cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dietary or supplemental fermentable fiber intake reduces the presence of Clostridium XI in mouse intestinal microbiota: The importance of higher fecal bacterial load and density.

Objectives Clostridium difficile infection is a public health concern. C. difficile was found in healthy human intestine as a member of Clostridium XI. Because soluble fermentable fiber ingestion affects intestinal microbiota, we used fiber-containing diets to determine the intestinal microbial condition that could reduce the presence of Clostridium XI. Methods Newly weaned male mice were assigned to three published diets: Control AIN-93G purified diet with only poorly fermented cellulose; Control plus 5% purified fermentable fiber inulin; Chow with wheat, soybean and corn that provide a mixture of unpurified dietary fibers. Methods were developed to quantify 24-hour fecal microbial load and microbial DNA density. The relative abundance of bacterial genera and the bacterial diversity were determined through 16S rRNA sequence-based fecal microbiota analysis. Results Mice adjusted food intake to maintain the same energy intake and body weight under these three moderate-fat (7% w:w) diets. Chow-feeding led to higher food intake but also higher 24-h fecal output. Chow-feeding and 1–8 wk ingestion of inulin-supplemented diet increased daily fecal microbial load and density along with lowering the prevalence of Clostridium XI to undetectable. Clostridium XI remained undetectable until 4 weeks after the termination of inulin-supplemented diet. Fermentable fiber intake did not consistently increase probiotic genera such as Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus. Chow feeding, but not inulin supplementation, increased the bacterial diversity. Conclusions Increase fecal microbial load/density upon fermentable fiber ingestion is associated with a lower and eventually undetectable presence of Clostridium XI. Higher bacterial diversity or abundance of particular genera is not apparently essential. Future studies are needed to see whether this observation can be translated into the reduction of C. difficile at the species level in at-risk populations.
Radar Sensing of Vital Signs in Assisted Living Applications

In order to be accepted by users, one of the most important requirement for any assisted living technology is unobtrusiveness. This is particularly true when this technology is intended for continuous monitoring of vital signs, since traditional approaches require the subject to be tethered to measurement devices. The radar sensing is a very promising technology, enabling the measurement of vital signs at a distance, and thus meeting both requirements of unobtrusiveness and accuracy. In particular, impulse-radio ultra-wideband radar has attracted considerable attention in recent years thanks to many properties that make it useful for assisted living purposes. The aim of this paper is to investigate such radar technology for vital signs monitoring in assisted living scenarios. An algorithmic framework for the detection of respiration and heart rates during various activities of daily living is presented, including a method for compensation of movements of both the monitored subject and a second person present in the same environment (e.g., family member, caregiver, etc.). Experiments are carried out in various conditions that can be frequently encountered in assisted living scenarios. The reported results show that vital signs can be detected also while carrying out ADLs, with accuracy varying according to the level of movements and kind of involved body’s parts and postures.
Marpa's commands in the Milarepa Life Story

In the Milarepa Life Story the Buddhist teacher Marpa issues many commands to his student, Milarepa, his wife, Dakmema, and his co-religionist, Lama Ngokpa. In these commands the co-occurrence of the imperative stem (skul tshig) and a given pronoun or vocative (khyod, bu, rang re, etc.) indicates a varying level of distance between himself and the addressee. Marpa's speech is also nuanced by the use of pronouns, vocatives, and nicknames across a variety of registers. Marpa's interlocutors, however, invariably use honorific titles and the deferential verb zhu ba to make their requests. The contrast highlights Marpa's authority, as his speech alone determines how close he is with an interlocutor at a given time.
A Novel Approach to the Measurement and Characterization of Losses due to Surface Roughness in High Speed Transmission Lines

An accurate measurement technique is required to fully characterize the losses observed at high frequencies in transmission lines. Evaluation of losses seen at high frequencies is necessary to meet the high-speed data transfer rates that future applications will demand. Conductor properties and losses are two critical issues in signal path characterization. The nature of conductor losses is not well understood at high speeds. Classical models used for predicting the effects of surface roughness on signal propagation are known to breakdown around 5 GHz. Novel methods are sought to quantify the effects beyond 5 GHz. In this paper, a simple methodology to extract conductor loss is derived and validated based on a stripline configuration of two different widths. The proposed methodology is applicable to surface roughness loss characterization of both organic and ceramic packaging materials.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Fifth Edition Ancillary and Complementary Index Critical Values and Base Rates for the Normative Sample.

An area of particular importance when examining index scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fifth Edition (WISC-V) is the utilization and interpretation of critical values and base...
Disparities in the Use of Adjuvant External Beam Radiation Therapy in Node-positive Cervical Cancer Patients Following Hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the use of adjuvant external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) among patients with early-stage cervical carcinoma metastatic to regional lymph nodes (LNs). MATERIALS AND METHODS The National Cancer Database was accessed and patients with early-stage cervical carcinoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were identified. Those with regional LN metastases who had a hysterectomy were selected and administration of adjuvant EBRT was evaluated. Travel distance from the reporting facility was categorized into short ( 49.9 miles). RESULTS A total of 3436 patients met the inclusion criteria; the rate of EBRT use was 69.7%. Black women were less likely to receive EBRT compared with white (64.2% vs. 70.6%, P=0.037), while patients who had radical hysterectomy were more likely to receive EBRT compared with those who had simple hysterectomy (72.6% vs. 66%, P<0.001). Rates of EBRT administration for patients who traveled short distance was 74.3% compared with 68.9% and 56.9% for those who traveled intermediate and long distance, respectively (P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, patients who traveled long (odds ratio: 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36, 0.54) or intermediate (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.86) distances were less likely to receive EBRT. After controlling for age, race, insurance, presence of comorbidities, stage, histology, and type of hysterectomy, omission of EBRT was associated with worse survival (hazard ratio: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.78). CONCLUSIONS A large percentage of patients with early-stage cervical cancer and positive LNs did not receive EBRT following hysterectomy. Black women were less likely to receive EBRT than white women. Travel burden may negatively influence appropriate treatment.
Local Skin Flaps for Lower Extremity Wounds

In the absence of extensive local trauma, edema, or radiation injury, local flaps may be a reasonable option for lower extremity reconstruction. When the defect is large and deep, a muscle flap may be required to obliterate the dead space, but when the defect is limited in its size and complexity, a local fasciocutaneous flap may suffice. These flaps can be elevated and positioned using a number of techniques described in this chapter.
Analysis on the Maximum Leading Phase Operation Capability of Pumped Storage Units in Leading Power Factor Test

In order to improve the accuracy of the maximum leading phase operation capability assessing of pumped storage units, a novel calculation method considering three restrictive factors of power angle, stator current and terminal voltage is proposed. Under power generation and pumping work conditions, the maximum leading phase operation capability is analyzed, and the influence of transformer tap position on the maximum ability is studied as well. Taking a 300MW pumped storage unit as an example, the Q-PV three-dimensional surface of maximum leading phase operation ability changing with the system voltage and active power are shown in the picture. Under the typical working conditions, theoretical calculation results are basically consistent with the testing data, which validates the correctness and practicability of the proposed method.
Shifting the balance between foraging and predator avoidance: the importance of food distribution for a schooling pelagic forager

It is widely held that when predator avoidance conflicts with other activities, such as feeding, avoidance of predators often takes precedence. In this study, we examine how predation risk and food distribution interact to influence the schooling behavior and swimming speed of foraging juvenile walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma. Fish were acclimated to either spatially and temporally clumped, or spatially and temporally dispersed food for 3 weeks. Fish were then monitored while feeding in the absence and presence of predatory sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria. Fish foraging for clumped food swam rapidly in a loose school when predators were absent, but swam more slowly and adopted more cohesive schooling in the presence of predators, trading-off foraging opportunity for decreased vulnerability to predators. Fish foraging for dispersed food swam about slowly and did not engage in cohesive schooling in either the absence or presence of predators. These fish accepted greater predation risk in order to continue foraging, suggesting that the cost of schooling, in terms of decreased foraging opportunity, was greater when food was dispersed than when it was clumped. This lower responsiveness to predators among fish receiving dispersed food demonstrates that predator avoidance does not always take precedence over other activities, but rather, that a balance is maintained between predator avoidance and feeding, which shifts as food distribution changes.
Liturgical texts relating to Council of Ephesus (12 Tût)

A good number of studies appear in the field of Church History dealing with the council of Ephesus considered as the third ecumenical council. In this paper, we will study the date of this council that occurs in the liturgical books. We will provide the reader with the relating liturgical texts.
MRI Radiomic Features to Predict IDH1 Mutation Status in Gliomas: A Machine Learning Approach using Gradient Tree Boosting

Patients with gliomas, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status have been studied as a prognostic indicator. Recent advances in machine learning (ML) have demonstrated promise in utilizing radiomic features to study disease processes in the brain. We investigate whether ML analysis of multiparametric radiomic features from preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can predict IDH1 mutation status in patients with glioma. This retrospective study included patients with glioma with known IDH1 status and preoperative MRI. Radiomic features were extracted from Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) and Diffused Weighted Imaging (DWI). The dataset was split into training, validation, and testing sets by stratified sampling. Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was applied to the training sets. eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) classifiers were trained, and the hyperparameters were tuned. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), accuracy, and f1-scores were collected. A total of 100 patients (age: 55 ± 15, M/F 60/40); with IDH1 mutant (n = 22) and IDH1 wildtype (n = 78) were included. The best performance was seen with a DWI-trained XGBoost model, which achieved ROC with Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.97, accuracy of 0.90, and f1-score of 0.75 on the test set. The FLAIR-trained XGBoost model achieved ROC with AUC of 0.95, accuracy of 0.90, f1-score of 0.75 on the test set. A model that was trained on combined FLAIR-DWI radiomic features did not provide incremental accuracy. The results show that a XGBoost classifier using multiparametric radiomic features derived from preoperative MRI can predict IDH1 mutation status with > 90% accuracy.
Applying topographic features for identifying speed patterns using the example of critical driving

Finding the right features represents an essential part when trying to identify patterns in spatiotemporal signals. This paper describes the concept of using the topographic properties prominence and isolation for recognizing critical driving patterns in speed signals. Experiments show that both features can help identify specific driving segments in the users' speed data such as harsh acceleration, abrupt braking as well as over-speeding phases.
The neocoloniality of who cares: US underinvestment in medical education exacerbates global inequities

The US has chronically underinvested in medical education and relies on the annual recruitment of thousands of foreign trained healthcare professionals from nations with far greater unmet healthcare needs. This bears partial responsibility for the dire situation India finds itself in during the pandemic, write Eric Reinhart and Eram Alam
Overwintering Population Dynamics of Centropomus undecimalis in St. Lucie River

Sixty-one common snook caught in the Indian River Lagoon by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) were measured, sexed, implanted with a Vemco acoustic transmitter, and released so their movement could be tracked. Snook were clustered based on movement between river systems during spawning and non-spawning seasons, resulting in four clusters: Resident, Spawning Transient, Overwintering Transient, and Traveler. Sex and length of individuals were compared between clusters using ANOVA to determine if these characteristics influenced movement strategy. Resident and Traveler snook had the most even sex ratio compared to other movement strategies. The majority of snook were categorized as Travelers but Spawning Transient snook had the highest mean length. It couldn’t be concluded that St. Lucie estuary serves as a significant overwintering habitat particularly for large, female snook, possibly due to small sample size.
Considering the value of online support groups for colorectal conditions: perspectives from caregivers and adult patients

To evaluate the benefits of participating in an online support group for caregivers of children with a colorectal condition or adult patients with a similar condition. An electronic survey was administered to members of an international online support group (18 items for caregivers; 15 for patients). Items included demographics, medical diagnosis, potential benefits, and overall experiences in the group. Quantitative results were summarized as descriptive trends, while qualitative responses were summarized thematically. Respondents (102 caregivers, 6 patients) were primarily female, 35–44 years old, Caucasian, and resided in the United States. Most respondents learned about the support group from medical providers or online search. Cited benefits included learning information, gaining support, forming connections through shared experience, and utilizing a unique resource. Being a member of the group was helpful to respondents, improved their mental health and access to health information, and they would recommend the group to others. Participation in online support groups offers educational and emotional benefits to patients/caregivers which complements the medical support from their colorectal teams. Thus, colorectal providers need to be aware of the availability and potential benefits of these groups, and encourage their patients/caregivers to be actively involved.
Modeling molten droplet spreading and infiltration into non-isothermal thermal barrier coatings

Abstract Molten calcium-magnesium-alumino-silicate (CMAS) droplets impact and infiltrate porous thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) of gas turbines, thereby causing loss of strain tolerance and delamination of the ceramic topcoat. To develop efficient mitigation strategies, it is crucial to understand CMAS infiltration dynamics into the porous topcoat. An integrated model is introduced incorporating simultaneous droplet spreading, wetting interactions, heat transfer, and liquid infiltration with temperature-dependent viscosities in unsaturated porous media. The model is applied to CMAS droplet interactions with homogeneous/heterogeneous anisotropic TBC topcoats grown by the electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) method. Simulation results show that the droplet height and contact diameter dynamics exhibit three stages - initial-stage fast decrease, slow quasi-linear intermediate decrease, and late-stage fast decrease. The first two stages are dominated by the dynamics of infiltration. The initial temperature of the droplet has insignificant effect on the infiltration dynamics. Rather, the temperature gradient in the topcoat is critical to the infiltration rate. The anisotropy determines the final infiltration diameter and depth. Further, bilayer and multilayer coating structures with alternating fine and coarse columns can delay the infiltration rate and promote lateral spreading during the early stage of the droplet infiltration compared to single-layer structures. The results demonstrate that heterogeneous structures provide a viable approach to mitigate fast infiltration and reduce damage to the TBCs during the early stage of droplet infiltration.
Acute silencing uncovers multiple forms of activity-dependent neuronal survival in the mature entorhinal cortex

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by selective vulnerability of distinct cell populations; however, the cause for this specificity remains elusive. Many circuits that degenerate in disease are shaped by neural activity during development, raising the possibility that mechanisms governing early cell loss may be misused when activity is compromised in the mature brain. Here we show that electrical activity and synaptic transmission are both required for neuronal survival in the adult entorhinal cortex, but these silencing methods trigger distinct means of degeneration in the same neuronal population. Competition between active and inactive cells drives axonal disintegration caused by synaptic inhibition, but not axon retraction due to electrical suppression. These findings suggest that activity dependence may persist in some areas of the adult brain long after developmental critical periods have closed. We speculate that lifelong plasticity required to support memory may render entorhinal neurons vulnerable to prolonged activity changes in disease.
The Pressure-Gradient Equations of the Euler Systems

We establish the existence of a smooth solution in its elliptic region in the self-similar plane to the pressure-gradient system arisen from the wave particle splitting of the two-dimensional compressible Euler system of equations.
Inhibition of pristane-induced peritoneal plasmacytoma formation.

Unraveling the pathogenetic natural history of the PCT has proven to be complex and to involve several factors. The inducing agents, though chemically and physically different, are not obviously genotoxic, and it is reasonable to assume they exert their effects by slowly and persistently inducing a chronic inflammatory process. The nature of this chronic inflammation varies with the inducing agent. The genetic vulnerability of BALB/c B cells, however, is the important underlying factor in peritoneal plasmacytomagenesis (PCTGEN). It is the response of these cells to the unusual peritoneal environment that determines progression to neoplasia. Remarkably, despite both genetic susceptibility and acquisition of a myc-activating chromosomal translocation, other factors can interfere with plasma cell tumor formation. This paper will review the various methods for inhibiting PCTGEN and attempt to sketch models to show their interrelationship to the process of PCT development. These inhibitions include the refractoriness of pristane injected specific pathogen free (SPF) raised BALB/cAn, IL-6 deficient and BALB/c.CBA/N (Xid) mice; the inhibition of PCTGEN by indomethacin and the reduction of PCT development in conventionally raised BALB/c mice.
Thermal hyperalgesia in association with the development of morphine tolerance in rats: roles of excitatory amino acid receptors and protein kinase C.

In a rat model of morphine tolerance, we examined the hypotheses that thermal hyperalgesia to radiant heat develops in association with the development of morphine tolerance and that both the development and expression of thermal hyperalgesia in morphine-tolerant rats are mediated by central NMDA and non-NMDA receptors and subsequent protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine was developed in rats utilizing an intrathecal repeated treatment regimen. The development of morphine tolerance and thermal hyperalgesia was examined by employing the tail-flick test and paw- withdrawal test, respectively. Intrathecal MK 801 (an NMDA receptor antagonist), 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; a non-NMDA receptor antagonist), or GM1 ganglioside (an intracellular PKC inhibitor) treatment was given to examine the effects of these agents on the development and expression of thermal hyperalgesia in morphine- tolerant rats. Tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine was reliably developed in rats following once daily intrathecal (onto the lumbosacral spinal cord) injection of 10 micrograms of morphine sulfate for 8 consecutive days as demonstrated by the decreased analgesia following morphine administration on day 8 as compared to that on day 1. In association with the development of morphine tolerance, thermal hyperalgesia to radiant heat developed in these same rats. Paw- withdrawal latencies were reliably decreased in morphine-tolerant rats as compared to nontolerant (saline) controls when tested on day 8 before the last morphine treatment and on day 10 (i.e., 48 hr after the last morphine treatment). The coincident development of morphine tolerance and thermal hyperalgesia was potently prevented by intrathecal coadministration of morphine with MK 801 (10 nmol) or GM1 (160 nmol), and partially by CNQX (80 nmol). MK 801 (5, 10 nmol, not 2.5 nmol) and CNQX (80, 160 nmol, not 40 nmol), but not GM1 (160 nmol), also reliably reversed thermal hyperalgesia in rats rendered tolerant to morphine when tested 30 min after each drug treatment on day 10 (48 hr after the last morphine treatment). The data indicate that thermal hyperalgesia develops in association with the development of morphine tolerance and that the coactivation of central NMDA and non-NMDA receptors is crucial for both the development and expression of thermal hyperalgesia in morphine-tolerant rats. Furthermore, intracellular PKC activation plays a critical role in the development of thermal hyperalgesia in morphine-tolerant rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
On the Effect of Ti2AlC on the Formation of Thermally Stable Mg Nano Grains

When Mg or Mg-alloys are reinforced with T12AlC — using a simple pressureless melt infiltration method — the result is nanocrystalline, nc, Mg-matrix composites, with outstanding mechanical properties. As an added bonus, the nc Mg-matrix is extraordinarily thermally stable. When AZ61 is used to infiltrate the T12AlC preforms, ultimate tensile stresses of 800 MPa are achieved. The reasons that lead to the formation of the nc-Mg are as of yet not understood. In this study, the different composites' microstructures are investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. A correlation was found between the presence of oxygen and the nc Mg grains. Nanometer sized Mg grains were also found in between some of the T12AlC layers.
The Navigated Image Viewer – Evaluation in Maxillofacial Surgery

In this paper first results in clinical evaluation of a new mobile image viewing device are described. The system comprises a compact and mobile viewing device that can be tracked by an optical position sensor. It is capable of displaying reasonable parts of a medical image data set (i.e. CT) on its screen in relation to the spatial position regarding a patient. This article describes first results and application details in applying this viewing device to clinical indications in maxillofacial surgery.
HANDLING MARKET IMPERFECTIONS IN A SPATIAL ECONOMY: SOME EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS II

La economia brasilena, con diferencias significativas en la distribucion de la actividad economica entre sus regiones, se convierte en un desafio para los modelos que adoptan una estructura de mercado perfectamente competitiva. Este documento utiliza un modelo de equilibrio general computable interregional de la economia brasilena para analizar los impactos de largo plazo que resultan de cambios en la estructura de transporte y de economias escala sobre los niveles de bienestar regional y nacional. En particular, la estructura de costos del transporte se modela explicitamente como un margen mientras que las economias de escala se introducen para tratar de capturar la estructura de competencia imperfecta de la economia brasilena y algunos de los impactos potenciales de las relaciones centro-periferia que se encuentran en su estructura de produccion. Este trabajo complementa un estudio previo de Haddad y Hewings (2005) que se centro en las implicaciones a corto plazo de experimentos similares.
Modeling Packet Delay in Multiplexed Video Traffic

In this paper a Markov chain based characterization of a single video source is used to model multiplexed video traffic and the resulting packet delay. The multiplexed video stream of statistically identical sources is represented using a reduced order approximation of the superposed Markov generator matrix. It is shown that inadequate spectral content in the single source generator matrix is manifested as an underestimate of the packet delay probabilities for the multiplexed stream. A new method for simplifying the generator matrix for the multiplexed video stream that amply models its spectral content is given. The simulated and calculated results using the aforementioned model are shown be in good agreement.
Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect

PREFACE PART ONE: BEGINNINGS PART TWO: CONNECTION PART THREE: MINDREADING PART FOUR: HARMONIZING PART FIVE: SMARTER, HAPPIER, MORE PRODUCTIVE EPILOGUE
Perceptions of Role Definition Processes in School Psychology: A National Survey

Previous research and discussion has focused upon the role definition of school psychology by a multiplicity of role definers, discrepancies between actual and desired roles, and job satisfaction. ...
A Primer on Prejudgment Interest

If justice were immediate, there would never be an award of prejudgment interest. The injured party would immediately receive an enforceable judgment, with no loss from delay because of the time value of money. Because justice often takes many years to achieve, the laws of most U.S. jurisdictions provide that interest is added to the original judgment from the time of the injury to the date of judgment. Such interest, called prejudgment interest, plays an important role in expediting the resolution of disputes. In spite of the importance that prejudgment interest plays in the administration of justice, existing law provides trial court judges with nearly unfettered discretion in calculating prejudgment interest. That discretion has produced widely divergent results, seriously undercutting the law's goals of compensating the injured and deterring injurers. The paper describes how courts should go about calculating prejudgment interest. It suggests that prejudgment interest should be compounded and calculated at a floating rate that reflects the defendant's cost of unsecured borrowing.
Subclinical Prenatal Iodine Deficiency Negatively Affects Infant Development in Northern China

Although mild-to-moderate levels of iodine deficiency (ID) have been associated with poor cognitive outcomes in children, little is known about subclinical prenatal ID and infant development. In this study, the association between elevated cord blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) and infant development was examined in Northern China. Three groups of infants with elevated cord blood TSH were compared with infants with normal TSH levels on an information processing task at 7 mo, and in cognitive and motor developmental assessments at 13 mo. Infants with elevated TSH had poorer information processing skills and lower scores on the cognitive development index. There were no differences in motor abilities. Relationships between socioenvironmental factors and iodine status were assessed. Infants from more rural settings and those whose mothers had completed fewer years of schooling and had lower paying occupations had higher cord blood TSH levels. A regression analysis indicated that maternal education was predictive of cognitive performance among infants with elevated TSH but not control infants. The findings suggest that subclinical prenatal ID has negative effects on infant development and that, in some instances, maternal education may ameliorate these effects.
The Non-Conventional WACC With Risky Debt and Risky Tax Shield

In the traditional formulation of the WACC, the debt and the tax shield are risk-free. However, even though the debt is risk-free, the tax shield can be risky. Furthermore, both the debt and the tax shield can be risky. In this paper, we present the non-conventional weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for the single period binomial process with risky debt and risky tax shield, and derive the relevant formulas for the returns to the levered equity holder and the debt holder. Risk-free debt does not imply that the tax shield is risk-free. Unlike the traditional formulation, with the non-conventional WACC, the discount rate for the tax shield is not be restricted to two values, the risk-free rate rf and the return to unlevered equity rho. We make no prior assumption about the value of the discount rate for the tax shield psi. The value of psi depends on the riskiness of the tax shield. If the tax shield is risk-free, then the value of psi is equal to the risk-free rate rf. If the tax shield is risky, then the value of psi is simply higher than the risk-free rate rf. In particular, if the payoff structure of the tax shield is the same as the payoff structure for the levered equity holder, the value of psi is equal to the return to the levered equity holder. In Section One, we present the non-conventional WACC for the single period with the capital cash flow (CCF) rather than the free cash flow (FCF) and examine the traditional position, where both the debt and the tax shield are risk-free. In Section Two, we assume that both the debt and the tax shield are risky.
The New RGA Locus Encodes a Negative Regulator of Gibberellin Response in Arabidopsis thaliana

We have identified a new locus involved in gibberellin (GA) signal transduction by screening for suppressors of the Arabidopsis thaliana GA biosynthetic mutant ga1-3. The locus is named RGA for repressor of ga1-3. Based on the recessive phenotype of the digenic rga/ga1-3 mutant, the wild-type gene product of RGA is probably a negative regulator of GA responses. Our screen for suppressors of ga1-3 identified 17 mutant alleles of RGA as well as 10 new mutant alleles at the previously identified SPY locus. The digenic (double homozygous) rga/ga1-3 mutants are able to partially repress several defects of ga1-3 including stem growth, leaf abaxial trichome initiation, flowering time, and apical dominance. The phenotype of the trigenic mutant (triple homozygous) rga/spy/ga1-3 shows that rga and spy have additive effects regulating flowering time, abaxial leaf trichome initiation and apical dominance. This trigenic mutant is similar to wild type with respect to each of these developmental events. Because rga/spy/ga1-3 is almost insensitive to GA for hypocotyl growth and its bolting stem is taller than the wild-type plant, the combined effects of the rga and spy mutations appear to allow GA-independent stem growth. Our studies indicate that RGA lies on a separate branch of the GA signal transduction pathway from SPY, which leads us to propose a modified model of the GA response pathway.
Handbook of Sensor Networks: Compact Wireless and Wired Sensing Systems

In the interest of full disclosure, CRC Press is a member of the Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, and I am a co-contributor of one section in this book. At their best, handbooks are concise reference w...
Effects of deferoxamine and a diet deficient in vitamin E on isoelectric electroencephalographic responses associated with ischemia by the four vessel occlusion method.

Abstract This study reports the effects of subchronic administration of the iron chelator deferoxamine (4.2 mg/day by osmotic minipump for 6 days) and a diet deficient in Vitamin E (15% RDA for 60 days) on the isoelectric electroencephalographic responses associated with 15 minutes of global transient cerebral ischemia in rats. Brain levels of thiobarbiturate-reacting substance (TEARS), a measure of lipid peroxidation, were lower in deferoxamine-treated animals and higher in Vitamin E deficit animals suggesting the treatments altered free radical activity at the time of ischemia. During ischemia, all test animals were observed to lose the righting reflex and enter a quiescent state. Fifty percent of the animals in two control groups (N = 15 per group) demonstrated an isoelectric electroencephalographic pattern (defined as 10% or less of pre-ischemia total EEG power) with a mean onset of 5.44 minutes. One third of the animals treated with deferoxamine (N = 15) experienced an isoelectric encephalogram with a mean onset of 8.6 minutes and 73% of the Vitamin E-deficient group (N = 15) experienced an isoelectric EEG with a mean onset of 3.43 minutes. Following reperfusion, EEG patterns returned to power levels within 20% of pre-ischemia levels in all animals. Control animals obtained this EEG power level within 1.34 minutes, deferoxamine-treated animals within 1.25 minutes and animals provided a diet deficient in Vitamin E within 5.03 minutes. Compared to mean total EEG power prior to the onset of ischemia, mean total EEG power five days after reperfusion was reduced 14% in the control groups and 59% in the Vitamin E-deficient group and increased 123% in the deferoxamine group. Results are discussed in relation to the possible involvement of free radicals in the ischemic and postischemic process.
Reliable p-median facility location problem: two-stage robust models and algorithms

Abstract In this paper, we propose a set of two-stage robust optimization models to design reliable p -median facility location networks subject to disruptions. We analyze their structural properties, and implement the column-and-constraint generation method with customized enhancement strategies, which is more effective than Benders cutting plane method. Numerical experiments are performed on real data and management insights on system design are presented. In particular, our study demonstrates the strong modeling capability of two-stage robust optimization scheme by including two practical issues, i.e., demand changes due to disruptions and facility capacities, which receive little attention in reliable distribution network design research. Results show the significant influence of the demand change on the network configuration.
Coexistent choriocarcinoma and malignant mixed mesodermal tumor of the uterus.

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this article is to report a case of coexisting uterine choriocarcinoma and uterine malignant mixed mesodermal tumor (MMMT). The relevant literature is reviewed and possible pathogenesis discussed. Methods. The clinical course and histopathology of the case were reviewed and a Medline literature search for other cases was performed. Results. The patient's uterine tumor contained syncytiotrophoblastic and cytotrophoblastic cells that stained positively for the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin consistent with uterine choriocarcinoma. Pathology also revealed a second distinct neoplasm composed of adenocarcinoma admixed with sarcoma, compatible with a uterine MMMT. The patient experienced metastatic choriocarcinoma to her lungs, lymph nodes, and brain. She suffered a complicated clinical course and died 7 months after her initial diagnosis. The literature search revealed that various gynecologic and nongynecologic carcinomas with trophoblastic differentiation have been described, but an association with uterine MMMT has not been previously reported. Conclusions. Trophoblastic differentiation and choriocarcinoma associated with gynecologic and nongynecologic tumors is rare. We document the presence of uterine MMMT coexisting with uterine choriocarcinoma that followed an aggressive clinical course and review the possible pathogenesis of this lesion.
WEBERSAT: data analysis and dynamic behavior

Webersat has exhibited strange dynamic behavior as confirmed by telemetry; the spin rate has decreased from 5 to 0.05 rpm over the last year. The elongated shape of Webersat is noted to result in an unstable spin about the Z-axis. It is proposed that, in the future, spin-stabilized satellites should be designed to be short and fat about their spin axis rather than tall and thin. The Webersat space frame can be made to spin about the Z-axis if the masses are redistributed so as to produce an overall increase in the moment of inertia about the spin axis.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
FIBROGENESIS ALONG THE HEPATIC SINUSOIDS IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED CIRRHOSIS. AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY.

Abstract An ultrastructural investigation of CCl 4 -induced cirrhotic and control livers has indicated that fibroblastic proliferation and new collagen formation were the significant factors in the development of fibrosis in the livers of the CCl 4 -treated rats. There was no evidence that collapse or condensation of pre-existing hepatic stroma contributed to the formation of the fibrous bands. The newly formed collagen fibers could be distinguished from those of the pre-existing hepatic reticulum by morphologic features and structural associations. If these distinguishing characteristics pertain in human disease, the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis in the various forms of human cirrhosis could be assessed in terms of these structural parameters. In the CCl 4 -induced cirrhosis, certain sinusoids were widened and appeared as sites of intense fibroblastic proliferation and new collagen formation. In general, the new fibers were deposited in direct apposition to the flanking hepatic parenchymal cells, without the intervention of a recognizable basement membrane or space devoid of newly formed collagen. The fibers tended toward deposition in cross-orientated layers. The widened sinusoids invariably included proliferated biliary ductules.
A comparison of two tree-construction methods for obtaining proximity measures among words

Two methods are presented for constructing association trees, where the nodes are words and the edges are association links between these words. The links are numbered as they are inserted in the tree according to the strength of the association. Under one method one tree is constructed by adding to it one node at a time. Under the other method several subtrees may be constructed and linked together at a later stage. Mathematically, the two methods should yield the same structure. Fourteen Ss used both methods for constructing association trees, each of them having 24 adjectives as nodes. The results indicate no difference between the methods with regard to several gross statistics. A more refined analysis, which considers the numbering of the association links, exposes differences between the methods.
ALT Telomeres Borrow from Meiosis to Get Moving

Telomere clustering is required for the homologous recombination events that maintain chromosome ends in cells relying on alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). New data demonstrate that damage signaling at telomeres, a likely step in activating maintenance mechanisms, induces directional movement and synapsis driven by the machinery responsible for recombination in meiosis.
The role of large-amplitude motions in the spectroscopy and dynamics of H5+

Protonated hydrogen dimer, H5+, is the intermediate in the astrochemically important proton transfer reaction between H3+ and H2. To understand the mechanism for this process, we focus on how large amplitude motions in H5+ result in scrambling of the five hydrogen atoms in the collision complex. To this end, the one-dimensional zero-point corrected potential surfaces were mapped out as functions of reaction coordinates for the H3+ + H2 collision using minimized energy path diffusion Monte Carlo [C. E. Hinkle and A. B. McCoy, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 1, 562 (2010)]. In this study, the previously developed approach was extended to allow for the investigation of selected excited states that are expected to be involved in the proton scrambling dynamics. Specifically, excited states in the shared proton motion between the two H2 groups, and in the outer H2 bending motions were investigated. Of particular interest is the minimum distance between H3+ and H2 at which all five hydrogen atoms become free to exchange. In addition, this diffusion Monte Carlo-based approach was used to determine the zero-point energy E0, the dissociation energy D0, and excitation energies associated with the vibrational motions that were investigated. The evolution of the wave functions was also studied, with a focus on how the intramolecular vibrations in H5+ evolve into motions of H3+ or H2. In the case of the proton scrambling, we find that the relevant transition states become fully accessible at separations between H3+ and H2 of approximately 2.15 A, a distance that is accessed by the excited states of H5+ with two or more quanta in the shared proton stretch. The implications of this finding on the vibrational spectroscopy of H5+ are also discussed.
Spatial Thinking Across the College Curriculum: A Report on a Specialist Meeting

Abstract:This report presents findings from a specialist meeting of spatially-minded researchers and administrators from education and industry to consider prospects for introducing courses and curricula on spatial thinking in higher education. More than 40 participants explored the rationale for expanding student exposure to concepts, tools, and applications of spatial reasoning across a range of science, engineering, and humanities disciplines. The focus was on what we know and what we need to know to make the case for space, underscoring basic research on what is meant by spatial thinking and on variations in the spatial reasoning skills required in different domains of knowledge. The need for rigorous assessments of learning outcomes associated with different approaches to teaching spatial thinking was emphasized.
Optical network design with mixed line rates

Future telecommunication networks employing optical wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) are expected to be increasingly heterogeneous and support a wide variety of traffic demands. Based on the nature of the demands, it may be convenient to set up lightpaths on these networks with different bit rates. Then, the network design cost could be reduced because low-bit-rate services will need less grooming (i.e., less multiplexing with other low-bit-rate services onto high-capacity wavelengths) while high-bit-rate services can be accommodated on a wavelength itself. Future optical networks may support mixed line rates (say over 10/40/100 Gbps). Since a lightpath may travel a long distance, for high bit rates, the effect of the physical impairments along a lightpath may become very significant (leading to high bit-error rate (BER)); and the signal's maximum transmission range, which depends on the bit rate, will become limited. In this study, we propose a novel, cost-effective approach to design a mixed-line-rate (MLR) network with transmission-range (TR) constraint. By intelligent assignment of channel rates to lightpaths, based on their TR constraint, the need for signal regeneration can be minimized, and a ''transparent'' optical network can be designed to support all-optical end-to-end lightpaths. The design problem is formulated as an integer linear program (ILP). A heuristic algorithm is also proposed. Our results show that, with mixed line rates and maximum transmission range constraints, one can design a cost-effective network.
Purification and characterization of the Giardia lamblia double-stranded RNA virus.

Abstract The dsRNA virus which infects some strains of Giardia lamblia has been purified and characterized with respect to its effect on growth of the parasite. Extensive purification of the virus from G. lamblia growth medium was accomplished by Millipore filtration and two successive CsCl gradient centrifugations. The purified virus possessed a single major protein species of 100 000 molecular weight. Effects of the extensively purified virus on growth of the virus-free parasite were studied. A cloned WB strain, sensitive to the viral infection, and a cloned E-9/M strain, resistant to the infection, were studied. With the WB strain, infection can occur at a ratio as low as 10 viral particles per organism. As the virus to parasite ratio increased, the rate of growth of the parasite decreased and the percentage of parasites not adhering to the culture tube wall also increased. These nonadhering cells, which differed from the nonadhering cells under normal growth conditions, were unable to divide. They contained an average number of 500 000 viral particles per cell which may be the threshold intracellular density of viral particles arresting the growth of G. lamblia . The results also suggest that the specific consequence of viral infection, even at extremely high multiplicity of infection, is not lysis of G. lamblia trophozoites but cessation of growth.
Residual stress measurements in alumina and silicon carbide

Residual stresses were measured in three types of ceramic components. Stresses were measured using X-ray diffraction and an advanced X-ray instrument. Measured stresses in alumina rods were shown to correlate well with breaking strength, and stress variations in an alumina tile were hypothesized to result from inhomogeneous cooling. The compressive stresses induced in a silicon carbide tube, by an outer steel sleeve, were seen to be balanced by tensile stresses in the sleeve.