cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thrombolysis of peripheral arterial bypass grafts: surgical thrombectomy compared with thrombolysis. A preliminary report.

Abstract Twenty-two patients were selected from a group of 33 patients who underwent recombinant human tissue—type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) thrombolysis for thrombosed infrainguinal bypass grafts of the lower extremity and were compared with 38 matched patients who had undergone surgical thrombectomy during the same period. The proportion of persons with diabetes mellitus, smokers, and types of bypass grafts was similar in both groups. More patients in the rt-PA—treated group had hypertension (p = 0.01). To evaluate the different lengths of follow-up, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used with a log-rank test to compare the proportion of persons with patent grafts in the two treatment groups. At 30 days, 86% of the rt-PA—treated grafts were still patent compared with 42% of the surgically treated grafts (p = 0.001). When risk factors on the Kaplan-Meier curves were compared, there was no statistical difference with regard to graft patency among the groups. According to simultaneous Cox regression analysis, no risk factor was significantly associated with graft patency. When amputation was evaluated between treatment groups simultaneously with other risk factors in a logistic regression analysis, smoking and age of the graft were marginally significant (p = 0.07), whereas all other factors were clearly not significant. In 91% of the rt-PA—treated patients, a secondary surgical procedure was required to maintain patency of the graft segment. Eighty-nine percent of the surgically treated patients required similar graft revisions. Two patients in the surgical group and one patient in the rt-PA—treated group had major complications. This short clinical experience suggests that better 30-day patency rates and a lower risk of amputation can be achieved when thrombolysis is associated with surgical revision compared with surgical revision alone. (J VASC SURG 1988;7:347-55.)
A modified adaptive Lasso for identifying interactions in the Cox model with the heredity constraint

In many biomedical studies, identifying effects of covariate interactions on survival is a major goal. Important examples are treatment-subgroup interactions in clinical trials, and gene-gene or gene-environment interactions in genomic studies. A common problem when implementing a variable selection algorithm in such settings is the requirement that the model must satisfy the strong heredity constraint, wherein an interaction may be included in the model only if the interaction's component variables are included as main effects. We propose a modified Lasso method for the Cox regression model that adaptively selects important single covariates and pairwise interactions while enforcing the strong heredity constraint. The proposed method is based on a modified log partial likelihood including two adaptively weighted penalties, one for main effects and one for interactions. A two-dimensional tuning parameter for the penalties is determined by generalized cross-validation. Asymptotic properties are established, including consistency and rate of convergence, and it is shown that the proposed selection procedure has oracle properties, given proper choice of regularization parameters. Simulations illustrate that the proposed method performs reliably across a range of different scenarios.
Neutral proteases of the genus Bacillus.

Abstract Neutral protease of B. subtilis NRRL B3411 has been highly purified by chromatography on hydroxylapatite, and compared with B. subtilis var. amylosacchariticus neutral protease and thermolysin. On the basis of activity against macromolecular substrates no differentiation was possible. Immunochemical and stability studies as well as amino acid composition distinguished thermolysin from the other proteases which were indistinguishable.
δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Synthetase: Induction in Embryonic Chick Liver by Glucagon

Glucagon elicits a twofold increase in δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase activity in the livers of 18-day-old chick embryos. This rise occurs when RNA synthesis is inhibited, but is prevented when protein synthesis is blocked. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate appears not to be involved.
Evaluating the robustness of tunable adaptive antenna arrays

We present an evaluation of tunable adaptive antenna array performance for achieving useful field patterns. Utilizing antenna elements which can be tuned by a controllable impedance “black box”, we characterize the array's ability to achieve robust patterns for both broadcast and unicast communications. Simulation results demonstrate the impact of these tunable elements and the use of IMPATT diodes is introduced as a means to enable the tunable adaptive antenna array.
Candida albicans Suppresses Nitric Oxide Generation from Macrophages via a Secreted Molecule

Macrophages and neutrophils generate a potent burst of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as a key aspect of the antimicrobial response. While most successful pathogens, including the fungus Candida albicans, encode enzymes for the detoxification of these compounds and repair of the resulting cellular damage, some species actively modulate immune function to suppress the generation of these toxic compounds. We report here that C. albicans actively inhibits macrophage production of nitric oxide (NO). NO production was blocked in a dose-dependent manner when live C. albicans were incubated with either cultured or bone marrow-derived mouse macrophages. While filamentous growth is a key virulence trait, yeast-locked fungal cells were still capable of dose-dependent NO suppression. C. albicans suppresses NO production from macrophages stimulated by exposure to IFN-γ and LPS or cells of the non-pathogenic Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The NO inhibitory activity was produced only when the fungal cells were in direct contact with macrophages, but the compound itself was secreted into the culture media. LPS/IFNγ stimulated macrophages cultured in cell-free conditioned media from co-cultures showed reduced levels of iNOS enzymatic activity and lower amounts of iNOS protein. Initial biochemical characterization of this activity indicates that the inhibitor is a small, aqueous, heat-stable compound. In summary, C. albicans actively blocks NO production by macrophages via a secreted mediator; these findings expand our understanding of phagocyte modulation by this important fungal pathogen and represent a potential target for intervention to enhance antifungal immune responses.
STAP performance in K-distributed clutter

We investigate the impact of heterogeneous clutter on STAP performance. The K-distribution is a good fit for many clutter scenes of interest and will be the main focus of this paper. We introduce a cell-based model that can simulate realistic spikiness of heterogeneous clutter, allowing us to empirically measure the losses in detection performance. In particular, it is shown that, for a fixed false-alarm probability of 10−4, the adaptive matched filter attains a probability of detection of 0.55 in severely heterogeneous clutter, compared to the achievable probability of detection of 0.9 in homogeneous clutter. We subsequently investigate the causes for this deterioration in performance.
The tale of Rauwolfia Serpentina and the contributions of Asian Psychiatry

The historical significance of this herbal medicine for the Asian context cannot be overemphasized. A colorful, well researched history of this medicine was provided by Jain and Murthy (2009), a paper well worth a read. Rauwolfia has been used for centuries in Ayurveda for insanity, insomnia and snakebite. The earliest report of this herb in Ayurveda appears to be in Sushruta Samhita (5th century BC–2nd century AD). Rauwolfia had been sold as ‘‘paglon ki dawa’’ (medicine for insanity) in folk medicine for centuries. This herb had been used as an aid to meditation, reportedly even by Mahatma Gandhi. The first report in the medical literature of the use of rauwolfia was published in 1931 in an Indian Medical Journal by Gananath Sen and Karthick Chander Bose. They reported that this drug reduced blood pressure, and also improved ‘‘violent maniac symptoms’’. That same year, 1931, two Indian chemists, Siddiqui, and Siddiqui, first extracted several alkaloids including ajmaline and serpentine from Rauwolfia in 1931. In an extensive study published in the prestigious British Heart Journal (1949),
Subpopulations of somatostatin-immunoreactive non-pyramidal neurons in the amygdala and adjacent external capsule project to the basal forebrain: evidence for the existence of GABAergic projection neurons in the cortical nuclei and basolateral nuclear complex

The hippocampus and amygdala are key structures of the limbic system whose connections include reciprocal interactions with the basal forebrain (BF). The hippocampus receives both cholinergic and GABAergic afferents from the medial septal area of the BF. Hippocampal projections back to the medial septal area arise from non-pyramidal GABAergic neurons that express somatostatin (SOM), calbindin (CB), and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Recent experiments in our lab have demonstrated that the basolateral amygdala, like the hippocampus, receives both cholinergic and GABAergic afferents from the BF. These projections arise from neurons in the substantia innominata (SI) and ventral pallidum (VP). It remained to be determined, however, whether the amygdala has projections back to the BF that arise from GABAergic non-pyramidal neurons. This question was investigated in the present study by combining Fluorogold (FG) retrograde tract tracing with immunohistochemistry for GABAergic non-pyramidal cell markers, including SOM, CB, NPY, parvalbumin, calretinin, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). FG injections into the BF produced a diffuse array of retrogradely labeled neurons in many nuclei of the amygdala. The great majority of amygdalar FG+ neurons did not express non-pyramidal cell markers. However, a subpopulation of non-pyramidal SOM+ neurons, termed “long-range non-pyramidal neurons” (LRNP neurons), in the external capsule, basolateral amygdala, and cortical and medial amygdalar nuclei were FG+. About one-third of the SOM+ LRNP neurons were CB+ or NPY+, and one-half were GAD+. It remains to be determined if these inhibitory amygdalar projections to the BF, like those from the hippocampus, are important for regulating synchronous oscillations in the amygdalar-BF network.
Electronic system hardware exploration in an inverted classroom

Education technology for electronic hardware testing was combined in the form of an analog/mixed signal development kit with miniaturized testing instrumentation to explore oscillator and PLL designs, operating at audio frequencies. The hardware demonstrated second order effects, such as multiplier nonlinearities, that are sometimes neglected in a first pass design. 7 lock-in ranges for the PLL were observed. Circuit redesign to enable the analog kit to operate in both dual supply and single supply mode was demonstrated. Analog circuit design as needed for Software Defined Radios (SDR) was also explored.
Understanding and analyzing chat in CSCL as reading's work

Synchronous communication using text chat--often combined with a shared whiteboard--is increasingly used in CSCL. This form of interaction and learning in small online groups of students presents novel challenges, both for the participating students and for researchers studying their work. Chats differ from talk-in-interaction since the composition, posting and visual inspection of text and graphical objects by any given actor is not observable by the other participants. These structural constraints on the organization of interaction require that actors deploy alternative procedures for achieving what turn taking achieves in talk-in-interaction. This paper describes how communication is organized in text chat, where postings have to provide instructions on how they are to be read. This organization is contrasted with turn taking in face-to-face communication. The notion of "reading's work" provides a guiding thread, which is explicated.
The redistribution of a gas plume caused by reversible washout

An analytical study is made of the influence on a gas plume of reversible scavenging by rain. The result predicts that at large time, a gas plume will be washed down at a rate H'J0 where J0 is the rainfall rate and H' is the dimensionless Henry's law constant for the gas. Results are shown for the specific case of an SO2 plume.
The exchange of [18O]‐H2O with the aromatic oxygen atoms of catecholamine metabolites

Catechol oxygen atoms can be exchanged with oxygen-18 atoms in [18O]-H2O under acidic conditions. The catechol oxygen atoms in L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine both underwent significant exchange with water when heated in 3 N HC1 at 150 °C for 20 days. Under the same conditions of heat and strong acid, vanillylmandelic acid was degarded to homovanillic and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in two hours. Exchange of the catechol oxygen with the solvent occurred simultaneously with degradation. This degradation of vanillylmandelic acid formally involves reductive cleavage of the aliphatic hydroxyl in a reaction which is probably general for compounds of similar structure. An analogous, although slower, degradation of dihydroxyphenyllactic acid to dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid accompanied by catechol oxygen atom exchange was observed. Direct exchange of catechol oxygen atoms and degradation of appropriate precursor molecules are two facile methods for the preparation of oxygen-18 labelled compounds containing the catechol moiety.
Synthesis and acidity constants of 13CO2H-labelled mono and dipyrrole carboxylic acids. pKa from 13C-NMR

Abstract Six monocarboxylic acids were prepared highly enriched with 13C in their CO2H groups, and their pKa values were determined at low concentrations 10−4−10−5 M in H2O and in H2O-(CD3)2SO mixtures by analysis of pH-dependent 13CO2H NMR chemical shifts. Plots of the variation of CO2H(CO2−) 13C-NMR chemical shift vs pH gave a typical titration curve from which pKa's for [1-13C]-phenylpropionic (1) and [1-13C]-phenylacetic (2) acids were determined to be 4.60 and 4.16 respectively in H2O, and 4.67 and 4.31 respectively in H2O-27% vol (CD3)2SO. Bilirubin analogs, xanthobilirubic acid (5) and nor-xanthobilirubic acid (6) were determined to have pKa values of 4.76 and 4.64 respectively in H2O-27% vol (CD3)2SO, and extrapolated to pKa values ∼4.62 and 4.51 in H2O.
SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE CYTOLOGY OF THE ADENOHYPOPHYSIS, TESTES, AND OVARIES OF THE BLACK SURFPERCH, EMBIOTOCA JACKSONI, A VIVIPAROUS PERCOMORPH FISH.

The seasonal reproductive cycle of the embiotocid Embiotoca jacksoni, a viviparous percomorph fish, is described in terms of cytologic changes in the adenohypophysis and associated changes in the testes and ovaries. The adenohypophysis of E. jacksoni can be divided into three regions: rostral pars distalis, proximal pars distalis, and pars intermedia. The proximal pars distalis in this species can be divided further into cephalic and caudal zones based on the cytology and behavior of the constituent basophils. Basophils of the caudal zone undergo morphologic changes that can be correlated with seasonal changes in the gonads, and are tentatively identified as gonadotropes. Preliminary evidence suggests that basophils of the cephalic zone are thyrotropes. In males, caudal basophils become hypertrophic in late July as spermatogenesis commences. Activity subsides when the testes have become filled with cysts containing mature spermatozoa in October. However, the testes hypertrophy again after breeding when Sertoli cells phagocytize the remaining sperm. In females the caudal basophils first become hypertrophic in August as the oocytes mature. Caudal basophils subsequently undergo marked hypertrophy and degranulation during the early stages of pregnancy, which extends from late December to mid-January. At this time the ovarian epithelium hypertrophies, and its secretions presumably nourish the young embryos developing within the ovarian spaces. Later, as the embryos develop a “placenta”, the caudal basophils appear less active and granules reappear in their cytoplasm. Near term in late May, as both fetal and maternal components of the embiotocid “placenta” are resorbed, the caudal basophils again hypertrophy and degranulate. Soon after parturition, the caudal basophils regress and remain in this condition until the next reproductive cycle begins.
Diffuse Diffraction from Parallel/Antiparallel Metallocene Pillars

X-ray diffraction analyses of dimethyl ansa-metallocenes (CH3)2C(C5H4)(C29H36)M(CH3)2 (M = Zr or Hf) have revealed diffuse diffraction bands in the 0kl and h0l single-crystal reciprocal lattice images, but not in the hk0 plane. This is consistent with metallic disorder in two dimensions and constitutes a rare example of diffuse diffraction for an organometallic compound. The metal is apparently partitioned between two sites with a 60:40 occupancy ratio. Structural interpretation of the X-ray data is consistent with a 60:40 ratio of parallel/antiparallel (+z, −z) metallocene pillars dispersed in the x−y directions. Diffuse diffractionalbeit weakeris also observed for the half-metallocene (C29H37)Mn(CO)3, which occupies parallel/antiparallel pillars in an 80:20 ratio.
Is it genomic imprinting or preferential expression

Imprinted genes are monoallelically expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner, but for many genes reported to be imprinted, the occurrence of preferential expression--where both alleles are expressed but one is expressed more strongly than the other in a parent-of-origin-specific way--has been reported. This preferential expression found in genes described as imprinted has not been thoroughly addressed in genomic imprinting studies. To study this phenomenon, 50 genes, reported to be imprinted in the mouse, were chosen for investigation. Preferential expression was observed for 21 of 27 maternally expressed genes. However, only 5 of 23 paternally expressed genes showed preferential expression. Recently, it has been reported that a remarkable proportion of non-imprinted genes show differential allelic expression. If there is overlap between non-imprinted genes that are differentially expressed and imprinted genes that are preferentially expressed, we need to set new definitions of imprinted genes that, in turn, would probably lead to reassessments of the total number of imprinted genes in mammalian species. BioEssays 29:1022-1028, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detection of Cholesterol through Electron Transfer to Cholesterol Oxidase in Electrode-Supported Lipid Bilayer Membranes

Cholesterol oxidase is immobilized in lipid bilayer membranes assembled on tin-doped indium oxide electrode surfaces to sequester cholesterol from solution and to follow cholesterol oxidation via electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The inner leaflet of the bilayer is chemically bound to the electrode surface through a thiol functionality at the polar headgroup end of the lipid. The outer lipid leaflet, containing cholesterol oxidase, is formed using a deoxycholate dialysis procedure. Continuous solution flow experiments, where the flow is changed from buffer solution containing no cholesterol to a buffer solution containing cholesterol, show currents for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide generated by the enzyme. The data indicate that cholesterol oxidase is immobilized on the electrode in an active state. The data are also consistent with energetically favored collection of cholesterol from solution by the electrode-supported lipid bilayer membrane.
Anal intercourse among young heterosexuals in three sexually transmitted disease clinics in the United States.

Objective:To examine factors associated with heterosexual anal intercourse (AI).Methods:Between 2001 and 2004, 1084 heterosexual adults aged 18 to 26 attending public sexually transmitted disease clinics in Seattle, New Orleans, and St Louis were interviewed using computer-assisted self interview an
Resource-use strategies of native and invasive plants in Eastern North American forests

Studies in disturbed, resource-rich environments often show that invasive plants are more productive than co-occurring natives, but with similar physiological tradeoffs. However, in resource-limited habitats, it is unclear whether native and invasive plants have similar metabolic constraints or if invasive plants are more productive per unit resource cost - that is, use resources more efficiently. Using a common garden to control for environment, we compared leaf physiological traits relating to resource investments, carbon returns, and resource-use efficiencies in 14 native and 18 nonnative invasive species of common genera found in Eastern North American (ENA) deciduous forest understories, where growth is constrained by light and nutrient limitation. Despite greater leaf construction and nitrogen costs, invaders exhibited greater instantaneous photosynthetic energy-use efficiency (PEUE) and marginally greater photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE). When integrated over leaf lifespan (LL), these differences were magnified. Differences in efficiency were driven by greater productivity per unit leaf investment, as invaders exhibited both greater photosynthetic abilities and longer LL. Our results indicate that woody understory invaders in ENA forests are not constrained to the same degree by leaf-based metabolic tradeoffs as the native understory flora. These strategy differences could be attributable to pre-adaptation in the native range, although other explanations are possible.
POPULATION DENSITY AND THE CITY

It is possible that in no previous age has so large a proportion of the citizenry been so directly and so vocally concerned about environmental deterioration and its threat to the quality of life. If the fervor and the insistence with which the matter is discussed is a measure of its importance, then it surely is one of the most significant issues of our time. The clamor rises to an emotional peak when its attention fastens upon the city. There, it would appear, our reckless disregard of standards of efficiency, resource conservation, health and aesthetics reaches its fullest expression. Cities, we are told, are cancerous growths. They occupy space where wildlife once lived, they overlay arable land with ugly structures that soon will be reduced to blight, they pollute the atmosphere, the soils and the streams, they foster mean, antisocial and materialistic behaviors, and they harbor the poor, the lawless and the underprivileged. The indictment is sweeping. It is strange, indeed, that so many people live in cities. Critics of urban life have been among the more vociferous members of American society from the beginning. The anti-urban tradition, which started with Thomas Jefferson, was carried through the nineteenth century by men of letters -the Adamses, Thoreau, Emerson, Melville and many others.' In the late ninete-enth century the attack was pressed by city planners, who sought an urban antidote in constructing the city beautiful.
Abundances of the fourteen rare-earth elements, scandium, and yttrium in meteoritic and terrestrial matter

Abstract Abundances and isotopic ratios have been determined for the fourteen rare-earth elements (REE) (Pm excluded) plus Sc and Y by neutron-activation analysis in nineteen meteorites and in three terrestrial specimens. The meteorites investigated included eleven chondrites (1 carbonaceous, 2 pigeonitic, 2 hypersthenic, 3 bronzitic and 3 enstatitic), two calcium-rich and three calcium-poor achondrites, one mesosiderite and two iron meteorites; the terrestrial specimens included a fresh volcanic basalt, and a deep-seated peridotitic and an eclogitic specimen. The absolute abundance of a typical REE (La) in bronzitic and hypersthenic chondrites was found to be 0.34 p.p.m. Relative REE, Sc and Y distributions were identical in the five different chondrite categories. On an absolute basis, the REE, Sc, and Y per 106 Si atoms varied monotonically over the chondrite spectrum i.e. from carbonaceous through enstatitic meteorites. Meteoritic isotopic abundances of the sensitive Yb168/Yb174 ratio agreed to within ±5 per cent of the terrestrial abundance ratios. Absolute REE abundances in the two calcium-rich achondrites, Nuevo Laredo and Pasamonte, were from 10 to 12 times greater than the average chondritic values. No REE fractionation was found in these achondrites; however, Sc was fractionated by a factor of ~2 relative to the REE. Fractionation of the REE, Sc and Y was found in all three calcium-poor achondrites, Johnstown, Shalka and Norton County, relative to the chondritic meteorites. Absolute REE, Sc and Y abundances varied from ~0.05 to ~0.5 times the comparable values in chondrites. Eu has been depleted in Johnstown and Norton County by ~3—4 times. Th has been depleted in Johnstown to the same degree as La. No REE and Y fractionation was found in the mesosiderite, Estherville; however, Sc has been fractionated. Absolute REE abundances in the two Fe meteorites were ~10−4 times the REE abundances in chondrites. In one iron, the REE may have been fractionated. Absolute REE. Sc and Y abundances in the uneroded Kilauea Iki-22 basalt, peridotitic and eclogitic specimens were from 30 to 10 times greater than the abundances in chondrites. Compared with chondrites, the light REE have been enriched by factors of up to 5, which agrees with the enrichments of the light REE in terrestrial sediments and igneous rocks, etc. Theoretical calculations of expected REE abundances by Clayton et al. agree well with the present chondritic REE values. For convenience, a description of the detailed procedure for the REE, Sc and Y determinations (now in current use at this Laboratory) has been relegated to the Appendix.
A field study of database communication issues peculiar to users of a voice activated medical tracking application

This paper investigates database communication issues peculiar to users of a voice activated medical tracking application (VAMTA). Specifically, this study investigates voice activated user-database interaction, in terms of user gender, speech speed in words per minute (WPM) and technical computer experience of the users. A VAMTA device is employed to help solve the business and clinical needs of medical personnel, and to help them facilitate communication and interaction with database systems and designers, who are interested in improving technical specifications. The VAMTA device was integrated into a Dragon Naturally Speaking commercial system. The ability of the VAMTA to interact effectively and efficiently with the database of medical patient signs and symptoms has enhanced the productive usage of database systems that are vital components of the medical organization information systems. In this paper, we address the communication issues in voice activated user-database interaction and the philosophical perspectives of database modeling, by identifying gender and experience factors as important barriers and issues that must be further investigated to improve communication between user and database systems. Our research studies the impact of user's gender, speech speed in WPM and user's computer experience on the performance of a speech recognition system. We also investigated the interactive effects of gender and user, user and WPM, and gender and WPM. Our research investigates 33 users; a voice activated medical tracking application and a mobile healthcare fieldwork environment. The field study suggests that VAMTA can be applied to either an emergency medical services or preventative care setting. We illustrate that the user's gender and computer experience has a significant impact (p<0.05) on the use of voice interface as an input to a medical database of patient signs and symptoms. WPM and the interaction of gender and WPM show a weak impact (p<0.10) on system performance.
On the profile design and optimization of epitaxial Si- and SiGe-base bipolar technology for 77 K applications. II. Circuit performance issues

For pt.I see ibid., vol.40, no.3, p.525-41 (1993). The circuit performance issues associated with optimizing epitaxial Si- and SiGe-base bipolar technology for the liquid-nitrogen temperature environment are examined in detail. It is conclusively demonstrated that the notion that silicon-based bipolar circuits perform poorly at low temperatures is untrue. Transistor frequency response is examined both theoretically and experimentally, with particular attention given to the differences between SiGe and Si devices as a function of temperature. ECL and NTL ring oscillator circuits were fabricated for each of the four profiles described in pt.I. The minimum ECL gate delay for a SiGe base is essentially unchanged from its room-temperature value. ASTAP models were used to explore circuit operation under typical wire loading. The results indicate that epitaxial-base bipolar technology offers significant leverage for future cryogenic applications. >
Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complex with Strong and Broadband Nonlinear Optical Response

A cyclometalated platinum(II) 4,6-diphenyl-2,2‘-bipyridyl pentynyl complex (1) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Its photophysical and third-order nonlinear optical properties have been systematically investigated. This complex exhibits a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (1MLCT) absorption band between 400 and 500 nm and a 3MLCT emission band at ∼591 nm at room temperature with a lifetime of ∼100 ns. At 77 K, the emission band blue shifts. Both UV−vis absorption and emission spectra show solvent dependence. Low-polarity solvents cause a bathochromic shift of the absorption and emission bands. This complex also exhibits a broad and strong transient absorption from the near-UV to the near-IR spectral region, with a triplet absorption coefficient of 4933 L·mol-1·cm-1 at 585 nm and a quantum yield of 0.51 for the formation of the triplet excited state. Nonlinear transmission and Z-scan techniques were employed to characterize the third-order nonlinearities of this complex. A strong and broad...
Joint Ventures as a Means of Assembling Complementary Inputs

In recent years, economists have devoted considerable attention to mechanisms through which firms can cooperate, particularly in the conduct of R&D. This literature had tended to focus on cooperation’s effects in output markets. In contrast, the present analysis examines the effects of cooperation on input markets. In particular, joint ventures are often said to be motivated by the desire to assemble complementary assets into a package needed to conduct a successful project. Some of the ways in which joint ventures may faciliate the acquisition of needed inputs are explored.
Experimental pulmonary infection of mice by tracheal intubation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the use of antineoplastic agents to overcome natural resistance.

Tracheal intubation of viable Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 19660 into the lungs of mice had no significant effect on the animals even with administration of organisms as high as 5.0 × 109 CFU. Animals treated with a single injection of an antineoplastic drug were, however, susceptible to bacterial challenge into the lungs. LD50 values of 4.1 × 107, 4.8 × 107and 1.0 × 108 CFU were obtained when animals were simultaneously infected and treated with methotrexate, vincristine sulfate, or cytosine arabinoside, respectively.
Racist events and ethnic identity in low income, African Americans

Emory University School of MedicineDepartment of PsychiatryThis study was designed to determine the relation between racist events and ethnicidentity in a group of 100 low-income African Americans. Findings indicated thatthe more racist events one experienced, the more ethnic behaviors they endorsedand the more they had explored the meaning of their ethnic background. In ad-dition, racist events were also indicative of feeling less close to individuals of otherethnic groups. Results suggest that experiencing racist events may contribute to anincreased identification with one’s own ethnic background and less affiliation withthose of other ethnic backgrounds, with the cumulative effect of racist events overone’s lifetime contributing the most to this finding.
The Brace for a Growing Scaffold: Mss116 Protein Promotes RNA Folding by Stabilizing an Early Assembly Intermediate

The ai5γ group II intron requires a protein cofactor to facilitate native folding in the cell. Yeast protein Mss116 greatly accelerates intron folding under near-physiological conditions both in vivo and in vitro. Although the effect of Mss116 on the kinetics of ai5γ ribozyme folding and catalysis has been extensively studied, the precise structural role and interaction sites of Mss116 have been elusive. Using Nucleotide Analog Interference Mapping to study the folding of splicing precursor constructs, we have identified specific intron functional groups that participate in Mss116-facilitated folding and we have determined their role in the folding mechanism. The data indicate that Mss116 stabilizes an early, obligate folding intermediate within intron domain 1, thereby laying the foundation for productive folding to the native state. In addition, the data reveal an important role for the IBS2 exon sequence and for the terminus of domain 6, during the folding of self-splicing group IIB intron constructs.
Energy Saving Measure Interactions in Chilled Water Systems

ABSTRACT In energy audit reports, many items are considered. Values of cost and savings are listed for each energy conservation measure (ECM), with its unique payback period. Listing measures separately provides a means for the customer to sort options based on payback, magnitude of improvement, or available capital. While this “shopping list” approach is desirable, it is flawed when ECMs do not act independently, e.g. when the savings amount of one ECM depends on another ECM being implemented. Few energy systems act alone and minor effects can be ignored, but when interactions are significant, presenting ECM results in defined combinations is appropriate. The foundation of all energy management proposals is system knowledge. Understanding chilled water system behavior paves the way for effective ECM application. This article discusses the classic primary-secondary chilled water pumping arrangement with multiple chillers, and it points out several interacting ECMs: • Excess chilled water pumping at any lo...
Stability of constrained linear moving horizon estimation

We derive sufficient conditions for the stability of moving horizon state estimation with linear models subject to constraints on the estimate. The key result is that if the time-varying or steady-state Kalman filter covariance update is used to summarize the prior data, then the estimator is stable in the sense of an observer, even in the presence of constraints.
Lumping or splitting: seeking the preferred areal unit for health geography studies

Findings are compared on geographic variation of incident and late-stage cancers across Connecticut using different areal units for analysis. Few differences in results were found for analyses across areal units. Global clustering of incident prostate and breast cancer cases was apparent regardless of the level of geography used. The test for local clustering found approximately the same locales, populations at risk and estimated effects. However, some discrepancies were uncovered. In the absence of conditions calling for surveillance of small area cancer clusters ('hot spots'), the rationale for accepting the burdens of preparing data at levels of geography finer than the census tract may not be compelling.
Known-item online searches employed by scholars using surname plus first, or last, or first and last title words

This experiment explores the effectiveness of retrieving the listing of a known-item book from the 3.6 million entry onine catalog at the library of the University of Michigan using various combinations of author's name plus first and last title words. The principal finding was that 98.9% of the time a 1 to 20 line miniature catalog (minicat) was displayed that contained either the entry sought or a not-in-database (NID) reply when the search comprised all three words.
Grim Variations From Fairy Tales to Modern Anti-Fairy Tales

(1987). Grim Variations from Fairy Tales to Modern Anti-Fairy Tales. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 90-102.
Interfacial adhesion mechanisms in incompatible semicrystalline polymer systems

The mechanism of adhesion at semicrystalline polymer interfaces between isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and linear low-density polyethylene (PE) was studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and an asymmetric-double-cantilever-beam test. From the TEM images, both the interfacial width and the lamellar thickness of the polymers were extracted. During annealing, the interfacial width increased with the annealing temperature, and this indicated the accumulation of amorphous polymers at the interface. The interfacial strength, determined from the critical fracture energy (Gc), also increased with the annealing temperature and reached a maximum above the melting temperatures of iPP and PE, whereas the smallest Gc value was obtained below the melting temperatures of the two materials. A mechanism of interfacial strengthening was proposed accounting for the competition between the interdiffusion of PE and crystallization of iPP. As the annealing temperature increased, the rates of PE diffusion and iPP crystallization increased. Although the crystallization of iPP hindered the interdiffusion of PE, both the interfacial width and the fracture energy increased with the temperature, and this indicated that PE interdiffusion dominated iPP crystallization. Below the critical temperature, the fracture surfaces of both iPP and PE were smooth, and chain pullout dominated the fracture mechanism. Above the critical temperature, iPP crystallization still hindered the interdiffusion, and crazes could be seen on the iPP side. Above the melting temperatures of the two materials, ruptured surfaces could also be seen on the PE side, and crazing was the fracture mechanism. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2667–2679, 2004
Corporate diversification: the impact of foreign competition, industry globalization, and product diversification

The globalization of markets and industries has fundamentally changed the competitive conditions facing firms. Yet, how globalization has influenced the international diversification strategies of firms is an issue largely overlooked in both the strategic management and international business literatures. This paper develops a theoretical framework to understand how industry globalization, foreign competition, and firm product diversification may influence a firm's choice of its degree and scope of international diversification. Utilizing a panel dataset of U.S. manufacturing firms for the period 1987–99, we provide the first empirical evidence that industry globalization and foreign-based competition are statistically significant factors explaining the degree and scope of international diversification by U.S. firms. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Potential of End-to-End Observations in Trouble Localization and Quality Control of Network Links

Algorithms for the use of Origin-to-Destination (Endto-End) observations for the monitoring of direct network links (direct finals or primary high usage groups) were previously proposed and analyzed. In this paper a theoretical framework intended to shed insight on the potential for also monitoring non-direct network links is developed. In particular, a maximum likelihood based approach is applied to an idealized network model with fixed routing probability structure and point-to-point loads. This approach allows sufficient conditions for the identifiability (estimation) of a fixed set of per link call failure probabilities to be developed, indicating that identifiability problems can be resolved by the addition of observations on selected links from tandems. Because of the dynamically changing character of network loads and hence routing probabilities, the extension appears thus attractive to implement only for limited portions of the network. Through the proposed scheme, unnecessary complexity in the minicomputer network that realizes the quality control of the network links is avoided.
The varied and conditional integration of NGOs in the aid system: NGOs and the World Bank

This paper proposes a conceptual and methodological understanding of the nature and extent of NGO integration into state and donor systems that is based on a dynamic view of NGOs as multidimensional organisations with financial, political, interpersonal, legal, values a technical dimensions that vary across organisations, and produce a wide variety of interactions with the aid industry. NGOs' engagement with the World Bank is interpreted as a function of the interaction of these six dimensions. Through cooperation in projects, critical advocacy and the rapidly growing consultations on policy issues, NGOs' engagement with the World Bank grew rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s. After identifying some of the factors that appear to affect whether and how an NGO is drawn into the aid system, the paper offers a set of research questions and priorities for scholars exploring the varied and conditional ways that NGOs are integrated into the aid system. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Replication capability of micro injection moulding process for polymeric parts manufacturing

Micro injection moulding process represents a key technology for realizing micro components and micro devices used in several fields: IT components, biomedical and medical products, automotive industry, telecommunication area and aerospace. The development of new micro parts is highly dependent on manufacturing systems that can reliably and economically produce micro components in large quantities. In this work, the authors investigate the process parameters on the overall quality of a miniaturised dog-bone-shaped specimen in order to determine the process constraints. The factors affecting parts aspects and mass are studied by experimentation designed using DoE methodology and then discussed. Two polymer materials (polyoxymethylene and liquid crystal polymer), particularly suitable for injection moulding applications due to their flowability and stability, are tested and evaluated in relation to the process replication capability. It has been found that the holding pressure and holding time for POM and holding pressure and injection velocity for LCP have the highest influence on achieving high part mass. Differently, melt temperature has the highest influence on minimising the process variability for both tested polymers. A further investigation has been carried out on the relationship between the holding pressure and the part mass and dimensions demonstrating the existence of a linear correlation between specimens mass and dimensions.
Assessment of Compositional Heterogeneity Within and Between Eukaryotic Genomes

Using large amounts of long genomic sequences, we studied the compositional patterns of eukaryotic genomes. We developed a simple measure, the compositional heterogeneity (or variability) index, to compare the differences in compositional heterogeneity between long genomic sequences. The index measures the average difference in GC content between two adjacent windows normalized by the standard error expected under the assumption of random distribution of nucleotides in a window. We report the following findings: (1) The extent of the compositional heterogeneity in a genomic sequence strongly correlates with its GC content in all multicellular eukaryotes studied regardless of genome size. (2) The human genome appears to be highly compositionally heterogeneous both within and between individual chromosomes; the heterogeneity goes much beyond the predictions of the isochore model. (3) All genomes of multicellular eukaryotes examined in this study are compositionally heterogeneous, although they also contain compositionally uniform segments, or isochores. (4) The true uniqueness of the human (or mammalian) genome is the presence of very high GC regions, which exhibit unusually high compositional heterogeneity and contain few long homogeneous segments (isochores). In general, GC-poor isochores tend to be longer than GC-rich ones. These findings indicate that the genomes of multicellular organisms are much more heterogeneous in nucleotide composition than depicted by the isochore model and so lead to a looser definition of isochores.
High gain feedback, tolerance, and stabilization of linear systems

The problem of stabilizing linear continuous-time systems is revisited with the objective of investigating the tolerance allowed in the implementation of stabilizing feedback controllers. It is shown that, for high gain feedback, this tolerance can be described by a cone in the feedback parameter space, called the “tolerance cone”. The tolerance cone describes fractional (percentage) errors the feedback controller can tolerate without jeopardizing the internal stability of the controlled system. The larger the vertex angle of this cone, the more tolerance is available when implementing the controller. The vertex angle of the tolerance cone is determined by the proximity to singularity of a certain matrix derived from the controlled system.
A performance comparison of processor allocation and job scheduling algorithms for mesh-connected multiprocessors

Due to its simplicity, regularity and suitability for VLSI implementation, the mesh topology for multiprocessors has drawn considerable attention. Several processor allocation strategies for mesh-connected multiprocessors have been proposed in recent years. In this paper, we present the results of a performance study of all the proposed strategies known to authors. Originally each of these allocation strategies was proposed for use with First-Come-First-Served job scheduling. In this paper we also propose and evaluate new variants of these strategies using the Scan scheduling discipline. We find Scan to significantly improve the performance of all the allocation strategies. A wide range of workloads and system sizes are considered. In addition, we compare the overheads of these algorithms and study the effects of overheads on performance. >
Denoising and Filtering Under the Probability of Excess Loss Criterion

Subclasses of finite alphabet denoising and filtering (causal denoising) schemes are compared. Performance is measured by the normalized cumulative loss (a.k.a. distortion), as measured by a single-letter loss function. We aim to minimize the probability that the normalized cumulative loss exceeds a given threshold. We call this quantity the probability of excess loss. Specifically, we consider a scheme to be optimal if it attains the maximal exponential decay rate of the probability of excess loss. This provides another way of comparing schemes that complements and contrasts previous work which considered the expected value of the normalized cumulative loss. In particular, the question of whether the optimal denoiser is symbol-by-symbol for an independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) source and a discrete memoryless channel (DMC) is investigated. For Hamming loss, the optimal denoiser is proven to be symbol-by-symbol. Perhaps somewhat counterintuitively, for a general single letter loss function, the optimal scheme need not be symbol-by-symbol. The optimal denoiser requires unbounded delay and unbounded look-ahead while symbol-by-symbol schemes mandate zero delay and look-ahead. It is natural to wonder about the effect of limited delay and limited look-ahead. Consequently, finite sliding-window denoisers and finite block denoisers are defined. They are shown to perform no better than symbol-by-symbol denoisers. Finally, the effect of causality is investigated. While it is difficult to characterize the performance of filters with unbounded memory explicitly, it is shown that finite memory filters perform no better than symbol-by-symbol filters
The Availability and Transparency of Education Data in California

Abstract This article describes the potential for using K–12 education data to support school improvement efforts and the effective and efficient use of education resources. It examines the availab...