cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selecting Sites for Coal-Fired Power Plants

Methods that have been used to select sites for coal-fired power plants are reviewed. A specific site selection procedure is presented that has been successfully applied in a number of cases. This procedure addresses the challenging features of site selection, including multiple evaluation concerns, significant uncertainties, multiple interest groups, data limitations, and regulatory requirements. Screening criteria and expert judgment are utilized to determine candidate sites within a large study area. These candidate sites are then evaluated using multiobjective decision analysis methods to select preferred and alternate sites for the power plant. With this approach, evaluation measures are determined and a multiattribute utility function assessed over these which reflects tradeoffs among the evaluation measures and attitude toward risktaking. Levels are assessed for each evaluation measure for the candidate sites, including use of probabilities to indicate uncertainties. An illustrative application is presented to show how the site selection procedure is carried out.
Religious Accommodations and – and Among – Civil Rights: Separation, Toleration, and Accommodation

This paper expands on a presentation at a recent conference, held at Harvard Law School, on the topic of “Religious Accommodations in the Age of Civil Rights.” In it, I emphasize that the right to religious freedom is a basic civil right, the increased appreciation of which is said to characterize our “age.” Accordingly, I push back against scholars’ and commentators’ increasing tendency to regard and present religious accommodations and exemptions as obstacles to the civil-rights enterprise and ask instead if our religious-accommodation practices are all that they should be. Are accommodations and exemptions being extended prudently but generously, in as many cases and to as many persons and entities as possible, in a sincere effort to welcome religious minorities, objectors, and dissenters as fully as we can into what Justice Harlan called “the dignity and glory of American citizenship”? What barriers exist to the promotion and achievement of civil-rights goals through religious accommodations and how might these barriers be overcome? Are civil-rights laws being designed and enforced in ways that guard against unintended or unjustified disregard for or sacrifices of the civil (and human) right to religious liberty?
A Single-Chip Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Transceiver in 0.13- $\mu$ m SiGe BiCMOS

We report the first absorption-based single-chip transceiver for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in silicon. The chip is implemented in a 0.13- $\mu$ m SiGe BiCMOS process technology. The transmitter generates and delivers a continuous-wave microwave signal with a frequency range from 895 to 979 MHz and the receiver adopts a direct-conversion architecture. Based on the single-chip transceiver and a printed-circuit-board-based planar resonator, an EPR spectrometer is assembled and tested. The spectrometer successfully measures the EPR response from samples including 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl powder, Fe $_{3}$ O $_{4}$ nanoparticles, and Fe $_{2}$ O $_{3}$ nanoparticles.
Nitrogen Metabolism in the American Cockroach: An Examination of Whole Body and Fat Body Regulation of Cations in Response to Nitrogen Balance

The effects of nitrogen balance on uric acid/urate, K+ and Na+ storage or mobilization were examined in the American cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.). Cockroaches on a high nitrogen diet increased in whole body uric acid/urates, K+ and Na+. Those on a semi-starvation diet maintained fairly constant levels of uric acid/urates, K+ and Na+. However, those on a low nitrogen diet mobilized stored uric acid/urates and K+, but not Na+. Analyses for uric/urates K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in fat body tissue from insects maintained on 12 diets containing different concentrations and sources of dietary nitrogen showed that only K+ concentration could be correlated with fat body uric acid/urate storage. Whole body storage and mobilization of uric acid/urates, K+ and Na+ were reflected in the faecal/dietary ratios of K+ and Na+. A model for a uric acid/urate ion sink which might be associated with ionic and osmotic balances is proposed, and some evidence for its existence is discussed.
Leakage-aware real-time scheduling for maximal temperature minimization

Thermal management problem has become a prominent issue as power consumption continues to grow exponentially. The leakage/temperature dependency becomes critical in power and thermal aware design as the processor continues to evolve into the the deep sub-micron domain. This paper seeks to explore fundamental principles in thermal aware design when taking the leakage/temperature dependency into considerations. We show and formally prove that, under certain realistic conditions, using the lowest constant processor speed that can guarantee deadlines of all real-time tasks is an optimal method to minimize the maximal temperature for a real-time system. We also use empirical results to justify the validation of this conclusion. We then discuss the possible future extension of this work.
Room temperature photoluminescence of amorphous GaAs

Abstract We report what is believed to be the first observation of room temperature photoluminescence of amorphous GaAs. By means of low-temperature pulsed-laser deposition amorphous GaAs thin films were deposited on glass and Si substrates. Almost identical room temperature emission spectra with a peak centered at 1.368 eV have been observed for both samples. The results stress the capability of laser deposition to form hetero-paired optical device structures for room temperature operations independent of substrate morphologies.
HIGH-DOSE EPINEPHRINE ACTS AT ALPHA 2-ADRENOCEPTORS TO SUPPRESS EXPERIMENTAL ARTHRITIS

This study assessed the receptor site at which high systemic doses of epinephrine act to reduce the severity of adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat. To this end we examined the effect of selective adrenergic antagonists on the reduction of arthritis by epinephrine, and also assessed whether high doses of selective adrenergic agonists mimicked the effect of epinephrine. The decrease in arthritis induced by epinephrine (0.5 mg/kg in chronic implant injected every 3 days) was significantly antagonized by the selective alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist, yohimbine, but not by selective alpha 1 (prazosin), beta 1 (metoprolol) or beta 2 (butoxamine) antagonists. In addition, chronic infusion of the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist clonidine, but not selective alpha 1 (phenylephrine), beta 1/beta 2 (isoproterenol) or beta 2 (salbutamol) agonists, resulted in decreased arthritis severity. These data suggest that the suppressive effect of high-dose epinephrine on joint injury in experimental arthritis is mediated by action at the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor.
Quantum and Stochastic Aspects of Low-Temperature Trapping and Reaction Dynamics

We discuss theoretical work on motion-limited trapping kinetics at very low temperatures where theories based upon strictly diffusive models break down due to quantum mechanical effects. In addition, we present numerical results which confirm earlier asymptotic predictions regarding the survival probability for one-dimensional chains, and discuss the important role fluctuations and selfaveraging (or the lack thereof) play in the analysis of finite systems.
Above-ground production in cleared and thinned stands of semiarid tropical woodland, Brazil

Abstract Wood and forage, both herbaceous and the foliage of woody plants, are two of the most heavily exploited and readily available resources of the caatinga vegetation zone in northeastern Brazil. Caatinga clearing (0% canopy cover), two levels of thinning (25% and 55% canopy cover) and a control (95% canopy cover) were compared in terms of above-ground production of wood and forage. At the end of the first year after treatment, total above-ground production was 5106, 6596, 6762 and 7347 kg ha−1 year−1 for the 0% (cleared), 25%, 55% and 95% (control) canopy cover treatments, respectively. Each of the three reduced-canopy treatments resulted in a seven- to eightfold increase in total herbaceous yields, with a corresponding decrease in wood production, compared to the control treatment. Total biomass of foliage from woody plants was significantly higher (P
A Study on Driver's Physiological Non-Intrusive Measurement in a Virtual Environment

For many studies with requirement of high realistic simulation, an immersive virtual environment is preferred. However, the data acquisition methods are usually intrusive in those studies and against the goal of high confidence reality. This paper introduces a smart wheel that is embedded with sensors to non-intrusively investigate a driver's physiological response in virtual environment based driving simulation. In the experiment, a driver's pulse wave is recorded in real-time without interfering the driver's maneuver. The experiment data clearly shows the patterns of the test driver's physiological response in different scenarios of virtual environment. Language: en
Peripherally administered oxytocin modulates latent inhibition in a manner consistent with antipsychotic drugs.

Background Peripherally administered oxytocin (OT) has produced antipsychotic drug (APD)-like effects in animal tests that are predictive of APD efficacy. However, these effects have mainly been demonstrated using animal models of schizophrenia-like deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex. Another schizophrenia-relevant abnormality that is the basis of a predictive animal test for APD efficacy is deficient latent inhibition (LI). LI is the normal suppression of a classically conditioned response when the subject is pre-exposed to the conditioned stimulus (CS) before it is paired with the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). Conditioned taste aversion (CTA), the normal avoidance of ingesting a food or liquid by animals when its taste is associated with an aversive experience, was used to test whether OT facilitates LI consistent with APDs.
Antinociception produced by systemic R(+)-baclofen hydrochloride is attenuated by CGP 35348 administered to the spinal cord or ventromedial medulla of rats.

This study examined the sites in the central nervous system at which subcutaneously-administered R(+) - baclofen hydrochloride (baclofen), the most active isomer of this prototypic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAB receptor agonist, acts to produce antinociception in the rat. To determine whether baclofen acts in the spinal cord, either saline or the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 35348 was injected intrathecally in rats pretreated 24 min earlier with 1 or 3 mg/kg s.c. baclofen. Intrathecal (i.t.) injection of 3 or 10 μg of CGP 35348 antagonized the increase in tail-flick and hot-plate latency produced by either dose of baclofen. To determine whether baclofen acts at sites in the ventromedial medulla (VMM), either saline or CGP 35348 was microinjected in the nucleus raphe magnus or nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars a of rats pretreated 24 min earlier with 1 or 3 mg/kg s.c. baclofen. Microinjection of 0.5 or 3 μg of CGP 35348 at sites in the VMM produced at best only a very modest attenuation of the antinociceptive effects of baclofen. These data suggest that systemically-administered baclofen acts at sites in both the spinal cord and the VMM, but that its antinociceptive effects are likely to be mediated to a greater extent by a spinal, rather than medullary site of action. However, a definitive comparison of the relative contribution of GABAB receptors in these two regions is precluded by differences in the diffusion and concentrations of the antagonist in the spinal cord and brainstem. Finally, microinjection of 0.5 or 3.0 μg of CGP 35348 in the nucleus raphe magnus or nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars a of saline-pretreated rats did not alter tail-flick or hot-plate latency. This finding suggests that, unlike GABAA receptors, GABAB receptors do not mediate the tonic GABAergic input to neurons in these nuclei.
The spectrum of long-term renal transplantation: Outcomes, complications, and clinical studies

Successful long-term renal transplantation has been achieved, albeit in limited numbers, even with immunosuppression consisting primarily of prednisone and azathioprine used in the 1960s. Substantial improvements in immunosuppression marked by the introduction of cyclosporine in 1984 and later by tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus, thymoglobulin, and anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies were followed by lower rates of acute rejection, better 1-year patient and allograft survivals, and, after some delay, improved half-life (T1/2) for the grafts. However, these successes, which focused on the allografts, were possible only because of parallel advances being made in the management of a wide range of complications affecting immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients. These complications include cardiovascular disease and its risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocysteinemia); a wide range of infections including the major viral liver diseases hepatitis B and C; malignancies, particularly posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease and skin cancers; musculoskeletal diseases, especially osteoporosis; posttransplant erythrocytosis; and allograft-related problems such as proteinuria, recurrent and de novo renal diseases, and transplant renal artery stenosis. Coronary heart disease is the dominant cause of patient mortality, and chronic allograft nephropathy, with both immune and nonimmune components, is the major cause of allograft loss. It now appears that risk factors for coronary heart disease are also basically the same risk factors for progressive renal failure. Consequently, therapies designed to be cardioprotective are also renoprotective. Accordingly, in addition to more potent immunosuppressants, the concurrent use of medications designed to control coronary heart disease and progressive renal failure simultaneously will likely be the approach to improving the likelihood of even greater, long-term successes for both the transplant recipient and the allograft.
Analytical optical chromatography measurement of complex microparticles

A variation on the typical optical chromatography system was used to measure optical force differentials of complex micro-particles that have been assembled or fabricated using bead chemistries, bio-molecule tethers, or biological bead coatings. A number of bio-inspired particle types have been created to help elucidate the origin of optical force differentials that are known or suspected in biological systems such as bacterial cells / spores, and mammalian cells. A number of optical force measurements will be presented for a variety of micro-fabricated particles and the results and capabilities discussed.
High-performance quenchometric oxygen sensors based on fluorinated xerogels doped with [Ru(dpp)3]2+.

By using hybrid xerogels that are composed of alkyl and perfluoroalkyl ORMOSILs (organically modified silicates) doped with the luminophore tris(4,7‘-diphenyl-1,10‘-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II), we have produced highly sensitive O2 sensors (i.e., IN2/IO2 = 35 ± 4) with linear calibration curves that exhibit less than 2% drift over 6 months.
Characterization of the Antigen‐Specific T Cell Receptor from a Pigeon Cytochrome c‐Specific T Cell Hybrid

The monoclonal antibody, A2B4-2, specifically bound to and inhibited antigen-induced IL-2 release from the cloned pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cell hybrid, 2B4. The initial immunoprecipitation with these reagents demonstrated a protein of 85-90kd on non-reducing conditions, and two bands of 45-50 and 40-44 on reducing conditions. These data enabled us to conclude that this monoclonal antibody bound to the antigen receptor on the 2B4 cell. In this paper we have presented results that further define the receptor structure. The migration pattern of the protein on SDS-PAGE in the presence and absence of reducing agents was consistent with the interpretation that the receptor has intrachain disulfide bonds that create globular domains. Sequence data from the recently described cDNA clones that encode receptor genes confirm that there are cysteine residues in positions that could be involved in such disulfide bonding. Since both alpha and beta chains behave identically on the SDS-PAGE we predict that both chains have the same double domain structure. The antigen receptor has a heterodimeric structure. A relatively simple acidic alpha chain is bound to one of two forms of the beta chain. Some of the receptors have a beta chain equal in molecular weight to the alpha chain, while some of the beta chains (beta') are heavier and more acidic. The difference in beta chain forms appears to be due to different levels of glycosylation of this chain. The cDNA sequence data demonstrate that there are several possible carbohydrate addition sites on the protein encoded by this gene so it may be that 2B4 beta chains are present that are either completely or partially glycosylated at these sites. Finally, we have presented a preliminary experiment that indicates that a smaller 20-25kd molecule is associated with the antigen receptor. The well characterized T3 molecule appears to be in a complex with the clonotypic structure on human T cells. The crosslinking data that we present suggests that a similar molecule may be present in the murine system.
HIV-1 Auxiliary Proteins: Making Connections in a Dying Cell

Much remains to be discovered about the many roles of the auxiliary proteins of HIV-1 in the viral life cycle, and the list of functions delineated above could well be incomplete. Nevertheless, clear progress in defining the mechanisms of action, and cellular targets, for several key auxiliary proteins has now been made. Surprisingly, as summarized in Table 1Table 1, it appears that a similar strategy has been adopted by several different auxiliary proteins to achieve a range of distinct biological activities. In particular, it appears that a common mode of action for several of these proteins is to act as a molecular connector between two macromolecules that would otherwise be unable to interact. By this simple expedient, these small proteins are each able to recruit entire cellular metabolic pathways to the cause of enhancing the efficiency of virus replication.Table 1Biological Activities of Several HIV-1 Auxilary ProteinsAuxiliary ProteinActivityMechanismTatTranscriptional activation of HIV-1 LTRRecruitment of cyclin T to TAR RNARevNuclear Export of late HIV-1 mRNAsRecruitment of Crm1 to RRE RNANefDown-regulation of cell surfaceRecruitment of AP-1 or AP-2 to CD4NefDown-regulation of cell surfaceRecruitment of AP-1 or AP-2 to MHC IVpuDegradation of CD4 in the ERRecruitment of h-βTrCP to CD4
Systemizing Virtual Learning and Technologies by Managing Organizational Competency and Talents

The article presents promising components and practices of virtual learning and technologies and discusses how systemization can be made through managing organizational competency and talents. The main goal is to suggest how technologies should be incorporated within an organization to improve the effectiveness of employees’ learning, performance, and development. For technology implementation and adoption, we also introduce models for examining organizational maturity levels and integrating technologies.We argue that virtual learning and technologies are fundamentally pressing HRD roles to change from experts of learning and development to work solution partners leading and supporting the creation of a smart organization.
Fluctuations of Vanessa cardui butterfly abundance with El Niño and Pacific Decadal Oscillation climatic variables

Annual 4th of July Butterfly Count data spanning more than 20 years are examined to explore Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) population fluctuations with ENSO (El Nino) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) indices. California, Colorado and Nebraska censuses exhibit a strong positive correlation with the strong El Nino events of 1982–1983 and 1997–1998 and the weaker event of 1991–1992. Regression analysis shows the population fluctuations are strongly coupled to climate variations on both short (El Nino) and longer (Pacific Decadal Oscillation) time scales. Recognizing the sensitivity to these time scales is important for predicting longer-term global climate change effects.
Hybrid approach to the rational management of machine replacement

The paper analyzes a nonlinear integer-valued optimization problem that describes the optimal machine replacement under improving technology. The problem is extended into the classes of real-valued discrete-time optimization problems and continuous-time optimal control. The results include some qualitative properties of optimal management policies and the construction of an efficient numeric algorithm.
Web-Mediated Knowledge Synthesis for Educators.

Ubiquitous and instant access to information on the Web is challenging what constitutes 21st century literacies. This article explores the notion of Web-mediated knowledge synthesis, an approach to integrating Web-based learning that may result in generative synthesis of ideas. This article describes the skills and strategies that may support learning in this way, including: (1) divergent keyword search phrases; (2) synthesis for meaning; (3) in-the-moment insights; (4) repurposing; (5) reinforcement; and, (6) note-taking. Several suggestions for how to begin scaffolding these processes are also provided, based on examples from in-service teachers during a master's level educational technology course.
Thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty in the treatment of diffuse bullous emphysema.

Background. Thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty in the treatment of diffuse bullous emphysema by means of a contact neodymium:yttrium-aluminum garnet laser was evaluated by a retrospective analysis of the first consecutive 500 procedures in 443 patients. The indication for thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty was intractable dyspnea. Methods. Advanced age (mean age, 67 years), high oxygen dependency (70%), steroid use (46%), and markedly diminished physical capacity (2% bedridden and 27% wheelchair-bound) were noted. Thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty was carried out under general anesthesia and one-lung ventilation. Type 3 bullae (381 procedures) were contracted by contact neodymium:yttrium-aluminum garnet laser and type 4 bullae (119 procedures) excised. The operative mortality rate was 4.8%. Results. Subjective improvement was reported by 87% of the patients. Follow-up functional evaluation was available in 229 patients, which showed highly significant improvement. A comparison of preoperative and postoperative functional tests between type 3 and 4 bullae patients showed no significant difference, except the latter had higher decrease in airway resistance, residual volume, and total lung capacity. Conclusions. Thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty is an effective treatment for both type 3 and 4 bullous emphysema with an acceptable risk.
Domestic and transnational perspectives on democratization

The disciplinary separation between comparative politics and international relations is regularly challenged but persists as a result of institutional inertia and hiring practices. This essay uses the issue of democratization in an attempt to go beyond rhetoric and to develop a framework that integrates the role of transnational activism into the analysis of domestic regime change. Comparative research on democratization confirms that underlying socioeconomic conditions affect the long-term sustainability of democratic reforms. The initiation of such reforms, as well as the process they take, can best be understood using an agency-based framework that links domestic and transnational forces. Outside interventions are a potent factor in challenging authoritarian practices, but they do not simply displace existing domestic practices and conditions. Although transnational activists and scholars often celebrate the empowering role of networking and mobilization, the long-term effects of such interventions are still poorly understood. Transnational ties may distract domestic activists from building effective coalitions at home or undermine their legitimacy overall. Transnational scholars and activists can learn from comparative research how different domestic groups use outside interventions to promote their interests at home.
Case report : diabetic myonecrosis of the neck complicated by infection in an islet transplanted patient

Diabetic muscle infarction, also known as diabetic myonecrosis, is an uncommon neuromuscular complication of longstanding diabetes. It usually involves the thigh or calf muscles. Patients typically present with severe pain in the affected area. This complication is more often seen in middle-aged diabetic patients with poorly controlled glycemia. We describe a 38-year-old female Type 1 diabetic patient who developed acute neck pain 3 weeks following islet transplantation.
Alterations in splanchnic cyclic nucleotide levels in splanchnic artery occlusion shock and their modification by dexamethasone

Abstract The effects of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP), 5 mg/kg, administration on the biochemical alterations in hepatic tissue subsequent to the production of splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO) shock was investigated. Following the induction of SAO shock, DSP-treated dogs exhibited a significantly improved cardiovascular status compared to placebo-treated shocked dogs. 2 hr after release of the occlusion, biopsies of liver were taken and analyzed for β-glucuronidase (BG), adenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) content. SAO shock produced a significant increase in hepatic free BG activity which was reversed by DSP pretreatment. Additionally, SAO shock decreased hepatic cAMP levels, increased cGMP levels and significantly lowered the hepatic ratio of cAMP/cGMP. These changes in cyclic nucleotide levels were reversed by DSP administration and were found to be inversely related to changes in hepatic free BG activity. Thus, the ratio of cellular cAMP/cGMP may function as a regulatory mechanism for lysosomal enzyme release secondary to ischemia and hypoxia. Further, DSP may act to maintain lysosomal integrity in ischemic tissues by preservation of cAMP/cGMP ratios.
Immunoreactive β-endorphin in the plasma, pituitary and hypothalamus of young and old male rats

Abstract Immunoreactive beta-endorphin (IR-β-ENDO) was measured in the plasma, pituitary, and hypothalamus of young (3–5 mo.) and old (19–23 mo.) male Sprague-Dawley rats, using a specific radioimmunoassay. Plasma IR-β-ENDO in old male rats (3.44±10.54 ng/ml) was more than three times higher than values observed in young male rats (1.00±0.10 ng/ml). Pituitary content and concentration of IR-β-ENDO also were significantly greater in the old (5.85±0.51 μ g/gland and 1.17±0.10 μ g/mg protein) than in the young (3.53±0.29 μ g/gland and 0.78±0.06 μ g/mg protein) male rats. The content of IR-β-ENDO in the hypothalamus of old and young rats was nearly the same (43.45±2.47 and 49.88±6.35 ng/hypothalamus, respectively), whereas the concentration of IR-β-ENDO in the hypothalamus of the old male rats (3.89±0.25 ng/mg protein) was approximately 50% lower than that observed in the young male rats (7.80±0.85 ng/mg protein). These changes in plasma, pituitary, and hypothalamic IR-β-ENDO may contribute to the increase in prolactin and decrease in gonadotropins observed in old male rats, since β-ENDO administration is known to produce these effects on prolactin and gonadotropin secretion.
Families of statistics for detecting minefields

Detecting minefield point patterns is an important problem for the Navy, Marines and Army. Because of the difficulty and uncertainty associated with accurately modeling enemy mine laying procedures, robust and flexible family of statistics are needed to detect minefields as deviations from complete spatial randomness. In this paper, a large family of minefield detection statistics are presented and compared using their asymptotic relative efficiency for testing multinomial and minefield mixture alternatives. A slightly modified version of the widely-used power-divergence statistics are introduced that are appropriate under sparseness assumptions. This family includes the empty boxes test which has been advocated previously as a simple and effective approach. Another family, called VC statistics, is presented that provides a low- complexity statistic with optimal performance. The efficiency of these methods are compared analytically and with a minefield benchmark used in previous work.
Gravitational effects on flames spreading over thick solid surfaces

A theoretical model for the downward spread of a flame in the gas over a semi-infinitely thick fuel bed is presented. Gas-phase chemistry is assumed to proceed at an infinite rate while the fuel bed is taken to pyrolyze at the surface in an Arrhenius fashion. Spread rates and flame shapes are computed for two different ambient oxygen concentrations for gravitational accelerations both below and above that of the earth. Predicted spread rates decrease and actual flame size increases with decreasing gravity. Results agree favorably with available, experimental results and expected results from reduced gravity experimentation.
Impact of field windbreaks on visual appearance of agricultural lands

A sample of 1,500 farmers and 2,000 non-farmers were surveyed during 2005-2006 to examine the impact of field windbreaks on visual appearance of agricultural lands in Iowa, USA. About 73% of respondents indicated that field windbreaks diversified visual appearance of agricultural landscapes, whereas 67% of these respondents thought that windbreaks made agricultural lands visually more appealing. An improved aesthetics of the area was fourth most frequently mentioned reason for planting field windbreaks reported by 21% of respondents. When compared to other windbreak benefits, however, improved aesthetics of agricultural landscapes was ranked as the least important windbreak benefit. Majority of respondents (50%) preferred groups of trees planted in straight rows followed by groups of trees nested between agricultural fields (23%), groups of trees planted in non-straight rows (20%), and single trees dispersed between fields (7%). Respondents preferred windbreaks that were tall, wide, long, and continuous. Most of them (74%) preferred field windbreaks consisting of trees and shrubs, whereas 69% preferred windbreaks in which conifers were mixed with hardwoods. Respondents who preferred groups of trees planted in non-straight rows were 5.0 times more likely to indicate that windbreaks improved visual appearance of agricultural lands than those who preferred single trees. Those who preferred groups of trees nested between agricultural fields or groups of trees planted in straight rows were 3.6 and 2.6 times more likely, respectively, to indicate that windbreaks improved visual appearance of agricultural lands in comparison to those who preferred single trees.
A scalable algorithm for single-linkage hierarchical clustering on distributed-memory architectures

Hierarchical clustering is a fundamental and widely-used clustering algorithm with many advantages over traditional partitional clustering. Due to the explosion in size of modern scientific datasets, there is a pressing need for scalable analytics algorithms, but good scaling is difficult to achieve for hierarchical clustering due to data dependencies inherent in the algorithm. To the best of our knowledge, no previous work on parallel hierarchical clustering has shown scalability beyond a couple hundred processes. In this paper, we present PINK, a scalable parallel algorithm for single-linkage hierarchical clustering based on decomposing a problem instance into two different types of subproblems. Despite the heterogeneous workloads, our algorithm exhibits good load balancing, as well as low memory requirements and a communication pattern that is both low-volume and deterministic. Evaluating PINK on up to 6050 processes, we find that it achieves speedups up to approximately 6600.
Size determinants of women-owned businesses: choice or barriers to resources?

Although one of the fastest growing segments of the US economy, women-owned Businesses still lag behind men-owned businesses in size as measured by sales and income. This study examines women-owned businesses in the adolescent stage of their life cycle to determine whether firms that are larger than the typical women-owned businesses are so because their owner's lifestyle intentions and choice differ or because size is linked directly to the resources that the entrepreneurs control. The results indicate that having access to financial resources and emphasizing the financial aspects of the business overwhelm the effects of the entrepreneur's lifestyle intention or choice on their chances for having large businesses.
Generalized poisson distributions

Poisson distributions evidently can be treated in a unified manner by dealing with the G.P. which contains a characteristic parameterq. The properties of the PEBL, long recognized as significant in a variety of statistical applications like telephone trunking, queueing, etc., may be deduced by passage to the limitq = 1.
Complete development of Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in northern red oak trees

The invasive wood-boring beetle Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) poses a serious threat to deciduous trees in North America and Europe, where it has been introduced in solid wood packing material from China (Haack et al. 1997; Krehan 2003). This beetle attacks and ultimately kills a wide variety of hardwood tree species (Nowak et al. 2001; Lingafelter and Hoebeke 2002); it has infested urban shade trees in Canada (Canadian Food Inspection Agency 2004), the United States (Haack 2003), and Austria (Tomiczek 2003) and has damaged poplar (Populus L.; Salicaceae) plantations in its native China (Luo et al. 2003).
Evaluation of a commercial diagnostic PCR for the identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli.

Aims: DuPont Qualicon recently developed a new PCR assay for the identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. We evaluated the selectivity and utility of this assay compared with a PCR method already in use in our laboratory. Methods and Results: A group of 133 Campylobacter isolates from poultry carcass rinse samples were screened using the commercial PCR and standard PCR. Identical results were found for 89·5% (119/133) of the isolates. However, 10·5% (14/133) gave conflicting results suggesting mixed cultures. These 14 strains were retested by both PCR methods. Of these, 78·6% (11/14) showed identical results for both PCR methods after retesting; the results for the remaining 21·4% (3/14) again indicated mixed cultures. Conclusions, Significance and Impact of Study: The new multiplex PCR is a rapid and accurate alternative to more conventional PCR methods. The persistence of mixed Campylobacter cultures noted in this study suggests certain strains may be very difficult to isolate clonally by standard culture methods.
Experimental diabetes mellitus in a teleost fish. II. Roles of insulin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I, and hepatic GH receptors in diabetic growth inhibition in the goby, Gillichthys mirabilis.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), when untreated or poorly controlled in mammals, results in growth retardation. To determine whether the same relationship exists in an ectothermic vertebrate, IDDM-like symptoms were induced in a teleost fish, the goby Gillichthys mirabilis, by surgical removal of its pancreatic endocrine (islet) organ. Isletectomized (Ix) gobies lost body weight, their skeletal growth was retarded, as measured by changes in body length, and they exhibited a 50% reduction in cartilage 35SO4 incorporation in vitro, consistent with changes that occur in mammals with IDDM. Injections of bovine insulin into the Ix fish restored body growth parameters to control levels and stimulated cartilage 35SO4 incorporation in a dose-related manner. In contrast to mammals with IDDM, which are resistant to GH action, injection of teleost GH stimulated cartilage 35SO4 incorporation in the Ix fish. Furthermore, whereas cartilage from rats with IDDM is resistant to stimulation by insulin-like growt...
Spectroscopic ellipsometry investigation of the swelling of poly(dimethylsiloxane) thin films with high pressure carbon dioxide

The thickness and refractive index of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) thin films on silicon, exposed to high-pressure carbon dioxide, have been measured in-situ by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The swe...
In-Plane Seismic Behavior of Rectangular Steel-Plate Composite Wall Piers

AbstractAn experimental study investigated the behavior of large-scale steel-plate composite (SC) walls subjected to cyclic lateral loading. The testing program involved four rectangular SC wall specimens with an aspect ratio (height-to-length) of 1.0. The specimens were anchored to a concrete basemat with a pretensioned bolted connection that was designed to be stronger than the walls. The design parameters considered in the investigation were wall thickness, reinforcement ratio, stud spacing, and tie bar spacing. The pretest analyses, global force-displacement responses, contributions of the steel faceplates and infill concrete to the lateral resistance, load transfer between the faceplates and infill concrete, and damage to the face plates and infill, are documented. The four SC walls failed in a flexural mode characterized by tensile cracking of the concrete, tensile yielding of the steel plates, crushing of concrete at the toes of the wall, outward local buckling of the steel faceplates, and fracture...
Evaluation of left ventricular performance using digital subtraction angiography

Cardiac applications for digital subtraction angiography appear promising, but few correlative studies with contrast ventriculography have been done. Left ventricular volume, ejection fraction, and regional wall motion by digital subtraction angiography were evaluated after intravenous injection of 40 ml of iodinated contrast medium and after left venticular injection of 5 to 10 ml of contrast medium. A film-based system of the authors' own design was used. Results were compared with those after direct left ventricular injection of 40 ml of contrast medium. The ventriculograms after intravenous injection were of diagnostic quality in 9 of 12 studies, and there were close correlations between intravenous and direct-injection studies for left ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.89, n = 9, and p = 0.001) and for left ventricular volume (r = 0.91, n = 18, and p Thus, digital subtraction angiography improves the visibility of the left ventricle after either intravenous or small-volume direct left ventricular injection. Digital images produce excellent estimates of left ventricular volume and should have considerable usefulness for the study of cardiac performance and anatomy.
Single-column models, arm observations, and GCM cloud-radiation schemes

Abstract Among the most serious sources of uncertainty in current general circulation models (GCMs) is the treatment of clouds and cloud-radiation interactions. We have used a single-column model (SCM) diagnostically to evaluate parameterizations against observations from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program. We find that schemes with explicit cloud water budgets and interactive radiative properties are potentially capable of matching observational data closely. In our SCM, using an interactive cloud droplet radius decreases the cloud optical thickness and cloud infrared emittance of high clouds, which acts to increase the downwelling surface shortwave flux and the outgoing longwave radiation. However, it is difficult to evaluate the realism of the vertical distribution of model-produced cloud extinction, cloud emittance, cloud liquid water content and effective cloud droplet radius until high-quality observations of these quantities become more widely available. We also find that in the SCM, cloud parameterizations often underestimate the observed cloud amount, and that ARM observations indicate the presence of clouds while the corresponding maximum relative humidity is less than 80%. This implies that the underlying concept of a critical gridpoint relative humidity of about 80% for cloud formation, as used in many GCM cloud parameterizations, may need to be re-examined.
Emergency department visits related to Clostridium difficile infection: results from the nationwide emergency department sample, 2006 through 2010.

Objectives The objective was to estimate emergency department (ED) visits for Clostridium difficile infection in the United States for the years 2006 through 2010. Methods Estimates of ED visits for C. difficile infection were calculated in patients 18 years and older using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Results During the calendar years 2006 through 2010, there were an estimated total of 491,406,018 ED visits. Of these, 462,160 ED visits were associated with a primary International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis of C. difficile. The C. difficile infection ED visit rate (visits/100,000 census population) increased from 34.1 in 2006 to 42.3 in 2010, an increase of 24% (p < 0.01). There was also a significant overall increased trend in the number of ED visits for C. difficile from 2006 through 2010 (p < 0.01). The highest ED visit rate for C. difficile was observed for patients 65 years and older (163.18 per 100,000), while the lowest visit rate was for patients aged 18 to 24 years (5.10 per 100,000). The greatest increase in C. difficile infection visits occurred in the age group 18 to 24 years. Conclusions These results indicate an increased trend of ED visits for C. difficile in the period 2006 through 2010 with an overall population-adjusted increase of 24%. This represents important complementary data to previous studies reporting an increase in the rate of C. difficile infections in the U.S. hospitalized population.
Linear Programming Techniques for Regression Analysis

Abstract In regression problems alternative criteria of “best fit” to least squares are least absolute deviations and least maximum deviations. In this paper it is noted that linear programming techniques may be employed to solve the latter two problems. In particular, if the linear regression relation contains p parameters, minimizing the sum of the absolute value of the “vertical” deviations from the regression line is shown to reduce to a p equation linear programming model with bounded variables; and fitting by the Chebyshev criterion is exhibited to lead to a standard-form p+1 equation linear programming model.
Atomic-level view of inelastic deformation in a shock loaded molecular crystal

We use molecular dynamics to characterize the atomic-level mechanisms of plastic deformation in an organic molecular crystal under dynamical loading, namely, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine shocked in the [100] direction. Plasticity for weak shocks is governed by dislocations with Burgers vectors $b=1∕2$ ⟨101⟩ gliding on {101} planes. As the shock strength is increased, we observe a gradual transition to a regime dominated by nanoscale shear bands that does not exhibit a preferred crystallographic slip and where the material becomes locally amorphous.
Isolation of anionic sialoproteins from the rat glomerulus.

Isolation of anionic sialoproteins from the rat glomerulus. The epithelial glomerular polyanion (GPA) designates an array of sialic acid-containing sites along the surface of the glomerular epithelium which react with cationic dyes or probes. In this work, sequential rat glomerular isolation, ultrasonic disruption, trypsin digestion, ion-exchange chromatography, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis have been used to isolate anionic sialoglycoproteins from the glomerular epithelium. Because colloidal iron (CI) reactivity has been used to define the GPA histologically, we used a modification of the CI reaction to monitor and direct the isolation procedure. Three major fractions have been recognized and isolated in homogeneity. Antibodies to two of the fractions have been raised by immunization in rabbits. Indirect immunofluorescent and peroxidase-antibody techniques have localized both antigens to the glomerular visceral epithelium of normal rat kidney. This identification and definition of components of the GPA is valuable in delineating a role for GPA in glomerular function. Isolement de sialoproteines anioniques a partir de glomerules du rat. Le terme de polyanion glomerulaire (GPA) designe un ensemble de sites contenant de l'acide sialique, le long de la surface de l'epithelium glomerulaire, qui reagissent avec des colorants cationiques. Dans ce travail on a employe de facon sequentielle pour des glomerules de rat l'isolement, la destruction par ultra-sons, la digestion trypsique, la chromatographie par echange d'ions et l'electrophorese preparative en gel de polyacrylamide pour isoler des sialoglycoproteines anioniques. Du fait que la reactivite avec le fer colloidal (CI) a ete utilisee pour definir histologiquement le GPA, une modification de la reaction avec CI a ete employee pour surveiller et diriger la procedure d'isolement. Trois fractions majeures ont ete reconnues et isolees de facon homogene. Des anticorps pour deux de ces fractions ont ete realises par l'immunisation de lapins. La fluorescence indirecte et les techniques d'anticorps anti-peroxydase ont localise les deux antigenes au feuillet visceral de l'epithelium glomerulaire du rein de rat normal. Cette identification et cette definition des composants du GPA devraient etre utiles dans la delimitation du role du GPA dans la fonction glomerulaire.
Resonance Raman characterization of the peroxo and hydroperoxo intermediates in cytochrome P450

Resonance Raman (RR) studies of intermediates generated by cryoreduction of the oxyferrous complex of the D251N mutant of cytochrome P450cam (CYP101) are reported. Owing to the fact that proton delivery to the active site is hindered in this mutant, the unprotonated peroxo-ferric intermediate is observed as the primary species after radiolytic reduction of the oxy-complex in frozen solutions at 77 K. In as much as previous EPR and ENDOR studies have shown that annealing of this species to ∼180 K results in protonation of the distal oxygen atom to form the hydroperoxo intermediate, this system has been exploited to permit direct RR interrogation of the changes in the Fe−O and O−O bonds caused by the reduction and subsequent protonation. Our results show that the ν(O−O) mode decreases from a superoxo-like frequency near ∼1130 cm−1 to 792 cm−1 upon reduction. The latter frequency, as well as its lack of sensitivity to H/D exchange, is consistent with heme-bound peroxide formulation. This species also exhibit...
Thin-Film Shielding for Microcircuit Applications and a Useful Laboratory Tool for Plane-Wave Shielding Evaluations

The results of plane-wave shielding effectiveness tests on vacuum deposited metallic thin films are discussed. The test data are presented in graphical form for thin films of copper, aluminum, silver, gold, and nickel. Shielding effectiveness as high as 90 dB was obtained. In addition, a novel test instrument and measurement technique were devised for this study. The test procedure is described, design information for the construction of the test device is given, and a theoretical basis for its use is presented.