cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statistical Inference with Data-Dependent Treatment Allocation Rules

Abstract In comparing two treatments with dichotomous responses, the randomized play-the-winner rule (Wei and Durham 1978) tends to assign more study subjects to the better treatment. For ethical reasons, this property is desirable for studies on human subjects. The randomized play-the-winner rule, which is a modification of Zelen's play-the-winner rule (Zelen 1969), is not deterministic and is less vulnerable to experimental bias than other adaptive designs. Recently, this design has been used in a trial to evaluate extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for treating newborns with respiratory failures at the University of Michigan. In this article, exact conditional, exact unconditional, and approximate confidence intervals for the treatment difference are studied from a frequentist point of view with the randomized play-the-winner rule. For small and moderate-sized trials, the exact unconditional procedures perform much better than the conditional ones because of the adaptive nature of the designs. ...
A study of phospholipase a inhibition by glycerophosphatide analogs in various systems

Abstract The effects of several synthetic lecithin and cephalin analogs containing ether, phosphonate and/or phosphinate moieties on the phospholipase A reaction were studied, using A. piscivorus venom as the enzyme source. A variety of systems was used, including aqueous, ether-activated, and deoxycholate-activated reactions. The effects of the phosphonate analogs were variable and appeared to depend primarily on purely physical factors. However, a phosphinate analog of lecithin, C 18 H 37 ,OCH 2 CH(OC 16 H 33 )CH 2 P(O)(O − )CH 2 CH 2 N + (CH 3 ) 3 , was found to be a competitive inhibitor of Phospholipase A in all systems tried, with the exception of deoxycholate-activated reactions.
The effects of three halogenated alkanes on excitation and contraction in the isolated, perfused rabbit heart.

Abstract Two series of experiments were conducted to determine the effects of CBrF 3 , CBrClF 2 and CCl 2 F 2 on the isolated, perfused rabbit heart. Hearts were perfused through the aorta according to the modified method of Langendorff. Left ventricular mechanical activity was monitored concurrently with action potentials recorded from left ventricular myocardial fibers. In the first series, mechanical performance curves were determined for each of seven hearts using intraventricular balloons to control end diastolic pressure. The relative effectiveness of these compounds as negative inotropic agents was CBrClF 2 > CCl 2 F 2 > CBrF 3 . In the second series of experiments, hearts were exposed to increasing concentrations of each fluorocarbon. Controls were exposed to equivalent concentrations of N 2 . Exposure to increasing concentrations of CBrF 3 decreased peak left ventricular pressure ( P max ), the integral of the pressure curve ( P × T ), and the time to 20% repolarization of the action potential (AP-D 20 ). Exposure to increasing concentrations of CBrClF 2 reduced P max , the maximal rate of rise of the pressure curve ( dP dt max ), and P × T in a dose-related manner, and the AP-D 90 was prolonged. Exposure to increasing levels of CCl 2 F 2 decreased P max and dP dt max .
Low-pressure combustion of solid propellants.

Low pressure combustion of solid propellants noting extinction, aluminum concentration, oxidizer particle size, etc
Quasivelocities and symmetries in non-holonomic systems

This article is concerned with the theory of quasivelocities for non-holonomic systems. The equations of non-holonomic mechanics are derived using the Lagrange-d'Alembert principle written in an arbitrary configuration-dependent frame. The article also shows how quasivelocities may be used in the formulation of non-holonomic systems with symmetry. In particular, the use of quasivelocities in the analysis of symmetry that leads to unusual momentum conservation laws is investigated, as is the applications of these conservation laws and discrete symmetries to the qualitative analysis of non-holonomic dynamics. The relationship between asymptotic dynamics and discrete symmetries of the system is also elucidated.
Regulation of NHE3 by lysophosphatidic acid is mediated by phosphorylation of NHE3 by RSK2

Na+/H+ exchange by Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3) is a major route of sodium absorption in the intestine and kidney. We have shown previously that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a small phospholipid produ...
Brainstem Origins of Glutamatergic Innervation of the Rat Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus

Multiple lines of evidence document a role for glutamatergic input to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH) in stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. However, the neuroanatomical origins of the glutamatergic input have yet to be definitively determined. We have previously shown that vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) is the predominant VGLUT isoform expressed in the basal forebrain and brainstem, including PVH-projecting regions, and that the PVH is preferentially innervated by VGLUT2-immunoreactive terminals/boutons. The present study employed a dual-labeling approach, combining immunolabeling for a retrograde tract tracer, Fluoro-Gold (FG), with in situ hybridization for VGLUT2 mRNA, to map the brainstem and caudal forebrain distribution of glutamatergic PVH-projecting neurons. The present report presents evidence for substantial dual labeling in the periaqueductal gray, caudal portions of the zona incerta and subparafascicular nucleus, and the lateral parabrachial nucleus. The current data also suggest that relatively few PVH-projecting neurons in ascending raphe nuclei, nucleus of the solitary tract, or ventrolateral medulla are VGLUT2 positive. The data reveal multiple brainstem origins of glutamatergic input to PVH that are positioned to play a role in transducing a diverse range of stressful stimuli.
Implementation of Federal ECIA Block Grants to Education in Colorado.

Abstract This article describe the impact of the federal ECIA block grant program on Colorado school districts the Colorado Department of Education and private schools the reserarch is based on a two-year NIE funded study which assessed the intial and second fiscal year (1983) and (1984) block grant program impacts on education in colorado the paper describes the demographic socio economic and political setting of Colorado education the school district “win-lose” results and federal and redistribution resulting from anticedent program transition to block grants and selected LEA responses to the block grant proaram.
Spin-up and spin-down in rotating fluid exhibiting inertial oscillations and frontogenesis

Time-dependent, rotating flow in a finite depth of fluid is considered. Unbalanced initial conditions initiate flow in a shallow Ekman layer and in the inviscid interior, which is characterized by a state of zero potential vorticity. To determine the interior flow response to motion forced by the Ekman layer suction velocity, wB, an expansion of the flow to first-order in E1/2, where E is the Ekman number, is carried out. Frontogenesis, which occurs in both the baroclinic and barotropic parts of the geostrophic flow, modulates the inertial oscillation that enters at zero order. A baroclinic front (infinite relative vorticity) can occur in a finite-time, equal to or less than one-half the period of an inertial oscillation, πf−1 These fast-time processes are described in detail by Blumen (2000). Spin-up to the quasi-steady Ekman boundary layer solution also occurs during one-half the period of an inertial oscillation. Thereafter, wB varies on a slow-time scale, E−1/2f−1. Yet, a barotropic front may form in a finite-time if the initial anticyclonic relative vorticity exceeds f, a condition that favors nonlinear steepening in opposition to boundary layer dissipation. This analysis contributes to a theoretical understanding of the interplay between spin-down and frontogenesis in rotating fluid. Some values of the Ekman number, typical of mid-latitude flows, are introduced to compare theoretical predictions to observed conditions. It is concluded that the Ekman layer corrections are most likely smaller in magnitude than the magnitude of errors in current atmospheric wind measurement systems, and therefore, not verifiable. Oceanic flows are also difficult to measure at the required accuracy, and other processes compete with Ekman layer dissipation to explain slow-time spin-down in the oceans.
INTERSPECIFIC VARIATION IN GROWTH, BIOMASS PARTITIONING, AND DEFENSIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF NEOTROPICAL MANGROVE SEEDLINGS: RESPONSE TO LIGHT AND NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY

Seedlings of three mangrove species -Rhizophora mangle L., Avicennia germinans (L.) Steam., and Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f. -were subjected to different light and nutrient regimes in two separate growth chamber experiments. At higher nutrient or light availability, relative growth rate, leaf production, and branch growth differed significantly among species in the following order: Rhizophora < Avicennia < Laguncularia. At lower nutrient or light levels, however, species' differences were greatly minimized. Lower nutrient or light levels caused greater investment in root biomass by all species, whereas higher nutrient availability resulted in greater investment in leaf area and maximized species' differences in total leaf area, number of leaves, and leaf area ratio. Mangrove leaves also differed among species in quantity and composition of secondary compounds that may protect seedlings against herbivores or stress factors such as excessive solar radiation. Relative amounts of condensed tannins, gallotannins, and nitrogen were significantly affected by light and nutrient regimes, but patterns of response differed among species. The results indicate that these sympatric species differ substantially in their potential for growth, acquisition of resources, stress tolerance, and susceptibility to herbivores during the seedling stage, but that these characteristics are significantly modified by availability of resources.
Sebaceous Gland Secretion in Parkinson's Disease During L-Dopa Treatment

Sebum production was measured on the foreheads of 21 patients with Parkinson's disease before and during long-term L-dopa treatment. A statistically significant decrease in the amount of sebum was demonstrable during treatment although considerable variation in responsiveness was observed. No correlation between the dose of L-dopa and the degree of sebaceous gland inhibition could be established. The quantitative reduction of sebum could not be related to the degree of neurologic improvement.
Prediction of chocolate quality from near-infrared spectroscopic measurements of the raw cocoa beans

Abstract A large number of samples of chocolate from a wide range of cocoa beans were evaluated by a trained sensory panel. Analysis of the sensory data showed clear differences between cocoa from different geographical areas and due to different processing of the beans. The near-infrared (NIR) spectra of raw and roasted beans, chocolate mass and finished chocolate which corresponded with the chocolate samples in the sensory study were obtained. Analysis of the NIR data indicated similar discrimination of the samples, this being most apparent with raw bean samples and least with finished chocolate. Sophisticated mathematical and statistical procedures were used to modify and relate the two data sets and a correlation of 0.86 was shown to exist between the sensory data on the finished chocolate and the NIR data for raw beans. A predictive model was developed from the NIR data on raw beans which aimed at differentiating low quality samples from acceptable quality samples. The model identified 64% of low quality samples, while rejecting 20% of acceptable quality samples. In view of the uncertainty inherent in all sensory data this result is considered to hold great promise for the replacement of difficult and demanding sensory analysis by simple and reliable measurement of NIR absorption for the evaluation of cocoa and other commodities which are traded for their sensory properties.
Tissue culture propagation of tropical foliage plants

Procedures were established for clonal multiplication in vitro ofCordyline terminalis Kunth,Dracaena godseffiana Hort.,Scindapsus aureus Engler, andSyngonium podophyllum Schott. Shoot tips of actively growing terminals were selected as explants forCordyline andDracaena, and lateral buds were employed forScindapsus andSyngonium. The basal nutrient medium contained Murashige and Skoog salts, 3% sucrose, 100 mg per li-inositol, and 0.4 mg per l thiamine · HCl. The optima with respect to auxin, cytokinin, adenine sulfate · 2H2O, and NaH2PO4 · H2O addenda were determined. Also assessed were the influences of certain physical qualities of the nutrient medium and of the light intensity of the culture environment. The multiplication of each of the four plants was achieved by repeatedly subculturing the shoots that arose in vitro. Rates of plant increase per year per explant were calculated conservatively to be as follows:Syngonium, 5,000;Scindapsus, 100,000;Dracena, 300,000; andCordyline, 500,000.
Towards a Sustainable Natural Resource Management of Tribal Communities: Findings from a Study of Swidden and Wetland Cultivation in Remote Hill Regions of Eastern India.

/ Environmental degradation in many hill forest regions of Asia, inhabited by indigenous/tribal communities is growing at an unprecedented rate. The case of Orissa State in eastern India is no exception. The government is of the view that the local population is responsible for forest degradation as they practice swidden cultivation and forest gathering indiscriminately to sustain their livelihoods. Based on economic merit alone, the government has undertaken some policy initiatives. Such initiatives that are meant to stop swidden cultivation have not been successful. This study recommends an integrated framework for developing a sustainable natural resource management practice for tribal communities. The framework has taken into consideration both economic and noneconomic factors in evaluating various alternatives. Furthermore, it has been applied to two tribal communities in Orissa (Juang and Saora). Based on an economic analysis comparing returns from swidden as well as wetland cultivation, it is observed that where forest degradation is not serious, wetland cultivation does not have a significant economic merit vis-a-vis swidden cultivation. However, in view of the long-term sustainability issue within ecological limits, swidden cultivation may be phased out in favor of wetland cultivation with an appropriate transition period. During this transition, government must adopt suitable policy initiatives to provide tribals tenurial rights to land, help financially in creating settled lands through terracing, introduce certain improved agroforestry techniques and train tribal people in other income-generating activities. Furthermore, all such interventions made by the government should have a strong sociocultural component in order to attract the tribal people to give up swidden cultivation.
Annealing effects on the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline zinc ferrite

Abstract The effects of annealing on the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline ZnFe2O4 have been studied. The as-prepared sample ZnFe2O4 with the particle size of about 3 nm presents a relatively low blocking temperature of about 6 K as derived from the peak of the zero-field-cooled curve measured in a SQUID. Under the effect of annealing, the particle size significantly increases. Up to the annealing temperature of 800°C, the blocking temperature is found to increase with increasing particle size, whereas the (effective) anisotropy constant KA decreases. The latter effect is attributed to the smaller contribution of the surface anisotropy when the particle size increases.
Positivity-Preserving Well-Balanced Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for the Shallow Water Equations on Unstructured Triangular Meshes

The shallow water equations model flows in rivers and coastal areas and have wide applications in ocean, hydraulic engineering, and atmospheric modeling. In "Xing et al. Adv. Water Resourc. 33: 1476---1493, 2010)", the authors constructed high order discontinuous Galerkin methods for the shallow water equations which can maintain the still water steady state exactly, and at the same time can preserve the non-negativity of the water height without loss of mass conservation. In this paper, we explore the extension of these methods on unstructured triangular meshes. The simple positivity-preserving limiter is reformulated, and we prove that the resulting scheme guarantees the positivity of the water depth. Extensive numerical examples are provided to verify the positivity-preserving property, well-balanced property, high-order accuracy, and good resolution for smooth and discontinuous solutions.
Active Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting: General Principle and Experimental Demonstration:

In piezoelectric energy harvesting systems, the energy harvesting circuit is the interface between a piezoelectric device and an electrical load. A conventional view of this interface is based on impedance matching concepts. In fact, an energy harvesting circuit can also apply electrical boundary conditions, such as voltage and charge, to the piezoelectric device for each energy conversion cycle. An optimized electrical boundary condition can therefore increase the mechanical energy flow into the device and the energy conversion efficiency of the device. We present a study of active energy harvesting, a type of energy harvesting approach which uses switch-mode power electronics to control the voltage and/or charge on a piezoelectric device relative to the mechanical input for optimized energy conversion. Under quasi-static assumptions, a model based on the electromechanical boundary conditions is established. Some practical limiting factors of active energy harvesting, due to device limitations and the ef...
An Acetic Acid Solvate of Trimesic Acid That Exhibits Triple Inclined Interpenetration and Mixed Supramolecular Homosynthons

Triple inclined interpenetration between one-dimensional truncated and two-dimensional honeycomb networks occurs in the acetic acid solvate of trimesic acid (1:2 ratio of acetic acid to trimesic acid); the existence of mixed supramolecular homosynthons in this structure offers insights into crystal engineering involving carboxylic acids.
Misapplication of the name stachys nuttallii (Lamiaceae) to a new southeastern species

A recent study of Southeastern species ofStachys points out a problem involving the identity ofS. nuttallii Shuttlew. ex Bentham. Type material ofS. nuttallii is clearly representative of what is commonly known asS. riddellii House.S. riddellii of current authors must now be calledS. nuttallii, S. riddellii becoming a taxonomic synonym. However, no valid names have been uncovered in the literature that can be correctly applied to the species, primarily from the Blue Ridge Mountains, previously known to most botanists as “S. nuttallii.” These plants are described as a new species,Stachys eplingii.
Child Adjustment to Familial Dissolution: An Examination of Parental Factors Using a Self-Determination Theory Framework

Research on child adjustment to familial dissolution has been plentiful over the past few decades. However, the mechanisms regulating the process of child adjustment and the ways in which parental factors function to protect against or elevate the risk of child maladjustment are still little understood. We examine the existing literature through the lens of self-determination theory (SDT), a theory of motivation that proposes 3 universal psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). According to this model, the meeting of these needs is vital for well-being, whereas their thwarting may result in maladjustment. As parental divorce has the potential to undermine all 3 of children's needs, future research built on an SDT framework could help illuminate the processes by which parenting factors affect child adjustment to divorce.
Rayed bubbles in tektites

Abstract The discovery of thin rays extending outward from bubbles in indochinites and a moldavite adds another link to the evidence that tektites formed very quickly at high temperatures from terrestrial rocks, and cooled rapidly. The rays have a refractive index between 1.49 and 1.51, which is in the range of refractive index of albitic glass. The rays may be the result of explosive volatilization of a hydrous sodium aluminum silicate.
Deists, Papists and Methodists at London Debating Societies, 1749–1799

During the second half of the eighteenth century artisan debating societies were a popular entertainment in London, attracting both crowds and notoriety. Any man (and later woman) who paid sixpence could speak on questions of religion, politics, commerce and law. The popularity of debates on religion exemplifies features of the English Enlightenment, such as the centrality of religion, religious toleration and the progressive laicization of religion. Although most of the speakers were artisans, shopkeepers and clerks, some speakers of higher rank, including educated deists, Roman Catholics, Anglican clergymen and Methodists, came to practise oratory or to convert. The religious debates warrant notice for their evidence of the extent of free speech allowed. The evidence of religious proselytizing and the reactions of working-class audiences call into question the dangers of artisan debating alleged by contemporaries. A survey of the debates on religion indicates that the speakers who best used the debating societies to defend their cause were not the deists or the papists, but the Methodists. At the end of the eighteenth century the view of Methodists that emerged from the London debating societies was consonant with the Halevy-Semmel thesis that the Methodists weighed the balance against revolution in England.
Use of a catalyst layer for propane partial oxidation in solid oxide fuel cells

In most solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) designs the Ni-based anode acts as an effective catalyst for internal reforming. However, there are some SOFCs, e.g. segmented-in-series cells or ceramic anode cells, in which the anode may be less effective for internal reforming. In order to test this case, we have studied SOFCs supported on a thick ceramic layer. While these cells worked well with hydrogen fuel, the performance with propane-air mixtures was poor. The addition of a Ru-CeO2 catalyst layer to the support surface yielded much better performance in propane-air. The catalyst promoted propane partial oxidation at temperatures ≥500 °C without carbon formation. Gas diffusion limitations for the reformed fuel limited the performance at high temperature, e.g., ≈0.5 W/cm2 at 750 °C. The results are discussed based on calculated gas diffusion rates for different possible reaction pathways.
Dynamic pathways of −1 translational frameshifting

Spontaneous changes in the reading frame of translation are rare (frequency of 10(-3) to 10(-4) per codon), but can be induced by specific features in the messenger RNA (mRNA). In the presence of mRNA secondary structures, a heptanucleotide 'slippery sequence' usually defined by the motif X XXY YYZ, and (in some prokaryotic cases) mRNA sequences that base pair with the 3' end of the 16S ribosomal rRNA (internal Shine-Dalgarno sequences), there is an increased probability that a specific programmed change of frame occurs, wherein the ribosome shifts one nucleotide backwards into an overlapping reading frame (-1 frame) and continues by translating a new sequence of amino acids. Despite extensive biochemical and genetic studies, there is no clear mechanistic description for frameshifting. Here we apply single-molecule fluorescence to track the compositional and conformational dynamics of individual ribosomes at each codon during translation of a frameshift-inducing mRNA from the dnaX gene in Escherichia coli. Ribosomes that frameshift into the -1 frame are characterized by a tenfold longer pause in elongation compared to non-frameshifted ribosomes, which translate through unperturbed. During the pause, interactions of the ribosome with the mRNA stimulatory elements uncouple EF-G catalysed translocation from normal ribosomal subunit reverse-rotation, leaving the ribosome in a non-canonical intersubunit rotated state with an exposed codon in the aminoacyl-tRNA site (A site). tRNA(Lys) sampling and accommodation to the empty A site and EF-G action either leads to the slippage of the tRNAs into the -1 frame or maintains the ribosome into the 0 frame. Our results provide a general mechanistic and conformational framework for -1 frameshifting, highlighting multiple kinetic branchpoints during elongation.
Effect of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives on urinary corticosteroid sulfate excretion.

Abstract The excretion of corticosteroid sulfates and free cortisol in urine, and the total plasma cortisol, have been determined in 41 women receiving an estrogen-containing oral contraceptive and 53 age-matched female controls. The contraceptive steroids caused increases in the urinary corticosteroid sulfates and plasma cortisol similar to those observed in pregnancy; urinary free cortisol was unchanged.
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus associated with danazol

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus developed in a young woman 8 weeks after the initiation of danazol for treatment of pelvic endometriosis. After discontinuation of danazol the diabetes completely resolved. We suspect a possible cause-and-effect relationship, which has not previously been reported in the literature.
P02.124. A pilot randomized controlled trial of yoga for prediabetes

Methods We conducted an 8-week, randomized, waitlist controlled trial of yoga for prediabetes (diagnosed by two measures of fasting glucose between 100-125 mg/dl) in Bangalore, India. Forty-one participants were randomized to yoga (n=21, 1 lost to follow-up) or control (n=20, 2 lost to follow-up). All participants attended an 8-hour session on lifestyle changes. Participants in the yoga group also attended 3 to 6 hour-long yoga classes per week. Yoga classes included didactic training, postures and breathing exercises. We measured changes in prediabetes using a 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with a 2-hour post-prandial blood draw. Fasting glucose and insulin were used to calculate homeostatic model assessmentinsulin resistance (HOMA-IR); we also measured mood and perceived stress.
A spatial analysis of extreme hourly precipitation patterns in India

Station level hourly precipitation data from 1980 to 2002 spread across the Indian subcontinent were analysed for trends in extreme hourly precipitation events. The analyses were conducted for the main seasons of winter, dry-summer, and wet-summer monsoon seasons, respectively. The results of the study indicated rising trends in extreme heavy precipitation events, mostly in the high-elevation regions of the northwestern Himalaya as well as along the foothills of the Himalaya extending south into the Indo-Gangetic basin. In general, the lowest positive trends to slightly neutral to negative trends in extreme precipitation events were observed during the winter season, while stronger positive trends were found for both dry-summer and wet-summer monsoon seasons. Along the west coast, the southern part experienced a declining trend, whereas the northern section of the coast experienced an increasing trend of extreme precipitation events. Most of Deccan Plateau extending towards south central coastal regions of the subcontinent also experienced a positive trend in the occurrence of extreme heavy precipitation events. Furthermore, the trends affecting large, million-plus-population urban agglomerations were examined separately, and these trends were found to be pre-dominantly positive during dry-summer and wet-summer monsoon seasons, but showed neutral to negative trends during the winter season. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Baldwin, Paris, and the ‘conundrum of Africa’

James Baldwin often wrote about things as he saw them, his prose so limpid it achieved the paradoxical effect of showing that things were not always as they seemed. Early commentaries noted this fe...
The Bacteriophage λ Attachment Site in Wild Strains of Escherichia coli

The attachment site (attλ) of bacteriophage λ was examined in wild strains of Escherichia coli. Although the att region is non-coding, the DNA sequence was invariant in the 13 strains examined. Two other non-coding regions showed nine changes, all associated with a single strain. In four of 33 strains, sequences were inserted in or near the attλ site and in two of these the insert was related to λ. Among strains that can be lysogenized by λ, integration was via the attλ site in all cases. Some resistant strains can be lysogenized, and these have been termed ``lenient.'' Most of these fail to give normal phage yield after induction. In some cases rare lysogens have been formed in cells that belong to a mutant subpopulation.
A chronology for late prehistoric Madagascar.

Abstract A database has been assembled with 278 age determinations for Madagascar. Materials 14 C dated include pretreated sediments and plant macrofossils from cores and excavations throughout the island, and bones, teeth, or eggshells of most of the extinct megafaunal taxa, including the giant lemurs, hippopotami, and ratites. Additional measurements come from uranium-series dates on speleothems and thermoluminescence dating of pottery. Changes documented include late Pleistocene climatic events and, in the late Holocene, the apparently human-caused transformation of the environment. Multiple lines of evidence point to the earliest human presence at ca. 2300 14 C yr BP (350 cal yr BC). A decline in megafauna, inferred from a drastic decrease in spores of the coprophilous fungus Sporormiella spp. in sediments at 1720 ± 40 14 C yr BP (230–410 cal yr AD), is followed by large increases in charcoal particles in sediment cores, beginning in the SW part of the island, and spreading to other coasts and the interior over the next millennium. The record of human occupation is initially sparse, but shows large human populations throughout the island by the beginning of the Second Millennium AD. Dating of the “subfossil” megafauna, including pygmy hippos, elephant birds, giant tortoises, and large lemurs, demonstrates that most if not all the extinct taxa were still present on the island when humans arrived. Many taxa overlapped chronologically with humans for a millennium or more. The extinct lemurs Hadropithecus stenognathus , Pachylemur insignis , Mesopropithecus pithecoides , and Daubentonia robusta , and the elephant birds Aepyornis spp. and Mullerornis spp., were still present near the end of the First Millennium AD. Palaeopropithecus ingens , Megaladapis edwardsi , and Archaeolemur sp. (cf. edwardsi ) may have survived until the middle of the Second Millennium A.D. One specimen of Hippopotamus of unknown provenance dates to the period of European colonization.
The Effect of an Obesogenic Maternal Environment on Expression of Fetal Umbilical Cord Blood miRNA

Exposure to maternal obesity in utero predisposes offspring to obesity and metabolic disease. This study investigated whether maternal obesity is associated with alterations in expression of fetal microRNA (miRNA). A cohort study of women with body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2 (n = 16) versus those with normal BMI 20 to 24.9 (n = 20) was performed. All participants had normal glucose tolerance (1-hour glucose challenge test <130) and normally grown neonates (2700-3500 g). Umbilical cord samples were collected immediately after delivery. Expression of miRNA was assessed using Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 3.0 Arrays. Differential miRNA expression was determined using Student t tests with Benjamini-Hocherg correction. For 1733 human mature miRNAs, the expression levels were not statistically different in umbilical cord blood samples from pregnancies of obese women compared to controls. Expression of fetal miRNA is not altered in umbilical cord blood in response to in utero exposure to obesity. Alternate mechanisms underlying the fetal effects of maternal obesity should be explored.
Long term survival after resection for bronchogenic carcinoma

Of 915 resections for bronchogenic carcinoma over a 25-year period (1945-1969), 249 patients survived over 5 years; 127 of the patients eligible survived over 10 years, 61 over 15 years, and 22 over 20 years. The case material was divided into three time periods: 1945-49, 1950-59 and 1960-69, as well as by extent of resection. Lobectomy became the operation of choice, pneumonectomy being reserved for the more extensive lesions. Observed survival rates at 5, 10 and 15 years for 561 patients in the lobetomy series were 35, 22 and 15%, respectively, but strikingly increased to 41, 28 and 19% in the 1960-69 period. Observed rates for 354 patients having pneumonectomies were similar for three time periods, being 16, 8 and 6% at 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. Relative survival rates for the lobectomy series at 5, 10 and 15 years rose from 33, 28 and 26%, repectively, in the 1950-59 period to 50, 39 and 35% in the last time period, becoming a near horizontal curve segment after 5 years. Dominant factors in survival were extent of the lesion and stage of nodal involvement, histologic type and location being less significant.
Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Coumarin Anticoagulants XLII: Effect of Phenobarbital on Systemic availability of Orally Administered Dicumarol in Rats with Ligated Bile Ducts

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the previously demonstrated inhibitory effect of phenobarbital treatment on the systemic availability of orally administered dicumarol in rats is related to the known effect of phenobarbital on bile output. It was found that phenobarbital had no apparent effect on the systemic availability of an aqueous dicumarol suspension in rats with ligated bile ducts. Compared to results obtained previously on normal rats, bile duct-ligated rats absorbed and eliminated dicumarol much more slowly and absorbed much less of the anticoagulant. On the other hand, the relative inductive effect of phenobarbital treatment on dicumarol elimination was similar in normal and in bile duct-ligated animals. The latter exhibited substantial serum transaminase elevations, indicative of liver damage presumably secondary to cholestasis. These results demonstrate that a drug-drug interaction can depend markedly on the pathophysiological status of the animals.
An optical wireless power transfer system for rapid charging

A wireless energy transfer system for delivering power to the mobile portable devices in confined space using an optical antenna, a GaAs solar cell, and a DCDC converter is presented in this paper. The optical antenna fabricated with the solar cell, which can be embedded in the mobile device, will expedite the charging process due to the plasmonic electric field enhancement effect. DC-DC conversion circuits are designed to generate a required DC voltage from the solar cell. This system will achieve the safe and efficient wireless power transfer system in confined space. In this paper, the result is estimated to have 40 times more efficient energy transfer than the optical wireless energy transfer system without the optical antenna array.
High-temperature reaction of a Co2(CO)6-complexed propargyl cation

Abstract The novel high-temperature reaction of Co 2 (CO) 6 -complexed propargyl cations, occurring in the spontaneous and stereoselective (90–97% d , l- ) manner and yielding the radical dimers, d , l- 3,4-diaryl-1,5-hexadiynes ( 2 , 11 , 14 ), is described. Despite the alleged thermal lability and delicate nature of the requisite Co 2 (CO) 6 -complexed propargyl cations, the reaction temperature can be elevated from 20 °C to 147 °C, shortening the reaction time from 660 min to less than 1 min. Isotopic enrichment experiments detected (MS TOF/ESI/APCI) an incorporation of upto, eight 13 CO ligands into the metal core, suggesting a single electron, cluster-to-cluster reduction along the reaction coordinate. The reaction kinetics is found to be sensitive toward the electronic nature of the substituents (H, OMe) and to the substitution pattern (0-, 4-, 3,4,5-) on the periphery of the aromatic ring. Calculation data suggest that the spontaneous transfer of a single electron from the metal cluster, onto a π-bonded propargyl moiety, is dependent upon the negative charge on aromatic C 1 ′ carbon atom, located alpha to the cationic center. The spontaneous conversion of diamagnetic species (propargyl cation) to paramagnetic counterparts (propargyl radical) indicates that the π-bonded organometallic cations can act as the prototypes for transition metal-based thermal sensors. Their application in photochemical research, electronic devices, molecular electronics, and biomedical fields can also be envisioned.
Mössbauer study of the surface barrier to the diffusion of iron into aluminum

A layer of iron was deposited on the surface of an aluminum sample and its diffusion into the aluminum was then studied by means of the Mossbauer effect in57Fe. It was found that at high temperature the iron quickly combines with aluminum to form Fe4Al13, presumably in the form of a thin surface layer. The iron dissolves out of this phase and into the fcc solid solution very slowly at high temperature. This fact helps to account for the holdup of iron at the surface of aluminum as observed in tracer measurements of the diffusion of iron through aluminum.
Quantitative analysis of T cell homeostatic proliferation

T cell homeostatic proliferation occurs on transfer of T cells into lymphopenic recipients; transferred cells undergo several rounds of division in the absence of specific antigen stimulation. For a quantitative analysis of this phenomenon, we applied a mathematical method to describe proliferating T cells to match peak distributions from actual CFSE dilution data. For in vitro stimulation of T cells with anti-CD3/anti-CD28, our simulation confirmed a high proportion of cells entering cell cycle with a low proportion undergoing apoptosis. When applied to homeostatic proliferation, it described striking differences in CD4 and CD8 T cell proliferation rates, and accurately predicted that successive divisions were accompanied by higher rates of apoptosis, limiting the accumulation of proliferating cells. Thus, the presence of multiple CFSE dilution peaks cannot be considered equivalent to lymphocyte expansion. Finally, genetic effects were identified that may help explain links between homeostatic proliferation and autoimmunity.
Flow dependence of spin susceptibilities in superfluid 3 He

The flow dependence of spin susceptibilities in superfluid 3 He-A and -B is studied theoretically. It is shown that in the A phase хA∥, the component of the static spin susceptibility parallel to $$\hat d$$ , increases rapidly in the presence of mass current. A similar behavior is found for all components of хB, the susceptibility tensor of the B phase.
Epidermal growth factor-stimulated calcium ion transients in individual A431 cells: initiation kinetics and ligand concentration dependence.

Abstract The A431 epidermoid carcinoma cell line responds to epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation with a number of rapid changes, including alterations in free cytosolic calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i). At the single cell level, these changes in [Ca2+]i are known to proceed after a clear lag phase subsequent to EGF stimulus (Gonzalez et al., 1988). The present study explores the dependence on EGF concentration of this early [Ca2+]i signal. High levels of EGF (9.0-4.3 nM) produce a [Ca2+]i spike followed by an elevation of [Ca2+]i above basal levels. The time of initiation of the spike varies from 5 to 9 s at the high dose and from 8 to 32 s at the low dose in cells that respond. A lower level of EGF (1.5 nM) produces [Ca2+]i oscillations with no prolonged elevation over basal [Ca2+]i. The initiation of response at this [EGF] ranges from 20 to 410 s. Intermediate stimulus levels generate [Ca2+]i responses that are kinetic admixtures of these limiting responses. A simple model based on the enzymatically amplified signal cascade from ligand binding through Ca2+ release or influx is examined. The model predicts a prolonged lag phase followed by a rapid increase in the [CA2+]i signal that compares favorably with the data reported here.
A new species of Pyramica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mississippi, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT A new species of Dacetine ant, Pyramica subnuda new species, is described from Mississippi. The new species, known only from a single dealate queen, differs from most North American species of Pyramica in that it lacks spongiform tissue beneath the petiole and gaster and only has a reduced amount of spongiform tissue below the postpetiole. This species is provisionally placed in the schultzi group based on similarities of mandibular dentition, lack of spongiform tissue on the petiole, and other characters that define the group. Additionally, 6 new state records of ants in the genus Pyramica are reported for Mississippi: Pyramica abdita (Wesson and Wesson), P. filirrhina (Brown), P. inopina (Deyrup and Cover), P. margaritae (Forel), P. pergandei (Emery), and P. wrayi (Brown).
The forms and limits of prudence in Henry Clay's (1850) defense of the compromise measures

In this essay, Henry Clay's rhetorical performance during the 1850 compromise debate is read as an exercise in prudential action. The intent is to offer a grounded critical reading of the discursive instantiation of prudence. The essay argues that Clay both employs a particular idiom and enacts a particular form of prudential conduct: prudential accommodation. The rhetorical forms and practical limits of this prudential idiom are explored. This exploration kelps disclose an alternative prudential idiom—prudential audacity—within the Anglo‐American republican tradition.
Impact of nighttime and weekend liver transplants on graft and patient outcomes

Safety concerns have been raised about nocturnal and weekend patient care, but it is unknown if these issues effect liver transplantation. We sought to identify the impact of nighttime and weekend liver transplants on graft and patient survival. We utilized the United Network of Organ Sharing database to review adult liver transplants from 1987 to 2010. Comparisons were made between nighttime and daytime operations, and weekday and weekend operations. Cox proportional hazard ratios were determined at 30, 90 and 365 days post-transplant after controlling for relevant factors. 94,768 transplants were included in the analysis. Patient survival at 30, 90 and 365 days for nighttime operations was 96%, 93% and 86%. Patient survival at 30, 90 and 365 days for weekend operations was 95%, 92% and 86%. This was no different from daytime or weekday operations, respectively. Graft failure was unchanged at 30 and 90 days for weekend transplants, but was modestly increased at 365 days (HR: 1.05 (1.01-1.11). Graft survival was unaffected by nighttime transplant. Nighttime and weekend operations for liver transplantation do not impact patient or graft survival, testifying to patient safety measures in place.
Targeting Opportunities for Shared Police Services

Using New York municipalities as the units of analysis, we estimate a probit model examining the factors that drive the municipal decision to either maintain its own police force or rely on the county or state police for local policing. Our research considers how demographic changes over time may influence a municipality to eventually establish a police force, disband its existing force, or continue to rely on county or state law enforcement. The probit results are used to formulate a decision matrix to inform public policymakers as to what types of municipalities offer favorable opportunities for shared police initiatives. Results indicate that municipalities with a police force that are losing population and have income levels rising at an annual rate lower than the state average are prime candidates for shared police services. Municipalities that do not currently have a police force, are growing in population, and have income growth that outpaces the state average are also ideal for shared service targ...
The high temperature pyrolysis of acetylene 1400° to 2500° K

Abstract The pyrolysis of acetylene-argon mixtures has been investigated in the temperature range 1400° to 2500° K using shock wave heating. Time resolved emission and absorption spectra, measurements of reflected shock velocities, and analysis of the products of the reaction have been used to follow the rate of loss of acetylene. The average activation energy over the temperature range from 600° to 2500° K is approximately 39 kcal mole and there is evidence that the same mechanism is dominant over the whole range.
Role of genetic screening in identifying susceptibility to acute fatty liver of pregnancy

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a devastating disorder that can significantly affect the morbidity and mortality of both mother and fetus. This Viewpoint discusses the prevalence and implications of this disorder and examines the role of genetic screening in helping to identify patients at risk for this disease.
Acculturation and overweight-related behaviors among Hispanic immigrants to the US: the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

Little is known about the factors underlying the striking increase in overweight occurring between first and second generation US immigrants. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study addressed two goals. First, we determined which measures of acculturation (defined as the acquisition of dominant cultural norms by members of a non-dominant group) were important. Second, we determined how the acculturation process affected differences in overweight and its proximate determinants (e.g., physical activity, diet, and smoking) as immigrants acculturated to American society. In addition, we sought to elucidate the role of underlying structural factors (e.g., family income and crime) and acculturation factors (e.g., language spoken at home and proportion of foreign-born neighbors) in generation differences in overweight. Results showed clear structural and acculturation differences between foreign and US-born immigrants to the US. Foreign-born immigrants were more likely to have lower family income and maternal education, and to live in areas of higher immigrant density and greater linguistic isolation. In addition, results suggested rapid acculturation of overweight-related behaviors, such as diet, smoking, and inactivity, in US-born relative to foreign-born immigrants. Multivariate analysis indicated that longer US residence was associated with increased overweight among Puerto Ricans and Cubans. Predicted probabilities showed that controlling for acculturation and proximate factors increased overweight among foreign-born adolescents, but had minimal impact for US-born adolescents. Thus, without the beneficial pattern of: acculturation factors, diet, and physical activity, first generation Hispanic adolescents would have higher overweight prevalence. We found important generation differences in structural, acculturation, and proximate overweight determinants. These lifestyle differences between foreign- and US-born Hispanic adolescent immigrants are likely to underlie the striking increase in overweight prevalence between first and subsequent generation of US residence.
Two 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic regions in different Treponema pallidum subspecies contain tRNA genes.

The 16S-23S intergenic spacers of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, Nichols strain, and Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, Gauthier strain, have been cloned, characterized and sequenced. Isoleucine and alanine tRNA genes have been identified within the 16S-23S intergenic regions on separate alleles of 293 and 303 bases, respectively. The two alleles are present in both T.p. pallidum and T.p. pertenue, and show no sequence differences between the bacterial subspecies. The ile-tRNA and ala-tRNA genes show 65% and 84% sequence identity, respectively, with the homologous genes of the related spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi.