cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct Analysis of Carbon Isotope Variability in Albumins by Liquid Flow-Injection Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

We demonstrate the high precision C isotopic analysis of a series of purified albumins by liquid chromatography-combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) by using direct aqueous liquid injection. Albumins from 18 species and albumens from chicken and turkey egg were obtained from a commercial source and shown to be of > 98% purity by capillary zone electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography. One microliter of an aqueous protein solution with a total of < 40-pmol protein (2.5 pg), which contained about 150-nmol C, was injected directly into a flowing stream of high-performance liquid chromatography grade water. The solution passed through a pneumatic nebulizer, was sprayed onto a moving wire, passed through a drying oven, and was combusted in a furnace. After the water of combustion was removed, the resulting CO, gas was directed to a high precision IRMS instrument operated in continuous flow mode. The average precision across the 2U samples analyzed was SD(6’“C) = 0.457 OC, and the average accuracy was S’“C < 0.4%0 compared to aliquots analyzed by conventional preparation by using combustion tubes and dual inlet analysis. The observed isotope ratio range was about -22.5%~ < SW pDR < - 16% as expected for modern materials from a natural source. These results demonstrate rapid, high precision, and accurate C isotopic analysis of untreated macromolecules in an aqueous stream by liquid source IRMS. (1 Am Sot Mass Spectvom 1996, 7, 605-610)
Modeling Chemical Interactions in the Hydrated Layers of Nuclear Waste Glasses.

The distribution of glass constituents within the hydrated layer is investigated through a mathematical representation of the fundamental processes that influence mass transport. A brief description of the models that are developed is presented. The resulting equations are implemented in a computer code named GELOH. The importance of the processes of network hydration and layer growth, alteration product formation, and dissolution is studied through the use of GELOH. The results of these studies are presented and interpreted in the light of the experimental evidence available on the aqueous corrosion of nuclear waste glass.
Statistical test of a short form of the Speech-Sounds perception test in a child population

The adequacy of a shortened version of the children's Speech-Sounds Perception Test was examined. In two different groups of chronically ill children, stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the first three subtests (first 30 items) accounted for over 87% of the variance in the total 60-item test. The 30-item version appears to be as useful with children as the full 60-item test.
A Critical Comparison of Three Strategies of Collecting Data from Households

Abstract Returns and findings from three strategies of data collection are compared. Each strategy contains personal interviews, telephone interviews, and mail questionnaires in different combinations—one mainly personal, one mainly telephone, and one mainly mail. All three strategies are based on area probability samples of households in Alameda County, California. The test was made on two separate studies, with identical questionnaires used in all strategies within each study. The responses from the three strategies were found to be highly comparable. Rate of return and rate of completeness of questionnaires were high for all three; substantive findings were virtually interchangeable; and there was little difference in validity. The only important difference was cost per interview which varied considerably by strategy.
The effect of cirrhosis on the steady‐state pharmacokinetics of oral ciprofloxacin

The pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin, a carboxyquinolone, was studied after oral administration of the drug to seven patients with biopsy-proved cirrhosis and to seven healthy volunteers. Serum concentrations of ciprofloxacin and its three metabolites—desethylene ciprofloxacin (Ml), sulfociprofloxacin (M2), and oxociprofloxacin (M3)—were measured by an HPLC procedure. The pharmacokinetic parameters for ciprofloxacin were not significantly altered in cirrhotic patients. The elimination half-life (t1/2) and the area under the serum concentration versus time curve (AUC) were, respectively, 3.71 hours and 16.18 µg · ml−1 · hr−1 in the normal subjects and 3.47 hours and 18.38 µg · ml−1 · hr−1 in patients with cirrhosis. The formation of oxociprofloxacin was reduced by approximately one half in the cirrhotic subjects, as the Cmax was 0.29 µg/ml in normal subjects versus 0.14 µg/ml in cirrhotic patients and the mean AUC(0-t) was 1.54 µg · ml−1 · hr−1 in normal subjects versus 0.70 µg · ml−1 · hr−1 in cirrhotic patients. However, there appeared to be no significant difference between groups with respect to desethylene ciprofloxacin and sulfociprofloxacin. Therefore it appears from this study that no dosage adjustment is required in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1989) 45, 608–616; doi:10.1038/clpt.1989.81
Normative Versus Felt Needs of Women in the Era of Welfare Reform

There has long existed a conflict over the role and needs of poor women and children in the field of social welfare. The balance between what clients want and think they need and what policy makers think they need or ought to want is precarious. This article presents a study that gave voice to welfare recipients’ perceptions of their needs and wants as they faced the uncertainties of life during welfare reform. Five focus groups were used to collect qualitative data from 33 women. Seven themes related to women’s roles and desires in this era of welfare reform were generated.
Heck Couplings at Room Temperature in Nanometer Aqueous Micelles

A nonionic amphiphile such as Triton X-100 or the vitamin E-based PTS, both of which form nanomicelles in water, promotes Heck cross-couplings of non-water-soluble partners at ambient temperatures. These are the first examples of Heck reactions conducted in water (as the only solvent) at room temperature.
Report of the Expert Panel on Awareness and Behavior Change to the Board of Directors, American Heart Association

The Board of Directors of the American Heart Association charged the Expert Panel on Awareness and Behavior Change to: Panel members reviewed background material on the structure and function of the AHA, then met in Dallas on October 17, 1995. Extensive discussions and the subsequent deliberations clarified the purpose of the decisions to be made by the Board of Directors. The panel spent a substantial amount of time and effort evaluating alternatives and assessing the strengths and risks or limitations of each. These alternatives are presented in Tables 1 through 5⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓. This report presents the recommendations of the Expert Panel to the Board of Directors. View this table: Table 1. Awareness and Knowledge as Elements of Heart-Health Promotion View this table: Table 2. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor–Related Behavioral Change as an Element of Heart-Health Promotion View this table: Table 3. Influencing the Physical and Social Environments and the Healthcare System Through Advocacy and Policy Changes as Elements of Heart-Health Promotion View this table: Table 4. Media, Other Information Paths, and Social Marketing as a Means of …
A gene required for nutritional repression of the Bacillus subtilis dipeptide permease operon

Summary An insertion mutation was isolated that resulted in derepressed expression of the Bacillus subtilis dipeptide transport operon (dpp) during the exponential growth phase in rich medium. DNA flanking the site of insertion was found to encode an operon (codVWXY) of four potential open reading frames (ORFs). The deduced product of the codV ORF is similar to members of the λ Int family; CodW and CodX are homologous to HsIV and HsIU, two putative heat-shock proteins from Escherichia coli, and to LapC and LapA, two gene products of unknown function from Pasteurella haemolytica. CodX also shares homology with a family of ATPases, including CIpX, a regulatory subunit of the E. coli ClpP protease. CodY does not have any homologues in the databases. The insertion mutation and all previously isolated spontaneous cod mutations were found to map In codY. In-frame deletion mutations in each of the other cod genes revealed that only codY is required for repression of dpp in nutrient-rich medium. The cody mutations partially relieved amino acid repression of the histidine utilization (hut) operon but had no effect on regulation of certain other early stationary phase-induced genes, such as spoVG and gsiA.
The effect of bead diameter on the accuracy of two current techniques used to quantify bone ingrowth in porous-coated implants

The effect of the bead diameter on the accuracy of two techniques used in bone ingrowth quantification, microradiography and backscattered electron imaging-scanning electron microscopy (BEI-SEM), was assessed using porous-coated implants. Two groups of seven titanium porous implants (group A: bead size 250–350 μm and group B: 500–700 μm) were implanted for 12 weeks in a canine model. After euthanasia, the same histological slides were prepared for microradiography and BEI-SEM. The percentage of bone, bone ingrowth, bone ongrowth, porosity and bone index were determined by a point counting method using images from both techniques. ANOVA and Tukey's test were used to compare the results from the different bead sizes and techniques. The results showed significant higher bone ingrowth in microradiography groups, and significant lower porosity in only the fine-bead microradiography group (group A size). Microradiography also obtained significantly higher bone ongrowth, but only for the coarse bead size group (group B). From these results it was concluded that microradiography decreases the porosity of the porous coating compared with BEI-SEM. This effect seems to be dependent on the bead diameter. The smaller the diameter, the greater the effect. Furthermore, microradiography increases bone ingrowth which seems to be affected independently of the bead diameter, becoming the most sensitive parameter to increase.
Valproate: a practical review of its uses in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Valproate is an antiepileptic drug with a wide spectrum efficacy in the management of various types of seizures and epileptic syndromes. In addition to its efficacy in epilepsy, valproate has been found to have therapeutic effects in various psychiatric disorders, including manic states, bipolar, panic and schizophreniform disorders and in the prevention and acute treatment of migraine. Valproate is available in various formulations that differ primarily in their absorption profiles. The purpose of this review article is to highlight the most important pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of this drug that all clinicians should be aware of when using it as an antiepileptic, antimigraine, or mood-stabilizing agent. We review its use with other common antiepileptics or psychotropic drugs and the pharmacokinetic interactions with commonly used drugs. We also review its tolerance and toxicity profile in the various age-groups and devote a section to the particular problems associated with its use in...
The myth of labor’s inequality of bargaining power

This paper argues that the widespread belief in labor’s exploitation and “underpayment” in a free market economy is illogical and lacks a serious empirical foundation. Theories of systematic disadvantage ignore the behavior of entrepreneurs under the profit-and-loss motive and the tendency for risk-adjusted rates of return to equalize. Labor has proven versatile and mobile in the U.S. economy, where technical progress also has been extraordinarily labor-saving. Nor have discrimination (when unaided by the public sector), fluctuations in unemployment, or formal collusions resulted in systematic underpricing of labor services.
An Analytical Solution for Flexible Substrates Undergoing Small Equibiaxial Strains

Cells can distinguish between different types of mechanical signals, such as stretch (tension), pressure (compression), and shear, to guide mechanosensitive cellular activities. Cell culture systems with controlled delivery of a mechanical input such as substrate strain, hydrostatic pressure, or fluid shear stress are used for the in vitro application of these forces. The work reported here uses a system that imparts equibiaxial loading on a flexible substrate to study cell response to stretch, similar to the Bioflex in the Flexcell [1] family of products. The objective of this study is to introduce an analytical (closed-form) solution of the relationship between the substrate strain and pressure under small strains, less than 2%. The solution is derived from the superposition of two elastic responses induced in the equibiaxial strain culture system after applying pressure.© 2009 ASME
Stability of Reissner-Nordstrom black holes

Extending some previous work, we here consider the even-parity perturbations of the Reissner-Nordstr\"om family of black holes. Gauge-invariant functions of the gravitational and electromagnetic perturbations are defined in terms of the standard Regge-Wheeler expansion functions, and the coupled wave equations obeyed by these quantities are given. The wave equations are decoupled by a simple transformation, and the decoupled equations are shown to admit no unstable normal-mode solutions obeying the appropriate boundary conditions.
Decreased electromechanical activity of guinea pig circular muscle during pregnancy

Abstract Background: Delayed gastric emptying has been reported during pregnancy; however, its underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine if electromechanical activity of antral circular muscle is decreased during pregnancy. Methods: Antral muscle strips from third-trimester pregnant and age-matched control virgin female guinea pigs were studied in vitro. Results: Spontaneous and bethanechol-induced phasic antral contractions from pregnant guinea pigs were reduced significantly in force compared with control virgin animals. Although the resting membrane potentials were similar, the electric slow waves of pregnant animals displayed significant decreases in upstroke amplitude, plateau amplitude, and number of spikes during the plateau potential compared with control animals. The voltage-tension relationship was similar in pregnant and control animals. Conclusions: This study indicates that (1) the force of antral circular muscle contractions is decreased during pregnancy and (2) this decreased force is secondary to a diminished slow wave depolarization. The results suggest that a change in electromechanical activity of gastric muscle is a cause of altered gastric motility in pregnancy.
Nitrogen-phosphorus detection and nitrogen chemiluminescence detection of volatile nitrosamines in water matrices: optimization and performance comparison.

Abstract Two nitrogen-specific detection methods, nitrogen–phosphorus detection (NPD) and nitrogen chemiluminescence detection (NCD), were investigated as low cost alternatives to mass spectrometry (MS) with chemical ionization (CI) for analysis of nitrosamines in aqueous samples. NCD showed greater sensitivity to N -nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and seven other volatile nitrosamines than did NPD. Instrument detection levels for NDMA were established at 2.6 μg/L and 4.0 μg/L in solvent with 3 μL splitless gas chromatograph (GC) injection for NCD and NPD, respectively. Using a dual-column confirmation method, both NCD and NPD compared favorably with CI-MS results for NDMA analysis in a variety of water sample types. For seven other nitrosamines, both detectors showed excellent accuracy in analyzing high concentrations (greater than 300 ng/L) in complex wastewater matrices, while the accuracy of spike recoveries of very low levels (less than 15 ng/L) in clean matrices varied for each nitrosamine and detection method.
Samarium versus aluminium Lewis acidity in a mixed alkyl carboxylate complex related to alkylaluminium activation in diene polymerization catalysis

[(C5Me5)2Sm(μ-O2CPh)]2 reacts with iBu3Al to form a mixed bridge samarium aluminium complex [(C5Me5)2Sm(μ-O2CPh)(μ-iBu)Al(iBu)2], that displays two different carboxylate orientations toward the metals in a single crystal.
Dominant Behavior and Weight Loss following Water Deprivation in Normal Rats and Rats Susceptible to Stomach Lesions

Several studies of rats susceptible to stomach lesions (2, 3 ) have indicated that such animals differ from normal animals on a number of behavioral and physiological variables. The following is a report of the findings with regard to a behavioral measure of dominance and relative weight loss in stomach lesionsusceptible and stock Sprague-Dawley animals following 24 hr. of water deprivation. METHOD Ss were selected from among 41 lesion-susceptible animals of the 6th generation (24 males and 17 females) and 34 Sprague-Dawley albino rats (28 males and 6 females), 60 to 85 days of age at the beginning of the study. Fourteen of the stomach lesion-susceptible animals (9 males and 5 females) were matched for sex and weight with 14 of the stock animals (9 males and 5 females). All animals were then deprived of water for 24 hr. All animals were again weighed after 24 hr. of water deprivation, and each pair of animals (one lesion-susceptible and one stock Sprague-Dawley, matched for initial weight and sex) was placed into a small cage similar to the home cages with a standard watering bottle on the door. Each pair of animals was left in the cage for 10 min. and a cumulative record was kept of the amount of time each animal controlled the water spout. Recording was done by means of two hand-operated electrical timers each of which had a sweep second hand reading to .01 sec. Prior ro being placed on the dominance test situation, animals in one group were marked with India ink for identification purposes.
The effects of colchicine on contractile proteins.

Abstract 1. 1. The possible mechanism of action of colchicine on dividing cells was tested by studying the effects of colchicine on the contractile proteins myosin, actomyosin, and actin. 2. 2. At a concentration of 1.0 mg/ml, colchicine had no inhibitory effect on the ATPase activity of actomyosin, either in solution in high salt medium, or in suspension in low salt medium. 3. 3. Likewise, colchicine had no effect on the ATPase activity of myosin in low salt medium, in contradiction to the findings of other workers. Some reasons for these differences in results are discussed. 4. 4. Colchicine inhibits the polymerization of actin. 5. 5. The relation of these findings to the studies of the mitotic spindle is examined.
Preventing lysosomal fat indigestion

Autophagy contributes to lipid catabolism through direct mobilization and breakdown of cellular lipid stores. Two recent studies reveal the regulatory mechanisms activated by cells during starvation to ensure that the cellular compartments involved in autophagic lipid catabolism are ready to receive, process and use these lipids. The regulators represent attractive therapeutic targets to help fight lipid-excess-associated diseases.
Determinants of a throwaway society – A sustainable consumption issue

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present a clearer understanding of how several key socio-economic variables impact municipal solid waste (MSW). Although the variables of interest arise from deeply entrenched micro-economic behaviors at the household level, the analysis can be extrapolated to the international level. Two of the variables, which are a time factor and a consumption discount rate, are empirically tested with an international dataset and have been found to be significant predictors of MSW per capita.
PHOSPHATE‐LIMITED GROWTH KINETICS OF SELENASTRUM CAPRICORNUTUM (CHLOROPHYCEAE)

Most theoretical studies of phytoplankton growth in aquatic environments assume that relative nutrient utilization abilities regulate species composition. The steady-state phosphate-limited growth kinetics of Selenastrum capricornutum Printz were examined using continuous cultures to characterize the green alga's ability to compete for orthophosphate (Pi) when Pi limits growth. The maximal specific growth rate for Selenastrum at 20 C was 1.20 day−1, and the concentration where half maximal growth rate occurs was 40 nM Pi. There was an apparent threshold of 10 nM Pi. Cell yields varied inversely with growth rate; thus ability to utilize Pi could not be characterized in terms of the Monod half-saturation constant and maximal growth rate. Instead, we computed the Pi affinity from steady-state flux vs. external Pi concentrations. This affinity was 2.8 l·mg dry wt−1· day−1 for Selenastrum. Kinetic evidence from this study suggests that Selenastrum will not be growth competitive with some other common aquatic heterotrophs and autotrophs when Pi limits microbial growth in lakes.
A Novel Inhibitor of Gamma-Aminobutyrate Aminotransferase with Anorectic Activity

: 1-(n-decyl)-3-Pyrazolidinone (BW357U) is a potent, selective inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABA-T) in vitro and in vivo. After acute or chronic, oral or intraperitoneal administration of BW357U to rats, brain GABA levels were elevated in a dose-dependent manner. When inhibition of brain GABA-T exceeded 50%, whole brain GABA levels were elevated approximately threefold, and an anorectic effect was observed in the absence of other symptoms. This compound, because of its potency and selectivity, may be useful in studies relating to the function of GABA-containing neurons in appetite regulation.
Recent applications of Monte Carlo methods for semiconductor microdevice simulation

Abstract Monte Carlo simulations for semiconductor devices are very time consuming. We have investigated ways to speed up calculations on supercomputers and a method to incorporate overshoot effects in simple drift-diffusion models for submicron devices, using coefficients obtained from Monte Carlo experiments. An Ensemble Monte Carlo algorithm, suitable for self-consistent device simulation, has been vectorized, and in preliminary runs three times faster on a CRAY X/MP 48 supercomputer. The inclusion of overshoot terms in a drift-diffusion simulation for a MESFET structure, shows that the main overshoot effects can be incorporated in a simple model suitable for circuit simulation. Increased problems in stability, however, reduce the efficiency of traditional finite difference schemes and require further refinement in the numerical methods.
User-centered modeling for spoken language and multimodal interfaces

By modeling difficult sources of linguistic variability in speech and language, we can design interfaces that transparently guide human input to match system processing capabilities. Such work will yield more user centered and robust interfaces for next generation spoken language and multimodal systems.
Division delay in sea urchin embryos induced by a specific protease inhibitor.

Abstract Continuous incubation of fertilized sea urchin ( L. pictus and S. purpuratus ) eggs in 10 −4 M l-chloro-3-tosylamido-7-amino-2-heptanone (TLCK), a specific inhibitor of trypsin and trypsinlike enzymes, results in a cumulative delay in the time of cell division. Compared with untreated eggs, TLCK-treated eggs require 10% more time to complete the second division and more than twice as much time to reach the prism stage. The TLCK-treated eggs also remain in metaphase longer, at least through the first two divisions. They do not differ morphologically from untreated eggs at the same division stage. The TLCK treatment has little direct effect upon incorporation of thymidine into a DNase-sensitive, TCA-insoluble fraction. Little or no division delay is elicited by l-tosylamido-2-phenylethyl-chloromethyl ketone, iodoacetic acid, soybean trypsin inhibitor, lima bean trypsin inhibitor, ovomucoid trypsin inhibitor and pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. The division delay is not due to inhibition of cortical granule proteases.
Temporal Coalescing on Window Extents over Data Streams

This paper focuses on the coalescing operator applied to the processing of continuous queries with temporal functions and predicates over windowed data streams. Coalescing is a key operation enabling the evaluation of interval predicates and functions on temporal tuples. Applying this operation for temporal query processing on windowed streams brings the challenge of coalescing tuples in a window extent each time the window slides over the data stream. This coalescing becomes even more involving when some tuples arrive out of order. This paper distinguishes between eager coalescing and lazy coalescing, the two known coalescing schemes. The former coalesces tuples during window extent update and the latter does it during window extent scan. With these two schemes, the paper first presents algorithms for updating a window extent for both tuple-based and time-based windows. Then, the problem of optimally selecting between eager and lazy coalescing for concurrent queries is formulated as a 0-1 integer programming problem. Through extensive performance study, the two schemes are compared and the optimal selection is demonstrated.
Results from a Four-Element Adaptive Antenna Experiment

Experimental results from a four-element, linear, half-wavelength spacing, adaptive-array antenna under the control of the least mean square (LMS) algorithm are presented. The array is found to be capable of nulling a 70-MHz signal to -35 dB below a desired signal over a 5-MHz bandwidth. The antenna processing gain is constant over a desired signal-to-jammer signal power ratio range from -20 dB to 5 dB. A sharp reduction in processing gain is observed for angular separations between jammer and desired signal of less than 10°. Antenna patterns taken with weights set in 300 iterations of the LMS algorithm show that the one strong, one weak jammer combination has a longer weight convergence time and reduced processing gain compared with a two strong jammers combination. Contours of constant desired signal-to-jammer signal power ratio, after adaptive antenna processing, reveal a complex shape for communication between air and ground due to the finite angular resolution of the adaptive antenna.
Theory of Wave Propagation Along a Thin Wire Parallel to An Interface

A solution is given for the boundary value problem of a wave propagating along a thin wire parallel to the interface between two homogeneous half-spaces. A general modal equation is derived for the propagation constant of the transmission current on the wire. It is shown how this result reduces to earlier known solutions obtained under more restrictive conditions.
Metabolic Rate in Female Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) : Age, Size, Activity, and Feeding Effects

We used flow-through respirometry on female mosquitoes to observe individual ventilatory pattern and to measure metabolic rate at rest, during activity and after a blood-meal. At rest, young adult females of the species Culex tarsalis ventilated cyclically with an average VCO2 of 65 nl/min and frequency of 45 mHz. Both resting metabolic rate and body mass of females increased between emergence and 4 d, but only body mass continued to increase until 12 d. Mating status had no effect on the body mass or resting metabolic rate of the females. Both lipid and carbohydrate stores strongly increased during the first week of adult life, in particular between emergence and 4 d, in which lipid mass increased 8.3-fold and carbohydrate mass increased 3.6-fold. Hourly metabolic rate after a blood or sugar meal was measured over a 6-d period in two groups of 14 females. Sugar-fed mosquitoes remained calm during the day and had nocturnal increases in metabolic rate associated with flight activity. Blood feeding elicited a specific dynamic action lasting ≈55 h, at the peak of which metabolic rate of the blood-fed females was twice that of the sugar-fed group. Eggs were laid on the third night. The increase in metabolic rate presumably reflected the cost of blood digestion and egg production. The females were not active during digestion, so that although their metabolic rate was increased, the overall energy expenditure of the blood-fed group was not very different from that of the sugar-fed group.
Synthesis of [m.n]Cyclophanes: Regiochemistry Transfer from Vinyl Halides to Cyclophanes via Fischer Carbene Complexes

The double benzannulation of bis-carbene complexes of chromium with a,w-diynes generates (m.n)cyclo- phanes in which all three rings are gen- erated in a single reaction. This triple annulation process is very flexible al- lowing for the construction of symmet- rical (n.n)cyclophanes and unsymmetri- cal (m.n)cyclophanes as well as isomers in which the two benzene rings are both meta bridged or both para bridg- ed, and isomers that contain both meta and para bridges. The connectivity pat- terns of the bridges in the cyclophanes can be controlled by regioselectivity transfer from the bis-vinyl carbene complexes in which the substitution pattern of the vinyl groups in the car- bene complexes dictate the connectivi- ty pattern in the (m.n)cyclophanes. This synthesis of (n.n)cyclophanes is quite flexible with regard to ring size and can be used with tether lengths ranging from n = 2t on = 16 and thus to ring sizes with up to 40 member rings. The only limitation to regioselectivity trans- fer from the carbene complexes to the (m.n)cyclophanes was found in the syn- thesis of para,para-cyclophanes with four carbon tethers for which the loss of fidelity occurred with the unexpect- ed formation of meta,para-cyclophanes.
Is the Acquisition Order of Grammatical Morphemes Impervious to L1 Knowledge? Evidence From the Acquisition of Plural ‐s, Articles, and Possessive ’s

In SLA, it has been often assumed that the effect of the first language (L1) is not very strong in the acquisition of grammatical morphemes (e.g., Ellis, 1994; Mitchell & Myles, 2004). However, such an assumption has not been systematically examined in the literature. This article reviews the morpheme studies conducted with native speakers of Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Spanish to test the effect of the L1 in the acquisition of grammatical morphemes. The review reveals that although Spanish L1 learners’ acquisition order generally conforms to the “so-called” natural order (Krashen, 1977), native speakers of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese mostly acquire plural –s and articles later than, and possessive ’s earlier than, is predicted by the natural order. This indicates that learners can acquire a grammatical morpheme later or earlier than predicted by the natural order, depending on the presence or absence of the equivalent category in their L1. This suggests that L1 transfer is much stronger than is portrayed in many SLA textbooks and that the role of L1 in morpheme acquisition must be reconsidered.
Performance-constrained Distributed DVS Scheduling for Scientific Applications on Power-aware Clusters

Left unchecked, the fundamental drive to increase peak performance using tens of thousands of power hungry components will lead to intolerable operating costs and failure rates. High-performance, power-aware distributed computing reduces power and energy consumption of distributed applications and systems without sacrificing performance. Generally, we use DVS (Dynamic Voltage Scaling) technology now available in high-performance microprocessors to reduce power consumption during parallel application runs when peak CPU performance is not necessary due to load imbalance, communication delays, etc. We propose distributed performance-directed DVS scheduling strategies for use in scalable power-aware HPC clusters. By varying scheduling granularity we can obtain significant energy savings without increasing execution time (36% for FT from NAS PB). We created a software framework to implement and evaluate our various techniques and show performance-directed scheduling consistently saves more energy (nearly 25% for several codes) than comparable approaches with less impact on execution time (< 5%). Additionally, we illustrate the use of energy-delay products to automatically select distributed DVS schedules that meet users needs.
Treating high-risk diabetic hypertensive patients with comorbid conditions.

Abstract Diabetes mellitus, a highly prevalent metabolic and vascular disease, affects 155 million people worldwide. Tight blood glucose control can significantly reduce the incidence of diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, but does not appear to significantly reduce its macrovascular complications. Several randomized clinical trials indicate that tight blood pressure control can reduce the risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes and hypertension. Blockade of the renin-angiotensin sytem (RAS) with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has proven effective both in lowering blood pressure and in independently slowing the progression of nephropathy. If instituted early, ACE inhibitor therapy potentially may prevent progression to end-stage renal disease in normotensive patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Additionally, ACE inhibitors may reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blockers (ARBs), which attenuate the deleterious effects of the RAS via blockade of the Ang II subtype 1 receptor, may also be beneficial. Clinical trials are under way to evaluate this possibility.
Simulink model for economic analysis and environmental impacts of a PV with diesel-battery system for remote villages

This paper discusses the economic analysis and environmental impacts of integrating a photovoltaic (PV) array into diesel-electric power systems for remote villages. MATLAB Simulink is used to match the load with the demand and apportion the electrical production between the PV and diesel-electric generator. The economic part of the model calculates the fuel consumed, the kilowatthours obtained per gallon of fuel supplied, and the total cost of fuel. The environmental part of the model calculates the CO/sub 2/, particulate matter (PM), and the NO/sub x/ emitted to the atmosphere. Simulations based on an actual system in the remote Alaskan community of Lime Village were performed for three cases: 1) diesel only; 2) diesel-battery; and 3) PV with diesel-battery using a one-year time period. The simulation results were utilized to calculate the energy payback, the simple payback time for the PV module, and the avoided costs of CO/sub 2/, NO/sub x/, and PM. Post-simulation analysis includes the comparison of results with those predicted by Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER). The life-cycle cost (LCC) and air emissions results of our Simulink model were comparable to those predicted by HOMER.
Online Adaptive Critic Flight Control

A nonlinear control system comprising a network of networks is taught by the use of a two-phase learning procedure realized through novel training techniques and an adaptive critic design. The neural network controller is trained algebraically, offline, by the observation that its gradients must equal corresponding linear gain matrices at chosen operating points. Online learning by a dual heuristic adaptive critic architecture optimizes performance incrementally over time by accounting for plant dynamics and nonlinear effects that are revealed during large, coupled motions. The method is implemented to control the six-degree-of-freedom simulation of a business jet aircraft over its full operating envelope. The result is a controller that improves its performance while unexpected conditions, such as unmodeled dynamics, parameter variations, and control failures, are experienced for the first time.
A CMOS Σ-Δ photodetector array for bioluminescence-based DNA sequencing

A fully-integrated photodetector array for long-read length bioluminescence-based DNA sequence-by-synthesis is implemented. Each pixel has 120dB photocurrent detection dynamic range and includes a 10fA–10nA pulse frequency modulation (PFM) background subtraction block and a 1st-order Σ-Δ modulator.
Impact of patient-doctor race concordance on rates of weight-related counseling in visits by black and white obese individuals.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of patient-provider race concordance on weight-related counseling among visits by obese patients. We hypothesized that race concordance would be positively associated with weight-related counseling. We used clinical encounter data obtained from the 2005–2007 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys (NAMCS). The sample size included 2,231 visits of black and white obese individuals (ages 20 and older) to their black and white physicians from the specialties of general/family practice and general internal medicine. Three outcome measures of weight-related counseling were explored: weight reduction, diet/nutrition, and exercise. Logistic regression was used to model the outcome variables of interest. Wald tests were used to statistically compare whether physicians of each race provided counseling at different rates for obese patients of different races. We did not observe a positive association between patient–physician race concordance and weight-related counseling. We found that visits by black obese patients to white doctors had a lower odds of exercise counseling as compared to visits by white obese patients to white doctors (odds ratio (OR) = 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31, 0.95), and visits by black obese patients to black physicians had lower odds of receiving weight-reduction counseling than visits among white obese patients seeing black physicians (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.90). Black obese patients receive less exercise counseling than white obese patients in visits to white physicians and may be less likely than white obese patients to receive weight-reduction counseling in visits to black physicians.
Structure of the Glomerular Capillaries of the Domestic Chicken and Desert Quail

The glomerular capillary architecture of nephrons that include a loop of Henle (looped) and those that lack the loop (loopless) nephrons was examined qualitatively and quantitatively by electron microscopy in Gallus gallus and Callipepla gambelii. The glomerular capillaries of looped nephrons form a dichotomously branched network, while those of loopless nephrons are arranged loosely, and the majority are unbranched. There was no significant difference in the diameter of the glomerular capillaries between looped and loopless nephrons; however, in all cases the diameter of the afferent arteriole was significantly larger than that of the efferent arteriole. Based on size alone, the predicted blood flow rate in the efferent arteriole is 20% that of the afferent arteriole in G. gallus and 7% that of the afferent arteriole in C. gambelii. There was no significant difference in the volume density (Vv) of the glomerular capillaries between looped and loopless nephrons. However, the surface area density (Sv) of the glomerular capillaries in loopless nephrons of C. gambelii was significantly larger than for the looped nephrons, and for the loopless nephrons in G. gallus. This suggests that there may be a decrease in blood flow rate along the glomerular capillaries of the loopless nephrons in C. gambelii. Overall, the results indicate that the avian glomerular capillaries are less complex than those of mammals. Reasons may be that either avian blood is more viscous than that of mammals or that avian erythrocytes may be unable to fit physically through a tight intertwining network of capillaries due to the presence of a nucleus, which limits the tank-treading ability of avian erythrocytes. o 1995 wiley-Liss, Inc
Diffuse, Multicentric Neurogenic Tumors in two Macerated Fetuses: A Possible Intrauterine form of Neurofibromatosis

Two tiny macerated fetuses with a remarkably similar pattern of multicentric neurogenic neoplasms of both paravertebral autonomic structures and peripheral nerves are described. Maceration precluded further histologic classification of the neoplasms in either fetus. The first fetus had a Meckel's diverticulum, short attachment of the small bowel mesentery, pulmonary hypoplasia, and intrauterine growth retardation. The second had the sympus bipus variant of sirenomelia sequence. The multicentric neoplasms in these two fetuses are very similar to those previously described in a few neonates and one stillborn with well-documented or suspected neurofibromatosis. It is reasonable to hypothesize that these two fetuses may represent an early intrauterine expression of neurofibromatosis characterized by multicentric neurogenic neoplasms of autonomic structures and peripheral nerves. Detailed examination of early abortuses, especially those from families with neurofibromatosis, may help to confirm or disprove the ...
On resolving the anomaly of indium-tin oxide silicon junctions

Experimental evidence is presented to resolve the anomalous rectifying behavior of indium-tin oxide (ITO)/silicon junctions. Previous work has demonstrated that the rectifying direction for this heterojunction depends on the method used to deposit the ITO. It is shown here that the cause for this is the existence of damaged surface layers in junctions subject to ion beam processing. Irrespective of the material deposited and irrespective of the doping type, ion-beam sputtering tends to cause the silicon band edges to bend downwards at the surface. It is for this reason that ion-beam deposited ITO gives a rectifying junction on p-Si and an ohmic contact on n-Si.
Creating reliability choice: How building less reliability into electric power grids could improve the welfare of all customers

Electric power grids are designed to attempt to provide the same basic level of reliability to all consumers. With consumers having non-uniform preferences for reliability, the provision of one level of reliability at the same price for all consumers forces many to pay for reliability that they value less than the cost. Load control technology can decrease these equity problems by increasing the reliability received by some consumers and decreasing the reliability received by the others. By replacing generation capacity, load control technology would increase the total number of kWhs shed annually, thereby decreasing the reliability provided by the electric power grid. Using simple examples, we show that if the cost of this load control technology is low relative to the cost of generation capacity, voluntary load shedding could increase the welfare of everyone on the grid by allowing consumers to choose their level of reliability.
Superfluous killing in spiders: a consequence of adaptation to food-limited environments?

The hypothesis that superfluous killing, partial consumption, and abandonment of prey is a consequence of adaptation to foodlimited environments was tested in two feeding trials on a desert spider, Agelenopsis aperta. First, we made comparisons among populations inhabiting sites of high prey (HP) or low prey (LP) availability that differed in their degree of genetic isolation. Typically, A. aperta entirely consumed one or two of the prey items it captured in a feeding bout. Additional prey were partially consumed or abandoned without eating. Spiders from the genetically isolated HP population, however, captured fewer prey and showed a higher incidence of full feeding on prey than did individuals from the other populations. Only one spider from this population captured a prey item that it failed to feed on, whereas spiders from LP populations failed to feed on high numbers of captured prey. The greatest variability in feeding behavior was exhibited in the HP population that experienced gene flow. The second test was based on the finding that aggressiveness is largely a sex-linked trait in A. aperta: the aggressiveness of the female parent only is inherited by male offspring, whereas both parents contribute to this trait in female offspring. All female F1 hybrids between LP and HP parental types exhibited high levels of superfluous killing, as did male F1 hybrids derived from LP females. F1 hybrid males derived from HP females exhibited extremely low levels of superfluous killing. Superfluous killing thus has its basis in the genetic control of levels of aggression.
Long-Term Acquisition Strategies in the U.S. Economy

There is evidence suggesting,that acquisitive firms do not use consistent long-term acquisition strategies. Yet the research of strategic management academicians suggest that such strategies should be beneficial. As such, this study attempts to determine if acquisitive firms exhibit, by their externally observable patterns of behavior, evidence of pursuing consistent long-term acquisition strategies. If so, this study also attempts to determine the nature of these strategies, how common they are in the U.S. economy, and if consistent strategies are associated with superior performance. Results show that the majority of acquisitive firms do appear to follow acquisition strategies which are consistent over time. In fact, approximately one-half of the studied firms followed one of two highly consistent strategies. Finally, though the consistency of afirm's acquisition strategy wasfound not to be associated with better performance, strategies that evidenced "strategic fit" did show superior profitability.
Overlap of autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis: an evaluation of a modified scoring system

Abstract Background/Aim: Recently, the scoring system for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was modified by the International AIH Group. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of AIH in patients with cholangiographically proven primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) using this new scoring system. Methods: A total of 211 PSC patients were evaluated. Results: Three (1.4%) patients scored more than 15 points ('definite' AIH); 13 (6%) patients scored between 10 and 15 points ('probable' AIH); the remaining 195 (93%) patients had less than 10 points, allowing the exclusion of AIH. The separation of patients with PSC plus AIH from patients with PSC alone was based mostly on serum levels of total globulins ( p =0.01), IgG ( p =0.001), titers of autoantibodies ( p p Conclusions: Overlap of PSC and AIH occurs rarely. The new scoring system seems to more precisely define the potential overlap syndrome between PSC and AIH, although further modification of the new scoring system may provide even better discrimination among these conditions.
The Genetics of Ray Pattern Variation in Caenorhabditis briggsae

How does intraspecific variation relate to macroevolutionary change in morphology? This question can be addressed in species in which derived characters are present but not fixed. In rhabditid nematodes, the arrangement of the nine bilateral pairs of peripheral sense organs (rays) in tails of males is often the most highly divergent character between species. The development of ray pattern involves inputs from hometic gene expression patterns, TGFβ signalling, Wnt signalling, and other genetic pathways. In Caenorhabditis briggsae, strain-specific variation in ray pattern has provided an entree into the evolution of ray pattern. Some strains were fixed for a derived pattern. Other strains were more plastic and exhibited derived and ancestral patterns at equal frequencies. Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) constructed from crosses between the variant C. briggsae AF16 and HK104 strains exhibited a wide range of phenotypes including some that were more extreme than either parental strain. Transgressive segregation was significantly associated with allelic variation in the C. briggsae homolog of abdominal B, Cb-egl-5. At least two genes that affected different elements of ray pattern, ray position and ray fusion, were linked to a second gene, mip-1. Consistent with this, the segregation of ray position and ray fusion phenotypes were only partially correlated in the RILs. The evolution of ray pattern has involved allelic variation at multiple loci. Some of these loci impact the specification of ray identities and simultaneously affect multiple ray pattern elements. Others impact individual characters and are not constrained by covariance with other ray pattern elements. Among the genetic pathways that may be involved in ray pattern evolution is specification of anteroposterior positional information by homeotic genes.