cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Commentary on Bankruptcy Reform

In this Commentary, Professor Wiggins asserts that the The Bankruptcy Review Commission should examine and make recommendations concerning Section 523(a)(15), a provision enacted as part of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994. Section 523(a)(15) makes nondischargeable any debt incurred by a debtor in the course of, or in conjunction with, a divorce or separation agreement. Previously, such debts were dischargeable unless they were in the nature of alimony, maintenance, or support. The support/non-support distinction was criticized by commentators as unworkable and unfair. In enacting Section 523(a)(15), Congress responded to these criticisms by making virtually all divorce-related obligations nondischargeable. At the same time, the statute created two significant exceptions. In a separate paper, Professor Wiggins writes that Section 523(a)(15) has, among other things, presented bankruptcy courts with several troublesome and uncertain issues. In this Commentary for the ABI Law Review, Professor Wiggins contends that the Bankruptcy Review Commission should examine: 1) Whether it is appropriate for bankruptcy judges to grant partial discharge in cases where the debtor can pay some, but not all, of the debt, 2) What should be the appropriate standard for the application of Section 523(a)(15)(B), and 3) Which party has the burden of proving the elements of the statute. Few would quarrel with the concept behind the statute-protecting vulnerable participants in a bankruptcy case. The problem is that the uncertainty surrounding the statute’s application has genuinely irritated many conscientious bankruptcy judges and obscured the statute’s beneficial aspects. Professor Wiggins urges the Commission to examine these issues carefully in its deliberations and provide its considered judgments.
Increased Heart Rate Variability Response Among Infants with Reported Rhinorrhea and Watery Eyes: A Pilot Study

Introduction Previously, we found that reported infant rhinorrhea and watery eyes without a cold (RWWC) predicted school age exercise-induced wheeze, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. These findings were independent of allergic sensitization, and we theorized that increased parasympathetic tone underlay the association. We also reported that increased heart-rate variability (HRV) in infants predicted wheeze in 2-3 year-olds. In a convenience sample of children participating in a birth cohort study, we tested the hypothesis that infants with RWWC would have elevated HRV, indicating increased parasympathetic tone. Methods RWWC symptoms since birth were queried for 3-month-old children. At 4-months, HRV was assessed (root mean square of successive differences [RMSSD]) during a standardized infant-mother still-face paradigm, which included 2 minutes of mother/child play immediately followed by 2 minutes of the mother maintaining a still-face. Results Among participants (n=38), RWWC was common for girls (32%) and boys (21%). The children with the greatest decrease in RMSSD between play and still-face challenge (lowest tertile) had a higher prevalence of RWWC as compared with children in the higher tertiles (50% vs 16%, P=0.045). In a logistic regression model controlling for sex, age and time between HRV and RWWC assessment, children with greater decrease in HRV between play and still-face (lowest tertile) had greater odds of having RWWC (odds ratio=6.0, P=0.029). Conclusion In this relatively small study, we demonstrated greater decreases in HRV in response to a stressor among children with reported RWWC, suggesting that these children might have increased parasympathetic tone and/or overall greater vagal reactivity.
Rangeland application of biochar and rotational grazing interact to influence soil and plant nutrient dynamics

Abstract Few studies have been conducted to evaluate the use of wood biochar in temperate rangeland ecosystems and none have investigated the interactive influence of wood biochar and cattle trampling activity (associated with short-term rotational grazing) on soils and plants. We conducted a field study on a semi-natural pasture in western Montana, USA to evaluate how wood biochar, with or without short-term intensive trampling affected biochar incorporation depth, soil physicochemical properties, nutrient dynamics, and grass nutrient concentrations with a particular focus on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). We hypothesized that cattle trampling alone would induce soil compaction and generally reduce soil nutrient cycling rates and/or availability, but the presence of biochar prior to trampling could improve soil aeration and grass nutrition. After three months, we found that trampling alone significantly increased surface soil bulk density and reduced the values of nearly all soil N metrics examined in this study; however, the application of biochar prior to trampling improved infiltration rate and increased net nitrification. Trampling also facilitated biochar incorporation into soils. Biochar additions significantly increased soil available organic P (i.e., enzyme extractable P) while reducing soil inorganic P (i.e., CaCl2-P, citrate-P) with or without trampling. Soil P responses appeared to be associated with biochar ortho-P sorption capacity and was more pronounced in soils that had undergone cattle trampling. Changes in soil P were reflected in grass P concentration after three months. Overall, our field study demonstrated that the use of biochar on rangeland soils with short-term rotational grazing could result in a neutral to positive effect on soil and plant nutrients.
Burrhus F. Skinner.

In dealing with Skinner, we are concerned with a theorist who now espouses no theory, a systematist whose system is still developing, and a constructive thinker some of whose most important contributions have been those of a critic. In the course of his writings, Skinner has presented the results of a comprehensive experimental program, and elaborated a theory of behavior based upon it. Since its publication in comprehensive form in The Behavior of Organisms, he has, one may infer from more recent writings, modified it greatly by eliminating several central concepts without substituting others. These publications are not sufficient to enable us to analyze the system in its current status, so that we will restrict ourselves to its earlier form. From an examination of this theory, we may learn something of the reasons for its alteration, and perhaps reveal some relationships between the adequacy of the theory as it was stated and the procedures which were followed in its construction. That portions of the theory as it was presented in 1938 no longer find complete acceptance is not relevant to our purpose; much may be learned from autopsies. The revision of Sinner's theoretical views has not extended downward to his basic assumptions with respect to the nature of psychological theory, nor to the elementary statements of much of his data language and of the basic laws of behavior. The systematic position is unchanged. It is largely at the level at which complex concepts are introduced that revisions have been made.
An Essay on Originalism and the 'Individual Mandate': Rounding Out the Government’s Case for Constitutionality

The Supreme Court now has under advisement the landmark federal health care law case. Much attention has focused on the law’s minimum coverage provision—or so-called “individual mandate” — and, in particular, its constitutionality under the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause. In a separate and much lengthier article, I offer two main observations about the arguments made to the Court on that issue. First, I show that the challengers of the minimum coverage provision emphasized originalist reasoning in their briefs and oral arguments, while the federal government did not. Second, I explain why — contrary to the impression created by the contrasting submissions of the parties — there are in fact powerful, originalism-based reasons for concluding that the minimum coverage provision is constitutional. In this Essay, I offer a streamlined version of my earlier analysis, while also developing additional points along the way. Different observers who take different views of constitutional analysis will inevitably reach different conclusions about the constitutionality of the minimum coverage provision. All serious analysts, however, should take account of a critical, but previously undeveloped point: Originalism-based arguments that were not fully aired before the Court offer strong support for the provision’s constitutionality.
Myelin labeled with mercuric chloride. Asymmetric localization of phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen.

Abstract We have recorded modified X-ray diffraction patterns to 15 A spacing from sciatic nerves treated with mercuric chloride (HgCl2) at concentrations of 0.5 to 32 m m in water or in saline. The observed changes in repeat period and in the intensities of the low-order reflections indicate closer packing of membranes at their cytoplasmic surfaces after treatments with HgCl2. In addition, HgCl2 at 0.25 m m or more prevents swelling in water at the extracellular boundaries. By comparing the distinctive diffraction patterns from nerves treated under different conditions with HgCl2, we have interpreted the changes in intensities of the higher order X-ray reflections and have calculated electron density profiles of the modified membranes. The most striking difference between membrane profiles before and after treatment with HgCl2 is the large increase in electron density in the region of the lipid headgroup peak in the cytoplasmic half of the bilayer. The magnitude and location of this increase suggests labeling of myelin lipid. To examine this possibility, we analyzed the lipids from mercury-treated sciatic nerves. Thin-layer chromatography of lipids extracted from nerves treated with HgCl2 shows a marked decrease of phosphatidylethanolamine, which exists in myelin primarily as plasmalogen. At the same time, a new spot identified as lysophosphatidylethanolamine appears. An identical result was obtained by treating extracted lipids with HgCl2, suggesting that the same sites of interaction are present in the intact membrane as in the dispersed lipids. Previous studies on plasmalogens indicate that mercury adds to the β-carbon of the α,β-unsaturated ether group to produce a lyso-lipid and an aldehyde with bound mercury (Norton, 1959). From a correlation of our X-ray structural analysis and the chemical studies, we conclude that phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen is preferentially localized in the cytoplasmic half of the myelin membrane bilayer.
Delivery methods of financial information and sources of financial education as indicators of perceived financial well-being in South Dakota

The purpose of this research was to identify factors that are related to the perceived financial well-being of adults in South Dakota, specifically delivery methods of financial information and sources of financial education. This quantitative study used the eightquestion Personal Financial Wellness Scale (PFW scale, also known as the InCharge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being Scale) to measure perceived financial well-being. A random sample of 3,000 individuals was mailed a survey that elicited 814 completed questionnaires. The survey consisted of the PFW Scale, demographics, delivery methods of financial information, and sources of informal and formal financial education. The PFW scale scores were calculated for all individuals, and the mean score was used as the dependent variable in all analysis. Independent variables included: demographic factors, delivery methods of financial information, sources of informal financial education, sources of formal financial education, and having formal or informal financial education. A block regression of the total sample was used with financial well-being as the dependent variable and all other items as independent variables to test for possible linear relationships. Reliability statistics of the sample were acceptable, and assumptions for the model were tested. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to identify pair-wise differences between mean perceived financial well-being for individual significant variables and for the variable of having formal or informal financial education. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The mean perceived financial well-being for adult South Dakotans in the study was 6.24 (SD=2.18) on a ten-point scale. Demographic variables as a group did have a significant association with perceived financial well-being, and five individual demographic
Discrete Time Markov Chains

What is in this chapter? We consider a sequence of random variables (Xn)n≥1 defined on the same probability space and having countably many possible values. We think of X n as being the state of a certain system at time n. Given that Xn-1 is in some state i then X n will be in some state j with a probability denoted by p(i, j); the transition probabilities p(i, j) are built in the model. The fact that given Xn-1 we may compute the distribution of X n (we do not need to know the X k for k < n - 1) is a particular case of the Markov property: the future depends on the present and on the past only through the present.
Regional air quality - Atmospheric nucleation interactions

The creation of new atmospheric particles from in situ nucleation influences climate through cloud-aerosol interactions and may negatively impact human health. Although recent observations show that nucleation is widespread over most continents, the corresponding pathways remain uncertain. A computationally efficient multicomponent aerosol dynamics model (DMAN) that simulates the full aerosol size distribution and composition starting at a diameter of 0.8 nm has been developed. Several proposed nucleation rate expressions for binary (H 2 SO 4 −H 2 O), ternary (NH 3 −H 2 SO 4 −H 2 O), and ion-induced nucleation are evaluated using DMAN against ambient measurements from the Pittsburgh Air Quality Study (PAQS). The ternary NH 3 −H 2 SO 4 −H 2 O nucleation model is successful in predicting the presence or lack of nucleation on 19 out of 19 days with complete data sets in July 2001 and on 25 out of 29 days in January 2002. DMAN has been added to the three-dimensional (3D) Chemical Transport Model PMCAMx-UF and is tested in the Eastern USA. Reductions of ammonia emissions are predicted to decrease the frequency of nucleation events during both summer and winter, with a more dramatic effect during the summer. The response to changes in emissions of sulfur dioxide during the summer is counterintuitive. Reductions of sulfur dioxide and the resulting sulfate by up to 40% actually increase the frequency of the summer nucleation events. Modeling predicts the opposite effect in winter, with reductions of sulfur dioxide leading to fewer nucleation events.
High performance bulk MOSFET fabricated on SOI substrate for ESD protection and circuit applications

With the rapid advancement of SOI technology, SOI device and circuit performances keep steadily improving. However, some fundamental problems such as self-heating and ESD are still un-resolved. Such adverse effects can be easily dealt with by combining bulk technologies with current SOI technologies on the same wafer. It has been shown that NMOS buffers built on the substrate of SOI wafers can provide significant improvement in ESD protection for SOI circuits. Also, the availability both SOI and bulk technologies can facilitate the design of high performance circuits. Integration of SOI and bulk technologies can easily be done after selectively etching of the silicon film and buried oxide. However, due to the difference in surface quality, the performance of these substrate MOSFETs is not very clear. Issues such as electron mobility, gate oxide quality and hot carrier reliability have to be addressed. In this paper, the performance of substrate MOSFETs fabricated on SIMOX wafers are evaluated and compared with normal bulk wafers fabricated in the same process lot.
Las nuevas relaciones con los medios: En un mundo de comunicaciones directas, ¿es necesario hacer media relations?

espanolEste articulo corresponde al capitulo XI del libro La revolucion horizontal - El poder de la comunicacion en manos de la gente, presentado a fines de 2009 en la Facultad de Diseno y Comunicacion de la Universidad de Palermo. Sus autores -Alberto Arebalos y Gonzalo Alonso-, reflexionan sobre las claves para entender el cambio en la forma en que las marcas, empresas y politicos se relacionan y comunican con los consumidores, clientes y votantes. Puntualmente este capitulo, aborda el desafio de la gestion de las relaciones publicas y las relaciones con los medios, empleando una serie de herramientas que potencian y renuevan herramientas tradicionales, a partir de una nueva cultura relacional emergente. Reflexiona sobre la optimizacion de los comunicados de prensa, sobre mecanismos como RSS que multiplican el alcance de las noticias corporativas; y sobre los costosos video news releases que ahora con un menor costo, pueden alcanzar audiencias mayores. EnglishThis article corresponds to chapter XI of the book The horizontal revolution - the power of the communication into people hands, presented by the end of 2009 in the Faculty of Design and Communication of the University of Palermo. Its authors - Alberto Arebalos and Gonzalo Alonso-reflect on keys to understand changes in the form in which the brands, companies and politicians are related and communicated with the consumers, clients and voters. This chapter, approaches the challenge of public relations and media relations management, using a series of tools that empower and renew traditional tools, from a new emergent relational culture. It refects on the optimization of press releases, on systems like RSS that multiply the reach of corporate news; and on the expensive news releases videos that now with a smaller cost, can reach bigger audiences. portuguesEste artigo corresponde ao capitulo XI do livro "A revolucao horizontal - O poder da comunicacao em maos das pessoas", apresentado ao fins de 2009 na Facultade de Design e Comunicacao da Universidade de Palermo. Os autores, Alberto Arebalos y Gonzalo Alonso-, reflexionam sobre as claves para entender a mudanca na forma em que as marcas, empresas e politicos relacionam-se e comunicam com os consumidores, clientes e votantes. Pontualmente este capitulo, aborda o desafio da gestao das relacoes publicas e as relacoes com os meios, empregando uma serie de ferramentas que potencian e renovam ferramentas tradicionais, a partir duma nova cultura relacional emergente. Reflexiona sobre a otimizacao dos comunicados de imprensa, sobre mecanismos como RSS que multiplicam o alcance das noticias corporativas; e sobre os custosos videos news releases que agora com um menor custo, podem atingir audiencias maiores.
Private regulation in the credit default swaps market: the role of ISDA in the new regulatory scenario of CDSs

The derivatives market speedily sailed along the deregulatory waves rocking the early 90s financial markets. This article assesses the central role of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), the private-standard-setting body of the derivatives industry, which ruled in the absence of public regulation. Specifically, through six different lenses – legitimacy, accountability, quality, effectiveness, enforcement, and independence – the article examines ISDA’s role in increasing efficiency and reducing transaction costs in the derivatives market, as well as the pivotal role ISDA played in the transition between the pre- and the post-crisis derivatives market. Finally, this article evaluates whether greater coordination and cooperation between public regulators and private-standard-setting bodies is needed to assess financial innovation.
Human hepatocytes express an array of proinflammatory cytokines after agonist stimulation or bacterial invasion

Inflammatory cells infiltrate the liver in response to microbial infection or hepatic injury. To assess the potential role hepatocytes may play in initiating or amplifying the acute inflammatory response in the liver, we used three human hepatocyte cell lines and primary human hepatocyte cultures to characterize the repertoire of cytokines that can be expressed and regulated in hepatocytes in response to agonist stimulation or bacterial infection. As reported herein, a proinflammatory cytokine gene program that includes C-X-C and C-C chemokines [interleukin-8(IL-8), growth related (GRO)-alpha, GRO-beta, GRO-gamma, epithelial neutrophil activating peptide-78 (ENA-78), and RANTES] and the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and macrophage colony stimulating factor was upregulated in human hepatocytes after stimulation with IL-1 alpha or TNF-alpha or bacterial invasion. In contrast, expression of hematopoietic/ lymphoid growth factors by the same cells was either down-regulated (erythropoietin and stem cell factor) or unchanged (IL-7 and IL-15) in response to the identical stimuli. Hepatocytes did not express cytokines that often are associated with the regulation of antigen-specific immune responses (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-13, and interferon-gamma) or genes for several other proinflammatory cytokines [IL-1 alpha, IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and MCP-3] or hematopoietic growth factors (granulocyte colony stimulating factor, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, IL-3, and IL-11). Together, these studies suggest that hepatocytes can both initiate and amplify acute inflammatory responses in the liver through the regulated expression and secretion of a specific array of proinflammatory cytokines.
Predicting learner engagement during well-defined and Ill-defined computer-based intercultural interactions

This article reviews the first of two experiments investigating the effect tailoring of training content has on a learner's perceived engagement, and to examine the influence the Big Five Personality Test and the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) mood dimensions have on these outcome measures. A secondary objective is to then correlate signals from physiological sensors and other variables of interest, and to develop a model of learner engagement. Self-reported measures were derived from the engagement index of the Independent Television Commission-Sense of Presence Inventory (ITC-SOPI). Physiological measures were based on the commercial Emotiv Epoc Electroencephalograph (EEG) braincomputer interface. Analysis shows personality factors to be reliable predictors of general engagement within well-defined and ill-defined tasks, and could be used to tailor instructional strategies where engagement was predicted to be nonoptimal. It was also evident that Emotiv provides reliable measures of engagement and excitement in near real-time.
Primary cutaneous rhabdomyosarcoma: A clinicopathologic review of 11 cases

Background Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor with skeletal muscle differentiation. Primary cutaneous rhabdomyosarcoma is rare. We report a series of 11 cases of primary cutaneous rhabdomyosarcoma. Methods Cases diagnosed as rhabdomyosarcoma arising in the dermis/subcutis with no identified primary tumor elsewhere were retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up was obtained. Results The tumors occurred in five children and six adults. The adult subset consisted of pleomorphic, epithelioid and not otherwise specified (NOS) subtypes while the pediatric subset showed alveolar and embryonal subtypes. All cases showed immunohistochemical staining consistent with the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. Three adult cases showed immunoreactivity for cytokeratins (one pleomorphic, one epithelioid and one NOS. Conclusions Primary cutaneous rhabdomyosarcoma shows a bimodal age distribution and male predominance, correlating with rhabdomyosarcoma in deep soft tissue. Follow-up, available on all patients, showed aggressive behavior in both children and adults. Primary cutaneous rhabdomyosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and those with “small round blue cell” morphology. Desmin, myogenin and MYOD1 are a trio of markers with high sensitivity and specificity for primary cutaneous rhabdomyosarcoma. Cytokeratin immunoreactivity in primary cutaneous rhabdomyosarcoma represents a potential diagnostic pitfall in the differential diagnosis with sarcomatoid carcinoma.
Urinary creatinine concentrations in the U.S. population: implications for urinary biologic monitoring measurements.

Biologic monitoring (i.e., biomonitoring) is used to assess human exposures to environmental and workplace chemicals. Urinary biomonitoring data typically are adjusted to a constant creatinine concentration to correct for variable dilutions among spot samples. Traditionally, this approach has been used in population groups without much diversity. The inclusion of multiple demographic groups in studies using biomonitoring for exposure assessment has increased the variability in the urinary creatinine levels in these study populations. Our objectives were to document the normal range of urinary creatinine concentrations among various demographic groups, evaluate the impact that variations in creatinine concentrations can have on classifying exposure status of individuals in epidemiologic studies, and recommend an approach using multiple regression to adjust for variations in creatinine in multivariate analyses. We performed a weighted multivariate analysis of urinary creatinine concentrations in 22,245 participants of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994) and established reference ranges (10th–90th percentiles) for each demographic and age category. Significant predictors of urinary creatinine concentration included age group, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and fat-free mass. Time of day that urine samples were collected made a small but statistically significant difference in creatinine concentrations. For an individual, the creatinine-adjusted concentration of an analyte should be compared with a “reference” range derived from persons in a similar demographic group (e.g., children with children, adults with adults). For multiple regression analysis of population groups, we recommend that the analyte concentration (unadjusted for creatinine) should be included in the analysis with urinary creatinine added as a separate independent variable. This approach allows the urinary analyte concentration to be appropriately adjusted for urinary creatinine and the statistical significance of other variables in the model to be independent of effects of creatinine concentration.
Undergrads as Selectors: Assessing Patron-Driven Acquisition at a Liberal Arts College

This article evaluates the effectiveness of a small college library's patron-driven acquisition (PDA) program for its print monograph collection, which is unusual in that undergraduate students contribute all PDA selections. To make the analysis comprehensive, this study assesses the program's performance over nine years across four dimensions: circulation, appropriateness of selections, turnaround time, and cost. These four approaches yield varying conclusions about the efficacy of the program, thereby demonstrating the value of a multi-pronged assessment. The circulation advantages of patron-suggested books are less pronounced than in previous studies, which indicates that undergraduates may not consistently select appropriate titles for the local collection.
Self-consistent time dependent two dimensional and three dimensional space charge distributions with linear force

Finding self-consistent distributions of beam particles interacting with each other via the space charge force is one of the challenges of accelerator physics. Exactly solvable models are used for simulation benchmarks, instability threshold calculations, etc. Since such distributions have been found only in one and two dimensions (Kapchinsky-Vladimirsky distribution), it is not possible to apply them to a general three dimensional motion. This paper shows how to construct new sets of self-consistent distributions, extending even to the three dimensional case.
Green tea regulates cell cycle progression in oral leukoplakia

Background A complete in vitro multi-stage carcinogenesis model for oral cancer was developed to examine chemopreventive strategies. In the present study, the effects of EGCG [(−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate], the major constituent of green tea, is being examined to understand mechanisms of action. Methods Effects of EGCG on the cell populations were examined with growth assays, cell cycle analysis, and western blots for retinoblastoma protein (pRB). Results In each cell type, EGCG inhibited growth, with a decrease in efficacy as cells progressed from normal to cancer. A G1 block was induced with an increase in the underphosphorylated form of pRB; EGCG-induced inhibition was not permanent, cells recovered, and no resistance developed. Conclusions Our multistage carcinogenesis model for chemoprevention was effective in defining the chemopreventive value of EGCG. The observation that cancerous oral epithelium was less responsive than normal or dysplastic tissues has implication in the use of this agent, and the mechanisms responsible for this result remain to be defined. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck20: 528–534, 1998.
Binding of calcium by cell walls and estimation of calcium in apple fruit tissue with an ion selective electrode

Abstract Calcium is a critical nutrient for postharvest handling and quality of apples. Difficulties of analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) prompted an examination of the use of a “standard addition” procedure with an ion selective electrode (ISE) to estimate calcium in apple tissue after homogenization in water. Calcium could be reliably estimated in synthetic mixtures, containing potassium malate at pH values representative of apple tissue homogenates. However, ISE estimates of calcium in apple homogenates were consistently lower than AAS estimates. The error in ISE estimates was attributed to cell wall binding of calcium. Titration of isolated apple cell walls with calcium showed that the proportion of calcium bound was dependent on the free calcium concentration. An empirical relationship between the reciprocal of the square of bound calcium and the reciprocal of free calcium concentration was derived. Incorporating this relationship into the calculation of calcium in apple homogenates led to closer agreement between ISE and AAS analyses than with the uncorrected calculation.
Optimal decisions and comparison of VMI and CPFR under price-sensitive uncertain demand

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of two advanced supply chain coordination mechanisms, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Collaborative Planning Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR), under a price-sensitive uncertain demand environment, and to make the optimal decisions on retail price and order quantity for both mechanisms. Design/ methodology/ approach: Analytical models are first applied to formulate a profit maximization problem; furthermore, by applying simulation optimization solution procedures, the optimal decisions and performance comparisons are accomplished. Findings: The results of the case study supported the widely held view that more advanced coordination mechanisms yield greater supply chain profit than less advanced ones. Information sharing does not only increase the supply chain profit, but also is required for the coordination mechanisms to achieve improved performance. Research limitations/implications: This study considers a single vendor and a single retailer in order to simplify the supply chain structure for modeling. Practical implications: Knowledge obtained from this study about the conditions appropriate for each specific coordination mechanism and the exact functions of coordination programs is critical to managerial decisions for industry practitioners who may apply the coordination mechanisms considered. Originality/value: This study includes the production cost in Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) equations and combines it with price-sensitive demand under stochastic settings while comparing VMI and CPFR supply chain mechanisms and maximizing the total profit. Although many studies have worked on information sharing within the supply chain, determining the performance measures when the demand is price-sensitive and stochastic was not reported by researchers in the past literature.
A new approach to the design of surface treatments for reinforcing agents

A new approach for design of improved interfacial bonding between carbon fibers and polymeric matrices is described. In this method the affinity of surface-treated carbon fibers to various polymer matrices is simulated by analyzing the adsorption characteristics of model compounds, typical of the polymer units, onto very high surface area carbon fibers. The affinity can be evaluated by the use of Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) to measure adsorption–desorption characteristics. Since high surface area, activated carbon fibers (ACF) can be chemically treated to obtain acidic, basic, nonpolar or highly polar surfaces, it should be possible to assess the interactions of chemically modified surfaces with model compounds such as methanol (MeOH), acetone, dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylether, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water. Some preliminary results are presented, indicating that surface treatments for carbon fibers other than oxidation may lead to enhanced bonding with polymeric matrices.
Comparing physical and behavior therapy for chronic low back pain on physical abilities psychological distress and patients perceptions

A treatment-outcome study was conducted to study the impact of behavior and physical therapy on components of the chronic low back pain syndrome. Eighteen patients received behavior therapy and 15 patients received physical therapy. All patients had at least a 6-month history of seeking treatment for chronic low back pain. Prior to treatment patients were assessed in four principal areas of functioning: (1) physical abilities; (2) current physical functioning; (3) psychological and psychosocial functioning; and (4) pain intensity and pain perception. Treatments were conducted in a group (five to eight patients) outpatient setting. Both behavior therapy and physical therapy groups met for 10-weekly sessions, each lasting 2 hr. Behavior therapy was designed to address the environmental, social, and emotional components of the low back pain syndrome as well as the depression and decreased activity that result from chronic low back pain. Physical therapy was based upon traditional rehabilitation theory and was designed to improve low back function. Patients were reevaluated at posttreatment, 6 months, and 1 year. The results showed a general improvement for patients in both groups and a few treatment-specific differences in outcome measures.
Surrogates, Semantics, and Sensible Public Policy

Polonius asks Hamlet, “What do you read, my lord?” and hears in response “Words, words, words…” (William Shakespeare, Hamlet , 1601). The March Hare says to Alice, “You should say what you mean,” to which she replies, “I do…at least I mean what I say—that’s the same thing, you know.” (Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland , 1865). The Hatter wins the gambit by pointing out that it is “not the same thing a bit! Why, you might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see’!” Words, what they mean, and how they are used are obviously important. Their careless use can distort thoughts and perceptions. A salient example of linguistic erosion has crept into research pertinent to pharmacological agents and devices and its interpretation—namely, the use of the term “surrogate.” We are told that cholesterol lowering, blood pressure lowering, and restoration of coronary patency through the use of thrombolytic drugs are surrogates for mortality in studies of cholesterol-lowering drugs, antihypertensive agents, and thrombolytic agents. Are they? Certainly not. “Surrogate” means substitute in the sense of “deputy” as applied to people or, more generally, in the sense of a stand-in. Does ambiguity attendant on the misuse of words such as “surrogate” amount to anything more than semantics? The answer is certainly yes. In studies of antihypertensive agents, we determine what happens to systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance, and other pathophysiological variables in the context, of course, of patients stratified with respect to the etiology, duration, and severity of hypertension and target organ involvement. In mechanistic studies, the dependent variable of interest is a biological phenomenon (ie, in this case, blood pressure), which is, in turn, dependent on specific physiological determinants such as cardiac …
Implications of convective scrape-off layer transport for fusion reactors with solid and liquid walls

Abstract Recent experimental observations in tokamaks indicate enhanced convection of plasma blobs toward the main chamber wall. Potential implications of these observations for reactors are examined here. Two-dimensional plasma edge calculations are performed with UEDGE, including convective transport consistent with present experiments. This is coupled to a kinetic neutral calculation using the code NUT, to compute the hot neutral flux to the wall. The inclusion of convection increases sputtering of the wall by roughly an order of magnitude. For tungsten walls, erosion (neglecting re-deposition) is estimated to be ∼.6 mm year−1. The enhanced source of impurities for high Z walls requires an enhanced plasma screening factor to allow ignition. Low Z liquid materials enable acceptable plasma contamination with much lower screening factors. Rough estimates of dust generation from erosion rates with convection imply significant safety issues. Plasma transport via blobs can also strongly modify models of impurity screening and redeposition, and represents a potential feasibility issue in need of further research.
Acute and chronic studies using a new oral hypoglycemic agent, glyburide.

Abstract Acute and chronic studies were done on relatively severe adult-onset diabetics to determine efficacy, safety, and mode of action of a new sulfonylurea agent, glyburide. At regular intervals, diabetic control as well as drug toxicity were evaluated. An oral glucose tolerance test with insulin determinations was done on nine subjects after long-term therapy and compared with tests done after all diabetic medications had been discontinued. During the acute study, 17 of 20 subjects showed some improvement in diabetic control. The mean fasting serum glucose (FSG) decreased from 262 on placebo to 206 mg 100 ml while they were on small doses of glyburide (p 272 to 230 mg 100 ml (p 197 mg 100 ml at the end of the study. Although thymol turbidity was significantly elevated in the acute study, there was no significant difference in this or other studies for toxicity found in the chronic study. The oral glucose tolerance test showed worse results for all nine patients tested after discontinuing the drug. Insulin levels were higher 30 min after glucose in seven of the nine patients while on drug in comparison with levels while off drug. Glyburide is a potent antidiabetic agent of low toxicity. It appears that this drug enhances early release of insulin after oral glucose in some patients, even after treatment for many months.
Studies of Edge Effects with Shroud-Modified Electrodes

Micron and submicron platinum electrodes with hydrophobically-modified shrouds have been prepared. The steady state response to a number of electrochemical species have been evaluated with respect to the shroud coating. For submicron electrodes deviations in response were observed based on the shroud modification. These effects were not observed in larger electrodes, and may be due to the so-called “edge effect” for small diameter electrodes.
Characterization of the voltammetric response at intracellular carbon ring electrodes

Abstract : The Intracellular response of ultrasmall carbon ring electrodes has been investigated. Adsorption of high molecular weight species (e.g. proteins, lipids, sugars, etc.) on the electrode surface appears to result in deterioration of the amperometric signal, making in vivo voltammetric measurements difficult. Assuming a linear dependence between the degree of electrode fouling and the number of scans taken in the neuronal microenvironment an analytical method based on both pre- and post-calibration data is presented to evaluate the response obtained at deteriorating ultrasmall carbon ring electrodes during intracellular voltammetry. Additionally, poly(ester sulfonic acid)-coated carbon ring electrodes have been used in an attempt to increase selectivity in intracellular voltammetry, and to reduce the effects of electrode fouling. In vitro results results obtained in solutions of dopamine, dihy- droxyphenylacetic acid and asorbic acid indicate some exclusion of anionic species from the electrode by the negative charged polymer film. Moreover, use of polymer-coated electrodes in vivo results in a decrease in the percentage of electrode fouling to where the degredation of the response is only 45%. This leads to a more reproducible response and better detection limits compared to that of naked electrodes. Keywords: In vivo analysis, Voltammetric measurements, Ultrasmall carbon ring electrode.
Agenda for children and youth: linking research, policy, and practice.

issues and purpose. In this past century, we have made significant strides in our understanding of children's needs, but there is still much to learn as we enter the coming century. We must seek this new knowledge not only for the sake of knowing, but also for the sake of making change, ensuring that what we learn helps improve the future for our children and youth. These efforts require a strong link between policy, practice, and research. conclusions. Research partnerships can build our base of knowledge and help answer emerging policy and practice questions. Through research that focuses on the diversity and developmental phases of children, we can bring policy and practice into line with an increasingly refined understanding of children and their needs. practice implications. Because nurses look at the holistic needs of individuals, it is critical that they are involved in setting the social service research agenda and seeking ways that policy and practice can both inform and be informed by this research.
A Gendered History of African Colonization in the Antebellum United States

This article marks the first concerted effort to explore the history of gender and the African colonization reform movement during the antebellum era, examining both the actions and discourses of Northern white colonizationists who supported the American Colonization Society (and its auxiliary societies) and of Northern free blacks who opposed colonization or proposed competing plans for black emigration and black nationalism. From its outset, the colonization reform assumed a masculine character, fashioning a reform movement where public politics superseded moral suasion and adopting a gendered discourse that depicted colonizing as a masculine adventure, while also invoking a highly sexualized imagery of Africa and its colonists. Northern free blacks developed their own competing versions of manhood and womanhood within their critiques of white colonization schemes and within their own plans for emigration and national autonomy outside of the boundaries of the United States. The article also exposes the new insights a gendered history of colonization will bring to the history of antebellum abolitionism.
Isolation and characterization of the gene encoding yeast debranching enzyme

Abstract Using a genetic screen aimed at identifying cellular factors involved in Ty1 transposition, we have identified a mutation in a host gene that reduces Ty1 transposition frequency. The mutant, dbr1 , is also defective in the process of intron turnover. In dbr1 cells, excised introns derived from a variety of pre-mRNAs are remarkably stable and accumulate to levels exceeding that of the corresponding mRNA. The stable excised introns accumulate in the form of a lariat that is missing the linear sequences 3′ of the branchpoint. The DBR1 gene has been isolated by complementation of the transposition phenotype. DBR1 is shown to encode debranching enzyme, an RNA processing activity that hydrolyzes the 2′–5′ phosphodiester linkage at the branchpoint of excised intron lariats. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, debranching enzyme plays a requisite role in the rapid turnover of excised introns, yet its function is not essential for viability.
In Situ Characterization of the Catalyst Layer in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

The catalyst layer CL in the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell PEMFC has not been explored in detail due to its complexities and difficulties associated with accessing it. It is important to understand water ingress and egress at the CL as it offers potential for water management by manipulating the evaporation rate. A technique for in situ visual characterization of the CL is presented. This is accomplished by designing and fabricating a catalyst-visible operational fuel cell and developing a microvisualization system. The dynamics of microdroplets on the CL surface including formation, growth, coalescence, and removal were visualized in an operating PEMFC. The liquid water behavior at the interface of the CL and the gas diffusion layer GDL were shown to promote the periodic droplet reemergence on the GDL surface in the flow channels. Mechanisms of water condensation and transport within the CL pores are discussed with respect to pore architecture and wetting properties. It has been shown that reduction of pore size and CL thickness alleviates flooding therein and promotes better catalyst utilization. Evaporation was identified as one of the distinguishing mechanisms of the CL, and one of the future challenges will be to control this mechanism. The experimental results should prove useful in clarifying the role of the CL in water management, and in refining models used to optimize PEMFC performance.
Biogenesis and Topology of the Secretory Na+−K+−2Cl- Cotransporter (NKCC1) Studied in Intact Mammalian Cells†

The “secretory” Na+−K+−2Cl- cotransporter (NKCC1) is a member of a small gene family with nine homologues in vertebrates. Of these, seven are known to be electroneutral chloride transporters. These transporters play a number of important physiological roles related to salt and water homeostasis and the control of intracellular chloride levels. Hydropathy analyses suggest that all of these transporters have a similar transmembrane topology consisting of relatively large intracellular N and C termini and a central hydrophobic domain containing 12 membrane-spanning segments (MSSs). In recent experiments from our laboratory [Gerelsaikhan, T., and Turner, R. J. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 40471−40477], we employed an in vitro translation system to confirm that each of the putative MSSs of NKCC1 was capable of membrane integration in a manner consistent with a 12 MSS model. Here, we extend that work to the study of the biogenesis of NKCC1 in intact cells. We employ a truncation mutant approach that allows us to ...