cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study of a corn (Zea mays L.) mutant (blue fluorescent-1) which accumulates anthranilic acid and its beta-glucoside.

A corn (Zea mays L.) mutant, blue fluorescent-1 (bf), is described that shows ultraviolet light induced blue fluorescence in young seedling leaves if homozygous for the mutant gene, and in anthers if either homozygous or heterozygous. The blue fluorescent compounds were extracted with acetone and separated by paper chromatography. Anthranilic acid was present and the β-glucoside was also identified by paper chromatography and β-glucosidase and acid treatment. A third major fluorescent compound was not identified, but it was convertible to anthranilic acid by acid treatment. Anthranilate synthetase from mutant plants was 3–40 times more active and was also more resistant to feedback inhibition by tryptophan than was the enzyme from normal plants. The high activity and feedback resistance would both lead to anthranilate accumulation. Anthranilate-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase (PR transferase), the enzyme which usually utilizes anthranilate in the tryptophan pathway, was inhibited by the β-glucoside of anthranilic acid in a noncompetitive manner and showed very little activity in the mutant plant extract. This inhibition of the enzyme which utilizes anthranilate would also lead to accumulation. Apparently the oversynthesis of anthranilate leads to the formation of the β-glucoside, which inhibits anthranilate utilization. The fluorescent compounds are absent in seed, but form on germination. The levels decrease with age after 35 days postgermination, but are still present in leaves during grain filling.
Numerical solution of systems of mixed partial differential equations associated with transport phenomena with exchange

Abstract The so-called “percolation operations” which involve simultaneous heat and mass transport are defined in terms of a system of mixed partial differential equations which are nonlinear and include variable coefficients. Second-order interpolation followed by integration over an increment of the time or space variable is proposed as a method for arriving at finite difference equation equivalents of the original partial differential equations. A model change is also used to give physical significance to finite difference equivalents associated with derivatives in the space dimension. It is shown that second-order interpolation has the advantage over linear interpolation that it introduces a factor β which in a stability analysis based on cencentrations offers a range of choices that will insure stable calculation on a digital machine. In a subsequent stability analysis based on the complete set of equations for a somewhat specialized operation, it was shown that a second stability criterion must also be considered in conjunction with the first. For all practical purposes the stability analysis show that computations are unconditionally stable if β⩽ 1 2 . Actual tests on an IBM 7040 digital computer confirm this conclusion. At β= 1 2 the calculations show stable small amplitude oscillation so that in practice β 1 2 is desirable.
Indoleamine-Sensitive Adenylate Cyclase in Rabbit Retina: Characterization and Distribution

Previous histological, electrophysiological, and biochemical reports have addressed the hypothesis that serotonin functions as a neurotransmitter in mammalian retinas. We have tested the effect on the levels of cyclic AMP of the application of exogenous serotonin, 5-methoxytryptamine, melatonin, and 5-methoxydimethyl-tryptamine to isolated, incubated rabbit retinas. All indoleamines tested significantly elevated intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in both light- and dark-adapted, incubated, intact retinas, provided a phosphodiesterase inhibitor was present. In homogenates of rabbit retina, all indoleamines tested also markedly increased adenylate cyclase activity over basal levels. Maximal activity was observed with 50 microM indoleamine; addition of GTP augmented this increase. The increase in enzyme activity persisted in the presence of known antagonists of dopamine and serotonin 5-HT2-receptors, but was blocked by the mixed 5-HT1, 5-HT2-antagonist lysergic acid diethylamide. The retinal locations of this response have also been identified using layer microdissection techniques on freeze-dried samples obtained from rabbit eyecups suprafused with indoleamine plus phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Cyclic AMP levels were measured in discrete retinal layers of both light- and dark-adapted suprafused eyecups, and increased levels were observed primarily in the inner and outer plexiform layers, which contain the synapses of the retinal neurons.
Electron-Spin-Resonance Experiments on Antimony-Doped Germanium

Electron-spin-resonance experiments on shallow donors in germanium are reported. The experiments consist of measurement of the Zeeman effect of the donors as a function of applied uniaxial compression. From the data, a value may be derived for the ratio of the valley-orbit splitting of the donor ground state ($4{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{c}$) to the deformation potential for shear (${E}_{2}$). The results for phosphorus donors agree with determinations by other workers. The result for antimony donors is $\frac{4{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{c}}{{E}_{2}}=(2.08\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$. Using the value ${E}_{2}=19.2$ eV leads to a valley-orbit splitting of $4{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{c}=(3.99\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ eV. This result lies between the values obtained from piezoresistance and spectroscopic measurements. The data require that the singlet state lie below the triplet in antimony donors, just as in phosphorus and arsenic donors. An additional four-line spin-resonance spectrum in antimony-doped germanium is ascribed to donors located near the surface of the samples, in regions of high local strain.
Commercialism and Identity Politics in New York’s Chinatown

After World War II, a remarkable, self-conscious process of community building has taken place in U.S. Chinatowns, especially when the institution of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 led...
The effects of cash holdings on corporate performance during a credit crunch: evidence from the sub-prime mortgage crisis

We examine the effects of firms’ cash positions in moderating the impact of the subprime mortgage crisis on corporate performance. We find that corporate performance significantly declines following the onset of the crisis. Firms with low cash reserves had the largest declines in performance following the onset of the financial crisis. However, we do not find any differences in performance decline following the onset of the crisis, when we compare financially constrained firms to financially unconstrained firms.
Impact of a competency-based curriculum on medical student advancement: a ten-year analysis.

Background: In 1999, the Indiana University School of Medicine implemented a new curriculum based on the attainment of core competencies beyond medical knowledge. Purpose: The objective was to document how the Student Promotions Committee (SPC) has adjudicated students’ competency-related deficiencies over the past decade. Methods: Using SPC records, the authors determined the frequency of competency-related deficiencies reported to the SPC over time, the nature of those deficiencies, and how the deficiencies were remediated. For the purposes of this study, traditional knowledge-related deficiencies like course failures were excluded from analysis. Results: From 1999 to 2009, 191 students (138 male, 53 female) were referred to the SPC for competency-related deficiencies in 8 performance domains involving communication, basic clinical skills, lifelong learning, self-awareness, social context, ethics, problem solving, and professionalism. By comparison, 1,090 students were referred to the SPC for knowledge-...
Formal education as a marker for increased mortality and morbidity in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Increased mortality and morbidity was seen in association with lower formal educational levels in 75 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients over 9 years. Nine of the 20 patients with 8 or fewer years of eduction had died, compared to 10 of 34 with 9–12 years of education, and only one of 21 with more than 12 years of education. Among survivors with functional capacity data available from baseline and 9 year review, declines greater than 20% were seen in 8 of 10, 13 of 21, and 9 of 19 patients in the three education categories. Overall, 79% of grade-school educated, 43% of high-school educated, and 20% of college-educated patients had either died or declined more than 50% in functional capacity. Patients of different formal educational levels were similar at baseline in age, duration of disease, measures of functional capacity, number of involved hand joints, number of severe radiographic changes, use of gold, oral corticosteroids or other therapies, and associations between formal educational level and disease course are not explained by these variables. Formal educational level appears a simple quantitative marker which identifies a surrogate or composite variable associated with increased mortality and morbidity in RA.
Developing Critical Hip Hop Feminist Literacies: Centrality and Subversion of Sexuality in the Lives of Black Girls.

The present article explores discourses surrounding the bodies of Black 1 women and girls as they engage the meanings of Black womanhood in (American) society in an afterschool setting. Drawing on Black and hip hop feminisms, African American literacies, and critical discourse perspectives, the author analyzes two young girls' narratives, which reveal competing and controlling discourses of Black female sexuality. Bria's 2 narrative of being sexually harassed by older boys while riding the bus is favorably assessed by the community of Black female interlocutors because she projects herself as asexual. Thus, the community of Black females bestows compassion upon her. Assata's narrative shares her budding womanhood and sexuality and is evaluated negatively by the group of Black females. Although both 11-year-old girls and the community of Black female interlocutors enact critical literacies amidst dominating racist, sexist, classist, and patriarchal discourses, their resistance strategies also perpetuate th...
Seed conditioning of red oak: a recalcitrant North American seed

Sementes de carvalho vermelho (Quercus rubra L.) foram condicionadas diretamente em agua, sob aeracao, durante 10 dias. As sementes condicionadas fisiologicamente apresentaram maior percentagem, velocidade e uniformidade de germinacao, quando comparadas com a testemunha. O condicionamento das sementes pode ser efetuado sob ampla variacao de temperaturas e periodos de exposicao. Sementes condicionadas podem ser mantidas a 7oC/30 dias, sem perda de qualidade. Durante o condicionamento ocorre ruptura do pericarpo, em resposta a hidratacao da semente; essa ocorrencia pode ser utilizada para estimar a qualidade da semente. O condicionamento nao apresentou efeitos em sementes dormentes. O condicionamento das sementes de carvalho vermelho em agua, com aeracao, seguido pela selecao de sementes com ruptura do pericarpo, proporciona o rapido estabelecimento e uniformidade das plântulas.
Towards a predictive understanding of belowground process responses to climate change: have we moved any closer?

Summary 1. Belowground processes, including root production and exudation, microbial activity and community dynamics, and biogeochemical cycling interact to help regulate climate change. Feedbacks associated with these processes, such as warming-enhanced decomposition rates, give rise to major uncertainties in predictions of future climate. 2. Uncertainties associated with these processes are more likely to be reduced if two key challenges can be met: increasing interdisciplinarity among researchers, and measuring belowground ecosystem structure and function at relevant spatial and temporal scales. For instance, recognizing the relationship between belowground primary production and soil respiration enhances modelling of global-scale C cycle temperature responses. At the opposite end of the spectrum, applying genomic techniques at the scale of microns improves mechanistic understanding of root‐microbe interactions. 3. Progress has been made in understanding interactions of belowground processes with climate change, although challenges remain. We highlight some of these advances and provide directions for key research needs in this Special Feature of Functional Ecology, which results from a symposium that was convened at the Soil Science Society of America National Meeting in November, 2006.
A history of Greek rhetoric and oratory

THE ART OF PERSUASION IN GREECE. By George Kennedy. Princeton, N. J.: Princeton University Press, 1963; pp. xi+350. $7.50.
Environmental controls on the seasonality of a drought deciduous shrub, Diplacus aurantiacus and its predator, the checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas chalcedona

Diplacus aurantiacus produces a full canopy of leaves during the rainy winter and spring. As the drought begins in summer, all but the terminal leaves are lost. The leaves present during the growth period have a comparatively low specific weight and a high content of water, protein, and non-structural carbohydrate on a weight basis. Leaves of this type have a high carbon-gain per unit dry matter investment.
Private sector logistics in population control: A case in Jamaica

The physical distribution of contraceptives is a problem for birth control programs, yet privatesector logistics have often been overlooked in planning. This paper studies the distribution of contraceptives in Jamaica in terms of sales, direct contact through manufacturers and importers, wholesalers' activities, and brand-stocking practices. The authors arrive at five essential prescriptions for the use of the private sector.
Polyphosphate in the life cycle of Physarum polycephalum and its relation to RNA synthesis.

Abstract 1. The amount of polyphosphate and the rate of its synthesis varied throughout the synchronous mitotic cycle of the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum . The highest content was observed shortly before mitosis. 2. Polyphosphate synthesis was higher in plasmodia grown in phosphate-rich medium than it was in those grown in phosphate-deficient medium. Increase in this substance also occurred under conditions of starvation. 3. Inhibition of RNA synthesis in the plasmodium by actinomycin D resulted in a marked stimulation of 32 P incorporation into polyphosphate. No such correlation was found after inhibition of DNA synthesis by 5-fluorodeoxyuridine or of protein synthesis by cycloheximide.
Pharmacokinetics of the combination tablet of buprenorphine and naloxone

The sublingual combination tablet formulation of buprenorphine and naloxone at a fixed dose ratio of 4:1 has been shown to be as effective as the tablet formulation containing only buprenorphine in treating opiate addiction. The addition of naloxone does not affect the efficacy of buprenorphine for two reasons: (1) naloxone is poorly absorbed sublingually relative to buprenorphine and (2) the half-life for buprenorphine is much longer than for naloxone (32 vs. 1 h for naloxone). The sublingual absorption of buprenorphine is rapid and the peak plasma concentration occurs 1 h after dosing. The plasma levels for naloxone are much lower and decline much more rapidly than those for buprenorphine. Increasing dose results in increasing plasma levels of buprenorphine, although this increase is not directly dose-proportional. There is a large inter-subject variability in plasma buprenorphine levels. Due to the large individual variability in opiate dependence level and the large variability in the pharmacokinetics (PK) of buprenorphine, the effective dose or effective plasma concentration is also quite variable. Doses must be titrated to a clinically effective level for individual patients.
Speciation and Domestication in Maize and Its Wild Relatives: Evidence From the Globulin-1 Gene

The grass genus Zea contains the domesticate maize and several wild taxa indigenous to Central and South America. Here we study the genetic consequences of speciation and domestication in this group by sampling DNA sequences from four taxa-maize (Zea mays ssp. mays), its wild progenitor (Z. mays ssp. parviglumis), a more distant species within the genus (Z. luxurians), and a representative of the sister genus (Tripsacum dactyloides). We sampled a total of 26 sequences from the glb1 locus, which encodes a nonessential seed storage protein. Within the Zea taxa sampled, the progenitor to maize contains the most sequence diversity. Maize contains 60% of the level of genetic diversity of its progenitor, and Z. luxurians contains even less diversity (32% of the level of diversity of Z. mays ssp. parviglumis). Sequence variation within the glb1 locus is consistent with neutral evolution in all four taxa. The glb1 data were combined with adh1 data from a previous study to make inferences about the population genetic histories of these taxa. Comparisons of sequence data between the two morphologically similar wild Zea taxa indicate that the species diverged approximately 700, 000 years ago from a common ancestor of intermediate size to their present populations. Conversely, the domestication of maize was a recent event that could have been based on a very small number of founding individuals. Maize retained a substantial proportion of the genetic variation of its progenitor through this founder event, but diverged rapidly in morphology.
Sequential redundancy identification using transformation-based verification

The design of complex digital hardware is challenging and error-prone. With short design cycles and increasing complexity of designs, functional verification has become the most expensive and time-consuming aspect of the digital design process. Sequential equivalence checking (SEC) has been proposed as a verification framework to perform a true sequential check of input/output equivalence between two designs. SEC provides several benefits that can enable a faster and more efficient way to design and verify large and complex digital hardware. It can be used to prove that micro-architectural optimizations needed for design closure preserve design functionality, and thus avoid the costly and incomplete functional verification regression traditionally used for such purposes. Moreover, SEC can be used to validate sequential synthesis transformations and thereby enable design and verification at a higher-level of abstraction. Use of sequential synthesis leads to shorter design cycles and can result in a significant improvement in design quality. In this dissertation, we study the problem of sequential redundancy identification to enable robust sequential equivalence checking solutions. In particular, we focus on the use of a transformation-based verification framework to synergistically leverage various transformations to simplify and decompose large problems which arise during sequential redundancy identification to enable an efficient and highly scalable SEC solution. We make five main contributions in this dissertation. First, we introduce a novel sequential redundancy identification framework that dramatically increases the scalability of SEC. Second, we propose the use of a flexible and synergistic set of transformation and verification algorithms for sequential redundancy identification. This more general approach enables greater speed and scalability and identifies a significantly greater degree of redundancy than previous approaches. Third, we introduce the theory and practice of transformation-based verification in the presence of constraints. Constraints are pervasively used in verification testbenches to specify environmental assumptions to prevent illegal input scenarios. Fourth, we develop the theoretical framework with corresponding efficient implementation for optimal sequential redundancy identification in the presence of constraints. Fifth, we address the scalability of transformation-based verification by proposing two new structural abstraction techniques. We also study the synergies between various transformation algorithms and propose new strategies for using these transformations to enable scalable sequential redundancy identification.
Effects of Benzyl‐, Phenethyl‐, and α‐naphthyl Isothiocyanates on P‐glycoprotein‐ and MRP1‐mediated Transport

Abstract The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of two dietary isothiocyanates (ITCs), benzyl‐ (BITC) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), and one synthetic ITC, α‐naphthyl isothiocyanate (1‐NITC), on the P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp)‐ and multidrug‐resistance protein 1 (MRP1)‐mediated efflux of daunomycin (DNM), determine whether PEITC is a substrate of P‐gp and/or MRP1, and elucidate the mechanism(s) involved in the inhibition of transport. BITC, PEITC, and 1‐NITC significantly increased the 2‐h accumulation of DNM in MCF‐7/ADR (P‐gp overexpression), PANC‐1 (MRP1 overexpression), and human colon adenocarcinoma Caco‐2 cells (except for 1‐NITC). The accumulation of 14 C‐PEITC was not changed in Caco‐2, human breast cancer MDA435/LCC6 and MDA435/LCC6MDR1 (P‐gp overexpression) cells in the absence and presence of the P‐gp inhibitor verapamil, but significantly increased with the MRP inhibitor MK571 in PANC‐1 cells. The isocyanate and amine metabolites had no effect on DNM accumulation in any cell line. After 2‐ and 24‐h ITC treatments, cellular concentrations of glutathione (GSH) in PANC‐1 and Caco‐2 cells were depleted by BITC and PEITC, but not by 1‐NITC; glutathione‐S‐transferase activity exhibited small changes. Our results suggest that (1) BITC, PEITC, and 1‐NITC inhibit the P‐gp‐ and MRP1‐mediated efflux of DNM; (2) PEITC and/or its conjugates do not represent P‐gp substrates; (3) BITC and PEITC, but not 1‐NITC, inhibit MRP1 through the depletion of intracellular GSH, which acts as a cosubstrate for DNM efflux via MRP1; and (4) PEITC and/or its conjugates are MRP1 substrates so binding interactions with DNM represent a second potential mechanism involved in MRP1 inhibition. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 93:1901–1911, 2004
Global constrained holdability of discrete-time systems

Global constrained holdability of a discrete-time system is considered. This problem is concerned with determining if for every, initial state in a given convex holding set, there exists a control, subject to specified magnitude constraints, which keeps the state of the system in the holding set. A condition for checking global constrained holding is presented. A method for computing a control, subject to specified magnitude constraints, which holds the state of the system in the holding set for a prescribed initial state is also given.
Evidence for a latitudinal gradient of the cosmic ray intensity associated with a change in the tilt of the heliospheric current sheet

Since mid-1985, the average flux of >70 MeV/nucleon cosmic rays at Voyager 2 (r_2 ∼ 17 AU, Θ_2 ∼ 0°) has been ∼3-5% greater than that at Voyager 1 (r_1 ∼ 24 AU, Θ_1 ∼ 26°N). This is the first direct observation over such a large radial range in which the galactic cosmic ray flux closer to the sun is higher than the flux farther from the sun for an extended period of time. This observation is consistent with the presence of a negative latitudinal gradient G_Θ=−0.36 ± 0.05 (or −0.60 ± 0.08) %/deg, assuming a coexistent radial gradient G_r of 1 (or 2) %/AU. We suggest that the appearance of this persistent negative latitudinal gradient may be due to the abrupt, large decrease of the heliospheric current sheet tilt to ∼20° in early 1985.
Automated Time Series Forecasting for Biosurveillance

For robust detection performance, alerting algorithms for biosurveillance require input data free of trends, day-of-week effects, and other systematic behavior. Time series forecasting methods may be used to remove this behavior by subtracting forecasts from observations to form residuals for algorithmic input. We describe three forecast methods and compare their predictive accuracy on each of 16 authentic syndromic data streams. The methods are (1) a nonadaptive loglinear regression model using a long historical baseline, (2) an adaptive regression model with a shorter, sliding baseline, and (3) the Holt-Winters method for generalized exponential smoothing. Criteria for comparing the forecasts were the rootmean-square error, the median absolute percent error (MedAPE) and the median absolute deviation. The median-based criteria showed best overall performance for the Holt-Winters method. The MedAPE measures over the 16 test series averaged 16.5, 11.6, and 9.7 for the nonadaptive regression, adaptive regression, and Holt-Winters methods, respectively. The nonadaptive regression forecasts were degraded by changes from the data behavior in the fixed baseline period used to compute model coefficients. The mean-based criterion was less conclusive because of the effects of poor forecasts on a small number of calendar holidays. The Holt-Winters method was also most effective at removing serial autocorrelation, with most 1-day-lag autocorrelation coefficients below 0.15. The forecast methods were compared without tuning them to the behavior of individual series. We achieved improved predictions with such tuning of the Holt-Winters method, but practical use of such improvements for routine surveillance will require reliable data classification methods.
Effective dosing of lipid A analogue E5564 in rats depends on the timing of treatment and the route of Escherichia coli infection.

Background. E5564, a competitive lipid A antagonist, inhibits endotoxin-stimulated inflammation and is under study in patients with sepsis. Methods. We tested whether clinically relevant variables, including the timing of treatment and the route of infection, influenced the effective dosing of E5564 in Escherichia coli-challenged rats. Results. All E5564 doses (0.3, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/kg intravascular bolus followed by 10% of the bolus dose infused hourly for 24 h) administered 1 h before intravascular E. coli challenge similarly reduced the risk of death. Delaying the start of E5564 to 1 or 3 h after intravascular E. coli challenge significantly reduced the beneficial effect of the doses tested. However, increasing the dose of E5564 reversed some loss of efficacy for delayed treatment (P = .004, for increasing benefit with increasing dose at 1 h). During intrabronchial or intraperitoneal (extravascular) E. coli challenge, the pattern of effective E5564 dosing was the inverse of that for intravascular E. coli challenge (P = .001, for the interaction)-lower doses of E5564 were beneficial and higher doses were not (0.03, 0.3, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/kg bolus followed by infusion) (P = .05, for decreasing benefit with increasing dose at 1 h). Conclusion. These findings suggest that, for maximal clinical benefit, E5564 should be given early and that dosing should be adjusted upward for intravascular infection and downward for extravascular infection.
Population Genetic Diversity in a Maize Reciprocal Recurrent Selection Program

The genetic structures of the Iowa Corn Borer Synthetic #1 (CB) and Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic (SS) maize (Zea mays L.) populations are important because these populations serve as the model for development of modern commercial hybrids. In 1949, CB and SS were used to start a reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) breeding program at Iowa State University. This study was conducted to analyze more thoroughly the genetic diversity within this RRS program and illustrate how the RRS program has changed over time at the molecular level. The progress of this program was measured by analyzing the variation at 86 SSR loci among 28 progenitor lines and 30 plants sampled from each of seven cycles (Cycle 0, Cycle 1, Cycle 3, Cycle 6, Cycle 9, Cycle 12, and Cycle 15) in each population. The progenitors of these populations show a high amount of variation on the basis of expected heterozygosity (0.557). As the RRS program proceeded, this variation decreased (Cycle 15,0.245). In total, a larger amount of genetic variation was found among plants within cycles (66%) than among cycles (13%) or between populations (21%). The repartitioning of variation from within populations (96% in progenitors) to between populations (58% in Cycle 15) over time is consistent with theoretical expectations of divergence between the populations. By sampling intermediate time points, we gained a comprehensive genetic view of CB and SS permitting evaluation of the molecular-level changes occurring as a result of reciprocal recurrent selection.
A framework for power system restoration following a major power failure

Although a major power failure is a complex unique problem, certain common guidelines for power system restoration have emerged from previous papers. This article is a review and organized compilation of those papers. As such, it provides a framework to help power system operators limit the extent of major power failures, and if a failure occurs, to help operators rebuild a stable electric power system and restore unserved load as safely, smoothly and quickly as possible with minimal adverse impact to the public. These guidelines also offer recommendations to help prepare for a major power failure in advance, thereby further facilitating restoration. >
Accuracy and pourability of gypsum preweighed packages

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of gypsum provided by the manufacturers in their preweighed packages and to determine the amount of gypsum dispensed from the packages as a function of the method used. Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty unopened packages from 8 manufacturers were weighed. Ten packages from each manufacturer were opened with the contents completely removed by tapping the packages, and the contents were weighed (thorough method). The other 5 packages from each manufacturer were opened, quickly poured, and the contents weighed (quick method). All packages were then slit open on all sides and completely cleaned. The cleaned packages were then weighed. Calculations were made to determine (1) the amount of gypsum that was “supplied” by the manufacturer and (2) the amount removed from the packages using the “quick” and “thorough” methods. The raw data was normalized to percentage of stated weight. A Welch analysis of variance was used to evaluate the heteroscedastic data at a 95% confidence level. Thereafter, a post hoc Student t test was used to determine if the percentages of stated weight for (1) supplied, (2) thorough, and (3) quick were significantly different from 100%. Results: A statistically significant difference was found for the amount of gypsum supplied by the manufacturers (p < .001) and the amount of material removed from the packages via the 2 different methods used (p < .001). Seven of the 8 manufacturers’ preweighed packages were remarkably close to their stated weight for amounts “supplied” and the “thorough” method. High standard deviations from the mean were found for the “quick” method of gypsum removal. Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, results indicate that the use of a “thorough” method to remove gypsum from preweighed packages was important. Ideally, gypsum supplied in preweighed packages should be weighed initially to ensure an optimal water/powder ratio. J Prosthodont 2001;10:86-90. Copyright © 2001 by The American College of Prosthodontists.
Radiance—irradiance inversion algorithm for estimating the absorption and backscattering coefficients of natural waters: homogeneous waters

A full multiple-scattering algorithm for inverting upwelling radiance (Lu) or irradiance (Eu) and downwelling irradiance (Ed) profiles in homogeneous natural waters to obtain the absorption (a) and backscattering (bb) coefficients is described and tested with simulated data. An attractive feature of the algorithm is that it does not require precise knowledge of the scattering phase function of the medium. For the Eu – Ed algorithm, tests suggest that the error in the retrieved a should usually be ≲1%, and the error in bb ≲10–20%. The performance of the Lu –Ed algorithm is not as good because it is more sensitive to the scattering phase function employed in the inversions; however, the error in a is usually still small, i.e., ≲3%. When the algorithm is extended to accommodate the presence of a Lambertian-reflecting bottom, the retrievals of a are still excellent, even when the presence of the bottom significantly influences the upwelling light field; however, the error in bb can be large.
On renewable sensor networks with wireless energy transfer

Traditional wireless sensor networks are constrained by limited battery energy. Thus, finite network lifetime is widely regarded as a fundamental performance bottleneck. Recent breakthrough in the area of wireless energy transfer offers the potential of removing such performance bottleneck, i.e., allowing a sensor network remain operational forever. In this paper, we investigate the operation of a sensor network under this new enabling energy transfer technology. We consider the scenario of a mobile charging vehicle periodically traveling inside the sensor network and charging each sensor node's battery wirelessly. We introduce the concept of renewable energy cycle and offer both necessary and sufficient conditions. We study an optimization problem, with the objective of maximizing the ratio of the wireless charging vehicle (WCV)'s vacation time over the cycle time. For this problem, we prove that the optimal traveling path for the WCV is the shortest Hamiltonian cycle and provide a number of important properties. Subsequently, we develop a near-optimal solution and prove its performance guarantee.
Covalent Bond in Crystals. I. Elements of a Structural Theory

An a posteriori theory is developed for the structural energy of covalent crystals. The microscopic theory is based on ionic pseudopotentials and valence dielectric screening. The theory explains the difference between empirical pseudopotential form factors derived from the optical spectra of semiconductors and the metallic form factors calculated from free-ion term values by Animalu and Heine. A byproduct of the theory, which utilizes Penn's model isotropic semiconductor dielectric function, is a relation between the covalent bonding charge and the macroscopic dielectric constant. In self-consistent form the theory is an example of the "bootstrap" approach, applied here to treat the effect of covalent bonding on the ground-state energy of the valence electron gas. It is argued that the axiomatic character of the covalent theory is to be expected on symmetry grounds, and it is shown that the theory is superior to a nonlinear multiple-scattering theory based on the free-electron dielectric function. The extension of the theory to III---V and II---VI semiconductors is described briefly. The theory may be used to calculate elastic and macroscopic dielectric properties of covalent crystals starting only from ionic pseudopotential form factors.
Descriptions of outer d electrons in thiospinels

Abstract The constraints [1] of symmetry imposed by the spinel structure and[2] of internal consistency within the periodic table are used to construct phenomenological energy diagrams for the transition-metal thiospinels. It is found that band narrowing via intra-atomic exchange is sufficient to localize the d electrons to a cation only if there are at least three unpaired spins at the cation. A-site Co2+ ions may have collective d electrons, but exhibit a spontaneous atomic moment in Co [Cr2]S4. The compounds A[Cr2]S4, where A = Zn, Cd, Mn and Fe, contain localized d electrons, although the antiparalled-spin electron per Fe2+ ion is just localized. It is argued that the compounds Cu[B2]S4, B = V, Cr, Rh and 1 2(Rh+Cr) , have one hole per molecule in primarily d-like, collective orbitais that are primarily Cu-S in character. Where the B cations have no spontaneous atomic moment (B ≠ Cr), the compounds are superconducting at lowest temperatures. Cu[Ti2]S4 and Cu[Co2]S4, though metallic and without spontaneous magnetism, exhibit no superconducting transition above 0.05°K. Cu[Ti2]S4 and probably Cu[Co2]S4 are distinguished by a lack of (or less than one per molecule) holes in the d-like, collective Cu-S states. Cu2+ + Cr3+ is argued to be more stable than Cu+ + Cr4+ in the chalcogenide spinels, as it is known to be in Cu[Cr2]O4. The low Curie constant of CuCrRhSe4, as compared with CuCrTiS4, is attributed to a temperature-dependent molecular field, which is primarily due to mobile charge carriers in the selenide, rather than to Cr4+ excited states at high temperatures. The decrease in optical energy gap below Tc in CdCr2Se4, in contrast to its increase in CdCr2S4, is attributed to high-spin and low-spin Cr2+ ions of approximately the same energy.
Resource requirements and layouts for field programmable interconnection chips

Field-programmable interconnection chips (FPIC's) provide the capability of realizing user programmable interconnection for any desired permutation. Such an interconnection is very much desired for supporting rapid prototyping of hardware systems and for providing programmable communication networks for parallel and distributed computing. An FPIC should realize any possible permutation of input to output pins via a set of programmable switches. In this paper, we show that any such architecture requires a minimum of /spl Omega/(n log n) switches, where /spl Omega/ is the number of I/O pins. The result stems from an analysis of the underlying permutation network. In addition, for networks of bounded degree d, we prove an /spl Omega/(log/sub d-1/ n) bound on the routing delay (maximum length of routing paths for specific I/O permutations) and an /spl Omega/(n log/sub d-1/ n) bound on the average utilization of programmable switches used by the FPIC to implement a specific permutation. For the same type of networks, we prove an /spl Omega/(n log/sub d-1/ n) bound on the number of nodes of the network. Furthermore, we design efficient architectures for FPIC's offering a wide variety of routing delays, high average programmable resource utilization, and O(n/sup 2/)-area two-layer layouts. The proposed structures are called hybrid Benes-Crossbar (HBC) architectures and clearly exhibit a tradeoff between performance (routing delay utilization) and area of the layout.
The effect of digitalization on quinidine toxicity

Abstract The effect of quinidine on digitalized but not digitalis-intoxicated dogs was studied. One group was digitalized with a full-digitalizing dose of Cedilanid-D prior to an infusion of quinidine gluconate. Another group was given quinidine without prior digitalization. The mean blood pressure, heart rate, QRS duration, and serum potassium levels after Cedilanid-D but prior to quinidine infusion were not significantly different for the two groups. Six digitalized dogs and two undigitalized animals died before lengthening of the QRS duration to twice control values. This was not a statistically significant difference. The time of death, and thus the amount of quinidine infused, the serum potassium, and quinidine levels at death were not statistically different in the two groups. It was concluded that prior digitalization with a rapid-acting digitalis preparation has no significant effect on quinidine toxicity.
Forecasting the Maintenance of Mesoscale Convective Systems Crossing the Appalachian Mountains

Forecasting the maintenance of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) is a unique problem in the eastern United States due to the influence of the Appalachian Mountains. At times these systems are able to traverse the terrain and produce severe weather in the lee, while at other times they instead dissipate upon encountering the mountains. To differentiate between crossing and noncrossing MCS environments, 20 crossing and 20 noncrossing MCS cases were examined. The cases were largely similar in terms of their 500-hPa patterns, MCS archetypes, and orientations with respect to the barrier. Analysis of radiosonde data, however, revealed that the environment east of the mountains discriminated between case types very well. The thermodynamic and kinematic variables that had the most discriminatory power included those associated with instability, several different bulk shear vector magnitudes, and also the mean tropospheric wind. Crossing cases were characterized by higher instability, which was found to be partially attributable to the diurnal cycle. However, these cases also tended to occur in environments with weaker shear and a smaller mean wind. The potential reasons for these results, and their forecasting implications, are discussed.
An Improved Adaptive Detection Method for Power Quality Improvement

A new adaptive harmonic selective detection method is proposed in this paper. This adaptive method has better convergence properties compared to previous adaptive or neuron detection methods. The adaptive gains of this method can be relatively large to obtain faster convergence. The stability of the proposed method is guaranteed and its properties are analyzed when compared to its predecessors. This proposed adaptive method is simple and effective in extracting fundamental and harmonic current information from nonlinear load currents. The extracted fundamental or harmonic currents therefore can be used as the reference signals for power quality improvement, harmonic selective cancellation or reactive power compensation. The method is also phase-independent and can thus be easily applied to single- or three-phase unbalanced systems. Simulation and experimental results verify the good performance of this improved adaptive detection method. Moreover, two application cases are built and tested to demonstrate its effectiveness in harmonic selective cancellation and reactive power compensation.
Photoluminescence and ion sensing properties of a bipyridyl chromophore-modified semifluorinated polymer and its metallopolymer derivatives

A difluorovinylene aromatic ether polymer (P1) incorporating periodic 5,5′-distyryl-2,2′-bipyridyl units as metal chelating chromophores was prepared by a transition metal-free step-growth polymerization. P1 displays strong ionochromic and ionoluminescent effects in response to transition metals. Although significant emission quenching is observed upon exposure to most transition metal ions, bathochromically shifted emission is observed upon addition of divalent d10 ions (Zn2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+). A selective 10-fold increase in integrated emission intensity is observed upon addition of Zn2+ to P1. The Zn2+-P1 metallopolymer acts as a ratiometric fluorescent indicator selective for fluoride anions, and the Cu2+-P1 metallopolymer exhibits a striking turn-on fluorescence response (>100-fold increase in integrated intensity) selective for cyanide and fluoride anions.
Adult Kawasaki disease

A 44-year-old male presented with 1 h history of substernal, persistent pressure-like chest pain. The pain had no radiation and started while he was watching TV. He denied associated nausea, vomiting, palpitations or shortness of breath. He has history of hypertension controlled with irbesartan. He never smoked or drank alcohol. Exam showed normal vital signs; cardiovascular examination showed regular rate and rhythm, no gallops, murmurs or pericardial rub, had symmetric and bounding distal pulses. Electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm with no ST or T wave changes, and with normal intervals. Chest X-ray was normal. Laboratory studies showed elevated cardiac …
The Marijuana Ladder: Measuring motivation to change marijuana use in incarcerated adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine if a modified version of the Contemplation Ladder, a measure of motivation to change marijuana use among incarcerated adolescents (Marijuana Ladder; ML), was related to marijuana use and treatment engagement. Participants (N = 122) in this study were all incarcerated at a state juvenile correctional facility in the Northeast. Adolescents were assessed at the beginning of their incarceration, 2 months into their incarceration, and 3 months after their release. There was a significant negative relationship between ML scores and marijuana use and a significant positive relationship between ML scores and treatment engagement. When controlling for prior marijuana use and age, ML scores at baseline significantly added to the prediction of marijuana use and treatment engagement among incarcerated adolescents. Results support the concurrent validity and the predictive validity of the ML. This measure has the potential to provide important information for Juvenile Justice Facilities that might aid in treatment planning and discharge planning for incarcerated adolescents. In addition, researchers may find a quick visual analog measure of motivation to change marijuana use with good psychometric properties useful.
Research protections for diverted mentally ill individuals: should they be considered prisoners?

The number of diversion programs for the mentally ill has increased dramatically over the past decade. These programs serve the valuable goal of reducing the growing population of incarcerated mentally ill persons by providing supervised community treatment. Research within these programs, critical for improving outcomes for these vulnerable individuals, is complicated by the fact that participants may have legal statuses which carry significant coercive leverage. In this way their ability to freely consent to research may be limited. In this paper, the authors describe the practice of diversion and review relevant research on coercion, informed consent and decisional capacity among the mentally ill and imprisoned. Current legal protections for prisoners are then discussed in the light of a recent proposal to broaden the legal definition of “prisoner” for research purposes to include community corrections populations, thus including diverted individuals. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of protein fouling during ultrafiltration using a two-layer membrane model.

Protein fouling can significantly alter both the flux and retention characteristics of ultrafiltration membranes. There has, however, been considerable controversy over the nature of this fouling layer. In this study, hydraulic permeability and dextran sieving data were obtained both before and after albumin adsorption and/or filtration using polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes. The dextran molecular weight distributions were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography to evaluate the sieving characteristics over a broad range of solute size. Protein fouling caused a significant reduction in the dextran sieving coefficients, with very different effects seen for the diffusive and convective contributions to dextran transport. The changes in dextran sieving coefficients and diffusive permeabilities were analyzed using a two-layer membrane model in which a distinct protein layer is assumed to form on the upstream surface of the membrane. The data suggest that the protein layer formed during filtration was more tightly packed than that formed by simple static adsorption. Hydrodynamic calculations indicated that the pore size of the protein layer remained relatively constant throughout the adsorption or filtration, but the thickness of this layer increased with increasing exposure time. These results provide important insights into the nature of protein fouling during ultrafiltration and its effects on membrane transport.
Some new results on observability and stability of discrete-time autonomous systems

This paper studies discrete-time autonomous systems /spl Sigma/: x/sub k+1/=f(x/sub k/), y/sub k/=h(x/sub k/). We investigate the problem of when asymptotic stability of /spl Sigma/ can be characterized by means of zero-state observability of /spl Sigma/ and square summability of the output function h(x/sub k/). The relationship among observability, square summable series and stability of discrete-time autonomous systems is exposed.