cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of supplemental lysine and threonine on growth and development of yearling horses.

Thirty-nine Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearlings were used in two 112-d experiments to determine the effect of lysine and threonine supplementation on growth and development. Yearlings were individually fed three dietary treatments that consisted of a pelleted concentrate containing corn, oats, and soybean meal fed to appetite twice daily and Coastal bermuda grass hay group-fed at a rate of 1 kg/100 kg BW. Three concentrates were tested: (A) basal, (B) basal plus .2% lysine, and (C) basal plus .2% lysine, and .1% threonine. Feed intake, weight, withers height, girth, hip height, body length, and hoof growth (Exp. 1) were recorded every 28 d, and initial and final radiographs taken for estimating bone mineral content. Final croup fat thickness was measured ultrasonically in Exp. 1, and initial and final croup fat measured in Exp. 2. Blood samples were taken every 28 d for determination of serum urea N and protein in Exp. 2. Average daily feed intake (as-fed) was 8.8 +/- .14, 9.0 +/- .13, and 9.2 +/- .13 kg (P .10) and in Exp. 2 were 61.7, 70.8, and 70.2 g/kg (P < .10) for Treatments A, B, and C, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Rapid hyperspectral image classification to enable autonomous search systems

Author Summary: The emergence of lightweight full-frame hyperspectral cameras is destined to enable autonomous search vehicles in the air, on the ground and in water. Self-contained and long-endurance systems will yield important new applications, for example, in emergency response and the timely identification of environmental hazards. One missing capability is rapid classification of hyperspectral scenes so that search vehicles can immediately take actions to verify potential targets. Onsite verifications minimise false positives and preclude the expense of repeat missions. Verifications will require enhanced image quality, which is achievable by either moving closer to the potential target or by adjusting the optical system. Such a solution, however, is currently impractical for small mobile platforms with finite energy sources. Rapid classifications with current methods demand large computing capacity that will quickly deplete the on-board battery or fuel. To develop the missing capability, the authors propose a low-complexity hyperspectral image classifier that approaches the performance of prevalent classifiers. This research determines that the new method will require at least 19-fold less computing capacity than the prevalent classifier. To assess relative performances, the authors developed a benchmark that compares a statistic of library endmember separability in their respective feature spaces.
Hope and Healing in Urban Education: How Urban Activists and Teachers are Reclaiming Matters of the Heart

Shawn Ginwright's follow-up book to his 2010 Black Youth Rising: Activism and Radical Healing in Urban America is sure to be as insightful as it is inspiring for teachers, community activists, and ...
Matched Case Control Analysis Comparing Long Term Survival of Multiple Myeloma Patients Who Received Stem Cell Transplant with and without Idiotype-Pulsed Dendritic Cell Vaccine

Abstract 636 Cellular vaccine may offer additional benefit as consolidative therapy after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM). We have reported previously from two phase II studies the survival of MM patients who received APC8020 (autologous antigen presenting cell vaccine) after ASCT (Lacy, AJH 909, (84): 799; Lin, ASH annual meeting 2010, abstract 1958). To determine if there was an outcome advantage for additional consolidative vaccine therapy after ASCT, we performed this matched case control analysis comparing the survival of patients who received ASCT only (control) at Mayo Clinic to those who received APC8020 after ASCT in the same time period. Forty-three study patients accrued between July 1998 and March 2002 were eligible for matching. To reduce bias from disease risks and transplant-related mortality, control patients were required to be alive and progression free six months after transplant and have a M-spike value of st study) or 9 mos (2 nd study) after transplant, similar to post-ASCT patients who were enrolled in the two APC8020 studies. A total of 111 control patients were eligible for matching. Control patients were matched to study patients by age (+/− 5 yrs), ISS (International Staging System) stage, and plasma cell labeling index (PLCI, either >= 3 or Disclosures: Sims: Dendreon Corporation: Employment.
Dogs on Call in a Patient Library

ABSTRACTStudies show the many positive medical effects of therapy dog interactions with patients. The Community Health Education Center, a library for patients and their family members located in a large medical center collaborated with the Dogs on Call, a hospital-based therapy dog program to provide a stress relief program for patients and staff using therapy dogs.
The significance of small streams

Headwaters, defined here as first- and secondorder streams, make up 70%‒80% of the total channel length of river networks. These small streams exert a critical influence on downstream portions of the river network by: retaining or transmitting sediment and nutrients; providing habitat and refuge for diverse aquatic and riparian organisms; creating migration corridors; and governing connectivity at the watershed-scale. The upstream-most extent of the channel network and the longitudinal continuity and lateral extent of headwaters can be difficult to delineate, however, and people are less likely to recognize the importance of headwaters relative to other portions of a river network. Consequently, headwaters commonly lack the legal protections accorded to other portions of a river network and are more likely to be significantly altered or completely obliterated by land use.
Propagation and hormone production by human normal and malignant trophoblast in rats: II. Choriocarcinoma in Millipore diffusion chambers in rats

Abstract Human choriocarcinoma, hamster cheek pouch transplants from the WO line, was transferable subcutaneously to Millipore filter (MF) chambers in rats. Independent of sex and age, the choriocarcinoma cells grew on the inner surface of the filters and produced human chorionic gonadotropin hormone as evidenced by gonadotropic stimulation of adult and immature rats of both sexes. In ovariectomized females, there was no alteration of the oviducts and uteri, but the growth pattern and morphology of the cells in the MF chambers was the same as in noncastrated rats. This transplantation method provides the possibility of a combined tissue-culture and hormone-assay method.
Microarray-Based Genome-Wide Association Studies Using Pooled DNA

Pooling genomic DNA samples within clinical classes of disease for use in whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping allows for rapid and inexpensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We describe here a general outline for combining hundreds of genomic DNA samples prior to genotyping on commercially available high-density SNP microarrays. The pool construction approach is universal, and independent of the SNP genotyping platform utilized, and therefore provides a quick, efficient, and low-cost alternative to interrogating thousands of individual samples on singular SNP microarrays. While the strategy for pooled DNA genotyping on SNP microarrays is straightforward, the success of such studies is critically dependent upon the accuracy of allelic frequency calculations, the -ability to identify falsely positive results arising from assay variability, and the willingness to better resolve association signals through investigation of neighboring SNPs.
Bariatric Surgery-Induced Cardiac and Lipidomic Changes in Obesity-Related Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of gastric bypass on myocardial lipid deposition and function and the plasma lipidome in women with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS A primary cohort (N = 12) with HFpEF and obesity underwent echocardiography and magnetic resonance spectroscopy both before and 3 months and 6 months after bariatric surgery. Plasma lipidomic analysis was performed before surgery and 3 months after surgery in the primary cohort and were confirmed in a validation cohort (N = 22). RESULTS After surgery-induced weight loss, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire scores, cardiac mass, and liver fat decreased (P < 0.02, P < 0.001, and P = 0.007, respectively); echo-derived e' increased (P = 0.03), but cardiac fat was unchanged. Although weight loss was associated with decreases in many plasma ceramide and sphingolipid species, plasma lipid and cardiac function changes did not correlate. CONCLUSIONS Surgery-induced weight loss in women with HFpEF and obesity was associated with improved symptoms, reverse cardiac remodeling, and improved relaxation. Although weight loss was associated with plasma sphingolipidome changes, cardiac function improvement was not associated with lipidomic or myocardial triglyceride changes. The results of this study suggest that gastric bypass ameliorates obesity-related HFpEF and that cardiac fat deposition and lipidomic changes may not be critical to its pathogenesis.
Contribution of Fish Community Metrics to the Index of Biotic Integrity in Two Ozark Rivers

Flow regime, energy source, water quality, and habitat structure within stream systems play major roles in controlling the structure of resident fish communities (Gorman and Karr, 1978; Karr and Dudley, 1981; Schlosser, 1982). Based on the hypothesis that there are predictable relationships between stream variables and fish community structure, overall stream condition has been assessed using indices such as the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) (Karr, 1981; Karr et al., 1986). The IBI integrates a wide range of information pertaining to fish community structure that reflects the prevailing chemical, physical, and biological condition of the stream. Assessments made using the IBI have been correlated to actual stream conditions and appear to be sensitive to a wide range of environmental degradation (Fausch et al., 1990).
Desk Jockey: A Device To Increase Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (neat) In Adults

Increased sedentary behavior (SB) has been shown to raise the risk of obesity and chronic diseases due to extended period of time spent sitting. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a portable device, “Desk Jockey” (DJ), on increasing non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) and reducing sedentary behavior in a simulated office environment. Thirteen participants whose daily work required long hours sitting were recruited and completed the study (seven males and six females). Metabolic rates (METs), energy expenditure (EE), respiratory quotient (RQ) and heart rates (HRs) were measured using an indirect calorimeter during five sessions. These included one sedentary and four sessions with different pedaling frequencies and resistances. Each session included a 10 min baseline, 20 min pedaling and 20 min post-pedaling/recovery periods. Ratings of DJ’s usefulness were also obtained from each participants. Data revealed that METs, EE and HRs increased significantly (p’s < 0.0001) during pedaling period compared to the baseline period even though METs were still low (2.5 ± 0.6 MET) in each session. Total EE was significantly higher in sessions with pedaling (p’s < 0.0001) as compared with total sedentary session. RQ was not affected by pedaling. In high frequency sessions the METs during the 10 minutes recovery period were still higher (p’s < 0.05) than those at baseline. Thus pedaling frequency was a more important factor to METs and EE than resistance. DJ was tolerated well and no adverse effects was reported. It can be used by office workers to increase METs and EE during and post pedaling periods without interfering with work.
Teaching artificial intelligence using web-based applications

Instructors teaching courses in artificial intelligence are challenged to illustrate how various topics covered in class can be applied to everyday computing applications. As an instructor of an artificial intelligence course, one can often sense a student's disconnection between the "weak AI" algorithms covered and the mechanisms possible for merging them into typical information systems, including client management systems, resource scheduling systems, financial applications, and fraud detection systems. Lisp and Prolog have withstood as the favorite choices for implementing AI methods discussed in an artificial intelligence course, but they lack means for input conversion and validation, and output formatting. Furthermore, their GUI capabilities are very limited. This paper describes a web-based shell interface that addresses these issues and provides the student with insight into how AI algorithms can be embedded within broader applications.
SENSITIVITY OF OZONE AND AEROSOL PREDICTIONS TO THE TRANSPORT ALGORITHMS IN THE MODELS-3 COMMUNITY MULTI-SCALE AIR QUALITY (CMAQ) MODELING SYSTEM

We have demonstrated that the choice of modules in transport processes interacts with other model configurations. Comparison with observations, especially with secondary species such as O3, may not be sufficient to allow selection of the best modules. For example, we have compared first layer ozone concentrations with those from EPA’s AIRS database. Figure 5 shows that the configuration F36 has least bias compared with observations. However, this alone is not sufficient to determine which transport algorithms are superior. Factors such as the representation of emissions inputs, the treatment of plume-in-grid, the use of different chemical mechanisms,the selection of different chemical solvers, and the model grid structure (i.e., vertical and horizontal resolutions and domain size), all contribute to different model results. Establishment of the best configuration of science process modules in a comprehensive AQM requires balanced representations of transport algorithms with other physical and chemical processes.
Self-reported myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease among oil spill workers and community members 5 years after Deepwater Horizon.

Abstract Background Chemical, physical and psychological stressors due to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill may impact coronary heart disease (CHD) among exposed populations. Using longitudinal information from two interviews in the Gulf Long Term Follow-up (GuLF) STUDY, we assessed CHD among oil spill workers and community members. Objective To assess the associations between duration of oil spill clean-up work, residential proximity to the oil spill, and incidence of self-reported myocardial infarction or fatal CHD. Methods Among respondents with two GuLF STUDY interviews (n = 21,256), there were 395 first incident heart disease events (self-reported myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) across 5 years. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for associations with duration of oil spill clean-up work and residential proximity to the oil spill. To assess potential impacts of non-response, we compared covariate distributions for those who did (n = 21,256) and did not (n = 10,353) complete the second interview and used inverse probability (IP) of censoring weights to correct for potential non-response bias. Results Living in proximity to the oil spill (vs. living further away) was associated with heart disease, with [HR(95%CI) = 1.30(1.01–1.67)] and without [1.29(1.00–1.65)] censoring weights. For work duration, hazard of heart disease appeared to be higher for those who worked > 180 days (vs. 1–30 days), with and without censoring weights [1.43(0.91–2.25) and 1.36(0.88–2.11), respectively]. Associations persisted throughout the 5-year follow-up. Conclusions Residential proximity to the spill and duration of clean-up work were associated with a suggested 29–43% higher hazard of heart disease events. Associations were robust to censoring.
Predicting 72-hour and 9-day return to the emergency department using machine learning.

Objectives To predict 72-h and 9-day emergency department (ED) return by using gradient boosting on an expansive set of clinical variables from the electronic health record. Methods This retrospective study included all adult discharges from a level 1 trauma center ED and a community hospital ED covering the period of March 2013 to July 2017. A total of 1500 variables were extracted for each visit, and samples split randomly into training, validation, and test sets (80%, 10%, and 10%). Gradient boosting models were fit on 3 selections of the data: administrative data (demographics, prior hospital usage, and comorbidity categories), data available at triage, and the full set of data available at discharge. A logistic regression (LR) model built on administrative data was used for baseline comparison. Finally, the top 20 most informative variables identified from the full gradient boosting models were used to build a reduced model for each outcome. Results A total of 330 631 discharges were available for analysis, with 29 058 discharges (8.8%) resulting in 72-h return and 52 748 discharges (16.0%) resulting in 9-day return to either ED. LR models using administrative data yielded test AUCs of 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.70) and 0.71(95% CI 0.70-0.72), while gradient boosting models using administrative data yielded test AUCs of 0.73 (95% CI 0.72-0.74) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.73-0.74) for 72-h and 9-day return, respectively. Gradient boosting models using variables available at triage yielded test AUCs of 0.75 (95% CI 0.74-0.76) and 0.75 (95% CI 0.74-0.75), while those using the full set of variables yielded test AUCs of 0.76 (95% CI 0.75-0.77) and 0.75 (95% CI 0.75-0.76). Reduced models using the top 20 variables yielded test AUCs of 0.73 (95% CI 0.71-0.74) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.72-0.74). Discussion and conclusion Gradient boosting models leveraging clinical data are superior to LR models built on administrative data at predicting 72-h and 9-day returns.
Creation of a Patient-Centered Journey Map to Improve the Patient Experience: A Mixed Methods Approach.

Abstract Objective To use a mixed methods approach to focus quality improvement efforts to enhance patient experience through human-centered design. Patients and Methods A mixed method approach began with returned Press Ganey Medical Practice Surveys from a large, multidisciplinary, outpatient medicine practice from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, using correlation and gap analysis. The second phase deployed human-centered design approaches to process map patient journeys and generate opportunities for care improvement and to generate a theoretical framework for designing optimal care experiences. Results Our outpatient medical practices have the greatest ability to improve patient experience scores by focusing on how care teams deliver and educate patients on medications, instructions for follow-up care, and explanations about problems or conditions. By leveraging communication, the expertise of our care team members, and connection between patients and care team members, we can employ a variety of observed opportunities to enhance patient experience. Specific opportunities include leveraging tools in the electronic health record, fostering connection through empathy between patients and members of the care team, and capitalizing on the expertise of nurses on the care team. Conclusion A mixed methods approach to the analysis and observation of clinical care and business operations allows for the detection of opportunities with the highest potential impact for improvement when resources are constrained.
Risk of readmission for injury in patients with epilepsy in the United States - A population-based study.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to determine the 30-day injury readmission risk among persons with epilepsy vs. without epilepsy using a nationally representative US database. Secondary objectives were to examine the factors associated with injury-related readmissions among those with epilepsy and identify specific causes of readmissions within 30 days of index admission. Methods Hospitalized individuals of all ages with epilepsy as the primary diagnosis were identified using validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in the 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD). Primary outcome was 30-day readmission for an injury defined by ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes following discharge from index hospitalization. Subgroup differences in the groups with epilepsy and without epilepsy were estimated using standardized mean difference scores that are calculated with means and variances of the covariates. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to determine the 30-day injury readmission risk and examine the factors associated with injury-related readmissions. Results There were 60,074 unique persons with epilepsy (mean age: 42.53 years, female: 49.32%) and 9,282,952 without epilepsy (mean age: 44.46 years, female: 59.43%). A higher proportion of persons with epilepsy (n = 215, 0.34%) vs. without epilepsy (n = 22,783, 0.22%) had a 30-day readmission due to an injury. After adjusting for covariates, persons with epilepsy had higher odds of 30-day readmission due to an injury (adjusted OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.20–1.62, p Conclusions Higher odds of 30-day injury readmissions were observed in persons with epilepsy vs. without epilepsy. Optimizing the management of comorbid conditions during the patient's index admission for epilepsy, minimizing discharges against medical advice, and fostering outreach programs to those who have been transferred to short-term hospitals or facilities may reduce 30-day readmissions due to an injury.
Synthesis of PEG-grafted boron doped Si nanocrystals

Silicon nanocrystals are intriguing materials for biomedical imaging applications because of their unique optical properties and biological compatibility. We report a new surface functionalization route to synthesize biological buffer soluble and colloidally stable silicon nanocrystals, which is enabled by surface boron doping. Harnessing the distinctive Lewis acidic boron surface sites, postsynthetic modifications of plasma synthesized boron doped nanocrystals were carried out with polyethylene glycol (PEG-OH) ligands in dimethyl sulfoxide under photochemical conditions. The influence of PEG concentration, PEG molecular weight, and boron doping percentage on the nanocrystal solubility in a biological buffer has been investigated. The boron doping facilitates the surface functionalization via two probable pathways, by providing excellent initial dispersiblity in polar solvents and providing available acidic boron surface sites for bonding. These boron doped silicon nanocrystals have nearly identical absorption features as intrinsic silicon nanocrystals, indicating that they are promising candidates for biological imaging applications.
Murine Gut Microbiome Association With APOE Alleles

Background: Since APOE alleles represent the most impactful genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), their differential mechanism(s) of action are under intense scrutiny. APOE4 is robustly associated with increased AD risk compared to the neutral APOE3 and protective APOE2. APOE alleles have also been associated with differential inflammation and gastrointestinal recovery after insult in human and murine studies, leading us to hypothesize that APOE alleles impact the gut microbiome. Methods: To assess this hypothesis, we compared 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon-based microbiome profiles in a cohort of mice that were homozygous for APOE2, APOE3, or APOE4, and included both males and females as well as carriers and non-carriers of five familial AD (5xFAD) mutations. Fecal samples were analyzed from mice at 4 and 6 months of age. APOE genotype, as well as sex and 5xFAD status, was then tested for influence on alpha diversity (Shannon H index) and beta diversity (principal coordinate analyses and PERMANOVA). A Random Forest analysis was used to identify features that predicted APOE, sex and 5xFAD status. Results: The richness and evenness (alpha diversity) of the fecal microbiome was not robustly associated with APOE genotype, 5xFAD status or sex. In contrast, microbial community composition (beta-diversity) was consistently and strongly associated with APOE genotype. The association between beta-diversity and sex or 5xFAD status was less consistent and more modest. Comparison of the differences underlying APOE effects showed that the relative abundance of multiple bacterial taxa was significantly different as a function of APOE genotype. Conclusions: The structure of the gut microbiome was strongly and significantly associated with APOE alleles in this murine model. Further evaluation of these findings in humans, as well as studies evaluating the impact of the APOE-associated microbiota on AD-relevant phenotypes in murine models, will be necessary to determine if alterations in the gut microbiome represent a novel mechanism whereby APOE genotype impacts AD.
Producing and Promoting the Sports Gambling Industry since the 2018 United States Supreme Court Ruling: A Review of Organizational Action through Suspense Theory

Sports gambling is a way for people to experience the emotions caused by suspense. Suspense is predicated and enhanced along the dimensions of outcome uncertainty and a rooting interest in the outcome. Suspense for a sporting event is increased through gambling by creating outcome uncertainty and a rooting interest beyond the result of an actual game. The 2018 United States Supreme Court ruling that permits states to legalize wagering on sports games altered the sports gambling industry by giving more people the ability to bet on games. Several states are facilitating sports betting by allowing wagering through online and mobile platforms. Beyond what is legally permitted, sports gambling participation is influenced by how the activity is promoted. State governments, sports leagues and teams, sports gambling operators, and media companies are all in position to capitalize economically on an increase in sports gambling, therefore, their actions in producing and promoting the sports gambling industry since the Supreme Court ruling are in need of study. The alignment of organizational action with suspense theory lends insight into what is actually occurring in the sports gambling industry and can serve to better anticipate future industry developments.
The Paradox of Security Force Assistance after the Rise and Fall of the Islamic State in Syria–Iraq

This article focuses on innovative conceptual definitions to capture the various terms and ideas that abound concerning the delivery of military assistance, aid, and training in fragile states, oft...
Optical Properties and Excited-State Dynamics of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters

Understanding the excited-state dynamics of nanomaterials is essential to their applications in photoenergy storage and conversion. This review summarizes recent progress in the excited-state dynam...
Condolences and congratulations: COVID-19 pressures on higher education faculty

COVID-19 has produced pressures and demands on almost all professionals in our society. Teachers at all levels have been among the hardest hit by new expectations, and although much of the attentio...
In the World to Come God Will Sign

Abstract The correlation of disability studies and feminist theology is discussed, as this is one arena where feminist theologians are failing to create an inclusive community. Of particular concern for feminist theologians and ethicists is the dominant language of embodiment and wholeness pervasive in feminist theological ethics. In this paper, I argue that feminist theologies of embodiment and wholeness are incomplete without understanding what these terms mean for persons with disabilities.1 I also challenge the discipline to actively prepare the community by looking critically at its language and pedagogy to create a theological ethic where one can be “different but not alienated.”
Applied behavior analytic interventions for children with autism: a description and review of treatment research.

Background Autism is a disorder characterized by pervasive delays in the development of language and socialization, and the presence of stereotyped, repetitive behaviors or nonfunctional interests. Although a multitude of treatments for autism exist, very few have been the subject of scientific research. The only treatment that has been supported by substantial empirical research is treatment based on applied behavior analysis (ABA). Methods This article describes components of comprehensive ABA treatment programs, reviews research on effectiveness, and discusses issues related to collaboration between ABA and psychiatry. Results ABA has been supported by several hundred single case experiments and an increasing number of between-groups studies. Comprehensive ABA treatment programs are comprised of multiple intervention procedures, such as discrete trial instruction and natural environment training, and are founded on basic principles of learning and motivation, such as positive reinforcement, extinction, stimulus control, and generalization. Clinicians in the fields of ABA and psychiatry have similar goals regarding client outcome, and several ABA measurement and analysis procedures produce information that may be useful to psychiatrists. Conclusions ABA treatment programs for individuals with autism are supported by a significant amount of scientific evidence and are therefore recommended for use. Patient care would likely benefit from a greater degree of collaboration between practitioners in the fields of ABA and psychiatry.
Carbon isotopic fractionation across a late Cambrian carbonate platform: A regional response to the spice event as recorded in the Great Basin, United States

Carbon Isotopic Fractionation Across A Late Cambrian Carbonate Platform: A Regional Response To The SPICE Event As Recorded In The Great Basin, United States by Jonathan Lloyd Baker Dr. Ganqing Jiang, Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of Geoscience University of Nevada, Las Vegas Geochemical models have suggested that the late Cambrian was characterized by a greenhouse climate with high pCO2. Furthermore, stableisotope analyses within the Great Basin have documented a large carbonate isotope (δ13Ccarb) excursion, known as the Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion (SPICE). This event has been documented globally, and is interpreted as having resulted from enhanced organic carbon burial. Unless the size of carbon reservoirs in the Cambrian ocean was significantly different from those of the Cenozoic, this forcing should have resulted in a comparable carbon-isotope excursion in organic matter (δ13Corg). It is also predicted that increased organic carbon burial would lower atmospheric CO2, which may cause global cooling and a reduction in carbonate-organic carbon isotope fractionation. To test these predictions, paired carbonate and organic carbon isotope data are reported here from carbonate stratigraphic sections at Shingle Pass, Nevada and in House Range, Utah. At Shingle Pass, δ 13Corg values record a positive excursion that roughly mirrors δ 13Ccarb values at a similar magnitude, suggesting an oceanographic control on the carbon isotope trend. In the House Range section, iii although δ 13Corg values show a rough positive shift associated with positive δ13Ccarb, the magnitude is smaller and values show minor shifts across the excursion. However, constructing a time-equivalent overlay of data from both sections using key stratigraphic boundaries resolved apparent discrepancies, suggesting a regional control on carbon isotopic fractionation. The difference between carbonate and organic carbon isotope values (Δ13C = δ13Ccarb – δ13Corg) averages 27‰ to 28‰ in both sections, but increases to 30‰ at the peak of the excursion and falls to as low as 25‰ immediately after the Sauk II/III sequence boundary. Temporal variations in Δ 13C do not follow the predicted atmospheric CO2 changes before the δ13Ccarb peak of the SPICE, as might have been derived from the increased organic carbon burial model for the origin of the SPICE event, and indicates that the carbon isotope fractionation was less sensitive to atmospheric CO2 changes when ambient CO2 was high. The abrupt drop in Δ13C after the δ13Ccarb peak of the SPICE is consistent with low atmospheric CO2 and the potential evolution of photosynthetic organisms in adapting to CO2-limited environments with stronger bicarbonate uptake during carbon fixation.
The early Mars climate question heats up.

Results from Pathfinder and elsewhere indicate that early Mars harbored liquid water on its surface. Kasting's Perspective describes two recent ideas as to how the atmosphere remained warm enough for this to be possible, one presented in this issue (p. [1273][1]). Forget and Pierrehumbert suggest that COice clouds could have reflected enough infrared energy back toward the martian surface to maintain water in its liquid state. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/278/5341/1273
Challenges and Solutions for Public Employers: Maintaining Work Environments Free of Harassment and Discrimination by Non-Employees

The myriad issues regarding employer liability for harassment and discrimination of employees by supervisors and co-employees have been well explored.' A more recent and less-developed issue involves employer liability for discrimination by non-employees, including customers or clients of an employer. Increasingly, courts and legislatures are promulgating standards of care that make employers liable for non-employee discrimination if they knew or should have known of the conduct yet failed to take appropriate preventative and remedial action.2 These standards are rooted in the legal theory of hostile work environment discrimination, which makes employers responsible for maintaining work environments free of discrimination.3 However, there is not uniform agreement that employers should be liable for discrimination by non-employees. In particular, some public employers4 argue that imposing liability on them for such third-party
Interaction of Myoglobin and Cytochrome c

Spectrophotometric studies of various mixtures of reduced and oxidized forms of myoglobin and cytochrome c revealed that oxymyoglobin is capable of reducing ferricytochrome c at a molar ratio of 1. Other combinations, i.e. oxymyoglobin and ferrocytochrome c; metmyoglobin and ferricytochrome c; or metmyoglobin and ferrocytochrome c showed no spectral change during the time course studied. The pH optimum of the reaction was found to be 7.2. The Q10 was about 5 and the activation energy was about 29 kcal per mole. Aging of oxymyoglobin tended to increase the rate of the reaction, but metmyoglobin added to the reaction mixture had no effect on the system. Antimycin A, amytal, and rotenone were without effect on the reaction. The partial carboxymethylation of histidyl residues of myoglobin increased the reaction rate to twice that of the control. The formation of a complex between oxymyoglobin and cytochrome c was not detected by various physical methods. Oxygen had an inhibitory effect on the reaction of the oxymyoglobin-ferricytochrome c system. This suggested that deoxymyoglobin rather than oxymyoglobin is the reacting species and that the rate-limiting step is the dissociation of oxygen from oxymyoglobin. This was confirmed by measurements showing that deoxymyoglobin reacted with ferricytochrome c at rates significantly greater than those of oxymyoglobin-cytochrome c system. This reaction was shown to proceed in stoichiometric fashion under equilibrium conditions. Carbon monoxide myoglobin was unreactive.
Calcium permeability of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: the single-channel calcium influx is significant

The calcium permeability of the mouse muscle nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) was determined using patch-clamp techniques. Single-channel currents were measured in pure external calcium and in mixtures of calcium with cesium or sodium. At low concentrations, calcium decreases the current carried by the monovalent cation. At higher concentrations, calcium displaces the monovalent cation as the main current carrier. In pure external calcium, the conductance of the nAChR is similar to the conductance of the NMDA receptor or the L-type Ca channel. With pure 110-mM calcium as the external cation, the slope conductance of the nAChR channel at negative potentials is 12 pS. An ion-permeation model based on the structure and function of the channel describes the currents. The ion-permeation model predicts that calcium contributes about 2% of the total inward current through a nAChR channel in physiologic solution. The current is about 7% of the calcium current through an L-type Ca channel. Because nAChRs are densely packed at the neuromuscular end plate, the calcium influx at an active synapse is expected to produce a locally high-calcium environment.
Intergenerational Effects of Paying for College.

A study of parents' and their children's means of paying for college was conducted to determine if the use of parent contributions, work earnings, or student financial aid shows influence across generations. This study used data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study of 1990 in a path model with controls for the child's academic ability, gender, declared major, institutional selectivity, tuition cost, and distance from home. Indirect effects are indicated that increase parental cash gifts and loans to the child, mediated by parents' measures of socioeconomic status, the timing of college savings, and the child's degree aspirations. The child's financial aid is also indirectly affected by measures of the parents' socioeconomic status (higher status resulting in less aid). The direct effect of the parent receiving student financial aid is in larger amounts of student aid for the child. No intergenerational effects occur between the parents' use of work earnings to finance college and the amount of work earnings in college for the child.
Frequency-dependent criterion for mitigation of transmission-line effects in a high-frequency distributed power systems

A frequency-dependent criterion that enables transfer of power at high frequency (HF) over a distributed power system (DPS) is outlined. Such a DPS can encompass conventional applications such smart building, electric vehicles, lighting and telecommunication applications, microgrid, or even distributed multi-axis motor drives or motor drives with wide separation between inverter and motor. Historically, HF DPSs for suitable applications have demonstrated compact solution of the overall power system while ensuring enhanced efficiency and reliability. However, for several such applications Achilles hill has been the transmission-line (TL) effect that a power signal encounters as it propagates through the TL. Solutions to this core problem have primarily focused on adjusting the TL length or using active compensation. While the former is primarily limited to PCB level implementations, the latter leads to high expense and complexity of the DPS. In this paper, we demonstrate a frequency-dependent criterion, which if satisfied, mitigates the TL effect and is scalable for systems that have one or more sources and singular or plurality of application load(s).
A computer program for the Fourier transform of data with crystal symmetry

Summary form only given. Auslander has used algebraic methods to give a mathematical structure to a study of the symmetries of crystals. An approach to implementing Auslander's methods that has several important features is described. Only nonredundant data need be stored. Thus, for the case of threefold symmetry, only slightly more than 1/3 of the full set of data need be stored. The problem is broken down into small modules that employ efficient Winograd-type fast Fourier transform algorithms. Most of the calculation is done by calling subroutines which compute smaller conventional 3-D Fourier transforms. This permits the use of efficient available Fourier transform subroutines for the time-consuming parts of the calculations. Indexing and permutations are done on small arrays, thereby reducing data transfer time and storage of index vectors. The method can be implemented on a vector processor. A prototype program was written and tested for a case of 120 degrees rotational symmetry in a 60 by 60 by 60 cube. It was 5.2 times as fast as a conventional 3-D program for the same data. >
Effects of biosolid amendment on populations of Meloidogyne hapla and soils with different textures and pHs

Abstract Temperate vegetable and nursery industries face significant challenges in managing Meloidogyne hapla , a plant-parasite for which few resistant cultivars and/or viable alternatives to methyl bromide exist. N-Viro Soil® (NVS), an alkaline-stabilized biosolid product, has soil nutrition enrichment capacity and potential for plant-parasitic nematode suppression. In three sets of experiments, we investigated the effects of NVS on M. hapla populations from Rhode Island (RI), Connecticut (CT), New York, Geneva (NYG) and Lyndonville (NYL), and Michigan (MI), and growth of tomato cv ‘Rutgers’ in five soils commonly used for vegetable and nursery crop production in the Great Lakes Region of the USA. Either 0 (control) or 600 eggs/100 cm 3 of soil per M. hapla population were added in all experiments. In the first set, NVS was applied at rates of 0, 1, 2 and 4 g/100 cm 3 of sandy loam soil (pH 7) and resulted in variable responses on the numbers of nematodes recovered and plant growth at 30 and 90 days (25 ± 2 °C); however, the 2 g NVS treatment consistently increased plant growth. Either 0 or 2 NVS/100 cm 3 were applied to a coarse loamy (pH 4.5) and sandy loam (pH 8, second set of experiments), and muck (pH 5.5), loamy sand (pH 7.1) and sandy loam (pH 7.5, third set of experiments) soils and experiments terminated four weeks after nematode inoculation. Across experiments, the effect of NVS on the M. hapla populations varied. Generally nematode infection decreased plant growth. NVS increased soil pH the most in muck and the least in sandy loam soil. The most consistent interaction effects of NVS*soil, NVS* M. hapla , soil* M. hapla and/or NVS*soil* M. hapla across the experiments indicate that NVS affects M. hapla populations in different ways in different soil types, suggesting that NVS application is likely to be site-specific. These findings further provide basis that may potentially explain reports of variable effects of NVS on nematodes and how future studies may account in furthering our understanding of NVS activities for M. hapla management.
Particle-scale CO2 adsorption kinetics modeling considering three reaction mechanisms

Abstract In the presence of water (H2O), dry and wet adsorptions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and physical adsorption of H2O happen concurrently in a sorbent particle. The three reactions depend on each other and have a complicated, but important, effect on CO2 capturing via a solid sorbent. In this study, transport phenomena in the sorbent were modeled, including the three reactions, and a numerical solving procedure for the model also was explained. The reaction variable distribution in the sorbent and their average values were calculated, and simulation results were compared with experimental data to validate the proposed model. Some differences, caused by thermodynamic parameters, were observed between them. However, the developed model reasonably simulated the adsorption behaviors of a sorbent. The weight gained by each adsorbed species, CO2 and H2O, is difficult to determine experimentally. It is known that more CO2 can be captured in the presence of water. Still, it is not yet known quantitatively how much more CO2 the sorbent can capture, nor is it known how much dry and wet adsorptions separately account for CO2 capture. This study addresses those questions by modeling CO2 adsorption in a particle and simulating the adsorption process using the model. As adsorption temperature changed into several values, the adsorbed amount of each species was calculated. The captured CO2 in the sorbent particle was compared quantitatively between dry and wet conditions. As the adsorption temperature decreased, wet adsorption increased. However, dry adsorption was reduced.
Catalog competition and stable nonlinear prices

Abstract We model strategic competition between product differentiated oligopolists in a market with privately informed buyers as an abstract game over market situations. In this game each firm’s strategy space consists of a set of catalogs—and each catalog in turn consists of a set of products and prices the firm might offer to the market. Assuming that firms behave farsightedly in choosing their catalog strategies, we specify the market situation game by two objects: (i) a set of market situations, that is, a set of feasible profit-catalog profiles for firms, and (ii) a dominance relation defined on the set of market situations which reflects farsighted behavior. We show that the set of market situations is compact and we introduce two dominance relations on the set of market situations: farsighted dominance and path dominance. We then identify conditions sufficient to guarantee the existence of a nonempty set of market situations stable with respect to farsighted dominance (i.e., a nonempty largest farsightedly consistent set), as well as conditions sufficient to guarantee the existence of a nonempty set of market situations stable with respect to path dominance. Finally, we show that for any finite market situation game there exists a stable set with respect to path dominance contained in largest farsightedly consistent set. We close with an example illustrating this relationship between path dominance stability and farsighted consistency for finite market situation games.
Relationship between varying Roux limb lengths and weight loss in gastric bypass.

Background The optimal Roux limb length for gastric bypass is unknown. Therefore, the effect of Roux limb length on weight loss and nutritional deficiency after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure was studied. Methods From September 2000 to February 2004, 165 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries were performed at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. One-year follow-ups were completed on 97 patients. Roux limbs varied from 100 cm to 150 cm, based on the patient's body mass index (BMI). Roux limb lengths were compared with 1-year changes in absolute weight, BMI, and nutritional levels. Results In the 97 patients, average age at the time of surgery was 44 years (range, 20-63). Average BMI was 46.7 ± 6.6 kg/m 2 before surgery and 30.9 ± 5.8 kg/m 2 at 1-year follow-up. Average absolute weight loss at 1 year was 43.7 ± 12.8 kg. A statistically significant linear relationship existed between Roux limb length and reductions in BMI and absolute weight. No relationship existed between Roux limb length and changes in nutrient levels. Conclusion A linear relationship exists between Roux limb length and 1-year weight loss.