cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic properties of doped lanthanum manganite

An investigation designed to display the intrinsic properties of perovskite manganites was accomplished by comparing the behavior of bulk samples with that of thin films; the results show the colossal magneto resistance at very low temperatures is not an intrinsic property of the thermodynamically stable 1/3 doped material. Epitaxial 1,500 {angstrom} films of perovskite La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} and La{sub 0.67}Sr{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} were grown by solid source chemical vapor deposition on LaAlO{sub 3} and post annealed in oxygen at 950 C. Below Tc/2 the intrinsic magnetization decreases as T{sup 2} (as can be expected for itinerant electron ferromagnets) while the intrinsic resistivity increases proportional to T{sup 2}. The constant and T{sup 2} coefficients of the resistivity are largely independent of magnetic field and alkaline earth element (Ca, Sr or Ba). The authors identify three distinct types of negative magnetoresistance. The largest effect is observed near the Curie temperature and is likely to be due to magnetic critical scattering. There is also magnetoresistance associated with the net magnetization of polycrystalline samples. The high temperature (above {Tc}) resistivity at La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} is consistent with small polaron hopping conductivity with a transition at 750K, while La{sub 0.67}Sr{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} doesmore » not exhibit activated conductivity until about 500K, well above {Tc}. The limiting low and high temperature resistivities may place a limit on the maximum possible magnetoresistance of these materials.« less
Gait Dysfunction in Mild Cognitive Impairment Syndromes

OBJECTIVES To conduct a systematic clinical and quantitative assessment of gait in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) syndromes.
Quasi-parabolic analytic transformations of Cn. Parabolic manifolds

In [Rong, F., Quasi-parabolic analytic transformations of Cn, J. Math. Anal. Appl.343 (2008), 99–109], we showed the existence of “parabolic curves” for certain quasi-parabolic analytic transformations of Cn. Under some extra assumptions, we show the existence of “parabolic manifolds” for such transformations.
UNDERWRITER REPUTATION AND REPETITIVE PUBLIC OFFERINGS

A recent examination of underwriter reputation and initial public offerings (IPOs) suggests that one of the reasons prestigious underwriters market low-risk IPOs is to increase the expected present value of subsequent offerings. There is a greater likelihood that a firm issuing low-risk IPOs will be a viable future operation with the potential for subsequent offerings than a firm issuing high-risk IPOs. I examine the hypothesis that the likelihood of subsequent offerings is negatively related to IPO risk. In addition to finding support for this hypothesis, I show that the likelihood of subsequent offerings is positively related to the IPO underwriter's reputation and negatively related to the IPO gross spread. Finally, I find that the likelihood of firms switching IPO underwriters for subsequent offerings decreases with increasing IPO underwriter reputation.
Causes for the undertreatment of elderly breast cancer patients: tailoring treatments to individual patients.

Abstract Background: Ageism has been suggested as a cause for the undertreatment of elderly breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate and causes of elderly patients not receiving standard therapy. Study Design: A random sample of 500 patients was reviewed for age, cancer stage, surgical, radiation, cytotoxic or hormonal chemotherapy, number and type of comorbidities, type of therapeutic deficiencies, and their causes. Results: The average age was 59.9 ± 13.6 years. Of the patients less than 65 years old, 6.0% did not receive standard treatment, compared with 22.2% of patients 65 years or older. Treatment omitted in the less than 65-year-old group: 16.7%, no tumor extirpation; 38.9%, no axillary dissection; 33.3%, no radiation therapy; and 33.3% no chemotherapy. Treatment omitted in the 65-year and older group: 11.4%, no tumor extirpation; 39.1%, no axillary dissection; 47.7%, no radiation therapy; and 18.2%, no chemotherapy. Causes in the less than 65-year-old group were: prohibitive associated medical conditions, 27.8%; favorable primary tumor pathology, 16.7%; and patient treatment refusal, 55.6%. Causes in the 65-year and older group were: prohibitive associated medical conditions, 40.9%; favorable tumor pathology, 13.6%; patient treatment refusal, 31.8%; and unexplainable, 13.6%. The median number of concomitant medical conditions in patients receiving standard therapy was one compared with three in the undertreated patients from prohibitive associated medical conditions or unexplained causes. Conclusions: Population-based studies of breast cancer treatment do not adequately assess the complex decision making associated with breast cancer in the elderly. Patients do not receive standard care for specific reasons.
Measurements and analysis of reactive nitrogen species in the rural troposphere of Southeast United States: Southern oxidant study site SONIA

Ambient concentrations of reactive nitrogen compounds as well as total NO, were measured during June and early July 1992 at a rural site, site SONIA, in the central Piedmont region of North Carolina as a part of the Southern Oxidants Study. The measurements of reactive nitrogen species were made in an effort to provide a comprehensive understanding of nitrogen chemistry and to investigate the total nitrogen budget at the site. NO, NO, and NO showed diurnal variations with maxima in the morning between 0600 and 0900 EST. The maximum NO,, concentration reached was _ 14.5 ppbv, and the maximum concentrations of NO and NO, were 5.4 and 7.8 ppbv, respectively. The mean NO, mixing ratio was found to be 2.88 + 1.58 ppbv (n = 743) with an average daily maximum of 3.6 ppbv. The mean mixing ratios of NO and NO, were found to be 0.15 f 0.29 ppbv (n = 785) and 1.31 + 0.99 ppbv (n = 769). Average daily maxima of NO and NO, were 0.4 and 2.0 ppbv, respectively. HNO, and PAN showed diurnal variation with maxima in the afternoon and minimum in the night, and mean mixing ratios were found to be 0.67 + 0.33 ppbv (n = 250) and 0.40 + 0.24 ppbv (n = 578). The fractions of individual reactive nitrogen species to total NO, were investigated and contrasted to the results from a remote marine site and rural continental sites. As in two other rural continental sites in the U.S., NO, was found to be the most abundant constituent (~45%) of NO,; while HNO, was the most abundant compound in NO, measured at a remote marine site. The discrepancy between the NO, partitioning at site SONIA and the marine site is attributed to the influence of local and regional anthropogenic sources of NO, and the continental origin of the majority of air masses encountered at the site. The NO,/NO, ratio and NO, ( = NO, - NO,) were used as an indicator of the chemical age of airmasses. The NO&O, ratio showed strong positive correlations with the photochemical oxidants HNO, (r = 0.76), PAN (r = 0.68) and 0, (r = 0.79) measured at the site. Positive correlations were found between surface wind direction and both the magnitude of NO, and the NO,/NO, ratio. These correlations suggest that synoptic meteorological conditions and transport of NO, are important in the distribution of NO, and its relationship with photochemical oxidants at the site. The ozone production efficiency was illustrated by correlation of 0, and NO, and compared with other published measurements made in the Southeast U.S., and published results from a 3D Eulerian model simulation. Key word index: Reactive nitrogen species, atmospheric budget, ozone, oxidants, modeling.
Life-saving decompressive craniectomy for diffuse cerebral edema during an episode of new-onset diabetic ketoacidosis: case report and review of the literature.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a well-known complication of diabetes mellitus, is associated with severe diffuse cerebral edema leading to brain herniation and death. Survival from an episode of symptomatic cerebral edema has been associated with debilitating neurological sequelae, including motor deficits, visual impairment, memory loss, seizures, and persistent vegetative states. A review of the literature reveals scant information regarding the potential surgical options for these cases. The authors present their case in which they used a craniectomy to treat this life-threatening condition. After reportedly suffering nausea and vomiting, a 12-year-old male presented to the emergency room with lethargy and was diagnosed with acute DKA. After appropriate treatment, the patient became comatose. A CT scan revealed diffuse cerebral edema. To decrease intracranial pressure and prevent further progression of brain herniation, a bifrontal decompressive craniectomy with duraplasty was performed. The patient’s neurological function gradually improved, and he returned to school and his regular activities with only minimal cognitive deficits. Given the high mortality and morbidity associated with DKA-related edema, we believe decompressive craniectomy should be considered for malignant cerebral edema and herniation syndrome.
PLANNING AND SCHEDULING HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

This paper presents a model designed to integrate the planning and scheduling phases of highway construction projects, focusing primarily on the planning aspects. The model automatically generates the work breakdown structure (WBS) and precedence network respecting job logic and stores a list of construction operations typically encountered in highway projects. The generated network can subsequently be modified to suit the unique requirements of the project being considered. An object-oriented model is developed for planning highway construction operations. The model employs resource-driven scheduling in order to suit the repetitive nature of this class of projects. It accounts for (1) resource availability; (2) multiple preceding and succeeding activities; (3) transverse obstructions; (4) activities with varying quantities of work along the highway length; (5) the impact of inclement weather on crew productivity; and (6) the beneficial effect of the learning curve. At the core of the model is a relational database designed to store available resources and their respective unavailability periods. The model enables both: (1) activities executed by own force; and (2) activities subcontracted out. The model is incorporated in a prototype software that operates in the Microsoft Windows environment and generates schedules in both graphical and tabular formats. An example project is analyzed to demonstrate the features of the developed model.
The Health Effects of Diethylstilbestrol Revisited

Although diethylstilbestrol has not been prescribed commonly for more than 25 years, its effects on the health of exposed persons are still important. In this article, we summarize current information about the major health effects of diethylstilbestrol exposure and delineate implications for nurses. Nurses can help to identify persons at risk from prior diethylstilbestrol exposure, facilitate comprehensive assessments of persons exposed to diethylstilbestrol, and share current information about diethylstilbestrol.
Dry storage of sperm: applications in primates and domestic animals

Cryopreservation of spermatozoa, oocytes and embryos, as well as somatic cells or cell lines for cloning from cells, are all options for the long-term storage of unique genotypes and endangered species. Spermatozoal cryopreservation and storage currently require liquid nitrogen or ultralow refrigeration-based methods for long- or short-term storage, which requires routine maintenance and extensive space requirements. The preservation of stem cells also has strict requirements for long-term storage to maintain genetic integrity. Dessicated (lyopreserved) sperm and stem cells will provide an unprecedented type of long-term storage without the need for expensive and burdensome cryogenic conditions. Experiments were conducted to determine an effective intracellular concentration of the lyoprotectant trehalose. High-pressure liquid chromatography studies revealed that trehalose can be incorporated into mature sperm cells as well as spermatogonial stem cells from rhesus monkeys. In addition, using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we determined that thermotropic phase transitions for fresh ejaculates from rhesus monkey and stallion sperm occurred at 10–15, 33–37 and 55–59°C. Preliminary studies in our laboratory have indicated that spermatogonial stem cells can be dried to <3 g g−1 water and maintain viability following rehydration. Studies in our laboratory have provided preliminary results suggesting that the desiccated storage of sperm and spermatogonial stem cells may be a viable alternative to conventional cryopreservation.
RSVP keyboard: An EEG based typing interface

Humans need communication. The desire to communicate remains one of the primary issues for people with locked-in syndrome (LIS). While many assistive and augmentative communication systems that use various physiological signals are available commercially, the need is not satisfactorily met. Brain interfaces, in particular, those that utilize event related potentials (ERP) in electroencephalography (EEG) to detect the intent of a person noninvasively, are emerging as a promising communication interface to meet this need where existing options are insufficient. Existing brain interfaces for typing use many repetitions of the visual stimuli in order to increase accuracy at the cost of speed. However, speed is also crucial and is an integral portion of peer-to-peer communication; a message that is not delivered timely often looses its importance. Consequently, we utilize rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) in conjunction with language models in order to assist letter selection during the brain-typing process with the final goal of developing a system that achieves high accuracy and speed simultaneously. This paper presents initial results from the RSVP Keyboard system that is under development. These initial results on healthy and locked-in subjects show that single-trial or few-trial accurate letter selection may be possible with the RSVP Keyboard paradigm.
Family‐based prevention counseling for high‐risk young adolescents: Immediate outcomes

Family prevention counseling, which features customized prevention planning for individual families, is a promising approach for preventive intervention with adolescents at high risk for substance abuse and conduct disorder. A randomized study (N = 124) tested the post-intervention efficacy of an indicated, family-based prevention model with a sample of inner-city African-American youths (ages 11–14). Key risk and protective factors associated with the development of drug use and antisocial behavior were targeted in four domains: self-competence, family functioning, school involvement, and peer associations. Compared to controls, participants in family prevention counseling showed gains in global self-worth, family cohesion, and bonding to school, and a decrease in peer antisocial behavior. The potential utility of family prevention counseling within a unified prevention framework is discussed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An experimental determination of the characteristic temperature for Pu02

Abstract The characteristic temperature for PuO2 has been determined by experimentally measuring the reduction in intensity of X-ray diffraction spectra from a specimen as the specimen temperature is increased. In order to evaluate the technique employed, the characteristic temperature of aluminium was also determined. For aluminium, a characteristic temperature of 393° K was obtained, which agrees very well with the value of 390° K obtained from specific heat measurements. The characteristic temperature of PuO2 was found to be 415° K.
Personality and Demographic Factors in Older Adults' Fear of Death

Study objectives were to clarify controversy regarding the factors influencing fear of death in old age, using a hypothesized path model. Participants were 123 African American and 265 White elders aged 60 to 100; they were assessed on specific fears of death, religiosity, externality, perceived social support, socioeconomic status, age, ethnicity, and gender. Externality, religiosity, and social support had direct effects on fear of the unknown, whereas remaining variables had indirect effects (p < .05). Externality, religiosity, ethnicity, age, and gender all had direct effects on fear of dying, with the background factors also having indirect effects. Conclusions underscore the need for practitioners to understand and consider older adults' fears.
Organisational form and industry emergence: Nonprofit and mutual firms in the development of the US personal finance industry

Economic theories of commercial nonprofits and mutuals usually emphasise the advantages of such organisational forms in reducing agency and monitoring costs in markets that suffer from information asymmetries in exchanges between firms and their customers. This article examines the ability of such transaction cost theories to account for historical variations in the ownership and governance of firms in the US personal finance industry between the early nineteenth century and the Great Depression. It focuses, in particular, on mutual savings banks and their role in the development of the intermediated market for savings accounts. While I find some evidence in support of transaction cost theories of organisational form, I also find that entrepreneurial and socio-political factors played crucial roles in the choice of ownership and governance structures; mutual savings banks predominated in the early years of the industry because the form offered entrepreneurial advantages over investor-owned corporations an...
Tumor escape and progression of HER-2/neu negative breast cancer under immune pressure

Background: Emerging data from pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that HER-2/neu-specific T cell responses could induce HER-2/neu antigen loss in the tumor cells. These data suggest that patients with HER-2/neu negative breast cancer might have had HER-2/neu positive premalignant lesions in the past that progressed to HER-2/neu negative breast cancer under HER-2/neu-specific immune pressure. Methods: We conducted a pilot study in patients with HER-2/neu positive and HER-2/neu negative breast cancers as well as a patient with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). HER-2/neu expression was determined by FISH. HER-2/ neu-specific T cell responses were determined by using IFN-g ELISA. Expression of IFN-g Ra in the tumors was determined by immunohistochemistry analysis of paraffin-embedded tissues. Results: We determined that majority of (10 of 12) patients with HER-2/neu negative breast cancer had HER-2/neuspecific IFN-g producing T cell responses which was stronger than those in patients with HER-2/neu positive tumors. Such immune responses were associated with nuclear translocation of IFN-g Ra in their tumor cells. Patient with DCIS also showed HER-2/neu-specific T cell responses. Conclusion: These data suggest that conducting retrospective studies in patients with HER-2/neu negative breast cancers and prospective studies in patients with HER-2/neu positive DCIS can determine whether HER-2/neu negative invasive carcinomas arise from HER-2/neu positive DCIS under the immune pressure.
Standard Model couplings and collider signatures of a light scalar

The electroweak symmetry breaking (EWSB) sector of the standard model can be far richer and more interesting than the usual single scalar doublet model. We explore scenarios where the EWSB sector is nearly scale invariant and consequently gives rise to a light $CP$ even scalar particle. The one-doublet SM is in that category, as are many other models with either weakly or strongly coupled sectors that trigger EWSB. We study the couplings of the light scalar to the SM particles that can arise from the explicit breaking of scale invariance focusing on the possible differences with the minimal SM. The couplings of the light scalar to light fermions, as well as to the massless gauge bosons, can be significantly enhanced. We find possible new discovery channels due to the decays of the conformal scalar into ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ pairs as well as new production channels via light quark annihilation.
Wages, Exchange Rates, and the Great Inflation Moderation: A Post-Keynesian View

Several explanations of the “great inflation moderation” (1982-2006) have been put forth, the most popular being that inflation was tamed due to good monetary policy, good luck (exogenous shocks such as oil prices), or structural changes such as inventory management techniques. Drawing from Post-Keynesian and structuralist theories of inflation, this paper uses a vector autoregression with a Post-Keynesian identification strategy to show that the decline in the inflation rate and inflation volatility was due primarily to (1) wage declines and (2) falling import prices caused by international competition and exchange rate effects. The paper uses a graphical analysis, impulse response functions, and variance decompositions to support the argument that the decline in inflation has in fact been a “wage and import price moderation,” brought about by declining union membership and international competition. Exchange rate effects have lowered inflation through cheaper import and oil prices, and have indirectly affected wages through strong dollar policy, which has lowered manufacturing wages due to increased competition. A “Taylor rule” differential variable was also used to test the “good policy” hypothesis. The results show that the Taylor rule differential has a smaller effect on inflation, controlling for other factors.
Will the Initiator of Fatty Acid Synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Please Stand Up

Type II fatty acid synthesis (FASII) is vital for bacterial membrane biogenesis. The first condensation step in the pathway is carried out by β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase III, or FabH, and subsequent condensation reactions are executed by the FabB/F family of enzymes. The
Villitis of unknown etiology: The pathophysiologic equivalent of graft-versus-host disease in human pregnancy

INFANT BIRTH WEIGHT CHLOE ZERA, ALISON STUEBE, JEFFREY ECKER, THOMAS MCELRATH, Harvard University, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston, Massachusetts, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston, Massachusetts, Harvard University, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Boston, Massachusetts, Harvard University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston, Massachusetts OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the relationship between early glucose intolerance, third trimester glucose intolerance and infant birth weight. STUDY DESIGN: Fasting serum samples from 439 women in the Massachusetts General Hospital Obstetrical Maternal Study were collected from 16-18 weeks gestation and analyzed for HOMA. GLT was collected as part of routine care. We hypothesized that both early insulin resistance and later glucose intolerance would affect infant birth weight and risk of macrosomiarelated c-section. We used linear regression to predict infant birth weight as a function of pre-pregnant BMI, gestational weight gain, maternal age, HOMA and GLT. Using logistic regression, we modeled risk of c-section and macrosomia as a function of those variables. RESULTS: 73 women delivered macrosomic infants. 52 women underwent a c-section for macrosomia or failure to progress. Neither HOMA nor GLT were predictive of infant birth weight. Significant predictors of infant birth weight were gestational weight gain (p!0.001), pre-pregnancy BMI (p!0.001) and maternal age (p=0.02) (Table 1). Pre-pregnant BMI and gestational weight gain were significantly associated with risk of macrosomia. Prepregnant BMI and GLT were also significantly associated with risk of csection for macrosomia or failure to progress (Table 2). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that maternal BMI and gestational weight gain should be emphasized when attempting to modify risk of fetal macrosomia and associated adverse outcomes.
Changes in the Concentration of Cytidine 3′,5′ Monophosphate (Cyclic CMP) in Regenerating Rat Liver

SummaryThe entire CMP content of regenerating rat liver was measured by radioimmunoassay. The concentration of cyclic CMP in normal liver was 7.2 ± 0.87 pmol/g wet weight. Eight hours after hepatectomy, this level had increased to 58.9 ± 10.0 pmol/g wet weight, and at 12 hr had reached a peak of 104.2 ± 19.0 pmol/g wet weight. By 16 hr, the cyclic CMP concentration had fallen to prehepatectomy levels. A second, smaller increase in the level of cyclic CMP occurred at 24-28 hr after operation, and by 48 hr the cyclic CMP had returned to prehepatectomy levels.
Books on data mining are reviewed

[1] Lecture Notes in Data Mining, edited by Michael W. Berry and Murray Browne, 2006, World Scientific Press, 27 Warren Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601, USA, ISBN: 981 256 802 6, pp. 222 + xiii, $58.0...
Osteoporosis for the practicing neurologist

Osteoporosis is a common condition of impaired bone strength leading to fractures. A targeted history, physical exam, and blood work can help elucidate potentially reversible causes of low bone mass. In the neurology office, particular attention should be paid to the patient on glucocorticoids or antiepileptic medications, as these have distinct detrimental effects on bone. Patients can be risk-stratified by using the FRAX calculator, a tool that can help determine whether the patient is at sufficient risk of fracture to warrant pharmacologic therapy. Nonpharmacologic treatments such as calcium, vitamin D, and exercise should be discussed with the patient. The cornerstone of pharmacologic therapy has been treatment with bisphosphonates, but newer medications are available as well for the high-risk patient.
Endocrine Disruptors of the Stress Axis in Natural Populations: How Can We Tell?1

SYNOPSIS. Often, as environmental endocrinologists, we observe animals in nature with the goal of describing their normal endocrinology. However, the contamination of virtually all natural habitats by chemicals of anthropogenic origins ( e.g., PCBs, organochlorines, phytoestrogens, alkyphenols, heavy metals) that might alter endocrine conditions suggests we need to reevaluate many of our field studies with respect to points of reference or controls. The impaired response of the stress axis of feral brown trout, Salmo trutta, correlated with chronic exposure to heavy metals is examined as a case in point although the problems extend to other hypothalamic axes as well. Our studies emphasize that measurement of one static endocrine parameter to assess the health of any hypothalamus-pituitary axis (e.g., plasma cortisol levels to indicate stress) should not be used as a biomarker for field studies. Comparative endocrinologists often attempt to describe the roles of neuroendocrine and endocrine factors related to major life history events such as development, sexual maturation, and reproduction while observing animals in their natural habitats. The integration of endocrinology with behavior, ecology, and other aspects of physiology of animals is viewed with an evolutionary perspective. Because of a preoccupation with environmental factors that influence neuroendocrine axes and a focus on major life history, these scientists often are called ‘‘environmental endocrinologists.’’ In contrast to this orientation, some comparative endocrinologists study non-mammalian vertebrates or invertebrate animals as model systems in which to unravel basic mechanisms of endocrine function that could shed light on processes in other taxa including humans. Irrespective of our focus, most comparative endocrinologists have a sense that understanding of endocrine systems should tell us something about how animals function in nature and how these mechanisms may have evolved.
Control of cell fate and polarity in the adult abdominal segments of Drosophila by optomotor-blind.

In an accompanying report (Kopp, A., Muskavitch, M. A. T. and Duncan, I. (1997) Development 124, 3703–3714), we show that Hh protein secreted by posterior compartment cells patterns the posterior portion of the anterior compartment in adult abdominal segments. Here we show that this function of hh is mediated by optomotor-blind (omb). omb- mutants mimic the effects of loss-of-function alleles of hh: structures from the posterior of the anterior compartment are lost, and often this region develops as a mirror image of the anterior portion. Structures from the anterior part of the posterior compartment are also lost. In the pupa, omb expression in abdominal histoblasts is highest at or near the compartment boundary, and decreases in a shallow gradient toward the anterior. This gradient is due to activation of omb by Hh secreted by posterior compartment cells. In contrast to imaginal discs, this Hh signaling is not mediated by dpp or wg. We describe several gain-of-function alleles that cause ectopic expression of omb in the anterior of the segment. Most of these cause the anterior region to develop with posterior characteristics without affecting polarity. However, an allele that drives high level ubiquitous expression of omb (QdFab) causes the anterior tergite to develop as a mirror-image duplication of the posterior tergite, a pattern opposite to that seen in omb- mutants. Ubiquitous expression of hh causes similar double-posterior patterning. We find that omb- alleles suppress this effect of ectopic hh expression and that posterior patterning becomes independent of hh in the QdFab mutant. These observations indicate that omb is the primary target of hh signaling in the adult abdomen. However, it is clear that other targets exist. One of these is likely Scruffy, a novel gene that we describe, which acts in parallel to omb. To explain the effects of omb alleles, we propose that both anterior and posterior compartments in the abdomen are polarized by underlying symmetric gradients of unknown origin. We suggest that omb has two functions. First, it specifies the development of appropriate structures both anterior and posterior to the compartment boundary. Second, it causes cells to reverse their interpretation of polarity specified by the underlying symmetric gradients.
The Effects of Search Costs on Prices and Price Dispersion: A Web-Based Classroom Game

Business and information systems students often have difficulty understanding the market forces behind Internet prices. This paper describes a web-based classroom game used to demonstrate the effects of reduced search costs on price levels and price disper-sion as well as the possible benefits to both buyers and sellers. The game is available for free and does not require any specialized hardware or software; the only equipment needed is a computer connected to the internet running a standard browser. The game takes less than 20 minutes and students may participate simultaneously or separately.
Proactive demand participation of heterogeneous flexible loads in smart grid

There are a variety of flexible energy demand loads in modern buildings. In particular, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system accounts for around 50% of buildings' total energy consumption and is a major source for energy scheduling flexibility. Electric vehicle (EV) charging is an emerging load in many buildings, and may also provides scheduling flexibility depending on the charging requirements. In addition, the usage of energy storage systems such as batteries further increases the flexibility in scheduling building energy demands. At the power grid level, it is important to leverage such flexibility for improving energy efficiency. To this end, we have proposed a proactive demand response scheme that enables building customers to actively participate in the electricity market clearing process. Compared to the conventional passive demand response strategy, the proactive scheme is shown to be more effective to take advantage of buildings' flexible load demand and enhance the energy efficiency of the overall power system. In this paper, the scheduling of various flexible building energy loads such as HVAC control and EV charging, as well as the usage of battery storage system, are jointly modeled and optimized in the proactive demand participation framework. We conduct experiments on the IEEE 5-bus system to evaluate the impact of heterogeneous flexible loads on the energy efficiency of the proactive scheme.
Walter Enders and Todd Sandler. The Political Economy of Terrorism, Second Edition

Enders and Sandler contribute to the study of terrorism and counterterrorism policy by providing a survey of relevant literature and a concise analysis of modern terrorism. They first discuss the d...
Delay Lines for Detection of Interaural Time Differences in the Barn Owl

The detection of interaural temporal disparities underlies azimuthal sound localization in the barn owl. Sensitivity to these time differences arises in nucleus laminaris, the first recipient of binaural input. The inputs to the nucleus laminaris act as delay lines to create maps of interaural temporal disparities. These delay lines are tapped by postsynaptic coincidence detectors.
Effects of a single night of postpartum sleep on childless women's daytime functioning.

Abstract Study objectives The maternal postpartum period is characterized by sleep fragmentation, which is associated with daytime impairment, mental health disturbances, and changes in melatonin patterns. In addition to sleep fragmentation, women undergo a complex set of physiological and environmental changes upon entering the postpartum period, confounding our understanding of effects of postpartum sleep disturbance. The primary study aim was to understand the basic impact of a single night of postpartum-like sleep fragmentation on sleep architecture, nocturnal melatonin levels, mood, daytime sleepiness, and neurobehavioral performance. Measurements and results For one week prior to entry into the laboratory, eleven healthy nulliparous women kept a stable sleep–wake schedule (verified via actigraphy). Participants contributed three consecutive nights of laboratory overnight polysomnography: (1) a habituation/sleep disorder screening night; (2) a baseline night; and (3) a sleep fragmentation night, when participants were awakened three times for ~ 30 min each. Self-reported sleep quality and mood (Profile of Mood States survey) both decreased significantly after sleep fragmentation compared to baseline measurements. Unexpectedly, daytime sleepiness (Multiple Sleep Latency Test) decreased significantly after sleep fragmentation. Experimental fragmentation had no significant effect on time spent in nocturnal sleep stages, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentration, or psychomotor vigilance test performance. Participants continued to provide actigraphy data, and daily PVTs and self-reported sleep quality assessments at home for one week following sleep fragmentation; these assessments did not differ from baseline values. Conclusions While there were no changes in measured physiological components of a single night of postpartum-like experimental sleep fragmentation, there were decreases in self-reported measures of mood and sleep quality. Future research should examine the effects of multiple nights of modeling postpartum-like sleep fragmentation on objective measures of sleep and daytime functioning.
Deep venous thrombosis: low-molecular-weight heparins in perioperative prophylaxis.

Although low-molecular weight heparins have theoretical advantages over standard heparin in preventing DVT, the differences in outcome have not been dramatic. The important issue is to give some form of prophylactic therapy.
Application of Direct Instruction Balance (DIB) system based on the pre-feed coal dynamic model in CCS of thermal power plants

There are some problems in the large-capacity thermal power units with direct-blow coal pulverizing system, such as long delay of pulverizing system and great thermal inertia of boiler;slow response to load and poor load dynamic following in AGC mode;large deviation in steam pressure control in sliding-pressure operation. DIB system based on pre-feed coal dynamic model decouples the dynamic regulation component and deviation correction component of load control by introducing the pre-feed coal model of boiler and feedforward model of steam turbine, and uncouples the dynamic regulation components of sliding-pressure by utilizing the steam pressure set-point model and additional boiler instruction model of sliding-pressure operation, so that the time-sharing operation for load and steam pressure regulation are realized. With the characteristic parameters of object features, DIB system was set and applied in Zhejiang. The application shows that this system can improve the load following feature and dynamic regulating precision of power units.
Diagnosis and the Dole: The Function of Illness in American Distributive Politics

This article argues that the concept of illness has certain properties that make it a convenient administrative device for managing a need-based redistributive system in a society whose primary distributive system is based on work. These properties--cultural acceptance of illness as a legitimate excuse for not working, objective standards for identifying illness, and restrictiveness--have led to the widespread use of illness as an eligibility criterion for many social benefits, including cash transfers, services, privileges and exemptions. Paradoxically, the traditional rationales for using illness as one of the keystones of categorical welfare policy are eroding, yet welfare programs based on illness certification are growing rapidly. To explain this anomaly, the author suggests that medical certification as a distributive mechanisms serves certain latent political functions, such as allowing welfare programs to be responsive to political unrest, siphoning off opposition to controversial policies by the granting of medical exemptions to intense opponents, are reducing political conflict by using physicians as arbiters.
Predicting N mineralized in a Georgia Coastal Plain field

The N mineralized from soil organic matter provides an important portion of N available for crop production. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of spatial variability in N mineralization potential in a field and to evaluate three different methods that might be used to estimate this variability. The three methods tested included predicting the N mineralized from surface soil properties as well as from a biological and a chemical procedure. Three soils varying in N mineralization potential were selected for the study from a field in the Georgia Coastal Plain. The N mineralized from these soils was determined by an N balance of unfertilized and cropped plots. The amount of N mineralized could not be reliably predicted from surface soil organic C, although surface soil clay concentration was positively correlated with the N mineralized. The N mineralized that was predicted using mineralization parameters determined by aerobic incubation, adjusted daily for soil water content and temperature, was approximately 50% of the field measurements of N mineralized. The values of NH4-N extracted with hot 2 M KCl were related significantly to N mineralized in the field (r2= 0.60) and also to the zero order rate constant of mineralization, k0 (r2= 0.77), determined from the N mineralized in the aerobic laboratory incubation.
A heat transfer and friction factor correlation for low air-side Reynolds number applications of compact heat exchangers (1535-RP)

In this article, an experimental investigation of the heat transfer and pressure drop of compact heat exchangers with louvered fins and flat tubes was conducted within a low air-side Reynolds number range of 20< ReLp < 200. Using an existing low-speed wind tunnel, 26 sample heat exchangers of corrugated louver fin type, were tested. New correlations for Colburn factor j and Fanning friction factor f have been developed using eight nondimensional parameters based on the experimental data. Within the investigated parameter ranges, it seems that both the j and f factors are better represented by two correlations in two flow regimes (one for ReLp = 20 – 80 and one for ReLp = 80 – 200) than single regime correlation in the format of power-law. The results support the conclusion that airflow and heat transfer at very low Reynolds numbers behaves differently from that at higher Reynolds numbers.
The Role of Progesterone and a Novel Progesterone Receptor, Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1, in the Inflammatory Response of Fetal Membranes to Ureaplasma parvum Infection.

Ureaplasma parvum (U. parvum) is gaining recognition as an important pathogen for chorioamnionitis and preterm premature rupture of membranes. We aimed to investigate the roles of progesterone (P4) and a novel progesterone receptor, progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1), in the response of fetal membranes to U. parvum. Fetal membrane cells (amnion, chorion and decidua) were isolated and confirmed to be free of Mycoplasmataceae. Cells were treated with U. parvum (5x106 CFU), and adherence was quantified by qPCR. Amnion and chorion cells were transfected with scrambled siRNA or validated PGRMC1 siRNA for 72h. Cells were then treated with U. parvum for 4h with or without pretreatment with P4 (10−7 M) or ethanol for 1h. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) mRNA expression were quantified by qRT-PCR. Culture medium was harvested and analyzed for IL-8 and prostaglandin (PGE2) secretion by ELISA and MMP9 activity by zymography. U. parvum had a mean adherence of 15.0±0.6%, 16.9± 3.7% and 4.7±0.3% in cultured amnion, chorion and decidua cells, respectively. Exposure to U. parvum elicited significant inflammatory responses including induction of IL-8, COX-2, PGE2 and MMP9. A possible role of PGRMC1 was identified in the inhibition of U. parvum-stimulated COX-2 and MMP9 mRNA expression in chorion cells and MMP9 activity in amnion cells. On the other hand, it might enhance the U. parvum-stimulated IL-8 protein secretion in amnion cells. P4, mediated through PGRMC1, significantly inhibited U. Parvum-induced MMP9 mRNA and COX-2 mRNA expression in chorion cells. P4 appeared to attenuate U. parvum induced IL-8 mRNA expression in chorion cells, but this P4 effect might not mediated through PGRMC1. In summary, U. parvum preferentially adheres to and induces inflammatory responses in chorion and amnion cells. P4 and PGRMC1 appear to differentially modulate the inflammatory responses induced by U. parvum among amnion and chorion cells.
Appraising Circuit-Centered Neurophenotypes

This chapter provides a critical appraisal of the concept of a circuit-centered neurophenotype that is conceptualized within a genome-to-phenome framework. Representing many of the kinds of variables that complicate this model are a few select ones that are sampled in this chapter. They include the following: (a) The problem of minimal circuit definition—the many scales of neural circuitry and the difficulty of demarcating circuits within some forms of neural architecture; (b) the modulation of neural circuits and the alterations of circuit architecture through non-gene-regulated factors such as synaptic plasticity, extra-synaptic neuromodulation, and bioelectric dynamics; and (c) technical and methodological considerations in circuit delineation—as is coming to light in the field of microscale connectomics. Adding these complex variables from neuroscience into the fray make for great attenuation of the notion of a circuit neurophenotype in the behavioral neurosciences, and this is given some depth of coverage in this chapter. However, the chapter does not dismiss the utility of the concept of circuit neurophenotypes. It concludes with a discussion of the kinds of additional information that may be needed in order for the concept to be better validated.
Evaluating Non-Pharmaceutical Technologies at the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

The medical device industry is an innovative and fast-paced field that necessitates frequent technology assessments and post-market reviews from health technology assessment (HTA) agencies. In this chapter we will describe the Canadian regulatory pathway for medical devices and provide a commentary. First we provide a summary of the regulatory assessment conducted by Health Canada’s Medical Devices Bureau, which evaluates the quality, efficacy, and safety of the device before it is reviewed by Canada’s federal HTA agency, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). We then discuss CADTH’s Health Technology Expert Review Panel (HTERP), which provides final recommendations for a medical device’s management (adoption, replacement, or disinvestment). Specifically within the HTERP process, we provide a summary of the requirements for a manufacturer’s submission, the HTERP process for priority ranking medical devices and how it differs from a pharmaceutical review, and how HTERP comes to developing their recommendations. We conclude with providing opportunities for improvement within CADTH’s device recommendations and discuss the future challenges of pushing disinvestment, particularly in a field with a limited device life span that advances through iterative improvements.
Tidal wave of fake news ruins thousands of student projects!: Navigating technical and professional writing in the misinformation age

Fake news—false stories that mimic real research or journalism and spread quickly online—and our awareness of it has proliferated in the months leading up to and following the 2016 presidential election. This workshop will help instructors of technical and professional writing define fake news for their students, identify the ways social media lends ethos to fake news, and give students a consistent method to separate fake news from credible information when the waters get murky. Since fake news in this form is a relatively new consideration, instructors must revise assignments and include fresh lesson plans to help students navigate these new waters. Understanding and developing strategies for teaching about fake news is particularly important for teachers of technical, scientific, and professional writing because fake news often targets topics that are relevant to students in these fields. Climate change, health, nutrition, and energy are often subjects of fake news. Moreover, predatory publishing and low standards of peer review make even research journals vulnerable to unsubstantiated research. In order to conduct meaningful research and create credible reports, students must be able to discern fact from fiction and to defend their choice of sources.
Gravitationally bound Bose condensates with rotation

We develop a self-consistent, gravitoelectromagnetic (GEM) formulation of a slowly rotating, self-gravitating, and dilute Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), intended for astrophysical applications in the context of dark matter halos. GEM self-consistently incorporates the effects of frame dragging to lowest order in $v/c$ via the gravitomagnetic field. BEC dark matter has attracted attention as an alternative to cold dark matter and warm dark matter for some time now. The BEC is described by the Gross-Pitaevskii-Poisson equation with an arbitrary potential allowing for either attractive or repulsive interactions. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining exact solutions to the GEM equations of motion without drastic approximations, we employ the variational method to examine the conditions under which rotating condensates, stable against gravitational collapse, may form in models with attractive and repulsive quartic interactions. We also describe the approximate dynamics of an imploding and rotating condensate by employing a collective coordinate description in terms of the condensate radius.
The corset, the bicycle and the Hottentot: Alexandre Falguière’s The Dancer and Cléo de Mérode’s modern feminine body

In 1896, Alexandre Falguiere’s sculpture The Dancer (La Danseuse), was the succes de scandale of the Salon des Artistes Francais. While the public wondered whether the nude figure indeed represente...