cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Naturalism and Economic Calculability

Early-twentieth-century theories about the impossibility of economic calculation provide an important framework for identifying the beliefs and conditions described in novels about the businessman. During the post-Gilded Age era, businessmen became primarily characterized as captains or titans of industry. This characterization, along with current, popular misunderstandings and misidentifications of determinist economic theories, hampers our ability to understand how naturalistic accounts of the economy are frequently a way of representing the economy as non-deterministic. Dreiser’s The Financier serves here as testing ground for this argument.
Catheter Break-in for Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysisuniversity of Missouri Experience:

Retrospective analysis of the results of several break-in techniques in our institution revealed that a 10 day delay in CAPD initiation after a midline Tenckhoff catheter insertion is sufficient to...
The digital common read: Creating a space for authentic engagement with social annotation

This paper describes a new approach to the common read at the University of New Haven, USA. Faculty and students choose a text in the public domain, place it on the web, and ask incoming first-year honors students to annotate the text collaboratively using Hypothesis. The choice of text, placement on the web, and editorial introduction can all affect rates of participation and the type of annotations that students choose to share. This method is a low-cost way of creating space for a social intellectual experience prior to arriving on campus.
Le marqueur discursif bon : ses fonctions et sa position dans le français parlé

A travers l’examen de 227 occurrences du marqueur discursif bon dans un corpus de francais parle, cette etude presente une nouvelle vue d’ensemble de ses fonctions pragmatiques. Nous proposons que bon est essentiellement un marqueur de reorientation et d’acceptation. La reorientation peut etre de nature textuelle quand bon marque l’introduction ou la reprise des unites de discours, ou la formulation ou la reformulation des idees du locuteur. D’autre part, cette reorientation est attitudinale quand bon marque le contraste, la resignation, et l’attenuation du message du locuteur. Une analyse de la place de bon dans le tour de parole et dans la phrase n’a pas discerne de patron net entre ses fonctions et sa position. Le locuteur insere bon dans les moments du discours ou il veut signaler son acceptation du discours precedent en meme temps qu’il indique une reorientation majeure ou mineure dans la structure de la conversation. L’examen des sequences de bon avec d’autres elements qui remplissent des fonctions similaires nous a permis d’evaluer si sa fonction d’acceptation ou de reorientation etait mise en avant dans un certain contexte.
Trust and Incentives in Principal-Agent Negotiations: The 'Insurance/Incentive Trade-Off'

The canonical principal-agent problem involves a risk-neutral principal who must use incentives to motivate a risk-averse agent to take a costly, unobservable action that improves the principal's payoff. The standard solution requires an inefficient shifting of risk to the agent. This paper, however, summarizes experimental research that throws doubt on the validity of this conclusion. Experimental subjects were routinely able to achieve efficiency in agent effort levels without inefficient risk-sharing. These experimental outcomes, while anomalous from the standpoint of principal-agency theory, are quite consistent with other experimental data testing notions of trust-based implicit contracting. Such contracting within a hierarchy may allow an outcome preferred, by both principal and agent, to that deemed possible by principal-agency theory. If this is true, then the lessons to be learned from principal-agency theory are all the wrong ones. Concentrating on incentives can crowd out the very qualities in a relationship that make social efficiency possible.
The Litigation Superpower’s Case Management Cure for Adversarial Ills

This contribution examines how adversarial excesses in the American system are contained through judicial case management. It begins with an introduction to the US court system and an explanation of American exceptionalism in procedure. America’s unique procedural attributes, while linked by many to a ‘litigation explosion’, also created the need for managerial judging. The contribution then examines the role of judicial settlement promotion in American courts. In some state courts, ‘settlement weeks’ became prominent; rather than hold one or two trials to resolve cases, judges would instead convene numerous settlement conferences to hammer out agreed resolutions. Indeed, judges command a special authority that, if used properly, could set parties on the right course in settlement negotiations. The contribution highlights both the innovations in judicial management and the results of judicial settlement promotion during the last half century. It concludes that the overall experience of judicial case management has been positive.
Comparison of CT image quality between the AIDR 3D and FIRST iterative reconstruction algorithms: an assessment based on phantom measurements and clinical images.

Modern CT iterative reconstruction algorithms are transitioning from a statistical-based to model-based approach. However, increasing complexity does not ensure improved image quality for all indications, and thorough characterization of new algorithms is important to understand their potential clinical impacts. This study performs both quantitative and qualitative analyses of image quality to compare Canon's statistical-based Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction 3D (AIDR 3D) algorithm to its model-based algorithm, Forward Projected Model-based Iterative Reconstruction Solution (FIRST). A phantom was used to measure the task-specific modulation transfer function (MTFTask), the noise power spectrum (NPS), and the low-contrast object-specific CNR (CNRLO) for each algorithm using three dose levels and the convolution algorithm (kernel) appropriate for abdomen, lung, and brain imaging. Additionally, MTFTaskwas measured at four contrast levels, and CNRLOwas measured for two object sizes. Lastly, three radiologists participated in a preference study to compare clinical image quality for three study types: non-contrast abdomen, pulmonary embolism, and lung screening. Nine questions related to the appearance of anatomical features or image quality characteristics were scored for twenty exams of each type. The behavior of both algorithms depended strongly on the kernel selected. Phantom measurements suggest that FIRST should be beneficial over AIDR 3D for abdomen imaging, but do not suggest a clear overall benefit to FIRST for lung or brain imaging; metrics suggest performance may be equivalent to or slightly favor AIDR 3D, depending on the size of the object being imaged and whether spatial resolution or low-contrast resolution is more important for the task at hand. Overall, radiologists strongly preferred AIDR 3D for lung screening, slightly preferred AIDR 3D for non-contrast abdomen, and had no preference for pulmonary embolism. FIRST was superior for the reduction of metal artifacts. Radiologist preference may be influenced by changes to noise texture.
Identification of wind turbine clusters for effective real time yaw control optimization

Control algorithms seeking to maximize wind plant power production may not require that all turbines communicate with each other for the purpose of coordinating an optimal control solution. In practice, an efficient and robust control solution may result by coordinating only turbines that are aerodynamically coupled through wake effects. The implementation of such control strategy would require information of which clusters of turbines are coupled in this way. As the wind changes direction, the clusters of coupled turbines may vary continuously within the array. Hence, in practical applications, the identification of these clusters has to be performed in real time in order to efficiently apply a coordinated control approach. Results from large eddy simulations of the flow over a wind farm array of 4 × 4 turbines are used to mimic Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) data needed for the cluster identification method and to evaluate the effectiveness of the yaw control applied to the identified clusters. Results show that our proposed method is effective in identifying turbine clusters, and that their optimization leads to a significant gain over the baseline. When the proposed method does not find clusters, the yaw optimization is ineffective in increasing the power of the array of turbines. This study provides a model-free method to select the turbines that should communicate with another to increase power production in real time. In addition, the analysis of the flow field provides general insights on the effect of the local induction, as well as of the wind farm blockage, on yaw optimization strategies.
Intellectual property and data ownership in the age of video recording in the operating room.

Background Recording intraoperative videos has become commonplace during surgery, with applications in video-based assessment, education and research. These videos can be both manually and automatically analyzed for performance analysis. A number of commercial entities providing video acquisition and processing has flourished over the recent years. As these companies expand, a number of medico-legal, licensing, intellectual property and data sharing related questions have been raised. Methods We performed a qualitative survey of surgeons, hospital administrators, lawyers and commercial entities offering video recording capabilities for serious issues that the average surgeon who records their videos should consider. To address these concerns, we reviewed relevant legal precedent and currently available contracts. Results We identified several key medico-legal constraints, including data ownership and storage, FDA compliance, privacy and potential for use in litigation, present the legal background and potential solutions. Conclusion Given the availability of surgical recording and the future of video-based performance analysis, surgeons need to become comfortable with the medico-legal issues and the potential solutions available with national physician-led lobbying.
Military Requirements for Topographic Maps

Considerations affecting military map requirements, including need for special military information, determination of size and shape of spheroid, and human factors; improvements to standard maps.
The Incidence of Eating Out: A Review and Decision Model for Managers of Fast Food Restaurants

Controversy over whether the fast-food industry is suffering from volatile economic shifts, changing family composition and life styles, or poor management has left an aura in its. atmosphere. The apparent slowdown in growth has implied that the industry is saturated. Many of its members are employing actions to counteract saturation and move back in the life cycle. A selection of decision criteria is suggested with implications which underscore the need for managers of fast-food operations to "set the stage" for new growth patterns.
Abstract 2782: The effect of ERRFI1 as a novel AKT regulator on cell proliferation and response to therapy is cell context dependent

ERRFI1, a negative regulator of the EGFR family, is known to inhibit EGFR activation along with downstream of EGFR signaling. It is recognized as a tumor suppressor. However, ERRFI1 has multiple functions, and here, we present a novel function of ERRFI1. We found that it can directly interact with AKT and positively regulate AKT activity through regulation of AKT473 site by inhibiting PHLPP, the phosphatase access to AKT. The effect of this regulation on cell proliferation and on response to chemotherapy is cell context dependent, e.g. EGFR levels. We hypothesize that in cancer cells with high EGFR expression, down regulation of ERRFI1 enhances EGFR signaling, while on the other hand, increases AKT dephosphorylation. The strength of these two opposing signals will determine the eventual cellular phenotypes. In cancer cells with low EGFR expression, the direct effect of ERRFI1 on AKT is dominant, resulting in activation of AKT. To test these hypotheses, we knockdown ERRFI1 in multiple human cancer cell lines with different EGFR levels. Knockdown of ERRFI1 in high EGFR expressing cells resulted in an increase of cell proliferation and resistance to gemcitabine treatment, and this effect was due to the dominant negative effect of ERRFI1on EGFR, which was confirmed by increased EGFR signaling. Knockdown of ERRFI1 in cell lines with moderate level of EGFR also increased cell proliferation and resistance to gemcitabine, although biochemically, down regulation of ERRFI1 reduced AKT pS473 levels, but increased ERK/MAPK signaling. The addition of EGFR inhibitor, gefitinib, overcame gemcitabine resistance due to downregualtion of ERRFI1. In contrary, in cell lines with low level of EGFR, ERRFI1 positively regulated AKT signaling via directly binding to AKT and blocking PHLPP access to AKT. Therefore, down-regulation of ERRFI1 inhibited cell proliferation and sensitized cells to gemcitabine. In summary, we identified a novel function of ERRFI1 as a positive AKT regulator and its effect on cell proliferation and response to therapy is cell context dependent, e.g. EGFR levels. These results provide us insights into the dual roles of ERRFI1 in regulation of EGFR and AKT pathway and would help us to better individualize cancer therapy. Citation Format: Junmei Hou, Kaustubh N. Bhinge, Liewei Wang. The effect of ERRFI1 as a novel AKT regulator on cell proliferation and response to therapy is cell context dependent. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2782. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2782
Technology-enhanced blended language learning in an ESL class: A description of a model and an application of the Diffusion of Innovations theory

Blended learning, a combination of face-to-face and online instruction, is seen as one of the most important advancements of this century and a natural evolution of the learning agenda (Thorne, 2003). Blended learning studies that compared traditional and blended foreign language classes showed no significant differences in learner outcomes and indicated student satisfaction with their learning experience. However, these studies did not allow for a sufficient description of what actually happens in an environment of a blended learning class because they lacked information about a number of characteristics such as teaching materials and methods, patterns of interaction, and participant roles. Moreover, some of the studies did not contain a theoretical base necessary to unify information about blended language learning. In view of these needs, this dissertation investigated a technology-enhanced blended learning in an ESL program. The study described the blended learning model using the framework for blended learning design proposed by Neumeier (2005). It also approached the investigation of blended learning as an innovation from two theoretical perspectives: Diffusion of Innovations theory (Rogers, 2003) and Curricular Innovation Model (Markee, 1997) by examining the innovation, its attributes, and stages of the innovation-decision process. Case study methodology was used to describe a hypothetical blended learning ESL class situated within the context of an Intensive English Program. The description of the case, the hypothetical lower-intermediate listening/speaking class, was based on the analysis of two actual listening/speaking classes which constituted two embedded units of analysis. Main participants in two classes included two teachers and their thirty-one students in addition to five other teachers and two administrators. Two classes used a commercially-available learning management system (LMS), MyNorthStarLab, to combine face-to-face classroom teaching and online learning in the computer lab and for homework. Both qualitative data (in-depth teacher interviews, class and lab observations, and student and teacher focus groups) and quantitative data (student surveys and student LMS records) were analyzed.
Gametangial development in Allomyces macrogynus

The possible role of mitochondria in determining the sex of the gametangia of Allomyces macrogynus was investigated. Quantitative studies of mitochondrial distribution in vegetative hyphae confirmed previous reports of apical mitochondrial clustering. However, by the time the male and female gametangia were partitioned off, no significant difference in mitochondrial distribution between the two sexes was present. Possible mechanisms for the redistribution of mitochondria during early differentiation are discussed. In addition, cytochrome oxidase activity was demonstrated in all mitochondria of both male and female gametangia by the use of diaminobenzidine. It is concluded that neither mitochondrial distribution nor differential mitochondrial activity plays a determining role in the differentiation of the sexual cells in Euallomyces.
The effect of oestrogen and testosterone on the urethral seam of the developing male mouse genital tubercle

OBJECTIVES To describe the effects of exogenous oestrogens and androgens on urethral formation in the mouse, as the development of the mouse and human urethra have significant similarities, and understanding normal male urethral development may help to identify the causes of abnormal development, e.g. hypospadias. MATERIALS AND METHODS Timed-pregnant C57/6 mice were exposed to synthetic oestrogens and androgens. The morphology of the genital tubercles was examined histologically and with three-dimensional computer reconstruction. Specific attention was focused on the developing urethral seam. RESULTS Microscopic serial analysis confirmed the presence of an arrest in seam formation in about half of oestrogen-treated male fetuses. In contrast, there was acceleration of urethral fold fusion and a longer urethral tube in those treated with androgens. Oestrogen-treated fetuses had a thin periurethral spongiosa, in contrast to androgen-treated fetuses which developed a thicker periurethral spongiosa. The effect of oestrogens on seam area formation did not depend on the dose, but in contrast, in the androgen-treated fetuses it was. CONCLUSION Oestrogens and androgens have a direct effect on the fusion of the urethral fold that leads to seam formation. Normal urethral development depends on the delicate balance of these complementary hormones.
Cultural Anchoring and Product Diffusion

Discusses the adoption and diffusion of product innovations among consumers. Examines the Cultural Anchoring model of diffusion, which comprises five sub‐areas: innovation process, trial/adoption process, diffusion process, assimilation/cultural anchoring, and aftermath. Surmises that certain technological innovations may foster a highly involving psychological dependence, with the individual′s self‐concept becoming strongly linked to his or her mastery over a new technology
ReLAM: Nonlinear Probabilistic Model for the Analysis of Reinforced Glulam Beams in Bending

AbstractThe University of Maine, in conjunction with Willamette Industries, Georgia-Pacific, Strongwell, and APA—the Engineered Wood Association, tested 90 fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-reinforced glue-laminated wood (glulam) beams. This study showed that a FRP reinforcement ratio of 3% in tension can increase glulam-allowable bending stress (Fb) by more than 100%. Furthermore, this physical testing was used to verify a nonlinear probabilistic computer model for reinforced glulam, called the reinforced laminated (ReLAM) model. ReLAM uses moment-curvature (M-Φ) analysis and Monte Carlo simulation to predict the strength and stiffness of a population of reinforced glulams, requiring as input distributions of the lamstock long-span flatwise-bending modulus of elasticity (E), ultimate tensile stress, and ultimate compressive stress. ReLAM output lists the reinforced glulam modulus of elasticity (MOE) and Fb in terms of the gross cross-sectional dimensions, providing beam properties in the same fashion as the...
Reducing racial disparities and disproportionalities in the child welfare system: Policy perspectives about how to serve the best interests of African American youth

Abstract This article examines current debates about how to reduce the overrepresentation of African American youth in the child welfare system and address related disparities. These debates reflect tensions between four long-standing perspectives in child welfare: expedient permanency, cultural continuity, family preservation, and social advantage. For each point of view, proponents' unique framing of the problem, use of research, and preferred intervention strategies are described. The emphasis of current federal policy on expedient permanency and transracial adoption is explored, followed by a detailed review of the literature evaluating the impact of this intervention on child and system-level outcomes. It is argued that conclusive evidence does not exist in support of transracial adoption and the expedient permanency perspective above others. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.
Dynamic Trunk Control Influence on Run-to-Cut Maneuver: A Risk Factor for ACL Rupture

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture is one of the most common serious knee injuries in field and court sports, with an estimated 70% of these injuries being non-contact in nature, often from sudden changes in direction or pivoting [3]. ACL injury results in both short- and long-term consequences for the athlete, which may include surgery, decreased activity levels, elevated pain levels during activities and increased risk of osteoarthritis. Previous studies have shown that knee abduction and tibial internal rotation moments independently strain the ACL, and that these moments have an interaction effect at physiologic load levels, creating strains approaching the reported range of ACL rupture [2, 6–8].© 2011 ASME
Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Analytical chemistry is the science of accurate and precise qualitative and quantitative measurements involving chemical systems. Spectroscopy is defined as the interaction of light and matter and has both physical and analytical applications. Physical spectroscopists use emitted light, absorbed light, or scattered light in order to understand the mechanics of a chemical system. Analytical spectroscopists use the same physical processes to determine the content and concentration of the atomic and molecular species present in a chemical system.
Evidence for electrogenic Na+ pumping in human atrial myocardium.

The resting potential of ‘sodium-loaded’ cardiac cells can transiently hyperpolarize to levels negative to the steady state resting potential [ 3, 5, 6 ]. Hyperpolarization is associated with the coupled efflux of Na + and influx of K + driven by an active transport process and may results from an increased K + equilibrium potential (E K ), an outward pump current or both. Using conventional microelectrode techniques, we found that Na + -loaded human atrial myocardium can also transiently hyperpolarize. Na + loading was induced by cooling to 2° to 3°C. Upon rewarning to 37°C in a 20 m m K + solution, the resting potential transiently hyperpolarized to levels at least 11 mV negative to the calculated E K and 29±2 mV (mean±S.E.) negative to the steady state level (−33±2 mV) recorded some 15–20 minutes later. An increase in K + conductance induced by acetylcholine exposure [ 2, 7, 10 ] during the transient hyperpolarization caused a depolarization, indicating that the resting potential was indeed negative to E K . These findings cannot be explained by either conductance changes or electroneutral Na + pumping and concomittant extracellular K + depletion. We conclude that the Na + -loaded human atrium can generate net pump current.
Immunologic regulation of toll-like receptors in gut epithelium

Purpose of reviewIn response to the presence of pathogens in the environment, the innate immune system has evolved to provide a rapid defense against microbes. This response involves the recognition of molecular patterns present in diverse microbes by a series of receptors termed toll-like receptors
Cerebral hemodynamics during cortical spreading depression in rabbits

Abstract Effects of a sibgle cortical spreading depression (CSD), elicited by KCl microinjection, on diameter of pial arterioles and venules in the parieto-occipital cortex were examined in urethane-anesthetized adult rabbits using a closed cranial window. The velocity of CSD propagation was2.7±0.1mm/min (mean±S.E.M.). All arterioles (n=39) except for those in the retrosplenial region (n=6) increased their diameter significantly during CSD. The arteriolar dilation lasted for1.5±0.1min. Location of dilating arteriole and propagating CSD showed that they were always closely associated temporally. As a percentage change, diameters of smaller arterioles significantly increased (from60 ± 1to103 ± μm, 71%, n = 12) more than those of larger ones (from82 ± 2to129 ± 3 μm, 57%, n = 27). While venules with initial diameter of85 ± 4 μm(n = 5) did not dilate, those with initial diameter of49 ± 3 μm increased to57 ± 3 μm(16%, n = 8) for1.4 ± 0.2 min during CSD. The majority of the dilated venules started to increase their diameter after nearby arterioles had dilated maximally. Pial arterioles, which dilated during ipsilateral CSD, decreased their diameter significantly from78 ± 2to72 ± 3 μm(8%, n = 11) during contralateral CSD for13.8 ± 3.6min with similar onset latencies as those observed for the dilation. Indomethacin pretreatment significantly enhanced arteriolar dilation during CSD (from73 ± 4to138 ± 6 μm, 89%, n =4). The results indicate that pial arteriolar dilation observed during CSD is an active response, and probably caused by an excitatory rather than inhibitory effect accompanying CSD, and that prostanoids may play an important modulatory role.
New constraints on the tectonic evolution of the eastern Indian Ocean

Abstract From marine magnetic anomaly studies, a fossil spreading ridge is identified beneath the Nicobar Fan in the northwestern Wharton Basin. Several north-south-trending transform faults offset this ridge left-laterally east of the 86°E transform fault. Our findings show that this ridge, which was part of the plate boundary between the Indian and Australian plates, ceased its spreading shortly after formation of magnetic anomaly 20 (∼ 45.6m.y. B.P.). Since the breakup of Australia and Antarctica probably occurred sometime between 110 and 90 m.y. B.P., we suggest that the Indian, Australian, and Antarctic plates were moving relative to one another from about 90 to 45 m.y. B.P. A triple junction would have existed in the southeastern Indian Ocean during that period of time. At anomaly 19 time (∼ 45m.y. B.P.), the junction became inactive, and Australia and India became a single plate. The northwest-southeast-trending Southeast Indian Ridge was formed by connecting the India-Antarctica spreading center with the Australia-Antarctica spreading center. Its activity has continued to the present time.
Accurate calculation of diffraction-grating efficiencies

tSchool of Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0 160Department of Mathematics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 152 13-3890ABSTRACTWe present a new numerical method for the solution of problems of diffraction of light by a singly or doubly periodicinterface between two materials. Our basic result is that the diffracted fields behave analytically with respect tovariations of the interface, so that they can be represented by convergent series in powers of the height of the gratingprofile. A second element in the theory consists of a simple algebraic recursive formula which allows us to obtain thepower series by considering a sequence of diffraction problems with flat interfaces. Once the Taylor coefficients havebeen computed, we use Pade approximants to extract the values of the fields from their power series expansions. Thisresults in accurate predictions for the efficiencies in the resonance region; in many cases these values are several ordersof magnitude more accurate than those obtained by currently available methods. For three dimensional biperiodicgratings, the performance of our method is of the same quality as for the singly periodic case. We demonstrate thewide applicability and accuracy of our algorithm with numerical results for two- and three-dimensional problems,and we compare our predictions with some experimental data.1. INTRODUCTIONDiffraction gratings are optical devices which consist of regular arrays of lines, grooves or other periodic orbiperiodic structures on the surface of a metal or dielectric. Nowadays gratings with periods of the order of a microncan be manufactured; they are used, for example, as wavelength selectors, anti-reflecting surfaces, as beam samplingmirrors in high power lasers and in spectrometers in UV and X-ray regions for space optics [22, 25, 14]. Theoreticalmodels that can predict the optical properties of gratings are of great importance, and have been sought since thediscovery of these devices two centuries ago. With the advent of new techniques for the manufacture of high qualitygratings it became clear that only a rigorous treatment based on Maxwell's equations would provide an accuratedescription of their properties.Special mathematical complexities are associated with this problem, due to the highly oscillatory nature of wavesand interfaces. Several approaches have been proposed for its numerical solution, including, most notably, methodsbased on the solution of integral equations [27, 14, 24, 231. Other rigorous methods include those based on differentialformalisms [29, 11] and Rayleigh expansions [13]. In this paper we shall present a new method of solution. Thismethod, one of whose advantages is its simplicity, exhibits a very good performance for the types of gratings usedin practice such as sinusoids and echelles. It applies equally well to singly periodic and biperiodic gratings, and itcan yield, in the resonance region, results that are several orders of magnitude more accurate than those obtainedby currently available methods.
Superconductivity in the Tl-Bi-Ca-Ba-Cu-O and Tl-Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O Systems

The influence of the substitution of Bi for Tl in forming the superconducting phases in Tl-Bi-Ca-Ba-Cu-O and Tl-Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O systems was investigated. In the Tl-Bi-Ca-Ba-Cu-O system, the Tl Ca2Ba2Cu3O9 phase forms from a 10% to 40% substitution of Bi for Tl in the nominal composition. With a further increaseing Bi, the superconducting phase disappears because of the formation of BaBiO3. On the other hand, the superconducting phase of (Tl, Bi)CaSr2Cu2O7 forms from a 10% to 90% substitution of Bi for Tl in the Tl-Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O system. It is recognized that the substitution of Bi for Tl stabilizes and accelerates the formation of the (Tl, Bi)CaSr2Cu2Ox phase.
The relation between classroom social status and classmate likability, compromising skill, temperament, and neighborhood social interactions

Classmate likeability, compromising skill, and temperament (n = 135) and after-school patterns of social interaction (n = 101) were examined for third through seventh grade children who were identified by a binomial probability model as popular, rejected, neglected, or average in the classroom setting. Significant effects were obtained for each type of score. Compared to the other social status groups, popular children were the best liked and rejected children were the least liked; neglected and average children fell between these two extremes. Popular children had higher compromising scores than either rejected or average children, and neglected children had higher scores than rejected children. Compared to average children, rejected children had higher attention and rhythmicity temperament scores. Finally, popular and average children had more neighborhood friends than either rejected or average children, and meglected children had more younger neighborhood friends than did average children. Results are discussed in terms of models of peer social status.
Further characterization of morphine-like peptides (endorphins) from pituitary

Summary Pituitary peptides with opioid pharmacologic action (endorphins) can exist in several forms with different basicities and molecular weights from about 3000 to
Time-frequency analysis for parametric and non-parametric identification of nonlinear dynamical systems

Abstract This paper points out the differences between linear and nonlinear system identification tasks, shows that time–frequency analysis is most appropriate for nonlinearity identification, and presents advanced signal processing techniques that combine time–frequency decomposition and perturbation methods for parametric and non-parametric identification of nonlinear dynamical systems. Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) is a recent data-driven adaptive time–frequency analysis technique that combines the use of empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and Hilbert transform (HT). Because EMD does not use predetermined basis functions and function orthogonality for component extraction, HHT provides more concise component decomposition and more accurate time–frequency analysis than the short-time Fourier transform and wavelet transform for extraction of system characteristics and nonlinearities. However, HHT's accuracy seriously suffers from the end effect caused by the discontinuity-induced Gibbs' phenomenon. Moreover, because HHT requires a long set of data obtained by high-frequency sampling, it is not appropriate for online frequency tracking. This paper presents a conjugate-pair decomposition (CPD) method that requires only a few recent data points sampled at a low-frequency for sliding-window point-by-point adaptive time–frequency analysis and can be used for online frequency tracking. To improve adaptive time–frequency analysis, a methodology is developed by combining EMD and CPD for noise filtering in the time domain, reducing the end effect, and dissolving other mathematical and numerical problems in time–frequency analysis. For parametric identification of a nonlinear system, the methodology processes one steady-state response and/or one free damped transient response and uses amplitude-dependent dynamic characteristics derived from perturbation analysis to determine the type and order of nonlinearity and system parameters. For non-parametric identification, the methodology uses the maximum displacement states to determine the displacement–stiffness curve and the maximum velocity states to determine the velocity–damping curve. Numerical simulations and experimental verifications of several nonlinear discrete and continuous systems show that the proposed methodology can provide accurate parametric and non-parametric identifications of different nonlinear dynamical systems.
Polynomial-time reinforcement learning of near-optimal policies

Inspired by recent results on polynomial time reinforcement algorithms that accumulate near-optimal rewards, we look at the related problem of quickly learning near-optimal policies. The new problem is obviously related to the previous one, but different in important ways. We provide simple algorithms for MDPs, zero-sum and common-payoff Stochastic Games, and a uniform framework for proving their polynomial complexity. Unlike the previously studied problem, these bounds use the minimum between the mixing time and a new quantity - the spectral radius. Unlike the previous results, our results apply uniformly to the average and discounted cases.
Stereoselective synthesis of (Z,E)-3,5-tetradecadienyl acetate: Sex attractant for carpenterworm moth,Prionoxystus robiniae (Peck) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) and effect of isomers and monounsaturated acetates on its attractiveness.

A new efficient stereoselective synthesis for (Z,E)-3,5-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z3,E5–14∶Ac) a potent male sex attractant for the carpenterworm,Prionoxystus robiniae (Peck), was developed. The effects of the other three isomers (Z,Z; E,Z; E,E) on the field attractiveness of theZ,E isomer toward maleP. robiniae were determined. TheZ, Z isomer inhibited attraction, theE, E isomer synergized attraction, and theE,Z isomer had no effect on attraction. Seven monounsaturated 14-carbon acetates were evaluated for their effect on the attractiveness ofZ3,E5–14∶Ac. (E)-3-Tetradecenyl acetate enhanced attraction and (Z)-9- and (E)-5-tetradecenyl acetate reduced trap captures. (Z,E)-3,5-Tetradecadien-1-ol also reduced the attractiveness ofZ3,E5–14∶Ac.
The Surgeon's Use of Epicardial Echocardiography During Repair of Congenital Heart Defects

Intraoperative echocardiography in the evaluation of congenital heart defects is a useful method to evaluate surgical anatomy, adequacy of repair, and ventricular performance. Since 1987, 733 patients have undergone epicardial echocardiography during repair. The routine use of this technique has led to the reduction in the need for both early and late reoperation.
Particle–vapor interaction in deposition systems: influence on deposit morphology

Abstract We have here presented methods to study interactions of vapors and particles in systems involving simultaneous deposition of vapors and particles. Besides estimating vapor and particle concentration profiles in the boundary layer adjacent to the deposition surface, their deposition rates are also calculated. In particular, we consider formation of porous preforms by deposition of silica particles and germania particles/vapors during the manufacturing of optical fibers. The process conditions not only dictate the relative rates of germania particle and vapor deposition on the deposition surface, but also controls the fraction of germania crystallinity in the resulting deposit. Moreover, the loss and migration behavior of the deposited germania during the sintering of the porous preform is extremely sensitive to the germania crystalline fraction. Our methods predict the germania weight percent deposited during the deposition process as a function of the deposition conditions, along with the fraction of germania that is crystalline/amorphous. The germania loss and migration behavior during the sintering step is also estimated. In predicting the germania loss and migration behavior, we have developed methods to systematically take into account the simultaneous heating of the preform, sintering of the porous preform, diffusion of gas species through the pores and the gas–solid reaction. Based on the methods developed here for deposition and sintering, processes have been developed which have resulted in sintered glasses with very high germania content (50 weight percent), and, without any glass quality issues of glass seeds, blank splitting or glass crizzling (devitrification).
Clinical and research issues on older drivers: future directions.

This article serves as an overview of both clinical and research issues relevant to enhancing the safety of older drivers. Even though the vast majority of older drivers are safe on the road, physicians and other health care providers need tools and mechanisms for identifying those older drivers who are a safety risk because of cognitive, sensory, and/or other medical impairments. Research in this field tends to have either of two related goals: (1) to help older drivers stay on the road as long as it is safely possible to do so, through identifying and rehabilitating those with impaired skills, and (2) to identify transportation alternatives to driving for those older adults faced with driving cessation. Driving is discussed as an activity of daily living within the broader context of mobility, and as such is tied to quality of life. Language: en
Motor Function in the Mitotic Spindle Minireview

Motor function is integral to spindle morphogenesis. Whereas the structural cues provided by centrosomes and kinetochores previously dominated our understanding of mitosis, the identification and characterization of spindle motors has illuminated less obvious mechanisms, which have only been appreciated since advancing technology has allowed a wider range of manipulations and visualization of spindle dynamics at high resolution. The more we learn, the more we realize that multiple overlapping and redundant forces contribute to the high fidelity of chromosome segregation, which is not surprising considering the devastating effects of errors in this process.Studies in many different eukaryotic systems have led to models for the function of individual spindle motors based on their molecular features and the effects of their disruption, but have not always led to a consensus for the role of a particular motor. The lesson here is that different systems emphasize different motors and mechanisms. For example, while all eukaryotes require one or more bipolar KIN N kinesin for spindle assembly, yeast appear to lack chromokinesins as well as poleward microtubule flux (Mallavarapu et al. 1999xMallavarapu, A, Sawin, K, and Mitchison, T. Curr. Biol. 1999; 9: 1423–1426Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMedSee all ReferencesMallavarapu et al. 1999). Is poleward microtubule flux an important component of spindle function in larger eukaryotic cells? Or simply a by-product of the many forces exerted on spindle microtubules? More complex reconstitution experiments using pure motors and dynamic microtubules may help address this question.The next big step in understanding how spindle motors function requires studying their interacting proteins, their regulation and the integration of their activities. Some spindle proteins that play important roles in conjunction with motors have already been identified. For example, NuMA is transported to microtubule minus ends by dynein/dynactin where it plays a key role in spindle pole cohesion (Merdes et al. 2000xMerdes, A, Heald, R, Samejima, K, Earnshaw, W.C, and Cleveland, D.W. J. Cell Biol. 2000; 149: 851–862Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (213)See all ReferencesMerdes et al. 2000). Interactions with motor accessory proteins, motility itself, and motor stability are likely to be further regulated by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation. As we have seen, changing the balance of motor activities can drive changes in spindle structure or chromosome movement, yet the integration of motor activities is poorly understood. Altogether, the many directions in this field promise to engage spindle enthusiasts for years to come.*E-mail: heald@socrates.berkeley.edu
Structures of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus 3C-like protease reveal insights into substrate specificity

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a highly pathogenic virus that causes severe respiratory illness accompanied by multi-organ dysfunction, resulting in a case fatality rate of approximately 40%. As found in other coronaviruses, the majority of the positive-stranded RNA MERS-CoV genome is translated into two polyproteins, one created by a ribosomal frameshift, that are cleaved at three sites by a papain-like protease and at 11 sites by a 3C-like protease (3CLpro). Since 3CLpro is essential for viral replication, it is a leading candidate for therapeutic intervention. To accelerate the development of 3CLpro inhibitors, three crystal structures of a catalytically inactive variant (C148A) of the MERS-CoV 3CLpro enzyme were determined. The aim was to co-crystallize the inactive enzyme with a peptide substrate. Fortuitously, however, in two of the structures the C-terminus of one protomer is bound in the active site of a neighboring molecule, providing a snapshot of an enzyme–product complex. In the third structure, two of the three protomers in the asymmetric unit form a homodimer similar to that of SARS-CoV 3CLpro; however, the third protomer adopts a radically different conformation that is likely to correspond to a crystallographic monomer, indicative of substantial structural plasticity in the enzyme. The results presented here provide a foundation for the structure-based design of small-molecule inhibitors of the MERS-CoV 3CLpro enzyme.
Color from invisible patterns

Human pattern resolution is limited by optical blurring as well as neural filtering by a cascade of retinal and cortical sites with progressively lower resolution limits. Curiously, pattern structure can influence perceived color: a high-contrast, monochromatic (single wavelength) pattern appears desaturated (closer to white) relative to a uniform field of the same wavelength. Here we show that this desaturation is evident even when the pattern's frequency is too high for conscious perception, implicating a nonlinear process--namely light adaptation--at the level of single cone photoreceptors. We propose a neural mechanism in which fast, involuntary eye movements serve to shift control over perception between two competing cone populations, each operating at different levels of adaptation.
Adverse effect of donor vasopressor support on immediate and one-year kidney allograft function.

Background. This purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference between the rates of acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and long-term graft survival in renal allografts procured from donors requiring inotropic support (DRIS) and those from donors not requiring inotropic support. Methods. Eighty-two consecutive cadaveric renal transplant patients were prospectively followed in our local procurement area, the Delaware Valley Transplant Program. Forty-eight patients received organs from DRIS (>10 mcg/kg per minute of dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine alone or in combination), and 34 did not. Results. Allografts from the non-DRIS group had an immediate function rate of 82.4% and a 1-year function rate of 91.2%. In comparison, the DRIS grafts had an immediate function rate of 58.3% and a 1-year function rate of 72.9%. These differences were statistically significant. The mean serum creatinine in the non-DRIS group was 1.46±0.58 mg/dl, whereas in the DRIS cohort it was 1.89±0.93 mg/dl. Conclusions. Kidneys transplanted from DRIS had significantly (1) poorer immediate function, (2) worse 1-year survival rates, and (3) higher serum creatinine at 1 year. We conclude that recipients receiving organs from donors requiring inotropic support are at a higher risk of developing ATN after surgery and experience reduced 1-year function.
Difference equations in statistical mechanics. I. Cluster statistics models

A review and some new results are presented for several cluster statistics models, solutions of which can be reduced to difference equations. Mathematical techniques suitable for solving these equations are surveyed.