cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental Contributions to Otitis Media Requiring Tympanostomy Tubes

Abstract Objective Otitis media requiring tympanostomy tubes (OMwTT) is a prevalent disease process that has been previously shown to have a strong familial link. The impact from the environmental versus genetic contributions to this link is unknown. The objective was to determine the environmental involvement in the development of OMwTT. Methods Using an extensive genealogical database linked to medical records, we evaluated the risk of OMwTT in children of probands as compared to children of controls, individually matched 5:1 on sex and birth year, from a conditional logistic regression model. The model included adjustments for geographic and socioeconomic environmental risk factors mapped to residence location of study subjects within 63 small health statistical areas of ∼33,500 persons each. Results 37,814 case probands diagnosed with OMwTT and 181,339 controls were included in our analysis. Children of probands with OMwTT had an overall 2.5× higher risk of also having OMwTT as compared to the children of controls ( p −9 ), independent of environmental factors (PM 2.5 [particulate matter] air pollution, education level of parents, and density of primary care providers). Conclusion After accounting for geographic and socioeconomic differences that may influence risk between cases and controls, our findings suggest evidence of a genetic predisposition in families of OMwTT patients. Further characterization of high-risk pedigrees is needed for future genomic studies.
Semi-infinite Multiobjective Fractional Programming II

In this chapter, we first present three new classes of generalized convex functions involving Hadamard directional derivatives, namely, (strictly) (\(\mathcal {F},\) \(\beta ,\) \(\phi ,\) \(\rho ,\) \(\eta ,\) \(\theta ,\) \(\mu \))-Hd-univex functions, (strictly) (\(\mathcal {F},\) \(\beta ,\) \(\phi ,\) \(\rho ,\) \(\eta ,\) \(\theta ,\) \(\mu \))-Hd-pseudounivex functions, and (prestrictly) (\(\mathcal {F},\) \(\beta ,\) \(\phi ,\) \(\rho ,\) \(\eta ,\) \(\theta ,\) \(\mu \))-Hd-quasiunivex functions, and then, using these functions, we examine numerous sets of sufficient efficiency conditions for a semi-infinite multiobjective fractional programming problem with infinitely many equality and inequality constraints defined on a normed linear space. These results are crucial to further research endeavors.
Lignin extraction and catalytic upgrading from genetically modified poplar

Lignin as the only natural resource of aromatics has the potential to be the feedstock of choice for the production of value-added chemicals. However, the recalcitrance of lignin has limited its valorization into value-added products, and it is often burned for heat. The acid-catalyzed organosolv extraction of lignin results in the formation of interunit carbon–carbon bonds, which limit its upgrading. In this work, three different solvent systems (methanol, acetone, and acetic acid) were evaluated for the extraction of native lignin from wild-type and genetically modified poplar species (wild type, high-S, and low-S). Over 68% of the original lignin in the biomass was isolated and subjected to further upgrading over a heterogeneous Ni/C catalyst (10 wt% of catalyst in methanol solvent, under 35 bar H2 pressure at 225 °C). Three major monomeric phenolic products, guaiacol, isoeugenol, and 4-propenyl syringol, were obtained. Methanol-extracted lignin gave the best yield of >60% of the said aromatic products. Methanol as a nucleophile reacted with the Cα benzylic carbocation formed during the organosolv extraction, minimizing the carbon–carbon bond formation. This protection by methanol was demonstrated by NMR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed differences in the isolated lignin on the micron scale from the three different treatments.
Economic Analysis of Pavement Preservation Techniques

This paper summarizes the research study conducted to develop and implement a methodological framework, using an economic analysis technique, to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the three differe...
American Identity and Public Opinion: How What it Means to be an American Influences Language Policy Preferences

This paper builds upon previous research that has shown how notions of what it means to be an American can influence policy preferences. The author does so by analyzing how several conceptions of American citizenship, namely liberalism, civic republicanism, and ethnoculturalism, affect support for declaring English the official language and printing election ballots only in English. Using focus group research, the paper shows that these three conceptions provide a useful, though incomplete, framework for describing Americans' perceptions of their national identity and for examining how those perceptions influence opinions. Further, the author argues that the direction in which conceptions of national identity influence preferences will depend on the particular aspects of identity that people emphasize.
Enhancing System-Level Education with Reusable Designs

Now that silicon manufacturing has enabled the cost-effective production of single-chip implementations for what previously were considered full systems, designers are increasingly reusing significant portions of previous designs. Thus, today’s integrated circuits require that designers create and integrate reusable building blocks or intellectual property (IP). It is, therefore, imperative that universities provide the appropriate courses so that more students can become system-level designers. Curricula need to be updated at several points to include team projects. Universities need to collaborate with one another to share course materials, intellectual property blocks and ideas. Several possibilities for collaboration are presented and discussed.
Contemporary Adult Developmentalists

Having discussed the life cycle and images of adulthood from the perspectives of some scholars of antiquity and pioneer developmentalists, we will now describe the thinking of contemporary researchers. The study of adult development is really in its infancy, especially when compared to our knowledge of childhood and adolescence. It is appropriate, we believe, to wonder why the study of the adult has lagged so far behind. Stevens-Long (1979) suggests that the attention paid to children and adolescents, as opposed to adults, has its roots in economic, social, and psychological issues. The spread of compulsory education, with large numbers of children attending public schools, forced educators and psychologists to conduct developmental studies to provide information about optimal teaching methods, classroom organization, discipline, and social behavior. Both biologists and psychologists stressed that the study of children was an important source of information about the evolution of the species. Freud’s revolutionary description of early development and its effects in later life for a long time precluded very much attention being paid to exclusively adult facets of experience.
Teaching about Environmental Public Affairs Using an Ecosystem Approach: Integrating Academic Disciplines

This paper proposes an interdisciplinary, ecosystem focus as a way of preparing future environmental managers. The authors investigated the effectiveness of this approach in classroom teaching with...
Enhancement of Electrochromic Polymer Switching in Plasmonic Nanostructured Environment

We explore color switching properties of thin polyaniline (PANI) films deposited on plasmonic nanomesh structures in comparison with the films deposited on flat gold. The nanostructured systems show a much steeper color switching with increasing voltage than the films prepared on flat substrates. A strong difference between nanostructured and flat systems is also observed at small voltages, where nanostructured samples often demonstrate an additional feature in cyclic voltammetry curves and nonmonotonous changes in optical properties. Possible origins of the observed effects are discussed in terms of acceleration of charge transport in nanostructured plasmonic environment and interface-related effects. The results can provide opportunities for enhancing and controlling the electrochromic polymer performance in smart windows or display applications.
Collaborative Quizzes: Impact on Student Performance and Attendance.

The current study investigated whether collaborative quizzing impacted quiz performance, overall grades, exam grades, pass/fail rates, and attendance in upper-level psychology courses. Students enr...
Analysis and exploitation of lidar waveform data

Data from the Optech Titan airborne laser scanner were collected over Monterey, CA, in three wavelengths (532 nm, 1064 nm, and 1550 nm), in October 2016, by the National Center for Airborne LiDAR Mapping (NCALM). Lidar waveform data at 532 nm from the Optech Titan were analyzed for data collected over the forested area at the Pont Lobos State Park. Standard point cloud processing was done using LAStools. Waveform data were converted into pseudo “hypercubes” in order to facilitate use of the analysis structures used for hyperspectral imagery. Analysis approaches used were ENVI classification tools such as Support Vector Machines (SVM), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), Maximum Likelihood, and K-means to classify returns. Through the use of this analog to hyperspectral data analysis to classify vegetation and terrain, the results are that, by using the Support Vector Machines with full waveform data, we can successfully improve low vegetation classifiers by 40%, and differentiate tree types (Pine/Cypress) at 40–60% accuracy.
Do differences in reported expenditures between household scanner data and expenditure surveys matter in health policy research

Household scanner data are increasingly used to inform health policy such as sugar-sweetened beverage taxes. This article examines whether differences in the level of reported expenditures between IRI Consumer Network scanner panel and the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) lead to important differences in demand elasticities and policy simulation outcomes. Using each dataset, we estimated a structural consumer demand system with seven food groups and a numeraire good. To compare the two datasets on a level playing field, we went to great lengths to ensure that the explanatory variables in the two demand models were comparably constructed. Results indicate that scanner data households are not consistently more price responsive than the general population and underreported Consumer Network expenditures do not seem to result in systematic differences in price elasticities. The income elasticities are uniformly lower in Consumer Network than in CES for higher income households because of the positive association between income and the degree of underreporting. This, however, has limited effects on uncompensated price elasticities and policy simulations because food budget shares are small for higher income households. Overall, these findings support continued use of household scanner data in health policy research related to effects of price (dis)incentives.
Frailty Is Related to Subjective Cognitive Decline in Older Women without Dementia

OBJECTIVES Physical frailty (or loss of physiologic reserve) is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may represent early pathologic changes of dementia. The association between these disease markers is unclear. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING Community-based participants from the Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project. PARTICIPANTS A total of 306 older adults with normal cognition (NC; n = 174) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 132). MEASUREMENTS Frailty was measured using standard methods, and a composite frailty score was calculated. SCD was quantified using the Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog; total score and four domain scores). Objective cognition was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Proportional odds models, stratified by sex, related the frailty composite to MoCA and total ECog score adjusting for age, education, body mass index, cognitive diagnosis, depressed mood, Framingham Stroke Risk Profile, apolipoprotein E (APOE e4) carrier status, and height (for gait speed models). Secondary models related individual frailty components to SCD domains and explored associations in NC only. RESULTS In women, frailty composite was related to MoCA (odds ratio [OR] = .56; P = .04), a finding attenuated in sensitivity analysis (OR = .59; P = .08). Frailty composite related to ECog total (OR = 2.27; P = .02), planning (OR = 2.63; P = .02), and organization scores (OR = 2.39; P = .03). Increasing gait speed related to lower ECog total (OR = .06; P = .003) and memory scores (OR = .03; P .07). Findings were consistent in the NC group. CONCLUSION Frailty component and composite scores are related to SCD before the presence of overt dementia. Results suggest that this association is present before overt cognitive impairment. Results suggest a possible sex difference in the clinical manifestation of frailty, with primary associations noted in women. Further studies should investigate mechanisms linking early changes among frailty, SCD, and cognition. J Am Geriatr Soc, 1-9, 2019. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1803-1811, 2019.
Neighborhood gun violence and birth outcomes in Chicago

To examine the association between gun violence and birth outcomes among women in Chicago. Using a 5-year set of birth files (2011–2015) merged with census and police data, birth outcomes including low birth weight (LBW, BW < 2500 g), preterm birth (PTB, < 37 weeks gestation), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA, BW < 10th percentile) were examined among non-Hispanic (NH) white, NH black, and Hispanic women in Chicago. Gun violence rates were categorized into tertiles. Multilevel, multiple logistic regression examined the effects of gun violence and race/ethnicity on birth outcomes. Of 175,065 births, 10.6% of LBW, 10.6% of PTB, and 9.1% of SGA occurred in high violence tertile. Using white women in low violence tertile as reference, the OR for LBW among black women ranged 1.9–2.1 across all tertiles, and 0.8–1.2 among Hispanic women. OR for PTB for black women were 1.6–1.7 and 1.0–1.2 for Hispanic women, and OR for SGA for black women were 1.6–1.7 and for Hispanic women 0.9–1.0. In Chicago, race/ethnicity was associated with birth outcomes, regardless of the level of exposure to gun violence, in 2011–2015. The differences in racial/ethnic composition across the violence exposure levels suggest that, rather than gun violence alone, residential segregation and the geographic inequities likely contribute to disparate birth outcomes.
Patient Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of a Sepsis Care Quality Improvement Program in a Health System.

Objectives:Assess patient outcomes in patients with suspected infection and the cost-effectiveness of implementing a quality improvement program.Design, Setting, and Participants:We conducted an observational single-center study of 13,877 adults with suspected infection between March 1, 2014, and Ju
The diet-heart hypothesis, obesity and diabetes

Human feeding studies show that dietary fat quality, but not total fat intake, influences levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Metaanalyses indicate an association with reduced coronary heart disease (CHD) risk when saturated fatty acid is replaced with polyunsaturated fatty acid or with low-glycaemic index carbohydrates. A meta-analysis of eight small trials supports this benefit. Secular trends in populations that modified fat intake and quality show a consistent reduction in LDL cholesterol levels and CHD risk. The increase in obesity and diabetes in many developed countries does not track consistently with the implementation of dietary guidelines aimed at lowering fat intake. Obesity is more likely to be due to increases in total energy intake, coupled with an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. However, cohort studies indicate that poor dietary quality is associated with future weight gain. Both cohort studies and secular trends implicate the increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages as being associated with obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Weight reduction can be achieved with a range of energy-restricted diets, including low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets and low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets. Metabolic benefits are proportional to the degree of weight reduction, irrespective of the dietary approach used. The prevention of CHD requires an emphasis on fat quality, rather than fat quantity, while the prevention of obesity and diabetes requires a focus on energy balance and carbohydrate quality.
Trends in Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in the United States: A MarketScan Study From 2007 to 2014

Background Although the incidence of spinal fusions has increased significantly in the United States over the last quarter century, national trends of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) utilization are not known. Purpose The objective of this study was to characterize trends, clinical characteristics, risk factors associated with, and outcomes of ALIF in the United States. Study design This was an epidemiological study using national administrative data from the MarketScan database. Methods Using a large administrative database, we identified adults who underwent ALIF in the United States from 2007 to 2014. The incidence of ALIF was studied longitudinally over time and across geographic regions in the United States. Data related to postoperative complications, length of stay, readmission, and cost were collected. Results We identified 49,945 patients that underwent ALIF in the United States between 2007 and 2014. The total number of ALIF procedures increased from 3650 in 2007 to 6151 in 2014, accounting for an average increase of 24.07% annually. The Southern United States performed the highest number of ALIFs. The most common conditions treated were degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. Over one third of patients (34.6%) underwent multilevel fusion. The most common complications were iron deficiency anemia, urinary tract infections, and pulmonary complications. Hospital and physician pay increased significantly during the study period. Conclusions For the first time in our knowledge, we identified national trends in ALIF utilization, outcomes, and cost using a large administrative database. Our study reaffirms prior work that has demonstrated low rates of complications, mortality, and readmission following ALIF. Level of evidence Level III.
Individual Differences in Value-Directed Remembering

Abstract Capacity limits in cognition require that valuable information be prioritized for encoding and retrieval. Individual differences in prioritized value-directed encoding may derive from differences in the general ability to encode memories, or from differences in how strategies are altered for different stimuli to modulate maintenance in working memory. We collected multiple cognitive ability measures to test whether variation in episodic memory, working memory capacity, or both predict differences in value-directed remembering among a large sample of participants (n = 205). Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling was used to assess the contributions of episodic and working memory to value sensitivity in value-directed remembering tasks. Episodic memory ability, but not working memory capacity, was predictive of value-directed remembering. These results suggest that the ability to prioritize memory derives principally from episodic memory ability overall, so that greater capacity also permits greater flexibility.
CHFR methylation as an epigenetic marker for recurrence of colon cancer

4043 Background: Currently, no definitive epigenetic markers exist to predict recurrence and overall survival (OS) of colorectal cancer patients after surgical resection. Promoter hypermethylation ...
Validity of failure-caused traffic conflicts as surrogates of rear-end collisions in naturalistic driving studies.

Abstract Although the frequency and severity of crashes are direct measures of road safety, crash data are typically of limited quality and they require long data collection periods to produce conclusive results. Surrogates of crashes that would allow a quick and accurate estimation of safety have been an active topic for years. Among multiple alternatives, traffic conflicts have been established as a promising surrogate measure. This paper is aimed to demonstrate the validity of failure-caused traffic conflicts by applying a recently proposed Lomax-based method to estimate the expected number of crashes from observed traffic conflicts. The data collected in the naturalistic driving program, the Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2), were used in the validation task. The rear-end crashes recorded during the SHRP2 program and the corresponding rear-end traffic conflicts were analyzed for three categories of drivers: young male, mature male, and mature female. Past research has indicated that these three categories have a distinctively different proneness to involvement in crashes. Out of all rear-end traffic conflicts included in the SHRP2 database, 1.4 % were used to estimate the crash frequencies and rates for each studied type of driver. The Lomax distribution was applied within the counterfactual framework. Then, the conflict-based crash rate estimates were compared to the crash rates of the studied types of drivers calculated from all the rear-end crashes observed in the SHRP2 study period. The conflict-based rate estimates followed well the crash-based rates and the existing knowledge about the safety performance of the studied drivers. The conflict-based results confirmed the over-representation of young male drivers in crashes. It was also confirmed that mature male drivers are involved in rear-end crashes more frequently than mature female drivers. The results demonstrate both the validity of the Lomax-based analysis of failure-caused traffic conflicts and the benefit of traffic conflicts analysis that considerably reduces a period of data collection from years for crashes to days or weeks for traffic conflicts.
50-GHz-spaced comb of high-dimensional frequency-bin entangled photons from an on-chip silicon nitride microresonator

Quantum frequency combs from chip-scale integrated sources are promising candidates for scalable and robust quantum information processing (QIP). However, to use these quantum combs for frequency domain QIP, demonstration of entanglement in the frequency basis, showing that the entangled photons are in a coherent superposition of multiple frequency bins, is required. We present a verification of qubit and qutrit frequency-bin entanglement using an on-chip quantum frequency comb with 40 mode pairs, through a two-photon interference measurement that is based on electro-optic phase modulation. Our demonstrations provide an important contribution in establishing integrated optical microresonators as a source for high-dimensional frequency-bin encoded quantum computing, as well as dense quantum key distribution.
"Make it fun": a qualitative study exploring key aspects of power mobility interventions for children.

PURPOSE Research suggests there are three groups of paediatric power mobility learners: exploratory, operational and functional. The purpose of this modified grounded theory study was to explore the key aspects of power mobility interventions for children in each of these paediatric power mobility learner groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews conducted in-person or via Zoom®. Three stakeholder groups were interviewed: (1) children ages 8-18 years who used a power wheelchair (PWC); (2) parents whose children (≤18 years of age) used a PWC; and (3) therapists/therapist researchers experienced in paediatric power mobility. An interview guide was created for each stakeholder group. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and an initial coding scheme was used to identify intervention activities specific to each learner group. Data for each learner group were then coded to reflect the essence of each intervention activity. Finally, patterns within the data were identified and codes were collapsed into thematic categories reflecting the key aspects of intervention for each learner group. RESULTS A total of 29 participants (nine children, seven parents and 13 therapists) took part in the study. Key aspects of power mobility interventions for each learner group, as well as fundamental aspects of power mobility intervention applicable to all learner groups, emerged in the data. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights both the similarities (fundamental aspects) and differences (key aspects targeting the specific needs of each learner group) of power mobility interventions for children in each of the three power mobility learner groups.Implications for RehabilitationThere are both similarities (fundamental aspects) and differences (key aspects targeting the specific needs of each learner group) in the needs of children in each of the three power mobility learner groups.Key aspects of power mobility interventions vary for children in each of the three paediatric power mobility learner groups and correspond with the learning needs of each power mobility learner group.The findings of this study will help clinicians and researchers to tailor power mobility interventions to meet the unique needs of children in each power mobility learner group.
Diversity, social goods provision, and performance in the firm

Economists have studied the effect of diversity on the provision of social goods and the stock of social capital. In parallel, management scholars have studied the effect of diversity in the workplace on firm performance. We integrate these two growing literatures and explore these questions with a unique dataset. A firm provided eight years of individual-level employee survey data, which include measures of the stock of social capital, plus office-level measures of diversity and performance. We find some evidence that more gender-homogeneous offices enjoy higher levels of social goods provision but those offices do not perform any better and may actually perform worse.
Visualization of probiotics via epifluorescence microscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Aerobic plate counts, the standard for bacterial enumeration in the probiotic industry, can be biased towards fast-growing organisms that replicate on synthetic media and can significantly underestimate total bacterial abundance. Culture-independent approaches such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) hold promise as a means to rapidly and accurately enumerate bacteria in probiotic products. In addition, FISH has the potential to more accurately represent bacterial growth dynamics in the environment in which products are applied without imposing additional growth constraints that are required for enumeration via plate counts. In this study, we designed and optimized three new FISH probes to visualize and quantify Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus licheniformis within probiotic products. Microscopy-based estimates were consistent or higher than label claims for Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus in both a direct fed microbial (DFM) product as well as a crop microbial biostimulant (CMB) product. Quantification with FISH after a germination experiment revealed the potential for this approach to be used after application of the product.
504 Creative Aftercare Program Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic

Introduction Coronavirus disease presented itself early in 2019 inducing a considerable degree of fear, worry, and unknown throughout the United States National and State governed laws imposed social distancing measures, quarantining citizens, and isolating infected persons Apart from its physical impact, COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous changes to people's lives affecting people both physically and psychologically A key component of quality of life of burn survivors consist of maintaining a long-term burn center connection through support groups Our burn center developed a virtual format for aftercare to provide psychological support during the pandemic Methods Regular attendees and new burn survivors were contacted by the aftercare specialist from an American Burn Associated verified burn center Participants were surveyed on the best mode of contact and current addresses were obtained "Happy Mail" was mailed to support group participants 3 times/month Items included in these packages ranged from motivational sayings, gift cards, essential oils, candies, art projects, and reminders to log onto the virtual support groups The gift packages also included a mental health check-in icebreaker These gift packages took the place of our in-person support groups and contained all materials needed to engage and guide participation in the virtual monthly support group Participants were then invited to join a social media support group for our local burn center Results Burn survivors continued to receive quality psychosocial support to cope with and process feelings as well as validate emotions Attendees regularly expressed gratitude in receiving "Happy Mail" as it brought a feeling of connectiveness to a group of burn survivors who rely on each other for peer support The gift packages also served as a reminder of the upcoming virtual aftercare support groups as our attendance did not see a decline at monthly meetings Conclusions Our experience suggests that a method of offering "Happy Mail" as part of a curriculum to augment virtual aftercare can be a model to adapt to the emotional support burn survivors and their family members need during the pandemic
Self-organization of apical membrane protein sorting in epithelial cells.

Polarized epithelial cells are characterized by the asymmetric distribution of proteins between apical and basolateral domains of the plasma membrane. This asymmetry is highly conserved and is fundamental to epithelial cell physiology, development, and homeostasis. How proteins are segregated for apical or basolateral delivery, a process known as sorting, has been the subject of considerable investigation for decades. Despite these efforts, the rules guiding apical sorting are poorly understood and remain controversial. Here, we consider mechanisms of apical membrane protein sorting and argue that they are largely driven by self-organization and biophysical principles. The preponderance of data to date are consistent with the idea that apical sorting is not ruled by a dedicated protein-based sorting machinery and relies instead on the concerted effects of oligomerization, phase separation of lipids and proteins in membranes, and pH-dependent glycan interactions.
Ethanol to Distillate-Range Molecules using Cu/MgxAlOy catalysts with low Cu loadings

Abstract A series of calcined MgAl mixed metal oxide catalysts with low Cu loadings (0.1 – 1.5 wt%) were tested for ethanol oligomerization to distillate-range molecules. The low Cu loading catalysts (0.1 – 0.6 wt%) had high selectivity to linear chain C4+ alcohols (49 – 63% selectivity) and C6+ esters (45 – 66% of total esters). More specifically, the diesel fuel precursor selectivities were over 75% for low Cu loading catalysts (0.1 – 0.6 wt%), with a decrease to 49% for a higher Cu loading catalyst (>1.2 wt% Cu) due to increased ethyl acetate and acetone formation. Alcohol and ester product selectivities follow a Schultz-Flory distribution. Alcohol selectivity was found to vary inversely with BET surface areas of the catalysts, whereas ester selectivity was found to increase with higher base site counts. However, Cu wt% loading was found to have a stronger impact in overall catalyst activity. The catalysts deactivated proportionally to the number of turnovers mainly due to coking, but could be regenerated by calcination.
On Coordinated Feedforward Excitation of Nonlinear Servomechanisms

In an earlier paper, the authors introduced the idea of using higher-order spectral information for shaping the loop response in nonlinear servomechanisms. The design procedure was embodied in the multidimensional transfer functions associated with Volterra representations of the plant and its compensation. This paper extends the scope of the procedure by implementing higher-order, feedforward prefilters to excite the loop. The method is systematic in both design and realization of higher-order feedforward dynamics, and offers a potential advantage in nonlinear servomechanism performance as illustrated in a tandem motor-generator example.
Infrared emittance measurements at NIST

A new capability for the measurement of the temperature-dependent emittance of specular samples in the near infrared spectral region has been developed in NIST's infrared spectrophotometry laboratory to provide emittance measurements and standards for a broad range of applications including rapid thermal processing (RTP). Our approach employs the indirect measurement of reflectance and transmittance measurements to obtain emittance. A vacuum goniometer system controls the sample environment and measurement geometry. The main system, including the sample, is contained in a vacuum chamber that enables characterization of materials otherwise susceptible to oxidation. Details of the lasers, sources, detectors, and other optics in the system are given. The system has initially been used to characterize the spectral emittance (by reflectance) of a variety of semiconductor wafer samples including bare silicon and silicon substrates coated with SiO 2, Si3N4, and polysilicon films. The spectral range for these measurements is from 600 nm to 1100 nm, where Si is opaque; the temperature range is ambient to 800degC. The results are analyzed and compared with those predicted by several models from the literature
Residence time distributions in sinuosity‐driven hyporheic zones and their biogeochemical effects

[1] Hyporheic exchange plays a key role in the biogeochemical evolution of water and in ecosystem functioning at the local, reach, and watershed scales. Residence time is a fundamental metric to describe the possible transformation taking place in this exchange zone. With this in mind, we use a simple conceptual model to explore the residence time distributions (RTDs) of sinuosity-driven hyporheic zones (HZs) and to discriminate the individual effect of sinuosity (σ), valley slope (Jx), hydraulic conductivity (K), aquifer dispersivity (αL), and the biogeochemical timescales (BTSs) that characterize the degradation of dissolved organic carbon in these hydrologic systems. We find that RTDs are characterized by one early mode and a late time power law behavior. For a given aquifer dispersivity, the shape of these distributions is stretched or compressed by changes in Jx, K, and σ, having a strong influence on the net biogeochemical transformations within the HZ. Using BTSs proposed in previous studies and sensitivity analyses, we show the potential of σ, Jx, and K to classify meander HZs as net sinks of nitrates or only modulators of the residence times in the subsurface where nitrate reduction is negligible. These findings can be used as predictive tools to quantify the potential of meanders as biogeochemical reactors at the watershed scale with the aid of remote sensing data and GIS processing techniques. These tools can guide experimental design, suggesting important locations to visit, sample, and/or instrument. Also, hyporheic restoration projects can use them for initial site selection and design of channel modifications.
The revision of international science indicators

Abstract Science indicators have become an important tool in the development of science, technology, and innovation policy in the industrialized world. Indeed, the advent of these indicators is closely tied to the rise of science and technology policy studies generally since the early 1960s. Although it is not a comprehensive guide to the full range of measurement techniques available — such as bibliometrics or citation analysis, the OECD's Frascati Manual has become the preeminent document for the internationally standardized definitions of scientific and technological activity for statistical purposes. It is through this Manual that policy makers, policy analysts, economists, and statisticians in the OECD countries are able to discuss the relative performance of countries in terms of R&D expenditures and personnel. This paper discusses, in very general terms, the genesis and development of The Frascati Manual , from pre-1963 to the most recent Frascati meetings in October, 1991, in Rome. It shows the creation and maintenance of the manual as a case of international diplomacy and negotiation. cooperation, and perseverance on the part of individuals. It places the manual within the dynamic context of the new world industrial and political order. Most specifically, it offers but a brief summary of the author's observations of the major outcomes from that meeting.
Allosteric Proteins and Drug Discovery

The existence of allosteric phenomena in the control of proteins allows for exquisite control of many of the cell's normal processes. Allosteric interactions involve the binding of an “allosteric” ligand to a site other than the functional (active) site of the protein, with a concomitant alteration in activity. Two major theoretical models have been presented to explain allosteric interactions, that of Monod, Wyman, and Changeux and that of Koshland, Nemethy, Filmer, Dalziel, and Engel. Although there are essential differences between the two models, both require that allosteric ligands interact with one or more forms of the protein to trigger a modulating effect. In only a few cases, much structural detail is known about more than one conformational state of any given allosteric protein, or how the binding of small-molecule effectors to an allosteric site triggers protein modulation. Our current understanding of how conformational signals may be transmitted between proteins is assessed, particularly in the light of recent discussion of intrinsically disordered regions of proteins. Methods for identifying potential ligands that may elicit allosteric effects is also discussed. In this chapter, the essential features of allosteric enzymes and allosteric models are examined in a context that leads to consideration of how drugs may be designed such that they either mimic or block normal allosteric effects. Several existing “allosteric” drugs, and a number of potential targets for the rationale design of future allosteric drugs, are discussed. Keywords: allosteric effector; allosteric modulation; allosteric protein; allostery; Koshland–Nemethy–Filmer/Dalziel–Engel model of allostery; Monod–Wyman–Changeux model of allostery; potential allosteric targets; rational drug design
Errors and Uncertainties in Dose Reconstruction for Radiation Effects Research

Dose reconstruction for studies of the health effects of ionizing radiation have been carried out for many decades. Major studies have included Japanese bomb survivors, atomic veterans, downwinders of the Nevada Test Site and Hanford, underground uranium miners, and populations of nuclear workers. For such studies to be credible, significant effort must be put into applying the best science to reconstructing unbiased absorbed doses to tissues and organs as a function of time. In many cases, more and more sophisticated dose reconstruction methods have been developed as studies progressed. For the example of the Japanese bomb survivors, the dose surrogate “distance from the hypocenter” was replaced by slant range, and then by TD65 doses, DS86 doses, and more recently DS02 doses. Over the years, it has become increasingly clear that an equal level of effort must be expended on the quantitative assessment of uncertainty in such doses, and to reducing and managing uncertainty. In this context, this paper reviews difficulties in terminology, explores the nature of Berkson and classical uncertainties in dose reconstruction through examples, and proposes a path forward for Joint Coordinating Committee for Radiation Effects Research (JCCRER) Project 2.4 that requires a reasonably small level of effort for DOSES-2008.
Dissolution of uranium dioxide by molten zircaloy: I. Diffusion-controlled reaction

Abstract The morphology, reaction products, kinetics and mechanisms of the reaction of UO 2 with Zircaloy were investigated in laboratory tests at temperatures between 1900 and 2200°c and times from 10 to 200 s. To avoid unstable density gradients and the resulting bulk motion of the melt, a disk of UO 2 was used as the bottom of a crucible with walls of thoria to contain the liquid metal. Polished sections of the post-test specimens were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and electron microprobe analysis. The complicated structures observed in the quenched specimens, which contained up to seven distinct regions, could, with the aid of phase diagrams, be traced to a two-phase interaction region at high temperature. This region arose from inhomogeneous production of metallic uranium in the near-surface part of the oxide, which permitted rapid zirconium penetration of the oxide to depths of hundreds of microns. Kinetic analysis of oxygen and uranium migration into the melt were based on a diffusion model and utilized measured solubilities of these elements in the melt and data on UO 2 specimen thickness decrease and concentration distributions in the specimen.
Temporal and spatial history of the 1999-2000 Endeavour Segment seismic series, Juan de Fuca Ridge

[1] Two large clusters of earthquake activity in June of 1999 and January of 2000 have dominated recent seismicity along the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. The impacts of the June 1999 sequence on the hydrologic system, which include changes in vent temperature and chemistry within the Main Endeavour Vent Field, have been well documented previously. Analysis of seismic and hydroacoustic data indicates that both sequences exhibit a swarm-like behavior, characterized by the absence of a dominant main shock event. The epicentral locations of events within the two swarms overlap spatially, with centroid positions near 47°49′ and 47°46′N latitude. During the June 1999 swarm, the initial activity spans the along-axis region where a shallow axial magma chamber reflector was later imaged. The epicenters then migrate ∼12 km to the south at a rate of 0.3 m/s, consistent with lateral dike propagation. A distinct subcluster of events also occurred in the vicinity of Surveyor Volcano on the overlapping portion of the Cobb Segment. Given its distance from the main swarm, this activity may represent a triggered response to dynamic shaking. The January 2000 swarm has a more limited along-axis extent, relative to the June 1999 swarm, with no indication of lateral migration. Much of this activity is concentrated in a region predicted to have undergone extension due to dike propagation in 1999. Although it contains fewer total events and is of shorter duration, relative to the June 1999 swarm, the January 2000 activity exhibits a higher peak rate of seismicity and greater mean event magnitude. As in situ temperature monitoring was not in place during January 2000 and vent fluids were not sampled until June 2000, the impacts of this swarm on the hydrothermal system are unknown. The southernmost tip of the Endeavour Segment also is found to be a region of repeating swarm activity. Although morphologic evidence indicates the Cobb Segment has been propagating northward recently, this seismic activity suggests that the western limb of the Endeavour-Cobb overlap zone remains active.
Targeting of Bivalent Anti-ErbB2 Diabody Antibody Fragments to Tumor Cells Is Independent of the Intrinsic Antibody Affinity

In immunodeficient mice antitumor single-chain Fv (scFv) molecules penetrate tumors rapidly and have rapid serum clearance, leading to excellent tumor:normal organ ratios. However, the absolute quantity of scFv retained in the tumor is low due to rapid serum clearance and monovalent scFv binding. We previously demonstrated that the presence of an additional binding site prolongs in vitro and in vivo association of scFv-based molecules with tumor cells expressing relevant antigen. The contribution of the intrinsic affinity of each component scFv to the association between a dimeric scFv and its target antigen is largely unknown. Here, we have constructed bivalent diabody molecules from three affinity mutants of the human anti-ErbB2 (HER2/neu) scFv molecule C6.5 by shortening the peptide linker between the heavy (VH) and light (VL) chains variable domains from 15 to 5 amino acids. The shorter linker prevents intramolecular pairing of VH and VL, resulting in intermolecular pairing and creation of a dimeric Mr 50,000 molecule with two antigen-binding sites. The scFv used to create the diabodies span a 133-fold range of affinity for the same epitope of ErbB2 [133 nM (C6G98A), 25 nM (C6.5), and 1 nM (C6ML3-9)] and differ by only one to three amino acids. Diabody binding kinetics were determined by surface plasmon resonance on the immobilized ErbB2 extracellular domain. The association rate constants obtained for each diabody molecule were similar to that of the parental (component) scFv. However, the dissociation rate constants obtained for the bivalent diabodies were up to 15-fold slower. The magnitude of the decrease in the bivalent dissociation rate constant was inversely proportional to the monovalent interaction, ranging from only 3-fold for that of the C6ML3-9 diabody to 15-fold for the C6G98A diabody. This resulted in only a 22-fold difference in bivalent affinity, compared with a 133-fold difference in affinity for the respective scFv. Equilibrium-binding constants obtained by surface plasmon resonance correlated well with the equilibrium-binding constants determined in vitro on ErbB2 overexpressing cells. Biodistribution studies were performed in scid mice bearing established SKOV3 tumors. At 24 h, 3-37-fold more diabody was retained in tumor compared with the parental scFv monomers. This likely results from a higher apparent affinity, because of bivalent binding, and a slower serum clearance. Surprisingly, the differences in affinity between diabodies did not result in differences in quantitative tumor retention or tumor to blood ratios. In fact, the diabody constructed from the lowest affinity scFv exhibited the best tumor-targeting properties. We conclude that, above a threshold affinity, other factors regulate quantitative tumor retention. In addition, straightforward dimerization of a low-affinity scFv leads to significantly greater tumor localization than does exhaustive scFv affinity maturation.