cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil organic matter and microbial community responses to semiarid croplands and grasslands management

Abstract Livestock integration in cropping systems and conversion of croplands into grazing lands has been increasingly considered to improve agricultural sustainability, yet their roles in soil health and resilience are not clear due to the complex interactions of soil, climate, and agricultural systems. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cropland and grassland management systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N) across the soil profile (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–80 cm) and microbial community size, structure, and activity in the soil surface (0–20 cm) as indicators of soil health. Cropland systems compared included conventional-tilled winter-grazed cropland (CTGC) and no-tilled and strip-tilled croplands (NTC and STC) without livestock grazing. Grassland systems included grazed grassland (GGL) and ungrazed grassland (UGL). Grassland soils accumulated 18% greater SOC and 13% greater total N than cropland soils in the 0–80 cm profile. Microbial community size (sum of ester-linked fatty acid methyl esters [El-FAME]) in the surface 0–20 cm was 90% greater, and enzyme activities were 131–155% greater in the grasslands than in the croplands. Within grasslands, cattle (Bos taurus) grazing increased microbial community size by approximately 42%, which was mainly due to greater fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) markers for gram-positive bacteria (51%) and Actinobacteria (73%). Grazed cropland had 95% more β‑glucosaminidase activity than ungrazed croplands. This study suggests light grazing and grassland restoration has potential to improve soil health and resilience through an increase in SOC and microbial community responses related to nutrient cycling.
Composition, Structure, and Developmental Determinants of a Scrub Oak Forest in the West Cross Timbers of North Central Texas

We evaluated composition and community determinative factors of an old-growth, scrub forest on a deep-sand habitat in the West Cross Timbers of north-central Texas. Species composition and vegetation structure were analyzed based on 1) dominance, density, and importance values of woody plants and 2) foliar cover of herbaceous species and woody seedlings or offshoots in the understory. We concluded that this was the potential natural vegetation for this deep-sand site with the sandy soil being the principal determining factor in development and stability of this natural community (i.e., an edaphic climax). We designated this as a sand post oak-saw greenbrier (Quercus margarettiae-Smilax bona-nox) community based on the dominant tree and shrub species. The scrub forest consisted of three layers: 1) a closed canopy of sand post oak and blackjack oak (Q. marilandica); 2) a shrub layer of six species, including saw greenbrier, a liana that extended into the tree canopy; and 3) an irregular understory of herbaceous plants plus seedlings and clonal shoots of oaks and greenbrier. Herbaceous plants were all native species and included six species of grasses, two of grasslike plants, and five of forbs.
The Contribution of Thin PFPE Lubricants to Slider-Disk Spacing. 2. Effect of Film Thickness and Lubricant End Groups

We have investigated the effect of film thickness of a perfluoropolyether lubricant, Zdol 4000, on slider-disk spacing, or clearance. The major conclusion of this work is that the Zdol lubricant impacts the slider-disk spacing. A decrease in the film thickness of Zdol 4000 by ∼10A results in an increase in the effective slider-disk spacing by ∼1 nm. The effect of end groups on slider-disk spacing is also investigated using the Zdol-TX and Z-Tetraol perfluoropolyether lubricants. At similar molecular weights and film thicknesses, the end groups do not affect the slider-disk spacing by causing any additional interference. The slider-disk interference is therefore attributed to the attractive van der Waals interaction between the slider and the disk surface that causes the Zdol main chain to interact with the slider surface, giving rise to a friction force.
Exchange-correlation thermal effects in shocked deuterium: Softening the principal Hugoniot and thermophysical properties

Exchange-correlation (XC) thermal effects for transport and optical properties of deuterium along the principal Hugoniot are investigated. The study is performed using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations within the Mermin-Kohn-Sham density functional theory. XC thermal effects are taken into account via the temperature-dependent Karasiev-Dufty-Trickey generalized gradient approximation functional [V. V. Karasiev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 076401 (2018)]. We find that XC thermal effects account for the softening of the Hugoniot at pressures $Pg250$ GPa and improve agreement with recent experimental measurements. Also, XC thermal effects lead to the reflectivity increase by about 2% for shock speeds above 20 km/s. The calculated reflectivity for shock speeds up to 50 km/s is in excellent agreement with recent experimental measurements on the Omega Laser System. The dc conductivity is increased by about 4% due to XC thermal effects. The system evolution along the Hugoniot crosses the so-called warm-dense-matter regime, and XC thermal effects must be taken into account to accurately predict the thermophysical properties across warm-dense conditions.
Whole‐Exome Sequencing Of Ovarian Cancer Families Uncovers Putative Predisposition Genes

Despite the identification of several ovarian cancer (OC) predisposition genes, a large proportion of familial OC risk remains unexplained. We adopted a two-stage design to identify new OC predisposition genes. We first carried out a large germline whole-exome sequencing study on 158 patients from 140 families with significant OC history, but without evidence of genetic predisposition due to BRCA1/2. We then evaluated the potential candidate genes in a large case-control association study involving 381 OC cases in the Cancer Genome Atlas project and 27,173 population controls from the Exome Aggregation Consortium. Two new putative OC risk genes were identified, namely, ANKRD11, a putative tumor suppressor, and POLE, an enzyme involved in DNA repair and replication. These two genes likely confer moderate OC risk. We performed in vitro experiments and showed an ANKRD11 mutation identified in our patients markedly lowered the protein expression by compromising protein stability. Upon future validation and functional characterization, these genes may shed light on cancer etiology along with improving ascertainment power and preventive care of individuals at high risk of OC.
Nano and Microparticle Emerging Strategies for Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases: Multiple Sclerosis and Type 1 Diabetes

Autoimmune diseases affect 10% of the world's population, and 1 in 200 people worldwide suffer from either multiple sclerosis (MS) or type 1 diabetes (T1D). While the targeted organ systems are different, MS and T1D share similarities in terms of autoreactive immune cells playing a critical role in pathogenesis. Both diseases can be managed only symptomatically without curative remission, and treatment options are limited and non-specific. Most current therapies cause some degree of systemic immune suppression, leaving the patients susceptible to opportunistic infections and other complications. Thus, there is considerable interest in the development of immunotherapies not associated with generalized immune suppression for these diseases. This review presents current and preclinical strategies for MS and T1D treatment, emphasizing those aimed to modulate the immune response, including the most recent strategies for tolerance induction. A central focus is on the emerging approaches using nano- and microparticle platforms, their evolution as immunotherapeutic carriers, including those incorporating specific antigens to induce tolerance and reduce unwanted generalized immune suppression.
Manifestations of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Coronary Heart Disease: The Contribution of Hypertension and the Paradox in Blacks

Cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States—is significantly more prevalent in black men and women compared with any other racial/ethnic group within the United States. It is a major contributor to the reduced life expectancy observed in AAs. Compared with any other race/ethnic group in the United States, AAs have the highest incidence of stroke, heart failure, sudden death, and CVD in general—with an earlier age of onset. Moreover, they exhibit the highest overall prevalence of hypertension and out-of-hospital coronary deaths, with highest mortality rates from hypertension, heart failure, stroke, and sudden cardiac death. It is noteworthy that the high rate of CVD and CHD observed in AAs appears to be out of proportion to risk burden, and various mechanisms have been proposed for this disparity.
Chokepoints: Anthropologies of the Constricted Contemporary

This article develops an anthropology of chokepoints: sites that constrict or ‘choke’ the flows of resources, information, and bodies upon which contemporary life depends. We argue that an ethnogra...
Distributed and Asynchronous Coordination of a Mixed-Integer Linear System via Surrogate Lagrangian Relaxation

With the emergence of the Internet of Things that allows communications and local computations and with the vision of Industry 4.0, a foreseeable transition is from centralized system planning and operation toward decentralization with interacting components and subsystems, e.g., self-optimizing factories. In this article, a new “price-based” decomposition and coordination methodology is developed to efficiently coordinate a system consisting of distributed subsystems such as machines and parts, which are described by mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulations, in an asynchronous way. The novel method is a dual approach, whereby the coordination is performed by updating Lagrangian multipliers based on economic principles of “supply and demand.” To ensure low communication requirements within the method, exchanges between the “coordinator” and subsystems are limited to “prices” (Lagrangian multipliers) broadcast by the coordinator and to subsystem solutions sent at the coordinator. Asynchronous coordination, however, may lead to convergence difficulties since the order in which subsystem solutions arrive at the coordinator is not predefined as a result of uncertainties in communication and solving times. Under realistic assumptions of finite communication and solve times, the convergence of our method is proven by innovatively extending the Lyapunov stability theory. Numerical testing of generalized assignment problems through simulation demonstrates that the method converges fast and provides near-optimal results, paving the way for self-optimizing factories in the future. Accompanying CPLEX codes and data are included. Note to Practitioners —In view of a foreseeable transition toward self-optimizing factories whereby machines and parts have communication and computational capabilities, a novel “price-based” distributed and asynchronous method to coordinate a system consisting of distributed subsystems is developed. Under realistic assumptions of finite communication and solve times, method convergence is proven. Numerical testing of generalized assignment problems through simulation demonstrates that the method converges fast and provides near-optimal results, paving the way for self-optimizing factories in the future. Accompanying CPLEX codes and data are included.
Investigating Speech Crimes

This book chapter explores and explains a range of investigative requirements, techniques, analytical methods and types of evidence most relevant to proving speech crimes in international criminal law. The chapter is an integral part of The Hartford Guidelines on Speech Crimes in International Criminal Law, published with the purpose of (a) emphasizing the preventative potential of the international criminal law, (b) indicting inchoate crimes rather than completed crimes and treating incitement to genocide as an inchoate crime not a mode of liability for completed crimes, (c) including hate speech as a form of the crime of persecution in article 7 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, (d) amending article 25(3)(e) of the Rome Statute to include a form of liability of intentionally, directly and publicly inciting the commission of any crime under the Statute, irrespective of whether those crimes are attempted or committed, and (e) drawing from social science research to evaluate speech according to a checklist of indicative factors known to elevate the risk of ethnic, racial and religious violence.
Pinch-off of a surfactant-covered jet

Surfactants at fluid interfaces not only lower and cause gradients in surface tension but can induce additional surface rheological effects in response to dilatational and shear deformations. Surface tension and surface viscosities are both functions of surfactant concentration. Measurement of surface tension and determination of its effects on interfacial flows are now well established. Measurement of surface viscosities, however, is notoriously difficult. Consequently, quantitative characterization of their effects in interfacial flows has proven challenging. One reason behind this difficulty is that, with most existing methods of measurement, it is often impossible to isolate the effects of surface viscous stresses from those due to Marangoni stresses. Here, a combined asymptotic and numerical analysis is presented of the pinch-off of a surfactant-covered Newtonian liquid jet. Similarity solutions obtained from slender-jet theory and numerical solutions are presented for jets with and without surface rheological effects. Near pinch-off, it is demonstrated that Marangoni stresses become negligible compared to other forces. The rate of jet thinning is shown to be significantly lowered by surface viscous effects. From analysis of the dynamics near the pinch-off singularity, a simple analytical formula is derived for inferring surface viscosities. Three-dimensional, axisymmetric simulations confirm the validity of the asymptotic analyses but also demonstrate that a thinning jet traverses a number of intermediate regimes before eventually entering the final asymptotic regime.
Anatomy of the Nose and Paranasal Sinuses

The nose filters, humidifies, and warms air as it enters the respiratory system. It is also the location for olfaction. The nose has bony and cartilaginous supports. The nasal septum separates the internal nasal space into two nasal cavities. The lateral wall of the nasal cavities is composed of the superior, middle, and inferior turbinates, and is extensively vascularized. The blood supply to the external nose is rich with many anastomoses. The paranasal sinuses are extensions of the nasal cavity into surrounding bones. They are named for the bone that encloses them: frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, and maxillary sinuses.
An Examination of Trends in Geographic Concentration in U.S. Hog Production: 1974 to 1976

Geographic concentration in U.S. hog production from 1974 to 1996 is investigated using a measure based on Theil's entropy index. For the U.S. as a whole, geographic concentration is occurring at a slow rate, both for hog farms and hog numbers. However, for particular states,primarily in the new Southern Atlantic production region, concentration is high and increasing at a rapid pace. Concentration was increasing for the 23-year period for 16 out of the 20 states in the analysis. Results indicate that geographic concentration by augmentation is occurring to the greatest degree in Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.
Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions Using Carbonized Banana and Orange Peels

This research demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of removing heavy metals from aqueous solutions using waste banana and orange peels. The fruit peels are carbonised, without the addition of ...
Immersive Learning Environments at Scale: Constraints and Opportunities:

The expansion of online education into massive open online courses (MOOCs) and equipment have created a unique opportunity for delivering immersive learning experiences at scale. However, although ...
Climatic factors and population demography in big-eared woodrat, Neotoma macrotis

Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns can have marked impacts on small mammal populations that inhabit environments with highly fluctuating water availability. With projected increases in droughts and fewer but more intense rainfall events in the Southwestern United States, the persistence of many wildlife populations may be threatened. Our goal was to assess how temperature and rainfall during distinct dry and wet seasons influenced the dynamics of a population of big-eared woodrats (Neotoma macrotis) in a mixed oak woodland of coastal central California. We applied Pradel's temporal symmetry models to our 21-year biannual capture–mark–recapture data set (1993–2014) to determine the effects of climatic factors on the woodrats' apparent survival (Φ) and recruitment rate (f). Monthly Φ averaged 0.945 ± 0.001 and varied with season. Monthly f was 0.064 ± 0.001 in the wet season (f was fixed to 0 in the dry season). Monthly population growth rate (λ) varied from 0.996 ± 0.001 during the dry season to 1.001 ± 0.001 during the wet season, which indicated a stable population (0.999 ± 0.001). Total rainfall from the previous season and mean temperature during the same season positively influenced Φ and f. By contrast, Φ and f were negatively influenced by mean temperature from the previous season and total rainfall in the same season. The resulting λ fluctuated with total rainfall, particularly in the wet season. Our results suggest that the big-eared woodrat population may not be substantially affected by warm temperatures per se, potentially because of the microclimate provided by its stick houses. We also discuss its adaptability to local food resources and relatively slow life history relative to other cricetids, and propose that the big-eared woodrat population may be equipped to cope with future climate change.
Influence of Stress, Gender, and Minority Status on Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the Hispanic/Latino Community: Protocol for a Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Hispanic/Latino sexual and gender minorities (SGM) are the fastest growing ethnic group of SGM in the United States. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among Hispanics/Latinos. SGM inequities in CVD risk have been identified as early as young adulthood, and minority stress has been identified as a potential mediator. Yet, the small number of ethnic or racial minority participants in SGM studies have precluded the examination of the intersections of sexual orientation, gender identity, and race and ethnicity. Objective: Minority stress models conceptualize relationships between stressors in minority groups and health outcomes. In this study, we will (1) examine the influence of sexual orientation and gender identity on CVD risk among all Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) participants at visit 3 (2021-2024; N~9300); (2) model pathways from sexual orientation and gender identity to CVD risk through stigma, discrimination, and stress in a 1:2 matched subcohort of SGM and non-SGM participants at visit 3 (n~1680); and (3) examine the influence of resilience factors on sexual orientation or gender identity and CVD risk relationships among subcohort participants at visit 3 (n~1680). Methods: This study will leverage existing data from the parent HCHS/SOL study (collected since 2008) while collecting new data on sexual orientation, gender identity, stigma, discrimination, stress, coping, social support, and CVD risk. Data analysis will follow the SGM minority stress model, which states that excess stigma against SGM populations leads to minority stress that increases CVD risk. In this model, coping and social support serve as resilience factors that can mitigate the impact of minority stress on CVD risk. Cross-sectional and longitudinal regression models as well as structural equation models will be used to test these relationships. Results: This study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in March 2020. Recruitment is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2021 and continue through 2024. Conclusions: Understanding the influence of stigma-induced stress on CVD risk among Hispanic/Latino SGM has significant implications for the development of culturally specific CVD risk reduction strategies. Study findings will be used to build on identified Hispanic/Latino cultural strengths to inform adaptation and testing of family and community acceptance interventions.
Implementation of the Principles of Right to Information in Nepal: Expectations and Challenges

The key factors of RTI are accountability, transparency on public and private institutions, responsibility leading to good governance. Nepal has become the first country in south Asia having the 'Right to Information' as a fundamental right. The Purpose of this Study is to analyze the RTI practices on public and private agencies, media, and its stakeholders in Nepal. The objectives of this study are to appraise national and international instruments, to analyze the implementation of RTI principles, to assess the challenges for exercising RTI in Nepal and to evaluate the media response on RTI. For this, the researcher has applied both quantitative and qualitative methods. In addition, Survey, Questionnaire, Interview, Focus group discussion, and case study in twelve administrative districts of Nepal have been used as data collection techniques. The numbers of the respondents have been selected based on random sampling method. The findings reveal that RTI has become the part and parcel of Human Rights. The main weakness of Nepalese democratic system with respect of RTI in Nepal is that government agencies and the authorities are not ready to provide proper, accurate, and balanced information to the people and civil society. Nepalese journalist and press are not functioning effectively for positive results. Furthermore, information culture has not been developed yet. This research article can be concluded that among the entire respondents (media persons, common people, information officers and the bureaucrats), media persons were more aware about the RTI and its provisions. It shows that media persons have better knowledge than others groups of the society. After the media, common people were also aware on RTI issues. It proves that Nepalese bureaucrats possess least knowledge among the surveyed groups on RTI issues and provisions.
Network reduction for coded multiple-hop networks

Data transmission over multiple-hop networks is impaired by random deleterious events, and characterizing the probability of error for the end-to-end transmission is challenging as the size of networks grows. Adams et al. showed that, when re-encoding at intermediate nodes is enabled, coded transmission over tandem/parallel links can be reduced to a single equivalent link with a specified probability function. Although iterative application of the tandem/parallel reduction techniques in alternation can simplify the task, they are generally not sufficient to reduce an arbitrary network to a single link. In this paper, we propose upper- and lower- bounding processes to bound the end-to-end probability distribution of a network by combining the parallel/tandem link reduction with the structure of flows over the network. We evaluate the performance of the proposed bounding methods at the 99% success rate of end-to-end data transmission over randomly generated acyclic networks. The numerical results demonstrate that our bounding approaches enable us to characterize a network by a single probability function to a very good precision.
RELATING BOTTOM QUARK MASS IN DR-BAR AND MS-BAR REGULARIZATION SCHEMES

The value of the bottom quark mass at Q = M{sub Z} in the {ovr DR} scheme is an important input for the analysis of supersymmetric models with a large value of tan {beta}. Conventionally, however, the running bottom quark mass extracted from experimental data is quoted in the {ovr MS} scheme at the scale Q = m{sub b}. We describe a two loop procedure for the conversion of the bottom quark mass from {ovr MS} to {ovr DR} scheme. The Particle Data Group value m{sub b}{sup {ovr MS}} (m{sub b}{sup {ovr MS}}) = 4.2 {+-} 0.2 GeV corresponds to a range of 2.65-3.03 GeV for m{sub b}{sup {ovr DR}} (M{sub Z}).
Information as a Commodity: Assessment of Market Value

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the problem of assessing the market value of new types of commodities. The evolution of the marketplace for information appears to be governed by impulses stemming from the displacement of information, knowledge, or skill from persons to artifacts. This process of displacement is an extension of the commoditization of labor, a process that began in earnest with the industrial revolution. Triggered by advances in computers and telecommunications, it is believed that this displacement process is gaining momentum with the integration of these technologies. The chapter examines the specific contributions of various attributes of information commodities to their capacity to inform, and hence, their respective contributions to market value. It discusses some of the main lines of development in selected commercial areas, namely, manufacturing, banking, electronic information, securities trading, credit reporting, and software. These areas cover the production of goods, the services provided, and new information activities.
A clinical evaluation of the use of radium therapy in the control of benign uterine bleeding.

S INCE its introduction into gynecologic practice about forty years ago, radium has been regarded as a satisfactory means of treating benign uterine bleeding. Although certain defects and inadequacies of the method have been recognized, its wide utilization has not been seriously challenged until recent years. In 1936 Norris and Behney” stated before this Society that “radium irradiation is now generally accepted as the method of choice in the treatment of certain types of uterine hemorrhage of benign origin.” Their paper which reported 1.09 per cent of carcinoma of the genital tract in the patients followed and the subsequent. discussion did not seriously challenge the validity of their opening statement although Eardley Holland of London raised the question as to whether or not radium in the uterus has any effect in promoting the incidence of cancer of the body of the uterus. Pemberton reported upon four patients who developed pelvic malignancy among 425 patients treated and followed for two or more yea,rs. Since then, a number of papers*-lo have appeared which have called attention to the subsequent development of cancer principally of endometrial origin in patients who have been treated with radium for uterine bIeeding of benign origin. These reports have aroused quite a bit of controversy with respect to the wisdom of this procedure. A few similar experiences have prompted us to nndertake an evaluation of our own results with this method which has been the accepted practice in The Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of The Jefferson Medical College and Hospital. Our material consists of the case records of 1,232 patients treated from 1930 to 1950, inclusive, this period being chosen because of the greater validity of the follow-up records. Four hundred sixty-five were ward patients and 767 were treated on the private service. All of the patients complained of abnormal bleeding. One hundred seventy-six of these had symptoms referable to pelvic floor relaxations which were correct,ed by appropriate vaginal plastic procedures at the time of the radium application. Careful pelvic examination under anesthesia, thorough diagnostic curettage specifically directed toward iscraping the entire surface, particularly the cornual areas, and the cervical canal, together with cervical biopsy in appropriate instances, was customary in every case.
Hypoxia stimulates binding of a cytoplasmic protein to a pyrimidine-rich sequence in the 3'-untranslated region of rat tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA.

Reduced oxygen tension (hypoxia) induces a 3-fold increase in stability of mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis, in the pheochromocytoma (PC12) clonal cell line. To investigate the possibility that RNA-protein interactions are involved in mediating this increase in stability, RNA gel shift assays were performed using different fragments of labeled TH mRNA and the S-100 fraction of PC12 cytoplasmic protein extracts. We identified a sequence within the 3‘-untranslated region of TH mRNA that binds cytoplasmic protein. RNase T1 mapping revealed that the protein was bound to a 28 nucleotide long sequence that is located between bases 1551-1579 of TH mRNA. Moreover, protein binding to this fragment was prevented with an antisense oligonucleotide directed against bases 1551-1579 and subsequent RNase H digestion. This fragment of the 3‘-untranslated region of TH mRNA is rich in pyrimidine nucleotides, and the binding of cytoplasmic protein to this fragment was reduced by competition with other polypyrimidine sequences including poly(C) but not poly(U) polymers. The binding of the protein to TH mRNA was increased when cytoplasmic proteins were extracted from PC12 cells exposed to hypoxia (5% O2) for 24 h. Electrophoresis of the UV cross-linked RNA-protein complex on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a complex of 74 kDa. The potential role of this protein-TH mRNA interaction in regulation of TH mRNA stability during hypoxia is discussed.
Increase the value of an internal communication team by embedding communication planning into a business unit's strategic planning process

An opportunity exists for today's internal communication teams to move to the next level of strategic alignment with their internal clients. One way to accomplish this is to take the more traditional method of strategic communication planning and embed it into a business unit's strategic planning process. When this is completed successfully, an internal communication team can shift from a more responsive, tactical role in support of another business unit to becoming a proactive conscience of an organization that is also a communication coach for leaders and a more formalized driver of employee execution against strategic initiatives. This identified opportunity is supported by a literature review that covers communication and its role in strategic initiative outcomes, leadership and their communication skills, language and context, persuasion tactics, and what make a communication plan strategic. Based on these insights, a revised model for developing a strategic internal communication plan is presented and discussed. The intent of the revised model is to (1) promote better alignment between an internal communication team and business unit clients, (2) aid internal communications team with maintaining credibility at the leadership table, and (3) provide the internal communication team with a platform for demonstrating how they are delivering against bottomline business unit results.
Deep Percutaneous Penetration into Muscles and Joints: Update

Transdermal drug delivery is a multifactorial process with variable penetration mechanisms. Adverse effects associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ (NSAIDs) use in treatment for joint and muscle diseases are sufficiently severe to consider topical application. A drug’s lipophilicity, fraction unbound, and permeability found in the viable skin are some of the physiochemical factors influencing the delivery mechanism of transdermal absorption. These and other variables play a role in determining if the drug reaches the deep tissues via direct penetration from dermal or systemic blood redistribution. Pharmacokinetic models have been developed to help elucidate penetration routes and efficacy for various drugs. Improvements in modes of transdermal delivery through active research projects including relevant animal models and human translational research may introduce advances in clinical development of treatments.
Virtual reality representation of information systems and decision rules: an exploratory technique for understanding data and knowledge structure

This present paper introduces a virtual reality technique for visual data mining on heterogeneous information systems. The method is based on parametrized mappings between heterogeneous spaces with extended information systems and a virtual reality space. They can be also constructed for unions of heterogeneous and incomplete data sets together with knowledge bases composed by decision rules. This approach has been applied successfully to a wide variety of real-world domains and examples are presented from genomic research and geology.
Survival of Virus in Chilled, Frozen, and Processed Oysters

Samples of whole and shucked Pacific and Olympia oysters, contaminated with 10(4)-plaque-forming units (PFU) of poliovirus Lsc-2ab per ml, were held refrigerated at two temperatures, 5 and - 17.5 C. To study the survival of virus in the oysters under these conditions, samples were assayed for virus content at weekly intervals for as long as 12 weeks. Results indicated that poliovirus would survive in refrigerated oysters for a period varying from 30 to 90 days, depending upon temperature. The survival rate varied from 10 to 13%. To study the extent of the hazard presented by oysters contaminated with virus, samples of whole and shucked Pacific oysters contaminated with 10(4) PFU of poliovirus Lsc-2ab per ml were heat processed in four ways: by stewing, frying, baking, and steaming. Results indicated that virus in oysters withstood these methods of processing. The survival rate varied from 7 to 10% and appeared dependent upon the processing method used. Heat penetration studies showed that the internal temperature in the oyster was not sufficient to inactivate all of the virus present. These results suggest that not only fresh but also refrigerated and cooked oysters can serve as vectors for the dissemination of virus disease if the shellfish are harvested from a polluted area.
An ethnographic study of the longitudinal course of substance abuse among people with severe mental illness.

A two-year ethnography conducted among 16 dually diagnosed clients yielded two longitudinal findings. First, four “positive quality of life” factors were strongly correlated with clients' efforts to cease using addictive substances: (1) regular engagement in an enjoyable activity; (2) decent, stable housing; (3) a loving relationship with someone sober who accepts the person's mental illness; and (4) a positive, valued relationship with a mental health professional. Second, the study revealed that five “negative background factors” in participants' childhood homes were predictive of long-term continuation of substance use: (1) substance abuse in childhood home, (2) childhood household in dire poverty, (3) “non-functional” household members, (4) reporting of abuse imputed to care-givers, and (5) serious mental illness in household. The implications of these findings for treatment are discussed.
Algal Cell Walls

Algal cell walls are composed of a diverse array of fibrillar, matrix and crystalline polymers interacting with various ions and water. The diverse array of cell walls exhibited in the various algal groups is a manifestation of ancient evolutionary origins and ecological pressures of modern earth habitats. Cell walls often represent the dominant component of the extracellular matrix and represent the largest or a significant percentage of the photosynthetically fixed carbon of the algae. Walls are typically fibrous composites of microfibrillar polysaccharides embedded in matrix polysaccharides and proteoglycans. Scales and extracellular polymeric substances may also constitute the algal extracellular matrix. The production of the cell walls requires the highly coordinated interaction of several subcellular systems and is controlled by complex gene expression programmes. Modern technologies employed from immunology, molecular genetics, biochemistry and microscopy-based imaging are transforming our understanding of the cell structure, functions and development. Key Concepts: Algae represent a diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotes with a wide range of cell wall types. New technologies derived from immunology, microscopy-based imaging, molecular genetics and biochemistry are greatly enhancing our understanding of algal cell walls. Primitive green algae of the Prasinophyceae produce layers of multishaped scales. The Charophycean green algae produce cell walls containing polymers similar to land plants. The red algae possess complex composite cell walls made of cellulose, xylan or mannan fibrils and extensive matrix polysaccharides including the economically important carrageenan and agar. Diatoms produce highly sculpted frustules made of silica-based composites and often produce extensive stalks and other extracellular polymeric substances. Brown algae produce cell walls containing cellulose, matrix polysaccharides and in some cases, phenolics. Keywords: cellulose; pectins; scales; frustule; carageenan; align; morphogenesis; algae
Factors Affecting Gene Flow between the Host Races of Eurosta solidaginis

Speciation involves the evolution of reproductive isolation between populations (Mayr 1963; Bush 1994). Despite many controversies about how species are defined, and how they evolve, the study of reproductive isolating mechanisms remains central to understanding speciation. Different speciation models make very different assumptions about how reproductive isolation evolves (Mayr 1963; Bush 1975a, 1994; White 1978). Host races and recently evolved sibling species of phytophagous insects offer unique opportunities to study the speciation process. Because the process of speciation is ongoing or recently completed, these extant populations retain the characteristics that were responsible for the evolution of their reproductive isolation. By examining the ecological, behavioral, and genetic characteristics of these populations, we can test assumptions about the evolution of reproductive isolation made in different models of speciation.
Δ1(9)‐Octalone‐2

Δ1(9)-Octalone-2 intermediate: Δ1(9)-Octalone-2 and Δ9(10)-octalone-2 product: Δ1(9)-octalone-2 byproduct: Δ9(10)-octalone-2 Keywords: alkylation, C-alkylation; annulation, carbocyclic-[6]; cyclization, condensation; dioxane
The Internet and the Abiding Significance of Territorial Sovereignty

More than any other technology, the Internet facilitates cheap, fast, and difficult-to-detect multi-jurisdictional transactions. This in a nutshell is why so many believe that the Internet "undermin[es] the feasibility?and legitimacy?of laws based on geographical boundaries."1 Dean Henry H. Perritt's essay is sanguine about the Internet' s ability to facilitate national governance.2 But even Perritt appears skeptical about the efficacy of territorial regulation of the Internet. His arguments for the Internet's potential to strengthen national and international governance are tempered by doubts about whether regulation conceived in territorial terms can effectively govern Internet transactions.3 This essay attempts to alleviate Perritt's doubt. It aims to show that from the perspective of jurisdiction and choice of law, territorial regulation of the Internet is no less feasible and no less legitimate than territorial regulation of non-Internet transactions.4
Mediastinal parathyroid exploration: a clinical and pathologic study of 47 cases.

Of the 1,200 patients with hyperparathyroidism surgically treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) from 1926 to 1984, there were 47 who underwent mediastinal exploration. Of these, 30 patients (64%) had hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands successfully excised by median sternotomy. Twelve of these underwent their initial neck operation at the MGH, and 18 were referred to us having undergone 1 or more previous unsuccessful neck explorations. There were 17 females and 13 males. The ages of these patients ranged from 17 to 75 years. Twenty-four patients had nephrolithiasis or nephrocalcinosis; 15, osteitis fibrosa cystica; 14, renal and bone disease; 6, peptic ulcer disease; 2, hypertension; and 1, gouty arthritis. Two patients were asymptomatic with hypercalcemia detected by routine simultaneous multichannel analyzer. The serum calcium level ranged from 11.4 to 18.4 mg/100 ml with a mean of 13.8 mg/100 ml, and phosphorus from 1.4 to 3.3 mg/100 ml with a mean of 2.0 mg/100 ml. Of the 11 patients who had plasma parathyroid hormone determinations, the values ranged from 1 to 11 times normal. In 24 patients, the mediastinal tumor was intrathymic in location and the remaining 6 were parathymic, either adjacent to the great vessels or the pleura. The tumors varied greatly in size, ranging from 0.7 to 5.0 cm in greatest dimension, weighing 0.3 to 18.0 g. Five of these patients had hyperfunctioning supernumerary glands. Pathologic evaluation revealed 26 parathyroid adenomas and 4 primary hyperplastic glands. In 17 patients (36%) mediastinal exploration was unsuccessful. Four of the patients successfully explored developed permanent hypocalcemia. The complications included 1 recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, 1 phrenic nerve injury, 1 pneumothorax, and 1 spontaneously resolving postoperative pleural effusion. There were no deaths or other significant complications. We believe hyperfunctioning mediastinal tumors are rare and mediastinal exploration should be undertaken only when careful selective criteria are met.
Laser annealing of hydrogenated amorphous silicon

Pulsed laser annealing of hydrogenated amorphous silicon, glow-discharge-deposited on single crystal silicon, shows partial crystallization without significant loss of hydrogen. After laser annealing up to 60 MW/cm2, the photoluminescence spectrum exhibits only a very slight shift to lower energy. This contrasts with thermally induced dehydrogenation which causes a large spectral shift. Also thermally induced crystallization occurs above 700‡C where dehydrogenation is complete.
Interactions of projectile fragments at 14.5 A GeV. Search for anomalons

Abstract The charge-loss cross sections σ ΔZ in Pb for secondary beams with energy 14.5 A GeV are higher by 10%–30% than expected by interpolating between values for primary beams of 16 O and 28 Si. The data are consistent with a two-component model in which ∼ 30% of the secondary beams are off-stability isotopes with σ ΔZ enhanced by ∼ 25%, possibly via electromagnetic dissociation. If anomalons with σ ΔZ enhanced by a factor ⩾ 5 are produced, they must comprise
A comparison of some mixing models for crystalline silicate solid solutions

Activity-composition relations for silicate solid solutions, which are necessary for equilibrium calculations on mineral assemblages, can be calculated from the compositions of coexisting minerals with a suitable mixing model. Three mixing models are considered; the subregular model, the Van Laar model and Green's model. The mixing properties calculated from solvi are compared with experimentally measured mixing properties for the systems NaCl-KCl and Zn-Co olivines for the different models. Green's model appears to be the most reliable, and the subregular model the least reliable. An equilibrium calculation on the assemblage alkali feldspar—pyroxene—quartz using activities calculated from the alkali feldspar solvus shows the considerable difference between the results from the different models.
Sequencing-Independent Method To Generate Oligonucleotide Probes Targeting a Variable Region in Bacterial 16S rRNA by PCR with Detachable Primers

Oligonucleotide probes targeting the small-subunit rRNA are commonly used to detect and quantify bacteria in natural environments. We developed a PCR-based approach that allows synthesis of oligonucleotide probes targeting a variable region in the 16S rRNA without prior knowledge of the target sequence. Analysis of all 16S rRNA gene sequences in the Ribosomal Database Project database revealed two universal primer regions bracketing a variable, population-specific region. The probe synthesis is based on a two-step PCR amplification of this variable region in the 16S rRNA gene by using three universal bacterial primers. First, a double-stranded product is generated, which then serves as template in a linear amplification. After each of these steps, products are bound to magnetic beads and the primers are detached through hydrolysis of a ribonucleotide at the 3′ end of the primers. This ultimately produces a single-stranded oligonucleotide of about 30 bases corresponding to the target. As probes, the oligonucleotides are highly specific and could discriminate between nucleic acids from closely and distantly related bacterial strains, including different species of Vibrio. The method will facilitate rapid generation of oligonucleotide probes for large-scale hybridization assays such as screening of clone libraries or strain collections, ribotyping microarrays, and in situ hybridization. An additional advantage of the method is that fluorescently or radioactively labeled nucleotides can be incorporated during the second amplification, yielding intensely labeled probes.
Lighting for Summer Egg Production by Turkeys: Day Length and Light Intensity

This experiment tested the hypothesis that typical poor egg production during the summer is a consequence of insufficient lighting and reduced photoperiodic drive. Large White turkey breeder hens were photostimulated at 30 wk of age with incandescent light on May 12 for summer (off-season) egg production and continued for 28 wk. The lighting treatments were given in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with day length and light intensity as main effects. Day lengths used were 15L:9D and 18L:6D, whereas the intensities were 567 +/- 67 and 22 +/- 2 lx. All the treatments were within a light-controlled building, and there were 8 replicate pens of 4 hens for each treatment. Data were collected, by pen, for onset and the rate of lay; BW and feed consumption at 4-wk intervals; and egg weight (EW) at 4-wk intervals including the weight of the first 14 eggs laid, livability, and plasma thyroid hormones for 8 wk postlighting. The rate of egg production through 28 wk of photostimulation was better in the hens receiving 18 than 15 h of light per day (14 eggs/hen difference) but was similar between the 2 intensity treatments. The lower number of eggs in the 15-h group was associated with a greater number of photorefractory hens than in the 18 h of light per day group (39 vs. 14%, respectively). Egg weights were similar between the 18 and 15 h of light/day treatment groups but was significantly greater in the low intensity treatment as compared with the high intensity treatment. We may conclude that by increasing photoperiodic drive by increased day length, but not light intensity, there results an improved summer egg production by turkeys and reduced incidence of photorefractoriness. Egg weight was best at a reduced light intensity.