cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Synthesis of 5,6-Disubstituted Bicyclo[2.1.1]hexenes and 3,5-Disubstituted Tricyclo[2.2.0.02,6]hexanes

Abstract There are relatively few methods for synthesizing bicyclo[2.1.1]-hexenes and tricyclo[2.2.0.02,6]hexanes.1 However, now that benzvalene (I), the highly strained structural isomer of benzene has become a readily available compound,2 it is possible to prepare disubstituted compounds like II and III in a straightforward fashion.
Calibration Procedures For Measurement Of Reflectance Factor In Remote Sensing Field Research

A means by which measurements of the optical properties of crops and soils can be knowledgeably compared from site to site and instrument to instrument is presented in detail. The definition of bidirectional reflectance factor is reviewed and discussed. Procedures for field implementation are illustrated and discussed. Spectral and goniometric properties of laboratory and field reference surfaces and typical environmental subjects serve as a basis for analysis of uncertainties introduced by differing illumination conditions. Results of a comparison of the performance of three spectrometer systems are presented and discussed. It is concluded that intelligent use of the bidirectional reflectance factor technique is an accurate and practical means to obtain the spectral, optical properties of crops and soils needed for advancements in agricultural remote sensing.
Achieving superior performance with the Morningstar’s Tortoise and Hare portfolios

Morningstar offers two stock portfolios known as the Tortoise and the Hare portfolios with the stocks included in each portfolio published and updated in the Morningstar StockInvestor monthly newsletter. This study examines the performance of these two portfolios using the Sharpe, Treynor and Sortino ratios along with the single-factor capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and the four-factor Fama–French–Carhart (FFC) model. Results examining the Tortoise and Hare portfolios indicate both portfolios outperform the market when using the Sharpe, Treynor and Sortino ratios; however, neither portfolio shows statistically significant abnormal returns when evaluated using the CAPM and FFC model. A third portfolio is created by using equal weights of the Tortoise and Hare portfolios. This combined portfolio exhibits a significant abnormal return of 3.6% per year even after accounting for systematic risk, small-firm effect, book-to-market effect and the momentum effect.
An Energy-Efficient OOK Transceiver for Wireless Sensor Networks

A 1-Mb/s 916.5-MHz on-off keying (OOK) transceiver for short-range wireless sensor networks has been designed in a 0.18-mum CMOS process. The receiver has an envelope detection based architecture with a highly scalable RF front-end. Untuned RF circuits are leveraged and optimized in the receiver to achieve superior energy efficiency compared to tuned RF circuits. The receiver power consumption scales from 0.5 mW to 2.6 mW, with an associated sensitivity of -37 dBm to -65 dBm at a BER of 10 -3. The transmitter consumes 3.8 mW to 9.1 mW with output power from -11.4 dBm to -2.2 dBm. The receiver achieves a startup time of 2.5 mus, allowing for efficient duty cycling
1400 yr multiproxy record of climate variability from the northern Gulf of Mexico

A continuous decadal-scale resolution record of climate variability over the past 1400 yr in the northern Gulf of Mexico was constructed from a box core recovered in the Pigmy Basin, northern Gulf of Mexico. Proxies include paired analyses of Mg/Ca and δ 18 O in the white variety of the planktic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber and relative abundance variations of G. sacculifer in the foraminifer assemblages. Two multi-decadal intervals of sustained high Mg/Ca indicate that Gulf of Mexico sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were as warm or warmer than near-modern conditions between 1000 and 1400 yr B.P. Foraminiferal Mg/Ca during the coolest interval of the Little Ice Age (ca. 250 yr B.P.) indicate that SST was 2–2.5 °C below modern SST. Four minima in the Mg/Ca record between 900 and 250 yr B.P. correspond with the Maunder, Sporer, Wolf, and Oort sunspot minima, suggesting a link between changes in solar insolation and SST variability in the Gulf of Mexico. An abrupt shift recorded in both δ 18 O calcite and relative abundance of G. sacculifer occurred ca. 600 yr B.P. The shift in the Pigmy Basin record corresponds with a shift in the sea-salt-sodium (ssNa) record from the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 ice core, linking changes in high-latitude atmospheric circulation with the subtropical Atlantic Ocean.
Plasma etch of AZ5206/Cr and ZEP7000/Cr for 0.18- to 0.25-μm-generation advanced mask fabrication

Fabrication of 0.18 micrometers generation clearfield logic device photomask with plasma etch was compared with wet etch method in current 0.25 micrometers mask technology. Spatial consistency between the resist develop and plasma etch modules was critical to achieve < 25 nm CD rng manufacturable process. CD linearity for 0.6 to 3.0 micrometers lines and isolated-nested CD bias for 1.0 micrometers lines were both improved with the plasma etch process. Resist loading and proximity effect is critical for plasma etched clearfield mask and can account for up to 20 nm range of overall CD budget.
Unpacking Walkability: Testing the Influence of Urban Design Features on Perceptions of Walking Environment Attractiveness

The potential environmental and health benefits of active transportation modes (e.g. walking and cycling) have led to considerable research on the influence of the built environment on travel. This paper presents the findings of a study combining environmental audits and a survey-based respondent mapping tool to test the influence of micro-scale built environment characteristics, including ‘green street’ storm water management features, on resident perceptions of walking environment attractiveness. Results suggest that this method is sensitive enough to unpack a concept like walkability into individual component characteristics. Findings from an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model indicate that in a predominantly single-family residential context well-designed green street facilities, as well as other features such as parks, separation from vehicle traffic, and pedestrian network connectivity can significantly contribute to walking environment attractiveness.
The Production of Spontaneous Melanotic Neoplasms in Fishes by Selective Matings: II. Neoplasms with Macromelanophores Only. III. Neoplasms in Day Old Fishes

Introduction In previous work it has been shown that when a spotted platyfish ( Platy-poecilus maculatus ) is mated with a Mexican swordtail ( Xiphophorus hellerii ) melanosis develops in all those hybrids which inherit the spotting factor from their platyfish parent. When the platyfish parent is homozygous for the spotted factor ( SpSp ), melanosis develops in all the hybrids; whereas if the platyfish parent is heterozygous for the spotted factor ( Spsp ), one-half of the hybrids are melanotic and the other half are normal. The platyfish has two types of melanophores—one type, the smaller, called micromelanophores, is inherited as an autosomal dominant, whereas the large type, called macromelanophores, is inherited as a sex-linked dominant factor (Gordon 1927). Both types may be, and usually are, present in a single individual, though genetic strains have been developed in which only one or the other type of melanophore is present. A number of different hybrid combinations are possible between the platyfish and the swordtail with reference to their melanophore content. The combinations are listed below, together with the incidence of melanosis in the particular type of hybrid. It is evident from the above table and from Fig. 1 that, only when the platyfish parent transmits macromelanophores to the hybrid offspring, do these offspring develop melanosis. Platyfish may have micro- and macromelanophores, but macromelanophores alone combined with the hereditary factors of the swordtail are sufficient to bring melanosis to their hybrid young. In all the cases listed in the table and figure, the swordtail parent had micro-melanophores. The following experiments describe the results when sword-tails without melanophores are used as parents for hybrid offspring.
Islamic Ethics and the Controversy about the Moral Heart of Confucianism

This essay briefly evaluates the ongoing controversy between LIU Qingping and GUO Qiyong (and their followers) about the “moral heart” of Confucianism in order to draw a comparison with Islamic ethics for mutual illumination of the two traditions (see Guo 2007: 21). Liu argues that Confucianism is basically consanguinism and, as such, it lands into an “embarrassing paradox” in its moral thinking when dealing with conflicts between filial piety and brotherly love on the one hand and public good on the other. It also lands in a “profound paradox” when it comes to extending family love to humanity in general because such extension is impossible without a universalistic human love (Liu 2007). Guo contests this view and insists that the root of morality in Confucianism is not family love but our “moral heart/mind,” endowed by “Heaven” with universal human love. Filial piety is only the “root of practice” of this universal human love and not the root of all morality. Therefore, Confucianism has all the resources for a universalistic ethics and it is “the natural order” of the practice of human love to start with parental and brotherly love (Guo 2007). This controversy revolves particularly around Analects 13.18, where Confucius talks about fathers and sons covering up for each other, and Mencius 7A35 and 5A3, where Mencius talks about King Shun leaving his empire and running away to help his father escape punishment for murder (7A35) and giving princely status to his murderous brother (5A3). Liu challenges Mencius’s presentation of Shun as a great hero, sage-king, of Confucian tradition because these cases point toward public corruption by Shun in the name of filial piety and brotherly love. Guo, however, defends Mencius’s position as underlining the need, per traditional Confucian culture, for “grace” rather than “righteousness” in the private sphere of life, and also as protecting family love as the “root of practice” for universal human love. These two opposing interpretations can be pictured as follows:
Quantifying Qualitative Features

Many features of interest in remote sensing imagery, such as roads, rivers, clouds, trees, and buildings can have high spectral, structural, and textural variability due to variations in reflectance, resolution, intrinsic shape, etc. Nevertheless they have distinctive qualitative properties of their own from the point of human perception. For instance, clouds are typically fluffy or wispy, roads have uniform widths, rivers are rarely straight, and buildings are rectilinear. The efficient quantification of such qualitative structural signatures is important for automatically recognizing and labeling features in imagery. In this paper we demonstrate the value of constrained Delaunay triangulations (CDT) of discretely sampled shape contours for obtaining quantifiers of qualitative characteristics of certain features. These quantifiers are efficient to compute, and fairly robust to partial occlusions, resolution limitations, and noise. This has applications to the automated analysis and understanding of airborne and terrestrial imagery in classifying structures such as, clouds, forests, rivers, cities, etc.
Ion microprobe investigation of large decalibrations in inconel-sheathed magnesia-insulated platinum-rhodium/platinum thermocouple assemblies during use at 1200 °C

Abstract After 24–72 h at 1200 °C, Inconel-600-sheathed MgO-insulated Pt90Rh10/Pt compacted thermocouple assemblies exhibited decalibrations of 5–47%. Metallographie and ion microprobe mass analysis showed that reactions had occurred within the thermocouple assemblies at the Pt-MgO and Pt90Rh10-MgO interfaces, resulting in the solution of up to 12 at.% Mg in the thermocouple wires. Magnesium concentrations were less in the Pt-Rh wires than in the Pt wires. Aluminum, Ca and Si in concentrations about 10 –1000 times lower than Mg were also found in the wires. The origin of these impurities was the Al2O3, CaO and SiO2 impurities in the MgO powder insulation. Manganese found in the wires was shown to come from the Inconel sheath. It was concluded that Pt/Rh thermocouples insulated with compacted MgO powder and sheathed in Inconel-600 are inherently unstable at temperatures of 1200 °C because oxidation of the Inconel sheath produces a very low O2 partial pressure inside the sheath that allows Pt and Pt/Rh to reduce MgO at the metal-oxide interface.
Rheological Study of Micro Particle Laden Polymeric Thermal Interface Materials: Part 2 — Modeling

Currently there are no models to predict the thickness or the bondline thickness (BLT) of particle laden polymeric thermal interface materials (TIM) for parameters such as particle volume fraction and pressure. TIMs are used to reduce the thermal resistance. Typically this is achieved by increasing the thermal conductivity of these TIMs by increasing the particle volume fraction, however increasing the particle volume fraction also increases the BLT. Therefore, increasing the particle volume fraction may lead to an increase in the thermal resistance after certain volume fraction. This paper introduces a model for the prediction of the BLT of these particle laden TIMs. Currently thermal conductivity is the only metric for differentiating one TIM formulation from another. The model developed in this paper introduces another metric: the yield stress of these TIMs. Thermal conductivity and the yield stress together constitute the complete set of material parameters needed to define the thermal performance of particle laden TIMs.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Raman scattering in optical fibers

In this paper we review the light scattering spectra of optical fibers and present new data on Raman spectra of optical fibers. The results include Raman spectra of fused silica fibers and effects of dopants and irradiation-Large scattering volumes available in optical fibers afford one to detect low dopant concentrations and relatively weak second order spectra. Low frequency Raman spectra of optical fibers shows the expected non-Debye type anomaly.
Fast to slow transformation of fast muscles in response to long-term phasic stimulation

Abstract Indirect stimulation via the peroneus nerve, 60-Hz stimulus trains of 2.5 s duration, applied every 10 s for 5 weeks transformed rabbit fast-twitch extensor muscles to the slow type as judged by histochemistry, myosin ATPase activities, and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. Electrophoresis of single fibers from the stimulated muscle under dissociating conditions showed the presence of both fast- and slow-type light chains within the same fiber; under nondissociating conditions the slow-type myosin isozyme predominated. Histological examination of the 5-week stimulated muscle showed no signs of regeneration ( de novo fiber formation), suggesting reprogramming of existing fibers. These experiments show that fast to slow transformation is produced not only by continuous stimulation at a low frequency but also stimulation by trains at a higher frequency, indicating that muscle fiber transformation depends more on the total activity rather than the pattern of stimulation.
X-ray powder diffraction characterization of iron microparticles on a Bruker SMART1000 single-crystal X-ray diffractometer

A method to characterize iron oxide microparticles by microquantity X-ray powder diffraction is presented. The method employs small sections of acrylic tubing and double sided Mylar® tape that fits over a standard 170 mm collimator for a Bruker-AXS SMART 1000 or APEXII three-circle single-crystal diffractometer (Mo X-ray tube). The tubing will hold and position a sample that is placed on the double-sided Mylar® tape and allow for rapid specimen mounting/dismounting and data collection. The method is simple, portable, and readily adapted to a variety of single-crystal X-ray diffractometers.
Teaching medical students about imaging techniques.

OBJECTIVE. This article reviews major themes about imaging techniques with which all educators should be familiar.CONCLUSION. A high-quality introduction to radiologic techniques should provide a basic framework to make good use of radiology in caring for patients. Tomorrow's physicians will need to make effective and efficient use of new imaging techniques. The responsibility for preparing them to do so rests squarely on the shoulders of today's radiology educators.
OBSERVATIONS OF SEABIRDS AND SHOREBIRDS ON MAURITIUS

Summary Temple, S. A. 1976. Observations of seabirds and shorebirds on Mauritius. Ostrich 47:117-125. During 1973 and 1974. 52 species of seabirds and shorebirds were found to occur on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Ten species were breeding residents, 16 oceanic vagrants and 24 palaearctic migrants. Fifteen had not been previously reported from Mauritius. An annotated checklist of these species gives information on numbers, dates of occurrence. breeding biology, and behaviour. The impact of man's activities upon the seabird and shorebird populations on Mauritius is discussed with emphasis on persecution. habitat destruction, and chemical pollutants.
Crystallographic Characterization of the Geometry Changes upon Electron Loss from 2-tert-Butyl-3-aryl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes†

Crystal structures of 2-tert-butyl-3-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylphenyl)-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]-octane radical cation nitrate (HyDU+NO_3-) [Hy = (2-tert-butyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl]; 2-tert-butyl-3-(1-naphthyl)-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane radical cation hexafluoroantiminate (Hy^1NA+SbF_6-); 2-tert-butyl-3-(2-naphthyl)-2,3-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]octane radical cation hexafluoroantiminate (Hy^2NA+SbF_6-); 1,5-bis(2-tert-butyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)naphthalene dication bis(tetraphenylborate) (Hy_2^(15)NA^(2+)(Ph_4B^-)_2); and 2,7-bis(2-tert-butyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)naphthalene dication bis(hexafluoroantiminate) (Hy_2^(27)NA^(2+)(SbF_6^-)_2·CH_3CN) are reported, and the geometries about the oxidized Hy units compared with literature data for neutral Hy-substituted analogues and the geometry changes upon electron loss for these compounds, which have a lone pair, lone pair twist angle in the neutral form (θ(0)) in the range 122−130°, are compared with those for tetraalkylhydrazines that have θ(0) values near 180, 90, and 0°.
Cognitive Inhibition and Emotion Regulation in Depression

In this article I propose that cognitive inhibition is a key mechanism in the regulation of emotion and that deficits in inhibition of negative material are related to increased risk for depression. Because negative mood yields activation of mood-congruent cognitions in working memory (WM), the ability to control the contents of WM could be crucial in differentiating people who recover easily from negative affect from those who initiate a vicious cycle of increasingly negative thinking and deepening sad mood. Depressed people and people at risk for depression have trouble preventing negative material from entering and remaining in WM, leading them to rehearse, or to ruminate about, negative content. Inhibition deficits may also interfere with reappraisal and the recall of mood-incongruent material, further hindering recovery from negative affect. This article provides a brief summary of findings that support these propositions and outlines implications for future research on the relation between inhibitio...
Social, economic, and institutional constraints affecting production and the reservation of agricultural land in the U.S.A.

Abstract Despite reoccurring statements of world-wide agricultural shortages, prime agricultural land in the United States continues to be converted to non-agricultural uses. Numerous social, political and economic factors contribute to this phenomenon. One of the most important factors is the desire to have a single family, detached dwelling in the suburbs. When this factor is coupled with explicit Federal policies FHA loans and the Interstate Highway Program), the result is a dramatic increase in the value of agricultural land for non-agricultural uses. Property taxes have been pointed to as a major problem facing farmers wishing to remain in agriculture. Therefore, many states have enacted legislation to allow producing land to be taxed at its agricultural value. In general these attempts have been unsuccessful in steaming the rate of conversion. Other aspects of taxation which require attention are income taxes and inheritance taxes. Because of the highly progressive nature of these taxes, they may have an even greater impact on the organization and structure of American agriculture than do property taxes. These taxes affect whether and how inter-generational transfers of land take place. Not all forces affecting agriculture are external. Other forces having a strong influence are the move toward larger scale farming, historical low returns to resources in agriculture and rapid increase in the value of farm assets. All of these factors are inextricably linked. During most of the recent past, returns in agriculture have been low, which meant very little income could be set aside for retirement. Any income available beyond living expenses was reinvested. Therefore, many farmer's retirement is in their farm assets and the only way to collect it is to sell their property to the highest bidder. The conclusion reached is that the forces encouraging the conversion of land will remain and become stronger. This suggests to many the need for concerted public action to determine whether such conversion is in the public interest.
Composition and freezing of aqueous H2SO4/HNO3 solutions under polar stratospheric conditions

The results of laboratory investigations of the freezing behavior of aqueous acid solutions indicate that in the stratosphere H2SO/H2O aerosol droplets would not freeze at temperatures above the ice frost point in the absence of HNO3; however, in the presence of typical levels of HNO3 liquid sulfuric acid aerosols take up significant amounts of HNO3 and H2O vapors and freeze much more readily. This is a consequence of the very rapid change in composition of the liquid droplets as the temperature drops to within two to three degrees of the equilibrium temperature at which HNO3 and H2O vapors would co-condense to form a liquid solution. In the high latitude stratosphere this HNO3/H2O 'dew point' is typically around 192-194 K at 100 mbar.
Multi-reference weak pairs local configuration interaction: efficient calculations of bond breaking

We present a new local multi-reference singles and doubles configuration interaction (MRSDCI) algorithm. The method presented here eliminates configurations if they involve simultaneous excitations out of widely separated internal orbitals and is therefore based on the weak pairs approximation of Saebo and Pulay. Although the resulting truncated CI expansions have only about 50% as many CSFs as the non-local MRSDCI, we show that they can recover over 99% of the correlation energy. Additionally, we show for the first time that they can accurately describe bond dissociation.
Virtual Study Abroad 101: Expanding the Horizons of the Spanish Curriculum

: The benefits of integrating technology into the foreign language classroom are widely recognized. Similarly, foreign language departments at most institutions view study abroad as highly desirable. Despite our inability to mahe such opportunities a reality for many students, however, little has been done to incorporate study abroad into the curriculum at home. In this paper, we recount our experience with the Segovia Virtual Study Abroad Program as one attempt to use technology to expand the curriculum in this direction. We discuss the practical aspects of the project, including funding and managing the various sections of the website, the specific class assignments associated with the site, the pedagogical benefits to both groups of participants, and other outcomes. The project's success suggests that a course on contemporary Spain might be designed around a virtual study abroad website, incorporating civilization and culture topics and the development of written communication skills. Study abroad would then become part of the larger foreign language curriculum, rather than an experience that only a select minority of students enjoys.
Nonspecific triggers also provoke occupational asthma.

We would like to make a comment regarding the management of occupational asthma as discussed in the useful State of the Art article on this topic by Mapp and colleagues (1). Based on our clinical experience in a busy urban occupational medicine clinic, patients with occupational asthma—not just those with work-aggravated asthma—continue to progressively react to nonspecific airborne environmental triggers that differ from their original exposure(s), especially in cases when recognition of disease is made late in the course of their disease. Studies in the medical literature have shown that concomitant sensitization to ubiquitous allergens is frequent in subjects with sensitizerinduced occupational asthma (2) and that occupational asthmatics continue to present persistent symptoms and nonspecific bronchial reactivity for extensive periods of time after diagnosis (3–19 yr), even while away from work (3). Recognition of this is important to encourage appropriate reassignment to different work settings that prevent worsening of disease severity and allow continued gainful employment.
Die Umlagerung von Oxalodinitril-bis-aryliminen

Oxalodinitril-bis-arylimine 2 konnen aus den entsprechenden Hydrazidchloriden durch Dehydrohalogenierung in situ dargestellt und mit Dipolarophilen abgefangen werden. In Abwesenheit der letzteren dimerisieren 2 (Aryl = Phenyl oder o-Tolyl) zu meso-ionischen 1.2.4.5-Tetraaza-pentalenen 17, einem bisher unbekannten heteroaromatischen System. Das sterisch stark gehinderte 2c (Aryl = 2.6-Dimethyl-phenyl) lagert sich intramolekular in 2-[2.6-Dimethyl-phenylimino]-2-[7-methyl-indazolyl-(2)]-acetonitril (25) um. Der Mechanismus dieser Reaktionen wird diskutiert.
Distributed virtual machines: a system architecture for network computing

Modern virtual machines, such as Java and Inferno, are emerging as network computing platforms. While today’s virtual machines provide higher-level abstractions and more sophisticated services than their predecessors, and while they have migrated from dedicated mainframes to heterogeneous networked computers, their architecture has essentially remained intact. State of the art virtual machines are still monolithic, that is, all system components reside on the same host and are replicated among all clients in an organization. This crude replication of services among clients creates problems of security, manageability, performance and scalability. We propose a distributed architecture for virtual machines based on distributed service components. In our proposed system, services that control security, resource management, and code optimization are factored out of clients and reside in enterprisewide network servers. The services produce self-certifying, self-regulating, selfoptimizing programs via binary rewriting. We are currently building a Java virtual machine based on this architecture. We argue that distributed virtual machine architectures enable higher integrity, manageability, performance and scalability than monolithic virtual machines where all components reside on all clients.
Metal-catalyzed oxidation reactions and mass spectrometry: the roles of ascorbate and different oxidizing agents in determining Cu-protein-binding sites

Further study has been made of metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) reactions and mass spectrometry as a method to determine the binding site of copper in metalloproteins. The role of ascorbate and a variety of oxidizing agents, including O2, H2O2, and S2O8(2-), have been investigated using Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) as a model system. Ascorbate is found to play two competing roles in the MCO reactions. It reduces Cu(II), which initiates and maintains the generation of reactive oxygen species, and it scavenges radicals, which helps to localize oxidation products to amino acids near the metal center. An ascorbate concentration of 100 mM is found to be optimal with regard to localizing oxidation products to only the Cu-binding residues (His44, His46, His61, and His118) of Cu/Zn SOD. This concentration of ascorbate is very similar to the optimum concentration found in our previous studies of different Cu-binding proteins. Another notable result from this study is the observation that S2O8(2-) is more effective as an oxidant than O2 or H2O2 in the MCO reactions. Because S2O8(2-) is more stable in solution than H2O2, using it as an oxidizing agent results in much less nonspecific oxidation to the protein. The overall results of this study suggest that general MCO reaction conditions may exist for determining the metal-binding site of a wide range of Cu-binding proteins.
The Degree of Usual Provider Continuity for African and Latino Americans

This study used data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey to examine African and Latino Americans' reliance on a regular provider for medical care. Results showed that Latino Americans had higher continuity of care with their regular physician than white or African Americans. Persons with low continuity of care had one-third higher average health care expenditures per year than those with high continuity of care. Multivariate analyses indicated that the availability of medical services during the evenings and weekends enhanced the degree of continuity for white Americans; medical services during the evenings enhanced the degree of continuity for some Latino Americans. Controlling for other characteristics, the degree of continuity of care varied by both the race/ethnicity of respondent and the race/ethnicity and gender of their regular physician. These findings draw attention to the need to consider not only access to care but the nature of the provider-patient relationship.
Indirect Readout of DNA Sequence by Papillomavirus E2 Proteins Depends Upon Net Cation Uptake

The papillomavirus E2 proteins bind with high affinity to palindromic DNA sequences consisting of two highly conserved four base-pair sequences flanking a variable “spacer” of identical length (ACCG NNNN CGGT). While intimate contacts are observed between the bound proteins and conserved DNA in the available co-crystal structures, no contact is seen between the proteins and the spacer DNA. The ability of human papillomavirus strain 16 (HPV-16) E2 and bovine papillomavirus strain 1 (BPV-1) E2 to discriminate among binding sites with different spacer sequences is dependent on their sensitivity to the unique conformational and/or dynamic properties of the spacer DNA in a process termed “indirect readout”. Differential sequence-specific K+ uptake in low ionic strength solutions lacking Mg2+ is observed upon E2 protein binding to sites containing the AATT, TTAA or ACGT spacer sequences. In contrast, the cation displacement typical of protein–DNA complex formation is observed at high K+ concentrations or in the presence of Mg2+. These results are interpreted to reflect the sequence-specific stabilization of bent DNA conformations by cations localized within the narrowed minor grooves of the protein-bound DNA and the intrinsic structure and flexibility of the DNA target. Mg2+ differentially affects the binding of the HPV-16 E2 DNA binding domain (HPV16-E2/D) and the BPV-1 E2 DNA binding domain (BPV1-E2/D) to sites bearing different spacer sequences. This study suggests that monovalent and divalent cations contribute to the discrimination of DNA structure and flexibility that could in turn contribute to the specificity with which HPV16-E2/D and BPV1-E2/D mediate DNA replication and gene transcription.
Nonlinear transient finite element analysis of rotor-bearing-stator systems☆

This paper extends the finite element scheme to handle the highly nonlinear interfacial fields generated in the fluid filled annulli of squeeze film and journal bearings so as to model the transient response of rotor-bearing-stator systems. Since such simulations are highly nonlinear, direct numerical integration schemes are employed to generate the overall response. In this context, the paper gives consideration to such items as (1) numerical efficiency/stability, (2) comparison of implicit and explicit schemes, (3) determines extent of response nonlinearity as well as (4) extensively benchmarks the overall concept/methodologies.
A direct finite element solver of linear complexity for large-scale 3-D circuit extraction in multiple dielectrics

We develop a direct finite-element solver of linear (optimal) complexity to extract broadband circuit parameters such as S-parameters of arbitrarily shaped 3-D interconnects in inhomogeneous dielectrics. Numerical experiments demonstrate a clear advantage of the proposed solver as compared with existing finite-element solvers that employ state-of-the-art direct sparse matrix solutions. A linear complexity in both CPU time and memory consumption is achieved with prescribed accuracy satisfied. A finite-element matrix from the analysis of a large-scale 3-D circuit in multiple dielectrics having 5.643 million unknowns is directly factorized in less than 2 hours on a single core running at 2.8 GHz.
The immigrant's real and imagined return home

Immigrants negotiate the concept of home in multiple ways, including actual visits to the country of origin and recreating in the adoptive land aspects of the country of origin. Fantasies of home as constructed in interpersonal and relational contexts lie at the heart of these visits home. This paper explores the role of fantasy and actual visits home and their relevance to therapeutic process. Case examples illustrate the ways in which real and imagined returns home influence mourning and identity transformation.
Interference effects in the charge-density wave conductor NbSe 3

Abstract The nonlinear response of the charge-density wave (CDW) in NbSe 3 to combined ac + dc excitations is discussed. We analyze the harmonic and subharmonic steps appearing in the current-voltage characteristics and compare the experimental results to computer simulations. The effects of internal degrees of freedom and the relevance of some universal scaling properties, derived from the properties of the sine circle map, are investigated.
"Appreciation" (translated by Jerry Mirskin and Michel Sirvent)

Appreciation (translated by Jerry Mirskin and Michel Sirvent) This article is available in Studies in 20th Century Literature: http://newprairiepress.org/sttcl/vol15/iss2/6 Appreciation From Le Theatre des metamorphoses by Jean Ricardou © Editions du Seuil, 1982 Translated by Jerry Mirskin and Michel Sirvent
Construction of a random circular permutation library using an engineered transposon

Circular permutation is an important protein engineering tool used to create sequence diversity of a protein by changing its linear order of amino acid sequence. Circular permutation has proven to be effective in the evolution of proteins for desired properties while maintaining similar three-dimensional structures. Due to the lack of a robust design principle guiding the selection of new termini, construction of a combinatorial library is much preferred for comprehensive evaluation of circular permutation. Unfortunately, the conventional methods used to create random circular permutation libraries cause significant sequence modification at new termini of circular permutants. In addition, these methods impose additional limitations by requiring either relatively inefficient blunt-end ligation during library construction or redesign of transposons for tailored expression of circular permutants. In this study, we present the development of an engineered transposon for facile construction of random circular permutation libraries. We provide evidence that minimal modification at the new termini of the random circular permutants is possible with our engineered transposon. In addition, our method enables the use of sticky-end ligation during library construction and provides external tunability for expression of random circular permutants.
NMR cyberinfrastructure: Web-based virtual file system for managing distributed NMR data

A key aspect of data cyberinfrastructure is the middleware for managing distributed scientific data with services for organizing, publishing and preserving data entities in a collaborative, data sharing environment. In this paper, we describe a virtual web-based file system for managing NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) data from multiple, distributed NMR spectrometers across the campus of UC San Diego. The environment provides an authenticated, web-based, single point of entry for users to access their data from any of the NMR systems. An intuitive graphical user interface allows users to view, annotate, search, refresh, upload, and download their own data files or files belonging to a group, based on user privileges. We provide details of the system, including the design of the NMR Portal, the central NMR data repository, and the data harvesting process.
Stabilization of Cubic ZrO2 with Rh(III) and/or La(III).

Abstract : Samples of stabilized cubic zirconium oxide were prepared containing rhodium(III), lanthanum(III) and both La(III) and Rh(III). The properties of these compounds were studied by x-ray analysis and temperature programmed reduction. These studies indicated that the cubic phase becomes stabilized with the incorporation of La(III) or Rh(III) into the ZrO2 structure.
Suprapubic Trocar Cystostomy with Balloon Catheter

Personal experience of 31 cases of suprapubic trocar cystostomy is presented. The operation was carried out under local anaesthesia using the Campbell trocar, which is specially adapted for a balloon catheter. Supra-pubic trocar cystostomy is practically without discomfort and risk to the patient and is particularly recommended for patients who are poor surgical risks.
Innovativeness: Redefining the concept

Abstract The main objective of this research is to highlight the need to reconceptualize the theoretical construct of innovativeness. There is a large body of research on the adoption of innovations. Although research studies in this area are motivated by fundamentally different objectives, there is a common thread that runs through all of them—the identification of innovative firms. In order to identify innovative firms, a variety of unidimensional measures of innovativeness have been employed in past research. Thus, innovation diffusion research studies have used the time of innovation adoption as a measure of a firm's innovativeness. Other studies have assessed innovativeness on the basis of the number of innovation adoptions. This research contends that the conceptualization of innovativeness as a unidimensional construct is incomplete. Innovativeness, we believe, is an enduring trait that is consistently exhibited by innovative firms over a period of time. In other words, a valid measure of innovativeness must represent this temporal dimension. This study proposes and tests the validity of a multidimensional measure of innovativeness.
Design and Control of a Free-Liquid-Piston Engine Compressor for Compact Robot Power

This paper presents the design and control of a free-liquid-piston engine compressor (FLPEC). The FLPEC produces low temperature, high-pressure air for use as a high energy density power supply for untethered, compact robots. Internal combustion with a propane-air mixture in the engine combustion chamber drives a high inertance, low mass liquid piston, which compresses air into an onboard reservoir. A real time logical controller is implemented in Matlab to regulate the timings of the air and fuel injection, spark, and exhaust valve and to compensate for misfires. Experimental pressure data is overlaid with the logical state of the injectors, spark plug, and exhaust valve to demonstrate the efficacy of the controller to account for cycle-to-cycle pressure variations in the combustion chamber.
Possible dissociation of the phorbol ester-induced oxidant response and tumor promotion in the F1 offspring of SSIN × C57BL/6J mice

The F1 progeny of a cross between 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) tumor promotion-sensitive SSIN mice and TPA promotion-resistant C57BL/6J mice were found to be sensitive to TPA as a tumor promoter. The tumor response was substantial, with an average of 15 papillomas per mouse and a 100% incidence following initiation with 400 nmol dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and promotion with 6.5 nmol (4 micrograms) TPA. To determine whether tumor promotability of the F1 mice correlates with other parameters believed to be associated with TPA responsiveness, oxidant generation, epidermal hyperplasia and edema were compared in the parents and F1 hybrids. The SSIN produced a strong hyperplastic response to TPA, the C57BL/6J a negligible response and the F1 hybrids a moderate response. In the SSIN, 6.5 nmol (4 micrograms) TPA caused an 18% increase in the water content of the skin (edema) while no change was seen for either the C57BL/6J or F1 hybrids. The oxidant response of the F1 hybrids to either TPA or phospholipase C was markedly less than that observed for the SSIN and was similar to the response previously observed for the C57BL/6J mice. These findings suggest that the oxidant response may not be an essential aspect of TPA tumor promotion. It may be related to the edema response, suggesting that at least this aspect of inflammation is not necessary for promotion.
Chemical synthesis of PEDOT nanofibers

A one-step, room-temperature method is described to chemically synthesize bulk quantities of microns long, 100–180 nm diameter nanofibers of electrically conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in the form of powders, or as optically transparent, substrate-supported films using a V2O5 seeding approach.
Alcohol Consumption and Rectal Tumor Mutations and Epigenetic Changes

Alcohol has been associated with increasing risk of colorectal cancer; however unresolved issues including the type of alcohol that influences risk, the amount and timing of alcohol consumed, as well as the impact of alcohol on specific CRC sites.1 Some studies suggest that associations may be stronger for more distal or rectal cancer, while others show similar associations for both colon and rectal cancer.2, 3 Some studies show stronger associations with beer or liquor and rectal cancer, while others report stronger associations for alcohol overall with rectal tumors rather than colon tumors.1, 4, 5 Studies of colon cancer suggest that alcohol consumption could contribute to specific types of tumor mutations, with high levels of alcohol increasing the likelihood of a microsatellite unstable tumor.6, 7 Unique associations between alcohol and types of alcoholic beverages consumed could contribute to specific tumor mutations. Long-term use of alcohol could contribute to DNA damage or epigenetic changes that cause the initiation of tumors while more recent use could influence tumor promotion from events such as oxidative stress or from specific antioxidants. Thus, evaluation of both long-term alcohol use and more recent use could help define the association between alcohol intake and rectal cancer. Associations with specific types of alcoholic beverages also could indicate that non-alcohol components of the alcoholic beverages alter risk rather than alcohol itself. In this study, we evaluate consumption of total alcohol as well as alcoholic beverages, including wine, beer, and liquor over the 20 years prior to diagnosis and during the referent year (2 years prior to diagnosis) with specific epigenetic and genetic changes in rectal tumors. Data come from a population-based study of rectal cancer conducted in Northern California and Utah. We test the hypothesis that specific types of alcohol contribute to common epigenetic and genetic changes in rectal tumors.
Increased platelet membrane phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate in drug-free depressed bipolar patients.

Abstract Prior investigations in bipolar disorder patients have suggested abnormalities in the cellular phosphoinositide second messenger system. This study was conducted to examine the levels of platelet membrane phosphoinositides in drug-free bipolar patients in the depressed state ( n =9) and healthy controls ( n =19). Bipolar patients had significantly increased levels of platelet membrane phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) compared to healthy individuals (0.67±0.14 and 0.44±0.17%, respectively, t -test=3.71, d.f.=26, P =0.001). No significant differences in the levels of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP) (0.65±0.17 and 0.58±0.20%, respectively, t -test=1.02; d.f.=26; P =0.32) or phosphatidylinositol (PI) (5.92±1.23 and 5.56±1.45%, respectively, t -test=0.68; d.f.=26; P =0.51) were found. These findings provide the first demonstration of increased PIP 2 platelet levels in bipolar patients in the depressed state, and provide additional evidence that the phosphoinositide second messenger system may be a site of abnormality in bipolar disorder.
Kinetic Ising Model in an Oscillating Field: Finite-Size Scaling at the Dynamic Phase Transition

We study hysteresis for a two-dimensional spin- $1/2$ nearest-neighbor kinetic Ising ferromagnet in an oscillating field using Monte Carlo simulations. The period-averaged magnetization is the order parameter for a proposed dynamic phase transition (DPT). To quantify the nature of this transition, we present the first finite-size scaling study of the DPT for this model. Evidence of a diverging correlation length is given, and we provide estimates of the transition frequency and the critical indices $\ensuremath{\beta}$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$, and $\ensuremath{\nu}$.
Expression of alpha and gamma interferon receptors in the sperm cell.

The present study was conducted to examine whether or not the sperm cell has the expression of receptors for interferon (IFN) -alpha and -gamma. This was investigated using specific antibodies. Antibody to IFN-alpha receptor reacted with the acrosomal and tail regions of the murine sperm cell in the indirect immunofluorescence technique (IFT) and immunoscanning electron microscopic procedure (ISEP). In the immunoprecipitation and Western blot procedures, this antibody specifically recognized a protein band of approximately 100 kD, which corresponds to the molecular weight of IFN-alpha receptor present in other cell types. Antibody to IFN-gamma receptor specifically reacted with the posterior head, midpiece, and tail regions of sperm cell in IFT and ISEP, and recognized a band of approximately 85 kD in the immunoprecipitation and Western blot procedures, corresponding to the IFN-alpha receptor. Similar bands of approximately 100 kD and approximately 85 kD molecular identities were also detected in the testes extracts and sperm extracts of other mammalian species namely human, rabbit, and pig, the species tested. These findings indicate that the mammalian sperm cell has expression of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma receptors, which seem to develop during spermatogenesis in the testes. These findings may have implications in male infertility and antisperm contraceptive vaccine development.
Nonendoscopic Management Strategies for Acute Esophagogastric Variceal Bleeding

Acute variceal bleeding is a potentially life-threatening complication of portal hypertension. Management consists of emergent hemostasis, therapy directed at hemodynamic resuscitation, protection of the airway, and prevention and treatment of complications including prophylactic use of antibiotics. Endoscopic treatment remains the mainstay in the management of acute variceal bleeding in combination with pharmacotherapy aimed at reducing portal pressure. This article intends to highlight only the current nonendoscopic treatment approaches for control of acute variceal bleeding.