cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Effect of Race Bias in Post-traffic Stop Outcomes Using Propensity Scores

In response to community demands, case settlements, and state laws concerning racial profiling, police departments across the nation are collecting data on traffic stops. While the data collection is rapidly moving forward, there are few if any agreed upon methods for analyzing the data. Much of the attention has been on benchmarks for the race distribution of stops and searches. Little empirical work has advanced our understanding of the influence of race in the post-stop activities of police. The present study proposes a propensity score technique to determine the extent to which race bias affects citation rates, search rates, and the duration of the stop. Adjusting for confounding variables using the propensity score offers an alternative to multivariate regression that is more interpretable, less prone to errors in model assumptions, and ultimately easier to present to stakeholders in policing practices. An analysis of traffic stop data from the City of Oakland, California demonstrates the process, presentation, and interpretation of the results that the methodology produces. Ultimately, the study addresses the extent to which race plays a role in officers’ use of discretion.
Underdeveloped territories of bioinformatics

Abstract Molecular Bioinformatics: Algorithms and Applications by Steffan Schulze-Kremer. Walter de Gruyter, New York, 1995, $98.00, (hbk).
Towards a Spiritually Integral Theory of Management

Novel epistemological, ontological, and metaphysical foundations of the burgeoning spirituality in management “movement” suggest a fundamental revisioning of the extant management disciplines. First, we examine the roots of management knowledge by revisiting Burrell and Morgan's (1979) classic work on sociological paradigms and organizational analysis. Their subjectivist-objectivist/sociology of regulation-sociology of change, four-quadrant paradigm framework has become a seminal work in organizational studies. Second, we explore the interdisciplinary work of philosopher Ken Wilber (1998), whose integral four-quadrant, holonic paradigms nicely complement Burrell and Morgan's efforts. Third, as inspired by the vanguard ideas and practices of the spirituality in management movement, we synergistically combine these two bodies of knowledge to produce a spiritually integral theory of management. Such a holistic theory may serve as an intellectual and methodological grounding for the new spirituality in manage...
Incision properties and thermal effects of three CO2 lasers in soft tissue.

Objectives It was the aim of this study to determine thermal and histologic events resulting from soft tissue incision with three CO 2 lasers: one emitting light energy via a hollow waveguide at 9.3 μm; the others emitting light energy at 10.6 μm, one via a hollow waveguide, the other through an articulated arm delivery system. Study design Thirty standardized incisions were made in the oral mucosa of pig's mandibles with three different lasers at actual power levels of 1,4 and 12 W. Thermal events were recorded with thermocouples, and a histologic examination was performed to determine vertical and horizontal tissue damage as well as incision depth and width. Results Thermal and histologic results were related to parameters and beam characteristics rather than wavelength. Conclusion In addition to wavelength, many variables can contribute to the surgical characteristics of a laser.
Is there a continuum ambiguity for elastic πN amplitudes

The continuum ambiguity is defined as a phase factor not determined by those amplitude zeros near the physical region that can be directly deduced from the data; such a factor may be approximated by a polynomial whose zeros are far from the physical region. A study of recent TIN partial wave analysis (CUTKOSKY76 and HOHLER78) reveals that such a phase is either null or negligeable; CUTKOSKY76' s amplitude is found similar to that of a partial wave analysis based on Barrelet zeros. We give general arguments based on the notion of "peripheral resonances" to explain this situation. Our arguments imply that Atkinson"s {pi}{sup +}p "continuous ambiguity" is not relevant to the reliability of Barrelet-zero amplitude analysis.
Treatment Strategies for the Prevention and Relief of Symptoms in Psychiatric Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract Up to 40% of Americans have symptoms of allergic rhinitis, costing the health care system almost 2 billion per year. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease that results in sneezing, rhinorrhea, and congestion. Allergen avoidance can minimize such symptoms, but pharmacological therapy with antihistamines, decongestants, mast cell stabilizers, and corticosteroids may be necessary to effectively treat symptoms. In the psychiatric patient, tobacco use and drug interactions make treatment more complicated. Newly available agents described in this article may prevent treatment complications in the psychiatric patient with allergic rhinitis.
Glucocorticoid action on the immune system.

Abstract Glucocorticoids have profound effects on immune function that are mediated, in part, by steroid-induced cell death. Our studies have been aimed at identifying the mechanism of this lymphocytolytic process using the rat thymocyte as a model system. Administration of glucocorticoids in vivo resulted in internucleosomal cleavage of the lymphocyte genome that was detectable within 2 h of treatment and increased with time after hormone administration. Six h after steroid treatment > 50% of the genome was degraded, yet cell viability remained > 90% indicating that this event preceded cell death. Furthermore, this process appeared to be mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor since the antagonist RU 486 blocked glucocorticoid-mediated DNA degradation. To further characterize this lymphocytolysis we have analyzed glucocorticoid-treated thymocytes for nucleases. Two families of nuclear proteins have been identified, a 30–32 kDa doublet and a series of 3–4 proteins that are 12–19 kDa, both of which are induced by glucocorticoid treatment (137 ± 6% and 342 ± 24%, respectively) and have prominent nuclease activity. These nucleases can also be induced in vitro indicating that glucocorticoids act directly on thymocytes to mediate this response. Moreover, this nuclease induction, like glucocorticoid-mediated DNA degradation, could be blocked by RU 486. Based on these findings we propose a working model of glucocorticoid-mediated lymphocytolysis in which these steroids, acting via a receptor mediated process, induce the expression of a lysis gene product (nuclease) which degrades the genome and results in cell death.
Cyclooxygenase-2 gene polymorphisms reduce the risk of oral premalignant lesions.

Oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) have the potential to transform into malignant oral cancers. The overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene is frequently found in OPLs and oral cancers, suggesting that this gene may play an important role in the progression of oral cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of COX-2 gene have been associated with the risk of multiple cancers, but their effects on OPL susceptibility have not been sufficiently evaluated. Here we conducted a case-control study including 147 patients with OPL and 147 healthy matched controls. We evaluated the effects of three potentially functional COX-2 polymorphisms, including −765G>C (rs20417), exon10+837T>C (rs5275), and exon10−90C>T (rs689470), on OPL risk. We found that the variant-containing genotypes of COX-2 exon10+837T>C variant were associated with a significantly reduced OPL risk with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.48 (95% CI, 0.28−0.80). This protective effect was also significant in males, younger subjects, ever smokers, and ever drinkers. Consistently, a common haplotype (WMW, in the order of −765G>C, exon10+837T>C, and exon10−90C>T; W, wild-type allele, M, variant allele) and a common diplotype (WWW/WMW) that contained the variant allele of exon10+837T>C were both associated with a reduced OPL risk, having ORs of 0.55 (95% CI, 0.33−0.93) and 0.44 (95% CI, 0.22−0.89), respectively. In addition, using never smokers with the variant-containing genotypes as the reference group, we observed an interaction effects between specific COX-2 variants and tobacco smoking in the modulation of OPL risk. Overall, our results provided the first epidemiological evidence indicating that potentially functional polymorphisms of the COX-2 gene may impact OPL susceptibility.
Vesicles and cisternae in the trans golgi apparatus of human fibroblasts are acidic compartments

Recently we demonstrated that low-pH compartments can be visualized with the electron microscope using a basic congener of dinitrophenol, 3-(2,4-dinitroanilino)-3'-amino-N-methyldipropylamine (DAMP), which concentrates in acidic compartments and can be detected by immunocytochemistry with a monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol antibody. We now report that DAMP also accumulates in cisternae and vesicles associated with the trans face of the Golgi apparatus. DAMP rapidly leaves this compartment when cells are incubated with the ionophore monensin, which indicates that accumulation is due to the acidic pH in this compartment. Using indirect protein A-gold immunocytochemistry, we localized fibronectin, a major secretory protein in fibroblasts, to the trans Golgi vesicles that took up DAMP. Therefore, the trans cisternae of the Golgi apparatus and forming secretory vesicles have an acidic pH.
Building Scalable Web Services: Build only what you really need.

In the early days of the Web we severely lacked tools and frameworks, and in retrospect it seems noteworthy that those early Web services scaled at all. Nowadays, while the tools have progressed, so too have expectations with respect to richness of interaction, performance, and scalability. In view of these raised expectations it is advisable to build only what you really need, relying on other people’s work where possible. Above all, be cautious in choosing when, what, and how to optimize.
Impact of sorbitol on the thermostability and heat-induced gelation of bovine serum albumin

Abstract The influence of sorbitol (0–40 wt.%) on the thermal denaturation and gelation of bovine serum albumin (BSA, pH 7.0) in aqueous solution has been studied. The effect of sorbitol on heat denaturation of 0.5 wt.% BSA solutions was measured using ultrasensitive differential scanning calorimetry. The unfolding process was irreversible and was characterized by the thermal denaturation temperature (Tm). As the sorbitol concentration increased from 0 to 40 wt.%, Tm increased from 73.0 to 80.9 °C. The rise in Tm was attributed to the increased thermal stability of the globular state of BSA relative to its native state. The dynamic shear rheology of 4 wt.% BSA solutions containing 200 mM NaCl was monitored as they were heated from 30 to 90 °C at 1.5 °C min−1, held at 90 °C for 120 min, and then cooled back to 30 °C at −1.5 °C min−1. Sorbitol increased the protein gelation temperature (ΔTgel ∼+10 °C for 40 wt.% sorbitol), decreased the isothermal gelation rate at 90 °C, but increased the final shear modulus of the gels cooled to 30 °C. The impact of sorbitol on gel characteristics was attributed to its ability to increase protein thermal stability, increase the attractive force between proteins and decrease the protein–protein collision frequency.
Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitudes Scales: Instruments Designed to Measure Attitudes Toward the Learning of Mathematics by Females and Males.

Dvergsten, D. C. The effect of the use of advance organizers combined with guided discovery on achievement and retention in high school biology (Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota). Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms, No. 71-22,198, 1971. Eastman, P. M. The interaction of spatial visualization and general reasoning abilities with instructional treatment in quadratic inequalities: A follow-up study. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin, 1972. Peterson, J. C. Effect of an advance organizer, a post organizer, or knowledge of a behavioral objective on achievement and retention of a mathematical concept. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York, February 1971.
Phase I study of S-trans, trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (salirasib), a novel oral RAS inhibitor in patients with refractory hematologic malignancies.

Abstract Background Rat sarcoma ( RAS )/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF) /mitogen-activated protein kinase activation (mutational or nonmutational) is a key pathway for survival and proliferative advantage of leukemic cells. Salirasib (Concordia Pharmaceuticals) is an oral RAS inhibitor that causes dislocation of RAS by competing directly with farnesylated RAS in binding to its putative membrane-binding proteins. Salirasib does not inhibit farnesyl transferase enzyme. Patients and Methods We report on a phase I study of Salirasib in patients with relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies. Salirasib was administered orally twice daily on days 1 to 21 of a 28-day cycle in a "3+3" dose escalation design. Results Seventeen patients with relapsed/refractory leukemia were treated for a median of 4 cycles (range, 1-29). Three patients each were enrolled at a dose level of 100, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg twice daily and 2 patients at a dose level of 900 mg twice daily. No dose-limiting toxicities were encountered. Grade 1/2 diarrhea was the only frequent nonhematologic toxicity observed in 14 of 17 (82%) patients and was resolved with oral antidiarrheal agents. Eight (47%) patients (4 with myelodysplastic syndrome, 2 with acute myeloid leukemia, 1 with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and 1 with chronic myeloid leukemia) had hematological improvement; 1 in 3 lineages, 1 in 2 lineages, and 6 in 1 lineage. None of the patients achieved complete remission. The responses lasted for a median of 10 weeks (range, 5-115). The study was discontinued because of financial constraints. Conclusion Salirasib was well tolerated and showed modest activity in relapsed/refractory hematological malignancies. The safety profile of Salirasib and its hematological malignancy relevant target makes it a potential drug to be used in combination therapy.
Comparative Structure and Organization of Canopy Bird Assemblages in Honduras and Brazil

Abstract. Birds of the forest canopy are an integral component of bird communities of neotropical forests but remain largely unstudied, inhibiting any broad characterization of their assemblages. We present the first description of a canopy-bird assemblage from Middle America and, on the basis of > 11000 detections in lowland rainforests in Honduras and Amazonian Brazil, compare two distant canopy-bird assemblages. The richness of canopy birds at the two sites was similar despite the much higher richness of forest birds in Brazil. Furthermore, abundance distributions differed significantly: in Honduras the assemblage was dominated by a small number of superabundant species and had fewer rare species, whereas in Brazil it had fewer abundant species and was thus more even. Omnivores and insectivores dominated the assemblages in terms of species richness, but omnivores were numerically more abundant. Species of forest edges and open habitats, sometimes considered an important component of forestcanopy avifau...
Image brightening in samples of high dielectric constant

An analytic solution is given for the electromagnetic problem of a lossy dielectric cylinder of infinite length, irradiated by a circularly polarized radiofrequency (RF) magnetic field; the NMR-active components of the field inside the cylinder are projected out by transforming the RF Hamiltonian to the rotating frame and retaining only those terms independent of time; it is noted that the resulting cartesian field components are required to be real. The squared magnitude of the NMR-active fields are then used to calculate the gradient-recalled images of the cylinder, for small tip angles of the magnetization; and the result is shown to predict almost quantitatively the intensity patterns of experimental proton images at 3.0 and 4.0T, in a cylindrical phantom of radius 9.25cm, filled with 0.05M aqueous NaCl. In particular, the artifactual brightening at the center of the recorded image is convincingly reproduced in a simulation, whose underlying model excludes wave propagation along the direction of the cylinder axis. Formation of the artifact is explained in terms of the focussing of the RF magnetic field at the center of the cylinder, as illustrated by contour plots showing the time evolution of the rotating flux. An extended electromagnetic model--having the dielectric cylinder enclosed in a long, shielded volume resonator (e.g., of bird cage type)--is then sketched. The mathematical details appear in Appendix A; and the simulated images are shown to be virtually indistinguishable from those of the simpler original model. The theory of the Q, or quality factor, of the dielectric cylinder--considered itself as a resonant object--is developed for the enclosed cylinder model, where flux containment by the shield permits an unambiguous treatment of both the stored energy and the radiative losses. This is extended to treat the Q of a lossy dielectric sphere without shielding. Further plots of flux contours are given for the sphere, excited at 208 MHz with a uniform circularly polarized field, as well as by a surface coil, and for the enclosed cylinder in the range 140-160 MHz. It is then argued that the center brightening artifacts in magnetic resonance images are due to the underdamped dielectric resonance of the sample, i.e., at Q >0.5, while the overdamped condition, Q < 0.5, leads to exclusion of flux from the center, i.e., to the classic skin effect. The term "dielectric resonance" is shown to require careful interpretation for mixed-mode excitation, such as occurs with a surface coil. An extended reciprocity formula for NMR reception, valid for an arbitrary electromagnetic Green's function, is also given in Appendix B.
XLVI. The effect of combined stresses on the eleastic properties of iron and steel

(1906). XLVI. The effect of combined stresses on the eleastic properties of iron and steel. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 12, No. 70, pp. 418-425.
Assessing degree of cook during corn nixtamalization : Impact of processing variables

ABSTRACT Nixtamalization involves cooking and steeping corn in a lime solution, washing the corn (nixtamal), and stone grinding nixtamal to form a corn dough or masa. Masa is used to produce nixtamalized products (corn tortillas, tortilla chips, corn chips, taco shells, etc.) by forming and baking or deepfat frying. The degree of corn kernel cook determines the quality and texture of masa. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used as an experimental design to study the impact of process variables (cook temperature, cook time, initial steep temperature, and steep time) on the degree of cook measured using a Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). RSM data exhibited significant (P < 0.005), although not predictive, linear models for RVA peak viscosity (r2 = 0.63), setback (r2 = 0.61), final viscosity (r2 = 0.61), and peak time (r2 = 0.57), indicating a dependence of these parameters on nixtamalization conditions. Peak viscosity, setback, and final viscosity increased linear...
Moral Reasoning in Irish Children and Adolescents as Measured by the Defining Issues Test

The utility of the Defining Issues Test (DIT), as a measure of moral reasoning in the Republic of Ireland, was investigated. The subjects were 508 Catholic male and female Irish children and adolescents in three age groups: 12–13, 15–16, and 18–19 years old. The effects of sex, type of environment, (urban or rural), and age were investigated using analysis of variance. The findings indicated that there was a significant age effect (older subjects scoring higher), a significant sex effect (females scoring higher), and a significant interaction of age and sex. Further analysis indicated that the fact that the 12–13 year old females scored higher than would be expected from U.S. samples, caused the significant sex and sex X age effects. No significant differences were found between the urban and rural samples. The results were interpreted as indicating support for the use of the DIT in Ireland and in terms of the possible influence of the Catholic Church on the development of moral reasoning.
Differential distribution of glutamate receptors in the cochlear nuclei

Glutamate receptors are the major excitatory neurotransmitter receptors of the mammalian central nervous system, and include AMPA, kainate, delta, NMDA, and metabotropic types. In the cochlear nucleus (CN), the AMPA receptor subunits GluR2-4 are found in major kinds of neurons, while GluR1 subunit distribution is more restricted. GluR2 is low in the anteroventral CN, suggesting that many AMPA receptors here are calcium-permeable. Delta receptors are most prevalent in cartwheel cells in the dorsal CN. Of the NMDA receptors, NR1 is widespread while the NR2 subunits show more restricted distributions. Of the metabotropic glutamate receptors, mGluR1alpha is most prevalent in the dorsal CN, and mGluR2 is concentrated in Golgi cells and unipolar brush cells. AMPA receptors in endbulb synapses in the anteroventral CN are mainly GluR3+4 complexes: probably an adaptation for rapid auditory neurotransmission. Glutamate receptors are differentially distributed in synapses of fusiform cells of the dorsal CN; GluR4 and mGluR1alpha are present only at basal dendrite synapses (auditory nerve), while other glutamate receptors occupy both apical and basal synapses. Analysis of cytoplasmic distribution suggests that a selective targeting mechanism may restrict movement of GluR4 and mGluR1alpha to basal dendrites, although other targeting mechanisms may be present.
Angiographic evaluation of the ductus diverticulum

The aortic isthmus in adults has a variable appearance on thoracic aortograms. Its configuration may show a concavity, a straightening or slight convexity, or a discrete focal bulge. The latter finding represents a ductus diverticulum and, in a review of 103 aortograms, was found present in 9% of patients. At times a prominent ductus diverticulum may resemble, and be mistaken for, a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the aortic isthmus. A traumatic pseudoaneurysm may be distinguished from a ductus diverticulum on aortography by demonstration of an intimal flap and/or delayed clearance of contrast material on subtracted films. However, a ductus diverticulum will exhibit neither of these features.
Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication of Rolling-Contact Surfaces

An X-ray technique is described for the measurement of the thickness and shape of thin oil films (from 5 to 50 millionths of an inch thick) formed between the rolling and rolling-sliding surfaces of hardened steel rollers as in rolling bearings and gears. The film thickness with white mineral oil, diester-base, and silicone lubricants was found to vary with temperature (viscosity), speed, and load in much the same way as expected from elasto-hydrodynamic considerations. The shape of the elastically flattened contact regions on the rollers appeared to change with rolling speed in such a way as to explain why ball bearings and gears have longer fatigue life (in revolutions) at high speed than at low speed. The experimental results are compared with lubrication theory in which the elastic deflections of the bearing surfaces are combined with the viscous flow of the lubricant under pressure. Although there is general agreement between theory and experiment, possible modifications to the theory to account for ...
Performance levels for computerized detection of nodules in different size and pattern groups on thin-slice CT

We developed a computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) scheme for detection of lung nodules in CT, and investigated its performance levels for nodules in different size and pattern groups. Our database consisted of 117 thin-slice CT scans with 153 nodules. There were 68 (44.4%) small, 52 (34.0%) medium-sized, and 33 (21.6%) large nodules; 101 (66.0%) solid and 52 (34.0%) nodules with ground glass opacity (GGO) in the database. Our CAD scheme consisted of lung segmentation, selective nodule enhancement, initial nodule detection, accurate nodule segmentation, and feature extraction and analysis techniques. We employed a case-based four-fold cross-validation method to evaluate the performance levels of our CAD scheme. We detected 87% of nodules (small: 74%, medium-sized: 98%, large: 94%; solid: 85%, GGO: 90%) with 6.5 false positives per scan; 82% of nodules (small: 68%, medium-sized: 94%, large: 91%; solid: 78%, GGO: 89%) with 2.8 false positives per scan; and 77% of nodules (small: 63%, medium-sized: 90%, large: 89%; solid: 71%, GGO: 89%) with 1.5 false positives per scan. Our CAD scheme achieved a higher sensitivity for GGO nodules than for solid nodules, because most of small nodules were solid. In conclusion, our CAD scheme achieved a low false positive rate and a relatively high detection rate for nodules with a large variation in size and pattern.
Political pathology and societal creativity

Abstract Complementing the hypothesized intimate relation between creativity and psycho‐pathology at the individual level are conjectures concerning the relation between creativity and pathology at the sociocultural level. This article reviews the empirical literature on the subject, with special focus on how societal creativity is affected by international war, external threat, political instability, and civil disturbances. Such events and circumstances are shown to affect both the quantity of creative activity and the form that any creativity takes. Although some of these effects are short‐term and transient, other influences operate after some delay and tend to be more lasting. There follows a discussion of what these results imply about how creativity at the individual level is shaped by the social context in which creative development and thought take place.
Could G‐class asteroids be the parent bodies of the CM chondrites?

— I review the dynamical and compositional evidence for possibly linking CM chondrites and asteroids having G-class taxonomic designations. Three G asteroids have been identified through previous theoretical studies as being likely meteorite source bodies due to their locations near resonances. Two of these objects, 19 Fortuna and 13 Egeria, have spectral properties that are consistent with such a linkage with CM chondrites. Fortuna has a similar strength 0.7 μm absorption feature and near-infrared spectral slope to CM chondrites but a weaker ultraviolet feature. Egeria also has the characteristic 0.7 μm feature of CM chondrite spectra but does not match as well in the near-infrared. However, since the 0.7 μm feature is apparent in the spectra of approximately one-half of measured C-type asteroids, no definitive statement about any linkages can be made. Ceres is spectrally different from known meteorites in the 3 μm wavelength region and cannot be convincingly linked with any meteorite group.
1H and 13C NMR Spectra of (Z)‐C‐aryl N‐tert‐butyl nitrones

The 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of 12 (Z)C-aryl N-tert-butyl nitrones were measured and proton and carbon assignments made. The nitrones were synthesized by the dimethyldioxirane method
Energy and indoor air quality implications of alternative minimum ventilation rates in California offices

Abstract The energy and IAQ implications of varying prescribed minimum outdoor air ventilation rates (VRs) in California office buildings were estimated using the EnergyPlus building simulation software tool. Weighting factors were used to scale these model predictions to state wide estimates. Energy use predictions were then verified using surveyed California building energy end use data. Models predicted state wide office electricity use that was within 15% of reported electricity consumption from power utilities. The HVAC energy penalty of providing the current Title-24 VRs was approximately 6%, of the total HVAC energy use. Having economizers installed reduced average indoor formaldehyde exposure by 38% and lowered HVAC EUI by 20%. For California offices with economizers, 50% and 100% increases in Title-24 prescribed minimum VRs increased heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) modeled energy use by 7.6% and 21.6%, respectively, while decreasing the annual average workplace formaldehyde exposure by 8.6% and 14.4%, respectively. Economizers increased VRs above the minimum 79% of the time lowering annual average concentrations of formaldehyde. Decreasing minimum VRs below the Title-24 rate would have smaller predicted effects on energy use and comparatively larger effects on formaldehyde concentrations. In buildings without economizers in many climate zones, increasing VRs up to 150% of the current Title-24 minimum would save HVAC energy and significantly reduce formaldehyde. A key conclusion is that raising future minimum VRs in California offices is unlikely to significantly improve time-averaged IAQ in buildings with economizers. Lowering future minimum VRs would be unlikely to deliver substantive energy savings.
Nonrandom inactivation of the Y-bearing X chromosome in a 46,XX individual: evidence for the etiology of 46,XX true hermaphroditism.

We previously reported a subject with 46, XX true hermaphroditism who had a 46, X, del(X) karyotype and Y-chromosomal sequences in genomic DNA. We hypothesized that the Y-chromosomal sequences were tr
Single-atom gating of quantum-state superpositions

The ultimate miniaturization of electronic devices will likely require local and coherent control of single electronic wavefunctions. Wavefunctions exist within both physical real space and an abstract state space with a simple geometric interpretation: this state space - or Hilbert space - is spanned by mutually orthogonal state vectors corresponding to the quantized degrees of freedom of the real-space system. Measurement of superpositions is akin to accessing the direction of a vector in Hilbert space, determining an angle of rotation equivalent to quantum phase. Here we show that an individual atom inside a designed quantum corral1 can control this angle, producing arbitrary coherent superpositions of spatial quantum states. Using scanning tunnelling microscopy and nanostructures assembled atom-by-atom we demonstrate how single spins and quantum mirages can be harnessed to image the superposition of two electronic states. We also present a straightforward method to determine the atom path enacting phase rotations between any desired state vectors. A single atom thus becomes a real-space handle for an abstract Hilbert space, providing a simple technique for coherent quantum state manipulation at the spatial limit of condensed matter.
AUSTRALIA'S BUFFALO DILEMMA

ABSTRACT One of the many unusual elements of the biota of Australia is the concentration of many tens of thousands of feral water buffaloes on the monsoonal plains of Arnhem Land. These animals have been the most prominent faunal component in a 60,000 square mile (155,400 km2) area for more than a century, and comprise the largest free-ranging population of buffaloes in the world, but their significance to the region is still not clear. Although there has been sporadic harvesting of buffaloes for hides and meat for many decades, well-organized economic utilization has never developed. Because of their size and numbers, the buffaloes play a major ecological role and are considered to be potential hosts for diseases and parasites. On the other hand, they prosper in an area of marginal cattle production, and thus demonstrate unrealized opportunities for expanded economic exploitation.
Subwavelength plasmonic apertured waveguides for integrated photonics applications

Optical transmission properties of subwavelength apertured waveguides on semiconductor substrates, particularly silicon, are studied. The waveguide design is optimized for maximum power throughput at telecommunication wavelengths.
The price of wind power in China during its expansion: Technology adoption, learning-by-doing, economies of scale, and manufacturing localization

Abstract Using the bidding prices of participants in China's national wind project concession programs from 2003 to 2007, this paper built up a learning curve model to estimate the joint learning from learning-by-doing and learning-by-searching, with a novel knowledge stock metric based on technology adoption in China through both domestic technology development and international technology transfer. The paper describes, for the first time, the evolution of the price of wind power in China, and provides estimates of how technology adoption, experience in building wind farm projects, wind turbine manufacturing localization, and wind farm economies of scale have influenced the price of wind power. The learning curve model presented includes several important control variables, namely, wind resource indicators and steel prices. The results indicate that joint learning from technology adoption and learning-by-doing through cumulative installed capacity, wind turbine manufacturing localization, and wind farm economies of scale comprise the three most significant factors associated with reductions in the price of wind power in China during the period under consideration. The two types of learning investigated are associated with a 4.1%–4.3% price reduction per doubling of installed capacity, providing an estimate of the evolution of the price of wind power, a technology widely used in other markets, which in China has benefited from technology leapfrogging, established supply chains, and operational experience in other countries. Because of the change of bidding rules in 2007, our estimates can be interpreted as the lower bound of the true joint learning rates. Our model also indicates that most learning about the installation and operation of wind farms was common to the whole industry (i.e., we found little evidence for intra-firm learning). The policies that have contributed to the growth of the Chinese knowledge stock through the promotion of technology adoption are also discussed.
The Azorhizobium caulinodans nifA gene: identification of upstream-activating sequences including a new element, the ‘anaerobox’

Abstract From nucleotide sequencing analyses, the A. caulinodans nifA gene seems to be under dual control by the Ntr (in response to available N) and Fnr (in response to available O2) transcriptional activation/repression systems. Because it fixes N2 in two contexts, the Ntr system might regulate A. caulinodans nif gene expression ex planta, while the Fnr system might similarly regulate in planta. As nifA upstream-activating elements, we have identified: (i) a gpNifA binding site allowing autogenous nifA regulation, (ii) an Ntr-dependent transcription start, presumably the target of gpNifA activation, and (iii) an "anaerobox" tetradecameric nucleotide sequence that is precisely conserved among O2 regulated enteric bacterial genes controlled by the gpFnr transcriptional activator. Because it is precisely positioned upstream of enteric bacterial transcriptional starts, the "anaerobox" sequence may constitute the gpFnr DNA binding site. If so, then a second, Ntr-independent nifA transcription start may exist. We have also deduced the A. caulinodans nifA open reading frame and have compared the gene product (gpNifA) with those of other N2-fixing organisms. These proteins exhibit strongly conserved motifs: (i) sites conserved among ATP-binding proteins, (ii) an interdomain linker region, and (iii) a C-terminal alpha-helix-turn-alpha-helix DNA binding site.
Effects Of Continuous Argon Laser Irradiation On Canine And Autopsied Human Cardiac Tissue

Effects of continuous argon laser irradiationon canine and autopsied human cardiac tissueGiora Ben -Shachar, M.D., Mark Sivakoff, M.D., Steven L. Bernard, M.D.,Beverly B. Dahms, M.D., and Thomas A. Riemenschneider, M.D.Rainbow Babies 8 Childrens HospitalCase Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OhioAbstractIn eight human formal in preserved cardiac specimens, various cardiac and vascular obstructions wererelieved by argon laser irradiation. Interatrial communication was also produced by a transartrial approach
Violence Perpetration Across Peer and Partner Relationships: Co-occurrence and Longitudinal Patterns Among Adolescents

Abstract Purpose To examine the co-occurrence and consistency over time of peer violence, sexual aggression, and dating violence among European American and Mexican-American adolescent boys and girls. Methods One-hundred-twelve girls and 135 boys who were either European American or Mexican-American were recruited from a large health maintenance organization. They were interviewed by telephone at baseline (at ages 16 to 20 years) and at one-year follow-up. Variable-centered and person-centered analyses examined the co-occurrence of violent behavior across domains, and whether adolescents who engaged in violent behavior at baseline also engaged in violent behavior during the following year. Results Results indicated that adolescent boys who engaged in violence in one domain were more likely to engage in violence in other domains during the same time period. Results for girls were less consistent. For boys but not girls, perpetration of either sexual aggression or peer violence was a significant predictor of the same behavior at follow-up. Person-centered analyses indicated that boys who perpetrated both peer violence and sexual aggression at baseline were most likely to perpetrate later violence. Conclusions These results suggest that adolescent boys who engage in peer violence are also at risk for perpetrating sexual aggression or dating violence. Boys who perpetrate peer violence and sexual aggression are at high risk for later violence. Interventions with a dual focus on peer and partner violence may be valuable.
Valvular Heart Disease in the Elderly

Clinicians are increasingly caring for elderly patients with valvular heart disease due in part to an aging population and a decline in rheumatic heart disease. Aortic stenosis (AS) and mitral regurgitation (MR) are the most common valve lesions encountered. Calcific AS represents a disease spectrum from aortic sclerosis to severe, symptomatic AS; the latter of which has a significantly limited prognosis. Surgical aortic valve replacement is the recommended therapy and can improve life expectancy. Although increased age is associated with a slight increase in surgical risk, co-morbidities are primarily associated with increased surgical risk. If approved, transcatheter aortic valve implantation may be an option in some patient subsets pending the results of multi-center randomized controlled trials. MR in the elderly population may be associated with primary left ventricular dysfunction (functional MR) or primary MR (leaflet disease). Both are associated with heart failure and can result in increased morbidity. Therapy for functional MR is aimed at the medical treatment for heart failure. Therapy for primary MR is aimed at surgery if accepted indications exist.
Overview of Gas Turbine Coal-Fired Combustor Concepts

Since 1982, the Department of Energy (DOE), through the Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC), has been conducting research for the purpose of verifying the feasibility of using coal fuels in heat engine applications. The heat engines of primary concern are the gas turbine and the diesel engine. The overall program objective is to develop the technology base for an environmentally sound, integrated heat engine system which will produce cost-competitive energy from coal. During the past 2 years the major emphasis of the gas turbine development program has been the coal-fueled combustors. This paper will review the current progress on coal-fueled gas turbine combustor development.Copyright © 1989 by ASME
Gender Bias in Gastroparesis: Is Nitric Oxide the Answer?

Accumulating evidence suggests that gender-related differences are prominent in gastric motility functions in both health and disease. Women are more susceptible to gastroparesis than men. Though the mechanism(s) involved are not fully understood, impairment of the nitrergic system is one of the main factors responsible for the disease. Uncoupling of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) causes a decreased synthesis of NO leading to a reduction in smooth muscle relaxation. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) (an essential cofactor for nNOS) is a key regulator of nNOS activity for stomach dysfunction and gastroparesis. In addition, BH4 has been shown to be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Well established by results from our laboratory, a diminished intracellular (BH4:total biopterin) ratio in diabetic female rats significantly impairs nNOS activity and function. Recent research has been focused on BH4 biosynthesis and gastroparesis because reduced BH4 cofactor levels can alter the production of NO by nNOS. Researchers are now paying more attention to the possibility of using BH4 as a therapeutic strategy in gastroparesis. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the regulation and function of nNOS by sex hormones and BH4 and its potential role in the treatment of gastroparesis.
Congenital Factor XI Deficiency in a Domestic Shorthair Cat

A 6-month-old, female, domestic shorthair cat was examined after onychectomy and ovariohysterectomy because of bleeding from the paws. Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time was discovered...
Context, Content, and Epistemic Transparency

We motivate the idea that presupposition is a transparent attitude. We then explain why epistemic opacity is not a serious problem for Robert Stalnaker's theory of content and conversation. We conclude with critical remarks about John Hawthorne and Ofra Magidor's alternative theory.
Analysis of Pesticide Residues on Museum Objects Repatriated to the Hupa Tribe of California

In the past, it was common practice for museum professionals and private collectors to apply a variety of pesticide agents to objects in their collections to preserve them from depredations by microorganisms, fungi, and other pests. The Native American Graves Repatriation and Protection Act allows federally recognized tribes to request that museums return objects taken from their ancestors. Given that poor records were kept on the treatment of individual objects, it is unknown whether specific objects are contaminated with these pesticide agents. Although chemical analysis represents the only reliable means to determine the types and levels of pesticides on these objects, surprisingly few publications document the extent of this contamination in museum collections. This paper reports on the determination of arsenic, mercury, and several organic pesticides on 17 objects that were recently repatriated to the Hupa tribe in northern California. Four samples were taken from each object: two for arsenic and me...
Large document, small screen: a camera driven scroll and zoom control for mobile devices

We present a three degree-of-freedom control designed for viewing large documents and images on a mobile device equipped with a camera. Tracking natural features detected in the camera's field of view, we can roughly estimate the motion of the device, using the results to scroll and zoom the current document. Central to our implementation is the manner by which we amplify the motion, allowing the user to scroll through large portions of the document with minimal hand movement. Then, using a Hidden Markov Model, we determine when the user is scrolling, zooming, or some combination of the two, thus providing smoother, more fluid control. We demonstrate a prototype of our 3DOF control that can easily navigate documents that are many times larger than the display area, and show how it might be incorporated into a larger document retrieval application.
An Energy-Aware Airborne Dynamic Data-Driven Application System for Persistent Sampling and Surveillance

This paper describes an energy-aware, airborne, dynamic data-driven application systems for persistent sensing in complex atmospheric conditions. The work combines i.) new onboard and remote real-time, wind sensing capabilities; ii.) online models for planning based on Gaussian processes for onboard data and dynamic atmospheric models that assimilate Doppler radar data; and iii.) a hierarchical guidance and control framework with algorithms that can adapt to environmental, sensing, and computational resources. The novel aspects of this work include real-time synthesis of multiple Doppler radar data into wind field measurements; creation of atmospheric models for online planning that can be run inside guidance loops; guidance algorithms based on stochastic dynamic programming and ordered upwind methods that can adapt planning horizons, cost function approximations, and mesh representations of the environment; and throttling algorithms that manage the adaptation of the models and guidance algorithms in response to computational resources.
Validation of the hybrid quasi-static/full-wave method for capacitively loaded thin-wire antennas

A hybrid method in which quasi-static and full-wave integral equations are combined was developed by R.G. Olson et al. (see ibid., vol.36, p.1180-1184, Aug. 1988). Using point colocation, the method is implemented here for axially symmetric problems containing thin wires in the full-wave region and conductors and/or dielectrics in electrically small regions. The method is validated by comparing the predicted input admittances with measured results for capacitor-loaded antennas. The method is shown to be a significant improvement over thin-wire codes in which the electrically small region is replaced with an equivalent lumped load. The improvement is especially apparent in cases for which a detailed knowledge of the field in the electrically small region is needed. >
Jaw protrusion enhances forces exerted on prey by suction feeding fishes

The ability to protrude the jaws during prey capture is a hallmark of teleost fishes, widely recognized as one of the most significant innovations in their diverse and mechanically complex skull. An elaborated jaw protrusion mechanism has independently evolved multiple times in bony fishes, and is a conspicuous feature in several of their most spectacular radiations, ultimately being found in about half of the approximately 30 000 living species. Variation in jaw protrusion distance and speed is thought to have facilitated the remarkable trophic diversity found across fish groups, although the mechanical consequences of jaw protrusion for aquatic feeding performance remain unclear. Using a hydrodynamic approach, we show that rapid protrusion of the jaws towards the prey, coupled with the spatial pattern of the flow in front of the mouth, accelerates the water around the prey. Jaw protrusion provides an independent source of acceleration from that induced by the unsteady flow at the mouth aperture, increasing by up to 35% the total force exerted on attached, escaping and free-floating passive prey. Despite initiating the strike further away, fishes can increase peak force on their prey by protruding their jaws towards it, compared with a ‘non-protruding’ state, where the distance to prey remains constant throughout the strike. The force requirements for capturing aquatic prey might have served as a selective factor for the evolution of jaw protrusion in modern fishes.