cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Site-controlled telecom-wavelength single-photon emitters in atomically-thin MoTe2.

Quantum emitters (QEs) in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) have advanced to the forefront of quantum communication and transduction research. To date, QEs capable of operating in O-C telecommunication bands have not been demonstrated in TMDCs. Here we report site-controlled creation of telecom QEs emitting over the 1080 to 1550 nm telecommunication wavelength range via coupling of 2D molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) to strain inducing nano-pillar arrays. Hanbury Brown and Twiss experiments conducted at 10 K reveal clear photon antibunching with 90% single-photon purity. The photon antibunching can be observed up to liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K). Polarization analysis further reveals that while some QEs display cross-linearly polarized doublets with ~1 meV splitting resulting from the strain induced anisotropic exchange interaction, valley degeneracy is preserved in other QEs. Valley Zeeman splitting as well as restoring of valley symmetry in cross-polarized doublets are observed under 8 T magnetic field. Single-photon emitters in 2D semiconductors hold promise for quantum applications, but usually operate in the 500-800 nm wavelength range. Here, the authors report site-controlled creation of quantum emitters in the telecommunication wavelength window by coupling 2D MoTe2 to strain inducing nano-pillar arrays.
Macro Theory in Sexual Science

The chapter opens with a brief overview of the early years of sexual science and sociology in Europe and America and then looks at more recent theoretical work in the sociology of sexual science. The interrelationship of macro and micro theory is presented and then there is a comparison of two macro studies of sexuality in the U.S. One of those studies is a national research study examining the way autonomy effects changes in premarital sexual permissiveness and the other is a descriptive national study with major findings on a wide variety of sexual behaviors. There is also discussion of two cross cultural studies—one proposes a theory linking sexuality to three basic structural aspects of human societies: power, ideology and kinship and tests this theory using a data base of 186 non industrial cultures. The other is a macro theoretical study of 43 cultures explaining the growth of post-industrial societies that stress well being and quality of life more than economic security. There is a brief coverage of three very recent theoretical articles each of which examined both biological and sociological theories of sexuality. The possibility of joint sociological and biological theories of human sexuality is discussed as part of an examination of Edward Wilson’s recent dual selection theory that stresses the importance of group selection over individual selection. The complexities of integrating sociological theories into Wilson’s gene/cultural interaction theory are analyzed.
Rodrigo's Equation

My alter ego and his straight man, "the Professor," meet at an airport where the young fellow explains his latest thesis: The law cannot reform capitalism or any major component of it, because in our system law and capitalism are the same thing, and a thing cannot reform itself.
X-ray diffraction analysis on single crystals of recombinant Escherichia coli ornithine transcarbamoylase.

Abstract Single crystals of recombinant Escherichia coli ornithine transcarbamoylase suitable for x-ray analysis have been grown from polyethylene glycol and 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol. The space group has been determined as P3(1) or P3(2), with one protein trimer of three identical 36.8-kDa subunits in the asymmetric unit. The unit cell dimensions are a = b = 105.1 A and c = 87.8 A. The crystals diffract well to 3-A resolution and are quite resistant to radiation damage. Single crystals have also been grown of a genetically engineered site-specific mutant for which the replacement of an arginine (Arg-57) to a glycine has been shown to not only drastically affect the enzyme activity but also its kinetic mechanism (Kuo, L. C., Miller, A. W., Lee, S., and Kozuma, C. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 8823-8832). The crystals of the Arg-57----Gly mutant protein are isomorphous to those of the wild type. Crystal soaking experiments using both wild-type and Arg-57----Gly crystals in the presence of various ligands have provided evidence of specific conformational changes upon substrate binding which supports our previous kinetic and spectroscopic observations.
Unpacking Asian Queer Masculinity in Theatre and Cinema: Postcolonial Imagination and Pleasure of Bottomhood

In Asian American or Asian studies, the “model minority” argument claims that Asians are portrayed in a positive light by U.S. popular culture. This model minority image suggests that Asians, compared with other people of color, have a better work ethic, higher educational backgrounds, and stronger financial abilities (Paek & Shah, 2003). However, this portrayal does not hold when it comes to masculinity. Men of color other than Asians are usually represented as macho and hypersexual, while Asian men are coded as effeminate and asexual. In short, Asian masculinity in U.S. popular culture takes up a weak and undesirable position. While communication scholars and students have debated on and researched the issue of negative representations of Asian men, these two books provide an alternative analysis of Asian masculinity through the lens of postcolonial analysis and the notion of bottomhood, respectively. Both books share not only a similar theme, but also a similar unit of analysis—Asian masculinity in a dyadic, queer relationship.
Dysregulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis is responsible for neuronal death in an experimental model of selective hippocampal degeneration induced by trimethyltin

Trimethyltin (TMT) intoxication is considered a suitable experimental model to study the molecular basis of selective hippocampal neurodegeneration as that occurring in several neurodegenerative diseases. We have previously shown that rat hippocampal neurons expressing the Ca2+-binding protein calretinin (CR) are spared by the neurotoxic action of TMT hypothetically owing to their ability to buffer intracellular Ca2+ overload. The present study was aimed at determining whether intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis dysregulation is involved in the TMT-induced neurodegeneration and if intracellular Ca2+-buffering mechanisms may exert a protective action in this experimental model of neurodegeneration. In cultured rat hippocampal neurons, TMT produced time- and concentration-dependent [Ca2+]i increases that were primarily due to Ca2+ release from intracellular stores although Ca2+ entry through Cav1 channels also contributed to [Ca2+]i increases in the early phase of TMT action. Cell pre-treatment with the Ca2+ chelator, 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid tetrakis(acetoxymethyl ester) (2 μM) significantly reduced the TMT-induced neuronal death. Moreover, CR+ neurons responded to TMT with smaller [Ca2+]i increases. Collectively, these data suggest that the neurotoxic action of TMT is mediated by Ca2+ homeostasis dysregulation, and the resistance of hippocampal neurons to TMT (including CR+ neurons) is not homogeneous among different neuron populations and is related to their ability to buffer intracellular Ca2+ overload.
Transthoracic echocardiography for precardioversion screening during atrial flutter/fibrillation in young patients.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is reliable for detection of thrombi in the left ventricle and right atrium, but not in the left atrial appendage. Therefore, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is routinely performed in adults prior to electric cardioversion for atrial flutter/fibrillation (AFF). Whetheryoung survivors of congenital heart disease repair with AFF need routine TEE prior to electric cardioversion is unknown. Hypothesis: Electric cardioversion for AFF is safe in survivors of congenital heart disease repair/palliation if an intracardiac thrombus is not suspected on TTE imaging. Methods: This study reports the outcome of patients in a pediatric tertiary care cardiac unit where electric cardioversion was performed if no intracardiac thrombus was suspected on TTE. We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients treated with electric cardioversion for AFF at Children's Hospital of Michigan during 1997-2002. Results: Of 35 patients who presented with 110 episodes of AFF requiring electric cardioversion during the study duration, 32 (age 3 months-49 years, median age 20.5 years, 104 AFF episodes) had previously undergone palliative surgery or repair of their congenital heart disease. Of these 32 patients, 18 were survivors of a Fontan palliation (for a single-ventricle variant) and the remaining 14 were survivors of other defects and repairs (septal defects, valve replacements, and tetralogy of Fallot). During 81% of the episodes, patients were receiving aspirin, warfarin, or heparin for anticoagulation at presentation. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 74 AFF episodes; of these, 10 TTE studies were suspicious for atrial thrombi. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the presence of athrombus in 3 of these 10 patients. These patients received warfarin for 2 weeks and then underwent electric cardioversion. No thromboembolic events occurred immediately after or on follow-up in any patient. Conclusions: These findings suggest that TTE may be an effective imaging tool for precardioversion screening in young patients with AFF.
Germination of Single Bacterial Spores

Changes in refractility and optical density occurring in individual spores of Bacillus cereus T and B. megaterium QM B1551 during germination were investigated by use of a Zeiss microscope photometer. The curves revealed that the germination process in single spores had two distinct phases; an initial rapid phase was followed by a second slower phase. Under the experimental condition employed, the first phase of germination of B. cereus spores lasted for approximately 75 +/- 15 sec, whereas the second phase lasted for 3 to 4.5 min. In B. megaterium spores, the first phase was observed to last for approximately 2 min and the second phase for more than 7 min. The duration of the second phase was dependent on conditions employed for germination. The kinetics of the first phase were strikingly similar under all conditions of physiological germination. Time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy of germinating spores also revealed the biphasic nature of germination. It was postulated that the first phase represents changes induced by an initial partial hydration of the spore and release into the medium of dipicolinic acid, whereas the second phase reflects degradation of the cortex and hydration of the core.
Testing Group Mean Differences of Latent Variables in Multilevel Data Using Multiple-Group Multilevel CFA and Multilevel MIMIC Modeling

Considering that group comparisons are common in social science, we examined two latent group mean testing methods when groups of interest were either at the between or within level of multilevel data: multiple-group multilevel confirmatory factor analysis (MG ML CFA) and multilevel multiple-indicators multiple-causes modeling (ML MIMIC). The performance of these methods were investigated through three Monte Carlo studies. In Studies 1 and 2, either factor variances or residual variances were manipulated to be heterogeneous between groups. In Study 3, which focused on within-level multiple-group analysis, six different model specifications were considered depending on how to model the intra-class group correlation (i.e., correlation between random effect factors for groups within cluster). The results of simulations generally supported the adequacy of MG ML CFA and ML MIMIC for multiple-group analysis with multilevel data. The two methods did not show any notable difference in the latent group mean testing across three studies. Finally, a demonstration with real data and guidelines in selecting an appropriate approach to multilevel multiple-group analysis are provided.
Differential promoter utilization by the c-myc gene in mitogen- and interleukin-2-stimulated human lymphocytes.

Abstract Transcription of the c-myc gene is initiated from two principal promoters, P1 and P2. We demonstrate here that a shift in promoter utilization occurred with time in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that had been stimulated to proliferate. The P1/P2 ratio reached a maximum of approximately 1.3 at 4 h after phytohemagglutinin stimulation and a minimum of 0.31 at 48 h. Actinomycin decay experiments demonstrated that both P1 and P2 transcripts had similar half-lives at early and late times after mitogen stimulation, indicating that the shift in promoter utilization was probably not posttranscriptionally regulated. Addition of interleukin-2 to previously activated PBMC increased c-myc mRNA, but unlike increases after mitogen stimulation, the P1/P2 ratio stayed less than 0.5. Our findings demonstrated that there was a difference between mitogen- and interleukin-2-stimulated increases in c-myc RNA in PBMC.
NIST Speech Processing Evaluations: LVCSR, Speaker Recognition, Language Recognition

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has coordinated numerous evaluations of speech and language technology over the past two decades. We discuss here evaluations in three general areas of speech processing that have security and forensic applications: large vocabulary conversational speech recognition (LVCSR), speaker recognition, and language recognition.
Annealing characteristics of Hg1-xCdxTe grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy

The annealing behavior of Hg1CdTe layers, grown by the conventional Organometallic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (OMVPE) , is reported. As grown layers, which are p-type with a concentration around 4 x 10'6/cm3 of mercury vacancies, become light p-type with carrier concentrations around 1-2x 10'5/cm3 after Hg saturated annealings at temperatures in the range of 200-230°C. These conditions, usually sufficient for the complete annealing of bulk Hg1_CdTe, to n-type, are thus inadequate for OMVPE grown epilayers. The as grown layers are converted to n-type with a carrier concentration of approximately 5 x 10'4/cm3 by a higher temperature anneal at 290°C, followed by a low temperature anneal at 220°C. Hall effect measurements were made under variable temperature as well as variable magnetic field conditions. Bulk carrier concentrations and mobilities were evaluated by considering the effect of the surface inversion/accumulation layer on the Hall data. It is proposed that ptype conduction in the partially annealed layers is due to the persistence of vacancies in the Hg1_CdTe layer, which are not completely annihilated during the low temperature anneal. Conversion to n-type is probably due to residual donor impurities in the as grown Hg1_CdTe layer.
The age of death: Appraising public opinion of juvenile capital punishment

Despite its original purpose to protect and rehabilitate wayward children, the juvenile system has grown more punitive and has embraced the use of harsher punishments, including execution, for juvenile offenders. Relatively little is known, however, about public attitudes toward the use of capital punishment for juveniles. This research explored the determinants of death penalty opinion, identified the minimum age at which respondents were willing to allow a juvenile to be put to death and examined the willingness of respondents to support an alternative sentence of life without the possibility of parole (LWOP). The results suggested that, while one-quarter of the sample was willing to execute juveniles who were fifteen and under at the time of the crime, there was less support for the execution of juveniles than of adults. In addition, of those who supported the use of the death penalty for juveniles, almost one-half would support LWOP as an alternative to the death penalty.
Positioning inventory in distribution systems

Abstract This article reports on a carefully controlled simulation experiment to determine whether the inventories in a distribution system should be positioned at a warehouse or a retail store closer to the customer. For companies that must fill customer demand from inventory, the results indicate that locating the inventory close to the customer is the best choice. The results also suggest that many of the anomalies in the previous research on this problem might be explained by the lack of control of the frequency of shipments.
Performance data for a terrestrial solar photovoltaic/water electrolysis experiment

A description is presented of the equipment used in the experiment, taking into account the surplus solar panel from the Mariner 4 spacecraft which was used as a solar array source and an electrolytic hydrogen generator. Attention is also given to operational considerations and performance data, system considerations and aspects of optimization, and large-scale hydrogen production considerations.
Optical Properties of Internally Mixed Aerosol Particles Composed of Dicarboxylic Acids and Ammonium Sulfate

We have investigated the optical properties of internally mixed aerosol particles composed of dicarboxylic acids and ammonium sulfate using cavity ring-down aerosol extinction spectroscopy at a wavelength of 532 nm. The real refractive indices of these nonabsorbing species were retrieved from the extinction and concentration of the particles using Mie scattering theory. We obtain refractive indices for pure ammonium sulfate and pure dicarboxylic acids that are consistent with literature values, where they exist, to within experimental error. For mixed particles, however, our data deviates significantly from a volume-weighted average of the pure components. Surprisingly, the real refractive indices of internal mixtures of succinic acid and ammonium sulfate are higher than either of the pure components at the highest organic weight fractions. For binary internal mixtures of oxalic or adipic acid with ammonium sulfate, the real refractive indices of the mixtures are approximately the same as ammonium sulfate for all organic weight fractions. Various optical mixing rules for homogeneous and slightly heterogeneous systems fail to explain the experimental real refractive indices. It is likely that complex particle morphologies are responsible for the observed behavior of the mixed particles. Implications of our results for atmospheric modeling and aerosol structure are discussed.
Optimal ordering policies when anticipating parameter changes in EOQ systems

The classical Economic Order Quantity Model requires the parameters of the model to be constant. Some EOQ models allow a single parameter to change with time. We consider EOQ systems in which one or more of the cost or demand parameters will change at some time in the future. The system we examine has two distinct advantages over previous models. One obvious advantage is that a change in any of the costs is likely to affect the demand rate and we allow for this. The second advantage is that often, the times that prices will rise are fairly well known by announcement or previous experience. We present the optimal ordering policy for these inventory systems with anticipated changes and a simple method for computing the optimal policy. For cases where the changes are in the distant future we present a myopic policy that yields costs which are near-optimal. In cases where the changes will occur in the relatively near future the optimal policy is significantly better than the myopic policy.
Expression of p53-related protein p63 in the gastrointestinal tract and in esophageal metaplastic and neoplastic disorders*

p63 is a p53-related DNA-binding protein that helps regulate differentiation and proliferation in epithelial progenitor cells. Its expression has never been evaluated in the human gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of p63 in the esophagus and related metaplastic and neoplastic disorders to gain insight into the pathogenesis of these processes. Of particular interest was the expression of p63 in Barrett esophagus (BE) and in BE-associated multilayered epithelium. Multilayered epithelium has been postulated to represent an early precursor to the development of BE primarily because it shares morphologic and immunophenotypic features of both squamous and columnar epithelium, and has been shown prospectively to be highly associated with BE. Routinely processed mucosal biopsy or resection specimens that contained normal esophageal squamous epithelium (n = 20), squamous dysplasia (n = 4), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 7), BE (n = 10), BE-associated multilayered epithelium (n = 13), esophageal mucosal gland ducts (n = 10), BE-associated dysplasia (n = 12), and BE-associated adenocarcinoma (n = 7) were immunostained for p63 to determine the extent and location of staining. p63 staining was compared with the staining patterns observed for p53, Ki 67 (proliferation marker), and cytokeratins (CKs) 13 (squamous marker), 14 (basal squamous marker), 8/18 (columnar marker), and 19 (basal/columnar marker). Expression of p63 messenger RNA (mRNA) isoforms was also analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction of freshly isolated tissues. In the normal esophagus, p63 was expressed in the basal and suprabasal layers of the squamous epithelium and in basal cells that line the mucosal gland ducts but was negative in all other epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach, small intestine, and colon. Similarly, p63 was not expressed in BE, but it, was present in the basal layer of multilayered epithelium in 9 of 13 cases (69%). p63-positive cells in multilayered epithelium and in the mucosal gland duct epithelium were positive for CK8/18 (100%) and CK13 (67% and 30%, respectively) and negative for CK14 (0%), in contrast to p63-positive cells in squamous epithelium, which were positive for CK14 and CK13 (100%) but negative for CK8/18. In neoplastic tissues, p63 was diffusely expressed in all cases of esophageal squamous cell dysplasia and carcinoma but was negative in all cases of esophageal and colorectal adenocarcinoma. The DeltaN isoform of p63 mRNA predominated in all benign and neoplastic squamous tissues examined. p63 may represent a marker of 2 distinct epithelial progenitor cells (basal squamous epithelium and gland duct epithelium) in the esophagus. P63 is upregulated in squamous neoplastic conditions and in this manner may play a role in squamous carcinogenesis. These data also indicate that multilayered epithelium is phenotypically similar to, and may share a lineage relationship with, mucosal gland duct epithelium.
Coherent Beam Stability in the Low Momentum Compaction Lattice

The beam dynamics for a quasi-isochronous lattice differs from that in the usual case of a lattice with a large positive momentum compaction factor. In particular, the quasi-isochronous lattice allows us to double the number of bunches which may be an attractive option for colliders. However, microwave instability and, as we show, longitudinal head-tail instability set the threshold for the beam current.
Rethinking agglomeration economies and the role of the central city: The public accounting industry in Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul

This article investigates the unique locational attributes central cities are purported to have and the importance of agglomeration economies in intra-metropolitan site selection via a locational analysis of the public accounting industry in the Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul regions. Relying on data from a telephone survey of public accounting offices and interviews with public accounting executives and industry experts, findings suggest that the agglomeration argument has been overstated in explaining the industry’s location and that the traditional conception of agglomeration economies as confined to the urban core is spatially restrictive.
The Receding Sea of Catholic Faith: Collective Memory and Common Worship:

This article offers an interpretation of ongoing changes in Catholic worship as seen in relation to the whole process of ecclesial reception of Vatican II in a changing world. The context is a weak...
An integrated dual-output buck converter based on sliding mode control

The design, implementation, and testing of an integrated dual-output buck converter is presented in this paper. The proposed architecture consists of a simple, versatile, and robust hysteretic controller based on sliding mode theory. The proposed topology implements only three switches (instead of four switches in conventional solutions), and can save additional silicon area with proper design of the power switches in the voltage regulator. The IC prototype was fabricated in standard 0.5 μm CMOS technology (V THN ≈ 0.78 V, V THP ≈ −0.93 V), operates with an input voltage of 1.8 V, generates 1.2 V and 0.9 V output-voltage levels, and supplies a maximum current of 200 mA, reaching up to 88% efficiency.
Liquidity, analysts, and institutional ownership

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the empirical relationship between institutional ownership, number of analysts following and stock market liquidity. We find that firms with larger number of financial analysts following have wider spreads, lower market quality index, and larger price impact of trades. However, we find that firms with higher institutional ownership have narrower spreads, higher market quality index, and smaller price impact of trades. In addition, we show that changes in our liquidity measures are significantly related to changes in institutional ownership over time. These results suggest that firms may alleviate information asymmetry and improve stock market liquidity by increasing institutional ownership. Our results are remarkably robust to different measures of liquidity and measures of information asymmetry.
Improved seismic image by Q-compensated reverse time migration: Application to crosswell field data, west Texas

ABSTRACTTo test the effectiveness of the Q-compensated reverse time migration (Q-RTM) method, we applied it to crosswell seismic data from western Texas. This crosswell field survey was aimed at determining the boundaries and even the internal features of the reservoir. In this area, the reservoir geologic body exhibits strong attenuation that reduces high frequencies more rapidly. Thus, conventional acoustic RTM produces a dimmed image (reduced amplitude and low resolution) of the reservoir area and structures underneath. In contrast, Q-RTM is able to compensate for the attenuation effects during imaging. The VP and QP profiles needed for Q-RTM were produced by joint traveltime and frequency shift tomography. Preprocessing of the data was carried out to reduce noise, remove tube waves, and to separate up- and downgoing wavefields. Along with recovered high wavenumbers, the final Q-RTM image provided many details about geologic layers and structures. The lateral and vertical extent and internal structures...
The association between antisocial personality and somatization disorders: A review and integration of theoretical models.

Abstract Evidence from several sources is consistent with the possibility that antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and somatization disorder (SD) are sex-differentiated manifestations of the same underlying predisposition. Following a discussion of diagnostic issues and a brief review of data on the relation between ASPD and SD, four models of the association between the two syndromes are reviewed; the frontal lobe model, the efferent inhibition model, the behavioral disinhibition model, and the negative emotionality model. Behavioral disinhibition may lead to recurrent antisocial and risk-taking behaviors in some individuals, resulting in elevated negative emotionality and a propensity to develop somatic symptoms. Factors that might be responsible for channeling the diathesis to ASPD and SD into sex-differentiated alternative pathways are discussed.
Theory for shock dynamics in particle-laden thin films.

We present a theory to explain the emergence of a particle-rich ridge observed experimentally in a thin film particle-laden flow on an incline. We derive a lubrication theory for this system which is qualitatively compared to preliminary experimental data. The ridge formation arises from the creation of two shocks due to the differential transport rates of fluid and particles. This parallels recent findings of double shocks in thermal-gravity-driven flow [A. L. Bertozzi et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 5169 (1998); J. Sur et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 126105 (2003); A. M\"unch, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 016105 (2003)]. However, here the emergence of the shocks arises from a new mechanism involving the settling rates of the species.
Cyclosulfamide-based derivatives as inhibitors of noroviruses.

Abstract An optimization campaign focused on improving pharmacological activity and physicochemical properties of a recently-identified class of cyclosulfamide-based norovirus inhibitors has been carried out. Dimeric compound 4 was found to be a ∼10-fold more potent norovirus inhibitor (ED50 0.4 μM) compared to the original hit, however, isonipecotic acid ester derivatives 7e and 10a were shown to have superior therapeutic indices.
Parent Perception of Elementary School Aged Children’s Sleep Problems

Wide discrepancies exist concerning the reported occurrence of sleep problems for elementary school children. We describe parental perception of sleep problem behavior in elementary school aged children 5–12 years. Approximately 4% of parents reported their children experienced significant global sleep problems serious enough to adversely affect family functioning. Significant specific sleep problems reported by parents occurred for approximately 9–14% of the children in the sample. These ranges were in the low end of the ranges of sleep problems reported in previous literature for this age group.
Prolonged Bottle Use and Obesity at 5.5 Years of Age in US Children

Objective To examine the association between prolonged bottle use and the risk of obesity at 5.5 years of age. Study design Data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort were analyzed for 6750 US children born in 2001. The outcome was obesity (body mass index ≥95th percentile) at 5.5 years, and the exposure was parental report of the child using a bottle at 24 months. Results The prevalence of obesity at 5.5 years was 17.6%, and 22.3% of children were using a bottle at 24 months. The prevalence of obesity at 5.5 years was 22.9% (95% CI, 19.4% to 26.4%) in children who at 24 months were using a bottle and was 16.1% (95% CI, 14.9% to 17.3%) in children who were not. Prolonged bottle use was associated with an increased risk of obesity at 5.5 years (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.68) after controlling for potential confounding variables (sociodemographic characteristics, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, breastfeeding, age of introduction of solid foods, screen-viewing time, and the child’s weight status at birth and at 9 months of age). Conclusions Prolonged bottle use was associated with obesity at 5.5 years of age. Avoiding this behavior may help prevent early childhood obesity.
An attribution model of decision support systems (DSS) usage

Abstract The effort to utilize DSS in the corporate sector has largely involved the implementation of a decision based only on strategic corporate advantages with little, if any, regard for behavioral issues. Businesses are social organizations and must consider behavioral influence on the success of implementing decision results. The application of attribution theory provides a means of preemptively incorporating behavioral considerations in the decision making process. By incorporating attribution theory in DSS models, the decision maker is able to increase the probability of success in the implementation of a selected decision alternative. This paper discusses why it is important to consider attribution theory in deriving a DSS model and suggests a simplistic means of applying this potentially powerful theory.
Effects of Systemic Hydration on Vocal Acoustics of 18- to 35-Year-Old Females.

The influence of body hydration and vocal acoustics was investigated in this study. Effects of two levels of hydration on objective measures of vocal acoustics were explored. In an attempt to reduc...
Depletion of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum during calcium release in frog skeletal muscle.

1. Free intracellular calcium transients (delta[Ca2+] were monitored in cut segments of frog skeletal muscle fibres voltage clamped in a double Vaseline-gap chamber and stretched to sarcomere lengths that eliminated fibre movement. The measured calcium transients were used to calculate the rate of calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (s.r.) as previously described (Melzer, Rios & Schneider, 1984, 1987). 2. Conditioning pulses were found to suppress the rate of calcium release in test pulses applied after the conditioning pulse. Various combinations of conditioning and test pulses were used to investigate the basis of the suppression of calcium release by the conditioning pulse. 3. Using a constant test pulse applied at varying intervals after a constant conditioning pulse, recovery from suppression of release was found to occur in two phases. During the fast phase of recovery, which was completed within about 1 s, the rate of calcium release was smaller and had a different wave form than the unconditioned control release. The early peak in release that is characteristic of the control release wave form was absent or depressed. During the slow phase of recovery, which required about 1 min for completion, the release wave form was the same as control but was simply scaled down compared to the control. 4. Conditioning pulses also slowed the rate of decay of delta[Ca2+] after a constant test pulse, probably due to an increased occupancy by calcium of slowly equilibrating myoplasmic sites that bind some of the calcium released by the conditioning pulse. Since calcium binding to these sites contributes to the decay of delta[Ca2+], their increased occupancy would slow the decay of delta[Ca2+] following the test pulse. This effect was used to estimate the calcium occupancy of the slowly equilibrating sites. 5. Comparison of the time course of the slow recovery from suppression of release following a constant conditioning pulse with the time course of the loss of calcium from the slowly equilibrating myoplasmic calcium binding sites indicated that the two processes occurred in parallel. 6. Using a set 1 s recovery period and a constant test pulse but varying the amplitude and/or duration of the conditioning pulse, the degree of slowly recovering suppression of release was found to be directly related to the amount of calcium remaining outside of the s.r. at the start of the test pulse. 7. Points 3, 5 and 6 above indicate that the slow recovery from suppression of release may be due to slow recovery from depletion of calcium from the s.r.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Evaluation of a just-in-time compiler retrofitted for PHP

Programmers who develop Web applications often use dynamic scripting languages such as Perl, PHP, Python, and Ruby. For general purpose scripting language usage, interpreter-based implementations are efficient and popular but the server-side usage for Web application development implies an opportunity to significantly enhance Web server throughput. This paper summarizes a study of the optimization of PHP script processing. We developed a PHP processor, P9, by adapting an existing production-quality just-in-time (JIT) compiler for a Java virtual machine, for which optimization technologies have been well-established, especially for server-side application. This paper describes and contrasts microbenchmarks and SPECweb2005 benchmark results for a well-tuned configuration of a traditional PHP interpreter and our JIT compiler-based implementation, P9. Experimental results with the microbenchmarks show 2.5-9.5x advantage with P9, and the SPECweb2005 measurements show about 20-30% improvements. These results show that the acceleration of dynamic scripting language processing does matter in a realistic Web application server environment. CPU usage profiling shows our simple JIT compiler introduction reduces the PHP core runtime overhead from 45% to 13% for a SPECweb2005 scenario, implying that further improvements of dynamic compilers would provide little additional return unless other major overheads such as heavy memory copy between the language runtime and Web server frontend are reduced.
Incorporating Learning Outcomes into an Introductory Geotechnical Engineering Course.

The article describes the process of incorporating a set of learning outcomes into a geotechnical engineering course. The outcomes were developed using Bloom's taxonomy and define the knowledge, skills, and abilities the students are expected to achieve upon completion of the course. Each outcome begins with an action-oriented verb corresponding to one of six levels of achievement in the cognitive domain (remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate, and create). The article includes a listing of outcomes articulated for several course topics. The article also summarises how the outcomes were linked to lesson plans and assignments. Example formative and summative assessment methods and results are presented with the results of teaching evaluations, which indicate that students value this approach to course design. The article concludes with a discussion of how the above approach has been implemented in upper-division courses. Outcomes are presented for a course on earth retention systems.
Complementary computing: policies for transferring callers from dialog systems to human receptionists

We describe a study of the use of decision-theoretic policies for optimally joining human and automated problem-solving efforts. We focus specifically on the challenge of determining when it is best to transfer callers from an automated dialog system to human receptionists. We demonstrate the sensitivities of transfer actions to both the inferred competency of the spoken-dialog models and the current sensed load on human receptionists. The policies draw upon probabilistic models constructed via machine learning from cases that were logged by a call routing service deployed at our organization. We describe the learning of models that predict outcomes and interaction times and show how these models can be used to generate expected-utility policies that identify when it is best to transfer callers to human operators. We explore the behavior of the policies with simulations constructed from real-world call data.
Effects of phosphorus and potassium on forage nutritive value and quantity: Environmental implications

Management practices minimizing P application in agricultural catchments ultimately reduce P export to waters. To determine stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst var. nlemfuensis) response to P and K, eight rates of P and K were applied on experimental units located on Pomona fine sand (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermia Ultic Alaquods) Spodosols, and arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The forage yield was less from 39:0 (P/K; kg ha -1 yr -1 ) treatment than the experimental units supplied with 93 kg K ha -1 yr -1 and low P (10 and 20 kg ha -1 yr -1 ) in all years with exception in 1998 (i.e., the year of grass establishment), indicating efficient P utilization due to K applications. No significant differences were obtained in in-vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) from the applications of 10 kg P ha -1 yr -1 and 93 kg K ha -1 yr -1 . The applications of 10 and 93 kg ha -1 yr -1 of P and K, respectively, provided efficient P utilization. Phosphorus mass balance showed that stargrass receiving 10 and 93 kg ha -1 yr -1 of P and K, respectively, removed maximum P (161% of the applied P) by uptake from soils. This may indicate the capability of stargrass to mine P from subsoils if sufficient K is supplied, and also suggests that stargrass may be useful for crop phytoremediation on P-impacted sites. In general, this study indicates that applications of 10 kg P ha -1 yr -1 in combination with 93 kg K ha -1 yr -1 will maintain forage nutritive value and quantity, and maximize P removals by stargrass. Moreover, the supply of sufficient K appears to be crucial for efficient P utilization by forages, reducing potential adverse effects of P over-fertilization on water quality.
Beam tests of composite calorimeter configurations from reconfigurable-stack calorimeter

Abstract The energy resolution, linearity and e/π response of model SDC calorimeter configurations were measured. They consisted of a fine sampling lead electromagnetic (e.m.) compartment and either a lead or iron hadronic (HAD) compartment. The data indicate that the lead-scintillator and iron-scintillator hadronic calorimeters have comparable resolutions and linearity after a relative weighting of signals from the EM and HAD compartments is made.
Invariance of the weight parameter in information integration

The relative effect of each informational dimension in an information integration task is a joint function of its weight and the range of values over which it is varied. A method is developed for separating these two factors. Weights obtained by this method were compared across variations of stimulus range. Subjects rated the performance of students on the basis of midterm exam scores and final exam scores. For some subjects, the range of scores on the final exam was twice that on the midterm and the reverse was true for other subjects. An averaging model was shown to describe the results, and weights did not differ for different stimulus ranges. This was true for each of two instructional conditions: one in which a particular weighting strategy was prescribed and one in which there was no prescribed weighting. Students who were instructed to use a 2∶1 weighting were found to assign more than twice as much weight to the final as to the midterm.
Perceptions of Part-Time Faculty by Chairpersons of Undergraduate Health Education Programs

In recent years, it has become commonplace for universities to hire part-time and non-tenure track faculty to save money. This study examined how commonly part-time faculty are used in health education and how they are used to meet program needs. The American Association of Health Education's 2009 "Directory of Institutions Offering Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs in Health Education" was used to send a three-wave mailing to programs that were not schools of public health (n = 215). Of the 125 departments (58%) that responded, those that used part-time faculty averaged 7.5 part-time faculty in the previous academic year, teaching on average a total of 10 classes per year. A plurality of departments (38%) were currently using more part-time faculty than 10 years ago and 33% perceived that the number of part-time faculty has resulted in decreases in the number of full-time positions. Although 77% of department chairs claimed they would prefer to replace all of their part-time faculty with one full-time tenure track faculty member. As colleges downsize, many health education programs are using more part-time faculty. Those faculty members who take part-time positions will likely be less involved in academic activities than their full-time peers. Thus, further research is needed on the effects of these changes on the quality of health education training and department productivity.
Effects of crystallographic texture directionality on the compressive stress–strain response of shape recovered polycrystalline nitinol

Nitinol derives its unique non-linear and anisotropic mechanical behavior from stress-induced martensite transformations, where the resulting strains are affected by the crystallographic orientation. It is clear that texture has a marked influence on mechanical and shape recovery properties and is the source that leads to tension–compression asymmetry. Crystallographic texture anisotropies when compressed in different crystallographic alignment directions and made to recover their shape through one-way shape memory effect show different recovery strains and strength levels.
Secondary structure of bacteriophage f2 ribonucleic acid and the initiation of in vitro protein biosynthesis.

Abstract The secondary structure of bacteriophage f2 RNA regulates initiation of translation of the three phage genes. When the secondary structure is partially disrupted by mild reaction with formaldehyde, the ability of the RNA to direct synthesis of both RNA polymerase and maturation protein increases four- to 20-fold. Also, the treatment abolishes the polar effect of amber mutations in the coat gene on translation of the RNA polymerase gene. Using a new ribosome system which forms only the first peptide bond of the phage proteins, we show that formaldehyde-treated RNA initiates synthesis as well of at least three polypeptides which do not correspond to any known f2 genes. These results imply that there are several nucleotide sequences on f2 RNA which could initiate protein synthesis but are normally prevented from doing so by the RNA structure.
Enzymatic synthesis of aza-l-tryptophans: The preparation of 5- and 6-Aza-l-tryptophan

Abstract Enzymatic reaction of the azaindoles 3–d with tryptophan synthase [EC, 4.2.1.20] and l -serine results in synthesis of aza analogs of tryptophan 4–d . The synthesis of 4b and 4c has not been previously reported. The azaindoles 3a–c were prepared from nitropicolines 1a–c .
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution. 13.(1) Kinetics and Spectroscopy of the Chloromethylation of Benzene and Toluene with Methoxyacetyl Chloride or Chloromethyl Methyl Ether and Aluminum Chloride in Nitromethane or Tin Tetrachloride in Dichloromethane. The Methoxymethyl Cation as a Remarkably Selective Common Electrophile.

Vacuum line kinetics studies have been made of the reaction in nitromethane between benzene and/or toluene, methoxyacetyl chloride (MAC), and AlCl3 to produce benzyl or xylyl chlorides, CO, and a CH3OH-AlCl3 complex. For both arenes, the rate law appears to be R = (k3/[AlCl3]0) [AlCl3]2[MAC]. When chloromethyl methyl ether (CMME) is substituted for MAC, a similar rate law is obtained. Both chloromethylation reactions yielded similar, large kT/kB ratios (500−600) and similar product isomer distributions with low meta percentages (∼0.4) which suggest CH3OCH2+ or the CH3OCH2+Al2Cl7- ion pair as a common, remarkably selective, electrophile. The kinetics of MAC decomposition to CMME and CO in the presence of AlCl3 yielded the rate law R = k2[AlCl3]0[MAC]. Here AlCl3 is a catalyst (no CH3OH is formed), and thus the rate law is equivalent to the chloromethylation rate law. All three reactions have comparable reactivities, which is consistent with rate-determining production of the electrophile. Kinetics studies ...
The Transition to Kindergarten for Typically Developing Children: A Survey of School Psychologists’ Involvement

Research suggests that a large percentage of kindergarten children do not successfully transition to school (Rimm-Kaufman et al. 2000). As a result, a number of school transition initiatives have been developed by educators and policy makers to address the difficulties young children may experience upon kindergarten entry. Despite this attention, our review found no studies examining the involvement of school psychologists in kindergarten transition practices. The present study reports the outcomes of a national survey of the membership directory of the National Association of School Psychologists examining school-based involvement in kindergarten transition activities; school psychologists’ perceived involvement with and training in kindergarten transition activities; and school psychologists’ perceived barriers to engage in kindergarten transition activities. Results showed that most schools engaged in at least one kindergarten transition activity per year, with half of the responding sample reporting involvement. School psychologists were more likely to be involved in kindergarten transition activities if they were employed in an urban locale or a large to moderate-sized school setting. School psychologists most frequently reported involvement with kindergarten screenings and collaborating with kindergarten and preschool teachers. Implications and recommendations for practice among early childhood and other educational professionals are delineated.