cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of anion conducting polymer electrolyte membranes by Pd-Catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig Amination coupling reaction

Abstract A novel aryl bromine bearing polymer was synthesized by Friedel-Crafts polycondensation. This precursor polymer substrate was used for C–N coupling via Buchwald-Hartwig amination to incorporate 9 examples of aryl amines into the polymer chains with high conversions (80–100%). Two aminated polymers were subsequently quaternized to give anion conducting polymers. These quaternary ammonium polymers show promising electrochemical membrane property because of their ability to transport mobile anions through the material while being electrically insulating. Membrane characteristics crucial to high electrochemical performance including ion exchange capacity, anion conductivity, water uptake, swelling ratio, and alkaline stability were evaluated.
A Family of Compact Non-Volatile Flip-Flops With Ferroelectric FET

In this paper, we propose two ferroelectric FET (FEFET)-based non-volatile flip-flops (NVFFs). The proposed NVFFs can handle both controlled and automatic per-cycle backup to address sudden power failure. FE layer can be either positively polarized or negatively polarized. Depending on these polarization states, the FE layer can save either “1” or “0.” To depolarize (i.e., negatively polarize) the ferroelectric layer of an n-type FEFET, a negative gate-to-source voltage is needed, which introduces a challenge. We exploit data-dependent source voltage control to achieve both polarization and depolarization. The proposed NVFFs (NVFF-1 and NVFF-2) can store data every cycle, which is necessary for energy-harvesting applications and devices with an unreliable power source. We also present a modified version of NVFF-2 (NVFF-2a) that can backup data in a controlled fashion and facilitate low-voltage normal mode operation. The proposed circuits introduce only three-to-four additional transistors in the design, which offer a lower area-overhead than contemporary standard FEFET-based NVFFs. Moreover, the FEFET-based NVFFs offer low energy (in the order of fJ) and delay (in the order of tens of ps) behavior, which is advantageous in energy-harvesting non-volatile processors.
The Role of Platelet Adhesion Receptor GPIb α Far Exceeds That of Its Main Ligand von Willebrand Factor in Arterial Thrombosis.

GPIbα binding to von Willebrand factor (VWF) exposed at a site of vascular injury is thought to be the first step in the formation of a hemostatic plug. However, our previous studies in VWF-deficient mice demonstrated delayed but not absent arterial thrombus formation suggesting that, under these conditions, GPIbα may bind other ligands or that a receptor other than GPIbα can mediate platelet adhesion. Here we studied thrombus formation in transgenic mice expressing GPIbα in which the extracellular domain was replaced by that of the human interleukin-4 receptor (IL4Rα/GPIbα-tg mice). Platelet adhesion to ferric chloride-treated mesenteric arterioles in IL4Rα/GPIbα-tg mice was virtually absent in contrast to avid adhesion in wild-type (WT) mice. As a consequence, arterial thrombus formation was completely inhibited in the mutant mice. Our studies further show that, when infused into WT recipient mice, IL4Rα/GPIbα-tg platelets or WT platelets lacking the 45 kD N-terminal domain of GPIbα failed to incorporate into growing arterial thrombi, even if the platelets were activated prior to infusion. Surprisingly, platelets lacking β3 integrins, which are unable to form thrombi on their own, incorporated efficiently into WT thrombi. Our studies provide in vivo evidence that GPIbα is absolutely required for recruitment of platelets to both exposed subendothelium and thrombi under arterial flow conditions. Thus, GPIbα contributes to arterial thrombosis by important adhesion mechanisms independent of the binding to VWF.
CRISIS INTERVENTION IN THE WORK OF SOCIAL AND LEGAL PROTECTION AND CURATION IN SLOVAKIA. AN ANALYSIS OF TARGET GROUPS AND METHODS

The terms crisis and crisis intervention are a very large issue in this paper, we focused on social curators and field social workers working at the Department of Social and Legal Protection of Children and Social Guard in the Slovak Republic, their perception and use of crisis intervention methods in practice. As amended by Act no. 305/2005 Coll. on Social and Legal Protection of Children, a Social Curator is from the Central Office of Labor, Social Affairs and Family and the Offices of Labor, Social Affairs and Family, Center for International Legal Protection of Children and Youth, Municipality, Higher Territorial Unit, Legal Entity or Individual. These implements measures of social and legal protection of children and social guardianship and are obliged to ensure that rights are not endangered or violated. The right of this intervention is precisely the position of crisis intervention in this legislative system.
Mating behavior in halictine bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae): III. Copulatory behavior and olfactory communication

Of the eight species of halictine bees whose mating behavior was studied,Augochlora pura (Augochlorini) andLasioglossum zephyrum (Halictini) were investigated in the greatest detail. Halictine bees have a short, simple courtship. Copulation occurs in the male-above position and its duration, 4 to about 340 seconds, varies significantly among species. Females resisted most mating attempts of males and usually mated only once. Males inseminated more than one female. Males discriminated between conspecific females and those of other species; they did not make significantly more contacts with living, mobile females than with immobile ones killed by freezing. Female odors ofL. zephyrum andA. pura include aphrodisiacs; at least the former has a sex attractant which may be the same compound as the aphrodisiac. Virgin females ofL. zephyrum 2 to 8 days old produce aphrodisiac; it may be present throughout life. Some halictine females were highly attractive to males for up to 15 days, even after the females had mated. Aphrodisiac caused males ofL. zephyrum andA. pura to pounce upon 3 mm black India ink dots, which they probably mistook for females. Heads, mesosomas, and metasomas of females ofL. zephyrum all bore aphrodisiac.
Metrics for Evaluating the Efficiency of Compressing Sensing Techniques

Compressive sensing has been receiving a great deal of interest from researchers in many areas because of its ability in speeding up data acquisition. This framework allows fast signal acquisition and compression when signals are sparse in some domains. It extracts the main information from high dimensional sparse signals using only a few samples, then the sparse signals are recovered from the few measurements. There are two main points to consider when it comes to using compressive sensing. The first one is how to design the linear measurement matrix to ensure that the compressive sensing is meeting the objectives of the application. The second is how to recover the sparse signal from few measurements. Performing compressive sensing requires analyzing and investigating the efficiency of the measurement matrix and the recovery algorithm. To date, constructing explicit measurement matrices and developing efficient recovery algorithms are still open challenges in applications. Thus, this paper describes metrics to evaluate the performance of compressive sensing techniques.
Myth and Reality in the U.S. Immigration Debate

"What part of illegal don’t you understand?" This oft-repeated slogan from immigration restrictionists illustrates the contentious quality of the immigration reform debate in the United States: a debate that has raged on unresolved since at least 1986 when our immigration system was last reformed. This impasse is due, in large part, to widespread misinformation about immigration. This short and accessible textbook takes a critical perspective on immigration law and policy, arguing that immigrant "illegality" is itself produced by law, with tremendous consequences for individuals and families. Across six chapters that examine the conceptual, historical, economic, global, legal, and racial dimensions of immigration to the United States, Prieto argues that illegal immigration is a problem of policy, not people. History and cutting-edge social science data guide an analysis of the actual, empirical impact of immigration on U.S. society. By debunking myths about immigration, the reader is invited to form their own opinion on the basis of fact and in light of the unequal treatment different immigrant groups have received since the nation’s founding. Myth and Reality in the U.S. Immigration Debate synthesizes key lessons from the fields of sociology, law and society, history, economics and critical race studies in a digestible and engaging format. This text will serve as an introduction to the study of immigration and a primer for those who wish to engage in a sober and compassionate conversation about immigrants and immigration in the United States.
Ligand binding to natural and modified human serum albumin.

Abstract This paper reports evaluation of ligand binding constants for unmodified or biotinylated HSA (HSAB) for two well-known HSA binding ligands, naproxen and bromocresol green. Results demonstrate differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a reliable quantitative method for straight-forward and rapid evaluation of ligand binding constants for HSA and modified derivatives. DSC measured the thermodynamic stability of free and ligand-bound HSA and HSAB at pH = 6.0, 7.4 and 8.0. DSC analysis provided a quantitative gauge of responses of HSA and HSAB thermodynamic stability to ligand binding. The influence of different levels of biotinylation of HSAB on ligand binding, and how ligand binding varied as a function of pH for these molecules was also examined. In the three pH environments, biotinylation increased stability of HSAB alone compared to free HSA at pH 7.4. Stabilities of free protein and ligand-bound complexes varied with pH in the order, pH = 6.0>7.4>8.0. Our analytical approach provided very accurate estimates for known binding constants of these ligands for HSA. Results revealed, for both ligands, extent of biotinylation of HSAB affected binding, reducing binding constants from three to 100-fold. DSC analysis was able to delineate inter-relationships between molecular structure and thermodynamic stability of HSA and HSAB bound by ligands; and their variations with pH.
Trojan penguins and isospin violation in hadronic B decays

Some rare hadronic decays of B mesons, such as B→πK, are sensitive to isospin-violating contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model. Although commonly referred to as electroweak penguins, such contributions can often arise through tree-level exchanges of heavy particles, or through strong-interaction loop diagrams. The Wilson coefficients of the corresponding electroweak penguin operators are calculated in a large class of New Physics models, and in many cases are found not to be suppressed with respect to the QCD penguin coefficients. Several tests for these effects using observables in B±→πK decays are discussed, and nontrivial bounds on the couplings of the various New Physics models are derived.
Examining Sexual Behavior Among U.S. Transgender Adolescents.

The health of transgender adolescents (i.e., those identifying with a gender other than their sex assigned at birth) is gaining attention from researchers, yet little work has examined normative se...
Systematic Literature Review on Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients with Epilepsy (1901)

Objective: A systematic literature review was completed to clarify the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in people with epilepsy. Background: People with epilepsy (PWE) face increased risk of disability, poor quality of life, stigma, and premature mortality. Mental illness is also disproportionately common among PWE, which complicates medical management. Despite the importance of considering psychiatric conditions in epilepsy, the reported rate of psychiatric comorbidities in PWE is highly variable. There is a clinical need to clarify the prevalence of mental illness in PWE, and to understand the factors associated with their occurrence. Design/Methods: We completed a systematic literature review of original research articles that reported the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities within a sample of PWE. Two researchers independently reviewed results from four electronic databases (Pubmed, PsycINFO, Ovid, and Cochrane) and finalized a list of 22 papers. The primary outcome extracted was the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities as a percentage of the total sample of PWE. These values were then pooled and analyzed. Results: PWE were found to have increased frequency of multiple psychiatric conditions compared to the general population. Depression and anxiety were most common among PWE, with rates of 28% and 26% respectively. Other reported co-morbidities included post-traumatic stress disorder (7.3%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (3.5%) schizophrenia (2.9%), bipolar disorder (1.7%), and substance abuse (7.9%) abuse. Suicidality was also increased among PWE, with high rates of suicidal behavior (9.3%) reported in two studies. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that PWE are at increased risk of psychiatric comorbidities. However, future research is needed to study the relationship between epilepsy and psychotic disorders for which fewer studies report prevalence of comorbidity. Further analysis is needed to correlate psychiatric comorbidity with harmful behavior, seizure severity, and quality of life in PWE. Disclosure: Dr. Lu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pyatka has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sajatovic has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Bracket, Otsuka, Sunovion, Neurocrine, Supernus, Health Analytics. Dr. Sajatovic has received royalty, license fees, or contractual rights payments from Springer Press, Johns Hopkins University Press, Oxford Press, UpToDate. Dr. Sajatovic has received research support from Otsuka, Merck, Alkermes, Janssen,.
Predictive Modeling of Sports-Related Concussions using Clinical Assessment Metrics

Concussions represent a growing health concern that are challenging to diagnose and manage. Roughly four million concussions are diagnosed every year in the United States. While research in machine learning applications for concussions has focused on using advanced metrics such neuroimaging techniques and blood biomarkers, these metrics are yet to be implemented at a clinical level due to cost and reliability concerns. Therefore, concussion diagnosis is still reliant on clinical evaluations of symptoms, balance, and neurocognitive status and function. The lack of a universal threshold on these assessments makes the diagnosis process reliant on a physician’s interpretation of these assessment scores. This study aims to explore the use of machine learning techniques to aid the concussion diagnosis process. These models could provide an automated means to flag concussed patients even before being seen by a doctor as well as expand the scope of concussion diagnosis to remote locations and areas with limited access to doctors.
Operation modes for partially failed vanadium redox battery (VRB) energy storage systems

This paper focuses on riding through cases when a VRB system is partially failed.A comprehensive experimental study and a theoretical analysis have been performed on such a case.Several failure situations have been considered and two operation modes are put forward to respond to the failure including the use of lower rated power and times rated power.The results indicate that two modes of operation for dealing with the VRB partial failure create no significant effect on VRB energy storage system efficiency,and hence providing a way to improve the reliability of VRB energy storage systems under emergency conditions.
Do private pensions increase national savings

Abstract This paper discusses how private pension programs differ from public social security in their likely impact on aggregate saving. Although private pensions are likely to reduce direct saving by employees, this should be offset by the combination of companies' partial funding and the shareholders response to unfunded liabilities. In contrast to several earlier empirical studies that implied that social security does depress national saving, the current time series evidence suggests that the growth of private pensions has not had an adverse effect on saving and may have increased saving by a small amount.
Effects of particle size, ash content, and processing pressure on the bioavailability of phosphorus in meat and bone meal for swine.

Meat and bone meal (MBM), when supplemented with tryptophan, is an excellent protein source for pigs. It is also a rich source of Ca and P, but some research has suggested that the bioavailability of P is variable. Three experiments were conducted to determine whether particle size, ash content, or processing pressure of MBM influences the bioavailability of P. Each experiment involved six replications of six treatments with individually penned pigs initially averaging 13 to 17 kg of BW. A low-P basal diet was fed with or without 0.1 or 0.2% added P (as-fed basis) from monosodium phosphate (MSP) or with three types of MBM added at levels that supplied 0.2% P (as-fed basis). The Ca level was 0.70%, and the lysine level was 0.95% in all diets. Pigs were allowed to consume their diets (meal form) on an ad libitum basis. At the end of the study, pigs were killed, and femurs and third and fourth metacarpals and metatarsals were removed for determination of breaking strength and ash content. Bone traits were regressed on added P intake for each P source, and slope-ratio procedures were used to estimate the bioavailability of P in MBM relative to that in MSP. In Exp. 1, a blended source of MBM ground to three particle sizes (amount that passed through 6-, 8-, or 12-mesh screens) was evaluated. In Exp. 2, low-ash MBM of porcine origin, high-ash MBM of bovine origin, and a 1:1 blend of the two sources were assessed. In Exp. 3, normally processed MBM was subjected to an additional 2.1 and 4.2 kg/cm 2 of pressure for 20 min to determine whether excessive heat treatment would influence the bioavailability of P. Fineness of grind of MBM or processing pressure did not influence the relative bioavailability of P in this study; however, ash content of MBM affected P bioavailability. The relative availability of P in low-ash MBM of porcine origin (with composition typical of meat meal) was approximately 15 percentage units less than that in high-ash MBM of bovine origin. Overall, the bioavailability of P in MBM, relative to that in MSP, averaged 85%.
25-Hydroxydihydrotachysterol3 BIOSYNTHESIS IN VIVO AND IN VITRO

Abstract [1,2-3H]Dihydrotachysterol3, specific activity 350 Ci per mole, was chemically synthesized from [1,2-3H]5-cholestene-3β-yl benzoate. The structural assignment and radiochemical purity were confirmed by ultraviolet spectrum and cochromatography with crystalline dihydrotachysterol3. The metabolism of an intravenous dose of 0.65 nmole of [1,2-3H] dihydrotachysterol3 in vitamin D-deficient rats was studied by chromatographing CHCl3-MeOH extracts of serum on Sephadex LH-20. The major polar metabolite of dihydrotachysterol3 was isolated and identified as 25-hydroxydihydrotachysterol3 by cochromatography with synthetic 25-hydroxydihydrotachysterol3. In vitro biosynthesis of 25-hydroxydihydrotachysterol3 from dihydrotachysterol3 was demonstrated in a liver homogenate system previously described for the 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3.
Leaf senescence: gene expression and regulation.

Each autumn leaf senescence leaves its mark on the planet in the form of dramatic changes in color that can be seen from space. Annually, leaf senescence mediates the breakdown of 300 million tons of chlorophyll while changing green forests and fields to yellow and orange (1). The drama of these color changes is matched by the dramatic nature of the cellular events that underlie them. In 1961, Leopold (2) described leaf senescence as “distinctive changes in morphology, pigmentation, and internal nutrition of the plant” with “positive ecological or physiological value.” The benefit to the plant is the reclamation of nitrogen and other nutrients from leaves that have reached the end of their photosynthetic productivity. This reclamation entails the breakdown of the chloroplasts, the conversion of breakdown products into translocatable molecules and the movement of those molecules from the senescing leaf to growing regions of the plant, including the younger leaves and developing fruits. Together, these events are known as the “senescence syndrome.” Currently, numerous laboratories are expanding the definition of the senescence syndrome to encompass the molecular and genetic components of this important process. Leaf senescence is now understood to be a nuclear-regulated, developmental pathway facilitating the recovery of nutrients from spent leaves.
Interparental Relationship Sensitivity Leads to Adolescent Internalizing Problems: Different Genotypes, Different Pathways.

An extensive record of research documents that interparental conflict markedly disrupts child and adolescent development (Buehler et al., 1997; Cummings & Davies, 1994; Emery, 1982). Recent research on risk mechanisms has provided important insight and revealed meaningful heterogeneity regarding child and adolescent adjustment problems associated with interparental conflict (e.g., Davies & Cummings, 1994; Davies & Sturge-Apple, 2007; Fosco, DeBoard, & Grych, 2007; Grych & Fincham, 1990; Grych, Jouriles, Swank, McDonald, & Norwood, 2000). Germane to this work is an emergent developmental theory that has shown much promise for explicating for whom parenting and parenting processes affect children. In the general sense, differential susceptibility theory (DST; Belsky & Pluess, 2009; Boyce & Ellis, 2005; Ellis, Boyce, Belsky, Bakermans-Kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, 2011) posits heterogeneity in environmental sensitivity based on intrapersonal characteristics. More specifically, the perspective contends that child characteristics related to increased risk for maladjustment when exposed to harsh, unsupportive environments can also lead to exceptional positive adjustment when exposed to more supportive circumstances. Developed to complement DST, the vantage sensitivity perspective (Pluess & Belsky, 2013) emphasizes that some intrapersonal characteristics dispose greater sensitivity to specifically positive aspects of the environment relative to negative. These perspectives, as well as others (e.g., Davies, Martin, & Cicchetti, 2012), emphasize the importance of considering both positive and negative aspects of interparental relationships to understand their unique implications for adolescent maladjustment. In the current study, we applied DST and its vantage sensitivity complement to prevailing perspectives on interparental conflict that place adolescent evaluations as the key link between parental acrimony and adolescent maladjustment (Davies & Cummings, 1994; Grych & Fincham, 1990). Specifically, we examined whether variation in the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene is related to variation in sensitivity to both negative (conflict) as well as positive (positivity) dimensions of interparental relations. Below, we provide an overview of the research that links interparental conflict, adolescent evaluations, and adjustment. We then describe the implications of DST for this research.
Banking Crises and the Effect of Political Checks and Balances on Special Interest Influence

This paper develops and tests a model of the effect of political checks and balances on the incentives of elected veto players to cater to special interests. A larger number of veto players reduces political incentives to make deals with special interests, but the effect is declining in the rents available from such deals. Evidence from country responses to banking crises supports these conclusions: governments make smaller fiscal transfers to the financial sector and are less likely to exercise forbearance in dealing with insolvent financial institutions the larger the number of political veto players, conditional on the value of rents at stake. This simple explanation for special interest influence is robust to controls for more subtle institutional effects that are prominent in the literature, including the competitiveness of elections, regime type (presidential versus parliamentary) and electoral rules (majoritarian versus proportional).
Advanced imaging and detection R&D in the Center for Biophotonics

I will describe some of the activities taking place in our National Science Foundation-sponsored Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology. The mission of this center is the application of photonics to the grand challenges of biosciences and medicine. Some examples of these challenges include imaging of single biomolecules within living cells and development of non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices. Our Center currently sponsors 20 different research projects that involve interdisciplinary researchers from 10 different collaborating institutions. These institutions are UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, Stanford University, Mills College, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UT San Antonio, Hampton University, Alabama A&M University, Fisk University as well as UC Davis. Projects focus on developing new technologies for imaging from the whole organism to the single molecule levels. These technologies include bioluminescence, non-linear optical, X-ray laser and free-electron laser microscopy. We are also developing optical sensors that can be used for monitoring the biochemistry of living cells as well as detecting diseases at the level of single molecule sensitivity. Of particular emphasis is our work on portable monitors for infectious biologic agents. We likewise are developing new medical device technologies based on photo-activated materials, laser fluorescence as well as scattering and absorption spectroscopy. I will also discuss our industry partnership programs as well as opportunities for new collaborations and partnering.
Outcomes of Endovascular Mechanical Thrombectomy and Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator for the Treatment of Vertebrobasilar Stroke

b Neurology, and c Background and PurposezzAggressive treatment of posterior-circulation occlusions is im- portant due to the high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with these infarctions. A large administrative database was evaluated to determine the outcomes of mechanical throm- bectomy and intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) for the treatment of posterior- circulation (vertebrobasilar) strokes. Outcomes were compared across age groups. MethodszzThe United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to evaluate the outcomes of patients treated for posterior-circulation acute ischemic stroke between 2006 and 2010. Pa- tients who underwent endovascular mechanical thrombectomy and IV-tPA were selected. Pri- mary outcomes were discharge status and mortality; secondary outcomes were length of stay, rate of intracranial hemorrhage, tracheostomy, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jeju- nostomy tube placement. Outcomes were grouped according to age (i.e., <50, 50-64, and ≥65 years). Chi-squared test and Student's t-test were used for comparisons of categorical and con- tinuous variables, respectively. ResultszzDuring 2006-2010 there were 36,675 patients who had discharge International Clas- sification of Diseases (9th edition) codes indicating posterior-circulation strokes. Of these, 631 (1.7%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy and 1554 (4.2%) underwent IV-tPA. The in-hos- pital mortality rate for mechanical thrombectomy patients was significantly lower for those aged <50 years than for those aged 50-64 years (30.4% versus 47.4%, p<0.01) and those aged ≥65 years (30.4% versus 43.0%, p≤0.01). Age had no effect on the in-hospital mortality for IV- tPA patients, with an incidence of 22.7% for patients aged <50 years, compared to 25.4% for patients aged 50-64 years (p=0.46) and 23.0% for patients aged ≥65 years (p=0.92). ConclusionszzPatients requiring IV-tPA and/or mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of posterior-circulation strokes suffer from high mortality rates. Increased age is associated with significantly higher mortality rates among posterior-circulation stroke patients who require me- chanical thrombectomy. J Clin Neurol 2014;10:17-23 Key Wordszz stroke, brain infarction, posterior circulation, endovascular techniques, tissue-type plasminogen activator.
Spatial and Temporal Statistics

DONALD R. NIELSEN and OLE WENDROTH. GeoEcology textbook. Catena Verlag GMBH. Reiskirchen, Germany. 2003. 416 pp. $50.00 ISBN 1-59326-259-0. This textbook is a compendium of soil statistical analysis methods that are not available or combined in other works. There are 12 chapters, including a
Restructuring and privatizing electricity industries in the commonwealth of independent states

Abstract This paper discusses the problems of restructuring electric power sectors in the countries of the commonwealth of independent states (CIS), and examines in detail electric utility privatization in Armenia. Privatization of electric power is expected to provide needed foreign investment, increase efficiency, and rationalize resource allocation. Progress in utility commercialization, and industry and market restructuring in the CIS is compared with that in Central and Eastern Europe. This paper presents the argument that throughout the CIS, little progress has been made because the investment needs of the electricity industry are not great compared with the strategic and political benefits that can be had by not privatizing, and because the political and strategic dimensions of electrical power in the region create large risks for potential investors. Risk of investment is amplified by the large amount of spare generating capacity and continuing operation of significant government-operated capacity. Armenia is found to provide a striking example of conditions and trends in the CIS countries. Prospects for the future of restructuring are considered and specific measures that could be taken to improve those prospects are suggested.
Correlative dynamic contrast MRI and microscopic assessments of tumor vascularity in RIP-Tag2 transgenic mice.

The purpose of this study was to define the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to estimate the vascular density and leakiness of spontaneous islet cell tumors in RIP-Tag2 transgenic mice. Dynamic T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) imaging at 2.0 T was performed in 17 RIP-Tag2 mice using a prototype blood pool macromolecular contrast medium (MMCM), albumin-(Gd-DTPA)35. Kinetic analysis of the dynamic enhancement responses based on a two-compartment model was used to estimate fractional plasma volume (fPV) and the coefficient of endothelial permeability (KPS) for each tumor. The MRI estimate of fPV was correlated on a tumor-by-tumor basis with corresponding microscopic measurements of vascular density. The fPV assays by MMCM-enhanced imaging ranged from 2.4%–14.1% of tissue volume. Individual tumor fPV values correlated significantly (r = 0.79, P < 0.001) with the corresponding microscopic estimates of vascularity consisting of the combined area densities of lectin-perfused microvessels plus erythrocyte-stained blood lakes. A biotinylated derivative of the albumin-based MMCM confirmed extravasation of the contrast agent from some tumor blood vessels and accumulation in 25% of blood lakes. The KPS values ranged from 0 (no detectable leak) to 0.356 mL/min/100 cm3. Dynamic MMCM-enhanced MRI is feasible in RIP-Tag2 pancreatic tumors, yielding estimates of vascular permeability and microscopically validated measurements of vascular richness. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Elevated activities of blood group Le gene dependent α(1 → 3)-l-fucosyltransferase in human saliva of Lewis negative patients with epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract Levels of α(1 → 3)- l -fucosyltransferase activities were measured in salivas of patients with ovarian cancer. GDP- l -Fuc : GlcNAc α(1 → 3)-fucosyltransferase was found elevated in patients known to have epithelial ovarian cancer, irrespective of their ABH and Lewis blood group phenotypes. GDP- l -Fuc : Glc α(1 → 3)-fucosyltransferase was also elevated in both Lewis positive and negative patients, although the enzyme activity was very low or absent in Lewis negative healthy controls.
Turbulent motion, mixing, and kinetics in a chemical reactor configuration

The nature of turbulence and mixing in a reactor used by Toor for kinetic studies was investigated in detail. Simple empirical methods were useful for estimating the decay of the scalar fluctuations. An equation, based on continuity, was used with measured velocities and an improved procedure at the inlet to calculate results that agree well with the kinetic data.
Dual-processor controller with vehicle suspension applications

A dual-processor controller suitable for computation-intensive control and signal-processing algorithms is described. The controller is built around a general-purpose microcontroller and a digital signal processor (DSP). The main goal of the design is efficient computation of mathematically oriented algorithms with the ability to interface with sensors and actuators. The effectiveness of controllers incorporating DSP chips is demonstrated with two applications of suspension-sensor data frequency-domain analysis and state estimation of a quarter-car suspension test rig. >
Comparison of gastric intramucosal pH and standard perfusional measurements in pediatric septic shock

Objective: To examine the utility of gastric tonometry as an early indicator of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients with septic shock. Design: Prospective clinical study. Setting: Multidisciplinary pediatric ICU. Patients: Eight critically ill pediatric patients with septic shock and with pulmonary artery and gastric tonometry catheters in place. Interventions: Standard perfusional data including cardiac index, oxygen content (arterial, mixed venous), oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, urine output, capillary refill, and lactate value were measured every 4 h. Intramucosal pH (pHi) was calculated from simultaneous tonometric measurements of gastric intramucosal Pco 2 (Pico 2 ). Mean pHi values were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. Tonometric data were compared with standard perfusional data by regression analysis. Low pHi values ( Measurements and main results: Sets (n=108) of paired data were collected from § patients (age 7 to 168 months) representing 4 deaths. The mean pHi in nonsurvivors (7.32 ± 0.18) was significantly lower than that in survivors (7.48 ± 0.07). Both pHi and Pico 2 were correlated with urine output by regression analysis. The pHi, but not Pico 2 correlated with extraction ratio and lactate level. There were no other significant correlations noted. Analysis of the ability of pHi values to predict adverse clinical events revealed that pHi less than 7.35 accurately predicted 26 of 39 concurrent or subsequent adverse clinical events. However, 24 of 50 pHi values less than 7.35 showed no association with similar adverse events, either concurrent or subsequent. The pHi had a sensitivity of 67%, a specificity of 74%, a positive predictive value of 52%, and an efficiency of 72% in predicting these adverse events. Conclusion: Use of gastric tonometry in pediatric septic shock patients appears to distinguish survivors from nonsurvivors. However, in general, tonometric assessment of splanchnic perfusion correlates poorly with standard clinical, hemodynamic, oxygen transport, or metabolic measurements of perfusion. Low pHi measurements are not predictive of concurrent or subsequent adverse clinical events.
Remarks on the cobordism group of surface diffeomorphisms

In this note we sketch our computation of the group A 2 of cobordism classes of orientation-preserving diffeomorphisms of closed, oriented surfaces. See Sect. 2 for precise definitions. This computation was made independently and a little earlier by Bonahon [2]. Our development follows in part the same lines, extending approaches to related questions by Scharleman [13] and Johannson and Johnson [10], who were the first to apply the characteristic manifold theory of Johannson [8] and Jaco and Shalen [7] to questions about surface diffeomorphisms. Bonahon's approach depends crucially on the Mostow Rigidity Theorem and the unpublished and as yet inaccessible Hyperbolization Theorem of Thurston. In contrast, we get by with the G-Signature Theorem (in dimension two, a classical formula) and some number theory. For this reason we have belatedly decided to publish our own approach. Our main contribution is a proof, independent of deep three-dimensional geometry, that an orientation-preserving periodic surface diffeomorphism which bounds as a diffeomorphism also bounds periodically. Cf. I-2 ; Proposition B]. The proof is given in Sect. 3. In Sect. 2 we develop the proof of the main calculation, modulo the analysis of periodic diffeomorphisms deferred to Sect. 3.
Costs of education in India

Abstract An attempt is made in this paper to present an empirical analysis of costs of education in India. Besides making his own fresh analysis in this paper, the author draws on the studies conducted and estimates made earlier by the author himself and by others on costs and related aspects of education in India, on the basis of which certain valuable inferences, conclusions and policy implications relating to a variety of dimensions of the problem are made, such as importance of costs in educational planning, the complementary role between private and institutional costs, the nature of production process in the educational system, regional variations in the costs of education, the relationship between cost of education and economic development, etc. The paper ends with a few major suggestions on the problem.
Discovery of novel triple helical DNA intercalators by an integrated virtual and actual screening platform

Virtual Screening is an increasingly attractive way to discover new small molecules with potential medicinal value. We introduce a novel strategy that integrates use of the molecular docking software Surflex with experimental validation by the method of competition dialysis. This integrated approach was used to identify ligands that selectively bind to the triplex DNA poly(dA)-[poly(dT)](2). A library containing approximately 2 million ligands was virtually screened to identify compounds with chemical and structural similarity to a known triplex intercalator, the napthylquinoline MHQ-12. Further molecular docking studies using compounds with high structural similarity resulted in two compounds that were then demonstrated by competition dialysis to have a superior affinity and selectivity for the triplex nucleic acid than MHQ-12. One of the compounds has a different chemical backbone than MHQ-12, which demonstrates the ability of this strategy to 'scaffold hop' and to identify small molecules with novel binding properties. Biophysical characterization of these compounds by circular dichroism and thermal denaturation studies confirmed their binding mode and selectivity. These studies provide a proof-of-principle for our integrated screening strategy, and suggest that this platform may be extended to discover new compounds that target therapeutically relevant nucleic acid morphologies.
Quinone restoration of coupled phosphorylation in Mycobacterium phlei.

Abstract The restoration of coupled phosphorylation in light-inactivated extracts of Mycobacterium phlei by various quinones has been investigated with different substrates as electron donors. Of particular interest was the finding that the cis isomer of vitamin K 1 was able to restore only oxidation to light-inactivated extracts while the corresponding trans isomer was able to restore both oxidation and phosphorylation. The ability of various quinones to restore oxidation and phosphorylation was found to be dependent on the substrate employed. For example, using pyruvate as a substrate phosphorylation was observed even in the presence of KCN which along with other evidence indicated that pyruvate supports a substrate level phosphorylation before entering the respiratory chain. In addition spectrophotometric evidence was obtained which helped to determine the restored path of electron flow associated with various quinones. Quinones which structurally resemble vitamin K 1 were found to restore electron transport, by the same pathway as the natural M. phlei quinone, while other quinones were shown to restore oxidation via respiratory bypasses.
Evolution of a semilinear parabolic system for migration and selection in population genetics

Abstract The semilinear parabolic system that describes the evolution of the gene frequencies in the diffusion approximation for migration and selection at a multiallelic locus is investigated. The population occupies a finite habitat of arbitrary dimensionality and shape (i.e., a bounded, open domain in Rd). The selection coefficients depend on position and may depend on the gene frequencies; the drift and diffusion coefficients may depend on position. Sufficient conditions are given for the global loss of an allele and for its protection from loss. A sufficient condition for the existence of at least one internal equilibrium is also offered, and the profile of any internal equilibrium in the zero-migration limit is obtained.
The Effect of Combining Monaural Cues to Distance

The degree to which distance can be perceived depends on combinations of distance cues that are inherently ambiguous in isolation. Previous research on combining distance cues has focused on static monocular cues and has shown an additive relation. The present experiment was designed to examine how people integrate monaural cues (loudness, delay of reception from initiation, and frequency attenuation) to perceive distance. Monaural distance information was presented to participants using desktop computers and headphones. A general linear model (GLM) analysis revealed that monaural cues, much like visual cues, are combined linearly to form a percept of distance, but with greater weighting given to loudness. Thus, designers of spatial displays that might be used in conditions of poor visibility could supply auditory cues for distance information. Additionally, this paper could be seen as a step along the way in understanding how people integrate multiple sources of information to perceive distance.
A High-Resolution 3D Separated-Local-Field Experiment by Means of Magic-Angle Turning

A 3D separated-local-field (SLF) experiment based on the 2D PHORMAT technique is described. In the 3D experiment, the conventional 2D SLF powder pattern for each chemically inequivalent carbon is separated according to their different isotropic chemical shifts. The dipolar coupling constant of a C-H pair, hence the bond distance, and the relative orientation of the chemical-shift tensor to the C-H vector can all be determined for the protonated carbons with a single measurement. As the sample turns at only about 30 Hz in a MAT experiment, the SLF patterns obtained approach those of a stationary sample, and an accuracy in the measurement similar to that obtained on a stationary sample is expected. The technique is demonstrated on 2,6-dimethoxynaphthalene, where the 13 C-1 H separated-local-field powder patterns for the six chemically inequivalent carbons are clearly identified and measured. The observed dipolar coupling for the methoxy carbon is effectively reduced by the fast rotation of the group about its C3 symmetry axis. The average angle between the C-H bond direction and the C3 rotation axis in the OCH3 group is found to be about 66°.
A general approximation framework for direct optimization of information retrieval measures

Recently direct optimization of information retrieval (IR) measures has become a new trend in learning to rank. In this paper, we propose a general framework for direct optimization of IR measures, which enjoys several theoretical advantages. The general framework, which can be used to optimize most IR measures, addresses the task by approximating the IR measures and optimizing the approximated surrogate functions. Theoretical analysis shows that a high approximation accuracy can be achieved by the framework. We take average precision (AP) and normalized discounted cumulated gains (NDCG) as examples to demonstrate how to realize the proposed framework. Experiments on benchmark datasets show that the algorithms deduced from our framework are very effective when compared to existing methods. The empirical results also agree well with the theoretical results obtained in the paper.
Multiuser MISO indoor visible light communications

Visible light communications is an energy efficient and cost effective solution for indoor wireless connectivity. In this paper we explore algorithms for supporting many users concurrently by optimizing the use of individual LEDs in each luminary. The directionality of LEDs is considered when assigning multiple LEDs to a user, forming a multiple input single output (MISO) system. Exploiting the spatial separation of detectors, MISO techniques using code division multiple access and minimum mean square error detection can offer high performance to simultaneous users while preserving the properties of the lighting system, such as spatially and temporally continuous dimmable illumination.
Stable and metastable equilibria in the Fe-Rich corner of the Fe-C-Si system

Calcul a partir de donnees thermodynamiques des relations de phase pour les equilibres stables et metastables. Les calculs sont effectues pour determiner s'il est possible de deduire a partir des resultats une procedure pour l'elaboration de la fonte nodulaire dans le systeme ternaire sans aucun autre element d'addition
Designing post‐industrial organizations for ecological sustainability

The post‐industrial world is now at a cross‐roads where the choice of evolutionary paths means the difference between ensuring the long‐term survival of human communities and preservation of biodiversity, or the eventual downgrading of life quality and biospheric complexity. An emerging path towards ecological sustainability is explored in relation to its implications for the design of post‐industrial organizations. The shift from a sociotechnical to a socio‐ecological systems paradigm is discussed, with references to the theoretical and methodological expansions required to advance this paradigm in management practice. Concepts which revision organizational‐environment relationships, and lead to social and technical innovations in the transition towards an ecologically sustainable society are also discussed.