cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multifunctionality and non-trade concerns: implications for future agricultural policy in Asia

Agriculture's multifunctional role as provider of non-commodity outputs has received increased attention in the debate on the future of agricultural policy. To identify appropriate economic policies, a distinction must be made between concerns involving market failure and a consequent misallocation of resources, and those relating to distributional issues. We argue that it is essential to restrict the concept of multifunctionality to non-commodity outputs involving technical externalities or public goods and for which market failure and the misallocation of resources are important (e.g., amenity values and agricultural pollution). Other non-trade concerns, such as rural incomes and employment and food security, involve distributional issues, but no resource misallocation. This distinction makes it possible to identify different types of domestic policy measures to address them effectively and efficiently. Through reference to an empirical application to Taiwanese paddy rice policy, we illustrate that the most effective way to reconcile non-trade concerns is through policy measures that correct for market failure by valuing non-commodity outputs appropriately and a separate set of measures that address distributional issues.
DNS of a turbulent boundary layer with surface roughness

A pioneer direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a turbulent boundary layer at , was performed, on a rough surface and with a zero pressure gradient (ZPG). The boundary layer was subjected to transitional, 24-grit sandpaper surface roughness, with a roughness parameter of . The computational method involves a synergy of the dynamic multi-scale approach devised by Araya et al. (2011) for prescribing inlet turbulent boundary conditions and a new methodology for mapping high-resolution topographical surface data into a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) environment. It is shown here that the dynamic multi-scale approach can be successfully extended to simulations which incorporate surface roughness. The DNS results demonstrate good agreement with the laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) measurements performed by Brzek et al. (2008) and Schultz & Flack (2003) under similar conditions in terms of mean velocity profiles, Reynolds stresses and flow parameters, such as the skin friction coefficient, boundary and momentum thicknesses. Further, it is demonstrated that the effects of the surface roughness on the Reynolds stresses, at the values of , are scale-dependent. Roughness effects were mainly manifested up to . Generally speaking, it was observed that inner peak values of Reynolds stresses increased when considering outer units. However, decreases were seen in inner units. In the outer region, the most significant differences between the present DNS smooth and rough cases were computed in the wall-normal component of the Reynolds stresses and in the Reynolds shear stresses in outer units. From the resulting flow fields a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis is performed and the effects of the surface roughness are distinctly observed in the most energetic POD modes. The POD analysis shows that the surface roughness causes a redistribution of the kinetic energy amongst the POD modes with energy being shifted from low-order to high-order modes in the rough case versus the smooth case. Also, the roughness causes a marked decrease in the characteristic wavelengths observed in the POD modes, particularly in the streamwise component of the velocity field. Low-order modes of the streamwise component demonstrated characteristic wavelengths of the order of in the smooth case, whereas the same modes for the rough case demonstrated characteristic wavelengths of only .
Assessment of urease inhibition assays for measuring toxicity of environmental samples

Abstract We evaluated the potential of free and immobilized urease for assaying toxicity of environmental samples. Free urease was sensitive to heavy metals and insensitive to organic toxicants. Toxicity of industrial wastewaters and process water, as determined via free urease assay, was correlated with the heavy metal content of these samples. High background (blank) absorbance was encountered in samples containing arnmonia. The background exceeded the linear range of the assay at ammonia nitrogen concentrations exceeding 8 mg/l. Immobilizing urease on glass beads was considered as a means of overcoming the problem of ammonia interference. Immobilized enzyme was unfortunately not sensitive to heavy metals. The potential of free urease for toxicity testing cannot be fully realized until a means of overcoming ammonia interference is developed.
A Listing of Theses and Dissertations Completed in Family and Consumer Sciences: 2010

In spring 2011, family and consumer sciences graduate programs were conducted with a request to submit titles of theses and dissertations completed during the 2010 calendar year. A total of 263 theses and dissertations were reported. A comprehensive report of submissions is provided by subject category, author, and title; theses are listed first, followed by dissertations.
Stimulated Emission Pumping Spectroscopyof the [X̃]1A` State of CHF

We have recorded stimulated emission pumping (SEP) spectra of the A1A‘ ‘ → X1A‘ system of CHF, which reveal rich detail concerning the rovibronic structure of the X1A‘ state up to ∼7000 cm-1 above the vibrationless level. Using several intermediate A1A‘ ‘ state levels, we obtained rotationally resolved spectra for 16 of the 33 levels observed in our previous single vibronic level (SVL) emission study (Fan et al., J. Chem. Phys. 2005, 123, 014314), in addition to one new level. An anharmonic effective Hamiltonian model poorly reproduces the term energies even with the improved set of data because of the extensive interactions among levels in a given polyad (p) having combinations of ν1, ν2, ν3, which satisfy the relationship p = 2ν1 + ν2 + ν3. However, the precise A rotational constants determined from the SEP data were invaluable in clarifying the assignments for these strongly perturbed levels, and the data are well reproduced using a multiresonance effective Hamiltonian model. The derived vibrational ...
Induction of Apoptosis and Inhibition of Cell Proliferation bysurvivin Gene Targeting

Survivin is a new IAP apoptosis inhibitor expressed during development and in human cancer in vivo. The coding strand of the survivin gene was extensively complementary to that of effector cell protease receptor-1 (EPR-1), prompting the present investigation on the origin and functional relationship of these two transcripts. Southern blots of genomic DNA were consistent with the presence of multiple, evolutionarily conserved, EPR-1/Survivin-related genes. By pulsed field gel electrophoresis and single- and two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization, these were contained within a contiguous physical interval of 75–130 kilobases (kb) on chromosome 17q25. In Northern blots, a single strand-specific probe identified a 1.3-kb EPR-1 mRNA broadly distributed in normal adult and fetal tissues, structurally distinct from the 1.9-kb Survivin transcript expressed in transformed cell lines. Transient co-transfection of an EPR-1 cDNA potentially acting as a Survivin antisense with a lacZ reporter plasmid resulted in loss of viability of HeLa cells. In contrast, co-transfection of an antisense cDNA of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 or a sense-oriented Survivin cDNA was without effect. In stably transfected HeLa cells, ZnSO4 induction of an EPR-1 mRNA under the control of a metallothionein promoter suppressed the expression of endogenous survivin. This resulted in (i) increased apoptosis as detected by analysis of DNA content and in situ internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and (ii) inhibition of cell proliferation as compared with induced vector control transfectants. These findings suggest the existence of a potential EPR-1/survivin gene cluster and identify survivin as a new target for disrupting cell viability pathways in cancer.
Attenuation of Free Vibration Using Particle Impact Damper

The particle impact damper is an effective vibration damping treatment that can be used in the cases where visco-elastic constrained layer damping fails due to excessive surrounding temperature. In this type of passive damping, particles move in a container attached to the vibrating system resulting in plastic impact with the container. In the presented theoretical study, the damping characteristics of free oscillation for a vertical system with an initial displacement are considered and a governing equation for the system under free vibration with a particle damper is derived. To evaluate the damping characteristics for the free vibrating system, the equivalent damping ratio is determined by considering both kinematics and kinetics of the particle motion and its impacts with the container. The presented solution concludes that in general damping effectiveness can be enhanced by increasing the mass of the particle in comparison with total mass of the system. Mathematical optimum clearance for the moving particle and the equivalent viscous damping ratio are determined for the best performance of the particle impact damper.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Competitiveness in India and China: the FDI puzzle

Given their growth records, large markets, and reformed economic systems, both China and India appear to be equally likely candidates for foreign direct investment (FDI). Yet, China has received substantially more FDI. The literature comparing FDI in these two countries is small, and does not provide conclusive evidence to explain this puzzle. Applying the Porterian framework of the competitiveness of nations to compare China and India, we garner evidence that differences in demand, factor conditions and firm strategy, structure and rivalry are not sufficient to explain the differential in the two countries' FDI flows. Differences in related and supporting industries, as well as Porter's other two factors – government and chance – are more compelling. We identify China's early entry into East Asian production networks in the 1980s as a key factor pushing China ahead of India in terms of FDI. We argue that this coincidental mix of timing and geography (Porter's ‘chance’ factor), pushed forward in China by ...
Renal development in high-glucose ambience and diabetic embryopathy

Maternal diabetes has an adverse influence on the intrauterine growth of the fetus, which is attributable to the exposure of the mammalian embryo to an abnormal metabolic environment. A sustained exposure of the fetus to such an environment (ie, elevated concentration of glucose), during the first 6 to 8 weeks of gestation in humans may result in diabetic embryopathy, which is characterized by a multitude of congenital birth defects, including those of the nervous, cardiovascular, skeletal, and urogenital systems. The urogenital abnormalities may be associated with caudal regression syndrome or may occur alone in the form of partial or total renal agenesis. Similarly, an increase in the incidence of morphogenetic defects is observed in offsprings of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and mice and also in nonobese diabetic mice. In certain instances, failure in the growth of lower part of embryos or newborn mice has been observed in animals with a severe diabetic state. For further delineation of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic embryopathy, the investigators used whole-embryo culture systems, and found that glucose can induce defects mainly confined to the lower part of the body involving the genitourinary system. Similarly, dysmorphogenesis of the embryonic metanephros is observed when it is subjected to high concentrations of D-glucose and its epimer D-mannose. This article discusses certain aspects of diabetic embryopathy with an emphasis on changes that occur in the fetal metanephros in high-glucose ambience.
CONFIDENCE LEVEL AND SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL: SEMANTIC CONFUSION OR LOGICAL FALLACY

Despite repeated warnings against its usage, researchers and textbook authors continue to employ the phrase “level of confidence” as a synonym for the phrase “level of significance.” Three possible sources of this incorrect usage are noted: (a) imitation; (b) the related but different concepts of fiducial inference and confidence interval estimation; and (c) the myriad of terms associated with confidence. It is recommended that the magnitude of level of confidence be restricted to that of the complement of the level of significance and also that the term level of confidence should be used only in connection with interval estimation.
Data-Enabled Field Experiment Planning, Management, and Research Using Cyberinfrastructure

AbstractIn the spring of 2013, NASA conducted a field campaign known as Iowa Flood Studies (IFloodS) as part of the Ground Validation (GV) program for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The purpose of IFloodS was to enhance the understanding of flood-related, space-based observations of precipitation processes in events that transpire worldwide. NASA used a number of scientific instruments such as ground-based weather radars, rain and soil moisture gauges, stream gauges, and disdrometers to monitor rainfall events in Iowa. This article presents the cyberinfrastructure tools and systems that supported the planning, reporting, and management of the field campaign and that allow these data and models to be accessed, evaluated, and shared for research. The authors describe the collaborative informatics tools, which are suitable for the network design, that were used to select the locations in which to place the instruments. How the authors used information technology tools for instrument moni...
Tension-tension fatigue of hybrid composite rods

Abstract The tension–tension fatigue behavior was investigated for a hybrid composite rod comprised of a unidirectional carbon fiber core and a glass fiber shell. Fatigue tests were performed at three R -ratios and four maximum applied stress levels (MAS) while recording the secant modulus at each cycle, and acoustic emission (AE) sensors were employed to monitor the activation of fatigue mechanisms. Fatigue failure occurred when the composite rod was no longer able to support the applied cyclic load. For a MAS level of 70% of the ultimate tensile stress (UTS), composite rods tested at higher R -ratios showed AE activity through a larger percentage of fatigue life, but exhibited a greater resistance to fatigue failure, whereas samples cycled at lower R -ratios displayed AE activity only near the end of fatigue life, and showed a lower resistance to fatigue failure. The hybrid composite showed modes of progressive fatigue damage at high R -ratios and low strain amplitudes in the form of longitudinal splitting of the GF shell. In contrast, failure of the CF core was catastrophic and non-progressive. The fatigue resistance and damage mechanisms of the composite rod were dependent on the MAS level and R -ratio. Fatigue cracks initiated because of fretting between the GF shell and grip surface, which led to the observed longitudinal splitting of the GF shell. Fatigue damage occurred along the GF/CF interface where non-uniform strains developed because of the clamping force of the grip on the GF surface. At an R -ratio of 0.85, a fatigue stress of 70% UTS caused catastrophic fatigue failure, while at lower stresses, composite rods did not fail and withstood cyclic loads up to 1 million cycles. The research conducted is the first to investigate the degradation in fatigue performance arising from grip/composite rod interactions and suggests that the results from the study provide new information for composite materials in industries that utilize unidirectional composites in cylindrical form.
Inhibition of allergen-induced pulmonary responses by the selective tryptase inhibitor 1,5-bis-{4-[(3-carbamimidoyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-methyl]-phenoxy}-pentane (AMG-126737)

Emerging evidence suggests that mast cell tryptase is a therapeutic target for the treatment of asthma. The effects of this serine protease are associated with both pathophysiologic pulmonary responses and pathologic changes of the asthmatic airway. In this study, the tryptase inhibitor 1,5-bis-[4-[(3-carbamimidoyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-methyl]-p henoxy]-pentane (AMG-126737) was evaluated for its pharmacologic effects against allergen-induced airway responses. AMG-126737 is a potent inhibitor of human lung mast cell tryptase (Ki = 90 nM), with greater than 10- to 200-fold selectivity versus other serine proteases. Intratracheal administration of AMG-126737 inhibited the development of airway hyperresponsiveness in allergen-challenged guinea pigs with an ED50 of 0.015 mg/kg. In addition, the compound exhibited oral activity in the guinea pig model. The in vivo activity of AMG-126737 was confirmed in a sheep model of allergen-induced airway responses, where the compound inhibited early and late phase bronchoconstriction responses and the development of airway hyperresponsiveness. These results support the proposed role of tryptase in the pathology of asthma and suggest that AMG-126737 has potential therapeutic utility in this pulmonary disorder.
Direct and indirect actions of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on neonatal rat motoneurons in vitro

Abstract In addition to causing a slow depolarization, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH, 5–10 μM) evoked synaptic activity in antidromically identified motoneurons in thin transverse neonatal rat spinal cord slices. The synaptic activity but not the slow depolarization was reversibly abolished by TTX or low Ca 2+ /high Mg 2+ solution. Furthermore, the TRH-induced synaptic activity was eliminated by the glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid (0.5 or 1 mM) and/or the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine (1 μM). Our results indicate that in addition to depolarizing motoneurons, TRH modifies the activity of spinal interneurons which may secondarily alter the activity of motoneurons.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Improving Usability and Robustness of Online Recommendation Systems

Recent statistics show that the number of online shoppers are increasing where the majority of them use online recommendation systems for product/service reviews. Although online reviews are becoming increasingly important, consumers face two major challenges of usability and robustness when they make purchase decisions based on the available reviews. More specifically, usability issues arise when consumers need to be able to extract relevant information given a high volume of data with uncertainty due to high variance. For robustness, judging the degree of truthfulness of the available recommendations can be a daunting task for consumers. In this paper, we propose a post-purchase tracking system as an enhancement to current online recommendation systems by embracing a peer review process and ask each consumer to score the reviews that previous consumers have posted. Furthermore, we propose to visualize the peer review processes such that people ﬁnd the recommendation systems more efficient and useful to learn information. Our preliminary user study results indicate that our post-purchase tracking system is a promising approach that can help online consumers determine what information to trust with high conﬁdence.
Economic Evaluation of Capture-Based Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture on the US East Coast

AbstractThis article assesses the economic feasibility of capture-based bluefin tuna aquaculture on the US East Coast and examines the potential of this hybrid form of aquaculture production to increase the net economic value generated in the US East Coast bluefin tuna fishery. A bioeconomic model of an offshore capture-based bluefin tuna aquaculture facility is used to evaluate the economic feasibility of this form of production on the US East Coast under a variety of economic, biological, and regulatory assumptions. The results suggest that of the three proposed farming sites along the US East Coast, the expected net present value (NPV) of the operation over a 10-year operating horizon is highest at the Gray’s Reef, GA, site. The second part of this article assesses the extent to which the opportunity to engage in capture-based bluefin tuna aquaculture production could improve the net economic value generated in the US East Coast bluefin tuna fishery. The results suggest that if the fishery had the oppo...
Colorectal cancer and dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease.

Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease carry an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Established risk factors for cancer among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) include the younger age at diagnosis, greater extent and duration of disease, increased severity of inflammation, family history of colorectal cancer and coexisting primary sclerosing cholangitis. Recent evidence suggests that current medical therapies and surgical techniques for inflammatory bowel disease may be reducing the incidence of this complication. Nonetheless heightened vigilance and a careful, comprehensive approach to prevent or minimize the complications of invasive cancer are warranted in this unique cohort of patients. Current guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cancer in this high risk population are grounded in the concept of an inflammation-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence. A thorough understanding of the definition and natural history of dysplasia in IBD, as well as the challenges associated with detection and interpretation of dysplasia are fundamental to developing an effective strategy for surveillance and prevention, and understanding the limitations of the current approach to prevention. This article reviews the current consensus guidelines for screening and surveillance of cancer in IBD, as well as presenting the evidence and rationale for chemoprevention of cancer and a discussion of emerging technologies for the detection of dysplasia.
The effect of diabetes and the redox potential on amino acid content and release by isolated rat hemidiaphragms

The free amino acid content of diaphragm muscles of control and diabetic rats was studied 5 days after the injection of streptozotocin. Muscles were prepared for analysis either immediately after sacrifice or following incubation in balanced salt solution containing 5.5 mM glucose, with or without an electron acceptor, 0.02 mM methylene blue. Diaphragms of diabetic rats contained significantly more free taurine, glutamate, and branched chain amino acids than the controls at sacrifice, and significantly less glutamine, serine, asparagine, lysine, arginine, histidine, threonine, citrulline, and carnosine. Alanine decreased in plasma of diabetic rats but not in diaphragms before incubation. Hemidiaphragms of diabetic rats produced less alanine and more glutamate during incubation than controls. After incubation they contained less than half as much alanine and glutamine and twice as much glutamate than the controls, having released approximately 40% less alanine and 25% more glutamate into the medium than the controls. Glutamine release was not significantly different between the two groups. Methylene blue increased the free alanine content in the tissue water as well as alanine release by control and by diabetic muscles; the glutamate content of muscles decreased concomitantly. The effects of methylene blue were greater in the diabetic group. Branched chain amino acid release by diabetic muscles decreased during incubation with methylene blue. Muscles of diabetic rats contained more alpha-ketoglutarate than the controls after incubation with or without methylene blue. Methylene blue increased the alpha-ketoglutarate content of muscles and its release into the medium, the effect being greater in diabetics than in controls. Hemidiaphragms from diabetic rats released less pyruvate during incubation than controls, while lactate release by the two groups was not significantly different. Incubation with methylene blue caused a marked increase in pyruvate release by diabetic muscles, and a lesser stimulation in controls; lactate release increased in both groups. After incubation the lactate/pyruvate ratio in muscles was lower in the methylene blue treated group. The in vitro effect of 0.02 mM phenazine methosulfate on alanine production was similar to that of methylene blue. The data is compatible with the hypothesis that the NADH/NAD ratio may exert a restraining effect on alanine production and release by muscle. The progressive increase in this ratio may play a role in the eventual deceleration of gluconeogenesis during a prolonged fast and may restrain this process in uncompensated diabetes.
A Comparison of Clinical Simulation and Case Study Presentation on Nurse Practitioner Students' Knowledge and Confidence in Managing a Cardiac Event

The study was designed to compare the efficacy of controlled simulation mannequin (SM) assisted learning and case study presentation on knowledge and confidence of nurse practitioner (NP) students in managing a cardiac event. Twenty-three volunteer students were randomly assigned to the experimental (simulation) or control (case study presentation) group. All participants were instructed on atrial arrhythmias, were pre- and post-tested on knowledge and confidence, and completed an evaluation of the experience. There were no statistically significant differences in knowledge test scores, although the control group scored significantly higher on post- test confidence (p=.040). Both groups rated their experience as valuable. The simulation and case study presentation had similar outcomes. Additional research is needed to determine the effectiveness of this teaching modality.
Soil Seed Bank Composition in Pastures of Diverse Mixtures of Temperate Forages

Seed banks may contribute useful or weedy species that fill gaps in pastures. In a previous study, pastures planted to complex mixtures of forages had a lesser proportion of weedy species in the aboveground vegetation. In this study, we relate changes in the species composition of the seed bank to changes in the aboveground vegetation. In August 2001, four mixtures [two, three, six, and nine species of temperate-grasses, legumes and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)] were established in replicated 1-ha pastures (eight total) in central Pennsylvania. Pastures were grazed by dairy cattle from April to September in 2002 and 2003. Soil cores (1.88-cm diam. by 5-cm depth) were taken in April and October in 2002 and 2003, and in April 2004 to determine the density of germinable seeds. Soil samples were placed in a greenhouse under natural light and controlled temperatures for 12 to 18 mo and germinated seedlings counted regularly. The total density of germinable seeds from all species did not differ among mixtures (P = 0.08). Annual nonleguminous forbs accounted for 79% of the germinable seeds. Yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta L.) was the dominant annual forb. There were significant differences among pastures planted to different mixtures in the density of germinable annual forb seeds; however, these differences likely occurred because of preexisting spatial variation in seed bank composition. Seeded species contributed fewer than 1000 seeds m -2 total in the 3 yr. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were the most common forage species in the seed bank. There was little relation between the species composition of the seed bank and the composition of the aboveground vegetation. Data from this study indicate that previous land management had larger effects on the soil seed bank than did planting diverse mixtures of forages.
Soil biochemical activity and phosphorus transformations and losses from acidified forest soils

Three Bohemian Forest catchments, Plesne, Cerne and Certovo, were studied. These catchments have similar climatic conditions, relief and vegetation, but differ in their bedrock composition. The granitic bedrock in the Plesne catchment was more susceptible to phosphorus (P) leaching under acid conditions than was the mica schist bedrock in the other catchments. The goal of this study was to determine if higher P leaching from the Plesne catchment was associated with differences in microbial P transformations and enzymatic P hydrolysis. Phosphorus and nitrogen contents in soil microbial biomass (P MB , N MB ; chloroform fumigation), C mineralisation rate (C min ; CO 2 production by GC) and phosphatase activity (MUF-phosphate), were measured in three successive years. Phosphatase activity, P MB , and C min were used to characterise the enzymatic hydrolysis of organic P, microbial P accumulation, and microbial mineralisation rates of organic compounds, respectively. Soil chemical properties were characterised by C, N and P content, pH, and by oxalate-extractable P, Fe and Al. Spatial variability in N MB , P MB , C min and phosphatase activity within the catchment was higher (coefficient of variation, CV<50%) than their temporal variability (CV <30%). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant soil layer effect but not that of catchment. When soil layers were evaluated separately, a difference between the Plesne and Cerne or Certovo catchments was found in litter and mineral layers, even though the variability within one catchment was high. Within soil profile, phosphatase activity was positively correlated with C tot , N MB and C min (r 2 = 0.89-0.92) being very correlated with P MB (r 2 =0.99). Phosphatase activity was higher in the litter (14.0 nmol g -1 h -1 ) and humus (8.65 nmol g -1 h -1 ) layers of Plesne than in the same layers of the Cerne (9.65 and 6.40 nmol g -1 h -1 ) and Certovo (12.8 and 6.0 nmol g -1 h -1 ) soils. Similarly, P MB in the litter and humus layers of Plesne soil (161 and 93 μg g -1 ) was higher than P MB of the same layers of the Cerne (120 and 66 μg g -1 ) and Certovo (148 and 89 μg g -1 ) soils. High MUFP hydrolysis rate: C min molar ratio (0.16- 1.17 M of P per 1 M of respired C) indicated that potential enzymatic P hydrolysis exceeded estimated microbial P demand (0.034 M of P per 1 M of respired C) in all catchments. The results suggest that higher microbial P transformations and enzymatic P hydrolysis could contribute to enhanced P leaching from the Plesne catchment, which could be enhanced by the lower Fe content in the soil of this catchment as compared to the Cerne and Certovo catchments.
Self-consistency, self-enhancement, and accuracy in reactions to feedback

Abstract An experiment tested predictions generated by a model of the role of self-consistency, self-enhancement, and accuracy in reactions to feedback. The model proposed that affective reactions would be dominated by self-enhancement, that attributions and perceptions of feedback accuracy would be dominated by self-consistency, and that self-evaluations and expectations for future performance would reflect both self-consistency and accuracy. One hundred seventy-two subjects received either positive or negative feedback regarding their performance on an anagrams test. Results generally supported the model. Self-enhancement dominated affective responses: Subjects felt better after receiving positive feedback than after receiving negative feedback. Self-consistency effects emerged for attributions and perceptions of feedback accuracy: (1) Those high in self-esteem accepted more responsibility for receiving positive feedback than negative feedback, and they viewed positve feedback as more accurate; (2) Those low in self-esteen accepted more responsibility for negative feedback than positive feedback, and perceived negative feedback as more accurate. Reflecting both accuracy and self-consistency, there were main effects for both feedback and self-esteem on self-evaluations and expectations. Discussion focuses on how this study supports the model, the value of distingushing among different types of cognitive reactions, and the need to explicitly incorporate accuracy concerns in perspectives on reactions to feedback.
Detection of diurnal cycle of ocean surface wind from space-based observations

We derive the diurnal cycle of ocean surface vector wind from three contemporary space-based wind sensors: OSCAT, WindSAT, and ASCAT, assuming the diurnal signal is embedded in the deviation from the daily mean as measured by ascending and descending passes of each sensor. A Monte Carlo simulation technique is used to estimate uncertainties. Strong diurnal signals are found in coastal regions and tropical oceans. Their geographical and seasonal variations are described.
Windowed discrete Fourier transform for shifting data

Abstract When processing a signal or image using the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), a typical approach is to extract a portion of the signal by windowing and then form the DFT of the window contents. By shifting the window point by point over the signal, the entire signal may be processed. The algorithms developed in this paper “update” the DFT to reflect the modified window contents, using less computation than directly evaluating the modified transform via the FFT algorithm. This reduces the computational order by a factor of log 2 N for both the 1-D and 2-D cases. Algorithms are derived for use with the boxcar, split triangular, Hanning, Hamming and Blackman windows, and implementations in the C language are given. The approach generalizes to piecewise linear and piecewise polynomial windows.
Discharge regularity in the turtle posterior crista: comparisons between experiment and theory

Intra-axonal recordings were made from bouton fibers near their termination in the turtle posterior crista. Spike discharge, miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs), and afterhyperpol...
Cohort trends in the lifetime distribution of female family headship in the United States, 1968–1985

We use the PSID Relationship File to estimate cohort trends in the lifetime incidence and duration of female family headship. Hazard (event-history) techniques are used to estimate movements into and out of headship, accounting for duration dependence and left-censored spells. The mean number of years spent in headship between ages 14 and 59 rose dramatically over the period. The increase arose from an increased number of headship spells, including an increase in the number of women ever experiencing headship, but not at all from an increase in durations of headship spells; those decreased slightly.
Evaluation of a Communication Skills Course for Second-Year Medical Students.

A five-year evaluation and redesign of the communication skills component of the Introduction to Clinical Medicine course was undertaken at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse College of Medicine. The objectives of the evaluation were to determine the effectiveness of the component in teaching communication skills, identify areas of the component in need of change, and monitor the effectiveness of previous changes. In the first three years, the evaluation focused on the students' perceptions of the importance of communication skills in their training as physicians. Based on the evaluations for those three years, the component was modified substantially. One of the changes was the introduction in years four and five of simulated patients for practicing interviewing skills. The evaluations in years four and five focused on the effectiveness of using the simulated patients and the students' perceptions of how well the course objectives were met.
Bring Your Own Learner: A Cloud-Based, Data-Parallel Commons for Machine Learning

Abstract-We introduce FCUBE, a cloud-based framework that enables machine learning researchers to contribute their learners to its community-shared repository. FCUBE exploits data parallelism in lieu of algorithmic parallelization to allow its users to efficiently tackle large data problems automatically. It passes random subsets of data generated via resampling to multiple learners that it executes simultaneously and then it combines their model predictions with a simple fusion technique. It is an example of what we have named a Bring Your Own Learner model. It allows multiple machine learning researchers to contribute algorithms in a plug-and-play style. We contend that the Bring Your Own Learner model signals a design shift in cloud-based machine learning infrastructure because it is capable of executing anyone's supervised machine learning algorithm. We demonstrate FCUBE executing five different learners contributed by three different machine learning groups on a 100 node deployment on Amazon EC2. They collectively solve a publicly available classification problem trained with 11 million exemplars from the Higgs dataset.
Strain Rate Induced Amorphization in Metallic Nanowires

Using molecular dynamics simulations with a many-body force field, we studied the deformation of single crystal Ni and NiCu random alloy nanowires subjected to uniform strain rates but kept at 300 K. For all strain rates, the Ni nanowire is elastic up to 7.5% strain with a yield stress of 5.5 GPa, far above that of bulk Ni. At high strain rates, we find that for both systems the crystalline phase transforms continuously to an amorphous phase, exhibiting a dramatic change in atomic short-range order and a near vanishing of the tetragonal shear elastic constant perpendicular to the tensile direction. This amorphization which occurs directly from the homogeneous, elastically deformed system with no chemical or structural inhomogeneities exhibits a new mode of amorphization.
Preliminary crystallographic data for a calcium binding protein from bovine intestine

The minor A form of a calcium binding protein from bovine intestine has been crystallized from ammonium sulfate, at alkaline pH. Large well-formed crystals were obtained, suitable for high resolution X-ray analysis. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P 2 1 2 1 2, with cell dimensions 56·3×43·0×29·4 A, and have one molecule per asymmetric unit. The amino acid sequence contains several unusual features which may be related to the calcium binding properties.
Estrogen regulation of creatine kinase-B in the rat uterus.

Creatine kinase-B (CKB) synthesis is rapidly and specifically induced by estrogen in the uterus of the immature rat. This study indicates that this elevation is due at least in part to increases in the levels of mRNA for CKB. The stimulation of CKB mRNA levels is rapid (a 7- to 10-fold increase is detected 1–3 h after estrogen administration), but transient, as levels return to near control values by 6 h. Analysis of cDNAs to both uterine and brain CKB mRNA indicate that the same sequence is expressed in both tissues despite earlier observations of heterogeneity of the protein isolated from the two tissues. A 1.7-kilobasepair DNA fragment containing the CKB promoter and 5′ flanking sequences confers estrogen sensitivity on expression of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene in HeLa cells on cotransfection with an estrogen-receptor expression vector. However, the CKB promoter sequences lack any motif with convincing similarity to the currently accepted consensus estrogen response element GG...
Error sensitivity of computerized tomography guided stereotaxis.

Abstract The accuracy of target localization by computerized-tomography (CT)-guided stereotaxis is analyzed with the aid of computer simulation experiments. Factors such as size and shape of the localizing structure are considered. The results support the conclusion that localization errors in CT stereotaxis can be held below 1 mm.
Determination of theophylline in plasma by oxidation at the stationary carbon-paste electrode

A method for the determination of the concentration of theophylline in plasma at therapeutic levels is described. The method is based on the oxidation of theophylline at the stationary carbon-paste electrode and involves a simple extraction procedure and differential pulse voltammetry. Possible interferences are discussed and typical calibration curves are presented.
Efficient quasi-phase-matched blue second-harmonic generation in LiNbO 3 channel waveguides by a second-order grating

We report what is to our knowledge the first efficient blue second-harmonic generation in a second-order quasi-phase-matching LiNbO(3) waveguide. Blue-light generation with a conversion efficiency of 10%/W was demonstrated. A procedure for optimizing the waveguide and the periodic domain-inversion grating has also been developed for various-order quasi-phase-matching gratings in a LiNbO(3) waveguide.
Gene Engineering of Yeast for the Degradation of Hazardous Wastes

We have installed a program to develop cytochrome P-450 systems in Sacchromyces cerevisiae for the degradation of organic wastes. Emphasis will be upon polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons having no adjacent carbon atoms free of substitution, including hexachloro-benzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodi-benzo-p-dioxin, TCDD. These toxic compounds are persistent in the environment and are potent inducers of P-450 systems in animal cells. Both HCB and TCDD can be metabolized by P-450 enzymes to yield less toxic products. The long range goal is to transfer these metabolic capacities from animal cells via genetic engineering into yeast. These yeasts will then be tested for use in polluted mixtures.
Direct evidence for two-neutrino double-beta decay in 82Se.

The two-neutrino mode of double-beta decay in $^{82}\mathrm{Se}$ has been observed in a time-projection chamber at a half-life of ${(1.1}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}0.3}^{+0.8}$)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{20}$ yr (68% confidence level). This result from direct counting confirms the earlier geochemical measurements and helps provide a standard by which to test the double-beta-decay matrix elements of nuclear theory. It is the rarest natural decay process ever observed directly in the laboratory.
Perceived weight, actual weight, and depressive symptoms in a general adolescent sample

To examine the relationship between perceived weight, actual weight, and depressive symptoms in a general adolescent sample, 344 junior and senior high school students were administered the Beck Depression Inventory and the Health Behaviors Questionnaire. Chi-square analyses revealed that perceptions of weight varied by sex but not by age. An analysis of variance using depression scores as the dependent variable revealed a main effect for age, with 11-13 year olds less depressed than 14-16 or 17-18 year olds; a main effect for weight perception, with those who perceived themselves to be of normal weight less depressed than those who thought they were underweight or overweight; and a significant interaction of actual weight and sex, with females tending to be less depressed if actually underweight and males tending to be less depressed if actually overweight.
Editorial: Time for a Change

The author is leaving the Editorship of this Transactions because it is "time for a change." He has been the Editor since 1968. In that time he has expanded the scope of the Transactions into the fields of computer communication and communication electronics. He also encouraged the formation of the two Technical Committees which now represent these areas. He also would like to take this opportunity to thank the large number of people who worked so hard to make his Editorship a success.
A chemical basis for bark beetle (Scolytus) distinction between host and non-host trees☆

Abstract The bark beetle, Scolytus quadrispinosus, tolerated 5-hydroxy-1,4-nappthoquinone from a host tree, Carya ovata, that was a deterrent to feeding by Scolytus multistriatus. S. multistriatus fed as extensively on the benzene extract of C. ovata twig bark when 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was removed as it did on the benzene extract of its host, Ulmus americana. S. multistriatus feeding on the benzene extract of U. americana also was deterred by the addition of an extract of Quercus alba twig bark. These findings indicate that deterrency by chemicals in the bark of non-host trees is an important basis for bark beetle distinction between non-host and host tissues.
A geometrical analysis of the efficient outcome set in multiple objective convex programs with linear criterion functions

This article performs a geometrical analysis of the efficient outcome setY E of a multiple objective convex program (MLC) with linear criterion functions. The analysis elucidates the facial structure ofY E and of its pre-image, the efficient decision setX E . The results show thatY E often has a significantly-simpler structure thanX E . For instance, although both sets are generally nonconvex and their maximal efficient faces are always in one-to-one correspondence, large numbers of extreme points and faces inX E can map into non-facial subsets of faces inY E , but not vice versa. Simple tests for the efficiency of faces in the decision and outcome sets are derived, and certain types of faces in the decision set are studied that are immune to a common phenomenon called “collapsing”. The results seem to indicate that significant computational benefits may potentially be derived if algorithms for problem (MLC) were to work directly with the outcome set of the problem to find points and faces ofY E , rather than with the decision set.
Direct quantitation of peptide mixtures without standards using clusters formed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

In electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, ion abundances depend on a number of different factors, including analyte surface activity, competition between analytes for charge, analyte concentration, as well as instrumental factors, including mass-dependent ion transmission and detection. Here, a novel method for obtaining quantitative information about solution-phase concentrations of peptide mixtures is described and demonstrated for five different peptide mixtures with relative concentrations ranging from 0.05% to 50%. In this method, the abundances of large clusters containing anywhere from 0 to 13 impurity molecules are measured and directly related to the relative solution-phase concentration of the peptides. For clusters containing ∼15 or more peptides, the composition of the clusters approaches the statistical value indicating that these clusters are formed nonspecifically and that any differences in ion detection or ionization efficiency are negligible at these large cluster sizes. This method ...
Intensive care unit cultures and end-of-life decision making

Purpose: Prior researchers studying end-of-life decision making (EOLDM) in intensive care units (ICUs) often have collected data retrospectively and aggregated data across units. There has been little research, however, about how cultures differ among ICUs. This research was designed to study limitation of treatment decision making in real time and to evaluate similarities and differences in the cultural contexts of 4 ICUs and the relationship of those contexts to EOLDM. Materials and Methods: Ethnographic field work took place in 4 adult ICUs in a tertiary care hospital. Participants were health care providers (eg, physicians, nurses, and social workers), patients, and their family members. Participant observation and interviews took place 5 days a week for 7 months in each unit. Results: The ICUs were not monolithic. There were similarities, but important differences in EOLDM were identified in formal and informal rules, meaning and uses of technology, physician roles and relationships, processes such as unit rounds, and timing of initiation of EOLDM. Conclusions: As interventions to improve EOLDM are developed, it will be important to understand how they may interact with unit cultures. Attempting to develop one intervention to be used in all ICUs is unlikely to be successful.
Demonstration of radiation nephritis by computed tomography.

Abstract The computed tomography appearance of radiation nephritis in two cases is presented. Each patient had received radiation therapy within the previous 12 months to the para-aortic region because of metastases to lymph nodes, with the medial portion of each kidney included in the radiation port. The pattern of decreased attenuation of the medial aspect of each kidney during contrast enhancement on computed tomography should suggest radiation nephritis rather than involvement by a malignant process. Characteristic uptake on a bone scan will confirm the diagnosis.