cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The statistical approach to economics

Abstract The philosophical foundations of statistical methods in economics are presented in terms of the samples used and the non-experimental nature of the subject. Attention is paid to the degree of precision of economic data. The methods of economic statistics can be descriptive or inferential and the latter approach is exemplified through the technique of model building. Examples of macro- and microeconometric models are given, together with their implications for statistical method. The model building approach is contrasted with pure statistical analysis, which is empirical and not as closely related to received economic theory as is model building. The testing and using of models is taken up. All econometric models are not based on the methods of statistical inference. By contrast, descriptive measurement models and those based rigorously on equilibrium analysis are also discussed. Finally, the role of the computer in the development of econometrics is discussed.
Randomized algorithms to update partial singular value decomposition on a hybrid CPU/GPU cluster

For data analysis, a partial singular value decomposition (SVD) of the sparse matrix representing the data is a powerful tool. However, computing the SVD of a large matrix can take a significant amount of time even on a current high-performance supercomputer. Hence, there is a growing interest in a novel algorithm that can quickly compute the SVD for efficiently processing massive amounts of data that are being generated from many modern applications. To respond to this demand, in this paper, we study randomized algorithms that update the SVD as changes are made to the data, which is often more efficient than recomputing the SVD from scratch. Furthermore, in some applications, recomputing the SVD may not be possible because the original data, for which the SVD has been already computed, is no longer available. Our experimental results with the data sets for the Latent Semantic Indexing and population clustering demonstrate that these randomized algorithms can obtain the desired accuracy of the SVD with a small number of data accesses, and compared to the state-of-the-art updating algorithm, they often require much lower computational and communication costs. Our performance results on a hybrid CPU/GPU cluster show that these randomized algorithms can obtain significant speedups over the state-of-the-art updating algorithm.
Experimental and numerical determination of laminar flame speeds of methane/(Ar, N2, CO2)-air mixtures as function of stoichiometry, pressure, and flame temperature

By using the counterflow method, the laminar flame speeds of methane/(Ar, N 2 , CO 2 )-air mixtures have been accurately and extensively determined over the stoichiometric range from very lean to very rich, the pressure range from 0.25 to 2 atm, and flame temperature range from 1,550 to 2,250 K; independent variation in the flame temperature is achieved by substituting nitrogen in the air by an equal amount of argon or carbon dioxide. These data are expected to be useful for the partial validation of proposed kinetic mechanisms. In the present study numerical simulation of the experimental flame speeds has been conducted by using a C 1 mechanism and a full C 2 mechanism. The calculated results agree well with the experimental data, for both the C 1 and C 2 mechanisms, except for very rich mixtures for which there is substantial overprediction by the C 2 mechanism. Sensitivity analyses have also been performed where appropriate for enhanced insight into the controlling elementary reactions.
WHAT GENERATION GAP?: A Comparison of Some Generational Differences Among Blacks and Whites

Data from seven national surveys were examined for age differences in black and white populations regarding three kinds of attitudes: 1) outlook on life; 2) interracial tolerance and hostility; 3) attitudes toward the advocacy of violence. In each of these attitude areas, populations showed differences by education as well as by age. But the interaction between education and age was not always the same in the black and white populations. This analysis indicated that education may be at least as important a determiner of generations as age is; introducing education as a variable interacting with age adds precision to the discussion of generational differences.
A dual-tracer approach to estimate upwelling velocity in coastal Southern California

Abstract The distribution of the cosmogenic radionuclide 7Be ( t 1 / 2 = 53 d ) in the surface ocean has previously been used to estimate upwelling velocity in the open ocean. However, the loss of 7Be to particle export has limited this approach in high particle density environments like the continental margins. In this study, we combine a mass balance of 7Be with a 234Th budget in the surface ocean to constrain the loss of 7Be to particle sinking at the San Pedro Ocean Time-series (SPOT) in the inner Southern California Bight during spring 2013. Upwelling velocities (all in m d−1) determined from the 7Be mass balance were observed to increase from 0.5 ± 0.6 in January to 2.5 ± 1.3 in May, then decrease to 1.2 ± 0.5 in June. These results agree within uncertainty with upwelling velocities derived from the monthly Bakun Upwelling Index, which ranged from 0.1 to 2.8 m d−1, supporting the pressure-field-based approach. Evidence from a heat budget and the nutrient distribution over the course of the study supports that the upwelling signal at SPOT (20 km offshore) is not transported from coastal upwelling near shore, but instead is dominantly a local signal, likely driven by wind-stress curl.
Exposure to, understanding of, and interest in interventional radiology in American medical students.

Rationale and Objectives The purposes of this study were to determine the degree to which medical students are exposed to interventional radiology (IR) in medical school, to assess their knowledge of the field, and to gauge their interest in IR as a career choice. Materials and Methods An institutional review board–approved survey was generated using the website www.surveymonkey.com . Medical student participation nationwide was elicited by sending e-mails to administrators of medical schools and radiology residency program directors and asking them to distribute the survey link to their students. Results Seven hundred twenty-nine medical students from 21 states responded to the survey. Although 58% of students said they were interested in a hands-on career, only 5.5% of students said they had participated in an IR rotation and only 12.7% were interested in IR. Less than half of the IR domain–related questions used to assess understanding of IR were answered correctly, with greater understanding found among the students who had participated in an IR rotation. Conclusions Exposure to IR in accredited US medical education programs is inconsistent, although interest in the field is moderate among medical students compared with interest in other hands-on specialties. Understanding of IR is limited among the study population. Improved understanding of the field and recruitment could result from greater exposure.
Nitric oxide uptake by erythrocytes is primarily limited by extracellular diffusion Not Membrane Resistance

The process of NO transfer into erythrocytes (RBCs) is of critical biological importance because it regulates the bioavailability and diffusional distance of endothelial-derived NO. It has been reported that the rate of NO reaction with oxyhemoglobin (Hb) within RBCs is nearly three orders of magnitude slower than that by equal amounts of free oxyhemoglobin. Consistent with early studies on oxygen uptake by RBCs, the process of extracellular diffusion was reported to explain this much lower NO uptake by RBC encapsulated Hb (Liu, X., Miller, M. J., Joshi, M. S., Sadowska-Krowicka, H., Clark, D. A., and Lancaster, J. R., Jr. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 18709–18713). However, it was subsequently proposed that the RBC membrane provides the main resistance to NO uptake rather than the process of extracellular diffusion (Vaughn, M. W., Huang, K. T., Kuo, L., and Liao, J. C. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 2342–2348). This conclusion was based on competition experiments that were assumed to be able to determine the rate constant of NO uptake by RBCs without extracelluar diffusion limitation. To test the validity of this hypothesis, we theoretically analyzed competition experiments. Here, we show that competition experiments do not eliminate the extracellular diffusion limitation. Simulation of the competition data indicates that the main resistance to NO uptake by RBCs is caused by extracellular diffusion in the unstirred layer surrounding each RBC but not by the RBC membrane. This extracellular diffusion resistance is responsible for preventing interference of NO signaling in the endothelium without the need for special NO uptake by intracellular hemoglobin or a unique membrane resistance mechanism.
Shepard's Interpolation for Solution-Adaptive Methods

In numerical simulations of fluid-dynamics problems, solution-adaptive methods have proven to be very powerful. The implementation of the modified Shepard's interpolation to the structured grids used in CFD is suggested and described in this paper, which takes advantage of the logical grid structure. This technique, which is demonstrated to be robust, efficient, smoother, and a more accurate alternative to linear interpolation, is used in the remapping step during the solution-adaption procedure. Applications to the solutions of the incompressible Navier Stokes equations (both 2D and 3D) are included.
A Nucleotide-Driven Switch Regulates Flanking DNA Length Sensing by a Dimeric Chromatin Remodeler

The ATP-dependent chromatin assembly factor (ACF) spaces nucleosomes to promote formation of silent chromatin. Two copies of its ATPase subunit SNF2h bind opposite sides of a nucleosome, but how these protomers avoid competition is unknown. SNF2h senses the length of DNA flanking a nucleosome via its HAND-SANT-SLIDE (HSS) domain, yet it is unclear how this interaction enhances remodeling. Using covalently connected SNF2h dimers we show that dimerization accelerates remodeling and that the HSS contributes to communication between protomers. We further identify a nucleotide-dependent conformational change in SNF2h. In one conformation the HSS binds flanking DNA, and in another conformation the HSS engages the nucleosome core. Based on these results, we propose a model in which DNA length sensing and translocation are performed by two distinct conformational states of SNF2h. Such separation of function suggests that these activities could be independently regulated to affect remodeling outcomes.
Availability of Mortgage Loans in Volatile Real Estate Markets

Abstract This paper presents a default model for mortgages on single-family houses implying a higher probability of negative equity and thus default in real estate markets with high price volatility. Mortgage lenders compensate for the increased default probability in volatile markets by demanding higher downpayments or increased creditworthiness of loan applicants, thus making mortgage loans more difficult to obtain. An empirical analysis finds greatly varying price volatility in single-family real estate markets in a sample of 42 cities. Consistent with the implications of the model, the empirical analysis finds that the fraction of low-downpayment loans declines in volatile markets.
The effect of precursor structures on the action of glucosaminyl 3-O-sulfotransferase-1 and the biosynthesis of anticoagulant heparan sulfate.

To understand how 2-O-sulfation of uronic acid residues influences the biosynthesis of anticoagulant heparan sulfate, the cDNA encoding glucosaminyl 3-O-sulfotransferase-1 (3-OST-1) was introduced into wild-type Chinese hamster ovary cells and mutant pgsF-17 cells, which are defective in 2-O-sulfation. 3-OST-1-transduced cells gained the ability to bind to antithrombin. Structural analysis of the heparan sulfate chains showed that 3-OST-1 generates sequences containing GlcUA-GlcN(SO3)3(SO3) and GlcUA-GlcN(SO3)3(SO3)6(SO3) in both wild-type and mutant cells. In addition, IdoUA-GlcN(SO3)3(SO3) and IdoUA-GlcN(SO3)3(SO3)6(SO3) accumulate in the mutant chain. These disaccharides were also observed by tagging [6-3H]GlcN-labeled pgsF-17 heparan sulfatein vitro with [35S]PAPs and purified 3-OST-1. Heparan sulfate derived from the transduced mutant also had ∼2-fold higher affinity for antithrombin than heparan sulfate derived from the transduced wild-type cells, and it inactivated factor Xa more efficiently. This study demonstrates for the first time that (i) 3-O-sulfation by 3-OST-1 can occur independently of the 2-O-sulfation of uronic acids, (ii) 2-O-sulfation usually occurs before 3-O-sulfation, (iii) 2-O-sulfation blocks the action of 3-OST-1 at glucosamine residues located to the reducing side of IdoUA units, and (iv) that alternative antithrombin-binding structures can be made in the absence of 2-O-sulfation.
Differences Between Two Strains of Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) TCR Transgenic Mice: Implications for Tolerance Induction

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is mediated by CD4+ T cells which preferentially use the Vbeta8.2 TCR in response to myelin basic protein (MBP). Two strains of Tg mice (Valpha2.3/Vbeta8.2 and Valpha4/Vbeta8.2) have T cell receptors that recognize the NAc1-11 immunodominant epitope of MBP. We previously reported that oral administration of MBP protects both Valpha2.3/Vbeta8.2 and Valpha4/Vbeta8.2 mice from EAE; however, tolerance induction differs between strains and is dependent on the timing of oral antigen. Here we analyze the peripheral and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) environments of the two strains of Tg mice. Tg cells in the Peyer's patch (PP) but not the spleen of Valpha2.3/Vbeta8.2 mice demonstrate increased CD69 and decreased CD45RB relative to Valpha4/Vbeta8.2 mice. High levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, proliferative activity and CC chemokines (MCP-1) are observed in the periphery and GALT of Valpha2.3/Vbeta8.2 Tg mice. In contrast, more non-Tg CD4+ cells are seen in the PP of Valpha4/Vbeta8.2 mice. These studies suggest that activated Tg T cells and fewer potential regulatory cells in the PP of Valpha2.3/Vbeta8.2 Tg mice may influence oral tolerance.
U.S. National Science Foundation program managers: perspectives on sustaining digital government research

Two champions of digital government research will offer perspectives and ideas for helping to sustain digital government research at the U.S. National Science Foundation. There are changes in solicitations and new opportunities for researchers wishing to undertake research in the digital government domain.The Information and Intelligent Systems Division at NSF is being reorganized into new clusters of research domains. There will most likely be a cluster tentatively entitled "Informatics and Information Integration (III). Members from the old program days incorporated into the new cluster include: Digital Government (DG); Digital Libraries and Archives; Science and Engineering Informatics and Information Integration (SEI); and, Information, Data and Knowledge Management.Slicing the III cluster another way, there will be "core" research in these areas and "contextual" research. The latter is what SEI and DG have been doing, that is, bringing the CS research out of the lab and into various application areas (contexts). Proposers will be asked to identify their submissions as core or contextual.Other clusters within the IIS Division are: Human Centered Computing - from Programs in Digital Society and Technologies, Human-Computer Interaction, and Universal Access; Robust Intelligence - from Programs in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Systems, Computer Vision, Human Language and Communication, and RoboticsThere will also be two Division-wide themes, Human-Robot Interaction and Information Security and Privacy.The title of the Division-Wide call for proposals (encompassing all three clusters) is basically just the names of the three clusters combined. The IIS Division/NSF hope is to release the call in May, with proposals due in October.
Noncatalytic Interactions between Glutathione S-Transferases and Nitroalkene Fatty Acids Modulate Nitroalkene-Mediated Activation of Peroxisomal Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ

The naturally occurring nitroalkenes, including nitrolinoleic (NO2-LA) and nitrooleic (NO2-OA)1 acids, are implicated in the modulation of multiple signaling pathways resulting in several important bioactivities including vasodilation, inhibition of inflammation, and inhibition of platelet activation and function (1-4). In addition, these nitrated unsaturated fatty acids are among the most potent endogenous ligand activators of PPARγ—a nuclear receptor involved in the transcription of genes associated with carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis, cellular differentiation, and inflammation (5-8). The physiological importance of these nitroalkenes is indicated by their relative abundance in vivo with aggregate levels reported to be around 1-2 μM in normal human plasma and erythrocytes (9)—levels in excess of those necessary to significantly activate PPARγ-dependent transcription in vitro (10, 11). In order to understand how nitroalkene activities are regulated at the cellular level, we previously demonstrated that NO2-LA forms conjugates with glutathione, rapidly and non-enzymatically, under physiological conditions (12). These conjugates are efficiently effluxed by MRP1, a ubiquitous ATP-dependent glutathione conjugate transporter, and combined conjugation plus MRP1-mediated efflux profoundly attenuates PPARγ-dependent transcription activation in response to NO2-LA (12). Here we demonstrate that activation of PPARγ by NO2-OA is similarly affected by non-enzymatic conjugation and efflux. Moreover, we investigated whether expression of representative isozymes of the soluble forms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) would influence NO2-LA and NO2-OA bioactivities either by catalyzing their conjugation with glutathione or by an alternative mechanism. Indeed, we show that while expression of GSTA1-1, GSTM1a-1a, or GSTP1a-1a significantly attenuates the activation of PPARγ-dependent transcription by NO2-LA and NO2-OA, none of these isozymes, or GSTA4-4, is able to catalyze glutathione conjugation of the nitroalkenes. Rather, these GSTs appear to influence transcription via avid covalent and non-covalent interactions with the nitroalkenes and their glutathione conjugates thereby sequestering them from their nuclear target, PPARγ.
Range contracts: Risk sharing and beyond

Abstract We introduce and study the range contract, which allows a buyer to procure from a supplier at a prescribed price any amount within a specified range. In return, the supplier is compensated up front for the width of the range with a range fee . This fee can be viewed as the buyer trading monetary value for reduced uncertainty. The range contract generalizes and unifies many common contracts, such as fixed-price, JIT, option, and quantity-flexibility contracts. The parameters that maximize the expected profit of the centralized supply chain are derived here and are shown to crucially depend on production flexibility. We also study here the buyer’s expected profit-maximizing range endpoints as a function of the pricing parameters of the contract. Using the buyer’s optimal range, we demonstrate how the supplier can set the contract’s pricing parameters so as to maximize the supplier’s expected profit for a uniform distribution of demand. We provide computational evidence, for uniformly distributed demand, that the range contract allows the optimal decentralized supply chain to attain significant reductions in standard deviation of profit in exchange for moderate reductions in expected value of profit. We further demonstrate computationally that both the buyer and supplier can benefit simultaneously, attaining higher risk-adjusted profits than the centralized supply chain.
Fire and Smoke Corrosivity of Metals

The deleterious effects that combustion products, generated during fires, can have on normal construction materials has been well documented. The combined effects of fire, corrosive smoke and particulate have been defined as fire corrosivity. While the effects of fire corrosivity are well known little quantitative information is available concerning the mechanisms involved and the degree to which materials, particularly, metals are susceptible to this attack. Consequently, a study was conducted to begin examining the effects of fire and smoke corrosion on metals. Various metal targets were exposed to corrosive smoke and fire particulate produced from Polyvinylchloride (PVC) samples burned in a cone calorimeter. The target materials consisted of 304 stainless steel, 1010 carbon steel and 70-30 Cu-Ni alloy. In addition to metal targets, electrical resistance probes were also utilized in the testing to monitor in-situ corrosion. The probe materials corresponded to the metal targets so that a comparison could be conducted. The corrosion probes offer the capability of instantaneously comparing results from similar tests and to conduct in-situ measurements of corrosion rates during a test. After testing, both the metal targets and corrosion probes were sectioned and prepared for analysis using standard metallographic techniques. The targets and probes were analyzed for corrosion products and depth of attack. As a result of this test it was shown that all the metal targets test proved highly susceptible to the effects of smoke corrosivity attributed to the burning of PVC samples. These results are presented and compared by corrosion rates. In addition, the performance of the corrosion probes in terms of their ability to produce accurate corrosion measurements were evaluated by comparing their corrosion depth measurements to those of the metal targets.
SYMBOLS AND CONTEXTS: An Interactionist Approach to the Study of Social Status

This article proposes an interactionist framework for the study of status stratification. This framework returns the focus of status research to how status works, especially emphasizing the symboli...
Mucinous neoplasms of the appendix and peritoneum.

Context.—Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms are considered enigmatic tumors of unpredictable biologic potential. Their importance lies in their potential to spread to the peritoneum and viscera in the form of gelatinous mucin deposits. Extra-appendiceal spread of these tumors is the most common etiology of pseudomyxoma peritonei, which is a descriptive term encompassing a number of neoplastic and nonneoplastic peritoneal disorders. Many studies aimed at evaluating the biologic importance of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms and pseudomyxoma peritonei have employed inconsistent histologic criteria for their diagnosis and descriptive terminology for their classification. As a result, appendiceal mucinous neoplasms and associated peritoneal disease represents one of the most confusing and controversial areas in gastrointestinal pathology. Objectives.—To summarize the literature regarding the biologic potential of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms and pseudomyxoma peritonei and to discuss the similarities and differenc...
The role of the respiratory syncytial virus in airway syndromes in childhood.

The majority of infants admitted to hospital in infancy with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) have been infected with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Infants and young children experiencing RSV LRTIs experience increased respiratory morbidity in subsequent years, although the prevalence falls rapidly in early childhood. Recent data support the suggestion that in most subjects, this recurrent morbidity is not attributable to atopic asthma and that in most respects, the acute and longterm outcomes with RSV infections are similar in nature to those attributable to other viruses. The phenotype of the acute illness probably provides better prognostic information than the type of virus.
Magnetic transistor behavior explained by modulation of emitter injection, not carrier deflection

Novel dual-base, dual-collector, lateral transistors operating in the presence of dc and ac magnetic fields, demonstrate that the differential current at the collector is the result of emitter injection modulation and not carrier deflection. An understanding of basic operating principles has resulted in the design of optimized lateral- and vertical-injecting transitor configurations. The latter exhibit voltage sensitivities exceeding 20 V/T for NPN silicon, at room temperature, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 105for a 1 T magnetic field. A frequency response in excess of 50 MHz should be possible for load resistances less than 1000 ohms.
BRAINIAC: Bringing reliable accuracy into neurally-implemented approximate computing

Applications with large amounts of data, real-time constraints, ultra-low power requirements, and heavy computational complexity present significant challenges for modern computing systems, and often fall within the category of high performance computing (HPC). As such, computer architects have looked to high performance single instruction multiple data (SIMD) architectures, such as accelerator-rich platforms, for handling these workloads. However, since the results of these applications do not always require exact precision, approximate computing may also be leveraged. In this work, we introduce BRAINIAC, a heterogeneous platform that combines precise accelerators with neural-network-based approximate accelerators. These reconfigurable accelerators are leveraged in a multi-stage flow that begins with simple approximations and resorts to more complex ones as needed. We employ high-level, application-specific light-weight checks (LWCs) to throttle this multi-stage acceleration flow and reliably ensure user-specified accuracy at runtime. Evaluation of the performance and energy of our heterogeneous platform for error tolerance thresholds of 5%–25% demonstrates an average of 3× gain over computation that only includes precise acceleration, and 15×-35× gain over software-based computation.
Understanding the Output of a Smith-Root GPP Electrofisher

Abstract There is confusion among biologists about the use of the percent of range control in the GPP series of Smith-Root electrofishers. We evaluated the output of a GPP 7.5 electrofisher to examine how adjustments to the percent of range control affect voltage, pulse width, duty cycle, and waveform. We found that contrary to how most users interpret the labels on the GPP unit, adjustments to the percent of range control are linked only indirectly to changes in peak voltage. Suggestions for dealing with the restrictions of the GPP units are offered.
Kinetic and Thermodynamic Aspects of Adsorption on Silica Nanoparticles. A Pulse Radiolysis Study

The rate of the reaction of hydrated electron with methyl viologen, MV2+, and tris(2,2‘-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II), Ru(bpy)32+, in the presence of colloidal silica nanoparticles was measured using the...
Surface-catalyzed chromium(VI) reduction : the TiO2-CrVI-mandelic acid system

As part of a study exploring the pathways and rates of CrVI reduction under environmentally relevant conditions, this paper examines the kinetics and mechanism of CrVI reduction by mandelic acid in...
A Tale of Two Leaders: German Methodists and the Nazi State

Nazi foreign policy was hampered from the start by a hostile foreign press that carried alarming reports, not only of atrocities and persecution of the political opposition and of Jews, but also of a persecution of Christians in Germany. Protestant Christians abroad were increasingly outraged by the so-called “German Christians” who, with the support of the government, gained control of the administration of the Evangelical state churches and set about to fashion a centralized Nazi church based on principles of race, blood, and soil. The militant attack by “German Christians” on Christian, as opposed to Germanic, traditions and values led to the birth of a Confessing Church, whose leaders fought to remain true to the Gospel, often at the risk of imprisonment. Such persecution resulted in calls from abroad for boycott and intervention, particularly in Britain and the United States, and threatened to complicate foreign relations for the Nazi regime at a time when Hitler was still highly vulnerable. In order to win the support of the German people and to consolidate the Nazi grip on German society, Hitler needed accomplishments in foreign policy and solutions to the German economic crisis. Both were possible only with the indulgence of foreign powers.
The US Max '91 program of flare research at the next solar maximum

A brief summary is presented of Max '91, a proposed program to study the problems of flare physics during the next solar maximum. The program uses instruments on spacecraft, rockets, balloons, and ground-based observations to study the processes of particle acceleration and energy storage, release, and transport in solar flares. The space missions, instruments, and experiments included in the program are outlined.
Generation of mouse oocytes defective in cAMP synthesis and degradation: Endogenous cyclic AMP is essential for meiotic arrest

Although it is established that cAMP accumulation plays a pivotal role in preventing meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes, the mechanisms controlling cAMP levels in the female gamete have remained elusive. Both production of cAMP via GPCRs/Gs/adenylyl cyclases endogenous to the oocyte as well as diffusion from the somatic compartment through gap junctions have been implicated in maintaining cAMP at levels that preclude maturation. Here we have used a genetic approach to investigate the different biochemical pathways contributing to cAMP accumulation and maturation in mouse oocytes. Because cAMP hydrolysis is greatly decreased and cAMP accumulates above a threshold, oocytes deficient in PDE3A do not resume meiosis in vitro or in vivo, resulting in complete female infertility. In vitro, inactivation of Gs or downregulation of the GPCR GPR3 causes meiotic resumption in the Pde3a null oocytes. Crossing of Pde3a(-/-) mice with Gpr3(-/-) mice causes partial recovery of female fertility. Unlike the complete meiotic block of the Pde3a null mice, oocyte maturation is restored in the double knockout, although it occurs prematurely as described for the Gpr3(-/-) mouse. The increase in cAMP that follows PDE3A ablation is not detected in double mutant oocytes, confirming that GPR3 functions upstream of PDE3A in the regulation of oocyte cAMP. Metabolic coupling between oocytes and granulosa cells was not affected in follicles from the single or double mutant mice, suggesting that diffusion of cAMP is not prevented. Finally, simultaneous ablation of GPR12, an additional receptor expressed in the oocyte, does not modify the Gpr3(-/-) phenotype. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that Gpr3 is epistatic to Pde3a and that fertility as well as meiotic arrest in the PDE3A-deficient oocyte is dependent on the activity of GPR3. These findings also suggest that cAMP diffusion through gap junctions or the activity of additional receptors is not sufficient by itself to maintain the meiotic arrest in the mouse oocyte.
Defect Properties of Cathode Deposited Glow Discharge Amorphous Silicon Germanium Alloys

We have characterized the deep defect densities and their energy distributions for a series of a-Si1-xGex:H alloys with large Ge content (0.57< × < 1.00) prepared by the cathode deposited glow discharge method. Our results indicate markedly superior properties for these samples. A small Urbach tail slope (about 45meV) was found for all samples in this alloy range. The defect densities were either obtained directly from the drive-level capacitance profiling or deduced from the sub-band-gap optical spectra. Both are substantially lower than the trend line determined from previous studies of a-Si1-xGex:H samples produced by conventional glow discharge and by Photo-CVD methods. However, the relation between the total defect densities and the optical spectra in the cathodic samples obeys the same defect formation model that has been used to successfully predict the defect densities in other types of a-Si1-xGex:H material.
Vascular dementia in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Introduction: Platelets have been implicated in memory disorders but this has not been investigated in patients with immune or idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP). ITP is an autoimmune disorder in which autoantibodies bring about platelet destruction. We previously reported a group of ITP patients who manifested TIA-like syndrome and gradual memory loss leading to dementia: platelet microparticles (PMP), a marker of platelet activation, were often elevated, suggesting that procoagulant PMP released from stimulated platelets contributed to thrombosis in small vessels. We have expanded on those studies to better define the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic characteristics of this syndrome. Materials and methods: Twenty ITP patients with this syndrome were studied in comparison to twenty-three ITP patients without it (patient controls). Clinical and laboratory features were compared and radiologic images were analyzed. Factors influencing the rate of progression to advanced dementia were also investigated. Results and conclusion: Recurring dizzy or weak spells, TIA-like syndrome, recent memory loss, and cognitive impairment were common initial complaints. In some, these symptoms progressed rapidly to dementia but was indolent in others. Progression was faster in those with splenectomy and higher platelet counts. MRI showed enhanced signal in subcortical, periventricular areas, consistent with ischemic small vessel disease. Compared to patient controls, bleeding was less frequent and platelet activation (increased PMP, CD62p) was more frequent in the study group. Thrombotic complications may occur in ITP, manifested as TIA-like syndrome or memory loss due to ischemic small vessel disease, progressing to vascular dementia. Memory disturbances associated with platelet disorders warrants further investigation.
Prioritized static slicing and its application to fault localization

We build a model PrioSlice that prioritizes statements in a static slice.Not all statements in a static slice are equally likely to propagate effects.Some data dependencies are more likely to occur than others.Control dependencies are less likely than data dependencies to propagate effects.PrioSlice helps localize faults more effectively than other static-slicing methods. Static slicing is a popular program analysis used in software engineering to find which parts of a program affect other parts. Unfortunately, static slicing often produces large and imprecise results because of its conservative nature. Dynamic slicing can be an alternative in some cases, but it requires detailed runtime information that can be hard or impossible to obtain or re-create. This is often the case when users report bugs in deployed software. In this paper, we significantly improve the precision of static slicing through PrioSlice, a novel technique that exploits the insight that not all statements in a static slice are equally likely to affect another statement such as a failing point. PrioSlice first computes a probabilistic model of the dependencies in the program. In this model, some data dependencies are more likely to occur than others and control dependencies are less likely than data dependencies to propagate effects (e.g., errors). PrioSlice then traverses the program backwards, like static slicing, but in an order defined by the computed dependence probabilities. Our study of fault localization on various Java subjects indicates that PrioSlice can help localize faults much more effectively than existing static-slicing approaches.
Obesity and Post-Cardiopulmonary Bypass-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Objective The authors specifically explored the association of obesity (based on body mass index [BMI]) and the risk of developing acute kidney injury after cardiopulmonary bypass (AKI CPB ). Design Single-center retrospective study. Setting Academic medical center. Participants and Interventions After IRB approval, 376 eligible adults who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between 2006-2010 were included in the final retrospective analysis. Patients undergoing “off-pump” procedures, cardiac transplants, repair of congenital heart disease, and patients with preoperative circulatory assist devices were excluded. Results The overall incidence of developing AKI CPB in this population based on the Acute Kidney Injury Network serum creatinine criteria was 39% (147 of 376). Among the BMI classes, the morbidly obese cohort (ie, BMI>40 kg/m 2 ) had a significantly greater risk of developing AKI CPB than those in lower BMI classes. BMI>40 kg/m 2 was significantly associated with development of AKI CPB even after accounting for covariates (ie, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, age, severity of illness, and CPB time) (overall p = 0.018). The odds ratio of AKI CPB in the BMI>40 kg/m 2 cohort relative to BMI 2 was 2.39 (95% CI: 0.98, 5.82; p = 0.055), with no significant difference in risk of developing AKI CPB among the 4 lower BMI classes. Conclusion BMI>40 kg/m 2 is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing of AKI CPB .
Processing Effects for Integrated PZT: Residual Stress, Thickness, and Dielectric Properties

Processing effects on the dielectric properties of sol-gel-derived PbZrO 3 -PbTiO 3 (PZT) films integrated onto Pt/Ti/SiO 2 //Si substrates are reported. Sol-gel synthesis and deposition conditions were designed to produce films of varying thickness (95-500 nm) with consistent chemical composition (Pb (Zr 0.53 Ti 0.47 )O 3 ), phase content (perovskite), grain size (∼110 nm), crystallographic orientation (nominally (111) fiber textured), and measured residual stress. The Stoney method, using laser reflectance to determine wafer curvature, derived biaxial tensile stress values of 150 and 180 MPa for PZT films after a baseline correction for electrode interactions during thermal processing was employed. The PZT films were of high dielectric quality, with low losses and_negligible dispersion. Calculated values of dielectric constant (K') were found to decrease from 960 to 600 with decreasing film thickness. A series-capacitor model successfully recovered a room-temperature K' 1 for the PZT (1,170) in good agreement with bulk reports but was unable to reproduce the expected dielectric anomaly near 380°C. This discrepancy and the resulting diffuse phase transformation were attributed to the biaxial tensile stress present in the PZT films.
Sensitivity of the Industrial Source Complex Model to Input Deposition Parameters

The Industrial Source Complex model has recently been revised to include algorithms for estimating dry and wet deposition of particles in addition to air concentration. This study examines the sensitivity of the maximum model predictions to changes in input parameters controlling deposition, such as the shape of the particle size distribution, resolution of the size distribution, and scavenging coefficients. The modeled deposition values are more sensitive than the concentrations to changes in these parameters. The model is particularly sensitive to the use of the plume depletion option, with deposition values lowered by up to 40% when the depletion option is selected. Changes in the specification of the particle size distribution affected the highest deposition values by as much as 25%. Neither concentration nor deposition seem particularly sensitive to the use of gridded terrain data.
MCBCG: Model Checking Based Sequential Clock-Gating

Dynamic power reduction techniques such as sequential clock-gating aim at eliminating inconsequential computation and clock-toggles of the registers. Usually sequential clock-gating opportunities are discovered manually based on certain characteristics of a design (e.g. pipelining). Since manual addition of sequential gating circuitry might change the functionality of the design, sequential equivalence checking is needed after such changes. Tools for sequential equivalence checking are expensive, and based on recent technologies. Therefore, it is desirable to automate the discovery of sequential clock-gating opportunities using already existing and proven technologies such as model checking and thereby a priori proving that the changes will not affect the required functionality. Model Checking Based Sequential Clock Gating (MCBCG) method formally proves particular sequential dependencies of registers on other registers and logic, thus sequentially gating such registers will not require further validation. An automation scheme for MCBCG methodology is also proposed in this paper. Preliminary experiments show up to 30% more savings than the traditional (combinational) clock-gating based power reduction techniques.
EFFECTS OF TRYPSIN DIGESTION ON FLAGELLAR STRUCTURES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO MOTILITY

Flagellar axonemes isolated from sea urchin sperm were digested with trypsin for various time periods. The course of digestion was monitored turbidimetrically and was found to take two different courses depending on the presence or absence of ATP in the digestion mixture. It was found that ATP induced active disintegration of the axonemes after slight digestion. Samples of the digested axonemes were examined with the electron microscope to determine the effects of trypsin digestion on the substructures of the axonemes. The rate at which trypsin sensitized the axonemes to ATP paralleled the rate at which it damaged the radial spokes and the nexin links, while the dynein arms were removed much more slowly. The results suggest that inactive dynein arms form cross bridges between the adjacent doublet tubules in digested axonemes, and that when activated by the addition of ATP, they induce an active shearing force between adjacent doublets. The radial spokes and the nexin links are not directly involved in the production of mechanical force, but they may participate in regulating the sliding between tubules to produce a propagated bending wave.
Chiral solitons and current algebra

Abstract We investigate the possibility of a realistic hadrodynamics based solely on observable currents. The basic idea is to exploit the soliton generation in bosonic chiral theories as a mechanism for finding the fermionic representations of current algebra. A prototype realization is Skyrme's O(4) invariant theory of pions and nucleons. A comprehensive reexamination of this model in the context of chiral dynamics suffices to reveal a strikingly self-consistent dynamical picture. First a differential geometric formulation gives the proper framework for a chiral invariant quantum theory of solitons and allows a compact derivation of Skyrme's main results. While no exact analytic solution is found, the solitons are sufficiently localized so that their singularities can be properly isolated out for analysis. Using Witten's ansatz, a determination of the form of the 1-soliton singularity is obtained from the field equations. It is given by Cayley's steoreographic projection from S3 to R 3 ⌣ {∞} ≈ S 3 ; a most suitable form for the proof of spinor structure. Williams' proof that the quantized 1-soliton sector gives rise to fermionic spin states is recalled. It is argued that the topological dynamics of this sector induce an invariance group K = SU(2)I ⊗ SU(2)J and its associated strong coupling isobaric spectrum for the nucleons. The associated current algebra is derived and resolves the main difficulties of the Sugawara-Sommerfield program. The signature of a field theoretical bootstrap is clear: massive nucleons as soliton bound states of Nambu-Goldstone bosons illustrate a dynamical mechanism dual to that of Nambu and Jona-Lasinio.
A vortex wake model for optimum heavily loaded ducted fans

Like the free propeller in axial flight, a single-rotation ducted fan of highest induced efficiency is characterized by an ultimate wake vortex system shed from the blade trailing edges whose apparent motion is that of rigid helical surfaces. In addition and concentric with this inner sheet, there is a cylindrical surface of helical vortex filaments shed from the duct trailing edge. For zero hub diameter, and neglecting compressibility, viscosity, and tip clearance, a consistent mathematical model of the constant-diameter vortex wake is developed and the compatibility relationships to be satisfied are presented. Using the Biot-Savart equation, the vortex strength distribution in the wake may be determined by numerical methods and then related to the blade bound vortex strength. Some preliminary results of the analysis are presented for the lightly loaded case for comparison with existing methods.
Expression of the Nuclear Receptor Coactivator, cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein, Is Sexually Dimorphic and Modulates Sexual Differentiation of Neonatal Rat Brain

Recent studies indicate that the transcriptional activity of steroid receptors is governed by proteins called nuclear receptor coactivators. Using immunocytochemistry, we found that on the day of birth (postnatal d 0) males express higher levels of the nuclear receptor coactivator, cAMP response element binding protein-binding protein (CBP), within the ventromedial hypothalamus, medial preoptic area, and arcuate nucleus. Using Western immunoblots, we confirmed that males have higher levels of CBP on postnatal d 0, 1, and 5; however, there was no sex difference on postnatal d 11. To examine the functional role of CBP, we infused oligodeoxynucleotides that were antisense to CBP mRNA or a scrambled sequence as a control into the hypothalamus of female rats on postnatal d 0, 1, and 2. On postnatal d 1, all rats were injected with 100 g testosterone propionate to both masculinize (increase male) and defeminize (decrease female) sexual behavior. Rats were ovariectomized in adulthood and tested for adult sexual behavior. Neonatal CBP antisense oligodeoxynucleotides treatment interfered with the defeminizing, but not the masculinizing, actions of testosterone. These results indicate that CBP expression in developing rat brain is sexually dimorphic and an important modulator for steroid hormone action. (Endocrinology 143: 3009 –3016, 2002)
A combination of wireless multicast advantage and hitch-hiking

In the minimum energy broadcast problem, each node adjusts its transmission power to minimize the total energy consumption while still delivering data to all the nodes in a network. The minimum energy broadcast problem is proved to be NP-complete. The Wireless Multicast Advantage (WMA) is that a single transmission can be received by all the nodes that are within the transmission range of a transmitting node. The Hitch-hiking model introduced recently takes advantage of the physical layer to combine partial signals containing the same data in order to decode a complete message. In this letter, we take advantage of both WMA and Hitch-hiking to design an energy-efficient broadcast tree algorithm with Hitch-hiking (BHH). The approximation ratio of BHH is within a factor of O(logn) where n, is the number of nodes in the network. The simulation results show that BHH reduces the total energy of the broadcast tree greatly.
Vertical Impact Forces during Bench-Step Aerobics: Exercise Rate and Experience

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two bench-step exercise speeds on vertical impact forces and to explore this variable between novices and instructors. 12 women (mean age 2...