cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating airline customers’ premium coach seat purchases and implications for optimal pricing strategies

Abstract We investigate factors that influence airline customers’ purchases of premium coach seats using a database of online prices and seat map displays collected from JetBlue’s website. Results show that multiple factors influence purchasing behavior; these factors include the amount of the seat fee, how far in advance the ticket is purchased, the number of passengers traveling together, and load factors (as revealed through seat map displays). We find that customers are between 2 and 3.3 times more likely to purchase premium coach seats (with extra legroom and early boarding privileges) when there are no regular coach window or aisle seats that can be reserved for free. In addition, we find that customers who purchase tickets closer to the departure date are less price-sensitive and are willing to pay higher seat fees. We use these model results to show that JetBlue’s seat fees are currently underpriced in many markets; an optimal static fee would increase revenues by 8% whereas optimal time-dependent fees would increase revenues by 10.2%. In addition, if JetBlue were to leave their seat fees unchanged and instead reserve certain rows of seats for premier customers, they could potentially increase revenues by 12.8%.
Cross-Correlation Studies between CMB Temperature Anisotropies and 21 cm Fluctuations

During the transition from a neutral to a fully reionized universe, scattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons via free electrons leads to a new anisotropy contribution to the temperature distribution. If the reionization process is inhomogeneous and patchy, the era of reionization is also visible via brightness temperature fluctuations in the redshifted 21 cm line emission from neutral hydrogen. Since regions containing electrons and neutral hydrogen are expected to trace the same underlying density field, the two are (anti)correlated and this is expected to be reflected in the anisotropy maps via a correlation between arcminute-scale CMB temperature and the 21 cm background. In terms of the angular cross-power spectrum, unfortunately, this correlation is insignificant due to a geometric cancellation associated with second-order CMB anisotropies. The same cross correlation between ionized and neutral regions, however, can be studied using a bispectrum involving large-scale velocity field of ionized regions from the Doppler effect, arcminute-scale CMB anisotropies during reionization, and the 21 cm background. While the geometric cancellation is partly avoided, the signal-to-noise ratio related to this bispectrum is reduced due to the large cosmic variance related to velocity fluctuations traced by the Doppler effect. Unless the velocity field during reionization can be independently established, it is unlikely that the correlation information related to the relative distribution of ionized electrons and regions containing neutral hydrogen can be obtained with a combined study involving CMB and 21 cm fluctuations.
Differences in protein patterns of influenza A viruses

Abstract Analysis of virus-specific proteins of two influenza A viruses on SDS gradient polyacrylamide gels suggests the presence of a previously unrecognized third P protein, P3, which indicates that the influenza virus genome codes for a total of eight proteins. In addition, it was demonstrated that the migration of all proteins of influenza A/PR/34 (H0N1) virus (except neuraminidase) can be distinguished from the corresponding proteins of influenza A/Hong Kong/8/68 (H3N2) virus in this gel system. Thus, variations previously observed in the migration patterns of the RNAs of these two strains are reflected by significant differences in all gene products. It is also possible to demonstrate the presence of a precursor hemagglutinin in this system. In addition, this system provides a convenient method for characterization of influenza virus recombinants with respect to the derivation of genes coding for nonsurface proteins.
16α-Hydroxylation of pregnenolone by human liver

Abstract Liver samples from four patients, ages 6 hours, 2 1 2 days, 2 1 2 months and 60 years, were homogenized and incubated with pregnenolone- 3 H. 16-OH-pregnenolone was identified as a product in each incubation through multiple Chromatographic procedures and crystallization to constant specific activity. The 16α-hydroxylase activity was greater in the newborn infants than in the older patients. The physiological role of this enzyme activity in post-natal life is unknown but the large excretion of 16α-hydroxysteroids in early infancy suggests that 16α-hydroxylation may serve to inactivate excess amounts of active steroid precursors secreted by the adrenal cortex.
Effective equations for wave propagation in bubbly liquids

We derive a system of effective equations for wave propagation in a bubbly liquid. Starting from a microscopic description, we obtain the effective equations by using Foldy's approximation in a nonlinear setting. We discuss in detail the range of validity of the effective equations as well as some of their properties.
Measuring Memory in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

K. Hsiao et al . ([1][1]) describe evidence of a memory deficit that is correlated with an elevation in amyloid-containing plaques in a transgenic mouse that overexpresses the so-called Swedish mutation of amyloid precursor protein. This comment questions whether the evidence actually shows such a
Treatment of a Left Internal Mammary Graft Ostium Stenosis Using a Palmaz‐Schatz Stent with Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance and Reduced Anticoagulation

A 62-year-old man sustained an anterior wall myocardial infarction 7 years following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The patient underwent successful placement of a Palmaz-Schatz stent within the ostium of the left internal mammary artery utilizing ultrasound guidance and was discharged in 24 hours with reduced anticoagulation.
Monte Carlo algorithms for complex surface reaction mechanisms: efficiency and accuracy

Abstract A continuous-time Monte Carlo (CTMC) algorithm with lists of neighbors and local update (tree-type architecture) for simulating the dynamics and stationary pattern formation of complex surface reaction mechanisms is discussed. Two additional CTMC algorithms, often used in the literature, are also presented. The computational efficiency of these CTMC algorithms is compared to a null-event algorithm for the CO oxidation on a Pt(100) surface by direct numerical simulations. Furthermore, we have derived simple formulas for the real time advanced using the null-event algorithm and the CTMC with local update algorithm for the infinitely fast and finite CO oxidation kinetics as well as a unimolecular surface reaction. We have found that the proposed CTMC algorithm with classes and local update can be much faster than the traditional null-event algorithms by orders of magnitude, when stiffness occurs (rare event dynamics). In addition, we address the computational accuracy of Monte Carlo algorithms, due to limited resolution caused by finite lattice sizes, for key intermediate species in a complex reaction mechanism. It is shown that surface concentrations below the resolution of the lattice and corresponding reaction rates can accurately be calculated through the use of a time-weighted average of reaction rates.
Aligned Ni-In eutectics

Directional solidification of two eutectic alloys in the Ni-In system results in aligned microstructures. The eutectic at 26.5 at. pct In solidifies as ribbons and lamellae of nickel-base solid solution in a matrix of e-Ni2In. Peritectoid formation of Ni3In on cooling drastically alters the morphology, but this reaction can be suppressed by quenching. The peritectoid reaction can then be studied by isothermal heat treatments. The eutectic at 46.6 at. pct In solidifies partly as rods of e-Ni2In in a matrix of β-NiIn, partly in a lamellar morphology. Both phases transform on cooling, but because little composition change is involved, the effect on eutectic morphology is slight.
Religion and fertility in the United States: New patterns

In the United States, the baby boom-era pattern of high Catholic and low Protestant fertility has ended. Among non-Hispanic whites in the 1980s, Catholic total fertility rates (TFRs) were about one-quarter of a child lower than Protestant rates (1.64 vs. 1.91). Most of the Protestant-Catholic difference is related to later and less frequent marriage among Catholics. Future research on the demography of religious groups should focus on explaining the delayed marriage pattern of Catholics, the high fertility of Mormons and frequently attending Protestants, and the very low fertility of those with no religious affiliation.
Solution structure of a zinc domain conserved in yeast copper-regulated transcription factors.

The three dimensional structure of the N-terminal domain (residues 1–42) of the copper-responsive transcription factor Amt1 from Candida glabrata has been determined by two-dimensional 1 H-correlated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods. The domain contains an array of zinc-binding residues (Cys-X 2 -Cys-X 8 -Cys-X-His) that is conserved among a family of Cu-responsive transcription factors. The structure is unlike those of previously characterized zinc finger motifs, and consists of a three-stranded antiparallel s-sheet with two short helical segments that project from one end of the s-sheet. Conserved residues at positions 16, 18 and 19 form a basic patch that may be important for DNA binding.
Review of Product Information Retrieval: Representation and Indexing

Engineers spend a significant amount of time searching for the right product information during the design and manufacturing process. A large amount as well as various types of product information have been generated and are available within the engineering databases. But representing and indexing the products effectively and retrieving them efficiently, remains a challenge. The purpose of this survey is to document the current state of research and development. We then identify avenues for exploration and provide a comparison of the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations among the various techniques. This survey concludes by suggesting possible future research directions.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Biology contravenes taxonomy in the Myxozoa: new discoveries show alternation of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts.

For 80 years the infectivity of salmonid whirling disease has eluded discovery. New findings now show that this myxosporean disease of fish is initiated by what is regarded as an actinosporean produced in a tubificid oligochaete. Experimental results provide evidence that, instead of being considered as representatives of separate classes in the phylum Myxozoa, the myxosporean and actinosporean are alternating life forms of a single organism.
Buttress fixation with plates

The skeletal unit of the middle third of the face is formed by a system of horizontal and vertical buttresses. Fracture dislocations involving these buttresses can alter facial height, width, and posteroanterior projection, as well as lead to malocclusion. Treatment must restore the exact three-dimensional relationship of each component of the buttress system to the skeletal unit as a whole. This is best achieved through extended access approaches that allow for direct visualization of the fracture lines. Stability of the buttress reconstruction is improved if rigid internal fixation devices (plates and screws) are used to hold the reduced fracture fragments in alignment, and the need for prolonged maxillomandibular fixation may be eliminated. However, rigid fixation is much more technique-sensitive and non-forgiving than interosseous wire fixation. If used inappropriately, rigid fixation will produce an unacceptably high rate of iatrogenic complications, including malocclusion, that will require revision surgery.
NEUTRINO PHYSICS AT NEUTRINO FACTORIES

The physics capabilities of neutrino beams from neutrino factories are briefly presented for both three- and four-neutrino models.
Spectral Irradiance Calibration in the Infrared. IX. Calibrated Stellar Spectra Using DIRBE Radiometry

The absolute calibration of the COBE/DIRBE data in the range 1–25 μm is examined through the in-band fluxes of DIRBE's own set of point-source calibration objects. Using the values of DIRBE fluxes expected for Sirius and for 10 of our published set of absolutely calibrated K and M giants that are in common with DIRBE's own calibration network, I find consistency with the project's formal basis, namely, our published calibrated spectrum of Sirius. This consistency means that one can use the DIRBE radiometry to construct absolutely calibrated "stellar templates" (i.e., continuous calibrated spectra from 1 to 35 μm) on the assumption that the intrinsic stellar spectrum of a star of given spectral class matches the intrinsic spectrum for the star of the same spectral class among the set of K and M giants, the spectrum of which has been absolutely defined. This technique is validated using a set of early M giants with well-characterized ground-based photometry and confirmed with IRAS low-resolution spectra.
Element-topology-independent preconditioners for parallel finite element computations

A family of preconditioners for the solution of finite element equations are presented, which are element-topology independent and thus can be applicable to element order-free parallel computations. A key feature of the present preconditioners is the repeated use of element connectivity matrices and their left and right inverses. The properties and performance of the present preconditioners are demonstrated via beam and two-dimensional finite element matrices for implicit time integration computations.
Retinal transplantation--advantages of intact fetal sheets.

Retinal transplantation aims to prevent blindness and to restore eyesight, i.e., to rescue photoreceptors or to replace damaged photoreceptors with the hope of reestablishing neural circuitry. Retinal donor tissue has been transplanted as dissociated cells or intact sheets. A promising experimental paradigm is the subretinal transplantation of sheets of fetal retina with or without its attached retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) into recipient rats with retinal degeneration. As long as healthy RPE either from the host or from the graft is present, such transplants can develop lamination resembling a normal retina. Different methods have been used to demonstrate transplant/host connectivity. In two different rat retinal degeneration models, visually evoked responses can be demonstrated in an area of the superior colliculus corresponding to the placement of the transplant in the retina. In summary, sheets of fetal retina can morphologically repair an area of a degenerated retina, and there is evidence to suggest that transplants form synaptic connections with the host and restore visual responses in blind rats.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulates androgen biosynthesis by cultured neonatal testicular cells.

Abstract Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was originally isolated from porcine duodenum and considered to be a gut hormone. Recent evidence indicates that it may also be involved in reproductive functions. In this study, a possible action of VIP on steroidogenesis by cultured testicular cells was investigated. Neonatal testicular cells were treated in vitro with hormones for 3 days and medium steroid or cAMP content was measured by radioimmunoassay. Treatment of cultured cells with VIP (10−9 to 10−6 M) increased the production of testosterone, progesterone, and pregnenolone in a dose-dependent fashion. Testosterone production in response to 10−6 M VIP was about 5–10% of that maximally induced by LH. Addition of methyl-isobutyl-xanthine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, to the VIP-containing cultures significantly enhanced production of testosterone by 13-fold, of progesterone by 9-fold, and of pregnenolone by 2.5-fold as compared to treatment with VIP alone. Additional experiments also showed a dose-dependent stimulation of cAMP production by VIP. The VIP-related hormones PHM-27, secretin, and glucagon also stimulated progesterone and testosterone production with a potency order (PHM-27 > secretin > glucagon) consistent with that observed for other VIP receptor-mediated actions. A direct stimulatory effect of VIP on Leydig cells was indicated in studies on steroidogenesis by testicular cells separated on a metrizamide density gradient. In these studies, VIP stimulated androgen production in an LH-responsive subpopulation of testis cells but failed to affect steroid production in non-LH-responsive cells. Thus, these experiments demonstrate that VIP, independent of LH, stimulates steroidogenesis in cultured neonatal testicular cells and suggest a possible stimulatory role for VIP in testicular steroidogenesis by the developing testis.
Expression of CCN family of genes in human skin in vivo and alterations by solar-simulated ultraviolet irradiation

The CCN family of proteins is involved in diverse biological functions such as cell growth, adhesion, migration, angiogenesis, and regulation of extracellular matrix. We have investigated expression of CCN family genes and alternations induced by solar-simulated ultraviolet irradiation in human skin in vivo. Transcripts of all six CCN genes were expressed in human skin in vivo. CCN5 was most abundantly expressed followed by CCN2>CCN3>CCN1>CCN4>CCN6. Solar-simulated ultraviolet irradiation increased mRNA expression of CCN1 and CCN2. In contrast, mRNA levels of CCN3, CCN4, CCN5, and CCN6, were reduced. Knowledge gained from this study provides the foundation to explore the functional roles of CCN gene products in cutaneous biology and responses to solar ultraviolet irradiation.
Theory of phase separation in solid H2 - D2 mixtures☆

Abstract : A theory based on a variational cluster expansion evaluation of the energy is applied to mixtures of solid hydrogen isotopes. We find a critical temperature Tc = 4K in disagreement with the experiment value of 16K due to Kogan, Lazarev, and Bulatova. (Author)
Building and maintaining a numeric data collection

This paper describes a set of collection development strategies for use in the identification, evaluation and selection of numeric data resources. It addresses three primary issues: the delineation of collecting scope and organisational role; the identification of potentially relevant data resources; and the evaluation of those resources in accordance with objective, systematic criteria. The policies outlined here can be applied to both print and digital resources, including machine‐readable data files, reference books, graphs and charts, genetic sequence data, and geospatial (GIS) files. The paper concludes with a discussion of unresolved issues in the acquisition and archiving of numeric data files.
Early discontinuation and non-adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy are associated with increased mortality in women with breast cancer

Despite the benefit of adjuvant hormonal therapy (HT) on mortality among women with breast cancer (BC), many women are non-adherent with its use. We investigated the effects of early discontinuation and non-adherence to HT on mortality in women enrolled in Kaiser Permanente of Northern California (KPNC). We identified women diagnosed with hormone-sensitive stage I-III BC, 1996-2007, and used automated pharmacy records to identify prescriptions and dates of refill. We categorized patients as having discontinued HT early if 180 days elapsed from the prior prescription. For those who continued, we categorized patients as adherent if the medication possession ratio was ≥80%. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the association between discontinuation and non-adherence with all-cause mortality. Among 8,769 women who filled at least one prescription for HT, 2,761 (31%) discontinued therapy. Of those who continued HT, 1,684 (28%) were non-adherent. During a median follow-up of 4.4 years, 813 women died. Estimated survival at 10 years was 80.7% for women who continued HT versus 73.6% for those who discontinued (P < 0.001). Of those who continued, survival at 10 years was 81.7 and 77.8% in women who adhered and non-adhered, respectively (P < 0.001). Adjusting for clinical and demographic variables, both early discontinuation (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.09-1.46) and non-adherence (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.23-1.81), among those who continued, were independent predictors of mortality. Both early discontinuation and non-adherence to HT were common and associated with increased mortality. Interventions to improve continuation of and adherence to HT may be critical to improve BC survival.
Experience with MINIX in an operating systems lab

Most standard undergraduate operating systems courses teach theory and concepts, without exposing students to the detailed internal operation or source code of an actual operating system. Tanenbaum's MINIX operating system is designed to give students "hands-on" experience with the internals of an operating system in order to illustrate the theory and concepts. This paper describes the use of MINIX in an operating systems laboratory at the University of Vermont.
Microporous membrane formation via thermally-induced phase separation. V. Effect of diluent mobility and crystallization on the structure of isotactic polypropylene membranes

Abstract The role of diluent in thermally-induced phase separation membranes was examined for solid—liquid phase separation systems in terms of the diluent mobility and crystallization temperature. Inter- and intra-spherulitic voids were formed in isotactic polypropylene/n-alkane and isotactic polypropylene/n-fatty acid systems. The diluent mobility played an important role in determining those structure. The diffusivities of some diluents through the isotactic polypropylene melt were measured by microdensitometry to support the explanation of the structure in terms of diluent mobility. Diluents with high crystallization temperatures affected the structure due to the diluent crystallizing prior to polymer crystallization.
MDM2 and CDK4 gene amplification in Ewing's sarcoma.

Amplification of the MDM2 gene, which maps to chromosome band 12q13 and encodes a p53-binding protein, may result in functional inactivation of p53 and has been observed in various bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Published studies have included few cases of Ewing's sarcoma (ES) or peripheral neuroectodermal tumour (PNET), a tumour group in which alterations of the p53 pathway have so far not been extensively studied. We examined two ES cell lines, RD-ES and SK-ES-1, and 30 specimens from 27 patients (24 ES, 6 PNET; 19 primary, 4 local recurrence, 7 metastasis) for MDM2 gene amplification by Southern blot analysis. All 30 clinical specimens had been confirmed to contain sufficient ES/PNET DNA by the demonstration of a rearrangement of the t(11;22)-associated EWS gene using an EWS cDNA probe on the same blots. MDM2 gene amplification was detected in 3 of 30 specimens (10 per cent), including two ES and one PNET, but in neither of the cell lines. The three cases with amplification were morphologically typical primary tumours. Two of the three cases also showed co-amplification of the CDK4 gene, which endoces a cyclin-dependent kinase and also maps to band 12q13. Clinically, all three cases had metastatic disease at diagnosis, compared with only 1 of 15 MDM2-negative cases where the primary tumour was studied. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.005), suggesting an association of MDM2 amplification with advanced stage. Further accural and multivariate analysis of ES/PNET cases with MDM2 gene amplification will be necessary to confirm the clinical significance of these findings. The results suggest that the prevalence of MDM2 gene amplification in ES/PNET is comparable to other sarcomas, and implicate dysfunction of the p53 pathway in a subset of ES/PNET. The biological significance of CDK4 co-amplification remains to be determined.
Exploring the Effects of Financial Aid on the Gap in Student Dropout Risks by Income Level

Using national survey data and discrete-time logit modeling, this research seeks to understand whether student aid mediates the relationship between parental income and student dropout behavior. Our analysis confirms that there is a gap in dropout rates for low-income students compared with their upper income peers, and suggests that some types of aid are associated with lower risks of dropout. Thus, we examine the interaction between financial aid type and parental income to explore whether, and if so how, different types of aid may reduce the dropout gap by income level group. We find that the receipt of a Pell grant is related to narrowing the dropout gap between students from low- and middle-income groups, although overall the interaction between Pell grant and income is not significant. Loans and work-study aid both have similar effects on student dropout across all income groups. Methodologically, our results demonstrate the need to model dropout behavior temporally and to avoid main-effect bias by incorporating interaction effects.
Efficacy and safety of etanercept 50 mg twice a week in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had a suboptimal response to etanercept 50 mg once a week: Results of a multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, active drug–controlled study

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with 50 mg of etanercept twice a week plus weekly methotrexate (MTX; >15 mg) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had a suboptimal response to 50 mg of etanercept once a week plus weekly MTX (>15 mg). Methods. In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active drug–controlled study, suboptimal responders to treatment with MTX plus etanercept 50 mg once weekly were given MTX plus etanercept 50 mg twice weekly (n 160) or MTX plus etanercept 50 mg once weekly plus a placebo (n 40) for 12 weeks. In a subsequent 12-week open-label period, patients who responded to etanercept 50 mg twice weekly decreased their dosage to 50 mg once weekly, those who had a partial response to etanercept 50 mg once weekly increased their dosage to 50 mg twice weekly, and those who had no response to etanercept 50 mg twice weekly were discontinued. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with a response on the Disease Activity Score 28-joint assessment (DAS28) at week 12.
Elastodynamic response of a penny-shaped crack in a cylinder of finite radius

Abstract The elastodynamic response of a penny-shaped crack in a cylinder of finite radius is investigated in this study. A step stress is applied to the crack surface resulting in transient behavior. The stress field near the crack front and the dynamic stress intensity factor are determined. Numerical resifits on the dynamic stress intensity factor are obtained to show the influence of inertia, geometry and their interactions on the load transfer to the crack.
Sewage-grown algae as a protein supplement for swine

In two trials with 48 pigs it was found that when algae supplemented with certain B-vitamins replaced fish meal on an equal-nitrogen basis in a diet based on barley and fish meal there was no decrease in rate of gain or feed conversion efficiency. When vitamin B12 was omitted from the algal diet, there was a decrease in rate of gain. There were no consistent differences in carcass characteristics between pigs fed on the algal diets and those fed ondiets containing fish meal. Digestibility studies indicated that algae are low in digestible energy, but their protein is 70% digestible.
Inhibition of Translation and 50S Ribosomal Subunit Formation in Staphylococcus aureus Cells by 11 Different Ketolide Antibiotics

Eleven structurally similar ketolide antibiotics were tested at a concentration of 1 μg/ml for their relative inhibitory effects on growth and ribosome activities in Staphylococcus aureus cells. Ten of the compounds examined had an inhibitory effect on protein synthesis at this concentration and eight of the 11 compounds were also effective inhibitors of the formation of the 50S ribosomal subunit. All of the drugs tested inhibited protein synthesis to a greater extent than they affected 50S subunit formation. The decline in growth rate and cell number was proportional to the effect on ribosome formation and function. The growth of an ermC erythromycin-resistant strain of S. aureus was also significantly inhibited by nine ketolide compounds, suggesting that they were not inducers of methylase gene expression. These inhibitory activities can be related to structural differences between these ketolide antibiotics.
Is there an ideal animal model for SARS

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 was controlled by public health measures at a time when specific interventions such as antiviral drugs, vaccines and immunotherapy were not available. Since then, several animal models have been developed for the study of SARS and, although no model replicates the human disease in all aspects, the use of animal models for SARS has led to the establishment of several important principles for vaccine and immunotherapy. Consistency and reproducibility of findings in a given model must be demonstrated to establish the superiority of one model over others. Here, we suggest aspects of an ideal animal model for studies of SARS pathogenesis and vaccine development and present our assessment of the strengths and limitations of the current animal models for SARS.
Using an isochron to constrain amplitude analysis A case study of a carbonate stratigraphic trap in Saudi Arabia

A case study is presented which illustrates the benefit of including isochron analysis when analyzing amplitudes influenced by tuning. Since tuning influences the waveform, it also influences the isochron measured from a nearby event to the target. The model which explains the amplitude anomaly must also explain the isochron variation. The approach presented here is a fast and simple way to corroborate more sophisticated methods such as impedance inversion, and to compare the likelihood of various model scenarios.
Some Spectacular Effects of Wind Erosion near Palm Springs, California.: ABSTRACT

A short distance northwest of Palm Springs, California, a climbing dune has been formed in a gap in a spur of the San Jacinto Mountains that extends easterly into Coachella Valley. Wind funnelling through the pass between the San Jacinto and the San Bernardino Mountains picks up sand from the dry wash at the base of the spur and carries it up through the gap. The sand is coarse and the wind is almost constant, as a result of which spectacular wind effects have been achieved. Juniper trees that have managed to grow at all have been bent over until the trunks have broken, and they are now growing in a prone position, with smaller plants crowding closely in their lee. Small plants also cluster in the lee of the larger projecting rocks, growing laterally rather than vertically. These rocks, which are principally granitic, with some gneiss, schist, and quartzite, are pitted, grooved, and fluted in a most fantastic way. More fantastic still, however, is the fact that the grooving and fluting are continued without variation in the bushes sheltering behind the rocks. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2781------------
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis in relation to maternal prenatal smoking

Background/Purpose: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of seropositive adult Rheumatoid arthritis. Juveinile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a heterogenous group of 7 mutually exclusive categories of chronic childhood inflammatory arthritides. Objectives: To determine the association between JIA and its categories with maternal prenatal smoking. Methods: This case-control study used ICD-9 codes from hospital records to identify 1196 JIA cases born in Washington State and diagnosed at a tertiary pediatric center during 1997—2010. Controls (n = 5618) were randomly selected from birth records of children without JIA, frequency matched on birth year. Prenatal smoking exposure was assessed from subjects' birth certificates. Chart review categorized JIA into ILAR categories. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression adjusted for maternal age and marital status. Results: We did not observe an increased risk of JIA in relation to maternal prenatal smoking. Prenatal smoking was reported less often among mothers of JIA cases (11%), than among control mothers (17%, OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.58—0.87), a relationship somewhat more marked for oligoarticular/ extended oligoarticular JIA. Although the inverse relationship persisted after adjustment for maternal education or health insurance status, we cannot rule out the possibility that this effect may have been at least partially due to residual confounding by socio-economic status. Conclusion: We did not observe an increased risk of JIA with maternal prenatal smoking.
On the expressivity of the cancel construct and the temporal operator unless

A recently developed logic-based foundation of discrete event modeling and simulation asserts that making predictions entails the usage of temporal operators. The constructs of simulation languages based on the classical world views of event scheduling, activity scanning, and process interaction implement a limited functionality of the three temporal operators when, whenever, and unless. The nature of predictions that can be made using the constructs of simulation languages and the temporal operators available in the formulas of the logic-based foundation's language L/sub DE/ are described here. The expressivity of unless is compared with that of cancel. >
The REC2 gene encodes the homologous pairing protein of Ustilago maydis.

Abstract Amino acid sequence analysis has established that the homologous pairing protein of Ustilago maydis, known previously in the literature as rec1, is encoded by REC2, a gene essential for recombinational repair and meiosis with regional homology to Escherichia coli RecA. The 70-kDa rec1 protein is most likely a proteolytic degradation product of REC2, which has a predicted mass of 84 kDa but which runs anomalously during sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis with an apparent mass of 110 kDa. To facilitate purification of the protein product, the REC2 gene was overexpressed from a vector that fused a hexahistidine leader sequence onto the amino terminus, enabling isolation of the REC2 protein on an immobilized metal affinity column. The purified protein exhibits ATP-dependent DNA renaturation and DNA-dependent ATPase activities, which were reactions characteristic of the protein as purified from cell extracts of U. maydis. Homologous pairing activity was established in an assay that measures recognition via non-Watson-Crick bonds between identical DNA strands. A size threshold of about 50 bp was found to govern pairing between linear duplex molecules and homologous single-stranded circles. Joint molecule formation with duplex DNA well under the size threshold was efficiently catalyzed when one strand of the duplex was composed of RNA. Linear duplex molecules with hairpin caps also formed joint molecules when as few as three RNA residues were present.
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator–Modifying Medications: The Future of Cystic Fibrosis Treatment:

OBJECTIVE:To review and evaluate cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF).DATA SOURCES:Literature was accessed through MEDLINE (1977-January 2012), the Cochrane Library, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts(1977-March 2012). Search terms included ivacaftor, VX-770, VX-809, ataluren, PTC 124, CFTR modulator, and cystic fibrosis.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All English-language articles identified from the data sources were evaluated for inclusion. Clinical trials and relevant review articles were evaluated for each CFTR modulator.DATA SYNTHESIS:CF is caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes for the CFTR protein; mutations can be separated into 5 different classes. Ivacaftor is a new CFTR potentiator that helps the CFTR channel open properly in patients with the CFTR mutation, G551D. Patients in one study had significant decreases in sweat chloride values and increases in pulmonary function tests. Ivacaftor was approved...
On the Long-term Evolution of the Two-Tier Gnutella Overlay

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing applications have witnessed a dramatic increase in popularity during the past few years. To accommodate the rapid growth in user population, developers introduced new features in their client software, in particular a two-tier overlay topology. The effect of the two- tier overlay topology in a widely-deployed P2P system primarily depends on the availability and coherency of its implementations among participating clients throughout the system. This paper sheds some light on the long-term evolution of such a two-tier overlay topology in the Gnutella network during a 15-month period over which the system quadrupled in size, exceeding three million concurrent peers. Our results show two interesting phenomena including: (i) During this period, the two- tier overlay has repeatedly begun to lose its balance. However, proper modifications in major client software coupled with the rapid upgrade rate of users, has enabled the developers to maintain the overlay's desired properties, (ii) Despite its random connectivity, the Gnutella overlay exhibits a strong bias towards intra-continent connectivity, especially in continents with smaller user populations, that has not changed as the system scaled.
Construction of low-density parity-check codes by superposition

This paper presents a superposition method for constructing low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. Several classes of structured LDPC codes are constructed. Codes in these classes perform well with iterative decoding, and their Tanner graphs have girth at least six.
Energy and environmental flow model for a sustainable networked book delivery system in the United States

Information communication technology (ICT) has emerged as one the most significant industry sectors contributing to the United States' growth. E-commerce and Internet are the two most important developments not only in ICT but in the world of business as a whole. It allows many people to buy and exchange goods and services immediately with 24-hour availability. Also, by using the e-commerce, consumers can compare products and prices easily, and choose delivery options which have made shopping more enjoyable, less expensive and time consuming. E-commerce will be the fastest growing part in the U.S. retail marketplace for the foreseeable future. In this paper, we attempted to design and assess a sustainable networked delivery (SND) system for book delivery system to achieve significant reductions of energy consumption and environmental emissions of critical local pollutants and greenhouse gases due to growing local transportation in urban areas.
Judas at the Jockey Club and Other Episodes of Porfirian Mexico

This brilliant and eminently readable cultural history looks at Mexican life during the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, from 1876 to 1911. At that time Mexico underwent modernization, which produced a fierce struggle between the traditional and the new and exacerbating class antagonisms. In these pages, the noted historian William H. Beezley illuminates many facets of everyday Mexican life lying at the heart of this conflict and change, including sports, storytelling, healthcare, technology, and the traditional Easter-time Judas burnings that became a primary focus of the strife during those years. This second edition features a new preface by the author as well as updated and expanded text, notes, and bibliography.
Evolutionary developmental psychology: Current status and future directions

Abstract The field of developmental psychology is part of a continuum of disciplines, from cell biology to cultural anthropology, that are focused on understanding developing and potentially evolving phenotypes; the reciprocal interactions between genetics and experiences produce variation in developing phenotypes and this variation is the grist for evolutionary selection. The articles in this issue provide cutting edge and multidisciplinary analyses of developing and potentially evolving phenotypes in areas that are of central interest to developmental scientists, including mother–infant attachments, stress responses in children, social cognition, and life span development. The articles and other recent works signal the reemergence of developmental psychology as an evolutionarily informed, multidisciplinary field. In this view, it is not about nature versus nurture or biology versus psychology, it is about tackling difficult problems at multiple levels of analysis, each of which has something to contribute and none of which is sufficient in and of itself.
The effect of body mass index on the outcomes of first assisted reproductive technology cycles

Objective To provide assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome rates per body mass index (BMI) category after controlling for potential confounders. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Large university-affiliated infertility practice. Patient(s) Women undergoing ART. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) The primary outcome was live birth. Analyses were stratified according to BMI category and adjusted for potential confounders, including maternal and paternal age, baseline serum FSH, duration of gonadotropin stimulation, mean daily gonadotropin dose, peak serum E 2 , number of oocytes retrieved, use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo quality and number, transfer day, and number of embryos transferred. Result(s) We analyzed the first autologous fresh IVF or IVF-ICSI cycle of 4,609 patients. There were no differences in the rates of cycle cancellation, spontaneous abortion, biochemical and ectopic pregnancies, or multiple births. After adjusting for potential confounders, patients with BMI ≥30.0 kg/m 2 had significantly decreased odds of implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) of live birth were 0.63 (0.47–0.85) for BMI 30.00–34.99, 0.39 (0.25–0.61) for BMI 35.00–39.99, and 0.32 (0.16–0.64) for BMI ≥40.0 compared with normal-weight cohorts. Conclusion(s) Obesity has a significant negative effect on ART outcomes. Patients with BMI >30 kg/m 2 have up to 68% lower odds of having a live birth following their first ART cycle compared with women with BMI
THE ANTITROCHANTER OF BIRDS: FORM AND FUNCTION IN BALANCE

Abstract The antitrochanter is a uniquely avian osteological feature of the pelvis that is located lateral to the postero-dorsal rim of the acetabulum. This feature makes the avian hip joint unique among all vertebrates, living and fossil, in that a significant portion of the femoral-pelvic articulation is located outside of the acetabulum. This additional acetabular articulation occurs between the neck of the femur and the antitrochanter, and operates as a hinge joint or ginglymus. It is complementary to the articulation of the head of the femur with the acetabulum, which is a pivot joint or trochoides. The size, location, and spatial orientation of the antitrochanter were determined for 77 species of birds representing a variety of hindlimb functions (e.g., highly cursorial, vertical clinging, foot-propelled diving) and spanning a wide range of body sizes (swifts to rheas). The area of the antitrochanter is a good predictor of body mass in birds; its position and orientation are reasonably consistent wi...
The Industrialization of Social Work Practice

fessional journal committed to improving practice and extending knowledge in social work and social welfare. The Editorial Board welcomes manuscripts that yield new insights into established practices. evaluate new techniques and research. ex­ amine current social problems. or bring serious. critical analysis to bear on the problems of the profession itself. Opinions expressed In the Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the National Association of Social Workers. In the Interest of accurate and unbiased communication. the NASW publications pro­ gram subscribes to a belief in the importance of avoiding language that might imply sex­ ual. ethnic. or other kinds of discrimination. stereotyping. or bias. NASW is committed to the fair and equal treatment of individuals and groups. and material submitted should not promote stereotypic or discriminatory attitudes and assumptions about people. Adverlising rates are available on request. Publication of an advertisement does not constitute an endorsement or approval of any products or services advertised. any point of view. standard. or opinion pre­ sented therein. NASW is not responsible for any claims made in an advertisement ap­ pearing In its publications.
A new practical approach in modelling and simulation of shale gas reservoirs: application to New Albany Shale

The intent of this study is to reassess the potential of New Albany Shale formation using a novel and integrated workflow, which incorporates natural fracture system modeling with top-down intelligent reservoir modelling technique. Top-down, intelligent reservoir modeling technology integrates reservoir engineering analytical techniques with artificial intelligence and data mining in order to arrive at an empirical, cohesive and spatiotemporally calibrated full field model. The model is used to predict reservoir performance. Analytical reservoir engineering techniques used in the top-down modelling presented in this study include production decline analysis, type curve matching, single well history matching, volumetric reserve and recovery factor estimations are integrated with Voronoi graph theory, geostatistics, two-dimensional fuzzy pattern recognition, and discrete, data driven predictive modelling. The resulting full field top-down modeling is used to identify the distribution of the remaining reserves, sweet spots for infill locations, under-performer wells and also prediction of new well’s performance.
Diagnosing Gaucher Disease Early Recognition, Implications for Treatment, and Genetic Counseling

The diagnosis of Gaucher disease, the inherited deficiency of glucocerebrosidase and the most common inherited disorder of Ashkenazi Jews, can often be missed by clinicians. Medical records from patients with Gaucher disease were reviewed, revealing a wide range of initial misdiagnoses and the frequent use of unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures. The diagnosis of Gaucher disease is readily established by enzymatic or DNA analyses in conjuction with a thorough history and physical examination. Consequently, greater awareness of the symptoms encountered in these patients could alleviate unnecessary anxiety, testing, and confusion. A definitive diagnosis of Gaucher disease has important implications for genetic counseling and treatment.
The effects of noncontingent delivery of high- and low-preference stimuli on attention-maintained destructive behavior

An adolescent with severe mental retardation and cerebral palsy who displayed attention-maintained destructive behavior was exposed to noncontingent reinforcer delivery (NCR) with either a high-preference or a low-preference stimulus while reinforcement for destructive behavior with attention remained in effect (i.e., NCR without extinction). NCR without extinction was effective only when the high-preference stimulus was available, suggesting that systematic assessment of stimulus quality may enhance the effectiveness of NCR with alternative stimuli.