cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The psychological consequences of Turner syndrome and review of the National Cooperative Growth Study psychological substudy.

Objective. To present longitudinal data on the psychological profile of a cohort of girls with and without Turner syndrome (TS) treated for 3 years with growth hormone (GH). Methods. Among a sample of 283 children with short stature, 37 girls with TS were recruited at 27 US medical centers. Of the original cohort, 22 girls with TS, 13 girls with isolated growth hormone deficiency (GHD), and 12 girls with idiopathic short stature were followed through 3 years of GH therapy. All were school-age, were below the 3rd percentile for height, had low growth rates, and were naive to GH therapy. Psychological tests (the Wide Range Achievement Test and the Slosson Intelligence Test) were administered to the clinical groups within 24 hours of their first GH injection and yearly thereafter. Control subjects were 25 girls with normal stature matched for age and socioeconomic status, who were tested only at baseline. One parent of each subject also completed the Child Behavior Checklist for that subject. Results. At baseline, the clinical groups had more internalizing behavioral problems, had fewer friends, and participated in fewer activities than did the control subjects. The groups did not differ in mean IQ or academic achievement, but the TS group did have more problems in mathematics achievement. Height and growth rate significantly increased in the clinical groups over the 3 years of GH therapy, but IQ and achievement scores did not. Significant linear reductions were noted in both Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems after GH treatment, with the TS group having fewer behavior problems before and after GH treatment than did the GHD–idiopathic short stature group. Decreases in specific Child Behavior Checklist subscales, including attention, social problems, and withdrawal, also were seen in the clinical groups after GH therapy. Conclusions. The comprehensive treatment of girls with TS should include educational and behavioral interventions in addition to traditional medical therapies.
STATISTICAL INFERENCE ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF SYSTEM WITH GAMMA LIFETIME AND REPAIR TIME

Availability is an important measure of performance of repairable system. The steady state system availability has special importance since it demonstrates the performance of a system after it has been operated for long. The statistical inference about the steady state availability are particularly useful for practitioners. Much work has been done in this regard. Most of these researches proposed certain pivotal quantities for constructing confidence intervals of the steady state availability. Assuming both the lifetime and repair time follow gamma distribution with known shape parameters and unknown scale parameters, we propose a pivotal quantity for making inferences, and further derive the likelihood ratio tests. Tables of critical values are given for the convenience of applying the two-sided likelihood ratio test. Confidence intervals are also obtained by converting the acceptance regions.
Control of dual-loop EGR engine air-path systems with adjustable intake manifold condition priorities

Dual-loop EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) systems can provide the authorities of controlling the engine intake manifold gas conditions for steady-state and transient operations of advanced combustion modes. Due to the inherent transport delay of an air-path system, the response of the intake manifold oxygen concentration is usually slower than those of the pressure and temperature under conventional control methods. This paper presents a control methodology for dual-loop EGR engine air-path with adjustable intake manifold gas condition priorities, which means that any of the three intake manifold indices can be set with the highest control priority to obtain fast response during transient operations. The reference governor technique and a feedforward control are combined to achieve such a control objective. An acceptable control input set is obtained and the optimal input is chosen from this set according to the priority order. Simulations are conducted on a GT-Power engine model and the results show that the proposed control methodology is valid.
The acetylcholine content of the normal forelimb regenerate of the adult newt, Triturus

Abstract The acetylcholine content of normal and regenerating tissues of the forelimb of the newt was assayed by means of the clam heart. The results show that during the formative phases, during growth, and during differentiation there is a substantial amount of acetylcholine present in the regenerate. Indeed, the results suggest that within a few days of amputation, before the time of first appearance of mesenchymatous cells, the amount of acetylcholine probably resembles that of normal tissue. The studies also show that during the time when the nerve exerts its greatest influence upon growth, the acetylcholine content rises to a level high above that of normal tissue. Then, as differentiation sets in, it drops and eventually reaches the level of normal tissue. The significance of these variations is discussed in terms of the role of the nerve in regeneration of the limb; and the content of acetylcholine in the regenerate and embryo is compared.
Sequencing of first-strand cDNA library reveals full-length transcriptomes

Massively parallel strand-specific sequencing of RNA (ssRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool for profiling complex transcriptomes. However, many current methods for ssRNA-seq suffer from the underrepresentation of both the 5' and 3' ends of RNAs, which can be attributed to second-strand cDNA synthesis. The 5' and 3' ends of RNA harbour crucial information for gene regulation; namely, transcription start sites (TSSs) and polyadenylation sites. Here we report a novel ssRNA-seq method that does not involve second-strand cDNA synthesis, as we Directly Ligate sequencing Adaptors to the First-strand cDNA (DLAF). This novel method with fewer enzymatic reactions results in a higher quality of the libraries than the conventional method. Sequencing of DLAF libraries followed by a novel analysis pipeline enables the profiling of both 5' ends and polyadenylation sites at near-base resolution. Therefore, DLAF offers the first genomics tool to obtain the 'full-length' transcriptome with a single library.
Some bilinear forms whose multiplicative complexity depends on the field of constants

In this paper we consider the system of bilinear forms which are defined by a product of two polynomials modulo a thirdP. We show that the number of multiplications depend on how the field of constants used in the algorithm splitsP. If $$P = \prod\nolimits_{i = 1}^k {P_i^{li} } $$ then 2 ·deg(P) − k multiplications are needed. (We assume thatP i is irreducible.)
Mutation caused by human phagocytes

Histidine-requiring mutants of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 were incubated with human peripheral blood leukocytes. More of these bacteria reverted to histidine independence than controls not incubated with cells. Phagocyte-rich suspensions were mutagenic, while heat-killed cells, lymphocytes, or mixed blood leukocytes of a patient with chronic granulomatous disease were not. Production of reactive oxygen metabolites could explain the capacity of phagocytes to induce mutation.
Battery aware stochastic QoS boosting in mobile computing devices

Mobile computing has been weaved into everyday lives to a great extend. Their usage is clearly imprinted with user's personal signature. The ability to learn such signature enables immense potential in workload prediction and resource management. In this work, we investigate the user behavior modeling and apply the model for energy management. Our goal is to maximize the quality of service (QoS) provided by the mobile device (i.e., smartphone), while keep the risk of battery depletion below a given threshold. A Markov Decision Process (MDP) is constructed from history user behavior. The optimal management policy is solved using linear programing. Simulations based on real user traces validate that, compared to existing battery energy management techniques, the stochastic control performs better in boosting the mobile devices' QoS without significantly increasing the chance of battery depletion.
Predatory, developmental, and other apparatuses: A comparative political economy perspective on the Third World state

Disappointment over the contributions of Third World state apparatuses to industrial transformation and the increasing intellectual dominance of “neoutiliarian” paradigms in the social science has made if fashionable to castigate the Third World state as “predatory” and “rent seeking.” This paper argues for a more differentiated view, one that connects differences in performance to differences in state structure. The “incoherent absolutist domination” of the “klepto-patrimonial” Zairian state are contrasted to the “embedded autonomy” of the East Asian developmental state. Then the internal structure and external ties of an intermediate state — Brazil — are analyzed in relation to both polar types. The comparative evidence suggests that the efficacy of the developmental state depends on a meritocratic bureaucracy with a strong sense of corporate identity and a dense set of institutionalized links to private elites.
Fast algorithm for chirp transforms with zooming-in ability and its applications

A general fast numerical algorithm for chirp transforms is developed by using two fast Fourier transforms and employing an analytical kernel. This new algorithm unifies the calculations of arbitrary real-order fractional Fourier transforms and Fresnel diffraction. Its computational complexity is better than a fast convolution method using Fourier transforms. Furthermore, one can freely choose the sampling resolutions in both x and u space and zoom in on any portion of the data of interest. Computational results are compared with analytical ones. The errors are essentially limited by the accuracy of the fast Fourier transforms and are higher than the order 10(-12) for most cases. As an example of its application to scalar diffraction, this algorithm can be used to calculate near-field patterns directly behind the aperture, 0 d2/lambdaN [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 15, 2111 (1998)]. Experimental results from waveguide-output microcoupler diffraction are in good agreement with the calculations.
Carbodiimide-based benzimidazole library method.

Using carbodiimide reagents [1,3-diisopropylcarbodiimide or N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N‘-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC)], we have developed a mild, generalized, one-pot method that delivers N-2-arylaminobenzimidazole esters from commercially available aryl isothiocyanates and o-phenylenediamines. Following saponification and acidifying, the benzimidazole acids were isolated in overall yields ranging from 75 to 88% from the starting aryl isothiocyanates. Nine benzimidazole acids were converted into a library consisting of 180 benzimidazole amides following EDC coupling with commercially available amines. The National Institute of General Medical Science will dispense these benzimidazole amides to academia groups for pilot scale biomedical studies. Using these mild conditions and environmentally safe reagents, we demonstrated that these pharmaceutically ornate heterocycles can also be constructed on solid support.
Identifying resistance to Phytophthora sojae in selected soybean accessions using RFLP techniques

Phytophthora sojae (Kauffmann and Gerdemann) is the causal agent of phytophthora root and stem rot of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. A disease outbreak in favorable environmental conditions has the potential to inflict 100% yield loss. Soybean accessions from central China offer unique genetic variability and are potential sources for novel genes conferring phytophthora resistance. Approximately 500 accessions have been classified for reaction to races 1, 3, and 7 of P. sojae. Eighteen accessions were selected that were resistant to races 1 and 3 and susceptible to race 7. RFLP markers linked to resistance alleles were used to compare the accessions to isolines with known Rps alleles. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) results were supported with greenhouse hypocotyl inoculations with zoospores of races 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 25. One plant introduction (PI) was found likely to possess Rpsla, five possibly possessed Rps2, seven could carry Rps3, and four were found possibly to possess Rps4. Evidence of multigene combinations were detected in eight accessions. Unique RFLP bands and hypocotyl inoculation reactions were discovered in PIs 567343, 567530, 567572A, 567574A, 567583A, 567764, and 567766, implying possible presence of novel Rps alleles. Knowledge of which Rps allele combinations are present in these accessions will allow for integration of the novel resistance into modern cultivars.
Bowel serotonin levels in the fasted and non-fasted Sprague-Dawley rat

Der Serotoningehalt der Darmmucosa aus 14 Schnittpraparaten von Sprague-Dawley Rattenweibchen nach 16-stundigem Fasten und nach normaler Futterung wurde bestimmt. Grossere Serotoningehalte wurden im oberen Teil des Verdauungstraktus (ausschliesslich den Magenblindsack) der Hungertiere gefunden.
Conceptual and Practical Issues Related to the Design for and Sustainability of Communities of Practice: The Case of E-Portfolio Use in Preservice Teacher Training

According to Barab et al. (2004), the ideal community of practice (CoP) is a ‘persistent, sustained social network of individuals, who share and develop an overlapping knowledge base, set of beliefs, values, history, and experiences focused on a common practice and/or mutual enterprise’ (p. 55). Thus, a CoP has a social purpose of supporting peers and colleagues by sharing knowledge and artifacts that serve authentic practice. E‐portfolios, online versions of longstanding practice in teacher education, would appear to be ideal candidates to undertake such a task. Nevertheless, the authors argue that conceptual and practical issues must be addressed before significant changes can occur. In the end, a healthy critique of the conceptual and practical aspects of supporting communities of practice online will result in more authentic, effective training of our next generation of teachers.
Creating an Informational CD for Distance Clinical Laboratory Science Students

Traditionally the distance clinical laboratory science students visit Winston-Salem State University three or four times during the course of the semester. These visits are usually for orientation and testing purposes. While the students are aware that there is a library on campus, they are not familiar with all of the library's electronic resources that they have access to from their home computers. The distance and health science librarians decided to collaborate to design an informational CD-ROM specifically for these students.
Impact of MRI head placement on glioma response assessment

Diagnosis of progressive disease or (partial) response during tumor treatment is based on manual size estimates of enhancing tumor area: an expert measures two perpendicular diameters of the enhancing tumor region in a single MRI slice with the largest enhancing area. This paper analyzes the reliability of the area measure with respect to head placement in the MRI scanner and compares it with 3D volume measures in a dataset of eight subjects (5–7 follow-up scans each) with high-grade glioma. We show that the manual area measure is highly sensitive to head position changes, with a root mean squared error of 22 %, compared to volume estimates with less than 5 % error. In our simulated study using the 2D manual measurements, the majority of subjects would have been incorrectly diagnosed with progressive disease without any true anatomical changes. These results highlight the urgent need for revised and more reliable response assessment criteria, for example, based on increased slice resolution, 3D volume analysis and percent change computation with respect to an average of patient specific longitudinal measurements instead of a single measurement to define progression or response.
Completion of Toeplitz partial contractions

Those patterns for the specified entries of a partial Toeplitz matrix (whose specified entries occur on consecutive diagonals) are characterized, which ensure that a Toeplitz partial contraction may be completed to a Toeplitz contraction. The answer is rather different from that of the corresponding question without the Toeplitz condition.
On robust stability of time-delay systems with norm-bounded uncertainty

This paper considers the robust stability problem for a class of time-delay systems with norm-bounded, and possibly time-varying uncertainty. Based on the discretized Lyapunov functional approach, a stability criterion is derived. The time-delay is assumed constant and known. Numerical examples show that the results obtained by this new criterion significantly improve the estimate of the stability limit over some existing results in the literature.
Copper indium diselenide nanowire arrays by electrodeposition in porous alumina templates

A simple template assisted approach for fabricating I–III–VI semiconductor nanowire arrays is presented. Vertically aligned arrays of CuInSe2 (CIS) nanowires of controllable diameter and length were synthesized by pulse cathodic electrodeposition from a novel acidic electrolyte solution into anodized alumina (AAO) templates, followed by annealing at 220 °C in vacuum. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the nanowires were dense and compact. Depending on the dimensions of the starting AAO template, the diameters ranged from 5 to 40 nm and the lengths ranged from 600 nm to 5 µm; the grain size was estimated to be less than 5 nm. The composition of the nanowires was analyzed by energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and was found to be close to stoichiometric CuInSe2 within the limit of the resolution of the EDX technique. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction revealed high purity CuInSe2 nanowires with a preferred [112] orientation.
Does price uncertainty really reduce private investment? A small model applied to Chile

The recent literature emphasizes the negative impact of price uncertainly on private investment as result of a higher risk premium-the price to wait. This paper argues that the uncertainly concerning the cost of capital should be compared with uncertainly in the price of output. Using a simple analytical model, we conclude that the efficiency of policies aimed to reduce the price of capital, or the basic accelator between investment and output growth, may be enhanced if(1)the volatility of the output price is greater than the volatility of the cost of capital,and(2)there is a positive correlation between changes in the cost of capital prices. In both cases, private investment will be more responsive beacuse firms will minimize profit flutuations. In the second part of the paper, the model is applied to the case of chile over the 1980–90 period. This country has earned earned the reputation of being the ‘sucess story’ of Structural adjustment and has acheived fairly stable growth in the past eight years.
Low-dimensional lattices. I. Quadratic forms of small determinant

In this paper, the first of a series dealing with low-dimensional lattices and their applications, we classify positive-definite integral quadratic forms of determinant d ≼ 25 in dimensions up to a limit which ranges from 18 (for d = 1) to (for d = 25).
Membrane bound IL-15 is increased on CD14 monocytes in early stages of MS

IL-15 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine whose three-dimensional structure is similar to that of IL-2. IL-2 and IL-15 have similar as well as distinct biological functions. An active form of IL-15 that is membrane bound has also been described. Furthermore, IL-15 is known to play a role in autoimmune diseases. We thus investigated the expression of membrane bound IL-15 on monocytes (CD14+ cells) and studied its effect on T cell activation in MS patients. We found that unstimulated CD14+ cells from relapsing remitting MS patients had increased membrane bound IL-15. Those with high surface levels of IL-15 on monocytes were in the early stages of the disease. In addition, we found that T cells of MS patients had enhanced responsiveness to IL-15 and there was increased expression of IL-15 receptor on CD4+ T cells. Thus, IL-15 may be an important cytokine that drives Th1 responses early in the course of the disease and could serve as a target for immunotherapy and as an early marker in the immunologic staging of MS.
Verification and Generalization of a Degree-Day Model Predicting Pecan Nut Casebearer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Activity

A prediction model for pecan nut casebearer, Acrobasis nuxvorella Nuenzig, developed at College Station, Tex., was tested by using data from Shreveport, La., and Brownwood, Tex. The procedures used in the original model produced similar results indicating a base temperature of 3.3°C was acceptable at all locations. The best start day was 21 March at Shreveport and Brownwood, compared with 12 March at College Station. This difference in start days may be used to generalize the model to other locations based on the differential in frost-free days among locations and the 9-day differential in the start day between College Station and the other two locations
Diet-induced cholesteremia and atherosclerosis in wild rodents☆

Abstract Five diverse species of wild rodents were fed a high-fat-high-cholesterol diet for one year. Microtus pennsylvanicus, Calomys ducilla , and Peromyscus maniculatus had an approximate 2-fold increase, Acomys cahirinus had a 4-fold increase, and Dicrostonyx groenlandicus had a 11-fold increase in serum total cholesterol above pre-diet levels. Some evidence of atherosclerosis was observed in all species but the most severe lesions were found in A. cahirinus and D. groenlandicus . The outstanding pathologic finding in those rodents not surviving one year on the diet was an advanced fatty degeneration of the liver.
Integrated e-enterprise security design and implementation : a case study of e-service in supply chain management

Web technology has enabled many organisations to form an e-enterprise for effective communicating, collaborating, and information sharing. To gain competitive advantages, it is necessary for e-enterprises to integrate the entire lines of business operations and critical business data with external organisations or individuals over the web, which may introduce significant security risks to the organisations' critical assets and infrastructures. This paper reports a case study of e-service security design and implementation at a leading US company. The paper first reviews security concerns and challenges in front-end e-business and back-end supply chain operations. This is followed by the analysis of the company's e-service and its security problems. The case then presents an integrated e-enterprise security methodology that has guided the company to meet its security needs. The results of this case study provides security professionals with practical steps and sustainable solutions for tackling the unique security challenges arising in an open, unbounded e-enterprise supply chain environment.
Embryonic expression of eph signalling factors in Xenopus

Abstract Cellular communication in the developing embryo is mediated by receptor-ligand interactions at the cell surface. Receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RTKs) have been shown to play a critical role in the development of the vertebrate embryo. The eph receptors are a large subclass of RTKs for which a corresponding ligand family has only recently been described. The restricted expression patterns of several eph receptors imply roles for these molecules in early vertebrate development. We have isolated both a ligand of the eph ligand family (ELF), that we have named XELF-a, and an eph-related receptor, XE10, the likely homolog of the murine eck Sek-2 receptor. At least two forms of the XELF-a transcript are present in the developing embryo. A truncated form of the XELF-a ligand, XELF-a′, is the first ELF ligand isolated that lacks both the membrane-spanning and membrane-anchoring motifs conserved among this family, suggesting that ELF ligands can function as fully soluble molecules in vivo. XELF-a and XE10 are expressed maternally and throughout early embryogenesis, while XELF-a′ is only expressed zygotically. The dynamic expression patterns of these signalling molecules, in both mesoderm and neurectoderm, suggest that they may play a role in the patterning of the early vertebrate embryo.
Does church participation facilitate tobacco control? A report on Korean immigrants.

Background This study explores hypotheses linking church attendance to smoking prevalence, cessation, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and household smoking bans among Korean immigrants in California. Methods Data were drawn from telephone interviews with Korean adults (N = 2085) based on a probability sample during 2005–2006 in which 86% of those contacted completed interviews. Results Koreans who reported that they had attended church were less likely to be current smokers and to be exposed to ETS, and more likely to have quit smoking and to have a complete smoking ban than non-attenders after statistical controls for behavioral covariates. Discussion Whether or not participants reported attending church was associated with increased tobacco control practices. Public health interventions may profit by seeking to expand cooperation with religious congregations to facilitate efforts to promote healthy lifestyles among immigrant populations beyond the influences of church attendance.
Introduction: Colonial culinary encounters and imperial leftovers

This introductory article reassesses the understudied and critical role of food in French (post)colonial studies. Through the examples of Banania and the French ‘gastronomic civilising mission’, it...
Self-reported hypertension prevalence and income among older adults in Canada and the United States.

Abstract Hypertension is one of the most common chronic conditions worldwide. There is strong evidence that low socioeconomic status is associated with elevated rates of blood pressure-related cardiovascular disease. Few studies have examined the association between socioeconomic circumstances and hypertension among people aged 65 years and older. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between household income and self-reported hypertension prevalence among persons aged 65 and older in the United States and Canada. Data were obtained from the 2002–2003 Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health for 755 Canadian and 1151 US adults aged 65 and older. Aggregate hypertension prevalence rates in the United States and Canada were generally similar (53.8% versus 48.0%). We found a significant inverse linear relationship between household income and the hypertension prevalence rate in the United States, but no evidence of such a relationship in Canada. In Canada, unlike the United States, the burden of hypertension is approximately equal for socioeconomically advantaged and disadvantaged older adults. It is important to consider these findings in the context of long-term and broader institutional policies. Social disparities and barriers to health care access and primary prevention among non-elderly persons in the United States may play a role in the higher hypertension prevalence rate among low-income older adults.
Satisfaction with methods of spanish interpretation in an ambulatory care clinic

OBJECTIVE: To describe the utilization of various methods of language interpretation by Spanish-speaking patients in an academic medical clinic and to determine patients’ and physicians’ satisfaction with these methods.
Carbon flow through oxygen and sulfate reduction pathways in salt marsh sediments1

Surface oxygen uptake, sulfate reduction and total sediment metabolism were measured in sediments (0-30 cm) supporting stands of short Spartina alterniflora in a New England salt marsh. Surface oxygen uptake varied seasonally and was highly correlated with total sediment metabolism. Rates of oxygen uptake ranged from about 75 to 121 mmol/sq m/day during winter to a maximum in August of 363. Total carbon dioxide production followed the same trend with a winter low of 65 mmol/sq m/day and a maximum in August of 415. The sulfate concentration in porewater from the 0-2 cm interval was about that expected from seawater at the salinity of the interstitial water. Below this depth sulfate decreased to values of about 21.6 mmol/liter. Time-course experiments using carbon dioxide production and sulfate reduction indicate that the aqua regia technique is not reliable for measuring sulfate reaction and that the rate of sulfate reduction is much less than previously reported for this marsh. Carbon mineralization is estimated to average about 180 mmol C/sq m/day, among the highest measured for marine sediments. Simultaneous measurements of oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production and sulfate reduction suggest that at least half of this decomposition occurs via sulfate reduction. 54 references, 7more » figures.« less
Rapid mixing influences on chemical coagulation of manures

Abstract Jar tests were used to determine the rapid-mixing, velocity gradient (G) and detention time (t), for optimum coagulation of suspended solids from dilute beef cattle, poultry and swine manure slurries being treated with ferric iron salts or chitosan. Design values are given for all manure-chemical combinations.
Mass transfer in hollow fiber membrane contactor extraction using compressed solvents

Abstract Ethanol and acetone were extracted from aqueous feed streams (10 wt.% solute) at ambient temperature using compressed propane (34.5 bar) and CO 2 (69 bar) in a polypropylene hollow fiber membrane contactor (HFC). Overall mass transfer coefficients were determined and related to tubeside, membrane, and shellside mass transfer by varying the aqueous velocity (0.6–11.8 cm/s) and molar solvent to feed ratio (1 to 3) in countercurrent flow. The overall mass transfer coefficient for ethanol and acetone extraction with compressed propane ranged from 3.8×10 −4 to 1.1×10 −2 and 1.1×10 −4 to 1.7×10 −3 cm/s, respectively. For compressed CO 2 , the overall mass transfer coefficient ranged from 5.1×10 −4 to 1.4×10 −3 cm/s for ethanol extraction and 4.1×10 −4 to 9.5×10 −4 cm/s for acetone extraction. Experimentally determined shellside mass transfer coefficients were compared to values predicted by existing correlations for HFC extraction with non-pressurized solvents. Enhanced HFC mass transfer is observed with compressed solvents relative to both conventional liquid HFC extraction and to column extraction with compressed CO 2 . Our results demonstrate the applicability of compressed hydrocarbons to HFC-based processes, and the ability to analyze compressed solvent-based extraction using conventional HFC techniques.
Bureaucracy and the divisibility of local public output: Further econometric evidence

Based on the theory of bureaucracy, in contrast to the median voter model, expenditure functions are estimated for various municipal services provided by some SMSA cities. Various econometric measures and diagnostics are applied to the sample data to test for the incidence of multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, and influential observations. The test results indicate the absence of any econometric problems and the empirical results can be taken as statistically meaningful and to a large extent precise. Over the range of SMSA cities included in the estimated model, the presented econometric evidence points out that in these communities the municipal services are private in nature and there exist no economies of scale in the provision of these services. Although these services reveal ‘no pure publicness’ or ‘quasi publicness’ they are provided by local governments through a collective choice mechanism, perhaps due to the inherent problems associated with their provision, such as the cities' lack of knowledge of individuals' preferences and tastes and the anticipated potential free rider problem.
Detecting natural selection on cis -regulatory DNA

Changes in transcriptional regulation play an important role in the genetic basis for evolutionary change. Here I review a growing body of literature that seeks to determine the forces governing the non-coding regulatory sequences underlying these changes. I address the challenges present in studying natural selection without the familiar structure and regularity of protein-coding sequences, but show that most tests of neutrality that have been used for coding regions are applicable to non-coding regions, albeit with some caveats. While some experimental investment is necessary to identify heritable regulatory variation, the most basic inferences about selection require very little functional information. A growing body of research on cis-regulatory variation has uncovered all the forms of selection common to coding regions, in addition to novel forms of selection. An emerging pattern seems to be the ubiquity of local adaptation and balancing selection, possibly due to the greater freedom organisms have to fine-tune gene expression without changing protein function. It is clear from multiple single locus and whole genome studies of non-coding regulatory DNA that the effects of natural selection reach far beyond the start and stop codons.
ICDs in adults with congenital heart disease: An overview

Advances in cardiac surgery have led to a growing population of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients. Rhythm disturbances in these patients are due to the inherent cardiac anomaly, comple...
Usefulness of prolonged QRS duration to identify high-risk ischemic cardiomyopathy patients with syncope and inducible ventricular tachycardia.

We evaluated 61 consecutive patients who had coronary artery disease, decreased left ventricular function, and syncope and underwent implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator because sustained ventricular tachycardia was inducible at electrophysiologic testing. During a follow-up of 3.0 ± 1.8 years, 23 patients (38%) developed ventricular tachycardia. Prolonged QRS duration (≥120 ms) was the only significant predictor of arrhythmia. The 1- and 2-year rates without ventricular arrhythmia were 82% and 77%, respectively, in patients whose QRS duration was
Applying spatial analysis tools in public health: an example using SaTScan to detect geographic targets for colorectal cancer screening interventions

Epidemiologists are gradually incorporating spatial analysis into health-related research as geocoded cases of disease become widely available and health-focused geospatial computer applications are developed. One health-focused application of spatial analysis is cluster detection. Using cluster detection to identify geographic areas with high-risk populations and then screening those populations for disease can improve cancer control. SaTScan is a free cluster-detection software application used by epidemiologists around the world to describe spatial clusters of infectious and chronic disease, as well as disease vectors and risk factors. The objectives of this article are to describe how spatial analysis can be used in cancer control to detect geographic areas in need of colorectal cancer screening intervention, identify issues commonly encountered by SaTScan users, detail how to select the appropriate methods for using SaTScan, and explain how method selection can affect results. As an example, we used various methods to detect areas in Florida where the population is at high risk for late-stage diagnosis of colorectal cancer. We found that much of our analysis was underpowered and that no single method detected all clusters of statistical or public health significance. However, all methods detected 1 area as high risk; this area is potentially a priority area for a screening intervention. Cluster detection can be incorporated into routine public health operations, but the challenge is to identify areas in which the burden of disease can be alleviated through public health intervention. Reliance on SaTScan’s default settings does not always produce pertinent results.
Quantitative determination of pterins in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography

During our continuing study of pteridine metabolism, the need arose for a more rapid and quantitative determination of pterins in biological fluids. By adopting and modifying previously developed techniques, we have obtained a rapid and sensitive method that allows the simultaneous determination of eight different pterins in human urine and blood. When examined over a 10-day period, the levels of pterins excreted by a normal individual averaged the following values expressed in picomoles per mg of creatinine: biopterin, 9104; neopterin, 6018; xanthopterin, 6561; pterin, 1136; isoxanthopterin, 636; pterin-6-carboxylate, 483; and 6-hydroxymethylpterin, 315. Moreover, 6-hydroxymethylpterin and pterin-6-carboxaldehyde were detected for the first time in the blood of normal individuals.
Generalized Pascal functional matrix and its applications

In this paper, we introduce the generalized Pascal functional matrix and show that the existing variations of Pascal matrices are special cases of this generalization. We study some algebraic properties of such generalized Pascal functional matrices. In addition, we demonstrate a direct application of these properties by deriving several novel combinatorial identities and a nontraditional approach for LU decompositions of some well-known matrices (such as symmetric Pascal matrices).
Design of an Integrated Optic Fabry-Perot Optical Modulator for Microwave Applications.

This paper concerns the application of lightwave technology to microwave systems, specifically the design of a novel optical modulator. This new modulator uses a Fabry-Perot interferometer with internal Bragg reflector mirrors. The device is expected to be small, less the 500?m in length, have a bandwidth in excess of 10GHz, and a driving voltage below 5 Volts.
Opportunistic Scheduling of Control Tasks Over Shared Wireless Channels

We consider a wireless networked control system with multiple loops closing over a shared wireless medium. To avoid interferences a centralized scheduler decides which control task accesses the channel at each time step, opportunistically based on the random wireless channel conditions that systems experience. We formulate the problem of designing channel-aware scheduling and transmit power allocation mechanisms that guarantee Lyapunov-like performances for all control tasks in expectation over the channel conditions, while they also minimize the total power expenditures. Exploiting the zero duality gap, optimal variables are obtained by solving at the dual domain either offline, or online based on the observed random channel sequence. Simulations illustrate the power savings of the opportunistic scheme.
Computerized Answer Sheets: What Effects on Response to a Mail Survey?.

Computerized answer sheets in mail surveys have not been systematically examined for their effects on rate of return and response bias. To evaluate these effects, 170 job satisfaction questionnaires, half to be answered on a computerized answer sheet and half on the questionnaire itself, were randomly given to employees of a medium-size city. The use of a computerized answer sheet had no significant impact on the return of questionnaires of varying lengths. Subjects returning the questionnaires, under the two response formats, did not differ in terms of race, sex, age, or educational level. Although the result approached significance, there was no significant difference for expressed job satisfaction between the two formats. Results suggested that computerized answer sheets may be used in mail surveys without significantly affecting rate of return or producing response bias.
Prediction of Distal Arm Posture in 3-D Space From Shoulder Movements for Control of Upper Limb Prostheses

C5/C6 tetraplegic patients and transhumeral amputees may be able to use voluntary shoulder motion as command signals for a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system or a transhumeral prosthesis. Such prostheses require, at the most basic level, the control of endpoint position in three dimensions, hand orientation, and grasp. Spatiotemporal synergies exist between the proximal and distal arm joints for goal-oriented reaching movements as performed by able-bodied subjects. To fit these synergies, we utilized three-layer artificial neural networks. These networks could be used as a means for obtaining user intent information during reaching movements. We conducted reaching experiments in which subjects reached to and grasped a handle in a three-dimensional gantry. In our previous work, the three rotational angles at the shoulder were used to predict elbow flexion/extension angle during reaches on a two-dimensional plane. In this paper, we extend this model to include the two translational movements at the shoulder as inputs and an additional output of forearm pronation/supination. Counterintuitively, as the complexity of the task and the complexity of the neural network architecture increased, the performance also improved.
The Effects of Specialized Education and Job Experience on Early Childhood Teachers' Knowledge of Developmentally Appropriate Practice.

Seventy-three early childhood teachers participated in this study which examined teachers' knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice as related to: education /academic degree; supervised practical experience; content areas covered in child development /early childhood education (CD/ECE) courses taken; and years of employment in child care/education. Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice was assessed by a measure, based on responses to 12 vignettes, developed for this study. The results indicated that knowledge of appropriate practice is dependent upon academic training in CD/ECE and supervised practical experiences, as well as the number of content areas covered in CD/ECE courses. Length of employment in child care and education situations does not have a significant effect on teachers' knowledge of appropriate practice. Implications for teacher training and public policies are discussed.
Effects of Feral Pig (Sus scrofa) Exclusion on Enterococci in Runoff from the Forested Headwaters of a Hawaiian Watershed

The role feral pigs (Sus scrofa) as a source of fecal contamination in Pacific Island ecosystems is not well understood. This study investigated the effects of feral pigs on enterococci (ENT) in runoff and soils of a Hawaiian forest. Seven sites were established with paired fenced/unfenced runoff plots in the Manoa watershed. Runoff was collected monthly from these plots after rain events from June 2008 to April 2009; soil ENT at each plot were also quantified. ENT in runoff were highly variable ranging from below the detection limit to >4.38 log10 most probable number (MPN) 100 mL−1. A repeated measures ANOVA found no overall fencing effects. This ANOVA did reveal a month by site interaction, indicating that while ENT in runoff were the highest in the wet season, this was not consistent across all sites. Soil ENT ranged from 14 to 511 MPN g−1 and differed among sites but not between fencing treatments. The only variables that were significantly correlated to ENT in runoff were runoff volume and soil ENT; slope, throughfall, soil moisture, bare soil cover, and total suspended solids in runoff were not correlated with ENT. While concentrations of ENT in runoff were highly variable across the months and sites, these forested headwaters did serve as sources of ENT to downstream ecosystems throughout the year. To minimize effects on human health, we recommend that public authorities employ greater warnings (i.e., signage) at streams and beaches in the lower reaches of this and other forested Hawaiian watersheds that are frequently used by both residents and tourists.
Bacteriophage and impurity carryover and total organic carbon release during extended protein A chromatography.

Abstract In the biopharmaceutical industry, column chromatography residuals are routinely assessed by the direct measurement of mock eluates. In this study, we evaluated virus and other impurity carryover between protein A cycles and the feasibility of using a total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer to monitor for column impurity leakage as a correlate for actual measured carryover in mock eluates. Commercial process intermediates were used in scaled down studies of two protein A media, ProSep A (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA) and MabSelect SuRe (GE Healthcare, Uppsala, Sweden). The chromatography system was programmed to run up to 200 normal load/elution cycles with periodic blank cycles to measure protein and phage carryover, and water flush cycles to measure TOC release. Sustained phage carryover was evident in each study. Carryover and TOC release was lowest in the case where cleaning was most stringent (50 mM NaOH/0.5 M Na2SO4 with MabSelect SuRe). The TOC analysis at this time does not appear to be a viable practical means of measuring impurity carryover; direct measurements in mock eluates appears to be more predictive of column performance.
Design, Modeling, and Control of a Novel Automotive Transmission Clutch Actuation System

Clutch fill control is the key enabler for a smooth clutch-to-clutch shift, which is critical for the performance and fuel economy of both automatic and hybrid transmissions. While a precise and robust clutch fill is crucial, its control is very challenging as the traditional approach is still in the open-loop fashion due to the lack of a feedback sensor. To address this challenge, a new clutch actuation mechanism is proposed, which realizes an internal feedback structure without any sensor measurement. The proposed mechanism is novel as it embeds all the control elements in the orifice area regulation, which successfully solves the precise and robust control of the hydraulic system with nonlinear dynamics. In this paper, we first present the working principle of the new clutch actuation mechanism. Then, the mechanical system design is shown and the system dynamic model is built. To this end, the proposed internal feedback control mechanism is fabricated and validated in a transmission testing fixture. The new mechanism performance is finally presented through a series of simulation and experimental results.
Parental effort in the California gull: tests of parent-offspring conflict theory

Parental effort was studied among knownaged California gulls (Larus californicus) with a brood size of two. Results supported three of Triver's predictions from parent-offspring conflict theory. First, the amount of time parents withheld food from offspring increased with increasing offspring age. Second, older parents were less likely than younger parents to withhold food from offspring throughout the period of parental care. Third, older parents had a longer period of parental care compared to younger parents. Adult survival to future breeding seasons was inversely related to duration of parental care. Older parents, in association with their greater levels of parental effort, had a lower survival rate compared to that of younger parents.
Transverse Stress Calculations for Laminated Composite Shell Structures Using Plate/Shell Finite Element Formulations

Shear deformable plate and shell finite element formulations are utilized to predict transverse stresses in composite shell structures. In-plane stresses are computed by solving the constitutive equations at the layer level. These stress variations then serve as input to the equilibrium equations which are integrated to obtain the transverse stresses. The approach improves upon the "classical" laminate theory and thus provides an efficient numerical procedure for thin to moderately thick shell structures.