches.
Characterization of polychlorinated biphenyl distribution in the marine environment

I n t r o d u c t i o n . Polychlorinated biphenyls (CI2CInHIO_n with n = I , 2 . . . I0) or iginate as commercially prepared mixtures of cont ro l led chlorobiphenyl content. However, once released in the environment, the i r original d is t r ibut ion pattern is altered as a resul t of speci f ic physicochemical interactions with the various media of the receiving system. This d is t r ibut ion behavior has been observed during recent f ie ld investigations conducted in a number of coastal and estuarine regions (PAVLOU et a l . 1974). Since there is experimental evidence that tox ic i ty is homolog dependent (DEXTER and PAVLOU 1972; HAMMOND 1972) i t is apparent that the transport and bioaccumulation character ist ics of the individual homologs should be an important factor in assessing biological perturbations to an ecosystem receiving a substantial input of these compounds. Other investigators have also noted d is t r ibu t ion changes in marine samples, (ZITKO et a l . 1972; VIETH 1972; RISEBROUGH et aZ. 1972; GIAM et a l . 1973) but the data has been generally reduced to total PCB, rather than component concentrations, pr imari ly due to the d i f f i cu l t i e s inherent in the analysis of individual components. The commonly employed method of quanti tat ion by electron capture gas chromatography (EC/GC) provides l i t t l e d is t r ibut ion information since results are obtained from total integrated spectral comparisons with commercially available mixtures such as the Aroclor series. ROTE and MURPHY (1971) have improved the data analysis by separating the spectra into regions corresponding to the isomers of the same chlorine content, but fa i led to recognize the high va r iab i l i t y in response for isomeric chlorobiphenyls (ZlTKO et a l . 1971). WEBB and MCCALL (1973) provide a method for determining individual component responses but the technique requires microcoulometric detection capabi l i ty which l imits the analytical sens i t i v i ty .