cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plumage reflectance signals dominance in Florida scrub-jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens, juveniles

Although sexual selection is undeniably important in the evolution and maintenance of ornamental traits, it remains an unsuitable explanation for juvenile ornamentation. Male–male competition has been important in the evolution of UV-blue plumage ornamentation in birds, suggesting that this type of plumage may signal status more generally. In the present study, we compared dominance status of juvenile Florida scrub-jays before and after experimental plumage manipulation and found that plumage reflectance signalled status. Male–male competition is important in maintaining UV-blue plumage ornamentation in adults of other species. However, our evidence shows that sexually dimorphic ornamentation can also mediate competition over food resources in juvenile Florida scrub-jays. Understanding status signalling among juveniles may yield insights into differences in fitness, especially in species with cohesive social systems where early interactions are likely to influence future competitions over resources or mates.
Remodeling in Cells From Different Regions of the Reentrant Circuit During Ventricular Tachycardia

Background— Anisotropic reentrant excitation occurs in the remodeled substrate of the epicardial border zone (EBZ) of the 5-day infarcted canine heart. Reentry is stabilized because of the formation of functional lines of block. We hypothesized that regional differences of ionic currents in cells of the EBZ form these lines of block. Therefore, we first mapped reentrant circuits of sustained tachycardias, then dispersed cells (infarct zone cells, IZs) from the central common pathway of the circuit (IZc) as well as from the other side of the line of block (outer pathway, IZo) for study. Methods and Results— We mapped reentrant circuits in the EBZ of infarcted hearts during sustained ventricular tachycardias (>30 seconds, n=17 episodes, cycle lengths=218±7.9 ms). INa density was reduced in both IZc and IZo, and the kinetic properties of IZc INa were markedly altered versus IZo. Structural remodeling of the sodium channel protein Nav1.5 occurred in IZs, with cell surface localization differing from normal ce...
Selection of yeast mutants constitutive for maltase synthesis.

Two general methods are presented for the selection of maltase-constitutive mutants of Saccharomyces. A preliminary characterization of four such mutants is given with respect to genetic behavior and uninduced levels of maltase and α-methylglucosidase.
Plasma Lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis

Advances in Vascular Biology—Volume 5: Plasma Lipids and Their Role in Disease By Barter Philip J., Rye Kerry-Anne, Vadas M. A., Harlan J. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers (1999). 368 pp. $120.00
Pons scaled-down clean-up column adapted for use in solvent-saving modification of the CB method for aflatoxin

The solvent-saving procedure devised by Pons using a small Chromatographie tube (Bio-Rad Laboratories glass Econo-Column, 10 mm id X 300 mm long) has been adapted and extended for use in modifications of the Official AOAC procedure for quantitative determination of aflatoxins in corn, peanuts, soybeans, coconut and pistachios. Thirty mL of each of 3 solvents for column washes was used instead of the 150 mL specified by the Official CB Method. The analytical aliquot was also reduced 80%, but sample size and extracting solvent volume were not changed, so that there was no loss in sensitivity. Toxins ranging from 3 to over 1,000μg/g of sample were quantitated after clean-up using both procedures with no statistically significant difference between results.
The role of microRNAs in neural stem cell-supported endothelial morphogenesis

Functional signaling between neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) and brain endothelial cells (ECs) is essential to the coordination of organized responses during initial embryonic development and also during tissue repair, which occurs following brain injury. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying this functional signaling, using primary mouse brain ECs and NSPCs from embryonic mouse brain. EC/NSPC co-culture experiments have revealed that neural progenitors secrete factors supporting angiogenesis, which induce noticeable changes in endothelial morphology. We demonstrate that NSPCs influence the expression of mTOR and TGF-β signaling pathway components implicated in the regulation of angiogenesis. Endothelial morphogenesis, an essential component of vascular development, is a complex process involving gene activation and the upregulation of specific cell signaling pathways. Recently identified small molecules, called microRNAs (miRNAs), regulate the expression of genes and proteins in many tissues, including brain and vasculature. We found that NSPCs induced considerable changes in the expression of at least 24 miRNAs and 13 genes in ECs. Three NSPC-regulated EC miRNAs were identified as the potential primary mediators of this NSPC/EC interaction. We found that the specific inhibition, or overexpression, of miRNAs miR-155, miR-100, and miR-let-7i subsequently altered the expression of major components of the mTOR, TGF-β and IGF-1R signaling pathways in ECs. Overexpression of these miRNAs in ECs suppressed, while inhibition activated, the in vitro formation of capillary-like structures, a process representative of EC morphogenesis. In addition, we demonstrate that inhibition of FGF, VEGF, and TGF-β receptor signaling abolished NSPC-promoted changes in the endothelial miRNA profiles. Our findings demonstrate that NSPCs induce changes in the miRNA expression of ECs, which are capable of activating angiogenesis by modulating distinct cell signaling pathways.
Quantum telecommunication with atoms and photons

For long distances direct quantum communication via optical fiber is not viable, due to fiber losses. We will outline our program on the use of atomic ensembles for long distance quantum networks.
Go Ahead Punk, Make My Day: It's Time for Pediatricians to Take Action Against Media Violence

News flash! Researchers have just found that element “X” contributes between 10% and 30% to the occurrence of heart disease. What happens next? Well, of course, the manufacturers of element X claim that there is no link and that the research is spotty anyway; Hollywood writers and producers deny that element X ever appears in any of their films, and if it does, it is never “gratuitous,” nor can anyone interfere with their right to show it, which is guaranteed in the First Amendment; and pediatricians continue to counsel parents about whether car seats should face forward or backward but apparently could not care less about element X. Who would have thought that >50 years after the first congressional hearings on media violence that we would still be debating whether it contributes to real-life violence? As one leading group of researchers has stated, there should no longer be any controversy that a cause-and-effect … Address correspondence to Victor C. Strasburger, MD, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, MSC10 5590, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131. E-mail: vstrasburger{at}salud.unm.edu
An Archaeological and Historical View of Quiroste Tribal Genesis

The ethnographic Quiroste tribe has been described as the most powerful tribe on the San Francisco Peninsular coast (Milliken 1991:186). Archaeological and historical information from within their ancestral territory, especially at Ano Nuevo State Park, reveals a long tradition of in situ cultural developments spanning the middle and late Holocene. Ano Nuevo State Park was the center for Monterey chert stone tool production, and a source of export for economically important olivella and abalone shell. These resources, along with abundant terrestrial and marine foods and materials, established the Quiroste as a prominent polity among the many others that controlled terri- tories throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Vulnerability Scrying Method for Software Vulnerability Discovery Prediction Without a Vulnerability Database

Predicting software vulnerability discovery trends can help improve secure deployment of software applications and facilitate backup provisioning, disaster recovery, diversity planning, and maintenance scheduling. Vulnerability discovery models (VDMs) have been studied in the literature as a means to capture the underlying stochastic process. Based on the VDMs, a few vulnerability prediction schemes have been proposed. Unfortunately, all these schemes suffer from the same weaknesses: they require a large amount of historical vulnerability data from a database (hence they are not applicable to a newly released software application), their precision depends on the amount of training data, and they have significant amount of error in their estimates. In this work, we propose vulnerability scrying, a new paradigm for vulnerability discovery prediction based on code properties. Using compiler-based static analysis of a codebase, we extract code properties such as code complexity (cyclomatic complexity), and more importantly code quality (compliance with secure coding rules), from the source code of a software application. Then we propose a stochastic model which uses code properties as its parameters to predict vulnerability discovery. We have studied the impact of code properties on the vulnerability discovery trends by performing static analysis on the source code of four real-world software applications. We have used our scheme to predict vulnerability discovery in three other software applications. The results show that even though we use no historical data in our prediction, vulnerability scrying can predict vulnerability discovery with better precision and less divergence over time.
Learning, using natural reinforcements, in insect preparations that permit cellular neuronal analysis†

A general paradigm is described that permits testing the ability of an arthropod to learn (by operant conditioning) to alter the position of a single leg segment in order to relate to behaviorally appropriate reinforcement. The paradigm was designed so that intracellular recording from identified neurons involved would be possible during the training of a locust or grasshopper, for which extensive neuron maps are available. As a prelude to such studies, electromyograms were made from the antagonistic muscles that move the conditioned limb, which in the present experiments was the tibia of the metathoracic leg. Negative (aversive) reinforcement was provided by a loud sound/vibration and positive (reward) reinforcement by food in the form of sugar-water or fresh-growing grass. In the aversive reinforcement experiments the sound, which reflexly caused flexion, was on continually except when the tibia of one hind leg was voluntarily placed in an electronically set position "window" displaced, in extension, away from the preferred position. In feeding experiments, food was brought automatically to the mouth by a motor-driven arm when the tibia was held within a position window set away from the preferred position in either extension or flexion. Whole or headless insects learned to turn off the sound permanently, except for sporadic brief interruptions, by tonic shifting of tibial position. Insects learned to bring food to the mouth by modifying the plateau phase of a position displacement lasting for a few minutes, that was found to occur from time to time also in controls. In aversive learning, minimum times to turn off the sound were 22 sec for the easiest position and 4 min for the most difficult. The longest time in the easiest position was 1 min 40 sec and in the most difficult 39 min; excluding measurement for individuals that did not learn. In reward learning, the minimum time in the easiest position was just under 1 min, and 12 min in the most difficult position. The longest times were about 8 hr regardless of difficulty.
New upper limits for atmospheric constituents on Io

A spectrum of Io from 0.86 to 2.7 microns with a resolution of 3.36 per cm and a signal to rms noise ratio of 120 is presented. No absorptions due to any atmospheric constituents on Io could be found in the spectrum. Upper limits of 0.12 cm-atm for NH3, 0.12 cm-atm for CH4, 0.4 cm-atm for N2O, and 24 cm-atm for H2S were determined. Laboratory spectra of ammonia frosts as a function of temperature were compared with the spectrum of Io and showed this frost not to be present at the surface of Io. A search for possible resonance lines of carbon, silicon, and sulfur, as well as the 1.08-micron line of helium, proved negative. Upper emission limits of 60, 18, 27, and 60 kilorayleighs, respectively, were established for these lines.
Aortic Dissection: Review of Value and Limitations of Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in a Six-Year Experience

The utility of transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with aortic dissection was assessed by retrospective analysis in 67 patients: 31 patients with DeBakey type I, 21 patients with type 11, 10 patients with type III, and five patients with false-positive diagnoses. Aortic dissection was correctly identified by two-dimensional echocardiography in 49 patients; 13 had false-negative diagnoses. Therefore the sensitivity was 79%, and the positive predictive accuracy was 91%. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography is a reasonable screening technique for diagnosis of aortic dissection.
The application of newton‐euler recursive methods to the derivation of closed form dynamic equations

The article presents, in tutorial format, a development of the Newton-Euler (NE) approach to the analysis of robot dynamics. Beginning with fundamental concepts drawn from vector calculus and mechanics, a set of recursive equations are developed which allow the calculation of the dynamics of a manipulator in closed form. An example based on conventional manipulator design is evaluated in some detail and shows that, for kinematic models of some complexity, the NE approach is as fast as other techniques based on Lagrangian methods for deriving closed form dynamical equations.
Synthesis and characterization of starch-graft-polycaprolactone as compatibilizer for starch/polycaprolactone blends

SUMMARY Polycaprolactone (PCL) was grafted onto starch through introduction of urethane linkages. The grafting reaction was carried out in two steps. The first step was the reaction of hydroxyl-terminated PCL with 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate. The isocyanate terminated PCL was then reacted with starch to obtain starchgrajl-polycaprolactone (starch-g-PCL). The grafting reaction was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The compatibility of the starch/PCL blend was enhanced with a compatibilizer, starch-g-PCL, whose amount was 3 wt.-% of the blend. The tensile strength and morphology of the compatibilized blend were determined. It was found that the compatibilized starch/PCL blend has finer phase domains and an improved interfacial adhesion. Mechanical properties of the compatibilized blend were found to be significantly higher than those of the corresponding uncompatibilized starcWCL blend.
A review of mortality from choroidal melanoma. II. A meta-analysis of 5-year mortality rates following enucleation, 1966 through 1988.

• With the use of data published during the period from 1966 through 1988, a pooled analysis (meta-analysis) of 5-year mortality rates among patients who had an eye enucleated for choroidal melanoma was performed to provide a more robust estimate of this rate than could be obtained from any single study. The literature concerning mortality following a diagnosis of choroidal melanoma has been reviewed systematically and described in a separate article. Of 76 reports published from 1966 through 1988, 29 were excluded from the meta-analysis because there were no cases treated by enucleation alone, mortality was not reported by time from enucleation, fewer than 10 cases were reported, or 5-year mortality rates were not reported or derivable from the data presented. Ten additional reports were excluded because they were based on data for the same set of patients as another article in the series. Of the remaining 37 reports, 29 contained data for patients with tumors of varying sizes that could not be separated into subgroups based on the size of the tumor at the time of treatment. The remaining eight articles reported 5-year mortality rates by tumor size, specifically for small, medium, or large tumors. The combined weighted estimates of 5-year mortality rates following enucleation were 16% for small tumors (95% confidence interval [CI]: [14%, 18%]), 32% for medium tumors (95% CI: [29%, 34%]), and 53% for large tumors (95% CI: [50%, 56%]). Different methods of pooling the data yielded consistent estimates for all three tumor size categories. These results supported the finding by other investigators that tumor size at time of enucleation is a major prognostic factor for patients who have choroidal melanoma.
The effect of parental genotype on initiation of embryogenic callus from elite maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm

Embryogenic callus consisting of both Type 1, firm, compact, translucent, relatively slow growing callus and Type 2, highly friable, rapidly growing callus with well-formed somatic embryos, were observed in elite maize germplasm, notably B73 and hybrids with B73. Parental genotype is very important in the ability to identify and isolate embryogenic callus after 14 and 28 days in culture. A partial diallel analysis revealed that a large proportion of the genotypic variation was of the additive type although heterosis did positively increase culture response in most cases. A significant negative maternal effect for culture response was noted for inbred B73 from Reid-type germplasm while four lines sampled from Lancaster germplasm showed similar response whether used as male or female. Although significant media differences were observed in some genotypes, culture media did not preclude observation of Type 1 or Type 2 embryogenic cultures in this study after 14 and 28 days. Plants could be regenerated from all genotypes in this study after 14-days of culture, but not all genotypes were capable of sustained subculture and plant regeneration. Plant regeneration from Type 2 cultures of B73 and B73 hybrids has been obtained up to a year after initiation.
FIRO‐BC normative and psychometric data on 9‐ through 13‐year‐old children

Study concerned principally with the need to provide normative and psychometric data for the FIRO-BC questionnaire. Reported are the means, standard deviations, test-retest reliability coefficients, and interscale correlation coefficients. Data are reported separately for boys and girls (N = 282). In addition, techniques of FIRO-BC data analyses are reviewed and alternatives are discussed.
Good science and good philosophy of science

I argue against the assumption that the influence of non-cognitive values must lead to bad science, opening the way for the thesis that non-cognitive values are compatible with good science. This, in turn, allows us to answer feminist questions, principally, How do gender politics influence science? without (1) having to reject the question a priori because theories of science assume that political values cannot influence good scientific work and (2) having made a case for the influence of gender politics upon a particular bit of scientific work, being put into the ludicrous position of saying that it is bad science after all, even though the relevant community of scientists say it is good. Nevertheless, moral and political neutrality is held to be a norm of good science and a tacit metaphilosophical norm governing good philosophy of science, viz., a good philosophy of science reveals and analyzes the morally and politically neutral production of good science. This metaphilosophical norm insures that the philosophy of science (1) is blind to the influence of non-cognitive values on good science if and when these are present and so (2) acquiesces in the moral or political arrangements supported by the science in question.
Conceptual design of a wearable radiation detector alarm system: a review of the literature

The importance of a well-designed radiation detector has become evident in recent years. Researchers have begun a user-centred redesign process for a novel neutron detector instrument to improve comfort and usability of the device. In this design process it is important to consider the type of alarm system used to alert the responder in a non-startling, non-irritating manner. The purpose of this literature investigation was to explore past research in alarm design and determine the best type of alarm system for a wearable neutron detector. This paper considers the advantages and disadvantages of visual, auditory, tactile and multimodal alarms. The literature investigation found support for a visual + tactile alarm system for a wearable neutron detector. This article addresses the advantages and limitations of different alarm modalities, identifying strengths and weaknesses of uni-modal and multi-modal alarm systems. In addition, it also serves as a concise document of historical and contemporary research ...
Heterogeneous nucleation of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The effect of various metal salts as nucleating additives for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has been investigated. In the case of sodium benzoate and probably for all other effective nucleating additives, the nucleation process can be divided into a “heterogeneous particle nucleation” performed by the unreacted salt and a “homogeneous nucleation” due to the polymer–sodium (metal) salt formed during the extrusion. This polymer–sodium (metal) salt is the major nucleating agent in these systems. We have also shown the fundamental difference between the concept of a nucleating additive and that of a nucleating agent.
Dual-graphite chemistry enabled by a high voltage electrolyte

A reversible dual-graphite intercalation chemistry with simultaneous accommodation of Li+ and PF6− in graphitic structures is enabled for the first time by a high voltage electrolyte based on a fluorinated solvent and additive, which is capable of supporting the chemistry at 5.2 V with high efficiency. This all-graphite battery promises an energy storage device of low cost, high safety and high environmental friendliness that are critical for large scale energy harvesting/storage needs.
Sonographic evaluation of renal failure

Sonography is a critical component of the evaluation of both acute and chronic renal failure; however, most nephrologists have a limited knowledge of this procedure. The acoustic properties, limited spectrum of pathological changes, and ease of visualization of the kidneys, coupled with the safety, simplicity, and low cost of sonography, make it the modality of choice for renal imaging. This review discusses the basics of sonography as they apply to the kidney and describes the findings encountered in the more common causes of renal failure. Although many sonographic findings are nonspecific, their diagnostic use is greatly enhanced by a familiarity with the clinical presentation and a thorough understanding of renal pathophysiological characteristics. Therefore, nephrologists should be knowledgeable about renal sonography and participate in its interpretation.
Scaling of two dimensional MESFETs for ultra low power applications

Presents new experimental data and simulations of AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs two dimensional MESFETs (2D MESFETs) which utilize sidewall Schottky contacts on either side of a very narrow 2D electron gas channel. These devices demonstrate excellent scaling characteristics down to submicron dimensions in both the channel length and the width, which are attributed to the special geometry of the 2D-3D contacts suppressing both the narrow channel effect (NCE) and the drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL). Specifically, when the device was scaled from 1.0/spl times/1.0 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ to 0.8/spl times/0.5 /spl mu/m/sup 2/, output conductance was reduced from 40 mS/mm to less than 1 mS/mm, knee voltage was reduced from 0.75 V to 0.25 V, and the ideality factor was reduced from 1.3 to 1.08, while the threshold voltage became less negative from -0.5 V to 0.3 V as expected. An excellent source-drain breakdown voltage over 10 V, and a current ON/OFF ratio over 105 were also observed. The gate leakage current remains small up to 0.6 V gate bias, demonstrating a good Schottky barrier between the side gates and the 2D electron gas. These characteristics compare favorably with those of a conventional HFET with similar dimensions.
Multi-Scale Glycemic Variability: A Link to Gray Matter Atrophy and Cognitive Decline in Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) accelerates brain aging and cognitive decline. Complex interactions between hyperglycemia, glycemic variability and brain aging remain unresolved. This study investigated the relationship between glycemic variability at multiple time scales, brain volumes and cognition in type 2 DM. Research Design and Methods: Forty-three older adults with and 26 without type 2 DM completed 72-hour continuous glucose monitoring, cognitive tests and anatomical MRI. We described a new analysis of continuous glucose monitoring, termed Multi-Scale glycemic variability (Multi-Scale GV), to examine glycemic variability at multiple time scales. Specifically, Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition was used to identify five unique ultradian glycemic variability cycles (GVC1–5) that modulate serum glucose with periods ranging from 0.5–12 hrs. Results: Type 2 DM subjects demonstrated greater variability in GVC3–5 (period 2.0–12 hrs) than controls (P,0.0001), during the day as well as during the night. Multi-Scale GV was related to conventional markers of glycemic variability (e.g. standard deviation and mean glycemic excursions), but demonstrated greater sensitivity and specificity to conventional markers, and was associated with worse long-term glycemic control (e.g. fasting glucose and HbA1c). Across all subjects, those with greater glycemic variability within higher frequency cycles (GVC1–3; 0.5–2.0 hrs) had less gray matter within the limbic system and temporo-parietal lobes (e.g. cingulum, insular, hippocampus), and exhibited worse cognitive performance. Specifically within those with type 2 DM, greater glycemic variability in GVC2–3 was associated with worse learning and memory scores. Greater variability in GVC5 was associated with longer DM duration and more depression. These relationships were independent of HbA1c and hypoglycemic episodes. Conclusions: Type 2 DM is associated with dysregulation of glycemic variability over multiple scales of time. These timescale-dependent glycemic fluctuations might contribute to brain atrophy and cognitive outcomes within this vulnerable population.
Stability in phylogenetic formulations and its relationship to nodal support.

The phylogenetic analysis of nucleic acid sequences, as with other data, is unavoidably based on explicit and implicit assumptions. At the fore are character transformation models-usually transversion-transition ratios-and the relative cost of alignment-derived sequence gaps. These values are the fulcra of sequence analysis. Simple homogeneous weighting does not avoid the issue of arbitrary, yet crucial, assumptions. (Wheeler, 1995:321) Sensitivity Analysis (SA) is the study of how variation in the output of a model can be apportioned, qualitatively or quantitatively, to different sources of variation, and how the given model depends upon the information fed into it.
Chromosomal instability and lack of cyclin E regulation in hCdc4 mutant human breast cancer cells

Introduction Cyclin E, a G1 cyclin essential for G1–S phase transition, is known to have a profound effect on tumorigenesis. Elevated levels of cyclin E have been associated with breast cancer, and chromosomal instability observed in breast cancer is suggested to be associated with constitutive expression of cyclin E. It was previously demonstrated that SUM149PT human breast cancer cells show very high levels of cyclin E expression by western analysis and that they express a nonfunctional cyclin E ubiquitin ligase due to a mutation in the F-box protein hCdc4.
Furrow erosion and aggregate stability variation in a Portneuf silt loam

Abstract Numerous soil factors, including aggregate stability, affect erosion rates from irrigated furrows. Since aggregate stability varies within growing seasons, furrow erosion may vary as well. The study objectives were to (1) measure furrow erosion and aggregate stability periodically over two growing seasons, (2) statistically characterize the temporal variation in furrow erosion and aggregate stability, and (3) relate variation in erosion rates to changes in aggregate stability and other soil properties. Erosion rates from replicated, previously unirrigated furrows in fallow plots on a Portneuf silt loam (coarse-silty, mixed, mesic Durixerollic Calciorthid ) at Kimberly, Idaho, USA, were measured every 2–3 weeks from mid-May through mid-August 1988, and from late-April to late-August 1989. During each 6.5-h irrigation, three furrows in 1988 and four furrows in 1989 were irrigated at an inflow rate of 11.3 l·min −1 . At each irrigation, soil samples were taken to a depth of 5 cm from the bottom of furrows adjacent to or near those irrigated. From these samples, soil gravimetric water content was measured and aggregate stability was determined by wet sieving. Erosion from furrows not previously irrigated varied greatly when measured throughout two growing seasons. For both years, erosion rates were significantly lower later in the growing season than earlier. For a 4.0% slope area in 1988, furrow erosion rates varied over the entire season by a factor of six or more while aggregate stability varied (increased) by only 17%. Thus, aggregate stability was not significantly correlated with furrow erosion rates.
Where is Mathematical Modeling in Psychology Headed

The current state of mathematical psychology is characterized in terms of five paired contrasts: behavioral vs information-processing; linearity vs non-linearity; static vs dynamic; mathematical vs computational; and deterministic vs probabilistic. Each contrast is evaluated in terms of three basic facts of psychology: complexity, irreversibility of experience, and individual differences; and also in terms of three contemporary developments: computational power, brain imaging and recent mathematical developments. From these I draw some (low-confidence) conclusions about where I think the field is headed, and why.
Notched response of OSB wood composites

Oriented strand board (OSB) is a form of wood composite manufactured from long, narrow strands bonded together with resin under heat and pressure. A large experimental database is gathered here that shows that OSB can be considered a notch-insensitive material thanks to its heterogeneous nature. Notched tensile strength does not decrease with hole size for hole diameters tested, and that for low to moderate hole sizes failure often occurs in the gross section away from the hole. The existence of an intrinsic material stress concentration is suggested, based on the existence of a constant characteristic dimension, and probabilistic considerations are used to gain insight on the observed behaviors. Scaled-up unnotched and notched specimens tend to fail at lower applied stress, but follow similar overall behavior.
Effect of Wollastonite Substitutions in a Semivitreous Dinnerware Body

A study was made of a series of typical semivitreous dinnerware bodies in which increasing amounts of wollastonite were substituted for flint and for equal portions of flint and feldspar. Wollastonite in amounts up to 8% improved the body by greatly reducing the moisture expansion, reducing the firing shrinkage, reducing the maturing temperature, and increasing the modulus of rupture. Three bodies were selected from this study and four additional bodies were formulated on the basis of a commercial composition. These bodies were used in a plant trial. The findings from a number of tests agreed with those of the laboratory and in addition showed that wollastonite improved dry strength and impact strength. On the basis of the entire investigation, the best bodies were obtained when wollastonite was used in the range 1 to 4%.
Atomistic Simulation of a Neighbor-Switching Event in the Deformation of a Model Polycrystal

Abstract This paper describes the simulated atomistic process in a large deformation of polycrystalline matter. Molecular dynamics method was applied to a model polycrystal of yttria-stabilized zirconia composed of eight small grains to investigate the microscopic mechanism of superplastic deformation. During the tensile deformation up to the strain of 0.55, a neighbor-switching event of grains similar to that proposed by Ashby and Verrall was observed in the present simulation. The large strain was accomplished by non-uniform diffusional flows in the polycrystal. By analyzing the diffusive motions of oxide ions, the mass transport during the deformation was found to take place mainly in the boundary layer of about 1 nm thickness, which covers about 0.4 times of the total volume. This result is different from the quasi-uniform flow expected in the classical creep models, but is consistent with the Ashby and Verall's model.
Conditioning Geologic Models to Local Continuity Azimuth in Spectral Simulation

Spectral simulation has gained wider application in building geologic models because of the advantage of better honoring the spatial continuity of petrophysical properties, such as reservoir porosity and shale volume. A detailed review of the theoretical background of spectral simulation and how to condition the model to well data can be found in Yao (1998). Distinct from sequential simulation methods, spectral simulation is a global algorithm in the sense that a global density spectrum is calculated once and the inverse Fourier transform is performed on the Fourier coefficient also only once to generate a simulation realization. The generated realization honors the spatial continuity structure globally over the whole field instead of only within a search neighborhood, as with sequential simulation algorithms. However, the disadvantage of global spectral simulation is that it traditionally cannot account for local information such as the local continuity trend and local continuity azimuth, which are often observed in reservoirs and hence are important to be incorporated in geologic models. A recent paper by Yao et al. (2006) discussed a new method for accounting for local continuity trend, i.e., by gradually varying variogram range, in spectral simulation. Equally important local information in geologic modeling is the local direction of maximum continuity (or azimuth) of a petrophysical property. The orientation of the property may vary from one location to another, for example, to follow the curvilinear structure of meandering channels. In this short note, a new method of conditioning the geologic model to have locally varying azimuth is proposed, using a grid representing azimuths of maximum continuity.
Developing, evaluating and validating a scoring rubric for written case reports

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Family Medicine Clerkship students’ writing skills using an anchored scoring rubric. In this study, we report on the assessment of a current scoring rubric (SR) used to grade written case description papers (CDP) for medical students, describe the development of a revised SR with examination of scoring consistency among faculty raters, and report on feedback from students regarding SR revisions and written CDP. Methods: Five faculty members scored a total of eightythree written CDP using both the Original SR (OSR) and the Revised SR1 (RSR1) during the 2009-2010 academic years. Results: Overall increased faculty inter-rater reliability was obtained using the RSR1. Additionally, this subset analysis revealed that the five faculty using the Revised SR2 (RSR2) had a high measure of inter-rater reliability on their scoring of this subset of papers (as measured by intra-class correlation (ICC) with ICC = 0.93, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Findings from this research have implications for medical education, by highlighting the importance of the assessment and development of reliable evaluation tools for medical student writing projects.
Evidence for Two Cellular Pathways of Renin Secretion by the Mouse Submandibular Gland

The pathway of renin secretion has been defined in the mouse submandibular gland (SMG). Renin is first synthesized as a prorenin, rapidly cleaved to a one-chain renin, and then very slowly processed to a two-chain form which is stored in mature granules. In pulse-labeling experiments of minced SMG, the swift appearance in the culture medium of radiolabeled one-chain renin, before granule formation, suggested that this form was secreted by a constitutive pathway independent of the granules, possibly directly from the Golgi. Supporting this hypothesis, phenylephrine, which stimulates the secretion of granules, causes a 4-fold increase in the two-chain renin, with little or no effect on the secretion of one-chain renin. Confirming evidence for the existence of the constitutive pathway was provided by the action of monensin, an ionophore that inhibits transport through the Golgi. Monensin inhibited the appearance of radiolabeled newly synthesized renin in the granules and medium while causing accumulation of the newly synthesized one-chain renin in the microsomes. Analysis of secreted renin by Western blot showed that monensin selectively inhibited the secretion of one-chain renin while not affecting the secretion of the stored two-chain renin. Taken together, our data suggest that one-chain renin is primarily secreted soon after synthesis by a pathway that bypasses the granules, while two-chain renin is secreted predominantly from the granules.
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF FEON AND FEON- CLUSTERS

Studies of iron oxide clusters are particularly important not only because the interaction of iron with oxygen is of great interest in understanding corrosion but also because iron oxide plays a central role in the transport of oxygen in biological systems. The electronic and geometrical structures of the ground and some excited states of the FeO{sub n} and FeO{sub n}{sup {minus}} clusters (n = 1--4) have been calculated using the density-functional theory with generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation potential. It is found that the multiplicity of the ground states decreases with increasing n, and the ground states of FeO{sup {minus}} and FeO{sub 2}{sup {minus}} are quartets whereas those of FeO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} and FeO{sub 4}{sup {minus}} are doublets. All of these anions possess isomers with different spatial or spin symmetries that are close in energy to their ground states. For example, FeO{sub 4}{sup {minus}} has at least five stationary states that are stable against electron detachment and fragmentation. Calculated adiabatic electron affinities (A{sub ad}) of FeO, FeO{sub 2}, and FeO{sub 3} are within 0.2 eV of the experiment. FeO{sub 4} was found to be a particularly interesting cluster. Although its neutral precursor possesses a closed electronic shell structure, itmore » has an A{sub ad} of 3.8 eV, which is higher than the electronic affinity of halogen atoms. The experimental estimate of 3.3 eV for the A{sub ad} of FeO{sub 4} is shown to originate from the detachment of an electron from one of the higher-energy isomers of the FeO{sub 4}{sup {minus}} cluster. The energetically preferred dissociation channels of FeO{sub 2}, FeO{sub 3}, FeO{sub 4}, FeO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}, and FeO{sub 4}{sup {minus}} correspond to abstraction of an O{sub 2} dimer but not to an Fe-O bond rupture. FeO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} and FeO{sub 4}{sup {minus}} are found to be thermodynamically more stable than their neutral closed-shell parents, and FeO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} is the most stable of all the clusters studied. The existence of several low-lying states with different multiplicities in FeO{sub n} and FeO{sub n}{sup {minus}} indicates that their magnetic properties may strongly depend on temperature.« less
Single Nanowire OPV Properties of a Fullerene-Capped P3HT Dyad Investigated Using Conductive and Photoconductive AFM

The effect of molecular self-assembly on nanoscale photoinduced charge generation of fullerene-capped poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PCB-c-P3HT) films and its effectiveness as a molecular additive in bulk heterojunction P3HT:[6,6]-phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is investigated through photoconductive atomic force microscopy. ortho-Dichlorobenzene-cast films of PCB-c-P3HT are found to form interconnected fibrous networks that show high photocurrent generation, while tetrahydrofuran-cast films show nanospheres with relatively low photocurrent generation. The nanofiber size and current generated from these nanowires are shown to vary with additions of PCBM. The PCB-c-P3HT amphiphile is shown to be a successful molecular additive in P3HT:PCBM films. These observations demonstrate how the self-assembly of PCB-c-P3HT into specific nanostructures is crucial to charge generation and transport.
Effects of Diet and Age on Lipoprotein Lipase and Hepatic Triglyceride Lipase Activities in the Rat

Plasma clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins appears decreased in aged humans and rats and may be due to lowered activities of the lipases responsible for lipid degradation. This study was designed to examine differential effects of age and diet on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity of adipose and heart tissue and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) activity. LPL and HTGL activities were examined in 3- and 13-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats after they had consumed either a high-carbohydrate or a high-fat diet for 14 days. The data were analyzed for age and diet differences by two-way analysis of variance. Although animals in the two age groups consumed diets of equal caloric content, the older rats gained less weight. Rats on the high-carbohydrate diet consumed less calories and gained less weight than the fat fed rats in both age groups. Neither heart nor adipose tissue LPL activity differed when examined for age or diet. HTGL activity levels, while not affected by age, were higher in the carbohydrate fed rats (P = 0.014). Regardless of age group, fasting plasma cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the carbohydrate-fed rats than fat-fed rats (P = 0.002). Thus, the diet effect was much stronger than the age effect for HTGL and plasma cholesterol levels.
In wet resolution atom fluorescence method determination tea selenium

Objective:To establish in the tea the selenium atomic fluorescence spectrographic methods measuring method.Methods:The mixed acid aqueous method dispels,atomic fluorescence spectrographic methods determination.Results: Sample pre-treatment process was simplified.The limit of detection was 0.12 μg/ml and the linear correlation coefficient was 0.9997.The relative standard deviation was 1.1% and the average recovery rate was in the range of 96%～99%.Conclusion: This method is accurate,simple,fast and of high sensitivity.
Stakeholder relationships, brand equity, firm performance: A resource-based perspective ☆

Abstract The present research investigates the links among stakeholder relationships, corporate brand equity, and firm performance. Using the resource-based theory (RBT), the authors propose an integrative conceptual framework in which a firm's relationships with multiple stakeholders drive corporate brand equity, which then leads to firm performance. The empirical analysis features firm-level, secondary data from a sample of 282 firm-year observations obtained from 81 multinational companies during 2005–2008. The empirical results indicate a positive relationship between the quality of stakeholder relations and brand equity. Furthermore, brand equity mediates the link between stakeholder relations and firm performance. This research thus offers new insights into the strategic effects of stakeholder relationships in a brand domain.
Progression from First Drink, First Intoxication, and Regular Drinking to Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison of African American and European American Youth.

BACKGROUND: Differences between African Americans (AAs) and European Americans (EAs) in the prevalence and age at onset of alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD) have been documented, but distinctions in the timing of early stage transitions and contribution of various psychiatric and psychosocial risk factors to the progression from initiation to AUD have yet to be investigated. The current study characterized progression from alcohol use initiation-defined alternatively as first drink, first intoxication, and regular drinking onset-to AUD in AA and EA youth. METHODS: Psychiatric interviews were administered via telephone to 1,461 participants (56% AA, 44% EA) in a high-risk family study (50.3% female, mean age = 17.6 [SD = 3.8]). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted separately for the AA and EA subsamples to predict DSM-5 AUD as a function of age at alcohol use initiation, with age at first drink, age at first intoxication, and age at regular drinking onset as the point of origin in separate models. RESULTS: Across race/ethnicity, regardless of how it was measured, early alcohol use initiation predicted AUD, but hazard ratios (HRs) were lowest for first drink. Regular smoking and social anxiety disorder were significant predictors in both racial/ethnic groups, but associations with conduct disorder (all 3 models: HR range = 2.07 to 4.15) and major depressive disorder (regular drinking: HR = 4.51, confidence interval [CI]: 1.60 to 12.69 for AUD onset ≥ age 20) were specific to AAs. Posttraumatic stress disorder (HR = 5.38, CI: 1.44 to 20.08) and generalized anxiety disorder (HR = 7.35, CI: 2.31 to 23.34 for AUD onset ≤ age 17) were strongly associated with progression from regular drinking to AUD exclusively in EAs. CONCLUSIONS: Early alcohol use initiation is a marker of risk for AUD in both AA and EA youth, but the contributions of various psychiatric risk factors to the development of AUD are not universal across racial/ethnic groups.Copyright © 2016 by the Research Society on Alcoholism. Language: en
Single crystal optical fibers: growth and applications

We have designed and built a fiber growth apparatus to produce high-optical-quality single-crystal fibers. The growth apparatus uses the laser heated miniature pedestal growth technique and employs novel electronic control, mechanical, and optical systems. Figure 1 schematically illustrates miniature pedestal growth of a single-crystal fiber. A CO2 laser, emitting 10.6-μm radiation, provides a controlled tightly focusable heat source to melt the refractory material. In our apparatus the optical system focuses the laser beam onto the fiber in a 380° axially symmetric distribution as shown in Fig. 2. This symmetric irradiance prevents cold spots in the growth zone. Growth proceeds by simultaneous upward translation of the seed and source rods with a molten zone positioned between them.
Free Market Choice

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the advantages of the free market as a way of making choices. Economic choices can be made in several different ways. Free market choice allows individuals to make their own choices. The invisible hand guides individual actions to pursue social goals. The free market maximizes the sum of consumer and producer surplus. Consumer surplus is the benefit that buyers receive in excess of the price they pay. Producer surplus is the payment that sellers get in excess of marginal costs. In perfectly competitive markets, these net benefits are maximized. Bureaucratic choice is another option. Bureaucratic choice is costly because the information that the market automatically produces about preferences and opportunity costs should instead be scientifically calculated. Bureaucratic choice is useful when central authorities wish to impose preferences—not reflect them. Democratic choice is another way to make collective decisions. Voting, however, is a complex process, and there is no guarantee that the democratic process accurately reflects individual preferences.