cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accounting Uniformity, Comparability, and Resource Allocation Efficiency

Uniformity, the use of a common accounting measurement, is an essential feature of financial reporting, yet its desirability has long been debated. We study a model in which firms decide whether to adopt either their local accounting methods or a common method, followed by an investor allocating capital across firms. We model comparability as a possible but not necessarily ensuing outcome of uniformity that renders accounting reports more informative about productivity differences among firms. Firms' choices of a common method are strategic complements on attaining more comparable reports. As a result, multiple equilibria may exist in the economy, and firms may fail to coordinate on adopting a Pareto-optimal accounting method. Specifically, a Pareto-optimal equilibrium in which all firms use a common accounting method (the common equilibrium) may be risk-dominated by an equilibrium in which each firm uses its optimal local method (the local equilibrium). Moreover, if investments exhibit substitutability, the universal use of a Pareto-optimal common accounting method may not even be an equilibrium. In contrast, a universal use of a Pareto-suboptimal common accounting method can be an equilibrium, especially if investments exhibit complementarity. These coordination problems provide accounting regulation an opportunity to facilitate the efficient allocation of capital in the economy. Thus, our results provide a micro-foundation for accounting measurement regulation and elucidate the impact of accounting uniformity on resource allocation efficiency.
A Review of Predictors of Psychosocial Service Utilization in Youth with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders. Professional practice guidelines recommend combined treatment, psychopharmacological and psychosocial, for youth with ADHD. There have been multiple reviews of pharmacological prescription practices and utilization, however, less is known about predictors of ADHD psychosocial service utilization. Given the importance of accessing psychosocial treatment in relation to improving functional impairment, this review synthesizes evidence on predictors of ADHD psychosocial intervention utilization in clinic, community, and school settings. Eighteen studies were identified and included in the review. Findings are summarized across informant profile factors, predisposing characteristics, and barriers and facilitators. The most robust findings were for the impact of symptom severity/impairment, the presence of comorbidities, and age on ADHD psychosocial service utilization. Race/ethnicity, sex, parental knowledge of the disorder and insurance coverage were also identified as key factors. Future avenues of research are provided, and clinical and policy implications targeted at reducing psychosocial treatment disparities in youth with ADHD are discussed.
Chapter 6 – Natural Radioactivity

Publisher Summary Natural radioactivity originates from extraterrestrial sources, as well as from radioactive elements in the earth's crust. About 340 nuclides have been found in nature, of which about 70 are radioactive and are found mainly among the heavy elements. All elements having an atomic number greater than 80 possess radioactive isotopes, and all isotopes of elements heavier than number 83 are radioactive. The radioactivity of the earth includes three major categories. Primordial radionuclides have half lives sufficiently long that they have survived since their creation. Secondary radionuclides are derived from radioactive decay of the primordials. Cosmogenic radionuclides are continuously produced by the bombardment of stable nuclides by cosmic rays, primarily in the atmosphere. A much larger number of radioactive isotopes than existing now were produced when the matter of which the universe is formed first came into being several billion years ago, but most of them have decayed out of existence. The primordial radionuclides that now exist are those that have half lives at least comparable to the age of the universe. Radioisotopes with half lives of less than about l0 years have become undetectable in the 30 or so half lives since their creation, whereas radionuclides with half lives greater than 10 years have decayed very little up to the present time. In most places on earth the natural radioactivity varies only within narrow limits, but in some localities there are wide deviations from normal levels because of abnormally high soil concentrations of radioactive minerals.
DoD university programs in microelectronics

Summary form only given. It is noted that DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has significantly contributed to the nation's infrastructure, driven by programs which accelerate the nations's technology base. Key ongoing opportunities and programs that provide an insight into emerging technologies are highlighted. Work in the areas of microsystems design and prototyping is used as an example to show the synergy between innovation, design, prototyping, and manufacturing. In addition, the importance of developing the proper vision, some of the educational challenges for the community, and the collaborative models of research with the US Dept. of Defense are presented. >
Follicular (pilosebaceous unit) deposition and pharmacological behavior of cimetidine as a function of formulation.

The effect of formulation on cimetidine delivery to the pilosebaceous unit and other skin phases was studied. In vitro and in vivo deposition determinations as well as a pharmacodynamic antiandrogenic sebaceous gland bioassays were made. A complex variety of factors influence how the formulation affects both the degree of drug deposition and its pharmacological activity in the pilosebaceous unit. When cimetidine was applied in formulations at pH values where it was predominately unionized, the thermodynamic driving force proved the dominant factor in influencing the extent of drug deposition into the pilosebaceous unit. Although more cimetidine was deposited into the pilosebaceous unit in vivo from the phospho lipid-based liposomal formulation when cimetidine was ionized, this formulation was also the only one devoid of significant antiandro genic action. Of great importance, it is clear from the studies that deposition from complex formulations, such as liposomes, where bilayer/drug interactions can persist in the skin, may give a false impression of the activity of a drug within a tissue. Moreover, data for cimetidine in 50% alcohol solution show that one can maintain local effects while reducing systemic activity by simply manipulating drug concentration in the application.
Interfacial Polarization Characteristics of Pt | BaCe0.8Gd0.2 O 3 | Pt Cells at Intermediate Temperatures

Impedance spectroscopy of Pt{vert_bar}BaCe{sub 0.8}Gd{sub 0.2}O{sub 3}{vert_bar}Pt cells indicates that both mass and charge-transfer influence the electrode kinetics of the interfacial reactions. Charge-transfer appears to dominate the electrode kinetics when the partial pressure of oxygen is sufficiently high, whereas mass transfer seems to be rate limiting at low oxygen partial pressures. Under the influence of an applied dc bias, concentration polarization at the cathode is more severe than that at the anode. In a H{sub 2}-containing atmosphere, the electrode kinetics seem to be limited primarily by charge-transfer. Further, water vapor has a significant effect on the electrode kinetics. In an O{sub 2}-containing atmosphere, the introduction of 3 volume percent (v/o) H{sub 2}O dramatically increases the interfacial resistances. In contrast, in a H{sub 2}-containing atmosphere the presence of 3 v/o H{sub 2}O significantly reduces the interfacial resistances. Overall, the interfacial resistances are the factors limiting the performance of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells based on BaCe{sub 0.8}Gd{sub 0.2}O{sub 3} electrolytes. Minimizing polarization resistance arising from both charge and mass transfer is the key to achieving high-performance solid oxide fuel cells.
Internet connectivity for hospitals and hospital libraries: strategies.

Abstract Access to Internet resources and communications has rapidly become a necessity in many hospitals nationally. The results of a Pacific Northwest pilot Intenet connections project provides important evidence of the value of librarians in establishing such connections in their institutions The pilot project has resulted in a wealth of information regarding approaches to promoting the utility of the Internet to health professionals in hospitals. Roles that librarians are playing in support of such connections include facilitator, negotiator, provider, publisher, integrator, and educator.
Multigroup Boltzmann-Fokker-Planck Approach for Ion Transport in Amorphous Media

The interaction and transport of energetic ions in matter is of importance in applications as diverse as ion implantation in semiconductor materials [1], heavy ion radiotherapy [2] and galactic cosmic ray interactions with sensitive spacecraft components. Computational modeling and analyses of ion transport in the complex geometries typically encountered in these applications invariably rely on Monte Carlo (MC) simulation tools. While continuous energy MC codes such as LAHET [3] and TRIM [4] are extensively used (although TRIM is strictly a ID planar geometry code), multigroup Monte Carlo (MGMC) methods, known from neutral particle transport to be accurate and computationally more efficient than continuous Monte Carlo, are lacking for ion transport.
Cloth That Does Not Die

Cloth That Does Not Die. Alisha P. Renne. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1995. 269 pp.
The Probability of Winning Warren Buffett’s Billion Dollars

Stated in the contest rules the probability of winning the NCAA College Basketball Tournament “Quicken Loans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge” is one in 9.2 quintillion (9.2 x 1018). This is calculated based on each team having an even chance of 50% to win any given Tournament game. In this paper, I use two alternative methodologies to calculate the probability of teams to win individual games and use these probabilities to calculate the overall probability of achieving a perfect 2014 NCAA Tournament bracket. Based on Las Vegas closing point spreads, I find the probability of having a perfect 2014 NCAA Tournament bracket is approximately one in 1.31 quadrillion (1.31 x 1015). Alternatively, using Conlen and Silver (2014) estimated probabilities, I find the probability is approximately one in 1.57 quadrillion (1.57 x 1015). These alternative methodologies produce surprisingly similar probabilities and are lower (better) by a factor of approximately 6,000 to 8,000 times than the probability stated in contest rules.
Initial Results from Dissolution Testing of Various Air-Oxidized Spent Fuels

Flowthrough dissolution tests have been conducted on two different light-water-reactor spent fuels oxidized to U{sub 4}O{sub 9+x} or U{sub 3}O{sub 8}. Oxidation had a bigger impact on the dissolution of U and a smaller impact on the dissolution of {Tc} from the fuel with higher burnup and higher fission gas release. Possible reasons for the observed differences in test results are discussed, but clarification awaits results from tests on other fuels, which are in progress.
Pulmonary blastoma in a child.

Abstract Pulmonary blastoma is a very rare type of lung tumor. In 1952 Barnard 1 described the first report of a rare pulmonary neoplasm which histologically resembled fetal lung tissue. He named it pulmonary embryoma. Spencer 2 reported four similar cases which he called pulmonary blastoma because they resembled the histologic pattern of nephroblastoma. Since then there have been 25 reported cases of this type of neoplasm but only two were in children. 3,4 We have recently treated a 10-yr-old girl with this neoplasm.
Short term high density systemic therapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Twenty-three patients with metastatic breast carcinoma were induced with a complex systemic therapy regimen in an attempt to ascertain if a complete remission rate >50% could be obtained with intensive drug exposure. The durability of the remissions was observed by discontinuing therapy after 3 cycles in complete remission or after 6 cycles of treatment, whichever was longer. In 13 patients consolidation radiation therapy to the pre-treatment sites of disease was administered after discontinuing systemic therapy. Each 28 day cycle of the drug regimen consisted of pulses of adriamycin, vincristine, dibromodulcitol, prednisone, methotrexate with leukovorin rescue, hexamethylmelamine, bleomycin (discontinued after entry #17), fluoxymesterone, and tamoxifen. Eighteen of the 23 patients achieved complete remissions (78%) and 3 had partial remissions. The median times to treatment failure and survival were, respectively, 12.3 and 19.4 mos. The times for complete remission patients were, respectively, 13.5 and 23.9 mos. Consolidation radiotherapy at ≥ 40 Gy to drug induced pre-study sites of complete remission was associated with first relapses at prestudy sites in 5/30 (17%) instances, compared to 21/35 (60%) in sites not receiving radiotherapy. Side-effects were commensurate with the intensity of the treatment program and are detailed in the text. Although the achievement of a high complete remission rate is promising, the failure to extend their duration beyond that of historical data suggests that additional conceptual and therapeutic approaches need to be explored.
Min(e)d your tags: analysis of question response time in stackoverflow

Given a newly posted question on a Question and Answer (Q&A) site, how long will it take until an answer is received? Does response time relate to factors about how the question asker composes their question? If so, what are those factors? With advances in social media and the Web, Q&A sites have become a major source of information for Internet users. Response time of a question is an important aspect in these sites as it is associated with the users' satisfaction and engagement, and thus the lifespan of these online communities. In this paper we study and estimate response time for questions in StackOverflow, a popular online Q&A forum where software developers post and answer questions related to programming. We analyze a long list of factors in the data and identify those that have clear relation with response time. Our key finding is that tag-related factors, such as their "popularity" (how often the tag is used) and the number of their "subscribers" (how many users can answer questions containing the tag), provide much stronger evidence than factors not related to tags. Finally, we learn models using the identified evidential features for predicting the response time of questions, which also demonstrate the significance of tags chosen by the question asker.
Finite-element analysis of coupled thermoviscoelastic structures undergoing sustained periodic vibrations

A general method is presented for analyzing the effects of internal heating in geometrically complex viscoelastic structures due to exposure to sustained periodic vibratory loads. The analysis employs the finiteelement method for both transient displacement and temperature determinations and utilizes "complex" viscoelastic material property functions. The method is demonstrated by application to a problem involving longitudinal oscillations of a linear viscoelastic rod. General agreement is obtained with the results of Huang and Lee which appear in the literature. The method is applicable to geometrically complex, linear viscoelastic structures of the thermorheologically simple type undergoing small deformations. Existing computer codes that model liner elastic materials can be used, with minor modifications, to obtain linear viscoelastic results.
Ossified pseudomeningocele following Chiari decompression surgery in a patient with Kleeblattschädel deformity.

The authors present the case of a 3-year-old child with Kleeblattschadel, or cloverleaf skull deformity, and a Chiari malformation Type I who developed an ossified pseudomeningocele after posterior fossa decompression. To their knowledge, this is the first report of a postoperative ossified pseudomeningocele in a patient with Kleeblattschadel and the only case of an ossified pseudomeningocele located outside the lumbosacral region. A genetic basis for the ossification process seems likely given the child's history of premature cranial suture closure. The authors draw attention to this rare complication and review the available body of literature on this topic.
Sampling-variance effects on detecting density dependence from temporal trends in natural populations

Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to evaluate robustness of four tests to detect density dependence, from series of population abundances, to the addition of sampling variance. Population abundances were generated from random walk, stochastic exponential growth, and density-dependent population models. Population abundance es- timates were generated with sampling variances distributed as lognormal and constant coefficients of variation (CV) from 0.00 to 1.00. In general, when data were generated under a random walk, Type I error rates increased rapidly for Bulmer's R, Pollard et al.'s, and Dennis and Taper's tests with increasing magnitude of sampling variance for n . 5y r and all values of process variation. Bulmer's R* test maintained a constant 5% Type I error rate for n . 5 yr and all magnitudes of sampling variance in the population abundance estimates. When abundances were generated from two stochastic exponential growth models (R 5 0.05 and R 5 0.10), Type I errors again increased with increasing sampling variance; magnitude of Type I error rates were higher for the slower growing population. Therefore, sampling error inflated Type I error rates, invalidating the tests, for all except Bulmer's R* test. Comparable simulations for abundance estimates generated from a density-dependent growth rate model were conducted to estimate power of the tests. Type II error rates were influenced by the relationship of initial population size to carrying capacity ( K), length of time series, as well as sampling error. Given the inflated Type I error rates for all but Bulmer's R*, power was overestimated for the remaining tests, resulting in density depen- dence being detected more often than it existed. Population abundances of natural popu- lations are almost exclusively estimated rather than censused, assuring sampling error. Therefore, because these tests have been shown to be either invalid when only sampling variance occurs in the population abundances (Bulmer's R, Pollard et al.'s, and Dennis and Taper's tests) or lack power (Bulmer's R* test), little justification exists for use of such tests to support or refute the hypothesis of density dependence.
Market Sidedness: Insights into Motives for Trade Initiation

We infer motives for trade initiation from market sidedness. We define trading as more two-sided (one-sided) if the correlation between the numbers of buyer- and seller-initiated trades increases (decreases), and assess changes in sidedness (relative to a control sample) around events that identify trade initiators. Consistent with asymmetric information, trading is more one-sided prior to merger news. Consistent with belief heterogeneity, trading is more two-sided before earnings and macro announcements with greater dispersions of analyst forecasts, and after news events with larger announcement surprises. A simultaneous equation system is used to examine the co-determinacy of sidedness, the bid-ask spread, volatility, the number of trades and the order imbalance.
84 INTRAOPERATIVE EVALUATION OF SURGICALLY CREATED A SYSTEMIC TO PULMONARY SHUNTS WITH PULSED DOPPLER ULTRASOUND

84 INTRAOPERATIVE EVALUATION OF SURGICALLY CREATED A SYSTEMIC TO PULMONARY SHUNTS WITH PULSED DOPPLER ULTRASOUND
LH and FSH Responsiveness to Intravenous Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) in Children with Hypothalamic or Pituitary Disorders: Lack of Effect of Replacement Therapy with Human Growth Hormone

To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of the GnRH test, gonadotropin responses to iv GnRH (Parke-Davis) were determined in 82 young patients (2,5 mo.-21 yr.) and 6 normal men. After extensive evaluation, 40 patients (31 boys and 9 girls) were considered "endocrinologically normal." Repeat tests were performed in 17 patients at 6-12 mo. intervals. Nine patients with presumed isolated hGH deficiency and 3 patients with multiple pituitary deficiencies were studied before and at the end of 12 mo. of hGH therapy. Serial blood samples were obtained before and after an iv bolus injection of GnRH (2.5 mug/kg, 74 tests, or 10 mug/m2, 36 tests). LH and FSH were determined by radioimmunoassay. Maximum concentration, maximum increment (deltamax), and response area were compared with degree of skeletal maturation to evaluate responses. Clinically, the most useful determination was the deltamax LH. All "normal" children with bone ages greater than 12 yr had LH responses in or slightly above the range of the values of the 6 normal men: deltamax LH, 39 +/- 8 (SE) mIU/ml; range 13-57. Severely blunted or absent responses were seen in 14/15 patients (bone ages 3 mo.-14 yr.) with multiple pituitary deficiencies. Boys with isolated hGH deficiency and bone ages of less than 10 yr had significantly lower responses than "short normal" boys with similar skeletal maturation: deltamax LH, 4.8 +/- 0.9 vs 8 +/- 1.3 mIU/ml, P is less than .05. Although the mean growth velocity of hGH-treated children increased from 3.2 to 8.9 cm/yr, LH and FSH responses were unchanged. These studies indicate that 1) children with idiopathic hypopituitarism (including those with presumed isolated hGH deficiency) have significantly decreased responsiveness to GnRH which does not respond to 6 to 12 months of hGH treatment; and 2) decreased responsiveness to GnRH in patients with bone ages of greater than 12 yr is presumptive evidence of gonadotropin deficiency.
Reducing Teacher Moral Hazard in the U.S. Elementary and Secondary Educational System through Merit-pay: An Application of the Principal–Agency Theory

America’s elementary and secondary educational system is faced with an inefficiency stemming from a basic problem associated with unobservability: moral hazard. In this case, the teacher (agent) has an incentive to exert less effort (given cost associated with more work) if the school district (principal) cannot distinguish between low student performance due to a lack of teacher effort and low student performance due low student quality (random variable). This research develops an optimal incentive scheme that guarantees the teacher a fixed payment, plus a variable payment that would be a function of teacher ‘action’ variables thereby reducing moral hazard.
Benefits of intertwining teaching and research.

In the Education Forum “Changing the Culture of Science Education at Research universities” (14 January, p. [152][1]), W. A. Anderson et al. argue that research and teaching can be combined in ways that increase their effectiveness. The Education Forum describes seven initiatives to elevate the status of teaching. We would like to add to their list. Rather than detach the content of science from its method, researchers should engage students in authentic research to learn the scientific habits of mind that researchers use to discover and understand knowledge. Unifying teaching and research facilitates synergy, enhances student learning, attracts students to the STEM professions, and boosts professional satisfaction. ![Figure][2] CREDIT: LUXXTEK/[ISTOCKPHOTO.COM][3] Unfortunately, teaching and research have too often been explicitly segregated. An excellent researcher teaching an unrelated curriculum using ineffective pedagogies is unlikely to be judged an effective teacher. Teaching research goes beyond designated methodology courses; it includes inquiry-based and research-like pedagogies throughout the curriculum, including introductory courses. Researchers can increase the quality of teaching and learning by modeling what they do and how they think about it in the classroom. Inquiry-based approaches make good teaching, especially when accompanied by strategies that develop effective teamwork and peer review among a group of diverse students. Engaging students in scholarly work develops strong analytical thinking skills that are essential for effective personal and civic lives as well as professional ones. The solution to the demand for talented STEM workers must include recognizing reciprocity between research and teaching. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1198280 [2]: pending:yes [3]: http://ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Polyuridylic acid-directed phenylalanine incorporation by Lactobacillus acidophilus: effect of puromycin at acid pH.

Abstract The requirements for the polyuridylic acid-directed incorporation of phenylalanine into the trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material by a Lactobacillus acidophilus 30 000 × g supernatant fraction were essentially as described for comparable Escherichia coli preparations. One important difference was the relatively high Mg 2+ requirement. Phenylalanine incorporation by L. acidophilus extracts occurred over a relatively wide pH range which extended on the acid side to a point at which incorporation by E. coli extracts was abolished. Tetracycline antibiotics had a strong inhibitory effect on phenylalanine incorporation by L. acidophilus extracts at both pH 7.8 and 5.2. In contrast, puromycin while strongly inhibitory at pH 7.8 did not inhibit phenylalanine incorporation at pH 5.2 at a concentration of 500 μg/ml over a wide range of Mg 2+ and S-30 protein concentrations. The inhibitory effect of puromycin also decreased with a decrease in pH when E. coli extracts were employed over the pH range 7.7 to 5.8. Puromycin aminonucleoside failed to inhibit phenylalanine incorporation by L. acidophilus extracts at both pH 7.8 and pH 5.2. The properties of the poly(U)-dependent phenylalanine-incorporating system of L. acidophilus at pH 5.2 were similar in the presence and absence of puromycin in all the parameters tested. The L. acidophilus system is recommended for the study of cell-free protein synthesis particularly when synthesis over a wide pH range is desired.
Primordial helium isotope signature from Plio–Quaternary alkaline basalts in Yemen

Isotopic compositions of He, Ne and Ar were measured on Plio–Quaternary alkaline basalts of Marib–Sirwah and Shuqra volcanic fields in Yemen, south-western Arabian Peninsula. Very high 3He/4He isotope ratios were found in olivine phenocrysts of some Quaternary alkaline basalts in both volcanic fields, located on the margin of the dispersed Afar mantle plume, compared with the Afar–Ethiopian province in the center of the mantle plume. This suggests that the Afar mantle plume source may consist of common component (C or focal zone (FOZO)) with variable primordial 3He/4He ratio rather than high μ mantle (HIMU) component. The three component mixing C as the Afar mantle plume, depleted mantle (DM) as upper mantle and lithospheric mantle with a hybrid enriched mantle I–II (EM I–EM II) characteristics may be adequate to explain He–Sr–Nd–Pb isotope variation for the Afar–Arabian Cenozoic volcanics. The occurrence of high 3He/4He ratios in the Marib–Sirwah volcanic field appears to show that the primitive basaltic magma, derived from the margin of the dispersed trous-like Afar mantle plume during 15–0 Ma, was not by contamination of lithospheric and upper mantle materials in comparison with that from the center of the Afar mantle plume as a result of relatively low thermal anomaly.
Soil loss predictions with three erosion simulation models

Abstract Quantification of soil loss is one of the greatest challenges in natural resources and environmental planning. Computer simulation models are becoming increasingly popular in predicting soil loss for various land use and management practices. In this study, three soil erosion prediction models — the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP), the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC), and the Areal Nonpoint Source Watershed Environment Response Simulation (ANSWERS) were used for simulating soil loss and testing the capability of the models in predicting soil losses for three different tillage systems (ridge-till, chisel-plow, and no-till). For each model, the most sensitive model parameters were calibrated using measured soil erosion data. After calibration, models were run and predicted soil loss values were compared with the measured soil loss values. The measured soil erosion data were collected from an erosion experiment field of Kansas State University at Ottawa (Kansas), USA. Field experiments were conducted from 1995 to 1997 on small plots to measure runoff and soil losses under all three tillage systems. All three models were evaluated on the basis of individual event, total yearly, and mean event-based soil loss predictions. Results showed that all the three models performed reasonably well and the predicted soil looses were within the range of measured values. For ridge-till and chisel-plow systems, WEPP and ANSWERS gave better predictions than those by EPIC model. For no-till system, WEPP and EPIC predictions were better than those by ANSWERS. The overall results indicate that WEPP predictions were better than those by the other two models in most of the cases, and it can be used with reasonable degree of confidence for soil loss quantification for all the three tillage systems.
Downtown Redevelopment as an Urban Growth Strategy: A Critical Appraisal of the Baltimore Renaissance

Since the early 1970s, Baltimore has been heralded as a model of how declining, older U.S. cities can be revitalized Baltimore’s economic development strategy has hinged on the creation of a “good ...
Stepwise synthesis of main-chain liquid-crystalline macrocyclics based on conformationally flexible mesogens

A stepwise synthesis of “main-chain” regioirregular liquid-crystalline macrocyclic oligoethers based on conformationally flexible mesogens and flexible spacers is described. This method was applied to the synthesis of the previously unreported cyclic trimer TPB′-(c)10(3), tetramer TPB′-(c)10(4), and pentamer TPB′-(c)10(5), based on 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2(4-hydroxy-4′-biphenylyl)butane (TPB′) and 1,10-dibromodecane. The method consists of the stepwise synthesis of the bisphenolic linear trimer of TPB′ (5) and its phase-transfercatalyzed etherification under high dilution with 1,10-dibromodecane to yield the cyclic trimer TPB′-(c)10(3). The biselectrophilic linear monomer 6 and dimer 7 were separated from a one step synthesis at high concentration, and their cyclization with the bisphenolic linear trimer 5 at high dilution yielded the macrocyclic tetramer TPB′-(c)10(4) and respectively pentamer TPB′-(c)10(5). The unoptimized separated yields are up to 45%, making this synthetic method extremely valuable for preparative purposes. The phase behavior of the macrocyclic liquid crystals based on TPB′ (i.e., TPB′-(c)10(z) with z ) 1-5) was compared with that of the corresponding macrocyclics based on the constitutional isomer 1-(4-hydroxy4′-biphenylyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butane (TPB) [i.e., TPB-(c)10(z) with z ) 1-5] which were prepared by a one-step synthesis. Advantages and disadvantages of the stepwise versus one-step methods are discussed.
Are sustainable cities “happy” cities? Associations between sustainable development and human well-being in urban areas of the United States

In this paper, we assess the associations between self-reported happiness, measured using the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index (2012), and four US city sustainability indices: the Green City Index (2011), Our Green Cities (2012), Popular Science US City Rankings (2008) and the SustainLane US Green City Rankings (2007). Based on the examination of nonparametric, rank-based correlations, we found positive associations between sustainable development and happiness on all scales and statistically significant correlations for two of the four SD indices. Results support previous research, emphasize the value of explicit consideration of happiness when measuring urban sustainability and highlight the need for future research that assesses the influence of specific subsystems of urban development on self-reported happiness.
Select corn coproducts from the ethanol industry and their potential as ingredients in pet foods

The objectives of this study were to determine the chemical composition and nutritive value of corn protein product 1 (CPP 1), corn protein product 2 (CPP 2), and corn fiber (CF), novel coproducts of the ethanol industry, and compare these feed ingredients with standard plant protein ingredients [soybean meal (SBM), distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten meal (CGlM), and corn germ meal (CGeM)], and to compare CF sources (CF control 1 and control 2) with standard fiber sources (peanut hulls, Solka-Floc, and beet pulp) commonly used in pet foods. Corn fiber, CPP 1, and CPP 2 were produced at a pilot-scale modified dry-grind plant, with CPP 2 having a greater degree of purification than CPP 1. Crude protein values for CPP 2 and CPP 1 were 57.3 and 49.7%, respectively. Total dietary fiber concentration was 29% for CPP 2 and 23.5% for CPP 1. Acid-hydrolyzed fat and GE concentrations were similar for these ingredients. In a protein efficiency ratio assay, no differences (P > 0.05) in feed intake, BW gain, or CP intake were noted for CPP 2, CPP 1, or CGlM. However, feeding CPP 2 resulted in a greater (P 0.05) from CPP 1 or SBM values. Corn germ meal resulted in the least values, but they were not different from those for DDGS and CPP 1. The greatest values for true nitrogen-corrected ME were obtained with CGlM, followed by CPP 2, DDGS, CPP 1, SBM, and CGeM. Distillers dried grains with solubles and CPP 1 had similar true nitrogen-corrected ME values, and they were not different from values for CPP 2 and SBM. In vitro CP disappearance was greatest (P < 0.05) for CGlM (94.1%), intermediate for DDGS (76.8%) and CPP 1 (77.5%), and least for CPP 2 (74.1%) and CGeM (67.7%). Corn fibers contained predominantly insoluble dietary fiber (1% or less of soluble dietary fiber), with a moderate CP concentration. In vitro OM disappearance for the fiber sources, when using inoculum from dog feces, revealed that with the exception of beet pulp, which had a moderate disappearance value after 16 h of fermentation (17.7%), all fiber substrates had a nonsignificant extent of fermentation. In conclusion, novel corn coproducts had properties comparable with the standard protein and fiber sources used in animal nutrition.
Integration of production sequencing and outbound logistics in the automotive industry

Abstract This paper addresses the mixed model assembly line sequencing and outbound logistics planning problems in the automotive industry at the operational level. The decision-making procedures in practice consider these two problems sequentially. This study proposes an integrated scheme coordinating both decisions. We provide mixed integer programming models for production sequencing, logistics planning, and the integrated scheme. The integrated model is simplified based on an understanding of the properties of an optimal solution for the sequencing problem and based on the assumption that there is one closed bottleneck workstation. The numerical experiments demonstrate the benefit of the integration by comparing it with two sequential schemes, the Production-First-Scheme and the Logistics-First-Scheme.
Strontium-isotope and sequence stratigraphy of the Miocene Kirkwood Formation, southern New Jersey

We use Sr-isotope stratigraphy to correlate the Miocene Kirkwood Formation of the New Jersey Coastal Plain to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) and to ascertain the age of Miocene depositional sequences. Sr-isotope stratigraphy confirms diatom biostratigraphy, which delineates three Kirkwood sequences corresponding to East Coast Diatom Zone (ECDZ) 1, ECDZ 2, and ECDZ 6 of Andrews (1988). Sr-isotope age estimates of the lowermost sequence (= ECDZ 1) range from 19.2 to 22.6 Ma ± 0.5 m.y. The middle sequence (= ECDZ 2) ranges from 15.5 to 17.4 Ma ± 0.5 m.y.; a disconformity within ECDZ 2 at the Belleplain State Forest borehole and the Wildwood 198A well separates it into two sequences, with a possible hiatus from 17 to 16 Ma. Sr-isotope age estimates of the upper Kirkwood sequence (= ECDZ 6) are not as certain and range from 11.5 to 13.6 Ma ± 0.8 Ma. A shorter age range of 12.2-13.6 Ma for this sequence is supported by its assignment to the D. stauracanthus silicoflagellate Subzone. Sedimentation rates were as high as 40 m per million years during deposition of the Kirkwood Formation, suggesting possible tectonic influences on depositional history. The timing of lower to middle Miocene sequence boundaries from the New Jersey Coastal Plain compares well with other indicators of sea-level change, including oxygen isotopes (Miller and others, 1991b), the global sea-level record of Haq and others (1987), and the offshore New Jersey sequence boundaries of Greenlee and others (1992). Thus, both tectonic and eustatic changes influenced Miocene depositional history of the New Jersey Coastal Plain.
Highly Quantified Teachers NCLB and Teacher Education

In this article the author looks at the impact NCLB is having on teacher education programs, focusing on three major areas: who is entering teacher preparation programs; the experience they have wh...
A correlation between the therapeutic effectiveness of certain drugs in atrial fibrillation and their action on myocardial conduction.

Abstract On the basis of the therapeutic effectiveness of various drugs given trial for the arrhythmia, clinical atrial fibrillation should be divided into three classifications. Transitory atrial fibrillation responds to the anticholinergic drugs atropine or Banthine and is apparently vagal in origin. Continuous atrial fibrillation of recent onset, or paroxysmal in nature, can be terminated by Atabrine, Benadryl, or Pronestyl. Sustained or chronic atrial fibrillation can be converted successfully only by quindine or allocryptopine. Through electrocardiographic studies on dogs, it was found that only allocryptopine and quinidine retard the rate of atrial and ventricular depolarization. It is thus proposed that a prolongation of myocardial depolarization is the basis of action of drugs in chronic atrial fibrillation, rather than a prolongation of refractoriness as was assumed previously.
EFFECTS OF MALNUTRITION DURING THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND LACTATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF RAT DAMS

Abstract To assess the effects of malnutrition imposed at various stages of the reproductive cycle on maternal nutritional status and lactational performance, rats were fed 50% of the intake of control animals fed ad libitum (C) either before pregnancy (R-B), before and during pregnancy (R-BP), during lactation (R-L) or throughout the experimental period (R-BPL). At day 14 of lactation, maternal plasma albumin and vitamin A, liver iron stores and carcass fat were reduced in the restricted animals (R-L, R-BPL). Vitamin A stores were lowest in the chronically malnourished rats and were not replenished by refeeding during lactation. Milk yield was compromised in the restricted rats; the acutely malnourished rats (R-L) were much more severely affected than those chronically underfed (R-BPL). The restricted animals (R-L, R-BPL) only partially compensated by producing a more nutrient-dense milk. As a result, only total daily output of milk lactose and iron were reduced in the restricted rats. Thus, nutritional insults occurring both before and during lactation influenced lactational performance. The negative effects of chronic malnutrition were largely overcome by refeeding during lactation.
Honduras: una mezcla de cambio y continuidad

Este articulo analiza las fuentes de cambio y de continuidad en la politica de Honduras para entender si el regimen democratico esta progresando hacia la consolidacion. El presente articulo brevemente expone los eventos mas relevantes del periodo 2008. Estos incluyen las relaciones entre el Presidente Zelaya y Hugo Chavez, los esfuerzos de las mujeres y de los afrohondurenos para aumentar su representacion politica y las elecciones primarias de los partidos tradicionales. Varios cambios indican que la democracia esta mas fuerte –la expansion de la representacion politica parece continuara y existe la posibilidad de que el Congreso funcione como un freno contra el presidente– pero estos cambios todavia no estan consolidados.
A reexamination of earthquakes previously thought to have occurred within the slab between the trench axis and double seismic zone, northern Honshu arc.

We have studied earthquakes along the northern Honshu arc, Japan, which were previously thought to have occurred within the downgoing slab, landward of the trench axis and seaward of the double seismic zone. We used P-wave synthetic seismograms to determine precise source depths and mechanisms. We examined six earthquakes in the zone from 50km to 150km landward of the trench axis whose published focal mechanisms showed normal faulting or T axes subparallel to the dip of the slab. These events were thought to have occurred within the slab due to their focal mechanisms. When we computed body-wave synthetics, however, five of these six events were shown to be of thrust type and located at the plate interface. Our symthetics confirm that the sixth event (March 16, 1969, mb=5.5, Ms=5.5), located about 100km landward of the trench axis, definitely occurred within the slab 15km below the plate interface. We obtain a focal mechanism with T axis dipping at an angle of 60°. The location of this event is about 50km seaward from the edge of the double seismic zone. The bending-unbending theory of an elastic-plastic plate cannot explain the stress axis of this event; however, the gravitational pull or sagging of the downgoing slab is consistent with this stress orientation.
Human MLPA Probe Design (H-MAPD): a probe design tool for both electrophoresis-based and bead-coupled human multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assays

Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) is an efficient and reliable technique for gene dosage analysis. Currently MLPA can be conducted on two platforms: traditional electrophoresis-based, and FlexMAP bead-coupled. Since its introduction in 2002, MLPA has been rapidly adopted in both clinical and research situations. However, MLPA probe design is a time consuming process requiring many steps that address multiple criteria. There exist only one or two commercial software packages for traditional electrophoresis-based MLPA probe design. To our knowledge, no software is yet available that performs bead-coupled MLPA probe design. We have developed H-MAPD, a web-based tool that automates the generation and selection of probes for human genomic MLPA. The software performs physical-chemical property tests using UNAFold software, and uniqueness tests using the UCSC genome browser. H-MAPD supports both traditional electrophoresis-based assays, as well as FlexMAP bead-coupled MLPA. H-MAPD greatly reduces the efforts for human genomic MLPA probe design. The software is written in Perl-CGI, hosted on a Linux server, and is freely available to non-commercial users.
Chondrogenesis and skeletal morphogenesis occur despite intervening adipocytes in regenerating newt limbs

The interface between bone and blastemal tissues of regenerating newt limbs was examined to determine the nature of “tissue spaces” described earlier. Regenerating limbs were prepared either by aldehyde fixation/osmium postfixation and plastic embedding or by Bouin's fixation and paraffin embedding. The osmium-stained tissues revealed that the interruptions are predominately adipocytes. They are adjacent to the marrow cavity and apparently originate from it. The adipocytes frequently are present in the midst of aggregating prechondrogenic cells and mature chondrocytes. Paraffin embedded tissues revealed that adipocytes distal to bone may be present at all stages of skeletogenesis. Adipocytes apparently do not hinder prechondrogenic aggregation, chondrogenesis or skeletal pattern formation.
Multiframe Many---Many Point Correspondence for Vehicle Tracking in High Density Wide Area Aerial Videos

This paper presents a novel framework for tracking thousands of vehicles in high resolution, low frame rate, multiple camera aerial videos. The proposed algorithm avoids the pitfalls of global minimization of data association costs and instead maintains multiple object-centric associations for each track. Representation of object state in terms of many to many data associations per track is proposed and multiple novel constraints are introduced to make the association problem tractable while allowing sharing of detections among tracks. Weighted hypothetical measurements are introduced to better handle occlusions, mis-detections and split or merged detections. A two-frame differencing method is presented which performs simultaneous moving object detection in both. Two novel contextual constraints of vehicle following model, and discouragement of track intersection and merging are also proposed. Extensive experiments on challenging, ground truthed data sets are performed to show the feasibility and superiority of the proposed approach. Results of quantitative comparison with existing approaches are presented, and the efficacy of newly introduced constraints is experimentally established. The proposed algorithm performs better and faster than global, 1---1 data association methods.
Selenocompounds in Plants and Animals and their Biological Significance

There are several selenocompounds in tissues of plants and animals. Selenate is the major inorganic selenocompound found in both animal and plant tissues. Selenocysteine is the predominant selenoamino acid in tissues when inorganic selenium is given to animals. Selenomethionine is the major selenocompound found initially in animals given this selenoamino acid, but is converted with time afterwards to selenocysteine. Selenomethionine is the major selenocompound in cereal grains, grassland legumes and soybeans. Selenomethionine can also be the major selenocompound in selenium enriched yeast, but the amount can vary markedly depending upon the growth conditions. Se-methylselenocysteine is the major selenocompound in selenium enriched plants such as garlic, onions, broccoli florets and sprouts, and wild leeks.
The natural history of peanut allergy in young children and its association with serum peanut-specific IgE

Abstract Objectives: To observe the nature and frequency of adverse reactions caused by accidental peanut exposure in young children with clinical peanut hypersensitivity and to determine the value of serum peanut-specific IgE levels during follow-up. Study design: Eighty-three children with clinical peanut hypersensitivity diagnosed before their fourth birthdays were contacted yearly to track adverse peanut reactions. Serum peanut-specific IgE levels were determined in 51 of 83 subjects. Results: Fifty-eight percent (31/53) of subjects followed up for 5 years experienced adverse reactions from accidental peanut exposure. Regardless of the nature of their initial reaction, the majority with subsequent reactions (52%, 31/60) experienced potentially life-threatening symptoms. The group with isolated skin symptoms (11/51, 22%) had lower serum peanut-specific IgE levels than the group with respiratory and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (40/51, 78%) (median: 1.25 kUA/L vs 11.65 kUA/L, P =.004, Wilcoxon rank sums test). Despite this, there was no threshold level below which only skin symptoms appeared to occur. Four selected subjects had negative double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge responses to peanuts during follow-up. Conclusions: The majority of children with clinical peanut hypersensitivity followed up for 5 years will have adverse reactions from accidental peanut exposure. Symptoms experienced during subsequent adverse peanut reactions may not be consistent with symptoms reported during initial reactions. Therefore proper education regarding peanut avoidance and treatment of adverse reactions is necessary in all cases of clinical peanut hypersensitivity. Young children who are allergic to peanuts can lose clinical hypersensitivity. (J Pediatr 2000;137:749-55)