cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electric and Magnetic Dipole Strengths of f-f Transitions in Cubic Cs2NaYCl6:Ln3+ Systems

Optical spectra of trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln3+) doped into the cubic elpasolite host, Cs2NaYCL6, have proved to be of special value in theoretical studies of Ln3+-crystal field interactions (1). In the Cs2NaYCl6:Ln3+ systems, the Ln3+ ions are each surrounded by six nearest-neighbor chloride (Cl−) ions and each resides at a site of exact octahedral (Oh) symmetry. The Oh site symmetry allows the lanthanide crystal field to be described entirely in terms of just two crystal field coefficients (excluding the spherically symmetric components of the crystal field), and it precludes any electric dipole contributions to the intensities of no-phonon (origin) crystal field transitions associated with lanthanide f-f excitations and de-excitations. In general, the optical absorption and emission spectra of the Cs2NaYCl6 systems may be analyzed entirely in terms of pure magnetic dipole lines associated with f-f (crystal field) origins, and sets of one-phonon vibronic lines which acquire electric dipole intensity via a vibronic coupling mechanism. Invariably, the most intense vibronic lines are associated with the three ungerade vibrational modes localized within the LnCl 6 3− chromophoric clusters. Vibronic lines associated with non-cluster vibrational modes (e.g., lattice modes) are frequently observed, but with lesser intensities.
Making short-term study abroad count—Effects on German language skills

This study investigated the effects of an intensive summer program on students’ writing, reading, listening, vocabulary, and grammar skills. The program consisted of 4 weeks at the U.S. home institution and 4 weeks in Berlin, Germany, and offered the equivalent of two college‐level, second‐year German classes in one summer. During the last three summers, students’ language skills were assessed before and after each summer program using the DIALANG assessment tool. Data were also collected from students participating in the regular‐semester classes, and the outcomes of students in fourth‐semester German were compared to those of students in the summer program. Data revealed that the summer students made statistically significant improvements in all language areas from before to after the program. They outperformed the students who completed the regular courses at home in the areas of vocabulary and listening but achieved lower levels in reading. The results suggest that intensive summer programs that combine at‐home courses and a short‐term stay abroad have positive effects on students’ second language skills and can provide a viable option for students who are unable to spend longer periods in the target country
When Rights, Incentives, and Institutions All Clash: The Case of School Vouchers and Special Education in Milwaukee

Two highly controversial issues in the field of K-12 education in the U.S. are special education and parental school choice. Those two policy concerns converge surrounding the question of what proportion of students in school voucher programs compared to public schools have education-related disabilities, and whether or not the two school sectors are properly classifying and serving students with special education needs. We might expect private voucher-receiving schools to serve fewer students with disabilities than local public school systems due to the legal framework and institutional incentives surrounding special education and private schools. Most federal disability laws do not apply to private schools. The private schools participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), which is our subject here, do not receive any extra government funds to serve students with disabilities. Still, if only a small portion of all MPCP students have disabilities, that finding would raise questions regarding the extent to which the program is fulfilling its original mission to serve disadvantaged students in Milwaukee. Based on evidence we collected over five years of studying the MPCP program, we are able to estimate that between 7.5 and 14.6 percent of MPCP students have disabilities that likely would qualify them for special education services were they attending Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). Our strongest analytical lever in generating that range is an individual fixed-effects estimation of the likelihood of being classified as a special education student in MPCP compared to MPS for the 20 percent of our sample who switched between the school sectors during our study. We also draw upon student disability classifications of private school principals, parent surveys, and school visits to inform our analysis. Our estimated rate of actual student disability in the MPCP is between 23 and 61 percent lower than the rate of student disability of 19 percent reported for MPS. Our estimates, however, are more than four times higher than the official disability rate of 1.6 percent for the MPCP announced by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction based merely upon the percentage of MPCP students who were given accommodations during the most recent round of accountability testing.
Perceived cancer risk among American Indians: implications for intervention research.

Objective Perceived risk of disease plays a key role in health behaviors, making it an important issue for cancer-prevention research. We investigate associations between perceived cancer risk and selected cancer risk factors in a population-based sample of American Indians. STUDY DESIGN AND POPULATION: Data for this cross-sectional study come from a random sample of 182 American Indian adults, aged > or = 40 years, residing on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. Outcome measures Perception of cancer risk was ascertained with the 5-point Likert scale question, "How likely do you think it is that you will develop cancer in the future?" dichotomized into low perceived risk and high perceived risk. Results Participants reporting a family member with cancer were more likely, by greater than five times, to report the perception that they would get cancer (OR = 5.3; 95% CI: 2.3, 12.3). After controlling for age and family history of cancer, knowledge of cancer risk factors and attitude about cancer prevention were not significantly associated with risk perception. Conclusions Perceived cancer risk was significantly associated with self-reported family history of cancer, supporting the importance of personal knowledge of cancer among American Indians. Further research is needed to obtain a more complete picture of the factors associated with perceptions of cancer risk among American Indians in order to develop effective interventions.
Use of Biomass Ash for Development of Engineered Cementitious Binders

Using waste agriculture and power plant byproducts to replace materials that are energy-intensive to produce can make these materials more “green”. Improved compressive strength can be obtained when rice husk ash (RHA) partially replaces ordinary Portland cement, a substance potentially hazardous and energy-intensive to make. When RHA is combined with other nanoparticles to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC), strength can be further enhanced. The microstructure of cement binders with replacement of OPC by combinations of coal fly ash, silica fume, RHA, nanosilica, and metakaolin were investigated using X-ray diffraction, backscattered electron imaging with energy-dispersive spectrum analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen sorptiometry. A combination of sustainable, renewable RHA and the waste product coal fly ash was found to synergistically improve cement binder strength. Analyses suggested the enhanced strength was due to RHA increasing amorphous reactive silica and coal fly ash con...
Senior-Year Curriculum in U.S. Medical Schools: A Scoping Review

AbstractPhenomenon: Many U.S. medical schools have responded to the adoption of competency-based medical education (CBME) frameworks by renewing their final-year curricula and including internship ...
Laparoscopic Techniques for Essure Device Removal

Abstract Introduction: Female sterilization is one of the most common methods of contraception in the United States.1 Historically, procedures were performed through abdominal laparotomy/laparoscop...
The Hidden Wounds of Hurricane Dorian: Why Emergency Response Must Look Beyond Physical Trauma.

Project HOPE, a global health and humanitarian assistance organization, has responded to some of the world’s largest natural disasters and humanitarian and health crises for more than 60 years. As natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity, otherwise effective health systems can become compromised, and - although less visible than traumatic injuries – populations with chronic diseases can be significantly impacted. Emergency preparedness and response efforts must adapt to address issues around continuity of care, access to pharmaceuticals, strengthening cold chain mechanisms, restoring supply chains, and educating patients with chronic illnesses on emergency preparedness. Project HOPE designs medical teams and supply donations to work alongside, rather than parallel to, existing health care infrastructure, laying the foundation for the long-term recovery of the health system.
Noncausal vector AR processes with application to economic time series

Abstract Inference procedures for noncausal autoregressive (AR) models have been well studied and applied in a variety of applications from environmental to financial. For such processes, the observation at time t may depend on both past and future shocks in the system. In this paper, we consider extension of the univariate noncausal AR models to the vector AR (VAR) case. The extension presents several interesting challenges since even a first-order VAR can possess both causal and noncausal components. Assuming a non-Gaussian distribution for the noise, we show how to compute an approximation to the likelihood function. Under suitable conditions, it is shown that the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) of the vector of AR parameters is asymptotically normal. The estimation procedure is illustrated with a simulation study for a VAR(1) process and with two real data examples.
G358 Cost of long term ventilation

Advances in Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care have increased the survival of children with life threatening or life limiting conditions. There has been a significant rise in children on long term home invasive ventilation. High profile cases have been in the media recently with debate on whether such interventions should be implemented focussing on ethics but without evidence of cost benefit analysis. Children on long term invasive ventilation are a high cost group with complex and varying underlying medical conditions requiring input from multiple teams, including 24 hour carers, medical and multidisciplinary team input as well as recurrent hospital and PICU admissions. In addition, the cost of equipment and drugs makes this a costly intervention. In any limited healthcare system rationing decisions have to be made: drug and other therapies are subject to health economic analyses. This study aims to assess cost per annum for LTV and an cost benefit analysis. Objectives Identify patients on LTV including comorbidities Assess cost of LTV to quantify cost–benefit analysis Measure outcomes : death/admissions/recovery Methods Review of patients requiring home long term invasive ventilation July 2009 – July 2019 Analysis of costs: clinic visits, hospital admissions, costs of equipment; cost of medication Outcomes and quality of life: mortality, admissions and length of stay; decannulation, ability to communicate and mobility analysis; ability of parents to work Results 10 patients: 3 died (aged 1 year, 7 years and 15 years) 4 decannulated 3 ongoing LTV (aged 15 months, 19 and 22 years) 5 night package £140,000pa accessories £12,000 pa replaceables/service £92,000 average cost home LTV around £350,000pa Conclusions LTV ventilation is an expensive treatment: its use should be analysed on a cost benefit analysis in a similar way to other available treatments.
STRATEGIC FRAMING WORK(S): HOW MICROCREDIT LOANS FACILITATE ANTI-WITCH-HUNT MOVEMENTS

*This article shows how a social movement organization focused on microcredit loans is able to mobilize a community against its own cultural practice of witch-hunts. Successful mobilization against witch-hunts are possible when two conditions are met: first, when activists are able to tap into microcredit groups’ social capacity for collective mobilization (defined by ties of mutual dependence, reciprocity, and friendship); and second, when activists are able to use strategic framing to present a coherent argument about the congruence of microcredit and anti-witch-hunt goals. In this context a master frame (women’s development) emerged that effectively forged the seemingly disparate goals of microcredit loans and anti-witch-hunt campaigns into one synthetic movement. In contrast, successful mobilization against witch-hunts was difficult in areas where the activists did not have access to the microcredit networks or were not able to strategically frame the campaign. Drawing on local successes in the 1970s and 1980s, such as the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India, microcredit programs have gained popularity across developing nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Related to this, a microcredit literature has emerged that is rich with examples of how small collateralfree loans extended to women can combat poverty, improve women’s status, and allow access to improved political opportunities (Kabeer 2001; Deshmukh-Ranadive and Murthy 2005; Hirschmann 2006). 1
Status of Freshwater Mussels in the Ochlockonee River Basin of Georgia and Florida

Recent and comprehensive surveys of Ochlockonee River basin mussel fauna are lacking, particularly in the lower portion of the basin which historically has been undersampled. We present the results of surveys conducted between 2006 and 2017 to assess the status of freshwater mussels in the Ochlockonee River basin, and examine historical survey records to assess changes in mussel distribution and population status in recent decades. We gave particular attention to the current status and distribution of 3 federally endangered mussels, Hamiota subangulata (Shinyrayed Pocketbook), Medionidus simpsonianus (Ochlockonee Moccasinshell), and Pleurobema pyriforme (Oval Pigtoe), and 1 threatened mussel, Elliptoideus sloatianus (Purple Bankclimber). During the 12-year period, 3 agencies made 257 collections throughout the basin, encountering 19 of the basin's 22 native mussel species. Shinyrayed Pocketbook and Oval Pigtoe were not detected and are possibly extirpated from the basin. Alasmidonta wrightiana (Ochlockonee Arcmussel), a basin endemic, was not found during the surveys. It has not been collected in more than 85 years, suggesting that the species is likely extinct. A remnant population of Ochlockonee Moccasinshell, also a basin endemic, was detected in a 23-km reach of the lower Ochlockonee River. Although encountered in most of their respective historical ranges, Cyclonaias infucata (Sculptured Pigtoe) and Purple Bankclimber appear to have declined in some areas of the upper basin. Watershed alterations in the basin that may have adversely impacted the mussel fauna include the conversion of forests to agricultural and urban lands, impoundment of the mainstem by Jackson Bluff Dam, introduction of Corbicula fluminea (Asian Clam), and the effects of droughts and water use by humans. Although we detected a relatively intact fauna in the lower Ochlockonee River, our findings suggest declines in 5 mussel species in the basin since 2000, including the 4 federally listed mussels.
Shahó and the Power of Place

On April 13, 2019, an EF3 tornado demolished the traditional Caddo grass house and the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site museum with approximately 80 people inside. This occurred on Caddo Days, an a...
Deformation Potential and Tensile Strength of Tablets of a Dry Granulated Formulation.

Abstract The increase in solid fraction (SF) of a packed granule bed with pressure applied during the in-die compression process results in an evolution of the tablet's matrix and mechanical strength. In this case study, the tensile strength (TS) of a dry granulated microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/mannitol (MNT)-based formulation was modeled in light of the deformation potential, ∆ (tablet SF – initial granule bed SF). Results showed that the TS of tablets linearly decreased as SF of granules (produced as mini-tablets of an ibuprofen formulation) increased. The formulated granules achieved a measurable tablet strength at a slightly lower critical deformation potential (∆c) than the pure MCC granules. Beyond ∆c, tablet TS increased almost linearly as the deformation potential increased, and the rate was higher for tablets with higher SF. Compared to the simple MCC system, the granules of the MCC/MNT-based formulation were weaker, and TS of tablets increased with deformation potential at a lower rate.
Intraspecific interactions in aggregations of Lindenius (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae, Crabroninae)

The small, fossorial wasps in the genusLindenius occasionally nest alone, in the strictest sense, yet even in small aggregations the nest-searching behavior of both males and females leads to intraspecific interactions. The continuous searching of nests by males is a distinctive type of behavior in the Sphecidae. Interactions between females ofL. columbianus errans (Fox) include fighting at entrances, actual and attempted nest usurpation, prolonged intranest visits, and temporary cooperation. A cyclic pattern of nest-changes is generated by the usurping of nests by searchers and the tendency of displaced females to look for existing burrows instead of starting from the surface. The evolution of nest-searching byLindenius females is attributed to factors such as the ability to form dense aggregations, the inclination of related species of wasps to initiate nests in preexisting cavities, and the preference for nesting in firmly-packed soil. Searching of conspecific nests by males and females may be a successful response to the pressure of cleptoparasitic flies. Although the smallest females in the Auburn, N.Y. aggregation have black scutella and the largest have yellow scutella, the overlap is so great that generalizations relating size and color are not possible. Unlike females with yellow scutella, black scutellum females ofL. columbianus errans spend most of their time searching and rarely provision nests. Yellow scutellum females search other nests only when they are displaced from their burrows, whereas black scutellum females may abandon newlyacquired nests and continue their searching and usurping activities. Females ofL. columbianus errans sometimes demonstrate a tolerance for one another and a capacity to omit part of the normal pattern of nest construction and provisioning. Interactions in aggregations of this species may exemplify the initial stages of social evolution developing via the association of unigenerational individuals.
Neural-network-based catastrophe avoidance control systems

A novel approach based on interpolative neural networks is proposed for catastrophic fault detection and isolation, and system reconfiguration to accommodate the fault. The neural networks are from a class of recently developed interpolative neural networks, based on a generalized Fock space. The technique is designed to make use of secondary control configurations, assuming only partial system operation, as may be obtained by simulation and test results at design time (information not used by current adaptive controllers). >
Living and Working with the New Medical Technologies: Intersections of Inquiry

Living and Working with the New Medical Technologies: Intersections of Inquiry. Margaret Lock. Allan Young. and Alberto Cambrosio. eds. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000. ix+295 pp.
Mutants of SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE Resistant to the α Mating-Type Factor

Mutants that are resistant to α-factor have been isolated from a mating-type haploid strains of yeast by direct selection on agar medium containing partially purified α-factor. All resistant mutants isolated were found to be sterile. They were characterized and compared with mutants previously isolated as nonmating. Among 93 able to mate at low frequency and to sporulate, none showed linkage to the mating-type locus. The results support the hypothesis that the response to α-factor by cells of mating-type a is essential for mating.
Evaluation of Posttreatment Follow-Up of Patients With Prostate Cancer Relative to the American College of Radiology's Appropriateness Criteria

OBJECTIVE. The American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria panel has recommended that patients with prostate cancer who have received treatment undergo imaging only after suspected cancer recurrence. We examined whether local physicians followed this recommendation and what types of imaging examinations were ordered in a cohort of patients with local prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The Rochester Epidemiology Project, a research consortium that collects, links, and stores medical record information of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents, was used to capture the complete medical history of treated patients with prostate cancer from 2000 through 2011. Clinical information and imaging examinations performed were retrieved by chart review. Suspected recurrence was defined as treatment-specific prostate-specific antigen level elevations, bone pain, or abnormal digital rectal examination findings. RESULTS. Of the 670 treated patients with prostate cancer who were included in the final a...
The impact of medical education on asthma/rhinitis management by general practitioners

Background : studies on the effectiveness of medical education programs to improve the adherence to guidelines (GL) report conflicting results. Aim : to evaluate the impact of a medical education course (MEC) on the behavior of general practitioners (GPs) to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: 1820 patients with either AR or asthma (mean age 41yrs) of 107 Italian GPs. 50% of GPs attended a preliminary MEC (group A) and 50% did not (group B). The adherence for AR and asthma treatment was evaluated according to ARIA and GINA GL. Results: AR and asthma were diagnosed in 78% and 56% of patients, respectively. Higher compliances to ARIA GL were found in Group B for treating mild AR, in Group A for treating moderate-severe AR. Adherence to GINA GL for asthma treatment did not significantly differ between group A and B: an insignificant trend to higher compliances was observed in group A for treating severe persistent asthma without AR (63 versus 46%), in group B for treating severe persistent asthma with concomitant AR. Conclusions : We confirmed that GPs often tend to treat patients independently from GL. A single medical educational course seems to improve adherence to GL only for treating severe patients. This work was supported by the “Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA)”, within the independent drug research program, contract no. “FARM5JYS5A”.
Integration of Partial Information Within and Across Modalities: Contributions to Spoken and Written Sentence Recognition

Purpose This study evaluated the extent to which partial spoken or written information facilitates sentence recognition under degraded unimodal and multimodal conditions. Method Twenty young adults with typical hearing completed sentence recognition tasks in unimodal and multimodal conditions across 3 proportions of preservation. In the unimodal condition, performance was examined when only interrupted text or interrupted speech stimuli were available. In the multimodal condition, performance was examined when both interrupted text and interrupted speech stimuli were concurrently presented. Sentence recognition scores were obtained from simultaneous and delayed response conditions. Results Significantly better performance was obtained for unimodal speech-only compared with text-only conditions across all proportions preserved. The multimodal condition revealed better performance when responses were delayed. During simultaneous responses, participants received equal benefit from speech information when the...
Benefits of Segregation for White Communities: A Review of the Literature and Directions for Future Research

The relationship between racial residential segregation and African-American crime rates has thoroughly been explored within the literature on race and crime. However, predictions are mixed when addressing the relationship between racial residential segregation and white crime. According to Massey (2001), whites should be expected to benefit from segregation. This paper explores the research and the literature related to racial residential segregation and crime from the perspective of white advantage. Specifically, it is postulated that racial residential segregation may benefit whites economically, politically, and culturally via several key pathways: by removing them from residential areas of concentrated disadvantage, by distancing them from criminogenic subcultures and areas of higher victimization, and by maintaining political stability and/or reinvestment in white neighborhoods. The methods by which these relationships may be empirically tested are discussed. We further explore different measures of racial segregation, as well as potential intervening variables that may mediate the relationship between racial residential segregation and crime, and discuss the benefits and implications for their inclusion in future research.
The Role of Turbulent Heat Flux in the Generation of Potential Vorticity in the Vicinity of Upper-Level Jet Stream Systems

Abstract Results from three case study investigations of upper-level jet stream systems document the existence of stratospheric mesoscale cyclonic wind shear in the layer of maximum wind. Anomalously high values of potential vorticity are shown to coincide with the mesoscale cyclonic shear zone. The high values of potential vorticity within an upper level frontal zone were shown to result from shearing vorticity in the mesoscale high potential vorticity region of the stratosphere which is transported downward into the tropospheric frontal zone and becomes transformed into curvature vorticity with little change in thermal stability. The vertical gradient of diabatic temperature change resulting from vertical shear-induced turbulent heat flux, in layers of CAT, is proposed as the generation mechanism responsible for large values of potential vorticity on the mesoscale. It is proposed that turbulent-scale mixing processes are of fast order importance in the evolution of jet stream frontal zone systems.
Thiyl Radical Reaction with Amino Acid Side Chains: Rate Constants for Hydrogen Transfer and Relevance for Posttranslational Protein Modification

Thiyl radicals are prominent intermediates during biological conditions of oxidative stress and have been suggested to be involved in the mutagenic effects of thiols. While several enzymatic processes rely on the formation and selective reactions of protein thiyl radicals with substrates, such reactions may represent a source for biological damage when occurring uncontrolled during oxidative stress. For example, intramolecular hydrogen transfer reactions to protein cysteine thiyl radicals may lead to secondary amino acid oxidation products, which may represent starting points for protein aggregation and/or fragmentation. Here, we have used a kinetic NMR method to determine rate constants, k s c , for hydrogen transfer reactions between thiyl radicals and amino acid side chain C-H bonds at 37 °C. Rate constants cover a range between k s c ≤ 1 x 10 3 M - 1 s - 1 (Val) and k s c = 1.6 x 10 5 M - 1 s - 1 (Ser). On the basis of these values and earlier data, model calculations are performed, which will demonstrate that protein thiyl radicals may attack protein C-H bonds via intramolecular hydrogen transfer at physiological conditions, potentially resulting in irreversible protein damage.
Ex ante consumer welfare evaluation in cost-benefit analysis

Abstract Public projects and policies are normally evaluated ex ante, i.e., while consumers may still be uncertain about future prices, income levels, interest rates, and preferences. This paper extends the theory of ex ante consumer welfare evaluation by developing a 2-period model with multiple sources of uncertainty. It provides insights into the influence of temporal uncertainty on the empirical measurement of ex ante willingness-to-pay.
Global trends in kidnapping by terrorist groups

This study examines 40 years of kidnapping incidents by terrorist groups and finds several interesting trends, including terrorist groups are engaged in more kidnapping than in years past, but the proportion of kidnapping among all terrorist events annually has remained fairly constant; the geographic concentration of kidnapping incidents has shifted from Latin America (1970s–1990s) to South Asia (2000s–present); left-wing Marxist revolutionary groups have kidnapped more than groups in other ideological categories, but there has been a significant increase over the past decade in kidnappings by Muslim extremist groups; terrorist groups overall appear far less interested in kidnapping for financial gain than for political or policy concessions; and terrorist groups are selective about the type of people they target for kidnapping, which is striking given that many other kinds of terrorist attacks (e.g. bombings) are indiscriminate with regard to victims. The article concludes with some implications and rec...
Effectiveness of Diabetes Interventions in the Patient-Centered Medical Home

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is an innovative care model for the provision of primary care that is being rapidly adopted in the U.S. with the support of federal agencies and professional organizations. Its goal is to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care with increased access, quality, and efficiency. Diabetes, as a common, costly, chronic disease that requires ongoing management by patients and providers, is a condition that is frequently monitored as a test case in PCMH implementations. While in theory a PCMH care model that supports patient engagement and between-visit care may help improve diabetes care delivery and outcomes, the success of this approach may depend largely upon the specific strategies used and implementation approach. The cost-effectiveness of diabetes care in the PCMH model is not yet clear. Interventions have been most effective and most cost-effective for those with the poorest diabetes management at baseline.
A method for studying waves with spatially localized envelopes in a class of nonlinear partial differential equations

Abstract A methodology for investigating stationary and travelling waves with spatially localized envelopes is presented. The nonlinear governing partial differential equations considered possess a constant first integral of motion, and are separable in space and time when the small parameter of the problem is set to zero. To study stationary waves, a coordinate transformation on the governing nonlinear partial differential equation is imposed which eliminates the time dependence from the problem. An amplitude modulation function is then introduced to express the response of the system at an arbitrary point as a nonlinear function of a reference response. Analytic approximations to the amplitude modulation function are developed by expressing it in power series, and asymptotically solving sets of singular functional equations at the various orders of approximation. Travelling solutions may be computed from stationary ones, by imposing appropriate Lorentz transformations. As an application of the methodology, stationary and travelling breathers of a nonlinear partial differential equation are analytically computed.
A Relation Between Tree Amplitudes of Closed and Open Strings

We derive a formula which expresses any closed string tree amplitude in terms of a sum of the products of appropriate open string tree amplitudes. This formula is applicable to the heterotic string as well as to the closed bosonic string and type II superstrings. In particular, we demonstrate its use by showing how to write down, without any direct calculation, all four-point heterotic string tree amplitudes with massless external particles.
Elevation of Aortic Proline Hydroxylase: A Biochemical Defect in Experimental Arteriosclerosis

The relation of collagen synthesis to experimentally induced arteriosclerosis was studied by measuring proline hydroxylase activity. Gross aortic plaques were produced in rabbits by daily injection of epinephrine (intravenous) and thyroxine (intraperitoneal) for 4, 9, or 14 days. Activity of proline hydroxylase was significantly increased after 4 days of treatment and reached a peak, five- to sixfold increase, after 14 days of treatment. The increase in enzyme activity was correlated with the severity of observed arteriosclerosis. Increase in proline hydroxylase activity may be a possible biochemical defect in the aortas of rabbits with arteriosclerosis induced by injury.
New descriptions of phase/shape transition regions in nuclei

Phase transitional behavior, critical-point symmetries, and the low-energy nuclear phase diagram are discussed, with emphasis on the behavior of simple spectroscopic observables. A perspective on the low-energy nuclear phase diagram from the standpoint of Landau theory is presented as well.
Identifying themes regarding the benefits and limitations of caregiver support group conversations.

Support groups continue to be one of the most needed and desired forms of help for family caregivers to persons with dementia. Though the effects of caregiver support group participation have been examined, the benefits and limitations of the dynamics of support group conversations have been neglected. This study focuses on the perceived consequences of group dynamics. Three themes—balance, sameness, and individuality—emerged through analysis of open-ended interviews with support group members following observations of their meetings. The consequences of these themes are illustrated with a case study and the implications of these themes for practitioners are discussed.
Selection of visual targets for the initiation of saccadic eye movements

Abstract When a monkey uses a visual stimulus falling in the receptive field of a cell in one of the superficial layers of the superior colliculus as the target for a saccade, the response of the cell to that stimulus is frequently enhanced. The effect is selective; eye movements to other parts of the visual field are not associated with the enhancement. The selective enhancement is related to the superior colliculus and is not found in striate cortex. The selective enhancement is therefore a property of the superior colliculus branch of the visual system and is not simply a reflection of activity in the geniculo-cortical system. The enhancement in the colliculus is clear when the monkey responds to the stimulus with an eye movement to the stimulus but not when it responds with a hand movement. The enhancement is therefore dependent on the type of response made to the stimulus and is possibly specifically related to eye movements.
Network coding in optical networks with O/E/O based wavelength conversion

Performing network coding at network nodes with O/E/O wavelength conversion equipment incurs negligible additional cost. Our methodology finds minimum O/E/O equipment for multicast network coding on a minimal wavelength subgraph with one link failure reliability.
Circular dichroism and rotatory dispersion near absorption bands of cholesteric liquid crystals

A macroscopic theory is developed to explain the intense and highly structured circular dichroism (CD) and optical rotary dispersion (ORD) measurements of cholesteric liquid crystals in spectral regions of absorption, e.g., in the infrared. Oseen’s helical model of the dielectric tensor of the liquid crystal is used. The effects of each absorption band are represented by frequency-dependent, complex terms in the dielectric tensor. Assuming reasonable values for the absorptive parameters of the band, we are able to explain the magnitude and shape of the CD and ORD spectra, as well as their trends with the pitch of the helix. The calculated sign of the Cotton effect is shown to depend upon the direction of polarization of the absorption band with respect to the background birefringence. The observed preponderance of bands with one sign is qualitatively explained on the basis of the molecular structure of the liquid crystal.
Insights into Mutagenesis Using Escherichia coli Chromosomal lacZ Strains that Enable Detection of a Wide Spectrum of Mutational Events

Strand misalignments at DNA repeats during replication are implicated in mutational hotspots. To study these events, we have generated strains carrying mutations in the Escherichia coli chromosomal lacZ gene that revert via deletion of a short duplicated sequence or by template switching within imperfect inverted repeat (quasipalindrome, QP) sequences. Using these strains, we demonstrate that mutation of the distal repeat of a quasipalindrome, with respect to replication fork movement, is about 10-fold higher than the proximal repeat, consistent with more common template switching on the leading strand. The leading strand bias was lost in the absence of exonucleases I and VII, suggesting that it results from more efficient suppression of template switching by 3′ exonucleases targeted to the lagging strand. The loss of 3′ exonucleases has no effect on strand misalignment at direct repeats to produce deletion. To compare these events to other mutations, we have reengineered reporters (designed by Cupples and Miller 1989) that detect specific base substitutions or frameshifts in lacZ with the reverting lacZ locus on the chromosome rather than an F′ element. This set allows rapid screening of potential mutagens, environmental conditions, or genetic loci for effects on a broad set of mutational events. We found that hydroxyurea (HU), which depletes dNTP pools, slightly elevated templated mutations at inverted repeats but had no effect on deletions, simple frameshifts, or base substitutions. Mutations in nucleotide diphosphate kinase, ndk, significantly elevated simple mutations but had little effect on the templated class. Zebularine, a cytosine analog, elevated all classes.
Hyperinsulinemia has prominent role in refeeding syndrome pathophysiology.

We appreciate the comments by Hakan et al.1 regarding the potential pathogenesis of the severe hypophosphatemia and additional electrolyte dyscrasias in the intrauterine growth-restriction (IUGR) population. We agree that the most likely mechanism for the reported electrolyte abnormalities is a transient hyperinsulinemia. Increased release of insulin in response to the carbohydrate load with refeeding a chronically malnourished patient has been implicated as the key trigger for many of the electrolyte disturbances seen with refeeding syndrome.2, 3
Propagation characteristics of single-mode evanescent field couplers

The propagation of polarized light through a bottle coupler has been investigated experimentally. Relative phase shifts for orthogonally polarized modes and the strength of coupling between these modes have been determined. These results have been related to elements in the transfer matrix for the coupler. The effect of polarization on the sensitivity of an interferometric sensor with a fiber coupler as the output beam splitter has also been investigated.
Molecular species analysis of 1,2-diacylglycerol released in response to progesterone binding to the amphibian oocyte plasma membrane.

Abstract Progesterone, the physiological inducer of amphibian meiosis, acts within minutes at plasma membrane receptors of the Rana pipiens oocyte to release 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) from plasma and intracellular membranes. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of lipid extracts of uninduced oocytes indicates the presence of at least three classes of DAG with a total DAG content of about 150 μmol/kg wet weight. Within 3–5 min after exposure to progesterone, there was a differential increase in all three DAG classes with a twofold increase in total DAG by 10 min. The fatty acid composition of the DAGs in uninduced and progesterone-stimulated oocytes was compared using thin layer chromatographic analysis of lipid extracts from oocytes double-labeled with [ 14 C] or [ 3 H]glycerol and [ 14 C] or [ 3 H]fatty acids. The ratio of labeled fatty acid/labeled glycerol was measured in phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and DAG. The linoleic (18:2) or arachidonic (20:4) acid/glycerol ratios in basal DAG were low compared to that in PC or PI. In contrast, the myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0) or oleic (18:1) acid/glycerol ratios in basal DAG were relatively high compared to the ratio in PC and PI. A transient increase in both linoleic and palmitic acid labeling of DAG occurred within the first 1–2 min in progesterone-treated oocytes, followed by a return to or below the basal level. Arachidonic and myristic acid labeling of DAG fall within the first minute after progesterone treatment, followed by a sustained rise over the next 10 min. The [ 3 H]oleic acid/[ 14 C]glycerol ratio of DAG does not change significantly following exposure to progesterone. Pretreatment with a phospholipid N-methylation inhibitor (2-methylaminoethane) precluded the rise in linoleic and palmitic acid-rich DAG, whereas pretreatment with a diglyceride kinase inhibitor (D102) produced a sustained elevation of linoleic and palmitic acid-rich DAG. These results indicate that the DAG released in response to progesterone is composed of multiple new molecular species of DAG and that both the palmitate and linolate-rich forms are rapidly phosphorylated to form phosphatidic acid (PA). The newly formed DAG species differ from the basal DAG species and reflect sequential activation of sphingomyelin (SM) synthase, PC-specific phospholipase D (PLD) and PI-specific phospholipase C in response to progesterone, which we have described previously.
Unresolved direction of host transfer of Plasmodium vivax v. P. simium and P. malariae v. P. brasilianum

The evolutionary history of two human malaria parasites, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malariae, remains unresolved. The near genetic identity between human P. vivax and P. malariae, and primate P. simium and P. brasilianum, respectively, suggests that recent host transfers occurred, but questions remain, such as whether the transfer was from humans to New World monkeys or vice versa, and when the transfers occurred. Here, we investigate the phylogenies, haplotype networks, positive selection and genetic diversity among these parasite species by means of four genes. Human P. vivax and primate P. simium recently derived one from the other; at least two host transfers have occurred. Human P. malariae and primate P. brasilianum also have recently derived one from the other by lateral host transfer. The direction of the host transfer cannot be decided in either one of the two pairs of species, owing to the scarcity of available strains from the primate parasites.
Paradoxical Effect of Phlorizin on Glucose Uptake and Intracellular Accumulation of Amino-Acids in Rat Kidney Slices in vitro

THE discovery by von Mering1 that phlorizin causes glycosuria in the dog and the observation that phlorizin prevents renal tubular re-absorption of glucose2,3 have evoked considerable interest in this substance as a tool in the investigation of cellular transport mechanisms. Much work with phlorizin has shown this drug to be a potent inhibitor of penetration of hexoses and other sugars in gut preparations4,5, kidney slices6, ascites tumour cells7, and red cells8. Significant alteration of intracellular metabolism has also been noted. This literature has recently been reviewed by Lotspeich9 and Crane10.
Syndromes of Production: an Emergent Property of Simple Agroecosystem Dynamics

Abstract Ecological and economic forces are combined in a model of agroecosystem dynamics. Functions relating (1) cultivation intensity to regional yield, (2) regional yield to unit price, and (3) unit price to cultivation intensity are composed into a single function relating production and/or prices from one time period to another. The combination of ecological and economic dynamics are thus seen as codeterminants of two possible “syndromes of production”. One syndrome includes high product prices, market volatility, ecological decline, high cultivation intensity and low overall supply while the other syndrome includes low prices, stable markets, ecologically benign, low cultivation intensity, and high overall supply. The dynamical consequences of the model include stable points, permanent oscillations and chaos, either in the region of one or the other syndrome or periodically changing from one syndrome to the other.
The Effect of Assisted Ventilation on Creatinine Clearance and Hormonal Control of Electrolyte Balance in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Because renal function and electrolyte balance are commonly altered in premature infants, particularly those requiring ventilatory support, we studied the influence of assisted ventilation on renal electrolyte and water excretion in infants with birth weights less than 1501 g during the 2 days after birth. Twenty-two infants receiving assisted ventilation, either as intermittent mandatory ventilation or nasal continuous positive airway pressure, were compared with 21 spontaneously ventilating infants of similar birthweight and gestational age. Mean (and SEM) creatinine clearance was lower (p less than 0.05) in the assisted ventilation group on day 1 (2.9 +/- 0.4 versus 4.1 +/- 0.4 ml/min/1.73 m2) and on day 2 (4.1 +/- 1.0 versus 6.8 +/- 0.8 ml/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.05), and there was a correlation between creatinine clearance and mean blood pressure in both groups. Mean urine vasopressin was higher in the assisted ventilation group on the first day (360 +/- 86 versus 123 +/- 30 pg/mg creatinine; p less than 0.02) and correlated with higher urine osmolality. There were no differences in urine volume, in osmolar or free water clearances, or in the intake and urine excretion of sodium, potassium, and chloride. Plasma renin activity, urine aldosterone, and urine prostaglandin E2 were similar in both groups on both days. Neither the mode of assisted ventilation nor the cause of respiratory failure appeared to affect these results.
Immunoreactive Serum Insulin and Growth Hormone Response in Patients with Preinfarction Angina and Acute Myocardial Infarction

Levels of fasting growth hormone (GH), immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and glucose (FBS) were determined in 18 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and six patients with preinfarction angina on the day of admission to the hospital. The GH levels were within normal limits for the patients with AMI and preinfarction angina. Five of 18 patients with AMI and three of six patients with preinfarction angina had elevated levels of IRI, and one of 18 patients with AMI had IRI values below normal. None of the patients with preinfarction angina had hyperglycemia, but eight of 18 patients with AMI (44 percent) had elevated FBS levels. Of these eight patients with hyperglycemia, two had elevated IRI levels and six had values within normal limits. Thus, hyperglycemia in the two patients with elevated IRI levels was not attributable to hypoinsulinemia, but was due to other factors. The IRI levels did not correlate well with arrhythmias, Peel's prognostic score, clinical failure or cardiomegaly. GH levels were within normal limits in patients with AMI as well as preinfarction angina, and all survived. It is concluded that fasting-GH and IRI levels are similar in patients with AMI, and preinfarction angina and may indirectly indicate an equal degree of stress in these two disease states. Secondly, the presence of hyperglycemia in patients with AMI is not always related to insulin suppression, and may be due to other factors.