cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation and properties of calcium silicate hydrate-poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite materials

A series of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H)-polymer nanocomposite (C-S-HPN) materials were prepared by incorporating poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) into the inorganic layers of C-S-H during precipitation of quasicrystalline C-S-H from aqueous solution. The as synthesized C-S-HPN materials were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared photoacoustic (FTIRPAS) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersed spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The XRD peaks of C-S-HPN materials suggest the intermediate organizations presenting both intercalation of PVA and exfoliation of C-S-H. The SEM micrographs of C-S-H, PVA and C-S-HPN materials with different PVA contents exhibit the significant differences in their morphologies. Effects of the material compositions on the thermal stability of a series of C-S-HPN materials along with PVA and C-S-H were studied by TG, DTG and DSC. Three significant decomposition temperature ranges were observed in the TG curves of all C-S-HPN materials.
Nonequilibrium operation of long wavelength HgCdTe photo detectors for higher operating temperatures

Our fundamental approach was to increase the operating temperature of the device by reducing the volume of its diffusion region, while maintaining the performance at low temperatures. Reducing the diffusion volume of a detector can be achieved by reducing the active layer thickness, reducing the absorber volume, and reducing the junction area while maintaining the optical area as the original pixel by using micro-lens technology on pixel levels, etc. We are pursuing an infrared device with a unique planar architecture that uses a novel approach in obtaining low arsenic doping concentrations in longwavelength (LW) mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) on CdZnTe substrates for higher temperature applications. We fabricated a p-on-n structure that we term P+/p/N+, where the symbol "p" indicates a drastically reduced extrinsic p-type carrier concentration (on the order of mid-10 15 cm -3 ); P + and N + denote a higher doping density, as well as a higher energy gap, than the photosensitive base p-region. Fabricated devices indicated that Auger suppression is seen in the P + /p/N + architecture at temperatures above 130 K; we obtained saturation currents on the order of 3 mAmps on 250-μm-diameter devices at 300 K with Auger suppression. Data shows that roughly 50% reduction in dark current is achieved at 300 K due to Auger suppression.
Usefulness of Myocardial Perfusion Imaging With Exercise Testing in Children

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) provides additional clinical information on children with cardiac disease but will not benefit children with chest pain and normal cardiac studies. This study reviewed all technetium-99 m (99mTc) sestamibi stress MPI studies between 2004 and 2010 performed in association with graded exercise testing (86% with bicycle ergometer, 14% with treadmill). A positive test was defined as a perfusion defect or abnormal ventricular function response. Clinical records were reviewed, including follow-up assessment to determine accuracy of MPI interpretation. False-positive and false-negative rates were recorded. A total of 197 patients (mean age, 13.4 ± 3.6 years, 70% male) underwent 218 MPI studies. Group A had 42 patients (43 studies) with isolated chest pain and normal studies. Of the 43 studies, 39 had negative results, and 4 had false-positive results. Group B had 155 patients (175 studies) with known or suspected cardiac disease, and 39 tests (33 patients) had positive results. Whereas 32 studies were considered true-positive, 7 were false-positive. There was one false-negative test. According to the findings, 99mTc sestamibi MPI studies are clinically useful but not perfect tests in the setting of known or suspected cardiac disease based on clinical evaluation, electrocardiography (ECG), or echocardiography. Children who had isolated chest pain with a normal ECG and echocardiogram often have false-positive studies.
DYNAMIC BIREFRINGENCE OF POLYOLEFINS

Abstract : The use of the dynamic birefringence method was extended to the study of the relationship between structual changes and mechanical properties for polyethylene, atactic and isotactic polypropylene and polybutene-1. The phase angle between birefringence and strain was measured which permitted the resolution of the strainoptical coefficient into real and imaginary parts. The real and imaginary parts of the dynamic relaxation modulus were also measured and compared with the optical data. Results for the crystalline polymers were interpreted in terms of the two-stage mechanism of deformation, involving spherulite deformation followed by internal crystalline reorientation. For the atactic polymer, the viscoelastic flow of amorphous regions contributes to the birefringence. The temperature dependence of birefringence and stress is similar for this mechanism but not for the crystalline contribution. (Author)
Negotiating Nostalgia: The GDR Past in Berlin Is in Germany and Good Bye, Lenin!

This article examines the representation of the GDR past and the treatment of Ostalgie in Wolfgang Becker's Good Bye, Lenin! and Hannes Stohr's Berlin Is in Germany, arguing that the films evidence a split in recent German fiction films between nostalgic constructions of the past, on the one hand, and postnational views of the present, on the other. Close readings demonstrate that these investments play out on an aesthetic as well as narrative plane. The article concludes that these two works articulate divergent conceptions of post-Wall identity, and relates them to larger trends in contemporary German cinema.
Anisotropy and Alfvenicity of hourly fluctuations in the fast polar solar wind

Ulysses magnetic and plasma data obtained in the fast polar solar wind are used to study the nature of fluctuations in the frequency range between the turbulent inertial range and the lower-frequency range dominated by quasi-static structures originating at the Sun. For daily variations of hourly averages of the magnetic field components the anisotropy of the fluctuations is less than in the higher-frequency range, and the minimum varianced direction loses its alignment with the magnetic field in favor of a more radial direction as the solar distance increases.
Sizing router buffer for the Internet with heterogeneous TCP

The router buffer sizing problem is a vital problem to the performance of the Internet. The traditional rule-of-thumb is that the router buffer size should be equal to the bandwidth-delay product (BDP) of a link. Recent studies show that the router buffer size can be significantly smaller than the BDP without causing negative impact on the TCP performance in the Internet. But a fundamental assumption of all those studies is that all the TCP traffic in the Internet is generated by the traditional RENO protocol, which, however, is no longer true as the current Internet is dominated by multiple different TCP protocols, such as RENO, CUBIC and Compound TCP (CTCP). Thus, it is imperative that we revisit the router buffer sizing problem for the Internet with heterogeneous TCP. In this paper, we propose methods to determine the router buffer size requirements under various constraints for the Internet with heterogeneous TCP and discuss the tradeoff among the constraints. The constraints considered include the link utilization constraint, the packet drop rate constraint, and the queuing delay constraint. Our study shows that the required router buffer size can be significantly smaller than the BDP but also demonstrates that it is dependent on the protocol mix of the heterogeneous TCP flows.
The effect of a single bout of exercise on energy and fatigue states: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Studies examining acute exercise effects on energy and fatigue levels have not been quantitatively summarized. Purpose: To estimate the population effects of a single bout of exercise on energy and fatigue states and examine potential moderators. Methods: Google Scholar and MEDLINE were searched systematically for published studies that measured changes in energy and fatigue after acute exercise. Meta-analytic techniques were used to analyze 58 energy effects and 58 fatigue effects from the same 16 studies involving 678 participants. Most studies involved 21–40 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic-type exercise. Result: The homogeneous mean effect for energy was Δ = 0.47 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.39, 0.56). The heterogeneous mean effect for fatigue was Δ = 0.03 (95% CI = −0.08, 0.13). The fatigue effect was moderated by a three-way interaction between change in feelings of energy, exercise intensity, and exercise duration. Conclusion: Acute exercise enhances feelings of energy. Decrea...
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Thin Filaments Containing Mutant Tropomyosin

Interactions of the components of reconstituted thin filaments were investigated using a tropomyosin internal deletion mutant, D234, in which actin-binding pseudo-repeats 2, 3, and 4 are missing. D234 retains regions of tropomyosin that bind troponin and form end-to-end tropomyosin bonds, but has a length to span only four instead of seven actin monomers. It inhibits acto-myosin subfragment 1 ATPase (acto-S-1 ATPase) and filament sliding in vitro in both the presence and absence of Ca(2+) (, J. Biol. Chem. 272:14051-14056) and lowers the affinity of S-1.ADP for actin while increasing its cooperative binding. Electron microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction of reconstituted thin filaments containing actin, troponin, and wild-type or D234 tropomyosin were carried out to determine if Ca(2+)-induced movement of D234 occurred in the filaments. In the presence and absence of Ca(2+), the D234 position was indistinguishable from that of the wild-type tropomyosin, demonstrating that the mutation did not affect normal tropomyosin movement induced by Ca(2+) and troponin. These results suggested that, in the presence of Ca(2+) and troponin, D234 tropomyosin was trapped on filaments in the Ca(2+)-induced position and was unable to undergo a transition to a completely activated position. By adding small amounts of rigor-bonded N-ethyl-maleimide-treated S-1 to mutant thin filaments, thus mimicking the myosin-induced "open" state, inhibition could be overcome and full activation restored. This myosin requirement for full activation provides support for the existence of three functionally distinct thin filament states (off, Ca(2+)-induced, myosin-induced; cf.;, J. Mol. Biol. 266:8-14). We propose a further refinement of the three-state model in which the binding of myosin to actin causes allosteric changes in actin that promote the binding of tropomyosin in an otherwise energetically unfavorable "open" state.
Appreciating and ‘retooling’ diversity in talent management conceptual models: A commentary on “The psychology of talent management: A review and research agenda”

Abstract This commentary on “The Psychology of Talent Management” suggests that readers should avoid concluding that the diversity of talent management concepts across psychological disciplines is something to be “corrected,” and instead embrace it as a resource to be tapped for future understanding. It suggests two frameworks to enhance these efforts: “Retooling” talent management using well-known frameworks applied to more traditional organizational resources, and tapping research on “shared mental models” through which teams articulate and appreciate their diverse concepts of tasks and goals.
Effects of light and dark beer on hepatic cytochrome P-450 expression in male rats receiving alcoholic beverages as part of total enteral nutrition.

Background: Alcoholic beverages contain many congeners in addition to ethanol. Therefore, consumption of alcoholic beverages may have considerably different effects on expression of hepatic microsomal monooxygenases than the relatively selective induction of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 2E1 observed after consumption of pure ethanol. Methods: In the current study, we compared the effects of two beers: lager (a light roasted beer) and stout (a dark roasted beer) with those of an equivalent amount of pure ethanol on hepatic CYP expression. Beer or pure ethanol was part of a complete total enteral nutrition diet that was infused intragastrically into male Sprague Dawley rats for 21 days. At the end of the infusion period, rats were euthanized, and liver and intestinal microsomes were prepared. Expression and activity of CYP1A1/2, CYP2B1, CYP2E1, CYP3A, and CYP4A were assessed by Western immunoblotting and by using CYP enzyme–specific substrates, respectively. Results: mRNA and protein levels of CYP4A1 were elevated only in stout-treated animals. However, lauric acid 12-hydroxylase activity (a CYP4A-specific activity) was reduced (p≤ 0.05) in microsomes from lager- and stout-fed rats. After oxidation with potassium ferricyanide, this activity was significantly increased in microsomes from stout-fed animals. The relative expression of CYP2E1 and CYP2B1 and the activities toward p-nitrophenol, pentoxyresorufin, or benzyloxyresorufin did not differ between beers or compared with pure ethanol or controls. However, the mean expression of CYP1A2, CYP3A, and CYP4A apoproteins was greater in liver microsomes from stout-infused rats than in those from lager-infused rats, ethanol-infused rats, and diet controls (p≤ 0.05). In addition, although no significant differences were observed in ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (EROD), methoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (MROD), midazolam, or testosterone hydroxylase activities between groups, stout-infused rats had greater hepatic microsomal erythromycin N-demethylase activity than other groups (p≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Stout contains components other than ethanol that interact in a complex fashion with the monooxygenase system.
Peer review in online forums: Classifying feedback-sentiment

Replies posted in technical online forums often contain feedback to the author of the parent comment in the form of agreement, doubt, gratitude, contradiction, etc. We call this feedback-sentiment. Inference of feedback-sentiment has application in expert finding, fact validation, and answer validation. To study feedback-sentiment, we use nearly 25 million comments from a popular discussion forum (Slash-dot, org), spanning over 10 years. We propose and test a heuristic that feedback-sentiment most commonly appears in the first sentence of a forum reply. We introduce a novel interactive decision tree system that allows us to train a classifier using principles from active learning. We classify individual reply sentences as positive, negative, or neutral, and then test the accuracy of our classifier against labels provided by human annotators (using Amazon's Mechanical Turk). We show how our classifier outperforms three general-purpose sentiment classifiers for the task of finding feedback-sentiment.
Extractable organic compounds in midwest rain and snow

Abstract A portion of the organic compounds in subaqueous sediments originates from airborne materials transported from distant sources. We have analyzed by GC and GC-MS the organic compounds extractable with dichloromethane in rain and snow samples collected over an 8-month period in southern Indiana. Straightchain fatty acids and hydrocarbons from biological sources dominate the compositions and these show only minor seasonal changes. Concentrations of organic compounds appear to be inversely related to volume of precipitation. Much of this organic material appears to have been transported from afar, although local inputs are evident. Estimated flux rates to sediments are small compared to organic matter accumulation rates in Lake Michigan.
Membrane Amine Oxidase Cloning and Identification as a Major Protein in the Adipocyte Plasma Membrane

A 97-kDa protein present in the glucose transporter (GLUT4 isotype)-containing vesicles from rat adipocytes has been isolated, the sequences of two tryptic peptides were obtained, and on the basis of these its cDNA partially cloned. The 97-kDa protein is almost certainly identical to a major integral glycoprotein of this size in the rat adipocyte plasma membrane, since its predicted N-terminal sequence is the same as that recently determined for this glycoprotein by amino acid sequencing. Moreover, the predicted partial sequence (322 amino acids) of the 97-kDa protein is highly homologous to the corresponding region of a human placental amine oxidase, which was cloned simultaneously and proposed to be a secreted protein. The amino acid sequence of the 97-kDa rat/human amine oxidase indicates that the protein consists of a very short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain followed by a single transmembrane segment and a large extracellular domain containing the catalytic site. Thus this study establishes the 97-kDa rat/human amine oxidase as the first integral membrane amine oxidase to be cloned. The membrane amine oxidase was more abundant in the plasma membranes than the low density microsomes of the adipocyte, and in contrast to some other proteins found in GLUT4 vesicles, it did not redistribute to the plasma membrane in response to treatment of the cells with insulin.
Homology between Drosophila melanogaster and Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins

Antibodies raised against D. melanogaster ribosomal proteins were used to examine possible structural relationships between eukaryotic and prokaryotic ribosomal proteins. The antisera were raised against either groups of ribosomal proteins or purified individual ribosomal proteins from D. melanogaster. The specificity of each antiserum was confirmed and the identity of the homologous E. coli ribosomal protein was determined by immunochemical methods. Immuno-overlay assays indicated that the antiserum against the D. melanogaster small subunit protein S14 (anti-S14) was highly specific for protein S14. In addition, anti-S14 showed a cross-reaction with total E. coli ribosomal proteins in Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion assays and with only E. coli protein S6 in immuno-overlay assays. From these and other experiments with adsorption of anti-S14 with individual purified proteins, the E. coli protein homologous to the D. melanogaster protein S14 was established as protein S6.
Three-dimensional miniature endoscopy.

A single optical fibre acts as a flexible probe to transmit a superior image of an internal landscape.
Heat Pump for Heating Water for Domestic Purposes Using a Varying Speed Compressor Control

Abstract A computer simulation is developed to study the energy efficiency of a heat pump with a controlled variable speed compressor to heat bath water in a residential building. The usage of electric energy to heat water in Brazil will be discussed to give the context of the proposed set. Scroll compressor is chosen as the variable speed compressor, a heat pump model is used and also water distribution models that consider the local heat losses. A PID controller is used and different techniques of references are considered to determine the reservoir water temperature. Results are discussed and compared to traditional Joule effect water heating.
Organophilic Montmorillonite Gels

INFRA-RED absorbance measurements on hydrocarbon gels of dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium montmorillonite1 indicate that polymeric-type hydrogen bonding is significant in systems containing this clay mineral derivative. For example, Fig. 1 shows free hydroxyl and bonded hydroxyl absorbances in the 3-micron region for a 20 per cent dispersion of dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium montmorillonite in a mixture containing 75 per cent cumene and 25 per cent cetane.
Physical Inactivity: Associated Diseases and Disorders

A sedentary lifestyle is a very serious worldwide problem, especially in North America and Eu- rope. Unfortunately, physical inactivity, which has progressively increased over the past several decades, significantly increases the risk of numerous diseases/disorders, including several forms of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, coronary and cerebrovascular diseases, overweight/obesity, and all-cause mortality, among others. Unless there is a reversal of this sedentary lifestyle, the incidence of these diseases/disorders will increase, life expectancy will decrease, and medical costs will continue to rise.
Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Radiographic Outcome Study

OBJECTIVE. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is becoming a popular alternative to arthrodesis for patients with end-stage ankle arthrosis. Prior outcome studies have primarily focused on surgical findings. Our purpose is to determine the radiographic outcome of TAA and to correlate it with clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In a 9-year retrospective review of patients with TAA, all available ankle radiographs and clinical data were reviewed. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Fisher exact test, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves for radiographic and clinical survival. RESULTS. Two hundred sixty-two TAAs in 260 patients were reviewed; 55% were in women, and the mean patient age was 61.5 years. The mean radiographic follow-up was 142 weeks, with an average of six radiographs per patient. One hundred sixty-three patients (62.2% of TAAs) developed one or more radiographic complications, including periprosthetic lucency (34.0%), hardware subsidence (24.4%), perihardware fracture (11.1%), syndesmot...
Pharmacokinetics of dirithromycin in patients with impaired hepatic function

Dirithromycin is a new macrolide antibiotic. A non-blinded, non-comparative study was performed in patients with mild, (Pugh and Childs Grade A) chronic, stable, impaired hepatic function (CSIHF) to determine the single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics and safety in such patients. Eight volunteers had disease affecting primarily the hepatic parenchyma, eight had primarily biliary system diseases and five healthy volunteers served as the control population. CSIHF patients and healthy volunteers all received a single dose of dirithromycin 500 mg po and 2 weeks later a 10-day course of dirithromycin 500 mg po once a day. Blood and urine samples were obtained with single dose administration and on days 1 and 10 of multiple-dose administration. The area under the serum concentration versus time curve (AUC) was higher with multiple-dose administration than with single-dose administration in all three treatment groups; however, the difference was not statistically significant between the treatment groups. With multiple-dose administration, peak serum concentrations (Cmax) were 0.69 +/- 0.74, 0.34 +/- 0.15, and 0.78 +/- 0.25 mg/L and the AUC0-24 were 6.45 +/- 6.27, 4.05 +/- 1.59, and 6.60 +/- 2.89 mg.h/L in normal, parenchymal, and biliary volunteers, respectively. Cmax and AUC were consistently lower in subjects with parenchymal disease than those with biliary disease or normal volunteers but the reason for this is unclear. Statistically significant differences in clearance, due to lower non-renal and renal clearances in the biliary volunteers with single- or multiple-dose administration were found between the groups but these differences were not thought to be clinically or pharmacokinetically relevant for short-term antibiotic administration. With dirithromycin administered for 14 days or less, no dosage adjustment should be necessary in patients with mild hepatic insufficiency.
Large-capacity, noise-filtering, multi-level, associate memory system

The dynamical properties of a neural circuit are studied by means of a modified Lyapunov theory. These properties include the criteria of stability, the domain of convergence, the initial-to-final mapping, and the programming of the connection matrix. All the theoretical predictions are verified numerically by computer experiments. Practical applications of this system are discussed. >
Strain gradient solution for Eshelby’s ellipsoidal inclusion problem

Eshelby’s problem of an ellipsoidal inclusion embedded in an infinite homogeneous isotropic elastic material and prescribed with a uniform eigenstrain and a uniform eigenstrain gradient is analytically solved. The solution is based on a simplified strain gradient elasticity theory (SSGET) that contains one material length scale parameter in addition to two classical elastic constants. The fourth-order Eshelby tensor is obtained in analytical expressions for both the regions inside and outside the inclusion in terms of two line integrals and two surface integrals. This non-classical Eshelby tensor consists of a classical part and a gradient part. The former involves Poisson’s ratio only, while the latter includes the length scale parameter additionally, which enables the newly obtained Eshelby tensor to capture the inclusion size effect, unlike its counterpart based on classical elasticity. The accompanying fifth-order Eshelby-like tensor relates the prescribed eigenstrain gradient to the disturbed strain and has only a gradient part. When the strain gradient effect is not considered, the new Eshelby tensor reduces to the classical Eshelby tensor, and the Eshelby-like tensor vanishes. In addition, the current Eshelby tensor for the ellipsoidal inclusion problem includes those for the spherical and cylindrical inclusion problems based on the SSGET as two limiting cases. The non-classical Eshelby tensor depends on the position and is non-uniform even inside the inclusion, which differ from its classical counterpart. For homogenization applications, the volume average of the new Eshelby tensor over the ellipsoidal inclusion is analytically obtained. The numerical results quantitatively show that the components of the newly derived Eshelby tensor vary with both the position and the inclusion size, unlike their classical counterparts. When the inclusion size is small, it is found that the contribution of the gradient part is significantly large. It is also seen that the components of the averaged Eshelby tensor change with the inclusion size: the smaller the inclusion, the smaller the components. Moreover, these components are observed to approach the values of their classical counterparts from below when the inclusion size becomes sufficiently large.
Hierarchical optimal force-position-contour control of machining processes. Part I. Controller methodology

There has been a tremendous amount of research in machine tool servomechanism control, contour control, and machining force control; however, to date these technologies have not been tightly integrated. This paper develops a hierarchical optimal control methodology for the simultaneous regulation of servomechanism positions, contour error, and machining forces. The contour error and machining force process reside in the top level of the hierarchy where the goals are to 1) drive the contour error to zero to maximize quality and 2) maintain a constant cutting force to maximize productivity. These goals are systematically propagated to the bottom level, via aggregation relationships between the top and bottom-level states, and combined with the bottom-level goals of tracking reference servomechanism positions. A single controller is designed at the bottom level, where the physical control signals reside, that simultaneously meets both the top and bottom-level goals. The hierarchical optimal control methodology is extended to account for variations in force process model parameters and process parameters.
Advantages of a modular design approach for radiological instrumentation

The application of a modular design approach to the development and implementation of radiological instrumentation provides significant improvements over conventional instrument design in terms of capability, maintainability, and overall system costs. Two implementations utilizing this approach are discussed: a multifunction survey meter system developed for the US Navy RADIAC (radiation detection, indication and computation) program, and a stationary workplace monitoring system under development for use at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. By designing modular, functionally partitioned hardware and software subsystems incorporating standard interfaces, it is possible to generate whole families of instrumentation systems in a building block fashion. >
Analysis and Approximation of a JIT Production Line: A Comment

A recent Decision Sciences article by Jordan [9] presented a Markov-chain model of a just-in-time (JIT) production line. This model was used to estimate average inventories and production rates to find the optimal number of kanbans. Results for expected production rate were found to be consistently lower than those obtained by Huang, Rees, and Taylor [8] in a previous Decision Sciences article. Jordan attributed this unexpected outcome to some procedural problems in Huang et al.'s simulation methodology. In this paper, Markov-numerical analysis is used to compare the performance of Jordan's and Huang et al.'s methods of production control. Simulation analysis is then used to determine the effects of finite withdrawal cycle times. Results show that, for equal numbers of kanbans, Huang et al.'s two-card method of production control provides substantially greater expected production rates than Jordan's method. These results suggest that the Jordan model should not be applied to the problem of setting kanban numbers on manual JIT lines. Finally, we comment on the efficiency of Jordan's iterative method to obtain performance measures of tandem queues.
Challenges of state health reform: variations in ten states

ABSTRACT: This DataWatch reports on the key findings from the 1993 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Family Health Insurance Survey, which interviewed more than 27,000 families in ten states. There is considerable variation among the states in insurance coverage, health status, and access to care of both adults and children. Moreover, states with higher percentages of uninsured residents also have populations with lower health status and more access problems. This clustering of problems in certain states may make health care reform even more challenging for their elected officials to accomplish.
Regulation of syntaxin1A–munc18 complex for SNARE pairing in HEK293 cells

The formation and dissolution of SNARE protein complexes is essential for Ca2+-triggered fusion of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles at the presynaptic membrane. Among the pre-synaptic SNARE proteins, the activation of the Q-SNARE syntaxin1A is a critical event for SNARE complex formation. Activation requires syntaxin1A to transit from a munc18-bound non-interacting state to one competent for SNARE binding. The molecular mechanisms that regulate this transition remain unclear. The propensity of syntaxin1A to promote voltage-dependent steady-state inactivation of N-type Ca2+ channels and accelerate their entry into inactivation was used in a heterologous cell expression system to elucidate regulation of syntaxin1A protein–protein interactions. We report that coexpression of munc18 eliminated the promoting effect of syntaxin1A on inactivation. This effect of munc18 was completely disrupted by coexpression of munc13-1, but not munc13-2 or munc13-3. Also, since expression of munc13-1 with syntaxin1A resulted in an inactivation phenotype identical to that of munc18 with syntaxin1A, the action of munc13-1 on the munc18–syntaxin1A complex was functionally unique and did not result from competitive binding interactions. Furthermore, munc13 expressed with syntaxin1A and munc18 promoted redistribution of a cytosolic SNAP25 mutant to the membrane, a result indicative of syntaxin1A–SNAP25 SNARE pairing. These data demonstrate an important role of munc13 to control the protein–protein interactions of syntaxin1A in vivo, and support munc13 as critical to dissociating syntaxin1A–munc18 complexes and making syntaxin1A available for SNARE interactions.
Local Taxes, Public Services, and the Intrametropolitan Location of Firms and Households

This work examines the effects of local public sector tax and spending decisions on the intrametropolitan location of jobs and workers. Municipality-level data for the entire Philadelphia metropoli...
Strength and comprehensiveness of district school wellness policies predict policy implementation at the school level.

BACKGROUND: In 2006, all local education agencies in the United States participating in federal school meal programs were required to establish school wellness policies. This study documented the strength and comprehensiveness of 1 state’s written district policies using a coding tool, and tested whether these traits predicted school-level implementation and practices. METHODS: School wellness policies from 151 Connecticut districts were evaluated. School principal surveys were collected before and after the writing and expected implementation of wellness policies. Sociodemographic variables were assessed for each district, including enrollment, population density, political climate, racial composition, and socioeconomic status. Changes in school-level policy implementation before and after the federal wellness policy mandate were compared across districts by wellness policy strength; policies were compared based on district-level demographics. RESULTS: Statewide, more complete implementation of nutrition and physical activity policies at the school level was reported after adoption of written policies. Districts with stronger, more comprehensive policies were more successful in implementing them at the school level. Some sociodemographic characteristics predicted the strength of wellness policies. CONCLUSIONS: Written school wellness policies have the potential to promote significant improvements in the school environment. Future regulation of school wellness policies should focus on the importance of writing strong and comprehensive policies.
Rapid responses of the prairie-forest ecotone to early Holocene aridity in mid-continental North America

article The prairie-forest transition in midcontinental North America is a major physiognomic boundary, and its shifts during the Holocene are a classic example of climate-driven ecotonal dynamics. Recent work suggests asymmetrical Holocene behavior, with a relatively rapid early Holocene deforestation and more gradual reforestation later in the Holocene. This paper presents a new synthesis of the Holocene history of the Great Plains prairie-forest ecotone in the north-central US and central Canada that updates prior mapping efforts and systematically assesses rates of change. Changes in percent woody cover (%WC) are inferred from fossil pollen records, using the modern analog technique and surface-sediment pollen samples cross-referenced against remotely sensed observations. For contemporary pollen samples from the Great Plains, %WC linearly correlates to percent arboreal pollen (%AP), but regression parameters vary interregionally. At present, %AP is consistently higher than %WC, because of high background levels of arboreal pollen. Holocene maps of the eastern prairie-forest ecotone agree with prior maps, showing a rapid decrease in %WC and eastward prairie advance between 10,000 and 8000 ka (1 ka=1000 calibrated years before present), a maximum eastward
Early childhood teacher education: the case of geometry

For early childhood, the domain of geometry and spatial reasoning is an important area of mathematics learning. Unfortunately, geometry and spatial thinking are often ignored or minimized in early education. We build a case for the importance of geometry and spatial thinking, review research on professional development for these teachers, and describe a series of research and development projects based on this body of knowledge. We conclude that research-based models hold the potential to make a significant difference in the learning of young children by catalyzing substantive change in the knowledge and beliefs of their teachers.
Probabilistic Methodology for Developing Regional and Site-Class Dependent Seismic Site Amplification Factors

NEHRP guidelines for simplified seismic design provide site amplification factors as a function of the average shear wave velocity (Vs) of the top 30 m of a site, or Vs30. These guidelines are mainly based on experience and observations from the Western United States (WUS), where regional geology is conditioned by frequent tectonic activity. However, the Vs30 value does not capture sharp Vs contrasts due to very hard rock overlain by softer soil, conditions prevalent in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS), which lead to significant ground motion amplification. Site response analyses performed on CEUS sites have confirmed this inconsistency between NEHRP and calculated amplification factors. This paper presents the development of a model to generate Vs profiles from measurements in the WUS. Parameters such as variation, correlation, and transition frequency of Vs values were defined in order to capture geological trends for the WUS. This same model can then be applied to CEUS Vs profiles and in order to generate groups of Vs profiles representing regional geological trends. From site response analyses using generated Vs profiles, amplification factors can be calculated and compared to verify if region-specific amplification factors should be implemented.
Multiple Comparison Procedures for Analysis of Ranked Data

Multiple comparison procedures for analysis of ranked data are available in tabular form for quick determination of significance. It was determined that the method used by Basker and Newell to determine critical values was overly conservative. Those values are useful for determining the overall significance of the model. Additional multiple comparison tables of critical values are presented for determining the rank significance of all samples within the set. Both sets of tables are included.
eNVy: a non-volatile, main memory storage system

This paper describes the architecture of eNVy, a large non-volatile main memory storage system built primarily with Flash memory. eNVy presents its storage space as a linear, memory mapped array rather than as an emulated disk in order to provide an efficient and easy to use software interface.Flash memories provide persistent storage with solid-state memory access times at a lower cost than other solid-state technologies. However, they have a number of drawbacks. Flash chips are write-once, bulk-erase devices whose contents cannot be updated in-place. They also suffer from slow program times and a limit on the number of program/erase cycles. eNVy uses a copy-on-write scheme, page remapping, a small amount of battery backed SRAM, and high bandwidth parallel data transfers to provide low latency, in-place update semantics. A cleaning algorithm optimized for large Flash arrays is used to reclaim space. The algorithm is designed to evenly wear the array, thereby extending its lifetime.Software simulations of a 2 gigabyte eNVy system show that it can support I/O rates corresponding to approximately 30,000 transactions per second on the TPC-A database benchmark. Despite the added work done to overcome the deficiencies associated with Flash memories, average latencies to the storage system are as low as 180ns for reads and 200ns for writes. The estimated lifetime of this type of storage system is in the 10 year range when exposed to a workload of 10,000 transactions per second.
Yoruba Ethnogenesis from Within

It is an anthropological truism that ethnic identity is “other”-oriented, such that who we are rests on who we are not. Within this vein, the development of Yoruba identity in the late nineteenth century is attributed to Fulani perspectives on their Oyo neighbors, Christian missionaries and the politics of conversion, as well as Yoruba descendants in diaspora reconnecting with their West African homeland. In this essay, my aim is to both complement and destabilize these externalist perspectives by focusing on Yoruba concepts of “home” and “house” (ile), relating residence, genealogy and regional identities to their reconstituted ritual frameworks in Cuba and Brazil. Following Barber's analysis of Yoruba praise-poetry (oriki) and Verran's work on Yoruba quantification, I reexamine the semantics of the category ile in the emergence of Lucumi and Nago houses in order to explain their sociopolitical impact and illuminate transpositions of racial “cleansing” and ritual purity in Candomble and Santeria. More broadly, the essay shows how culturally specific or “internal” epistemological orientations play an important if neglected role in shaping Atlantic ethnicities and their historical trajectories.
Adaptations to pressure in the RBC metabolism of diving mammals.

Abstract Marine mammals are known to dive up to 2000 m and, therefore, tolerate as much as 200 atm. of hydrostatic pressure. To examine possible metabolic adaptations to these elevated pressures, fresh blood samples from marine and terrestrial mammals were incubated for 2 h at 37°C under 136 atm (2000 psi) of hydrostatic pressure. The consumption of plasma glucose and the production of lactate over the 2-h period were used to assess glycolytic flux in the red cells. The results indicate that glycolytic flux as measured by lactate production under pressure can be significantly depressed in most terrestrial mammals and either not altered or accelerated in marine mammals. The data also suggest that there is a significant shift in the ratio of lactate produced to glucose consumed under pressure. Interestingly, human and dolphin blood do not react to pressure. These combined data imply a metabolic adaptation to pressure in marine mammal RBC that may not be necessary in human or dolphin cells due to their unique patterns of glucose metabolism.
Systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of thiopurines on birth outcomes from female and male patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects people during their prime reproductive years. The thiopurines (6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine), commonly used for induction and maintenance of remission, are U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pregnancy category D, raising concern for fetal risk. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of thiopurine exposure during pregnancy or at the time of conception on three measures of fetal risk in women and men with IBD. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science using a combination of Mesh and text terms was performed to identify studies reporting birth outcomes from IBD women and men exposed to thiopurines within 3 months of conception and/or during pregnancy. A meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model to pool estimates and report odds ratio (OR) for three outcomes in women: low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth, and congenital abnormalities and one in men: congenital abnormalities. Results: In women with IBD exposed to thiopurines, the pooled ORs for LBW, preterm birth, and congenital abnormalities were 1.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96, 1.06), 1.67 (95% CI 1.26, 2.20), and 1.45 (95% CI 0.99, 2.13), respectively. In men, the pooled OR for congenital abnormality was 1.87 (95% CI 0.67, 5.25). Conclusions: Thiopurine exposure in women with IBD was not associated with LBW or congenital abnormalities, but was associated with preterm birth. Exposure in men at the time of conception was not associated with congenital abnormalities. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012;)
Japan-based non-governmental organizations in pursuit of human security

The preceding articles have discussed the overall response of the Japanese government to the growing debate about human security and how it affects state-society relations. This article examines the changing role of the voluntary sector in Japan. It illustrates how civic and interest groups began working on human security issues at many levels before the government had even set human security as a priority issue in its foreign policy, and looks at how changing international and domestic conditions have affected their activities.
Dilution Potential: A New Perspective

The objective of this work was to develop a method to assess the dilution capacity of direct compression excipients based on a technique previously proposed by Minchom and Armstrong (MA). The technique involves the addition of increasing quantities of a poorly compactible (compressible) material to the excipient and measuring the resultant decrease in the AUC of the tensile strength versus compaction force profiles. The AUC of each mixture is divided by the AUC of the "0% mixture" to obtain MA's "work potential," called "area ratios" in the present study. The applicability of this approach was tested using three excipients differing in their deformation mechanisms: microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH 101, 102, 200, 301, 302) representing a plastic material; dibasic calcium phosphate (Cal-Star) representing a brittle material, and anhydrous lactose, which exhibits both brittle and plastic properties. Ascorbic acid or acetaminophen was the poorly compactible challenge material. In the first study, the MA method was found to apply only to Avicel PH 101, since the area ratios for mixtures containing different compositions of acetaminophen with either Cal-Star or anhydrous lactose remain constant until a certain percentage of drug is exceeded, after which a decline starts to be observed. Further work carried out on mixtures of different grades of Avicel with ascorbic acid revealed that MA's approach reflects only the ability of the excipient to handle internal stress induced by the drug and does not take into account the intrinsic ability of the drug-free excipient to form strong compacts. A new index was thus proposed, called the dilution capacity index (DCI), which weights the MA index by the AUC of the drug-free excipient. The results suggest that DCI can be used to compare different grades of microcrystalline cellulose and provide in-house quality control for microcrystalline cellulose suppliers.
Optimal Design of Truss Structures by Logic-Based Branch and Cut

The truss design problem is to find the optimal placement and size of structural bars that can support a given load. The problem is nonlinear and, in the version addressed here, the bars must take certain discrete sizes. It is shown that a logic-based method that dispenses with integer variables and branches directly on logical disjunctions can solve substantially larger problems than mixed integer programming, even though the nonlinearities disappear in the mixed integer model. A primary purpose of the paper is to investigate whether advantages of logic-based branching that have been demonstrated elsewhere for linear problems extend to nonlinear programming.
Pragmatic Market Socialism

Although it is clear from simple observation that the capital property income received by individuals under contemporary capitalism is not earned by the same sort of direct and evident labor which earns wage and salary income, in response to the socialist challenge a variety of justifications for property income have been developed. The most important of these revolve around the contention that property income is in some legitimate sense an earned return. It may be argued that capital property income is a return to capital management effort, either in the form of corporate supervision such as might be performed by a member of a corporation’s board of directors, or in the form of investment analysis, such as might be performed by an investor or an entrepreneur in evaluating a range of capital investment opportunities. It may also be argued that capital property income is a return to saving, and compensates the saver for that personally stressful postponement of consumption which makes available valuable capital investment resources to business firms and government agencies.