cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Montbéliarde-sired crossbreds compared with pure Holsteins for dry matter intake, production, and body traits during the first 150 days of first lactation.

Abstract Montbeliarde (MO)-sired crossbred cows (n = 57) were compared with pure Holstein (HO) cows (n = 40) for dry matter intake (DMI), production, hip height, body condition score (BCS), and body weight (BW) during the first 150 d of first lactation. Also, production for 305 d was compared for first lactation. The MO-sired crossbred cows were composed of MO × HO cows (n = 33) and MO × Jersey/HO cows (n = 24). Cows were individually fed a total mixed ration twice daily. The DMI was measured for the first 150 d of lactation, except from d 1 to 3 postpartum to permit cows to acclimate to stalls in a confinement barn. Hip height was measured once between 20 and 172 d postpartum, and BCS and BW were recorded every other week. The MO-sired crossbred cows did not differ from the pure HO cows for 150-d DMI, 150-d fat plus protein production, or for 305-d fat plus protein production. Hip height was similar for MO × HO and pure HO cows, but MO × Jersey/HO cows had shorter hip height than the pure HO cows. Despite the lack of difference for DMI, the MO-sired crossbred cows had significantly greater BCS (3.30 vs. 2.74) and BW (551 vs. 528 kg) than the pure HO cows. The MO-sired crossbred cows (122 d) had fewer days open than the pure HO cows (150 d). The higher BCS of the MO-sired crossbred cows, especially during early lactation, may have provided an advantage for fertility. Differences for DMI between breed groups were not studied for the latter half of first lactation or for multiparous cows.
Evolving treatment paradigms for locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer

While men with early stage prostate cancer typically enjoy long-term survival after definitive management, for those who present with locally advanced or metastatic disease, survival is compromised. Multimodality therapy can prolong survival in these patients, with state-of-the-art options including intensity-modulated radiation or brachytherapy in conjunction with androgen ablation, adjuvant androgen ablation and/or chemotherapy with radical retropubic prostatectomy. In addition, novel biological therapies are being explored to target the unique molecular changes in prostate cancer cells and their interactions with the microenvironment. With these advances the outlook will undoubtedly improve, even for patients presenting with advanced disease. Careful application of these emerging therapies to a select group of prostate cancer patients most likely to obtain benefit from them is the challenge for urologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists for the future.
The static and dynamic strength of piezoelectric materials

Abstract Data on the static and the dynamic strength of piezoelectric ceramics and single crystals are presented together with results of fractographic observations of the fracture surfaces. Fracture analysis theory is combined with these data to propose a mechanism for the observed differences in static and dynamic strength.
Hydrogen production from photo-driven electrolysis of biomass-derived oxygenates: A case study on methanol using Pt-modified WO3 thin film electrodes

Abstract In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of H 2 production from biomass-derived oxygenates with photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) based on the tandem cell hybrid photoelectrode configuration. As a proof of concept, we have studied the simplest oxygenate, methanol, which is photoelectrochemically oxidized at thin film tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) photoelectrodes. When the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is coupled with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), this process is known as methanol electrolysis. We demonstrate that catalytic modification of the WO 3 surface by the electrodeposition of Pt particles can greatly increase MOR activity at the photoanode, resulting in a significant increase in H 2 production rates from methanol electrolysis. This improvement is greatest at low overpotentials and high Pt loadings, with the demonstrated MOR current density of Pt–WO 3 being nearly four times that of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on WO 3 at a potential of 0.8 V vs. the Reversible Hydrogen Electrode. We also illustrate how the increase in WO 3 photocurrent and the decrease in the oxidation onset potential, compared to the OER, make it possible to use WO 3 -based photoelectrodes in a simple tandem cell configuration whereby a common PV component such as a-Si can provide the remaining voltage to achieve unassisted methanol electrolysis. Results from methanol electrolysis reveal the potential to utilize a similar approach for larger biomass-derived oxygenates, which could be a promising pathway to H 2 production from renewable feedstock using photo-driven electrolysis.
Effect of chlorination on the anticonvulsant activity of phenobarbital.

The lethal doses, neurotoxic doses, anticonvulsant potencies, and protective indices for two chlorinated barbiturates, 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-ethylbarbituric acid (mono-chloro) and 5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-ethylbarbituric acid (dichloro), were determined in mice and the results compared with similar values concomitantly determined for phenobarbital. Chlorination was found to delay markedly the time for peak anticonvulsant effect and to prolong duration of action. The lethal dose for monochloro was somewhat larger and that for dichloro significantly smaller than that for phenobarbital. The minimal neurotoxic dose for monochloro was significantly larger than that for either dichloro or phenobarbital. All three compounds exhibited anticonvulsant activity in nontoxic doses. Although chlorination of phenobarbital had no significant effect on protective indices, the protective indices for dichloro tended to be somewhat higher than those for the other two compounds.
Factors affecting the measurement of bone impedance

Factors which affect the measurement of the electrical properties of bone were examined. Environmental conditions such as the pH of the preserving solution and time of exposure of the sample to air, which controls the moisture content of the specimen, significantly affected the bone impedance. A change in pH of ×2 from the neutral solution (pH=7) caused a change in the resistance R. conductance β and capacitance C values of 70 per cent, 125 per cent and 190 per cent respectively. A 5 min exposure to air increased the resistance by 92 per cent and reduced the capacitance by 35 per cent of their original values. A loss of 8 per cent moisture content by weight resulted in 400 per cent increase in R and 65 per cent decrease in C. Significant errors were introduced in the measurement of bone impedance owing to stray and wiring capacitances; these were avoided by using a differential impedance measurement technique. Further, it is shown that it is essential to measure the phase angle while measuring the bone impedance. Finally, it is illustrated that when normalising for different sized bone specimens, both the resistive component and capacitive component have to be considered while computing the impedance per unit volume.
Organizing the fluid membrane bilayer: diseases linked to spectrin and ankyrin

Ankyrin and spectrin were first discovered as binding partners in the membrane skeleton of human erythrocytes. Mutations in genes encoding these proteins cause hereditary spherocytosis. Recent advances reveal that ankyrin and spectrin are required for organization of a surprisingly diverse set of proteins, including ion channels and cell adhesion molecules that are localized in specialized membrane domains in many cell types. New insights into the cell biology of ankyrin and spectrin reveal that these proteins actively participate in assembly of specialized membrane domains in addition to their conventional maintenance role as scaffolding proteins. Recently described inherited human diseases due to defects in spectrin or ankyrin include spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 and a cardiac arrhythmia, termed sick sinus syndrome with bradycardia or ankyrin-B syndrome. Together, these studies identify an emerging paradigm for pathogenesis of human disease where failure in cellular localization of membrane-spanning proteins results in loss of physiological function.
Stress and the Induction of Intravascular Platelet Aggregation in the Heart

Intravascular aggregation of platelets similar to that found in dogs after norepinephrine infusion was demonstrated using the electron microscope in the hearts of 20 of 23 rats subjected to two forms of stress (immersion in hot water, 7 of 8 rats; repeated small electric shocks to the feet, 13 of 15 rats). Only one of 14 unstressed rats was found to have similar intravascular platelet aggregates. These findings suggest that catecholamines secreted endogenously during stress are sufficient to cause platelets to aggregate intravascularly and raise the possibility that clinical myocardial infarction occurring during severe or prolonged stress may be caused by catecholamine-induced platelet thrombi which occur at, or travel to, and occlude a coronary artery already narrowed by previous atherosclerosis.
Anomalous crustal structures in ocean basins: Continental fragments and oceanic plateaus

Plateau-like features in ocean basins exhibit crustal structures which differ markedly from the relatively simple, three-layer model which applies to most of the oceanic crust. While some plateaus are known or thought to be fragments of continental crust (e.g. Rockall Bank, Lord Howe Rise), others appear to be of oceanic origin (e.g. Shatsky Rise, Broken Ridge), and their seismic structures, though variable, are significantly different. Continental fragments are similar in structure to continental shield areas: Depth to Moho is typically about 30 km, and the lower crust consists of a 6.8–7.0 km/s layer, 14–18 km thick, overlain by a 5.8–6.4 km/s layer of variable thickness, while velocity structures are variable at upper crustal levels. By contrast, the Moho apparently occurs at shallower levels beneath oceanic plateaus, which are characterized by the presence of a 7.3–7.6 km/s layer, 6–15 km thick at the base of the crust. This basal layer is commonly overlain by units having velocities typical of oceanic layers 2 and 3. Refractors having velocities which correspond to layer 3 tend to occur at deeper levels in continental fragments than they do beneath oceanic plateaus. That high-velocity basal layers have been detected at the base of normal oceanic crust and in some ophiolites suggests that oceanic plateaus are truly marine in origin. Upper and middle crustal levels probably consist of basaltic and gabbroic rocks, respectively. The nature of the basal layer is difficult to assess. Olivine gabbro, mafic garnet granulite, and epidote amphibolite all exhibit velocities in the appropriate ranges, as does a mixture of mafic and ultramafic lithologies. Partially serpentinized peridotite cannot be ruled out on the basis of shear and compressional wave velocities alone.
Symmetries in the Gross-Neveu Phase Diagram

The existence of crystalline condensates in the temperature and chemical potential phase diagram of the Gross-Neveu models can be traced to intricate symmetries of the associated inhomogeneous gap equation. The gap equation based on the Ginzburg-Landau expansion is precisely the mKdV or AKNS hierarchy of integrable nonlinear equations for the Gross-Neveu model with discrete or continuous chiral symmetry, respectively. The former model also has a dense-dilute symmetry that is due to the energy-reflection duality of the underlying quasi-exactly soluble spectral operators.
Progress in the design of traction motors

The past quarter of a century has witnessed important progress in traction-motor design. The primary objective of the designer has been to achieve weight reduction. In order to evaluate the advances made along this line, the author uses “speed-ratio power” as a basis of comparison.
Biosensor technologies for detecting microbiological foodborne hazards

The convergence of molecular biology and miniaturized instrumentation has accelerated development of biosensors with the specifications necessary to support pathogen reduction and quality programs in the food supply. Advances in optoelectronics, thin layer deposition, and microfabrication have provided many options for achieving microbiological detection goals. Some promising technologies are reviewed.
Femininity in the Lesbian Community

A major deficiency in the limited available literature on the female homosexual has been its use of a deviant sexual commitment as a primary explanatory variable. The present paper re-examines selected aspects of both the sexual and non-sexual adaptations of lesbians in terms of general female patterns. Within the limits set by a deviant gender preference, much of the behavior of the lesbian can be explained in terms of non-deviant sex role expectations. The analysis points to the need to consider the lesbian, as well as other deviant actors, in terms not only of the degree of failure of conventional socialization, but also the degree of success of conventional socialization.
The Plasticity of Human Development: Alternative Pathways

Abstract Timing and sequencing of acquisition of developmental capabilities are important issues in view of the growing interest in early developmental evaluations and interventions. Background factors are (1) continuity versus discontinuity of development; (2) the extensive variability of normal individual development; (3) prognostic significance of suboptimal test performance; (4) alternative pathways of mental development demonstrated by physically handicapped children. This last point is explored in detail by means of data from a study of children with defects due to congenital rubella.
The lateral extracavitary approach to the thoracic and lumbar spine

The LECA is a technically challenging procedure with a steep learning curve. It is one of the most versatile approaches to the spine, however,with a logical sequence of maneuvers that can be combined to adapt the LECA for many different spinal procedures that need to be performed for decompression of the spinal cord and reconstruction of the spinal column in cancer patients.
Increased immunogenicity of HIV-1 p24 and gp120 following immunization with gp120/p24 fusion protein vaccine expressing α-gal epitopes

Developing an effective HIV-1 vaccine will require strategies to enhance antigen presentation to the immune system. In a previous study we demonstrated a marked increase in immunogenicity of the highly glycosylated HIV-1 gp120 protein following enzymatic addition of alpha-gal epitopes to the carbohydrate chains. In the present study we determined whether gp120(alphagal) can also serve as an effective platform for targeting other HIV-1 proteins to APC and thus increase immunogenicity of both proteins. For this purpose we produced a recombinant fusion protein between gp120 and the HIV-1 matrix p24 protein (gp120/p24). Multiple alpha-gal epitopes were synthesized enzymatically on the gp120 portion of the fusion protein to generate a gp120(alphagal)/p24 vaccine. Immune responses to gp120(alphagal)/p24 compared to gp120/p24 vaccine lacking alpha-gal epitopes were evaluated in alpha1,3galactosyltransferase knockout (KO) mice. These mice lack alpha-gal epitopes and, therefore, are capable of producing the anti-Gal antibody. T cell responses to p24, as assessed by ELISPOT and by CD8+ T cells intracellular staining assays for IFNgamma, was on average 12- and 10-fold higher, respectively, in gp120(alphagal)/p24 immunized mice than in mice immunized with gp120/p24. In addition, cellular and humoral immune responses against gp120 were higher by 10-30-fold in mice immunized with gp120(alphagal)/p24 than in gp120/p24 immunized mice. Our data suggest that the alpha-gal epitopes on the gp120 portion of the fusion protein can significantly augment the immunogenicity of gp120, as well as that of the fused viral protein which lacks alpha-gal epitopes. This strategy of anti-Gal mediated targeting to APC may be used for production of effective HIV-1 vaccines comprised of various viral proteins fused to gp120.
Detergent solubilization and hydrophobic chromatography of rat brain phosphatidylinositol kinase.

Rat brain microsomal phosphatidylinositol kinase activity was maximally activated in the presence of either 3 mM sodium deoxycholate, 2% Triton-X-100, or 30–40 mM octylglucoside. Among these detergents, 1% Triton-X-100 was most effective in solubilizing the enzyme, and after treatment with, this agent, 100% of the activity was recovered in the high speed supernatant. Octylglucoside solubilized 40% of the enzyme at concentrations below its critical micelle concentration of 25 mM and up to 80% at higher levels. Solubilized phosphatidylinositol kinase failed to adsorb to adenosine nucleotide affinity resins. However, when the Triton-X-100 extract was chromatographed on an uncharged hydrophobic resin, consisting of dodecyl chains attached to Sepharose 4B by ether bonds, nearly all the enzyme activity was retained, and from 44–85% could be eluted with 8 mM sodium deoxycholate. Solubilization followed by hydrophobic chromatography resulted in several-fold purification of phosphatidylinositol kinase and may have disrupted interactions of the enzyme with other hydrophobic proteins sufficiently to allow its substantial purification by conventional or affinity chromatography techniques.
A break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization assay for detecting RET translocations in papillary thyroid carcinoma

At least 15 different translocations have been described activating RET in papillary thyroid carcinomas. A break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay should detect many translocations involving the RET gene without requiring knowledge of the partner gene. G-banding and spectral karyotyping was performed to further characterize the papillary carcinoma cell line TPC-1. BAC clones flanking the 5' and 3' regions of RET were labeled with SpectrumRed and biotin detected with avidin-AMCA (blue). In addition to the previously described chromosomal t(1;10;21), TPC-1 was found to have del(7)(q22q31) and der(8)t(8;8)(p21;q11.2). With the BAC probes, TPC-1 interphase nuclei showed the expected signal pattern of one paired red-blue signal as well as separated red and blue signals from the rearranged RET gene in 93% of cells. Interphase nuclei from normal human lymphocytes showed two paired red-blue signals in 97% of cells. TPC-1 cells were found to have the previously described chromosomal rearrangement that involves chromosome 10, with few other cytogenetically detectable genomic alterations. RET rearrangement can be detected by a break-apart BAC FISH probe set in the interphase nuclei of TPC-1 cells. This assay can potentially detect clinically relevant translocations involving RET.
A probabilistic model for personalized tag prediction

Social tagging systems have become increasingly popular for sharing and organizing web resources. Tag prediction is a common feature of social tagging systems. Social tagging by nature is an incremental process, meaning that once a user has saved a web page with tags, the tagging system can provide more accurate predictions for the user, based on user's incremental behaviors. However, existing tag prediction methods do not consider this important factor, in which their training and test datasets are either split by a fixed time stamp or randomly sampled from a larger corpus. In our temporal experiments, we perform a time-sensitive sampling on an existing public dataset, resulting in a new scenario which is much closer to "real-world". In this paper, we address the problem of tag prediction by proposing a probabilistic model for personalized tag prediction. The model is a Bayesian approach, and integrates three factors - ego-centric effect, environmental effects and web page content. Two methods - both intuitive calculation and learning optimization - are provided for parameter estimation. Pure graphbased methods which may have significant constraints (such as every user, every item and every tag has to occur in at least p posts), cannot make a prediction in most of "real world" cases while our model improves the F-measure by over 30% compared to a leading algorithm, in our "real-world" use case.
Space-variant system analysis of image motion*

A complete analysis of motion degradation in two-dimensional linear incoherent optical systems is presented from a system viewpoint. An equivalent space-variant point-spread function is derived from knowledge of the system motion, and the special characteristics of space-invariant and one-dimensional systems are considered. The analysis includes the effects of two different models for geometrical distortion in motion-degraded imaging and derives the distortions for aerial imaging. It is shown that a large class of space-variant operations may be decomposed into the cascade of invertible coordinate transformations and space-invariant systems; a block-diagram representation of this technique is presented. A number of examples of common types of motion blur are included, as well as computer simulations of space-variant blur and the decomposition process.
Transport of colloids through porous beds in the presence of natural organic matter

Abstract In this paper we report the effect of concentration of George-Town natural organic matter (GT-NOM) on the transport of latex particles through packed beds of highly purified Ottawa sand. Two types of 2.5 μm-diameter polystyrene latex, with radically different surface functional groups (amidine and sulfate) were used. Concentrations of the GT-NOM used to equilibrate the porous medium as well as the surface of latex particles varied from zero to 20.0 mg l −1 . Particle breakthrough curves and experimental attachment efficiencies are presented. Results indicate that electrostatic repulsion due to the presence of GT-NOM imparts stability to the particles, thereby decreasing particle attachment in the porous-bed matrix. At the highest GT-NOM concentration, the amidine latex shows a two-fold decrease in attachment efficiency, suggesting that steric effects also play a key role in the stability of the particles.
The Role of Lipid‐lowering Therapy in Preventing Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death among diabetic patients. The increased risk of coronary heart disease in type 2 diabetes is due, in part, to lipid abnormalities often present in the diabetic patient. Diabetic dyslipidemia is characterized by elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and an increased preponderance of small, dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) particles. Current guidelines for the prevention of coronary heart disease in diabetic patients identify elevated LDL-C as the primary target of lipid-lowering therapy, and recommend statins as the first-line treatment for diabetic dyslipidemia. This review evaluates the large statin trials that have included diabetic patients, and discusses the role of combination therapy in managing dyslipidemia in diabetic patients.
Processing HDF5 Datasets on Multi-core Architectures

In order to make scientific middleware and applications more scalable, there is a need to design them in such a way that they can utilize the evolving multi-core processor architectures available in grid and cloud computing environments. In this paper, we analyze various processing and scheduling techniques on multi-core architectures based on scientific data characteristics and access patterns. More specifically, we conduct fine-grained analysis of scientific datasets such as HDF5 to make effective processing and scheduling decisions in multi-threaded programming. We present performance analysis on how processing threads can be scheduled on multi-core nodes to enhance the performance of scientific applications that process HDF5 data. To accomplish this we introduce a dynamic marking scheme to keep track of the progress of threads on each core. This can be used to help determine work allocation, which results in a decrease in overall application execution time.
Lysophospholipid induced volume changes in lysosomes and in lysosomal lipid dispersions

Summary A Coulter Counter is used to determine volume changes induced by lysophospholipids in lysosomes, in lysosomal lipid dispersions and in dispersions of pure egg yolk lecithin with added lysolecithin. In each case the increased lysophospholipid content causes an increase in the particle volume along with a decrease in the total number of particles. It is suggested that these volume changes may result from lysosomal or lipid membrane fusion induced by the lyso-compounds.
The Plant Host Can Affect the Encapsidation of Brome Mosaic Virus (BMV) RNA: BMV Virions Are Surprisingly Heterogeneous

Brome mosaic virus (BMV) packages its genomic and subgenomic RNAs into three separate viral particles. BMV purified from barley, wheat, and tobacco have distinct relative abundances of the encapsidated RNAs. We seek to identify the basis for the host-dependent differences in viral RNA encapsidation. Sequencing of the viral RNAs revealed recombination events in the 3′ untranslated region of RNA1 of BMV purified from barley and wheat, but not from tobacco. However, the relative amounts of the BMV RNAs that accumulated in barley and wheat are similar and RNA accumulation is not sufficient to account for the difference in RNA encapsidation. Virions purified from barley and wheat were found to differ in their isoelectric points, resistance to proteolysis, and contacts between the capsid residues and the RNA. Mass spectrometric analyses revealed that virions from the three hosts had different post-translational modifications that should impact the physiochemical properties of the virions. Another major source of variation in RNA encapsidation was due to the purification of BMV particles to homogeneity. Highly enriched BMV present in lysates had a surprising range of sizes, buoyant densities, and distinct relative amounts of encapsidated RNAs. These results show that the encapsidated BMV RNAs reflect a combination of host effects on the physiochemical properties of the viral capsids and the enrichment of a subset of virions. The previously unexpected heterogeneity in BMV should influence the timing of the infection and also the host innate immune responses.
Wetting of ceramic particulates with liquid aluminum alloys: Part I. Experimental techniques

An experimental technique for evaluation of wettability of solid particulates with liquid metal was developed. Uniformly packed powder specimens were prepared with a tamping device specially made for the present experiment, and wetting tests were conducted by pressure infiltration of liquid Al-alloys into the powder specimens. The threshold pressure for infiltration was used as a measure of wettability. With this technique, wettabilities were measured for 10 μm diameter SiC and B4C particulates by several Al-based alloys. Threshold pressures obtained from this technique showed reproducibility to approximately ±7 kPa. Microstructures of infiltrated powder specimens indicated planar front infiltration with no disruption of powder compact during infiltration test and virtually no porosity.
Joint Modeling Approach for Semicompeting Risks Data with Missing Nonterminal Event Status

Semicompeting risks data, where a subject may experience sequential non-terminal and terminal events, and the terminal event may censor the non-terminal event but not vice versa, are widely available in many biomedical studies. We consider the situation when a proportion of subjects’ non-terminal events is missing, such that the observed data become a mixture of “true” semicompeting risks data and partially observed terminal event only data. An illness–death multistate model with proportional hazards assumptions is proposed to study the relationship between non-terminal and terminal events, and provide covariate-specific global and local association measures. Maximum likelihood estimation based on semiparametric regression analysis is used for statistical inference, and asymptotic properties of proposed estimators are studied using empirical process and martingale arguments. We illustrate the proposed method with simulation studies and data analysis of a follicular cell lymphoma study.
The global recognition strategy of blue chips of the Russian and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) markets

Abstract This study examines the mechanisms through which companies domiciled within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) overcome market segmentation barriers which are the legacy of the Soviet Union. In contrast to a conventional cross-listing mechanism, leading CIS firms pursue reverse cross-listing or single-listing strategies, selecting the London Stock Exchange (LSE) as their main or only capital-raising platform. This study documents short-term IPO underperformance for single-LSE and dual-listed firms, suggesting that listing in London is risky, and that firms should consider alternative capital-raising strategies. Recent national regulatory reforms, which are expected to both improve capital market conditions and to encourage firms to list domestically, present CIS firms with such an opportunity. Finally, this study shows that CIS blue chips outperform the UK market in the long-run. This effect is more pronounced for dual-listed firms that also outperform the Russian market.
THE ROLE CONCEPT IN JUDICIAL RESEARCH

This article addresses the state of research which uses role concepts to explain the process of making decisions in legal institutions. After identifying several important limitations of previous research, a new scale—measuring normative orientations toward discretion—is proposed. The results of administering this scale to samples of Iowa and California judges suggest that the measure is fairly reliable, and an argument is made in favor of its validity. The article concludes with some observations on the importance of measurement in research on the legal process.
Prosodic influences on speech production in children with specific language impairment and speech deficits: kinematic, acoustic, and transcription evidence.

It is often hypothesized that young children's difficulties with producing weak-strong (iambic) prosodic forms arise from perceptual or linguistically based production factors. A third possible contributor to errors in the iambic form may be biological constraints, or biases, of the motor system. In the present study, 7 children with specific language impairment (SLI) and speech deficits were matched to same age peers. Multiple levels of analysis, including kinematic (modulation and stability of movement), acoustic, and transcription, were applied to children's productions of iambic (weak-strong) and trochaic (strong-weak) prosodic forms. Findings suggest that a motor bias toward producing unmodulated rhythmic articulatory movements, similar to that observed in canonical babbling, contribute to children's acquisition of metrical forms. Children with SLI and speech deficits show less mature segmental and speech motor systems, as well as decreased modulation of movement in later developing iambic forms. Fur...
Supercharging in electrospray ionization: effects on signal and charge

Abstract Multiply charged ions are ideally suited to tandem mass spectrometry, where fragmentation efficiency and pathways are typically a strong function of charge. Addition of either of two compounds, m -nitrobenzyl alcohol ( m -NBA) or glycerol, to electrospray solutions results in an increase in the number of charges that can be added to gas-phase protein cations. Overall electrospray ionization (ESI) signal is not adversely affected by adding these compounds. Thus, these charge enhancers work by increasing the absolute number of higher charge state ions. This ability to enhance charge appears to be related to the high surface tensions of these compounds. Electrospray droplets consisting of solvents with higher surface tension require additional charging at the droplet surface in order to undergo Rayleigh fission. During the ion formation process, the higher density of charge at the droplet surface translates into higher charge states of the gas-phase analyte ion. Addition of m -NBA also enhances formation of high charge states of negative ions. For the synthetic polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), addition of m -NBA results in an increase in the charge states by increasing the cationization of the polymer. In contrast, addition of glycerol results in a decrease in the charge states, presumably because it competes for sodium ions due to its high sodium affinity. Addition of 1–20% m -NBA to electrospray solutions can enhance the formation of higher charge state ions with no reduction in overall electrospray signal for a wide variety of analyte ions. This appears to be an ideal compound for enhancing high charge states for MS/MS and other experiments for which high charge states are desired.
Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of prednisolone in normal and adrenalectomized rats

The pharmacokinetics of prednisolone after 5- and 50-mg/kg doses given as the sodium succinate salt was examined in normal and adrenalectomized rats. Prednisolone, prednisone, and corticosterone concentrations in plasma were determined by HPCL and free prednisolone measured by equilibrium dialysis. Prednisolone sodium succinate was rapidly and completely hydrolyzed to prednisolone as indicated by the absence of the ester from plasma within 5 min after intravenous injection. Prednisolone was rapidly metabolized to prednisone, while corticosterone concentrations in normal rats declined rapidly and were undetectable by 1 hr. Adrenalectomy had no effect on the disposition and protein binding of prednisolone. Dose, however, had a marked effect on prednisolone pharmacokinetics, with mean plasma clearance decreasing from 6.18 to 3.07 L/h per kg and mean steady-state volume of distribution decreasing from 2.14 to 1.05 L/kg from the lower to higher steroid dose. Half-life (0.50 hr) and mean residence time (0.35 hr) were unaffected by dose. Prednisolone plasma protein binding was nonlinear due to saturation of transcortin binding. Changes in pharmacokinetic parameters were not related to the nonlinear plasma binding, but were more likely caused by saturation of elimination pathways and tissue binding sites.
Ergodic automorphisms of the infinite torus are bernoulli

We show that ergodic algebraic automorphisms of the infinite torus are measure isomorphic to Bernoulli shifts. Using the same techniques, we also show that the existence of such an automorphism with finite entropy is equivalent to an open problem in algebraic number theory.
Trust, the Internet, and the digital divide

The Internet is expected to have a positive impact on economic growth, and its adoption rate will determine the extent of this impact. In this paper, we examine how differences in willingness to trust influence Internet adoption rates across countries. We show that trust has a statistically significant influence on levels of Internet penetration across countries. We also show that success in increasing Internet adoption rates through policies to promote trust will depend on a country's current level of trust, such that differences in trust may produce a digital divide among nations. Since low-trust countries tend to be of low or middle income, this digital divide between countries may translate into a developmental divide.
Predictors of Success and Recidivism in a Home Incarceration Program

This study examines variables associated with a) successful completion and b) recidivism of a cohort of offenders sentenced to a home incarceration program in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Results show that the majority of offenders do successfully complete the program, but that a majority are also re-arrested within 5 years of completion. Offenders most likely to successfully complete the period of supervision are older, serve longer sentences, are sentenced for multiple charges, accrue fewer technical violations, come from less criminogenic neighborhoods and are serving a sentence for a DUI-related offense. Significant predictors of rearrest include being sentenced for multiple charges, accruing fewer technical violations while under supervision, and being younger, male and African American.
Answer to April 2014 Photo Quiz

Answer: Inflammatory tinea capitis. The differential diagnosis included acute bacterial abscesses, tinea capitis (kerion), seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, alopecia folliculitis, and psoriasis. Upon presentation, the patient was diagnosed with kerion, the most exaggerated cellular response to tinea capitis, a fungal infection of the scalp and hair shaft (1, 2). A patient's history and physical examination results are often used to make a clinical diagnosis; however, clinical diagnosis is often unreliable, making laboratory confirmation necessary (3, 4). Specimens should be aspirated for a superior sample or collected via the toothbrush or cotton swab method, which involves rubbing the respective sterile object over the lesions and sending it to the laboratory for evaluation (5, 6). Microscopic evaluation using 10 to 20% potassium hydroxide, with or without a fungal stain, such as calcofluor white for enhancement of hyphal elements, should be performed (3). Additionally, cultures should be sent, due to the potential for false negatives with the use of potassium hydroxide smears in patients with early or inflammatory tinea capitis (2). Specimens should be plated on one medium containing cycloheximide, such as dermatophyte test medium, and one medium without cycloheximide. Dermatophyte test medium changes from yellow to red in the presence of dermatophytes, including Microsporum canis and Trichophyton tonsurans, the pathogens most often implicated in tinea capitis. Confirmatory cultures may require a 3- to 4-week incubation period, and treatment should be initiated immediately for all patients for whom there is a high level of suspicion. Treatment requires systemic therapy, due to inadequate absorption of topical therapeutic agents into the hair shaft (1, 4). Currently, griseofulvin at 20 to 25 mg/kg of body weight/day is considered the gold standard treatment for tinea capitis, although treatment with newer agents such as itraconazole and terbinafine may be as effective (2). Mycological cure rates for a 6- to 8-week treatment course range from 70 to 100%, depending on dose, duration, and causative organism. Adjunctive therapeutic agents, such as 2% ketoconazole or 1% selenium sulfide shampoo, are effective at reducing the risk of transmission once oral therapy has been initiated by reducing the keratin food source for the fungus. Initial stains demonstrated hyphae, and cultures subsequently grew out Trichophyton tonsurans. The patient had been empirically started on griseofulvin at 500 mg daily with dinner and 1% selenium sulfide shampoo nightly and was to return to clinic in 4 weeks for a follow-up. (See page 1027 in this issue [doi:10.1128/JCM.00020-13] for photo quiz case presentation.)
BLACK-OWNED BANKS: A SURVEY OF ISSUES

This study reviews selected issues related to the role that black-owned banks can play in contributing to the economic development of low-income, minority communities. Given their paucity in numbers, their lack of size, and their financial weaknesses, they have yet to demonstrate that they can serve as an important engine of growth for their communities. Also, for over 150 years, it has been argued that black-owned banks are needed because of discrimination by financial institutions against black customers. Various studies give conflicting results, but so far there is no conclusive evidence that lending discrimination exists. To encourage bank lending to low-income communities, the Community Reinvestment Act was enacted. Some black-owned banks however, have complained that the Act encourages unfair competition from other banks for the same loan customers. Hence, the case for an essential role for black-owned banks has yet to be made decisively. Evidence, however, suggests that their profitability and efficiency improves with time. Hence, in the future, with greater experience, black-owned banks may play a more important role in their communities.
Applications of Educational Measurement: Is Optimum Optimal?

What would you do if you were asked to design an “optimal” school testing program, but had doubts about the criteria to apply? What strategies might help us make more use of performance assessment and computer-adaptive testing in district-level testing programs? Can an NCME President be whimsical when delivering her presidential address?
FPGA Prototyping of a Two-Phase Self-Oscillating Micropipeline

This paper presents a novel asynchronous pipeline based on two-phase handshake driven by an oscillation network embedded in each stage of the pipeline. The simplicity of the handshaking protocol stems from the requirement that all pipeline stages must have equal delay. This pipeline has been prototyped on a Xilinx Spartan FPGA to demonstrate the feasibility of asynchronous circuits on current FPGAs. Prototyping results show that this pipeline is highly suitable for coarse-grain logic
Identifying contact formations in the presence of uncertainty

The efficiency of the automatic execution of complex assembly tasks can be enhanced by the identification of the contact state. In this paper we derive a new method for testing a hypothesized contact state using force sensing in the presence of sensing and control uncertainty. The hypothesized contact state is represented as a collection of elementary contacts. The feasibility of the elementary contacts is tested by solving a linear program. No knowledge of the contact pressure distribution or of the contact forces is required, so our method can be used even when the contact forces are statically indeterminate. We give a geometric interpretation of the contact identification problem using the theory of polyhedral convex cones. If more than one contact state is feasible, we use the geometric interpretation to determine the likelihood of each feasible contact formation.
Current epidemiological trends and surveillance issues in brain tumors

The absence of an overall increase in incidence rates for all primary brain tumors since the 1950s argues against a recently introduced environmental tumorigen impacting these tumors. Historical increases in brain cancer mortality and incidence rates appear to be leveling off following the widespread introduction of CT and MRI scans, indicating that increases in overall rates of malignant tumors are likely to be an artifact of diagnosis and reporting issues. Further studies are needed to understand those tumor types with rates that do appear to be increasing among adults; specifically lymphomas, nerve sheath tumors, pituitary tumors and ependymomas. Patterns of incidence by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and seasonal and regional variation would assist in directing relevant new research questions. Filling in the gap of information on patterns for prevalent, second primaries and metastatic tumors may be useful in understanding the public perception regarding brain tumor rates and would be a valuable addition to healthcare planning tools.
THE POLITICS OF FUNCTIONAL REALIGNMENT: CONSOLIDATING WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN AN URBAN COUNTy

One possible solution to the fiscal problems confronting many American cities is structural reform-changing the patterns of responsibility for delivering urban services. This research assesses the possibilities of functional realignment through transferring responsibility from city governments in metropolitan areas to county governments. Based on findings in Pima County. Arizona, we conclude that functional realignment in metropolitan areas is a consequence of political bargaining.
Double‐blind, placebo‐controlled comparison of Auralgan and Americaine for the treatment of otalgia associated with Otitis Media in children

Introduction Acute Otitis Media (AOM) is a common, painful disease often treated with topical analgesics, with or without systemic analgesics or antibiotics based on few published studies. Methods Consenting parents of assenting children (0.5 to 16 yrs) with painful AOM were randomized to topical treatment with either Auralgan (AU), Americaine (AM), or placebo (PBO). Parents or children (>4) rated pain on a 4 point categorical pain scale (no pain to a lot) at intervals prior and 48 hours after starting treatment. Compliance was assessed by diary entries and returned medications. Results 43 subjects were randomized and 41 were evaluable (11/10 PBO, 14/13 AU and 18/18 AM). Baseline pain scores were “medium” in 18 and “a lot” in 23. There were good pain relief with no statistically significant group differences. Results trended in the order AM>AU>PBO only for the first 4 hours in a) all children over age 4 regardless of baseline pain b) and all aged children with less than “a lot” of baseline pain. All children over 4 years of age reported some pain relief. Only one child, treated with PBO, had even a temporary increase in pain after use and compliance was good. Conclusion Further studies are needed with other pain assessment tools to determine whether topical analgesics, or their excipients alone, produce meaningful pain relief in children with AOM. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P74–P74; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.280
Microsatellite Genetic Structure and Cytonuclear Discordance in Naturally Fragmented Populations of Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)

The Great Lakes impose high levels of natural fragmentation on local populations of terrestrial animals in a way rarely found within continental ecosystems. Although separated by major water barriers, woodland deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis) populations on the islands and on the Upper Peninsula (UP) and Lower Peninsula (LP) of Michigan have previously been shown to have a mitochondrial DNA contact zone that is incongruent with the regional landscape. We analyzed 11 microsatellite loci for 16 populations of P. m. gracilis distributed across 2 peninsulas and 6 islands in northern Michigan to address the relative importance of geographical structure and inferred postglacial colonization patterns in determining the nuclear genetic structure of this species. Results showed relatively high levels of genetic structure for this species and a significant correlation between interpopulation differentiation and separation by water but little genetic structure and no isolation-by-distance within each of the 2 peninsulas. Genetic diversity was generally high on both peninsulas but lower and correlated to island size in the Beaver Island Archipelago. These results are consistent with the genetic and demographic isolation of Lower Peninsula populations, which is a matter of concern given the dramatic decline in P. m. gracilis abundance on the Lower Peninsula in recent years.