cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paying Lawyers, Empowering Prosecutors, and Protecting Managers: Raising the Cost of Capital in America

t Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. This Article was originally presented as the Oliver Wendell Holmes Lecture at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass., on October 13, 1992. 1. For some time, many commentators noted that America's cost of capital was high compared to that of its economic competitors. Richard Breeden, the Chairman of the SEC, and others have described America's high cost of capital as one of the economy's biggest problems. Richard Breeden, Speech at American Stock Exchange Conference (Oct. 15, 1990), in Fed. News Serv., Oct. 15, 1990, available in LEXIS, Nexis Library, Fednew File; see, e.g., Gary Hector, Why U.S. Banks Are in Retreat, FORTUNE, May 7, 1990, at 95, 95 (stating that the cost of capital for American companies was twice that of their West German and Japanese competitors during the period from 1983 to 1988). More recent evidence indicates that America's cost of capital is not currently higher than the cost of capital for some of its competitors. See, e.g., Capital Punishment, ECONOMIST, May 23, 1992, at 71, 71 (discussing a recent study conducted by Richard Mattione, an economist with J.P. Morgan Bank, that found America's cost of capital to be lower than the cost of Japanese capital); Carl W. Kester & Timothy A. Luehrman, The Myth of Japan's Low-Cost Capital, HARV. BUS. REV., May-June 1992, at 130, 130; Michael E. Porter, Capital Disadvantage: America's Failing Capital Investment System, HARV. BUS. REV., Sept.-Oct. 1992, at 65, 65. It should be emphasized that the validity of the arguments made here does not depend upon the cost of capital in the United States being relatively high or low. Measures that increase the cost of capital without corresponding benefits are harmful.
Control of center manifolds

In this paper, we use a feedback to change the orientation and the shape of the center manifold of a system with uncontrollable linearization. This change directly affect the reduced dynamics on the center manifold, and hence change the stability properties of the original system.
Fast and robust differential flipflops and their extension to multi-input threshold gates

In this paper, we describe two single input threshold gate (TLG) designs, which are functionally equivalent to differential flipflops. We present a detailed comparison of TLGs with two well established D-flipflop designs. The comparisons are done in both 65nm and 28nm commercial processes. We compare total delay, which is defined as the sum of setup delay and clock to output delay. We also show a comparison of tolerance against noise and process variation between the different designs. The two proposed designs are found to be as robust as an existing D-flipflop from both commercial standard cell libraries. Meanwhile, they are 33% and 25% faster in 65nm post-layout and 25% and 22% faster in 28nm post-layout compared to a commercial D-flipflop. The energy delay product of two proposed designs is 46% and 25% smaller in the 28nm process post layout simulation. Single input threshold gates can also be extended to multi-input threshold gates. We compare the total delay, power and leakage of a three-input threshold gate as well as a seven-input threshold gate with those of the equivalent (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) CMOS counterpart, which shows 52% 48% improvement in 65nm and 35% speed improvement in the 28nm process.
Adversarial risk analysis with incomplete information: a level-k approach.

This article proposes, develops, and illustrates the application of level-k game theory to adversarial risk analysis. Level-k reasoning, which assumes that players play strategically but have bounded rationality, is useful for operationalizing a Bayesian approach to adversarial risk analysis. It can be applied in a broad class of settings, including settings with asynchronous play and partial but incomplete revelation of early moves. Its computational and elicitation requirements are modest. We illustrate the approach with an application to a simple defend-attack model in which the defender's countermeasures are revealed with a probability less than one to the attacker before he decides on how or whether to attack.
Parameterizing the eye movement dynamics on LIST and SO(3): How to move the singularities away

Using a suitable parametrization, the dynamics of eye rotation can be written as an Euler Lagrange equation on LIST or SO(3) depending on whether eye is assumed to satisfy the Listing's constraint or not. The equations typically have singularities and we show in this paper that by choosing alternate forms of the state variables, the singularities can be moved, for example from the frontal gaze to the backward gaze direction in the case of LIST. Similar constructions are also possible on SO(3).
Visual search has no memory

Humans spend a lot of time searching for things, such as roadside traffic signs1, soccer balls2 or tumours in mammograms3. These tasks involve the deployment of attention from one item in the visual field to the next. Common sense suggests that rejected items should be noted in some fashion so that effort is not expended in re-examining items that have been attended to and rejected. However, common sense is wrong. Here we asked human observers to search for a letter ‘T’ among letters ‘L’. This search demandsvisual attention and normally proceeds at a rate of 20–30 milliseconds per item4. In the critical condition, we randomly relocated all letters every 111 milliseconds. This made it impossible for the subjects to keep track of the progress of the search. Nevertheless, the efficiency of the search was unchanged. Theories of visual search all assume that search relies on accumulating information about the identity of objects over time5,6,7. Such theories predict that search efficiency will be drastically reduced if the scene is continually shuffled while the observer is trying to search through it. As we show that efficiency is not impaired, the standard theories must be revised.
Bilingualism and Bicodalism

Bilingual subjects were presented with long lists of words which they subsequently tried to recall. On some lists the words appeared in red or in black; on other lists, they appeared in French or i...
Using range data for inspecting printed wiring boards

An approach to using dense range data for the inspection of leads of lead-through-hole components on a printed wiring board is described. A complete working system was constructed of which only the ranging device and range data processing algorithms are described. Information parameters for loaded boards may vary from simple presence/absence determination to the measurement of detailed geometric features. The image analysis process is described, and an example involving a single-component lead is given. >
Needs Assessment in STEM Disciplines: Reliability, Validity and Factor Structure of the Student Support Needs Scale (SSNS).

Retention is a major problem in most colleges and universities. High dropout rates, especially in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), have proved intractable despite the offering of supplemental instruction. A broad model of support systems that includes psychological factors is needed to address retention in STEM fields. The purpose of our study was to develop an instrument to identify the support needs of college students. We adapted the theoretical model of the performance pyramid to create a 48-item measure called the Student Support Needs Scale. We examined the psychometric properties of our scale by subjecting the measure to a principal component analysis, which resulted in a robust 36-item, six-factor solution. Finally, we established the reliability and validity of the resulting instrument. Once student needs have been assessed using our scale, interventions may be tailored to the needs of a minority group, discipline, geographic area and/or institution. This i...
Doppler blood velocity waveforms in the umbilical artery as an indicator of fetal well-being.

Doppler blood velocity waveforms were analyzed from the umbilical artery as an indication of fetal well-being. Since the ratio of systolic to diastolic peak flows (A/B) reflects placental vascular resistance, an abnormality of this value may accurately predict compromised fetuses. Twenty-one studies were performed on 13 patients, using a new duplex system for real-time imaging and range-gated' pulsed Doppler analysis, and compared to normal standards. Thirteen studies done in nine uneventful pregnancies were consistently normal. However, abnormal studies were found in the four patients reported as case histories, including women with sickle cell anemia, systemic lupus, diabetes, and growth retardation. The A/B ratio was felt to have predicted potential fetal compromise, including the two fetal deaths. Therefore, with certain cautions, we feel that this rapid, non-invasive technique is useful as a serially applicable reflector of the status of fetoplacental circulation.
Game-theoretic computing in risk analysis

Risk analysis, comprising risk assessment and risk management stages, is one of the most popular and challenging topics of our times because security and privacy, and availability and usability culminating at the trustworthiness of cybersystems and cyber information is at stake. The precautionary need derives from the existence of defenders versus adversaries, in an everlasting Darwinian scenario dating back to early human history of warriors fighting for their sustenance to survive. Fast forwarding to today's information warfare, whether in networks or healthcare or national security, the currently dire situation necessitates more than a hand calculator to optimize (maximize gains or minimize losses) risk due to prevailing scarce economic resources. This article reviews the previous works completed on this specialized topic of game-theoretic computing, its methods and applications toward the purpose of quantitative risk assessment and cost-optimal management in many diverse disciplines including entire range of informatics-related topics. Additionally, this review considers certain game-theoretic topics in depth historically, and those computationally resourceful such as Neumann's two-way zero-sum pure equilibrium and optimal mixed strategy solutions versus Nash equilibria with pure and mixed strategies. Computational examples are provided to highlight the significance of game-theoretic solutions used in risk assessment and management, particularly in reference to cybersystems and information security. WIREs Comput Stat 2012, 4:227–248. doi: 10.1002/wics.1205
Pressure dependence of the Raman scattering in the ordered phase of NH4Cℓ

Abstract We have observed Raman scattering in NH 4 Cl from 105K to 295K and up to 7kbar hydrostatic pressure, including the disordered phase II and the ordered phase IV. The pressure dependences of internal and lattice modes are reported, as well as that of the libration mode. The results are applied to several theories of the potential barrier to rotation.
Electron Transfer Dynamics in Quantum Dot/Titanium Dioxide Composites Formed by in Situ Chemical Bath Deposition

We present experimental transient absorption (TA) results on the dynamics of electron relaxation and electron transfer in cadmium sulfide quantum dots (QDs) grown by chemical bath deposition techniques on nanocrystalline oxide substrates. The quantum dots are prepared in situ in nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) films. The conduction band offset between the CdS QDs and TiO2 allows for efficient electron injection from the photoexcited QDs into the conduction band of TiO2. An unprecedented peak is seen in the transient absorption spectrum, which may be used to track the spectral response of the QD/TiO2 composites. Dynamic measurements in the visible and mid-IR are used to evaluate the time scale of the electron injection process. The TA dynamics for these systems are found to be multiexponential. A comparison of the TA dynamics for CdS/TiO2 and CdS/ZrO2 composites in the visible and mid-IR region indicates that electron transfer occurs on the time scale of ∼10−50 ps.
Functional Expression of the Extraplastidial Arabidopsis thaliana Oleate Desaturase Gene (FAD2) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The functional expression in yeast of the Arabidopsis thaliana FAD2 gene, encoding the extraplastidial oleate desaturase (1-acyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [delta]12-desaturase) is reported. Dienoic fatty acids constituted up to 11% (w/w) of the total fatty acids in transformed Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and were confirmed to be linoleic acid and [delta]9,[delta]12-hexadecadienoic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Very-High-Frequency and Ultra-High-Frequency Signal Ranges as Limited by Noise and Co-channel Interference

Theoretical ground-wave ranges for smooth-earth and standard-atmosphere conditions are shown for frequency-modulation and television broadcast services and for mobile services for frequencies between 30 and 3000 megacycles, and practical limits of antenna size and antenna gain are discussed. The effects of extermal noise, terrain, and penetration of buildings are considered and their probable trends with frequency are indicated, together with the need for comprehensive data for their evaluation. A comparison is made between theoretical ground-wave and tropospheric ranges computed for 50 megacycles and the results of continuous field-intensity measurements made at various distances, from which it is concluded that theoretical ground-wave curves can be used as reliable measures of service ranges. Theoretical ground-wave curves are found not to be direct measures of probable ranges of tropospheric interference and it is suggested that a factor of 2 be applied to the station-separation distances obtained from such curves at 50 megacycles, with the probability of larger factors for higher frequencies. Two families of curves, one for sporadic-E-layer and one for F-layer transmission, showing skip distances as a function of frequency for the frequency band under consideration, are derived from the National Bureau of Standards measurements of layer characteristics at Washington, D.C., for the purpose of estimating the occurrence of interference from one other co-channel station. The effect of increasing the number of stations is investigated, and estimates of five times the single-station interference for sporadic-E-layer and three times for F-layer interference are made.
Infusion of UVB-treated splenic stromal cells induces suppression of β cell antigen-specific T cell responses in NOD mice

Our previous study has demonstrated that transfusion of UVB-irradiation-induced apoptotic β cells effectively prevents type 1 diabetes (T1D) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. However, the limitation of β cell source would preclude the clinical application of this approach. Therefore, in the present study, we have attempted to establish a more practical approach by utilizing apoptotic non-β cells to prevent T1D. We find that apoptotic splenic stromal cells significantly suppress β cell antigen-reactive T cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, β cell antigen-specific T cells primed by β cell antigens in the presence of apoptotic stromal cells have markedly reduced responsiveness to the re-stimulation of the same β cell antigen. We also find that β cell antigen-specific IL-10-producing CD4+ T cells are induced in the presence of apoptotic splenic stromal cells. As expected, transfusion of apoptotic stromal cells effectively protected NOD mice from developing T1D. Furthermore, the proliferation of adoptively transferred β cell antigen-specific TCR-transgenic T cells in pancreatic draining lymph nodes is markedly suppressed in UVB-stroma-treated mice, indicating that UVB-stroma treatment induces immune tolerance to multiple β cell antigens. This study provides an effective and convenient approach for managing T1D by utilizing apoptotic non-β cells.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for the simplification of generalized conjugate-gradient algorithms

Recent papers by Faber and Manteuffel characterize the cases where ORTHODIR, a generalized conjugate-gradient algorithm for solving complex non-Hermitian linear systems, can be defined by a short recurrence formula and thus simplified. In the present paper similar results are obtained for two other generalized conjugate-gradient algorithms, namely, ORTHOMIN and ORTHORES. Necessary and sufficient conditions on the coefficient matrix A are given so that simplification is possible. Illustrative examples are given.
An Empirical Typology of Youth With Severe Emotional Disturbances

Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances on the basis of 8 child risk factor questions gathered at intake. The sample of 171 youth was divided into 5 clusters: (a) physically abused, (b) suicide attempt risk, (c) delinquent risk, (d) low risk, and (e) sexually abused. Differences were noted among clusters on a variety of measures of functioning, and cluster groups were different in terms of diagnosis and demographic variables (age, gender, and number of arrests). Youth in Clusters 2 and 3 demonstrated lower functioning on various measures, with Cluster 2 yielding the poorest functioning. Cluster analysis does not supplant diagnosis but may be a useful supplement in identifying meaningful subgroups of youth.
Oncocytic mania: A review of oncocytic lesions throughout the body

Oncocytic lesions are characterized pathologically by an abundance of oncocytes, that is by enlarged, eosinophilic, and finely granular cells enriched in mitochondria. They can arise in numerous organs and tissues, often in endocrine glands, and have been associated with hyperplasia, autoimmunity, and neoplasia. The causes and mechanisms that transform a normal cell into an oncocyte remain to be elucidated. Aim of this article is to review the most common oncocytic lesions, highlighting their key pathological features and clinical significance.
Response of the NCAR General Circulation Model to North Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

Abstract The general circulation model (GCM) of the National Center for Atmospheric Research was used to investigate the effects of anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) patterns in the mid-latitudes of the North Pacific Ocean on atmospheric circulations. One of the most frequently observed SST anomaly (SSTA) patterns, a “cold pool” of water in the west and a “warm pool” in the cast (from 35 to 55°N) with magnitudes ±4°C of the temperature of the surrounding water, was superimposed on the seasonally varying oceanic temperature as the thermal boundary condition in the North Pacific of the atmospheric GCM for the anomaly experiment Three similar experiments, one the control, two the noise and three an exaggerated SSTA, were run simultaneously. Time integrations for all cases were carried out for 120 days, beginning on 15 January. Preliminary results indicate that cyclonic activities are strengthened above the warm SSTA and suppressed above the cold SSTA. A direct thermal circulation is induced in the vert...
Comparison of the effect of 4-hydroxy-4-androstene-3, 17-dione on aromatose activity in granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles of rats, rabbits, and humans

Abstract The effect of the aromatose inhibitor 4-hydroxy-4-androstene-3, 17-dione (4-OH-A) on the synthesis of estradiol (1,3,5 (10)-estratriene-3, 17β-diol) by granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles of rats, rabbits and humans was examined. Granulosa cells from all three species were incubated for 4 h without treatment (control) or in the presence of androstenedione (4-androstene-3, 17-dione, 0.5 μM), 4-OH-A (5 μM), or both compounds together. Estradiol levels were determined in the medium and cells by radioimmunoassay. In all three species, estradiol synthesis was markedly increased by androstenedione and this increase was blocked by 4-OH-A. In the rabbit, however, 4-OH-A alone caused a small but significant increase in radioimmunoassayable estradiol. The apparent increase seen with 4-OH-A alone may be due to a metabolite of 4-OH-A that cross-reacts in the estradiol radioimmunoassay. With granulosa cells from humans, in which 4-OH-A is of potential therapeutic importance, no similar effect of 4-OH-A alone was observed.
Experimental Verification of the Mach Number Field in a Supersonic Ludwieg Tube

References 1Na, S. S., and Librescu, L., “Optimal Vibration Control of a Thin-Walled Anisotropic Cantilevers Exposed to Blast Loadings,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 23, No. 3, 2000, pp. 491–500. 2Bruch, J. C., Jr., Sloss, J. M., Adali, S., and Sadek, I. S., “Modified Bang–Bang Piezoelectric Control of Vibrating Beams,” Smart Materials and Structures, Vol. 8, 1999, pp. 647–653. 3Song, O., and Librescu, L., “Bending Vibration of Cantilevered ThinWalled Beams Subjected to Time-Dependent External Excitations,” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 98, No. 1, 1995, pp. 313–319. 4Librescu, L, Song, O., and Rogers, C. A., “Adaptive Vibrational Behavior of Cantilevered Structures Modeled as Composite Thin-Walled Beams,” International Journal of Engineering Science, Vol. 31, No. 5, 1993, pp. 775–792. 5Librescu, L., Meirovitch, L., and Na, S. S., “Control of Cantilevers Vibration via Structural Tailoring and Adaptive Materials,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 35, No. 8, 1997, pp. 1309–1315. 6Wu, Z., and Soong, T. T., “Modified Bang–Bang Control Law for Structural Control Implementations,” Journal of Engineering Mechanics, Vol. 122, No. 8, 1996, pp. 771–777.
Environmental risk and prevention of Lyme disease.

An understanding of the environmental determinants of Lyme disease risk is essential to evaluate human disease potential and to recommend strategies for disease prevention. Tick vectors of Lyme disease require a vertebrate blood meal during each of three motile developmental stages (larva, nymph, and adult). Although the immature stages (larvae and nymphs) exhibit broad and overlapping host ranges, adult ticks are primarily dependent on deer for feeding and reproduction. Consequently, the distribution and abundance of these ticks often reflect those of deer. Several species of smaller mammals and some birds that host immature ticks are also competent reservoirs for Borrelia burgdorferi, which becomes established within the tick population during feeding. The relative abundance of these host species and their ability to infect ticks are key factors in determining the distribution of Lyme disease risk in the local environment. Available methods for reducing the risk of Lyme disease in the environment include the application of insecticides and use of deer fencing, which have been shown to be 83-97% effective in reducing risk. However, the adverse environmental impact of insecticides and high cost of deer fencing limit these methods to high-risk areas where human exposure is constant and unavoidable (i.e., residential or occupational). Personal protection in high-risk areas can lessen the likelihood of contact with ticks. Future prevention methods may include host-targeted insecticides, environmental alteration, and biologic control. Moreover, research is currently directed to identifying antigens for use in recombinant human vaccines.
Meeting review: options for the control of influenza VI.

A pandemic outbreak of viral influenza could occur if highly virulent zoonotic strains (such as avian H5N1) were to acquire the ability to transmit among humans. This possibility has increased concern, interest, and investigation in the influenza field. This heightened interest was reflected in the participation of numerous health officials, clinicians, and scientific investigators in the Sixth Conference on the Options for the Control of Influenza held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from June 17–23, 2007. A recurring theme was that H5N1 viruses and the now-available reassortant/recombinant viruses from the 1918 pandemic have striking pathological and molecular similarities. Understanding these similarities, and how the viruses differ from currently circulating strains will be critical for timely preparation of the appropriate vaccines and antiviral therapies if a new pandemic should arise. To that end, this international conference was a fully comprehensive exchange of information covering public health, pa...
Cybercrime in West Africa as a Result of Transboundary E-Waste

The continued transference of electronic waste from industrialized nations to nations in the global south is a contributor to not only health and environmental risks, but also security threats. Cybercrime is estimated to cost the global economy over $375 billion dollars annually, and an increasing number of cybercrimes are originating in West Africa. This research note explores the relationship between e-waste and cybercrime in Ghana and Nigeria, and the serious implications regarding cybersecurity in the age of globalization.
The role of brain norepinephrine in clonidine suppression of isolation-induced distress in the domestic chick.

Distress vocalizations (DV) induced by social isolation were measured in 1-day-old domestic chicks after intracerebroventricular injections of drugs believed to exert their effects through the noradrenergic system. The α-adreno-receptor agonist clonidine reliably suppressed DV rates at doses low as 0.08 μg. When given alone, phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, sotalol, and yohimbine (adrenoreceptor antagonists) did not reliably after DV rates at doses that were not toxic. The clonidine DV suppression was reliably reversed by yohimbine (1.75 μg), but by none of the other adrenoceptor antagonists or naloxone. 6-Hydroxydopamine at doses as high as 120 μg, which essentially eliminated forebrain norepinephrine, failed to suppress DV rates reliably when given alone and, when given in combination with clonidine (0.1 μg) or morphine (0.05 μg), failed to reverse the severe DV suppression imposed by these drugs. The results suggest that clonidine suppresses DV rates in chicks through interaction with postsynaptic adrenoreceptors or by some means other than prejunctional α2-adrenoreceptor stimulation.
TREM‐1 expression in macrophages is regulated at transcriptional level by NF‐κB and PU.1

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-1 is a recently identified immunoglobulin receptor that is expressed on neutrophils and monocytes where it amplifies the acute inflammatory response to bacteria. We examined the transcriptional regulation of TREM-1 in macrophages. Treatment of RAW cells with Escherichia coli LPS or Pseudomonas aeruginosa led to the induction of TREM-1 within 1 h with an expression lasting up to at least 24 h in vitro as detected by RT-PCR. Since the promoter of TREM-1 has multiple binding sites for NF-kappaB and PU.1 (one of the members of the ets family of transcription factors), we investigated the role of these transcription factors in the induction of TREM-1. Treatment of cells with NF-kappaB inhibitors abolished the expression of message of TREM-1 induced by LPS and P. aeruginosa. In contrast, the expression of TREM-1 was increased after stimulation with LPS or P. aeruginosa in cells that had gene of PU.1 silenced. Additionally, over-expression of PU.1 led to inhibition of TREM-1 induction in response to LPS and P. aeruginosa. These data suggest that both these transcription factors are involved in the expression of TREM-1. NF-kappaB functions as a positive regulator whereas PU.1 is a negative regulator of the TREM-1 gene.
Equilibria of formation and dehydration of the carbinolamine intermediate in the reaction of benzaldehyde with hydrazine

Abstract Measurement of polarographic limiting currents at equilibria made it possible at pH 3–7 to simultaneously determine concentrations of benzaldehyde, of its hydrazone and of the carbinolamine derivative. The dependence of concentration of carbinolamine at equilibrium on pH indicated presence of its di-, mono-, and unprotonated forms. Acid dissociation constants of the formation (pKa1≈3.2) of the diprotonated form and of the dissociation of the monoprotonated form of carbinolamine (pKa2≈4.7) were estimated. The equilibrium constants of formation (K1) and dehydration (K2) of the carbinolamine intermediate were determined.
Treatment of Pain in Acutely Burned Children

The child with burns suffers severe pain at the time of the burn and during subsequent treatment and rehabilitation. Pain has adverse physiological and emotional effects, and research suggests that pain management is an important factor in better outcomes. There is increasing understanding of the private experience of pain, and how children benefit from honest preparation for procedures. Developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive pain assessment, pain relief, and reevaluation have improved, becoming essential in treatment. Pharmacological treatment is primary, strengthened by new concepts from neurobiology, clinical science, and the introduction of more effective drugs with fewer adverse side effects and less toxicity. Empirical evaluation of various hypnotic, cognitive, behavioral, and sensory treatment methods is advancing. Multidisciplinary assessment helps to integrate psychological and pharmacological pain-relieving interventions to reduce emotional and mental stress, and family stress as well. Optimal care encourages burn teams to integrate pain guidelines into protocols and critical pathways for improved care.
Acidity of sulfuric acid-sodium sulfate solutions by kinetic measurements

The purpose of the work was to develop a scale that characterizes the acidity of solutions containing sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate and to determine the effect of a third ingredient, sodium chlorate, on the acidity function
Synthesis and Characterization of Short-Chain Diacylphosphatidic Acids

Abstract Several short-chain (dihexanoyl-, diheptanoyl-, and dioctanoyl-) phosphatidic acid (PA) molecules have been synthesized and characterized as water-soluble lipids for studies of cell activation and the interaction of negatively charged lipids with specific proteins. These species aggregate to form large polydisperse micelles. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of the dianions in 0.10 M NaCl are similar to those for the corresponding chain length phosphatidylcholine (PC) species. Surface properties suggest that the dianion has an area per molecule comparable to that of PC molecules, while the monoanion has a greatly reduced area, closer to twice the value of the two fatty acyl chains. This difference may be useful in understanding pH effects of protein-PA interactions.
Chronological variations in concentrations and isotopic compositions of anthropogenic atmospheric lead in sediments of a remote subalpine pond

Lead concentrations decrease 4-fold in going from the surface of sediments in a mountain pond to relatively small values in layers 130 yr old. There is a corresponding change in the Pb^(206)/Pb^(207) ratio in the sediments from industrial-like values of 1.18 near the surface to natural values of 1.24 at depth. Concentrations of Ca, Sr, and Ba remain relatively constant with depth. The excess Pb is shown to be of eolian anthropogenic origin, through isotopic, chemical, and mass balance relationships with metals in aerosols, dry deposition, and precipitation. This proves that inputs of contamination Pb were nearly absent centuries ago in a remote non-domesticated subalpine canyon, but are present today in that ecosystem in amounts more than 20 times the natural inputs and are irrefutably linked with industrial sources. As a consequence of these inputs, present Pb concentrations have been elevated 5-fold in plants and 50-fold in animals above natural levels. These Pb contamination effects are being caused by present-day atmospheric concentrations of ~10 ng Pb/m^3. The ecosystem studied here characterizes the vast remote non-domesticated regions of North America, and these findings indicate that such regions are highly polluted by industrial Pb aerosols.
Improvements in the formation of cephalosporins from penicillin G and other penicillins by bioconversion

Chemical ring expansion of penicillin G plus enzymatic removal of the phenylacetyl side chain is currently being used in industry to obtain 7-aminodeacetoxycephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA) that is used for the manufacture of semisynthetic cephalosporins. A biological route requiring only two enzymatic steps (ring expansion and deacylation) might replace this chemical process, thereby reducing costs and environmental problems. Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase, an iron-dependent and α-ketoglutarate-requiring dioxygenase, catalyses the expansion of the five-membered thiazolidine ring of the penicillin nucleus to form the six-membered dihydrothiazine ring of the cephalosporin nucleus. To improve the substrate specificity of this enzyme on hydrophobic penicillins (e.g., penicillin G, ampicillin, amoxicillin), different strategies have been recently developed. Biotransformation of penicillin G to deacetoxycephalosporin G by resting cells of Streptomyces clavuligerus has been improved by growing the cells in ethan...
Estimation of gas transport coefficients from differential permeation, integral permeation, and sorption rate data

Abstract Experimental methods for studying the transport of gases in polymers may be divided into three categories: integral permeation rate measurement, in which the cumulative amount of a penetrant that has passed through a membrane is determined; differential permeation rate measurement, in which the rate of penetration through a membrane is measured directly; and sorption rate measurement, or determination of the cumulative amount of a penetrant absorbed in a polymer sample. This paper reviews commonly used techniques for estimating diffusion coefficients from transport data of all three types. Several new estimation formulas are presented, and the relative merits of different measurement and estimation methods are discussed. A general relationship between the traditional time lag method for integral rate data analysis and a recently developed moment method for differential rate data analysis is established, extending the applicability of the moment approach to the analysis of non-ideal transport in membranes of arbitrary geometry and composition.
Investigation of the Electrospray Plume by Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy has been employed to probe the electrospray plume through measurement of the emission spectra of fluorescent dyes in the spray stream. The system is evaluated with respect to sensitivity and reproducibility using solutions of Eosin Y under typical electrospray conditions. Application of the technique for monitoring spray-induced pH changes is demonstrated using fluorescence signals from a pH-sensitive fluorophore, carboxyseminaphthorhodafluor-1 (C.SNARF-1). To our knowledge, this is the first direct measurement of pH within the electrospray plume.
Thymidine incorporation as a measure of heterotrophic bacterioplankton production in marine surface waters : Evaluation and field results

To assess bacterioplankton production in the sea, we have developed a procedure for measuring growth based on incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA; the accuracy of this procedure was tested under a variety of laboratory and field conditions. By autoradiography, we have found that for all practical purposes our technique is specific for the nonphotosynthetic bacteria and that virtually all of the “active” bacteria (one-third or more of the total countable bacteria) take up thymidine. We also measured (1) the intracellular isotope dilution of thymidine assessed by parallel experiments with labeled phosphorus, and (2) DNA content of natural marine bacteria (0.2 to 0.6 μm size fraction); a conversion factor derived from these data permitted estimation of production from thymidine incorporation results. A very similar conversion factor was independently derived from the empirical relationship between thymidine incorporation and growth of natural bacterioplankton under controlled conditions. Combined results show that this technique, which can be performed rapidly and easily at sea, provides good estimates of production. Data from Southern California Bight waters, which contain oligotrophic as well as moderately eutrophic regions, show that average bacterioplankton doubling times, like those of the phytoplankton, are on the order of a few days, with fastest growth at depths just below those of greatest phytoplankton abundance. Offshore bacterial production is roughly 5 to 25% of the primary production; thus, at a 50% assimilation efficiency, the bacterioplankton would consume 10 to 50% of the total fixed carbon.
Optimizing transmissions and routing in sensor networks is polynomially solvable

We consider wireless sensor networks with multiple gateways and multiple classes of traffic carrying data generated by different sensory inputs. The objective is to devise joint routing, power control and transmission scheduling policies in order to gather data in the most efficient manner while respecting the needs of different sensing tasks (fairness). We formulate the problem as maximizing the utility of transmissions subject to explicit fairness constraints. We propose an efficient decomposition algorithm drawing upon large-scale decomposition ideas in mathematical programming, and prove the convergence of the algorithm. Furthermore, by exploring the property of the subproblem, we find that the utility maximization problem we consider can, in principle, be solved in polynomial time.
Tolerance to intravenous ranitidine

La recherche sur les modifications de la reponse secretoire a la ranitidine intraveineuse lors de son emploi a long terme chez des nourrissons en malabsorption, a montre une accoutumance au bout de 2 a 6 semaines chez 5 enfants sur 6 necessitant l'augmentation des doses. Implications: surveillance du pH gastrique ou de la secretion acide; role dans la recurrence des ulceres peptiques
Aging, persistent viral infections, and immunosenescence: can exercise "make space"?

Overcrowding the immune space with excess clones of viral-specific T cells causes the naive T-cell repertoire to shrink, which increases infection susceptibility to novel pathogens. Physical exercise preferentially mobilizes senescent T cells from the peripheral tissues into the blood, which might facilitate their subsequent apoptosis and create "vacant space" for newly functional T cells to occupy and expand the naive T-cell repertoire.
An Interleukin-1 Beta-Encoding Retrovirus Exhibits Enhanced Replication In Vivo

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is an inflammatory cytokine that is secreted in response to inflammasome activation by innate microbe-sensing pathways. Although some retroviruses can trigger IL-1β secretion through the DNA-sensing molecule IFI16, the effect of IL-1β on the course of infection is unknown. To test whether IL-1β secretion affects retroviral replication in vivo, I constructed a novel murine leukemia virus strain (FMLV-IL-1β) that encodes the mature form of IL-1β. This virus replicated with kinetics similar to that of wild-type virus in tissue culture but caused a dramatically more aggressive infection of both C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. By 7 days postinfection (PI), mice infected with FMLV-IL-1β exhibited splenomegaly and viral loads 300-fold higher than those in mice infected with wild-type FMLV. Furthermore, the enlarged spleens of FMLV-IL-1β-infected mice correlated with a large expansion of Gr-1+ CD11b+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells, as well as elevated levels of immune activation. Although FMLV-IL-1β infection was controlled by C57BL/6 mice by 14 days p.i., FMLV-IL-1β was able to establish a significant persistent infection and immune activation in BALB/c mice. These results demonstrate that IL-1β secretion is a powerful positive regulator of retroviral infection and that FMLV-IL-1β represents a new model of proinflammatory retroviral infection. IMPORTANCE Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is an inflammatory cytokine released in response to activation of innate pathogen-sensing pathways during microbial infection. To examine the potential impact of IL-1β on retroviral replication in vivo, I constructed a novel mouse retrovirus strain (FMLV-IL-1β) that encodes IL-1β and promotes abundant IL-1β secretion from infected cells. This virus replicates with normal kinetics in cultured cells but displays a dramatically enhanced ability to replicate in mice and caused persistent infection and immune activation in the BALB/c strain of mice. These results establish IL-1β as a positive regulator of retroviral replication and suggest that targeting this pathway may have therapeutic benefits in infections with proinflammatory retroviruses. This virus can also be used to further study the impact of inflammatory pathways on retroviral infection.
Converting an unstructured quadrilateral mesh to a standard T-spline surface

This paper presents a novel method for converting any unstructured quadrilateral mesh to a standard T-spline surface, which is C 2-continuous except for the local region around each extraordinary node. There are two stages in the algorithm: the topology stage and the geometry stage. In the topology stage, we take the input quadrilateral mesh as the initial T-mesh, design templates for each quadrilateral element type, and then standardize the T-mesh by inserting nodes. One of two sufficient conditions is derived to guarantee the generated T-mesh is gap-free around extraordinary nodes. To obtain a standard T-mesh, a second sufficient condition is provided to decide what T-mesh configuration yields a standard T-spline. These two sufficient conditions serve as a theoretical basis for our template development and T-mesh standardization. In the geometry stage, an efficient surface fitting technique is developed to improve the geometric accuracy. In addition, the surface continuity around extraordinary nodes can be improved by adjusting surrounding control nodes. The algorithm can also preserve sharp features in the input mesh, which are common in CAD (Computer Aided Design) models. Finally, a Bezier extraction technique is used to facilitate T-spline based isogeometric analysis. Several examples are tested to show the robustness of the algorithm.
Computer assisted planning of surgical procedures

A system for computer-assisted planning of surgical procedures has been developped. Its components are a workstation with hardware accelerated 3D rendering board, a software environment and a set of procedures. Data sets from over 41 patients have been analyzed so far. We found a potential for improving the surgeons understanding of the anatomical situation he was going to face and for reducing the time spent during surgery to understand the altered anatomy.
Does Campus Diversity Promote Friendship Diversity? A Look at Interracial Friendships in College*

Objectives. One of the hopes of having diverse campus environments is that the daily interaction with students from different backgrounds will promote interracial understanding and friendship. However, it is not clear to what extent interactions and friendships are multiracial. This article examines the impact of college characteristics, social distance felt toward other groups, and precollege friendship diversity on the formation of interracial friendships in the first year of college. Methods. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen, I examine how college characteristics, social distance felt toward other groups, and precollege friendship diversity affects the formation of interracial friendships in the first year of college. Results. The results show that while precollege experiences and initial attitudes do have an impact on the formation of interracial friendship in college, campus racial/ethnic diversity is also important in predicting friendship heterogeneity. Minorities have higher predicted friendship diversity than whites, but this difference nearly disappears in the most diverse schools due to the interactive effects of school diversity on friendship diversity for white students. Conclusions. This research provides evidence of the social benefits of assembling a diverse student body, particularly for white students, and can add to the debate over the continuation of affirmative action policies.
Structural, optical and electrical characterization of highly conducting Mo-doped In2O3 thin films

Abstract Highly conducting and transparent thin films of molybdenum-doped indium oxide were deposited on quartz by pulsed laser deposition. The effect of growth temperature and oxygen partial pressure on the structural, optical and electrical properties was studied. We find that the film transparency depends on the growth temperature. The average transmittance of the films grown at different temperatures is in range of 48–87%. The X-ray diffraction results show that the films grown at low temperature are amorphous while the films grown at higher temperature are crystalline. Electrical properties are found to be sensitive to both the growth temperature and oxygen pressure. Resistivity of the films decreases from 1.3 × 10 −3 Ω cm to 8.9 × 10 −5 Ω cm while mobility increases from 9 cm 2 /V s to 138 cm 2 /V s as the growth temperature increases from room temperature to 700 °C. However, with increase in oxygen pressure, resistivity increases but the mobility decreases after attaining a maximum. The temperature-dependent resistivity measurements show transition form semiconductor to metallic behavior. The film grown at 500 °C under an oxygen pressure of 1.0 × 10 −3 mbar is found to exhibit high mobility (250 cm 2 /V s), low resistivity (6.7 × 10 −5 Ω cm), and relatively high transmittance (∼90%).
German Via the Airwaves, Phase Two: On the Beam with CB Radio

In a continuing effort to utilize two-way radio contacts as a means of generating conversational skills in the foreign language class, a treasure hunt game using hand-held walkie-talkie radios has been developed and implemented at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The game consists of a base team and a field team, which must work together in the target language in order to locate a hidden message. The message must be found and decoded before the adversary teams have done the same with their messages. The game can be utilized at any level of language instruction, and the equipment is readily available and relatively inexpensive.
Pilot study for a Brain-Muscle-Computer Interface using the Extensor Pollicis Longus with preselected frequency bands

We are developing a new class of Brain-Computer Interface that we call a Brain-Muscle-Computer Interface, in which surface electromyography (sEMG) recordings from a single muscle site are used to control the movement of a cursor. Previous work in our laboratory has established that subjects can learn to navigate a cursor to targets by manipulating the sEMG from a head muscle (the Auricularis Superior). Subjects achieved two-dimensional control of the cursor by simultaneously regulating the power in two frequency bands that were chosen to suit the individuals. The purposes of the current pilot study were to investigate (i) subjects' abilities to manipulate power in separate frequency bands in other muscles of the body and (ii) whether subjects can adapt to preselected frequency bands. We report pilot study data suggesting that subjects can learn to perform cursor-to-target tasks on a mobile phone by contracting the Extensor Pollicis Longus (a muscle located on the wrist) using frequency bands that are the same for every individual. After the completion of a short training protocol of less than 30 minutes, three subjects achieved 83%, 60% and 60% accuracies (with mean time-to-targets of 3.4 s, 1.4 s and 2.7 s respectively). All three subjects improved their performance, and two subjects decreased their time-to-targets following training. These results suggest that subjects may be able to use the Extensor Pollicis Longus to control the BMCI and adapt to preselected frequency bands. Further testing will more conclusively investigate these preliminary findings.