cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Costs and Benefits of Affirmative Action in California Government Contracting - Executive Summary

Government purchases of goods and services represent approximately 10 percent of the U.S. economy, and policy is commonly used to direct some of those purchases toward specific groups. Bid preferences in procurement auctions, which allow firms from an identifiable group an advantage in bidding against unfavored firms, and subcontractor participation goals that require participation of minority and women owned subcontractors, are two tools commonly used to achieve a particular allocation.The first chapter of the thesis considers the effects of bid preferences on procurement costs, firm competition, and economic efficiency. While economic efficiency is expected to fall as a result of bid preferences, government procurement costs may either increase or decrease depending on the competitive response of favored and un-favored firms. Using data from California auctions for road construction contracts, where small businesses receive a five percent bid preference in auctions for projects using only state funds and no preferential treatment on projects using federal aid, I show that procurement costs are 3.5 percent higher on auctions using preferences.This increase cannot be explained by the bidding behavior of firms. Large firms bid 1.4 percent lower on auctions using bid preferences, while the lowest cost small firms increase their bid on preference auctions by 1.4 percent. The higher procurement cost in preference auctions is instead attributed to reduced participation by lower cost large firms.Structural estimates of latent firm costs are then used to evaluate how efficiency and the division of surplus between firms and the government is impacted by the use of preferences. Firm profits are 9.8 percent lower on preference auctions, implying significant losses in economic efficiency. The efficiency loss associated with changing some auction winners from large firms to small firms is estimated to represent 0.7 percent of overall procurement costs; however, including the adverse effect of preferences on the participation of large firms increases the estimated efficiency loss to 6.5 percent.The second chapter uses California's Proposition 209, which prohibited the consideration of race or gender in state-funded contracts, to investigate the effect of disadvantaged business enterprise subcontractor participation goals on the winning bids for highway construction contracts. After Proposition 209, the winning bid on state funded contracts fell by 4-6 percent relative to federally funded projects, for which preferences still applied. The savings are not explained by compositional changes in bid winners or changes in the number and quality of bidders. The subcontractor goals are found to distort the contractor's make-versus-buy decision, which may explain some of the decline.
Corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis: an update for dermatologists.

Long-term corticosteroid treatment is the most common secondary cause of bone loss. Patients treated with long-term corticosteroid therapy may develop osteopenia or osteoporosis, and many have fractures. It is difficult to predict which corticosteroid-treated patients will develop significant skeletal complications because of variability in the underlying diseases treated with corticosteroids, and because of variation in corticosteroid dose over time. Corticosteroid therapy causes an alteration in the ratio between osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ B (RANK) ligand (RANKL), which leads to early increased bone resorption for the first 3–6 months, with long-term treatment leading primarily to suppression of bone formation. Recently published recommendations advise the use of bisphosphonates or teriparatide in high-risk patients, depending on fracture risk assessed by bone mineral density testing. This article gives an update of current knowledge regarding the pathophysiology, clinical presentation and evaluation, and prevention and treatment of patients with corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.
Suffolk University Law School Faculty Scholarly Works for 2012

This bibliography contains the scholarly works produced and published by the faculty at Suffolk University Law School in 2012.
Approximating a gram matrix for improved kernel-based learning

A problem for many kernel-based methods is that the amount of computation required to find the solution scales as O(n3), where n is the number of training examples. We develop and analyze an algorithm to compute an easily-interpretable low-rank approximation to an n × n Gram matrix G such that computations of interest may be performed more rapidly. The approximation is of the form ${\tilde G}_{k} = CW^{+}_{k}C^{T}$, where C is a matrix consisting of a small number c of columns of G and Wk is the best rank-k approximation to W, the matrix formed by the intersection between those c columns of G and the corresponding c rows of G. An important aspect of the algorithm is the probability distribution used to randomly sample the columns; we will use a judiciously-chosen and data-dependent nonuniform probability distribution. Let || ·||2 and || ·||F denote the spectral norm and the Frobenius norm, respectively, of a matrix, and let Gk be the best rank-k approximation to G. We prove that by choosing O(k/e4) columns $${\left\|G - CW^{+}_{k}C^{T}\right\|_{\xi}} \leq \|A problem for many kernel-based methods is that the amount of computation required to find the solution scales as O(n3), where n is the number of training examples. We develop and analyze an algorithm to compute an easily-interpretable low-rank approximation to an n × n Gram matrix G such that computations of interest may be performed more rapidly. The approximation is of the form ${\tilde G}_{k} = CW^{+}_{k}C^{T}$, where C is a matrix consisting of a small number c of columns of G and Wk is the best rank-k approximation to W, the matrix formed by the intersection between those c columns of G and the corresponding c rows of G. An important aspect of the algorithm is the probability distribution used to randomly sample the columns; we will use a judiciously-chosen and data-dependent nonuniform probability distribution. Let || ·||2 and || ·||F denote the spectral norm and the Frobenius norm, respectively, of a matrix, and let Gk be the best rank-k approximation to G. We prove that by choosing O(k/e4) columns $${\left\|G - CW^{+}_{k}C^{T}\right\|_{\xi}} \leq \|G - G_{k}\|_{\xi} + \sum\limits_{i=1}^{n} G^{2}_{ii},$$ both in expectation and with high probability, for both ξ = 2,F, and for all k : 0 ≤k≤ rank(W). This approximation can be computed using O(n) additional space and time, after making two passes over the data from external storage. |_{\xi} + \sum\limits_{i=1}^{n} G^{2}_{ii},$$ both in expectation and with high probability, for both ξ = 2,F, and for all k : 0 ≤k≤ rank(W). This approximation can be computed using O(n) additional space and time, after making two passes over the data from external storage.
Lignite and Brown Coal

Lignite and brown coal are common names for coals having properties intermediate between peat and bituminous coal as a result of limited coalification. In general, brown coal designates a geologically younger, ie, less coalified, material than the firmer, fibrous lignite. In the ASTM classification,both kinds of coal are termed lignite. Selection of coal for a particular use requires a knowledge of the composition greater than that supplied by ASTM. Progress is being made toward classifying all kinds of coal, including lignite by correlating properties with composition and other qualities. Lignitic coal typically involves deposits near the surface and is mined by open-cast, open-cut or strip mining methods. The primary use of lignite is in steam generation of electric power. Lesser amounts generally in the form of briquettes are used for industrial and domestic heating. The by-products from briquette production have been used for liquid fuels and chemical manufacture. Lignite is also converted by gasification to synthesis gas for motor fuels, chemicals and ammonia-based fertilizers in large integral plants. Keywords: lignite; briquettes; electric power; gasification; syntheis gas
Investigation of frontal lobe subregions in first-episode schizophrenia.

Abstract The evidence for frontal lobe structural abnormalities in schizophrenia using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been mixed, but most studies used either single slice measures or total volumes of a single frontal region, neither of which is sensitive to potential volume differences in more specific subregions. This study employed reliable methods for parcellation of the frontal lobes from MR images based on the sulcal anatomy. Following a cytoarchitectonic theory that distinguishes dorsomedial (archicortically derived) from ventrolateral (paleocortically derived) frontal subregions, we measured the superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate gyrus, and orbital frontal region in 19 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 26 healthy comparison subjects. Results indicated that male patients had significantly larger right orbital frontal volume compared to their left orbital frontal volume and compared to healthy men. Among male patients larger right orbital frontal volume was significantly correlated with smaller right `archicortical' (i.e. anterior cingulate and superior frontal gyri) volume. Furthermore, the ratio of right orbital frontal to right `archicortical' volume was significantly and positively correlated with level of delusions among male patients. These findings suggest that there may be reciprocal controls on `archicortical' and `paleocortical' neurodevelopment among men with schizophrenia, and that larger paleocortical relative to archicortical volumes may be associated with increased delusions.
Decomposition of Lignocellulose by Cyathus stercoreus (Schw.) de Toni NRRL 6473, a "White Rot" Fungus from Cattle Dung

Cyathus stercoreus (Schw.) de Toni NRRL 6473, isolated from aged and fragmented cattle dung collected from a Michigan pasture, effected substantial losses in lignin (45%) from wheat straw during a 62-day fermentation (25°C). The basidiomycete also improved wheat straw digestibility by freeing α-cellulose for enzymatic hydrolysis to glucose (230 mg of glucose per 1,000 mg of fermented residue). The rationale for selecting C. stercoreus in attempting to biologically modify the lignin and cellulose components in wheat straw or other gramineous agricultural residues was based on the expectation that this organism is ecologically specialized to enzymatically attack the substructures of native lignins in grasses.
Cell biology: A clean energy programme

Mitochondria supply cells with energy, but in the process produce potentially damaging oxidants. It seems that a protein required to produce new mitochondria also protects against the resulting oxidative damage.
Shearography for specular object inspection

Abstract Digital shearography is a laser speckle pattern interferometry based, non-destructive testing (NDT) method, which has a great potential in revealing the defects inside the objects e.g. composite materials. It has been applied successfully in various industry applications. However, due to its essence of laser speckle utilization, the object surface needs to be rough enough, otherwise, the object surface has to be specially treated. Considering the situations that the surface treatment under some cases is not allowed, an improved optical setup has been introduced and described in this paper. A modified shearography setup which can be applied on samples with specular surface is introduced. The theory and experiment results are described and presented.
Silicon photonics and interconnects: Roadmap for implementation

Monolithic microphotonic integration in silicon CMOS, critical for performance scaling, can be achieved with Ge active devices and Si/SiON passive components. The timelines and technology transitions are described.
Ionization cross sections and probabilities for removal of 2s and 2p atomic electrons in the binary-encounter approximation

Calculations of ionization cross sections have been performed for removing electrons from $2s$ and $2p$ levels in hydrogenlike atoms by heavy-charged-particle impact using the binary-encounter approximation (BEA). The ratio of $\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{{L}_{\mathrm{II}}}}{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{{L}_{\mathrm{I}}}}$ is predicted to peak when the projectile has a velocity equal to 0.3 times the velocity of the atomic electron. Experimental values of $\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{{L}_{\mathrm{II}}}}{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{{L}_{\mathrm{I}}}}$, in agreement with Born predictions, peak at a velocity significantly lower than that predicted by BEA calculations. By transforming to coordinate space in an approximate way, predictions for the impact-parameter dependence are made. In the $2s$ case, the ionization probability has a pronounced local minimum for impact parameters near half the atomic radius, corresponding to a node in the $2s$ wave function. The ionization probabilities for arbitrary charged particles on arbitrary targets may be easily found by applying scaling laws to values tabulated over a wide range of projectile velocities.
Raman Spectra of YBa2Cu3O7-y with Different Types of Fluorine Additions

Abstract Raman spectra have been measured and structurally interpreted for YBa2Cu3O7-y treated by different types of fluorine additions, including both initially doping appropriate fluorides into the starting materials to be fired, and NF3 treating of the pure superconductor oxide. Both x-ray diffraction and low-temperature inductance measurements have also been conducted. All presented data indicated that phase impurities were generated during the former processes. However, related data indicated that NF3 treatment of the pure oxide samples generated no new crystalline phases, but caused substitution or addition of F at O sites in the oxide phase.
Crustacea of the Cayman Islands, British West Indies II. Heteromysis (Olivemysis) ebanksae, a new species (Mysida: Mysidae) from Little Cayman and Grand Cayman Islands

ABSTRACT During a survey of the marine Crustacea of the Cayman Islands, Heteromysis ebanksae, new species was discovered in depths of 1–3 m adjacent to Little Cayman Island and from North Sound, Grand Cayman Island. The new species, which belongs to the subgenus Olivemysis Bacescu, 1968, collected from live bottom and sea grass habitats, is distinguished from other closely related species in the western Atlantic by differences in the setation of thoracic endopod 3, male pleopod 4 and the telson. Heteromysis ebanksae has 2–9 flagellated spiniform setae on male pleopod 4, 6–10 spinules along the anterior half of the telsonic cleft, and each apical lobe of the telson has a pair of spiniform setae, the outer 1.2 times longer than the inner. A diagnostic table separating the new species from H. actinae Clarke, 1955, H. bermudensis G. O. Sars, 1885 and H. floridensis Brattegard, 1969 is presented.
Erotica Viewing Effects on Intimate Relationships and Self/Partner Evaluations

Viewing visual sexual stimuli (VSS) has been documented to have both positive (e.g., increased sexual arousal and sexual behaviors) and negative (e.g., higher anxiety, devaluing of partner attractiveness) effects. Excitation transfer and social comparison theories were used to generate hypotheses that could explain these mixed findings. Forty-four monogamous, heterosexual couples viewed erotic, exciting (non-erotic films), and nature films both alone and together. They rated their feelings of general arousal and relationship satisfaction as well as perceptions of self and partner sexual behaviors and attractiveness. Participants viewing both the erotic and exciting films reported equivalent increases in excitement; however, the erotic film was rated as slightly more generally arousing and increased participant's desire to be close to their partner. Viewing the erotic films also induced greater reports of negative affect, guilt, and anxiety. These findings moderately support a transfer of excitation interpretation. No effects of partner presence or absence while viewing the films was found. Viewing erotic films led to more positive evaluations of one's own sexual behaviors. These findings provide mixed support in regard to self and partner social comparisons. Co-occurring positive and negative emotional reactions were explored as possible explanation to the complex reactions to VSS.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of Sulfur Monoxide

Four electron paramagnetic resonance transitions of the SO free radical generated in a gas‐phase discharge of SO2 have been observed and assigned. The lines result from electric‐dipole transitions between the Zeeman levels of the K = 1, J = 1 → K = 2, J = 1 states of the 3Σ− electronic ground state of 32S16O and 34S16O. The rotational constant B0 and the splitting constants λ and μ have been obtained from the microwave investigation of Powell and Lide. The g values of the electron spin, the orbital, and the rotational magnetic moments of 32S16O as determined from least‐squares fitting of the EPR data are gs = 2.00197, gl = 0.00371, and gr = 0.00019. The frequencies of the corresponding transitions for the less abundant species, 34S16O, have been calculated from the isotope corrected 32S16O parameters. The relative intensities and linewidths of the SO spectrum are discussed. The linewidth is attributed to the collision broadening of SO by SO2.
Proton irradiation of MgO- or Sc2O3 passivated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

Abstract AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors with either MgO or Sc 2 O 3 surface passivation were irradiated with 40 MeV protons at a dose of 5×10 9 cm −2 . While both forward and reverse bias current were decreased in the devices as a result of decreases in channel doping and introduction of generation–recombination centers, there was no significant change observed in gate lag measurements. By sharp contrast, unpassivated devices showed significant decreases in drain current under pulsed conditions for the same proton dose. These results show the effectiveness of the oxide passivation in mitigating the effects of surface states present in the as-grown structures and also of surface traps created by the proton irradiation.
Non-Static Effects in the Nucleon-Nucleon Interaction

A numerical method was used to solve the momentum space integral equation for the scattering amplitude. The complete OPEP phase shifts were computed and compared with the static OPEP phases. The non-static part of OPEP was found to be insignificant for 1D 2 at moderate energies.
Periostin is a novel factor in cardiac remodeling after experimental and clinical unloading of the failing heart.

Background Maladaptive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) remains a prevalent and highly morbid condition associated with end-stage heart disease. Originally evaluated in the context of bone development, periostin is important in endocardial cushion formation and has recently been implicated in heart failure. Because of its potential role in cardiovascular development, we sought to establish the role of periostin after relief of pressure overload in animal and human models. Methods Pressure overload induction of LVH was performed by minimally invasive aortic arch banding of C57Bl6 mice. Bands were removed 1 month later to allow regression. Cardiac tissue was procured in paired samples of patients receiving LV assist devices (LVAD), with subsequent reanalysis at the time of explant for transplantation. Results One week after debanding, heart weight/body weight ratios and echocardiography confirmed decreased LV mass relative to hypertrophied animals. Gene and protein expression of periostin was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, and was similarly decreased compared with LVH mice. Immunohistochemical localization of periostin showed it was exclusively in the extracellular matrix of the myocardium. The decrease in periostin with pressure relief paralleled changes in interstitial fibrosis observed by picrosirius red staining. Corroborating the murine data, periostin expression was significantly reduced after LVAD-afforded pressure relief in patients. Conclusions Periostin is closely associated with pressure overload-induced LVH and LVH regression in both animal and human models. The magnitude of expression changes and the consistent nature of these changes indicate that periostin may be a mediator of cardiac remodeling.
Large-Scale Errors and Mesoscale Predictability in Pacific Northwest Snowstorms

AbstractThe predictability of lowland snow in the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest is explored by analyzing the spread in 100-member ensemble simulations for two events from December 2008. Sensitivities to the microphysical and boundary layer parameterizations in these simulations are minimized by estimating the likely precipitation type from the forecast 850-hPa temperatures and the established rain–snow climatology. Results suggest that the ensemble spread in events such as these, which were triggered by amplifying short waves, may develop a significant fraction of both rain-likely members and snow-likely members at forecast lead times as short as 36 h.The perturbation kinetic energy of the ensemble members about the ensemble mean () is not maximized at small scales. Instead, the power in the initial spectrum of produced by the authors’ ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) data assimilation cycle increases with increasing horizontal scale. The power in subsequently grows with time, while maintaining...
Electron capture from a hydrogen molecule at a fixed orientation of the molecular axis.

Electron capture in fast-proton--${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ collisions has been reexamined in the Brinkman-Kramers approximation. The interference, first noted by T. F. Tuan and E. Gerjuoy [Phys. Rev. 117, 756 (1960)], between two capture amplitudes associated with two centers in the molecule is found to be more pronounced at fixed orientations of the molecular axis as compared to the results obtained by averaging over all orientations. This interference effect varies significantly with the orientations of the molecule. For example, in a certain angular range the number of oscillations in the differential cross sections (DCS) is maximum at ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$=90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$=0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, where ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$ are the polar and azimuthal angles, respectively, of the molecular axis with respect to the incident-beam direction. The number of oscillations of the DCS decreases (i) as impact energy decreases at a fixed value of orientation and (ii) as the orientation changes from the perpendicular position (${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$=90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$=0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}) to other orientations for a fixed proton energy. This interference effect has not yet been observed experimentally.
Do maternal cells trigger or perpetuate autoimmune diseases in children

The placental barrier is not the impenetrable wall that it was once presumed to be. During pregnancy, fetal cells pass into the mother, where they persist for decades after the pregnancy, leading to fetal microchimerism (FMc). Maternal cells also pass into the fetus, where they can persist long after birth of the child into adulthood, leading to maternal microchimerism(MMc). FMc and MMc represent foreign cells, and thus have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases that resemble graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplantation. FMc, hypothesized to contribute to the high predisposition of autoimmune diseases in women, has been reviewed recently. In patients who have never been pregnant, (children, males, and nulliparous females), MMc may represent the foreign cells that initiate or perpetuate chronic inflammatory disease.
Effect of pupil size on dark focus accommodation

A potential concern in some studies of dark focus accommodation is the role of pupil size (and related spherical aberration) in laser optometer measurements. Dark focus measurements were obtained for 25 young adult subjects while they viewed the laser speckle pattern through artificial pupils of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mm diameter. Analysis showed no significant effect of pupil size on dark focus. It would appear that pupil size variations should not be a source of concern in laser optometer dark focus assessment.
Impact of Common Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies on Global Drought and Pluvial Frequency

Abstract Climate model simulations run as part of the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Drought Working Group initiative were analyzed to determine the impact of three patterns of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies on drought and pluvial frequency and intensity around the world. The three SST forcing patterns include a global pattern similar to the background warming trend, a pattern in the Pacific, and a pattern in the Atlantic. Five different global atmospheric models were forced by fixed SSTs to test the impact of these SST anomalies on droughts and pluvials relative to a climatologically forced control run. The five models generally yield similar results in the locations of drought and pluvial frequency changes throughout the annual cycle in response to each given SST pattern. In all of the simulations, areas with an increase in the mean drought (pluvial) conditions tend to also show an increase in the frequency of drought (pluvial) events. Additionally, areas with more frequent ext...
An unusual atypical gunshot wound. A coin as an intermediate target

Foreign objects in gunshot wound tracts are common when the bullets have struck intermediate targets. This report describes a coin struck by a 0.45 caliber bullet and propelled into the body of a homicide victim. The report also describes the condition of the victim, found with lime covering her body. Language: en
Editorial: Individual action and collective function: From sociology to multi-agent learning

Co-learning of multiple agents has been studied in co-learning settings, and how do they help, or many different disciplines under various guises. For hamper, learning and cooperation? example, the issue has been tackled by distributed • How do we characterize the process and the artificial intelligence, parallel and distributed comdynamics of co-learning, conceptually, matheputing, cognitive psychology, social psychology, matically, or computationally? game theory (and other areas of mathematical econ• how do social structures and relations interact omics), sociology, anthropology, and many other with co-learning of multiple agents? related disciplines. These studies are often disparate. Different disand so on. ciplines tend to ignore each other, although there has A key question, however, is the following. As been cross-disciplinary work, such as AI models and Adam Smith (1976) put it: cognitive studies using game theory (e.g., West & Lebiere, 2001), or sociological work incorporating He generally, indeed, neither intends to propsychological insights. mote the public interest, nor knows how much he We believe that interdisciplinary interaction and is promoting it . . . . He intends only his own gain, integration are important, and cross-disciplinary and he is led by an invisible hand to promote an communications can help to make better progress. end which was not part of his intention. Therefore, we want to take a close look at research on multi-agent learning, accentuating its interdiscipThis paradox have been troubling sociologists and linary nature. economists for many decades, and now computer Many questions concerning multi-agent learning scientists and psychologists as well. The issue may can be asked, in an interdisciplinary way: be formulated as the apparent gap between the individual intention in deciding his /her own action • How do agents learn to cooperate with each and the (possibly largely unintended) social function others, especially under bounded rationality? of his /her action. For example, how may self-inter• What is the minimum cognitive capacity necesested action benefit social welfare? Or, how may sary for an agent to learn to cooperate with cooperation be established through each individual others? maximizing his /her own gain (Axelrod, 1984)? As • What are the realistic cognitive constraints in Castelfranchi put it: ‘‘The real problem is modeling how we play our social roles, while being unaware of the functional effects of our actions, not only with E-mail addresses: rsun@cecs.missouri.edu (R. Sun), http: / /www.cecs.missouri.edu/ | rsun (R. Sun). our routine actions but even when doing something
Geophysical Observation from Nimbus I

Cloud height, ground- and sea-surface temperatures, ice forms, terrain features and soil moisture information from Nimbus I satellite equipped with TV cameras and IR radiometer
Neogene sedimentation on the Blake Plateau and the emergence of the Central American isthmus

Abstract Piston core P6603-49 from the eastern edge of the Blake Plateau reveals increasing sediment starvation and sorting, and increasing ocean surface temperatures, beginning 5.7 million years ago. The primary cause may have been the closing of communication between Atlantic and Pacific across Central America.
Role of voids in granular convection

We study the dynamics of voids in granular convection. First, we associate the formation of voids with the onset of convection, and thereby develop predictions for convective onset as a function of system parameters. Second, we use a stochastic approach to examine the role of void penetration in fully developed granular convection. We find that the vertical flow field should depend on the hyperbolic cosine of the horizontal coordinate and on a mixed linear-exponential function of the vertical coordinate. We present both lattice-based and particle-dynamic numerical simulations to validate this analysis, and provide several testable predictions.
A decomposition theory for matroids. IV. Decomposition of graphs

Abstract We identify sufficient conditions under which a decomposable graph N induces a decomposition of a graph M with N as a minor. Then we utilize these conditions recursively in an algorithm that produces decomposition theorems of the following type for a given class M of graphs that is closed under the taking of minors: Let M be any graph in M . Then (i) M is decomposable in one of several well-specified ways, or (ii) M does not have a minor in a set M 1⊆ M , or (iii) M has a minor in a set M 2 ⊆ M , or (iv) M is equal to a graph in a set M 3 ⊆ M . The algorithm also constructs auxiliary decomposition graphs, which allow rapid detection of an applicable case for a given graph M. We demonstrate the utility of the algorithm by producing several decomposition theorems, some new and others well known with rather simple hand calculations. The theorems have a number of applications. For example, one of them plus the results of [1] produce a polynomial algorithm for the max-cut problem for a large class of graphs. The results presented here are based on the more general decomposition results for matroids of Part III. To make the material accessible to readers with a limited interest in matroids, we forego a straightforward translation of the conclusions of Part III in favor of a self-contained presentation that includes all proofs, and that uses graph terminology only.
Effect of Alfalfa Forage Preservation Method and Particle Length on Performance of Dairy Cows Fed Corn Silage-Based Diets and Tallow

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of including alfalfa preserved either as silage or long-stem or chopped hay on DMI and milk fat production of dairy cows fed corn silage-based diets with supplemental tallow (T). Fifteen Holstein cows that averaged 117 DIM were used in a replicated 5×5 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Treatments (DM basis) were: 1) 50% corn silage:50% concentrate without T (CS); 2) 50% corn silage:50% concentrate with 2% T (CST); 3) 25% corn silage:25% short-cut alfalfa hay:50% concentrate with 2% T SAHT); 4) 25% corn silage:25% long-cut alfalfa hay:50% concentrate with 2% T (LAHT); and 5) 25% corn silage:25% alfalfa silage:50% concentrate with 2% T (AST). Cows were allowed ad libitum consumption of a TMR fed 4 times daily. Diets averaged 16.4% CP and 30.3% NDF. Including 2% T in diets with corn silage as the sole forage source decreased DMI and milk fat percentage and yield. Replacing part of corn silage with alfalfa in diets with 2% T increased milk fat percentage and yield. The milk fat of cows fed CST was higher in trans -10 C18:1 than that of cows fed diets with alfalfa. No effect of alfalfa preservation method or hay particle length was observed on DMI and milk production. The milk fat percentage and yield were lower, and the proportion of trans -10 C18:1 in milk fat was higher for cows fed LAHT than for cows fed SAHT. Alfalfa preservation method had no effect on milk fat yield. Ruminal pH was higher for cows fed alfalfa in the diets, and it was higher for cows fed LAHT than SAHT. Feeding alfalfa silage or chopped hay appears to be more beneficial than long hay in sustaining milk fat production when 2% T is fed with diets high in corn silage. These results support the role of trans fatty acids in milk fat depression.
Supervision of the certified occupational therapy assistant

As current trends in health care continue to develop, manpower demands within the profession of occupational therapy will continue to rise. Creative partnerships and collaborative efforts between therapists and assistants are rapidly becoming a necessity to provide cost-effective patient care within a variety of treatment settings. Several documents and resources concerning role delinieation and supervision of assistants are available within the literature; however, few resources have been compiled to address supervision and supervision strategies for the assistant. This paper addresses supervison of the assistant in a fairly broad and generic sense, and includes specific strategies that my be introduced to enhance the supervisory process.
Evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes with endobronchial ultrasound: the thoracic surgeon's perspective.

Objective The objectives of our study are to (1) describe our experience with endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes and (2) illustrate how thoracic surgeons facile with ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration have the potential to streamline patient care. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients within our prospectively maintained database who underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes by thoracic surgeons at the University of Minnesota from September 1, 2006, to April 15, 2009. We included patients in our analysis if (1) their malignancy diagnosis was based on immediate endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology or (2) they underwent a confirmatory procedure (ie, mediastinoscopy or thoracoscopy) that sampled the same mediastinal lymph node stations biopsied by endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration to verify normal, benign, or nondiagnostic endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration findings. We also collected data on additional diagnostic or therapeutic procedures performed in the same anesthesia setting as endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Results Over the study period, 192 patients underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration; 98 patients met our inclusion criteria. We achieved a sensitivity of 87.9%, specificity of 97.4%, and diagnostic accuracy of 91.7%. For patients undergoing lung cancer staging, we sampled a mean of 3.0 ± 0.9 mediastinal lymph node stations. Half of our patients underwent an additional diagnostic or therapeutic procedure at the time of endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Conclusion Thoracic surgeons who perform endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration can achieve excellent sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy while adhering to sound oncologic principles. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration adds to the thoracic surgeon's unique capacity to expedite a diagnostic workup and treatment, thereby streamlining patient care.
Preparation, physical properties and infra-red studies of several alkyl and aryl phosphoric acids

Abstract Several alkyl and aryl phosphoric acids of the type (GO)2PO(OH) have been prepared. The physical properties of these compounds, including cryoscopic molecular weights and infra-red spectra are presented. The cryoscopic and infra-red data indicate the existence of strong inter-molecular hydrogen bonding in these compounds, and it is postulated that such strong hydrogen bonding is typical of this class of acids. Attempts are made to analyse the infra-red spectra of the aryl phosphoric acids in terms of vibrations involving the phosphorus atom and those involving the benzene ring.
State Weakness and “Vacuum of Power” in Lebanon

The conventional wisdom is that weak and failed states are at great risk of becoming havens for transnational terrorist and guerilla groups. The assumption is that lack of enforcement capabilities enables militant organizations to infiltrate and fill the “vacuum of power” that is created in the absence of a strong state. This article argues, though, that this is only one of the ways in which weak states are attractive to militant groups. It explores the various mechanisms through which the vacuum of power translates into opportunities for such groups. These mechanisms include the easiness of acquiring support and recruitment within refugees or marginalized populations; the ability of the violent non-state transnational organization to establish a “surrogate state” in supplying institutions and services that enhance its public appeal; the relations between civil or communal conflict and the success of such groups; and the use of transnational violent groups as proxies for other states. Using the Palestinia...
Solubilization of thiazide diuretic receptors from rat kidney membranes.

Abstract Thiazide-type diuretics act at receptors to inhibit NaCl transport in the renal distal tubule. We solubilized high-affinity [3H]metolazone binding sites from rat kidney membranes with Triton X-100, which was more effective than several other detergents. Phosphatidylcholine and a mixture of proteinase inhibitors were needed to stabilize binding so that 57% of solubilized binding remained after 72 h at 4°C. The affinities of solubilized (Kd = 11.4 ± 0.5 nM) and membrane-bound receptors (Kd = 12.0 ± 1.7 nM) were similar. The maximal number of binding sites/mg protein of solubilized receptors was 46 ± 3% (n = 5) of membrane-bound receptors. Diuretics with a wide range of affinities had similar affinities for the solubilized and membrane-bound sites. Chloride inhibited and sodium stimulated the binding of [3H]metolazone to solubilized receptors, as they do with membrane-bound receptors. These studies demonstrate that, as judged by ligand binding, thiazide receptors can be solubilized in an active conformation and provide the basis for future purification and reconstitution.
T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: NOTCHing the Way toward a Better Treatment Outcome

γ-secretase inhibitors block the activation of NOTCH1 but have limited activity against T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and cause severe gastrointestinal toxicity. In a recent study, Real et al. show that a potent γ-secretase inhibitor potentiates the cytotoxicity of dexamethasone against glucocorticoid-resistant T-ALL cells, while dexamethasone abrogates the gastrointestinal toxicity induced by the γ-secretase inhibitor.
Miscible ternary blends containing polycarbonate, SAN, and aliphatic polyesters

Ternary blends comprising polycarbonate, (PC), poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN), and a polyester, either poly(1,4-butylene adipate) (PBA), poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene succinate) (PCDS), or poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL), were found to be miscible based on the presence of a single glass transition temperature at many compositions. For all systems, the addition of just 1% by weight polyester resulted in a miscible blend for SAN/PC ratios of 1/1 and 3/1, and a region of immiscibility was generally observed for PC-rich compositions with low polyester content. The melting point depression of PCL in the ternary and in binary mixtures was studied to obtain interaction parameters for the PCL/PC, PCL/SAN, and SAN/PC binaries. These parameters were used to calculate the locus of compositions which mark the boundary between single- and multiple-phase behavior. Agreement between the calculated and experimental boundary was only fair. PCDS was found to be the most efficient of the three polyesters studied for solubilizing PC and SAN. SAN copolymer containing 25% acrylonitrile (AN), was found to be more easily solubilized in PC by PCDS than SAN containing 13% AN.
Recombinant chromosomes of advanced backcross plants between Allium cepa L. and A. fistulosum L. revealed by in situ hybridization

Cytological analysis of (Allium cepa L.×Allium fistulosum L.)×A. cepa L. F1BC3 plants revealed most plants were diploid with 16 chromosomes. Karyotypes of these plants showed recombinant chromosomes. Fluorescence and genomic in situ hybridization patterns of interspecific F1 hybrid and F1BC3 plants revealed A. fistulosum chromosomes or chromosomal segments. A highly repetitive 376-bp DNA sequence and genomic DNA of A. fistulosum revealed similar telomeric hybridization sites when hybridized onto A. fistulosum chromosomes. Cytogenetic evidence showed that A. fistulosum DNA has recombined into the A. cepa genome.
Towards a Mechanism of TARP Action at AMPA Receptors

Rapid excitatory synaptic transmission is carried out primarily by glutamate-gated AMPA receptors. In the last few years, a number of AMPA receptor auxiliary proteins have been identified which assemble with the AMPAR at synapses to aid in the trafficking and alter the gating of channel. The prototypical auxiliary protein is stargazin, or γ2, which is a member of the transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory protein (TARP) family. Stargazin slows desensitization and deactivation, increases the frequency of opening to larger conductances and increases the relative efficacy of partial agonists such as kainate. At present, the structural mechanism by which TARPs enhance AMPAR gating is unclear but there are two distinct possibilities. First, TARPs may stabilize the ligand binding domain in more closed conformations, promoting the activation of the channel. And second, TARPs may increase the probability of opening the channel by increasing the efficiency of coupling between changes at the ligand binding domain and channel segments. To distinguish between these alternatives, we used previously characterized ligand binding domain mutations which de-stabilize the closed-bound states of the channel and asked whether stargazin could rescue gating in these mutants. using rapid perfusion in outside-out patches in both desensitizing and non-desensitizing conditions we found that stargazin rescued deficits in gating as measured by the ratio of glutamate to quisqualate responses and single channel conductance, suggesting that TARPs work by stabilizing closed-cleft states of the ligand binding domain. We further tested this hypothesis using FRET to directly measure conformation changes of the ligand binding domain in AMPAR alone or with stargazin. Preliminary FRET experiments are consistent with our electrophysiology data and support the hypothesis that TARPs enhance AMPAR gating by stabilizing closed bound states of the ligand binding domain.
Evolutionary ecology of the relationship between oviposition preference and performance of offspring in phytophagous insects

The relationship between oviposition preference and growth, survival, and reproduction of offspring is the crux of the problem in the evolution of host associations between phytophagous insects and plants. Observed relationships between oviposition preference and performance of offspring range from good to poor. At least four hypotheses have been suggested to explain observed use of particular host plants that may not result in the fastest growth rates or greatest pupal masses: time, patch dynamics, parasite versus grazer lifestyles, and enemy-free space. Our current understanding of these relationships, however, is hampered by an almost complete lack of data on how preference and performance are related genetically. These data are needed to understand the origins of covariance between preference and performance and constraints on the evolution of host associations.
Prevention of Central Venous Catheter-Associated Thrombosis: A Meta-analysis

PURPOSE: Anticoagulant prophylaxis in patients with central venous catheters is controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of anticoagulant prophylaxis in patients with central venous catheters. METHODS: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched up to May 2006, supplemented by manual searches of conference proceedings and bibliographies. RESULTS: Fifteen trials were included. Unfractionated heparin infusion, oral fixed low-dose vitamin K antagonist, and subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin were evaluated. For all catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis (symptomatic and asymptomatic combined), the summary relative risks ranged from 0.31 to 0.73 (all achieved statistical significance). For symptomatic deep vein thrombosis, the summary relative risks ranged from 0.28 to 0.72, but did not achieve statistical significance for any individual regimen. CONCLUSION: Anticoagulant prophylaxis is effective for preventing all catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis in patients with central venous catheters. The effectiveness for preventing symptomatic venous thromboembolism, including pulmonary embolism, remains uncertain.
Gustatory adaptation as an explanation for dietary-induced sodium appetite

To test the hypothesis that a Na deprived rat takes longer to adapt to a salt stimulus than a normal rat the temporal characteristics of drinking 0.4 M NaCl and distilled water were investigated. Analysis showed that Na Deprived rats took less time between drinking episodes (interdrink intervals) and drank consecutively for longer periods of time (drinking time) than normal controls. These results were attributed primarily to taste factors because postingestional and thirst influences were at a minimum. Research was also directed at determining the urinary and blood chemical changes associated with dietary sodium deprivation. The levels of sodium in plasma were unchanged because of reduced sodium excretion but the levels of potassium were significantly increased after 20 days of deprivation. Thus, sodium appetite might be important to combat against hyperkaelemia (high plasma potassium) although the appetite develops long before an increase in potassium is detected.