cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational and Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Cation Structure on the Solubility of Anionic Flow Battery Active-Materials

Recent advances in clean, sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar have enabled significant cost improvements, yet their inherent intermittency remains a considerable challenge for year-round reliability demanding the need for grid-scale energy storage. Nonaqueous redox flow batteries (NRFB) have the potential to address this need, with attractive attributes such as flexibility to accommodate long- and short-duration storage, separately scalable energy and power ratings, and improved safety profile over integrated systems such as lithium-ion batteries. Currently, the low-solubility of NRFB electrolytes fundamentally limits their energy density. However, synthetically exploring the large chemical and parameter space of NRFB active materials is not only costly but also intractable. Here, we report a computational framework, coupled with experimental validation, designed to predict the solubility trends of electrolytes, incorporating both the lattice and solvation free energies. We reveal that lattice free energy, which has previously been neglected, has significant role in tuning electrolyte solubility, and that solvation free energies alone is insufficient. The desymmetrization of the alkylammonium cation leading to short-chain, asymmetric cations demonstrated a modest increase in solubility, which can be further explored for NRFB electrolyte development and optimization. The resulting synergistic computational-experimental approach provides a cost-effective strategy in the development of high-solubility active materials for high energy density NRFB systems.
Cyclic Triaxial Strain-Controlled Testing of Liquefiable Sands

Two series of undrained cyclic triaxial strain-controlled tests were performed on two different Imperial Valley, California, silty sands which liquefied during an earthquake in 1981. Both intact and reconstituted specimens were tested, and the testing procedures are described. The experimental data confirm that cyclic shear strain is the fundamental parameter governing pore pressure buildup, because strain-controlled tests essentially eliminate the influence of specimen fabric and sample disturbance. Also, the results indicate that the cyclic triaxial test can be used to model cyclic simple shear (similar to seismic field conditions), if the cyclic simple shear strain, γ c y , is related to the cyclic triaxial axial strain, ∈ c y , by either of two similar analytical expressions: γ c y = 1.5 ∈ c y or γ c y = 3 ∈ c y . Consequently, a unique pore pressure model is developed and recommended to simulate the seismic pore pressure buildup at the site. This model is applicable to reconstituted and intact specimens of the two sands, despite their different void ratios and nonplastic silt contents, and is valid for both cyclic triaxial and cyclic simple shear strain-controlled conditions.
Acquired bleeding disorder in a patient with malignant lymphoma: antibody-mediated prothrombin deficiency.

BACKGROUND Bleeding manifestations secondary to acquired hemostatic abnormalities in cancer patients have been well described. Bleeding due to the development of hemostatic inhibitors is observed less frequently. In this report, the authors describe a patient with a low grade lymphoma who presented with an acquired bleeding disorder and abnormal hemostatic screening tests. METHODS Patient plasma samples were collected initially and during the course of treatment. Mixing studies and specific coagulation factor assays were performed to detect and confirm any deficiencies. Patient immunoglobulin G was isolated from plasma, and binding to prothrombin was demonstrated by immunoblot method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. RESULTS Initial prolongations in the prothombin time and the activated partial thromboplastin time suggested a factor deficiency in the common pathway of coagulation. Factor assays confirmed that the coagulation abnormality in this patient was the result of an acquired prothrombin (factor II) deficiency. This was confirmed by an immunoassay for prothrombin antigen. Further studies demonstrated the presence of a noninhibitory antibody to prothrombin that interacted with a calcium dependent epitope. CONCLUSIONS Successful treatment of the lymphoma resulted in clearance of the antibody and complete correction of all hemostatic abnormalities and manifestations. An acquired prothrombin deficiency has not been reported previously in association with a malignancy, and this patient represents the first such documented case. Cancer 2001;91:636–41. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Senior and Subordinated Issues, Debt Ratings and Price Impact

This paper investigates the question of whether bond ratings serve as a basis for market prices of bonds or whether investors use their own research and view the ratings only as rough guidelines. Unlike previous work, which focused on rating changes, this paper uses a new data base to consider bond ratings at issue. Agencies such as Moody's or S&P rate subordinated bonds by notching them down from senior bonds. We consider the pricing of both senior and subordinated issue. If notching policies were done properly, then we should find that all equally rated bonds should be priced equally (same yield). However, we find that the market systematically prices differently bonds of identical ratings but different seniority. Specifically, we find that yields of speculative senior bonds are higher than the yields of similarly rated subordinated bonds. The sign reverses in most cases for investment grade issues. We provide a possible explanation for the direction of the bias. We also control for issue and company characteristics.
Predictable, Lightweight Management Agents

In this paper we present an active, or programmable, packet system, SNAP (Safe and Nimble Active Packets) that can be used to provide flexible, lightweight network management with predictable resource usage. SNAP is efficient enough to support both centralized polling and mobile agent approaches; furthermore, its resource predictability prevents malicious or erroneous agents from running amok in the network.
Copper(I) Fluorescent Probes

Metal-ion-responsive fluorescent probes are routinely used for the detection of metal ions in biological samples, for the determination of metal-binding affinities of proteins and for the noninvasive visualization of exchangeable metal ion pools in live cells, tissues, and whole organisms. While a large array of fluorescent probes have been developed for nonredox-active biological metal ions, the literature on copper-selective probes for biological applications is comparatively sparse. Within the reducing cellular environment, copper is mostly present in its monovalent oxidation state. The development of biological copper probes is therefore facing the challenges posed by the rich redox and coordination chemistry of Cu(I). This article outlines these challenges in a systematic manner by starting with a brief review of the relevant thermodynamic aspects of Cu(I) solution equilibria, followed by discussing the design of fluorescent Cu(I) probes and the optimization of their photophysical properties. Keywords: copper homeostasis; fluorescence microscopy; fluorescent indicators; genetically encoded probes; signal amplification; photoinduced electron transfer; reduction potentials; stability constants; reactive oxygen species; Pourbaix diagrams; ternary complex formation
Gangs and Delinquency in Developmental Perspective: Long-Term Consequences of Gang Membership

gangs have a powerful , contemporaneous effect on the lives of the adolescents who become involved with them. It is also reasonable to expect that gang membership will have long-term consequences as well, interfering with the normal course of adolescent development and affecting the transition to adult roles and statuses. Although reasonable, there has been surprisingly little research conducted in this area. As early as 1971 Klein commented that “Though the need is great, there has been no careful study of gang members as they move on into adult status” (1971: 136), a view more recently advanced by Hagedorn (1998) and by Decker and Lauritsen (1996). In this chapter we examine whether adolescent involvement in street gangs has long-term consequences in such important developmental areas as family formation, parenthood, and employment. We begin by introducing basic concepts from the life-course perspective to guide the analysis. Life-Course Perspective The life-course perspective recognizes that as people age they enter and move along various trajectories. Trajectories are age-graded patterns of development with respect to major social institutions such as family, school, and work. They capture the long view of development, “linking social and psychological states over a substantial portion of the life span” (Elder, 1997: 955). Short-term changes in the life course, including movement into and out of trajectories, are referred to as transitions. One of the most volatile stages of human development occurs as individuals move from adolescence to adulthood.
THE INFLUENCE OF WASTEWATER SUBSIDY, FLOOD DISTURBANCE AND NEIGHBOURING LAND USE ON CURRENT AND HISTORICAL PATTERNS OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION IN A SEMI‐ARID WATERSHED

Riparian systems are among the most diverse and most threatened ecosystems in the western USA and consequently the focus of much conservation and restoration effort. Detailed mapping of existing riparian vegetation and quantitative description of historical riparian dynamics can inform and direct ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts. Using historical aerial photography, satellite imagery and field methods, we examine and compare historical riparian vegetation dynamics within catchments of varying land-use/water-use intensity along a 51-km stretch of the Santa Cruz River in Arizona, USA. We mapped current (2006–2007) vegetation to a formation class level (dominant life form) through aerial photo-interpretation and refined the map to an alliance level (dominant species) with extensive field data. We mapped historical vegetation to the formation level using six dates of aerial photography (1936–2004) and quantified rates of land-use and vegetation change over the 70-year period with spatial analysis techniques. Our results indicate that the current amount, distribution and diversity of vegetation alliances are linked to effluent supply. Sites receiving effluent since 1972 experienced a rapid increase in area of riparian forest and woodland from 1984 to 2004, followed by retrogression to herbaceous-dominated types from 2004 to 2006, the result of an extensive cottonwood tree die-off. Sites with no effluent subsidy are currently dominated by a mixture of riparian shrub and non-native herbaceous alliances but tend to have higher overall alliance diversity and exhibit more stability over time. These results suggest that the use of effluent for riparian restoration may have variable long-term effects depending on catchment land-use history. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investor Relations, Earnings Quality, and Meeting Expectations

Despite the prevalence of IR among firms and its role as the functional area dedicated to financial communications, we know little about the relationship between IR and financial reporting quality. This paper examines the earnings management choices of firms with a professional IR presence. I find that these IR firms are associated with less earnings management behavior both broadly and around the earnings objective of meeting analyst expectations. Although IR firms are more likely to meet analyst expectations, I find that IR firms rely more on expectations management and less on upward earnings management. Collectively, the results imply that firms with professional IR may be better positioned to manage capital market pressures without compromising financial reporting quality.
Optimal drug therapy in the treatment of testicular cancer.

Although testes cancer is the most common malignancy affecting young men, dramatic survival rates are now possible with the development of optimal individualised drug therapy. Human chorionic gonadotrophin and a-fetoprotein are important tumour markers associated with testes cancer, and can provide essential information about prognosis and treatment efficacy. For treatment purposes, testicular germ-cell malignancies are broadly classified as seminomatous or non-seminomatous.
The policy relevance of global environmental change research

Abstract Many scientists are striving to identify and promote the policy implications of their global change research. Much basic research on global environmental change cannot advance policy directly, but new projects can determine the relevance of their research to decision makers and build policy-relevant products into the work. Similarly, many ongoing projects can alter or add to the present science design to make the research policy relevant. Thus, this paper shows scientists working on global change how to make their research policy relevant. It demonstrates how research on physical global change relates to human dimensions studies and integrated assessments. It also presents an example of how policy relevance can be fit retroactively into a global change project (in this case, SRBEX—the Susquehanna River Basin Experiment) and how that addition can enhance the project's status and science. The paper concludes that policy relevance is desirable from social and scientific perspectives.
A Profile of the World's Young Developing Country International Migrants

Individual-level census and household survey data are used to present a rich profile of young developing country international migrants around the world. They are found to comprise a large share of the flow of migrants, particularly among migrants to other developing countries, with the age distribution of migrants peaking in the late teens or early twenties. Detailed data are presented on the age and sex composition of migrants, on whether young migrants move alone or with a parent or spouse, on their participation in schooling and work in the destination country, on the types of jobs they have, and on the incidence and age of return migration. The results suggest a high degree of commonality in the youth immigrant experience across a number of destination countries. Recent developing country young migrants tend to work in similar occupations and are more concentrated in these occupations than recent older migrants or young immigrants who arrived at an earlier age. Nevertheless, there is also considerable heterogeneity among young immigrants with respect to school attendance and work in their destination country. The potential of international migration for building human capital is significant but far from being fully used.
An experimental analysis of the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on the behavior of children with autism

Abstract The current study experimentally evaluated the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on the behavior of children with autism using a multiple baseline across participants design and a waitlist control group for comparison purposes. Participants were observed weekly in an after-school program during four center-based activities and during therapeutic horseback riding lessons. We also conducted intermittent probes of behavior at home. Therapeutic horseback riding did not produce systematic changes in affect, responding to others’ initiations, spontaneous initiations, off-task behavior, compliance, problem behavior, or performance on two standardized measures. Three of four participants’ posture improved during therapeutic horseback riding.
Gilles de la tourette's syndrome in twins: Clinical and neurochemical data

A pair of identical twins (probability of monozygosity by genetic marking = 99.99%) with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome (GTS) were studied clinically and neurochemically. The two boys were distinguished within the family by dramatic differences in their behavior and tics. Twin 1 had severe motor tics, loud vocalizations, coprolalia, and school behavior problems, whereas twin 2 was only mildly affected. Neither boy had ever been treated with medication for his tic disorder. Lumbar puncture was performed on each after a night of bed rest. In spite of the marked clinical differences between the two boys, the major indices of dopamine and serotonin turnover in the cerebrospinal fluid were equivalent. Homovanillic acid levels were 65 and 60 ng/ml, respectively, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels were 36 and 39 ng/ml. Observation of these twins suggests that the phenotypic expression of GTS relates to more factors than inheritance. Neurochemical metabolites of dopamine and serotonin did not reflect the comparative clinical severity of GTS in these boys.
Energy Spectrum of the Hydrogen Atom in a Strong Magnetic Field

We obtain the energy spectrum for the 14 lowest states of the hydrogen atom in a strong magnetic field $B$. Emphasis is placed on values of $B\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{6}\ensuremath{-}{10}^{8}$ G, characteristic of those found in magnetic white dwarfs. Our results for the ionization energy of the ground state are significantly better than those of Cohen, Lodenquai, and Ruderman for fields $\ensuremath{\lesssim}7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{11}$ G.
A Theory for Nonprecipitating Moist Convection between Two Parallel Plates. Part I: Thermodynamics and “Linear” Solutions

Abstract A defining feature of moist convection is latent heating. A simple, mathematically tractable but thermody-namically reasonable Kuo-type model is developed to isolate some important effects of latent heating on the structure and organization of moist convection. Convection in a shallow, unsheared layer of viscous moist air between two rigid horizontal plates is examined. Unlike previous analytical work, a realistic thermodynamic equation is used, based on the assumption that no precipitation falls out of saturated air. This assumption isolates reversible latent heating from the complicating effects of precipitation. The crucial step is to express the buoyancy of moist air as a simple function of adiabatically conserved, linearly mixing properties of the air; this function is different in saturated than in unsaturated air. In Part I, the new model is used to find analytical solutions for infinitesimal motions in a conditionally unstable, exactly saturated atmosphere. As in previous work, the most u...
Ribosomal frameshifting, jumping and readthrough

New examples of high-level ribosomal frameshift and readthrough events have been described over the past year and a half. These include -1 frameshifting at tandem codons and +1 frameshifting at neighboring slow codons. Several bizarre examples of ribosome jumping and multiple stop-codon readthrough continue to perplex investigators in this field.
Argiotoxin-636 blocks excitatory synaptic transmission in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

Argiotoxin 636, (AR636), a synaptic antagonist from orb weaver spider venom, is shown produce reversible blockade of excitatory transmission in CA1 pyramidal neurons of the in vitro rat hippocampus. Microtopical applicationof AR636 (5–50 nM) resulted in a concentration-dependent suppression of the amplitude of the dendritic field EPSP recorded from stratum radiatum, and the amplitude of the population spike recorded from stratum pyramidale in response to stimulation of the Schaffer collaterals. The maximum effect of AR636 occured at about 15–25 min. These effects were reversible after washing with toxin-free physiological solution with the rate of recovery having an inverse relationships to the concnetration of AR636. In contrast to the effects observed with orthodromic stimulation, the amplitude of the antidromic spike was not affected by exposure to AR636. The temporal pattern GABAergic paired-pulse inhibition was unaffected by exposure to AR636. Neuronal discharge elicited by pressure injection of l-glutamate was abolished by AR636, whereas, responses to l-aspartate were not significantlu affected. These data suggest that AR636 functionsas a selective antagonist of glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus.
Influence of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Microbiology of Broiler Drumsticks

Abstract Broiler drumsticks were vacuum-packaged, flushed with carbon dioxide or nitrogen gas (stored at 4–5 C), and monitored for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria growth over 11 to 12 days. Compared with the control growth value, vacuum-packaged drumsticks had lower aerobic and anerobic growth rates, whereas carbon dioxide-flushed drumsticks had reduced aerobic growth and some reduction of the anaerobic growth rate. Flushing with nitrogen gas resulted in a reduced growth rate of aerobic bacteria but had no effect on anaerobic growth rate. Introduction of a controlled atmosphere may help prolong shelf-life of poultry.
Effects of alcohol on recall of social interactions

This experiment used a balanced placebo design and investigated the effects of alcohol, expectancy, and sex of subject on normal drinkers' recall of social interactions. In a 2 ×2 ×2 factorial design, 48 males and 48 females were (a) administered an alcoholic (.7 g/kg) or a nonalcoholic beverage, and (b) instructed that they had received an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage. Subjects then heard four audiotaped dyadic interactions, and their recall for factual aspects of each interaction was assessed. A significant Beverage ×Instruction interaction showed that alcohol consumption impaired subjects' recall under the told nonalcohol instructional condition, and that the best recall scores were attained by subjects whose beverage and instruction conditions were congruent. Females showed better recall than males. With qualifications, these data support the use of an information-processing approach to investigate cognitive functions relevant to the social behavioral effects of alcohol.
Omitted Variables in Multilevel Models

Statistical methodology for handling omitted variables is presented in a multilevel modeling framework. In many nonexperimental studies, the analyst may not have access to all requisite variables, and this omission may lead to biased estimates of model parameters. By exploiting the hierarchical nature of multilevel data, a battery of statistical tools are developed to test various forms of model misspecification as well as to obtain estimators that are robust to the presence of omitted variables. The methodology allows for tests of omitted effects at single and multiple levels. The paper also introduces intermediate-level tests; these are tests for omitted effects at a single level, regardless of the presence of omitted effects at a higher level. A simulation study shows, not surprisingly, that the omission of variables yields bias in both regression coefficients and variance components; it also suggests that omitted effects at lower levels may cause more severe bias than at higher levels. Important factors resulting in bias were found to be the level of an omitted variable, its effect size, and sample size. A real data study illustrates that an omitted variable at one level may yield biased estimators at any level and, in this study, one cannot obtain reliable estimates for school-level variables when omitted child effects exist. However, robust estimators may provide unbiased estimates for effects of interest even when the efficient estimators fail, and the one-degree-of-freedom test helps one to understand where the problem is located. It is argued that multilevel data typically contain rich information to deal with omitted variables, offering yet another appealing reason for the use of multilevel models in the social sciences.
The effect of time delay on Approximate & Sample Entropy calculations

Abstract Approximate and Sample Entropy are two widely used techniques to measure system complexity or regularity based on chosen parameters such as pattern length, m , and tolerance, r . In this paper, we investigate how different values of the time delay parameter, τ can be used in conjunction with standard values of m and r in the computation of Approximate and Sample Entropy. The results show that for time series generated by nonlinear dynamics that have long range correlation, a time delay equal to the first zero crossing or minimum of the autocorrelation function can provide additional information into the characteristics of the time series that may be useful in comparative analysis. With a unity delay, we demonstrate that Approximate and Sample Entropy are possibly measuring only the (linear) autocorrelation properties of the signal, and these are highly invariant under surrogate data generation methods. Hence when this occurs, the complexity measures of the surrogate and original data are not statistically different.
Quantitative laser-saturated fluorescence measurements of nitric oxide in counter-flow diffusion flames under sooting oxy-fuel conditions

Abstract We report quantitative, spatially resolved, laser-saturated fluorescence measurements of nitric oxide ([NO]) concentration in sooting, high-temperature, oxygen-methane, counter-flow diffusion flames at atmospheric pressure. Six different flames containing 1%, 3%, and 10% N2 in either the oxidizer or fuel streams are investigated at a global strain rate of 20 s−1. Excitation of NO is obtained at 224.45 nm in the γ(0,0) band and detection is performed in a 2-nm region centered at 235.78 nm in the γ(0,1) band. Numerical computations for all counter-flow diffusion flames are conducted using OPPDIF with GRI Mech-3.0. The effect of gas-phase radiation is considered in the modeling. Excitation scans indicate no significant change in background for oxygen-rich as compared to air-rich flames and detection scans verify the absence of interferences from other species. Quantitative axial profiles of [NO] are presented for all six flames. Comparisons with modeling indicate good agreement in those regions of each flame having predicted temperatures below 2600 K. Enhanced radiative heat loss caused by soot formation leads to poorer agreement between predicted and measured NO concentrations in regions at higher flame temperatures (T > 2600 K), thus indicating the need for a combined soot formation and radiation model.
mRNA leader length and initiation codon context determine alternative AUG selection for the yeast gene MOD5.

Abstract MOD5, a nuclear gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encodes two isozymic forms of a tRNA-modification enzyme. These enzymes modify both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAs. Two inframe ATGs of the MOD5 gene are used for initiation of translation, and the form of the protein translated from the first AUG is imported into mitochondria. Protein translated from the second AUG functions in the cytoplasm. Since all transcripts contain both of these translational start sites and two proteins are made, the question arises as to the factors that influence the translation start-site choice. Extending the 5' ends of the MOD5 mRNA to include leader sequences of the ADH1 (alcohol dehydrogenase defective) transcript produces significant changes in the choice of AUGs. This suggests that for wild-type MOD5 transcripts, the length or structure of the leader sequence plays a role in AUG choice. The nucleotides surrounding the first ATG of MOD5 also have an effect on translation initiation. Altering these nucleotides changes initiation choice and suggests that ribosomal bypass of a suboptimal AUG is another mechanism controlling the alternate use of two initiation codons. Our data support the model that at least one MOD5 transcript is able to produce two proteins with different N-terminal sequences.
Controlling Radiation Exposure in Interventional Cardiology

The idiom “double-edged sword” describes the use of ionizing radiation in the field of medicine. Medical radiation from x-rays and nuclear medicine is the largest man-made source of radiation in Western countries and although it has benefited patients there is an associated liability or health risk that is unavoidable. A 2009 report by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements found the total exposure to ionizing radiation in the United States has almost doubled during the past 2 decades.1,2 This finding is to a large part attributable to the rise in cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, which are responsible for ≈40% of the cumulative effective dose of radiation to the population exclusive of radiation oncology.3,4 As a field, interventional cardiology has flourished with the advent of technology to allow the treatment of more complex coronary artery disease and expansion in the arenas of endovascular and structural heart disease. With our success comes a heavy burden, that of awareness of the hazards of radiation, appropriate use and documentation of exposure, and constant effort to achieve the lowest achievable exposure necessary to care for an individual patient. There are various measurements of radiation exposure; therefore, familiarity with the nomenclature is required to understand the risks. The effective dose, measured in millisieverts (mSv), is a whole-body dose independent of where the radiation is delivered and permits comparisons among exposed individuals. For reference, background exposure to an individual in the United States is ≈3 mSv/y. Cardiac radionuclide studies have an exposure range of 15 to 35 mSv and invasive diagnostic cardiac procedures generally 1 to 10 mSv, whereas interventions can have substantially higher exposure. Most modern catheterization laboratory equipment measures air kerma, which is the energy delivered at a certain point in space (unit of measure is …
Storytelling—The Missing Art in Engineering Presentations [DSP Education]

Stories convey not only information but experience and wisdom, and they excite sympathetic reactions within the listeners that enable them to apply the learned concepts to other situations.
Temperature Measurement for Microwave Processing of Advanced Ceramics

The measurement of temperature in a microwave field is critical to the understanding of many phenomena which occur in materials heated in such an environment. Researchers have employed many techniques [1–4] to measure temperature in an electromagnetic field. This work examined three approaches: the use of a thermocouple, an IR meter, and a d. c. resistance technique.
Novel targeting strategy based on multimeric ligands for drug delivery and molecular imaging: homooligomers of α-MSH

Abstract Homooligomers constructed with 4- and 6-amino acid fragments of melanocortin (α-MSH) bind with higher affinity and with apparent cooperativity to melanocortin receptor, compared to their constituent monomers. Individual ligands were tethered with various spacers of different length and rigidity and the influence of spacers on binding was studied. Binding assays were performed on cells transfected with the melanocortin receptor, hMC4R. There is a 5–7-fold decrease in the EC 50 with the addition of each subunit, going from monomer to trimer. The Hill coefficient increases from 0.76 for the monomer to 1.12 for the dimer and 1.35 for the trimer. These data show a general trend of increasing avidity with increasing number of ligands in oligomers.
Exploring effects of source similarity, message valence, and receiver regulatory focus on yelp review persuasiveness and purchase intentions

This study is among the first to investigate the impact of message, source, and receiver characteristics on user attitudes toward Yelp reviews, with the subsequent impact of these attitudinal evaluations on review persuasiveness. Specifically, it examines the roles of review valence (positive/negative) and sidedness (one-sided/two-sided), as well as perceived similarity with the reviewer, on user perceptions of helpfulness, trustworthiness, and credibility of the review. The study also tests moderating effects of perceived source similarity and user regulatory focus on the relationships among message characteristics, attitudinal variables, and purchase intentions. Our results disconfirm the negativity bias reported in previous studies and indicate that positive reviews are perceived as more trustworthy, credible, and helpful than negative or two-sided reviews. Review helpfulness and credibility, in turn, positively impacts its persuasiveness, with regulatory focus playing a complex nuanced role in the per...
A pilot study of the social construction of the meanings attached to alcohol use: perceptions from India.

The literature on alcoholism is replete with various cultural interpretations of alcohol use and alcoholism. However, many of those interpretations have not considered the meanings associated with drinking alcohol, a perspective that goes beyond simply examining the causes of alcoholism. The present study focused on the social construction of the meanings associated with use of alcohol and alcoholism from an Indian perspective. Using qualitative methods, the researcher collected ideas on the meanings of alcohol use from eight alcohol-dependent clients of a South India alcoholism treatment center who participated in focus groups and in-depth interviews. An important aspect of this research was that the researcher considered the alcohol-dependent participants as the “experts” who validated their point of view. Several themes emerged: Alcohol use is a symbol of economic status, caste, a person's karma, a period of turmoil, and gender privilege. It is important that social workers and other intervention agent...
The influence of sorbate-organic matter interactions on sorption nonequilibrium

Abstract Literature data on nonequilibrium sorption of organic solutes by natural sorbents were compiled. The solutes included a broad spectrum of nonpolar, hydrophobic organic chemicals (Type I) and polar/ionizable organic chemicals (Type II). Values for equilibrium sorption coefficient (K p ) and sorption rate constant (k) were determined for the data and were analyzed with the Linear Free Energy Relationship approach. The compiled data spanned approximately seven orders-of-magnitude in K p values and approximately six orders-of-magnitude in k values. An inverse linear relationship was found between log k and log K p . The intercept value for the Type I chemicals was larger than that for the Type II chemicals, which suggests that the sorption dynamics for the Type II chemicals were constrained to a greater degree than that for the Type I chemicals. After examining the experimental conditions under which the data were collected, and considering the nature of the sorbents and the sorbates, it was postulated that the following processes were responsible for the observed sorption nonequilibrium: intraorganic matter diffusion for Type I chemicals; intraorganic matter diffusion and chemical nonequilibrium for Type II chemicals. The rationale for the elimination of other mechanisms is discussed. A regression equation, relating k and K p , is presented that may be used to estimate approximate values of the sorption rate constant for organic solutes. This provides a means to evaluate nonequilibrium potential and to attempt to predict nonequilibrium behavior.
The effect of intensity of intermittent punishment in acquisition on resistance to extinction of an approach response

In a transfer of persistence paradigm, intensity of shock employed as intermittent punishment during the acquisition of a food-motivated instrumental response was manipulated. While intensities that increased response time during acquisition did increase resistance to extinction, an intensity that had no punishing effect did not increase persistence. The results indicated that there is both a lower and an upper limit to the transfer of an approach response from sp to Sf and that these limits should be determined by behavioral rather than intensity measures.
Grain-Boundary Design of L12 Ordered Intermetallic Alloys

This paper summarizes recent research on intergranular fracture and alloy design of L12 ordered Ni3X intermetallics. The grain boundaries in Ni3AI, Ni3Ga, Ni3Si, and Ni3Ge are intrinsically brittle, and boron additions are effective in ductilizing the first three alloys but not in Ni3Ge The beneficial role of boron is to increase grain-boundary cohesive strength, to enhance plastic flow in the boundary region, and to disorder grain boundaries. Boron is ineffective in ductilizing Ni3X alloys with × > 25%. The room-temperature ductility of undoped Ni3Al can be improved also by change in grain shape from equiaxed to columnar.
Interactions between marketing and R&D departments in implementing different business strategies

This paper examines how interactions between marketing and research and development personnel vary across business units pursuing different strategies. Based on the Miles and Snow typology of strategy, several propositions concerning the extent of interdepartmental conflict, the structures used to manage and resolve such conflicts, and the perceived effectiveness of the interaction between marketing and R&D are developed. These propositions are empirically tested in a study of marketing personnel from three divisions of a large Fortune 500 company. The results of this preliminary test indicate that conflict between the two departments is greatest under a prospector business unit strategy. The degree of formalization and the use of different forms of conflict resolution mechanisms only partially conformed to the predictions of Miles and Snow, but were strongly linked to respondents' assessment of the effectiveness of relations between the two functional areas.
Mosaic Duplication 1(q11q44) in an Infant With Nephroblastomatosis and Mineralization of Extraplacental Membranes

Partial trisomy of 1q is rare. Only 32 cases of isolated partial trisomy 1q have been previously reported. From these cases, a characteristic phenotype is beginning to emerge. We present a case of mosaic duplication of 1q [46,XX,dup (1)(q11q44)/46,XX]. Many features of our patient have been described in previous patients, thus supporting the emerging phenotype. Two particular features, however, have not been previously described. The present case demonstrated extensive mineralization of the extraplacental membranes and bilateral nephromegaly, with an extreme form of diffusely hyperplastic perilobar nephroblastomatosis. Clinical comparison is made between our case and previously reported cases, and the clinical significance of the unique findings are reviewed and discussed.
Photooxidation of crystalline chymotrypsin in the presence of methylene blue

Abstract Photooxidation of chymotrypsin with visible light in the presence of traces of methylene blue resulted in rapid inactivation of the enzyme. Both the proteolytic and esterolytic activities were inactivated at the same rate. A 100 % inactivation of the enzyme took place at 4.0 moles of oxygen uptake per mole of enzyme, at which point 1 mole of histidine, of the total of 2 moles, and 3 moles of tryptophan, of the total of 7 moles, were photooxidized. Solubility and viscosity measurements indicated the absence of denaturation during the photooxidation of the enzyme. No hydrolysis of the peptide bonds of chymotrypsin could be observed during the photooxidation of this enzyme. Photooxidation of chymotrypsinogen to the extent of 4 moles of oxygen per mole of the precursor eliminated its ability to be converted into the active enzyme by traces of trypsin. Photo-inactivation of chymotrypsin eliminated the reactive site for the attachement of diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The possible significance of these findings in relation to the catalytic property of chymotrypsin is discussed.
A magnetic associative memory

Hundreds of technical papers and reports on associative systems have been published since 1956 when the first electronic associative memory was reported. So far the use of such a system is still very limited because of its cost. But the tremendous technological advances made in the batch fabrication of thin films and integrated circuits for the last few years would evidently reduce the absolute cost of an associative system and enhance its usefulness.
The C. elegans unc-104 4 gene encodes a putative kinesin heavy chain-like protein

Abstract Mutations in the unc-104 gene of the nematode C. elegans result in uncoordinated and slow movement. Transposon insertions in three unc-104 alleles ( e2184, rh 1016 , and rh1017 ) were used as physical markers to clone the unc-104 gene. DNA sequence analysis of unc-104 cDNAs revealed an open reading frame capable of encoding a 1584 amino acid protein with similarities to kinesin heavy chain. The similarities are greatest in the aminoterminal ATPase and microtubule-binding domains. Although the primary sequence relatedness to kinesin is weak in the remainder of the molecule, the predicted secondary structure and regional isoelectric points are similar to kinesin heavy chain.
Ramsey-Type Results for Geometric Graphs, I

For any 2-coloring of the ${n \choose 2}$ segments determined by n points in general position in the plane, at least one of the color classes contains a non-self-intersecting spanning tree. Under the same assumptions, we also prove that there exist $\lfloor (n+1)/3 \rfloor$ pairwise disjoint segments of the same color, and this bound is tight. The above theorems were conjectured by Bialostocki and Dierker. Furthermore, improving an earlier result of Larman et al., we construct a family of m segments in the plane, which has no more than $m^{\log 4/\log 27}$ members that are either pairwise disjoint or pairwise crossing. Finally, we discuss some related problems and generalizations.
Intramolecular water bridge and a distorted trans peptide bond in the crystal structure of α-L-glutamyl-L-aspartic acid hydrate

The crystal structure of the monohydrated form of α-L-glutamyl-L-aspartic acid, C19H14N2O7 · H2O, has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray diffractometer data. The dipeptide crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with one formula unit in a cell of dimensions a = 7.806(3), b = 8.473(5), c = 4.965(2)A, α = 101.50(3), β = 100.81(3), γ = 104.72(3)°. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares methods to a final value of the weighted R factor (on F) of 0.047 based on 1647 unique observations with I ≥ 0.01 (I). The dipeptide crystallizes as a zwitterion with the amino terminus protonated and the main chain carboxyl group ionized. The peptide bond conformation is trans, though the ω angle of 161.3° is highly distorted from the ideal 180° value. The adoption of an unusual 13-membered “intramolecularly” hydrogen bonded ring structure with resulting α-turn character is responsible for distortion of the peptide bond. The solid-state conformation of the hydrate thus differs considerably from the previously reported unhydrated pseudopolymorphic structure of α-L-Glu-L-Asp.
The promises and pitfalls of reboxetine.

The antidepressant compound, morpholine, 2-[(2-ethoxyphenoxy)phenylmethyl]-, methanesulfonate, or reboxetine, is a selective noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor that acts by binding to the norepinephrine (NE) transporter and blocking reuptake of extracellular NE back into terminals. This compound has low affinity for other transporters and receptors. The development of reboxetine as a potential antidepressant stems from the prior demonstration that blockade of the NE transporter imparts antidepressant activity. Desipramine, lofepramine, and nortryptiline are examples of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) compounds from the first generation of antidepressants that exert their effects by blockade of NE reuptake. Maprotiline, a non-tricyclic compound, is also a NE selective reuptake inhibitor. Unfortunately, these antidepressants are also associated with interactions with muscarinic, histaminergic, and adrenergic receptors, which are known to contribute to a variety of untoward side effects. Despite the positive pharmacological profile of reboxetine, i.e., selectivity and specificity, with relatively fewer side effects, its use as an antidepressant is currently limited to Europe. Reboxetine is marketed as Edronax in the UK, Norebox in Italy, and as Irenor in Spain. It is registered in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Austria and Finland. Based on studies conducted primarily outside the US, the FDA granted a preliminary letter of approval in 1999. However, more recent clinical studies conducted in the US and Canada, prompted by the FDA, resulted in a letter of non-approval. To date, it is unclear why the further development of reboxetine as an antidepressant in the US has been halted. Despite this setback, reboxetine has been a valuable pharmacological tool to assess the role of the noradrenergic system in preclinical studies of depressive disorder.
A specialized team approach to diagnosis and medical versus surgical treatment of infants with congenital hyperinsulinism

Hyperinsulinism (HI) is the most common cause of transient and permanent forms of hypoglycemia in infancy. Establishing the correct diagnosis and initiating appropriate therapy without delay is of utmost importance. Once the diagnosis is made and if medical therapy with diazoxide fails, one should assume that the infant has a K ATP channel defect and may require surgery. In this case, the infant should be referred to a center that specializes in HI with 18-fluoro L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography scan. This report describes a center specializing in HI with a team of experts consisting of endocrinologists, nurse practitioners, geneticists, radiologists, pathologists, and a surgeon. It describes the center's paradigm for managing severe HI on the basis of more than 250 cases of HI in the past 10 years, including the diagnosis of HI, medical options, genetics of HI, imaging in HI, the surgical approach to HI, and outcomes.
Assimilation of time-averaged observations in a quasi-geostrophic atmospheric jet model

The problem of reconstructing past climates from a sparse network of noisy time-averaged observations is considered with a novel ensemble Kalman filter approach. Results for a sparse network of 100 idealized observations for a quasi-geostrophic model of a jet interacting with a mountain reveal that, for a wide range of observation averaging times, analysis errors are reduced by about 50% relative to the control case without assimilation. Results are robust to changes to observational error, the number of observations, and an imperfect model. Specifically, analysis errors are reduced relative to the control case for observations having errors up to three times the climatological variance for a fixed 100-station network, and for networks consisting of ten or more stations when observational errors are fixed at one-third the climatological variance. In the limit of small numbers of observations, station location becomes critically important, motivating an optimally determined network. A network of fifteen optimally determined observations reduces analysis errors by 30% relative to the control, as compared to 50% for a randomly chosen network of 100 observations.
Simple consistent estimators of stable distribution parameters

The four parameters of a stable distribution may be estimated consistently from five pre-determined sample quantiles with the aid of the accompanying tables, for a in the range [0.6, 2.0] and g in the range [-1, 1]. The problem of the discontinuity of the traditional location parameter in the asymmetrical cases as a passes unity is resolved. The proposed estimators of a and c are similar to those of Fama and Roll, except that the small asymptotic bias in their estimators has been eliminated, and their restrictions that a be no less than 1.0 and that the distribution be symmetrical have been relaxed. The proposed estimators can provide good initialization values for other more efficient, but computer-intensive, methods.
Electrical properties of NbO in high magnetic fields.

Abstract The resistivity and Hall coefficients of polycrystalline samples, single crystals, and doped specimens of NbOx (0.98 ⩽ x ⩽ 1.02) were measured in magnetic fields up to 160 kG at 4.2, 78, and 295 K. The material is found to be an excellent conductor. The results are interpreted in terms of a nearly free electron model in which holes and electrons contribute jointly to conduction processes. Orbital switching, magnetic breakdown effects, and perturbations arising from impurities are invoked to explain the observed magneto-resistance anomalies.