cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A model evaluation framework applied to the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) in Colorado and Wyoming lodgepole pine forests

Abstract The Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) growth and yield model is widely used throughout the United States, but recent studies have reported unexpectedly large bias for some regional model variants. Here we propose a general framework for model evaluation, designed to highlight model strengths and weaknesses and inform calibration efforts. We apply the framework to evaluate the Lodgepole Pine (LP) model of the FVS Central Rockies Variant (FVS-CR), which has rarely been evaluated in the literature despite its widespread use in the western US. We started with a qualitative verification of the structure and logic of the FVS-CR LP model against a modified Bakuzis matrix, determining that it adequately reproduces known patterns of stand dynamics. We then compared stand-level growth simulations to a chronosequence developed from 554 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots measured in Colorado and Wyoming lodgepole pine forests. This quantitative validation exercise revealed that the default model settings substantially over-predict basal area and total stand carbon after 50 years for both pure lodgepole pine stands and mixed lodgepole pine stands containing a minor proportion of Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and quaking aspen. Using equivalence testing to validate the large-tree diameter increment model against a separate dataset of 3,790 remeasured trees on 124 lodgepole pine FIA plots, we found that the default FVS–CR LP model adequately predicts lodgepole diameter growth, though we observed large variation in model errors. Equivalence tests also revealed systematic under-estimation of spruce–fir and over-estimation of aspen productivity. Finally, we conducted a sensitivity analysis to identify the most important model parameters and data inputs driving simulated stand structure and carbon accumulation in both the short- (50 years) and long-term (200 years). The model shows the greatest sensitivity to initial species composition; a small proportion of aspen, spruce, or fir seedlings led to long-term stand re-structuring and greatly increased carbon accumulation. Other sensitive parameters included site index, the fixed large-tree diameter increment adjustment factor, and the parameter controlling the point at which density-dependent self-thinning begins (maximum stand density index). This evaluation leads us to conclude that the FVS-CR LP model tends to under-estimate tree mortality (particularly in young stands) and the default site index represents relatively high productivity stands, such that re-calibration may often be necessary to capture realistic long-term stand behaviors. Our sensitivity analysis provides guidance for future efforts to re-calibrate the FVS-CR LP model and highlights the importance of collecting site index and seedling species composition data wherever possible to produce the most realistic simulations.
Co/Sense-Making and Conflict: Lessons Learned from a Teacher Education Curriculum Revisioning.

In this case study, we explored how one college of education went about revising curricula across several programs; thereby disentangling multiple perspectives in order to address the needs of vari...
Design of prestressed, jointed columns for enhanced seismic performance

Abstract Jointed, prestressed columns have been shown to enable accelerated construction and to offer superior seismic performance, as compared with cast-in-place columns without prestressing. During an earthquake, such columns deform primarily through concentrated rotations at the joints, and special detailing at the ends of the columns prevents crushing and spalling. Unbonded prestressing steel, running vertically through the columns, provides a restoring moment that returns the columns to plumb after the ground motion stops. The use of prefabricated substructure elements speeds up the bridge assembly by eliminating building formwork, fixing steel, casting and curing concrete on-site. A variety of detailing strategies have been developed for jointed, prestressed columns, but their fundamental behavior is similar. More importantly, this behavior differs from that of conventional reinforced concrete columns for which current seismic code provisions were developed. This paper develops a displacement-based procedure for designing jointed, prestressed columns that is based on the framework provided by the AASHTO Guide Specifications for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design. To account for the unique characteristics of these systems, the design procedure introduces new performance criteria; it also provides recommendations for proportioning the prestressed and non-prestressed steel, calculating the effective column stiffness, and estimating the column displacement capacity. The focus of the paper is on columns with pretensioned strands and internal energy dissipaters, although the procedure would work for post-tensioned systems and those with external dissipaters as well. This design approach is critically evaluated through comparison to the results of both cyclic tests of cantilever columns and shaking table tests of a two-span bridge system.
Association Between Cognitive Status and Falls With and Without Injury During a Skilled Nursing Facility Short Stay.

Abstract Objectives To examine the relationship between cognitive status and falls with and without injury among older adults during the first 18 days of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) and determine if this association is mediated by limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and impaired balance. Design Cohort study of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries admitted to an SNF between October 1, 2016, and September 31, 2017. Settings and Participants 815,927 short-stay nursing home residents admitted to an SNF within 3 days of hospital discharge. Methods Cognitive status at SNF admission was classified as intact, mild, moderate, or severe impairment. Residents were classified as having no falls, a fall without injury, and a fall with a minor or major injury. We used ordinal logistic regression to model the association between cognitive status and falls adjusting for resident and facility characteristics. A causal mediation analysis was used to test for the mediating effects of ADL limitations and impaired balance on the association between cognitive status and falls with an injury. Results Mild, moderate, and severe cognitive impairment were associated with 1.72 (95% CI: 1.68-1.75), 2.72 (95% CI: 2.66-2.78), and 2.61 (95% CI: 2.48-2.75) higher odds of being in a higher fall severity category, respectively, compared to being cognitively unimpaired. Greater ADL limitations and impaired balance were significantly associated with falls, but each mediated the association between cognitive status and falls by less than 2%. Conclusions and Implications Older adults with cognitive impairment are more likely to experience a fall during an SNF stay. ADL limitations and impaired balance are risk factors for falls but may not contribute to the increased fall risk for SNF residents with cognitive impairment. Continued research is needed to better understand the risk factors for falls among SNF residents with cognitive impairment.
Things That Can Go Wrong in Western Blotting

Western blotting enables the researchers to identify specific proteins from a complex mixture of proteins extracted from cells. While a simple method, Western blotting involves several steps beginning with making the gel. A mistake at any of these steps can affect the final result. This chapter details the problems arising during the Western blotting and subsequent immunostaining process and offers some ways to troubleshoot.
Cytokinin-CLAVATA crosstalk is an ancient mechanism regulating shoot meristem homeostasis in land plants

Abstract Plant shoots grow from stem cells within Shoot Apical Meristems (SAMs), which produce lateral organs while maintaining the stem cell pool. In the model flowering plant Arabidopsis, the CLAVATA (CLV) pathway functions antagonistically with cytokinin signaling to control the size of the multicellular SAM via negative regulation of the stem cell organizer WUSCHEL (WUS). Although comprising just a single cell, the SAM of the model moss Physcomitrium patens (formerly Physcomitrella) performs equivalent functions during stem cell maintenance and organogenesis, despite the absence of WUS-mediated stem cell organization. Our previous work showed that the stem cell-delimiting function of the CLV pathway receptors CLAVATA1 (CLV1) and RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEIN KINASE2 (RPK2) is conserved in the moss P. patens. Here, we use P. patens to assess whether CLV-cytokinin crosstalk is also an evolutionarily conserved feature of stem cell regulation. Genetic analyses reveal that CLV1 and RPK2 regulate SAM proliferation via separate pathways in moss. Surprisingly, cytokinin receptor mutants also form ectopic stem cells in the absence of cytokinin signaling. Through modeling, we identified regulatory network archtectures that recapitulated the stem cell phenotypes of clv1 and rpk2 mutants, cytokinin application, cytokinin receptor mutations, and higher-order combinations of these perturbations. These models predict that CLV1 and RPK2 act through separate pathways wherein CLV1 represses cytokinin-mediated stem cell initiation and RPK2 inhibits this process via a separate, cytokinin-independent pathway. Our analysis suggests that crosstalk between CLV1 and cytokinin signaling is an evolutionarily conserved feature of SAM homeostasis that preceded the role of WUS in stem cell organization.
Constrained polynomial spline estimation of monotone additive models

Abstract Monotone additive models are useful in estimating productivity curve or analyzing disease risk where the predictors are known to have monotonic effects on the response. Existing literature mainly focuses on univariate monotone smoothing. Available methods for estimation of monotone additive models are either difficult to interpret or have no asymptotic guarantees. In this paper, we propose a one-step backfitted constrained polynomial spline method for monotone additive models. It is not only easy to compute by taking numerical advantages of linear programming, but also enjoys the optimal rate of convergence asymptotically. The simulation study and application of our method to Norwegian Farm data suggest that the proposed method has superior performance than the existing ones, especially when the data has outliers.
Implementation of unidirectional CORDIC algorithm using precomputed rotation bits

Design of a high-speed arithmetic unit with trigonometric computation has gained significant importance today. CORDIC is one such iterative algorithm that computes various trigonometric, logarithmic and transcendental functions fast with a high degree of accuracy. This paper proposes a new technique to compute these values with significant reduction in the number of iterations, and power savings. The conventional CORDIC technique is achieved by rotating a vector in both counter-clockwise and clockwise directions. The proposed technique uses unidirectional rotation of the vector thereby reducing the complexity of the circuit and also the number of iterations. Tests were conducted to compute the sine and cosine values using both the conventional and the proposed approach and the results show almost insignificant error (/spl sim/10/sup -8/). This algorithm can be further used predominantly in any signal processing applications. An analytical treatment on the algorithm and the architecture is given in this paper.
A method for automating data collection from a double‐ring infiltrometer under falling head conditions

Estimating soil hydraulic properties, such as infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity, is important for understanding hydrological processes such as rainfall and irrigation partitioning. Current infiltrometers can require considerable operator input to limit the number of readings that can be simultaneously performed. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop a simple double-ring infiltrometer for automated data collection under falling head conditions. The design consisted of 15.2-cm tall inner- and outer-rings of 14.6 and 33.0 cm in diameter, respectively. The inner-ring was held in the centre of the outer-ring by a small pipe that also served as a handle. A small hole was drilled 3.8 cm from the bottom of each ring and a slightly larger hose passed through both holes. One hose end led into the inside of the inner-ring and the opposite end to the outside of the outer-ring. A pressure transducer was attached to the outside end of the hose. A datalogger was used to record the transducer output. This design was compared in-situ to a constant head method using a Mariotte bottle system on two distinct soils and tested on four different soil series ranging in textural class from a loamy sand to a clay. Soils had been fallow prior to this work for at least 2 years, except the loamy sand which had a 5-year-old Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) stand. Although there were some differences between the two approaches, values estimated with the proposed method had less variability. This method allows a single user to collect multiple readings. Collected data can be used to estimate quasi-steady state and cumulative infiltration, and in situ hydraulic conductivity of saturated soil. The proposed procedure could be beneficial when multiple readings of soil hydraulic properties are required, such as when characterizing soil spatial variability.
Cholesterol in Niemann–Pick Type C disease

Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease is associated with accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids in late endosomes/lysosomes in virtually every organ; however, neurodegeneration represents the fatal cause for the disease. Genetic analysis has identified loss-of-function mutations in NPC1 and NPC2 genes as the molecular triggers for the disease. Although the precise function of these proteins has not yet been clarified, recent research suggests that they orchestrate cholesterol efflux from late endosomes/lysosomes. NPC protein deficits result in impairment in intracellular cholesterol trafficking and dysregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis. Disruption of cholesterol homeostasis is also associated with deregulation of autophagic activity and early-onset neuroinflammation, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of NPC disease. This chapter reviews recent achievements in the investigation of disruption of cholesterol homeostasis-induced neurodegeneration in NPC disease, and provides new insight for developing a potential therapeutic strategy for this disorder.
A Conceptual Framework to Guide Aquatic Monitoring Program Design for Thermal Electric Power Plants

Thermal electric generating stations have a potential to alter the biotic and abiotic conditions in adjacent water bodies. Federal regulations require electrical utilities to monitor for such changes as insurance against deterioration of aquatic ecosystems. The cost of many monitoring efforts could be reduced by more precise applications of the scientific method (hypothesis testing), improved statistical design, and a focus on measures of cost-effectiveness. A multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers from the University of Washington has developed such a conceptual framework to guide the design of power plant aquatic monitoring programs. This framework is organized into four hierarchical levels to accommodate the quality of information in a user's possession. Algorithms within the hierarchy help the monitoring program designer identify and prioritize mechanisms likely to cause ecological change, ecosystem components that might demonstrate a response, hypotheses of impact, and an appropriate sampling design for hypothesis testing. The entire framework has been programmed for interactive computer application.
Formation of the Statolith in the Ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi

The aboral sensory organ (apical organ) of ctenophores contains a statocyst with a single large statolith. The statolith comprises living cells (lithocytes), each containing a large membrane-bound concretion. The statolith is supported on the distal ends of four compound motile mechanoresponsive cilia (balancers) which control the beat frequencies of the eight locomotory comb rows, and thereby the orientation of animals to gravity. In Mnemiopsis leidyi and Pleurobrachia pileus, lithocytes arise in the thickened epithelial floor of the apical organ on opposite sides along the tentacular plane. Lithocytes progressively differentiate and migrate toward the apical surface where they bud off next to the bases of the balancers. New lithocytes are transported up the balancers by ciliary surface motility to form the statolith (Noda, 2013). The statolith has a superellipsoidal shape due to the rectangular arrangement of the four balancers and the addition of new lithocytes to its ends via the balancers. The size of the statolith increases with animal size, starting at the highest rate of growth in younger stages and gradually decreasing in larger animals. The total number of developing lithocytes in the epithelial floor increases rapidly in smaller animals and reaches a plateau range in larger animals. Lithocytes are therefore produced continually throughout life for enlargement of the statolith and possibly for turnover and replacement of existing lithocytes. The dome cilia enclosing the statocyst were observed to propagate slow, low-ampitude waves distally. The dome cilia may act as an undulating screen to prevent foreign objects in the seawater from being transported non-specifically up the balancers to make a defective statolith.
Photoemission of gold in the energy range 30-300 eV using synchrotron radiation

Photoemission measurements have, for the first time, been extended to photon energies between 100 and 300 eV. Results from polycrystalline gold show amplitude modulation of the $5d$ peaks in the valence band for $100lh\ensuremath{\nu}l200$ eV. The photoionization cross section of the $4f$ electrons is mapped out in detail from threshold to 280 eV and a narrow full width at half-maximum of 0.1-0.2 eV is found. Final-state effects are found to be important for the $5p$ excitation.
Girls with spinal cord injury: social and job-related participation and psychosocial outcomes.

Objective: To examine social and job-related participation among girls with spinal cord injury (SCI) and relationships between participation, depression, and quality of life. Participants and Setting: This sample included 97 girls (aged 7-17 years) who had sustained SCI at least 1 year prior to interview, and who were receiving care at three pediatric SCI centers within a single hospital system. Measures: Participants completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment, Children's Depression Inventory, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Caregivers completed a demographics form. Results: Girls participated more often in social activities than in job-related activities and participated in social activities with a more diverse group and further from home. A broader context of social participation was related to lower depression, which in turn was related to higher quality of life. Higher frequency of job-related participation was related to lower depression, which in turn was related to higher quality of life. Conclusions: Social and job-related participation are related to psychosocial outcomes among girls with SCI. Participation in social and job-related activities should be a focus of rehabilitation for girls, because the skills gained from this involvement may help build resilience against future obstacles to socialization and employment. Language: en
Apotrisporin-E: A new sesquiterpenoid isolated fromPhycomyces blakesleeanus andBlakeslea trispora

Abstract A new sesquiterpenoid has been identified in two species of Mucorales. It is apotrisporin-E: 2,4,4-trimethyl-3-[5′-hydroxyl-3′-methylpenta-(1′ E ,3′ E )-dienyl]-(5 S )-hydroxylcyclohex-2-enone. Nuclear Overhauser enhancement studies indicated that the cis-trans isomeric assignments at carbon atom 3′ based upon the NMR signals for the hydrogens on carbon atoms 1′ and 2′ were valid. The existence of apotrisporin-E implies that trisporin-D and trisporin-E, two putative pheromones, are made by the Mucorales.
High performance DMA controller for ultra HDTV video codecs

Innovative video solutions are required for many more customer centric new solutions (video conferencing, video surveillance, transcoding, streaming video etc). Increasing frame rate and frame size demands more DDR bandwidth. For example, Video processing engine (IVAHD) needs close to 3GByte/sec (encoder) of system bandwidth to support 4K@30fps. With concurrent multimedia sub-systems it is more important to have efficient data transfer between IVAHD shared Level2 Memory (SL2) and DDR. Amount of data, 2D nature of data, 2D data byte alignment conflicting with interconnect word (16Byte) alignment could not be addressed by the generic DMAs. This paper discusses about the DMA engine (VDMA) running at 266MHz which facilitates IVAHD in 4K processing per LCU (16×16) within 200 cycles. The final design in 28nm CMOS process is expected to consume 4mw of encode power and take around 0.50 mm2 after actual place & route (consisting of 1280 KG with 24 context each of size 128 Byte.
Photoemission from amorphous and metallic selenium in the vacuum ultraviolet.

Photoemission of vacuum evaporated, amorphous and metallic selenium films in spectral range from 2000 to 1100 angstroms
The Place of E-Learning in Africa's Institutions of Higher Learning

The paper seeks to accomplish four objectives. The first is to examine the need for e-learning in Africa's institutions of higher learning. The second is to discuss the policy, institutional, pedagogical, copyright, and quality assurance issues that need to be addressed. The third is to critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning in African universities. The fourth is to provide a practical partnership model for design and successful delivery of e-learning programmes. To achieve these objectives, a critical analysis of relevant literature and case studies was conducted. The literature search included computerized search of accessible and available material on e-learning in Africa and world over, manual search of existing literature, and communication with key subject matter experts to locate published and unpublished studies. The results of the study show that e-learning has a future in Africa's universities and that there is need to build e-learning programmes based on genuine partnerships from other successful partners within and without Africa.
Wind Flow Simulation Around NASA KSC Vehicle Assembly Building

A model of the wind flow conditions around Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Vehicle Assembly Building (VA B) is presented. An incompressible Navier-Stokes flow solver was used to compute the flow field around fixed Launch Complex 39 (LC-39) buildings and structures. The 3-D flow field. including velocity magnitude and velocity vectors, was established to simulate the localized wind speeds and directions at specified locations in and around LC-39 buildings and structures. The results of this study not only help explain the physical phenomena of the flow patterns around LC-39 buildings but also are useful to the Shuttle personnel. Current Operations and Maintenance Requirements and Specifications (OMRS) for vehicle transfer operations are based on empirically derived historical data, and no detailed mathematical analysis of wind conditions around LC-39 structures has ever been accomplished.
Epileptogenesis in the Dysplastic Brain: A Revival of Familiar Themes

Brain malformations are now widely recognized in many forms of epilepsy. To investigate how malformed brain regions participate in the generation of seizure activity researchers have focused on animal models. Here we describe recent advances in this field.
Retrograde Amnesia and the "Reminder Effect": An Alternative Interpretation

Recent findings suggest that amnesic agents block the retrieval of stored information. "Reminder" treatments, such as noncontingent punishments given after the production of amnesia for avoidance learning, improve the later retention performance of an animal. The data reported suggest that noncontingent treatments provide an additional learning experience which adds to the retention performance of partially amnesic or poorly trained animals.
Passive ranging capability of a multi-module array in underwater acoustic environments

This work presents our research results on the capability of passive source localization using a towed multi-module array in underwater acoustic environments. We developed new Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) results for assessing the array's source localization capability under environmental uncertainties, such as array modules' positions and acoustic-field's spatial coherence. We also developed a two-stage approach and provide details for passive ranging by utilizing data either non-coherently or coherently, depending on the availability of spatial coherence in the received data from multiple modules of towed array.
Effects of pravastatin on lipoproteins and endothelial function in patients receiving human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitors

Abstract Background Although recommended as initial therapy for patients with dyslipidemia who are taking human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitors (HIV PIs), the effects of pravastatin on lipoproteins and arterial reactivity have not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pravastatin on lipoprotein subfractions and endothelial function in patients with dyslipidemia who are receiving HIV PIs. Methods This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study comparing pravastatin (40 mg) to placebo in 20 patients who were taking HIV PIs. Lipoprotein subfractions were measured with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was evaluated with high-resolution ultrasound scanning. Results At baseline, subjects had an increased concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (1756 ± 180 nmol/L), which tended to be small (19.9 ± 0.2 nm), a low concentration of large high-density lipoproteins (HDL; 0.94 ± 0.07 mmol/L), and an increased concentration of large very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL; 1.90 ± 0.58 mmol/L). FMD was impaired (4.5% ± 1.1%). Compared with placebo, pravastatin resulted in a 20.8% reduction in LDL particles ( P = .030), a 26.7% reduction in small LDL ( P = .100), and a 44.9% reduction in small VLDL ( P = .023). Total and non-HDL cholesterol levels decreased by 18.3% ( P P P = .080). Conclusions This is the first double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of statin therapy on lipids, lipoprotein subfractions, and endothelial function in patients taking HIV PIs. Pravastatin reduced concentrations of atherogenic lipoproteins, particularly those most associated with future coronary events.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma: The Site of Origin Matters

The etiology, gender distribution, pathology, natural history, and treatment options for mesothelioma (MM) differ substantially depending on the site of origin. Peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM) is a rare disease, comprising only approximately 10% to 15% of the 2,500 cases of MM diagnosed in the United States each year. Patients with MPeM are younger than patients with pleural MM, and a higher proportion, mostly women, are long-term survivors. Most MPeM is caused by asbestos exposure. Germ-line mutations of BAP1 (BRCA associated protein 1) can predispose to MM, uveal melanoma, and potentially other cancers. MPeM can be challenging to diagnose, and cytology is rarely helpful. Review by an experienced pathologist using a panel of at least two positive and two negative immunohistochemical stains is essential. The three major pathologic subtypes are epithelial, sarcomatoid, and biphasic. Most cases are epithelial; the others have a dismal prognosis. Two indolent subtypes of borderline malignant potential-well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma and benign multicystic mesothelioma-are more common in the peritoneum and are treated surgically. In highly selected patients receiving treatment at experienced referral centers, an aggressive locoregional strategy that combines cytoreductive surgery to remove all gross disease and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy to treat residual microscopic tumors yields a 3-year survival of 60% and a median survival approaching 5 years, far better than expected from historic controls. This approach also provides durable palliation of malignant ascites in nearly all patients. Pemetrexed is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved systemic chemotherapy for pleural MM. Largely on the basis of data from pharmaceutical registry studies, the activity of pemetrexed-based chemotherapy appears to be similar in pleural MM and MPeM.
Electrophysiologic properties of a new antiarrhythmic drug--tocainide.

Abstract Tocainide (Astra W36095) is an orally active antiarrhythmic drug that is structurally related to lidocaine. This paper describes in vivo and in vitro studies undertaken to assay the electrophysiologic properties of this compound. Ouabain-induced ventricular ectopic activity was abolished by this drug in both isolated canine Purkinje fibers and in intact dogs. Similarly, the ventricular ectopic activity that occurs 24 hours after the two stage Harris coronary arterial ligation procedure also was abolished by tocainide. The amount of current necessary to evoke an action potential by intracell stimulation during diastole was Increased in direct relation to drug concentration. Similarly, in dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, tocainide increased the ventricular fibrillation threshold up to 150 percent above control values during normal supraventricular rhythm and up to 285 percent after premature ventricular beats. The transmembrane action potential duration and effective refractory period of isolated canine Purkinje fibers were shortened by tocainide. Tocainide depressed atrioventricular nodal conduction in anesthetized dogs, an effect that was magnified in the presence of premature atrial beats but had no effect on His, Purkinje or ventricular muscle conduction. These results Indicate that tocainide is a potentially effective antiarrhythmic agent and deserves further investigation in patients.
Low eigenvalues of Laplacian matrices of large random graphs

For each n ≥ 2, let A n = (ξ ij ) be an n × n symmetric matrix with diagonal entries equal to zero and the entries in the upper triangular part being independent with mean μ n and standard deviation σ n . The Laplacian matrix is defined by $${{\bf \Delta}_n={\rm diag}(\sum_{j=1}^n\xi_{ij})_{1\leq i \leq n}-{\bf A}_n}$$ . In this paper, we obtain the laws of large numbers for λ n–k (Δ n ), the (k + 1)-th smallest eigenvalue of Δ n , through the study of the order statistics of weakly dependent random variables. Under certain moment conditions on ξ ij ’s, we prove that, as n → ∞, $$({\rm i})\quad\frac{\lambda_{n-k}({\bf \Delta}_n)-n\mu_n} {\sigma_n\sqrt{n\log n}} \to -\sqrt{2} \quad a.s. $$ for any k ≥ 1. Further, if {Δ n ; n ≥ 2} are independent with μ n = 0 and σ n = 1, then, (ii) the sequence $${\;\left\{\frac{\lambda_{n-k}({\bf \Delta}_n)}{\sqrt{n\log n}};n\geq 2\right\}}$$ is dense in $${\left[-\sqrt{2+2(k+1)^{-1}}, -\sqrt{2}\,\right]\ a.s.}$$ for any k ≥ 0. In particular, (i) holds for the Erdos–Renyi random graphs. Similar results are also obtained for the largest eigenvalues of Δ n .
Spermiogenesis of Eupyrene Sperm in Prepupae"} Pupae"} and Adults of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): An Ultrastructural Study

We have examined the ultrastructure of post meiotic eupyrene sperm mat­ uration in testes of prepupae, pupae, and adult Heliothis virescens (F.) males. Emphasis was placed on the structures present in the elongating sperm tail. In each young spermatid, each cell has a nucleus, acrosome derivative, and numerous mitochondria in a large volume of cytoplasm. These mitochondria coalesce to form a body, the nebenkern. As the sperm cell begins to elongate, the nebenkern divides into two mitochondrial derivatives (MDs) of unequal size. The MDs have an outer and inner membrane, and as they elongate and coil in the sperm tail, cristae develop on the inner membrane. Concurrent with cell elongation is the disappearance of most of the cytoplasm present in the cell. The axial filament has a typical insect system of 9 + 9 + 2 tubules and is present along most of the length of the sperm tail as are the MDs. A prominent system of tubules, the manchette, forms around the MDs in a later stage of development. Two extracellular structures, the satellite body and the radial mantle, also undergo a complex series of changes during the maturation of the sperm cell.
Hightlights in Proof Theory

This is a survey of some of the principal developments in proof theory from its inception in the 1920s, at the hands of David Hilbert, up to the 1960s. Hilbert’s aim was to use this as a tool in his finitary consistency program to eliminate the “actual infinite” in mathematics from proofs of purely finitary statements. One of the main approaches that turned out to be the most useful in pursuit of this program was that due to Gerhard Gentzen, in the 1930s, via his calculi of “sequents” and his Cut-Elimination Theorem for them. Following that we trace how and why prima facie infinitary concepts, such as ordinals, and infinitary methods, such as the use of infinitely long proofs, gradually came to dominate proof-theoretical developments.
André–Quillen spectral sequence for THH

Abstract We produce a topological analogue of Andre–Quillen's spectral sequence and prove that for connective spectra, TAQ≃∗ if and only THH ≃∗ , where THH is the reduced topological Hochschild Homology.
An analysis of interacting instability modes, in a phase change system

This paper presents an analysis of the interaction of pressure-drop oscillations (PDO) and density-wave oscillations (DWO) for a typical NASA type phase change system. A transient lumped parameter model is developed for use in the analysis of the dynamics of this type of system. A compressible volume (e.g., an accumulator vessel) dynamics model was also developed and PDO/DWO interactions are investigated.
Predicting uterine weight before hysterectomy: ultrasound measurements versus clinical assessment.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the most accurate method in estimating the preoperative uterine weight of enlarged nongravid uteri. Study design We performed a retrospective review of 1238 patients who were premenopausal and underwent hysterectomy for benign indications between January 1993 and July 1999. Eight hundred and sixty-four patients were selected to include only those that had both a reported bimanual assessment of preoperative uterine size and an ultrasonography report with all 3 estimated uterine dimensions. Reported uterine sizes on bimanual examination were converted to clinical weight (CWT). Two different calculations were used to estimate uterine weight from ultrasound measurements (UWT 1 and 2). Actual uterine weights (AWT) in pathology reports were then compared with the findings of bimanual assessment and the calculated weights to determine which method is the best predictor of AWT. Simple linear regression analysis was used to measure and compare how closely the estimated weights predicted the actual weight. Predictive residuals sum of squares (PRESS) was then used to determine the best predictor of actual weight. Results After exploring the data using linear modeling, all 3 estimated weights were significantly correlated to the actual weight when compared, but PRESS scores showed that the clinical weight estimate was superior by far compared with the other 2. Conclusion In this study, bimanual assessment was shown to be the most accurate method of preoperative uterine weight estimation. Ultrasound examination may not be routinely needed when deciding the route of hysterectomy based on estimated weight.
Determinants of extracellular matrix remodelling are differentially expressed in paediatric and adult dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aims The left ventricular phenotype of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) can appear similar in paediatric and adult patients. However, the aetiology of paediatric DCM is usually idiopathic, and often leads an aggressive clinical course. A structural underpinning of DCM is extracellular matrix changes, which are determined by a balance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). This study tested the hypothesis that different MMP/TIMP profiles occur in paediatric and adult DCM patients. Methods and results Left ventricular samples from paediatric (age 9 ± 5 years; n = 10) and adult (age 62 ± 3 years; n = 20) DCM (at time of transplant) were subjected to an MMP/TIMP multiplex array and immunoassay in order to measure the MMP subclasses; collagenases (MMP−8, −13), gelatinases (MMP−2, −9), stromelysin/matrilysin (MMP−3, −7), membrane type (MT1-MMP), as well as for the four known TIMPs. MMP−8 and −9 levels increased by over 150% (P < 0.05), whereas MMP−3 and −7 levels decreased by over 30% (P < 0.05) in paediatric DCM when compared with adult DCM. TIMP−1 and −2 levels increased two-fold (P < 0.05), but TIMP-3 fell by 41% (P < 0.05) in paediatric DCM. Myocardial levels of specific interleukins (IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-8) were increased by approximately 50% in paediatric DCM. Conclusions These unique findings demonstrated that a specific MMP/TIMP profile occurs in paediatric DCM when compared with adult DCM, and that local cytokine induction may contribute to this process. These distinct differences in the determinants of myocardial matrix structure and function may contribute to the natural history of DCM in children.
Stochastic evolution equations driven by nuclear-space-valued martingales

This paper presents a theory of stochastic evolution equations for nuclear-space-valued processes and provides a unified treatment of several examples from the field of applications. (C 0 , 1) reversed evolution systems on countably Hilbertian nuclear spaces are also investigated.
A Mixed Finite Element Implementation of a Gradient-enhanced Coupled Damage—Plasticity Model

The numerical implementation of a gradient-enhanced continuum coupled damage—plasticity model as a constitutive framework to model the nonlocal response of materials is presented. By the introduction of “nonlocal, ” gradient-enhanced measures in the plasticity potential function and yield criterion and in the damage potential function and damage criterion, the proposed model introduces microstructural characteristic material length scales, which allow us to predict the size of localized zones based on material constants, as opposed to local models where the loss of ellipticity causes localized zones to be mesh dependent.As numerical methods are used to compute the gradients of the hardening terms, no additional gradient internal state variables are introduced into the Helmholtz free energy. As opposed to previous theories that only incorporate linear hardening, the gradient model proposed here uses coupled nonassociative plasticity — nonassociative damage and can account for a wide range of material model...
CHEMOTHERAPY FOR HORMONE REFRACTORY PROSTATE CANCER

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality for American men. Virtually all of the mortality and a significant portion of the morbidity of this disease are associated with the hormone-refractory state. Therapy for the disease in this stage continues to be primarily palliative. Chemotherapy with both single agents and combinations has been studied since the early 1970s. 49 The difficulty of assessing response, low response rates, and significant toxicity associated with chemotherapy have resulted in an understandable skepticism as to its appropriate use in this setting. 10,57 This skepticism has recently been challenged by the development of new agents and combinations with specific cellular targets and the definition of appropriate study endpoints. This article reviews these newly developed regimens.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Neonatal Nutrition Support Team (NNST) Services 1050

Background: Routine involvement of a NNST may improve nutrition and thereby accelerate recovery from illness and reduce the duration of support required for small preterm infants. Purpose: This trial compared routine Intervention (twice weekly evaluations and recommendations by the NNST) begun at 24-96h of age to Control (selective consultation when requested by physicians) for infants ≤1250g birth weight (BW). Methods: The NNST consisted of a full-time dietitian assisted by a pharmacist and a neonatologist. The predefined primary outcome was postmenstrual age (PMA) when Intensive or Intermediate Care was no longer needed. Infants in either group who underwent bowel resection were regularly evaluated by the NNST and excluded from the primary analysis as were infants who died after enrollment. A sample size of ≥320 survivors was calculated to detect a 1 week decrease in the primary outcome. Results: 403 infants were enrolled between 9/6/93 and 11/21/97. 54 infants were excluded because of death (34) or bowel resection (20). Of the 349 remaining patients, the results (mean±SD) are available for 341 completed subjects. See Table. Conclusion: We conclude that routine evaluations of individual patients by the NNST result in a modest decrease in the duration of stay in the Intensive and Intermediate Nurseries and in time to regain BW. This trial was conducted in a large teaching hospital where the educational and programmatic efforts of the NNST apply to all NICU patients. The results obtained might only be generalizable to similar clinical settings.
Parental divorce as a factor in childhood psychiatric illness

Abstract Although hundreds of papers have been written concerning the effects of separation from parents and bereavement in childhood, the problem of divorce as a factor in psychiatric disturbance in children has been relatively ignored. This neglect is undeserved: in the 15 years following 1950, the number of children affected yearly by divorce in this country doubled, until by 1965 it stood at somewhat more than 600,000 per year 14 . Much of the recent literature on the subject 8,13,15 has focused on the effects of the divorce per se in the production of childhood symptoms. Relatively little attention has been paid to antecedents of the divorce or to the possibility that parental divorce and childhood psychiatric illness may both be related secondarily to a common background factor. Because other authors 3,18 have noted the association of certain psychiatric disorders with divorce, it is important to examine the parents and other relatives of psychiatrically ill children for mental illness and to attempt to correlate such illness with marital status.
Jovian Dynamics. Part 1: Vortex Stability, Structure, and Genesis

Abstract The vertical of Jupiter's atmosphere is probed and isolated by evaluating the stability characteristics of planetary vortices over a wide parameter range. The resulting structures lead to simulating the genesis of single and multiple vortex states in Part I of this paper and the genesis of an equatorial superrotation and midlatitudinal multiple jets in Part II. The stability and genesis of baroclinic Rossby vortices, the vortices associated with long solitary Rossby waves in a stratified fluid, are studied numerically using a primitive equation model with Jovian and oceanic parameters and hypo-thermal structures. Vortex stability, that is, coherence and persistence, depends primarily upon latitude location and vertical structure and is used to deduce possible stratifications for Jupiter's atmosphere. The solutions suggest that Jupiter's large-scale motions are confined to a layer of depth h and are bounded by an abyss with an impermeable interface at a depth H, such that h/H≤1/20. Consequently, t...
The effect of mass transfer on Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at the gas-liquid interface of a sonic reacting and non-reacting gas jet submerged in a liquid

Abstract The theory of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is employed to analyze the instability phenomena of non-reacting and reacting stratified gas flows injected sonically into a liquid. The effect of the mass transfer at the gas-liquid interface on the instability is investigated. It is shown that the mass transfer affects the pressure perturbation which acts to transfer energy from the gas phase to the liquid layer through its evaporating and condensing behavior, its wave-drag and lift components, against forces due to surface tension and liquid viscosity. The dimensionless wave frequency, amplification, and wavelength at the maximum instability are presented as a function of a dimensionless surface tension/viscous parameter and a blowing parameter due to the interfacial mass transfer. The interfacial evaporation is found to enhance the instability while the interfacial condensation is to reduce the instability. The results provide the theoretical explanation of the reported dynamic and instability behavior found in the reacting jet of a HCl gas submerged in the ammonia aqueous solution. Finally, an application to the prediction of the break-off plume length observed in submerged reacting jets is presented and the results are compared to exper imental data of the HCl(g)- NH3(aq) system.
Emission of Negative Potassium Ions from Single Crystal Potassium Bromide during Exposure to 248-nm Excimer Laser Radiation†

Many wide bandgap materials yield charged and neutral emissions when exposed to sub-bandgap laser radiation at power densities below the threshold for optical breakdown and plume formation. In previous work, we reported the observation of negative alkali ions from several alkali halides under comparable conditions. Within our detection sensitivity, we observed no negative halogen ion emission, in spite of the high electron affinities of the halogens. Significantly, the positive and negative alkali ions showed a high degree of spatial and temporal overlap. Our conclusion, based on a detailed study of KCl emissions, was that K− is formed by the sequential attachment of two electrons to K+. Here we provide further evidence for this mechanism based on a study of KBr.
A Novel Ceramic-Supported Polymer Membrane for Pervaporation of Dilute Volatile Organic Compounds

Abstract A novel asymmetric ceramic-supported polymer (CSP) pervaporation membrane was developed using free-radical graft polymerization of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) onto a porous tubular silica substrate. The resulting membrane was characterized by pervaporation removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) and chloroform from dilute aqueous solutions. PVAc was chosen since it has a high affinity for TCE and chloroform and a low affinity for water, thus making the membrane permselective toward these solutes. This study has shown, for the first time, that pervaporation is possible even with a large substrate starting pore size (∼500 A) and where the active separation phase is a macromolecular layer of terminally anchored chains. Performance of the CSP membrane was assessed at various hydrodynamic conditions and feed concentrations. Resistance of the PVAc/CSP membrane was found to be negligible compared with the concentration boundary layer resistance. The enrichment factor, defined as the ratio of total solute concentration in the permeate to that in the feed, increased with polymer graft yield. For a given graft yield, the enrichment factor approached an asymptotic plateau value, as the tube-side Reynolds number was increased due to increased water flux in response to the rise in transmembrane pressure. Preliminary analysis suggests that the CSP pervaporation membrane performance could be substantially increased by optimizing reaction conditions to produce a higher polymer graft density.
Angular Momentum and the Kerr Metric

For Kerr's rotating metric, it is shown that −ma is the angular momentum of the body where m is the mass and a is the rotation parameter. This is true even for large m and a.