cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The rotor dynamic coefficients of eccentric mechanical face seals

The Reynolds equation is extended to include the effects of radial deflection in a seal with two flexibly mounted rotors. The resulting pressures are used to obtain the forces and moments introduced in the axial and angular modes by the inclusion of eccentricity in the analysis. The rotor dynamic coefficients relating the forces and moments in these modes to the axial and angular deflection are shown to be the same as those presented in the literature for the concentric case. Additional coefficients are obtained to express the dependence of these forces and moments upon the radial deflections and velocities. The axial force is shown to be decoupled from both the angular and radial modes, but the angular and radial modes are coupled to one another by the dependence of the tilting moments upon the radial deflections. The shear stresses acting upon the element faces are derived and used to obtain the radial forces acting upon the rotors. These forces are used to obtain rotor dynamic coefficients for the two radial degrees of freedom of each rotor. The additional rotor dynamic coefficients can be used to obtain the additional equations of motion necessary to include the radial degrees of freedom in the dynamic analysis. These coefficients introduce additional coupling between the angular and radial degrees of freedom, but the axial degrees of freedom remain decoupled.
Computing the Roots of Complex Orthogonal and Kernel Polynomials

A method is presented to compute the roots of complex orthogonal and kernel polynomials. An important application of complex kernel polynomials is the acceleration of iterative methods for the solution of nonsymmetric linear equations.In the real case, the roots of orthogonal polynomials coincide with the eigenvalues of the Jacobi matrix, a symmetric tridiagonal matrix obtained from the defining three-term recurrence relationship for the orthogonal polynomials. In the real case kernel polynomials are orthogonal. The Stieltjes procedure is an algorithm to compute the roots of orthogonal and kernel polynomials based on these facts.In the complex case, the Jacobi matrix generalizes to a Hessenberg matrix, the eigenvalues of which are roots of either orthogonal or kernel polynomials. The resulting algorithm generalizes the Stieltjes procedure. It may not be defined in the case of kernel polynomials, a consequence of the fact that they are orthogonal with respect to a nonpositive bilinear form. (Another consequence is that kernel polynomials need not be of exact degree.) A second algorithm that is always defined is presented for kernel polynomials. Numerical examples are described.
Robust Contingent Values Based on Dichotomous Choice Survey Data

Estimated willingness-to-pay (WTP) is considered in the context of dichotomous choice referendum surveys. The sensitivity or robustness of estimates is investigated when some members of the population do not respond consistent with how they would vote in a real referendum. The majority of responses are presumed to be consistent with reservation prices. However, some are yea sayers and respond favourably for virtually and bid amount, and some are nay sayers reporting that they would vote 'no' even at very low bid values. The yea and nay saying leads to response curves with theoretically anomalous, but empirically important features: there are too many 'no' votes at low bid amounts, and too many 'yes' votes at high bid values. Impacts of yea and nay saying on mean WTP are in opposite directions, but magnitudes are not equal, so that it is possible for observed WTP to be large even if reservation prices in the population are small. It is conjectured that this is a plausible explanation for the CV folklore in which there is a $30 lower bound on the CV for practically any environmental good.
Uncertainty analysis in air dispersion modeling

Abstract The Taylor series approach for uncertainty analyses is advanced as an efficient method of producing a probabilistic output from air dispersion models. A probabilistic estimate helps in making better-informed decisions when compared to results of deterministic models. In this work, the Industrial Source Complex Short Term (ISCST) model is used as an analytical model to predict pollutant transport from a point source. First- and second-order Taylor series approximations are used to calculate the uncertainty in ground level concentrations of ISCST calculations. The results of the combined ISCST and uncertainty calculations are then validated with traditional Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The Taylor series uncertainty estimates are a function of the variance in input parameters (wind speed and temperature) and the model sensitivities to input parameters. While the input variance is spatially invariant, sensitivity is spatially variable; hence the uncertainty in modeled output varies spatially. A comparison with the MC approach shows that uncertainty estimated by first-order Taylor series is found to be appropriate for ambient temperature, while second-order Taylor series is observed to be more accurate for wind speed. Since the Taylor series approach is simple and time-efficient compared to the MC method, it provides an attractive alternative.
A Market Equilibrium Analysis of the Impact of Risk on the U.S. Rice Industry

An economic model of supply/demand for U.S. rice suggests that increases in risk result in decreased acreage and increased marketing margins. In a market equilibrium context, the empirical results also suggest rice production and rice prices are more responsive to changes in risk faced by marketing firms than changes in risk faced by producing firms.
Minority Influence, Divergent Thinking and Detection of Correct Solutions

In many applied settings involving influence processes in small groups, the interest is in how such processes aid or hinder effective decision making and problem solving. In a recent formulation, Nemeth (1986) argued that exposure to opposing views emanating from a minority leads to divergent thinking, a process that involves a consideration of the problem from varying viewpoints. On balance, such influence would aid performance. Exposure to opposing majority viewpoints leads to convergent thought where Ss presumably concentrate on the proposed viewpoint to the exclusion of other considerations. On balance, this form of influence tends not to aid performance and may prove to be an impediment. In the present study, these hypotheses were tested in the context of anagram solutions. Results showed that subjects exposed to the minority viewpoint found more correct words and they achieved this superior performance by a usage of all possible strategies. Subjects exposed to the majority viewpoint initially used the strategy suggested by the majority to the detriment of other strategies and, in general, performed at the level of control subjects. These results are discussed in terms of potential contributions made by exposure to dissenting minority viewpoints in small group decision-making settings such as trial by jury and in society at large.
C pk index estimation using data transformation

Abstract Process capability indices (PCIs) are used in industry to assess percentages of nonconforming parts. An underlying assumption is that the output process measurements are distributed as normal random variables. When normal distributions are assumed, but different distributions are present - such as skew, heavy-tailed, and short-tailed distributions - the percentages of nonconforming parts are significantly different than the computed PCIs indicate. Data arising from nonnormal distributions can sometimes be transformed to conform to the normality assumption and the PCI's computed for the transformed data. In this paper, the effect of the transformation on the estimate of nonconforming parts is examined for three examples of nonnormal distributions - gamma, lognormal, and Weibull. The results of this experimental analysis suggest that data transformation can be useful for estimating an interval for Cpk values and the number of nonconforming parts.
The optimal sorting of players in contests between groups

Abstract We study how aggregate effort exerted in contests between groups of heterogeneous players depends on the sorting of players into groups. We show that the optimal sorting depends on the curvature of the effort cost function. From the perspective of a contest organizer whose objective is to maximize aggregate effort, it is optimal to sort players in a way that minimizes the variation in ability across groups if the effort cost function is moderately steep. However, for a sufficiently steep effort cost function, the optimal sorting of players may be the one that maximizes the variation in ability across groups.
Laminar flow with an axially varying heat transfer coefficient

Abstract A theoretical study of convective heat transfer in laminar duct flow subjected to an axial variation of the external heat transfer coefficient is presented. Since standard analytical techniques are not applicable, a variable eigenvalue approach is developed which is capable of handling variable boundary condition parameters. Methodology is presented for the case of a stepwise periodic variation of the heat transfer coefficient, which serves as a model for a duct fitted with an array of external fins. A parameter study showing the effects of a stepwise periodic heat transfer coefficient is presented which gives insight into heat transfer enhancement due to finning.
The continuing Kurdish problem in Turkey after O¨calan's capture

Turkey's sudden and dramatic capture of Abdullah (Apo) Ocalan in Nairobi, Kenya on 16 February 1999, far from ending the odyssey of the longtime leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has led to a process of continuing implicit bargaining between the Turkish government and the PKK that holds out the hope of a win-win result for all the parties involved. Turkey's EU candidacy, future democratisation and economic success have all become involved with the stay of Ocalan's execution and the continuing Kurdish problem.
Failuer of fused silica fibers with subthreshold flaws

Abstract It has been proposed that substreshold Vickers indentations simulate the response of naturally occurring flaws in high quality glass fibers. Accordingly, the inert strength of bare fused silica fibers with Vickers subthresholds flaws was studied as a function of identation load. These strengths are significantly higher than those predicted by simple extrapolation of data from post-threshold identation flaws. A simplistic fracture mechanics model, incorporating residual stresses associated with the contact impression, is developed to explain the results. The residual contact stresses are shown to control the flaw instability. The model gives relations for the subthreshold inert strength as a function of load and for the threshold indentation size. These relations are shown to be consistent with both present and earlier silica glass data.
Is a Computer Worth a Thousand Books? Internet Access and the Changing Role of Public Libraries

The ongoing debate on the “digital divide” is centered on improving Internet home-access penetration rates through two instruments, price subsidies and capital subsidies. Subsidizing home access can be expensive and difficult because of the inherent difficulty of identifying target households. Increasing the availability of public access terminals instead can be an effective way for achieving universal access. The analysis of this article considers public libraries because of their national reach and existing Internet service offerings to users. It finds strong evidence of a need-based use of access facilities at these libraries, and also identifies a clear increasing trend in visits over time by patrons for getting online. Upgrading and maintaining these facilities would be a better use of funds than indiscriminately providing subsidies to households.
Virulence is context-dependent in a vertically transmitted aquatic host-microparasite system.

Abstract Recent work has suggested that the outcomes of host–symbiont interactions can shift between positive, neutral and negative depending on both biotic and abiotic conditions. Even organisms traditionally defined as parasites can have positive effects on hosts under some conditions. For a given host–parasite system, the effects of infection on host fitness can depend on host vigour, route of transmission and environmental conditions. We monitored sublethal microsporidian infections in populations of Gammarus pseudolimnaeus (Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from four cool water streams in southwestern Michigan, USA. Our objectives were to: (i) infer the mechanism of transmission (horizontal, vertical or mixed) from observed effects of infection on host fitness, (ii) determine if the magnitude of the effects on host fitness is a function of parasite load (infection intensity) compared with simple presence or absence of infection, and (iii) determine if there is variation in parasite effects on host fitness in isolated populations. PCR and DNA sequence analyses revealed that there were two microsporidia present among the four host populations: Dictyocoela sp. and Microsporidium sp. PCR screening of a subset of infected hosts showed that Dictyocoela sp. accounted for 90% of infections and was present in all four G. pseudolimnaeus populations, while Microsporidium sp. was found in two populations but was only relatively common in one. We found very low prevalence in males (∼5%), but high prevalence in females (range: 37–85%). Female fitness was positively associated with infection in two streams, resulting from either higher fecundity or more reproductive bouts. Infection had a negative effect on the number of reproductive bouts in a third population, and no effect on fecundity in a fourth population. Infection intensity explained additional variation in fecundity in one population; females with intermediate infection intensity had higher fecundity than females with either light or heavy infection intensity. Given the high prevalence of infection in females compared with males and the generally weak negative fitness effects coupled with some positive fitness effects, it is likely that both Dictyocoela sp. and Microsporidium sp. are primarily vertically transmitted, feminizing microsporidia. Our results suggest that microsporidian effects on G. pseudolimnaeus fitness were context-dependent and varied with host sex and local environment.
A role for the caveolin scaffolding domain in mediating the membrane attachment of caveolin-1. The caveolin scaffolding domain is both necessary and sufficient for membrane binding in vitro.

Here, we have created a series of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) deletion mutants to examine whether the membrane spanning segment is required for membrane attachment of caveolin-1 in vivo. One mutant, Cav-1-(1–101), contains only the cytoplasmic N-terminal domain and lacks the membrane spanning domain and the C-terminal domain. Interestingly, Cav-1-(1–101) still behaves as an integral membrane protein but lacks any known signals for lipid modification. In striking contrast, another deletion mutant, Cav-1-(1–81), behaved as a soluble protein. These results implicate caveolin-1 residues 82–101 (also known as the caveolin scaffolding domain) in membrane attachment. In accordance with the postulated role of the caveolin-1 scaffolding domain as an inhibitor of signal transduction, Cav-1-(1–101) retained the ability to functionally inhibit signaling along the p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, whereas Cav-1-(1–81) was completely ineffective. To rule out the possibility that membrane attachment mediated by the caveolin scaffolding domain was indirect, we reconstituted the membrane binding of caveolin-1 in vitro. By using purified glutathioneS-transferase-caveolin-1 fusion proteins and reconstituted lipid vesicles, we show that the caveolin-1 scaffolding domain and the C-terminal domain (residues 135–178) are both sufficient for membrane attachment in vitro. However, the putative membrane spanning domain (residues 102–134) did not show any physical association with membranes in this in vitro system. Taken together, our results provide strong evidence that the caveolin scaffolding domain contributes to the membrane attachment of caveolin-1.
Measurements of the total third-order nonresonant susceptibilities of C(3)H(8), CO(2), and C(2)H(4), and their application to N(2) CARS thermometry.

The total nonresonant susceptibilities of C3H8, CO2, and C2H4, measured by fitting the coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectra of binary mixtures of these gases and nitrogen with theoretical N2 CARS spectra are reported. These measurements are compared with the values in the literature obtained by CARS and other techniques. For propane and carbon dioxide, the effect of including their contribution to the broadening of nitrogen Raman lines on the inferred nonresonant susceptibilities is also examined.
Paratubal and tubal abnormalities

The fallopian tubes are the essential genital ducts that convey the female sex cells for fertilization. They are differentiated and detectable early in fetal life. There are numerous paratubal and tubal abnormalities that can occur at any point in the female life. Some of these are rare but may initiate significant morbidity and/or manifest as life-threatening clinical problems. A comprehensive understanding of symptoms, diagnosis, optimal imaging modalities, and medical and surgical management is vital to identify the best treatment option. The clinical entities described in this article include torsion, hydatids of Morgagni, paraovarian cysts, infections including tuboovarian abscess/pyosalpinx and salpingitis isthmic nodosa, ectopic pregnancy, tumors, and genetic disorders.
A theoretical and empirical analysis of the length of residency discount in the rental housing market

Abstract We present an analysis of occupancy discounts and suggest a decomposition of the discount into two components, a “sit” discount and a length of residency discount. Data from the national longitudinal survey of the Annual Housing Survey in which 75,000 housing units from around the United States were followed from 1974 to 1977 are used to obtain consistent and efficient estimates of those discounts. The econometric models account for censoring in the data by endogenously treating the tenant's staying decision. The estimation indicates that neither discount is significant. This result is contrary to the commonly accepted result in the urban literature that landlords offer discounts to their current tenants when contracts are renegotiated.
Musical pattern generation with variable-coupled iterated map networks

This paper introduces the concept of variable-coupled iterated map networks and explores its application to generation of musical textures. Such networks consist of one or more interlinked nodes. Each node consists of an iterated map function with a time-delay factor that schedules successive iterations. The value broadcast by a node can drive the variables and time-delay factor of any other nodes in the network, including itself. Lehmer's Linear Congruence Formula, an iterated map normally used for production of pseudo-random numbers, is explored for its own potential as a pattern generator and is used as the iterated map in the nodes in the examples presented. The capacity of these networks to produce richly gestural behaviours and mid-term modulation of behaviour is demonstrated.
Energy minimization for fault tolerant real-time applications on multiprocessor platforms using checkpointing

Relentless technology scaling not only dramatically increased the energy consumption of modern processors, it also makes processors less reliable. In this paper, we study the energy minimization problem for real-time applications on multi-processor platforms while tolerating K transient faults using checkpointing. We first introduce an efficient method to determine the checkpointing scheme that minimizes the worst-case response time for a task set that shares the reserved recoveries on a single processor. We then present a fault-tolerant task assignment algorithm to minimize the overall energy. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms other related approaches in energy savings.
A magnetoelastic microtransformer-based microstrain gauge

Abstract A magnetoelastic material is subject to a change in magnetic permeability when exposed to strain, a phenomenon known as the Villari effect (which is the inverse of Joule's magnetostriction). Using a magnetoelastic material appropriately in sensors assists measurement of mechanical forces, pressures, and elongations. One approach to use the Villari effect for strain gauge measurements is to build a microtransformer with a magnetostrictive core. An elongation of the substrate material causes the core to be strained, affecting the amount of coupling between the transformer's primary and secondary coil. Such a microtransformer is an attractive alternative to both classic metal strain gauges as well as piezoresistive devices (W. Heywang, Sensorik, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1987). The microtransformer has been fabricated in thin film technology. While earlier investigations proved the feasibility of such an approach (L.H. Rissing, S.A. Zielke, H.H. Gatsen, Inductive microtransformer exploiting the magnetoelastic effect, IEEE Trans. Magn. 34 (4) (1998) 1378–1380), this paper describes the design and the performance of a microtransformer with an improved sensor layout, discusses experimental test results, and compares them to simulation results. Based on the measurement results and the mechanical properties of the test setup, a strain gauge factor k of 1500 was determined.
A Positive Account of Property Rights

В статье права собственности рассматриваются как продукт стратегического поведения. Фридман пишет о возможности существования прав собственности без моральной и правовой поддержки. В статье разбирается вопрос о том, какой тип поведения ассоциируется с системой прав собственности, а также анализируется возникновение прав собственности в анархии Хоббса и природа существующей системы прав собственности вкупе с ее возможным дальнейшим развитием.
Computational prediction of standard gas, liquid, and solid-phase heats of formation and heats of vaporization and sublimation

We present a B3PW91/6-31G** computational procedure for predicting standard gas phase heats of formation at 298.15 K by finding ΔH for the process whereby the molecule is produced from its elements and then adding empirical atomic correction terms. Heats of vaporization and sublimation are estimated on the basis of the calculated electrostatic potential on the molecular surface. These results permit prediction of the standard liquid and solid-phase heats of formation. In comparison with experimental data, the average absolute deviations are as follows: for the heats of formation, gas phase, 2.6 kcal/mol; liquid phase, 2.4 kcal/mol; solid phase, 3.8 kcal/mol; for the heats of vaporization, 2.0 kcal/mol; and for the heats of sublimation, 2.8 kcal/mol. Computed values of these properties are given for a number of compounds for which they are not available experimentally. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Dissolution of benzene, naphthalene, and biphenyl in a simulated Titan lake

Abstract We constructed a laboratory apparatus capable of measuring the saturation equilibrium concentration (csat) and dissolution rate constants (keff) of organic solutes in ethane at 94 K. We determined a csat of 18.5 ± 1.9 mg L−1, 0.159 ± 0.003 mg L−1, and 0.039 ± 0.006 mg L−1 for benzene, naphthalene, and biphenyl, respectively. The derived csat and keff can be used to predict the dissolution behavior of the materials in ethane under Titan conditions. The aromatic materials dissolved relatively quickly in liquid ethane at 94 K, reaching saturation in less than 2 h. The dissolution characteristics of benzene in ethane at 94 K are compared to those of terrestrial karst-forming materials in water at 298 K, and are used to constrain Titan surface processes. We discuss the implications of our measurements on the formation of karst on Titan, the concentration of organics in Titan’s lakes, and the formation of evaporite deposits during lake evaporation.
The Effectiveness of Community Health Nursing Interventions: A Literature Review

As the devastating impact of many public health problems becomes more evident nationwide, a need exists for effective programs aimed at community-oriented health promotion. Escalating health care costs, however, severely limit available health care resources, threatening the demise of many public health efforts. During this time of imminent reform in our national health care system, it is imperative for community health nurses to elicit support by demonstrating the efficacy of their interventions (Oda & Boyd, 1987). This article describes services provided by community health nurses and documents the effectiveness of these interventions based on available literature. The programs reviewed represent community health nursing strategies developed in response to the needs of high-risk families, geographic communities, and vulnerable population groups. Both descriptive analyses and outcome-evaluation studies are used to support the effectiveness of home-based and community-centered community health nursing interventions. Recommendations eliciting support for community health nursing practice from legislators, policy makers, practice agencies, professional organizations, educators, and research institutions are included.
The logic of governance in health care delivery: An analysis of the empirical literature

Abstract A multi-level analytic framework termed a ‘logic of governance’ is used to identify systematic patterns of health care governance from the findings of disparate research studies. Using a subset of 112 studies on health care service delivery, we use an ‘inside-out’ interpretive strategy to construct an empirical overview of health care governance. This strategy incrementally aggregates findings from studies of adjacent then of non-adjacent levels of governance until a coherent overall picture emerges. In general, the choices of organizational arrangements, administrative strategies, treatment quality and other aspects of health care services by policy makers, public managers, physicians, and service workers, together with their values and attitudes toward their work, have significant effects on how health care public policies are transformed into service-delivery outputs and outcomes. Investigations that fail to account for such mediating effects in research designs or in the interpretation of res...
Integrated hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrate by nanopatterned surfaces

Controlled integration of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces has shown difficulty due to the challenges of post-treatment processing. In this paper, methods of systematic integration of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces on the same sample are presented. Controlled fabrication of surfaces with different liquid contact angle is achieved. Surface hydrophobic properties have been altered with nanoscale surface patterning using cleanroom semiconductor fabrication techniques. Hydrophobic surfaces are achieved by fabrication of semi-ordered nanoporous surfaces with anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) followed by reactive ionic etching (RIE). Hydrophilic surfaces are made by using nanotexture surface film, made by proper conditions in CF4 RIE. Integration of these two techniques results in simple microfluidic channels from hydrophilic pathways surrounded by hydrophobic surfaces. The results from this paper will be applied for lab-on-chip applications, as efficient pathways for liquid transport.
Leadership Effectiveness and Personality Characteristics of Group Members

Perceptions of leadership appear to be changing. Research has shown a shift in emphasis in regard to the factors influencing leadership effectiveness in a group. Whereas early scholars focused on l...
Longitudinal aliasing in multislice helical computed tomography: sampling and cone-beam effects

In this study, we examine longitudinal aliasing properties in multislice helical computed tomography (CT) volumes reconstructed under the multiple parallel fanbeam approximation by use of a 180LI-type algorithm. We focus on the differences between the multislice case and the single-slice case, which has been studied previously. Specifically, we examine longitudinal aliasing properties in four-slice scanners for helical pitches 3 and 6, which are sometimes called "preferred" in four-slice helical CT, because it is believed that the effective longitudinal sampling intervals at these pitches are equivalent to those in single-slice helical CT operating at pitches 1 and 2, respectively. While these equivalences have been supported by comparative studies of slice-sensitivity profiles in single- and multislice helical CT, artifacts have been observed in pitch-3 and pitch-6 multislice images that were not evident in their purported single-slice counterparts. We attribute these differences to aliasing arising in the multislice reconstructions that is not present in the single-slice counterparts. We find that the aliasing has two principal origins: sampling effects similar to those in the single-slice case and cone-beam effects. The difference between the multislice, pitch-3 and single-slice, pitch-1 results is attributed to the small cone angle in multislice helical CT, which introduces inconsistencies among the measurements of different detector rows. The difference between multislice, pitch-6 and single-slice, pitch-2 results is attributed to a combination of the cone angle and genuine differences in sampling patterns. It is argued, however, that the lack of strict equivalence with single-slice counterparts does not necessarily undermine the claim that pitches 3 and 6 are "preferred" relative to other pitches in multislice helical CT.
Quantum chemical calculations for understanding and predicting toxicity. II. The phosphorylation step in the inhibition of ache by organophosphorus anticholinesterases

The first step in the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by organophosphorus anticholinesterases is formation of the organophosphorous molecule-AChE complex. In the first paper of this series it was shown that the first step can be modeled well by the use of three-dimensional electrostatic molecular potential contour maps around the P compound. The second phosphorylation step of the mechanism by which organophosphorous anticholinesterases of the general formula inhibit AChE is related to the acidity of X and to the bond strength of the P—X bond. For a series of compounds, aryl N-methyl methyl phosphoramidates, in which the P—X bond is constant, this paper shows that the quantum chemically calculated P-O total overlap populations (TOPs) correlate the experimental log I50 for inhibition of AChE over four orders of magnitude with correlation coefficients of 0.96 [r2: TOP 0.9581; (TOP)1/2 0.9614].
Effects of ginger and cranberry extracts on the physiological response to exercise and markers of inflammation in horses

This study hypothesized that ginger (Zingiber officinale) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) extracts would alter the physiological response to exercise as well as markers of muscle damage, and mRNA expression for the inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) after an exhaustive bout of exercise in horses. Nine unfit Standardbred mares (age 10 ± 4 years, ~450 kg) completed three graded exercise tests (GXTs) in a crossover design, where they were assigned to the initial order of treatment in a randomized fashion. The GXTs were conducted between 07.00 and 12.00 hours, 7 days apart. Mares received either water (2 l), cranberry (~30 g in 2 l of water) or ginger (~30 g in 2 l of water) extract 1 h prior to testing. Blood samples were taken prior to dosing (pre-exercise), at the end of each step of the GXT, at the end of the exercise and at 2, 5 and 30 min, 1, 2, 4 and 24 h post-GXT. Plasma total protein (TP) concentration and haematocrit (HCT) were analysed immediately following the tests. Analysis of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was done commercially. There was no effect of treatment (P>0.05) on VO2max, run-time to fatigue, core temperature, TP or HCT. CK was substantially elevated (P 0.05) was noted in AST. A slight increase (P 0.05) was seen on IL-6 mRNA expression. Results suggest that cranberry extract blunts the upregulation and expression of TNF-α mRNA, while ginger extract reduces cardiovascular recovery time in horses completing a short, exhaustive bout of exercise.
Congenital osteopetrosis in mice cured by parabiotic union with normal siblings.

Osteopetrotic mice of grey-lethal and microphthalmic stock parabiotically joined to normal siblings rapidly recover from their inherited bone disorder. When parabiosis is performed at ten days of age, removal of all excess skeletal matrix and expansion of the hematopoietic centers to the normal extent was achieved by six weeks of age. Even by three weeks postoperatively, the parabiotic mutants more closely resembled normal controls than unoperated mutants. In the histology of the long bones, there was no indication that the normal mice had been adversely affected by parabiotic union to the mutants. The corrective influence of parabiosis is believed to be humoral in nature and derived from the normal parabiont. (Endocrinology 91: 916, 1972)
Novel Power MOSFET-Based Expander for High Frequency Ultrasound Systems

The function of an expander is to obstruct the noise signal transmitted by the pulser so that it does not pass into the transducer or receive electronics, where it can produce undesirable ring-down in an ultrasound imaging application. The most common type is a diode-based expander, which is essentially a simple diode-pair, is widely used in pulse-echo measurements and imaging applications because of its simple architecture. However, diode-based expanders may degrade the performance of ultrasonic transducers and electronic components on the receiving and transmitting sides of the ultrasound systems, respectively. Since they are non-linear devices, they cause excessive signal attenuation and noise at higher frequencies and voltages. In this paper, a new type of expander that utilizes power MOSFET components, which we call a power MOSFET-based expander, is introduced and evaluated for use in high frequency ultrasound imaging systems. The performance of a power MOSFET-based expander was evaluated relative to a diode-based expander by comparing the noise figure (NF), insertion loss (IL), total harmonic distortion (THD), response time (RT), electrical impedance (EI) and dynamic power consumption (DPC). The results showed that the power MOSFET-based expander provided better NF (0.76 dB), IL (-0.3 dB) and THD (-62.9 dB), and faster RT (82 ns) than did the diode-based expander (NF (2.6 dB), IL (-1.4 dB), THD (-56.0 dB) and RT (119 ns)) at 70 MHz. The -6 dB bandwidth and the peak-to-peak voltage of the echo signal received by the transducer using the power MOSFET-based expander improved by 17.4% and 240% compared to the diode-based expander, respectively. The new power MOSFET-based expander was shown to yield lower NF, IL and THD, faster RT and lower ring down than the diode-based expander at the expense of higher dynamic power consumption.
An analysis of smoldering fires in closed compartments and their hazard due to carbon monoxide

A review was made of smoldering fire experiments conducted in closed rooms and buildings. The results were summarized by tabulating maximum levels of CO, the time integral of CO concentration (‘dose’), CO2, temperature rise and oxygen consumption. A hazard time based on the attainment of a CO dose equal to 4.5% CO-minutes and the time for transition to flaming were also tabulated. The likelihood of reaching a critical CO condition during smoldering seems to be comparable with the likelihood of having transition to flaming occur. A theoretical model, requiring inputs of CO production rate and energy release rate, was executed and compared with available data. The theoretical results for CO concentration as a function of time were in good agreement with the experimental data. The model offers a means of extrapolating test data to compartments of various size in order to assess the general hazard of CO due to smoldering.
Novel Genes for Mitogen-Independent Smooth Muscle Replication

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are generally assumed to require mitogenic stimulation to replicate. The mitogen may originate in the circulation, be derived from nearby cell types in the vessel wall, or be produced by SMCs themselves. Regardless of the source of the mitogen, requirements for activation of cell surface growth factor receptors and consequent downstream signaling pathways have been guiding principles to understand SMC growth control in vivo. This long-held assumption is being challenged by Weiser-Evans et al1 in this issue of Circulation Research. These authors report the cloning of novel genes expressed by SMCs that exhibit a mitogen-independent or autonomous growth phenotype in vitro. One of these cDNAs, emb8:embryonic growth–associated protein (emb8:EGAP), may be at least partially responsible for controlling autonomous growth potential in SMCs. The authors suggest that these newly identified emb genes may represent an entirely novel class of genes that confer autonomous growth potential to SMCs during high rates of replication in vivo (during development, wound repair, and intimal disease). The concept of a self-driven, autonomous growth phenotype for vascular SMCs stems, in part, from work begun by Cook et al2 about 10 years ago. Their initial goal was to define factors produced during normal vascular development that function to shut off SMC replication in the late fetal and early postnatal periods. The assumption was that SMCs produce a growth-inhibitory pericellular matrix and that a better understanding of the composition of this natural growth inhibitory matrix and how it was produced would lead to more effective inhibitors of SMC proliferation in diseased adult vessels. A necessary first step was to precisely determine when SMCs stopped proliferating during development of the rat aorta in utero. Analysis of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeling index values showed a sharp transition from very high replication rates (70% to 80% per …
Prolonged latency of preterm premature rupture of membranes and risk of cerebral palsy (.).

AbstractObjective: To determine whether prolonged latency after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is associated with an increased risk of death or moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy (CP).Study design: This secondary analysis of the randomized controlled trial of magnesium sulfate for the prevention of CP evaluated whether the time interval between diagnosis of PPROM and delivery was associated with increased risk for CP. Prolonged latency was defined as an interval of ≥4 weeks, latency time was also categorized by week of latency for further analysis. The primary outcome was death or moderate-to-severe CP at 2 years of age. Logistic regression was used to control for confounders.Results: In all, 1522 patients with PPROM were analyzed; of whom, 1328 had a <4-week interval and 194 had an interval of ≥4 weeks. In the unadjusted analysis, the primary outcome was less likely in the PPROM ≥4 weeks group 4.1% versus 8.4%, RR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.24–0.98. After adjusting for possible confounders, there wa...
Central nervous system origins of the sympathetic nervous system outflow to white adipose tissue

White adipose tissue (WAT) is innervated by postganglionic sympathetic nervous system (SNS) neurons, suggesting that lipid mobilization could be regulated by the SNS [T. G. Youngstrom and T. J. Bartness. Am. J. Physiol. 268 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 37): R744-R751, 1995]. A viral transsynaptic retrograde tract tracer, the pseudorabies virus (PRV), was used to identify the origins of the SNS outflow from the brain to WAT neuroanatomically. PRV was injected into epididymal or inguinal WAT (EWAT and IWAT, respectively) of Siberian hamsters and IWAT of rats. PRV-infected neurons were visualized by immunocytochemistry and found in the spinal cord, brain stem (medulla, nucleus of the solitary tract, caudal raphe nucleus, C1 and A5 regions), midbrain (central gray), and several areas within the forebrain. The general pattern of infection of WAT in both species was more similar than different and resembled that seen after PRV injections into the adrenal medulla in rats (A. M. Strack, W. B. Sawyer, J. H. Hughes, K. B. Platt, and A. D. Loewy. Brain Res. 491: 156-162, 1989). EWAT versus IWAT injected hamsters had relatively less labeling in the suprachiasmatic, dorsomedial, and arcuate nuclei. Overall, it appeared that the SNS innervation of WAT originates from the general SNS outflow of the central nervous system and therefore may play a significant role in lipid mobilization.
Revisiting the Determinants of Student Evaluation of Teachers Scores

Despite a large literature, convincingly establishing the determinants of student evaluations of teaching (SET) scores has been elusive, largely due to incorrect statistical methods and a paucity of data. The data used in this study comprise a much larger span of time than in any previous research - some 987 economics classes over 18 consecutive semesters. This permits a proper treatment of unobserved heterogeneity. Efforts are also made to correct for endogeneity. Results indicate that instructors cannot "buy" higher SET scores by awarding higher grades. The level of the class, the time at which the class meets, the level of experience of the instructor, and the class size are all found to be significant determinants of SET scores. The study also suggests ways in which the results might be used to adjust raw SET scores to remove the influence of factors beyond instructors' control.
Disease of the Common Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus): Crassicaudiosis of the Urinary System

Eighty-seven fin whales taken from the North Atlantic were systematically nec-ropsied to investigate the occurrence, levels, and mechanisms of disease which could cause mortality in this species. Crassicauda infection was found to be prevalent, deeply invasive, and probably capable of causing death. The giant nematode Crassicauda boopis was present in 82 (94.3%) of the whales examined. Adult C. boopis presented with their tails in the renal ductwork and their bodies in the renal veins and vena cava. The bodies of the worms were typically enveloped by exuberent tissue reactions which in some whales obstructed multiple renal veins. Transmission of this parasite was by environmental contamination and involved shedding of larvae in the urine. Ingestion of larvae, followed by somatic larval migration to the kidney, was strongly suggested by the finding of extensive inflammatory lesions of the mesenteric arteries in which nematode larvae occurred. From these observations it appears that truly severe C. boopis infections in fin whales could be lethal by inducing congestive renal failure, and that moderate infections cause extensive injury to the vascular system. This implies that the yearly feeding migration of fin whales into circumpolar waters is associated with a definite pathological risk.
Position and Orientation of an Aerial Vehicle through Chained, Vision-Based Pose Reconstruction

While a Global Positioning System (GPS) is the most widely used sensor modality for aircraft navigation, researchers have been motivated to investigate other navigational sensor modalities because of the desire to operate in GPS denied environments. Due to advances in computer vision and control theory, monocular camera systems have received growing interest as an alternative/collaborative sensor to GPS systems. Cameras can act as navigational sensors by detecting and tracking feature points in an image. One limiting factor in this method is the current inability to relate feature points as they enter and leave the camera …eld of view. The contribution of this paper is a new vision-based state estimation method that allows sets of feature points to be related such that the aircraft position and orientation can be correlated to previous GPS data so that GPS-like navigation can be maintained in denied environments. The Volpe report acted as an impetus for many companies and institutions to investigate mitigation strategies for the vulnerabilities associated with the current GPS navigation aid protocol, nearly all follow- ing the suggested GPS backup methods that revert to the archaic/legacy methods. Unfortunately, these navigational modalities are limited by the range of their land-based transmitters, which are expensive and may not be feasible for remote or hazardous environments. Based on these restrictions, researchers have investigated local methods of estimating position when GPS is denied. Given the advancements in computer vision and control theory, monocular camera systems have received growing interest as a local alternative/collaborative sensor to GPS systems. One issue that has inhibited the use of a vision system as a navigational aid is the di¢ culty in reconstructing inertial measurements from the projected image. Current approaches to estimating the aircraft state through a camera system utilize the motion of feature points in an image. Current approaches to recover the inertial state of the aircraft via a camera system include linear or nonlinear estimation methods. In contrast to these estimation methods, a geometric approach is proposed in this paper that uses a series of homography relationships. Speci…cally, a new method is proposed to create a series of daisy-chained images in which the feature points can be related so that the inertial coordinates of an aircraft can be determined between each successive image. Through these relationships, GPS data can be linked with the image data to provide inertial measurements in navigational regions where GPS is denied. Recently, a similar method using homography relationships between images to estimate the pose of an aircraft were presented by Caballero, et al. 2 Their method is
Transparency: the emerging third dimension of Open Science and Open Data

This paper presents an exploration of the concept of research transparency. The policy context is described and situated within the broader arena of open science. This is followed by commentary on transparency within the research process, which includes a brief overview of the related concept of reproducibility and the associated elements of research integrity, fraud and retractions. A two-dimensional model or continuum of open science is considered and the paper builds on this foundation by presenting a three-dimensional model, which includes the additional axis of ‘transparency’. The concept is further unpacked and preliminary definitions of key terms are introduced: transparency, transparency action, transparency agent and transparency tool. An important linkage is made to the research lifecycle as a setting for potential transparency interventions by libraries. Four areas are highlighted as foci for enhanced engagement with transparency goals: Leadership and Policy, Advocacy and Training, Research Infrastructures and Workforce Development.
Artful Versus Trade-School Gynecology

The tragedy of sterility is needlessly imposed too often; the practice of gynecology must include medical as well as surgical treatment.Before deciding on surgery for benign conditions, the gynecologist must consider the importance to women of the reproductive process and of continued marital function. Plastic reconstruction of the vagina and hysterectomy for benign tumors should be reserved for patients with unmanageable symptoms.Cystectomy is recommended for all unquestionably benign ovarian cysts in young women.The removal of normal ovaries during hysterectomy is a debatable procedure.