cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Financial Implications of Choice of Dialysis Type of the Revised Medicare Payment System: An Economic Analysis

Background In 2011, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act replaced the case-mix–adjusted composite payment system for Medicare outpatient dialysis facilities with a bundled end-stage renal disease prospective payment system (PPS). We assessed the economic implications for modality choice of the revised Medicare payment system. Study Design Microeconomic analyses. Setting & Population Patients eligible for dialysis in the United States. Model, Perspective, & Timeframe The perspective of this analysis is that of a financial administrator of a representative dialysis center in the United States. Data were obtained from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the US Renal Data System, the DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study) Practice Monitor, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Medicare fee schedules. Interventions Recently implemented end-stage renal disease PPS versus the prior case-mix composite payment system. Outcomes Medicare payment per month, center fixed and variable costs per month, net difference in revenue and variable costs (direct contribution), and net difference in revenue and total costs (operating margin). Results The direct contribution and operating margin for in-center hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are expected to be positive under the new bundled PPS. For Medicare fiscal intermediaries/administrators, paid treatments for home hemodialysis vary from 3.2 to more than 4.8 per week. The direct contribution and operating margin are expected to be negative for home hemodialysis if the number of paid treatments is similar between in-center and home hemodialysis; they are almost identical when the number of paid treatments increases for home hemodialysis by approximately 1 per week. Limitations Experience across centers and intermediaries/administrators may vary. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of findings and determine which variables most influenced results. Conclusions The new bundled PPS created a financial incentive for increased use of peritoneal dialysis. Use of home hemodialysis may be influenced by number of paid treatments per week.
Multi-scale interlaminar fracture mechanisms in woven composite laminates reinforced with aligned carbon nanotubes

Abstract Aligned nanoscale fibers have been shown to provide inter and intralaminar reinforcement of fiber-reinforced polymer composites. In one hierarchical architecture, aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on advanced microfibers in a woven ply creates a ‘fuzzy fiber’ reinforced plastic (FFRP) laminate. Here, the mechanisms of Mode I fracture toughness enhancement for such laminates are elucidated experimentally by varying the type of epoxy and aligned CNT length. Reinforcement effectiveness is found to vary from reduced initiation toughness to over 100% increase in steady-state fracture toughness, depending upon the interlaminar fracture mechanisms. Fracture-surface morphology investigations reveal that interlaminar toughness enhancement is significantly less for an aerospace infusion resin than that for a much tougher hand lay-up marine epoxy. Long (∼20 micron) aligned CNTs add significant toughness in steady state (>1 kJ/m2 increase for marine epoxy) via CNT pullout and by driving the crack through tortuous paths around and through microfiber bundles/tows, whereas shorter CNTs produce less toughening (or even reduced toughness in aerospace epoxy), which is attributed to increased microfiber–matrix cohesive failure. These findings reveal the multi-scale nature of the aligned-CNT reinforced composite ply interface, and the mechanisms at work at the micro and nanoscales that influence the macroscopic behavior. These new insights provide impetus for using aligned CNTs to tailor microfiber polymer composites by adjusting microfiber orientation, steering cracks through tortuous paths, and maximizing fracture surface area through both microfiber and nanofiber pullout.
Using a social justice framework to assess educational quality in Tanzanian schools

Abstract This paper uses a social justice framework to assess the educational quality of over 100 primary and secondary schools surveyed in northern Tanzania from 2009 to 2011. Significant shortages of teachers, infrastructure, and teaching resources were observed in all government schools. National test exam scores for secondary school students highlighted the growing inequities between private and public schools as a learning environment. Although Tanzania has made some progress, severely under-resourced schools and dismal exam scores raise questions about the quality of education offered. This paper calls for a radical transformation of the current curriculum, strategies, and accountability systems.
Electronic discussion groups

Electronic discussion groups are playing an increasing role within the information culture. Electronic discussion groups (DG) often serve as powerful tools in the retrieval and exchanging of information, bringing together persons with similar interests regardless of geographic distance or the time constraints dictated by face‐to‐face meetings. The focus of this article is to characterize global, electronic DGs. Secondly, the article offers some helpful tips for those new to using LISTSERV lists and Usenet News.
The impact of society on educational technology

Much has been written about the impact of the new technologies on society by Jacques Ellul, Stafford Beer, and many others. But there has been very littleanalysis of the reverse—the impact of evolving commercial, political, and institutional interests, and their ideologies, on the development of technology. Educational technology in particular has been and is being shaped by these societal forces. This article presents a theoretical perspective on the interaction and gives several instances of cultural impact on the development of computer/video-mediated educational technology in the US, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Increased awareness of societal shaping should lead us to new research areas, and ultimately to more democratic, more fruitful, and more viable educational innovations.
Synthesis and Characterization of Polyimide/Silica Hybrid Composites

A new class of polyimide/silica composites with chemical bonds between the polyimide and silica network has been synthesized by the sol−gel reaction and characterized. The hybrid composite films were obtained by the hydrolysis and polycondensation of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in N,N-dimethylacetamide solution (DMAc), followed by heating at 100, 200, and 300 °C. The presence of chemical bonds between polyimide (PI) and silica has great effect on the properties of polyimide films, especially on their mechanical properties. The modulus and ultimate strength of the hybrid composite films increased and elongation at break decreased with increased silica content. These hybrid films showed no apparent decrease in thermal decomposition temperature.
Serum bactericidal test in volunteers--a review.

A review is given of work utilizing the serum bactericidal test for preclinical evaluation of agents considered for treatment of gram-negative sepsis among neutropenic cancer patients. Following a description of the methodology of the two major groups, the results of the various antibiotic trials are summarized. First the extended-spectrum cephalosporins (cefotaxime, cefoperazone, and moxalactam) were tested and found to be, at best, of limited value as single agents forPseudomonas aeruginosa,a common pathogen of neutropenic cancer patients. When the extended-spectrum penicillins became available, the serum bactericidal levels in volunteers of mezlocillin and piperacillin were compared alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside to ticarcillin with or without aminoglycoside against the same organisms. Piperacillin proved to be most effective followed by mezlocillin and then ticarcillin; in each case the addition of the aminoglycoside improved serum bactericidal activity. Recent studies suggest that imipenem alone is as active as the combination of a broad-spectrum penicillin plus an aminoglycoside and is worthy of a carefully controlled clinical trial. These types of volunteer-based evaluations of the serum bactericidal activity of new compounds may help predict useful clinical approaches for the future.
Renormalization group analysis of bifurcations in area-preserving maps

Abstract Two-dimensional area-preserving maps can be represented by a generating function, the action. High orders of successive period-doubling bifurcations are studied by writing a renormalization group scheme for this action. Fixed points and eigenvalues of this scheme are found and interpreted.
Organic cosolvent effects on sorption kinetics of hydrophobic organic chemicals by organoclays

Data obtained from batch kinetics sorption experiments for naphthalene and diuron using two organoclays [trimethylphenylammonium (TMPA)-clay and benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium (BDTDA)-clay] in aqueous and methanol−water systems were analyzed with a first-order one-site mass transfer model (OSMTM) to obtain kinetic parameters. The mass transfer coefficient (e) exponentially decreased as the sorption coefficient (Kp) increased, and a log-linear increase in e was observed with an increase in the volume fraction of cosolvent (f c) in the system. Regression equations relating e to f c, measured in mixed solvents, could be extrapolated to f c = 0 to obtain the coefficients in aqueous systems. The organic cosolvent effects on the sorption kinetics behavior of naphthalene and diuron depended on the sorbate structure, the cosolvent fraction, and the arrange ment of the exchanged quaternary alkylammonium ions in montmorillonite-clay interlayers.
Analyzing the impact of useless write-backs on the endurance and energy consumption of PCM main memory

Phase Change Memory (PCM) is an emerging technology that has been recently considered as a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to traditional DRAM main memory. Due to the high energy consumption of writes and limited number of write cycles, reducing the number of writes to PCM can result in considerable energy savings and endurance improvement. In this paper, we introduce the concept of useless write-backs, which occur when a dirty cache line that belongs to a dead memory region is evicted from the cache (a dead region is a memory location that is not used again by a program). Since the evicted data is not used again, the write-back can be safely avoided to improve endurance and energy consumption. This paper presents a limit study on the improvement that passing information to the memory system about useless writebacks has on the endurance and energy consumption of systems based on PCM main memory. We developed algorithms to measure the number of useless write-backs to PCM for three different types of memory regions and we present an energy model to determine the maximum energy savings that could potentially be achieved through such a scheme. Our results show that avoiding useless write-backs can save up to 19.8% of energy and improve endurance by up to 26.2%.
Subulatomonas tetraspora nov. gen. nov. sp. is a member of a previously unrecognized major clade of eukaryotes.

While a large number of aerobic free-living protists have been described within the last decade, the number of new anaerobic or microaerophilic microbial eukaryotic taxa has lagged behind. Here we describe a microaerophilic genus and species of amoeboflagellate isolated from a near-shore marine site off the coast at Plymouth, Massachusetts: Subulatomonas tetraspora nov. gen. nov. sp. This taxon is closely related to Breviata anathema based on both microscopical features and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of three genes: SSU-rDNA, actin, and alpha-tubulin. However, Subulatomonas tetraspora nov. gen. nov. sp. and B. anathema are morphologically distinctive, differ by 14.9% at their SSU-rDNA locus, and were isolated from marine and ‘slightly brackish’ environments, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of these two taxa plus closely related sequences from environmental surveys provide support for a novel clade of eukaryotes that is distinct from the major clades including the Opisthokonta, Excavata, Amoebozoa and ‘SAR’ ( S tramenopile, A lveolate, R hizaria).
Single-Case Research Design in Pediatric Psychology: Considerations Regarding Data Analysis

Objective Single-case research allows for an examination of behavior and can demonstrate the functional relation between intervention and outcome in pediatric psychology. This review highlights key assumptions, methodological and design considerations, and options for data analysis. Methods Singlecase methodology and guidelines are reviewed with an in-depth focus on visual and statistical analyses. Results Guidelines allow for the careful evaluation of design quality and visual analysis. A number of statistical techniques have been introduced to supplement visual analysis, but to date, there is no consensus on their recommended use in single-case research design. Conclusions Single-case methodology is invaluable for advancing pediatric psychology science and practice, and guidelines have been introduced to enhance the consistency, validity, and reliability of these studies. Experts generally agree that visual inspection is the optimal method of analysis in single-case design; however, statistical approaches are becoming increasingly evaluated and used to augment data interpretation.
Treatment of ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction with milrinone or dobutamine administered during coronary artery stenosis in the presence of beta blockade in pigs

Background. This study examines the effects of phosphodiesterase type III (PDEIII) inhibition vs beta stimulation on global function of the left ventricle (LV) and systemic haemodynamics in a porcine model of acute coronary stenosis with beta blockade. Methods. A total of 18 adult swine were anaesthetized. Micromanometer-tipped catheters were placed in the ascending aorta and LV. Two pairs of ultrasonic dimension transducers were placed in the subendocardium on the short axis proximal to a left anterior descending (LAD) artery occluder and the long axis of the LV. Before ischaemia, i.v. esmolol was infused to decrease baseline heart rate (HR) by approximately 25%, and all animals received an esmolol infusion (150 m gk g 1 min 1 ). Ischaemia was produced by reducing the flow in the LAD artery by approximately 80%, from 17(4) to 3(2) ml min 1 . Animals were randomized to receive (after esmolol) one of the following: no drug, sham only (Group 1, n=6), control (C); 50 m gk g 1 i.v. milrinone (Group 2, n=6) followed by 0.375 m gk g 1 min 1 (M); or incremental doses of dobutamine (Group 3, n=6) every 10 min (5, 10 and 20 m gk g 1 min 1 ) (D). Left ventricular function data obtained included HR, arterial and LV pressures, cardiac output (CO), Emax and dP/dT. Measurements were taken during five time periods: before ischaemia (at baseline, after esmolol) and every 10 min during ischaemia (at 10, 20 and 30 min). Results. The effects of beta blockade and ischaemia had a significant impact on contractility (Emax) in Group M and myocardial performance (left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, LVEDP) in all groups. Left ventricular function (Emax, CO, LVEDP and SVR) was better preserved when milrinone was added in Group M. A moderate dose of dobutamine (10 m gk g 1 min 1 ) increased CO. Only the high dose (20 m gk g 1 min 1 ) improved contractility (Emax), but at the expense of increased SVR. Also, LVEDP with either dose of dobutamine remained high and unchanged. Conclusions. From our limited findings, it would appear that there may, theoretically, be some benefit for using milrinone in preference to other inotropic drugs in the presence of beta blockade. Milrinone administration should be considered in patients with acute ischaemic LV dysfunction and preexisting beta blockade before using other inotropic drugs such as beta stimulants. Br J Anaesth 2006; 97: 799–807
59.1: Invited Paper: A Display Simulation Toolbox

The Display Simulation Toolbox (DST) is an integrated suite of software tools that help the user characterize the key properties of display devices and predict the radiance of displayed images. Assuming that pixel emissions are independent, the DST uses the sub-pixel point spread functions, spectral power distributions, and gamma curves to calculate display image radiance. for LCD displays, the assumption of pixel independence assumption is reasonably accurate. for CRT displays it is not.
Low-order macromodels of planar waveguides exhibiting geometric, material, and layout uncertainty

A methodology is presented for the development of low-order macromodels of planar waveguides exhibiting uncertainty in the cross-sectional geometry of the conducting strips, the insulating material in which the waveguide is immersed, and in the waveguide layout. The proposed methodology makes use of stochastic collocation and the ideas of polynomial chaos expansion to capture the uncertainty in geometric parameters in the matrix representation of a finite-element/finite-difference model of the waveguide. Subsequently, a Laguerre-based, model order reduction process is used to generate a stochastic model of dimension significantly smaller than that of the original one. The accuracy of the proposed method is demonstrated through its application to the transient simulation of broadband signal transmission in a multi-conductor planar interconnect.
Using Empirical Research and Human Performance Modeling To Predict Astronaut Performance In Long-Duration Space Missions

The invited symposium session consists of four papers describing the S-PRINT project, sponsored by NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP). The efforts undertaken as part of this project were to develo...
Analysis and synthesis of multiple-focus phased array heating patterns through the rib cage: a simulation model

A computationally efficient hybrid ray-physical optics model is presented for the analysis and synthesis of multiple-focus ultrasound heating patterns through the human rib cage. In particular, a ray method is used to propagate the ultrasound fields from the source to the frontal plane of the rib cage. The physical optics integration method is then employed to obtain the field intensity pattern inside the rib cage. The solution of the matrix system is carried out by using the pseudo inverse technique to synthesize the desired heating pattern. This simulation model allows for the design and optimization of large-aperture phased array applicator systems for noninvasive ablative thermal surgery in the heart and the liver through the rib cage. This technology is applied for ablating cancerous malignant tissue in the liver and the treatment of life threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
A radiometric evaluation of the Advanced Land Imager

As part of the Earth Observer 1 mission, the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) serves as a technology validation instrument that demonstrates potential directions for Landsat-like follow-on imaging systems. To assess the radiometric fidelity of the ALI a radiometric processing system was developed to extract information from virtually every scene that has been captured. The resulting database has provided a wealth of information about system performance in a relatively short period of time. The ALI has exhibited a very stable response with respect to detector gain and bias over short time scales (within a collection period) as well as from orbit-to-orbit and throughout its lifetime. A new approach to detector equalization is presented that is based on scene histogram statistics, along with a proposed metric to quantitatively estimate residual 'striping'. Overall radiometric performance of the instrument is shown to meet or exceed expectations.
Emerging Technologies and Their Impact on Disability

Technological innovation is transforming the prevalence and functional impact of child disability, the scale of social disparities in child disability, and perhaps the essential meaning of disability in an increasingly technology-dominated world. In this article, Paul Wise investigates several specific facets of this transformation. He begins by showing how technological change influences the definition of disability, noting that all technology attempts to address some deficiency in human capacity or in the human condition. Wise then looks at the impact of technology on childhood disabilities. Technical improvements in the physical environment, such as better housing, safer roads, and poison-prevention packaging, have significantly reduced childhood injury and disability. Other technological breakthroughs, such as those that identify genetic disorders that may lead to pregnancy termination, raise difficult moral and ethical issues. Technologies that identify potential health risks are also problematic in the absence of any efficient treatment. Wise stresses the imbalance in the existing health care delivery system, which is geared toward treating childhood physical illnesses that are declining in prevalence at a time when mental and emotional conditions, many of which are not yet well understood, are on the rise. This mismatch, Wise says, poses complex challenges to caring for disabled children, particularly in providing them with highly coordinated and integrated systems of care. Technology can also widen social disparities in health care for people, including children with disabilities. As Wise observes, efficacy--the ability of a technology to change health outcomes--is key to understanding the relationship of technology to social disparities. As technological innovation enhances efficacy, access to that technology becomes more important. Health outcomes may improve for those who can afford the technology, for example, but not for others. Hence, as efficacy grows, so too does the burden on society to provide access to technology equitably to all those in need. Without such access, technological innovation will likely expand disparities in child outcomes rather than reduce them.
MATING AND OVIPOSITION OF LABORATORY-REARED SIMULIUM VITTATUM (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE)

One complete generation of Simulium vittatum (Zett.) was reared in each of two trials using a Cornell automated rearing system. Insects reared from eggs oviposited in the laboratory by field-collected females constituted the parental generation. The feeding regimen used to rear the parental generations resulted in a shorter mean developmental time, larger adults, and a higher potential fecundity of females than obtained in previous rearings of S. vittatum in this system. Adults of both parental rearings mated and produced offspring with net reproductive rates of 0.048 and 0.027 for the first and second trials respectively. None of the eggs oviposited by F1 adults embryonated, due to the small number of F1 females and the low insemination rates.
Cross-Country Differences in Intergenerational Earnings Mobility

International studies of the extent to which economic status is passed from one generation to the next are important for at least two reasons. First, each study of a particular country characterizes an important feature of that country’ s income inequality. Second, comparisons of intergenerational mobility across countries may yield valuable clues about how income status is transmitted across generations and why the strength of that intergenerational transmission varies across countries. The e rst section of this paper explains a benchmark measure of intergenerational mobility commonly used in U.S. studies. The second section summarizes comparable empirical e ndings that have accumulated so far for countries other than the United States. The third section sketches a theoretical framework for interpreting cross-country differences in intergenerational mobility.
Reflection properties of two-layer dipole arrays

The mutual impedance method for determining the reflection from a loaded dipole array is extended to the case of two parallel planar dipole arrays. The dipole arrays are illuminated by a plane wave with arbitrary incidence angle in either the E - or H -plane. The specular reflection coefficient obtained is shown, with proper design, to have a more narrow stop band with steeper skirts and a flatter top than that for a single array. The near-field coupling is included in the analysis, and the criteria for the validity of a simple transmission line solution are given. For close spacings the near fields may cause the reflection coefficient curve to: 1) not reach unity reflection; 2) attain unity reflection at one frequency; or 3) attain unity reflection at two frequencies, with a shallow dip between. The type of resonance curve obtained depends on the spatial arrangement of the two arrays. The evaluation of the mutual impedance sums is greatly simplified by certain impedance relationships that are presented. Calculated and measured reflection curves for various array separations are included.
Escherichia coli RecBC helicase has two translocase activities controlled by a single ATPase motor

RecBCD is a bacterial complex that functions in repair of DNA breaks. The RecBC heterodimer has an ATPase motor (RecB) that translocates along ssDNA with a 3'->5' polarity. Now a second translocase activity is revealed in RecBC that moves the proteins along the opposite strand of a forked DNA at a similar rate.
What Is Sociological about Music

The sociology of music has become a vibrant field of study in recent decades. While its proponents are well aware of this field's contributions and relevance, we focus here on demonstrating its merit to the broader sociological community. We do so by addressing the following questions: What is music, sociologically speaking? How do individuals and groups use music? How is the collective production of music made possible? How does music relate to broader social distinctions, especially class, race, and gender? Answering these questions reveals that music provides an important and engaging purchase on topics that are of great concern to sociologists of all stripes—topics that range from the microfoundations of interaction to the macro-level dynamics of inequality.
Simultaneous entry and welfare

Abstract I examine the welfare properties of free entry under conditions of simultaneous entry. Specifically, I consider the second-best problem of influencing the number of entrants while taking as given firm behavior upon entry. I consider two alternative models of simultaneous entry: grab-the-dollar entry and war-of-attrition entry. I show that, if entry costs are low, then the results from previous models of sequential entry are fairly robust to the possibility of simultaneous entry. If however entry costs are high, then the welfare effects of free entry depend delicately on the nature of the entry game being played.
Impact of using updated food consumption and composition data on selected MyPyramid Food Group nutrient profiles.

Abstract Objective To examine the changes observed in 5 nutrients of selected USDA food subgroups by partitioning the overall changes into those caused by consumption changes over time, and those caused by nutrient database revisions. Design Population-weighted estimates of food group intakes (composites) were developed using 24-hour recall data from CSFII 1994-96 and NHANES 1999-2000. Nutrient profiles of these composites were developed using Standard Reference (SR) data (SR11 and SR16-1). Subjects A total of 14,262 and 8070 individuals over the age of 2 years from CSFII and NHANES, respectively, composed the study sample. Outcome Measures Absolute and percent change in food group nutrient content caused by food consumption changes and nutrient database updates. Analysis Changes due to consumption differences were determined by comparing nutrient profiles created with CSFII and NHANES using SR11. Changes due to nutrient database differences were determined by comparing nutrient profiles created from NHANES data using SR11 and SR16-1 nutrient values. Results Consumption differences resulted in some variations in the food group nutrient content, but a majority of the changes were associated with use of the updated nutrient database. For example, vitamin A level in the orange vegetable subgroup was increased by 2.4% owing to consumption (from CSFII to NHANES), whereas the level was decreased by 38% due to nutrient updates (from SR11 to SR16-1). Conclusion and Implications Consideration of the changes in nutrient databases, as well as in food consumption, is essential in monitoring both the trends in the food choices Americans make and the adequacy of their diets.
Gaussian basis sets for use in correlated molecular calculations. VIII. Standard and augmented sextuple zeta correlation consistent basis sets for aluminum through argon

Standard and augmented correlation consistent sextuple zeta (cc-pV6Z and aug-cc-pV6Z) basis sets have been determined for the second-row atoms aluminum through argon. Using these sets, dissociation energies and spectroscopic constants for the ground states of HCl, PN, and P2 have been calculated using several theoretical methods, including Moller–Plesset perturbation theory, coupled cluster theory, and multireference configuration interaction theory (MRCI). The aug-cc-pV6Z and cc-pV6Z sets yield dissociation energies that are estimated to be within 0.1–0.2 kcal/mol of the complete basis set limit for HCl and within 1–1.5 kcal/mol for PN and P2. The MRCI and CCSD(T) methods are found to give the most consistently reliable results for the spectroscopic constants of all three species investigated. Use of the counterpoise correction improves the convergence behavior of the spectroscopic constants with increasing n for both the cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ sets and should allow more accurate estimates of the complete basis set limit to be predicted. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 76: 205–221, 2000
Intake and Digestibility of Bahiagrass Hay by Cattle that are Supplemented with Molasses or Molasses-Urea with or without Soybean Hulls

ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of molasses or molasses-urea supplementation with or without soybean hulls on digestibility, intake, and animal performance in cattle fed bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) hay. In Experiment 1, 6 Holstein steers (average BW 256 ± 15 kg) were fed 1 of 6 treatment diets: 1) bahiagrass hay only; 2) hay plus molasses; 3) hay plus molasses-urea; 4) hay plus soybean hulls; 5) hay plus soybean hulls and molasses; and 6) hay plus soybean hulls and molasses-urea. Molasses were fed at 0.59% ofBW (DM basis), soybean hulls at 0.75%, and urea at 4.5% of the weight of the molasses. Dry matter intake and apparent digestibility were measured in an incomplete Latin square design with a 28-d recovery period between each period. Digestibility of dietary DM, OM, and ADF was increased with soybean hulls (P 0.10) by soybean hulls. Urea added to molasses increased nonesterified fatty acids (P 0.10) by treatments. Blood glucose was increased (P
Strain Anisotropies in Core/Shell Magnetic Nanostructures

Abstract : The magnetic properties of nanosized iron-oxo molecular clusters have been investigated via Moessbauer spectroscopy and compared to those of silica coated iron-oxide nanoparticles. The clusters, prepared by controlled hydrolytic iron polymerization reactions, contain a approx.= 1.2 nm diameter magnetic core of spin-coupled iron ions surrounded by a shell of benzoate ligands. The nanoparticles, prepared via sol-gel synthesis, contain a approx.= 4.0 nm average diameter gamma-Fe2O3 core coated by a shell of SiO2. Both systems exhibit magnetic bistability at low temperatures with estimated magnetic anisotropy constants of K(sub eff)=O.63x10 to the 5th J/cu cm for the clusters and K(sub eff) = 0.55 x103 J/cu cm for the particles. The similar values of K(sub eff) indicate that these two systems experience similar degrees of strain at the core/shell interface. This is further supported by the values of the quadrupole splitting, Delta E(sub Q)=O.77 mm/s for the clusters and Delta E(sub Q)=0.75 mm/s for the particles, pointing to same degree of distortion from pure octahedral or tetrahedral symmetry at the iron coordination sites for either system. Implications of these observations for the surface atomic structure of gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are discussed.
Representations of (new) Black masculinity: A news-making case study:

Representations of Black masculinity in popular culture remain a focal point of social science and cultural studies research. Yet, research shows that Black men are negatively portrayed in news sto...
A study of the variability of precipitation

A knowledge of the variability of precipitation-averages for periods of various lengths is essential for the correct use of rainfall-data. First, it must be known what length of record is needed to yield an average which may be projected into the future within tolerable limits of error. Second, the magnitude and frequency of departures from the average—particularly negative ones—must be considered in various practical problems such as providing storage, selecting sources of supply, and determining the economic extent or feasibility of projects which depend in any way upon amount of rainfall. Previous work—The pioneer study by Binnie [see 1 under “References” at end of paper] on the variability of rainfall is widely quoted in current texts on hydrology, water-supply, and waterpower. This early work was based primarily upon precipitation-records from 26 stations in various parts of the world, the annual totals at each station being expressed as percentages of the long-term average.
Physiology of insect ecdysis: neural and hormonal factors involved in wing-spreading behaviour of moths.

1. In the tobacco hornworm, wing spreading involves a stereotyped series of movements which take 74 min to complete and which include two components, wing folding and wing inflation. 2. Moths decapitated at the moment of eclosion show neither wing inflation nor wing folding. If decapitation is delayed until 5 sec after emergence, then the full wing-spreading behaviour is displayed. 3. Newly emerged moths which are confined show intense digging-behaviour and delay the onset of wing spreading until after their release. Decapitated moths attempt to spread their wings immediately, regardless of whether or not they are confined. 4. Surgical experiments showed that the brain was not required in a neural capacity in order for wing spreading to occur; it was needed only as a source of the eclosion hormone. The neural influence of the suboesophageal ganglion was required until immediately after eclosion. 5. Newly emerged moths whose abdomens had been removed showed wing-folding behaviour. No inflation occurred and the duration of wing folding was much longer than normal. It was concluded that wing-folding behaviour was centrally programmed but that the abdomen could modify the length of the programme. 6. Injections of bursicon into abdomenless moths reduced the duration of wing-folding behaviour to almost normal levels. Therefore, in some manner, bursicon has an important role in determining when wing-folding behaviour will come to an end.
Plasma-Enhanced Ignition and Flame Stabilization in Microwave Plasma-Assisted Combustion of Premixed Methane/Oxygen/Argon Mixtures

The microwave plasma-assisted combustion (PAC) of premixed methane/oxygen/argon mixtures was investigated. A U-shaped dual-layer curve of fuel ignition/flame stabilization limit was observed, which shows the effects of the plasma power on the fuel ignition and flame stabilization. The PAC flame images revealed a quasi-stabilized flame region that is located in the gap between the upper (the fuel ignition limit) and lower layers (the flame stabilization limit). Optical emission spectroscopy showed different emission spectral features at the same plasma power but in different up-tunings (increasing the plasma power from low to high) and down-tunings (decreasing the plasma power from high to low) of the plasma power, which suggested that different chemical pathways were involved in these two processes. Cavity ringdown spectroscopy measurements of OH(X) number density outside the combustor showed that the OH(X) number density is on the order of $10^{16}$ molecule cm $^{-3}$ when the PAC flame was achieved yet zero when the PAC flame was not achieved. It is speculated that the OH(X) radical plays an important role in the flame stabilization in the PAC.
Advising is Advising: Toward Defining the Practice and Scholarship of Academic Advising

Academic advising has emerged as a distinct interdisciplinary field and profession, but the description of its role has recently relied on analogies and metaphors. While helpful in clarifying practice, their continual use obscures the uniqueness of academic advising and masks the importance of the scholarship that underlies its practice. We use the development of archaeology as a distinct profession and scholarly field to highlight critical developments in academic advising and draw examples of key aspects in the professionalization of academic advising from The Pennsylvania State University. The scholar-practitioner model must be nurtured for all who engage in academic advising and for a distinct scholarly identity to be established within higher education. Efforts must proceed at national and local levels.
Enrollment of lung cancer patients on clinical trials at an NCI comprehensive cancer center

6633 Background: Enrollment of cancer patients (pt) in clinical trials is considered essential in order to improve cancer care. However, cancer clinical trials participation remains low. Understand...
Factors influencing early prenatal enrollment in the WIC program.

Womens access to prenatal nutrition services was explored using a nationally representative sample of pregnant participants in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) in 1984. The probability of the participant entering the program during her 1st trimester rather than the 2nd or 3rd was examined. Other research has suggested that length of participation in the program during pregnancy is associated with increased birth weight. The data were adjusted for various personal and local operational factors such as prior WIC participation race age income household size WIC priority level availability of prenatal or other health services targeted outreach policies years of local operation and local agency size. Previous participation in the WIC Program was the only factor significantly associated with early enrollment (adjusted odds ratio 2.1). Race was marginally significant. Neither the presence of local policies of outreach targeted to pregnant women nor co-location of WIC services with prenatal or other health services showed significant effects on early enrollment. (authors)
Mitochondrial DNA Variation Among the Drosophila athabasca Semispecies and Drosophila affinis

Morphology, allozymes, and levels of postreproductive isolation indicate that the semispecies of Drosophila athabasca are as recently diverged as typical populations within a Drosophila species. However, levels of behavioral isolation, divergence in male mating song, and divergence in X-chromosome inversions suggest a much more ancient divergence. In this article, we have examined mitochondrial DNA restriction site variation within and among the three semispecies. These data support the hypothesis that the three semispecies of Drosophila athabasca are at least as recently diverged as are typical populations within other species of Drosophila. Male mating song, behavioral isolation, and X-chromosome differences thus appear to have evolved very rapidly. In addition, hypothesized phylogenetic relationships of these three semispecies, based on our mtDNA data, are identical to those based on allozymes and chromosomal inversions. According to this phylogeny, recency of ancestry is not well correlated with levels of behavioral isolation, whereas patterns of sympatry and allopatry are. These patterns strongly implicate the action of selection in the rapid evolution of behavioral isolation and X-chromosome gene arrangement.
An affinity for biochemical adaptation to temperature.

![Figure][1] Alex Gunderson and Jonathon Stillman discuss Peter Hochachka and George Somero's classic paper ‘The adaptation of enzymes to temperature’, published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology in 1968. If you have had the pleasure of diving under sea ice in Antarctica, you
On-Farm Grain Storage Facilities and Management Practices in Kentucky

We sent a questionnaire to growers in west and central Kentucky who store grain on their farm to determine the extent of their storage facilities and management practices. The following topics are presented: profile of respondents, storage facilities, duration of storage, bin-filling strategy, on-farm feeding of grain, inspection procedures, application of insecticides, pest problems, and sources of information.
Efficient parallel simulation of spatially-explicit agent-based epidemiological models

Agent-based approaches enable simulation driven analysis and discovery of system-level properties using descriptive models of known behaviors of the entities constituting the system. Accordingly, a spatially-explicit agent-based ecological modeling, parallel simulation, and analysis environment called SEARUMS has been developed. However, the conservatively synchronized parallel simulation infrastructure of SEARUMS did not scale effectively. Furthermore, the initial multithreaded shared-memory design prevented utilization of resources on multiple compute nodes of a distributed memory cluster.Consequently, the simulation infrastructure of SEARUMS was redesigned to operate as a Time Warp synchronized parallel and distributed discrete event simulation (PDES) on modern distributed-memory supercomputing platforms. The new PDES environment is called SEARUMS++. The spatially-explicit nature of the models posed several challenges in achieving scalable and efficient PDES, necessitating new approaches in SEARUMS++ for: źźmodeling spatial interactions and initial partitioning of agents, źźlogical migration of an agent during simulation using proxy agents to reflect migratory characteristics, and źźghosting of agents using multiple proxy agents to handle boundary cases that occur during logical migration of agents.This article presents our optimization efforts involving new methods to address aforementioned challenges. The design of SEARUMS++ and experimental evaluation of various alternatives that were explored to achieve scalable and efficient PDES are also discussed. Our experiments indicate that SEARUMS++ provides 200% performance improvement and maintains scalability to a larger number of processors, thus enabling efficient parallel simulation of spatially-explicit agent-based epidemiological models. Modeling methodology for spatially-explicit epidemic models.Model with high risk migratory waterfowl involved in global spread of avian influenza.Design of a parallel and distributed modeling, simulation, and analysis environment.Proxy-based approach for logical migration of agents during simulation to reflect migratory characteristics.Novel ghosting of agents to handle boundary cases that arise during migration to ensure scalable and efficient parallel simulation.
A Collaborative Anti-spam System Based on First-Second Filtering

A three-level anti-spam model and a novel antispam function framework based on first-second filtering are introduced in this paper.In the first pass,rule-based filtering method is used to process the mass mails into three classes: ham and spam and suspected spam quickly.In the second pass,content analysis method is used to discriminate the suspected spam further and the adaptive method based on feedback learning is used to update the rules used in the first pass.An anti-spam system has been implemented based on the above model and framework.Experiment results have shown that it is effective and efficient.Its miss rate is lower than 3.7%,false rate is lower than 0.6%,and the performance is better than other anti-spam products.
The Temple of Concord

The Republic Roman tradition credited the vow to build the Temple of Concord to Marcus Furius Camillus, dictator, conqueror of the Etruscans. In the midst of the plebeian fight to obtain admission to the consulship from the patricians in 367 BCE, “turning to the Capitol, he [Camillus] prayed the gods to bring the present tumults to their happiest end, solemnly vowing to build a temple to Concord when the confusion was over.” According to the poet Ovid, “he kept his vow,” but archaeological remains of this early monument have been difficult to identify, and it may not have been built after all. Indeed, the first shrine to Concord on the site seems to have been founded by Gnaeus Flavius, a curule aedile, the son of a former slave, despised by the patricians for his humble origins and popular measures. He published the formulae of the civil law, which had been filed away in the secret archives of the pontiffs, and posted up the calendar on white notice boards about the Forum, that men might know when they could bring an action [a legal suit]. He dedicated a temple of Concord in the precinct of Vulcan, greatly to the resentment of the nobles; and Cornelius Barbatus, the chief pontiff, was forced by the unanimous wishes of the people to dictate the words to him, though he asserted that by custom of the elders none but a consul or a commanding general might dedicate a temple. So, in accordance with a senatorial resolution, a measure was enacted by the people providing that no one should dedicate a temple or an altar without the authorization of the senate or a majority of the tribunes of the plebs.
Microwave synthetic aperture radar imaging using sparse measurement

This paper evaluates Compressed Sensing (CS) techniques for image recovery from sparse measurement of wideband microwave synthetic aperture radar. A specimen under test (SUT) consists of a tray of small rocks of different densities and with/without one piece that is wrapped in aluminum foil. The fully-sampled measurements of the SUT are randomly under-sampled in the space domain and the images are reconstructed from measurements of 10%–50% sparse-sampling rates using conventional zero-filling (ZF) and NUFFT methods in comparison to the advanced CS method. The results show that the CS method achieves good image quality with as low as 30% sparse-sampling rate, while ZF and NUFFT require 50% to obtain acceptable quality. The reduction of spatial measurement leads to reduced cost or reduced measurement time.
Warlords, Strongman Governors, and the State in Afghanistan

Warlords have come to represent enemies of peace, security, and 'good governance' in the collective intellectual imagination. This book asserts that not all warlords are created equal. Under certain conditions, some become effective governors on behalf of the state. This provocative argument is based on extensive fieldwork in Afghanistan, where Mukhopadhyay examined warlord-governors who have served as valuable exponents of the Karzai regime in its struggle to assert control over key segments of the countryside. She explores the complex ecosystems that came to constitute provincial political life after 2001 and exposes the rise of 'strongman' governance in two provinces. While this brand of governance falls far short of international expectations, its emergence reflects the reassertion of the Afghan state in material and symbolic terms that deserve our attention. This book pushes past canonical views of warlordism and state building to consider the logic of the weak state as it has arisen in challenging, conflict-ridden societies like Afghanistan.