cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of the urban heat island on thermal responses of freshwater fishes from unmanaged and managed systems

A lack of understanding exists regarding how freshwater species will respond to increases in temperature associated with ongoing changes in climate. Non-urban to urban thermal gradients generated by urban heat islands can serve as models to characterize the effects of relatively consistent increases in temperature on freshwater ecosystems over several decades. This study investigates the apparent responses of two freshwater fish species, Campostoma anomalum (Central Stoneroller) and Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill), to directional changes in temperature over the past century across the non-urban to urban gradient in the Saint Louis, Missouri region in the central United States. Differences in air temperature across this gradient have increased by approximately 3 °C since 1920. Critical thermal maximum (CTMax) assays were conducted on individuals from fish populations across this gradient from either streams (C. anomalum) or ponds (L. macrochirus) to assess whether thermal tolerance is associated with water temperature among sites. According to expectations based on the effect of an urban heat island, maximum water temperature at stream sites was positively correlated with percent urban landcover around the sites. Moreover, CTMax among populations of C. anomalum was positively correlated with maximum water temperature at each site, suggesting that this species has likely responded to increases in temperature over the past several decades. There was no relationship between percent urban landcover and maximum water temperature in the pond systems. There was also no relationship between CTMax and maximum water temperature among L. macrochirus populations. The pond systems and populations of L. macrochirus are highly managed, which may limit local physical and biological responses to increases in air temperature. Results suggest that freshwater habitats in urban environments and the species inhabiting these areas are responding differently to recent increases in air temperature, highlighting the complexity of the physical and biological components of these systems.
Very wide companion fraction from Gaia DR2: A weak or no enhancement for hot Jupiter hosts, and a strong enhancement for contact binaries

There is an ongoing debate on whether hot jupiter hosts are more likely to be found in wide binaries with separations of $\gtrsim 100$ AU. In this paper, we search for comoving, very wide companions with separations of $10^3-10^4$ AU for hot jupiter hosts and main-sequence contact binaries in Gaia DR2, and compare the very wide companion fractions with their object-by-object-matched field star samples. We find that $11.9\pm 2.5$% of hot jupiter hosts and $14.1\pm 1.0$% of contact binaries have companions at separations of $10^3-10^4$ AU. While the very wide companion fraction of hot jupiter hosts is a factor of $1.9\pm0.5$ larger than their matched field star sample, it is consistent, within $\sim1\sigma$, with that of matched field stars if the matching is only with field stars without close companions (within $\sim50$ AU) as is the case for hot jupiter hosts. The very wide companion fraction of contact binaries is a factor of $3.1\pm0.5$ larger than their matched field star sample, suggesting that the formation and evolution of contact binaries are either tied to or correlated with the presence of wide companions. In contrast, the weak enhancement of very wide companion fraction for hot jupiter hosts implies that the formation of hot jupiters is not as sensitive to those environment properties. Our results also hint that the occurrence rates of dual hot jupiter hosts and dual contact binaries may be higher than the expected values from random pairing of field stars, which may be due to their underlying metallicity and age dependence.
Development Implications of the Coir Industry in Kerala

This chapter examines the development implications of the coir industry on aspects of social reproduction of the working class. Following the introduction, the second section examines trends and patterns of employment and unemployment as an outcome of the development of productive forces in the coir industry. The third section looks at the form and types of wages in the industry and how the wage structure perpetrates forms of exploitation and oppression. The fourth section studies various indicators of social well-being—income, employment relations, physical well-being and gender-caste relations—and their uneven development across sectors of the industry, across space, and among gender and caste entities. The fifth section observes the role of working-class struggles in coir workers’ welfare and some recent contradictions. The chapter ends with a conclusion of the main findings.
Examining the Impact of and Sensitivity of Fit Indices to Omitting Covariates Interaction Effect in Multilevel Multiple-Indicator Multiple-Cause Models.

This study examined the impact of omitting covariates interaction effect on parameter estimates in multilevel multiple-indicator multiple-cause models as well as the sensitivity of fit indices to m...
Association of Emergency Department Waiting Times With Patient Experience in Admitted and Discharged Patients.

Prolonged waiting times are associated with worse patient experience in patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). However, it is unclear which component of the waiting times is most i...
Skeletal muscle fibers count on nuclear numbers for growth

Skeletal muscle cells are noteworthy for their syncytial nature, with each myofiber accumulating hundreds or thousands of nuclei derived from resident muscle stem cells (MuSCs). These nuclei are accrued through cell fusion, which is controlled by the two essential fusogens Myomaker and Myomerger that are transiently expressed within the myogenic lineage. While the absolute requirement of fusion for muscle development has been known for decades, the underlying need for the magnitude of multinucleation in muscle remains mysterious. Possible advantages of multinucleation include the potential it affords for transcriptional diversity within these massive cells, and as a means of increasing DNA content to support optimal cell size and function. In this article, we review recent advances that elucidate the relationship between myonuclear numbers and establishment of myofiber size, and discuss how this new information refines our understanding of the concept of myonuclear domains (MND), the cytoplasmic volumes that each resident myonucleus can support. Finally, we explore the potential consequences and costs of multinucleation and its impacts on myonuclear transcriptional reserve capacity, growth potential, myofiber size regulation, and muscle adaptability. We anticipate this report will not only serve to highlight the latest advances in the basic biology of syncytial muscle cells but also provide information to help design the next generation of therapeutic strategies to maintain muscle mass and function.
Precarity in Later Life

Rising inequalities in later life introduce challenges in achieving social justice and equity. With global aging, it is important for gerontological social workers to identify the sources of insecu...
ONLINE SERVICE IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: FEE OR FREE?

Online searching of bibliographic databases has become on essential adjunct to reference service in academic libraries. The question of financing this service is explored, focusing on factors of costs user fees. The philosophy expressed is that online searching should have dual support-the library budget and the user fee. Experience with this service at New York University is described.
Rapid automatic analysis of sugar components in glycoproteins. I. Hexosamines.

Abstract A rapid method is described for the automatic determination of hexosamines in glycoproteins. Hexosamines are separated by cation-exchange chromatography and automatically determined by a neocuproine reducing sugar method. The method is highly reproducible and as little as 1 μg of glucosamine can be measured accurately.
Folk and Fairy Tales, Fourth Edition

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2008 Pages: 450 Details: 4th edition Publisher: Broadview Press ISBN: 9781551118987 (soft cover).
Proof for Water, Hints of Life?

Since 25 January of this year, NASA9s Opportunity rover has been exploring Mars9 Meridiani Planum, a smooth, flat plain that is unlike any feature studied by earlier martian landers. In his Perspective, Kargel discusses the insights into martian geochemistry and geology gained from the rover that are reported in 11 reports and research articles in this issue of Science . Together with observations from spacecraft that are currently orbiting the planet, the data provide an unprecedented glimpse into how water shaped the martian surface. The author cautions that Mars may never have been very Earth-like and that we must, until we learn otherwise, assume that life exists on Mars, in order to protect Earth and any species that might be present on Mars.
Detraditionalisation, gender and alternative and complementary medicines.

Abstract This article is premised on the importance of locating the appeal and meaning of alternative and complementary medicines in the context of gendered identities. I argue that the discourse of wellbeing � captured in many alternative and complementary health practices � is congruent with culturally prevalent ideals of self-fulfilling, authentic, unique and self-responsible subjectivity. The discourse of wellbeing places the self at the centre, thus providing a contrast with traditional ideas of other-directed and caring femininity. As such, involvement in alternative and complementary medicines is entwined with a negotiation of shifting femininities in detraditionalising societies. Simultaneously, many alternative and complementary health practices readily tap into and reproduce traditional representations of caring femininity. It is through an emphasis on emotional honesty and intimacy that the discourse of wellbeing also captures a challenge to traditional ideas of masculinity. Expectations and experiences relating to gender add a further level of complexity to the meaningfulness and therapeutic value of alternative and complementary medicines and underlie the gender difference in the utilisation of holistic health practices. I draw on data from a qualitative study with 44, primarily white, middle-class users and practitioners of varied alternative and complementary medicines in the UK.
Strongly coupled field

We investigate explicitly the large-coupling limit of the renormalizable interactions of particles of spin 1/2 and spin 0. This is done with a previously formulated theory of strong coupling. The principal result of the investigation is the complete decoupling of spin-1/2 particles from those of spin 0 in the large-coupling regime. The applications of our findings to semi-classical models of quark confinement and to Bjorken scaling are discussed, briefly.
Survivability and Traffic Grooming in WDM Optical Networks

The advent of fiber optic transmission systems and wavelength division multiplexing has led to a dramatic increase in the usable bandwidth of single fiber systems. This book provides detailed coverage of survivability (dealing with the risk of losing large volumes of traffic data due to a failure of a node or a single fiber span) and traffic grooming (managing the increased complexity of smaller user requests over high capacity data pipes), both of which are key issues in modern optical networks.
Incorporating an Instructional Scaffolding Approach into the Classroom: Teaching for Authentic Learning in Hospitality and Tourism Education

Literature regarding the effectiveness of various practices for nurturing student learning typically focuses on the different outcomes of passive versus active approaches and suggests that active teaching, including exposing students to real-world learning experiences, facilitates a richer and more authentic understanding. Limited investigation of the impacts of instructional scaffolding—implementing a progression of methods that supplements passive procedures with active learning initiatives—has been undertaken in hospitality and tourism education. This study measures learning among 59 students enrolled in an introductory hospitality and tourism course after they were exposed to passive, situated, and authentic instruction in an effort to determine the degree of understanding at each stage. Our findings revealed that incorporating real-world learning opportunities through situated and authentic teaching strategies helps students build upon theoretical knowledge gained passively to reach praxis.
A balancing domain decomposition by constraints preconditioner for a weakly over‐penalized symmetric interior penalty method

SUMMARY We develop a balancing domain decomposition by constraints preconditioner for a weakly over-penalized symmetric interior penalty method for second-order elliptic problems. We show that the condition number of the preconditioned system satisfies similar estimates as those for conforming finite element methods. Corroborating numerical results are also presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zebrafish Models of Retinal Disease

Visual defects affect a large proportion of humanity, have a significant negative impact on quality of life, and cause significant economic burden. The wide variety of visual disorders and the large number of gene mutations responsible require a flexible animal model system to carry out research for possible causes and cures for the blinding conditions. With eyes similar to humans in structure and function, zebrafish are an important vertebrate model organism that is being used to study genetic and environmental eye diseases, including myopia, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, ciliopathies, albinism, and diabetes. This review details the use of zebrafish in modeling human ocular diseases.
Electron cyclotron resonance in cubic SiC

Abstract Electron cyclotron resonance has been studied in films of β-SiC grown on Si(100) surfaces previously reacted with carbon. The effective mass values m ∗ t = (0.247 ± 0.011)m 0 , m ∗ l = (0.677 ± 0.015)m 0 were determined. Resonance line width in the range 40–100 K followed a T - 3 2 dependence, consistent with scattering by intraband acoustic phonons, and yielded the deformation potential Ξ = 22 eV. The extrapolated mobility at 300 K was 670 cm2/V-s.
Short and long term toxicity to 6-mercaptopurine in the treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: an update

Short and long term toxicity to 6-mercaptopurine in the treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: an update
Assessing Readiness for E-Learning

ABSTRACT Today, e-learning is a common delivery media for education and training within many organizations. Yet, while both the supply and demand for e-learning opportunities has risen in recent years, many professionals are beginning to question whether e-learn-ers are prepared to be successful in an online learning environment (e.g., Gug-lielmino & Guglielmino, 2003; Watkins & Corry, 2005). After all, a learner's demonstrated success in a conventional education and training classroom may not be an adequate predictor of success in an e-learning classroom. One way of gauging a potential online learner's readiness is through self-assessment. As a first step in defining an instrument that measures an e-learner's readiness, with the cooperation of volunteer participants from the U.S. Coast Guard, this study looked into the validity and internal consistency of items within a self-assessment of e-learning readiness that is under development, and provided data for the continuing development and revision of the instrument. Having demonstrated evidence of internal consistency and construct validity, the self-assessment now provides a tool for continuing research into the prediction of e-learning performance. Funding for this study was provided by the International Society for Performance Improvement.
Triflamides: new acylating and triflating reagents

Durch Behandlung mit Trifluormethansulfonsaureanhydrid (I) erhalt man aus den mit z.B. NaH hergestellten Amid-Anionen wie (II) die Acylierungsmittel (III), die bestandig sind und mit nucleophilen Reagentien (IV) zu den Acylverbindungen (V) umgesetzt werden.
Fluid flow over a nonlinearly stretching sheet

Numerical solutions are obtained for a class of nonlinear third order differential equations arising in fluid flows over a nonlinearly stretching sheet, using a similarity transformation which is different from that of the linearly stretching sheet problem. Furthermore, using the Schauder theory, existence of a solution of the third order differential equation over a large but finite interval is established. Moreover, the analytical solutions are obtained and are compared with the corresponding numerical solutions. The results obtained for the flow characteristics reveal many interesting behaviors that warrant further study of the effects of nonlinear stretching on the flow characteristics.
Response of a quartz crystal aerosol mass monitor to sulfate and nitrate aerosols

Abstract Response of two commercial quartz crystal aerosol mass monitor (TSI Model 3200A and 3500) to several sulfate and nitrate aerosols has been examined in terms of linerity, mass sensitivity and hygroscopicity. For all the aerosols tested, the mass monitor responded linearly (± 15% variation) to mass loadings on the sensing crystal up to an accumulated frequency change of 1000 Hz in Model 3200A and 4000 Hz in Model 3500. Within this linearity limit, the mass sensitivity tended to increase gradually with increase of mass loading. The mass sensitivity coefficient (S) of the monitor varied from 135 to 219 Hz/μg with 0.5 μm MMAD (GSD = 1.5) aerosols, depending upon the kind of aerosols and was 10–26% higher with 1.2 μm MMAD aerosols. The monitors responded sensitively and correctly to hygroscopic nature of the aerosols tested. showing sharp increases of frequency change at known deliquescent points of the aerosols.
Legislating soil reconstruction on surface-mined land in the United States

The author, who participated with an interdepartmental team in advising the US Congress in writing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, outlines the often conflicting requirements which determined the genesis of the Act. The paper also discusses the criteria for judging the effectiveness of restoring soil productivity and the emphasis on the restoration of prime farmland. It also notes that the nature of the balance between environmental protection, farmland productivity and the needs of coal are still uncertain and that there is a contradiction in US attempts to alleviate hunger while national soil resources are being destroyed.
Fossil Records in the Lythraceae

The Lythraceae (Myrtales) are a family of 28 genera and ca. 600 species constituting with the Combretaceae and sister family Onagraceae a major lineage of the Myrtales and including the former Sonneratiaceae, Duabangaceae, Punicaceae, and Trapaceae. The fossil record of the family is extensive and significant new discoveries have been added to the record in recent years. This review provides a vetted summary of fossils attributed to the Lythraceae, their geographic distributions, and their stratigraphic ranges. It anticipates the use of the information to generate robustly dated molecular phylogenies to accurately reconstruct the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the family. Fossils of 44 genera or form genera have been attributed to the Lythraceae; 24 are accepted here as lythracean. Fourteen of the 28 modern genera have fossil representatives: Adenaria, Crenea, Cuphea, Decodon, Duabanga, Lafoensia, Lagerstroemia, Lawsonia, Lythrum, Pemphis, Punica, Sonneratia, Trapa, and Woodfordia. Ten extinct genera are recognized. The most common kinds of fossil remains are seeds and pollen. The only fossil flower confidently accepted in the family is the extinct genus Sahnianthus from the Early Paleocene of India. The oldest confirmed evidence of the Lythraceae is pollen of Lythrum/Peplis from the Late Cretaceous (early Campanian, 82−81 Ma) of Wyoming. Seeds of Decodon from the late Campanian (73.5 Ma) of northern Mexico are next oldest. Sonneratia, Lagerstroemia, and extinct Sahnianthus first appear in the Paleocene of the Indian subcontinent; extinct Hemitrapa fruits first occur in the Paleocene of northwestern North America. Diversification of the Lythraceae occurred primarily during two major periods of global temperature change, during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and from the middle Miocene forward when temperatures decreased markedly and seasonality and dry-adapted vegetation types became more prominent. Fossils of the Lythraceae from South America and Africa are limited in number. The few dates available for South American genera are comparatively young and diversification of the largest genus, Cuphea (ca. 240 species), was mainly a Quaternary event. A phylogeny of the family is briefly explored and examples of specialized characters occurring in the oldest known genera are noted. The fossil record of the Lythraceae is presently too fragmentary to confidently reconstruct the early history of the family. The record indicates, however, that the family was well-diversified and widely dispersed globally over a wide latitudinal range by the end of the Paleocene.
Aerobic microbial degradation of chloroform: Construction of an immobilized enzyme electrode for chloroform assay

Abstract Pseudomonas putida has been induced in subsequent culture growth to degrade chloroform as a secondary substrate. Both the growth and the chloroform biodegradation were monitored by the simple but accurate chloride ion selective electrochemical (ISE) method. The enzyme fraction responsible for the degradation was partially purified and then immobilized in conjunction with the chloride electrode. It was used for the assay of chloroform in the 1–50 part per thousand concentration range. The performance of the enzyme electrode was evaluated by comparing the results with those obtained by the dithizone method for the chloride ion produced.
Lorenz, Lorentz, and the gauge

Briefly discusses work by L. Lorentz and H.A. Lorentz together with the concept of the Coulomb gauge.
Equivalent Fractions: Their Difficulty and Educational Implications.

Abstract Fifth and sixth graders ( n =120) were individually interviewed to find out whether they compared parts of rectangles by reasoning that 3 4 = 6 8 , for example, or by making perceptual judgments. Two identical rectangles were folded and cut differently in front of the child. One was folded horizontally into 4 parts, and 1 4 was cut off. The other rectangle was folded vertically into 8 parts and cut into 8 strips. The question posed was: If the paper were chocolate, how many of the 8 strips (eighths) would make the same amount of chocolate as 3 4 ? The children approached the task perceptually instead of making use of equivalent fractions, which they had studied in school. The findings are explained in light of Piaget's theory, and the pedagogical implications are discussed.
Effects of gene transfer into cultured CNS neurons with a replication-defective herpes simplex virus type 1 vector

Abstract Vectors derived from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) may provide useful tools for gene transfer to cells of the mammalian nervous system. We have studied the infection of cultured CNS neurons using a vector derived from an HSV-1 mutant deleted for the major HSV-1 transcriptional regulatory protein-encoding gene, IE 3. This vector, denoted Cgal/13, contains the E, coli lacZ gene driven by the strong promotor of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early gene inserted into a non-coding portion of the mutant viral genome. We studied the efficiency of Cgal/13 infection of rat CNS neurons at various times after cell preparation from embryonic rats, the effect of vector infection on the glia subpopulation of the neuronal cultures, and the stability of lacZ expression in infected neurons cultured under conditions optimized for neuronal differentiation and survival using an astrocyte feeder layer. Under these conditions, an HSV-derived vector is a highly efficient vehicle in vitro for short-term gene transfer to cells of the CNS. Despite the fact that this vector cannot undergo a lytic cycle, it was toxic to cultured CNS neurons and glia. Even with the use of an astrocyte feeder layer to support infected neurons, we have detected only transient expresssion of the lacZ gene, due either to loss of the infected cells and/or to shut off of transgene expression. Further improvements will be needed in the design of HSV vectors to allow long-term gene transfer to cultured neurons.
Observation of Spherical Focus in an Electron Penning Trap

We produce simultaneously dense and well-confined nonneutral plasmas by spherical focusing. A small (3mm radius) Penning trap has low-energy electrons injected at a single pole of the sphere. Precisely when the trap parameters are adjusted to produce a spherical well, the system self-organizes into a spherical state through a bootstrapping mechanism which produces a hysteresis. Additional confirmation of the dense spherical focus is provided by electrons scattered by the central core. Core densities up to 35 times the Brillouin density have been inferred from the data. {copyright} {ital 1996} {ital The American Physical Society}
Female semantic web researchers: does collaboration with male researchers influence their network status?

The movement to increase gender diversity in computing and computer science is a well-funded and well researched mission. However, despite this, female representation within the field tends to lag behind that of other disciplines within the academy, both among students and faculty. This study sets out to correlate bibliometric and network measures to identify successful and influential women in the computer science subdomain of semantic web research and identify the impact of their collaboration with both men and other women as part of the their success.
Actor and observer perceptions of the learning of a task

The hypothesis that observers would attribute more generality to an observed sample of behavior than would actors was tested in four related experiments. The context involved learning the manual alphabet for the deaf. Actors were given a short learning period, a test, and feedback veridical with their actual performance. Observers watched the actor learn, via a one-way mirror. Procedural variations included the use of a confederate as the actor (learner), a design in which pairs of subjects were randomly assigned the observer and actor roles, and a replication in which the visual orientation of observers was shifted from the learner to the task. Dependent variables included judgments of the generality of the observed performance, predictions of the learner's score on a second alphabet test, and items referring to the learner and task. The results were strongly consistent with the hypothesis that observers attribute more generality to the acts of others than do actors themselves. Certain consistent divergences in the intercorrelations among judgments of actors and observers were noted, suggesting another facet of the actor-observer difference in perspective. There was only partial support for interaction effects related to the hypothesis that actors and observers would differ in the extent to which their inferences of ability and task difficulty would be in correspondence with performance feedback.
The reactions of combined organocuprate-chlorotrimethylsilane reagents with conjugated carbonyl compounds

Abstract Organocuprates and chlorotrimethylsilane are compatible as separate species in THF or ether solution at −50 to −78°, and in combination can both accelerate and improve 1,4-addition reactions with conjugated carbonyl compounds.
Noncontingent access to preferred sensory stimuli as a treatment for automatically reinforced stereotypy

Researchers have previously suggested that interventions designed to decrease stereotypic behavior are most effective when they include access to stimuli that are matched to the specific sensory consequences hypothesized to maintain the stereotypy. In an attempt to replicate this finding, we used stimulus preference assessments and a reversal design to evaluate the effectiveness of noncontingent access to highly preferred stimuli that were matched to the specific sensory consequences hypothesized to be maintaining the stereotypic behavior of an individual with developmental disabilities. The participant was also given noncontingent access to a highly preferred edible stimulus as a control condition. Results indicated that noncontingent access to a matched sensory stimulus produced consistent decreases in aberrant behavior while access to a highly preferred edible stimulus did not. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strengthening effect of unshearable particles of finite size: a computer experimental study

Equilibrium configurations of a dislocation interacting with randomly distributed unshearable obstacles of finite size under an applied stress are analyzed. Ashby's critical dipole spacing Q′ argument for the self-stress effect of dislocations is utilized but analysis suggests that the spacing Q′ varies with the local obstacle distribution as well as with the obstacle shape. Computer simulations of a dislocation slip process through circular or linear obstacles, that are extensions of earlier work by Forman et al., were conducted. The dependence of the strengthening stress on the obstacle size was found to be less than that predicted by equations currently in use, particularly for linear obstacles. New, modified Orowan equations are suggested for the strengthening effects due to spherical, rod-like, and plate-like obstacles. The effect of the orientation distribution of the linear obstacles demonstrated in the simulation is in agreement with recent experimental observations.
Fluoride and calcification of rat aorta.

The relation between fluoride and calcification of the aorta has been studied in two systems: the intact rat and anin vitro preparation of the thoracic aorta incubated in serum. Vitamin D3 produced a ten-fold increment in calcium concentration and a twelve-fold increase in phosphate levels of the dry aorta. Fluoride did not affect the deposition of calcium, but significantly blocked the increase in phosphorus in the aorta of the vitamin D3-treated animals. In control rats, fluoride did not affect the incorporation of either calcium or phosphorus. The concentration of fluoride in the aortas of rats receiving only corn oil by intubation was not affected by long term exposure to drinking water containing 50 ppm F. Vitamin D3 produced a nine-fold increase in fluoride concentration in the aorta of the rats receiving fluoride in the drinking water when compared to the vitamin D3 rats receiving distilled water. It appears that long-term exposure to fluoride in the drinking water neither initiates calcification in the aorta nor potentiates calcification induced by vitamin D3. Von Kossa stain showed pronounced calcification of the aortas in rats receiving vitamin D3 but none was seen in the rats receiving distilled water alone. Resorcin-fuchsin-methyl green stain for elastic fibers showed destruction in regions of calcification in rats receiving vitamin D3 but not in those receiving fluoride alone. Fluoride did not appear to alter the histological picture seen in the aortas of rats receiving vitamin D3. In thein vitro model, rat thoracic aortas were incubated for 24 hours in rat serum containing45Ca and 0.14, 0.56 and 1.12 ppm F. Fluoride at all levels significantly inhibited45Ca uptake.
Sr isotope evolution of seawater: the role of tectonics

We use a high-resolution seawater Sr isotopic evolution curve for the last 100 m.y. in conjunction with modern riverine Sr flux measurements, and also geologic, tectonic and geochronological data, to make the case for a close relationship between seawater Sr isotopic composition and the India Asia continental collision. Using a simple seawater Sr budget model we begin by showing that the Sr flux associated with alteration of seafloor basalts is too small and does not have the right time evolution to account for much of the seawater Sr isotopic curve of the last 100 m.y. The flux of dissolved Sr carried by rivers originating in the Himalaya-Tibet region on the other hand is presently a significant fraction of the global Sr budget. We calculate how this riverine flux would have had to change with time in order to match the observed seawater Sr isotopic curve and find that the riverine flux remains relatively constant prior to the collision of India with Asia but then increases very significantly after collision. We note that the period of most rapid change in seawater Sr isotopic ratio, from 20 Ma to 15 Ma, is also a period of exceptionally high erosion in parts of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. As further evidence that Sr derived from the collision of India with Asia plays a major role in the Sr isotopic evolution of seawater we show that the total amount erosion of the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau since collision, which we calculate separately, represents a total amount of Sr that is very nearly the same as the cumulative amount required by the Sr isotopic change of seawater since collision. The relationship between erosion and riverine Sr flux allows us to use the Sr isotopic evolution of seawater to reconstruct a history of erosion since collision, and we find that the erosion rate accelerates with time since collision, with the present having the largest rate. When we apply the Sr budget model to the entire Phanerozoic using a new compilation of deformed continental area versus time we find that we can account for the large-scale structure of the seawater Sr isotopic curve, but fail to reproduce several local maxima and minima, especially in the period 100-300 Ma. The present high S7Sr/S6Sr of seawater and similar highs in the Devonian and Cambrian do correlate with extensive deformation on the continents.
Efimov trimer formation via ultracold four-body recombination.

We discuss the collisional formation of Efimov trimers via ultracold four-body recombination. In particular, we consider the reaction $A+A+A+B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{A}_{3}+B$ with $A$ and $B$ ultracold atoms. We obtain expressions for the four-body recombination rate up to an overall constant and show that it reflects the three-body Efimov physics either as a function of collision energy or as a function of the two-body $s$-wave scattering length between $A$ atoms. In addition, we briefly discuss issues important for experimentally observing this interesting and unexplored process.
Inverted-U Profile of Dopamine–NMDA-Mediated Spontaneous Avalanche Recurrence in Superficial Layers of Rat Prefrontal Cortex

Prefrontal cortex (PFC) functions, such as working memory, attention selection, and memory retrieval, depend critically on dopamine and NMDA receptor activation by way of an inverted-U-shaped pharmacological profile. Although single neuron responses in the PFC have shown some aspects of this profile, a network dynamic that follows the dopamine–NMDA dependence has not been identified. We studied neuronal network activity in acute medial PFC slices of adult rats by recording local field potentials (LFPs) with microelectrode arrays. Bath application of dopamine or the dopamine D 1 agonist SKF38393 [(+/−)-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-(1 H )-3-benzazepine-7,8-diol hydrochloride] in combination with NMDA induced spontaneous LFPs predominantly in superficial cortex layers. The LFPs at single electrodes were characterized by sharp negative peaks that were clustered in time across electrodes revealing diverse spatiotemporal patterns on the array. The pattern formation required fast GABAergic transmission, coactivation of the dopamine D 1 and NMDA receptor, and depended in an inverted-U profile on dopamine. At moderate concentrations of dopamine or the dopamine D 1 agonist, the pattern size distribution formed a power law with exponent α = −1.5, indicating that patterns are organized in the form of neuronal avalanches, thereby maximizing spatial correlations in the network. At lower or higher concentrations, α was more negative than −1.5, indicating reduced spatial correlations. Likewise, at moderate dopamine concentrations, the avalanche rate and recurrence of specific avalanches was maximal with recurrence frequencies after a “power law”-like heavy-tail distribution with a slope of −2.4. We suggest that the dopamine–NMDA-dependent spontaneous recurrence of specific avalanches in superficial cortical layers might facilitate integrative and associative aspects of PFC functions.
Path to clinical transplantation tolerance and prevention of graft-versus-host disease

Although organ and bone marrow transplantations are life-saving procedures for patients with terminal diseases, the requirement for the lifelong use of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ graft rejection and the development of graft versus host disease (GVHD) remain important problems. Experimental approaches to solve these problems, first in preclinical models and then in clinical studies, developed at Stanford during the past 40 years are summarized in this article. The approaches use fractionated radiation of the lymphoid tissues, a procedure initially developed to treat Hodgkin’s disease, to alter the immune system such that tolerance to organ transplants can be achieved and GVHD can be prevented after the establishment of chimerism. In both instances, the desired goal was achieved when the balance of immune cells was changed to favor regulatory innate and adaptive immune cells that suppress the conventional immune cells that ordinarily promote inflammation and tissue injury.
The Relationships of Meeting Planners' Profiles with Usage and Attitudes Toward the Use of Technology

Abstract This study had four objectives: to obtain a personal and professional profile of meeting planners and their computer/Internet usage; to determine meeting planners' attitudes toward computer/Internet technologies; to analyze the relationships of meeting planner personal and professional profiles and the computer/Internet usage on attitudes toward computer/Internet technologies; and to determine if there was a relationship between professional certifications and meeting planners' attitudes. A mailed survey was sent to a sample of members of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and 616 completed questionnaires were received. In the data analysis, the independent variables were divided into the three sets of profiles: socio-demographic, professional, and computer/Internet usage. It was found that meeting planners in the U.S. are mostly young (30 to 44 years old) females in corporate planning who earn between $45,000 and $49,999. They have been working in their positions from 3 to 5 years, plan m...
A probabilistic model of asset growth for an investment portfolio

In this paper, a probabilistic model for the growth of assets for an investment portfolio is constructed. We also examine the asymptotic behavior of the concentration of wealth in a group of investors as time increases.
Activation analysis utilizing byproduct neutrons of cyclotron internal target runs

Abstract The neutron flux generated by the CS-30 cyclotron at Mt Sinai Medical Center during routine internal target runs was characterized by employing various elements as neutron monitors. The characteristic (p, xn) nuclear reactions from internal targets bombarded by 26.5 MeV protons and the cyclotron inner wall bombarded by stray protons produce a neutron flux of approximately 2 × 109cm−2 s−1 at energies up to 22 MeV at a point immediately outside the cyclotron vacuum chamber. Samples exposed to neutron fluences up to 5 × 1014 cm−2 were analyzed with a Ge(Li) detector. Although the detection limits are relatively high (i.e., Au−0.2 μg; In−1 μg; Na−50 μg), this mode of neutron activation analysis is ancillary to other irradiations and allows a large number of samples to be monitored. This approach may provide an alternative to a neutron generator for research activation applications.
Serum Thyrotropin and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Elderly and Middle‐Aged Euthyroid Persons

Objective: To determine whether serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels are altered in euthyroid older persons compared with middle-aged adults. Design: Serum TSH and thyroid hormone levels were measured in a large group of older persons (>70 years old, n = 216) and their middle-aged offspring (40–60 years old, n = 211) after excluding those with clinical or historical evidence of thyroid disease or abnormal thyroid function. Measurements: Serum TSH, thyroxine (T4), free T4 index, estimated free T4, triiodothyronine (T3), estimated free T3, and ferritin levels were measured on the Abbott IMx instrument. Peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies were measured by radioimmunoassay using Kronus kits. Main Results: Overall, serum TSH showed a log-normal distribution. The geometric mean TSH (mU/L) and 95% confidence limits in the older persons, 1.24 (0.29–5.4), did not differ significantly from that in the middle-aged, 1.45 (0.54–3.9). The mean TSH in the 264 women, 1.37 (0.34–5.5), was similar to that of the 163 men, 1.30 (0.48–3.5). The mean TSH in older women, 1.21 (0.22–6.6), was slightly but significantly lower than that in middle-aged women, 1.52 (0.55–4.2). However, when euthyroid women with positive antibodies were excluded, this difference was not significant. Four of the 123 older women had TSH 10 U/mL in 14.6% of older women, 15.6% of middle-aged women, 4.3% of older men, and no middle-aged men. When those with milder elevations of antibody levels were included (at least one level >1 U/mL), the prevalence was 32% of older women, 43.3% of middle-aged women, 15% of older men, and 11.4% of middle-aged men. Conclusions: Euthyroid older persons have about the same levels of serum TSH as younger ones, although older euthyroid women have a slightly lower serum TSH than middle-aged women. We recommend that the normal range of serum TSH in the elderly be considered to be the same as that in healthy middle-aged subjects.
Wind Turbine Flow Field Model

Of three simplifying assumptions which were investigated for modeling solar collectors, the assumption of perfect receiver/fluid coupling was found to be the most critical. Under typical operating conditions with a step change in insolation, the maximum instantaneous difference in outlet temperature between models which did and did not include film effects was over 2/sup 0/C. This was true for both flat-plates and trough concentrators. Steady state cover coupling and linear temperature gradient assumptions were both found to be minor effects. Each accounted for less than 0.5/sup 0/C error in outlet temperature. Including film and gradient correction factors as is used with zero capacitance models does not sufficiently correct for transient film and gradient effects. On a one-node model, the correction factors reduced the transient outlet temperature errors, which were as large as 2/sup 0/C-3/sup 0/C, by only 0.1/sup 0/C-0.2/sup 0/C.
Atomic electron binding energies of multiply charged krypton ions by internal-conversion-electron spectroscopy.

We determined electron binding energies from multiply charged Kr ions from internal-conversion-electron spectra for the 9.4-keV transition in {sup 83}Kr{sup {ital m}}. Because our radioactive source is a low-density gas, we can observe the electrons from ionic states produced by the vacancy cascade of the preceding highly converted transition. We report binding-energy shifts for the 2{ital s}, 3{ital s}, and 4{ital s} orbitals in the configuration of the atomic ground state. For charge state 7{sup +}, i.e., for Ni-like Kr and higher, we also observe the shifts from metastable states.
Electric field induced permeability modulation in pure and mixed Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of hemicyanine dyes and octadecanoic acid on nanoporous solid supports

Abstract Composite structures have been prepared, in which nanoporous (nuclear track-etched) membranes are coated with supported Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) barrier layers. Permeability in these structures is a strong function of membrane composition and applied dc and ac electric fields. Absolute permeabilities fall in the range 3×10−11 cm2 s−1 ≤P≤3×10−9 cm2 s−1, depending on composition of the barrier layer, identity (charge state) of the probe, and presence of a supporting electrolyte. Zero-field permeabilities showed a definite dependence on composition, with membranes possessing barrier layers on both sides performing better than single-sided membranes, barrier layers with LB multilayers performing better than those with just the support layer, and LB layers composed of mixed stilbazolium amphiphiles and octadecanoic acid performing better than those composed purely of stilbazolium amphiphile. All types of barrier layers studied exhibit permeability changes in the presence of applied electric fields. The magnitude of the effect is a strong function of composition of the barrier layer and the presence of supporting electrolyte. The results support electroporation over iontophoresis as the dominant mechanism for field-mediated increases in permeability. Details of the field-induced permeability changes in phosphate buffer and deionized water suggest that at least two effects are important in determining the transport behavior in these structures: a field-induced structural change in the barrier layer which mediates the electroporation and a field-mediated alteration in transport through nanopores of the nuclear track-etched membrane.
Detailed Results for Nitric Oxide Emissions as Determined From a Multiple-Zone Cycle Simulation for a Spark-Ignition Engine

A thermodynamic cycle simulation was developed for spark-ignition engines which included a formulation using multiple zones for the combustion process and the capability to compute the net nitric oxide (NO) change due to the “thermal” formation mechanism. This simulation was used to complete analyses for a commercial, 5.7 l spark-ignition V-8 engine operating at a part load operating condition at 1400 rpm with an equivalence ratio of 1.0. The engine possessed a compression ratio of 8.1:1, and had a bore and stroke of 101.6 and 88.4 mm, respectively. At the base case conditions, the nitric oxide emissions were 15.7 g/bhp-hr (2903 ppm). The effects of equivalence ratio, combustion duration, spark timing, exhaust gas recirculation, compression ratio, speed and load on nitric oxide changes were examined. Results for instantaneous nitric oxide as a function of crank angle are presented. The use of an adiabatic zone was shown to dramatically increase the nitric oxide levels relative to using the burned gas temperature. For the base case, almost 50% more nitric oxide was computed using the adiabatic temperature relative to the burned gas temperature. The importance of gas temperature, cylinder gas pressure, and composition is illustrated.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The Kyoto Protocol: provisions and unresolved issues relevant to land-use change and forestry

Abstract This paper describes the relevant text of the Kyoto Protocol and its implications for land-use change and forestry (LUCF) activities and addresses some of the technical issues that merit further consideration and clarification before the treaty comes into force. Although the phrasing of the Protocol is sometimes ambiguous and the opportunities limited, the Protocol does provide for some selected forest-related activities to be used to meet national commitments for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. To implement the forest-related portions of the Protocol, most importantly: (1) a clear definition for the word `reforestation' is required, (2) contradictory wording in Article 3.3 needs to be clarified to establish how credits are to be measured, (3) further thought should be given to the sentence in Article 3.7 which provides that countries with a net carbon sink in LUCF in 1990 cannot include emissions from land-use change in their 1990 baseline, whereas countries with a net carbon source in LUCF can include those emissions in their 1990 baseline, (4) the rules and baseline issues for joint implementation and the clean development mechanism need to be clarified and (5) inclusion of additional forest management activities needs to be considered.