cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Smart Beta Still Smart under the Lens of the Diversification Return

The diversification return is known to explain a significant portion of portfolio growth rates. Separately, results from backtesting have created significant interest in smart beta portfolio strategies. Extant research shows that smart beta strategies outperform the passive value-weighted benchmark due to their implicit risk factor tilts, such as value and size. This article reexamines the performance of a subset of smart beta strategies, known as fundamental indexing, focusing on the diversification return. The authors demonstrate that the outperformance of these strategies is completely explained by the diversification returns embedded in the portfolio rebalancing inherent in all such strategies. Efficient factor tilts explain none of the outperformance. TOPICS:Factors, risk premia, factor-based models, performance measurement Key Findings • The article confirms past results that fundamental indexes outperform the market-cap-weighted index. • Importantly, the article shows that all outperformance is due to the diversification return of Fernholz and Shay and Booth and Fama. • Standard explanations for outperformance (factor tilts) do not appear to hold up in factor models after accounting for the diversification return.
Trapped Charge Effect on Composite Lithium Niobate-Silicon Acoustoelectric Delay Lines

Acoustoelectric delay lines (AEDL) fabricated on a composite lithium niobate-silicon (LN-Si) platform could enable acoustoelectric (AE) nonreciprocity and gain provided that the material properties of the LN-Si heterostructure are properly selected. Among such properties are the carrier density and mobility in the Si substrate. However, the bulk Si properties are subject to substantial perturbation at the LN-Si interface as a result of interfacial trapped charges at dislocations and dangling bond sites. The metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitor inherently formed in such heterostructures, however, could allow for some level of control over the Si carrier distribution at the LN film interface. In this work, we demonstrate that the AE gain achieved by the momentum transfer from the carriers drifting in Si and the subsequent nonreciprocity could be fine-tuned and the efficiency of the device could be improved by utilizing the MIS capacitor. The device efficiency is found to be enhanced once the majority electron carriers in n-type Si are slightly depleted at the LN-Si interface resulting in ∼1.5 times improvement in the AE gain at a lower bias current, increasing the efficiency by ∼60%.
Effects of Irradiation on Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) First through Third Instars in Sweet Cherries1

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a serious pest of apple (Malus domestica [Borkh.]), pear (Pyrus communis [L.]), and occasionally, stone fruit (Prunus persica [L.]). Its presence in sweet cherries is rare and presumed to occur in areas where high populations in pome fruits occur near sweet cherries, Prunus avium (L.). Nevertheless, the potential of codling moth residing in a sweet cherry destined for an export market, especially to Asian Pacific countries, has led to the continued use of methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting fumigant, to prevent the accidental spread of this pest. Over the past 20 yr, internationally accepted alternative phytosanitary treatments using ionizing radiation have been developed. This is the first report of an irradiation dose response of codling moth in sweet cherries. We treated the first three instars of codling moth in export-quality sweet cherries and found that the third instar was the most radio-resistant, requiring a dose of approximately 250 Gy to prevent adult emergence. This dose is higher than those reported for fifth-instar codling moth in apples and artificial diet but should not delay any efforts in using this highly effective treatment to meet quarantine restrictions against this pest.
Increased Student Learning and Attendance in Resources Geology through the Combination of Sentence-Headline Slides and Active Learning Measures

This study assessed how combining active learning measures with teaching slides that relied on sentence headlines affected test scores and attendance in a large resources geology course. For all six sections of the course, the following remained the same: instructor, classroom, semester time slot, and number of teaching slides. For two sections, though, we transformed the existing teaching slides that followed the traditional design of a phrase headline supported by a bulleted list (and often an image) to a sentence-headline design supported by visual evidence. In this new design, the sentence headline stated the main assertion of the slide. To increase active participation, we posted these sentence-headline slides as fill-in-the-blank notes, as opposed to complete slides as posted for the other sections. To increase attendance in these two sections, we administered a graded activity in each class period. These two sections had statistically significant increases (p < 0.001) in both class attendance and t...
Establishing best practices in measles, mumps, and rubella serologic screening for kidney transplant candidates.

Optimizing immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases improves outcomes in kidney transplant (KT) patients (Arora et al, World J Transplant, 2019, 9:1; Sester et al, Transplant Rev, 2008, 22:274; Fishman, N Engl J Med, 2007, 357:2601). The American Society for Transplantation (AST) Clinical Practice Guidelines advises that serologic screening for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) be conducted for all KT candidates, since live-attenuated vaccines are contraindicated post-transplantation (Malinis et al, Clin Transplant, 2019, 33:e13548). Our team at Mayo Clinic Florida (MCF) conducted a quality improvement (QI) initiative to establish a best MMR screening and immunizations clinical practice in KT candidates using a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model. By retrospective chart review of all KT candidates evaluated at our institution from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017, baseline data determining the rate of MMR serologic screening was established. PDSA cycles were implemented to adopt protocol-driven testing for MMR serologies, immunization documentation, and vaccination in cases of seronegativity to any of the three MMR viruses in all pre-KT candidates. Two PDSA cycles were completed in 4 months. The study population totaled 447 patients (baseline n = 283, PDSA 1 n = 61, PDSA 2 n = 103). Baseline data showed that 83% (n = 235) of pre-KT candidates received infectious disease consultation (IDC). Complete MMR (all three viruses) serological screening in KT candidates improved from baseline 3.9%-87.4% post-PDSA cycle 2 (P < .001). Necessary immunizations per AST guidelines were ordered in only 41.1% (n = 23) of the control cohort vs 100% (n = 12) and 96.9% (n = 31) of PDSA cycles 1 and 2, respectively (P < .001). The data reflect significant practice improvements in MMR screening and immunization rates among KT candidates by using protocol-driven orders combined with our pre-existing IDCs.
The impact of hospital safety-net status on inpatient outcomes for brain tumor craniotomy: a 10-year nationwide analysis.

Background Outcome disparities have been documented at safety-net hospitals (SNHs), which disproportionately serve vulnerable patient populations. Using a nationwide retrospective cohort, we assessed inpatient outcomes following brain tumor craniotomy at SNHs in the United States. Methods We identified all craniotomy procedures in the National Inpatient Sample from 2002-2011 for brain tumors: glioma, metastasis, meningioma, and vestibular schwannoma. Safety-net burden was calculated as the number of Medicaid plus uninsured admissions divided by total admissions. Hospitals in the top quartile of burden were defined as SNHs. The association between SNH status and in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, complications, hospital-acquired conditions (HACs), length of stay (LOS), and costs were assessed. Multivariate regression adjusted for patient, hospital, and severity characteristics. Results 304,719 admissions were analyzed. The most common subtype was glioma (43.8%). Of 1,206 unique hospitals, 242 were SNHs. SNH admissions were more likely to be non-white (P < .001), low income (P < .001), and have higher severity scores (P = .034). Mortality rates were higher at SNHs for metastasis admissions (odds ratio [OR] = 1.48, P = .025), and SNHs had higher complication rates for meningioma (OR = 1.34, P = .003) and all tumor types combined (OR = 1.17, P = .034). However, there were no differences at SNHs for discharge disposition or HACs. LOS and hospital costs were elevated at SNHs for all subtypes, culminating in a 10% and 9% increase in LOS and costs for the overall population, respectively (all P < .001). Conclusions SNHs demonstrated poorer inpatient outcomes for brain tumor craniotomy. Further analyses of the differences observed and potential interventions to ameliorate interhospital disparities are warranted.
Cowboy Classics: The Roots of the American Western in the Epic Tradition

Cowboy Classics looks at the surprisingly close connection between Western film and Greek and Roman epic, each of which focuses on a mythic-historical period from the past where our societal notions of what constitutes heroism, masculinity, and honor were first forged.
Evaluating voice-assistant commands for dementia detection

Early detection of cognitive decline involved in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) in older adults living alone is essential for developing, planning, and initiating interventions and support systems to improve users' everyday function and quality of life. In this paper, we explore the voice commands using a Voice-Assistant System (VAS), i.e., Amazon Alexa, from 40 older adults who were either Healthy Control (HC) participants or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) participants, age 65 or older. We evaluated the data collected from voice commands, cognitive assessments, and interviews and surveys using a structured protocol. We extracted 163 unique command-relevant features from each participant's use of the VAS. We then built machine-learning models including 1-layer/2-layer neural networks, support vector machines, decision tree, and random forest, for classification and comparison with standard cognitive assessment scores, e.g., Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Our classification models using fusion features achieved an accuracy of 68%, and our regression model resulted in a Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) score of 3.53. Our Decision Tree (DT) and Random Forest (RF) models using selected features achieved higher classification accuracy 80-90%. Finally, we analyzed the contribution of each feature set to the model output, thus revealing the commands and features most useful in inferring the participants' cognitive status. We found that features of overall performance, features of music-related commands, features of call-related commands, and features from Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) were the top-four feature sets most impactful on inference accuracy. The results from this controlled study demonstrate the promise of future home-based cognitive assessments using Voice-Assistant Systems.
Spontaneous Transition of Self-assembled Hydrogel Fibrils into Crystalline Microtubes Enables a Rational Strategy To Stabilize the Hydrogel State.

Hydrogel fibril and crystal formation are related self-assembly processes that provide materials with distinct emergent properties. The relationship between fibril and crystal growth is poorly understood, and efforts to engineer controlled hydrogelation vs crystallization via small molecule self-assembly currently depend on empirical approaches. Herein, we report the dynamic transition of self-assembled hydrogel fibrils of a phenylalanine (Phe) derivative, Fmoc-p-nitrophenylalanine (Fmoc-4-NO2-Phe), to crystalline microtubes. As has been shown with other Fmoc-Phe derivatives, Fmoc-4-NO2-Phe spontaneously self-assembles into amyloid-like fibrils that form an entangled hydrogel network when suspended in water. However, Fmoc-4-NO2-Phe fibrils uniquely transform over time into crystalline microtubes. Hydrogel fibrils appear to be a kinetic state with microtube crystals more thermodynamically favored. This dynamic transition from fibril to crystal has enabled a high-resolution structural analysis of the packin...
Acute Exacerbations of Asthma

Publisher Summary Acute bronchial asthma is a common problem with immense medical and economic impacts. It is subject to episodic deterioration like other chronic inflammatory diseases. Intermittent exacerbations of obstruction can vary widely in terms of severity of the disease, and most of them can be controlled by an escalation of the patient's chronic therapy. A number of risk factors—such as marked circadian variation in lung function, psychological abnormalities, use of multiple medications, recurrent hospitalizations, frequent emergency-room visits, and previous occurrences of life-threatening asthma attacks—are predictive of a fatal or near fatal attack of asthma. When dealing with patients who have already had previous life-threatening attacks, all subsequent exacerbations should be viewed as potentially lethal and the treatment approach should be directed toward prophylaxis. All aspects of pulmonary function are compromised during acute attacks. The management of an acute asthmatic episode begins with an assessment of its severity, and a rapid evaluation of the patient is critical so that none of the important elements is missed.
Human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) type II Rex protein binds specifically to RNA sequences of the HTLV long terminal repeat but poorly to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev-responsive element.

The human T-cell leukemia viruses (HTLVs) encode a trans-regulatory protein, Rex, which differentially regulates viral gene expression by controlling the cytoplasmic accumulation of viral mRNAs. Because of insufficient amounts of purified protein, biochemical characterization of Rex activity has not previously been performed. Here, utilizing the baculovirus expression system, we purified HTLV type II (HTLV-II) Rex from the cytoplasmic fraction of recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells by heparin-agarose chromatography. We directly demonstrated that Rex specifically bound HTLV-II 59 long terminal repeat RNA in both gel mobility shift and immunobinding assays. Sequences sufficient for Rex binding were localized to the R-U5 region of the HTLV-II 59 long terminal repeat and correlate with the region required for Rex function. The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), has an analogous regulatory protein, Rev, which directly binds to and mediates its action through the Rev-responsive element located within the HIV-1 env gene. We demonstrated that HTLV-II Rex rescued an HIV-1JR-CSF Rev-deficient mutant, although inefficiently. This result is consistent with a weak binding activity to the HIV-1 Rev-responsive element under conditions in which it efficiently bound the HTLV-II long terminal repeat RNA. Images
PATTERNS OF FATIGUE AND ACTIVITY AND REST DURING ADJUVANT BREAST CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY

Purpose/objectives To describe the patterns of fatigue and activity and rest and their relationship during adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy. Design Prospective, descriptive, repeated measures. Setting Midwestern oncology clinics and subjects' homes. Sample 72 women, ages 30-69, who were receiving chemotherapy after surgery for stage I or II breast cancer. Methods The Piper Fatigue Scale was used to measure fatigue 48 hours after each treatment and at treatment cycle midpoints for three cycles. Wrist actigraphs were used to measure activity and rest cycles for 96 hours at each treatment and for 72 hours at each cycle midpoint. Main research variables Fatigue, activity and rest cycles, chemotherapy protocols (doxorubicin- or non-doxorubicin-based protocols). Findings Total and subscale fatigue scores were significantly different over time, with scores higher at treatments and lower at cycle midpoints. Activity levels were significantly different over time in a mirror-image pattern of fatigue. Fatigue was negatively correlated with activity levels at all times except the cycle 2 midpoint and positively correlated with awakenings at night only at the cycle 2 midpoint. Activity levels were significantly lower in women receiving doxorubicin-based protocols. Conclusions Roller-coaster patterns of fatigue and activity have not been previously reported in this patient population. Examination of the inverse relationship between fatigue and activity will assist nurses in the development and testing of interventions to modify fatigue. Implications for nursing practice Women should be instructed to monitor the intensity of fatigue and encouraged to maintain activity levels balanced with efficient rest periods. Nurses can inform women that these patterns may be expected to be similar during the first three chemotherapy cycles.
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor-Induced Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in Bone Marrow Macrophages: Application in Bone Marrow Transplantation

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been reported to induce antitumor activity in peripheral blood monocytes. We examined the role of GM-CSF on bone marrow (BM) macrophages in inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against murine and human tumor cells in vitro and in vivo with the aim of applying this approach in an autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) setting. GM-CSF induced a potent ADCC in BM macrophages against a murine melanoma in vitro. Treatment with GM-CSF alone or with antibody alone had no effect, whereas therapy with combination of both these agents resulted in a significant reduction in dissemination of melanoma both in a nontransplant as well as in BMT settings, with results being more optimal in the latter setting. Adoptive transfer of BM macrophages harvested from mice undergoing therapy with GM-CSF plus antibody significantly reduced the dissemination of melanoma in secondary recipients but only after irradiation, not in intact mice. GM-CSF also induced significant ADCC in human BM macrophages against a melanoma and a lymphoma in vitro and against a lymphoma implanted in nude mice in vivo. Again, these effects were more optimal after chemotherapy. These data suggest that treatment with GM-CSF plus tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies after BMT may induce an antitumor effect and help eradicate the minimal residual disease.
Mechanical load assisted dissolution response of biomedical cobalt–chromium and titanium metallic alloys: Influence of in-plane stress and chemical environment

Abstract Mechanical load-assisted dissolution is identified as one of the key mechanisms governing material removal in fretting and crevice corrosion of biomedical implants. In the current study, material removal on a stressed surface of cobalt–chromium–molybdenum (CoCr) and titanium (Ti-64) alloys subjected to single asperity contact is investigated in order to identify the influence of contact loads and in-plane stress state on surface damage mechanisms. The experiments were conducted in ambient as well as three different aqueous environments – phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4, PBS at pH 4.1 and high chloride solutions at pH 4.0. The tip of an atomic force microscope is used as a well-characterized “asperity” to apply controlled contact forces and mechanically stimulate the loaded specimen surface in different aqueous environments from passivating to corroding. The volume of the material removed is measured to determine the influence of contact loads, in-plane stresses and the environment on the material dissolution rate. Experimental results indicate that surface damage is initiated at all the contact loads studied and as expected in a wear situation, removal rate increases with increase in contact loads. For both alloys, removal rates display a complex dependence on residual stresses and the environment. In a passivating environment, the material removal rate is linearly dependent on the stress state such that surface damage is accelerated under compressive stresses and suppressed under tensile stresses. In a corrosive environment, the dissolution rate demonstrates a quadratic dependence on stress, with both compressive and tensile stresses accelerating material dissolution. The material removal rates are found to be consistently larger for CoCr in comparison to Ti64 surfaces under the same mechanical and electrochemical stimuli, despite the higher hardness of CoCr surfaces.
Detecting Software Theft via Whole Program Path Birthmarks

A software birthmark is a unique characteristic of a program that can be used as a software theft detection technique. In this paper we present and empirically evaluate a novel birthmarking technique — Whole Program Path Birthmarking — which uniquely identifies a program based on a complete control flow trace of its execution. To evaluate the strength of the proposed technique we examine two important properties: credibility and tolerance against program transformations such as optimization and obfuscation. Our evaluation demonstrates that, for the detection of theft of an entire program, Whole Program Path birthmarks are more resilient to attack than previously proposed techniques. In addition, we illustrate several instances where a birthmark can be used to identify program theft even when an embedded watermark was destroyed by program transformation.
Building Capacity for the Transnational Regulation of Migration

Two significant conceptual errors frame the public debate concerning labor migration and the related phenomenon of illegal immigration. First, the immigration debate occurs largely within a domestic political framework, and the assumption that the United States can address immigration issues, particularly illegal immigration, through the perfection of domestic enforcement mechanisms pervades the discourse. But migration is inherently international, and its management requires engagement with other governments and with social facts beyond U.S. control. Second, the rhetorical emphasis placed on “fixing” our broken regime reflects a conception of immigration as a problem to be solved. But migration is a cross-border phenomenon produced by structural and historical factors that will only evolve, rather than disappear, and it therefore requires transnational management, rather than a one-time comprehensive legislative solution. In their contributions to the policy debate, scholars increasingly have emphasized the importance of addressing labor and illegal migration through bilateral and transnational frameworks – through accords that would recognize the interdependence of the United States and Mexico and engage our neighbor to the south directly. In this Essay, I seek to contribute to this strand of commentary by focusing on the actual mechanisms of transnationalism and the avenues they open up for advancing a meaningful bilateralism. I demonstrate that the cross-border administrative law space created by these mechanisms is occupied not just by international entities, but also by entanglements between the domestic institutions of different countries. I emphasize the importance of identifying and then building the mechanisms of bilateralism, or the cross-border institutional capacities needed for managing migration in a manner that promotes burden-sharing, or that ensures that both sides of the bilateral relationship reap benefits and bear costs, in rough proportion.
Distribution of glutamine hexosephosphate aminotransferase in rat tissues; changes with state of differentiation.

Abstract The activity of glutamine hexosephosphate aminotransferase ( L -glutamine: D -fructose 6-phosphate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.16) was determined with an improved assay method in some three dozen rat tissues: adult, developing and neoplastic. The highest activities (20–200 units/g) were seen in colon, mammary (during late lactation), submaxillary, sublingual and parotid glands, placenta and liver. The activity increased strikingly along the length of the intestine; glucose feeding inhibited it in ileum and colon. In liver and intestine the activity increased with age but in brain, muscle, heart and kidney the activity was considerably higher during fetal (7.1–12.8 units/g) than in adult life (0.8–3.5 units/g). Renal, mammary and muscle tumors (but not hepatomas) had much higher activities (4–20.5 units/g) than the cognate normal adult tissue. The distribution pattern among tissues indicates that glutamine hexosephosphate aminotransferase is of general importance to all growing, undifferentiated tissues and of special importance to the differentiated function of particular adult organs. The latter are organs which engage in glycoprotein secretion. The results support the assumption that glutamine hexosephosphate aminotransferase activity is essential for glycoprotein synthesis.
Swelling and mechanical strength of glass

Abstract When the surface energy is reduced, a material expands exhibiting a swelling phenomenon. This phenomenon can be easily observed when the material has a large surface area. Using a partially leached porous glass, the stress caused by the swelling was measured in various solvents. Mechanical strength of the high silica glass prepared by consolidation of the porous glass was also measured in various liquids. The extent of swelling was found to be well correlated with the mechanical strength reduction. It was suggested from these observations that the environmental effect on the mechanical strength of glass is due to the swelling of the surface.
Kinetics of growth coalescence of In/GaAs

The nucleation and growth of In clusters on GaAs has been numerically modelled using a kinetic rate equation approach. The rate equations were solved using a propagator method which is more efficient than a finite‐difference scheme, allowing large time steps during which clusters grow by many atoms. The rate of growth coalescence is calculated analytically. A Monte Carlo model of nucleation and growth is presented and shown to yield equivalent results to the propagator method. Both models are used to determine growth mechanisms and the diffusion rate of In atoms on GaAs, using the data of Savage and Lagally. The effect of changing the deposition rate or substrate temperature on the average island size is predicted, and shown to agree with the available data.
Short-run equilibrium in the rental housing market with doubling up*

This paper presents a model of the rental housing market in which apartment rent, vacancy rate, and rate of household doubling up are determined simultaneously. The supply side is monopolistically competitive, with each landlord maximizing revenues for a fixed number of units. On the demand side, households choose between renting a unit alone and doubling up with another household on the basis of apartment rent. The nature of short-run equilibrium is discussed, as are changes in equilibrium due to changes in landlord costs, income distribution, and population size. In particular, the model suggests the possibility of increases in rental prices or occupancy rates in the face of declining demand. Implications for long-run equilibrium are also considered.
Effect of acute postinfusion lipemia and free fatty acids on myocardial contractility: assessment with radionuclide ventriculography.

Equilibrium gated radionuclide ventriculography was used to evaluate the effect of intravenous fat-emulsion overload and excess of free fatty acids (FFA) on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 20 patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). Fifteen of these patients had normal (>50%) baseline LVEF and 5 had low (<50%) baseline LVEF. From 100 to 150 ml of 20% artificial fat emulsion (Liposyn) was infused over 20–25 min. At the end of the infusion, triglyceridemia reached 820±220 mg% and left ventricular ejection fraction decreased from baseline 62±19% (mean±SD) to 58±16% (P<0.05, paired t-test). After completion of Liposyn infusion, 5,000 U of heparin was administered intravenously and monitoring of LVEF was continuod. One and one-half hours following heparin administration, plasma FFA levels reached 3.7+2.0 mmol/l and LVEF rose to 69±19% (P<0.001, paired t-test). Our data indicate that acute intravenous fat overload can suppress and high pathophysiologic levels of FFA can increase LVEF. This effect is more uniform and statistically more reliable in patients with normal LVEF. The study failed to demonstrate any significant difference in the effect of this pharmacologic intervention between patients with and without CAD.
Gender and the organization of lay health care: A socialist-feminist perspective

Abstract Although much of the sociological work on informal or lay care is written in gender neutral language, the empirical reality is that most of the unpaid people who tend to the needs of others, both in sickness and in health, are women. This article uses a socialist-feminist perspective to examine the contributions of women as lay consultants in matters of health and illness and as caregivers to frail elderly people. The socialist feminist perspective is compared to several other approaches to explaining the dominance of women as unpaid providers of health. The ways in which gender, race or ethnicity, and social class structure the economic consequences of providing unpaid health care are discussed. Finally, the policy implications of a socialist-feminist perspective are explored.
A general Riccati equation solution to the deadbeat control problem

It is well known that the state of a controllable system can be driven to zero in minimum time for arbitrary initial condition by the time-varying Kalman gain sequence computed via a singular Riccati equation. This paper shows how a constant (deadbeat control) feedback which will accomplish the same result in the same minimum time can always be found via the same Riccati equation.
Dispersion characterization of chalcogenide bulk glass, composite fibers, and robust nanotapers

We report the results of systematic measurements of the group velocity dispersion (GVD) in chalcogenide glass (ChG) bulk samples, composite ChG fibers, and robust high-index-contrast nanotapers. The composite ChG-polymer fibers are drawn from an extruded multimaterial preform incorporating a thick built-in polymer jacket that is thermally compatible with the ChG used, and the nanotapers are then produced without removing the polymer. We isolate the contributions of material and waveguide GVD to the total dispersion in the nanotapers and support the results with finite-element simulations. These results indicate many possibilities for dispersion engineering and nonlinearity enhancement in all-solid index-guiding ChG fibers stemming from the flexibility of this fiber fabrication methodology.
Defects in failed stems of hip prostheses.

A study has been made of the fractures and associated material from 34 prostheses broken in service. All the fractures appear to be of the fatigue type. Search by me-tallographic analysis for cracklike generating defects in material near the fracture reveals such conditions as abnormally coarse crystals, large nonmetallic inclusions, large inclusion population, undissolved master alloy particles, abnormal carbide segregation, interdendritic segregation, shrinkage, and gas porosity. Recommendations are made for the choice of metallic alloys for femoral stem application.
Rho kinase's role in myosin recruitment to the equatorial cortex of mitotic Drosophila S2 cells is for myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation.

Background Myosin II recruitment to the equatorial cortex is one of the earliest events in establishment of the cytokinetic contractile ring. In Drosophila S2 cells, we previously showed that myosin II is recruited to the furrow independently of F-actin, and that Rho1 and Rok are essential for this recruitment [1]. Rok phosphorylates several cellular proteins, including the myosin regulatory light chain (RLC). Methodology/Principal Findings Here we express phosphorylation state mimic constructs of the RLC in S2 cells to examine the role of RLC phosphorylation involving Rok in the localization of myosin. Phosphorylation of the RLC is required for myosin localization to the equatorial cortex during mitosis, and the essential role of Rok in this localization and for cytokinesis is to maintain phosphorylation of the RLC. The ability to regulate the RLC phosphorylation state spatio-temporally is not essential for the myosin localization. Furthermore, the essential role of Citron in cytokinesis is not phosphorylation of the RLC. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that the Rho1 pathway leading to myosin localization to the future cytokinetic furrow is relatively straightforward, where only Rok is needed, and it is only needed to maintain phosphorylation of the myosin RLC.
Transport of protein-bound hormones into tissues in vivo.

THE STEROID and thyroid hormones circulate in the plasma tightly bound by albumin and by specific plasma globulins (1, 2). Consequently, hormones exist in two states at equilibrium in vitro, i.e. free (dialyzable) and protein-bound. A widely held hypothesis in endocrinology is that the fraction of hormone that is free in vitro is equivalent to the fraction of hormone that is free and available for transport into tissues in vivo. Therefore, in vitro measurements of free hormones may be commonly used as reliable indices of the free hormone in vivo for a variety of clinical states. The purpose of this review is to advance the concept that the large protein-bound moiety of plasma hormone is available for transport into tissues. Consequently, the fraction of plasma hormone that is available for transport in vivo may deviate greatly from the free fraction in vitro. Under some conditions, changes in the free hormone fraction in vitro and in the fraction of plasma hormone that is available for transport in vivo w...
Examples of Nonunique Maximum Likelihood Estimators

Abstract This article presents a large class of probability densities f(x, θ) for which, with positive probability, the maximum likelihood estimator based on a sample of size 2 is non unique, and the possible values of do not form an interval. Such a density f(x, θ) can even be chosen to be unimodal, and one such example is the Cauchy density with a location parameter. A discrete version of the argument gives examples in which the nonuniqueness of the maximum likelihood estimator persists for samples of arbitrary size.
Structural insights on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomal ATPase Mpa.

Summary Proteasome-mediated protein turnover in all domains of life is an energy-dependent process that requires ATPase activity. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) was recently shown to possess a ubiquitin-like proteasome pathway that plays an essential role in Mtb resistance to killing by products of host macrophages. Here we report our structural and biochemical investigation of Mpa, the presumptive Mtb proteasomal ATPase. We demonstrate that Mpa binds to the Mtb proteasome in the presence of ATPγS, providing the physical evidence that Mpa is the proteasomal ATPase. X-ray crystallographic determination of the conserved interdomain showed a five stranded double β barrel structure containing a Greek key motif. Structure and mutational analysis indicate a major role of the interdomain for Mpa hexamerization. Our mutational and functional studies further suggest that the central channel in the Mpa hexamer is involved in protein substrate translocation and degradation. These studies provide insights into how a bacterial proteasomal ATPase interacts with and facilitates protein degradation by the proteasome.
Discussions on Zonal Disintegration around Tunnel in Deep Rock Mass

Questions related to zonal disintegration such as difference between results from laboratory test and field monitoring test, as well as the effect of multi-axial stress level on zonal disintegration were discussed through numerical modeling by using a 3D numerical code called RFPA3D. Results show that the much smaller fracture spacing captured by laboratory test on zonal disintegration is due to the heterogeneity extent of the tested material. Zonal disintegration is an inherent character of heterogeneous rock mass, the more the heterogeneous the rock is, the larger the spacing between the adjacent fractures will be. The configuration of zonal disintegration is influenced by combination of stress level in three directions. Intact fracture rings can not be formed unless a nearly hydrostatic stress state exists in directions perpendicular to tunnel axis.
Comment on A new RISM integral equation for solvent polymers

Abstract This comment draws attention to the connections and distinctions between the RISM integral equation calculations of Hirata and Levy, and prior work by Chandler et al. (1984).
Early childhood education and care use: Differences by race/ethnicity and age

This article describes factors that predict the use of early childhood education and care among Latino families, as compared to non-Latino black and non-Latino white families in the United States in two age groups (0–2 and 3–5 years old). Using National Household Education Survey data, this study presents a framework and examines the association of numerous child and family characteristics with the number of hours children spend in care, the number of care arrangements, and the type of care used. Multinomial logit results show that once preexisting differences between Latino and black families and between Latino and white families are equalized, differences in the type of care are often eliminated. Findings suggest that the observed enrollment patterns of Latino children are due in part to their over-representation in families that are poorer, have lower levels of maternal education, and have lower levels of maternal employment.
Diffuse cerebral petechial hemorrhage in an 8-year-old girl with MRSA pneumonia and sepsis.

An 8-year-old girl in septic shock due to necrotizing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia developed signs of end-organ damage, new right hemiplegia, and left gaze preference. Susceptibility-weighted MRI demonstrated extensive multifocal petechial hemorrhage preferentially at the gray–white matter interface due to septic microemboli (figure). Mechanisms of hemorrhage include small-vessel occlusion leading to mycotic aneurysm formation with rupture or pyogenic arteritis without aneurysm formation.1 Intracranial hemorrhage associated with metastatic staphylococcal infections is rarely described2 and is especially noteworthy with diffuse cerebral petechial hemorrhage in the setting of metastatic MRSA.
Challenges to the Social Foundations of Capitalism in an Age of Global Economics

Capitalism transforms its own social foundations even as it holds forth the prospect of continuing human advancement. This paper examines changes in nation-state, civil society, and democracy in response to the forces of global capitalism. These institutions, all associated with Western liberalism and the advent of industrialization, represent forms of social integration important to the success of capitalism. However, they appear to be deeply affected by economic globalization, and their capacities to ensure social stability are in question. This analysis leads to policy directions for reducing the socially-corrosive effects of global capitalism, strengthening the capacities of foundation social institutions, and exploring a value synthesis between liberalism and moral community.
From the laboratory to the hospital, adults to adolescents, and disorders to personality: the case of psychological reactance.

Study 1 assessed whether trait reactance in disturbed adolescents (ages 12 to 17) is part of the same constellation of personality variables associated with reactance in adults, and Study 2 examined whether reactance predicts inpatient treatment duration and outcomes. Correlations between reactance and MMPI-A variables among 76 inpatients (41 girls) showed that reactance is associated with oppositional, nonaffiliative, and narcissistic traits in disturbed adolescents as well as adults. Reactance predicted longer hospital stays among 176 adolescents (90 girls), and also changes in aggression, mood problems, and substance abuse among those in middle (n = 89) but not early (n = 87) adolescence. Additional analyses identified “typically male” and “typically female” patterns of reactance-change relationships. The clinical significance and utility of these findings are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 54: 361–381, 1998.
Candidate genes and their response to environmental agents in the etiology of hypospadias

The molecular events that lead to isolated hypospadias remain largely unknown, and the etiology of this common congenital anomaly seems to be multifactorial. We have explored the response of several candidate genes to environmental agents that cause hypospadias in a mouse model. Here, we provide an overview of current findings in relation to candidate genes and their response to environmental agents, including the results of genomic analyses of both mouse and human tissues. In addition to steroid-hormone receptors, one gene of specific interest is activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). We hypothesize a potential mechanism of action for ATF3 and other identified genes, including TGF-B.
Why not harvest existing invaders for bioethanol

Some ecologists and environmentalists have asked whether existing plant invaders could be used as sources of lignocellulosic ethanol, as an alternative to the introduction of potentially invasive non-native energy crops. Although the idea is tempting and could theoretically motivate the control or eradication of large invasive populations, we recognize that a number of major economic, logistic, and legal barriers currently prevent adoption of this plan. Here, we enumerate these barriers in detail, but conclude with an idealistic vision for the role of invasive biomass in the bioenergy industry.
Surgical site infection after thyroidectomy: a rare but significant complication

Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) after thyroidectomy are rare but can have significant consequences. Thyroidectomy is a clean case, and the patterns for use of prophylactic antibiotics vary. We hypothesized that patient and operative characteristics may predict a higher risk of SSI, and that SSI are associated with other complications leading to increased resource utilization.
Mapping correlations between ventricular expansion and CSF amyloid and tau biomarkers in 240 subjects with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment and elderly controls

We aimed to improve on the single-atlas ventricular segmentation method of (Carmichael, O.T., Thompson, P.M., Dutton, R.A., Lu, A., Lee, S.E., Lee, J.Y., Kuller, L.H., Lopez, O.L., Aizenstein, H.J., Meltzer, C.C., Liu, Y., Toga, A.W., Becker, J.T., 2006. Mapping ventricular changes related to dementia and mild cognitive impairment in a large community-based cohort. IEEE ISBI. 315-318) by using multi-atlas segmentation, which has been shown to lead to more accurate segmentations (Chou, Y., Lepore, N., de Zubicaray, G., Carmichael, O., Becker, J., Toga, A., Thompson, P., 2008. Automated ventricular mapping with multi-atlas fluid image alignment reveals genetic effects in Alzheimer's disease, NeuroImage 40(2): 615-630); with this method, we calculated minimal numbers of subjects needed to detect correlations between clinical scores and ventricular maps. We also assessed correlations between emerging CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease pathology and localizable deficits in the brain, in 80 AD, 80 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 80 healthy controls from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Six expertly segmented images and their embedded parametric mesh surfaces were fluidly registered to each brain; segmentations were averaged within subjects to reduce errors. Surface-based statistical maps revealed powerful correlations between surface morphology and 4 variables: (1) diagnosis, (2) depression severity, (3) cognitive function at baseline, and (4) future cognitive decline over the following year. Cognitive function was assessed using the mini-mental state exam (MMSE), global and sum-of-boxes clinical dementia rating (CDR) scores, at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Lower CSF Abeta(1-42) protein levels, a biomarker of AD pathology assessed in 138 of the 240 subjects, were correlated with lateral ventricular expansion. Using false discovery rate (FDR) methods, 40 and 120 subjects, respectively, were needed to discriminate AD and MCI from normal groups. 120 subjects were required to detect correlations between ventricular enlargement and MMSE, global CDR, sum-of-boxes CDR and clinical depression scores. Ventricular expansion maps correlate with pathological and cognitive measures in AD, and may be useful in future imaging-based clinical trials.
Increase in brain nitric oxide synthase activity in daunorubicin-treated rats.

: Anthracyclines such as daunorubicin are very effective anticancer agents. These drugs are known to cause side effects including cardiotoxicity. Anthracyclines are neurotoxic to laboratory animals. Nitric oxide is a novel and very important chemical messenger in the brain. However, at higher levels, nitric oxide causes well defined neurotoxicity. Therefore, we determined nitric oxide synthase activity in rat brain after daunorubicin treatment in an effort to explain the neurotoxicity produced by anthracyclines. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with different subcutaneous doses of daunorubicin (0.1-4.0 mg/kg/week for five weeks) while control animals were injected with phosphate buffered saline. There was a significant increase (80%) of nitric oxide synthase activity in daunorubicin-treated animals as compared to controls. This activity was inhibited by N-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA), nitroarginine, N-6-aminohexyl-5-chloro-l-napthalene sulfonamide (W-7), a calmodulin antagonist, suggesting that the nitric oxide synthase activity is calmodulin dependent. Further, our in vitro studies demonstrated that daunorubicin interacted with calmodulin as measured by N-phenyl-1-napthylamine (NPN) fluorescence. These results indicate that daunorubicin increases nitric oxide synthase activity in rat brain which may increase the levels of nitric oxide. The increased levels of nitric oxide may cause neurotoxicity. Our results further indicate that daunorubicin interacts with calmodulin and enhances nitric oxide synthase activity which is dependent on calmodulin.
FOLLOW-UP STUDIES OF INFANTS WITH BIRTH WEIGHT (B.WT.) <1500 G.: COMPARISON OF RESULTS WITH AND WITHOUT VENTILATORY THERAPY

Currently, there is a paucity of follow-up reports of infants of B.Wt. ≤ 1500 g and still less of these infants surviving neonatal mechanical ventilatory therapy (VT). The physical (Phy.), neurologic (Neuro.), developmental (Dev.), audiologic (Audio.) and ophthalmologic (Ophthal.) status of 74 infant; (58 without respirators and 16 with respirators) of B.Wt. <1500 g, born in 1973, 1974 and 1975, were evaluated at ages ranging from 1 to 3 years. Incidence of abnormal findings are listed below: The data indicate that with the possible exception of developmental tests, infants of B. Wt. ≤1500 g, who were treated with ventilatory therapy had comparable follow-up results to those who did not require ventilatory therapy.
EFFECT OF BOUNDARY SCATTERING ON PHOTOEMISSION FROM THIN FILMS.

A one-dimensional escape-probability function is derived for electrons optically excited in a thin film. The effects of electron–electron scattering, electron–phonon scattering, and finite reflection at the film interfaces are taken into account. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the dependence of the escape probability on the film thickness and the amount of back scattering from the substrate. An application to photoemission from thin metal films is discussed.