cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlation Between Presbylarynx and Laryngeal EMG.

Summary Background The normal aging process affects many human functions profoundly. The voice is no exception, and some aging effects on the voice are obvious including vocal fold atrophy, bowing, stiffness, more prominent vocal fold processes, and glottic insufficiency. The study's primary aim was to determine the correlation between presbylarynx and laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) results and to compare these electromyography (EMG) results with young and old voice patients without evidence of presbylarynx changes on strobovideolaryngoscopy. Methods Medical records for voice patients seen in the senior author's (RTS) practice between 2015 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with presbylarynx confirmed by strobovideolaryngoscopy were identified and compared to two control groups. The first control group included patients with ages and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores similar to the experimental group but no presbylarynx. The second control group included younger patients (ages ranging between 18 and 35 years with mean age of 24.57 years) with vocal fold paresis. All groups had undergone LEMG because of suspected paresis clinically. Social and medical factors reviewed and compared between groups included smoking history, alcohol consumption, occupation (voice demanding versus not voice demanding occupation), Voice Handicap Index score at the initial office visit, medical comorbidities, medications, and LEMG results. Results There was no significant difference in the recruitment results for three pairs of muscles (cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid and posterior cricoarytenoid) between the presbylarynx group and both control groups. Rate of asthma was higher in presbylarynx group compared with the first control group. Rates of corticosteroid inhaler use, thyroid medications, smoking, and Voice Handicap Index score were higher in presbylarynx group compared with the second control group. There was no significant difference in occupation type and alcohol consumption between groups. Conclusion There was no significant difference found in the neuromuscular function based on laryngeal EMG between presbylarynx patients and both old and young patients with vocal fold paresis but without presbylarynx. Corticosteroid inhaler is associated with atrophic changes seen in presbylarynx. There still could be differences in the neuromuscular function which weren't detected. More research is needed to confirm or refute these findings.
Co-production in Political Science and Public Administration

This chapter describes the origin of the co-production concept in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the literature of political science and public administration in the United States. It explains why attention to the concept garnered interest and momentum through the 1980s but then declined, only to be reinvigorated by scholarship from across the globe in the mid-2000s. The chapter explores why this interest renewed and how co-production has become a major approach for research and practice in political science and public administration.
Battery Equivalent Model for Residential HVAC

Flexible loads, especially heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems can be used to provide a battery-like service to the power grid by varying their demand up and down over a baseline. Recent work has reported that the round-trip efficiency for providing grid services with HVAC systems can be close to 1. Inspired by this promising result, in this work, we rigorously develop a battery equivalent model (BEM) for residential HVAC systems. Relying only on typically available data, the proposed BEM will bridge the observability and controllability gaps between utility companies and customers. The proposed BEM will enable the utility companies to manage the flexible HVAC devices as easy as charging/discharging the conventional energy storage devices. Validated physics-based models are used to train the BEM, whose prediction accuracy is illustrated through a simulation study.
Lifestyle Medicine at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine

From 2009 to present-day, the University of Central Florida College of Medicine has progressively incorporated lifestyle medicine into its curriculum thanks to a variety of student and faculty-led ...
Contractile ring constriction and septation in fission yeast are integrated mutually stabilizing processes

In common with other cellular machineries, the actomyosin contractile ring that divides cells during cytokinesis does not operate in isolation. Contractile rings in animal cells interact with contiguous actomyosin cortex, while ring constriction in many cell-walled organisms couples tightly to cell wall growth. In fission yeast, a septum grows in the wake of the constricting ring, ensuring cytokinesis leaves two daughter cells fully enclosed by cell wall. Here we mathematical modeled the integrated constriction-septation system in fission yeast, with a kinetic growth model evolving the 3D septum shape coupled to a molecularly explicit simulation of the contractile ring highly constrained by experimental data. Simulations revealed influences in both directions, stabilizing the ring-septum system as a whole. By providing a smooth circular anchoring surface for the ring, the inner septum leading edge stabilized ring organization and tension production; by mechanically regulating septum circularity and in-plane growth, ring tension stabilized septum growth and shape. Genetic or pharmacological perturbation of either subsystem destabilized this delicate balance, precipitating uncontrolled positive feedback with disastrous morphological and functional consequences. Thus, high curvature septum irregularities triggered bridging instabilities, in which contractile ring segments became unanchored. Bridging abolished the local tension-mediated septum shape regulation, exacerbating the irregularity in a mutually destabilizing runaway process. Our model explains a number of previously mysterious experimental observations, including unanchoring of ring segments observed in cells with mutations in the septum-growing {beta}-glucan synthases, and irregular septa in cells with mutations in the contractile ring myosin-II Myo2. Thus, the contractile ring and cell wall growth cellular machineries operate as a single integrated system, whose stability relies on mutual regulation by the two subsystems.
Composition variations of major lunar elements: Possible impacts on lunar albedo spectra

Abstract Understanding the elemental composition of the lunar regolith is important for expanding our knowledge of the history and geology of the Moon. Several methods have already been used to achieve this purpose, including direct analysis of lunar samples and satellite spectroscopy. Since computer modeling is important for processing the collected data, and for the preparation of future missions, this work uses Monte Carlo simulations to study the radiation emitted by the lunar surface, via nuclear interactions between the incident radiation environment and lunar regolith, to characterize the elemental composition of the Moon. When high energy primary galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles strike the lunar surface, they either scatter to free space or produce secondaries through cascades of interactions, some of which escape the lunar surface. Both the scattered primaries and escaping secondaries constitute the lunar “albedo” particles studied in this paper. The purpose of this work is to determine whether enhancing the abundances of any of the major lunar elements (O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Mn, and Fe) causes an observable difference in the spectra of albedo particles emitted by the regolith. The model-based results herein show that charged albedo particles do not display any significant differences for any element. They also confirm that low-energy neutrons and gamma rays produce observable variations with different lunar compositions. This provides evidence that albedo neutrons and/or gamma rays, and not protons, are the source of the variations observed in a recent map of the lunar albedo, generated by the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument.
Is the political divide on climate change narrower for people of color? Evidence from a decade of U.S. polling

Abstract National polls reveal stark and growing political divisions on the issue of climate change within the United States. However, few studies have explored whether these trends generalize to communities of color, who experience disproportionate environmental risks. Synthesizing over a decade of nationally representative survey data (2008–2019; N = 23,707), we conducted a conceptual replication and extension of previous research on the “racial/ethnic gap” in U.S. climate change opinion. Consistent with prior work, we find that African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos show less political polarization—including both weaker ideological and partisan divides—across a diverse range of belief, risk perception, and policy-support measures. Further, we find that this differential polarization has remained largely stable over time and is robust to effects of other sociodemographic variables, such as education and income. Notably, across the political spectrum, people of color were more likely to report that global warming poses a danger to themselves. Racial/ethnic differences were generally more pronounced among the political Right than the political Left, are generally larger for beliefs and risk perceptions (vs. policy support) and are only partially accounted for by racial/ethnic differences in ideology or party sorting. These results offer comprehensive evidence that climate change is less polarized among people of color in the U.S. Increasing diversity in the environmental sector and conducting more research on socio-cultural differences in environmental responses (including other racial/ethnic groups and indigenous populations) is important to promoting equity in decision-making, addressing environmental disparities, and potentially bridging growing political divides in the U.S.
Physics of Clusters and Cluster Assemblies

Atomic clusters with a specific size and composition can be viewed as “super-atoms” whose chemistry mimics that of the atoms in the periodic table. A novel class of materials with tailored properties can then be synthesized by assembling these clusters in a variety of ways. This review deals with the physics and chemistry of unusually stable clusters and electronic structure and energetics of crystals where these clusters form the building blocks. Also discussed are the electronic structure and magnetic properties of clusters supported on metallic substrates.
The Superficial Recurrent Ophthalmic Artery: Meningeal Supply to Petrous Ridge Meningiomas

The superficial recurrent ophthalmic artery arising from the second portion of the ophthalmic artery is rarely visible angiographically. Described herein is a patient, having a recurrent ophthalmic artery which had hypertrophied to a degree sufficient to supply a highly vascularized meningioma of the petrous ridge. Coexistence of marginal tentorial branches, namely the superficial recurrent ophthalmic artery and the meningohypophyseal trunk, is an embryological dilemma. Furthermore, this case demonstrates the capacity of the ophthalmic artery to supply posteriorly situated neoplasms.
Expectations and Performance from Whose Perspective

The construct of service quality has received considerable attention in the recent professional services marketing literature. Typically, attempts to measure service quality have focused on the gap between expectations and performance perceptions. This note identifies and discusses the various perspectives from which expectations and perceptions of performance can be measured.
DOSE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS FOR NEUTRONS AND GAMMA-RAYS IN ANTHROPOMORPHOUS AND RADIOBIOLOGICAL PHANTOMS

Abstract A right circular cylinder, 30 cm in diameter and 60 cm in height, was assumed to be composed of standard soft tissue, and dose as a function of penetration depth was computed for plane beams of incident neutrons. Data are presented for monoenergetic neutrons of various energies up to 14.0 MeV as well as for the neutron spectrum from the Health Physics Research Reactor (HPRR). The calculations were of a Monte Carlo nature using a slightly revised version of Snyder's linear energy transfer (LET) code (1) New LET curves were obtained for C, N, O, B, Be, protons, tritons, and alpha particles, and recently obtained values of cross sections for these same elements were used with the code (2) Many previous theoretical treatments of similar problems tended to ignore inelastic scattering reactions due to (1) the complexity of coding, (2) the difficulty of obtaining appropriate inelastic cross sections, and (3) inadequate “fast memory” capacity of many computational machines. Results of these calculations were compared with (1) those for the infinite slab 30 cm thick in the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Handbook 63, (2) those obtained for a burro cadaver exposed to the neutron spectrum from the HPRR, (3) and (3) those presented by Auxier et al. (4) in their description of a belt containing various radiation detection devices to be used in the determination of the orientation of persons exposed to unscheduled criticality excursions.
The Limits of Civil Society: Community Based Organizations in Good Economic Times and Bad

In the United States, community based organizations play a critical role in social service and development programs. In the absence of a more comprehensive welfare state as exists in other western industrialized democracies, community based non-profit groups are a primary mechanism through which many social services are delivered and housing and economic development is achieved. Social services such as child and elder care, after school programs and physical and economic development programs such as affordable housing, job training and local business development, that are more likely to be designed and run by government in many European countries, are primarily developed and delivered by some of the now more than 1.4 million non-profits in the U.S. Although the term non-profits encompasses everything from large hospitals, universities and charities, to small neighborhood associations, some of these organizations can also be a key mechanism through which individuals and communities that face race, class, ethnicity and gender-based discrimination can organize and advocate for economic, social and political change. Local self-help fits within traditional American values of self-reliance and entrepreneurialism and has broad political appeal. For many, such an approach is the desired antithesis to state-defined solutions to social and economic needs. Citizens in their neighborhoods, rather than far away government, are the expected and trusted source of new ideas and solutions to local problems.This paper examines the leadership and influence of women through their participation in local community development organizations in the U.S. and the limits and possibilities for civil society groups to achieve their self-defined development and social goals.
Orthogonal Polynomials and Random Matrices: A Riemann-Hilbert Approach

Riemann-Hilbert problems Jacobi operators Orthogonal polynomials Continued fractions Random matrix theory Equilibrium measures Asymptotics for orthogonal polynomials Universality Bibliography.
In vitro studies of human trophoblast.

Abstract Human 8 to 16 week placentas and WO strain human choriocarcinomatous tissue were grown in tissue cultures in the rocker and conventional static systems. A report of the cytologic observations, immunofluorescent staining, and gonadotropin production of these cultures is presented. The findings and differences of the cultures in the two systems are discussed. The stimulatory effect of placental extract on the tissue culture growth is noted.
Charge Photogeneration in Organic Photovoltaics: Role of Hot versus Cold Charge-Transfer Excitons

The role of excess excitation energy on long-range charge separation in organic donor/acceptor bulk heterojunctions (BHJs) continues to be unclear. While ultrafast spectroscopy results argue for efficient charge separation through high-energy charge-transfer (CT) states within the first picosecond (ps) of excitation, charge collection measurements suggest excess photon energy does not increase the current density in BHJ devices. Here, the population dynamics of charge-separated polarons upon excitation of high-energy polymer states and low-energy interfacial CT states in two polymer/fullerene blends from ps to nanosecond time scales are studied. It is observed that the charge-separation dynamics do not show significant dependence on excitation energy. These results confirm that excess exciton energy is not necessary for the effective generation of charges.
Securities markets with increasing numbers of traders

Abstract I show that the entry of new traders into a perfectly competitive securities market that is initially in competitive equilibrium leads to a series of equilibria each of which is Pareto superior to the previous one. Thus all participants in the market gain from the entry of additional traders: both existing participants and new entrants gain. This provides an alternative formalization of the idea that ‘depth’ or ‘liquidity’ in a market is beneficial to all. The result occurs although the entry of a new participant may in principle alter market prices in a way that is unfavorable to existing participants. The proof is based on the classical welfare properties of competitive equilibria, and on the fact that competitive equilibria are contained in the core, and does not use assumptions about market imperfections or imperfect information.
Evidence that the maintenance of early pregnancy in the rabbit requires “blastocyst estrogen”

Abstract It has been shown by others that treatment with only progesterone is sufficient to induce implantation and maintain pregnancy in ovariectomized-adrenalectomized rabbits. Based on these results, it was deduced that induction of implantation in the rabbit does not require estrogen. In making this deduction, “blastocyst estrogen” was not taken into account. In the present study, blastocyst development and implantation were prevented by instilling the anti-estrogen CI-628 into the uterine lumina of pregnant, ovariectomized, progesterone-treated rabbits. Our interpretation of these results is that the CI-628 prevented the action of “blastocyst estrogen”. However, on the basis of the present results, we cannot determine whether the specific target of “blastocyst estrogen” is the blastocyst, the uterus, or both.
The role of geometry in pairwise and mutual independence

Abstract The concepts of pairwise and mutual independence, while fundamental to probability theory, are sometimes difficult for students to differentiate. For pairwise independent random variables uniformly distributed over their region of support, a “rectangular support”—a Cartesian product of intervals—for the joint density is a necessary and sufficient condition for mutual independence. The use of geometric illustrations will help students visualize this result and provide new insight into the difference between these two concepts.
Shear waves in fiber-reinforced composites with interfacial cracks

Abstract An ensemble-average statistical method is used to calculate the overall effective mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites with interfacial cracks. The cracks here are specifically the fiber-matrix interfacial cracks which occur during the manufacturing process or are from inherent material defects. The problem starts with the establishment of the Helmholtz equations and boundary conditions followed by a full scale solution of the multiple scattering equations. Then by considering the low frequencies limit and the statistics of randomly spatial distribution of the fibers, a manageable homogeneous linear matrix equation is obtained. In a homogenized point of view the macroscopic mechanical properties of the composite system are derived. The calculated average mechanical properties include the overall effective shear modulus μ, the average shear wave phase speed B , and the average specific damping capacity Ψ of the composite system. The shear modulus corresponds to the elasticity of the static state, while the shear wave phase speed and damping capacity correspond to the viscoelasticity of the dynamic state of the composite. The results show that, among others: 1. the fiber-reinforced composites with interfacial cracks are transversely anisotropic material systems possessing viscoelastic behavior 2. the axially shear modulus of the composite, as the half crack length (δ) increases, is in a ‘decreasing steps’ fashion for which finite numerical jumps exist between those steps 3. 3. for a fiber-reinforced composite with interfacial cracks, the composite system with 1/2 π half crack length is the least attenuated and is nearly transversely isotropic 4. the composite is a non-dispersed material system in low frequency ranges.
MECHANISTIC STUDIES TO UNDERSTAND THE INHIBITION OF WILD TYPE AND MUTANT HIV-1 REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE BY CARBOVIR-TRIPHOSPHATE

Abacavir (1592U89) has recently been approved by the FDA for treatment of HIV infection. Transient kinetic studies were carried out to better understand the interaction of the active metabolite of Abacavir (Carbovir-triphosphate) with wild type and mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Some of the data is summarized and used as a basis for discussion of inhibition by CBVTP and previously studied nucleoside analogs.
Intracellular calcium release in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells is mediated by the M1 muscarinic receptor subtype and is antagonized by McN-A-343

Experiments using muscarinic receptor antagonists were done to determine which muscarinic receptor subtype(s) mediate carbachol-evoked calcium release in N1E-115 cells. McN-A-343 and a new analog, (±)BN228, were weak antagonists and neither compound caused release on its own. The rank order of potency was 4-DAMP > pirenzepine > AFDX116 > (±)BN228 and McN-A-343. This profile, pirenzepine's high potency (19-fold greater than AFDX116) and its IC50 of 31 nM suggest that calcium release in this neuronal cell line is mediated by the M1 muscarinic receptor subtype.
A modified strain gage arch for measurement of heart contractile force

The strain gage arch described byBoniface et al. (1953) for the determination of heart contractile force has been modified to reduce size, improve insulation, and provide temperature compensation. The techniques for constructing this gage are described; static and dynamic calibration data, and application data obtained from acute animal experiments are presented.
Concurrent performance in septally operated rats: One and two response extinction

Abstract In Experiment I, five male hooded rats underwent surgery for septal lesions and were tested in procedures in which two responses were concurrently reinforced. It was found that septally operated animals responded at higher rates for sucrose reinforcement than did controls. When reinforcement was withdrawn for both concurrent responses, the septal animals continued to respond at a higher level than controls. When reinforcement was withdrawn for one of the concurrent responses, but maintained on the other, septal animals suppressed levels of nonreinforced responding as quickly as controls. These results were replicated in a second experiment on nine septally operated animals and with water reinforcement instead of sucrose. Operant response levels taken in this experiment showed that septals responded at significantly higher operant levels than controls. The importance of the high septal operant and reinforced response rates for the extinction data is discussed.
An Evaluation of Proposed Mechanisms of Slab Flattening in Central Mexico

Central Mexico is the site of an enigmatic zone of flat subduction. The general geometry of the subducting slab has been known for some time and is characterized by a horizontal zone bounded on either side by two moderately dipping sections. We systematically evaluate proposed hypotheses for shallow subduction in Mexico based on the spatial and temporal evidence, and we find no simple or obvious explanation for the shallow subduction in Mexico. We are unable to locate an oceanic lithosphere impactor, or the conjugate of an impactor, that is most often called upon to explain shallow subduction zones as in South America, Japan, and Laramide deformation in the US. The only bathymetric feature that is of the right age and in the correct position on the conjugate plate is a set of unnamed seamounts that are too small to have a significant effect on the buoyancy of the slab. The only candidate that we cannot dismiss is a change in the dynamics of subduction through a change in wedge viscosity, possibly caused by water brought in by the slab.
Minority carrier barrier heterojunctions for improved thermoelectric efficiency

Abstract We propose and demonstrate the beneficial use of minority carrier blocking layers to lessen bipolar conduction at elevated temperatures and increase the Seebeck coefficient in a thermoelectric material. Bipolar conduction, caused by thermally activated intrinsic carriers in semiconductors, causes a detrimental “roll-over” in the Seebeck coefficient and increase in thermal conductivity, measured as a function of temperature. We propose that these negative effects can be lessened or delayed in a small band gap host matrix by incorporating wider band gap semiconductor layers to impede the thermal diffusion of minority carriers over majority carriers. To prove this concept, a composite material grown by molecular beam epitaxy of p-type InAs layers and electron blocking p-type AlSb layers were grown and measured. We show improved thermoelectric properties over just p-type InAs in measurements from 110 K to 600 K.
Wall Clouds with Eyes

Abstract Photographs are presented of wall clouds having holes or small regions of raised cloud base new the center. These eyelike features may be due to descending air (Lemon and Doswell) near the middle of the mesocyclone circulation or to the ingestion of relatively dry air into the updraft (Fankhauser et al.,).
A 1-D simulation analysis of the development and maintenance of the 2001 red tide of the ichthyotoxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis on the West Florida shelf

Abstract A one-dimensional (1-D) ecological model, HABSIM, examined the initiation and maintenance of the 2001 red tide on the West Florida shelf (WFS). Phytoplankton competition among toxic dinoflagellates ( Karenia brevis ), nitrogen fixing cyanophytes ( Trichodesmium erythraeum ), large siliceous phytoplankton (diatoms), and small non-siliceous phytoplankton (microflagellates) explored the sequence of events required to support the observed red tide from August to December 2001. The ecological model contained 24 state variables within five submodels: circulation, atmospheric (iron deposition), bio-optics, pelagic (phytoplankton, nutrients, bacteria, zooplankton, and fish), and benthic (nutrient regeneration). The 2001 model results reaffirmed that diazotrophs are the basis for initiation of red tides of K. brevis on the WFS. A combination of selective grazing pressure, iron fertilization, low molar nitrogen to phosphorus ratios, and eventual silica limitation of fast-growing diatoms set the stage for dominance of nitrogen fixers. “New” nitrogen was made available for subsequent blooms of K. brevis through the release of ammonium and urea during nitrogen fixation, as well as during cell lysis, by the Trichodesmium population. Once K. brevis biomass reached ichthyotoxic levels, rapid decay of subsequent fish kills supplied additional organic nutrients for utilization by these opportunistic toxic algae. Both nutrient vectors represented organic non-siliceous sources of nitrogen and phosphorus, further exacerbating silica limitation of the diatom population. The model reproduced this spring transition from a simple estuarine-driven, diatom-based food chain to a complex summer–fall system of Trichodesmium and toxic dinoflagellates. While the model was able to replicate the initiation and maintenance of the 2001 red tide, bloom termination was not captured by this 1-D form on the WFS. Here, horizontal advection and perhaps cell lysis loss terms might play a significant role, to be addressed in future three-dimensional simulations.
Contrast echocardiography during pericardiocentesis

Editor,—I read with interest the short case report by Betts and Radvan on the use of contrast echocardiography during pericardiocentesis.1 I would like to suggest a much simpler and cheaper method of differentiating pericardial space from a cardiac chamber during pericardiocentesis. For the past 45 years I have always included an ampul of dehydrocholate and an ampul of lobeline on the sterile pericardiocentesis tray.2 Whenever the needle encounters blood or bloody fluid, one is faced with the problem of whether it is the …
Decomposition with thermoeconomic isolation applied to the optimal synthesis/design and operation of an advanced tactical aircraft system

Abstract A decomposition methodology based on the concept of “thermoeconomic isolation” and applied to the synthesis/design and operational optimization of an advanced tactical fighter aircraft is the focus of this paper. The total system is composed of six sub-systems of which five participate with degrees of freedom (493) in the optimization. They are the propulsion sub-system (PS), the environmental control sub-system (ECS), the fuel loop subsystem (FLS), the vapor compression and Polyalphaolefin (PAO) loops sub-system (VC/PAOS), and the airframe sub-system (AFS). The sixth subsystem comprises the expendable and permanent payloads as well as the equipment group. For each of the first five, detailed thermodynamic, geometric, physical, and aerodynamic models at both design and off-design were formulated and implemented. The most promising set of aircraft sub-system and system configurations were then determined based on both an energy integration and aerodynamic performance analysis at each stage of the mission (including the transient ones). Conceptual, time, and physical decomposition were subsequently applied to the synthesis/design and operational optimization of these aircraft configurations as well as to the highly dynamic process of heat generation and dissipation internal to the subsystems. The physical decomposition strategy used (i.e. Iterative Local-Global Optimization—ILGO) is the first to successfully closely approach the theoretical condition of “thermoeconomic isolation” when applied to highly complex, highly dynamic non-linear systems. Developed at our Center for Energy Systems research, it has been effectively applied to a number of complex stationary and transportation applications.
Micro-scale analysis of tree-ring δ18O and δ13C on α-cellulose spline reveals high-resolution intra-annual climate variability and tropical cyclone activity

High-resolution analysis of stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition (δ13C and δ18O) of tree-ring α-cellulose has been increasingly in demand for the study of climate seasonality, droughts, and tropical cyclone (hurricane) activity. The peeling–grinding method commonly used for tree-ring α-cellulose preparation is both time-consuming and labor-intensive, and often results in cross-tracheid sampling that masks high-frequency intra-annual climate signals and short-term climate events. Here, we present a new method by extracting tree-ring α-cellulose directly from wholewood spline that omits the peeling–grinding step, and allows for micro-scale δ13C and δ18O analysis that facilitates high-resolution seasonal climate study. This ultrasound-assisted non-destructive extraction method has significantly increased the output of tree-ring α-cellulose preparation while retaining the wood cell fabric. Wood cell-wall fibers collected from the α-cellulose spline were directly loaded into pre-weighed silver (or tin) capsules and packed, after oven drying, for stable oxygen (or carbon) isotope analysis. A 3.045-mm annual ring subdivided over 26 sections for δ13C and δ18O analysis revealed remarkable intra-annual isotopic variations (1.62‰ for δ13C, and 5.85‰ for δ18O). The intra-annual δ13C values inversely covary with the seasonal precipitation pattern, suggesting moisture regulation on tree-ring δ13C variations. The high-resolution δ18O analysis unravels tropical cyclone activities (Hurricanes Frances and Ivan in 2004) that are characterized by an abrupt decline in δ18O values by 2.6‰ with a “V-shape” pattern in tree-ring latewood. An algorithm is developed for establishing regional patterns of tree-ring seasonal δ13C and δ18O for the study of the mean state of climate seasonality and its anomalies.
Gender-specific out-migration, deforestation and urbanization in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract The Ecuadorian Amazon, one of the richest reserves of biodiversity in the world, has faced one of the highest rates of deforestation of any Amazonian nation. Most of this forest elimination has been caused by agricultural colonization that followed the discovery of oil fields in 1967. Since the 1990s, an increasing process of urbanization has also engendered new patterns of population mobility within the Amazon, along with traditional ways by which rural settlers make their living. However, while very significant in its effects on deforestation, urbanization and regional development, population mobility within the Amazon has hardly been studied at all, as well as the distinct migration patterns between men and women. This paper uses a longitudinal dataset of 250 farm households in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon to understand differentials between men and women migrants to urban and rural destinations and between men and women non-migrants. First, we use hazard analysis based on the Kaplan–Meier (KM) estimator to obtain the cumulative probability that an individual living in the study area in 1990 or at time t , will out-migrated at some time, t + n , before 1999. Results indicate that out-migration to other rural areas in the Amazon, especially pristine areas is considerably greater than out-migration to the growing, but still incipient, Amazonian urban areas. Furthermore, men are more likely to out-migrate to rural areas than women, while the reverse occurs for urban areas. Difference-of-means tests were employed to examine potential factors accounting for differentials between male and female out-migration to urban and rural areas. Among the key results, relative to men younger women are more likely to out-migrate to urban areas; more difficult access from farms to towns and roads constrains women's migration; and access to new lands in the Amazon–an important cause of further deforestation–is more associated with male out-migration. Economic factors such as engagement in on-farm work, increasing resource scarcity–measured by higher population density at the farm and reduction in farm land on forest and crops–and increase in pasture land are more associated with male out-migration to rural areas. On the other hand, increasing resource scarcity, higher population density and weaker migration networks are more associated with female out-migration to urban areas. Thus, a “vicious cycle” is created: Pressure over land leads to deforestation in most or all farm forest areas and reduces the possibilities for further agricultural extensification (deforestation); out-migration, especially male out-migration, occurs to other rural or forest areas in the Amazon (with women being more likely to choose urban destinations); and, giving continuing population growth and pressures in the new settled areas, new pressures promote further out-migration to rural destinations and unabated deforestation.
Small Sample Bias and Variance of Lincoln‐Petersen and Bailey Estimators

The Lincoln-Petersen and Bailey estimators of an unknown population size were compared in a computer simulation of capture-recapture sampling with replacement from small populations. The Bailey estimator was negatively biased and had smaller variance than the Petersen estimator. The Petersen estimator tended to be positively biased. The Lincoln-Petersen variance estimator tended to be positively biased while the Bailey variance estimator was negatively biased.
The rationality of prices and volume in experimental markets

Market experiments designed to test whether individual errors are reduced by markets generally indicate that errors do make prices or trading volume irrational. For example, in markets for assets of uncertain value a "representativeness"- based theory predicts deviations of prices from Bayesian predictions. Endowment effects and optimism about relative trading ability lead to trading volumes which are too low or too high. Forecasts of future prices in markets violate rational expectations restrictions. And subjects do not ignore their own information when making forecasts of the forecasts of others. These data suggest that individual errors are often reduced, but not eliminated, in experimental markets under ideal learning conditions. They cast doubt on the optimistic presumption that prices negotiated in competitive market settings will reflect true values. The markets are unusually competitive, but the results suggest that errors are likely to be important in two-party negotiations and other settings too.
A new 2-cluster model for indoor UWB channel measurements

The paper describes a new model for the indoor non-line-of-sight (NLOS) UWB channel based on measurements. To date, the Saleh-Valenzuela model (Saleh, A.A. and Valenzuela, R.A., IEEE J. Selected Areas in Commun., vol.SAC-5, no.2, p.128-37, 1987) has been the standard model for indoor NLOS wireless propagation. However, we show that for our set of indoor NLOS UWB channel measurements, better results are obtained using a model which has a fixed number of clusters of multipath arrivals. Our goal is to generate channel models which closely match the statistics of the RMS delay spread, mean excess delay spread, the number of significant multipaths and the RAKE finger energy capture observed in the UWB channel.
Oxidation of ferritic stainless steel interconnects: Thermodynamic and kinetic assessment

Abstract Planar solid oxide fuel cells with yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolytes typically operate at temperatures in the range of 700–850 °C. The maximum temperature is limited by the use of ferritic stainless steel interconnects which offer significant advantages such as low cost and high thermal and electronic conductivity over traditional ceramic interconnects. However, these alloys rely on the formation of a protective chromia scale for oxidation resistance that results in an increase in ohmic resistance and can volatilize leading to a loss of cathode catalytic activity. To better understand the oxidation behavior of chromia forming ferritic stainless steels, thermodynamic modeling was performed in conjunction with experimental oxidation testing and empirical kinetic evaluation. The phase stability and oxidation behavior of the Fe–Cr–O ternary system were assessed using thermodynamic calculations. Calculated ternary phase diagrams were validated against the experimental oxidation data of Fe–20Cr and Fe–18Cr ferritic stainless steels, GE-13L and AL-441HP, respectively. Results indicate that the use of accelerated testing, such as exposing the system to higher temperatures, can lead to changes in phase equilibria and the oxidation kinetics of the alloys. Through combined thermodynamic assessment and controlled oxidation experiments, the oxidation behavior of high-chromium ferritic stainless steels is presented and discussed.
Phase transitions in classical two-dimensional lattice Coulomb gases.

We carry out Monte Carlo simulations of the two-dimensional classical neutral Coulomb gas of integer charges on a square and a triangular lattice, and find rich phase diagrams as a function of temperature and chemical potential. At high densities, the ground state becomes a periodic charge lattice, and we find evidence suggesting that the melting transitions of these charge lattices are not always in the universality class expected from symmetry analysis. We compute the inverse dielectric constant ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, which vanishes at the ``metal-insulator'' transition of the Coulomb gas. When the ground state is a charge vacuum, we find that ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ is well described by the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) theory. When the ground state is a charge lattice, a larger than the KT universal jump in ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$(${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$) may be present. We also carry out simulations of the f=1/2 and 1/3 fractional Coulomb gas on a triangular lattice, and find similar results.
Structure of everglades alligator holes

Alligators create disturbance patches within the Everglades, but little is known about spatial and temporal variation in alligator holes throughout this ecosystem. Forty-eight alligator holes in Water Conservation Area 3 of the central Everglades were sampled to assess variation in morphology and vegetation and to identify landscape- and habitat-level features that correlate to alligator-hole variation. Field observations and plant community ordination suggested three distinct categories of alligator holes: holes containing shrub/tree species (shrub holes), holes surrounded by marsh (marsh holes), and holes dominated by cattails (cattail holes). Shrub holes were the most species-rich and diverse of the three types. All alligator holes except for cattail holes contained a greater richness of vascular plants than the surrounding marsh. Cattail holes were deeper than shrub or marsh holes, and all holes were deeper than surrounding marsh. Major landscape features that may influence structure of alligator holes seem to be distance from canals and surrounding marsh vegetation matrix. Alligator holes increase spatial heterogeneity, influence plant community composition and structure, and increase biological diversity. Restoration and management plans for the Everglades ecosystem should ensure that this landscape feature is perpetuated.
Ruthenium(II) α-diimine complexes with one, two, and three 4 ,4′-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine and 4,4′-bis(chloromethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine ligands: useful starting materials for further derivatization

Although Ru(II) tris(bipyridine) complexes and related α-diimine analogues find wide use in chemistry, many common ligand and metal complex derivatives are difficult to synthesize. The halomethyl bpy ligands and their inert metal complexes are one such example. These compounds are desirable since they serve as useful starting materials for a variety of more elaborate derivatives. Although 4,4‘-bis(halomethyl)-2,2‘-bipyridine ligands readily chelate to labile metal ions, they are not compatible with the higher temperatures and polar solvents typically required to effect ligand substitution at more inert Ru centers. Alternate routes to these targets involving solvento and other substitution labile intermediates yield products, but yields are typically low due to difficulties in purification. This report describes a new route to Ru(II) halomethyl bpy complexes involving chelation of the more robust 4,4‘-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2‘-bipyridine, bpy(CH2OH)2, followed by conversion to the corresponding chloromethyl ...
Mass singularities in Yang-Mills theories

Abstract We show heuristically that a theorem shown by Appelquist et al. to be true up to three loops, viz. that the mass singularities in the transition probability for certain quark-production processes cancel, should hold to all orders.
Photoassisted electrolysis of water using single crystal α-Fe2O3 anodes

Abstract Photoinduced currents at single crystal α-Fe2O3 anodes have been observed for incident radiation of greater than the band gap energy (Eg = 2.2 eV). The photoresponse was studied at wavelengths from 0.28 to 0.58 μm for various electrolytic solutions throughout the pH range of 6.3 to 13.6 and no apparent electrode degradation was observed. Collection efficiencies of ∼ 20% were obtained at +0.5 V bias indicating oxygen production at this electrode occurs with reasonable reaction kinetics. Differential capacitance data dis-played Mott-Schottky behavior allowing estimation of the flat band potential and carrier concentration. The results are compared to those for TiO2, WO3, SrTiO3 and BaTiO3.
An analytical model for the longitudinal permeability of aligned fibrous media

Abstract This paper presents an analytical series solution of the longitudinal fluid flow in porous media consisting of aligned rigid fibers, which, in turn, is used to establish a relationship for the longitudinal permeability as a function of the fiber packing geometry, fiber volume fraction and the fiber radius. The analytical series solution is developed for rectangular and staggered packing arrangements of the fibers using the boundary collocation method where the constants in the series solution are solved for numerically. As the number of boundary collocation points is increased, the analytical solution is shown to converge with a finite element solution of the identical flow situation for all fiber volume fractions and packing arrangements. In addition, the permeability results are presented in a dimensionless form as a function of the fiber volume fraction and fiber packing arrangement for a general applicability and easy use of the results for predicting the longitudinal permeability of fiber tows consisting of aligned rigid fibers.
Weakly Nonlinear Oscillations Superimposed on Finite Circumferential Shear of a Compressible, Nonlinear, Viscoelastic, Isotropic Material

A study is presented of the weakly nonlinear oscillatory response of a compressible, nonlinear, viscoelastic, isotropic material. In its reference configuration, the material takes the form of a hollow concentric circular cylinder bonded to a fixed support at its inner boundary and to a rigid shell at its outer boundary. The cylinder is brought to a deformed equilibrium state in which the outer shell has been rotated through a finite angle about the axis of the cylinder. The material model used combines linear damping with a generalized Blatz-Ko model. The parameters in this model are chosen so that this static deformation consists of circumferential shear, without radial displacement, in which case the normal stresses are self-equilibrating and no local volume change is induced. The outer shell is then subjected to a sinusoidal rotational disturbance, and the subsequent motion of the cylinder is studied. It is found that due to dynamic effects the normal stresses are no longer self-equilibrated and radia...
van der Waals Complex and Solvatochromism Studies of Substituted Benzenes and Naphthalenes

Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) studies of van der Waals complexes of aniline and 4-aminobenzonitrile (4-ABN) with some polar solvents are re...
Cytotoxic effector cell function in organized gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)

Abstract Lymphocytes from the organized gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) of adult guinea pigs were examined for surface markers characteristic of T and B lymphocytes and for their capacity to function as effector cells in mitogen-induced cellular cytotoxicity (MICC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) reactions. GALT lymphocytes formed rosettes with rabbit erythrocytes, a T-cell marker, and underwent proliferative responses in vitro in the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). GALT lymphocytes were cytotoxic in vitro for erythrocyte and DBA mastocytoma targets in the presence of PHA. A population of GALT lymphocytes bound aggregated γ-globulin; however, they functioned poorly in ADCC reactions. Thus, organized GALT in the guinea pig contains lymphocytes capable of functioning in T-cell-dependent MICC reactions but either lacks the effector cell population which mediates ADCC or contains an effector cell which functions poorly in ADCC.