cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Collision tectonics of the Mediterranean region: Causes and consequences

The late Mesozoic‐early Tertiary evolution of the Mediterranean region was defined by a series of collisions between Gondwana-derived continental blocks and Eurasia as the intervening ocean basins closed. The late Tertiary‐Quaternary evolution of the region was controlled by the generally northward motion of Afro-Arabia and the compressional tectonics induced by the convergence between Eurasia and Afro-Arabia. Earlier collisional events caused the formation of thick orogenic crust, high-standing plateaus, and heterogeneous mantle, and resulted in slab break-offs that were collectively crucial for the onset of postcollisional collapse of the mountain belts, tectonic extension, and magmatism. The diachronous collision of Adria (Apulia), as an appendage of Africa, with Europe along its irregular margins created the Alps, the Apennines, and the Dinaride-Albanide-Hellenide mountain belt at different times and affected the formation of the Carpathians in the east. The collision of the Arabian promontory with Eurasia ca. 13 Ma facilitated the westward tectonic escape of Anatolia and caused intense deformation taken up by crustal shortening and conjugate strike-slip fault systems in a zone of ~1000 km stretching from the Bitlis-Zagros suture zone in the south to the Greater Caucasus in the north. The Anatolia plate has been rotating counterclockwise relative to Eurasia during its escape to the west and hence has been experiencing internal deformation through a combination of strikeslip and normal faulting, including metamorphic core complex formation. Subduction roll-back along the Hellenic trench has likely been the driving force for this southwest motion of Anatolia and the extensional tectonics affecting the Aegean province in the upper plate throughout the late Tertiary. The widespread alkaline volcanism both in the Aegean extensional province and in the Turkish-Iranian plateau since the late Miocene shows chemical evidence for an enriched asthenospheric mantle melt source; in both regions postcollisional slab break-off events have played a major role in providing this asthenospheric material and weakening the orogenic crust significantly. Young basins (Tyrrhenian, Aegean?) are in the process of opening above strongly arcuate subduction zones in a broadly convergent system of the Mediterranean region. The mantle response to the discrete collisional events, the geometry of colliding continental margins, and the scale of collisions strongly controlled the syn- to postcollisional tectonics and magmatism in the Mediterranean region.
Vaccination and Immunisation

From a medical perspective vaccination, the process whereby someone is made immune to significant disease, has a long and distinguished track record and has proved highly beneficial. More recently public faith in some aspects of the process has diminished dramatically. This article by Marion Miles presents the background to, and development of, the immunisation programme currently recommended by the Department of Health. It seeks to explore reasons for non-compliance with the programme and to discuss the consequent dilemmas thus presented to professionals. Particular problems presented by looked after children are also considered.
Ultra-thin nanocrystalline lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ) films synthesis by RF-sputtering and temperature-dependent conductivity studies

Abstract Nanocrystalline lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) ultra-thin films with high in-plane electrical conductivity have been deposited by RF sputtering from composite targets. The films, with nominal thickness of 54 nm, are crystalline when annealed or deposited at temperatures above 450 °C. Effects of annealing temperature, annealing time, and substrate temperature on crystallization, microstructure, and room temperature lateral electrical conductivity have been systematically studied. No interfacial reaction products between the LSCF and single crystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) were observed from X-ray diffraction studies upon annealing until 750 °C. In-plane electrical conductivity as high as 580 S cm−1 at 650 °C has been observed for LSCF thin films deposited on single crystalline YSZ substrates and sputtered nanocrystalline YSZ thin films; while activation energy for conductivity were determined to be 0.15 eV and 0.10 eV for the former and latter films, respectively, in 650–400 °C range. The high in-plane electrical conductivity for the nanocrystalline LSCF ultra-thin films is likely attributed to their low level of porosity. Micro-solid oxide fuels cells using 15 nm thick LSCF films as cathodes and sub-100 nm yttria-doped zirconia thin film electrolytes have been fabricated successfully and demonstrated to achieve peak power density of 60 mW cm−2 at 500 °C. Our results demonstrate that RF sputtering provides a low-temperature synthesis route for realizing ultra-thin nanocrystalline LSCF films as cathodes for intermediate- or low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells.
The trouble with seeing double

[1] The recently discovered phase transition for (Mg,Fe)SiO3 from perovskite to post-perovskite structure for pressure-temperature conditions in the lowermost mantle provides a plausible mechanism to explain a several percent shear velocity increase detected at the top of the D″ region in many regions. The phase transition has a large positive Clapeyron slope, and given the likely presence of a strong temperature increase just above the core-mantle boundary, D″ conditions may reintersect the phase boundary, resulting in a thin layer of perovskite below a lens of post-perovskite, separated by a few percent velocity decrease. Detection of such a velocity decrease is shown to be much harder than detection of the shallower velocity increase due to fundamental properties of seismic waves; purported observations in support of a double-discontinuity are re-evaluated based on waveform modeling. Waveform stacking procedures are required for reliable detection of the lower half of any double-crossing of the phase boundary.
Determination of activity for nociceptin in the mouse vas deferens

The recently discovered neuropeptide nociceptin was found to inhibit electrically induced contractions of the mouse vas deferens. Nociceptin and its 14-Tyr analog were each partial agonists, but with high affinity (ED50 of 20 nM). This activity was not opioid in nature, as it was not inhibited by either selective or non-selective opiate antagonists.
Cabozantinib for the Treatment of Advanced Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Introduction Patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) have poor prognoses and limited treatment options. Improved knowledge about molecular aberrations associated with MTC and the availability of novel targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have led to new potential treatment modalities. Cabozantinib is an oral multitargeted TKI with activity against multiple receptors including RET, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 2 (VEGFR2), and MET that has been evaluated in MTC in the preclinical and clinical arenas.
THE BLACK SCHOLES BARENBLATT EQUATION FOR OPTIONS WITH UNCERTAIN VOLATILITY AND ITS APPLICATION TO STATIC HEDGING

The Black Scholes Barenblatt (BSB) equation for the envelope of option prices with uncertain volatility and interest rate is derived from the Black Scholes equation with the maximum principle for diffusion equations and shown to be equivalent to a readily solvable standard Black Scholes equation with a nonlinear source term. Analogous arguments yield the envelope for the delta of option prices. We then interpret the concept of static hedging for narrowing the envelope in terms of partial differential equations and define the optimal static hedge and computable approximations to it. We apply the BSB equation to find numerically some optimally hedged portfolios of representative European and American options.
Prevalence and correlates of restless legs syndrome symptoms in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort

Abstract Background and purpose The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms in the US adult population and to relate frequency of RLS symptoms to self-reported general health, depressive and anxiety symptoms, daytime sleepiness, and cardiovascular disease. Patients and methods Data were obtained from a survey, conducted in 2002, of 2821 participants in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort, a prospective community-based epidemiology study. Classification of RLS symptoms was based on the following four symptoms at the 2002 survey: ‘repeated urge to move your legs’ and ‘strange and uncomfortable feelings in the legs’, ‘when sitting or lying down’ which occur at least weekly, ‘get better when you get up and start walking’ and ‘disrupt your sleep’. Results Prevalence of RLS symptoms occurring at least weekly was 10.6%, with no statistical difference between males (9.9%) and females (11.2%). Individuals with symptoms of RLS occurring at least weekly were older than those without such symptoms (P Conclusions RLS symptoms are associated with multiple physical and psychological indices of impaired health. Longitudinal studies are required to determine whether RLS symptoms are causally related to excessive daytime sleepiness, poor general health, elevated depression and anxiety symptoms, and cardiovascular disease.
“THE CARDINAL TEST OF A SOUTHERNER”: NOT RACE BUT GEOGRAPHY

Sociologists who have studied the American South have, by and large, been inclined to attribute cultural differences between white Southerners and other Americans to regional differences in occupational structure and economic circumstance.' With the economic development and "national incorporation" of the South proceeding apace, advocates of this view assume that regional cultural differences are also diminishing. Indeed, many of the most dramatic and visible ones have been,2 but an accumulating body of literature demonstrates that many, more subtle, regional cultural differences not only remain, but show no sign of disappearing.3 This suggests that the orthodox materialist view is-at the very least-inadequate, and that we must look elsewhere for the explanation of some white Southern peculiarities. White Southerners do not comprise the only group in America that has surprised sociologists by maintaining its identity and distinctiveness. During the past decade, especially, we have come to realize that many immigrant ethnic groups are still intact, and
Static Modeling and Pull-in Analysis of an Electrostatic Actuator

This paper investigated the static performance of a rectangular micromirror supported by a straight beam and actuated by either one of the two bottom electrodes. The uniform straight beam is attached to the microplate and anchored to the substrate. Theoretical analysis of the static performance and pull-in phenomenon of the actuator is performed first and further continued by the comparison of analytical results and simulations. The actuator, fabricated using MicraGEM process, can be applied to fine tune the steering angle of a light beam reflected by the microplate through careful selection of geometry parameters of the actuator before fabrication and voltage control algorithm after prototyping.
Retention and relearning of lever-press avoidance following mammillothalamic tractotomy

Abstract Following bilateral lesions of the mammillothalamic tracts, cats demonstrated a complete loss of preoperatively acquired lever-press avoidance behavior assessed under extinction conditions, and were profoundly impaired in their reacquisition of this behavior. In contrast, retention of the same response in the same cats, when motivated by thirst was unimpaired. Also, presentation of the CS signaling shock suppressed the animal's pressing the lever for milk, suggesting that the CS still elicited fear. Finally, there were no substantial changes in the animal's emotionality or freezing behavior. It is suggested that decrements in the retention of difficult avoidance behavior following mammillothalamic tractotomy are not due to sensory or motor dysfunction and are not related to increased freezing behavior.
The effect of organic matter manipulations on site productivity, soil nutrients, and soil carbon on a southern loblolly pine plantation

Forest harvesting intrinsically removes organic matter and associated nutrients; these exports may impact soil productivity and soil carbon stores of managed forests. This study examined the effect of manipulating forest floor and harvest residue inputs on nutrient availability and carbon content in the context of intensive forest management. Treatments were applied 15 years prior to this study and included removal and addition of forest floor and harvest residues, and a reference. We examined stand volume, litterfall, root biomass and foliar N and P at year 14 or 15. Soil moisture and temperature (0–10 cm) and available N and P in the O and 0–20 cm depths were measured once per month during year 15. Soil carbon and nitrogen were measured on whole soils as well as two density fractions in the O-horizon, 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm soil depths at year 15. In general, many of the initial responses found by an earlier study (age 10) have dissipated. Standing volume in the added treatment was 31% higher than the removed, but no significant difference was found between the removed and reference treatments. The added treatment resulted in higher concentrations of N in the light and heavy density fractions of the 0–20 cm depth, which led to higher mass of N in both of these fractions. The added treatment had the greatest whole soil heavy fraction N mass. There were no differences in available N in the O-horizon or 0–20 cm depth as tested using ion exchange membranes; however available P was significantly lower in the O-horizon of the removed treatment (37% lower than the reference). Bole volume was correlated with some measures of total and available N and P in the O and 0–20 cm soil horizons, suggesting that increases in growth found in the added treatment were a result of additional nutrients. There were no significant differences between C concentration or mass of the 0–20 cm or 20–40 cm soil depths between the treatments; however the added treatment had significantly more (51% more than the reference) carbon at the 40–60 cm soil depth. The added treatment had a significantly higher C:N relative to the reference in the 20–40 cm (21.0 and 14.5, respectively) and 40–60 cm (18.0 and 11.4, respectively) depths, suggesting that relatively fresh, undegraded organic matter had enriched this depth. This additional carbon sequestered at depth could contribute to a long-term soil carbon pool. The results of this study suggest that higher intensity use, such as forest floor removal and whole tree harvest, of these forests may not impact long term productivity at this site with typical soil nutrient status; however, more research is necessary to determine the mechanism(s) of this resilience.
Steroidal and Nonsteroidal Drugs in Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis

ABSTRACT Various classes of anti-inflammatory compounds like steroids (dexamethasone), cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin and flurbiprofen), 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors (BWA 218C and BWA 4C), immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporin and rapamycin) and cod liver oil were tested for their anti-inflammatory activities in endotoxin-induced uveitis model in rabbits. Intraocular inflammation was assessed in terms of two inflammatory responses i.e. breakdown of blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) and leukocyte infiltration into aqueous humor and iris ciliary body (ICB). Prostaglandin (PG) E2 and leukotriene (LT) B4 release into aqueous humor was also measured. Indomethacin significantly inhibited PGE2 release without affecting leukocyte or BAB response. Flurbiprofen prevented leukocyte, PGE2and LTB4 release into aqueous humor but not ICB chemotaxis. BWA 218C and BWA 4C also significantly inhibited leukocyte and LTB4 release but not BAB responses. Dexamethasone (2mg/kg, i.m.) and cyclosporin A (25 mg/kg i.m.) significantl...
The geochemical controls on arsenic concentrations in southeastern United States rivers

Abstract Dissolved As concentrations in rivers in the southeast of the U.S., among the lowest values reported for world rivers, are controlled by the availability of As by rainwater dilutions, by the extent of complexation by dissolved organic matter, and perhaps by metabolic uptake by aquatic plants. Availability in turn is apparently affected by: (1) the drainage-basin soil type; (2) weathering and erosion rates; and (3) rainfall and soil flushing rates. As complexation by organics prevents adsorptive interactions between dissolved As and active solid-phase organic and inorganic materials. Despite high arsenate solubility, arsenate concentration is limited to levels below saturation, due to reactions which remove the free arsenate ion from solution. The particulate As load may be as important as the dissolved load with respect to material transport in the rivers. However, only the dissolved load is delivered to the ocean. Those biologically mediated reactions which result in As species disequilibria in other water bodies have an insignificant effect on As speciation in the rivers.
Transverse Magnetoresistance in n-Type Germanium

Abstract : The transverse magnetoresistance and Hall coefficient in high-resistivity n-type germanium were measured in pulsed magnetic fields up to 175 kgauss at temperatures between 20K and 70K. The magnetoresistance ratio was roughly proportional to HT to the minus 1.2 power for fields above 100 kgauss and temperatures below 40K for two orientations; H in the direction. It was proportional to H to the 1.2 power T to the minus 1.5 power for H in the direction. This behavior is not attributed to gradients in carrier concentration or to surface effects. The Hall coefficient increased with H at temperatures below 20K for H in the direction. This is attributed to a decrease in the conduction-band electron density due to a change in the ionization energy. Calculations by D. F. Minner predict such a decrease for H in the direction but no decrease for H in the direction. (Author)
New Modeling Approach for High Frequency Devices: Application to Ultrafast Optically Controlled Switches

In many ultrafast semiconductor devices, the effects of generated electromagnetic waves cannot be neglected. These devices can be accurately simulated by combining a direct finite difference time domain solution of Maxwell's equations with a Bipolar Monte-Carlo model of semiconductor carrier transport. This approach is utilized to investigate the response of an electro-optic switch with a subpicosecond risetime. Discussion and results showing the effects of wave propagation will also be presented.
Release of Free F2-isoprostanes from Esterified Phospholipids Is Catalyzed by Intracellular and Plasma Platelet-activating Factor Acetylhydrolases

F2-isoprostanes are produced in vivo by nonenzymatic peroxidation of arachidonic acid esterified in phospholipids. Increased urinary and plasma F2-isoprostane levels are associated with a number of human diseases. These metabolites are regarded as excellent markers of oxidant stress in vivo. Isoprostanes are initially generated in situ, i.e. when the arachidonate precursor is esterified in phospholipids, and they are subsequently released in free form. Although the mechanism(s) responsible for the release of free isoprostanes after in situ generation in membrane phospholipids is, for the most part, unknown, this process is likely mediated by phospholipase A2 activity(ies). Here we reported that human plasma contains an enzymatic activity that catalyzes this reaction. The activity associates with high density and low density lipoprotein and comigrates with platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase on KBr density gradients. Plasma samples from subjects deficient in PAF acetylhydrolase do not release F2-isoprostanes from esterified precursors. The intracellular PAF acetylhydrolase II, which shares homology to the plasma enzyme, also catalyzes this reaction. We found that both the intracellular and plasma PAF acetylhydrolases have high affinity for esterified F2-isoprostanes. However, the rate of esterified F2-isoprostane hydrolysis is much slower compared with the rate of hydrolysis of other substrates utilized by these enzymes. Studies using PAF acetylhydrolase transgenic mice indicated that these animals have a higher capacity to release F2-isoprostanes compared with nontransgenic littermates. Our results suggested that PAF acetylhydrolases play key roles in the hydrolysis of F2-isoprostanes esterified on phospholipids in vivo.
Quasi embeddings and embeddings of polyhedra in Rm

Abstract We show that the dimension restrictions in C. Weber's results on embeddings and quasi embeddings of polyhedra in R m are necessary in all but a finite number of cases.
What's on (Digital) TV? Assessing the Digital Television Broadcasting System, Its Potential and Its Performance in Increasing Media Content Diversity

Digital broadcast television technology allows broadcasters to multicast, or air several programming streams in the space formerly occupied by only one channel. Guided by Philip Napoli's concept of media content diversity, this study asks how well the DTV system in the United States exploits digital technology's potential for adding new voices and ideas to the television landscape. The FCC's market-oriented approach to content regulation and DTV implementation are explored, and an analysis of multicasting use and programming shows that the digital broadcasting space is going greatly underutilized and broadcasters are adding little content diversity to the airwaves.
A study of carbonic anhydrase using Mössbauer spectroscopy

Abstract The preparation and characterization of an Fe(II) bovine carbonic and human carbonic anhydrase are presented. Results of Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements indicate that the Fe(II) (low spin) is bound at the enzymatically active site. The results are compared with previous studies which had used the technique of perturbed angular correlations of γ-radiation.
A wintertime in situ profile of BrO between 17 and 27 km in the Arctic vortex

The vertical profile of bromine oxide (BrO) was measured in situ from a balloon launched near Kiruna, Sweden (68°N, 21°E) at sunrise on February 3, 1995. BrO mixing ratios of 10±2 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) were observed at high solar zenith angles (90–92°) between 20 and 23 km in a layer that coincided with significantly enhanced abundances of ClO. Above 23 km, where ClO mixing ratios typical of midlatitudes were observed, BrO mixing ratios ranged from 5 to 11 pptv, increasing nearly monotonically with increasing altitude and decreasing solar zenith angle. The measurements indicate that 30 to 60% of the total bromine (assuming 18 pptv total bromine) is in the form of BrO between 23 and 27 km at these latitudes in winter. These results are consistent with lower altitude measurements of BrO from the NASA ER-2 at similar latitudes and season. Observations of higher fractions of BrO (50 to 95% of total bromine) in the chemically perturbed region at sunrise imply the rapid release of bromine from a photolabile reservoir species, such as BrCl.
Probabilistic shadow information spaces

This paper introduces a Bayesian filter that is specifically designed for counting targets that move outside of the field of view while performing a sensor sweep. Information space concepts are used to dramatically reduce the filter complexity so that information is processed only when the shadow region (all points invisible to the sensors) changes combinatorially or targets pass in and out of view. Previous work assumed perfect observations; however, this paper extends the approach to enable probabilistic disturbances. Practical algorithms are introduced, implemented, and demonstrated for computing the filter outputs based on realistic data.
SEM IMAGE PROCESSING FOR FOOD STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

Image processing techniques were developed to characterize the cellular structure of puffed corn meal extrudates from their scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. Cross-section SEM images were taken and digitized for product samples of different degrees of expansion. Two major approaches were developed to extract structure-related image features. The air cells were also manually measured as the true characteristics of the cellular structure. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the image features as measures of the structural characteristics. A number ofimage features were found to be good indicators of cell size and cell uniformity (R 2 -values up to 0.95). The image processing techniques developed were useful in cellular structure characterization and they provide a rapid and consistent way for food cellular structure quantification and analysis.
An identity for matrix rings with involution

Abstract The main result examines when the expression G n ( X , Y ) = X n −1 Y + X n − 2 YX + … + YX n −1 gives an identity for M n ( F ) with involution, when X is a (skew-)symmetric nilpotent matrix and Y is any (skew-)symmetric matrix. For transpose involution, G n ( X , Y ) = 0 when X is any nilpotent symmetric matrix and Y is skew-symmetric.
Long-range signaling within growing neurites mediated by neurotrophin-3.

In addition to well established trophic functions, neurotrophins acutely affect neurotransmitter secretion from the presynaptic nerve terminal, influence synaptic development, and may serve as selective retrograde messengers that regulate synaptic efficacy. The crucial question related to the mechanisms of neurotrophin-mediated signaling is whether acute effects of neurotrophins are spatially restricted to the activated synapses. Here we have used a local perfusion technique for local delivery of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) to various regions of developing Xenopus embryo neurons in culture. Within minutes after a focal exposure of a soma or a small (≈30 μm in length) axonal segment to NT-3, we observed an increase in the spontaneous neurotransmitter secretion from the presynaptic nerve terminals located ≈300–400 μm away from the site of NT-3 application. Secretory activity along the axonal shaft was not affected. Our findings suggest that the NT-3-mediated signal may rapidly travel through neuronal cytoplasm over unexpectedly long distances and modulate neurotransmitter release specifically at the presynaptic nerve terminals.
The feasibility of controlling power for efficient batch mixing

Batch mixing is an established industrial process, historically practiced in an open-loop manner. Batch-to-batch differences in the process that lead to small variations in torque applied to the mix may result in significant variability in the finished product. A new closed-loop strategy for batch mixing is proposed to make the batch mixing process robust to such variations through the application of feedback and control principles. This new closed-loop mixing strategy is based upon the hypothesis that the repeatability of mixing results can be improved by holding constant the amount of work done on each batch and that mixing efficiency can be improved by controlling power. The new strategy is applied in simulation to the specific case of mixing an ammonium nitrate composite solid propellant. The benefits of the new closed-loop strategy as well as the feasibility of implementing the strategy using common industrial components are demonstrated.
The Use of Full-Chest Tomography in the Roentgenographic Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism

In an attempt to obtain more specific information about the pulmonary vascular pattern in patients with pulmonary embolism, a simple tomographic technique is presented. Patients with pulmonary embolism exhibited rapid narrowing of their pulmonary arteries peripherally in contrast with the gradual tapering of the arterial tree seen normally. The extent and location of the pulmonary vascular abnormalities were similar to that of the area of diminished activity present on lung scans. We feel this technique is a useful screening procedure for the localization of pulmonary embolism and is a valuable adjunct to pulmonary scanning.
Treadmill exercise testing in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Abstract Graded treadmill exercise testing was performed in 54 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and preexcitation (persistent in 36, intermittent in 9 and concealed in 9). Forty-eight patients had previous paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmia (spontaneous or induced or both). At initiation of treadmill testing, the nine patients with intermittent and the nine with concealed preexcitation had normal conduction. None manifested preexcitation during exercise. Thirty-six patients had preexcitation at initiation of exercise; exercise produced no change in preexcitation in 2, partial normalization of the QRS complex in 16 (due to enhanced atrioventricular [A-V] nodal conduction), and total normalization of the QRS complex in 18 (due to enhanced A-V nodal conduction in 14 and to rate-dependent anomalous pathway block in 4). Exercise-provoked block of the anomalous pathway reflected prolonged anomalous pathway refractoriness, as measured with atrial stimulation. All 18 patients with either total or partial preexcitation at peak exercise manifested more than 1 mm flat or downsloping S-T segment depression. None had evidence of ischemic heart disease. None of the 54 patients manifested either paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation during or after treadmill exercise. Treadmill exercise testing in patients with preexcitation frequently produces partial or total normalization of the QRS complex due to enhanced A-V nodal conduction and, less commonly, total normalization due to rate-dependent block of the anomalous pathway. False positive S-T segment changes (suggesting ischemia) are always present in patients manifesting preexcitation during treadmill testing. Treadmill exercise testing in patients with preexcitation does not provoke paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation and is not useful as a provocative test for arrhythmia.
Transfer effects in a deductive reasoning problem

Transfer in deductive reasoning was investigated through the use of isomorphic matching (“who-done-it”) problems. Two groups completed three training problems followed by a test problem. For one group, the same dimensions were used in all training problems; for the other group, new dimensions were used in each training problem. The test problem involved different dimensions from any used in training. Positive transfer was found relative to a no-training control group, but the amount of transfer did not depend on whether the training had provided experience in generalizing to new dimensions. Also, time to solution did not depend on whether the problem was presented in abstract or concrete form.
Physical Processes Involved in the 1988 Drought and 1993 Floods in North America

Abstract An analysis of the spring–summer 1988 drought and 1993 floods over North America reveals a reversal in the sign of anomalies in several fields. Large sea surface temperature anomalies of opposite signs existed in the tropical Pacific with strong La Nina conditions in 1988 and a mature El Nino in 1993. The distribution of tropical convection in the convergence zones and associated latent heating of the atmosphere were correspondingly altered, implying a large-scale switch in the anomalous tropical heating and forcing of extratropical quasi-stationary waves in the atmosphere, influencing the subtropical jet stream over the North Pacific and across North America. In 1988 the jet stream and the closely related storm track of high-frequency disturbances in the upper troposphere were displaced into Canada well north of the normal location—the farthest north of any year from 1979 to 1993. In 1993 a broader jet stream and the storm track were displaced well south of normal to a more springlike location a...
Studies on a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from rat thyroid gland.

Abstract We have confirmed the presence of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) in the soluble protein fraction of rat thyroid homogenates, and have purified the enzyme with a 20% yield by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 followed by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Kinase activity was assayed in a standard system with [γ-32P]ATP and a mixed fraction of calf thymus histones at pH 6.5, 30°C, in the presence and absence of cyclic AMP. Two peaks of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity were resolved by gel filtration and each was further purified on DEAE-cellulose and designated DKI and DKII: specific activities were, respectively, 5171 and 2080 units/mg protein, representing an approximate 700-fold purification of activity based on assay of the crude extracts. However, crude thyroid extracts reveal only 1/10 of their inherent kinase activity, probably due to the presence of ATPase activity, and in addition, to interaction of the large amounts of thyroglobulin with the histone phosphoryl acceptor. A unit of activity is defined as 1 pmol phosphate transferred from phosphoryl donor to acceptor per min. The two kinases were stable for up to 1 month when stored at 4°C. The Km with the respect to cyclic AMP is 6.1 · 10−8 M for DKI and 3.1 · 10−8 M for DKII, and with respect to ATP, in the presence and absence of cyclic AMP (1 · 10−6 M), respectively, is 1.0 · 10−5 M and 1.2 · 10−5 M for DKI, and 0.93 · 10−5 M and 0.75 · 10−5 M for DKII. These values are similar to those reported for cyclic nucleotide dependent protein kinases from other tissues. Molecular weights estimated by gel filtration are 230 000 and 152 000 for DKI and DKII respectively. Sedimentation coefficients of 8.7 for DKI and 6.6 for DKII were estimated by centrifugation of the material in the linear sucrose density gradients. Enzymatic profiles of the gradients of the heavier kinase consistently showed a small peak corresponding to 6.6 S. Although the data might suggest that multiple forms of protein kinase exist in the rat thyroid, they are also consistent with the presence of a kinase in several states of aggregation peculiar to the purification procedure. Both DKI and DKII when incubated with cyclic AMP were converted to 4.8 S material that was essentially completely nucleotide independent, consistent with the well-described disaggregation of the catalytic subunit(s) from protein kinase holoenzyme.
Evoked potential alterations following prenatal methyl mercury exposure.

Abstract Pregnant hooded rats were administered either 5 mg/kg CH 3 Hg or 0 mg/kg CH 3 Hg by gastric intubation on day seven of gestation. Female offspring were implanted with recording electrodes 60 days after birth and had their cortically recorded visual evoked potentials studied at four different flash intensities. Mercury exposed animals had higher P1-N1 and N1-P2 amplitudes and shorter P2 and N2 latencies than controls. The data provides evidence that a single ingestion of CH 3 Hg by pregnant rats is sufficient to produce long term alterations in CNS activity.
Percutaneous toxicity of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether in the rat

The subacute percutaneous toxicity of dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (DPM) in male rats dosed 5 days/week for 4 weeks under both occluded and unoccluded conditions has been assessed and compared to the percutaneous toxicity of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGM). DPM caused no significant changes in the clinical chemistry, haematology, or pathology, whereas EGM caused changes in the haematology and clinical chemistry, and both testicular and bone marrow damage at doses of 1000 mg/kg per day.
Stationarity and superlinear convergence of an algorithm for univariate locally lipschitz constrained minimization

This paper introduces an algorithm for minimizing a single-variable locally Lipschitz function subject to a like function being nonpositive. The method combines polyhedral and quadratic approximation, a new type of penalty technique and a safeguard in such a way as to give convergence to a stationary point. The convergence is shown to be superlinear under somewhat stronger assumptions that allow both nonsmooth and nonconvex cases. The algorithm can be an effective subroutine for solving line search subproblems called for by multivariable optimization algorithms.
What Children Find Humorous

Humor is necessary for release of tensions and cementing of relationships. This article should stimulate adults to increase their sensitivity as well as pique their curiosity as to why children laugh.
In What Sense of ‘Respect’ Should We Respect Nature? A Comment on David Schmidtz's ‘Respect for Everything’

A central contention of David Schmidtz's ‘Respect for everything’ (Schmidtz, 2011) is that species egalitarianism may be incompatible with respecting nature. Respecting nature is presumably an impo...
An analysis of FDIC failed bank auctions

Abstract This paper examines whether the sales mechanism used by the FDIC in failed bank auctions results in wealth transfers from the FDIC to the acquiring banks. We test this hypothesis by examining the returns to winning bidders in FDIC auctions. We find positive abnormal returns to these bidders. More importantly, we find a negative and significant relation between the returns to winning bidders and the number of bidders participating in the auction. This evidence suggests that the FDIC's auction procedures do generate wealth transfers.
Financial analysis of intensive pine plantation establishment

We analyzed the financial impacts of intensive loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation establishment in the southern United States using projected growth data. Optimized management yielded positive net present values (NPVs) at all combinations of management intensity and discount rate except for the most intensive management at the highest discount rate. Cost-share payments for site preparation improved the performance of higher intensity treatments relative to lower intensity treatments, and yielded positive NPVs in all combinations of management intensity and discount rate. Landowners can choose among a suite of management intensities covering a wide range of capital commitments. Monetary returns may be improved by additional management actions, and by taking advantage of additional cost-share programs and tax benefits.
Studying the communications potential of the enclosed-space radio channel

Wireless communications inside enclosed-space environments (e.g. aircraft wings and fuselage, automobile engine compartments, etc.) provides a unique opportunity for instrumentation systems native to these spaces to operate with improved reliability, flexibility and capabilities. However, since these enclosed environments are typically surrounded by reflective boundaries, the enclosed-space radio channel is extremely dispersive and offers a significant challenge to enclosed-space radio communications. Coherence bandwidth and RMS delay spread data is thus obtained and presented as a first step to understanding the communications potential of the enclosed-space radio channel. Despite the extremely dispersive nature of this channel, communications seem possible, and measurements begin to suggest a potentially successful scheme of communications in the enclosed-space channel.
Recognition of characteristic symbols in engineering drawings

An algorithm to recognize characteristic symbols in engineering drawings is presented. Characteristic symbols help in the classification of dimensioning text into one of the following four classes: linear, angular, diametric, and radial. Recognition of characteristic symbols is an important tool for the extraction of dimension-sets in a machine drawing understanding system. Text in drawings is used to provide dimensioning and tolerance information, and to describe part details such as material, finish, etc. A text/graphics separation algorithm followed by a post-processing step is used to separate potential dimensioning text from graphics. The characteristic symbol in each dimensioning text block is recognized by the algorithm described here. This algorithm includes extraction of end points and critical points for each character/symbol in the text block, and a rule-based recognition system based on simple heuristics. Experimental results are presented.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Changes in community size affect the outcome of competition.

Abstract: We examine the role of stochasticity and competitive ability in affecting competition between two species using models derived for population genetics. Just as changing population size affects the fixation of a new mutation, we show that changing the total number of competitors (i.e., community size) can alter the course of competitive exclusion across a wide range of initial starting densities of the two competing species. Shifts in competitive exclusion occur because changes in community size affect the relative importance of competitive ability and stochasticity in affecting the outcome of competition, potentially allowing inferior invaders to usurp superior residents. By shifting the role of stochasticity and competitive ability, any process that changes the total number of competitors in a habitat (e.g., disturbance, eutrophication, fragmentation, predation) may lead to shifts in competitive exclusion and the composition of communities.
Genotypic Characterization of Canine Coronaviruses Associated with Fatal Canine Neonatal Enteritis in the United States

Emerging canine coronavirus (CCoV) variants that are associated with systemic infections have been reported in the European Union; however, CCoV-associated disease in the United States is incompletely characterized. The purpose of this study was to correlate the clinicopathological findings and viral antigen distribution with the genotypic characteristics of CCoV in 11 puppies from nine premises in five states that were submitted for diagnostic investigation at Cornell University between 2008 and 2013. CCoV antigen was found in epithelial cells of small intestinal villi in all puppies and the colon in 2 of the 10 puppies where colon specimens were available. No evidence of systemic CCoV infection was found. Comparative sequence analyses of viral RNA extracted from intestinal tissues revealed CCoV-II genotype in 9 out of 11 puppies. Of the nine CCoV-IIs, five were subtyped as group IIa and one as IIb, while three CCoVs could not be subtyped. One of the CCoV-IIa variants was isolated in cell culture. Infection with CCoV alone was found in five puppies, of which two also had small intestinal intussusception. Concurrent infections with either parvovirus (n = 1), attaching-effacing Escherichia coli (n = 4), or protozoan parasites (n = 3) were found in the other six puppies. CCoV is an important differential diagnosis in outbreaks of severe enterocolitis among puppies between 4 days and 21 weeks of age that are housed at high population density. These findings will assist with the rapid laboratory diagnosis of enteritis in puppies and highlight the need for continued surveillance for CCoV variants and intestinal viral diseases of global significance.
Accounting for Surface Wave Distortion of the Marine Wind Profile in Low-Level Ocean Storms Wind Measurements

Abstract Marine wind measurements at three heights (3.0,4.5, and 5.0 m) from both moored and drifting buoys during the Ocean Storms Experiment are described. These winds are compared with each other, with winds from ships, from subsurface ambient acoustic noise, and from the analyses of three numerical weather prediction centers. In the mean, wind directions generally differ by only a small constant offset of a few degrees. No wave influence on the wind direction is evident, because the differences are not systematic and, with few exceptions, they are less than the expected error. After correcting for some apparent calibration and instrument bias, the Ocean Storms wind speeds display similar behavior when compared to the analyzed wind products. There is excellent agreement up to a transition wind speed between 7 and 10 m s−1, above which all the measured winds tend to be relatively low. The transition speed is found to increase with anemometer height, so this behavior is interpreted as being due to the di...
Atomic Level Imaging of Au Nanocluster Dispersed in TiO2 and SrTiO3

Abstract Au nanoclusters dispersed in single crystal TiO 2 and SrTiO 3 have been prepared by ion implantation at 300 and 975 K and subsequent annealing at 1275 K for 10 h. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and high angle annular-dark-field (HAADF) imaging in an aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) have been used to characterize the microstructure of the dispersed gold nanoclusters. The results indicate that Au atoms substitute for cations in these systems. Cavities of up to several tens of nanometers are observed in TiO 2 and SrTiO 3 . The nanometer-sized cavities and Au clusters are faceted along the same lattice plane of the matrix, indicating that the interfacial energy (defined by the Au cluster and the matrix) and the surface energy of the matrix (defined by the cavity and the matrix) follow a similar trend of change with respect to different lattice planes of the matrix.
Effect of particle and fluid properties on the pickup velocity of fine particles

Abstract Systems involving fluid–particle flows are a key component of many industrial processes, but they are not well-understood. One important parameter to consider when designing a conveying system is pickup velocity, the minimum fluid velocity required for particle entrainment. Many theoretical and experimental analyses have been performed to better understand pickup velocity, but there is little consistency with regard to system conditions, fluid properties, and particle characteristics, which makes comparisons between these studies very difficult. Although the proper design of many conveying systems requires the utilization of expressions that are applicable across a broad range of operating parameters, most expressions are system specific, which means that they are not extendable to other conditions. Also, there is currently an absence of a universal expression to predict particle entrainment in both gases and liquids. In this work, the pickup velocity of glass spheres, crushed glass, and stainless steel spheres in water has been measured for particles less than 450 μm. The effects of particle size, particle shape, and particle density are discussed and compared to the pickup velocity trends previously determined for similar gas-phase systems. In addition, the experimental data are used to assess an existing force balance model previously developed for gas-phase systems.
Beyond “Does it Pay to be Green?” A Meta-Analysis of Moderators of the CEP–CFP Relationship

Review of extant research on the corporate environmental performance (CEP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) link generally demonstrates a positive relationship. However, some arguments and empirical results have demonstrated otherwise. As a result, researchers have called for a contingency approach to this research stream, which moves beyond the basic question “does it pay to be green?” and instead asks “when does it pay to be green?” In answering this call, we provide a meta-analytic review of CEP–CFP literature in which we identify potential moderators to the CEP–CFP relationship including environmental performance type (e.g., reactive vs. proactive performance), firm characteristics (e.g., large vs. small firms), and methodological issues (e.g., self-report measures). By analyzing these contingencies, this study attempts to provide a basis on which to draw conclusions regarding some inconsistencies and debates in the CEP–CFP research. Some of the results of the moderator analysis suggest that small firms benefit from environmental performance as much or more than large firms, US firms seem to benefit more than international counterparts, and environmental performance seems to have the strongest influence on market-measures of financial performance.