cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE ILLUSORY PROMISE OF ECONOMIC NEXUS

The economic-nexus standard has gained significant support during the last decade as the proper standard for determining the scope of states’ taxing powers under the Dormant Commerce Clause. Unfortunately, however, despite the widespread acceptance of that standard in the abstract, there is no uniform understanding of what economic nexus actually means. State courts that have adopted that standard have generally failed to explain its parameters, and those few courts that have actually addressed the scope of economic nexus have adopted artificially high standards that severely restrict its reach. Actions by state legislatures and revenue authorities have been much the same. Uncertainty reigns, yet those disparate approaches to the same constitutional standard have yet to receive scholarly attention. This article fills that void by analyzing state actions in this area and by evaluating how states’ different formulations for economic nexus will likely develop over time. That analysis shows that states’ economic-nexus formulations have little theoretical or jurisprudential grounding and will necessarily change and deteriorate over time. As a result, states’ actions in this area will be non-uniform and will maintain the significant uncertainty that currently exists. Federal attention to economic nexus is thus warranted to prevent state actions from undermining the goals of the Dormant Commerce Clause. This article analyzes several potential federal responses and concludes that Congress should intervene and adopt a federal factor-nexus standard based on the Multistate Tax Commission’s model formulation.
Keynote I: “Designing heterogeneous systems in the AI era: Challenges and opportunities”

Artificial Intelligence has recently become a major trend, driving the rapid development of new compute capabilities. As AI functionality has improved, the demand for even greater capabilities has grown, requiring significantly higher levels of performance and energy-efficiency in the IT infrastructure. The maturation of classical semiconductor scaling has made delivering these higher levels much more challenging; reliance on scaling alone is insufficient. As a result, innovations in design, design automation, and architecture are crucial to improving power-performance. Accelerators in heterogeneous systems will increasingly be needed to improve overall system capabilities and power/performance. To enable practical accelerator integration, system architectures must be designed to easily incorporate heterogeneous components such as today's GPUs, as well as future accelerators for cognitive applications. Design processes must increase in efficiency to enable the cost-effective design of application-specific accelerators. In this presentation, I will describe these trends, some exemplary innovations that address them, and areas of future research towards heterogeneous systems for the AI era.
Phosphorus Assimilation and Its Control of Gene Expression in Escherichia coli

Cells require usable forms of the elements C, N, O, P, and S to serve as major building blocks for innumerable biomolecules. Though C, N, O, and S compounds are both oxidized and reduced in various bacteria, P assimilation is relatively simple because P is used primarily only in the +5 valence state found naturally in phosphates and phosphonates. Inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) is the preferred P source and represses the transcription of phosphate (PHO) regulon genes for use of alternate forms of P. No control exists in which a specific P compound is needed for induction of a gene(s) required for utilization of that compound.
Role in Nodulation and Genetic Regulation of Exopolysaccharide Synthesis in Rhizobium Meliloti

Genetic evidence has shown that Rhizobium meliloti exopolysaccharide is required for root nodule invasion on alfalfa. We have found that a specific form of the R. meliloti exopolysaccharide, succinoglycan, can rescue nodule invasion by exopolysaccharide deficient (exo) mutants. The active form of succinoglycan was present in a low molecular weight fraction, consisted of four repeat units, and was relatively anionic. A non-succinylated form of succinoglycan was not active, nor were low molecular weight exopolysaccharides from other species. In other work, we have determined that a spontaneous mutation in the exoS locus of R. meliloti decreases exo gene expression. We have also identified genes that regulate the expression of muc genes involved in the synthesis of the second R. meliloti exopolysaccharide, EPSb. mucR::Tn5 mutants showed decreased exo gene expression as well as increased muc gene expression. A Tn5 insertion in a new locus, muc8, decreased muc gene expression. Finally, a phoR or phoB-like gene in R. meliloti seems to be necessary for the induction of EPSb synthesis by low phosphate concentrations. A model for the genetic regulation of exopolysaccharide synthesis in R. meliloti is presented.
Fundamental Plasma Processes

When a sufficiently high voltage is applied across two electrodes immersed in a gaseous medium, atoms and molecules of that medium will break down electrically, forming electron-ion pairs and permitting current to flow. The phenomenon of current flowing through a gaseous medium is termed a “discharge,” also known as a plasma. The breakdown of the medium is characterized by the transition of the gas from a poor electrical conductor with resistivity (resistance × area/separation) of some 1014ohms • m to a good conductor with resistivity (dependent on the particular conditions) of ~103 ohms • m. The potential difference between electrodes at which this transition occurs is called the breakdown potential, V b, which depends on the identity and density of the gas, the electrode material and interelectrode separation, and the degree of preexisting ionization.
Comparing Two Groups or Treatments—A Bayesian Approach

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the value of a Bayesian approach in practical problems involving two groups (treatments) which are to be compared. Using practical criteria for comparisons, the advantage of the Bayesian approach will be demonstrated in two situations. Problem I will deal with cholesterol data from two groups of people and it is the aim of the experiment to say which group has the higher cholesterol levels. Problem II will compare two treatments in a clinical trial situation at an interim before the trial is completed. This situation is referred to as interim analysis because only part of the data in the planned trial has been collected. At this interim stage it is desirable to decide whether to stop the experiment now or to continue until the end.
A bacterial resolvase first exploits, then constrains intrinsic dynamics of the Holliday junction to direct recombination

Homologous recombination forms and resolves an entangled DNA Holliday Junction (HJ) critical for achieving genome repair. We use single-molecule observation and cluster analysis to probe how prototypic bacterial resolvase RuvC selects two of four possible HJ strands for cleavage. RuvC first exploits, then constrains intrinsic HJ isomer exchange and branch migration dynamics to direct cleavage toward only a desired, catalytically competent HJ conformation, thus controlling recombination products.
Learning cis-regulatory principles of ADAR-based RNA editing from CRISPR-mediated mutagenesis

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing catalyzed by ADAR enzymes occurs in double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). How the RNA sequence and structure (i.e., the cis-regulation) determine the editing efficiency and specificity is poorly understood, despite a compelling need towards functional understanding of known editing events and transcriptome engineering of desired adenosines. We developed a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated saturation mutagenesis approach to generate comprehensive libraries of point mutations near an editing site and its editing complementary sequence (ECS) at the endogenous genomic locus. We used machine learning to integrate diverse RNA sequence features and computationally predicted structures to model editing levels measured by deep sequencing and identified cis-regulatory features of RNA editing. As proof-of-concept, we applied this integrative approach to three editing substrates. Our models explained over 70% of variation in editing levels. The models indicate that RNA sequence and structure features synergistically determine the editing levels. Our integrative approach can be broadly applied to any editing site towards the goal of deciphering the RNA editing code. It also provides guidance for designing and screening of antisense RNA sequences that form dsRNA duplex with the target transcript for ADAR-mediated transcriptome engineering.
Association between HIV infection and outcomes of care among medicare enrollees with breast cancer

Abstract Background To assess the interaction of breast cancer, HIV infection, Medicare disability status, cancer stage and its implications for outcomes, after accounting for competing risks among female, fee-for-service Medicare enrollees. Methods We used data from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) -Medicare (2000–2013). From primary female breast cancer cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2011, we identified those with HIV infection. We used Generalized Linear Model for phase-specific incremental cost of HIV, Cox regression for association between HIV and all-cause mortality, and Fine and Gray competing risk models to assess hazard of breast cancer-specific mortality by HIV status. We also studied this association for subgroups of cancer stage and disability status. Findings Of 164,080 eligible cases of breast cancer, 176 had HIV infection. Compared to HIV-uninfected patients, HIV infected patients had 16% higher cost in initial phase, and 80% higher cost in interim stage of care, and at least two times higher mortality (all-cause and breast cancer-specific), after accounting for competing risk. Among disabled enrollees, HIV-infected patients had higher risk of all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality, compared to HIV-uninfected patients. Interpretation Female fee-for-service Medicare enrollees with breast cancer experience higher initial and interim phase cost and worse survival in the presence of HIV. This association was also significant among disabled Medicare enrollees. Medicare is the single largest source of federal financing for HIV care. Burden on Medicare will grow exponentially due to higher proportion of disabled among HIV-infected enrollees, longer survival among HIV- infected persons, increased HIV incidence in older adults, and increased age related risk of breast cancer. Future research can identify the pathways via which HIV infection affects cost and mortality, and develop integrated strategies for effective management of concomitant breast cancer and HIV and inform survivorship guidelines. Funding National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Grant # R21AG34870-1A1
USE OF MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS FOR CARDIAC IMPLANTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE (CIED) INFECTION: LESSONS FROM THE WRAP-IT TRIAL

Risk factors for CIED infection are not well defined and procedural techniques to minimize infection lack supportive evidence. WRAP-IT was a large randomized trial assessing the efficacy of an antibiotic envelope to reduce CIED infections. Machine learning techniques enhance the ability to identify
The Works of Ibn Wāḍiḥ al-Ya‘qūbī. An English Translation: Matthew S. Gordon, Chase F. Robinson, Everett K. Rowson, and Michael Fishbein (Eds), 3 vols., [Islamic History and Civilization. Texts and Studies 152.1-3], 2018 Leiden: E.J. Brill, x, vi, vi + 1384 pp., maps, €375.00/US $432.00 (hardback), ISBN 9789004356085

Academics have always recognised the importance of the works of al-Ya‘qūbī (fl. late 3rd/9th century). He was an erudite figure who led a fascinating career. An Iraqī Shī‘ite, al-Ya‘qūbī worked in ...
Pressure-Induced Formation and Mechanical Properties of 2D Diamond Boron Nitride

Understanding phase transformations in 2D materials can unlock unprecedented developments in nanotechnology, since their unique properties can be dramatically modified by external fields that control the phase change. Here, experiments and simulations are used to investigate the mechanical properties of a 2D diamond boron nitride (BN) phase induced by applying local pressure on atomically thin h-BN on a SiO2 substrate, at room temperature, and without chemical functionalization. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show a metastable local rearrangement of the h-BN atoms into diamond crystal clusters when increasing the indentation pressure. Raman spectroscopy experiments confirm the presence of a pressure-induced cubic BN phase, and its metastability upon release of pressure. A-indentation experiments and simulations show that at pressures of 2-4 GPa, the indentation stiffness of monolayer h-BN on SiO2 is the same of bare SiO2, whereas for two- and three-layer-thick h-BN on SiO2 the stiffness increases of up to 50% compared to bare SiO2, and then it decreases when increasing the number of layers. Up to 4 GPa, the reduced strain in the layers closer to the substrate decreases the probability of the sp2-to-sp3 phase transition, explaining the lower stiffness observed in thicker h-BN.
An Undergraduate Experiment to Investigate Air Pollutants Created from Lightning

Chemistry of the environment has been a long-standing and important area of scientific research. Atmospheric chemistry is of particular interest in society due to the impact that rising levels of pollutants are having on the climate. It is well-known that combustion processes create CO and NOx, which leads to the creation of other pollutants, such as ozone and CO2. There are natural processes, such as lightning, that also create a significant amount of pollutant gases. The purpose of this guided and open inquiry laboratory experiment is to provide an opportunity for students to investigate how lightning may produce pollutant gases in the atmosphere. In the guided inquiry experiment, a sealed IR gas cell containing air is exposed to a spark or corona discharge created by an Oudin coil to mimic lightning. IR spectroscopy is used to monitor the reaction progress and identify new species made after exposure to the electrical discharge. Based on the results, students draw conclusions about what types of gases are created in the two different discharge processes and how lightning may contribute to atmospheric pollutants. Students move on to the open inquiry to further investigate aspects of atmospheric gases, where they develop their own hypothesis and methods based on one of the provided suggestions, such as the effect of spark and corona discharge on pure oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide gases, the kinetics of ozone creation and decay, and the temperature dependence of NO2 dimerization. Although designed for an honors general chemistry course, this experiment can be adapted for second-semester general chemistry, environmental chemistry, analytical, and physical chemistry laboratory courses. Results from these experiments are presented, and the relevant atmospheric chemical processes are discussed. The impact of this experiment on perceived gains in knowledge, the value of inclusion in the curriculum, and the design of the experiment were assessed, and the results are discussed.
Chemical and Radiation Stability of PEEK

Publisher Summary The structure of polyaryletherketones, including polyaryletheretherketone (PEEK), confers outstanding chemical resistance. The resonance-stabilized chemical structure of PEEK results in delocalization of higher orbital electrons along the entire macromolecule, making it extremely unreactive and inherently resistant to chemical, thermal, and postirradiation degradation. PEEK implants must be sterilized prior to implantation and must also withstand years of exposure to aqueous environments at body temperature. This chapter summarizes the literature as it relates to the stability of PEEK in water-based environments. It also reviews the thermal and radiation stability data for PEEK and discusses the ramifications of the material's stability for typical sterilization techniques for medical devices. The thermal stability of PEEK has been studied because of its high-temperature industrial applications and processing conditions. Studies have shown that thermal degradation occurs in PEEK at temperatures between the glass transition and melt transition, but that temperatures exceeding the processing temperature of PEEK are needed to produce volatile degradation products. Radiation stability is another common concern for aliphatic polymers, including polyolefins such as ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), which are susceptible to bond cleavage during irradiation, leading to the generation of long-lived macroradicals. The radiation stability of crystalline and amorphous PEEK has been extensively studied for the past two decades because of the interest in spacecraft applications and nuclear fusion reactors where the total exposure to radiation ranges between 10 and 50 MGy. Radiation stability data indicate that PEEK components may be effectively sterilized by gamma irradiation in air.
Approximation in Hardy Spaces

Since the transfer function (or matrix) of a stable linear system is analytic in |z| ≥ 1, the transformation z → z −1 guarantees its analyticity in the unit disk |z| ≤ 1. In this chapter we will study approximation by polynomials and “stable” rational functions in |z| ≤ 1, using the Hardy spaces H 2 and norms. Here, due to the reciprocal transformation, “stability” requires location of poles in |z| > 1. Approximation in the Hankel norm will be considered in the next chapter. In order to achieve a firm understanding of the rudiments of these important mathematical tools for optimal system reduction, filter design, model matching, feedback control, and disturbance rejection, etc., we will first consider SISO systems. Standard methods are sometimes applicable to generalize our discussions to MIMO systems which will be studied in Chap. 6. Here and throughout, P n will always denote the collection of all polynomials of degree no greater than n and R n the collection of all rational functions of degree n. More precisely, $$P_n = \{ p_0 z^n + \cdots + p_{n - 1} z + p_n : p_0, \cdots, p_n \in c\}$$ (3.1) and $$R_n = \left\{ {\frac{{p_0 z^n + \cdots + p_n }}{{z^n + q_1 z + \cdots + q_n }} : p_0, \cdots,p_n,q_1, \cdots,q_n \in c} \right\}.$$ (3.2)
Neural Nets Based on Biology

The sections in this article are 1 Network Architecture 2 Executing the Network 3 Results 4 Discussion 5 Appendix 1 Keywords: neural networks; modular; lateral inhibition; ALOPEX algorithm; supervised; unsupervised training
Adenosine 3':5'-cyclic phosphate-dependent and -independent protein kinases of renal brush border membranes. Solubilization, separation, and characterization of multiple forms.

Abstract Multiple protein kinase activities were found in the luminal segment of the renal proximal tubule cell plasma membrane (brush border membrane). Membranes were extracted with Lubrol, with no loss in activity, and the extract was chromatographed on diethylaminoethyl cellulose with a salt gradient. With protamine as substrate, activity eluted in two peaks, designated I and IIb, and was cyclic AMP independent. With histone VII-S, one peak, designated IIa, appeared, which eluted slightly ahead of IIb and was cyclic AMP dependent. The three activities eluted in their original patterns following rechromatography. Histone kinase activity in the combined IIa+b fraction was stimulated threefold by cyclic nucleotides ( K a = 0.013 and 0.94 μM for cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, respectively) by increasing V . Cyclic AMP binding activity eluted with histone kinase activity. Rechromatography of IIa+b on diethylaminoethyl cellulose containing 1 μ m cyclic AMP resulted in passage through the column of most of the histone kinase activity (IIa) prior to the salt gradient, but retention of kinase IIb, which again eluted in its original position. Characterization of the separated enzymes revealed that kinase I was highly specific for protamine and totally insensitive to cyclic AMP and a specific protein inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent kinases. Kinase IIa was relatively specific for histones and was completely inhibited by the protein inhibitor. Kinase IIb was nonspecific, catalyzing phosphorylation of protamine, casein, histones, and phosvitin in decreasing order of activity, and was insensitive to cyclic AMP and the protein inhibitor. Exposure of intact brush border membranes to elevated temperatures revealed that phosphorylation of intrinsic membrane proteins and protamine was thermolabile, whereas cyclic AMP-dependent histone kinase activity was relatively thermostable. These findings implicate cyclic AMP-independent protamine kinases in the cyclic AMP-independent autophosphorylation of the brush border membrane.
Large-scale SQP methods and their application in trajectory optimization

Optimal trajectory problems are representative of a class of constrained optimization problems in which the constraints are discrete versions of continuous constraints (including ordinary or partial differential equations) and the variables define a discrete approximation to a continuous solution. This class is characterized by a large number of variables and sparse problem derivatives. Optimal trajectory problems have the additional property that the problem derivatives, or their approximations, are very expensive to evaluate.
Ota Benga: The Pygmy in the Zoo

Ota Benga: The Pygmy in the Zoo. Phillips Verner Bradford and Harvey Blume. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. xxi. 281 pp., 16 b/w photos.
Responsible self-medication: review of the process of pharmaceutical attendance

This article presents a review, based on a qualitative study, of pharmaceutical orientation in the management of minor illness. Action research methodology was used by a group of faculty members responsible for the community pharmacy internship and by postgraduates in clinical pharmacy, to carry out the study with the objective to present a standard service for this kind of procedure. The interaction with the individual starts with a welcoming reception, at which point the pharmacist should be receptive and show empathy. Subsequently, data from the history of the patient are collected to obtain relevant information. Based on this information, the pharmacist must develop a line of clinical reasoning and make a decision, taking the context of the patient into account. After this analysis, the most appropriate intervention is performed. This intervention could indicate the need for referral to another health professional, the use of a non-pharmacological therapy or the provision of sound advice on medicines available without prescription. The next step is monitoring the patient in order to identify the effectiveness and safety of treatment. The standardization process of pharmaceutical attendance in the management of minor disorders contributes to the rational use of medicines.
High-Resolution Spectra of 12C34S2: The 3ν3 Band

Abstract Fourier transform spectra have been recorded for isotopically enriched carbon disulfide 12 C 34 S 2 in the region of the 3ν 3 band near 4540 cm −1 . The data were fitted and new molecular constants determined. We also observed bands of the isotopomers 12 C 32 S 34 S, 12 C 33 S 34 S, and 12 C 34 S 36 S.
Multimarker Approach to Risk Stratification in Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes: Simultaneous Assessment of Troponin I, C-Reactive Protein, and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide

Background— In patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), troponin I (TnI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) each predict adverse cardiac events. Little is known, however, about the utility of these biomarkers in combination. Methods and Results— Baseline measurements of TnI, CRP, and BNP were performed in 450 patients in OPUS-TIMI 16. Elevations in TnI, CRP, and BNP each were independent predictors of the composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or congestive heart failure (CHF). When patients were categorized on the basis of the number of elevated biomarkers at presentation, there was a near doubling of the mortality risk for each additional biomarker that was elevated (P=0.01). Similar relationships existed for the endpoints of MI, CHF, and the composite, both at 30 days and through 10 months. In a validation cohort of 1635 patients in TACTICS-TIMI 18, the number of elevated biomarkers remained a significant predictor of the composite endpoint after adjustment fo...
Carbon–hydrogen and carbon–heteroatom bond activation using iridium(I) complexes

Abstract In this research, the B3LYP density functional and Stevens effective core potentials are used to compare carbon–hydrogen and carbon–heteroatom bond activation by an iridium(I) complex. Of particular importance is to address the kinetic (transition state) and thermodynamic (ground state) selectivity. The complex Ir(PH 3 ) 2 (H) with CH 3 –X (X=F, Cl, OH, SH, NH 2 , PH 2 ) as the substrate has been used as a model. Good agreement in geometries is obtained between the target molecules and experimental models. The resultant products of C–H and C–X oxidative addition are Y-shaped minima (i.e., a distorted trigonal bipyramid with one acute and two obtuse angles among the equatorial ligands). Oxidative addition of the C–X bond to the substrate is exothermic for groups 16 and 17, but endothermic for group 15. A significant thermodynamic preference for C–X activation over C–H activation is observed for these Ir(I) complexes. However, analysis of the transition states for oxidative addition suggests that there is a kinetic preference for C–H activation.
Precision analysis of a whole blood T cell subset immunophenotyping assay

Meeting abstracts The Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network has initiated several clinical trials utilizing T cell growth factors such as IL-15 and IL-7. In support of these trials, we have developed and conducted precision testing of a 12-color flow cytometric assay to characterize the surface
Current Management of Epilepsy and Pregnancy: Fetal Outcome, Congenital Malformations, and Developmental Delay.

Purpose. Women with epilepsy (WWE) reportedly have increased rates of pregnancy complications and poor fetal outcomes related to both their epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). These results influence decisions about conceiving. Most published studies evaluate WWE treated before 1990. We sought to better define risks to pregnant WWE at a tertiary care center, which used current epilepsy guidelines.Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 100 consecutive pregnancies in WWE from 1990 to 2000. Maternal data: epilepsy syndrome, duration, AEDs used, seizure occurrence and frequency, delivery type and complications. Fetal outcomes: fetal birth weight (FBW), gestational age, incidence of prematurity, major and minor congenital malformations, developmental delay.Results. Maternal factors: 37% generalized and 63% partial epilepsies, 59% seizure-free throughout pregnancy, 30% increased and 22% decreased seizure frequency, 90% used AEDs, 21% required polytherapy, 98% took folate, and 48% with gestational seizures delivered by cesarean section, compared with 18% without seizures (P < 0.01). Fetal outcome: Mean FBW and gestational ages similar regardless of AED usage or exposure to maternal seizures, 3.9% prematurity, no cases of still birth or neonatal hemorrhagic disorder, 1.1% of children exposed to AEDs had major congenital malformations, and 6.2% of offspring had pervasive developmental delay (PDD).Conclusions. All fetal outcomes were similar to outcomes for the general population, with the exception of higher rates of PDD and cesarean section. In our small sample of WWE treated with current epilepsy management, the majority had excellent outcomes. Future large studies must confirm this.
An apparent correlation between the brightest galaxies and quasars

Abstract A new search is reported for a spatial correlation between bright galaxies and quasars. The Palomar Bright Quasar Survey was used. The 20 brightest galaxies within the PBQS survey area show a striking clustering towards the direction of the local supercluster. The quasar sample is found to be overdense by a factor of 2 in this same direction. The most certain quasars, those with z⩾1.0, show an overdensity in this same direction similar to that of the bright galaxies (factor of 4–6).
Multiplexed single-molecule assay for enzymatic activity on flow-stretched DNA.

We report a single-molecule assay for nucleic-acid enzymes on flow-stretched DNA templates. To facilitate the detection of slow or intermittent enzymatic activities, we developed the assay with 15-nm spatial resolution at a frame rate of 1 Hz and ∼10 nm mechanical stability over the timescale of hours. With multiplexed data collection, we applied the assay to φ29 DNA polymerase, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, λ exonuclease and Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.
Recent applications of viscoelastic damping for noise control in automobiles and commercial airplanes

In this paper, the application of passive damping technology using viscoelastic materials to control noise and vibration in vehicles and commercial airplanes is described. Special damped laminates and spray paints suitable for mass production and capable of forming with conventional techniques are now manufactured in a continuous manner using advanced processes. These are widely used in the automotive and aerospace industry in a variety of applications to reduce noise and vibration and to improve interior sound quality. Many of these recent applications are not readily available for dissemination in academe and archival literature. It is hoped that the material presented in this paper will be useful for instruction and further research in developing new and innovative applications in other industries.
A FLEXIBLE STRATEGY FOR EMBEDDING AND CONFIGURING RUN-TIME CONTRACT CHECKS IN .NET COMPONENTS

In component-based systems, there are several obstacles to using Design by Contract (DbC), particularly with respect to third-party components. Contracts are particularly valuable when debugging or testing composite software structures that include third-party components. However, existing approaches have critical weaknesses. First, existing approaches typically require a component's source code to be available if you wish to strip (or re-insert) checks. Second, documentation of the contract is either distributed separately from the component or embedded in the component's source code. Third, enabling and disabling specific kinds of checks on separate components from independent vendors can be a significant challenge. This paper describes an approach to representing contracts for .NET components using attributes. This contract information can be retrieved from the compiled component's metadata and used for many purposes. The paper also describes nContract, a tool that automatically generates run-time checks from embedded contracts. Such run-time checks can be generated and added to a system without requiring source code access or recompilation. Further, when checks for a given component are excluded, they impose no run-time overhead. Finally, a highly expressive, fine-grained mechanism for controlling user preferences about which specific checks are enabled or disabled is presented.
Absorption spectra of wide-gap semiconductors in their transparency region

Abstract The linear absorption spectra of GaP, TiO 2 , ZnSe, and ZnS are measured in their transparency range using a two-color, excite-probe Z -scan. ZnS has the lowest absorption coefficient (∼10 −5 cm −1 ) in the wavelength range 840–900 nm, making it an excellent material for use as a luminescence extracting lens in semiconductor laser cooling experiments. Direct observation of two-photon absorption in ZnSe using only low power, continuous laser beams is also reported.
Introducing natural language program analysis

This research group presentation focuses on our work in extracting and utilizing natural language clues from source code to improve software maintenance tools. We demonstrate the valuable information that can be gained from a software system's identifiers, literals, and comments. We then present an overview of our extraction process, program representation, and a set of tools we have developedusing this natural language program analysis.
Dyadic shifts and a logarithmic estimate for Hankel operators with matrix symbol

Abstract We are going to show that the commutator of the Hilbert transform with matrix multiplication by a BMO matrix of size n×n is bounded by a multiple of logn times the BMO-norm of the matrix.
Cost-effectiveness of Automated External Defibrillator Deployment in Selected Public Locations

OBJECTIVE: The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends an automated external defibrillator (AED) be considered for a specific location if there is at least a 20% annual probability the device will be used. We sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the AHA recommendation and of AED deployment in selected public locations with known cardiac arrest rates. DESIGN: Markov Decision Model employing a societal perspective. SETTING: Selected public locations in the United States. PATIENTS: A simulated cohort of the American public. INTERVENTION: Strategy 1: individuals experiencing cardiac arrest were treated by emergency medical services equipped with AEDs (EMS-D). Strategy 2: individuals were treated with AEDs deployed as part of a public access defibrillation program. Strategies differed only in the initial availability of an AED and its impact on cardiac arrest survival. RESULTS: Under the base-case assumption that a deployed AED will be used on 1 cardiac arrest every 5 years (20% annual probability of AED use), the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained is $30,000 for AED deployment compared with EMS-D care. AED deployment costs less than $50,000 per QALY gained provided that the annual probability of AED use is 12% or greater. Monte Carlo simulation conducted while holding the annual probability of AED use at 20% demonstrated that 87% of the trials had a cost-effectiveness ratio of less than $50,000 per QALY. CONCLUSIONS: AED deployment is likely to be cost-effective across a range of public locations. The current AHA guidelines are overly restrictive. Limited expansion of these programs can be justified on clinical and economic grounds.
Scaling Attitude Items: a Comparison of Scalogram Analysis and Ordering Theory

The study compared an ordering-theoretic method of identifying item hierarchies with scalogram analysis in the evaluation of an eight item attitude measure. The attitude measure assessed "progressive" and "traditional" views of education. Data were collected in a survey of a random sample of 178 parents of public school children. The scalogram analysis revealed that the items did not form a unidimensional and cumulative hierarchy. The ordering-theoretic analysis identified a branched, nonlinear hierarchy which had higher reproducibility and scalability than the linear hierarchy identified by the scalogram analysis. The results support the use of ordering theory in defining item hierarchies in attitudinal measures.
Germination salt resistance of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) germplasm in relation to subspecies and centers of diversity.

Saline soils and water severely limit the productivity of crop and pasture lands in semiarid and arid environments. The breeding of salt resistant cultivars of some crops is a partial solution to this problem. To breed for increased salt resistance, scientists must characterize the potentials and limitations of germplasm resources. This study measured the salt resistance of 761 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. Emend. Sensu Lato) plant introduction accessions to NaCl during germination and characterized the resistance by subspecies, country of origin, and center of diversity. Experiments indicated that germplasm from the arid Indian and African centers excelled in NaCl resistance during germination. Germplasm from the Falcata center was least resistant. M. sativa L. subsp. sativa was more than twice as resistant as M. sativa L. subsp. ambigua or subsp. falcata. Thus, more resistant germplasm potentially adapted to the warm desert regions is available than resistant germplasm better suited to alfalfa production in more temperate regions.
Intracellular protein and nucleic acid turnover in resting yeast cells

Abstract In the absence of exogenous energy and nitrogen, resting yeast cells are capable of replenishing both their nucleotide and free amino acid pools. This replenishment phenomenon is the result of intracellular protein and nucleic acid breakdown rather than of cell lysis. Isotopically labeled cells showed turnover rates of 6.6 · 10−3 h−1 and 1.5 · 10−3 h−1 for protein and nucleic acid respectively. Protein and nucleic acid degradation, as well as their synthesis, are energy-requiring reactions. When exogenous energy is available, the degradation products are reutilized for protein and nucleic acid synthesis. Employing 15N-purine-grown cells, it was found that the amino groups of nucleic acid purines can serve as nitrogen reservoirs for limited protein synthesis.
Redundant noisy attributes, attribute errors, and linear-threshold learning using winnow

First we study the performance of the linear-threshold algorithm, Winnow, in the presence of attribute errors in the data available for learning. We study how such errors affect bounds on the number of mistakes that Winnow will make. We allow the errors to be generated by an adversary. In the presence of such errors the bounds for Winnow retain the logarithmic dependence on the number of relevant attributes that they have in the noise free case. There is an additional additive term proportional to a weighted sum of the number of errors occurring in each relevant attribute during a sequence of trials. We next examine probabilistic mistake bounds that can be obtained by making stronger assumptions about the instances seen by the learner. We are particularly interested in models of noisy redundant information. The situation that we consider is motivated by the case where there are two prototypical instances each described by a number of attributes, one prototype with classification 1 and the other with classification 0. The instances seen by the learner are noisy versions of these prototypes. The noise affecting irrelevant attributes can be arbitrary (even generated by an adversary), but we assume that the relevant attributes are affected by random noise independently of one another. We obtain bounds (holding with high probability) that grow in proportion to the number of trials. In a typical case the constant of proportionality that we obtain decreases exponentially with the number of independent relevant attributes.
“I make a mark”: The significance of talk in young children's artistic development

Abstract Young children frequently accompany drawing activities with descriptive, reflective, and social conversation, verbally monitoring, supplementing, and sharing the progress of their marks. This review of literature presents research and theory in support of the proposition that language is an essential component of early artistic development, crucial to the nature and nurture of visual expression. Consideration of the developmental significance of young children's talk about their art suggests that appropriate forms of dialogue between adults and children in art-making contexts may provide a foundation for understanding and facilitating artistic activity in the early years.
Places of pharmaceutical knowledge-making: Global health, postcolonial science, and hope in South African drug discovery

This article draws on ethnographic research at iThemba Pharmaceuticals, a small South African startup pharmaceutical company with an elite international scientific board. The word ‘iThemba’ is Zulu...
Bench-scale testing of selected remediation alternatives for contaminated sediments.

Abstract The Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sediments (ARCS) Program within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) contained a component for demonstrating and evaluating sediment remediation technologies. Toward this end, bench-scale tests of solvent extraction, thermal desorption, and wet air oxidation technologies were conducted. Contaminated sediments were tested from the Grand Calumet River, Indiana; Buffalo River, New York; Saginaw River, Michigan; and Ashtabula River, Ohio. The primary contaminants of concern in these sediments were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The solvent extraction tests were conducted with sediments from the Grand Calumet, Buffalo, and Saginaw rivers. The thermal desorption studies were conducted with sediments from the Grand Calumet, Buffalo, and Ashtabula rivers. The wet air oxidation testing was performed with the Grand Calumet River sediment. Raw sediment contaminant ...
Training technical services OCLC users

Like many librarians in this era of shrinking budgets, I usually feel too busy with my day‐to‐day tasks and supervisory duties to spend much time contemplating the big picture. Recently, though, a couple of events have motivated me to think about how we train library personnel to work with OCLC.
Differential thermal analysis of furfuryl alcohol resin binders

Abstract Differential thermal analysis (DTA) has been used to study the behaviors of several furfuryl alcohol resin binders, when subjected to a variety of experimental conditions similar to those encountered during graphite fabrication. Three experimental resin types were studied: a maleic anhydride-polymerized furfuryl alcohol resin, a γ alumina-polymerized furfuryl alcohol resin and a furfuryl alcohol-formaldehyde copolymer resin, each at several degrees of polymerization. In addition, a commercial furfuryl alcohol resin (Varcum resin) was studied. Several concentrations each of four curing catalyst types, a number of particle size fractions of two graphite filler types, four sample atmospheric environments, and two potential crosslinking agents were examined with DTA. The effects of each of the experimental variables were noted, and from this, an evaluation of the potential usefulness of the DTA method as a means of studying furfuryl alcohol binder resins was made. The study was conducted with sufficient detail to allow a number of conclusions to be made of direct application to graphite fabrication studies.
Influence of Sorghum Grain Tannins on Methionine Utilization in Chicks

Abstract Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding high tannin (HT) and low tannin (LT) sorghums in sorghum-soybean meal diets first limiting in methionine (Met) and in sorghum-soybean meal-safflower meal diets first limiting in lysine (Lys) and second limiting in Met. With the diets first limiting in Met, HT sorghum greatly reduced growth rate as compared to LT sorghum, and this reduction could be completely overcome by Met supplementation. In contrast, with diets first limiting in Lys, HT sorghum did not depress growth rate. Results of Lys and Met supplementation of LT sorghum diets corresponded to expected responses to first and second limiting amino acid additions; whereas neither Lys nor Met alone significantly influenced growth in HT sorghum diets, but supplementation with both amino acids elicited a response. It would appear that HT sorghum preferentially influenced Met utilization to a point where Met and Lys became equally limiting in the HT sorghum-soybean meal-safflower meal diet. Chicks fed HT sorghum-soybean meal diets and orally dosed with either 14CH3 or 14C-3 labeled Met excreted 1.5 × more radioactivity during the following 24 hours than did chicks fed LT sorghum regardless of the position of the label. In a digestibility trial, nitrogen retention, dry matter utilization, and nitrogen digestibility were all significantly lower in chicks fed an HT sorghum-soybean diet. Methionine supplementation did not significantly influence any of the parameters measured in chicks consuming the LT sorghum diet. In contrast, a significant increase in nitrogen retention and dry matter utilization was noted in chicks fed the HT sorghum diet supplemented with methionine. However, nitrogen digestibility was apparently unaffected.
The Effect of Surface Waviness and Number of Rolling Elements on the Dynamic Behavior of a Rotor-Bearing System

In the paper, the effects of the number of rolling elements and wave number of surface waviness on the nonlinear dynamic analysis of a rotor-bearing system has been studied. In the analytical formulation, the contacts between rolling elements and races are considered as nonlinear springs, whose stiffnesses are obtained by using Hertzian elastic contact deformation theory. The results are presented in the form of Fast Fourier Transformations (FFT) and Poincare maps, which show that the vibration characteristics of the rotor and its bearings change when the bearings operate in different regions of their nonlinear load deflection characteristics. The appearance of regions of periodic, sub-harmonic and chaotic behavior has been observed to be strongly dependent on number of rolling elements.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Implant success rates for single crowns and fixed partial dentures in general dental practices may be lower than those achieved in well-controlled university or specialty settings.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Outcomes of implants and restorations placed in general dental practices: a retrospective study by the Practitioners Engaged in Applied Research and Learning (PEARL) Network. Da Silva JD, Kazimiroff J, Papas A, Curro FA, Thompson VP, Vena DA, Wu H, Collie D, Craig RG, Practitioners Engaged in Applied Research Learning Network Group. J Am Dent Assoc 145(7):704-13 . Reviewer Panos Papaspyridakos, DDS, MS, PhD Purpose/Question What are the outcomes of implants and restorations placed in general dental practices? Source of Funding Government: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Type of Study/Design Retrospective cohort study Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Singularity formation during Rayleigh-Taylor instability

During the motion of a fluid interface undergoing Rayleigh-Taylor instability, vorticity is generated on the interface baronclinically. This vorticity is then subject to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. For the related problem of evolution of a nearly flat vortex sheet without density stratification (and with viscosity and surface tension neglected), Kelvin-Helmholtz instability has been shown to lead to development of curvature singularities in the sheet. In this paper, a simple approximate theory is developed for Rayleigh-Taylor instability as a generalization of Moore's approximation for vortex sheets. For the approximate theory, a family of exact solutions is found for which singularities develop on the fluid interface. The resulting predictions for the time and type of the singularity are directly verified by numerical computation of the full equations. These computations are performed using a point vortex method, and singularities for the numerical solution are detected using a form fit for the Fourier components at high wavenumber. Excellent agreement between the theoretical predictions and the numerical results is demonstrated for small to medium values of the Atwood number A, i.e. for A between 0 and approximately 0.9. For A near 1, however, the singularities actually slow down when close to the real axis. In particular, for A = 1, the numerical evidence suggests that the singularities do not reach the real axis in finite time.
Noninvasive technique for monitoring of left ventricular filling dynamics

The apexcardiogram (ACG) permits low-cost, continuous monitoring of left ventricular filling but often loads the chest wall and is not quantitative. A model of diastolic model is offered to provide analytical interpretation of the ACG. A fiber optic approach is provided for noncontacting measurement of the ACG. Combined, these two methods offer a technique of measuring the degree of filling impairment and abnormal ventricular wall motion.