cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of mixed effects logistic regression models for binary response data with two nested levels of clustering

We compare mixed effects logistic regression models for binary response data with two nested levels of clustering. The comparison of these models occurs in the context of developmental toxicity data sets, for which multiple types of outcomes (first level) are measured on each rat pup (second level) nested within a litter (third level). Because the nested nature of such data is occasionally accommodated by ignoring one level of clustering, we consider three models: (i) a three-level model adjusting for clustering due to both pup and litter (M1); (ii) a two-level model adjusting for just pup (M2); and (iii) another two-level model adjusting for just litter (M3). The three types of effects of interest are: (i) differences among malformation types (first-level effects); (ii) differences among groups of pups (for example, sex of pup, second-level effects); and (iii) differences among groups of litters (for example, dose, third-level effects). Simulations and data analyses suggest that the M3 model leads to more bias than the M1 or M2 models for all three types of effects. In terms of coverage of confidence intervals for fixed effects log odds ratio parameters, the M1 model achieves nominal coverage, whereas the M2 model reduces coverage for the third-level effects and the M3 model obtains poor coverage for both first- and second-level effects. These reductions in coverage for certain model-parameter combinations worsen as baseline risk increases. The data analyses support these simulation-based conclusions to some extent.
Urbanization and Italian Politics

E FFORTS TO ACCOUNT for the nature and direction of political change in the developing nations of Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East have produced the theory of political modernization. In these nations, observers have found the gradual emergence of modern political systems, characterized by (1) functionally specialized political institutions, such as parties, elections, pressure groups, schools, mass media, and legislatures; (2) political recruitment based on achievement; (3) mass awareness of national political events and allegiance to a national political system; (4) mass participation in national politics; and (5) a powerful, centralized, bureaucratic state, capable of performing a broad range of complex, sophisticated functions.' The development of the modern polity, according to this theory, is accompanied (or perhaps necessarily preceded) by the secularization of society, the growth of new social classes and the restructuring of class relations, industrialization and commercialization of the economy, and the growth of cities.2 In most developing nations, modern politics have tended to involve mostly the Westernized urban groups. Cities have not only been the principal arenas of politics, but also the principal means for the diffusion of nationalism and other modern political ideas and forms of behavior.3 Has this been the pattern of political development in Italy? It is difficult to say, given the ambiguities of the theory of political modernization, the lack of consensus on the nature of urban-rural relations in Italy, and the nature of Italian society.
The contents of visual working memory reduce uncertainty during visual search

Information held in visual working memory (VWM) influences the allocation of attention during visual search, with targets matching the contents of VWM receiving processing benefits over those that do not. Such an effect could arise from multiple mechanisms: First, it is possible that the contents of working memory enhance the perceptual representation of the target. Alternatively, it is possible that when a target is presented among distractor items, the contents of working memory operate postperceptually to reduce uncertainty about the location of the target. In both cases, a match between the contents of VWM and the target should lead to facilitated processing. However, each effect makes distinct predictions regarding set-size manipulations; whereas perceptual enhancement accounts predict processing benefits regardless of set size, uncertainty reduction accounts predict benefits only with set sizes larger than 1, when there is uncertainty regarding the target location. In the present study, in which briefly presented, masked targets were presented in isolation, there was a negligible effect of the information held in VWM on target discrimination. However, in displays containing multiple masked items, information held in VWM strongly affected target discrimination. These results argue that working memory representations act at a postperceptual level to reduce uncertainty during visual search.
Zwitterionic hydrogels implanted in mice resist the foreign-body reaction

The performance of implantable biomedical devices is impeded by the foreign-body reaction, which results in formation of a dense collagenous capsule that blocks mass transport and/or electric communication between the implant and the body. No known materials or coatings can completely prevent capsule formation. Here we demonstrate that ultra-low-fouling zwitterionic hydrogels can resist the formation of a capsule for at least 3 months after subcutaneous implantation in mice. Zwitterionic hydrogels also promote angiogenesis in surrounding tissue, perhaps owing to the presence of macrophages exhibiting phenotypes associated with anti-inflammatory, pro-healing functions. Thus, zwitterionic hydrogels may be useful in a broad range of applications, including generation of biocompatible implantable medical devices and tissue scaffolds.
Fe(II) in coastal rainwater: Changing stability and concentrations

The concentration of Fe(II) has decreased more than 50% since 2001 in both winter and summer rain collected in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. Storage experiments performed on rain collected during the summer of 2008 revealed rapid oxidation of Fe(II) by hydrogen peroxide with second order rate constants between 2 and 48 M−1 s−1. The rapid oxidation of Fe(II) in these samples is in marked contrast to the stability of Fe(II) observed in rain collected 5 to 10 years ago where there was no decrease in the concentration of Fe(II) after 24 hours storage, or 4 hours after mixing with pH 8.1 seawater. We suggest that the lower concentration of Fe(II) observed in summer and winter rainwater in 2008 compared to earlier Fe speciation data is a result of the increased lability of Fe(II) towards oxidation. Evidence suggests that the decreased stability and concentration of Fe(II) compared to a decade ago results from a lowering in the abundance of iron ligands in chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in precipitation similar to what has been observed for bulk DOC in precipitation at this location over this time. The decreasing concentration and stability of Fe(II) in rain presented here could have serious implications for marine primary productivity because rain is an important source of this nutrient to open ocean surface seawater. Ultimately the changing speciation of Fe in rainwater may have important consequences for global carbon budgets and climate warming because it implies that there may be less removal of atmospheric CO2 by marine phytoplankton.
MMPI Indicators of Treatment Response to Spinal Epidural Stimulation in Patients with Chronic Pain and Patients with Movement Disorders

Summary.-The usefulness of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personalicy Inventory (MMPI) for predicting treatment response to electrical spinal epidural stimulation was examined in 11 patients with chronic pain and 11 patients wich movement disorders. The movement-disordered group had generally lower MMPI scores than :he group with chronic pain and higher subjective ratings of improvement. However, physicians' ratings for the group as a whole showed that scores on Hr and Hy, while. elevated, tended to be relatively lower for patients who were treatment resistant than for those rated as successes. Higher elevations on D were associated with treatment failure. The "conversion V" profile as an indicator of treatment resistance did not hold for this sample. The psychological implications of these findings are discussed. The results suggest that the MMPI has predictive value but the need for refinement of outcome measures and further clarification of psychological variables is evident. Implantation of electrodes for epidural neurostimulation of the spinal cord has been used within the past decade for the treatment and control of a variety of physical symptoms, including acute and chronic pain syndromes and movement disorders. Reports of effectiveness of epidural stimulation have varied considerably. North, Fischell, and Long (1977) report successful relief of previously intractable pain in about 80% of patients who received an average of six months of treatment by epidural stimulation. Richardson, Siqueira, and Cerullo (1979) found a 93% maintenance of significant benefit after 1 yr. in patients with chronic pain who showed initial responsiveness to epidural stimulation whereas Young (1978) reported a pronounced decline in pain relief over time after good initial effectiveness. Review of the literature (Siegfried, Lazorthes, & Broggi, 1981) on implantation of spinalcord stimulators for treatment of motor function disorders in 796 cases indicated a wide discrepancy among authors with regard to therapeutic effectiveness of the method. In large part objective assessment of effectiveness and comparability among reported studies is made difficult by variations in selection of patients, criteria for success, and follow-up times. Improved selection of patients to maximize effectiveness of treatment is *Requests for reprints should be addressed to Marvin A. Brandwin, Ph.D., 208 Riverview Building, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109. We express our appreciation to James A. Taren, M.D., who performed the surgical procedures referred to in this paper, and Paul S. Ostrowski for their effort and cooperation in data collection during the course of this study. LDeparunent of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Auroral E-fields from DE-1 and -2 at magnetically conjugate points

The results of studies of the electric field measurements from the two Dynamics Explorer satellites are reviewed. There are times at which DE-2 measured electric fields at the auroral ionosphere while DE-1 obtained nearly simultaneous measurement at a higher altitude on the same magnetic field lines. When these electric fields are mapped to a common altitude it is found that the large-scale electric fields are similar, but the small-scale electric fields have a larger amplitude at the higher altitude. Through the use of Fourier analysis it is shown that these results are evidence for a magnetic field-aligned potential drop between the two satellites. While these results were made possible by the satellites' altitude separation, it is also possible to take advantage of the fact that the satellites may pass through the same geomagnetic location with a time separation. This was useful for confirming that sinusoidal electric field oscillations which were detected near one conjunction were due to spatial rather than temporal variations, since similar oscillations were found at the same location at different times. The observed spatial oscillations can be explained by a simple model of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.
FAR-INFRARED MEASUREMENT OF THE SOLAR MINIMUM TEMPERATURE.

Radiometric measurement of the brightness temperature of the mean solar disk has been made in the wavelength range from 238 μ to 312 μ (42.1 cm-1 to 32.1 cm-1), using a Michelson interferometer of resolution 0.25 cm-1, carried on the NASA research aircraft at altitude 12.6 km. A mean temperature 4370 ± 260 K is obtained. The result is compared with other measurements of the solar minimum temperature and with the prediction of the BCA Model.
Mapping Ground Cover Using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing after the 2003 Simi and Old Wildfires in Southern California

Wildfire effects on the ground surface are indicative of the potential for post-fire watershed erosion response. Areas with remaining organic ground cover will likely experience less erosion than areas of complete ground cover combustion or exposed mineral soil. The Simi and Old fires burned ∼67,000 ha in southern California in 2003. Burn severity indices calculated from pre- and post-fire multispectral imagery were differenced (i.e., differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR)) to highlight fire-induced changes to soil and vegetation. Aerial and field hyperspectral data were also collected together with field ground cover measurements soon after the fires. Spectral endmembers representing green vegetation, nonphotosynthetic vegetation (NPV), charred NPV, and charred and uncharred inorganic materials (soil, ash, and rock) were used in a constrained linear spectral unmixing process to determine the post-fire fractional ground cover of each component on the ground surface. The spectral unmixing results, dNBR, and a Relative dNBR (RdNBR) were validated using field-measured fractional ground cover estimates to determine which product best predicted the conditions on the ground. The spectral unmixing results were significantly correlated to all classes of charred and uncharred organics and inorganics, and the dNBR was the best indicator of charred soil and green vegetation. The RdNBR had several significant correlations with the ground data, yet did not consistently correlate well with any specific ground cover types. A map of post-wildfire ground cover and condition, especially exposed soil and remaining vegetative cover, is a good indicator of the fire’s effect on the ground surface and the resulting potential for hydrologic response.
DNA-Binding Proteins Possibly Involved in Regulation of the Post-Logarithmic-Phase Expression of Lipoprotein P35 in Borrelia burgdorferi

Previously, we have shown that the transcription of p35, a lipoprotein gene of Borrelia burgdorferi, is upregulated or initiated during the post-logarithmic bacterial growth phase in vitro. To identify potential regulatory factors, we examined the formation of DNA-protein complexes by electromobility shift assay, using a 157-bp DNA fragment that spans the p35 promoter region and cell-free extracts of spirochetes harvested from both logarithmic and stationary growth phases. The binding properties of the extracts with the promoter region of the flaB gene, a constitutively expressed, growth-phase-independent gene, were also compared. The results from these experiments demonstrate that B. burgdorferi stationary-phase cell-free extracts have a growth-phase-dependent DNA binding protein that interacts specifically with the p35 promoter region. We show, in addition, that a segment from the 157-bp p35 promoter region which contains both a T-rich stretch and an inverted repeat is able to compete off the stationary-phase-specific complex when the segment is present in molar excess.
1-10 Myr-Old Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in Nearby Star Forming Regions

My thesis research has focused primarily on identifying and characterizing pre-main sequence stars in nearby star-forming regions. To this end, I carried out wide-field (~150-250 deg(2)) optical photometric and spectroscopic surveys in and near the star forming regions of Taurus and Upper Scorpius. In Taurus, the aim of my optical photometric/spectroscopic survey was specifically to probe for a population of intermediate-age pre-main sequence stars outside of the young subclusters that are known to contain most of the young Taurus population. From this work I found tens of young (~1-3 Myr) and intermediate-age (~5-10 Myr) stars both near the known Taurus population and to the east, but relatively few pre-main sequence stars of any age to the west. I argued that the new pre-main sequence stars identified far from Taurus can not have originated from the vicinity of the 1-2 Myr-old subclusters and I proposed instead that they comprise a new, previously undiscovered region of recent star formation. In USco, the aim of my optical photometric/spectroscopic survey was to probe beyond previously explored regions to identify large numbers of 5 Myr-old low mass stars. From the spectroscopic data I have discovered 145 low mass members of USco. Using Monte Carlo simulations I showed that, taking into account known observational errors, the observed age dispersion for the low mass population in USco is consistent with all stars forming in a single burst ~5 Myr ago. I also derived the first spectroscopic mass function for USco that extends into the substellar regime and compared results to similar mass functions derived for stars in four other young clusters and associations.
Whither the English School

International Society and Its Critics. Edited by Alex J. Bellamy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. 348 pp., $99.00 cloth (ISBN: 0-19-926519-4), $39.95 paper (ISBN: 0-19-926520-8). The goal of International Society and Its Critics , a wide ranging and, for the most part, well-written set of essays, is to take stock of the past, present, and future of what has become widely known as the English School of thinking about world politics. As Alex Bellamy, the editor, suggests, there are three broad perspectives on the contributions of the English School. Students of world politics may treat this body of writing as an “underexploited resource,” a source of valuable insights in need of further refinement, or a collection of wooly minded ideas that do not add up to a coherent point of view and that should be abandoned. In seeking to sort out the relative merits of these perspectives, Bellamy has grouped the 15 essays included in the collection into three clusters: (1) essays that explore the central concepts and defining features of the English School, (2) essays that discuss relationships between the English School and other approaches to world politics, and (3) essays that examine the relevance of English School thinking in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001. Although some of the contributors have doubts, Bellamy surely speaks for most of the authors whose work is included in this volume as well as for many others in saying at the outset that “the concept of international society is taken to be the key concept that unifies the English School” (p. 9). In fact, this argument should be taken a step further. The defining feature of the English School—what separates it from numerous other perspectives on world politics—is a concentrated effort to answer the following question: How is it possible to achieve order in a society of sovereign states that lacks any central authority and is, therefore, as Hedley Bull (1977) famously described it, …
Characterizing the viscoelastic properties of layer-by-layer carbon nanotube?polyelectrolyte thin films

Many have sought to take advantage of carbon nanotubes for the fabrication of multifunctional thin films. However, before these carbon-nanotube-based films can be used for these intended functionalities, a complete understanding of the mechanical properties is crucial. While most studies have focused on characterizing just the thin film's stress–strain performance, their time-dependent mechanical properties still need to be investigated. In this study, free-standing layer-by-layer carbon-nanotube-based thin films have been assembled, and the objective is to investigate their viscoelastic stress relaxation and creep response. First, the results from stress relaxation tests are numerically fitted to two different models, namely the standard linear solid (Zener) model and the linear increasing viscosity-modified Zener (LIV-Zener) model. The results of the fitting suggest that the LIV-Zener model is better suited for describing thin film stress relaxation behavior, which also means that these nanocomposites exhibit time-dependent viscosity. Second, the experimental results from creep testing are also fitted to the LIV-Zener model. The results from both fittings are consistent and suggest that the LIV-Zener model is more capable of describing carbon-nanotube-based thin film viscoelasticity.
Second-sound attenuation in a supercritical counterflow jet

The attenuation of a beam of high-frequency second sound traversing a counterflow jet in liquid helium has been measured in the temperature range 1.6-2.06\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Combined use of thin-film superconducting thermometers with specially developed low-noise amplifiers allowed resolution of the second-sound amplitude to better than one part in ${10}^{8}$\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The additional attenuation due to the jet was found to be less than 10% of the predicted value using the theory of mutual friction in a supercritical counterflow, and consistent with the result of earlier temperature-gradient and ion-beam attenuation measurements.
Composition of ethanol-insoluble polysaccharides in water extracts of ripening tomatoes

Abstract The carbohydrate composition of the 80% ethanol-insoluble polysaccharides (EIP) from water extracts of ‘Rutgers,’ rin (ripening inhibitor) and nor (non-ripening) tomatoes has been determined. The amount of EIP extracted from ‘Rutgers’ fruit increased from 0.34 to 0.61 mg/g fr. wt during ripening little change occurred in rin or nor fruit. The carbohydrate composition (μg/g fr. wt) of EIP from mature green fruit was: galacturonic acid (48); rhamnose (3); arabinose (20); xylose (48); mannose (31); glucose (139); galactose (51). The most obvious changes that accompanied ripening were a 7.4-fold and 4-fold increase in galacturonic acid and rhamnose content, respectively. These changes were attenuated in the ripening mutants. EIP was fractionated into three major peaks by using DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. The first peak, which was not retained by the column, contained predominantly glucose and mannose, with lower amounts of galacturonic acid and galactose. The two retained peaks which eluted at 0.1 and 0.2 M sodium chloride contained primarily galacturonic acid, xylose, galactose and arabinose. The galacturonic acid content of these two fractions increased substantially during ripening, whereas the other components decreased. No changes were evident in the ripening mutants. No increase in water-soluble polysaccharides high in galactose content was observed during ripening.
Dynamic osmotic loading of chondrocytes using a novel microfluidic device

Many cells exhibit disparate responses to a mechanical stimulus depending on whether it is applied dynamically or statically. In this context, few studies have examined how cells respond to dynamic changes of the extracellular osmolality. In this study, we hypothesized that the cell size change response of cultured articular chondrocytes would be dependent on the frequency of applied osmotic loading. To test this hypothesis, we developed a novel microfluidic device, to apply hydrostatic pressure-driven dynamic osmotic loading by applying composition modulated flow, adapted from Tang and co-workers. This microfluidic device was used to study osmotic loads of +/-180 mOsm at a frequency up to 0.1 Hz with a constant minimal fluid-shear stress, and permit real-time monitoring of cell responses. Bovine articular chondrocytes were observed to exhibit increasing changes in cell volume with decreasing osmotic loading frequency. When the cell volume response was modeled by an exponential function, chondrocytes exhibited significantly different volume change responses to dynamic osmotic loading at 0.0125 Hz and static osmotic loading applied for a period of four minutes (Delta = +/-180 mOsm relative to the isotonic 360 mOsm). The intracellular calcium response at 0.0125 Hz was also monitored and compared with the response to static loading. Coupled with phenomenological or constitutive models, this novel approach could yield new information regarding cell material properties in response to dynamic loading that may contribute new insights into mechanisms of cellular homeostasis and mechanotransduction.
Axiomatic approach to the nonassociative group of relativistic velocities

The bizarre and counterintuitive noncommutativity and nonassociativity of the relativistic composition of noncollinear velocities is attributed to the presence of the Thomas rotation. The Thomas rotation, in turn, gives rise to anonassociative group structure for the set of relativistically admissible velocities. This nonstandard group structure has been observed in other contexts and, hence, merits axiomatization.
Increased blood pressure induced by central application of aminopeptidase inhibitors is angiotensinergic-dependent in normotensive and hypertensive rat strains.

Two aminopeptidase inhibitors, amastatin (AM) and bestatin (BE), were employed in 3 strains of rats, spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), and Sprague-Dawley (SD), to investigate the central angiotensinergic system. The results indicate that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of AM and BE induced pressor elevations in all 3 strains of rats. In order to test for the possibility of spillage into peripheral vasculature, members from all 3 strains were peripherally infused with AM, BE, or 0.15 NaCl via jugular vein catheters. The SHRs were significantly more responsive to the aminopeptidases than the normotensive strains, however their overall pressor responses were only 33% of those to i.c.v. infusion. Next, in order to test the notion that these aminopeptidase inhibitors are having their effect via the central angiotensinergic system, and not some other peptidergic system, the specific angiotensin receptor antagonist, Sar1, Thr8-AII (sarthran) was employed. Intracerebroventricular pretreatment with sarthran prevented subsequent pressor responses to i.c.v. AM and BE in members of all 3 strains, thereby suggesting that these aminopeptidase inhibitors are having their effect via the central angiotensinergic system.
Fourier limited micro-pulses in the OK-4/Duke storage ring FEL

Abstract The Super-modes are Fourier limited FEL micro-pulses predicted by Dattoli and Renieri in 1980. The OK-4 FEL at Duke, operating in the wavelength range from 193.7 nm to 730 nm, was the first to observe the Super-modes in a storage ring FEL in 1996. Since 1996, the up-graded diagnostics and improved control of the RF frequency allowed generation of Super-modes on a regular basis and systematic study of them. The Gaussian FEL micro-pulses with 1.3 ps RMS duration and Fourier limited RMS linewidth were generated in 1998–1999. In this paper we present the results of our studies and the comparison with theoretical predictions. We also present practical criteria for operating SR FELs with Super-modes.
Short answer question case series: a case of upper extremity oedema.

A right-handed man without past medical history presents with right upper extremity oedema for 4 days. He does not endorse any history of trauma, but was weight lifting and trampoline jumping 2 days prior to symptom development (see figures 1⇓⇓–4). Figure 1 Picture of the right and left forearms. Figure 2 Picture of right arm with mid-bicep measurement. Figure 3 Picture of the left arm with mid-bicep measurement. Figure 4 Picture of right arm and shoulder. 1. Which visual findings are of notable concern? 2. What are other important considerations on history? 3. How should this patient be evaluated? 4. How should this patient be treated? 5. What should this patient's disposition be?
New Frontiers in Pancreatic Cancer Research

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly lethal and aggressive malignancy with high mortality rates. It is critical to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies and targets for the treatment of this disease. In this article, the authors describe the important areas of focus in pancreatic cancer research, recent advances in these areas, and novel approaches that have the potential to bring about positive patient outcomes in this lethal disease. This article also focuses on recent developments in identifying new, more sensitive, and more specific blood biomarkers with potential use in the early detection of PDA.
Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance Dissemination across Plasmid Communities Classified by Network Analysis

The global clustering of gene families through network analysis has been demonstrated in whole genome, plasmid, and microbiome analyses. In this study, we carried out a plasmidome network analysis of all available complete bacterial plasmids to determine plasmid associations. A blastp clustering search at 100% aa identity cut-off and sharing at least one gene between plasmids, followed by a multilevel community network analysis revealed that a surprisingly large number of the plasmids were connected by one largest connected component (LCC), with dozens of community sub-groupings. The LCC consisted mainly of Bacilli and Gammaproteobacteria plasmids. Intriguingly, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) was noted between different phyla (i.e., Staphylococcus and Pasteurellaceae), suggesting that Pasteurellaceae can acquire antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes from closely contacting Staphylococcus spp., which produce the external supplement of V-factor (NAD). Such community network analysis facilitate displaying possible recent HGTs like a class 1 integron, str and tet resistance markers between communities. Furthermore, the distribution of the Inc replicon type and AMR genes, such as the extended-spectrum s-lactamase (ESBL) CTX-M or the carbapenemases KPC NDM-1, implies that such genes generally circulate within limited communities belonging to typical bacterial genera. Thus, plasmidome network analysis provides a remarkable discriminatory power for plasmid-related HGT and evolution.
Charge transfer and the photosensitivity in single- and double-doped LiNbO 3 single crystals; an optical-electron paramagnetic resonance study: II

Transition metals in particular increase the photorefractive sensitivity. We have reported in part I of the observed enhancement for the nonlinearity of these crystals due to the single and doubly dopants. In this part, we tried to answer some of the questions about the enhancement of the photorefractive sensitivity due to gamma irradiation. The crystals were irradiated by gamma ray and the EPR spectra were obtained. A new EPR center was observed at 3420G in Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals. The Degenerate four wave mixing experiment was performed for these crystals and we have observed that the intensity of the PC signal from Ni:LiNbO3 crystal was increased by almost 30 percent. By applying the Ar + laser in situ the EPR signal was decreased and the center was bleached after almost nine minutes in the case of LiNbO3:Ni and four minutes in the case of LiNbO3:Fe:Mn crystal. An interpretation for this phenomenon will be given on the light of Kuktarev model.
Group B Streptococcal Infections in Newborns

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of neonatal infection in North America and is associated with morbidity and mortality. Prompt recognition and treatment of the infection is imperative. Diagnostic tests and treatment options vary, without clear research-based recommendations. Future trends should focus on GBS infection as a public health issue, with an emphasis on prevention.
Evaluation of the Cranial Rectus Abdominus Muscle Pedicle Flap as a Blood Supply for the Caudal Superficial Epigastric Skin Flap in Dogs

This study evaluates the cranial rectus abdominus muscle pedicle flap as the sole blood supply for the caudal superficial epigastric skin flap. This flap was composed of a cranially based rectus abdominus muscle pedicle flap that was attached to the caudal superficial epigastric island skin flap (including mammary glands 2 to 5) via the pudendoepigastric trunk. Selective angiography of the cranial epigastric artery in eight cadaver dogs proved that the arterial vasculature in the cranial rectus abdominus was contiguous with that in the caudal superficial epigastric skin flap. In the live dog study, three of six of the flaps failed because of venous insufficiency. Necrosis of mammary gland 2 occurred in two of six flaps. One of six flaps survived with the exception of the cranial most aspect of mammary gland 2. Angiography of the cranial epigastric artery proved that arterial blood supply to these flaps was intact. Histological evaluation of the failed flaps showed full-thickness necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, the presence of severe congestion, and venous thrombosis. Retrograde venous blood flow through the flap was inconsistent, and hence resulted in failure of this myocutaneous flap. Use of this flap for clinical wound reconstruction cannot be recommended.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DORSAL AND VENTRAL MAMMALIAN PANCREAS IN VIVO AND IN VITRO

The origin, morphogenesis, and biochemical differentiation of the dorsal and ventral pancreas of the rat embryo have been investigated in order to ascertain the similarities and dissimilarities between the two lobes. We have utilized a culture system in which the primitive gut gives rise to a number of differentiated organs, including the dorsal and ventral pancreas. The two pancreases do not undergo fusion in these cultures, thus allowing independent analyses of the two lobes for comparison with in vivo results. The dorsal pancreas first appeared at the 23–25 somite stage while the ventral pancreas appeared approximately 12 hr later at the 29–30 somite stage. Guts from embryos as young as 12 somites were capable of developing both pancreases in vitro. In spite of the 12 hr difference between the times of their appearance, the dorsal and ventral pancreases exhibited identical patterns of morphological and biochemical differentiation. The two lobes contained the same exocrine enzymes and hormones, at similar levels, differing only in their glucagon content, the dorsal pancreas possessing a fivefold higher glucagon specific activity. The implications of these results are discussed.
On vortex formation from a cylinder. Part 2. Control by splitter-plate interference

Control of vortex formation from a circular cylinder by a long plate in its wake is examined over the Reynolds number range 140 < Re < 3600. There are two basic flow regimes: a pre-vortex formation regime, in which the plate precludes formation of a large-scale vortex upstream of the tip of the plate; and a post-vortex formation regime in which one or more large-scale vortices are formed upstream of the edge. The unsteady pressure loading at the tip of the plate increases by over an order of magnitude during transition from the pre- to post-vortex formation regime. If the plate is located near the cylinder, it is possible to more than double the vortex formation length, relative to the case of the free wake. Moreover, these observations suggest that: there is a minimum streamwise lengthscale for development of the absolute instability of the near wake and thereby the large-scale vortex; and the vortex formation length may also be influenced by the downstream vorticity dynamics. When the plate is located downstream of the initially formed vortex, effective control is possible when the near-wake fluctuation level and mean base pressure of the corresponding free (non-impinging) wake are sufficiently small. This occurs in the low and moderate subcritical regimes; the substantial control by the wake-plate interaction in this range of Reynolds number implies low strength of the absolute instability of the near wake. However, in the pure von Karman regime, selfcontrol of the near wake dominates that imposed by the wake-edge interaction, suggesting a strong absolute instability of the near wake.
Quality ladders, growth, and R&D: an assessment from U.S. industry

Abstract This paper present a version of recent Schumpeterian growth models. I present a different specification of preferences, by allowing goods within industries to be subtitutes, albeit imperfect ones. I show that assuming R&D spillovers, which allow easier R&D for less technologically advanced goods, leads to identical R&D intensities across goods within an industry. I also show that in the steady-state industries with greater shares in expenditure, greater ease of R&D and higher markups will experience higher real growth. I then present empirical evidence using Solow residuals from U.S. industry testing these relationships. I find the correlation between technology growth and markups to be weak. There is evidence of a positive impact of company-financed R&D on technology growth.
Concentration-dependent isoflurane effects on depolarization-evoked glutamate and GABA outflows from mouse brain slices.

The synaptic concentrations of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are modulated by their release and re-uptake. The effects of general anaesthetics on these two processes remain unclear. This study evaluates the effects of isoflurane, a clinically important anaesthetic, on glutamate and GABA release and re-uptake in superfused mouse cerebrocortical slices. Experiments consisted of two 1.5-min exposures to 40 mM KCl in 30 min intervals. During the second exposure, different concentrations of isoflurane with and without 0.3 mM L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (PDC, a competitive inhibitor of glutamate uptake transporter) or 1 mM nipecotic acid (a competitive inhibitor of GABA uptake transporter) were introduced. The ratios of the second to first KCl-evoked increases in glutamate and GABA were used to determine the isoflurane concentration-response curves. The results can be described as a sum of two independent processes, corresponding to the inhibitions of release and re-uptake, respectively. The EC50 values for the inhibitions of release and re-uptake were 295±16 and 805±43 μM for glutamate, and 229±13 and 520±25 μM for GABA, respectively. Addition of PDC did not significantly affect glutamate release but shifted the re-uptake curve to the left (EC50=315±20 μM). Nipecotic acid completely blocked GABA uptake, rendering isoflurane inhibition of GABA re-uptake undetectable. Our data suggest that isoflurane inhibits both the release and re-uptake of neurotransmitters and that the inhibitions occur at different EC50's. For GABA, both EC50's are within the clinical concentration range. The net anaesthetic effect on extracellular concentrations of neurotransmitters, particularly GABA, depends on the competition between inhibition of release and that of re-uptake. British Journal of Pharmacology (1999) 127, 131–138; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0702543
The Relationship Between Perceptions of Organizational Politics and Employee Attitudes, Strain, and Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Examination

The current study tested a model that links perceptions of organizational politics to job performance and “turnover intentions” (intentions to quit). Meta-analytic evidence supported significant, b...
Detection and characterization of mupirocin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.

Fourteen mupirocin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated over 18 months; 12 exhibited low-level resistance, while two showed high-level resistance. Highly mupirocin-resistant strains contained a large plasmid which transferred mupirocin resistance to other S. aureus strains and to Staphylococcus epidermidis. This plasmid and pAM899-1, a self-transferable gentamicin resistance plasmid, have molecular and biologic similarities. Images
Ge/SiGe Quantum Well Waveguide Modulator Monolithically Integrated With SOI Waveguides

We report a Ge/SiGe quantum well waveguide electroabsorption modulator that is monolithically integrated with silicon-on-insulator waveguides. The active quantum well section is selectively grown on a silicon-on-insulator substrate and has a footprint of 8 . The integrated device demonstrates more than 3.2-dB contrast ratio with 1-V direct voltage swing at 3.5 GHz. We also show the potential of this device to operate in the telecommunication C-band at room temperature.
VERBAL CONTEXTUAL GENERALIZATION IN CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT LEARNING DISABILITIES

Braine's (1963) model of language development emphasizes the use of auditory or temporal processing so verbal contextual generalization can be produced. Recent literature on auditory or temporal processing skills of children with learning disabilities led to the prediction that these children would find it much more difficult to generalize contextually than would children without learning disabilities. The present study did not support this prediction. The implications were discussed in view of research on auditory or temporal processing skills of children with learning disabilities.
Hierarchical Factor Structure of the Cognitive Assessment System: Variance Partitions from the Schmid-Leiman (1957) Procedure.

Orthogonal higher-order factor structure of the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS; Naglieri & Das, 1997a) for the 5–7 and 8 –17 age groups in the CAS standardization sample is reported. Following the same procedure as recent studies of other prominent intelligence tests (Dombrowski, Watkins, & Brogan, 2009; Canivez, 2008; Canivez & Watkins, 2010a, 2010b; Nelson & Canivez, 2011; Nelson, Canivez, Lindstrom, & Hatt, 2007; Watkins, 2006; Watkins, Wilson, Kotz, Carbone, & Babula, 2006), three- and four-factor CAS exploratory factor extractions were analyzed with the Schmid and Leiman (1957) procedure using MacOrtho (Watkins, 2004) to assess the hierarchical factor structure by sequentially partitioning variance to the second- and first- order dimensions as recommended by Carroll (1993, 1995). Results showed that greater portions of total and common variance were accounted for by the second-order, global factor, but compared to other tests of intelligence CAS subtests measured less secondorder variance and greater first-order Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive (PASS) factor variance.
Tribochemistry of ZDOL Decomposition on Carbon Overcoats in Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV)

Tribochemical studies of the effect of lubricant bonding on the tribology of the head/disk interface (HDI) were conducted using hydrogenated (CHx) carbon disk samples coated with perfluoropolyether ZDOL lubricant. The studies involved drag tests with uncoated and carbon-coated A1203-TiC sliders and also thermal desorption experiments in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) tribochamber. We observed that a larger mobile lubricant portion significantly enhances the wear durability of the (head/disk interface) HDI by providing a reservoir to constantly replenish the lubricant displaced in the wear track during drag tests. In the thermal desorption tests we observed two distinct temperatures of desorption. The mobile ZDOL layer is desorbed at the lower thermal desorption temperature and the residual bonded ZDOL layer is desorbed at the higher thermal desorption temperature. We also observed that the hydrogen evolution from CHx overcoats initiates lubricant catalytic decomposition with uncoated A1203/TiC sliders, forming CF3 (69) and C2F5(119). The generation of Hydroflouric acid (HF) during thermal desorption experiments provides the formation mechanism of Lewis acid, which is the necessary component for catalytic reaction causing Z-DOL lube degradation
Elimination of fixed modes of a decentralized distributed estimator with inter-agent communication

We consider a decentralized distributed estimator for a formation of agents described with a discrete-time LTI system. Due to the decentralized structure, the estimator may contain poles invariant with respect to local agents? observer gains. We prove that under mild observability assumptions there exists a communication topology and transmitter-receiver gains which allow assigning all the poles of the distributed estimator. We also propose an algorithm for the design of a minimal communication topology which guarantees closed-loop pole assignability.
2D Correlation Analysis of the Continuum in Single Molecule Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

The role and the nature of the continuum in Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) are unclear. Here, two-dimensional (2D) covariance and correlation analysis is applied to single molecule SERS spectra on silver colloids with and without rhodamine 6G (native colloid). The resulting 2D covariance and correlation maps show that the sharp molecular Raman peaks from rhodamine 6G and the molecule responsible for the SERS peaks from the native colloid are correlated to different continua even though both continua are present in each data set. This suggests that two distinct active sites on the silver colloids produce the two different continua, and that each site has some molecular specificity.
An algorithmic approach to the optimization of importance sampling parameters in digital communication system simulation

Importance sampling is recognized as a potentially powerful method for reducing simulation runtimes when estimating the bit error rate (BER) of communications systems using Monte Carlo simulation. Analytically, minimizing the variance of the importance sampling (IS) estimator with respect to the biasing parameters has typically yielded solutions for systems for which the BER could be found analytically. A technique for finding an asymptotically optimal set of biasing parameter values, in the sense that as the resolution of the search and the number of runs used both approach infinity, the algorithm converges to the true optimum, is proposed. The algorithm determines the amount of biasing that minimizes a statistical measure of the variance of the BER estimate and exploits a theoretically justifiable relationship, for small sample sizes, between the BER estimate and the amount of biasing. The translation biasing scheme is considered, although the algorithm is applicable to other parametric IS techniques. Only mild assumptions are required of the noise distribution and system. Experimentally, improvement factors ranging from two to eight orders of magnitude are obtained for a number of distributions for both linear and nonlinear systems with memory. >
Response to Drs Hoberman and Paradise

We thank Drs Hoberman and Paradise for writing to highlight areas of disagreement and for pointing out a couple of minor errors in our commentary. Our commentary was a comparison between the paper by Hoberman, Paradise et al , and one by Tahtinen et al in the same issue of the New England Journal of Medicine . Because of space limitations, we focused only on the primary outcomes of both studies. The primary outcome of the study by Hoberman et al was symptomatic response. In their letter, Hoberman and Paradise suggest that overall clinical response, which in their study differed more between groups but was largely based on otoscopic findings, is more important. We disagree. In assessing the magnitude of benefit of antibiotics for acute otitis media (AOM) in studies such as this one, we feel that clinicians should consider symptomatic response as the most important outcome, for three reasons: (1) shortened symptom duration is a desirable …
Application specific 1200V planar and trench IGBTs

We compare planar and trench non-punch through (NPT) insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) static and dynamic characteristics and evaluate them for motor drive, UPS, IH (induction heating) and switched mode power supply applications. The power supply market is mostly driven by high speed power devices and is presently dominated by MOSFET. The uninterruptible power supply (UPS) IGBTs need moderately high speed switching where as motor drive applications need low conduction loss and moderate switching speed devices. Some of these applications need good short circuit withstand time (SCWT). The planar IGBT has more SCWT and avalanche capability and is better suited for motor control. On the other hand, trench IGBT has better tradeoff curve and hence is a good choice for power supplies and IH markets. These new high speed NPT IGBTs can become cost effective for applications such as UPS, motor drive, IH as well as SMPS market by reducing overall loss over other 1200V IGBTs and regular 1000-1200 volts MOSFETs. By using these IGBTs, the efficiency can be improved or other trade off such as cost reduction, size reduction or increase in power density may be implemented. The new NPT IGBTs reduce both the switching and conduction losses over other 1200V IGBTs and MOSFETs. The turn-off switching loss was reduced by 40-60% compared to previous generation IGBTs and the conduction loss was reduced drastically compared to MOSFETs and IGBTs, especially at high junction temperature. NPT2 planar IGBT offers best of both worlds - lower cost and better performance.