cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ecological intensification with soil health practices demonstrates positive impacts on multiple soil properties: A large-scale farmer-led experiment

Abstract Improving soil health is critical to reversing trends of soil degradation and is of increasing interest to a range of stakeholders including policymakers, agricultural industry leaders, food companies, and farmers. Crop and soil management practices focused on ecological functions can be effective in restoring fundamental biological, chemical and physical soil properties. The call for ecological intensification of agricultural systems has the potential to improve soil health and input-use efficiency. In this study, we developed a framework to classify spatial and temporal ecological intensification with soil health practices: tillage, crop rotation, cover crop, organic amendment, and crop-livestock integration. We applied this framework in a statewide soil health project featuring collaboratively designed on-farm research. We found that ecological intensification affected all properties commonly used in soil health assessments, but the sensitivity of different practices to impact changes varied among the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The use of cover crops had the greatest impact on driving changes in soil properties, in particular those closely related to organic matter and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. Soil-test biological activity and its association with soil-test predicted N release in cropping systems intensified with cover crop use was found to reduce predicted nutrient fertility needs substantially compared to less intensified systems. Evaluating the potential of existing agricultural systems to undergo ecological intensification at a farm scale provides insights about management options to enhance soil health, particularly in regards to nutrient cycling, biological activity, and input-use efficiency.
Plagues, Priests, and Demons: Sacred Narratives and the Rise of Christianity in the Old World and the New

1. Introduction 2. Epidemic disease and the rise of Christianity in Europe, 150-800 CE 3. The rise of Christianity in the New World: the Jesuit missions of colonial Mexico, 1591-1660 4. The relevance of Early Christian literature to missionaries in colonial Latin America 5. Conclusion.
Hydropedology and Surface/Subsurface Runoff Processes

The role of soils has long been recognized as critical to rainfall–runoff processes in watersheds. Hydropedology is an emerging interdisciplinary field that integrates pedology, hydrology, geomorphology, and other related bio- and geosciences to study interactive pedologic and hydrologic processes and the landscape –soil–hydrology relationships across space and time. This article presents an overview of hydropedology’s contributions to the understanding and modeling of surface/subsurface runoff processes, especially the diagnosis of soil features that can help answer “why-type” questions in watershed hydrology and the ubiquitous nature of preferential flow and its networks. We highlight two bottlenecks for advancing watershed hydrology and hydropedology: a conceptual bottleneck of modeling subsurface preferential flow networks and a technological bottleneck of nondestructively mapping or imaging subsurface architecture. Quantification of “soil architecture” at various scales and the identification of “hydropedologic functional units” in different landscapes offer promising potentials to advance hydrologic modeling. We present the information of linking surface/subsurface runoff processes to pedologic understanding at three scales of microscopic (macropores and aggregates), mesoscopic (horizons and pedons), and macroscopic (hillslopes and catchments) levels. Various examples from the literature are synthesized to illustrate the key points. Further research needs are suggested in the end.
Ceramic Sensors for Power Train ECU Systems

Various physical quantities required by powertrain control systems are supplied to the powertrain electronic control unit (ECU) from multiple sensors. These quantities are commonly obtained using ceramic sensors, which are capable of detecting chemical reactions and withstanding high temperatures. This chapter describes the detection principles and technology required for the practical adoption of ceramic sensors, focusing on sensors for detecting oxygen concentration (O2 sensors), the air/fuel ratio (A/F sensors), engine knocking (knock sensors), harmful NO x in emissions (NO x sensors), and the temperature in various locations. Keywords: ceramics; sensors; exhaust gas; oxygen; NO x ; temperature; knocking; engine control; ECU ; engine management system
Wind Power: How Much, How Soon, and At What Cost?

Wind Power: How Much, How Soon, and At What Cost? Ryan Wiser, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Maureen Hand, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Abstract The global wind power market has been growing at a phenomenal pace, driven by favorable policies towards renewable energy and the improving economics of wind projects. On a going forward basis, utility-scale wind power offers the potential for significant reductions in the carbon footprint of the electricity sector. Specifically, the global wind resource is vast and, though accessing this potential is not costless or lacking in barriers, wind power can be developed at scale in the near to medium term at what promises to be an acceptable cost. Introduction The challenges of combating global climate change are enormous, and there is no single panacea. Instead, as suggested throughout this book, an assortment of technologies will need to be deployed, infrastructures reconfigured, and behaviors altered to slow and ultimately reverse rising carbon dioxide emissions. Renewable energy has helped meet the energy needs of humans for millennia, and the world's renewable energy resources are enormous. Though truly comparable data on renewable resource potential do not exist, Table 1 shows that the world's resource potential far exceeds global primary energy supply, currently around 470 Exajoules (EJ), and that this potential has barely begun to be tapped (IPCC 2007b). In principal, at least, dramatically increased use of renewable energy could go a long way towards reducing energy-sector carbon emissions. Table 1. Global Renewable Technical Potential and Use Energy Source Hydro Wind Biomass Geothermal Solar Electricity Ocean Estimated Available Energy Resource (EJ/yr) Annual Use of Energy Resource in 2005 (EJ) insignificant Source: IPCC (2007b); simplified by authors Other efforts to compile resource potential for a variety of renewable sources, with sometimes stark differences from those shown here, include de Vries et al. (2007), Hoogwijk (2004), Johansson et al. (2004), REN21 (2007), U N D P (2000), W B G U (2004), and World Energy Council (2007). Continued work is needed to develop resource potential estimates that use a common methodology and that are therefore truly comparable.
Steroid compounds and the dilatation of ovarian and uterine veins in the mouse.

Abstract Small pellets of each of 10 steroids, or glass pellets as controls, were tied to the right uterine horns of groups of 10 ovariectomized adult virgin mice. After 7 or 21 days, the mice were killed, and the diameters of the right and left ovarian and uterine veins were measured. The largest significant increases in diameter, particularly after 21 days, were observed in mice treated with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone, estradiol-17β, and progesterone. Lesser or no significant increases were seen in mice that had received 20α-dihydroprogesterone, 20β-dihydroprogesterone, cholesterol, 16α-hydroxyprogesterone, and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone.
Studies on the amino groups of myosin ATPase: Trinitrophenylation of reactive lysyl residue in ventricular and atrial myosins☆☆☆

Abstract Myosin and heavy meromyosin from ventricular, atrial, and skeletal muscle were purified and trinitrophenylated by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate. The trinitrophenylation reaction followed a complex kinetics consisting of a fast and slow reaction in all preparations studied. Reactive lysine residues were trinitrophenylated during the fast reaction with a concomitant decrease in K+ (EDTA)-activated ATPase and an increase in Mg2+-stimulated ATPase activities of myosin. The extent of increase in Mg2+-mediated ATPase was the highest with skeletal and the lowest with atrial myosin. The trinitrophenylation of the less reactive lysyl residues continued during the slow reaction. The rate constants of the reactions and the number of reactive lysine residues were evaluated by computer analyses of the trinitrophenylation curves. Two reactive lysine residues were found in skeletal and ventricular myosins while their number in atrial myosin was somewhat lower. The rate of trinitrophenylation in skeletal muscle myosin or heavy meromyosin was always higher than in the two cardiac myosin isozymes. Addition of KCl increased the trinitrophenylation of both highly reactive and slowly reactive lysyl residues in all of the three heavy meromyosins, however, the effect was more profound with cardiac heavy meromyosins. Addition of MgADP induced spectral changes in trinitrophenylated skeletal but not in cardiac myosins. Similar changes occurred in skeletal and to a lesser degree in ventricular heavy meromyosin, but no definite spectral changes were observed in atrial heavy meromyosin. The findings suggest that structural differences exist around the reactive lysyl residue in the head portion of the three myosins.
Today's White-Collar Crime: Legal, Investigative, and Theoretical Perspectives

1. Today's White Collar Crime 2. Information Technology and White Collar Crime 3. The Corporate State Corruption Connection - Can It Be Stopped? 4. The Origins of Public Corruption Control in the United States: 1883-1969 5. The "Modern Era" of Public Corruption Control: The 1970s Through Today 6. White Collar Crime Theory: Origins and Early Developments 7. Organizational and Societal Crime Theories 8. White Collar Crime: A Legalistic Perspective 9. White Collar Crime Analysis and Trends 10. Where Do We Go From Here? The Future of White Collar Crime
Catabolism of Fructose and Mannitol in Clostridium thermocellum: Presence of Phosphoenolpyruvate: Fructose Phosphotransferase, Fructose l-Phosphate Kinase, Phosphoenolpyruvate: Mannitol Phosphotransferase, and Mannitol l-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in Cell Extracts

Fructose and mannitol are fermented by Clostridium thermocellum in a medium containing salts and 0.5% yeast extract. The initial reaction in the catabolism of fructose was found to be the formation of fructose l-phosphate by phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):fructose phosphotransferase which resembles the Kundig-Roseman phosphotransferase system. The phosphorylation of fructose l-phosphate to form fructose-1, 6-diphosphate is catalyzed by fructose l-phosphate kinase. Fructose-1, 6-diphosphate can be further metabolized by the Embden-Meyerhof pathway. The formation of both PEP:fructose phosphotransferase and fructose l-phosphate kinase is induced by growth in fructose medium. Mannitol catabolism was found to proceed by the phosphorylation of mannitol by PEP:mannitol phosphotransferase to form mannitol l-phosphate. Mannitol l-phosphate is converted to fructose 6-phosphate by a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-specific mannitol l-phosphate dehydrogenase. The fructose 6-phosphate formed in the reaction can enter the glycolytic scheme. The formation of both PEP:mannitol phosphotransferase and mannitol l-phosphate dehydrogenase is induced by growth in mannitol medium. Evidence is presented for the induction by mannitol of PEP:mannitol phosphotransferase and mannitol l-phosphate dehydrogenase in suspensions of fructose-grown cells.
Dynamics of lysozyme-saccharide interactions.

Abstract The interaction of lysozyme with di- and with tri-N-acetylglucosamine has been studied by the temperature jump relaxation method at pH 6.0, approximately 28.7°, ionic strength = 0.1 m. A single relaxation process is observed in the time range of 10 µsec to 100 msec, in both di- and trisaccharide-lysozyme solutions. No relaxation process is observed in the same time range in lysozyme solutions not containing saccharides. The bimolecular rate constants (k1) and dissociation rate constants (k-1) have been obtained for the lysozyme-saccharide interactions from the concentration dependence of the relaxation times. The rate constants (k1) are virtually identical (4.5 x 106 m-1 sec-1) for both the di- and the trisaccharide-lysozyme interaction, but the dissociation rate constant (k-1) for the disaccharide is over 30 times larger than that for the trisaccharide. The ratio of rate constants k1/k-1 is in good agreement with apparent binding constants obtained independently by other methods. A molecular explanation of these results is given in terms of the recent crystallographic data on lysozyme-saccharide complexes.
A generalized linear learning model

Abstract The learning model of Bush and Mosteller is combined with a learning “machine,” described by Mitchie, to arrive at a generalized linear learning model. This model considers the interaction of many simple Bush-Mosteller choice situations. Subject to certain restrictions, it is proved that an organism acting according to the model will, with probability one, learn to make correct choices in each choice situation with which he is confronted. Certain implications for psychological learning theory are considered and the results of some computer simulation runs are presented.
The impact of Skp2 overexpression on recurrence-free survival following radical prostatectomy.

Abstract Background In several human cancers, overexpression of Skp2 (S-phase kinase associated protein 2), which targets p27 for degradation, portends a poorer prognosis. We examined whether Skp2 overexpression is associated with recurrence following radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical staining for Skp2, p27, and MIB-1 was performed on 109 men with node-negative prostate cancer surgically managed from 1985 – 1996. Associations between the stains were tested and Cox regression was used to determine the association between Skp2 expression and time to biochemical recurrence following RP. Results The 12 tumors (11%) with Skp2 overexpression all had correspondingly low p27 expression ( P = 0.006), and a similar inverse Skp2/p27 relationship was seen in vitro in LNCap cells. Skp2 overexpression in tissue was associated with higher Gleason score ( P = 0.002), more advanced pathological stage ( P = 0.01), and higher MIB-1 index ( P = 0.03), but a more favorable PSA profile ( P = 0.04). Five men received a TURP. Among 104 who received RP, median follow-up was 67 months (range: 0.2 – 218). After adjusting for PSA, pathologic stage, and Gleason score, Skp2 overexpression remained significantly associated with a shorter time to biochemical recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio 4.8 (95% C.I. 1.6 – 14, P = 0.004)). The median time to recurrence with high vs. low Skp2 was 4 vs. 54 months. Conclusions Skp2 overexpression was seen in a significant minority of surgically-managed men and was independently associated with a higher risk of recurrence, raising the possibility that Skp2 could be useful as a prognostic biomarker and as a potential molecular target for novel systemic agents in prostate cancer.
Early results from Chandra observations of supernova remnants

We present preliminary results from observations of supernova remnants by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The data include imaging spectroscopy from objects observed with both GTO and GO data. The high spatial resolution of Chandra is revealing a wealth of small-scale structure in these remnants. Specifically, we have resolved the remnant of SN1987A, and have discovered fine-scale structure in N103B and G292.0+1.8.
Surfactant binding and the electrophilicity of coal

Abstract The cationic surfactant, ATLAS G-271, N-soya N-ethyl morpholiniur—ethosulfate, 35% aqueous solution, has been shown to be an effective stabilizer for coal—oil mixtures (COM) containing 30.0 wt% coal and 0.30 wt% surfactant for coal/mineral oil and coal/No. 6 fuel oil. Analysis of the coal phase separated from a COM by centrifugation showed that the surfactant was quantitatively associated with the coal. Removal of the surfactant from the coal phase was studied by solvent extraction and a correlation was found between surfactant removal and increasing solvent electrophilicity whereas no correlation was found between surfactant removal and solvent nucleophilicity. It was proposed that the surfactant was adsorbed on the coal surface as an ion-paired unit with the polar head group oriented toward electron donating sites on the coal matrix and the hydrocarbon tail extending outwards. The work has been extended to include slurries at 30.0 wt% coal and 0.30 wt% surfactant for coal—water and coal—sea water. The coal—water slurries show a correlation of surfactant removal by more electrophilic solvents but differences in detail from the COM, suggesting a difference in the strength of the surfactant binding arising from solvation effects.
Limit theorems for discrete Hawkes processes

Abstract We consider discrete time Hawkes process which is a class of g-functions. The limit theorems for continuous time Hawkes processes are well known and studied by many authors. In this paper, we study the limit theorems for discrete time Hawkes processes. In particular, we obtain the law of large number, the central limit theorem and the invariance principle.
The Theoretical Frequency Response of an Over-Center, Pressure-Controlled, Axial Piston Pump

Axial piston pumps are ubiquitous in the hydraulic systems employed on various off-highway machines such as hydraulic excavators or wheel-loaders. These pumps exhibit a fairly slow response to the commanded input resulting in a slow response of the work tool (implement or transmission) as well, which is undesirable to machine operators and also slows down the machine’s productivity. Hence it is very important to understand the factors affecting the dynamic pump response. Much of the earlier work aims at understanding the steady state behavior of the pump control system using linear transfer function analysis. A closed-form solution for the dynamic frequency response has not been reported in previous research. This work presents the analysis of a variable displacement pump with an adjustable swash-plate for the purposes of identifying parameters that contribute to the response characteristics of the pump. The full model of the pump involves a seventh order model including a large number of non-linear terms. Hence a reduced order model has also been derived for calculating the frequency response of the pump in the closed form and it is shown that the design parameters that impact the frequency response most heavily are the actuator area, the swash-plate moment arm, and the flow gain of the four-way valve. As it turns out, an increased frequency response of the pump may be most readily achieved by increasing the charge pressure which in turn reduces the required actuator area and increases the flow gain of the valve.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Sulfur Mustard Toxicity of the Rabbit Eye: An Ultrastructural Study

AbstractWhole body exposure to sulfur mustard (HD) produces cutaneous, respiratory, and ocular impairment. Of these, ocular damage causes the most immediate incapacitation. Heretofore, characterization of HD ocular toxicity has been limited largely to gross and histological observations. In this study we explore ultrastructural effects of ocular HD exposure and establish correlations with ultrastructural data already documented for dermal exposure. Anesthetized rabbits were exposed to 0.4 μl liquid HD placed directly on the cornea. At 24 h postexposure, animals were euthanized for routine necropsy evaluations. Eyes processed for ultrastructural analysis showed consistent focal necrotic sloughing of corneal epithelial cells at the site of exposure. In addition, a spreading detachment of epithelium occurred because of a disabling of basal cell hemidesmosomes, which cleaved the epithelium from the stroma at the level of the lamina lucida. This led to large expanses of denuded stroma, with remnants of anchori...
The impact of infostation density on vehicular data dissemination

Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Roadside communications are going to become an indispensable part of the modern day automotive experience. For people on the move, vehicular networks can provide critical network connectivity and access to real-time information. Infostations play a vital role in these networks by acting as gateways to the Internet and by extending network connectivity. In this context, an important question is "What is the minimum number of infostations that need to be deployed in an area in order to support vehicular applications?" Optimizing infostation density is vital to understanding and reducing the cost of deployment and management. In this paper, we examine the required infostation density in a highway scenario using different data dissemination models. We start from a simple analysis that captures the required density under idealized assumptions. These models are validated by an event-driven simulator. We then run detailed QualNet simulations on both controlled and realistic vehicular traces to observe the information density trends in practical environments, and consequently propose techniques to improve dissemination performance and reduce the required infostation density.
Resuscitation and Obstetrical Care to Reduce Intrapartum-Related Neonatal Deaths: A MANDATE Study

To evaluate the impact of neonatal resuscitation and basic obstetric care on intrapartum-related neonatal mortality in low and middle-income countries, using the mathematical model, Maternal and Neonatal Directed Assessment of Technology (MANDATE). Using MANDATE, we evaluated the impact of interventions for intrapartum-related events causing birth asphyxia (basic neonatal resuscitation, advanced neonatal care, increasing facility birth, and emergency obstetric care) when implemented in home, clinic, and hospital settings of sub-Saharan African and India for 2008. Total intrapartum-related neonatal mortality (IRNM) was acute neonatal deaths from intrapartum-related events plus late neonatal deaths from ongoing intrapartum-related injury. Introducing basic neonatal resuscitation in all settings had a large impact on decreasing IRNM. Increasing facility births and scaling up emergency obstetric care in clinics and hospitals also had a large impact on decreasing IRNM. Increasing prevalence and utilization of advanced neonatal care in hospital settings had limited impact on IRNM. The greatest improvement in IRNM was seen with widespread advanced neonatal care and basic neonatal resuscitation, scaled-up emergency obstetric care in clinics and hospitals, and increased facility deliveries, resulting in an estimated decrease in IRNM to 2.0 per 1,000 live births in India and 2.5 per 1,000 live births in sub-Saharan Africa. With more deliveries occurring in clinics and hospitals, the scale-up of obstetric care can have a greater effect than if modeled individually. Use of MANDATE enables health leaders to direct resources towards interventions that could prevent intrapartum-related deaths. A lack of widespread implementation of basic neonatal resuscitation, increased facility births, and emergency obstetric care are missed opportunities to save newborn lives.
The Changing Pattern of Hypernatremia in Hospitalized Children

Objectives. Past studies have revealed that hypernatremia occurs primarily in infants with diarrheal dehydration. With improved infant feeding practices and the advent of pediatric critical care medicine, the pattern of hypernatremia in children has likely changed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current pattern of hypernatremia in hospitalized children. Methods. Medical records were reviewed for 68 patients admitted to a large urban children9s hospital during a 3-year period, all with a serum sodium greater than 150 mEq/L. The etiologies, predisposing factors, and morbidity and mortality associated with hypernatremia were evaluated. Results. The average patient age was 3.9 years (range, 1 day to 19.7 years), and the peak serum sodium concentration was 159 mEq/L (range, 151–184 mEq/L). Hypernatremia was hospital acquired in 60% of children. The majority of children (71%) were admitted for reasons other than hypernatremia. In 76% of the patients, inadequate fluid intake was the main cause of hypernatremia. Gastroenteritis contributed to the hypernatremia in only 20% (14 out of 68) of children. Eleven of these were infants Conclusions. Hypernatremia occurs in children of all ages, with the vast majority having significant underlying medical problems. Hypernatremia caused by gastroenteritis in infants has become much less common than previously reported. Hypernatremia is primarily a hospital-acquired disease, produced by the failure to administer sufficient free water to patients unable to care for themselves. Failure to correct hypernatremia may result in a high mortality rate.
HIV-1 and HIV-2 seroprevalence and risk factors among hospital outpatients in the eastern region of Ghana West Africa.

A cross-sectional study of 854 outpatients seen at three hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa assessed HIV-1 and HIV-2 seroprevalence rates and associated risk factors. During mid-1999, patients were tested in an anonymous study linked to a questionnaire and abstracted record data in three distinct communities with differing levels of urbanization. Combined HIV seroprevalence rates were 19.2% for Agomanya, the most rural community, 5.1% for Akwatia, and 3.4% for Nkawkaw, the most urbanized community. HIV-1 infection alone accounted for 84.5% of cases, compared with 9.5% and 6.0% for HIV-2 and dual infection, respectively. In a multivariable model, the Agomanya location was significantly associated with HIV status (odds ratio [OR], 7.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9-20.1; p <.0001). Employed people were also more likely to be infected (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.02-18.3; p =.047). Among prenatal patients, those from Agomanya were more likely to report no live-in partner or spouse compared with Nkawkaw and Akwatia (p <.0001). These findings suggest sexual partner exchange patterns may be more useful in explaining HIV seroprevalence rates than level of community urbanization. Intervention programs directed at these high risk populations for HIV infection in Ghana are urgently needed.
Program theory and implementation theory: Implications for evaluators

Program theory and implementation process theory contribute, respectively, to specifying the what and the why of program delivery. This chapter suggests ways in which evaluators should incorporate both into their data collection designs.
Computerized group theory for lattice dynamical problems

Abstract The calculation of the normal modes of vibration of a crystal in general requires the diagonalization of the dynamical matrix for wave vector q , which has rank 3n, where n is the number of atoms per unit cell. The symmetry of the crystal can be used to block diagonalize the dynamical matrix using group representation theory. Here we describe a subroutine, named BLOCDI that computes the unitary matrix which group theoretically block diagonalizes the dynamical matrix for any crystal structure and wave vector. The input to the subroutine is first put into a form that is generally acceptable for all crystal structures. This is made possible by specifying the structure in terms of integer variables which relate to the primitive axes. The projection operator is used to generate and print out possible symmetry coordinates, labeled according to their irreducible representation and site symmetry. The set of coordinates to be used in the construction of the transformation matrix is then easily selected by inspection from the printed sets. In a second run the selected coordinates are computed and the nonzero values of the matrix and their indices are stored in singly dimensioned arrays. Possible reductions due to time reversal symmetry are not considered. There is essentially no restriction on the size of the unit cell. The actual transformation of the dynamical matrix (using the output of BLOCDI) becomes a time and storage problem long before the computation and indexing of the nonzero elements of the transformation matrix becomes a problem.
Response from Dr. Ener

Serotonin syndrome and other serotonergic disorders can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms. Because of the breadth of this spectrum, in our article, we endeavored to cover a wide range of topics related to this subject in a condensed manner that would provide useful and accurate information to clinicians. We agree …
Ring theory. II. Fractional tandem model.

Abstract DNA fragments partially digested by a 3′- or 5′-specific nuclease to produce single chain ends of opposite polarity will form a ring if the ends contain complementary sequences and are allowed to anneal. The frequency of rings can then be used as an assay to determine where and how identical repetitious sequences are arranged in the DNA. Thomas et al. (1973 b ) showed that all eucaryote chromosomes studied contain similar if not identical repetitious sequences clustered into regions called g-regions. To account for the observed ring frequency under different experimental conditions Thomas, Zimm & Dancis (1973 c ) derived equations for two possible models of g-region organization. In the pure tandem model, the repetitious sequences are contiguous and occupy the entire g-region. In the intermittent repetition model, the repetitious sequences are simple copolymers and are irregularly arranged among non-repetitious sequences which are heterogenous in length. In the present paper, the results of Thomas et al. (1973 c ) are extended to cover the fractional tandem model. In this model, adjacent repetitious sequences are separated by non-repetitious sequences of uniform length. In addition, the equations for both the pure tandem and intermittent repetition models are shown to be special cases of the fractional tandem model but not vice versa. The capabilities and limitations of an analysis of ring formation are demonstrated using data from Drosophila . Although it is not possible to rule out any of the three models, the analysis can limit the ranges of the parameters describing each of the models that are consistent with the data. Previous conclusions that the data could only be explained by a pure tandem model which lacks any intervening unique sequences (Bick, Huang & Thomas, 1973; Thomas et al. , 1973 b ), are shown to be incorrect, in part because the equations for the fractional tandem model had not then been derived. Thus ring theory equations can be used to show the presence of clusters of similar if not identical sequences from ring-forming experiments, but they may not be able to determine the exact spacing and arrangement of these sequences within the clusters.
Forward and backward transitions in pharmacy-based immunization services

Abstract Background Community pharmacies can engage in immunization services by contracting with an external workforce (outsourced mechanism) or staff pharmacists (in-house mechanism) to deliver the services. Because an outsourced mechanism generally requires lower organizational commitment, pharmacies often start with an outsourced mechanism. Later, these pharmacies can have 1 of the following transitions: sit on a fence by continuing with an outsourced mechanism, move backward by abandoning any immunization services, or move forward by implementing an in-house mechanism. Objectives Using Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations model and Behavioral Theory of the Firm as guidance, this study identified the associations between perceived characteristics of immunization services and backward/forward transitions. Methods A cross-sectional mail survey was conducted to collect data from key informants of Washington State community pharmacies during May-July 2004 (response rate = 46.9%). A total of 106 pharmacies were included in the analysis. Based on pharmacy's immunization service transitions, these pharmacies were identified as Fence sitters, Backward movers, or Forward movers. Relationships between these transitions, pharmacy characteristics, and perceived characteristics of immunization services were analyzed using bivariate and multinomial logistic regression techniques. Results Backward and Forward movers had less positive assessments of outsourced services when compared with Fence sitters. Backward and Forward movers differed in their perceptions of in-house services; Backward movers generally perceived no differences between these 2 services, whereas Forward movers generally perceived in-house services to be superior to outsourced services. Furthermore, the odds of being a Forward mover increased as perceived technical and social benefits of outsourced services decreased, perceived compatibility of in-house services increased, and perceived complexity of in-house services decreased. Conclusions Perceived characteristics of outsourced and in-house innovations were associated with backward and forward transitions. Findings can be used to guide the development of strategies for facilitating organizational change and preventing the abandonment of immunization services.
When will the stork arrive? Patterns of birth seasonality in neotropical primates

We review and discuss the ultimate and proximate causes of birth seasonality in Neotropical primates and the seasonal patterns shown by each genus within this group. Our review of the literature shows that most New World monkey populations studied so far show some degree of birth seasonality. Photoperiod is the most important proximate cue used by populations living at relatively high latitudes to time their reproductive events, but almost nothing is known about the proximate factors used by those near the equator. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that food availability is the most important ultimate cause of birth seasonality. Predation seems to promote birth synchrony in some species (e.g., squirrel monkeys). Multiple regression ANCOVA was used to estimate how the degree of birth seasonality is affected by ecological and life history variables. The ANCOVA model shows that three factors affect the degree of birth seasonality: diet, latitude, and body size. Folivores (howlers) are less seasonal than frugivores and insectivores. The degree of seasonality increases with latitude and shows a humped relationship with body size, peaking at 1.66 kg body mass. This last relationship was expected since small bodied species have to pay a cost (in terms of time lost) by being seasonal on a yearly basis, and large species are buffered against fluctuations in food availability due to their large body mass. To understand which of three alternative birth strategies is followed by each species (reduce energy stress during peak lactation, wean infants during peak food availability, or store reserves during peak energy availability), we compared the location of the birth peak in relation to the peak in food-availability for those populations from which data were available. Most species conform to the typical pattern of births concentrated before the peak in food availability, allowing peak lactation (small-sized species) or weaning (capuchins) to take place before the start of the lean season. The pattern of births of the atelines is consistent with the weaning hypothesis. However, since they give birth during the lean season, this pattern is also consistent with an alternative strategy.
Single screw extrusion characteristics of a semirigid PVC

Poly(vinyl chloride) compounds offer a wide range of properties from elastomeric to rigid. For this reason they are well suited for many extrusion applications. However, many processors shy away from PVC because of its challenging process-ability: PVC is shear sensitive, susceptible to thermal degradation, and highly elastoviscous. This study, although limited, attempts to remove some of the complexity behind PVC extrusion. A semirigid PVC compound was processed on a small laboratory extruder. A factorial experiment was followed to determine the effects of barrel temperature and screw speed on melt temperature, residence time, output, and head pressure. Understanding these fundamental relationships is intrinsic to successful PVC extrusion.
Behavioral phenotypic variation in autism multiplex families: Evidence for a continuous severity gradient

Recent genetic investigations of autism have studied multiplex families, typically including families with multiple siblings who meet criteria for a diagnosis of autism. However, little is known about the specific behavioral characteristics of siblings with autism in these multiplex families. We investigated the behavioral phenotypic variability and similarity of 351 siblings with autism in 171 multiplex families using cluster analysis and correlations. The results of cluster analyses showed that the individuals with autism could be characterized on a severity gradient: a continuum based on severity of symptoms and impairment as measured by Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) scores, verbal-nonverbal status, and nonverbal IQ scores. Clusters based on scores from the ADI-R for the autism diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV and nonverbal IQ scores still represented a severity gradient when the effects of verbal-nonverbal status were removed. The severity gradient was shown to be heritable, with a sib correlation of 30% or a heritability of 60%. In summary, in a sample of 171 autism multiplex families, there was no evidence of discrete behaviorally defined subgroups of affected individuals or families characterized by distinct patterns of behavioral symptoms. Rather, the clusters could be characterized along a single, heritable, continuous severity dimension.
Relationship between Discolorations in Egg Yolks and Low Dietary Levels of Free Gossypol

Abstract In the studies of Heywang, Bird and Altschul (1955), an appreciable number of eggs held in commercial cold storage for about six months had yolks with dark discolorations when laying White Leghorns were fed diets containing raw cottonseed, or screw-press, hydraulic, or solvent-extracted cottonseed meal as the source of as little as .001 percent free gossypol. Present information indicates that free gossypol was responsible for the dark discolorations. It seemed desirable to determine whether dark discolorations would appear when dietary levels of free gossypol lower than .001 percent were fed. Accordingly, in two separate experiments laying White Leghorn pullets were fed for 30 days diets containing raw decorticated cottonseed or screw-press cottonseed meal as the source of free gossypol at the dietary levels of .00025, .00050, .00075, and .0010 percent. Each diet containing the seed was fed to 10 trap-nested layers on straw litter in similar pens, and each diet …
An overview of web caching replacement algorithms

The increasing demand for World Wide Web (WWW) services has made document caching a necessity to decrease download times and reduce Internet traffic. To make effective use of caching, an informative decision has to be made as to which documents are to be evicted from the cache in case of cache saturation. This is particularly important in a wireless network, where the size of the client cache at the mobile terminal (MT) is small. Several types of caching are used over the Internet, including client caching, server caching, and more recently, proxy caching. In this article we review some of the well known proxy-caching policies for the Web. We describe these policies, show how they operate, and discuss the main traffic properties they incorporate in their design. We argue that a good caching policy adapts itself to changes in Web workload characteristics. We make a qualitative comparison between these policies after classifying them according to the traffic properties they consider in their designs. Furthermore, we compare a selected subset of these policies using trace-driven simulations.
Flow-assisted surgical technique in cerebrovascular surgery.

Background: Cerebrovascular surgery is a technically challenging subspecialty of neurosurgery. A flow-based approach to cerebrovascular surgery can help to optimize neurosurgical interventions. Methods: Direct intraoperative flow measurements can be made using a quantitative ultrasonic microvascular flow probe. In this article, we review the applications and utility of the FAST in aneurysm and EC-IC bypass surgery. Results: Inaneurysmsurgery,flowmeasurementsprovideaquickandrepeatablemethodtoassessvessel patency andavoid complicationsrelated to vascular compromise. Inbypass forflow augmentation in the setting of ischemia, flow measurements assess bypass patency and can assess the physiologic success of the bypass strategy. In bypass for flow replacement in the setting of planned vessel sacrifice, flow measurementscan measure the flow deficitresulting fromthe vessel occlusion, assessthe adequacy of in situ donor vessels, and confirm the ultimate adequacy of the bypass at the completion of surgery. Conclusions: The FAST strategy provides a useful approach to optimizing decision making and outcomes during cerebrovascular surgery. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
A robust solution to time domain integral equations for perfect electric conductors using loop-tree decomposition and bandlimited extrapolation

Time domain integral equation (TDIE) solution methods have received more limited attention than other methods in computational electromagnetics because their early implementations were inaccurate, inefficient, and, worst of all, unstable. In spite of the advances made towards improving the efficiency of TDIEs, no consensus has so far been reached on how to stabilize TDIE solvers. The paper offers a novel and robust solution to the low frequency instability encountered in the implementation of currently available TDIE solvers. Specifically, the approach implements a loop-tree decomposition to the space of spatial testing functions, and treats the equations tested with solenoidal testing functions differently than the other equations. The underlying TDIE solver uses higher order divergence-conforming basis functions and bandlimited interpolatory functions (BLIFs) to effect, respectively, the spatial and temporal discretizations of the integral equation, and implements a bandlimited extrapolation technique to recover causality from the noncausal system generated by the BLIFs. Numerical results show that the proposed method is stable and exhibits exponential convergence with respect to a parameter of the temporal discretization.
Material symmetry and constitutive equations

Constitutive equations which are relations between tensors are considered. It is shown how the restrictions which are imposed on the form of such relations by symmetry of the material can be obtained in canonical form.
A Community-Oriented Approach to Divorce Intervention

Some of the intellectual and historical traditions of the field of marital and family counseling suggest that counselors cat have a broader therapeutic role in the n communities if the-venture out of their offices to deliver programs in community settings and engage in prevention and education activities. The mechanics and benefits of such an approach to a community-oriented divorce intervention program are described.
Channel integration and profit sharing in the dynamics of multi-channel firms

With the rapid development of e-commerce, many brick and mortar firms are increasingly creating e-commerce channels that operate quite independently from existing physical channels, which lead to intensive channel conflicts. Channel integration with profit sharing can effectively eliminate channel conflicts and improve channel coordination for these multi-channel firms. In this study, we focus on the strategic role played by channel integration with profit sharing in the online-traditional channel competition. We use a game theoretic approach to investigate this issue. We compare non-integrated channel profits with integrated channel profits to show that both the online and traditional channels always benefit from a channel integration strategy by capturing some portion of the incremental profit gains generated by an integrated channel. We utilize a profit bargaining model to implement profit sharing for the online and traditional channels to achieve their channel integration. Based on our results, optimal marketing strategies are derived.
Stacking interactions of nickel bis(dithiolene) with graphene and beyond

Density functional theory (DFT) with dispersion correction has been used to study the stacking interactions of the nickel bis(dithiolene) molecule and graphene. As in our previous study of the nickel bis(dithiolene) molecule and benzene, two different configurations were considered for the nickel bis(dithiolene) molecule and graphene, and the whole potential energy surface (PES) was explored for each of them. The stacking interaction energy is comparable with other similar systems in the experiments, and it is shown that the surface-mediated interactions play a role in determining molecular orientation. Based on the results of the nickel bis(dithiolene) molecule and graphene, we also studied a new two-dimensional (2D) heterobilayered material consisting of a 2D nickel bis(dithiolene) sheet and graphene or hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). It turns out that h-BN is a good substrate for the 2D nickel bis(dithiolene) sheet, an organic topological insulator, to maintain its original properties, while the 2D nickel bis(dithiolene) sheet behaves like a metal when forming a new 2D heterobilayered material with graphene. These observations would undoubtedly enrich the current study of 2D heterobilayered materials.
Bovine adrenocortical microsomal hydroxylase and thermotropic transitions substrate-cytochrome P-450 binding reaction versus substrate hydroxylation☆

The effect of temperature on steroid C-21 hydroxylation and substrate-cytochrome P-450 binding reaction under turnover conditions (NADPH + O2 are investigated. The Arrhenius activity plot exhibited a single break, while the van 't Hoff plot of the substrate dissociation constant (Ks) exhibited four breaks between 10 and 40 degrees C which corresponded to the characteristic temperatures of the lipids' phase transitions. Unlike the case of the Ks value, the detergent Triton X-114 was without effect on the Arrhenius activity plot. This indicates that the single break in the case of the enzyme activity is distinct from but not necessarily independent of the multiple breaks inthe case of the Ks. At physiologic temperature and concentration of the substrate, the free energy (--9.5 kcal/mol) of the substrate-cytochrome binding reaction is more than sufficient to account for the apparent activation energy (6.6 kcal/mol) of the overall hydroxylation. This suggests that the substrate-cytochrome P-450 binding reaction has the potential of being a source of energy for the overall reaction.
Polarization-based single-sideband suppressed carrier modulator

A method for generating single-sideband suppressed carrier modulation using a modulator consisting of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a polarizing element is proposed. The technique is demonstrated using a dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator, a 90deg RF hybrid, and a polarizing beam splitter. A sideband suppression of 20 dB and a carrier suppression of 32 dB are obtained