cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coding with XML for Efficiencies in Cataloging and Metadata

Coding with XML for Efficiencies in Cataloging and Metadata is intended for library staff who are ready to integrate XML technologies into their work and is designed to be accessible even for those...
Chapter 14 - β-Carbonic Anhydrases: General Features and Medical Implications

The β-carbonic anhydrases are a structurally unique class of carbonic anhydrases that is found in a diverse array of microorganisms, algae, plants, and invertebrates. These enzymes are likely associated with other enzymes that consume or produce carbon dioxide (CO2) or bicarbonate (HCO3−), and catalyze the interconversion of these species according to the chemical reaction CO2 + H2O ⇆ HCO3− + H+. Evolutionary offshoots of β-carbonic anhydrases hydrolyze the related substances carbonyl sulfide (COS) and carbon disulfide (CS2). In many microorganisms, β-carbonic anhydrases are essential for normal growth. Some β-carbonic anhydrases exhibit allostery, a property not observed in any other class of carbonic anhydrases. As a group, β-carbonic anhydrases are relatively weakly inhibited by sulfonamides and anions, classical inhibitors of most other carbonic anhydrases.
Increasing Access to Emergency Contraceptive Pills through State Law Enabled Dependent Pharmacist Prescribers

Emergency contraceptive pills ("ECPs"), a form of contraception which has a 75% chance of preventing pregnancy when taken within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, are currently available only by prescription. Increasing access to ECPs will help to reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions and will help to provide women with an extra level of control over their reproductive futures. Private access initiatives, while helpful, are insufficient to address the access problem; federal level solutions are unlikely to be implemented soon. Thus, this Article proposes that all states adopt the Washington model for dependent pharmacist prescribers, whereby state law enables physicians to create collaborative agreements with pharmacists, pursuant to which the physician can effectively delegate to a pharmacist in a retail setting the power to prescribe ECPs. Dependent pharmacist prescribing of ECPs increases access to contraception, increases patient satisfaction and decreasing cost, while preserving patient safety through screening mechanisms and the good safety profile of ECPs. A state-by-state analysis of pharmacy law reveals that while there is a national trend expanding the scope of pharmacy practice, states vary widely in the amount of prescribing power allowed to pharmacists. However, dependent pharmacist prescribing of ECPs is currently feasible in a few states and close in a number of others, and implementation of dependent pharmacist prescribing in some states may lead to greater nationwide acceptance of both dependent pharmacist prescribing and of ECPs.
2018 REPORT ON OCCUPATIONAL FRAUD: RESULTS AND HOW COMPANIES CAN PROTECT THEIR ASSETS

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) published their study on occupational fraud and abuse this past year. The study, which is its tenth edition, is the most comprehensive study on occupational fraud and abuse. Its findings give great insight into- among other things- who commits fraud, why they commit fraud, and how companies can protect themselves to deter and detect fraud. This paper will look at the major findings of the study. In addition, the paper will make practical suggestions that companies could implement to deter and detect fraud, with a special focus on internal controls and internal control activities.
An Accurate Analytical Model to Calculate the Impedance Bandwidth of a Proximity Coupled Microstrip Patch Antenna (PC-MSPA)

This paper presents a new set of analytical equations to calculate the impedance bandwidth of electrically thin and thick proximity-coupled square microstrip patch antenna (PC-MSPA). The proposed mathematical model uses the relationship among different antenna parameters, material, and antenna dimensions to estimate the percentage impedance bandwidth with high accuracy. The proposed model was validated with rigorous full-wave solutions, and experimental antenna prototypes implemented for different thicknesses, patch dimensions, frequencies, and different substrates. The theoretical bandwidth results of S-, Cand X-band PC-MSPA antennas obtained using the new model are in very good agreement with simulations and the experimental results. Errors between the proposed analytical model and both simulation and measurement are less than 3.1%. These equations are mostly valid for permittivities between 2.2 and 6.15, and with feed substrate thickness less than 0.1λ r . The PC-MSPA is a candidate element for integration with MIMIC devices and wireless communication applications.
Collective Bargaining of Charter School Principals and School Performance

Because charter school principals are granted more autonomy and discretion than principals of traditional public schools, it is imperative to search for the attributes of principals that may improv...
Sexual Harassment: United States and Beyond

Abstract Beginning in the 1970s, women filed lawsuits in U.S. federal courts arguing that unwanted sexual attention at workplace constituted a form of sex discrimination. After decades of judicial policy-making, the legal definition of sexual harassment remains ambiguous, and the process for offering relief to targets of harassment reflects employers' interests in addition to employee rights. At the same time, sociologists and psychologists have explored the causes of employee's experiences with sexual conduct in the workplace and its impact on the targets. Social scientists have also analyzed organizational responses to sexual harassment, research that raises questions about how legal rights ought best be protected. This article examines sexual harassment law in the United States, and then turns to the social science literature that documents the frequency of harassment, employees' understanding of their rights and their willingness to file claims, and concludes by considering evidence of ‘sexual harassment in the workplace’ (rather than ‘at workplace’).
Pseudoword spelling ability predicts response to word spelling treatment in acquired dysgraphia

Although rehabilitation of acquired dysgraphia can be quite effective, identifying predictors of responsiveness to treatment is useful for prognosis and individualization of treatment protocols. Th...
Assessing resilience of a dual drainage urban system to redevelopment and climate change

Abstract Dual drainage systems in urban areas were historically designed and built to convey certain size storms on the assumption of stationarity. However, changes to rainfall due to climate change and increases in impervious cover due to land use change, specifically redevelopment, violate this assumption. Hydrologic models can be used to quantify impacts of climate and land use changes on stormwater runoff. Uncertain climate projections can complicate modeling efforts using “predict-then-adapt” strategies. Therefore, this study used the opposite approach in a “tipping point” resilience assessment. We determined the changes in rainfall (from climate change) and changes in land cover (from redevelopment) that pushed a dual drainage stormwater system to exceed regulatory flooding standards. Then, adaptive measures (bioretention cells) were added to improve system resilience to handle wider changes in climate or land use. We performed this assessment for a redeveloping urban neighborhood in Denver, Colorado and tested regulatory flooding standards for both minor (5-yr) and major (100-yr) storm events at different levels of redevelopment. We found that the pre-redevelopment system exceeds acceptable minor event standards and floods streets (i.e., reaches a tipping point) at an increase in rainfall of 7% due to climate change. It was also found that impervious areas can be increased by redevelopment up to 8.1% before exceeding minor storm event standards under current rainfall conditions, suggesting similar stormwater quantity impacts from both climate and land use changes. Adding distributed bioretention units in redeveloped areas allows for up to an additional 12.5% and 8.5% absolute increase in rainfall before the stormwater system fails minor and major storm event standards, respectively. Given the wide range of climate change estimates for future rainfall conditions, redevelopment presents a unique opportunity for implementing green stormwater infrastructure and building system resilience.
The Impact of Rural-Urban Economic Disparities on Terrorist Organizations’ Survival and Attacks

This study investigates the influence of rural-urban economic disparities on the survival and tactical choices of resident terrorist groups. These disparities inflame social and ethnic group grieva...
Treatment and Prevention

This chapter first addresses general considerations that are basic to any successful treatment approach and then discusses three major modes of treatment: psychotherapy; psychosocial approaches; and drug treatment. This ordering of the modes of treatment emphasizes the psychological and social approaches because they are the most currently underemphasized forms of treatment and are the most important to a favorable long-term outcome. This chapter concludes with a discussion of prevention.
Adolescent Trust in Teachers: Implications for Behavior in the High School Classroom

Cooperative behavior is important for well-functioning high school classrooms in which students trust their teachers and actively engage in academic tasks. Yet, discipline referrals for disruption ...
Passive Acoustic Monitoring for the Detection and Identification of Marine Mammals

Abstract : This project is intended to advance the state of passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals. Improved methods of identifying cetaceans are developed to contribute to the Navy's mitigation efforts. The project is a multi-pronged study to advance the state of the field in three areas. The development of automated auditory scene analysis for delphinid tonal calls will permit subsequent work by investigators to exploit the use of whistles for classification and localization. Our approach is to dynamically build hypothesis graphs to represent overlapping whistles. The whistle graphs are disambiguated using information from both sides of the crossings. In parallel to this effort, two modeling techniques are being pursued to improve existing passive acoustic monitoring capabilities based on echolocation clicks of odontocetes. The first of these examines the use of a universal background model as proposed by Reynolds et al. (2000) for human speaker verification tasks. Reynolds' problem is how can one reject vocalizations for which there are no data to create a model. We adapt his concept of a universal background model by training a generalized odontocete model using data from a number of species. Using Bayesian learning, training data from a specific species adapts the parameters of the generalized model. By having elements of the generalized model in both the adapted and background models, elements from an unknown species are more likely to be a better match for the general model, and those from the targeted species that differ from the training data are less penalized. The second approach for echolocation clicks exploits recent machine learning work on submanifold learning. To detect and classify odontocetes, features or poignant characteristics of their signals must be extracted from the audio signal. Classification techniques must attempt to infer information about the producer of the signal (e.g., species) through a typically higher order set of features.
Effects of macrophyte species richness on wetland ecosystem functioning and services

Wetlands provide many important ecosystem services to human society1,2,3,4,5, which may depend on how plant diversity influences biomass production and nutrient retention4,6,7,8. Vascular aquatic plant diversity may not necessarily enhance wetland ecosystem functioning, however, because competition among these plant species can be strong, often resulting in the local dominance of a single species4,9. Here we have manipulated the species richness of rooted, submerged aquatic plant (macrophyte) communities in experimental wetland mesocosms. We found higher algal and total plant (algal plus macrophyte) biomass, as well as lower loss of total phosphorus, in mesocosms with a greater richness of macrophyte species. Greater plant biomass resulted from a sampling effect; that is, the increased chance in species mixtures that algal production would be facilitated by the presence of a less competitive species—in this case, crisped pondweed. Lower losses of total phosphorus resulted from the greater chance in species mixtures of a high algal biomass and the presence of sago pondweed, which physically filter particulate phosphorus from the water2,10,11. These indirect and direct effects of macrophyte species richness on algal production, total plant biomass and phosphorus loss suggest that management practices that maintain macrophyte diversity may enhance the functioning and associated services of wetland ecosystems.
Tagomizer: subject maps meet social bookmarking

The CALO project at SRI International offers a unique opportunity to explore the boundaries of knowledge representation and organization in a learning environment. One goal is to develop methods for learning in the wild, the accretion of new knowledge by combinations of machine learning and recorded social gestures. Social bookmarking provides one kind of recorded social gesture that, when combined with machine learning techniques, avail learning in the wild opportunities. We explore the informal ontologies of social bookmarking processes as recorded in a subject map. We apply the same thinking to federation of formal ontologies. We will illustrate the opportunities gained through subject-centric knowledge representation and organization. In the larger picture, we are exploring techniques for federation of heterogeneous world views.
Decision-Theoretic Reasoning and the Human-Computer Interface: Advances in Embedded Intelligent Agents (abstract)

Advances in the use of automated decision-theoretic reasoning to enhance the human-computer interface will be presented. Following a brief survey of research on Bayesian networks and influence diagrams, principles of embedded decision-theoretic agents will be discussed. Key concepts will be highlighted within the contexts of work on the Vista and Lumiere projects. The Vista project centered on building an intelligent interface to assist NASA Mission Control flight engineers with managing the complexity of information about Space Shuttle propulsion systems in time-critical contexts. Moving from aerospace to personal computing, related work on the Lumiere project at Microsoft Research will be presented. The goal of Lumiere is to develop more responsive interfaces for personal computers.
Untreated syphilis in the male Negro. X. Twenty years of clinical observation of untreated syphilitic and presumably nonsyphilitic groups.

Abstract This report is one of a series in a continuing study of untreated syphilis in the male Negro by the United States Public Health Service. The study consists of 600 men who have been followed clinically, serologically, and pathologically (to post-mortem examination in over 63 per cent of the deceased patients). This study is unique because of the inclusion of nonsyphilitic individuals of comparable ages to the syphilitic patients at the onset of the study; furthermore, these “controls” have been followed as intensively for the past twenty years as have the syphilitic men. In this report, methods and problems in diagnosis of clinical syphilis are described as they were encountered in the collection of the statistical data obtained. Clinical findings are reported from physical examination, medical history, x-ray and fluoroscopy, serologic testing, electrocardiography, and neurologic examination; comparisons between syphilitic and nonsyphilitic individuals are shown usually by age groups; these comparisons have been subjected to statistical tests for significance. 1. 1. Findings in this study seem to confirm the impression that, in male Negroes with untreated syphilis, the cardiovascular system frequently is involved. 2. 2. Among the 23 living men who have developed some form of late syphilis, not one has received adequate therapy prior to the recent survey. 3. 3. Problems of diagnosis of syphilis among the aged are complex, especially in evaluating findings related to the cardiovascular system.
Practitioners’ work-life conflict: A PRSA survey

Abstract This study examined public relations practitioners’ experiences with work-life conflict and their coping mechanisms. Survey results of a national random sample of members of the Public Relations Society of America ( N = 565) added another layer to the work-life conflict literature by demonstrating the impact of the larger organizational environment and professional association on practitioners’ conflict experiences. In short, a negative work environment could increase practitioners’ self-reported levels of work-life conflict, yet a strong identification with the public relations profession and with the larger professional community could help mitigate such conflict. More alarmingly, a heightened level of work-life conflict would discourage practitioners’ proactive coping mechanisms. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Sampling and analysis of flue gases from a plasma incinerator

A system is described for monitoring flue gases from a plasma incinerator for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. The system is composed of three basic units: sampler/preconcentrator, gas chromatograph and mass-selective detector. The sampler operates by solid sorbent trapping and thermal desorption. The use of two adsorbers allows sampling at a high flow rate (∼1 1 min−1) and subsequent capillary gas chromatographic analysis without the need for cold traps. A sample trapped on the first adsorber is thermally desorbed and transferred by a carrier stream of 40 cm3 min−1 to a second smaller adsorber and retrapped. It is then thermally desorbed and injected into the capillary column by a carrier gas at an appropriate flow rate. A sequential valve-minder activates the electric actuators of the two six-port valves used in the design and also controls the power required for heating the adsorbers. Operation of the sampler is automated and is initiated by a single push-button switch. In simulation, the system allowed the separation of the major compounds of interest from possible interferences in <15 min and afforded unambiguous identification of the hazardous compounds and their quantification. For a sample volume of 20 1, the minimum detectable concentration of PCBs is 25–50 ng m−3.
A case study of energy cost optimization in Monroe water distribution system

The most expensive part of operating water distribution system is the cost of energy required for pumping. With variable rate contracts, energy costs can vary during the day. As a result, the price of energy during peak demand is typically higher than other hours of a day. To save money and minimize user fees water distribution system may be able to shift energy usage to off-peak hours.
Multipoint incremental motor unit number estimation as an outcome measure in ALS

Background: Improved outcome measures are necessary to reduce sample size and increase power in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical trials. Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) is a potentially attractive tool. MUNE methods previously employed in multicenter trials exhibited excessive variability and were prone to artifact. Objective: To evaluate a modification of standard incremental MUNE in a multicenter natural history study of subjects with ALS. Methods: Fifty healthy subjects were evaluated twice and 71 subjects with ALS were studied repeatedly for up to 500 days. Side and nerve studied was based on clinical examination findings. Nerves were stimulated at 3 specified locations and 3 increments were obtained at each location. Average single motor unit action potential (SMUP) amplitude was calculated by adding the amplitude of the third increment at each location and dividing by 9; SMUP was divided into maximum CMAP amplitude to determine the MUNE. Results: Test-retest variability was 9% in normal subjects. Average MUNE for normal subjects was 225 (±87), and was 41.9 (±39) among subjects with ALS at baseline. Subjects with ALS showed clear decrements over time, with an overage rate of decline of approximately 9% per month. SMUP amplitude increased with time in a fashion consistent with the known pathophysiology of ALS. Conclusion: Multipoint incremental MUNE has a number of attributes that make it attractive as an outcome measure in ALS and other diseases characterized by motor unit loss. It can be rapidly performed on any EMG machine and has repeatability and rates of decline that favorably compare to other previously described methods.
Genome-wide analysis of alternative splicing in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Background Genome-wide computational analysis of alternative splicing (AS) in several flowering plants has revealed that pre-mRNAs from about 30% of genes undergo AS. Chlamydomonas, a simple unicellular green alga, is part of the lineage that includes land plants. However, it diverged from land plants about one billion years ago. Hence, it serves as a good model system to study alternative splicing in early photosynthetic eukaryotes, to obtain insights into the evolution of this process in plants, and to compare splicing in simple unicellular photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic eukaryotes. We performed a global analysis of alternative splicing in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using its recently completed genome sequence and all available ESTs and cDNAs.
Need for Social Approval and Dyadic Verbal Behavior

High and low need-for-social-approval Ss were brought together in dyads in a 2 × 2 design. One S played the role of communicator attempting to persuade a receiver to change his attitude. High need-for-social-approval receivers showed more attitude change than low need-for-social-approval and control Ss. High need-for-social-approval communicators produced more conformity to immediate situational demands. Low need-for-social-approval communicators produced more of a change in affect towards the attitude object.
Effect of electronic correlation on the shape of a large bipolaron: Four-lobed planar large bipolaron in an ionic medium.

The shape of a large bipolaron is considered for self-trapped carriers confined within a plane that is immersed within a strongly ionic medium. For a wide enough electronic energy band, correlation effects determine a large bipolaron's shape. Then a stable large bipolaron is found in which the two self-trapped carriers occupy mutually perpendicular dumbbell-shaped orbitals. This arrangement gives the self-trapped carriers a planar four-lobed charge density. With progressively narrower electronic bands, the short-range electron-lattice interactions become increasingly important. Then the stable solution shifts to that of a large bipolaron with a circularly symmetric shape. With a still narrower electronic band, the stable solution collapses to that of a small (single-site) bipolaron. Thus, there can be at least three types of stable planar bipolarons in an ionic medium: (1) a four-lobed large bipolaron, (2) a circularly symmetric large bipolaron, and (3) a small bipolaron. The forces between noncircularly symmetric bipolarons depend on their shapes and relative orientations. As a result, large bipolarons' shapes can affect how and if they order in their ground state.
Introduction to spread-spectrum antimultipath techniques and their application to urban digital radio

In a combination tutorial and research paper, spread-spectrum techniques for combating the effects of multipath on high-rate data transmissions via radio are explored. The tutorial aspect of the paper presents: 1) a heuristic outline of the theory of spread-spectrum antimultipath radio receivers and 2) a summary of a statistical model of urban/suburban multipath. The research section of the paper presents results of analyses and simulations of various candidate receivers indicated by the theory, as they perform through urban/suburban multipath. A major result shows that megabit-per-second rates through urban multipath (which typically lasts up to 5 µs) are quite feasible.
Effect of glutaredoxin 2 gene knockout on lens epithelial cells against oxidative stress

Purpose The mitochondrial glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2) is known to possess both dethiolase and peroxidase activities, and has shown an ability to protect cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in the human lens epithelial cells. In this study, we further studied the function of Grx2 by using Grx2 knockout mouse lens epithelial (MLE) cells as a model. Methods Primary culture of MLE cells was established from the lenses of wild-type (WT) and Grx2-knockout (Grx2 KO) mice. Cells were probed for αA-crystallin and Grx2 by Western blot analysis while cell viability was examined by WST-8 assay. Glutathione (GSH) level, Grx2 and Complex I activities, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were determined by spectrophotometric assays. Reactive oxygen species was detected using DCF-DA fluorescein with a cell sorter. Apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry. Results Both primary cell cultures were confirmed to be lens epithelial cells by the presence of αA-crystallin. Western blotting showed normal expression of Grx2 in WT cells but absent in Grx2 KO cells. Both cell types showed similar morphology and growth rate with same level of GSH pool and complex 1 activity in the mitochondrial fraction. However, KO cells were more sensitive to oxidative stress (100 μM H2O2 for 6 h) and exhibited lower cell viability and more LDH leakage in comparison with the WT cells. In addition, knockdown of Grx2 weakened the cell’s ability to detoxify H2O2 and enhanced the H2O2-induced inactivation of complex I in the electron transport chain. Conclusion Grx2 can protect MLE cells from H2O2-induced cell injury, and the mechanism of this protection is likely associated with its ability to detoxify H2O2 and its preservation of complex I activity in the mitochondria.
Kinetic Traps in the Folding of βα-Repeat Proteins: CheY Initially Misfolds before Accessing the Native Conformation

The beta alpha-repeat class of proteins, represented by the (beta alpha)(8) barrel and the alpha/beta/alpha sandwich, are among the most common structural platforms in biology. Previous studies on the folding mechanisms of these motifs have revealed or suggested that the initial event involves the submillisecond formation of a kinetically trapped species that must at least partially unfold before productive folding to the respective native conformation can occur. To test the generality of these observations, CheY, a bacterial response regulator, was subjected to an extensive analysis of its folding reactions. Although earlier studies had proposed the formation of an off-pathway intermediate, the data available were not sufficient to rule out an alternative on-pathway mechanism. A global analysis of single- and double-jump kinetic data, combined with equilibrium unfolding data, was used to show that CheY folds and unfolds through two parallel channels defined by the state of isomerization of a prolyl peptide bond in the active site. Each channel involves a stable, highly structured folding intermediate whose kinetic properties are better described as the properties of an off-pathway species. Both intermediates subsequently flow through the unfolded state ensemble and adopt the native cis-prolyl isomer prior to forming the native state. Initial collapse to off-pathway folding intermediates is a common feature of the folding mechanisms of beta alpha-repeat proteins, perhaps reflecting the favored partitioning to locally determined substructures that cannot directly access the native conformation. Productive folding requires the dissipation of these prematurely folded substructures as a prelude to forming the larger-scale transition state that leads to the native conformation. Results from Go-modeling studies in the accompanying paper elaborate on the topological frustration in the folding free-energy landscape of CheY.
Spectral nature, antifungal activity and molecular structure of metal complexes of acetylpyrazine 4N-substituted thiosemicarbazones

Nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of acetylpyrazine 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]-nonylthiosemicarbazone and nickel(II) complexes of acetylpyrazine 4N-methyl-, 4N-dimethyl-, and 3-hexamethyleneiminylthiosemicarbazone have been synthesized and characterized by their spectral and physical properties. Crystal structures for the nickel(II) complexes of the 4N-methyl- and 4N-dimethyl-derivatives, with a chloro ligand in the fourth coordination position, are included. The growth inhibition by the four thiosemicarbazones and their metal complexes against two human pathogenic fungi, Aspergillus niger and Paecilomyces variotii, have been evaluated.
Evolving in Common: Creating Mutually Supportive Relationships Between Libraries and the Digital Humanities

ABSTRACT The authors lay out practical ways for libraries to involve themselves in this evolving area, especially focused on current strengths of many libraries including commitments to resource accessibility and project development. Finally, this article proposes that the role of the research librarian is evolving in order to effectively integrate the library as a partner in the scholarship of digital humanities.
Spanning with indexes

Abstract This paper presents several approximation theorems of a general contingent claim in terms of index options. We demonstrate that any contingent claim on the primitive securities in an infinite state economy can be approximated arbitrarily close by a portfolio of index options. In addition, these index options are associated with the same payout function, which belongs to a large and explicit class of one-variable measurable functions. I also characterize the layer structure of a general contingent claim.
Self-Assembled Organic Monolayers Terminated in Perfluoroalkyl Pentafluoro-λ6-sulfanyl (-SF5) Chemistry on Gold

Recently synthesized (Winter, R.; Nixon, P. G.; Gard, G. L.; Radford, D. H.; Holcomb, N. R.; Grainger, D. W. J. Fluorine Chem. 2001, 107, 23-30) SF5-terminated perfluoroalkyl thiols (SF5(CF2)nCH2CH2SH, where n = 2, 4, and 6) and a symmetric SF5-terminated dialkyl disulfide ([SF5-CH=CH-(CH2)8-S-]2) were assembled as thin films chemisorbed onto gold surfaces. The adsorbed monolayer films of these SF5-containing molecules on polycrystalline gold were compared using ellipsometry, contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) surface analytical methods. The resulting SF5-dialkyl disulfide monolayer film shows moderate angle dependence in depth-dependent XPS analysis, suggesting a preferentially oriented film. The SF5-terminated perfluoroalkyl thiols exhibit angular-dependent XPS compositional variance depending on perfluoroalkyl chain length, consistent with improved film assembly (increasingly hydrophobic, fewer defects, and more vertical chain orientation increasing film thickness) with increasing chain length. Tof-SIMS measurements indicate that both full parent ions for these film-forming molecules and the unique SF5 terminal group are readily detectable from the thin films without substantial contamination from other adsorbates.
Vibrational Normal Modes of Polymer Nanoparticle Dimers Using the Time-Averaged Normal Coordinate Analysis Method

The recently developed time-averaged normal coordinate analysis method is employed to investigate the normal modes of polymer nanoparticle dimers. In addition to providing the first accurate calculation of vibrational frequencies and vibrational displacements in dimerized nanoparticles, the normal mode corresponding to the particle dimer vibration is observed for the first time. It is observed that the nanoparticle dimer vibration is only minimally coupled to the other internal motions of the particle, showing a true correspondence to the vibrational motion in diatomic species. Several other characteristic vibrations of the dimerized species are observed, which correspond to coupled indifferent modes of the monomer particles.
Stochastic series expansion method with operator-loop update

A cluster update (the ``operator loop'') is developed within the framework of a numerically exact quantum Monte Carlo method based on the power series expansion of $\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta}H)$ (stochastic series expansion). The method is generally applicable to a wide class of lattice Hamiltonians for which the expansion is positive definite. For some important models the operator-loop algorithm is more efficient than loop updates previously developed for ``worldline'' simulations. The method is here tested on a two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnet in a magnetic field.
Extracorporeal photochemotherapy for the treatment of refractory Crohn's disease.

Abstract Crohn’s disease is an idiopathic, relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. We prospectively evaluated the use of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP; photopheresis), an immunomodulatory therapy, to treat moderate or severe Crohn’s disease (Crohn’s Disease Activity Index [CDAI] score ⩾220 points) in 2 patients who failed multiple treatments, including immunosuppressants and anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. After at least 24 weeks of ECP with stable concomitant therapy, the patient with moderate disease achieved a clinical response (a decrease in CDAI score from baseline of ⩾100 points and an endpoint CDAI score of ⩽150 points), whereas the other patient with severe disease demonstrated limited improvement. ECP was well tolerated in both patients. These observations suggest that adjunctive ECP can be of benefit among patients with active, refractory Crohn’s disease of moderate intensity. Further investigation is needed to define the role of ECP in treating Crohn’s disease.
Jean Pucelle and the Lost Miniatures of the Belleville Breviary

It has been noted occasionally that a number of large miniatures described in detail in the Exposition des ymages at the beginning of the Belleville Breviary are not actually included in the manuscript. This study is devoted to a reconstruction of their original appearance, drawing conclusions from the description in the expository text, and from the evidence of other works of art. The importance of the Belleville Breviary in the development of 14th-century allegorical and devotional imagery — already recognized from the extant pictorial program of calendar and psalter — is underscored further by the re-integration of the newly reconstructed images into the overall scheme of illustration designed by Jean Pucelle.
Autism litigation: outcomes for 2010, trends in decision making and changes in diagnostic criteria.

Abstract The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder has systematically risen since Kanner's description in 1943 and Asperger's definition in 1944. An increase in numbers has met with an increase in litigation regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA). Outcomes that first favored parents (2002–2004) have moved to outcomes favoring school districts. The authors update the reader on case outcomes for 2010 and discuss how pending changes in legislation and diagnostic criteria may impact navigation through the education system as individuals seek a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and placement in the least restrictive environment (LRE).
RANGES improves satellite-based information and land cover assessments in southwest United States

Because of its influence on hydrology climate, and global biogeochemical cycles, land cover change may be the most significant agent of global environmental change. Land degradation results not only from land cover conversion, but also land cover function. For example, human activities in the southwest U.S., such as grazing regimes and fire frequency, are accelerating functional changes to fragile rangeland ecosystems, causing increased proportions of shrubs in grasslands, decreases in overall vegetation density and the introduction and spread of non-native invasive species.
WCET analysis of instruction caches with prefetching

Instruction prefetching is an effective technique to reduce the instruction cache miss latency for improving the average-case performance. For real-time systems, however, the use of instruction prefetching will only besuitable if a reasonably tight worst-case performance of programs using instruction prefetching can be predicted. This paper presents an approach to modeling and computing the worst-case instruction cache performance with prefetching. Our experimental results indicate that instruction prefetching can benefit both the average-case and worst-case performance; however, the degree of the worst-case performance improvement due to instruction prefetching is less than that of the average-case performance, thus leading to increased time variation for real-time computing. Also, we find that the prefetching distance can significantly impact the worst-case performance analysis with instruction prefetching. Particularly, when the prefetching distance is equal to the L1 miss penalty, the worst-case execution time with instruction prefetching is minimized (i.e., optimal).
Doppler-shift attenuation measurements of lifetimes for (2s,1d) shell nuclei excited by heavy-ion bombardment of $sup 2$H

The Doppler-shift attenuation method was used to measure the lifetimes of nuclear levels formed in the heavy-ion bombardment of titanium deuteride targets. The nuclei formed are those resulting from the "inverse" ($d,p$) and ($d,n$) reactions, using beams of $^{18}\mathrm{O}$, $^{19}\mathrm{F}$, $^{32}\mathrm{S}$, $^{34}\mathrm{S}$, $^{35}\mathrm{Cl}$, and $^{37}\mathrm{Cl}$. Target backings of Mg, Al, and Cu were used as stopping media for the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-decaying nuclei. $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays were observed, mostly at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to the beam, with a 35-${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ Ge(Li) detector. New results include mean lifetimes of 1.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.34 psec for the $^{33}\mathrm{Cl}$ 811-keV level, 3.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5 psec for the $^{35}\mathrm{S}$ 1574-keV level, and 1.50\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.18 psec for the 2468-keV level of $^{36}\mathrm{Cl}$. The advantages and limitations of the method are discussed.
Response spectrum method for multi‐support seismic excitations

A new response spectrum method is developed for seismic analysis of linear multi-degree-of-freedom, multiply supported structures subjected to spatially varying ground motions. Variations of the ground motion due to wave passage, loss of coherency with distance and variation of local soil conditions are included. The method is based on fundamental principles of random vibration theory and properly accounts for the effects of correlation between the support motions as well as between the modes of vibration of the structure.
Tort versus no-fault: Compensation and injury prevention

The tort system, as a means of compensating the victims of injury, no longer fulfills the purpose for which it was intended. The attempt to achieve a fair and rational method of compensation, especially in the areas of medical malpractice and products liability, has been displaced by a form of litigation lottery which permits attorney's fees to divert great amounts of money from victims in needs. A reform of this system is much in need and long overdue. Following a discussion of these and other problems with the tort system, this paper will present a method for ensuring the prompt settlement of most personal injury claims through payment of the victim's net economic losses. The parallels to no-fault auto insurance and workers' compensation are examined and attention is given to the likely impact of this proposal on the conduct of potential injurers and victims.
Thinking Clearly Versus Frequently About the Future Self: Exploring This Distinction and its Relation to Possible Selves

This work documents important distinctions between thinking clearly and thinking frequently about one's future self. In Study 1, responses from 648 college students on a scale assessing future self thoughts revealed two factors, Clarity and Frequency, which differentially predicted measures of psychological functioning. Greater clarity predicted higher levels of positive states and attributes such as optimism and lower levels of negative states and attributes such as anxiety, whereas greater frequency predicted more anxiety and negative affect. Study 2 explored the roles of clarity and frequency in possible selves. Clarity predicted endorsing fewer negative possible future outcomes and greater psychological closeness to the hoped-for self. Frequency predicted listing more feared possible selves, feeling less capable of preventing the feared self, and thinking more frequently about possible selves. Implications for further understanding of self-system processes are discussed.
Palladium catalyzed reduction of aryl triflates - utilization in thesynthesis of angelicin, olivin and chromomycinone from phenolsproduced in the benzannulation reaction of chromium carbenecomplexes

Abstract The palladium catalyzed homogeneous reduction of a variety of phenols with either sodium borohydride or triethylammonium formate are effected as their triflate esters. This transformation extends the usefulness of the benzannulation reaction of chromium carbene complexes with acetylenes and is exemplified for the synthetic targets angelicin, olivin, and chromomycinone.
Approximation by rational functions in hardy space

Abstract The denseness of rational functions with prescribed poles in the Hardy space and disk algebra is considered.
Interfacial Molten Reactivity of Aluminum in Contact with (0001) Al2O3 and (111) Al2MgO4 Single Crystal Surfaces

The present work studies (0001) Al2O3 and (111) Al2MgO4 wetting with pure molten Al by the sessile drop technique from 1073 K to 1473 K (800 °C to 1200 °C) under Ar at PO2 10−15 Pa. Al pure liquid wets a smooth and chemically homogeneous surface of an inert solid, the wetting driving force (t,T) can be readily studied when surface solid roughness increases in the system. Both crystals planes (0001) Al2O3 and (111) Al2MgO4 have crystallographic surfaces with identical O−2 crystalline positions however considering Mg2+ content in Al2MgO4 structure may influence a reactive mode. Kinetic models results under similar experimental conditions show that Al wetting on (0001) Al2O3 is less reactive than (111) Al2MgO4, however at >1273 K (1000 °C) (0001) Al2O3 transformation occurs and a transition of wetting improves. The (111) Al2MgO4 and Al system promotes interface formations that slow its wetting process.
Performance of a microfluidic device for in situ ToF-SIMS analysis of selected organic molecules at aqueous surfaces

In this study, we report new results concerning the analytical performance of a novel portable vacuum compatible device enabling in situ study of aqueous surfaces using vacuum-based surface analysis tools. The surfaces of aqueous solutions of three representative organic molecules (formic acid, glycerol, and glutamic acid) were analyzed using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Their molecular signals were successfully observed. The device can be operated without interruption in vacuum for up to 8 hours, and SIMS measurements are feasible at any time in this time range. The stability testing of our device under primary ion beam bombardment shows that high fluence (6 × 1012 ions per cm2 s−1) measurements can be operated continuously for up to 30 minutes without any significant damage to the aperture. However, extra-high fluence measurements (>1 × 1014 ions per cm2 s−1) may lead to rapid boiling in the aperture, and the aqueous solutions may spread out quickly. Device reproducibility is studied for both consecutive measurements over a short period of time (e.g., 5 min) and intermittent measurements over a long time (e.g., several hours). The relative standard deviation (RSD) for molecular ion signals was determined to be less than 15% for consecutive measurements in 5 min. As to total counts, the RSD is determined to be less than 1% for each chemical compound. Higher RSDs of ±40–50% were obtained for intermittent measurements in a few hours, both acceptable for semi-quantitative analysis. In addition, the detection limits of formic acid, glycerol, and glutamic acid are estimated to be 0.04%, 0.008%, and 0.002% (weight ratio), respectively.
Regulation of α2A‐Adrenergic Receptor mRNA in Rat Astroglial Cultures: Role of Cyclic AMP and Protein Kinase C

In this study we investigated regulation of alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor (alpha 2A-AR) mRNA in rat astroglial cultures by increases in intracellular cyclic AMP levels and by protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Treatment of astroglial cultures with forskolin (FSK), an adenylyl cyclase activator, or with the membrane-permeable cyclic AMP analogues dibutyryl cyclic AMP or Sp-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate triethylamine caused time- and concentration-dependent decreases in the levels of a approximately 4.0-kb alpha 2A-AR mRNA transcript. Levels of alpha 2A-AR mRNA were reduced to approximately 10% of control levels within 4 h of 1 microM FSK treatment. PKC agonists [phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, and mezerein] also decreased alpha 2A-AR mRNA levels in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. A 90% decrease in alpha 2A-AR mRNA levels was observed with 50 nM PMA in 4 h. The decrease in alpha 2A-AR mRNA levels caused by FSK and PMA treatment appears to be the result of decreases in transcription of the alpha 2A-AR gene and is not due to decreases in alpha 2A-AR mRNA degradation rate. These observations suggest that alpha 2A-AR mRNA levels are regulated by cyclic AMP and PKC.
Distinct roles of eicosanoids in the immune response to viral encephalitis: or why you should take NSAIDS

Prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) are important proinflammatory mediators. They are both derived from arachidonic acid (AA). Cyclooxygenase (COX), the key enzyme in transforming AA into PGs, has two isoforms: COX-1 is constitutively expressed, and COX-2, is inducible. Lipoxygenase (5-LO) is the key enzyme for LT production. PGs and LTs have been intensively studied. Release of these molecules is associated with mucus secretion, redness, pain, fever and other inflammatory manifestations. Both PGs and LTs are involved in host defense against various pathogens. In addition to mediating inflammatory symptoms, PGs might suppress some innate immune factors, including nitric oxide (NO) production. PGs also suppress a TH1 response. LTs have pathologic potential, especially in asthma. LTs also have been found to have positive roles in host defense, either against virus or bacteria. Finally, PGs and LTs might regulate the production of each other, possibly at the level of substrate competition by their enzymes. Because they are clinically important molecules, a further understanding of the roles that PGs and LTs played in host defense will have great impact on therapeutic research.