cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do NFL Signing Bonuses Carry a Substantial Risk of Forfeiture within the Meaning of Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code

Imagine a recently graduated collegiate football superstar who is drafted by and signs a lucrative contract with a National Football League team. The contract is for five years and includes a $10million dollar signing bonus. During his rookie season, war breaks out, and the United States is involved. A patriot on the order of Pat Tillman, our star retires from football after only one season, joins the military and departs for the war theater. Unfortunately, he is injured during his tour of duty and is unable thereafter to return to professional football. Or, imagine that a current NFL player acts upon his preference to practice medicine or enter a religious order. The collective bargaining agreement between the National Football Management Council and the National Football Players Association (the CBA) permits teams to recover the portion of the $10million signing bonus that was not earned on the playing field, $8million dollars in this case. However, after paying let's say $3million in federal income taxes on the receipt of $10million, our football player turned patriot/doctor/priest does not have $8million to return to his NFL team. In addition, even if the athlete has other sources of funds and can in fact return the $8million, he will have paid taxes on the receipt of funds he was ultimately not allowed to keep. Technically, he will be allowed a deduction for the $8million he's lost, but as a practical matter a tax deduction has no benefit to a taxpayer who has not sufficient income to absorb the deduction. In the case of our war hero, it is unlikely that he will ever earn enough money during the rest of his life to take advantage of the loss deduction. Moreover, because of the time value of money, the future value of this loss deduction is obviously less than the present value of the taxes paid on that $8million. Even worse, if the taxpayer's tax rate is lower in those later years, which is highly likely in the above scenario, the value of the deduction is even lesser.This article demonstrates how the foregoing tax hardships can be ameliorated by paying NFL players their signing bonuses in the form of property such that they qualify for tax deferral pursuant to section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 83, originally designed to address the divestiture of employee stock options, permits deferral of the recognition of income until such time as it cannot be divested from the employee by reason of non-performance. Signing bonuses are earned by the mere signing of a contract and are, according to common law, not contingent upon actual performance on the playing field. However, the CBA permits their forfeiture, and thus places signing bonuses if paid in property within the purview of section 83.
Measuring Scale Efficiency from a Translog Production Function

In parametric analysis based on a frontier production function, usually the scale elasticity rather than scale efficiency level is reported. In this paper we show how one can use an estimated translog production function to obtain output- and input-oriented measures of scale efficiency at an observed input bundle. We also show how the estimated model can be used to determine the optimal quantity of labor input for an exogenously fixed quantity of capital.
Electromagnetic drift waves dispersion for arbitrarily collisional plasmas

The impacts of the electromagnetic effects on resistive and collisionless drift waves are studied. A local linear analysis on an electromagnetic drift-kinetic equation with Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook-like collision operator demonstrates that the model is valid for describing linear growth rates of drift wave instabilities in a wide range of plasma parameters showing convergence to reference models for limiting cases. The wave-particle interactions drive collisionless drift-Alfven wave instability in low collisionality and high beta plasma regime. The Landau resonance effects not only excite collisionless drift wave modes but also suppress high frequency electron inertia modes observed from an electromagnetic fluid model in collisionless and low beta regime. Considering ion temperature effects, it is found that the impact of finite Larmor radius effects significantly reduces the growth rate of the drift-Alfven wave instability with synergistic effects of high beta stabilization and Landau resonance.
Multidisciplinary Design Optimization: An Emerging New Engineering Discipline

This paper attempts to define the Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) as a new field of research endeavor and as an aid in the design of engineering systems. It examines the MDO conceptual components in relation to each other and defines their functions.
Education of Children with Disabilities as Constructed within a Russian Newspaper for Teachers

This study explored the ways in which the varied meanings of the education of children with disabilities were discursively constructed in a Russian newspaper for teachers, the Teacher’s Gazette . We identified three articles addressing issues related to children with disabilities. Based on our analysis, we identified the use of two broad discourses: special education as separate and special education as inclusive. In our discussion of the findings, we point to the importance of giving voice to children with disabilities and engaging with children with disabilities and their families in constructing new imaginings of what education might be.
The influence of stability class on downwind odor concentration predicted by air dispersion models

Abstract This paper presents data to illustrate the effects of stability classes on the performance of air dispersion models in predicting agricultural odor transport. An air dispersion model (INPUFF‐2), developed by US EPA based on the Gaussian model theory, was employed in this study to run comparisons. The downwind odor concentrations at different distances from the odor source were investigated with respect to different stability classes and wind speed. According to this study, the unstable and neutral stability categories tended to govern the odor levels within 200‐meter range, while the stable stability categories yielded higher odor levels beyond that range. The odor plume width varies with the stability classes. Gaussian models can not predict odor for distances less than 100 meters from the source and the stability classes E and F are not suitable for use in Gaussian models to predict agricultural odor dispersions.
Asynchronous VLSI architecture for adaptive echo cancellation

A single chip, 128 coefficient, asynchronous echo canceller is presented. Cancellation is performed by an FIR filter whose coefficients are adapted using the power-of-two modified LMS algorithm. The pipelined circuit updates all coefficients and generates the filtered output every cycle while allowing a sampling rate >206.5 kHz.
Two pole air gap electrospinning: Fabrication of highly aligned, three-dimensional scaffolds for nerve reconstruction.

Abstract We describe the structural and functional properties of three-dimensional (3D) nerve guides fabricated from poly-e-caprolactone (PCL) using the air gap electrospinning process. This process makes it possible to deposit nano-to-micron diameter fibers into linear bundles that are aligned in parallel with the long axis of a cylindrical construct. By varying starting electrospinning conditions it is possible to modulate scaffold material properties and void space volume. The architecture of these constructs provides thousands of potential channels to direct axon growth. In cell culture functional assays, scaffolds composed of individual PCL fibers ranging from 400 to 1500 nm supported the penetration and growth of axons from rat dorsal root ganglion. To test the efficacy of our guide design we reconstructed 10 mm lesions in the rodent sciatic nerve with scaffolds that had fibers 1 μm in average diameter and void volumes >90%. Seven weeks post implantation, microscopic examination of the regenerating tissue revealed dense, parallel arrays of myelinated and non-myelinated axons. Functional blood vessels were scattered throughout the implant. We speculate that end organ targeting might be improved in nerve injuries if axons can be directed to regenerate along specific tissue planes by a guide composed of 3D fiber arrays.
Progress report: the Arizona phase III study of the effect of wheat bran fiber on recurrence of adenomatous colon polyps

A double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III cancer prevention trial in subjects with previous resection of adenomatous colon polyps is nearing completion. The study's primary objective is to evaluate the effects of daily dietary supplementation with large (13.5 g/day) versus small (2.0 g/day) doses of wheat bran fiber for 3 years. A summary of the study design and a progress report are presented.
Global 30-240 keV proton precipitation in the 17-18 April 2002 geomagnetic storms: 2. Conductances and beam spreading

[1] We investigate the global Pedersen and Hall conductance distribution during the 17–18 April 2002 geomagnetic storms by combining NOAA/POES 30–240 keV proton precipitation measurements with three-dimensional (3-D) particle transport modeling. Significant conductances are generated due to energetic proton precipitation in the selected storms, with peak values up to ∼10 S in the dusk sector. The effect of horizontal beam spread on the conductances, which is a unique feature of ion precipitation, is first assessed in this paper. It is found that with the neglect of the beam spread, an overestimation (up to 10%) occurs at the center of the major proton precipitation region. At the edge (particularly at the equatorward edge), a severe underestimation (around −50% or worse) is induced. Moreover, 3-D scattering extends the equatorward edge of the high conductance region down to around 55° magnetic latitude in the storms. A significance domain (up to 4.4°) exists equatorward of the peak proton precipitation region, in which significant conductances would be seriously underestimated without the beam spreading effect. It is also found that the beam spreading effect is more significant for the Pedersen conductances than for the Hall conductances because of the altitude dependence of both the conductivity profiles and the spreading. The findings emphasize the role of proton precipitation as well as its associated beam spreading, especially at the equatorward edge of the precipitation zone in the evening sector, where proton precipitation-produced conductivity can influence storm-time phenomena, such as subauroral polarization streams, ionospheric storm enhanced density structures, and inner magnetospheric plasma dynamics (i.e., the ring current and plasmasphere).
Gene expression profiling of an arteriogenic impotence model.

Abstract Penile arterial insufficiency is one of the most common causes of ED. We have established a traumatic arteriogenic insufficiency rat model by the ligation of the pudendal arteries. To simulate both acute and chronic traumatic injuries, five ligation periods (6 h, 3 days, 7 days, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks) were chosen. By electrostimulation of the cavernous nerve, the intracavernous pressure was determined to be between 20 and 40-cm H2O for the ligated rats compared to around 100-cm H2O for the control rats. The erectile tissue in the corpus cavernosum of these rats was then subjected to microarray analysis, in which an array that contains cDNA fragments representing 1176 rat genes was used. The results demonstrated that normal rat corpus cavernosum expressed approximately 200 genes at detectable levels and that ligation produced differential expression of approximately 25 genes, depending on the duration of ligation. The most highly ligation-induced gene was apolipoprotein D (ApoD), with peak expression in the 3- and 7-day ligated rats. Three of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP-1, 3, and 5) were upregulated in all ligated rats. IGFBP-6, which was one of the most highly expressed genes in the normal corpus cavernosum, was down-regulated in all ligated rats. Cysteine proteases of the cathepsin family were also differentially expressed between control and ligated rats, with cathepsin K being down-regulated most. A few genes were upregulated only in the 6-week ligated rats, including angiotensin-converting enzyme. Finally, VEGF, whose induction has been identified in many other ischemic tissues, was not induced in corpus cavernous tissue of ligated rats.
Early detection of cerebral injury.

S WIFT advances of modern medicine leading to rapid eor~quest o{ acute diseases only accentuate problems posed by chronically handicapping conditions. In an era characterized by almost daily discoveries of major importance it is apparent how painfully slow is progress in unraveling the complexities of many chronic disorders, of which cerebral palsy is a challenging example. I t is a disease often characterized by obscurity of etiology, uncertain methods of prevention, difficulties iri evaluation, necessity for meticulous and prolonged therapy of an integrated type, frequently with only partial success, and presenting psychologic and socioeconomic problems of first magnitude. Although present efforts, both lay and medical, to expand diagnostic and therapeutic services to children who have cerebra1 palsy are eminently worth while, the most practical approach is through coordinated research which seeks to determine etiology, thereby possibly leading to preventive measures. It is this aspect of the disease toward which this paper is directed, particularly the early detection of cerebral injury in the newborn period. Diagnosis of cerebral
Is colorectal cancer screening necessary in the preoperative assessment of inguinal herniorrhaphy? A case-control study.

Is colorectal cancer screening necessary in the preoperative assessment of inguinal herniorrhaphy? a case-control study
Which Behaviors Do Attitudes Predict? Meta-Analyzing the Effects of Social Pressure and Perceived Difficulty

A meta-analysis of 797 studies and 1,001 effect sizes tested a theoretical hypothesis that situational constraints, such as perceived social pressure and perceived difficulty, weaken the relationsh...
Electrocardiographic signal-averaging during atrial pacing and effect of cycle length on the terminal QRS in patients with and without inducible ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract Electrocardiographic signal-averaging during sinus rhythm (61 to 99 beats/man) and atrial pacing (100 to 171 beats/min) were performed to determine the effect of heart rate on late potentials in 15 patients without (group 1) and 7 patients with (group 2) inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). In sinus rhythm (79 ± 12 vs 77 ± 12 beats/min, difference not significant), the duration of the low-amplitude signal With atrial pacing in group 1 (128 ± 16 beats/ min), 3 patients developed a simultaneous decrease in terminal voltage and an increase in terminal QRS duration consistent with a late potential, but mean total and terminal durations were unchanged. Terminal voltage increased (50 ± 26 to 59 ± 40) but not significantly. With atrial pacing in group 2 (119 ± 12 beats/min) all patients either had a late potential or developed a simultaneous decrease in terminal voltage and an increase in terminal QRS duration (p = 0.001 vs group 1). Root mean square voltage decreased (33 ± 23 to 22 ± 23) and became significantly different from group 1 (p = 0.017). Mean QRS duration, root mean square terminal voltage and low-amplitude terminal QRS duration, however, were unchanged. At rates from 61 to 171 beats/min, the signal-averaged electrocardiogram is largely independent of heart rate, but there is a trend toward a decrease in terminal voltage and an increase in low-amplitude terminal QRS duration in patients with inducible VT. This may be the result of decremental conduction in arrhythmogenic tissue.
Remarks onB(H) ⊗B(H)

We review the existing proofs that the min and max norms are different onB(H) ⊗B(H) and give a shortcut avoiding the consideration of non-separable families of operator spaces.
Electromagnetic Nondestructive Testing of Cylindrically Layered Conductors

We extend a previous analysis for the series impedance of a long solenoid to allow for the cylindrical layering of the encircled conductor. The results are discussed in the context of nondestructive testing of steel ropes that may have external or internal corrosion. It is shown that even an internal layer of reduced conductivity and permeability will be detectable if the frequency is sufficiently low to permit penetration of the primary field.
Kinetic Methods of Analysis: How Do They Rate?

During the past few years there has been a resurgence of interest in kinetic aspects of analytical chemistry and in kinetic methods of analysis. The increased activity is a result of advances that have been made in instrumentation and in data processing techniques. Still, the kinetic approach is not widely applied by practicing analytical chemists. Why is this true? Why are kinetic methods not among the most common methods in use by analytical chemistry? This paper discusses the advantages and limitations of kinetic methods and addresses the probable reasons that they are not widely used. Several new principles have cmerged that are guiding the development of new kinetic-based determinations. These developments have made it possible to compensate for errors that result from changes in reaction conditions and to determine accurately multiple components in mixtures. With these advances kinetic methods are approaching the reliability of traditional equilibrium-based determinations and should be re-evaluated by analytical chemists.
The Volume of Isoflow and Increase in Maximal Flow at 50 Percent of Forced Vital Capacity during Helium-Oxygen Breathing as Tests of Small Airway Dysfunction

The purpose of this report is to review the role of helium in the early detection of obstructive pulmonary disease. The underlying physiologic mechanisms of the volume of isoflow (the volume at which flow was the same with the subject breathing air and breathing a mixture of 80 percent helium and 20 percent oxygen) and increases in maximal flow at 50 percent of vital capacity ($$max50) after breathing helium are reviewed. These tests are able to detect physiologic abnormalities in asymptomatic subjects when the results of other tests are normal; and following cessation of smoking, abnormal results may be reversible. The volume of isoflow is increased when maximal flow is reduced because of loss of elastic recoil or increase in upstream resistance. The increase in $$max50 after breathing helium appears to be relatively specific for the caliber of the small airways, being uninfluenced by loss of elastic recoil; it can further help to localize the major site of obstruction to either small or large airways. At present, random screening for early unsuspected disease is not warranted, and these tests remain an investigative tool.
A study of the relationship between food group recommendations and perceived stress: findings from black women in the Deep South.

Black women in the Deep South experience excess morbidity/mortality from obesity-related diseases, which may be partially attributable to poor diet. One reason for poor dietary intake may be high stress, which has been associated with unhealthy diets in other groups. Limited data are available regarding dietary patterns of black women in the Deep South and to our knowledge no studies have been published exploring relationships between stress and dietary patterns among this group. This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between stress and adherence to food group recommendations among black women in the Deep South. Participants ( ) provided demographic, anthropometric, stress (PSS-10), and dietary (NCI ASA-24 hour recall) data. Participants were obese (BMI = 36.5 kg/m2) and reported moderate stress (PSS-10 score = 16) and minimal adherence to Dietary Guidelines for Americans food group recommendations (1/3 did not meet recommendations for any food group). Participants reporting higher stress had higher BMIs than those reporting lower stress. There was no observed relationship between stress and dietary intake in this sample. Based on these study findings, which are limited by potential misreporting of dietary intake and limited variability in stress measure outcomes, there is insufficient evidence to support a relationship between stress and dietary intake.
Corporate tax avoidance and the timeliness of annual earnings announcements

Consistent with an agency theory of tax avoidance, this study investigates the extent to which tax avoidance results in a less timely annual earnings announcement. Using 16,340 firm-years spanning the period 1993–2010, evidence is presented suggesting tax avoidance that manifests through greater temporary and permanent book-tax differences results in a less timely annual earnings announcement. This result is robust to including several controls previously documented to affect reporting delay, including the magnitude of the earnings surprise, size, profitability, auditor-related influences, shareholder composition, capital intensity, financial reporting aggressiveness and financial condition. Evidence is also presented suggesting that tax avoidance impacts the value-relevance of earnings to investors at the announcement date, evaluated by the earnings response coefficient.
A novel photoconductivity lifetime measurement technique

A new photoconductivity lifetime measurement technique using a light source with linearly increasing light intensity is described. An analysis of the photoconductivity response has been performed which shows that the conductivity voltage varies linearly with time beyond three lifetimes, and that the extrapolation of this linear portion intersects the abscissa at one lifetime beyond the initiation of the light ramp waveform. This analysis has been experimentally verified by measurement of the lifetime of starting silicon material. For this measurement, a linearly increasing light intensity has been generated using a GaAs LED.
Intrathecal morphine for coronary artery bypass graft procedure and early extubation revisited.

Abstract Objective: To determine the dose of intrathecal (IT) morphine (along with the intraoperative baseline anesthetic) that provides significant analgesia yet does not delay extubation in the immediate postoperative period in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and early extubation. Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebocontrolled clinical study. Setting: Single university hospital. Participants: Forty patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft procedure and early extubation. Interventions: Twenty patients received 10 μg/kg of IT morphine, and 20 patients received IT placebo. Perioperative anesthetic management was standardized and included postoperative patient-controlled morphine analgesia. Main Results: Of the patients tracheally extubated during the immediate postoperative period, mean time to extubation was similar in patients who received IT morphine (6.8 ± 2.8 h) or IT placebo (6.5 ± 3.2 h). Four patients who received IT morphine had extubation substantially delayed because of prolonged ventilatory depression. There was no difference between groups in postoperative patientcontrolled morphine analgesia use. Conclusion: Even when used in conjunction with an intraoperative baseline anesthetic that allows early extubation, IT morphine (10 μg/kg) was unable to provide substantial postoperative analgesia. The risks of using IT morphine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and early extubation may outweigh the potential benefits.
Conserved role for 14-3-3ϵ downstream of type I TGFβ receptors

Schistosoma mansoni receptor kinase-1 (SmRK1) is a divergent type I transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor on the surface of adult parasites. Using the intracellular domain of SmRK1 as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen we identified an interaction with S. mansoni 14-3-3ϵ. The interaction which is phosphorylation-dependent is not specific to schistosomes since 14-3-3ϵ also binds to TβRI, the human type I TGFβ receptor. 14-3-3ϵ enhances TGFβ-mediated signaling by TβRI and is the first TβRI-interacting non-Smad protein identified that positively regulates this receptor. The interaction of 14-3-3ϵ with schistosome and human TβRI suggests a conserved, but previously unappreciated, role for this protein in TGFβ signaling pathways.
Terahertz spectral signatures of explosive materials and precursors

Terahertz (THz) spectral signatures have been measured for a variety of explosive materials and precursors. These signatures were measured by THz Time Domain Spectroscopy, using ultrashort pulsed lasers coupled with electro-optic materials to generate and detect THz radiation. Transmission and reflection spectra were measured across a frequency range from 0.2 to 2.5 THz for solid and liquid materials. These spectra are reported in terms of index of refraction and absorption coefficient, both of which can be calculated from transmission or reflection data. The value of THz spectral signatures for the development of future explosives sensing systems is discussed.
A molecular spectroscopic view of surface plasmon enhanced resonance Raman scattering

The enhancement of resonance Raman scattering by coupling to the plasmon resonance of a metal nanoparticle is developed by treating the molecule-metal interaction as transition dipole coupling between the molecular electronic transition and the much stronger optical transition of the nanoparticle. A density matrix treatment accounts for coupling of both transitions to the electromagnetic field, near-resonant energy transfer between the molecule-excited and nanoparticle-excited states, and dephasing processes. This fully quantum mechanical approach reproduces the interference effects observed in extinction spectra of J-aggregated dyes adsorbed to metal nanoparticles and makes testable predictions for surface-enhanced resonance Raman excitation profiles.
Theoretical Study of Early Steps in Corrosion of Pt and Pt/Co Alloy Electrodes

Theoretical studies of Pt and PtCo alloy electrode dissolutions in PEMFCs were made using adsorption energies from VASP slab band calculations on the metal surfaces in a linear Gibbs energy relationship. The reversible potential for Co−OH formation from oxidation of H2O on the Pt3Co(111) surface was calculated to be 0.50 V, which is significantly lower than the calculated 0.70 V reversible potential for Pt−OH formation on the Pt(111) surface. Co(OH)2 formation from oxidation of H2O on the Pt3Co(111) surface was calculated to take place at a lower potential than Pt(OH)2 formation on the Pt(111) surface, with the respective reversible potentials 0.58 and 1.92 V. These results for what may be the initial steps of anodic dissolution indicate that Co will dissolve at lower potential than Pt in the alloy surface and leave behind a Pt surface skin when the potential is >∼0.50 V. In addition, the reversible potential for OH formation on a step of edge atom on Pt(111) surface from oxidation of H2O was calculated t...
Lobbying for Inclusion: Rights Politics and the Making of Immigration Policy

Lobbying for Inclusion: Rights Politics and the Making of Immigration Policy. By Carolyn Wong. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2006. 225p. $50.00. In 2006, unprecedented crowds took to the streets to protest proposed legislation in the House of Representatives that would have, among other things, made it a crime to “assist” undocumented immigrants to remain within U.S. borders. HR 4437, also known as the Sensenbrenner Bill, never became law, but it nonetheless sparked a fierce debate about immigration policy, which has divided the Republican Party in particular. Carolyn Wong's book provides a timely account of the making of immigration policy, commencing with the Hart Cellar Act of 1965 and proceeding through the last major piece of immigration in 1996.
Studies of esterase 6 in Drosophila melanogaster. III. The developmental pattern and tissue distribution

Abstract Developmental changes in the activity of esterase 6 (E.C. 3.1.1.1, carboxylesterase) were studied in both sexes of Drosophila melanogaster . Since a number of esterases are active towards the substrate utilized (β-naphthyl acetate), a spectrophotometric assay largely specific for esterase 6 was developed. Low levels of esterase 6 activity can be detected in newly laid eggs and activity rises slowly until about 36 hr after adults eclose. At this time, esterase 6 activity in males rises sharply and stabilizes at a level 2–3 times that found in adult females. Esterase 6 activity in dissected, adult male tissues was determined by spectrophotometric assay or histochemical staining on starch and acrylamide gels. This analysis shows that esterase 6 in adult males is highly concentrated in the anterior ejaculatory duct. It is suggested that esterase 6 plays a role in male reproduction.
When Festinger Fails: Prophecy and the Watch Tower

Within its history, the Watch Tower has often set dates for the coming of Christ's millennial reign. The ability of Jehovah's Witnesses to endure the failure of these interpretations of Biblical prophecy reveals the power of the Watch Tower to withstand what would seem to be fatal challenges to its system of belief. In what has become a classic study, the social psychologist Leon Festinger has argued that such disconfirmations of prophecy lead only to deepened conviction and increased proselytism to persuade others that the original belief was correct. Applying Festinger's hypothesis to the prophetic speculation of the Watch Tower, I argue that his model fails to recognize how complex organizations and systems of belief shape responses to disconfirmed prophecy. Indeed, the history of Jehovah's Witnesses demonstrates that organizational structure and ideology constitute crucial variables for any analysis of reaction to prophetic failure. It is the very power of the Watch Tower as a millenarian movement tha...
Dibenzo-p-dioxins in the environment from ceramics and pottery produced from ball clay mined in the United States

Processed ball clay samples used in the production of ceramics and samples of the ceramic products were collected and analyzed for the presence and concentration of the 2,3,7,8-Cl substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDDs/PCDFs). The processed ball clay had average PCDD concentrations of 3.2 ng/g toxic equivalents, a congener profile, and isomer distribution consistent with those found previously in raw ball clay. The PCDF concentrations were below the average limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 pg/g. The final fired ceramic products were found to be free of PCDDs/PCDFs at the LODs. A consideration of the conditions involved in the firing process suggests that the PCDDs, if not destroyed, may be released to the atmosphere and could represent an as yet unidentified source of dioxins to the environment. In addition, the PCDDs in clay dust generated during manufacturing operations may represent a potential occupational exposure.
Insecticidal activity of entomopathogenic fungi (Hypocreales) for potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae): Development of bioassay techniques, effect of fungal species and stage of the psyllid

Abstract The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc), is a pest of potato, tomato, and some other solanaceous vegetables and has also been incriminated in the transmission of a bacterial pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, resulting in a serious disease known as ‘zebra chip’. Although there are several reports of fungal pathogens in psyllids, there are none from B. cockerelli, nor have any fungi been evaluated against it. Five isolates of fungi, one Beauveria bassiana, two Metarhizium anisopliae and two Isaria fumosorosea, were bioassayed against B. cockerelli on potato leaves under ideal conditions for the fungi. All applications were made with a Potter spray tower. With the exception of concentration-effect studies, all other applications were made using 107 conidia/mL in a 2-mL aqueous suspension. All isolates except B. bassiana, produced 95–99% mortality, corrected for control mortality, in adults 2–3 days after application of conidia and 91–99% in nymphs 4 days after application. Th...
Apparent Galactose Appearance Rate in Human Galactosemia Based on Plasma [13C]Galactose Isotopic Enrichment

Abstract Determination of endogenous galactose formation in galactosemic subjects provides important information in understanding the etiology of the long-term complications. To accomplish this task a sensitive method for measurement of isotopic enrichment of plasma galactose was developed. The aldononitrile pentaacetate derivative of galactose was utilized for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Using a phenyl-methylsilicone capillary column, adequate separation of galactose from glucose was obtained by temperature programming of the chromatography. The specific fragmentation pattern of m/z 212, 225, 314 from d -[12C]galactose and m/z 213, 226, 315 from l -[13C]galactose was used for the galactose enrichment measurement by atom percent excess (APE). There was good correlation between expected enrichment and determined APEs at galactose concentrations of 1, 2, and 5 μmol/L with a coefficient of variation ranging from 0.22 to 7.17%. The method provides an accurate estimation of plasma [13C]galactose enrichment from which the galactose production rate can be calculated. The steady-state plasma l -[13C]galactose isotopic enrichment of three individuals with galactosemia, two males ages 33 and 13, and one female age 9, during constant infusion of l -[13C]galactose was 55, 41, and 55%, allowing the estimation of the apparent galactose appearance rate of 0.62, 1.09, and 0.82 mg/kg/h, respectively. The reanalysis of three previous studies by the present method found that APE values determined by the method then employed, butylboronate acetate derivatization, were systemically lower than those determined with aldononitrile pentaacetate derivatization, making for an overestimation of the apparent galactose appearance rate. The small plasma sample volumes needed make it feasible to perform these studies in infants and young children with galactosemia.
Target tracking by fusion of random measures

In this paper we propose fusion methods for tracking a single target in a sensor network. The sensors use sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) techniques to process the received measurements and obtain random measures of the unknown states. We apply standard particle filtering (SPF) and cost-reference particle filtering (CRPF) methods. For both types of filtering, the random measures contain particles drawn from the state space. Associated to the particles, the SPF has weights representing probability masses, while the CRPF has user-defined costs measuring the quality of the particles. Summaries of the random measures are sent to the fusion center which combines them into a global summary. Similarly, the fusion center may send a global summary to the individual sensors that use it for improved tracking. Through extensive simulations and comparisons with other methods, we study the performance of the proposed algorithms.
Anti-P450lpr Antiserum Inhibits the Activation of Chlorpyrifos to Chlorpyrifos Oxon in House Fly Microsomes

Abstract Cytochrome P450lpr is a house fly-specific P450 that is developmentally regulated and expressed at higher levels in the insecticide resistant LPR strain compared to susceptible strains. P4SOlpr catalyzes the metabolism of deltamethrin, methoxyresorufin, and benzo[a]pyrene in LPR microsomes. Herein, we report on the role of cytochrome P450lpr in the metabolism of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos oxon. Monooxygenase-mediated oxidative desulfuration of chlorpyrifos in the LPR strain was greater than that in the susceptible S+ strain. Anti-P450lpr antiserum caused complete inhibition of monooxygenase-mediated chlorpyrifos metabolism in S+ and nearly complete inhibition in LPR microsomes. This suggests that P450lpr is the major P450 responsible for chlorpyrifos activation and metabolism in S+ and LPR microsomes. When chlorpyrifos oxon was used as the substrate, the microsomal monooxygenases caused a significant conversion of oxon to water-soluble metabolites in both S+ and LPR microsomes; however, anti-P450lpr antiserum had no significant effect on the amount of chiorpyrifos oxon remaining in S+ and only slightly inhibited this reaction in LPR. This suggests that P450lpr is the major P450 responsible for oxidative desulfuration of chlorpyrifos, but not a major P450 involved in monooxygenase-mediated chlorpyrifos oxon metabolism. The role of P450lpr in the production of specific metabolites is discussed.
Survey of diseases and insects of Fraser fir and red spruce in the southern Appalachian Mountains

Disease and insect surveys of three Southern Appalachian spruce-fir ecosystems were conducted between 1985–1988. Visual tree decline was correlated with the presence of fungal pathogens and insect pests. Fungi were isolated from tree cankers, necrotic roots and diseased foliage; while insect incidence and impact was assessed visually. With the exception of damage to Fraser fir inflicted by the balsam wooly adelgid, little significant pathology or insect infestation was noted. This survey indicates that major diseases and insect damage, particularly on red spruce, appear not be primarily causal in the observed forest decline.
Special class of symmetric Boolean functions: proof and comment

The existence of a special class of totally symmetric functions has been reported in an earlier letter. In this letter, a formal proof substantiating this existence is presented. It is also pointed out that in each ncube there are two such functions which are complements of each other.
Oxidation Behavior of ODS Fe-Cr Alloys

Four experimental oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS)Fe-(13–14 at. %)Cr ferritic alloys were exposed for up to 10,000 hr at 700–1100 °C in air and in air with 10vol.% water vapor. Their performance has been compared to other commercial ODS and stainless steel alloys. At 700–800°C, the reaction rates in air were very low for all of the ODS Fe–Cr alloys compared to stainless steels. At 900°C, a Y2O3 dispersion showed a distinct benefit in improving oxidation resistance compared to an Al2O3 dispersion or no addition in the stainless steels. However, for the Fe-13 %Cr alloy, breakaway oxidation occurred after 7,000 hr at 900°C in air. Exposures in 10 % water vapor at 800 and 900°C and in air at 1000 and 1100°C showed increased attack for this class of alloys. Because of the relatively low Cr reservoirs in these alloys, their maximum operating temperature in air will be below 900°C.
Melting temperature of two-dimensional Wigner crystals: Anharmonic effects

Making use of the Green's-function technique, we obtain the lowest-order corrections to the shear modulus due to anharmonicity. In the classical limit our result agrees with a recent result obtained by Fisher, resulting in $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=103$, where $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{({r}_{0}{T}_{M})}$, ${r}_{0}$ is the interelectron distance, and ${T}_{M}$ is the melting temperature. More generally we obtain the shear modulus, which includes the quantum corrections as well. Assuming that even in the high-density limit the melting of the Wigner lattice is due to dissociation of bound dislocation pairs, the phase diagram is constructed. We find that the Wigner lattice becomes unstable for ${r}_{s}(\ensuremath{\equiv}\frac{{r}_{0}}{{a}_{B}})l5.57$, where ${a}_{B}$ is the Bohr radius.
Age and sex mediated changes in epicardial fat adipokines.

Aging, which is an independent risk factor for heart disease, alters body fat mass and its function. Epicardial fat plays an important physiological and pathophysiological role on cardiac structure and function. This study investigated if aging altered the abundance of epicardial (EF) and abdominal fat (AF) derived mediators in a sex dependent manner in female and male Fischer 344 × Brown Norway hybrid (FBN) rats. EF and AF were obtained from 48 female and male, young (6 months), aged (26/30 months) and very aged (30/36 months) FBN rats. Adipose derived anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory mediators were measured using ELISA, adipokine array and real-time qPCR. No dramatic changes in circulating lipids other than a higher triglyceride and high density lipoprotein in aged females and a significantly increased circulating adiponectin (p< 0.005) in aged rats were observed. Real time PCR results showed that compared to 6mo old female rats, the aged (26mo) and very aged (30mo) rats had significantly lower levels of EF genes: adiponectin (p<0.005), PPARγ (p<0.01, 0.005), IL-6 (p<0.01) and PAI-1 (p<0.01, 0.01), respectively, but not in AF. In contrast, the male rats exhibited an increase in IL-6 in EF (p< 0.005) but a decrease in adiponectin and PPARγ in AF with aging. These changes might be attributed to differences in adipocyte make-up or macrophage infiltration. In conclusion, aging had a more profound impact on EF derived mediators in female rather than male rats, which might help explain the increased risk to cardiovascular disease seen in older women.
Are adaptations to combined endurance and strength training affected by the sequence of training

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the sequence of strength training before endurance training (ST/ET) is more or less effective than endurance training followed by strength training (ET/ST). Twenty‐three females and 11 males were assigned to one of three groups: ST/ET (n= 15), ET/ST (n= 15) or control (n = 4). The 7‐week training programme consisted of strength training using 10 exercises for two sets of 3–12 repetitions and running for 20–25 min at 60–90% of heart rate reserve. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was measured during a graded treadmill test, and muscular strength was assessed using one‐repetition maximum tests for the bench press (BP), shoulder press (SP), arm curl (AC) and leg press (LP). The VO2 max significantly (P 0.05) difference between the two experimental groups. Muscular strength significantly (P <0.05) improved by 15.2% (BP), 16.6% (SP), 17.2% (AC) and 11.9% (L...
Behavioral and computational aspects of language and its acquisition

Abstract One of the greatest challenges facing the cognitive sciences is to explain what it means to know a language, and how the knowledge of language is acquired. The dominant approach to this challenge within linguistics has been to seek an efficient characterization of the wealth of documented structural properties of language in terms of a compact generative grammar—ideally, the minimal necessary set of innate, universal, exception-less, highly abstract rules that jointly generate all and only the observed phenomena and are common to all human languages. We review developmental, behavioral, and computational evidence that seems to favor an alternative view of language, according to which linguistic structures are generated by a large, open set of constructions of varying degrees of abstraction and complexity, which embody both form and meaning and are acquired through socially situated experience in a given language community, by probabilistic learning algorithms that resemble those at work in other cognitive modalities.
Acanthosis Nigricans of the Ears or Terra Firma-Forme Dermatosis?

To the editor, I read with great interest the case report by Lee et al.1 describing an obese young man with brown, dirt-like plaques on the sulci of the ears. The lesions were biopsied and diagnosed as acanthosis nigricans, which he also had on the neck, axillae, and groin. I would like to suggest a different diagnosis - terra firma-forme dermatosis. I wonder if slightly more aggressive rubbing with an alcohol swab might have significantly cleared the patient's lesions. I have often observed comparable dirt-like papules or plaques in this location in my patients who are obese and have darker skin types (Fig. 1). While these lesions may show overlapping features of (or occur in conjunction with) acanthosis nigricans, confluent and reticulated papillomatosis, and terra firma-forme dermatosis, they frequently demonstrate rapid and significant response or clearing with alcohol swabbing (Fig. 2). Finally, the lack of acanthosis in the biopsy of the patient of Lee et al.1 further puts the diagnosis of acanthosis nigricans in question. Because terra firma-forme dermatosis is rarely biopsied, the literature is lacking in histological descriptions for comparison. Fig. 1 (A, B) A 32-year-old African-American man with a many year history of bothersome, progressive, dirt-like, brown papules and plaques in the preauricular area, sulci of ear, cheeks, chest, neck, and folds on back, despite normal hygiene and many attempts ... Fig. 2 Most of the patient's lesions, including around and involving the ear, markedly improved or cleared with gentle rubbing with an alcohol swab.
Radial Points in the Plane

A radial point for a finite set P in the plane is a pointq??P with the property that each line connecting q to a point ofP passes through at least one other element of P. We prove a conjecture of Pinchasi, by showing that the number of radial points for a non-collinear n -element set P is O(n). We also present several extensions of this result, generalizing theorems of Beck, Szemeredi and Trotter, and Elekes on the structure of incidences between points and lines.
Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors as initial therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: Focus on epidermal growth factor receptor mutation testing and mutation-positive patients

Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway has been implicated in tumorigenesis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer. As a result, EGFR has become a key focus for the development of personalized therapy, with several molecular biomarkers having been investigated as potential predictors of response with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in NSCLC (e.g., EGFR expression, EGFR gene copy gain, and EGFR mutations). Of these, activating mutations in EGFR have thus far given the most consistent results based on the available evidence from preclinical studies and clinical trials. In an attempt to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment with EGFR TKIs, EGFR mutation testing is being increasingly utilized in clinical practice. Currently in the United States, no EGFR TKI or accompanying mutational test is approved for the identification and first-line treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC. However, the first-generation EGFR TKIs, erlotinib and gefitinib, as well as investigational ErbB family TKIs and EGFR mutation testing methods are being evaluated in this setting. This review will discuss EGFR mutation testing as a biomarker of response to EGFR TKIs and the evolution of EGFR mutational analysis in NSCLC. Completed and ongoing clinical trials evaluating currently available or investigational EGFR TKIs as first-line therapy in molecularly and clinically selected patients with NSCLC, with a focus on trials in patients whose tumors have EGFR mutations, will also be reviewed.