cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A BAYESIAN HIERARCHICAL MODEL FOR LARGE-SCALE EDUCATIONAL SURVEYS: AN APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

Large-scale educational assessments such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) sample examinees to whom an exam will be administered. In most situations the sampling design is not a simple random sample and must be accounted for in the estimating model. After reviewing the current operational estimation procedure for NAEP, this paper describes a Bayesian hierarchical model for the analysis of complex large-scale assessments. The model clusters students within schools and schools within primary sampling units. The paper discusses an estimation procedure that utilizes a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to approximate the posterior distribution of the model parameters. Results from two Bayesian models, one treating item parameters as known and one treating them as unknown, are compared to results from the current operational method on a simulated data set and on a subset of data from the 1998 NAEP reading assessment. The point estimates from the Bayesian model and the operational method are quite similar in most cases, but there does seem to be systematic differences in measures of uncertainty (e.g., standard errors, confidence intervals).
Comparative freezing patterns of bark and xylem of "Siberian C" and "Redhaven" peach twigs.

Abstract An electrophoretic mobility technique was used to study freezing patterns in excised peach twigs. Moisture content was the only qualitative difference in initial freezing patterns of similar tissues of Redhaven and Siberian C. Siberian C contained up to 18% less moisture than Redhaven. Major differences in the shape of the transition pattern were detected between bark and xylem. Even though bark tissues had twice the water content of xylem, the bark exhibited equilibrium freezing while the xylem underwent nonequilibrium freezing. Bark water must be intimately associated with the living protoplast, while xylem water is less closely associated with cellular components. Comparison of bark and xylem freezing curves with sucrose and cellulose model systems suggested that bark freezing was similar to the sucrose model while xylem freezing was similar to the cellulose model.
Developmental Expression of Histone Deacetylase 11 in the Murine Brain

Recent studies indicate that neural cell development in the central nervous system (CNS) correlates with a reduction in acetylation of histone core proteins. Moreover, histone hypoacetylation is thought to be important to oligodendrocyte lineage development. The mechanisms mediating the reduction in acetylation during postnatal neural development remain to be defined. To begin to understand these mechanisms, we investigated the expression of histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11), a newly identified HDAC, in mouse brain during postnatal development. We show that HDAC11 was widely expressed in the brain and that this expression gradually increased in a region-specific pattern between birth and 4 weeks of age. At the cellular level HDAC11 protein was predominately localized in the nuclei of mature oligodendrocytes but only minimally in astrocytes. Although dentate gyrus granule neurons abundantly expressed HDAC11, granule neuron precursors in the subgranule layer exhibited little HDAC11 immunoreactivity. Double-immunostaining of the corpus callosum and dentate gyrus demonstrated that HDAC11 and Ki67, a cell-proliferating marker, are rarely colocalized in same cells. Our data show that HDAC11 was expressed in the developing brain in a temporal and spatial pattern that correlates with the maturation of neural cells, including cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage. These findings support a role for HDAC11 in CNS histone deacetylation and the development of oligodendrocytes and neurons during postnatal development.
Identification and Cloning of a 27‐kDa Coxiella burnetii Immunoreactive Protein

Patients with acute Q fever develop Coxiella burnetii-specific antibody, and chronic disease patients often develop extremely high levels of C. burnetii-specific antibody. Antibody-reactive LPS has been well characterized, but only a few immunoreactive proteins have been identified. An immunoreactive ca. 62-kDa protein has been cloned, sequenced, and shown to be related to an Escherichia coli heat-shock protein. A ca. 27-kDa immunoreactive outer membrane protein(s) has also been identified. We have begun characterizing C. burnetii immunoreactive proteins by gene-cloning methods. A gene bank of total C. burnetii Nine Mile phase 1 (acute strain) DNA was created using the lambda vector EMBL3. This bank was screened for plaques which reacted with E. coli-pre-absorbed rabbit antisera specific for purified, Nine Mile C. burnetii whole cells. Twenty-three immunoreactive plaques were identified from a screening of 3000 plaques. Twenty-two plaques produced a ca. 60-65-kDa immunoreactive protein. One plaque produced a ca. 27-kDa immunoreactive protein, as well as a ca. 60-65-kDa immunoreactive protein. Phage extracts of this plaque were used to enrich the antisera to produce a ca. 27-kDa-specific antisera. This enriched sera reacted with a ca. 27-kDa protein in all C. burnetii isolates tested, comprising isolates from both chronic and acute strains. The DNA contained in the immunoreactive clone was C. burnetii-specific, as shown by DNA hybridization. We are currently subcloning the ca. 27-kDa protein-coding region for sequencing to determine if this gene encodes the previously identified ca. 27-kDa immunodominant protein. This protein may ultimately have both diagnostic and vaccinogenic potential.
A comparison of nonquadratic regularization implementations on the backhoe data set

A sparse-aperture imaging problem arises in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) when parts of the phase history data are corrupted or incomplete. The resulting images reconstructed from the sparse aperture SAR are degraded with elevated sidelobes. One effective method for enhancing these images has been nonquadratic regularization. Nonquadratic regularization employs a cost function which contains an image formation error term and a feature enhancement term. In the past, a quasi-Newton algorithm was applied to minimize the nonquadratic regularization cost function. Two alternatives employ the stochastic gradient method to minimize the nonquadratic regularization cost function. In this paper, these three algorithms based on the nonquadratic regularization cost function are applied to corrupted phase history data and evaluated based on output image quality and time required for image generation and enhancement. The phase history data will be from the Xpatch simulated backhoe data set.
Development and application of a new air pollution modeling system—II. Aerosol module structure and design

Abstract The methods used for simulating aerosol physical and chemical processes in a new air pollution modeling system are discussed and analyzed. Such processes include emissions, nucleation, coagulation, reversible chemistry, condensation, dissolution, evaporation, irreversible chemistry, sedimentation, dry deposition, and radiative scattering and absorption by particles. A new particle size bin structure that nearly eliminates numerical diffusion during growth but still treats nucleation, emissions, coagulation, and transport realistically is discussed. In addition, coagulation is shown to reduce the number and volume concentration of particles less than 0.2 μm in diameter both in the presence and absence of modest rates of particle growth. However, when significant growth occurs, the effect of coagulation is reduced. Further, while sulfate production due to SO2 dissolution and oxidation in cloud drops is confirmed to be important, it is shown here that such production in aerosols is small over time periods simulated in urban air pollution models. Finally, light scattering and absorption coefficient predictions, obtained by applying a Mie code for stratified spheres, are discussed and shown to match data for a given scenario. Remaining processes in the aerosol module are described.
Influence of the ionomer/carbon ratio for low-Pt loading catalyst layer prepared by reactive spray deposition technology

Abstract Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) catalyst layers (CLs) were fabricated by direct deposition of the catalyst onto Nafion® membranes using reactive spray deposition technique (RSDT) to reduce platinum (Pt) loading and reduce the number of catalyst synthesis and processing steps. Nitrogen adsorption, mercury porosimetry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the effects of ionomer/carbon ratio (I/C) on the surface area, pore structure and morphology of the CLs; cyclic voltammetry and polarization curves were used to determine the electrochemically active area (ECSA) and PEMFC performance. The BET surface area and pore volume of the CLs decreased continuously with increasing I/C ratio regardless of the catalyst loading. Bimodal distribution of pores with diameters ranging from 1.7 to 10 nm and from 30 to 100 nm were observed from the pore-size distribution of the CLs. The catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) with an I/C ratio of 0.3 showed the highest ECSA of 62 m2 gPt−1 and the best performance at 0.6 V for oxygen (1400 mA cm−2) and air (650 mA cm−2) among all RSDT samples. The optimum I/C ratio is lower compared to ink-based methods, and Pt nanoparticles showed improved distribution on the carbon surface. The RSDT process shows promise in achieving better ionomer coverage and penetration in the CL microstructure, enhancing the performance of low Pt-loading PEMFCs.
Towards a Safe Playground for HTTPS and Middle Boxes with QoS2

With the increasing concern for network security and privacy, adoption of HTTPS has sky-rocket, with over 50% of traffic flows employing HTTPS. Unfortunately by encrypting the data, HTTPS eliminates the benefits provided by Middle-boxes such as proxies and caches. We claim that these limitations, highlight the need for alternative mechanisms for quickly and safely viewing websites: QoS2. QoS2 argues for fine-grained identification of common web-content and user-specific content, which are then deliver over either HTTP or HTTPS respectively. The main challenge in enabling a framework, such as QoS2, lies in ensuring that security is not compromised, namely vulnerability to Man in the Middle attacks. QoS2 overcomes such attacks, by judiciously employing object level checksums which are sent exclusively over the HTTPS connection. To quantify the benefits of QoS2, we have manually tagged the content for a number of sites and emulated an QoS2 server: initial results are promising with QoS2 providing 20%-70% speed up over traditional HTTPS.
On approximating the central and noncentral multivariate gamma distributions

In this paper a finite series approximation involving Laguerre polynomials is derived for central and noncentral multivariate gamma distributions. It is shown that if one approximates the density of any k nonnegative continuous random variables by a finite series of Laguerre polynomials up to the (n1, …, nk)th degree, then all the mixed moments up to the order (n1, …, nk) of the approximated distribution equal to the mixed moments up to the same order of the random variables. Some numerical results are given for the bivariate central and noncentral multivariate gamma distributions to indicate the usefulness of the approximations.
Synthesis of cobalt-doped bismuth vanadate by combustion-synthesis: Influence of fuel on phase content and morphology

Cobalt (15 at.%) doped bismuth vanadate, Bi4(V0.85Co0.15)2O11-δ (BICOVOX0.15), is known to have high oxygen ion conduction in the medium temperature range (400–600 °C). Small grain size may be important in stabilizing the highly conductive and disordered γ-phase at lower temperature. In this article, we report for the first time the synthesis of highly porous nanoscale BICOVOX powders by a solution combustion technique. The effects of fuel-to-oxidizer ratio, and postcombustion heat treatment temperature and time on the phase content and microstructure of the powders were investigated. As-combusted powders were revealed to be a mixture of Bi2O3, BiVO4, and γ-BICOVOX phases that were converted to phase pure γ-BICOVOX during heat treatment.
An apparatus for the measurement of dynamic mechanical properties of polymers in a gas medium with the vibron viscoelastometer

The Vibron Viscoelastometer is useful for obtaining dynamic mechanical properties of film and fibers in atmospheres at 0 and 100% relative humidity. No apparatus has previously been available for obtaining dynamic mechanical properties in a gas medium; however an apparatus and procedure have been developed for measuring these dynamic properties in a gas medium using the Vibron instrument. This technique will be useful in studies on the effects of different gases on polymers in the process and on the effects of gas treatments on materials. A new gas cell which is adaptable for other mechanical testing instruments such as the Instron, Tensometer, and Torsion Pendulum is also discussed.
Family Ideals: The Diverse Meanings of Residential Space in Chicago during the Post–World War II Baby Boom

This article argues that parents of the post–World War II baby boom chose where to live based primarily on the characteristics of individual neighborhoods, rather than by making sharp distinctions between urban and suburban space. The scholarship on post–World War II domesticity and mass suburbanization usually presumes that these two phenomena went hand in hand as baby-boom parents sought the suburbs’ supposedly unique amenities for nuclear family togetherness. This case study of black and white families in Chicago reveals instead that diverse postwar parents described suburban and urban neighborhoods in remarkably similar terms. These families sought out friendly and supportive communities for themselves and their children, opportunities for homeownership, and space for recreation, which they found in a variety of metropolitan Chicago neighborhoods, urban and suburban alike.
Season and lactation number effects on milk production and reproduction of dairy cattle in Arizona.

Records representing 19,266 Holstein cows from Arizona DHIA data over a 5-yr period were analyzed to determine the effects of season and lactation number on milk production and reproduction. Seasons were winter (December, January, and February), spring (March, April, and May), summer (June, July, and August), and fall (September, October, and November). Traits analyzed by least squares ANOVA were 305-d FCM, complete lactation milk, calving interval, and services per conception. All sources of variation were significant except the interaction between lactation number and season of calving for complete lactation milk. Milk production was depressed for cows calving in summer and fall. First lactation cows had lowest milk production, and highest production occurred in either lactation 4 or 5. Cows calving in spring and summer had reduced reproductive performance, as measured by calving interval and services per conception. First lactation cows had lowest values for both reproductive traits. Previous days dry was negatively related to milk production for spring calvings but was positively related for all other seasons. Cows with higher milk production had reduced reproductive performance. Partial regression coefficients for calving interval and services per conception were 12 d and .25 services per conception per 1000 kg of 305-d FCM, respectively. Despite the negative effects of thermal stress, milk production and fertility in this study were not depressed as severely as in previous research reported from Arizona. Calving schedules may be adjusted to minimize the adverse effect of heat stress.
Operando synthesis of macroporous molybdenum diselenide films for electrocatalysis of the hydrogen-evolution reaction

The catalytically inactive components of a film have been converted, through an operando method of synthesis, to produce a catalyst for the reaction that the film is catalyzing. Specifically, thin films of molybdenum diselenide have been synthesized using a two-step wet-chemical method, in which excess sodium selenide was first added to a solution of ammonium heptamolydbate in aqueous sulfuric acid, resulting in the spontaneous formation of a black precipitate that contained molybdenum triselenide (MoSe3), molybdenum trioxide (MoO3), and elemental selenium. After purification and after the film had been drop cast onto a glassy carbon electrode, a reductive potential was applied to the precipitate-coated electrode. Hydrogen evolution occurred within the range of potentials applied to the electrode, but during the initial voltammetric cycle, an overpotential of ∼400 mV was required to drive the hydrogen-evolution reaction at a benchmark current density of −10 mA cm–2. The overpotential required to evolve hy...
Production of protoplasts from the brown alga, Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt (Phaeophyta)

Abstract A variety of enzymes were tested for their ability to produce protoplasts from Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt both singly and in various combinations. The most successful combination of enzymes was 2% Cellulase Onozuka RS, 10% Limpet Acetone Powder Type I (Sigma) in 0.6 M sorbitol (w/v sterile sea water). Protoplasts were produced in large quantities from the meristematic regions and adjacent stipes using these enzymes in combination with gentle grinding of the tissue. The viability of protoplasts released was confirmed by exclusion of Evans Blue stain and undiminished chlorophyll fluorescence of the protoplasts. Complete absence of cell wall material was demonstrated using Calcofluor White. The applicability of these methods to other species of Sargassum was shown with S. polyphyllum J. Agardh and S. echinocarpum J. Agardh.
Treating hepatitis C in the prison population is cost-saving.

The prevalence of chronic hepatitis C infection in U.S. prisons is 12% to 31%. Treatment of this substantial portion of the population has been subject to much controversy, both medically and legally. Studies have demonstrated that treatment of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) and ribavirin is a cost-effective measure in the general population; however, no study has addressed whether the same is true of the prison population. The aim of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis C treatment with PEG IFN and ribavirin in the U.S. prison population. Cost-effectiveness was determined via a decision analysis model employing Markov simulation. The cohort of prisoners had a distribution of genotypes and stages of fibrosis in accordance with prior studies evaluating inmate populations. The probability of transitioning from one health state to another, reinfection rates, in-prison and out-of-prison mortality rates, sustained viral response rates, costs, and quality of life weights were also obtained from the literature. Sensitivity analysis was performed. In a strategy without a pretreatment liver biopsy, treatment was cost-effective for all ages and genotypes. This model was robust to rates of disease progression, mortality rates, reinfection rates, sustained viral response rates, and costs. In a strategy employing a pretreatment liver biopsy, treatment was also cost-saving for prisoners of all ages and genotypes with portal fibrosis, bridging fibrosis, or compensated cirrhosis. Treatment was not cost-effective in patients between the ages of 40 and 49 with no fibrosis and genotype 1. Conclusion: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with PEG IFN and ribavirin in U.S. prisons results in both improved quality of life and savings in cost for almost all segments of the inmate population. If the decision to treat hepatitis C is based on pharmaco-economic measures, this significant proportion of infected individuals should not be denied access to therapy. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
Weight loss social support in 140 characters or less: use of an online social network in a remotely delivered weight loss intervention

Little is known about how online social networking can help enhance weight loss. To examine the types of online social support utilized in a behavioral weight loss intervention and relationship of posting and weight loss. A sub-analysis of the content and number of posts to Twitter among participants (n = 47) randomized to a mobile, social network arm as part of a 6-month trial among overweight adults, examining weight loss, use of Twitter, and type of social support (informational, tangible assistance, esteem, network, and emotional support). A number of Twitter posts were related to % weight loss at 6 months (p < 0.001). Initial reported weight loss predicted engagement with Twitter (p < 0.01) but prior Twitter use or initial Twitter engagement did not. Most Twitter posts (total posts n = 2,630) were Informational support (n = 1,981; 75 %), with the predominant subtype of Teaching (n = 1,632; 62 %), mainly in the form of a status update (n = 1,319). Engagement with Twitter was related to weight loss and participants mainly used Twitter to provide Information support to one another through status updates.
ASYMPTOTIC ESTIMATION OF ξ(2n)(1/2) : ON A CONJECTURE OF FARMER AND RHOADES

We verify a very recent conjecture of Farmer and Rhoades on the asymptotic rate of growth of the derivatives of the Riemann xi function at s = 1/2. We give two separate proofs of this result, with the more general method not restricted to s = 1/2. We briefly describe other approaches to our results, give a heuristic argument, and mention supporting numerical evidence.
Sedimentation patterns in the Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa, and the Pilbara Block, Australia: Evidence for Archean rifted continental margins

Abstract Archean supracrustal sequences in the Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa, and the Pilbara Block, Australia, consist of lower volcanic and upper dominantly terrigenous clastic intervals. As evidenced by the paleoenvironments of intercalated sedimentary horizons, volcanism occurred mainly in shallow waters. The overlying ca 3.3 Ga sedimentary intervals contain various common as well as unique paleoenvironments, the understanding of which places significant constraints on Archean crustal models. Lateral and vertical associations of inferred paleoenvironments are used to interpret the geotectonic history of the Archean depositories. The early sedimentary history of the greenstone belts is characterized by terrestrial and subaqueous graben-fill associations of facies related to the initial rift stage of basin development. Continued rifting and initial spreading produced submarine grabens within which ironformations accumulated in response to waning volcanism. Source area uplift resulted in progradation of submarine fans across the basinal chemical sediments. The turbidites are gradational directly into braided alluvial sediments, in part of fan delta origin, suggesting that the continental to marine transition occurred along a narrow continental shelf. In the Barberton Mountain Land the steep-rift margin was succeeded by the development of a stable continental shelf or shelf rise margin through progradation of the turbidite wedge possibly in association with a eustatic rise in sea-level related to continued spreading. On this shelf extensive tidal, deltaic and barrier beach sediments accumulated. Sedimentation was terminated by closure of the passive margin oceans. The late-Archean Pongola Supergroup in South Africa is considered to be the late-orogenic molasse response to this closure and represents the completion of the Wilson cycle.
Wall Street and the Powerhouse Firms: Stewart's Partners

When social scientists get their hands on new "inside" accounts of elite institutions, their typical reaction is a mixture of approach and avoidance. Starved for access to such delights, drawn to them by relevant theories, we gravitate to anything promising a real-life glimpse of people and institutions whose acts we can normally track only indirectly through statistical or sociohistorical analysis. Yet, when someone claims to have "been there," to have talked with the actors, to know some of their deepest secrets, our eyes narrow and our reflexes tell us that no one could get that close without somehow becoming tainted, unable to present an unbiased picture, or that probably the investigator was hard at work grinding some hidden axe. Or we scurry back to our statistical models, wondering bemusedly how anyone could actually try to expound broad sociological generalizations from just a handful of cases, however deeply they may have been probed. If a book's audience can accurately be compared to a minefield, James B. Stewart may be said to have launched The Partners: Inside America's Most Powerful Law Firms' on several such fields simultaneously, not the least of which is the prickly world of law and the social sciences. Raised on a diet of Carlin2 and Smigel,3 we had at least some broad outlines of the nature of work and life at the legal profession's pinnacle. More recently (e.g., Heinz & Laumann," Nelson,' Slovak,6 Larson7) some of us have again tried to crack
Raman imaging of pharmaceutical materials: Refractive index effects on contrast at buried interfaces

Resolution targets composed of bilayer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) devices with buried polyethylene glycol (PEG) channels have been fabricated using traditional photolithographic and micromolding techniques to develop resolution targets that mimic pharmaceutical materials. Raman chemical images of the resulting PEG-in-PDMS devices composed of varying parallel line widths were investigated by imaging the PEG lines through a thin overlayer of PDMS. Additionally, a scattering agent, Al2O3, was introduced at varying concentrations to each layer of the device to explore the effects of scattering materials on Raman images. Features in the resulting chemical images of the PEG lines suggest that reflection at the PEG/PDMS interface contributes to the Raman signal. A model based on geometric optics was developed to simulate the observed image functions of the targets. The results emphasize the influence of refractive index discontinuities at the PEG/PDMS interface on the apparent size and shape of the PEG features. Such findings have an impact on interpretation of Raman images of nonabsorbing, opaque pharmaceutical samples.
Reprint of Nesterov's algorithm solving dual formulation for compressed sensing

We develop efficient algorithms for solving the compressed sensing problem. We modify the standard @?"1 regularization model for compressed sensing by adding a quadratic term to its objective function so that the objective function of the dual formulation of the modified model is Lipschitz continuous. In this way, we can apply the well-known Nesterov algorithm to solve the dual formulation and the resulting algorithms have a quadratic convergence. Numerical results presented in this paper show that the proposed algorithms outperform significantly the state-of-the-art algorithm NESTA in accuracy.
Resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization time-of-flight spectroscopy of cold perfluorinated polyethers and their external and internal van der Waals dimers

Abstract Perfluorinated polyethers of the type R a (OCF 2 CF 2 CF 2 ) n F, where R a is the end group C 6 H 6 HCH 2 CH 2 O(CO)CF 2 CF − 2 -, were laser-vaporized and entrained in a pulsed jet expansion. Two photon ionization of the jet-cooled polymers via the phenoxy chromophore was combined with time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. Mass spectra were obtained for polymer distributions extending to 7000 Da, with minimal fragmentation. Under the appropriate expansion and desorption conditions parent masses of van der Waals dimers of these polymers were also observed. By scanning the ionization laser and monitoring particular mass-to-charge ratios, resonance-enhanced two photon ionization (R2PI) spectra were obtained for the jet-cooled polymers and their dimers near the electronic origin. Polymers with the two end groups, present as an impurity in the samples, were detected exclusively in an internally dimerized form. In both the internal and external cases, the dimerization occurs only at the phenoxy chromophore. The R2PI spectra of a series of model compounds were measured and used to characterize the evolution of the spectra from phenol toward the polymer. The model compound spectra revealed the role of multiple conformations and molecular size in the polymer spectra, which are ultimately broadened by low frequency motions of multiple conformers. The results are discussed relative to teh general problem of the photoionization of large molecules.
Oxidation of commercial purity titanium

The oxidation kinetics of commercial purity Ti-A55 exposed to laboratory air in the 593-760 C temperature range were continuously monitored by thermogravimetric analysis. The oxide thickness was measured by microscopy, and the substrate contamination was estimated from microhardness measurements. The microhardness depth profiles were converted to oxygen composition profiles using calibration depth. The oxygen diffusion coefficient in alpha-Ti appears to be approximately concentration-independent in the 1-10 at. pct oxygen range. Diffusion coefficient for oxygen in TiO2 has been estimated as a function of temperature and is found to be about 50 times the value in alpha-Ti. The metallographically prepared cross sections of the oxidized specimens revealed a 'moving boundary' in the substrate, parallel to the oxide-metal interface. This boundary was associated with a specific oxygen level of 5.0 + or - 0.5 at. pct. It occurred at a distance from the oxide-metal interface which was correlatable with temperature and time of exposure. The diffusion coefficient corresponding to the composition of this moving boundary is in excellent agreement with the effective diffusion coefficient for the substrate contamination.
PHOTOMETRICALLY TRIGGERED KECK SPECTROSCOPY OF FERMI BL LACERTAE OBJECTS

We report on Keck spectra of 10 Fermi blazars. J0622+3326, previously unobserved, is shown to be a flat-spectrum radio quasar at redshift z = 1.062. The others are known BL Lac type objects that have resisted previous attempts to secure redshifts. Using a photometric monitoring campaign with the 0.76 m Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope at Lick Observatory, we identified epochs when the relativistic jet emission was fainter than usual, thus triggering the Keck spectroscopy. This strategy gives improved sensitivity to stars and ionized gas in the host galaxy, thereby providing improved redshift constraints for seven of these sources.
Allostatic and environmental load in toddlers predicts anxiety in preschool and kindergarten

Psychobiological models of allostatic load have delineated the effects of multiple processes that contribute to risk for psychopathology. This approach has been fruitful, but the interactive contributions of allostatic and environmental load remain understudied in early childhood. Because this developmental period encompasses the emergence of internalizing problems and biological sensitivity to early experiences, this is an important time to examine this process. In two studies, we examined allostatic and environmental load and links to subsequent internalizing and externalizing problems. Study 1 examined relations between load indices and maladjustment, concurrently and at multiple times between age 2 and kindergarten; Study 2 added more comprehensive risk indices in a sample following a group of highly fearful toddlers from 2 to 3 years of age. Results from both studies showed that increased allostatic load related to internalizing problems as environmental risk also increased. Study 2, in addition, showed that fearfulness interacted with allostatic and environmental load indices to predict greater anxiety among the fearful children who had high levels of allostatic and environmental load. Taken together, the findings support a model of risk for internalizing characterized by the interaction of biological and environmental stressors, and demonstrate the importance of considering individual differences and environmental context in applying models of allostatic load to developmental change in early childhood.
Palmitoylation of the luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor regulates receptor interaction with the arrestin‐mediated internalization pathway

The luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LH/hCGR) undergoes palmitoylation at cysteine residues 621 and 622 located in the carboxyl terminal tail of the receptor. This study examined the biological function of palmitoylation with respect to its effect on receptor internalization. Coexpression of wild-type (WT) or C621/622G mutant receptors with arrestin-2 increased receptor internalization in 293T cells. Furthermore, measurements of rate enhancement upon overexpression of arrestin indicate that the palmitoylation deficient mutant receptor is more prone to utilizing the arrestin mediated internalization pathway than the WT receptor. Coexpression of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) with wild type receptor resulted in an increase in internalization, while coexpression with the mutant receptor did not result in further enhancement of internalization. Additionally, 293T cells expressing mutant receptor were responsive to hCG with respect to production of inositol phosphates. Taken together, these results suggest that the palmitoylation state of the receptor governs internalization by regulating the accessibility of the receptor to the arrestin-mediated internalization pathway.
Iron and zinc supplementation does not improve parent or teacher ratings of behavior in first grade Mexican children exposed to lead.

Objective To determine the efficacy of iron and zinc supplementation on behavior ratings of lead-exposed children. Study design In this double-blind, randomized trial, 602 first-grade children received 30 mg ferrous fumarate, 30 mg zinc oxide, both, or placebo daily for 6 months. Lead, iron, and zinc status were determined at baseline and follow-up. Parents and teachers provided ratings of child behavior using the Conners Rating Scales. Results The baseline mean (SD) blood lead concentration was 11.5 (6.1) μg/dL, with 51% of children ≥ 10 μg/dL. The prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, estimated by combined parent and teacher ratings, was 6%. At follow-up, parent ratings of oppositional, hyperactive, cognitive problems, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder decreased by 1.5, 1.2, 2.5, and 3.4 points, respectively ( P P = .008), and the mean cognitive problem score declined by 0.7 points ( P = .038). There were no treatment effects on mean change in scores, but children receiving any zinc had a higher likelihood of no longer receiving clinically-significant teacher ratings of oppositional behaviors. Conclusions This regimen of supplementation did not result in consistent improvements in ratings of behavior in lead-exposed children over 6 months.
Ex vivo B cell depletion using the Eligix B Cell SC system and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in patients with follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

One limitation of ASCT is the potential reinfusion of tumor cells contaminating PBSC. The Eligix B cell SC system consists of high-density microparticles coated with anti-B cell antibodies. To determine if this system eliminates B cells and lymphoma cells from PBSC, immunocytochemistry and PCR of the bcl-2/IgH rearrangement were performed, and correlated with patient outcome after ASCT. Eligible patients (n=29) had relapsed or transformed follicular NHL with bone marrow involvement <20%, and all lymph nodes <5 cm. PBSCs were mobilized with cyclophosphamide/G-CSF (n=21), and patients were conditioned with cyclophosphamide, carmustine and etoposide. Using immunocytochemistry on PBSC, the median number of CD20+ cells pre-purge was 310/10(6) (range 0-16692) and post-purge was 0.75/10(6); the median log B cell depletion was 2.7 (range 1.4-3.9). B cell depletion correlated with PFS after ASCT (P=0.06). Of 17 available samples for PCR, only four had a detectable t(14;18) breakpoint. After purging, all four remained PCR+; two had a 1-3 log depletion of lymphoma cells. At median follow-up of 18 months, 10 patients, including five infused with PCR-negative PBSC, have had disease progression. The paucity of PCR-informative patients, possibly related to in vivo rituximab therapy, limited the utility of minimal residual disease as a surrogate marker of clinical outcome.
Excess capacity in international telecommunications

Abstract International telecommunications facilities—both satellite and cable circuits—in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins are characterized by persistent excess capacity. Although some excess is desirable to provide flexibility and protection against system failure, the problem is so great that Intelsat has 100 satellite transponders deemed surplus to international requirements. However, plans are under way for continued expansion of cable and satellite capacity. This article examines why telecommunications organizations are investing in such a seemingly wasteful manner. Three possible explanations are explored: (a) over-optimistic traffic forecasts, (b) market structure and regulatory policy, and (c) inefficient pricing of circuits.
Binary neutron-star systems: From the Newtonian regime to the last stable orbit

We report on the first calculations of fully relativistic binary circular orbits to span a range of separation distances from the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO), deeply inside the strong field regime, to a distance ({approximately}200 km) where the system is accurately described by Newtonian dynamics. We consider a binary system composed of two identical corotating neutron stars, with 1.43 M{sub {circle_dot}} gravitational mass each in isolation. Using a conformally flat spatial metric we find solutions to the initial value equations that correspond to semi-stable circular orbits. At large distance, our numerical results agree exceedingly well with the Newtonian limit. We also present a self consistent determination of the ISCO for different stellar masses. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Arrow’s theorem as a corollary

Abstract Arrow’s Impossibility Theorem is derived from a general result on social aggregation in ‘property spaces’ (S3 convex structures) obtained in prior work. In the derivation, the specific structure of Arrowian aggregation as an aggregation of weak orders plays a purely combinatorial role.
Heart failure outcomes in the community: clinical and policy implications for a vulnerable population.

Heart failure has emerged as a major clinical and public health challenge. As the population ages and survival with coronary artery disease and hypertension-related illnesses improves, more patients are developing, and subsequently dying from, heart failure (1,2). Clinical trials have led to major therapeutic advances in the treatment of heart failure, but these studies generally contain highly selected volunteers who are not reflective of most patients with heart failure. Philbin and colleagues (3) provide important information on the natural history of patients admitted with heart failure to 10 community hospitals in New York State in the mid 1990s. Their major finding is that the 6-month prognosis is poor for these patients. Within 6 months of the index hospitalization, 23% of the patients died and 43% of hospital survivors were readmitted to the hospital; thus, overall 55% of the patients either died or were readmitted. These sobering numbers indicate that a hospital admission for heart failure is a sentinel event for these predominantly elderly patients, who are at high risk for poor outcomes and thus are prime targets for clinical and policy attention. Despite clinical advances, including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, betablockers, cardiac transplantation, and multidisciplinary disease management programs, the absolute morbidity and mortality from heart failure remain high. What are the implications of the study by Philbin et al for those of us who care for patients with heart failure? I believe that these results help provide a roadmap for areas in which we will need to improve individual clinical skills, methods of enhancing system performance, and health services research.
Alternative approaches to risk in aggregative programming: An evaluation

The choice of an appropriate technique for incorporating risk into aggregative programming models currently appears to be based largely on ad hoc criteria. In this paper an attempt is made to examine some of the conceptual issues which are typically ignored. Within the framework developed, the sector of APMAA which models the South Western Slopes of New South Wales is used to examine the differences in predicted results which arise as a consequence of these alternative treatments of risk. Results are obtained for sixteen formulations of risk based on the focus-loss, mean-variance or flexibility constraint approaches. These are compared with actual changes for one-year and four-year adjustment periods using the correctness of direction of change and Theil's inequality coefficient (U) as criteria.
Chemically defined generation of human cardiomyocytes

A simple, robust, chemically defined method for generating cardiomyocytes from human pluripotent stem cells is described. It should enable the identification of conditions for maturation of these cells.
Supporting Universal Prevention Programs: A Two-Phased Coaching Model

Schools are adopting evidence-based programs designed to enhance students’ emotional and behavioral competencies at increasing rates (Hemmeter et al. in Early Child Res Q 26:96–109, 2011). At the same time, teachers express the need for increased support surrounding implementation of these evidence-based programs (Carter and Van Norman in Early Child Educ 38:279–288, 2010). Ongoing professional development in the form of coaching may enhance teacher skills and implementation (Noell et al. in School Psychol Rev 34:87–106, 2005; Stormont et al. 2012). There exists a need for a coaching model that can be applied to a variety of teacher skill levels and one that guides coach decision-making about how best to support teachers. This article provides a detailed account of a two-phased coaching model with empirical support developed and tested with coaches and teachers in urban schools (Becker et al. 2013). In the initial universal coaching phase, all teachers receive the same coaching elements regardless of their skill level. Then, in the tailored coaching phase, coaching varies according to the strengths and needs of each teacher. Specifically, more intensive coaching strategies are used only with teachers who need additional coaching supports, whereas other teachers receive just enough support to consolidate and maintain their strong implementation. Examples of how coaches used the two-phased coaching model when working with teachers who were implementing two universal prevention programs (i.e., the PATHS® curriculum and PAX Good Behavior Game [PAX GBG]) provide illustrations of the application of this model. The potential reach of this coaching model extends to other school-based programs as well as other settings in which coaches partner with interventionists to implement evidence-based programs.
Tumor invasion through the human amniotic membrane: Requirement for a proteinase cascade

Abstract To understand the role of proteinases in tumor invasion, the effects of inhibitors of metallo-, serine-, and cysteine-proteinases on this process were studied using 125 I-iododeoxyuridine-labeled B16BL6 cells grown on human amnion basement membrane. Cellular invasion was quantitated by measuring the radioactivity associated with the amniotic membrane after the B16BL6 cells on the basement membrane were removed by lysis followed by scraping. The results obtained with proteinase inhibitors showed that inhibitors of collagenase and plasmin prevented invasion of the amnion. Tissue invasion was also blocked by anti-urokinase antibodies. On the contrary, cysteine-proteinase inhibitors and anti-tissue plasminogen activator antiserum were ineffective. Mersalyl, a compound known to activate collagenase, stimulated invasion under conditions where plasmin formation or activity were inhibited. Evidence for the role of a plasminogen activator-plasmin-collagenase activation cascade in B16 invasion is provided.
Inquiry projects in science teacher education: What can investigative experiences reveal about teacher thinking and eventual classroom practice?

Science education reform documents emphasize the importance of inquiry experiences for young learners. This means that teachers must be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and habits of thinking to mentor their students through authentic investigations. This study examines how preservice teachers' inquiry experiences, in a science methods course, influenced and were influenced by their conceptions of inquiry. The study also assesses how these experiences were associated with eventual classroom practice. Six preservice secondary teachers were observed during a 2-month inquiry project and then followed into the classroom as they began a 9-week teaching practicum. Data revealed that participants' preproject conceptions of the inquiry process were related to the conduct and interpretation of their own inquiry project, and that the project experience modified the inquiry conceptions of those participants who already had sophisticated understandings of scientific investigations. Perhaps most importantly, the participants who eventually used guided and open inquiry during their student teaching were not those who had more authentic views of inquiry or reflected most deeply about their own inquiry projects, but rather they were individuals who had significant undergraduate or professional experiences with authentic science research. Finally, this article advocates that independent science investigations be part of preservice education and that these experiences should be scaffolded to prompt reflection specifically about the nature of inquiry and conceptually linked to ways in which inquiry can be brought into the K-12 classroom. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed87:112–143, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/sce.10044
The Speculative Demand for Money: An Alternative Approach

. The speculative demand for money has occupied an important role in Keynes’ General Theory. Since then it has received only sporadic attention. The lack of sustained interest among specialists in monetary theory is largely due to the fact that the theory, in its original form, has usually failed to survive the empirical tests. In this paper, an attempt is made to estimate the speculative demand for money using the general framework of the “Efficient Markets Theory.” The study uses the United States seasonally adjusted monthly data for the period 1952-72. The results strongly indicate the existence of the speculative demand for money.
A scalable authorization approach for the Globus grid system

Grid computing has received widespread attention in recent years as a significant new research field. To date, there has been only limited work on the problem of grid system authorization. In this paper, we address the authorization problem in grid system environments and propose a solution for authorization within Globus system. Our authorization approach is based on distributed authorization servers and extensions to Globus' Metacomputing Directory Service (MDS). The goal is to provide a scalable authorization approach that is able to meet the requirements of a dynamic grid environment.