cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Greedy heuristics for the bounded diameter minimum spanning tree problem

Given a connected, weighted, undirected graph G and a bound D, the bounded diameter minimum spanning tree problem seeks a spanning tree on G of minimum weight among the trees in which no path between two vertices contains more than D edges. In Prim's algorithm, the diameter of the growing spanning tree can always be known, so it is a good starting point from which to develop greedy heuristics for the bounded diameter problem. Abdalla, Deo, and Gupta described such an algorithm. It imitates Prim's algorithm but avoids edges whose inclusion in the spanning tree would violate the diameter bound. Running the algorithm from one start vertex requires time that is O(n3).A modification of this approach uses the start vertex as the center of the spanning tree (if D is even) or as one of the two center vertices (if D is odd). This yields a simpler algorithm whose time is O(n2). A further modification chooses each next vertex at random rather than greedily, though it still connects each vertex to the growing tree with the lowest-weight feasible edge. On Euclidean problem instances with small diameter bounds, the randomized heuristic is superior to the two fully greedy algorithms, though its advantage fades as the diameter bound grows. On instances whose edge weights have been chosen at random, the fully greedy algorithms outperform the randomized heuristic.
Cultural Affiliation and Mammography Screening of Chinese Women in an Urban County of Michigan

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship of culturally based attitudes on breast cancer screening behavior of Chinese women currently residing in the United States. This cross-sectional study used a survey instrument that was administered to a consecutive nonprobability sample of 202 Chinese women residing in an urban Michigan county. Mood’s strength of cultural affiliation scale (SCAS) was modified for cultural appropriateness prior to being translated into Chinese, back-translated, and pretested prior to use for this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive, correlational, and multivariate analysis techniques. Statistical analyses revealed that cultural diversity within the Chinese sample was associated with differing health behaviors and that the SCAS had indirect effects, through access to health care, on women’s mammography screening use (R2= 28.3%). These study’s findings reveal that cultural affiliation and beliefs are related to the breast cancer screening behavior of immigrant Chin...
Implementing a nonlatex surgical glove study in the OR.

ABSTRACT Sterile surgical gloves are used to protect patients and health care workers (HCWs) from infection during surgery and to shield HCWs from exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Based on increased reports of latex allergy, many HCWs now use nonlatex surgical gloves as a substitute for natural rubber gloves. Little is known, however, about the performance of nonlatex gloves in surgery. This article describes a study that currently is being performed to test the barrier performance of nonlatex surgical gloves after they have been used in surgery and to determine HCW satisfaction. To date, 12,703 latex and nonlatex gloves from all surgical services have been collected and tested for barrier quality. This article describes the project and challenges encountered by the collaborative team of perioperative staff members and nurse researchers as they collect data. AORN J 73 (Feb 2001) 435–445.
An evaluation of the potential for toxics exposure in the Great Lakes region using STORET data

Abstract It has been suggested that residents of the Great Lakes region are at a greater risk of exposure to toxic substances than any other subset of the United States population. This project tested the potential for exposure to toxics by using the levels of toxic substances in fish tissue and sediment as surrogates for human exposure. Data were retrieved from the EPA's STORET database and sorted by USGS water resource regions. The results indicate that the overall potential for exposure to toxics in the Great Lakes region is not higher than other geographic regions.
Reciprocity, fairness and learning in medium access control games

Abstract In wireless communication systems users compete for communication opportunities through a medium access control protocol. Previous research has shown that selfish behavior in medium access games could lead to inefficient and unfair resource allocation. We introduce a new notion of reciprocity in a medium access game and derive the corresponding Nash equilibrium. Further, using mechanism design we show that this type of reciprocity can remove unfair/inefficient equilibrium solutions. The best response learning method for the reciprocity game framework is studied. It demonstrates that the game converges to the unique and stable Nash equilibrium if the nodes have low collision costs or high psychological sensitivity. For symmetric games the converged Nash equilibrium turns out to be the fair strategy.
Creativity and experience of a creative task: Person and environment effects

Abstract We examined the effects of a person factor (general causality orientation) and an environment factor (threat of evaluation) on creativity and personal experience of a creative collage-making task. Ninety college students completed questionnaires and made a collage under conditions of expected evaluation or no-evaluation. Creativity was a function of participants’ characterizations of themselves as artistic, and among men, of the interaction between environment and person factors. Task experience was affected by environment factors and, marginally, by the interaction of environment and person factors, with participants feeling less competent at the task under threat of evaluation, and exerting the greatest effort when they were under evaluation threat and were higher on control orientation. These findings may have implications for future motivation for creative tasks.
Reducing Child Labour Through Conditional Cash Transfers: Evidence from Nicaragua's Red de Protección Social

Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programmes, providing eligible households with periodic cash payments, contingent on their children's adherence to school enrolment and attendance requirements, hold considerable promise for reducing levels of child labour across the developing world. This article presents the results of an analysis of a CCT programme in Nicaragua, Red de Proteccion Social, and compares them with those of other CCT programmes, discussing how the structure of each programme's incentives, including differences in targeting, subsidy amounts and educational requirements, contributes to the variation in their effectiveness at reducing child labour.
The molecular basis of autosomal recessive diseases among the Arabs and Druze in Israel

The Israeli population mainly includes Jews, Muslim and Christian Arabs, and Druze In the last decade, data on genetic diseases present in the population have been systematically collected and are available online in the Israeli national genetic database (http://www.goldenhelix.org/server/israeli). In the non-Jewish population, up to 1 July 2010, the database included molecular data on six diseases relatively frequent in the whole population: thalassemia, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), cystic fibrosis, deafness, phenylketonuria and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, as well as data on 195 autosomal recessive diseases among Muslim Israeli Arabs, 11 among the Christian Arabs and 31 among Druze. A single mutation was characterized in 149 out of the 238 rare disorders for which the molecular basis was known. In many diseases, mutation had never been observed in any other population and was present in one family only suggesting that it occurred as a de novo event. In other diseases, the mutation was present in more than one community or even in other populations such as Bedouins from the Arab peninsula or Christians from Lebanon. In the 89 other disorders, more than one mutation was characterized either in the same gene or in more than one gene. While it is probable that most of these cases represent random events in some cases such as Bardet Biedl among the Bedouins, the reason may be a selective advantage to the heterozygotes.
Local and semi-local shape from shading for a single perspective image of a smooth object

Abstract In this paper we present a general framework for a local shape from shading analysis of a single perspective image of a smooth opaque object. For such an image, we present and analyze a system of algebraic equations that relates the image intensity and the derivatives of the image intensity (up to second order) at an image point to the local surface geometry and the imaging geometry at the corresponding surface point. We also discuss a semi-local shape from shading analysis of a single perspective image of a smooth opaque object and compare it to a local analysis of the image.
Calcium phosphate ceramics in drug delivery

Calcium phosphate (CaP) particulates, cements and scaffolds have attracted significant interest as drug delivery vehicles. CaP systems, including both hydroxyapaptite and tricalcium phosphates, possess variable stoichiometry, functionality and dissolution properties which make them suitable for cellular delivery. Their chemical similarity to bone and thus biocompatibility, as well as variable surface charge density contribute to their controlled release properties. Among specific research areas, nanoparticle size, morphology, surface area due to porosity, and chemistry controlled release kinetics are the most active. This article discusses CaP systems in their particulate, cements, and scaffold forms for drug, protein, and growth factor delivery toward orthopedic and dental applications.
1743 MECONIUM FREE PATTY ACIDS INDUCE ALVEOLAR COLLAPSE

Free fatty acids of meconium alter surface tension of lung extract in vitro. We examined meconium and its primary free fatty acids (oleic, palmitic, stearic) instilled in vivo into the trachea of 15 experimental and 8 control mongrel dogs who were anesthetized, placed on a piston ventilator and subjected to a left thoracotomy. The lungs were lavaged with meconium alone, a petroleum ether extract of meconium, or a suspension of free fatty acids in saline. Cardiac output, venous and arterial, blood gases and femoral, pulmonary and left atrial pressures were monitored for two hours. Static lung compliance was calculated. Mean airway pressure increased and static lung compliance decreased in both meconium and meconium extract groups. (p<.05). Pa O2. decreased significantly (p<.01) without recovery to the baseline in all experimental groups. There were no changes in pH Pa O2 or anv hemodynamic parameter. The dogs were sacrificed and the surface tension of lung extract was measured in a Wilhelmy balance. Although atelectesis and copious airway foam were seen, the surface tension minimum of crude lung extract and airway foam was less than 10 dynes per centimeter. We conclude on the basis of the significant changes in lung compliance, increased airway pressure and decreased Pa O2 that the free fatty acids of meconium may induce alveolar collapse by displacing surfactant from the alveolus.
Ad hoc mobile multicast routing using the concept of long‐lived routes

Mobile ad hoc networks are recognized by their abilities to form, sustain, and deform networks on-the-fly without the need for any pre-established and fixed infrastructures. This wireless multi-hop technology requires adaptive networking protocols with low control overhead and low power consumption to operate efficiently. Existing research so far are mainly concerned with unicast routing for ad hoc mobile networks. There is a growing interest in supporting multicast communication in an ad hoc mobile environment. In this paper, the associativity-based ad hoc multicast (ABAM) routing protocol is proposed. The concept of association stability is utilized during multicast tree discovery, selection, and reconfiguration. This allows routes that are long-lived to be selected, thereby reducing the frequency of route reconstructions. ABAM employs a localized route reconstruction strategy in response to migrations by source, receiver, and tree nodes. It can repair an affected subtree via a single route reconstruction operation. ABAM is robust since the repair can be triggered by a node in the tree or by the migrated node itself. ABAM is also capable of handling multicast group dynamics when mobile hosts decide to join and leave an existing multicast group. Our simulation results reveal that under different mobility scenarios and multicast group size, ABAM has low communication overhead and yields better throughput performance. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thoracic surgical operations in patients enrolled in a computed tomographic screening trial.

Abstract Objective Screening for lung cancer with computed tomography may detect cancers at an earlier stage but may also result in overdiagnosis. We reviewed the thoracic surgical operations performed on patients enrolled in our computed tomographic screening program. Methods From January 1999 through December 2002, screening computed tomography for lung cancer was performed annually on 1520 participants. All participants were at least 50 years old and smoked more than 20 pack/y. We found 3130 indeterminate pulmonary nodules in 1112 participants (73%). Fifty-five participants (3.6%) underwent 60 thoracic operations for a variety of indications. The medical records of these 55 patients were reviewed. Results Indications for operation included suspicious pulmonary nodules, mediastinal adenopathy, and a spontaneous pneumothorax. Operations performed included a lobectomy in 37 cases, wedge resection in 11, segmentectomy in 6, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical talc pleurodesis in 1, bilobectomy in 2, mediastinoscopy in 2, and anterior mediastinotomy in 1. Benign disease was found in 10 patients (18.1%), and lung cancer was found in 45 (81.9%), 2 of whom had metachronous lung cancers. Cell types were adenocarcinoma in 15 cancers, bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma in 13, squamous cell in 13, carcinoid in 2, small cell in 2, and large cell and undifferentiated non–small cell in 1 case each. Twenty-eight cancers were classified as stage IA, 4 as IB, 4 as IIA, 1 as IIB, 4 as IIIA, 3 as IIIB, 1 as IV, and 2 as limited small cell carcinoma. Complications occurred in 27% of patients. Operative mortality was 1.7%. Conclusion Computed tomographic screening finds a large number of indeterminate pulmonary nodules in smokers 50 years old or older, most of which are observed and not operated on. Although 47 cancers were detected thus far in this highly selected group of patients, this represents only 1.5% of the pulmonary nodules identified.
PS1-26: The Impact of Relational Dynamics in Primary Care Departments on Patient Satisfaction with Clinic Performance.

Background/Aims We examined the extent to which relational dynamics among primary care providers and clinic staff impacts clinic quality and efficiency from the patients’ perspective. Relational dynamics, measured by team communication (frequency, timeliness, accuracy, problem-solving) and relationships (shared goals, shared knowledge, mutual respect), has been associated with better performance in hospital settings through better communication and coordination of tasks among providers; however, the impact in primary care has received more limited attention in the literature. We take advantage of the natural variation in practice culture that occurred in 13 family medicine and 13 internal medicine departments in a large multispecialty practice in California.
The aging dilemma: Is increasing longevity among people with intellectual disabilities creating a new population challenge in the Asia-pacific region?

The Macau Declaration on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific and the Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific provide a framework for defining the needs of the aging population in the Asia-Pacific region. It also served as a stimulus for planning and public commitment to addressing the needs of the region's elderly population, including the needs of each of the nation's adult and aging populations of persons with intellectual disabilities. Within the Asia-Pacific region, the diversity of cultural and economic interests often combines to define how services are provided to their aging populations and both how disabilities are perceived and how national policies reflect these interests in serving people with disabilities. Reports issued by the World Health Organization on improving longevity and promoting healthy aging among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the Tampa Scientific Conference on Aging and Intellectual Disabilities on defining health factors help provide the structure for both the consideration of the impact of aging on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and how national social and public welfare policies can be framed to respond to aging and lifelong disability.
Spectrum of D = 6, N = 4b supergravity on AdS3 × S3

Abstract The complete spectrum of D = 6, N = 4 b supergravity with n tensor multiplets compactified on AdS 3 × S 3 is determined. The D = 6 theory obtained from K 3 compactification of Thpe IIB string requires that n = 21, but we let n be arbitrary. The superalgebra that underlies the symmetry of the resulting supergravity theory in AdS 3 coupled to matter is SU (1, 1||2) L × SU (1, 1||2) R . The theory also has an unbroken global SO (4) R × SO ( n ) symmetry inherited from D = 6. The spectrum of states arranges itself into a tower of spin-2 supermultiplets, a tower of spin-1, SO ( n ) singlet supermultiplets, a tower of spin-1 supermultiplets in the vector representation of SO ( n ) and a special spin - 1 2 supermultiplet also in the vector representation of SO ( n ). The SU (2) L × SU (2) R Yang-Mills states reside in the second level of the spin-2 tower and the lowest level of the spin-1, SO ( n ) singlet tower and the associated field theory exhibits interesting properties.
Propagator momentum-transfer effects in expanded gauge models of neutral currents

We generalize the Georgi-Weinberg discussion of the effective neutral-current Hamiltonian in expanded gauge models to include the four-momentum-transfer (${q}^{2}$) effects due to neutral-gauge-boson propagators. We show that the condition that an $\mathrm{SU}(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{U}(1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}G$ gauge theory reproduces the neutrino-quark interactions of the standard SU(2) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} U(1) model at any ${q}^{2}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ is that, in addition to satisfying the conditions of the Georgi-Weinberg theorem, the electromagnetic charge must decouple from the neutral generators of $G$. We also show that relationships among neutral-current parameters hold at any ${q}^{2}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ if they hold at ${q}^{2}=0$. The quantity $\frac{({{u}_{L}}^{2}+{{d}_{L}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{{u}_{R}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{{d}_{R}}^{2})}{ ({{u}_{L}}^{2}+{{d}_{L}}^{2}+{{u}_{R}}^{2}+{{d}_{R}}^{2})}$ is studied in several expanded gauge theories using the ${q}^{2}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ neutral-current formalism. Momentum-transfer and neutrinoenergy (${E}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}$) dependences of this ratio put loose constraints on the parameters in several SU(2) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} U(1) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} U(1) models. In the $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{U}}_{L}(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{U}}_{R}(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{U}(1)$ models which we examine, the ${q}^{2}$ and ${E}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ dependence are essentially the same as that of the standard model for neutrino energies up to 2 TeV.
Application of computer averaging techniques to the study of learned volitive heartbeat control

Research on the acquisition of conscious cardiovascular control (Yellin 1984, 1986) utilized computer averaging of electrocardiographic (ECG) cycles to demonstrate and document precise, reliable and sustainable time-locking of heartbeat to external stimuli on demand. ECG cycles were treated as evoked responses, and successive epochs were summated, beginning with Zeitgeber-stimulus (ZS) onset, and with the duration of each epoch equaling the ZS's interstimulus interval. Cardiac synchrony was exhibited by event-modulated (time-locked) cardiac responses (EMCRs) and in average ECGs.
Language delay in a community cohort of young children

ABSTRACT Objective To document the prevalence of expressive language delay in relation to age and gender in 12- to 39-month-old children. To document the characteristics, particularly social competence and emotional/behavioral problems, related to deficits in expressive language. Method Parents of an age- and sex-stratified random sample of children born at Yale New Haven Hospital between July 1995 and September 1997 who lived in the New Haven Meriden Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area were enrolled when their children were 12 to 39 months of age (79.8% participation; N = 1,189). The main outcome for these analyses is expressive language delay measured by the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory, short forms. Results Expressive language delays range from 13.5% in 18- to 23-month-olds to 17.5% in children 30 to 36 months of age. By 18 to 23 months, children are more likely to experience delays if they come from environments characterized by low education, low expressiveness, poverty, high levels of parenting stress, and parents who report worry about their children's language problems. When social competence is adjusted for in the multivariable model, behavior problems are no longer associated with language delay, suggesting that poor social competence rather than behavior problems may be the critical early correlate of low expressive language development. Conclusions Expressive language delays are prevalent problems that appear to be associated with poor social competence. Given that such problems may be risk factors for social and emotional problems, early identification is critical.
Interactions of polyclonal anti-Electrophorus nicotinic receptor antisera with Torpedo nicotinic receptor.

Abstract 1. 1. Polyclonal antisera raised against solubilized and purified nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAcChoR) from Electrophorus electroplax and a polyclonal anti-α-bungarotoxin antiserum have been studied by the use of four different radioimmunoassay protocols. 2. 2. The results indicate unique sensitivities of different assay techniques in analysis of antibody-antigen interactions, and serve as a model for immunological study of other integral membrane proteins.
Ability of methanolic seed extracts of pawpaw (Asimina triloba) to inhibit n-3 fatty acid oxidation initiated by peroxyl radicals and reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur

Abstract Methanolic extracts from underripe, ripe, and ripe then dried pawpaw seeds (PPSE) were tested for antioxidative effectiveness. Underripe seeds contained more total phenolic compounds than ripe seeds, but ripe seeds showed the highest reducing potential. PPSE samples effectively scavenged DPPH (>86%). PPSE (0–26.8 μM gallic acid) effectively inhibited lipid oxidation biomarkers in 22:6 phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposome suspensions over 7 day’s incubation at room temperature. PPSE inhibited TBARS in 22:6 PC liposome suspensions induced by peroxyl radical generators, free radical generators that produce reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen, and reactive sulfur species. After 120 min of storage TBARS inhibition by PPSE was in the order of H2O2 ⩾ SIN-1 = DSSO = AAPH ⩾ Sulfite > ONOO = MMb > iron/ascorbate. PPSE inhibited lipid oxidation biomarkers in skeletal muscle homogenates induced by iron/ascorbate. The development of value added products from pawpaw seeds may lead to successful commercialisation of this underutilised fruit.
Body surface Laplacian mapping of cardiac electrical activity.

Abstract Cardiac electrical activity is distributed over the 3-dimensional volume of the myocardium. Ideally one would like to be able to map the 3-dimensional distribution of cardiac electrical activity in the heart at each point in time during the cardiac cycle. The conventional electrocardiogram and vectorcardiogram provide a highly degenerate representation of cardiac electrical activity. The body surface potential map (BSPM) involves the measurement of the potential at many points on the body surface in an attempt to characterize the distributed nature of cardiac electrical activity. 1–7 Although the BSPM has been shown by a number of investigators to reliably identify major single cardiac events, 8 its ability to resolve spatially separated bioelectrical events is limited 4–6 because of the smoothing effect of the torso volume conductor. 9,10 The fundamental limitation to interpreting the BSPM in terms of cardiac electrical events is the nonuniqueness of the electrocardiograph inverse problem. 11 One can generally represent the heart as a bioelectrical source in terms of a 3-dimensional distribution of electrical dipoles. One can prove that any given body surface potential distribution does not uniquely specify a specific 3-dimensional electrical dipole source distribution. Whereas the epicardial potential distribution has been estimated from the BSPM, 12,13 such inverse calculations require detailed geometric information 14 and are mathematically ill-posed. Furthermore, the epicardial potential distribution itself does not specify the distribution of bioelectrical sources within the heart. The ability to image cardiac electrical activity noninvasively from the body surface could greatly enhance our ability to diagnose a wide range of cardiac abnormalities, specifically ischemia, infarction and cardiac rhythm disturbances. We have developed a new approach to mapping spatially distributed cardiac electrical events noninvasively by measuring the 2-dimensional Laplacian of the potential on the body surface. 15,16 The 2-dimensional Laplacian of the potential is the second spatial derivative of the electrical potential on a surface and provides a 2-dimensional-type projection image of the 3-dimensional distribution of cardiac electrical sources onto the body surface. 16 The 2-dimensional Laplacian of the potential map may also be interpreted as an equivalent charge density distribution. A depolarization wavefront perpendicularly approaching a point on the chest wall will generate a positive equivalent charge density at that point; a depolarization wavefront tangential to the chest wall will generate a parallel double layer of positive and negative equivalent charge density overlying the wavefront. The purpose of the present study is to investigate body surface Laplacian maps (BSLMs) during normal and abnormal cardiac beats in humans and to test the hypothesis that body surface Laplacian mapping can relate body surface recordings to regional myocardial events.
Aerodynamics of Tip Leakage Flows Near Partial Squealer Rims in an Axial Flow Turbine Stage

This paper deals with an experimental investigation of aerodynamic characteristics of full and partial-length squealer rims in a turbine stage. Full and partial-length squealer rims are investigated separately on the pressure side and on the suction side in the Axial Flow Turbine Research Facility (AFTRF) of the Pennsylvania State University. The streamwise length of these partial squealer tips and their chordwise position are varied to find an optimal aerodynamic tip configuration. The optimal configuration in this cold turbine study is defined as the one that is minimizing the stage exit total pressure defect in the tip vortex dominated zone. A new channel arrangement diverting some of the leakage flow into the trailing edge zone is also studied. Current results indicate that the use of partial squealer rims in axial flow turbines can positively affect the local aerodynamic field by weakening the tip leakage vortex. Results also show that the suction side partial squealers are aerodynamically superior to the pressure side squealers and the channel arrangement. The suction side partial squealers are capable of reducing the stage exit total pressure defect associated with the tip leakage flow to a significant degree.
Nucleotide stabilization of amorphous calcium phosphate

Abstract Amorphous calcium phosphate granules, containing substantial amounts of magnesium and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) have been found in the hepatopancreas of the blue crab. These stable amorphous deposits are similar in local atomic order to synthetic amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), which, in contrast, converts to hydroxyapatite in an aqueous environment. Magnesium is known to be a stabilizing agent, and the present study shows that ATP, at levels comparable to those in the granules, also inhibits the conversion to hydroxyapatite (HA). Increasing amounts of ATP in solution, increased the time before ACP began to convert to HA, without greatly altering the rate once conversion began, an effect similar to that of Mg. Conversion was also inhibited by ADP, although less effectively, and AMP was found to be ineffective as a stabilizer. These nucleotides did not decrease the solubility of ACP, indicating that they act in solution to suppress the nucleation and/or growth of hydroxyapatite crystals. Possible stabilization mechanisms are discussed and the relationship to the action of other condensed phosphates is considered.
AN EVALUATION OF THE CONDITIONS, PROCESSES, AND CONSEQUENCES OF LAPTOP COMPUTING IN K-12 CLASSROOMS

This article examines how laptop computing technology, teacher professional development, and systematic support resulted in changed teaching practices and increased student achievement in 47 K-12 s...
Trade policies and the strategies of multinationals in the international grain market

Multinationals exercise market power in international grain trading activities and affect the volume and direction of trade flows. A high degree of integration in the cereals and cereals substitutes sectors and diversification in other sectors allow companies to undertake a wide range of strategies, such as global strategic behaviour and transfer pricing, which influence the international grain trade and the effectiveness of trade polices. Such influences may be identified in a new framework of analysis, by taking into account different ways in which foreign direct investment occurs. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.
Production of no carrier added 80mBr for investigation of Auger electron toxicity.

Abstract 80mBr (half-life = 4.43 h) is an Auger electron emitting nuclide with convenient properties for investigating Auger electron cytotoxicity and with potential for labeling in vivo radiotherapeutic agents. We have investigated three cyclotron target systems capable of generating 80mBr of sufficiently high specific radioactivity (no carrier added) for biomedical experiments. A 83Kr gas target irradiated with 21.5 MeV deuterons made 80mBr at a production yield of 1.6 ± 0.2 mCi/μAh at saturation. A five-fold increase in 80mBr yield was obtained from 15 MeV proton irradiation of thin elemental Se enriched in 80Se targets although technical improvements are expected to further raise this production yield. This route is therefore superior for current medical cyclotrons. Irradiation of a reusable 80Se copper selenide target also yielded multi-millicurie amounts of 80mBr, and recovery of radiobromine by dry distillation is faster and more convenient than in the elemental Se target, but an optimum copper selenide target for 80mBr production has not yet been built.
Chronic leptin administration promotes lipid utilization until fat mass is greatly reduced and preserves lean mass of normal female rats.

Abstract Leptin is a hormone synthesized and secreted from adipose tissue. To study the physiologic effects of chronic leptin treatment, normal adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously for 35 days. Twice daily injections (250 μg/day, b.i.d.) resulted in a significant (P
Application of radiosurgery principles to a target in the breast: a dosimetric study.

PURPOSE To investigate the technical and physical feasibility of using a radiosurgery-like technique to irradiate a small target within the breast with a single fraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS During diagnostic biopsy, a tantalum surgical clip is placed in the lesion identified at mammography. Transverse CT scans over the entire breast are obtained, as the patient lies prone on a special table that allows the breast to hang down. The clip is used as a reference point to define the isocenter of the radiation treatment. RESULTS The clip is visible on port films taken with a 4 MV beam, allowing the isocenter to be set to its planned location. No movement of the hanging breast is visually detected. The possible beam directions are enclosed by a 220 degrees horizontal x 180 degrees vertical angular interval. Dosimetry of two "radiosurgical" examples, (A) seven fixed horizontal beams and (B) six 45 degrees arcs and a 90 degrees sagittal arc using a 4 MV x-ray beam with a 32 mm diameter collimator, are discussed. Both field arrangements produce adequate tumor coverage: the minimum target dose is 83% of the dose maximum in the fixed beam arrangement and 86% in the multiarc setup. In arrangement A the lung and other tissues external to the breast receive dose only from scattered radiation. In arrangement B the maximum lung dose is less than 5% of the dose to isocenter. CONCLUSION From a dosimetric point of view both described techniques are feasible, and the radiosurgery-like treatment is executable.
Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Lobar or Unilateral Lung Infiltrate

We present five cases of biopsy proven pulmonary sarcoidosis with initial radiographic localisation of disease to one lung. Four of the cases later demonstrated more typical diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Clinical and pulmonary function data of these patients are presented. Although localised pulmonary involvement by sarcoidosis may not be uncommon, we have found only limited discussion of this radiographic picture in the literature. Our cases and a review of the available literature are the subject of this paper.
Transformational theory and semantic analysis

Schools of thought concerning the study of language in anthropology and in linguistics proper have developed historically along lines that are sometimes convergent, but too often divergent because of a certain gap in communication between the two disciplines. It is the purpose of this paper to suggest the existence of an area of common interest which is at present unrecognized in the literature. I submit that recent work in what anthropologists refer to as ‘formal’ semantic analysis, when considered in the light of transformational linguistics, provides a potentially fruitful point of interdisciplinary interaction which should result in the formulation of a more adequate theory of meaning in the study of language than exists at the moment.
Effect of unsteady stretch on spark-ignited flame kernel survival

Abstract The chemistry–turbulence interaction remains one of the most important topics in combustion research. The ignition of premixed reactants in a highly turbulent environment is fundamentally coupled to this chemistry–turbulence interaction. The spark-ignition (SI) internal combustion (IC) engine relies on the ability of the flame kernel to survive the high-strain-rate, unsteady environment of a turbulent flowfield and successfully transition into a fully developed flame to operate cleanly and efficiently. If certain length and velocity scales within the turbulence spectrum are found to promote flame kernel growth, then by tailoring the flow passages and aerodynamics of the intake valves, piston, and combustion chamber, it may be possible to increase the efficiency and reduce the emissions of SI IC engines. This paper describes a novel experimental investigation of a spark-generated flame kernel interacting with a single vortex toroid with well-defined length and velocity scales. This experiment measured the ability of a vortex to quench a growing kernel in a very lean methane–air mixture at atmospheric pressure. The absence of superequilibrium OH concentrations, qualitatively determined by planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), was used as in indicator of quenching. It was found that larger eddies are more effective at globally quenching the flamefront, requiring a lower strength, when compared to vortices with a smaller characteristic length. At the globally quenching condition, the maturity of the kernel was then increased incrementally until the vortex was no longer able to completely strain out the kernel. The result of this was surprising in that the larger vortices had a much narrower range of kernel maturity for which the vortex could still quench the growing kernel.
Original mineralogy of Carboniferous worm tubes: Evidence for changing marine chemistry and biomineralization

Petrographic and geochemical evidence indicates that the original mineralogy of calcareous worm tubes in Carboniferous limestones changed from calcitic in the Mississippian to aragonitic in the Pennsylvanian. This change in mineralogy of CaCO 3 produced by polychaete worms, which are relatively simple biomineralizers, parallels changes observed in nonbiological Carboniferous marine carbonates, suggesting that skeletal secretion of CaCO 3 by polychaetes responded to a global change in seawater chemistry. This is the first documentation of long-term change in the mineralogy of biologically induced biomineralization. It raises the possibility that other bioinduced biomineralization changed in response to changing marine chemistry, in contrast to biocontrolled biomineralization by more sophisticated organisms that persisted with no mineralogical change.
Nothings of the Day: The Velocipede, the Dandy, and the Cockney

The nothing of the day is a machine called the Velocepede — It is a wheel-carriage to ride cock horse upon, sitting astride & pushing it along with the toes, a rudder wheel in hand. they will go seven miles an hour, A handsome gelding will come to eight guineas, however they will soon be cheaper, unless the army takes to them I look upon the last month, & find nothing to write about, indeed I do not recollect one thing particular in it — It’s all alike, we keep on breathing.
Constraints on a two-Higgs interpretation of the ζ(8.3)

Abstract We consider the possibility that a two Higgs-doublet extension of the standard model can explain the ζ(8.3). If the ζ is a 0 + , a renormalisation group analysis shows that the charge 2 3 and −1 3 quarks must couple to different doublets, and a fourth generation is excluded.
Hyperbolic decline-curve analysis using linear regression

Abstract Two rigorous techniques for hyperbolic decline-curve analysis based on the fundamental equations are investigated. The parameter estimation is made more accurate and repeatable than type curve matching if linear regression is used to extract the unknowns D i q i and n from the data. Maximizing the regression coefficient is the criterion used to select the correct parameter values. In application to six field examples, it is seen that the two methods do not always give identical results if there is a lot of scatter in the data.
Multireference detection using iterative joint transform operation with composite filtering

In this article we shall introduce an interative joint transform operation for multireference detection utilizing composite intensity compensation filtering. This technique essentially uses the normalized correlation peak intensity values as the iterative feedback into the input and Fourier planes to update the weight coefficients for the reference patterns and the composite intensity compensation filter. As shown in the simulated results, this technique can detect highly similar objects which cannot normally be differentiated with the conventional joint transform correlator. The effect due to noise is also investigated, in which we have shown that the technique improves the performance of the joint transform correlation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Mesopotamian Roots for the Belief in the Resurrection of the Dead

The belief in the resurrection of the dead, a defining element of the Christian faith, did not begin with Christianity. At the time of the earliest Christians, several factions of Judaism held some form of the belief, disagreeing on whether it was physical or spiritual in nature. For the physical resurrection, evidence already appears in later writings of the Hebrew Bible; as a result, many scholars place the origin of the belief in the post-exilic period, attributing it to foreign influence, generally from Canaan or Persia. But there is earlier evidence, both in and outside the Hebrew Bible, in those cases where a corpse returns to life, even temporarily. As argued here, it is this phenomenon, above all, that forms the basis of the belief in the physical resurrection in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and, where it is concerned, a stronger cross-cultural parallel is ancient Mesopotamia. In ancient Mesopotamia, there was clearly a belief that the dead could return from the netherworld to the land of the living, and it was part of a conceptual framework that integrated death, disease, medicine, and healing – as it was in the Hebrew Bible. For the history of religion, this dates the early roots of the belief in the physical resurrection of the dead centuries earlier than scholars have recognized.
Refocusing where and how IT value is realized: An empirical investigation

Abstract This study examines the direct and interaction effects of IT investments and IS department efficiency on different facets of firm performance. Specifically, measures for financial, sales, and intermediate firm performance are considered. IS budget is used as a measure of IT investment; asset turnover and labor productivity are used as intermediate performance measures; and sales per IS employee and income per IS employee are used as measures of IS department efficiency. Secondary sources were used to construct a database of 210 firms, which was used for statistical analysis. Our results suggest that; (i) IS budget is not related to financial firm performance, but is positively related to sales performance; (ii) The results for intermediate performance were mixed; (iii) IS efficiency had no impact on the relationship between IS budget and firm performance measures, except market share. Analysis of the results suggest that the effect of IT investments should be assessed simultaneously on both aggregate and intermediate performance. Furthermore, IS departments with ‘high’ efficiency may be unable to better leverage each additional dollar spent on IT. This has significant implications for organizations considering radical downsizing and elimination of their IS departments, as in the process they could reduce their conversion effectiveness.
First births among unmarried adolescent girls: Risk and protective factors

In this longitudinal investigation the authors drew on cumulative risk theories to provide new evidence about the effects of sociodemographic risk factors for adolescent nonmarital childbearing among 958 girls in a nationally representative sample. The effect of a cumulative risk index was highly significant-adolescent girls who experienced five or more sociodemographic risk factors were 16 times more likely than their counterparts with only one risk factor to experience a nonmarital childbirth during the teenage years. The authors also examined the role of hypothesized protective factors-including high self-esteem high basic skills and high educational expectations-in interaction with the cumulative risk index. Findings suggest that under similar levels of sociodemographic risk adolescent girls with high educational expectations are less likely to experience a nonmarital birth. However the buffering effects of high educational expectations account for comparatively less than cumulative risk effects on nonmarital childbearing during adolescence. (authors)
The effects of short-term overfeeding on ad libitum energy intake in thin and reduced-obese women and men

Individuals who appear to be resistant to weight gain in an obesigenic environment may sense positive energy balance more appropriately, influencing subsequent intake. We studied 28 thin (15 women, 13 men) and 15 reduced-obese (RO: 10 women, 5 men) individuals twice in a randomized crossover manner. Each study period included 3 days of run-in eucaloric diet, 3 days of controlled feeding (eucaloric or 30% overfeeding), and 3 days of ad libitum buffet style feeding. Energy intake (EI) was measured during ad libitum feeding. Measures of appetite were obtained using visual analog scales before and after each meal. Overall, ad libitum EI did not differ following eucaloric or hypercaloric feeding even in the thin cohort. When compared to their measured energy needs, subjects overconsumed in the ad libitum buffet style setting even after overfeeding. This effect was driven by men (both thin and RO) who overate following both eucaloric and overfeeding diets. Ad libitum EI was more “appropriate” in women, and thin women tended to reduce their EI after overfeeding. While overfeeding resulted in significant reductions in hunger and increases in satiety in the thin but not the RO individuals, these responses did not predict subsequent EI. In summary, buffet style ad libitum feeding promotes excess EI in men even after overfeeding and regardless of their propensity to remain thin. While women appear not to overconsume in a buffet style setting, they do not undereat in response to overfeeding despite significant changes in appetite.
Distance driven back projection image reconstruction in digital tomosysthesis

In this paper, distance driven (DD) back projection image reconstruction was investigated for digital tomosysthesis. Digital tomosysthesis is an imaging technique to produce three dimensional information of the object with low radiation dosage. This paper is our new study of DD back projection for image reconstruction in digital tomosysthesis. Since DD considers that the image pixel and detector cell have width, the convolution operation is used to calculate DD coefficients. The approximation characteristics of some other methods such as ray driven method (RD) can be avoided. A computer simulation result of DD with Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization (MLEM) of tomosysthesis reconstruction algorithm was studied. The sequence of projection images were simulated with 25 projections and a total view angle of 48 degrees. DD with MLEM reconstruction results were demonstrated. Line profile along x direction was used to evaluate DD and RD methods. Compared with RD, the computation time in DD with MLEM to provide the reconstruction results was shorter, since the main loop of DD is over x-y plane intercepts, not over the image pixels or detectors cells. In clinical applications, both the accuracy and computation speed of implementation condition are necessary requirements. DD back projection may satisfy the required conditions.
Modeling and designing IPMCs for twisting motion: electromechanical and mechanoelectrical transduction

This paper presents a study of IPMCs for twisting motion. To accomplish the twisting electromechanical transduction of IPMC, patterned electrodes were used. Here we present a three dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model based on the fundamental physical principles. Due to very high aspect ratio of the dimensions of IPMC materials, constructing a full scale 3D model that includes charge transport, continuum mechanics, and electrostatics equations for the electrodes is challenging. Therefore, a process where some of the data is calculated in a scaled 2D domain and is later used to calculate the mechanoelectrical transduction in a full scale 3D domain is presented. The modeling results are compared to experimentally measured data. In the second part of the paper, the twisting mechanoelectrical transduction study of the IPMCs is introduced. A 3D FE model, again based on the fundamental physical principles, was developed to estimate the generated charge. In case of the mechanoelectrical transduction simulations, the full model was calculated in a 3D domain.