cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing Substance Abuse During Pregnancy

Providers in prenatal care settings are well-positioned to help pregnant women with substance abuse problems take the first steps toward recovery. This study reports the results of the ANGELS Program, a program of enhanced prenatal care designed to reduce substance use among pregnant women. In a suburban office serving a broad range of pregnant women, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and on-site addictions counselors addressed substance abuse during prenatal care. This paper describes a cohort of 77 pregnant women who were identified as abusers of alcohol and/or other drugs at the start of pregnancy. According to a level of change rating assigned by the CNM at delivery, 51% of women were able to be largely abstinent during their pregnancy, 35% had reduced their use somewhat, and 14% had shown no change in use. Discriminant analysis techniques were used to learn what characteristics differentiated women in these three level of change groups. Baseline variables that differentiated the groups included severity of cocaine and cannabis use, psychosocial stressors, and initiation of prenatal care. Significant process variables included number of prenatal visits and contact with the addictions counselors. Clinical vignettes illustrate the differences among women in the three level of change groups. Implications of the results are discussed.
An investigation of silicon carbide synthesis in a nontransferred arc thermal plasma reactor

An investigation of the synthesis of ultrafine, silicon carbide powder in a nontransferred arc thermal plasma reactor is presented. Thermodynamic calculations are given and a reaction mechanism has been proposed. A mathematical model has been developed for silicon carbide formation. Results of the theoretical calculations have been compared with the experimental results obtained by reacting silica and methane.
Effects of decision processes and task situations on influence perceptions

Abstract Eighty decision-making groups comprised of 2 members (college students) and a leader (teacher) resolved issues focusing on course planning. Members' participation and decision issues were manipulated, such that: (a) members participated in all stages of decision-making, or in one of 3 partial participation variants, and (b) tasks were compatible with leader—member influence-sharing (facilitative) or constrained mutual influence (contrastive). The following hypotheses were supported in an analysis of variance design with influence attributions as dependent variables: (a) full participation generates greater member influence than partial participation (p
When Duplicated Centrosomes Won't Split.

No Abstract AvailableKey Words:Centrosome duplication, Cdc14, Microtubule organization center, Phosphatase, Kinase
Evolution of the electronic and structural properties of microclusters.

The equilibrium geometries of the ground state of neutral and ionized clusters of Li, Be, Mg, and C atoms have been obtained by minimizing the total energies of these clusters with respect to all independent bond lengths, bond angles, and spin structures. Our method is based on the all-electron self-consistent field--linear combination of atomic orbitals--molecular orbital (SCF-LCAO-MO) method. The exchange interaction is treated at the unrestricted Hartree-Fock level and the correlation contribution is included by using the perturbative M\"oller-Plesset scheme and configuration interaction. The equilibrium geometries of ${\mathrm{Li}}_{\mathrm{N}}$ clusters for 1lNl6 are planar. ${\mathrm{Be}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{Mg}}_{3}$ clusters are in the shape of an equilateral triangle whereas ${\mathrm{Be}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{Mg}}_{4}$ are in the shape of a perfect tetrahedron. ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{N}}$ clusters for Nl3 are linear, but ${\mathrm{C}}_{4}$ is a rhombus contrary to earlier predictions. It is demonstrated that the ground-state geometries of both neutral and ionized clusters of simple metals, including their preferred spin-multiplet structures, can be understood in terms of a simple bonding-antibonding picture. The ``magic numbers'' in the mass spectra are discussed in terms of the electronic structure of clusters. It is shown that the magic numbers associated with the initially ``neutral'' or initially ``ionized'' clusters can be different and that the fragmentation of clusters during the ionization process can add to the ambiguity in the interpretation of magic numbers. Finally, we elaborate on the relationship between equilibrium geometries and preferred spin-multiplet structures by confining our discussion to ${\mathrm{Li}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{Na}}_{4}$ clusters.
The Promoter of the Poly(A) Binding Protein 2 (Pabp2) Retroposon Is Derived from the 5′-Untranslated Region of the Pabp1 Progenitor Gene

Abstract The mouse Pabp2 retroposon encodes an isoform of poly(A) binding protein that is expressed in meiotic and early haploid spermatogenic cells. In the present study, we have determined the transcription start site of the Pabp2 gene to clarify the source of its promoter, a prerequisite for expression of retroposons and preservation of their function by natural selection. The 5′ end of the mouse Pabp2 retroposon exhibits extensive similarity to the entire 5′ UTR of the human PABP1 mRNA, but there is no similarity upstream of the transcription start site of the human PABP1 mRNA, indicating that the Pabp2 gene lacks 5′ flanking sequences of the parental PABP1 gene. Oligonucleotide-directed RNase H cleavage and 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends both indicate that the transcription start site of the mouse Pabp2 gene is located ∼330 bases downstream of the capsite of the PABP1 mRNA, indicating that the Pabp2 promoter is derived from the PABP1 5′ UTR.
Lifting Abelian Varieties.

Let (X0,2 o) be a polarized abelian variety over a field of characteristic p, p + 0; let R be a domain of characteristic zero. We say (X 0, 20) lifts to R provided there is a polarized abelian scheme, (X, 2), over R and a k-valued point of Spec R such that the fiber of(X, 2) over this point is (Xo, 20). Mumford ([5], [7]) has shown that any polarized abelian variety lifts to characteristic zero, i.e., for any polarized abelian variety we can find a characteristic zero domain R so that (Xo, 20) lifts to R. Mumford 's approach does not give information about the domain R. For example: Does an arbitrary polarized abelian variety lift to a characteristic zero domain that is unramified over p? The answer to this is no; Ogus found a polarization on the product of a supersingular elliptic curve with itself that fails to lift to a domain R ifp is not ramified in R. We present his example in w On the other hand using classical facts about lifting endomorphisms of elliptic curves, it is easy to show that Ogus' polarized abelian surface lifts if you allow x/P in R; furthermore the product of two supersingular elliptic curves allows a principal polarization and with this polarization we can accomplish lifting without ramification. This raises the questions: (A) How much ramification is needed to lift an arbitrary polarized abelian variety? (B) Which polarized abelian varieties lift without ramification? (C) Forgetting the polarization, can you lift an abelian variety to an abelian scheme over a characteristic zero domain in which p does not ramify? We answer (A) and (B) in this paper; (C) is, I think, still open. The answer to (A) is given in the
Specific activation of a tyrosine → glycine mutant of Δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerase by phenols

A key unknown still to be explored concerning the mechanism of Δ 5 -3ketosteroid isomerase from Pseudomonas testosteroni is the extent of the proton transfer between tyrosine-14 of the enzyme and the C-3 carbonyl oxygen of the steroid substrate. This report is a preliminary study of a system we are developing to allow us eventually to use a Bronsted analysis to measure this transfer. We describe the construction of an expression vector and tyrosine-14 → glycine-14 mutant of the enzyme and its specific activation, in the manner of chemical rescue, by a variety of phenolic compounds. We suggest that the binding region of phenol is very tight and that the level of activation may be a result of steric constraints as well as of differences in the pKa' of the phenol.
‘Doesn’t my experience count?’ White students, the authority of experience and social justice pedagogy

Social justice pedagogy appeals to experience as a form of empowerment and as a starting‐point for working collaboratively in the diverse classroom. However, taking experience as unmediated and as an authoritative source of knowledge can function in ways that are counterproductive to the aims of social justice education. This essay examines the presumed authority of experience through a discussion of a debate around the meaning of ‘experience’ in feminist thought. Social justice educators, the author argues, must focus attention on how the subjective understanding of experience is mediated by politics, power and ideology.
IMMIGRATION AND THE RECENT VIOLENT CRIME DROP IN THE UNITED STATES: A POOLED, CROSS-SECTIONAL TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS OF METROPOLITAN AREAS*

A good deal of research in recent years has revisited the relationship between immigration and violent crime. Various scholars have suggested that, contrary to the claims of the classic Chicago School, large immigrant populations might be associated with lower rather than higher rates of criminal violence. A limitation of the research in this area is that it has been based largely on cross-sectional analyses for a restricted range of geographic areas. Using time-series techniques and annual data for metropolitan areas over the 1994–2004 period, we assess the impact of changes in immigration on changes in violent crime rates. The findings of multivariate analyses indicate that violent crime rates tended to decrease as metropolitan areas experienced gains in their concentration of immigrants. This inverse relationship is especially robust for the offense of robbery. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that the broad reductions in violent crime during recent years are partially attributable to increases in immigration.
HIV/Hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected Virologic Responders to Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Therapy More Frequently Incur Interferon-Related Adverse Events Than Nonresponders Do

Co-infection with Hepatitis C [HCV] occurs in approximately one third of HIV-1 infected patients in the US 1. It has been shown that liver disease is more rapidly progressive in co-infected patients with liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure occurring earlier than in HCV mono-infected patients 2, 3. Introduction of antiretroviral therapy [ART], has resulted in decline of HIV related mortality; however HCV-related liver disease has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death 3, 4. The efficacy of pegylated interferon [peg-IFN] plus ribavirin as treatment for HCV infection in co-infected patients has been shown to be much lower than HCV mono-infected patients, particularly in those infected with genotype 1 5. HIV/HCV co-infected patients are also characterized by high rates of drug use and neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders rendering them potentially even more susceptible to the neuropsychiatric adverse events of interferon therapy 6, 7. Likewise, chronic HIV infection, use of antiretrovirals, prophylactic medications and malignancies may contribute to various cytopenias and make individuals more susceptible to hematologic toxicity from peg-IFN and ribavirin therapy 8, 9. It is also well established that maintenance of recommended doses of peg-IFN and ribavirin throughout treatment is crucial to the achievement of a successful outcome 10, 11. Many studies have suggested that there may be higher rates of toxicities in HIV/HCV co-infected patients 12–15, however, none have explored the possibility that there might be differences in IFN-α related adverse events in responders compared to non-responders. Since both antiviral response and adverse effects are mediated by IFN-α signaling of host cells 16, it would seem plausible that antiviral response and occurrence of severe adverse events are related to one another. In this regard, we investigated the relationship between IFN-α-related adverse effects and HCV virologic response in HIV/HCV co-infected individuals on therapy.
Electronic structure and mechanical behavior of transition-metal aluminides: a first-principles total-energy investigation

Abstract First-principles quantum mechanical calculations based on the local-density-functional theory have been used together with the anisotropic elasticity theory of dislocations to study the electronic and mechanical properties of transition-metal aluminides. The bonding mechanism can be described by the combination of Al-to-transition metal charge transfer and strong p-d bonding hybridization effects. Point defect self-energies, elastic constants, various shear fault energies and cleavage energies are determined from first-principles for the L1 2 (Ni 3 Al and trialuminides), B2 (FeAl and NiAl) and L1 0 (TiAl) structure-base intermetallics. A comprehensive understanding of the bonding mechanism, point defect structure, yield strength anomaly and brittle fracture behavior forms the basis for a better assessment of extrinsic effects on the strength and ductility of aluminides (e.g., hydrogen in FeAl, and boron in Ni 3 Al).
Reconceptualizing Alienation in Management Inquiry: Critical Organizational Scholarship and Workplace Empowerment

This article examines the discourse on alienation with a view to reconceptualizing it in management inquiry. First, the authors offer a detailed analysis of the organizational and managerial discourse on alienation and point out certain limitations, especially those of narrow conceptualization and loss of meaning. Next, the article examines the Western sociophilosophic discourse on alienation and draws out some central ideas that cast alienation in a very different light. Finally, implications for reconceptualizing alienation within management inquiry are drawn.
How increasing levels of private land enrollment in conservation agreements affect the population viability of grassland birds

There is a growing recognition that to effectively conserve biodiversity efforts have to extend into the realm of engaging private landowners. Agricultural lands have been particularly attractive targets for integrating conservation and production goals. Changes in hayfield management associated with agricultural intensification, including earlier and more frequent harvests, have a severe impact on grassland birds. Government-administered conservation incentive programs benefit grassland birds by delaying harvest dates on enrolled land to allow nesting pairs to successfully fledge at least one brood during the breeding season. In contrast, hayfields that are mowed during the breeding season support sink populations and may function as ecological traps. We examined the effect of increasing levels of hayfield enrollment on grasshopper sparrow population viability using a spatially-explicit, stage-structured, stochastic model of a grasshopper sparrow metapopulation in an urbanizing region of New Jersey. The probability of metapopulation extinction (POE) decreased as the proportion of enrolled hayfields increased and fell below 10% when about half of all available agricultural land was enrolled. POE also decreased with increasing numbers of enrolled hayfields most likely because hayfield enrollment removes a sink population from the landscape in addition to creating a source population. Our results are encouraging as they demonstrate that extinction risk for this grassland-dependent imperiled species can be reduced without having to protect or manage all remaining grassland habitat in the landscape.
Synthesis of the C′D′ disaccharide of aureolic acid

Abstract Arylbis(arylthio)sulfonium salts have been used to activate glycals towards nucleophilic addition to form principally 2-deoxy-β-glycosides. This method was applied to the synthesis of the 2-(methylphenylthio)-2′-phenylthio derivative ( 22 ) of methyl O -(4- O -benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-β- d - arabino -hexopyranosyl)-(1 → 3)-3,4-di- O -benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-2,6-β- d - arabino -hexopyranoside, the C′D′ ring analog of an aureolic acid disaccharide. The condensation of 1,5-anhydro-2,6-dideoxy- d - arabino -hex-1-enitol with methanol in the presence of the phenylbis(phenylthio)sulfonium salt resulted in formation of the first β-glycoside linkage. The methyl 6-deoxyglucoside obtained was deprotected at HO-3 to give the 2-thiophenyl-substituted 2,6-dideoxy-β-glucoside. This was coupled with 1,5-anhydro-3,4-di- O -benzyl-2-deoxy- d - arabino -hex-1-enitol in the presence of 4-methylphenyl[bis(4-methylphenyl)thio]sulfonium salt to give the (1 → 3)-linked disaccharide 22 . Finally, desulfurization of 22 using WII Raney nickel generated the required 2,2′-dideoxydisaccharide.
P‐58: Laser Speckle of Textured Surfaces: Towards High Performance Anti‐Glare Surfaces

Textured surfaces are widely used for anti-glare and anti-newton ring layers. Modern high resolution displays are placing higher demands on these layers. We are developing an understanding of the relationships between surface topography and speckle are crucial to enable the design of the next generation of these layers.
Simulation of a method for determining one-dimensional 137Cs distribution using multiple gamma spectroscopic measurements with an adjustable cylindrical collimator and center shield

With multiple in situ gamma spectroscopic measurements obtained with an adjustable cylindrical collimator and a circular shield, the arbitrary one-dimensional distribution of radioactive material can be determined. The detector responses are theoretically calculated, field measurements obtained, and a system of equations relating detector response to measurement geometry and activity distribution solved to estimate the distribution. This paper demonstrates the method by simulating multiple scenarios and providing analysis of the system conditioning.
A validity review of the National Burn Repository.

Health-related registries arose because of clinicians' desires to improve patient quality of care for a specific disorder. As such, disease registries differ from administrative registries in concept, organization, purpose, data recording, and results. Because of their voluntary nature, health-related disease registries are not regularly audited, have a narrow focus, and are designed for clinicians, not administrators. As part of a Department of Defense initiative, we conducted an intensive qualitative review of the American Burn Association's National Burn Repository (NBR). Our objectives are to inform future users of the NBR of issues that could affect statistical analyses and inferences and assist efforts to improve data collection. We obtained a deidentified copy of the 2009 release of the NBR containing 286,293 records. We reviewed this data set for 1) records lacking vital patient information (age, burn size, survival, gender); 2) inconsistencies between data in different fields of the database; and 3) duplicate values. By restricting our review to records with an admission year of 2000 or later, we found that vital patient information was missing or invalid for about 60,000 records. Data inconsistencies were found in hospital admission status (initial admission or readmission) for about 12,000 records, survival for about 950 records, and burn injury for about 5500 records. Depending on the criterion used to identify duplicate records, we found at least 4000 duplicate records but as many as 14,000 in the database. Finally, significant data quality issues were found for facilities not using the TRACS software. All health-related disease registries, unlike administrative databases, are voluntary. Anonymity of data is vital, and data auditing and reporting are challenging. The data contained in the NBR is disease-specific, and, as such, has the potential to provide valuable epidemiologic, treatment, and outcome data as reported by clinicians, not registrars. The NBR provides substantive data on burn injury; however, data review needs to precede data analysis. Revisions to NBR data collection have improved the quality of data submitted, yet data quality issues remain in the current database. Investigators are cautioned to thoroughly assess all fields before conducting analyses using the NBR. Language: en
Intravenous dextrose during outpatient rehydration in pediatric gastroenteritis.

Background: Rapid intravenous (IV) rehydration in the emergency department (ED) is required for certain children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Objectives: To determine whether the amount of IV dextrose administered is related to a return visit with admission (RVA) in children with AGE and dehydration, and to determine which clinical, laboratory, and treatment parameters are associated with an RVA. Methods: The investigators performed a case control study of children aged 6 months to 6 years who presented to an urban ED with AGE and dehydration and who received IV rehydration before discharge from the ED. Dehydration was defined a priori on the basis of parameters used in prior studies. Cases were defined as those patients who had an RVA within 72 hours of an original visit for ongoing symptoms. Controls were defined as those patients who met inclusion criteria who did not have an RVA. The authors studied whether the amount of IV dextrose administered at the initial visit was related to an RVA as well as which other clinical and treatment parameters were associated with an RVA. Results: A total of 56 cases and 112 controls were studied. Patients who had an RVA received significantly less IV dextrose (mean: 399 mg/kg vs. 747 mg/kg, p < 0.001) than those who did not have an RVA. Patients who received no IV dextrose had 3.9 times greater odds of having a return visit with admission than those who received some dextrose. Controlling for fluid volume, the amount of dextrose administered remained statistically significant by logistic regression; for every 500 mg/kg of IV dextrose administered, the patient was 1.9 times less likely to have an RVA. Patients with length of symptoms less than or equal to one day were more likely to have an RVA than were those with symptom length of two or more days. No other historical or physical exam findings or laboratory parameters (including mean serum bicarbonate) were associated with a return visit requiring admission. Conclusions: Administration of larger amounts of IV dextrose is associated with reduced return visits requiring admission in children with gastroenteritis and dehydration.
Association of Tat with Purified HIV-1 and HIV-2 Transcription Preinitiation Complexes

The HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type 1) and HIV-2 Tat proteins increase the level of transcription from their corresponding long terminal repeats. Tat activates transcription likely by interaction with components of the transcriptional initiation and elongation complexes during different stages of the transcription reaction. In the current study, two approaches were used to address the sites at which Tat becomes stably associated with the HIV transcription complex. First, we isolated column purified HIV-1 and HIV-2 transcription complexes that were competent for in vitro transcription and found that wild-type but not mutant Tat protein was specifically associated with this complex. An intact HIV TATA element and the presence of functional TATA-binding protein were necessary for Tat association. In contrast, the HIV-1 and HIV-2 TAR bulge sequences which serve as binding sites for Tat were not required for its association with the HIV preinitiation complex. A second complementary approach using immobilized HIV-1 and HIV-2 templates also demonstrated a functional association of Tat with HIV-1 and HIV-2 preinitiation complexes. Wild-type but not mutant Tat proteins associated with transcription complexes assembled on immobilized HIV-1 and HIV-2 templates and the association of Tat correlated with increases in the level of in vitro transcription. These results indicate that Tat can associate with HIV-1 and HIV-2 transcription complexes prior to the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II.
The renin-angiotensin system and hypertension in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

Hypertension is a well-recognized complication of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a key regulator of blood pressure; however, data on the RAS in ARPKD are limited and conflicting, showing both up- and down-regulation. In the current study, we characterized intrarenal and systemic RAS activation in relationship to hypertension and progressive cystic kidney disease in the ARPKD orthologous polycystic kidney (PCK) rat. Clinical and histological measures of kidney disease, kidney RAS gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR, angiotensin II (Ang II) immunohistochemistry, and systemic Ang I and II levels were assessed in 2-, 4-, and 6-month-old cystic PCK and age-matched normal rats. PCK rats developed hypertension and progressive cystic kidney disease without significant worsening of renal function or relative kidney size. Intrarenal renin, ACE and Ang II expression was increased significantly in cystic kidneys; angiotensinogen and Ang II Type I receptor were unchanged. Systemic Ang I and II levels did not differ. This study demonstrates that intrarenal, but not systemic, RAS activation is a prominent feature of ARPKD. These findings help reconcile previous conflicting reports and suggest that intrarenal renin and ACE gene upregulation may represent a novel mechanism for hypertension development or exacerbation in ARPKD.
Primary and secondary prevention strategies in the older adult

Most causes of death and disability in older people are partially to fully preventable. To achieve maximum benefits from prevention strategies, use an organized system tailored to individual health risks and circumstances.
Brain Neuron Preparations for the Study of Aging Changes in Calcium Potentials and Currents

Abstract This article considers the problems encountered in the study of basic electrophysiologlcal properties of aged animal brain cells and describes several methods that are useful for such studies. Specific methods for rat brain slice preparations are reviewed, with an emphasis on factors relevant to aging animals. Alternative approaches (acutely dissociated cells) are also considered. Methods for investigating pharmacologically isolated and defined calcium potentials and calcium currents in aged rat brain neurons also are described. These may play an important role in the brain aging process.
A note on the covariance matrix of the maximum likelihood estimator in constrained multivariate linear regression

Abstract A useful result concerning variances and covariances of a linear function of a random matrix is applied to find the variance–covariance matrix of the maximum likelihood estimator in multivariate linear regression subject to zero constraints.
Reactivity of Nitric Oxide with the [4Fe-4S] Cluster of Dihydroxyacid Dehydratase from Escherichia coli

Although the NO (nitric oxide)-mediated modification of iron–sulfur proteins has been well-documented in bacteria and mammalian cells, specific reactivity of NO with iron–sulfur proteins still remains elusive. In the present study, we report the first kinetic characterization of the reaction between NO and iron–sulfur clusters in protein using the Escherichia coli IlvD (dihydroxyacid dehydratase) [4Fe–4S] cluster as an example. Combining a sensitive NO electrode with EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopy and an enzyme activity assay, we demonstrate that NO is rapidly consumed by the IlvD [4Fe–4S] cluster with the concomitant formation of the IlvD-bound DNIC (dinitrosyl–iron complex) and inactivation of the enzyme activity under anaerobic conditions. The rate constant for the initial reaction between NO and the IlvD [4Fe–4S] cluster is estimated to be (7.0±2.0)×10 6 M −2 ·s −1 at 25 °C, which is approx. 2–3 times faster than that of the NO autoxidation by O 2 in aqueous solution. Addition of GSH failed to prevent the NO-mediated modification of the IlvD [4Fe–4S] cluster regardless of the presence of O 2 in the medium, further suggesting that NO is more reactive with the IlvD [4Fe–4S] cluster than with GSH or O 2 . Purified aconitase B [4Fe–4S] cluster from E. coli has an almost identical NO reactivity as the IlvD [4Fe–4S] cluster. However, the reaction between NO and the endonuclease III [4Fe–4S] cluster is relatively slow, apparently because the [4Fe–4S] cluster in endonuclease III is less accessible to solvent than those in IlvD and aconitase B. When E. coli cells containing recombinant IlvD, aconitase B or endonuclease III are exposed to NO using the Silastic tubing NO delivery system under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, the [4Fe–4S] clusters in IlvD and aconitase B, but not in endonuclease III, are efficiently modified forming the protein-bound DNICs, confirming that NO has a higher reactivity with the [4Fe–4S] clusters in IlvD and aconitase B than with O 2 or GSH. The results suggest that the iron–sulfur clusters in proteins such as IlvD and aconitase B may constitute the primary targets of the NO cytotoxicity under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
The ‘New Class’: Analysis of the Concept, the Hypothesis and the Idea as a Research Tool

. The concept of the ‘New Class’ often is invoked to explain not only why the capitalist countries of the West are drifting leftwards into socialism but also why socialist nations of East Europe have totalitarian governments, tolerate gross economic inefficiencies, and exploit their workers. Certain critical issues underlying such an approach that are relevant to political economists, especially those interested in the changing boundary between the public and private sectors of the economy, are examined. The concept is found to rely on hypotheses which are not (easily) testable and the argument for its existence to be based on premises that are dubious. Special attention is given to hypotheses in public finance employing the concept in an attempt to explain increasing public expenditures; these are found wanting.
Ethernet Adaptive Link Rate (ALR): Analysis of a MAC Handshake Protocol

In this paper, a handshake protocol at the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer is proposed and analyzed for dynamically changing the link rate in the Network Interface Card (NIC), adapting to network utilization, and thus decreasing average power consumption. Simulation results show that this protocol can be used to change link rate in Ethernet network devices without causing user-perceivable delays.
Executive function processes predict mobility outcomes in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between performance on executive function measures and subsequent mobility outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling older adults (N = 179; mean age 66.4). INTERVENTION: A 12-month exercise trial with two arms: an aerobic exercise group and a stretching and strengthening group. MEASUREMENTS: Established cognitive tests of executive function (flanker task, task switching, and a dual-task paradigm) and the Wisconsin card sort test. Mobility was assessed using the timed 8-foot up and go test and times to climb up and down a flight of stairs. METHODS: Participants completed the cognitive tests at baseline and the mobility measures at baseline and after 12 months of the intervention. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine whether baseline executive function predicted postintervention functional performance after controlling for age, sex, education, cardiorespiratory fitness, and baseline mobility levels. RESULTS: Selective baseline executive function measurements, particularly performance on the flanker task (b = 0.15–0.17) and the Wisconsin card sort test (b = 0.11– 0.16) consistently predicted mobility outcomes at 12 months. The estimates were in the expected direction, such that better baseline performance on the executive function measures predicted better performance on the timed mobility tests independent of intervention. CONCLUSION: Executive functions of inhibitory control, mental set shifting, and attentional flexibility were predictive of functional mobility. Given the literature associating mobility limitations with disability, morbidity, and mortality, these results are important for understanding the antecedents to poor mobility function that well-designed interventions to improve cognitive performance can attenuate. J Am Geriatr Soc 62:285–290, 2014.
A strongly inwardly rectifying K+ channel that is sensitive to ATP

We have cloned an inwardly rectifying K+ channel from the hamster insulinoma cDNA library and shown that it is inhibited by cytoplasmic ATP. The channel is 90.97% identical to the IRK3 channels cloned from other species, and its mRNA is found primarily in the brain. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the channel displays strong inward rectification typical of inward rectifiers. The channel is inhibited reversibly by physiological concentrations of ATP via a mechanism that does not appear to involve ATP hydrolysis, as shown by studies of channels in excised inside-out membrane patches. This effect is antagonized by ADP, again in the physiological range, implying that this channel is sensitive to the index of metabolic state, i.e., the intracellular [ATP]/[ADP] ratio. This channel is different from previously known ATP-sensitive K+ channels, although it may also be stimulated by MgATP, as are other ATP-sensitive K+ channels. The potential physiological significance of these ATP-dependent regulations will be discussed.
Exercise Myocardial Scintigraphy with 201Thallium: Use in Patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse without Associated Coronary Artery Disease

Thirty patients with angiographically documented mitral valve prolapse but without associated coronary artery disease, underwent exercise 201thallium myocardial scintigraphy. The resting ECG demonstrated ST segment abnormalities in 15 patients (50 percent). The exercise ECGs were abnormal in two patients (6.7 percent), normal in four (13.3 percent), and inconclusive in 24 patients (80 percent). Two patients (6.7 percent) had abnormal exercise myocardial scintigraphy (both patients had abnormal exercise ECGs). Two additional patients (6.7 percent) had perfusion abnormalities in the rest images that did not change with exercise. Twenty-six patients (86.4 percent) had normal scans. We conclude that the majority of patients with mitral valve prolapse have normal exercise 201thallium images in the absence of associated coronary artery disease and exercise electrocardiography is of limited value in patients with mitral valve prolapse because the results are frequently (80 percent) inconclusive.
Climate, competition, and the coexistence of island lizards

Summary 1The influence of environmental temperatures and competition combine to determine the distributions of island lizards. Neither a bioenergetic model nor simple models of competition alone can account for the distributions. A mechanistic, bioenergetic model successfully predicts how the abundance of a solitary Anolis lizard species will decline along an island's elevation gradient. However, the abundance trends for sympatric lizards diverge from the predictions of the non-interactive model. 2Here we incorporate competition in the bioenergetic model and examine how different forms of competition modify the temperature-based abundance predictions. 3Applying the bioenergetic model with competition to an island chain tests whether the model can successfully predict on which islands two lizards species will coexist. 4Coexistence is restricted to the two largest islands, which the model predicts have substantially greater carrying capacities than the smaller islands. The model successfully predicts that competition prevents species coexistence on the smallest islands. However, the model predicts that the mid-sized islands are capable of supporting substantial populations of both species. Additional island characteristics, such as habitat diversity, resource availability and temporal disturbance patterns, may prevent coexistence.
Evolution of growth of interacting near-by micro-cavities and macroscopic damage amplification

The elastic stress in the ligament between two near-by holes (two-dimensional cylindrical cavities) depends singularly on the ligament thickness small parameter ζ = δ/R (where δ is the ligament thickness and R the hole radius), as ζ becomes vanishingly small, with the exponent a of ζ depending on the loading and the geometry. The damage of a solid containing a periodic distribution of pairs of near-by holes is treated within the theory of asymptotic homogenization in a two-scale model. By renormalization of the unit cell with the scale y = x/e, where e is the periodicity length between the pairs of near-by holes (a characteristic scale of the microstructure), the leading term in the singular amplification of the stress in the ligament between the holes is carried analytically to the macro-scale. The evolution of the growth of the holes (in the micro-scale) is governed by Eshelby mechanics (in this case the Budiansky and Rice path-independent M integral), which can be considered as a dissipation mechanism ...
Advanced thermal sensing circuit and test techniques used in a high performance 65nm processor

Traditional inaccuracies during manufacturing test of the thermal sensor circuit require excessive guard-bands. These guard-bands increase the chance of unnecessary microprocessor throttling and could introduce a less-than optimum power and thermal design envelope. Circuit techniques that minimize these errors are discussed, including an improved temperature-independent voltage pump, a remote thermal sensing scheme for hot-spot to sensor offset reduction, and a self-heating error calibration method. Experimental data obtained on a high performance 65nm Intel® Pentium® 4 microprocessor demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of these techniques, providing a combined potential accuracy improvement of up to 17°C.
Enzyme-assisted binary probe for sensitive detection of RNA and DNA

The new enzyme-assisted assay for DNA/RNA detection provides real-time fluorescent signal readout along with low limit of detection and high discrimination power toward a single-base substitution. Requiring only two new unmodified DNA oligonucleotides for the detection of each new analyte, the assay is an efficient tool for low-cost analysis of multiple analytes.
A Low-Power Programmable Bandpass Filter Section for Higher Order Filter Applications

We present a programmable, continuous-time bandpass filter that is extremely compact, power efficient, and can cover a wide range of frequencies (10 Hz-10 MHz). This capacitively coupled current conveyor (C 4) has a second-order bandpass transfer function and is capable of being used as a basic bandpass-filter element to create high-order filters. The use of floating-gate transistors helps to ease the difficulties of effectively utilizing G m-C filters by providing precise, programmable current sources that set the filter's time constants. Additionally, we provide an algorithmic design approach for constructing these bandpass filters to meet any given specifications. This bandpass filter is ideally suited to large filter-bank applications because of its small size and low-power demands.
Vibrational Excitation, Thermal Nonuniformities, and Unsteady Effects on Supersonic Blunt Bodies

We have performed a computational study of the experiments performed by Lowry et al. at the Arnold Engineering Development Center. In these experiments, an rf discharge is used to weakly ionize a volume of air; then a projectileis e red through this plasma. Relativeto the conditionswithout the discharge, theshock standoff distance is observed to increase substantially, and the bow shock becomes e atter. We have modeled the rf discharge and the resulting thermochemical state of the air within the discharge region. Based on these conditions, the projectile e owe eld wassimulatedto determinewhethertherelaxation of thestored internalenergy causestheobservedshock movement. The results indicate that the stored internal energy does not relax fast enough to reproduce the experimental results, and, therefore, vibrational energy storage is not responsible for the observed shock movement. We considertwo additional mechanisms to explaintheexperiments: modie cationof theelectrice eld by thepresenceof the metallic projectile, and thermal nonuniformities in theplasma. The latter effect appears to provide the best explanation for the observations. We have also modeled experiments in which microwave-discharge excited air e ows over a model. Unsteady thermal effects in the pulsed discharge can account for most of the observed drag change.
Cog-PRMA protocol for CR users sharing a common channel with TDMA primary users

To enable secondary transmissions in cognitive radio (CR) networks, the medium access control (MAC) protocol design for CR networks is an important but challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a cognitive packet reservation multiple access (Cog-PRMA) protocol for the CR/secondary users (SUs) sharing a common channel with time division multiple access (TDMA) primary users (PUs). This Cog-PRMA protocol not only achieves the goal of supporting secondary packet transmissions without interfering the PUs' transmissions, but also takes advantage of PRMA to improve the CR network bandwidth efficiency. In this paper, the Cog-PRMA protocol and frame structure are fully described, and theoretical network throughput for the CR networks is derived using the speech model and two dimensional Markov chain in this paper. Simulation results show that effective secondary communication is achieved and there are noticeable increases in the total network throughput (primary plus secondary).
Epithelial Cell TGFβ Signaling Induces Acute Tubular Injury and Interstitial Inflammation

TGFβ signaling plays a central role in the development of acute and chronic kidney diseases. Previous in vivo studies involved systemic alteration of TGFβ signaling, however, limiting conclusions about the direct role of TGFβ in tubular cell injury. Here, we generated a double transgenic mouse that inducibly expresses a ligand-independent constitutively active TGFβ receptor type 1 (TβR1) kinase specifically in tubular epithelial cells, with expression restricted by the Pax8 promoter. In this model, activation of TGFβ signaling in the tubular epithelium alone was sufficient to cause AKI characterized by marked tubular cell apoptosis and necrosis, oxidative stress, dedifferentiation and regenerative cell proliferation, reduced renal function, and interstitial accumulation of inflammatory cells. This tubular injury was associated with mitochondrial-derived generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but cell damage and apoptosis were partially independent of mitochondrial-derived ROS. TβR1 signaling-induced tubular injury also associated with significant leukocyte infiltration consisting of F4/80(+) macrophages, CD11c(+) F4/80(+) dendritic cells, CD11c(+) F4/80(-) Ly6C(high) dendritic cells/monocytes, and T cells. Inhibition of mitochondrial-derived ROS significantly reduced accumulation of CD11c(+) F4/80(+) dendritic cells and T cells, suggesting a role for ROS in the activation and recruitment of the adaptive immune response to tubular injury. Taken together, these results suggest that TGFβ signaling in the tubular epithelium alone is sufficient to cause acute tubular injury and inflammation; therefore, TGFβ may be a mechanistic link between acute injury and chronic progression of kidney disease.
An 8x 10-Gb/s Source-Synchronous I/O System Based on High-Density Silicon Carrier Interconnects

A source synchronous I/O system based on high-density silicon carrier interconnects is introduced. Benefiting from the advantages of advanced silicon packaging technologies, the system uses 50 μm-pitch μC4s to reduce I/O cell size and fine-pitch interconnects on silicon carrier to achieve record-breaking interconnect density. An I/O architecture is introduced with link redundancy such that any link can be taken out of service for periodic recalibration without interrupting data transmission. A timing recovery system using two phase rotators shared across all bits in a receive bus is presented. To demonstrate these concepts, an I/O chipset using this architecture is fabricated in 45 nm SOI CMOS technology. It includes compact DFE-IIR equalization in the receiver, as well as a new all-CMOS phase rotator. The chipset is mounted to a silicon carrier tile via Pb-free SnAg μ C4 solder bumps. Chip-to-chip communication is achieved over ultra-dense interconnects with pitches of between 8 μm and 22 μm. 8 × 10-Gb/s data is received over distances up to 4 cm with a link energy efficiency of 5.3 pJ/bit from 1 V TX and RX power supplies. 8 × 9-Gb/s data is recovered from a 6-cm link with 16.3 dB loss at 4.5 GHz with an efficiency of 6.1 pJ/bit.
0.77-V drive voltage electro-optic modulator with bandwidth exceeding 67 GHz

A 0.77-V drive voltage (V(π)) electro-optic modulator with bandwidth exceeding 67 GHz is described. Modulator is a compound semiconductor device fabricated using substrate removal technology. This allows placement of metal electrodes on both sides of an optical waveguide containing a p-i-n diode. Hence ohmic losses are reduced significantly. Electrode gap is essentially the same as i layer thickness, which can be kept very uniform and small. Waveguide core also contains a MQW, which improves electro-optic efficiency. Lack of p doping in the waveguide and large detuning between MQW absorption peak and operating wavelength keep the propagation loss low. Large size of the waveguide also helps to keep coupling loss low. Modulator is designed as a traveling wave device using the loaded line approach, which is used for velocity matching. Combination of these approaches yields a device with the lowest V(π) and widest bandwidth.
Exploring Determinants of Relationship Quality between Students and Their Academic Department Perceived Relationship Investment, Student Empowerment, and Student–Faculty Interaction

Given the increasing need for the retention of satisfied and successful students, the purpose of this study was to explore the factors that influence the perceived quality of relationships formed b...
A Modified Kremser Equation for Stagewise Countercurrent Processes

Abstract Although the Kremser equation has served for many years as a limiting design and analytical criterion for idealized countercurrent absorption and extraction systems, it contains a basic flaw which limits its effectiveness over certain ranges of the operating variables. This defect, which has not been generally recognized by writers in the field, can be remedied by assigning separate ranges to a certain operating parameter while still maintaining the same functional form of the original expression. This note presents a rational derivation, illustrates the fallacy in the old form, and demonstrates the use of the new form.
Collaborative problem solving with a total quality model.

A collaborative problem-solving system committed to the interests of those involved complies with the teachings of the total quality management movement in health care. Deming espoused that any quality system must become an integral part of routine ac tivities. A process that is used consistently in dealing with problems, issues, or conflicts provides a mecha nism for accomplishing total quality improvement. The collaborative problem-solving process described here results in quality decision-making. This model incorporates Ishikawa's cause-and-effect (fishbone) diagram, Moore's key causes of conflict, and the steps of the University of North Dakota Conflict Resolution Center's collaborative problem solving model.