cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generating coherent argumentative paragraphs

We address the problem of generating a coherent paragraph presenting arguments for a conclusion in a text generation system. Existing text planning techniques are not appropriate for this task for two main reasons: they do not explain how arguments can be linked together in a linear presentation order and they do not explain how the rhetorical function of a proposition affects its wording.We present a mechanism to generate argumentative paragraphs where argumentative relations constrain not only the rhetorical structure of the paragraph, but also the surface form of each proposition. In our approach, a text planner relies on a set of specific argumentative relations to extract information from the knowledge base, to map it to scalar and context dependent evaluations and to organize it into chains of arguments. The same information used for planning is also used by the surface realization component to perform lexical choice at all the levels of the clause (connectives, main verb, adverbial adjuncts, adjectives and determiners). The mechanism is implemented in the ADVISOR II system using FUF, an extended functional unification formalism.
The comma sign: An arthroscopic guide to the torn subscapularis tendon

Subscapularis tears are becoming increasingly recognized as a cause of shoulder pain and disability. However, identifying the subscapularis tendon stump is often difficult during repair of chronic, retracted subscapularis tears that are scarred to the deltoid fascia. The authors have found the "comma sign," an arc formed by a portion of the superior glenohumeral ligament/coracohumeral ligament complex, to be a useful marker of the superolateral corner of the torn subscapularis tendon.
Second trimester maternal serum screening for fetal open neural tube defects and aneuploidy.

Maternal serum screening has been modified during the past 25 years and is now widely utilized during the second trimester to identify women at risk for fetal open neural tube defects (ONTDs), anencephaly, and trisomies 21 and 18. This statement replaces the 1994 and 1996 ACMG position statements on serum screening and discusses clinical guidelines for screening that complement the sections of ACMG’s Standards and Guidelines for Clinical Genetics Laboratories entitled “Prenatal screening for open neural tube defects” and “Prenatal screening for Down syndrome” (http://www.acmg.net).
TE2 and TE1 sub-elements of the testis-specific histone H1t promoter are functionally different.

The testis-specific linker histone H1t gene is transcribed exclusively in pachytene primary spermatocytes. Tissue specific expression of the gene is mediated in part by transcriptional factors that bind elements located within the proximal and distal promoter. A 40 bp promoter element, designated H1t/TE, that is located within the proximal promoter between the CCAAT-box and AC-box, is known to be essential for H1t gene transcription in transgenic animals. In the present study, we show by SDS-PAGE analysis of UV crosslinked protein and DNA and by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) of testis nuclear proteins separated on a non-denaturing glycerol gradient that the TE1 sub-element is bound by a protein complex. Mutation of TE1 leads to a drop in H1t promoter activity in germinal GC-2spd cells as well as in nongerminal Leydig, NIH3T3, and C127I cell lines. Although TE1 and TE2 sub-elements have similar sequences, mutation of the TE2 sub-element causes an increase in promoter activity in C127I and Leydig cells. The rat TE1 but not TE2 contains a CpG dinucleotide and this cytosine is methylated in liver but not in primary spermatocytes. Methylation of the cytosine at this site almost eliminates nuclear protein binding. Thus, there are significant functional differences in the TE2 and TE1 sub-elements of the H1t promoter with TE1 serving as a transcriptional activator binding site and TE2 serving as a repressor binding site in some cell lines.
Bulk and surface properties of amorphous hydrogenated fluorinated silicon grown from SiF/sub 4/ and H/sub 2/

A detailed study of the growth of amorphous hydrogenated fluorinated silicon (a-Si:H, F) from a DC glow discharge in SiF/sub 4/ and H/sub 2/ is discussed. The electrical properties of the films can be varied over a very wide range. The bulk properties of the best films that were measured included an Urbach energy E/sub u/=43 meV, a deep-level defect density N/sub s/=1.5*10/sup 15/ cm/sup -3/, and a hole drift mobility of 8*10/sup -3/ cm/sup 2/ V/sup -1/ s/sup -1/, which reflects a characteristic valence band energy of 36 meV. It was found that E/sub u/, N/sub s/, and the density of surface states N/sub ss/ are related to each other. Under the deposition condition of the films with the best bulk properties, N/sub ss/ reaches its highest value of 1*10/sup 14/ cm/sup -2/. It is suggested that in growth from SiF/sub 4//H/sub 2/, the density of dangling bonds at the growing surface is very sensitive to the deposition conditions. >
Regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase from human pheochromocytoma, bovine adrenal and rat striatum.

Abstract Soluble tyrosine hydroxylase from human pheochromocytoma, bovine adrenal medulla and rat striatum can be activated by Mg 2+ , ATP and cyclic AMP. In pheochromocytoma, this activation is due to a decreased Km for the pterin cofactor, whereas in adrenal medulla, it is a result of an increase in the Vmax. Norepinephrine increases the Km for pterin cofactor for tyrosine hydroxylase from both of these tissues. The Ki for norepinephrine is not altered by the presence of Mg 2+ , ATP and cyclic AMP with enzyme from pheochromocytoma or adrenal medulla. On the other hand, striatal tyrosine hydroxylase shows a two-fold increase in the Ki for dopamine after exposure to Mg 2+ , ATP and cyclic AMP.
The 80th Anniversary of the 1934 Communications Act and the Inception of the Federal Communications Commission

For the 80th anniversary of the 1934 Communications Act and the creation of the modern Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Lawrence White and I invited experts in the field of telecommunications to reflect upon aspects of the 1934 Act and the FCC of their choosing for this special edition of the Review of Industrial Organization. We are pleased to have received five excellent articles that cover a range of topics from the decision to pass the 1934 Communications Act, historic spectrum allocation and reallocation, competitive aspects of spectrum transactions, regulation and competition in the broadcast industry, and finally the role of the FCC in merger reviews. Thomas Hazlett considers the origins of the 1934 Communications Act and evaluates three competing theories about the motivation of lawmakers for passing what appeared essentially to re-enact the 1927 Radio Act. Hazlett challenges Coase�s (1959) �error� theory and the �public interest� hypothesis by Moss and Fein (2003), both ...
Methoprene: field tested as a feed additive for control of face flies.

In 1975, when methoprene was fed to grazing cattle in a block formulation at an average rate of 0.54 mg AI/kg body wt, bioassays and counts of adult flies indicated that populations of Musca autumnalis De Geer were reduced. In 1976, when methoprene was fed to similar cattle in a loose mineral supplement at an average rate of 0.07 or 0.13 mg AI/kg body wt, 45–90% of face fly pupae did not eclose, but counts of adults on the cattle were not reduced markedly. In both years, counts of adult horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.), were lower on the treated herd than on the check herd.
The Accumulation of Man6GlcNAc2-PP-dolichol in theSaccharomyces cerevisiae Δalg9 Mutant Reveals a Regulatory Role for the Alg3p α1,3-Man Middle-arm Addition in Downstream Oligosaccharide-lipid and Glycoprotein Glycan Processing

N-Glycans in nearly all eukaryotes are derived by transfer of a precursor Glc(3)Man(9)GlcNAc(2) from dolichol (Dol) to consensus Asn residues in nascent proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae alg (asparagine-linked glycosylation) mutants fail to synthesize oligosaccharide-lipid properly, and the alg9 mutant, accumulates Man(6)GlcNAc(2)-PP-Dol. High-field (1)H NMR and methylation analyses of Man(6)GlcNAc(2) released with peptide-N-glycosidase F from invertase secreted by Deltaalg9 yeast showed its structure to be Manalpha1,2Manalpha1,2Manalpha1, 3(Manalpha1,3Manalpha1,6)-Manbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta1, 4GlcNAcalpha/beta, confirming the addition of the alpha1,3-linked Man to Man(5)GlcNAc(2)-PP-Dol prior to the addition of the final upper-arm alpha1,6-linked Man. This Man(6)GlcNAc(2) is the endoglycosidase H-sensitive product of the Alg3p step. The Deltaalg9 Hex(7-10)GlcNAc(2) elongation intermediates were released from invertase and similarly analyzed. When compared with alg3 sec18 and wild-type core mannans, Deltaalg9 N-glycans reveal a regulatory role for the Alg3p-dependent alpha1,3-linked Man in subsequent oligosaccharide-lipid and glycoprotein glycan maturation. The presence of this Man appears to provide structural information potentiating the downstream action of the endoplasmic reticulum glucosyltransferases Alg6p, Alg8p and Alg10p, glucosidases Gls1p and Gls2p, and the Golgi Och1p outerchain alpha1,6-Man branch-initiating mannosyltransferase.
Relation of performance on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test--Revised among preschool children.

58 children enrolled in a university preschool or kindergarten program were administered the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test--Revised (PPVT--R). The PPVT--R correlated .75 with the K-BIT composite IQ, .69 with the K-BIT Vocabulary standard score, and .57 with the K-BIT Matrices score. The instruments also showed significant agreement (83%) in classifying children into average versus above average categories based upon a 110 standard score on either instrument. Analysis of K-BIT Vocabulary-Matrices differences showed a mean difference of 6 points favoring Vocabulary. Differences ranged from -32 points to 43 points. 64% of the subjects scored higher on the Vocabulary than on the Matrices subtest of the K-BIT. 48% of the sample showed differences between scores on Vocabulary and Matrices of 10 points or more disregarding the direction of the difference. Implications for the concurrent validity of the instrument and interpretation of subscale differences for preschool children were discussed.
Dialysis dose, membrane type, and anemia control

Abstract Erythropoietin has become an important part of the treatment of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Erythropoietin treatment and the concomitant increase in red blood cell mass have been associated with improvements in a variety of important clinical outcomes that bear on the morbidity and mortality of dialysis patients. However, many patients do not reach the target hematocrit goals, and there is a large variation among patients in the amount of erythropoietin administered. A number of potentially modifiable factors influence the response to erythropoietin, including higher delivered dose of dialysis. However, the type of dialysis membrane may modify this association. Preliminary data suggest that the hematocrit level among erythropoietin-treated patients is higher in those dialyzed with a synthetic as opposed to a nonsynthetic dialyzer. This article briefly reviews the relationship among erythropoietin response, dialysis dose, dialyzer type, and other modifiable factors. (Am J Kidney Dis 1998 Dec;32(6 Suppl 4):S157-60)
A micromechanical study of residual stresses in functionally graded materials

A physically based computational micromechanics model is developed to study random and discrete microstructures in functionally graded materials (FGMs). The influences of discrete microstructure on residual stress distributions at grain size level are examined with respect to material gradient and FGM volume percentage (within a ceramic-FGM-metal three-layer structure). Both thermoelastic and thermoplastic deformation are considered, and the plastic behavior of metal grains is modeled at the single crystal level using crystal plasticity theory. The results are compared with those obtained using a continuous model which does not consider the microstructural randomness and discreteness. In an averaged sense both the micromechanics model and the continuous model give practically the same macroscopic stresses; whereas the discrete micromechanics model predicts fairly high residual stress concentrations at the grain size level (i.e. higher than 700 MPa in 5–6 vol% FGM grains) with only a 300°C temperature drop in a NiAl2O3 FGM system. Statistical analysis shows that the residual stress concentrations are insensitive to material gradient and FGM volume percentage. The need to consider microstructural details in FGM microstructures is evident. The results obtained provide some insights for improving the reliability of FGMs against fracture and delamination.
"She Has Suddenly Become Powerful". Youth Employment and Household Decision Making in the Early Twentieth Century

In the United States a century ago, working children turned over almost all of their earnings to their parents. What incentives, then, did they have to work? Standard answers include altruism or the “sticks” wielded by parents and employers. This article argues that there were also “carrots”: working gave children greater influence in household decision making. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Cost of Living Survey 1917–1919, this article shows that working children had higher clothing expenditures than did nonworking children and that clothing expenditures were increasing in the income a child brought into the household.
Cramer-Rao bounds for discrete-time nonlinear filtering problems

In this note, a Cramer-Rao bound for the mean squared error that can be achieved with nonlinear observations of a nonlinear pth order autoregressive (AR) process where both the process and observation noise covariances can be state dependent is presented. The major limitation is that the AR process must be driven by an additive white Gaussian noise process that has a full-rank covariance. A numerical example demonstrating the tightness of the bound for a particular problem is included. >
Energy efficient indexing on air

We consider wireless broadcasting of data as a way of disseminating information to a massive number of users. Organizing and accessing information on wireless communication channels is different from the problem of organizing and accessing data on the disk. We describe two methods, (1,m) Indexing and Distributed Indexing, for organizing and accessing broadcast data. We demonstrate that the proposed algorithms lead to significant improvement of battery life, while retaining a low access time.
Thalidomide: current and potential clinical applications.

More than three decades after its withdrawal from the world marketplace, thalidomide is attracting growing interest because of its reported immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Current evidence indicates that thalidomide reduces the activity of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by accelerating the degradation of its messenger RNA. Thalidomide also inhibits angiogenesis. Recently, the drug was approved for sale in the United States for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum, an inflammatory complication of Hansen's disease. However, it has long been used successfully in several other dermatologic disorders, including aphthous stomatitis, Behcet's syndrome, chronic cutaneous systemic lupus erythematosus, and graft-versus-host disease, the apparent shared characteristic of which is immune dysregulation. Many recent studies have evaluated thalidomide in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; the drug is efficacious against oral aphthous ulcers, HIV-associated wasting syndrome, HIV-related diarrhea, and Kaposi's sarcoma. To prevent teratogenicity, a comprehensive program has been established to control access to the drug, including registration of prescribing physicians, dispensing pharmacies, and patients; mandatory informed consent and education procedures; and limitation of the quantity of drug dispensed. Clinical and, in some patients, electrophysiologic monitoring for peripheral neuropathy is indicated with thalidomide therapy. Other adverse effects include sedation and constipation. With appropriate safeguards, thalidomide may benefit patients with a broad variety of disorders for which existing treatments are inadequate.
Kepler: an extensible system for design and execution of scientific workflows

Most scientists conduct analyses and run models in several different software and hardware environments, mentally coordinating the export and import of data from one environment to another. The Kepler scientific workflow system provides domain scientists with an easy-to-use yet powerful system for capturing scientific workflows (SWFs). SWFs are a formalization of the ad-hoc process that a scientist may go through to get from raw data to publishable results. Kepler attempts to streamline the workflow creation and execution process so that scientists can design, execute, monitor, re-run, and communicate analytical procedures repeatedly with minimal effort. Kepler is unique in that it seamlessly combines high-level workflow design with execution and runtime interaction, access to local and remote data, and local and remote service invocation. SWFs are superficially similar to business process workflows but have several challenges not present in the business workflow scenario. For example, they often operate on large, complex and heterogeneous data, can be computationally intensive and produce complex derived data products that may be archived for use in reparameterized runs or other workflows. Moreover, unlike business workflows, SWFs are often dataflow-oriented as witnessed by a number of recent academic systems (e.g., DiscoveryNet, Taverna and Triana) and commercial systems (Scitegic/Pipeline-Pilot, Inforsense). In a sense, SWFs are often closer to signal-processing and data streaming applications than they are to control-oriented business workflow applications.
An investigation of pore cracking in titanium welds

Two welded Ti-6A1-4V pressure vessels leaked prematurely in service. The leaks were caused by cracks emanating from weld porosity. The cracks originated during fabrication, with subsequent growth in service leading to the formation of the leak paths. Pore cracking is thought to be caused by a mechanism that involves both sustained-load and cyclic contributions, with the former being the more prominent. It is shown that the tendency for cracking is influenced by pore position and that pore size is not a deciding factor in that regard. The factors that govern pore cracking are discussed, and the possible role of interstitial embrittlement is assessed.
Nonlinear inversion, statistical mechanics, and residual statics estimation

Nonlinear inverse problems are usually solved with linearized techniques that depend strongly on the accuracy of initial estimates of the model parameters. With linearization, objective functions can be minimized efficiently, but the risk of local rather than global optimization can be severe. I address the problem confronted in nonlinear inversion when no good initial guess of the model parameters can be made. The fully nonlinear approach presented is rooted in statistical mechanics. Although a large nonlinear problem might appear computationally intractable without linearization, reformulation of the same problem into smaller, interdependent parts can lead to tractable computation while preserving nonlinearities. I formulate inversion as a problem of Bayesian estimation, in which the prior probability distribution is the Gibbs distribution of statistical mechanics. Solutions are then obtained by maximizing the posterior probability of the model parameters. Optimization is performed with a Monte Carlo te...
Bias and the probability of generalization

In order to be useful, a learning algorithm must be able to generalize well when faced with inputs not previously presented to the system. A bias is necessary for any generalization, and as shown by several researchers in recent years, no bias can lead to strictly better generalization than any other when summed over all possible functions or applications. The paper provides examples to illustrate this fact, but also explains how a bias or learning algorithm can be "better" than another in practice when the probability of the occurrence of functions is taken into account. It shows how domain knowledge and an understanding of the conditions under which each learning algorithm performs well can be used to increase the probability of accurate generalization, and identifies several of the conditions that should be considered when attempting to select an appropriate bias for a particular problem.
Should BP Be Held Liable for Economic Losses Due to the Moratorium on Oil Drilling Imposed after the Deepwater Horizon Accident

In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon accident and the BP oil spill, the government imposed a moratorium on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The question addressed here is whether on grounds of policy BP should be held responsible for moratorium-related economic losses caused by the spill. The answer that is developed is no. The reason, in essence, is that although the spill caused the moratorium, the moratorium might be viewed as a socially beneficial event on net because its purpose was to avert a significant danger.
Health of children classified as underweight by CDC reference but normal by WHO standard.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain measures of health status among 6- to 24-month-old children classified as below normal weight-for-age (underweight) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 growth reference but as normal weight-for-age by the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 standard. METHODS: Data were gathered from children and primary caregivers at emergency departments and primary care clinics in 7 US cities. Outcome measures included caregiver rating of child health, parental evaluation of developmental status, history of hospitalizations, and admission to hospital at the time of visit. Children were classified as (1) not underweight by either CDC 2000 or WHO 2006 criteria, (2) underweight by CDC 2000 but not by WHO 2006 criteria, or (3) underweight by both criteria. Associations between these categories and health outcome measures were assessed by using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Data were available for 18 420 children. For each health outcome measure, children classified as underweight by CDC 2000 but normal by WHO 2006 had higher adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of adverse health outcomes than children not classified as underweight by either; children classified as underweight by both had the highest aORs of adverse outcomes. For example, compared with children not underweight by either criteria, the aORs for fair/poor health rating were 2.54 (95% confidence interval: 2.20–2.93) among children underweight by CDC but not WHO and 3.76 (3.13–4.51) among children underweight by both. CONCLUSIONS: Children who are reclassified from underweight to normal weight in changing from CDC 2000 to WHO 2006 growth charts may still be affected by morbidities associated with underweight.
Hadley Circulation Response to Orbital Precession. Part II: Subtropical Continent

The responseof the monsoonaland annual-meanHadley circulation to orbital precession is examined in an idealized atmospheric general circulation model with a simplified representation of land surface processes in subtropical latitudes. When perihelion occurs in the summer of a hemisphere with a subtropical continent, changesin the top-of-atmosphereenergy balance,togetherwith a polewardshift ofthe monsoonalcirculation boundary, lead to a strengthening of the monsoonal circulation. Spatial variations in surface heat capacity determine whether radiative perturbations are balanced by energy storage or by atmospheric energy fluxes. Althoughorbitalprecessiondoesnotaffectannual-meaninsolation,theannual-meanHadleycirculationdoes respond to orbital precession because its sensitivity to radiative changes varies over the course of the year: the monsoonal circulation in summer is near the angular momentum-conserving limit and responds directly to radiative changes; whereas in winter, the circulation is affected by the momentum fluxes of extratropical eddies and is less sensitive to radiative changes.
An inexact Newton method for nonconvex equality constrained optimization

We present a matrix-free line search algorithm for large-scale equality constrained optimization that allows for inexact step computations. For strictly convex problems, the method reduces to the inexact sequential quadratic programming approach proposed by Byrd et al. [SIAM J. Optim. 19(1) 351–369, 2008]. For nonconvex problems, the methodology developed in this paper allows for the presence of negative curvature without requiring information about the inertia of the primal–dual iteration matrix. Negative curvature may arise from second-order information of the problem functions, but in fact exact second derivatives are not required in the approach. The complete algorithm is characterized by its emphasis on sufficient reductions in a model of an exact penalty function. We analyze the global behavior of the algorithm and present numerical results on a collection of test problems.
P3E-Based Image Analysis Algorithms and Techniques

P3E-based algorithms have been developed for various important image analysis tasks in the realm of projection-space image representation and manipulation. The developed algorithms include computing classical statistical and geometrical features of digital objects, approximating the Hough transform for detecting the maximum-likelihood position of linear and non-linear edges, and generating multi-color polygonal masks for model-based applications. The purpose of this chapter is to explain these algorithms in detail, and present experimental results illustrating their performance.
Retained Cartilage in the Distal Radial Physis of Foals

Examination of growth plate defects in the distal radial physis of 13 foals three to 70 days of age revealed lesions in the lateral and medial aspects of the distal radial physis; the lateral defects were more numerous and obvious. Lesions consisted of widening of the zone of hypertrophying cells of the metaphyseal growth plate (retained cartilage), retained cartilage with discontinuity of cartilage and primary spongiosa, and microfracture of the primary spongiosa. In some foals, the cartilage retention was thought to be due to primary spongiosa microfracture, although fracture subsequent to cartilage abnormality was not excluded.
Separation of Murine Splenic B- and T-Lymphocytes for Use in Immunotoxicological Studies

The effects of xenobiotics on the immune system are often diverse and can involve secondary effects on cell types other than those of primary immune origin. Thus, to better understand the effects of chemicals and drugs on immuno-competence, exposure of immune cell types to xenobiotics and assessment of functional activity have been conducted under in vitro culture conditions. Interpretation of data obtained using this approach is reliant on the known composition of the cell populations used in these assay systems as well as on the ability to obtain purified and functionally viable cells from mixed primary cell suspensions. The objective of this study was to develop an effective and reproducible means of separating murine splenic B- and T-cells into purified populations free of monocyte/macrophage and polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) contamination. Cell adherence and discontinuous Percoll gradients in conjunction with immunomagnetic negative selection or antibody-mediated complement lysis were used to obtain B...
Development of a regional specific crop coefficient (Kc) for castor (Ricinus communis L.) in Florida, USA by using the sap flow method

Abstract Although castor (Ricinus communis L.) oil has high commercial value for industrial uses as well as a feedstock for biodiesel, the United States has relied on imported castor oil since 1972. In Florida, the crop has been considered as an alternative crop to the more traditional agronomic row crops and would likely be produced under center pivot or other irrigation systems to maximize yield and fit with existing cropping systems. To develop an appropriate Kc value for the central Florida region, research was conducted at the University of Florida’s Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, FL. Season-long crop transpiration was measured for the castor cultivar ‘Brigham’ in 2011 and 2012 and soil evaporation rates were quantified in 2012. Crop transpiration was obtained by sap flow analysis when the plots had reached complete canopy cover, were fully irrigated, and when daily solar radiation levels were at or above a historical radiation average to accurately reflect optimum growing conditions. Daily average plant transpiration (57,199 and 56,560 L ha−1 in 2011 and 2012, respectively) were predominantly greater than daily soil evaporation (38 L ha−1 in 2012), and as a result, the season long plant transpiration was the main factor included for the calculation of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). The ETc was evaluated against the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) from site specific meteorological data to calculate daily Kc values. The 10-day Kc averages were compared to published Kc values from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for castor. The crop developmental timeframes in this study were roughly aligned with the FAO timeframes when making these comparisons. The mid-season Kc values were similar to the FAO reference (1.19, Florida vs. 1.15 FAO ref.), but the late season Kc values for castor in Florida were higher as compared to the FAO reference (1.50 vs. 0.55, respectively). The increase in water use during this late season developmental period could be explained by a lack of physiological decline in this sub-tropical climate and continued irrigation application for this trial during the latter part of the season. These results provide appropriate Kc values for central Florida and will aid growers in irrigation decisions when producing castor in this region.
There are no wrong answers: an investigation into the assessment of candidates’ responses to essay‐based examinations

Essay‐based examinations form a cornerstone of the public assessment system in the UK, but comparatively little research has been conducted into the processes involved in designing, answering and appraising essay‐based questions/responses. This study explores the idea of examination validity through a qualitative review of these processes, based on materials sourced from the June 2002 OCR Politics AS/A2 module 2596 (Politics of the UK). Through a detailed analysis of question papers and candidate scripts (informed by mark schemes, curricula and examiner reports), a model of current processes is advanced. Issues related to question design are highlighted, and a methodology for future quality assurance in essay‐based examinations is derived from philosophical considerations such as ‘fairness’ and ‘validity’. This paper resulted from research conducted as part of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate’s ongoing work to develop a system of procedural guidelines and example questions to facil...
Evaluation of CMIP climate model hydrological output for the Mississippi River Basin using GRACE satellite observations

Summary We use measurements of terrestrial water storage (TWS) inferred from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite observations to evaluate the hydrological output composite-averaged over the Mississippi River Basin (MSRB) and over the ten-year period 2003–2012 from a subset of GCMs from the World Climate Research Programme’s Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and Phase 3 (CMIP3). We then investigate mid-20th to 21st century hydrological trends over the MSRB projected by the CMIP5 models. Improvements were found in CMIP5 simulations of the annual cycle of composite TWS, estimated as the sum of modeled depth-integrated soil moisture and snow water, over those of CMIP3 when compared with the GRACE composite TWS cycle. These improvements coincide with higher horizontal resolution and changes in hydrological parameterizations applied in most of the CMIP5 GCMs compared to earlier CMIP3 versions. Simulated values of composite hydrological budget terms among CMIP5 models, however, are not improved overall, with some models exhibiting increased precipitation and others decreased runoff from CMIP3 to CMIP5 to values outside long-term observed ranges. Since the effect of both increased precipitation and decreased runoff is to increase infiltration and soil water retention, the composite TWS annual cycles from these CMIP5 models, whose earlier CMIP3 simulations in some cases highly underestimated TWS annual cycle amplitudes compared to GRACE, now better agree with GRACE. In spite of the improved prediction of the composite TWS annual cycle, multi-decadal hydrological trends for the MSRB produced by the CMIP5 models vary. A consensus for future decreasing soil moisture is found among models, but with varied responses in magnitude as well as in direction of annual precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff trends. Overall, GRACE data appear highly useful for evaluating GCM hydrological predictions over large river basins, and a longer time period of these data as more retrievals become available should help to evaluate GCM hydrological output on a multi-decadal time scale.
Beyond dominant resource fairness: extensions, limitations, and indivisibilities

We study the problem of allocating multiple resources to agents with heterogeneous demands. Technological advances such as cloud computing and data centers provide a new impetus for investigating this problem under the assumption that agents demand the resources in fixed proportions, known in economics as Leontief preferences. In a recent paper, Ghodsi et al. [2011] introduced the dominant resource fairness (DRF) mechanism, which was shown to possess highly desirable theoretical properties under Leontief preferences. We extend their results in three directions. First, we show that DRF generalizes to more expressive settings, and leverage a new technical framework to formally extend its guarantees. Second, we study the relation between social welfare and properties such as truthfulness; DRF performs poorly in terms of social welfare, but we show that this is an unavoidable shortcoming that is shared by every mechanism that satisfies one of three basic properties. Third, and most importantly, we study a realistic setting that involves indivisibilities. We chart the boundaries of the possible in this setting, contributing a new relaxed notion of fairness and providing both possibility and impossibility results.
Manifest Ultraviolet Behavior for the Three-Loop Four-Point Amplitude of N = 8 Supergravity

Using the method of maximal cuts, we obtain a form of the three-loop four-point scattering amplitude of $\mathcal{N}=8$ supergravity in which all ultraviolet cancellations are made manifest. The Feynman loop integrals that appear have a graphical representation with only cubic vertices, and numerator factors that are quadratic in the loop momenta, rather than quartic as in the previous form. This quadratic behavior reflects cancellations beyond those required for finiteness, and matches the quadratic behavior of the three-loop four-point scattering amplitude in $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory. By direct integration we confirm that no additional cancellations remain in the $\mathcal{N}=8$ supergravity amplitude, thus demonstrating that the critical dimension in which the first ultraviolet divergence occurs at three loops is ${D}_{c}=6$. We also give the values of the three-loop divergences in $D=7$, 9, 11. In addition, we present the explicitly color-dressed three-loop four-point amplitude of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory.
Further studies on mechanism of increased capillary permeability in inflammation with the aid of cortisone and ACTH.

Summary and ConclusionsCortisone fails to obliterate the spreading reaction caused by hyaluronidase. This substance seems to inhibit at times somewhat the increased capillary permeability induced by 500 to 900 γ of hyaluronidase. An alkaline exudate or leukotaxine induces an increase in the local capillary permeability. Thus, as shown (1,2), the materials are inhibited by adrenal cortical extract or by cortisone. When, however, the exudate is acid in reaction, the local increased capillary permeability is not repressed by either cortisone or by adrenal cortical extract. This is shown to be referable to another factor liberated in the later stages of an acute inflammatory reaction. This substance is concerned with the mechanism of increased capillary permeability in inflammation. This factor is termed “exudin.” Consequently the initial increase in capillary permeability in the development of inflammation is referable to leukotaxine. With the progress of the acute inflammation the pH of the exudate becomes ...
Evaluation of progesterone synthesis in rabbit placentas.

The contribution of the rabbit placenta to maternal plasma progesterone was investigated by ovariectomizing 21-day pregnant does and maintaining pregnancy for 3 days by Depo-Provera® treatment. Following ovariectomy, maternal plasma progesterone levels decreased to nonpregnant values within 24 hr and remained low, indicating that the placentas do not contribute a detectable amount to plasma progesterone. Sham ovariectomized rabbits, whether on Depo-Provera® treatment or not, showed no significant difference in progesterone concentrations in comparison to unoperated, untreated controls, suggesting the lack of a feedback control exerted by Depo-Provera over progesterone production in nonovariectomized pregnant does. (Endocrinology 94: 925, 1974)
Union Types for Semistructured Data

Semistructured databases are treated as dynamically typed: they come equipped with no independent schema or type system to constrain the data. Query languages that are designed for semistructured data, even when used with structured data, typically ignore any type information that may be present. The consequences of this are what one would expect from using a dynamic type system with complex data: fewer guarantees on the correctness of applications. For example, a query that would cause a type error in a statically typed query language will return the empty set when applied to a semistructured representation of the same data. Much semistructured data originates in structured data. A semistructured representation is useful when one wants to add data that does not conform to the original type or when one wants to combine sources of different types. However, the deviations from the prescribed types are often minor, and we believe that a better strategy than throwing away all type information is to preserve as much of it as possible. We describe a system of untagged union types that can accommodate variations in structure while still allowing a degree of static type checking. A novelty of this system is that it involves non-trivial equivalences among types, arising from a law of distributivity for records and unions: a value may be introduced with one type (e.g., a record containing a union) and used at another type (a union of records). We describe programming and query language constructs for dealing with such types, prove the soundness of the type system, and develop algorithms for subtyping and typechecking.
Corticotropin-releasing factor regulates the development in the direct developing frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui.

Direct developing frogs lack a free-living larval phase, such that miniature adults hatch directly from the eggs. Even under such extreme reorganization of the ancestral biphasic developmental pattern, direct developers still undergo thyroid hormone (TH)-dependent post-embryonic development. Hypothalamic regulation of TH synthesis and release plays a central role in controlling the timing of metamorphosis in biphasic developers. In particular, the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) regulates TH in tadpoles, but in adults, both thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and CRF regulate TH. Because direct developers lack a tadpole stage, it was not clear whether hypothalamic regulation of TH would be tadpole-like or adult-like prior to hatching. To test this, we injected pre-hatching Eleutherodactylus coqui daily with CRF, TRH or astressin (a CRF receptor blocker). CRF but not TRH significantly accelerated the developmental rate compared to controls. Astressin-treated animals showed a near complete developmental arrest, which confirmed that development requires CRF. To support the idea that CRF acts to regulate development in E. coqui via thyroid physiology, we showed the TH-direct response gene TRb is up-regulated 24 and 48 h after CRF injection. In addition, treatment with 50 nM T3 (triiodothyronine, the active form of TH) increased the developmental rate similar to CRF injections. Our results extend the evidence for a cryptic metamorphosis in direct developers by showing that neuroendocrine signaling is conserved between biphasic and direct developers. Furthermore, the conserved neuroendocrine regulation implies that changes at the peripheral level of hormone action underlie the evolution of the radically divergent development in direct developers.
Longitudinal Study of Left Ventricular Mass Growth Comparative Study of Clinic and Ambulatory Systolic Blood Pressure in Chronic Kidney Disease

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is an established cardiovascular risk factor, yet little is known about its trajectory in people with chronic kidney disease. The goal of this prospective research study was to describe the trajectory of LV mass index, its relationship with blood pressure (BP), and specifically to compare the relationship of BP measured in the clinic and 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring with LV mass index. Among 274 veterans with chronic kidney disease followed for over ≤ 4 years, the rate of growth of log LV mass index was inversely related to baseline LV mass index; it was rapid in the first 2 years, and plateaued subsequently. Systolic BP also significantly increased, but linearly, 1.7 mm Hg/y by clinic measurements and 1.8 mm Hg/y by 24-hour ambulatory BP. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of both clinic BP and 24-hour ambulatory BP with LV mass index were similar; both BP recording methods were associated with LV mass index and its growth over time. Controlled hypertension, masked uncontrolled hypertension, and uncontrolled hypertension categories had increasing LV mass index when diagnosed by 24-hour ambulatory and awake BP (P<0.05 for linear trend) but not sleep BP. After accounting for clinic BP both at baseline and longitudinally, LV mass index among individuals was additionally predicted by the difference in sleep systolic BP and clinic systolic BP (P=0.032). In conclusion, among people with chronic kidney disease, the growth of LV mass index is rapid. Research-grade clinic BP is useful to assess LV mass index and its growth over time.
Angle-wavelength matching conditions for multiplexed three-dimensional spatial and spectral holographic imaging

Angle-wavelength matching process in volume holograms using both rigorous coupled wave and scalar grating theories is evaluated. Rigorous coupled wave analysis indicates that high diffraction efficiency can be obtained over a very broad spectral-angle range.
Highly Reliable Thin Hafnium Oxide Gate Dielectric

HfO2 is the one of the potential high-k dielectrics for replacing SiO2 as a gate dielectric. HfO2 is thermodynamically stable when in direct contact with Si and has a reasonable band gap (~5.65eV). In this study, MOS capacitors (Pt/HfO2/Si) were fabricated by depositing HfO2 using reactive DC magnetron sputtering in the range of 33-135A followed by Pt deposition. During the HfO2 deposition, O2 flow was modulated to control interface quality and to suppress interfacial layer growing. By optimizing the HfO2 deposition process, equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) can be reduced down to ~11.2 A with the leakage current as low as 1×10−2 A/cm2 at + 1.0V and negligible frequency dispersion. HfO2 films also show excellent breakdown characteristics and negligible hysteresis after high temperature annealing. From the high resolution TEM, there is a thin interfacial layer after annealing, suggesting a composite of Si-Hf-O with a dielectric constant of ≈ 2 X K SiO2.
Effects of Ammonium Metavanadate Treatment Upon Macrophage Glutathione Redox Cycle Activity, Superoxide Production, and Intracellular Glutathione Status

Female B6C3F1 mice were given intraperitoneal injections of ammonium metavanadate (2.5 or 10 mg V/Kg), ammonium chloride, or sodium phosphate buffer every 3 days for 6 weeks. Resident peritoneal macrophages were harvested, lysed by freeze-thawing, and the resulting cytolysate was assayed for total protein content and enzyme activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. In addition, peritoneal macrophages were assayed for superoxide production using nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, as well as for intracellular levels of oxidized and reduced glutathione. Exposure of mice to vanadium resulted in a dose-trend depression in the three macrophage enzyme activities as compared with the controls. Vanadium treatment resulted in a similar decrease in the production of superoxide anion, and an increase in levels of oxidized glutathione; however, the total glutathione pool (reduced plus oxidized forms) was not affected.
Determination of residues of nine β-agonists in edible meat and liver by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Objective To develop an efficient and accurate method for simultaneous determination of multi-residues of 9 β-agonists in meat and liver by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry( LC-MS /MS),and to investigate the residues in porcine,bovine,and ovine muscles and livers collected from local markets in Shenzhen. Methods Samples( 10. 0 g) were hydrolyzed by β-glucuronidase /sulfatase at 37 ℃ overnight to free bound β-agonists,extracted by perchloric acid,purified by HLB and MCX cartridges,and reconstituted with a methanol-0. 1% formic acid( 10 + 90). The residues of β-agonists were determined by electrospray ionization-trandem mass spectrometry,and quantified by internal standard method by d6-ractopamine,d9-clenbuterol and d3-salbutarnol. Results The linear relationships of the nine target β-agonists were optimal in the range of 0-50 μg /L and the linear correlation coefficient was 0. 995. The limits of quantification were 0. 5 μg /kg for 9 β-agonists in porcine,bovine,and ovine muscles and livers. Average recoveries were 66. 2%-119. 4% with relative standard deviations of 0. 36%-10. 02%. Nine of 720 samples detected by this method were positive,with a detection rate of 1. 25%,of which the detection rates were 0. 56%( 4 /720) for ractopamine,0. 42%( 3 /720) for clenbuterol,and0. 28%( 2 /720) for phenylethanolamine A. Conclusion This method proved to be quick and accurate for determination of the residues of 9 β-agonists in porcine,bovine and ovine muscle and liver specimens.
Importance of ophthalmic clinical trials and integrated studies of clinical and basic ophthalmology

In recent years,more achievement of Chinese medical researchers has gained worldwide acceptance,and more scientific reports have been published on SCI journals.To improve the application and innovation of ophthalmological researches,greater importance should be attached to clinical trials and integrated studies of clinical and basic ophthalmology.Therefore,ophthalmologists should pay more attention to the nature and clinical evidences of diseases and conduct researches in a scientific way.Basic researches on medical science must proceed from clinical findings and serve clinical practice.