cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An affinity column for ecdysone binding proteins.

Abstract Under basic conditions β-ecdysone can be covalently linked to the oxirane residue of epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B. Such an ecdysone-modified column matrix retards antibodies to β-ecdysone while permitting, however, the free passage of other antibodies in rabbit antiserum. The bound anti-ecdysone antibodies can subsequently be eluted by a low pH (3.8), high salt (0.5 m ) buffer. The utility of such an affinity column for the isolation of ecdysone receptors is discussed.
Cellular and molecular characterization of a murine non-union model.

Purpose. We have developed a method to study the molecular and cellular events underlying delayed skeletal repair in a model that utilizes distraction osteogenesis. Methods. The clinical states of delayed union and non-union were reproduced in this murine model by altering distraction parameters such as the inclusion and exclusion of a latency phase and variations in the rate and rhythm of distraction. Radiographic, cellular, and molecular analyses were performed on the distraction tissues. Results. Eliminating the latency period delayed bony union, but did not appreciably alter the extent of platelet endothelial cell adhesion marker (PECAM) immunostaining. Following elimination of a latency phase and a threefold increase in the rate of distraction, there was a further delay in bone regeneration and a higher rate of non-union (60%). Instead of bone, the distraction gap was comprised of adipose or fibrous tissue. Once again, despite the rigorous distraction protocol, we detected equivalent PECAM staining within the distraction gap. In a minority of cases, cartilage and osseous tissues occupied the distraction gap likely by a prolonged process of endochondral ossification. Conclusions. Here, we have altered the mechanical environment in such a way to reproducibly create delays in skeletal regeneration. These delays in skeletal tissue regeneration appear to develop even in the presence of endothelial cells, which suggests that mechanisms other than a disruption to the vascular network can account for some cases of non-union.
Regional Distribution of Tritiated Acetylcholine in Rat Brain

THE almost universal occurrence of acetylcholine, other choline derivatives and cholinesterase in the vertebrate nervous system, and effects of cholinesterase inhibitors on the central nervous system have suggested that cholinergic systems play an important part in brain function. The experimental evidence for such a role ranges from effects on the rate of discharge of single brain neurones to complex animal behaviour1. Whittaker2 has demonstrated that acetylcholine is located primarily in the specific tissue fraction consisting chiefly of nerve ending particles. De Robertis3 has located acetylcholine in the synaptic vesicles recovered from brain homogenates.
Equilibrium oxygen fugacity in zinc-titanium ferrites of ideal oxygen stoichiometry

Abstract A thermodynamic analysis is provided to specify the oxygen equilibrium pressures in the system Znx Tiy Fe3−x−yO4 for the special case of the ideal oxygen stoichiometry O ( Zn + Ti + Fe ) ,  4 3 . The principal features of the results are briefly discussed.
Reversible inhibition of skeletal muscle phosphoprotein phosphatase by ATP, phosphate and fluoride.

Abstract A phosphoprotein phosphatase preparation which showed activity towards glycogen synthase, phosphorylase, phosphorylase kinase, and phosphohistones was reversibly inhibited (70–90%) by preincubation with free ATP (apparent K i about 0.3 mM). Other nucleotides (ADP 2 (apparent K a 3μM) prior to assay. Other divalent metals (Co ++ > Zn ++ > Mg ++ ) were partially effective in reversing the inhibition. It is concluded that ATP by virtue of its special structure and metal binding capacity possibly removes a catalytically important metal ion from the enzyme.
Representations of the q-rook monoid

The q-rook monoid In(q) is a semisimple algebra over C(q) that specializes when q→1 to C[Rn], where Rn is the monoid of n×n matrices with entries from {0,1} and at most one nonzero entry in each row and column. When q is specialized to a prime power, In(q) is isomorphic to the Iwahori algebra HC(M,B), where M=Mn(Fq) is the monoid of n×n matrices with entries from a finite field having q-elements and B⊆M is the Borel subgroup of invertible upper triangular matrices. In this paper, we (i) give a new presentation for In(q) on generators and relations and determine a set of standard words which form a basis; (ii) explicitly construct a complete set of “seminormal” irreducible representations of In(q); and (iii) show that In(q) is the centralizer of the quantum general linear group Uqgl(r) acting on the tensor product (W⊕V)⊗n, where V is the fundamental Uqgl(r) module and W is the trivial Uqgl(r) module.
ABC BCD Polymerization: A Self-Condensing Vinyl and Cyclic Ester Polymerization by Combination Free-Radical and Ring-Opening Techniques

The sequential and concurrent polymerizations of an ABC monomer (γ-(e-caprolactone) 2-bromo-2-dimethylpropionate) with a BCD monomer (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) are introduced. This novel polymerization method is a versatile concept to branched copolymers. The two monomers that polymerize by different chemistries, ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), bear initiating centers that are for the type of chemistry that is on the opposite monomer. In this way, a branched copolymer is realized without going through a traditional multistep procedure. The branching density can be altered simply by the addition of the appropriate AB (e-caprolactone) and/or CD (methyl methacrylate) monomers.
Patient Education Program for Venous Thromboembolism Prevention in Hospitalized Patients

Abstract Purpose Up to 15% of clinician-ordered doses of injectable pharmacological prophylaxis to prevent venous thromboembolism are not administered. Patient refusal accounts for nearly 50% of these omitted doses. We conducted a prospective cohort study to determine whether a patient education program would improve medication adherence to clinician-ordered injectable prophylactic anticoagulation. Methods We identified 528 hospitalized patients ordered to receive injectable pharmacological venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. We evaluated the impact of pharmacist-led patient education sessions on medication adherence (defined as the ratio of doses administered to doses scheduled) compared with our historical cohort. Results Individualized patient education sessions were conducted within 24 hours of the initial order for prophylactic anticoagulation in 99% of patients. Adherence to clinician-ordered pharmacological venous thromboembolism prophylaxis was higher after the patient education program than in our historical cohort (94.4% vs 89.9%, P P =.001). Patient refusal as a reason for omitted doses was less frequent after the patient education program (29.3% vs 43.7%, P =.001). Conclusion Pharmacist-led individualized patient education sessions were associated with higher medication adherence to clinician-ordered injectable pharmacological venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and a reduction in patient refusal as a reason for omitted doses. A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a patient education program on medication adherence to pharmacological venous thromboembolism prophylaxis is warranted.
Men in Early Childhood: A Moral Panic? A research report from a UK University

Significant changes in the role fathers play in their children’s care alongside the increased interest shown by teenage boys in working with young children has so far resulted in no noticeable increase in the numbers of men working in Early Childhood in the UK. Previous research has identified how the gendered nature of this workforce presents significant barriers to men’s involvement combined with an increasingly dogmatic media discourse which represents men solely as a threat to young children. The research reported in this paper explored the experiences of a group of undergraduate male students in their pursuit of a career working with young children and to what degree the dynamics of being othered had impacted them. It also sought to consider the rhetoric and reality of recent UK government attempts to address the imbalance in the Early Childhood workforce. Thirteen male students from two undergraduate programmes at a UK University were interviewed for this study. The research data identified a number of risk factors which present barriers to men’s involvement in Early Childhood such as gender stereotyping, marginalisation or ‘othering’ of men and negative media discourses. It also identified potential protective factors which enable men’s involvement such as supportive family and friends, male role-models and a sense of social responsibility. Broader reflections also identified the significant difference between the UK government rhetoric in support of increasing men’s participation in Early Childhood and the reality of the active indifference shown to challenging the barriers to participation driven by political motives which has effectively generated a new ‘moral panic’ around men working with young children.
A Federalist Approach To Health Reform: The Worst Way, Except For All The Others

Support for state action should be part of any strategy to expand health insurance coverage. Decades-long political deadlock in Washington has frustrated national efforts to expand coverage. Some states have already undertaken to do this; others show a determination to do so. Regulatory and legislative flexibility would trigger widespread state action. Whether one thinks that ensuring coverage requires a unified national approach or that diverse conditions require different methods in different states, the likelihood of progress will be advanced if states test out various ways to expand coverage. We describe a practical way by which the federal government can promote state action to expand health insurance coverage.
Does TV viewing during family meals make a difference in adolescent substance use

Abstract Objective Family meals are important to adolescent health, but relatively little is known about TV viewing during family meals. The present paper examines the role that TV viewing during family meals may have on substance use behaviors among adolescents. Methods A diverse sample of 806 Minnesota high school students (mean age 17.2 years) provided survey data in 2003–2004 regarding family meal frequency, substance use behavior and general family connectedness. General linear modeling was used to compare substance use across three family meal/TV categories in a cross-sectional analysis. Results 28.6% of participants ate regular family meals without TV, and 27.5% had regular family meals while watching TV. Significant differences in cigarette smoking, alcohol and marijuana use were found for females reporting regular family meals versus no regular family meals, but did not differ significantly by TV viewing. No significant differences were found across groups of males. Conclusions Results from this study indicate that TV viewing during family meals does not appear to attenuate the previously observed protective relationship between family meals and substance use for females. Benefits of family meals may be derived simply from having adolescents at home during mealtimes.
Variations on economic convergence: The case of the United States

This paper tests the hypothesis of conditional β-convergence in per capita income across the United States by extending the neoclassical growth model to incorporate public capital, government taxation, and human capital, and controlling empirically for technology growth. We expand the period of analysis from the late 1980s when studies using public capital stock have stopped, investigate spatial variation across the United States under various cross-sectional and panel spatial models, and tackle the issue of nonlinearities. All model variations provide evidence of economic convergence across the United States over the period 1960–2005. Resumen Este articulo evalua las hipotesis de beta-convergencia condicional en renta per capita en los Estados Unidos, ampliando el modelo de crecimiento neoclasico con la incorporacion de capital publico, tributacion gubernamental y capital humano, y controlando empiricamente el crecimiento tecnologico. Hemos ampliado el periodo de analisis desde finales de los ochenta, momento en que se suspendieron los estudios que utilizaban reservas de capital publico, hemos investigado la variacion espacial para los Estados Unidos de acuerdo con diferentes modelos transversales y espaciales de panel, y hemos abordado el tema de las no linealidades. Todas las variaciones del modelo aportan pruebas de convergencia economica dentro de los Estados Unidos para el periodo 1960-2005.
Voter Preferences for Trade Policy Instruments

We analyze voter preferences for tariffs and production subsidies. The distribution of tax revenues argument shows that voters with high direct tax burdens prefer tariffs to subsidies. The uncertainty argument demonstrates that if actual tariff and subsidy rates are chosen from the set of individually optimal rates then the range of tariff rates is smaller than the range of subsidy rates. Thus, tariffs might be preferred even though they are less efficient. Finally, the large country argument shows that if a country is large then voters whose income shares decline with more protection prefer tariffs to subsidies.
Liver abscess part I

Abstract 1. 1. A study of 73 cases of amebic liver abscess is presented. 2. 2. The average age was forty-four years. The ratio of males to females was 8 to 1. 3. 3. Fifty-nine and six-tenths per cent gave a history of an antecedent diarrhea; 17.4 per cent showed amebae in the abscess and 36.1 per cent showed amebae in the stool in those cases in which these examinations were performed. 4. 4. The principal symptoms and signs were pain and tenderness, being found in 79.4 per cent. Fever and enlargement of the liver were found in 69.8 and 65.7 per cent, respectively. A diagnosis of amebic hepatitis was made preoperatively in 68.4 per cent. Positive x -ray diagnoses were made in 87.7 per cent. 5. 5. The prognosis in amebic hepatitis depends largely upon the presence of secondary infection and the type of operation used. In a series of 4035 cases collected from the literature, and including the authors' own cases, in which open operation was used, 1908 (47.2 per cent) ended fatally. In a similar series of 459 treated conservatively there were 32 deaths, a mortality rate of 6.9 per cent. 6. 6. In the authors' series of 70 cases in which treatment was used, 10 succumbed, 14.2 per cent mortality. Forty-six were operated upon with 9 deaths, a mortality rate of 19.5 per cent. Of these 16 were operated upon, employing the transpleural approach, with 4 deaths, a mortality rate of 25 per cent. Fourteen were operated upon through a right rectus incision with a 21.4 per cent mortality rate. Seven had simple incision and drainage over a presenting mass with a 14.2 per cent mortality rate. Nine had retroperitoneal operations with an 11.1 per cent mortality. 7. 7. The lowest mortality rate (4.1 per cent) was obtained in 24 cases treated conservatively by aspiration and the use of amebicides. 8. 8. The treatment of amebic hepatic abscesses which are not secondarily infected consists of aspiration and the use of amebicides and open operation should be employed only in those cases in which there is infection with pyogenic microorganisms.
Channel propagation characteristics of wireless MICAz sensor nodes

Wireless sensor nodes are envisioned to be deployed in the urban and indoor environments. With the advancement of technologies, such as nano-wires and molecular circuits, sensor nodes will become small, cheap and power efficient. At present, many researchers are implementing and developing protocols with MICAz motes. Thus, it is important to understand the propagation characteristics of the MICAz motes. Antenna patterns and interferences are measured. In addition, software models of the mote and environment are created with the CST Microwave Studio and Rhino; afterwards, they are feed into Urbana and are simulated. The simulated and measured results are compared, thus, validating the correctness of models, which are later used to simulate the urban and indoor environments in Urbana.
Electrophoresis of mitochondrial alpha-L-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase on acrylamide gels.

Es wird ein Verfahren zur elektrophoretischen Trennung am Polyacrylamid der an die Mitochondrien gebundene α-L-Glyzeraldehydphosphat-Dehydrogenase in 2 aktive Bestandteile beschrieben: Partielle Spaltung der Eiweissmolekeln mit Harnstoff. Die Auflosung der Enzyme in 2 aktive Komponenten wurde mit Extrakten aus Mitochondrien verschiedener Rattenorgane (Leber, Niere, Hirn, Hoden und Hepatoma 5123 A) sowie Mauseleber verfolgt.
Electromagnetic effects in the quantum interference of dipoles

Abstract The phase shift in the interference of a magnetic or electric dipole due to the electromagnetic field is obtained relativistically and non-relativistically. This is analogous to the Aharonov-Bohm effect, but is richer because of its non-Abelian character. The force and torque on the particle are obtained in the classical limit. The field equations in the presence of the quantum dipole are obtained at low energy.
The Differential Effects of Financial Aid on Degree Completion by Gender

Financial aid and student success are interrelated and essential components of strategic enrollment management. From an economic perspective, by reducing the price students pay, financial aid affects student demand for education. However, financial aid also has nonmonetary effects. For example, students receiving institutional scholarships may feel a sense of loyalty to and support from that institution, affecting their likelihood of remaining enrolled. Certainly, prior research (e.g., Dynarski 2008; St. John 1992) has shown that financial aid can have a positive effect on student persistence and graduation. However, whether pricing has a different relationship to graduation for men compared to women remains under researched. Yet, since 2004–2005, women have represented the majority of degree recipients at the associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree levels, and their proportions are expected to increase over the next 10 years (Digest of Education Statistics 2013). This study seeks to contribute to the literature in strategic enrollment management on pricing by focusing on gender and degree attainment. Distinct from prior studies (i.e., Dynarski 2008), we focus on multiple forms of aid (e.g., grants, loans). Specifically, this study asks, “To what extent does gender moderate the relationship between financial aid and degree completion?” We begin with review of the relevant literature on gender, pricing, and finances in postsecondary education.
The excessively small ventricle on cranial computed tomography: Clinical correlation in 75 patients

Excessively small ventricle (ESV) was demonstrated in 75 (8.3%) of 9,000 patients over 15 years of age examined by cranial computed tomography (CT). The patients had no other CT abnormality except for ESV. Detailed retrospective analysis of clinical records of these 75 patients revealed four major groups of patients: 1) those with seizures (24%); 2) those with headaches (24%); 3) those with acute non-penetrating head trauma (21.5%); and 4) those with benign increased intracranial pressure (8%). The remaining patients (22.5%) had a variety of cerebral derangements.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: searching for answers.

Abstract Background Pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension are the primary causes of morbidity and mortality in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). At present, the origin of CDH and the causes of pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension are unknown. Data Sources This article reviews the available published data regarding the origin of CDH and the pathogenesis of the associated pulmonary hypertension and hypoplasia. These investigations have employed human tissues as well as two types of CDH animal models. Conclusions Investigations performed to date have not yet provided definitive answers regarding the pathogenesis of CDH. However, they have yielded many new and exciting discoveries and several opportunities for intervention. Ongoing research should open new possibilities to improve the outcome for these unfortunate babies with CDH.
Interfacing a tonometer with a microcontroller to monitor diurnal intraocular pressure variations

Glaucoma is the degeneration of the optic nerve head caused by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and diurnal variations. It is the second leading cause of blindness. Proper treatment requires IOP to be monitored and maintained. Goldmann applanation tonometry is the clinical gold standard measured in the physician's office quarterly for those who are glaucoma suspects. It requires a local anesthetic administered to the cornea. Hence, this procedure cannot be utilized for patient home monitoring. The proposed tonometer to be used by a patient at home will use a sensor that measures force through the eye lid (transpalpebral) with a portable microcontroller device. The microcontroller will digitize data to be stored and transferred for offline analysis as well as display a single reading to an LCD display.
Representation of phonological categories: a functional role for auditory columns.

A speculative model for representing phonological categories for stop place of articulation is offered. The model is analogous to neural columns in both inferotemporal cortex in the macaque for achieving constancy in object recognition and in the inferior colliculus of the barn owl for resolving ambiguous phase disparities for sound localization. Hypothetical auditory columns for encoding the vowel context-induced variability of F2 transitions are described using acoustic data from locus equation scatterplots of human speech. Such analyses serve to absorb the allophonic variability inherent in coarticulated speech utterances.
Tunable narrow band THz wave generation from laser induced gas plasma

Tunable narrowband THz waveforms were generated from laser induced gas plasma using shaped optical pulses. Square wave phase patterns were fed to a spatial light modulator. The frequency and amplitude of the square wave phase were used as parameters to tailor the terahertz waveforms. The dependence of THz waveforms on these parameters has been studied in detail. The presence of the ionization thresholds for pulse shaping is also discussed. We have demonstrated the wide and continuous tunability of the central frequency of the narrowband THz waveform from 2.5 to 7.5THz.
Prediction of physicochemical properties from euclidean distance methods based on electrotopological state indices

Abstract This paper describes predictions of log K OW , Henry's Law constant, vapor pressure, and OH-radical bimolecular rate constant from two Euclidean distance methods, using electrotopological state indices as input. The quality of the predictions is highly dependent on the size of the experimental dataset, i. e. , the density of experimental data points in the Euclidean space. The Euclidean distance results are compared with predictions made by commercial software products for the same sets of compounds.
Investigation of shock wave focusing in water in a logarithmic spiral duct, Part 1: Weak coupling

Shock focusing in water is a phenomenon that can occur during the impact of a shock wave generated by an underwater explosion onto any type of convergent marine structures. To predict the dynamic material response of the marine structure, it is important to understand the shock wave dynamics during the focusing event. In this paper, both experimental investigations and numerical studies of two-dimensional shock focusing in water are presented. Here, a convergent geometry given by a logarithmic spiral curve is used to focus the shock waves. In the experiments, the interaction between three types of materials and the shock wave in water is explored by using high-speed photography. Distinct features of such flows are unveiled. Three scenarios have been considered in simulations: a rigid structure where only the water-filled region is taken into account, a fluid–structure interaction problem in which the surrounding material responses are included, and an axisymmetric simulation to determine the three-dimensional effects.
Exogenous interleukin-12 (IL-12) exacerbates Cryptosporidium parvum infection in gamma interferon knockout mice.

Smith, L. M., Bonafonte, M.-T., Campbell, L. D., and Mead, J. R. 2001. Exogenous interleukin-12 (IL-12) exacerbates Cryptosporidium parvum infection in gamma interferon knockout mice. Experimental Parasitology98, 123–133. Experimental infection of BALB/c- or C57BL/6-gamma-interferon-knockout (GKO) mice with Cryptosporidium parvum results in infection in both strains with different outcomes of disease. The BALB/c-GKO mice recover from infection, whereas the C57BL/6-GKO mice succumb to infection in less than 2 weeks. Differences in cytokine mRNA expression suggested that recovery may involve other cytokines. To determine whether the addition of either a Th1 or Th2 cytokine could alter the outcome of infection, we treated GKO mice with either recombinant (r)IL-4 or rIL-12 1 day before infection (DBI) or daily. No effect on the oocyst shedding patterns in either strain nor an increase in survival of the C57BL/6-GKO mice was observed in the rIL-4-treated mice. Whereas one dose of 0.5 μg rIL-12 given 1 DBI had no effect on oocyst shedding, we found that daily doses of rIL-12 administered intraperitoneally exacerbated C. parvum infection in both animal models. Administration of rIL-12 shortened the survival time in the C57BL/6-GKO mice and prevented BALB/c-GKO mice from recovering from infection. Specific proliferation of T cells to cryptosporidial antigen and Th1 and Th2 mRNA cytokine expression was markedly decreased in rIL-12-treated mice. Nitric oxide (NO) may have played a minor role in the decreased proliferation observed since levels of NO present in the splenocyte cultures from rIL-12-treated mice in response to parasite antigen stimulation were higher than those observed in controls. Thus, we propose that resistance to and recovery from C. parvum infections involves a fine balance in the amount and timing of Th1 and Th2 cytokines.
Partition and Permeation of Dextran in Polyacrylamide Gel

Abstract Partition of sized FITC-dextrans in polyacrylamide gel showed a relationship between K av and solute radius as predicted by the theory of Ogston, which is based solely on geometry of the spaces. Permeability data for the same dextrans were fit to several theories, including those based on geometry and those based on hydrodynamic interactions, and the gel structure predicted by the partition and permeability data were compared. The Brinkman effective-medium model (based on hydrodynamic interactions and requiring a measure of the hydraulic conductivity of the matrix) gave the best fit of permeability data with the values for fiber radius ( r f ) and void volume of the gel (∈) that were obtained from the partition data. The models based on geometry and the hydrodynamic screening model of Cukier, using the r f and ∈ from partition data, all predicted higher rates of permeation than observed experimentally, while the effective-medium model with added term for steric interaction predicted lower permeation than that observed. The size of cylindrical pores appropriate for the partition data predicted higher rates of permeation than observed. These relative results were unaffected by the method of estimating void volume of the gel. In sum, it appears that one can use data on partition of solute, combined with measurement of hydraulic conductivity, to predict solute permeation in polyacrylamide gel.
Blocking the box: an informal look.

Data for 32 1-hr. observations in a residential community showed about 200 violations of a traffic regulation requiring motorists to keep intersections clear. Women driving vans were the least compliant--accounting for approximately 40% of the total. Language: en
Studies of finite element procedures—On mesh selection

Abstract This is a tutorial paper on the use of finite element procedures in engineering practice. First, we discuss some basic concepts used to identify whether a finite element mesh has provided an accurate solution for a linear elastic static analysis, and hence when mesh refinement is necessary. We then demonstrate these concepts by presenting in detail a finite element analysis of an axisymmetric pressure vessel subjected to an internal pressure load. The goal of the analysis is the accurate determination of stresses on a prespecified line. We show that a mesh of 240 six-node and eight-node isoparametric finite elements, when the stresses are sampled at the nodes, can accurately determine the desired stresses.
Analytics in empirical/archival financial accounting research

Abstract In this article, we describe various analytics in empirical/archival financial accounting research. We focus the discussion on research questions that are central to accounting research, analytics used to test hypotheses, and evidence. We also describe voice and text analysis, which is generating interesting new datasets and hypothesis tests, offering promising potential for future studies. Our study seeks to (1) inform business professionals about state-of-the-art analytics in accounting research and (2) trigger academics to pursue creative new research opportunities.
Urinary Indices of Horses After Intravenous Administration of Crystalloid Solutions

Saline or glucose solution was infused for approximately 4 hours into six healthy mares in two separate experiments to determine the effect of infusion of crystalloid solutions on fractional excretion (FE) of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P), ratio of urinary creatinine to serum creatinine (UCr/SCr), and ratio of urinary osmolality to serum osmolality (Uosm/Sosm). After intravenous infusion of either saline or glucose solution, FENa, FECl and FEP were significantly increased, whereas UCr/SCr and Uosm/Sosm were significantly decreased. In addition, FEK was significantly increased after infusion of glucose solution. It was concluded that urinary indices were altered by intravenous infusion of crystalloid solutions in healthy mares and that fluid therapy may interfere with the use of these indices for diagnostic purposes. (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1993; 7:241–246. Copyright © 1993 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)
The Arithmetic of Growth: Methods of Calculation

This is a tutorial on the relations between population data and the rates of growth that are calculated from the data. For the calculation of rates of growth, discrete and continuous compounding will be compared so that the reader can see the reasons for using the mathematics of continuous compounding, which is the mathematics of exponential growth. Some properties of exponential growth are developed. Semi-logarithmic graphs will be discussed as a device for representing the size of growing populations and for analyzing the nature of the growth. Illustrative examples will be worked out in order to emphasize applications and utility.
Effect of Sample Topography on Adhesive Force in Atomic Force Spectroscopy Measurements in Air

The effect of local curvature of a sample surface on capillary and interface tension adhesion forces of the water meniscus formed between the AFM tip and sample in air is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. We propose an analytical solution for capillary and tension adhesive force derived from approximation of the thermodynamic equilibrium of a symmetric water meniscus formed at the tip−sample contact region. It is shown that the sample local curvature strongly affects the water meniscus geometry and the adhesion force. Compared to the force computed for a flat sample surface, the theoretical model predicts a larger/smaller adhesive force for a concave/convex local curvature. Our theoretical predictions were confirmed by experiment. Atomic force spectroscopy measurements were performed for a silicon nitride cantilever and a standard sample of platinum-covered quartz patterned with 1.5 × 1.5 μm square, 20 nm deep pits. Maps of sample surface topography and adhesive force showed a much large...
A critical review of the intrinsic nature of vortex-induced vibrations

This is a comprehensive review of the progress made during the past two decades on vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of mostly circular cylindrical structures subjected to steady uniform flow. The critical elements of the evolution of the ideas, theoretical insights, experimental methods, and numerical models are traced systematically; the strengths and weaknesses of the current state of the understanding of the complex fluid/structure interaction are discussed in some detail. Finally, some suggestions are made for further research on VIV.
Preimplantation genetic screening in older women: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Objective To compare the strategy of traditional IVF with prenatal diagnosis versus IVF with preimplantation genetic screening (IVF/PGS) to prevent aneuploid births in women with advanced maternal age. Design A decision tree analytic model was created to compare IVF alone versus IVF/PGS to evaluate which strategy is the least costly per healthy (euploid) infant. Setting Outpatient IVF practices. Patient(s) Infertile women, 38–40 and >40 years old. Intervention(s) IVF or IVF/PGS. Main Outcome Measure(s) Cost per healthy infant. Result(s) Using base-case estimates of costs and probabilities in women aged 38–40 years, after a maximum of two fresh IVF cycles and two frozen cycles, the chance of having a healthy infant was 37.8% with IVF alone versus 21.7% with IVF/PGS. The average cost for each strategy is $25,700, but the cost per healthy infant is substantially higher when IVF/PGS is applied as opposed to IVF alone ($118,713 vs. $68,026). To assess the robustness of the model, all probabilities were varied simultaneously in a Monte Carlo simulation, and in 96.2% of trials, IVF alone proved to be the most cost-effective option. Conversely, our data demonstrate that in women aged >40, IVF and IVF/PGS are essentially equal in terms of cost-effectiveness ($122,000 vs. $118,713). Conclusion(s) IVF alone is less costly per healthy infant than IVF/PGS in women ages 38–40.
On the Hybrid Physical/Dynamic Tire/Road Friction Model

We present new development of a hybrid physical/dynamic tire/road friction model for real-time friction estimation and control. We extend the LuGre tire/road friction model by considering the physical model-based deformation distribution on the tire/road contact patch. Relationship between the physical friction model and the LuGre dynamic friction model has been built and developed. We have shown that the LuGre dynamic friction model predicts the similar deformation and stress characteristics of the physical model, and therefore the friction model parameters can be interpreted with physical meaning and estimated experimentally. We demonstrate preliminary model comparison study through the “smart tire” sensor measurements on a mobile robot platform.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Time-frequency analysis of ionosphere scintillations observed by a GNSS receiver array

The objective of this paper is to present and compare performances of several time-frequency analysis algorithms that characterize and associate ionosphere scintillation events focusing on carrier phase measurements obtained from three relatively close spaced antennas in Alaska. The results will be used to derive plasma drift velocity and estimate the 2-dimension size of the scintillation patches. There are two challenges in detecting and associating scintillations among closely spaced receivers. First, we have to precisely estimate the start time and end time of the scintillation event captured by each receiver. Second, we have to distinguish the fluctuation caused by multipath and receiver clock from the effects of scintillation. Our approach is to analyze the time-frequency relations of GPS L1 signal observables among the receivers. Based on past experience, scintillation causes high frequency fluctuations in the range of 0.1 to 10 Hz, while multipath only introduce an extra frequency less than 1 Hz and are typically occurring at low elevations. Receiver clock errors are eliminated using differenced measurements from L1 and L2, or from a reference satellite without scintillation. Several algorithms have been studied to perform the time-frequency spectrum analysis of carrier phases: windowed Fourier transform (WFT), Morlet Wavelet transform (MWT), Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT), and an adaptive periodogram technique (APT). All four algorithms are evaluated using both simulated and real scintillation signals. Among them, APT provides the most optimal performance in terms of precision in detecting the occurrences of scintillation events in both time-domain and frequency-domain. However, APT also has a high computational cost. Morlet Wavelet transform offers complimentary performance with significantly lower computational cost. Thus, it is implemented as the level one scintillation filter before the events are finally analyzed by APT.
Influence of Alternate Approaches to Pre-Primary Educational Stimulation and Question-Asking Skills.

AbstractThe influence of the creative-aesthetic and a traditional kindergarten approach to educational stimulation on the question-asking skills of 5-year-old children in 5-person groups was investigated. The Ss were forty-eight 5-year-old children under the creative-aesthetic approach, forty-five 5-year-olds under a traditional kindergarten approach, and fifty-five 6-year-olds under a traditional first grade approach. Subjects were assigned to 5-person groups and administered a question-asking test. Analysis of the data supported the hypothesis that the creative- aesthetic approach accelerates the development of question-asking skills more than the traditional kindergarten approach and more than a traditional first grade program without a pre-primary program.
Twice Q-Polynomial Distance-Regular Graphs

Let?be a distance-regular graph of diameter at least three. Suppose?is Q-polynomial with respect to distinct eigenvalues?and?of?. We calculate thekite numberf2j(x, y, z) from the intersection numbers of?and the dual eigenvalues to?and?. This implies that the kite numbersfij(x, y, z) are independent of the verticesx,y,z. We use this result to show that the vertex neighborhood graphs of?are strongly regular and we calculate the parameters of these graphs from the kite numbersf2jand the intersection numbers of?.
Partisan schemas and economic voting: The federal budget deficit and the 1988 presidential election

This paper considers the issue of the budget deficit and its influence on the 1988 presidential election. Specifically, we are concerned with the role of partisan economic schemas, and the possibility that many voters might have supported the incumbent Republicansbecause of the deficit problem (reasoning that the GOP, regardless of the failures of the previous 8 years, was the best party to reduce government spending). We find that the deficit issue, despite its high salience, did not have an overwhelming impact on the 1988 race, but what effect it did have apparently favored the Republicans. We demonstrate that “schematic” voters concerned about the deficit were, indeed, more likely to support George Bush over Michael Dukakis. We conclude by discussing the importance and limits of partisan schemas in explaining economic voting.
Periodic solar flare X-ray emission.

GLENCROSS1 has reported the observation of an apparent 6 min periodicity during X-ray flares observed in the 0.1 to 0.3 nm wavelength band. The detector was a soft X-ray sensor on the satellite OSO-IV launch in 1967. The observed flare profiles were examined in more than thirty X-ray events coincident with visible flares, and a histogram was constructed showing the separation of peaks. The results showed such strong evidence for peak separations being multiples of 6 min that we began a search for similar peak spacing in X-ray data for a similar wavelength interval derived from scintillation detectors aboard the satellites Vela V (launched on May 23, 1969) and Vela VI (launched on April 8, 1970). The results of our search have not confirmed the 6 min periodicity.
UCD 2001: an improved model to simulate pollutant dispersion from roadways

Abstract An improved dispersion model, UCD 2001, designed to estimate pollutant concentrations near roadways was developed and its performance evaluated. The UCD 2001 model internally represents a highway link as a three-dimensional array of point sources that simulates a roadway mixing zone which extends 2.5 m above a highway link. Dispersion from each point source is estimated with the Huang dispersion solution. The Huang equation is a simplified solution to the semi-empirical advection diffusion equation; its derivation permits vertical profiles of wind speed and eddy diffusivity in the boundary layer to be approximated by power law functions. The UCD 2001 model was calibrated with one-half of the General Motors (GM) SF 6 tracer study data base and resulted in a selection of eddy diffusivity parameters that did not vary with ambient meteorology. This parameterization is consistent with several independent studies which indicate that the atmosphere is well-mixed and neutrally stratified immediately downwind of a roadway with significant vehicular activity. UCD 2001 model performance was evaluated and compared to the CALINE3 and CALINE4 dispersion models using the GM data base. UCD 2001 adequately simulates near parallel, low wind speed (less than 0.5 m/s) meteorological scenarios, whereas the CALINE models significantly over predict most receptor concentrations for these conditions. The UCD 2001 model results in approximately 80–90 percent reduction in squared residual error when compared to the CALINE3 and CALINE4 models. In addition, the UCD 2001 model exhibits better agreement in simulating the top forty observed concentrations than either CALINE model. Lastly, the UCD 2001 model requires less user input and modeler expertise than most roadway dispersion models, and should result in more consistent and robust pollutant field estimations.
Design of an Yb-169 source optimized for gold nanoparticle-aided radiation therapy.

Purpose: To find an optimum design of a new high-dose rate ytterbium (Yb)-169 brachytherapy source that would maximize the dose enhancement during gold nanoparticle-aided radiation therapy (GNRT), while meeting practical constraints for manufacturing a clinically relevant brachytherapy source. Methods: Four different Yb-169 source designs were considered in this investigation. The first three source models had a single encapsulation made of one of the following materials: aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel. The last source model adopted a dual encapsulation design with an inner aluminum capsule surrounding the Yb-core and an outer titanium capsule. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations using the Monte Carlo N-Particle code version 5 (MCNP5) were conducted initially to investigate the spectral changes caused by these four source designs and the associated variations in macroscopic dose enhancement across the tumor loaded with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) at 0.7% by weight. Subsequent MC simulations were performed using the EGSnrc and NOREC codes to determine the secondary electron spectra and microscopic dose enhancement as a result of irradiating the GNP-loaded tumor with the MCNP-calculated source spectra. Results: Effects of the source filter design were apparent in the current MC results. The intensity-weighted average energy of the Yb-169 source varied from 108.9 to 122.9 keV, as the source encapsulation material changed from aluminum to stainless steel. Accordingly, the macroscopic dose enhancement calculated at 1 cm away from the source changed from 51.0% to 45.3%. The sources encapsulated by titanium and aluminum/titanium combination showed similar levels of dose enhancement, 49.3% at 1 cm, and average energies of 113.0 and 112.3 keV, respectively. While the secondary electron spectra due to the investigated source designs appeared to look similar in general, some differences were noted especially in the low energy region (<50 keV) of the spectra suggesting the dependence of the photoelectron yield on the atomic number of source filter material, consistent with the macroscopic dose enhancement results. A similar trend was also shown in the so-called microscopic dose enhancement factor, for example, resulting in the maximum values of 138 and 119 for the titanium- and the stainless steel-encapsulated Yb-169 sources, respectively. Conclusions: The current results consistently show that the dose enhancement achievable from the Yb-169 source is closely related with the atomic number (Z) of source encapsulation material. While the observed range of improvement in the dose enhancement may be considered moderate after factoring all uncertainties in the MC results, the current study provides a reasonable support for the encapsulation of the Yb-core with lower-Z materials than stainless steel, for GNRT applications. Overall, the titanium capsule design can be favored over the aluminum or dual aluminum/titanium capsule designs, due to its superior structural integrity and improved safety during manufacturing and clinical use.
Sodium-lithium countertransport activity is decreased after weight loss in healthy obese men

Abstract Maximal red blood cell (RBC) sodium-lithium countertransport activity has been consistently releted to essential hypertension and may be a marker for risk of developing hypertension. Although there is strong evidence for genetic control of sodium-lithium countertransport, increasing evidence suggests that obesity and insulin-glucose metabolism are related to countertransport activity. This study was performed to determine whether countertransport activity decreases with weight loss in healthy obese adults. Forty-five healthy, white, obese adults were studied at baseline and after 6 months of behavioral dietary intervention. Weight loss was 11.5 kg (25.4 lb) in 24 men and 8.1 kg (17.8 lb) in 21 women. Sodium-lithium countertransport activity decreased 55.0 μmol Li/L RBC/h in men (P
An Euler–Bernoulli Beam with Dynamic Frictionless Contact: Penalty Approximation and Existence

In this work, we consider the dynamic frictionless Euler–Bernoulli equation with the Signorini contact conditions along the length of a thin beam. The existence of solutions is proved based on the penalty method. Employing energy functional with the penalty method, we bound integral of contact forces over space and time. Holder continuity of the fundamental solution plays an important role in the convergence theory.
A new design procedure for activated sludge based on active mass

Abstract Design equations are formulated for the activated sludge process based on degradable and non‐degradable fraction of the mixed liquor volatile suspended solids. By appropriate mass balances relationships are developed for the degradable and active fractions based on sludge age. These relationships are in more usable form than previous relationships based on F/M ratio. Incorporation of the active fraction in kinetic design equations is shown to result in more accurate estimates of excess biological solids generation and required hydraulic residence time
An approach to estimating work effort for enterprise systems software projects

A major factor in the decision to develop enterprise software applications is the size of the project, which determines the amount of work necessary, which in turn will give decision makers some idea about the time required and the estimated cost. Two of the major approaches for such estimation-the Use Case Points (UCP) and COSMIC-FFP methods-are compared in this paper. The accuracy and reliability of each method are evaluated through the measurement of 50 use case studies. These were collected from the Customer Relationship Management systems development project of a major enterprise service institution. The results show that the UCP method is more accurate and reliable than the COSMIC-FFP in determining work effort.