cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theoretical basis for operational ensemble forecasting of coronal mass ejections

We lay out the theoretical underpinnings for the application of the Wang-Sheeley-Arge-Enlil modeling system to ensemble forecasting of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in an operational environment. In such models, there is no magnetic cloud component, so our results pertain only to CME front properties, such as transit time to Earth. Within this framework, we find no evidence that the propagation is chaotic, and therefore, CME forecasting calls for different tactics than employed for terrestrial weather or hurricane forecasting. We explore a broad range of CME cone inputs and ambient states to flesh out differing CME evolutionary behavior in the various dynamical domains (e.g., large, fast CMEs launched into a slow ambient, and the converse; plus numerous permutations in between). CME propagation in both uniform and highly structured ambient flows is considered to assess how much the solar wind background affects the CME front properties at 1 AU. Graphical and analytic tools pertinent to an ensemble approach are developed to enable uncertainties in forecasting CME impact at Earth to be realistically estimated. We discuss how uncertainties in CME pointing relative to the Sun-Earth line affects the reliability of a forecast and how glancing blows become an issue for CME off-points greater than about the half width of the estimated input CME. While the basic results appear consistent with established impressions of CME behavior, the next step is to use existing records of well-observed CMEs at both Sun and Earth to verify that real events appear to follow the systematic tendencies presented in this study.
New Trends in Rewards Allocation Preferences: A Sino-U.S. Comparison

This study explored situations in which current organizational goal priorities require rewards allocation logics that contradict traditional distributive norms and the natural characteristics of re...
Semi-randomly constructed optical orthogonal codes

Abstract Optical orthogonal code (OOC) sequences are assigned to optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA) network users, who are able to transmit data asynchronously. In this work, we propose a semi-random OOC design technique based on extended sets, where the input parameters are the sequence weight, number of sequences (i.e., users), and a target sequence length. The design method under consideration is able to converge to the desired short OOC lengths given the number of iterations during the execution of the algorithm is sufficiently large.
Training Experiences as Mediators of the Association Between Gender-Role Egalitarianism and Women’s Adjustment to Marine Recruit Training

Women may face particular challenges adjusting to the military environment, in part due to their numerical minority status in a traditionally male culture. In addition, women are more likely than men to experience the added stressor of sexual harassment. We examined several potential mediators of the relationship between gender-role egalitarianism and adjustment to boot camp training in a sample of 658 female U.S. Marine recruits. Results indicated that sexual harassment, performance stress, and unit cohesion mediated the relationship between egalitarianism and mental health symptomatology. These findings suggest that beliefs about gender roles are important to consider in efforts to improve women’s adjustment in the military.
The International Law Commission's flawed Draft Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers: the way forward

In 2008 the United Nations International Law Commission finalized Draft Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers; they were annexed to a United Nations General Assembly resolution later that year. In Autumn 2011, the General Assembly will decide on the final form of these articles. Unfortunately, the articles overlap with the 1997 United Nations Watercourses Convention and contain an even more serious flaw: they introduce the novel and potentially dangerous concept that a state has sovereignty over the portion of a transboundary aquifer located within its territory. After providing background on the Draft Articles, this paper proposes possible remedies for these problems.
Conservation of web proteins in the spider, Araneus diadematus.

Experiments placing “cold” spiders on radiocative webs and measuring the specific activity of successive webs shows that silk protein is highly conserved during the web building cycle. This conservation of web protein is not affected by feeding the spider flies or cold amino acids. It is considered that the timing of web eating to web construction is critical to this efficient re-cycling.
Two New Lignans with Activity against Influenza Virus from the Medicinal Plant Rhinacanthus nasutus

Two new lignans, rhinacanthin E (1) and rhinacanthin F (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of the plant Rhinacanthus nasutus. Their structures were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis. These compounds show significant antiviral activity against influenza virus type A.
Block of Neuronal Apoptosis by a Sustained Increase of Steady-State Free Ca $^{2+}$ Concentration

Programmed death is a ubiquitous feature of the development of the vertebrate nervous system. This death is prevented in vivo by trophic factors and by afferent input. Death of neurons can also be prevented in culture models of programmed death by trophic factors and by chronic depolarization with elevated concentrations of K+ in the culture medium. The latter effect is mediated by Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated channels and may prevent death by mimicking survival-promoting effects of naturally occurring electrical activity. Little is currently known about the mechanism by which either trophic factors or increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ promote survival.
Progress in prokaryotic transcriptomics

Genome-wide expression studies transformed the field of transcriptomics and made it feasible to study global gene expression in extraordinary detail. These new methods have revealed an enhanced view of the transcriptional landscape and have yielded many biological insights. It is increasingly clear that the prokaryotic transcriptome is much more complex than once thought. Recent advances in microbial transcriptome analyses are highlighted in this review. Areas of progress include the development of optimized techniques that minimize the abundance of ribosomal RNAs in RNA samples as well as the development of novel methods to create transcriptome libraries. Advances such as these have led to a new emphasis in areas such as metatranscriptomics and single cell gene expression studies.
Intraoperative margin re-resection for colorectal liver metastases.

Objective Evaluate recurrence and survival in patients who underwent intraoperative margin re-resection for colorectal cancer liver (CRC) metastases. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting University Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio. Academic medical center. Participants Cohort of 118 patients who underwent resection of CRC liver metastases between 1992 and 2004. All patients were divided into 3 groups: resection margin (MOR) less than 1 cm (n = 64), MOR greater than 1 cm (n = 33), and re-resection margin (re-MOR) greater than 1 cm (n = 21). Results Patients with a margin greater than 1 cm, when compared with re-MOR greater than 1 had decreased incidence of liver and distant recurrence (p Conclusion Intraoperative re-resection is associated with an increased risk of local and distant recurrence, which may be a reflection of both inadequate surgery and underlying tumor biology.
Properties of PbS epitaxial films grown by a hot wall method

Abstract P-type PbS epitaxial films have been prepared by a modified hot wall method under near-equilibrium conditions. A series of measurements has been performed to study the electronic and photoconductive properties of the films. A deep single level was found 0.079 eV above the valence band. Experimental results indicated that this level could be attributed to the presence of SiS2 impurities. It was observed that at low temperatures the carrier scattering mechanism is dominated by these impurity centers, although in the high temperature region only phonon scattering is important. Photo-injected minority carriers are trapped in the impurity sites. The temperature dependence of the time constant yielded a trap energy of 0.21 eV below the conduction band. When combined with the activation energy of the acceptor levels, the resulting value of the 0 K energy gap was in fair agreement with other studies.
The Status of Management Oriented Evaluation in Public Administration and Management Graduate Programs.

Abstract This paper details an assessment of the evaluation course content of graduate programs in public affairs and administration programs. The research describes the distribution of evaluation courses in these programs by academic unit, program focus, and subject matter content. The findings reveal that 85% of the programs provide at least one evaluation course and evaluation is a core requirement in 49% of the programs. Analysis of course syllabi demonstrates that these courses are more likely to focus on program outcomes and policy impact than management issues concerning the effects of organizational structures, processes, and internal resource allocations on organizational performance. The author argues that more courses in these programs should take this emphasis to enable students to use evaluation more effectively as a management tool.
Population genetics and conservation of the threatened southeastern beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris): subspecies and evolutionary units

We investigated genetic diversity within the southeastern beach mouse (SEBM-Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris) and also tested the hypothesis that the subspecies recognition of P.p. niveiventris, based on size and color differences, is congruent with this taxon representing a discrete evolutionary lineage. We used ten polymorphic microsatellite loci and mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene DNA sequences to investigate genetic diversity and population structure within the SEBM, and to determine the level of divergence between the SEBM and the nearest known inland subspecies of the oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus rhoadsi). Moderate genetic distances were observed between the SEBM and the inland oldfield mouse based on microsatellite data, with F ST values ranging from 0.11 to 0.22 between these taxa. Additionally, mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of the SEBM formed a distinct monophyletic group relative to haplotypes sampled from P. p. rhoadsi. Based on previous estimates of rates of mitochondrial DNA evolution in rodents, we inferred that Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations are likely responsible for the historical isolation of the SEBM lineage from mainland P. polionotus. Our data demonstrate the genetic distinctiveness of the SEBM, justifying the current subspecies designation for the SEBM and its continued protection under the United States Endangered Species Act. We classify the Cape Canaveral and Smyrna Dunes Park populations of SEBM as a single evolutionary significant unit. The two known extant allopatric populations of the SEBM showed some differentiation in microsatellite frequencies and were moderately reciprocally distinguishable based on assignment to distinct genetic clusters by a Bayesian admixture procedure. These results justify the classification of these two extant SEBM populations as distinct management units that should be independent targets of management and conservation attention.
Characterization of Androgen Receptor in Sertoli Cell-Enriched Testis

A cytoplasmic receptor for testosterone (T) was characterized in Sertoli cell-enriched (SCE) testes from hypophysectomized (hypex) rats. Receptor binding was also measured in tubules isolated from SCE testes and primary cultures of Sertoli cells (33 fmol\106 cells). Receptor labeled at 0 C with [3H]T ± excess unlabeled T was precipitated with ammonium sulfate and specific binding was measured by gel filtration. Specific binding reached equilibrium within 2 h and maximum binding was achieved at 3–6 nM [3H]T. Scatchard analysis revealed a Kd, of 7.6 × 1010M which was similar to receptor preparations from non-irradiated hypex rats (6.8 × 1010M). However, the specific activity of receptors in non-irradiated hypex testis (12.7 fmol/mg prot) was greater than that in SCE hypex testis (9.6 fmol/mg prot). The receptor could be precipitated quantitatively at 40% ammonium sulfate, thereby separating ABP which precipitated at 50% and albumin which precipitated between 60 and 80%. The receptor was labile to heat, char...
A mechanism accounting for the low cellular level of linoleic acid in cystic fibrosis and its reversal by DHA

Specific fatty acid alterations have been described in the blood and tissues of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The principal alterations include decreased levels of linoleic acid (LA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We investigated the potential mechanisms of these alterations by studying the cellular uptake of LA and DHA, their distribution among lipid classes, and the metabolism of LA in a human bronchial epithelial cell model of CF. CF (antisense) cells demonstrated decreased levels of LA and DHA compared with wild type (WT, sense) cells expressing normal CFTR. Cellular uptake of LA and DHA was higher in CF cells compared with WT cells at 1 h and 4 h. Subsequent incorporation of LA and DHA into most lipid classes and individual phospholipids was also increased in CF cells. The metabolic conversion of LA to n-6 metabolites, including 18:3n-6 and arachidonic acid, was upregulated in CF cells, indicating increased flux through the n-6 pathway. Supplementing CF cells with DHA inhibited the production of LA metabolites and corrected the n-6 fatty acid defect. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that low LA level in cultured CF cells is due to its increased metabolism, and this increased LA metabolism is corrected by DHA supplementation.
Resistance to Columbia root-knot nematode in Solanum ssp. and in hybrids of S. hougasii with tetraploid cultivated potato.

Several tuber-bearingSolanum species were screened for resistance to races 1 and 2 of Columbia root-knot nematode,Meloidogyne chitwoodi. Reproductive factor (Rf = Pf/Pi) was assessed and used to infer host resistance. Several clonal selections in one Plant Introduction accession ofSolanum hougasii showed high levels of resistance to both races. Crosses ofS. hougasii with tetraploid breeding clones yielded 14 vigorous F1 hybrids. Three of these interspecific hybrids expressed non-host (Rf 1.0) to race 2. Three hybrids were good hosts to both races, and one was a poor host to race 1 and non-host to race 2. The occurrence of resistance to both races in the F1 hybrids indicates success in the first step of introducing resistance to races 1 and 2 ofM. chitwoodi to the cultivated potato gene pool.
A transgenic mouse model of neuroepithelial cell specific inducible overexpression of dopamine D1-receptor

Dopamine and its receptors appear in the brain during early embryonic period suggesting a role for dopamine in brain development. In fact, dopamine receptor imbalance resulting from impaired physiological balance between D1- and D2-receptor activities can perturb brain development and lead to persisting changes in brain structure and function. Dopamine receptor imbalance can be produced experimentally using pharmacological or genetic methods. Pharmacological methods tend to activate or antagonize the receptors in all cell types. In the traditional gene knockout models the receptor imbalance occurs during development and also at maturity. Therefore, assaying the effects of dopamine imbalance on specific cell types (e.g. precursor versus postmitotic cells) or at specific periods of brain development (e.g. pre- or postnatal periods) is not feasible in these models. We describe a novel transgenic mouse model based on the tetracycline dependent inducible gene expression system in which dopamine D1-receptor transgene expression is induced selectively in neuroepithelial cells of the embryonic brain at experimenter-chosen intervals of brain development. In this model, doxycycline-induced expression of the transgene causes significant overexpression of the D1-receptor and significant reductions in the incorporation of the S-phase marker bromodeoxyuridine into neuroepithelial cells of the basal and dorsal telencephalon indicating marked effects on telencephalic neurogenesis. The D1-receptor overexpression occurs at higher levels in the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) than the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) or cerebral wall (CW). Moreover, although the transgene is induced selectively in the neuroepithelium, D1-receptor protein overexpression appears to persist in postmitotic cells. The mouse model can be modified for neuroepithelial cell-specific inducible expression of other transgenes or induction of the D1-receptor transgene in other cells in specific brain regions by crossbreeding the mice with transgenic mouse lines available already.
The importance of expectations on negotiation results

Investigation into negotiation has shown that there is a correlation between high expectations and the results attained: “the higher the expectations, the better the results”. This study investigates other effects of expectations on results including the influence of equally high expectations by both negotiators, the influence of the fallback position at which a negotiator is willing to settle, and the relative influence of high and low expectations on outcome, all of which are critical to managers who are negotiating either purchases or sales. In this study, negotiation experiments encompassing a total of 24 negotiations were conducted. The study demonstrated that the negotiator with the highest aspiration level did not necessarily win when both sides had similar aspiration levels. Moreover, it was found that maximum aspiration has a greater influence on positive outcome than minimum aspiration (fallback position) and that high aspiration has a greater influence on positive outcome than low aspiration.
Developmental changes of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate-oxidase activity in mammalian liver.

Abstract 1. 1. The basal p -hydroxyphenylpyruvate-oxidase activity, which has been correlated with that fraction active in vivo , was low in therrat and guinea pig-fetal livers compared to the adult livers. The enzyme activities rose after birth to adult levels, slowly in the rat and abruptly in the guinea pig. 2. 2. The low fetal enzyme activities were elevated several fold by preincubating the enzyme with 2,6-dichlorophenolindolphenol and glutathione. The basal activity of the older animals was not substantially raised by the same treatment. 3. 3. A form of the enzyme, inactive but capable of being activated, similar to that produced in adult guinea pigs by tyrosone feeding, appears to be a normal stage in the development of this enzyme.
Invivo metabolism of the hydrochlorofluorocarbon 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b)

Abstract Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are being developed as substitutes for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that deplete stratospheric ozone (1). 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) is a potential substitute for CFC-11 in foam-blowing operations (2), and a mixture of HCFC-141b and HCFC-123 is an effective substitute for CFC- 113 which is used as a cleaning agent in the computer industry (3). U.S. production of CFC-11 and CFC-113 in 1986 amounted to 90,000 and 79,000 metric tons, respectively. [ 36 Cl]HCFC-141b undergoes dechlorination when incubated with rat hepatic microsomal fractions in the presence of NADPH and oxygen (4), but no organic metabolites have been identified. Because of the potential commercial importance of HCFC-141b, the accompanying potential for human exposure, and the paucity of published information about its metabolism, we have studied its in vivo metabolic fate. Also, knowledge about the metabolism of HCFC-141b may have predictive value for the metabolism of other 1,1,1-trihaloethanes that are promising CFC substitutes.
Synthesis of a BDPA-TEMPO Biradical

The synthesis and characterization of a biradical containing a 1,3-bisdiphenylene-2-phenylallyl (BDPA) free radical covalently attached to a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) free radical are described. The synthesis of the biradical is a step toward improved polarizing agents for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP).
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION OF CHRYSENE IN ACETONITRILE/WATER

The photochemical reaction of chrysene under UVA light irradiation in acetonitrile/water yields 1,4- and 5,6-chrysenequinones and one lactone, H-benzo[d]naphtha[1,2-b]pyran-6-one. Solvent-dissolved oxygen is necessary for the photolysis. The presence of TiO2, Al2O3, La2O3, KI, or I2 decreased the photolysis rate. The free radical scavenger, Na2S2O3, greatly suppressed the chrysene photolysis, indicating that a free radical process was involved. Also, a self-catalysis phenomenon for chrysene photolysis was observed and investigated.
Egg production of the marine, planktonic copepod, Calanus pacificus Brodsky: Laboratory observations☆

When acclimated to a continuous, superabundant food supply and constant temperature, Calanus pacificus Brodsky females produce eggs at a weight-specific rate ranging from 0.13 · day−1 at 8°C to 0.21 · day−1 at 15°C. Maximum weight-specific egg production rates do not change with seasonal changes in female body size. The relationship between egg production rate and food concentration is hyperbolic, with threshold and critical concentrations that are high relative to other species for which data are available. Food concentration and temperature influence spawning frequency (i.e., the time required for oocytes to mature) much more than the number of eggs in a single spawning event (i.e., clutch size). Clutch size is significantly related to female body size.
Model test and CFD calculation of a cavitating bulb turbine

The flow in a horizontal shaft bulb turbine is calculated as a two-phase flow with a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD-)-code including cavitation model. The results are compared with experimental results achieved at a closed loop test rig for model turbines. On the model test rig, for a certain operating point (i.e. volume flow, net head, blade angle, guide vane opening) the pressure behind the turbine is lowered (i.e. the Thoma-coefficient σ is lowered) and the efficiency of the turbine is recorded. The measured values can be depicted in a so-called σ–break curve or η- σ-diagram. Usually, the efficiency is independent of the Thoma-coefficient up to a certain value. When lowering the Thoma-coefficient below this value the efficiency will drop rapidly. Visual observations of the different cavitation conditions complete the experiment. In analogy, several calculations are done for different Thoma-coefficients σand the corresponding hydraulic losses of the runner are evaluated quantitatively. For a low σ-value showing in the experiment significant efficiency loss, the the change of volume flow in the experiment was simulated. Besides, the fraction of water vapour as an indication of the size of the cavitation cavity is analyzed qualitatively. The experimentally and the numerically obtained results are compared and show a good agreement. Especially the drop in efficiency can be calculated with satisfying accuracy. This drop in efficiency is of high practical importance since it is one criterion to determine the admissible cavitation in a bulb-turbine. The visual impression of the cavitation in the CFD-analysis is well in accordance with the observed cavitation bubbles recorded on sketches and/or photographs.
Presence of accelerator and retarding cleavage factors in an extract of ovary in sea urchins

Abstract 1. 1. An aqueous extract has been prepared by homogenizing the ovarian tissue of the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata . This whole extract induces no significant effect on cleavage development of the fertilized sea urchin ova, or it may elicit either slight accelerating or retarding effects on the developing ova. 2. 2. Centrifugalization of the extract yields on the part of the supernatant an accelerating effect on cleavage development; while the residual or sedimented portion induces a retarding cleavage effect on developing eggs. 3. 3. Dialysis for several days of the supernatant fraction in the cold against distilled water favors the passage of an accelerating cleavage factor in the diffusate. This accelerator cleavage factor is also found to be thermostable, and ultraviolet spectral absorption studies indicate that one is dealing with a nucleic acid derivative. Diffusibility, thermostability, and absorption at 265 to around 270 millimicra suggest that the accelerator cleavage factor is a nucleotide. 4. 4. The indiffusible fraction following dialysis yields inconstant results. There may be merely a slight inhibitory or retarding effect on the incidence of cleavage. There is the possibility from absorption and by simple tests for proteins that one may be dealing with a nucleoprotein in the indiffusible fraction. 5. 5. The presence of an accelerator cleavage factor and of a retarding or antimitotic factor in the extract of the ovary in Arbacia punctulata suggests that the rate and therefore the regulation of cell division may perhaps be in part referable to a balance between these two basic and opposed factors.
Esmolol : a review of its therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetic characteristics

Esmolol is an ultra short-acting intravenous cardioselective beta-antagonist. It has an extremely short elimination half-life (mean: 9 minutes; range: 4 to 16 minutes) and a total body clearance [285 ml/min/kg (17.1 L/h/kg)] approaching 3 times cardiac output and 14 times hepatic blood flow. The alpha-distribution half-life is approximately 2 minutes. When esmolol is administered as a bolus followed by a continuous infusion, onset of activity occurs within 2 minutes, with 90% of steady-state beta-blockade occurring within 5 minutes. Full recovery from beta-blockade is observed 18 to 30 minutes after terminating the infusion. Esmolol blood concentrations are undetectable 20 to 30 minutes postinfusion. The elimination of esmolol is independent of renal or hepatic function as it is metabolised by red blood cell cytosol esterases to an acid metabolite and methanol. The acid metabolite, which is renally eliminated, has 1500-fold less activity than esmolol. Methanol concentrations remain within the range of normal endogenous levels. Clinically, esmolol is used for the following: (i) situations where a brief duration of adrenergic blockade is required, such as tracheal intubation and stressful surgical stimuli; and (ii) critically ill or unstable patients in whom the dosage of esmolol is easily titrated to response and adverse effects are rapidly managed by termination of the infusion. In adults, bolus doses of 100 to 200mg are effective in attenuating the adrenergic responses associated with tracheal intubation and surgical stimuli. For the control of supraventricular arrhythmias, acute postoperative hypertension and acute ischaemic heart disease, doses of < 300 micrograms/kg/min, administered by continuous intravenous infusion, are used. The principal adverse effect of esmolol is hypotension (incidence of 0 to 50%), which is frequently accompanied with diaphoresis. The incidence of hypotension appears to increase with doses exceeding 150 micrograms/kg/min and in patients with low baseline blood pressure. Hypotension infrequently requires any intervention other than decreasing the dose or discontinuing the infusion. Symptoms generally resolve within 30 minutes after discontinuing the drug. In surgical and critical care settings where clinical conditions are rapidly changing, the pharmacokinetic profile of esmolol allows the drug to provide rapid pharmacological control and minimises the potential for serious adverse effects.
Globin synthesis studies in a person heterozygous for α-thalassemia-2, Hb S and Hb G Philadelphia

A 21-year-old American black female with mild anemia was found to be triply heterozygous for alpha-thalassemia-2, hemoglobin S and hemoglobin G Philadelphia. Hemoglobin A comprised 39% of her total hemoglobin. The alpha-thalassemia gene was expressed by an alpha/non-alpha synthesis of ratio of 0.79 +/- 0.09 and was equally unbalanced in the peripheral blood and the bone marrow. Globin synthesis studies indicated that the percentage of Hb G and Hb S in the peripheral blood is about 32% and 31% respectively. These values are due to the coexistent alpha-thalassemia-2 gene with the following most likely genotype: --alpha G/alpha alpha, beta A/beta S (or --alpha/alpha G alpha, beta A beta S).
Unraveling innate immunity using large scale N‐ethyl‐N‐nitrosourea mutagenesis

With the mouse genome almost entirely sequenced and readily accessible to all who wish to examine it, the challenge across most biological disciplines now lies in the decipherment of gene and protein function rather than in the realm of gene identification per se. In the field of innate immunity, forward genetic methods have repeatedly been applied to identify key sensors, adapters, and effector molecules. However, most spontaneous mutations that affect innate immune function have been mapped and cloned, and the need for new monogenic phenotypes has been felt evermore keenly. N-Ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis is an efficient tool for the creation of aberrant monogenic innate immune response phenotypes. In this review, we will discuss the potential of the forward genetic approach and ENU mutagenesis to identify new genes and new functions of known genes related to innate immunity.
Thermal Inactivation of Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin in Buffer and in Chicken Gravy

The time-temperature relationships for the inactivation of purified enterotoxin prepared from Clostridium perfringens were determined by Vero cell assay in two different heating menstrua. Enterotoxin diluted to an initial concentration of 12.5 μg/g in chicken gravy and in 0.1M phosphate buffer both at pH 6.1 was heated at temperatures of 59–65°C. Average inactivation times in gravy ranged from 72.8–1.5 min and in buffer from 149.4–2.4 min.
Using Campus Climate Surveys to Foster Participatory Governance

ABSTRACT Community colleges are under constant pressure to increase participatory governance and gather data for accountability and accreditation. Campus climate surveys can provide valuable information for these purposes. This study examined the experience of one college in moving to a more participatory form of governance with the aid of periodic climate surveys and various change strategies. After administering the Personal Assessment of College Environment (PACE) in 1999 to determine the existing campus climate, a North Carolina community college introduced a number of change strategies. It then measured the progress of these strategies with periodic administrations of the same instrument. Findings, which were also used for accreditation purposes, indicated significant progress toward a participatory governance model.
Ta‘a and modern legal reform: A rereading

Abstract Based largely on court records dating from the Ottoman and modern periods, and focusing on the issue of ta'a (a wife's obedience to her husband), this article argues that nineteenth/twentieth‐century law reform proved a mixed bag for Egyptian women. Egypt's contemporary personal status laws, while based on the Shari'a, differ significantly from gender laws, also based on the Shari'a, that were applied by courts before the reform of laws began in the 1880s. In other words, gender laws have always been legally based on the Shari'a, yet the laws and their application after legal reforms differ significantly from their application before. These differences are consequential enough to warrant calling the Shari'a practiced today ‘a new Sharia’ to differentiate it from what was practiced before.
Efficacy of limited CT for nonvisualized lower cervical spine in patients with blunt trauma

Records of 100 patients with blunt injury and nonvisualization of C7 and T1 on cross-table lateral and swimmer's views were reviewed to evaluate the usefulness of limited computed tomographic (CT) scans in “clearing”1 the lower cervical vertebrae of injury. CT was deemed necessary and performed in all of these cases because the lower cervical spine could not be evaluated clinically or with plain radiographs. Ninety-seven of these 100 patients had normal findings on CT and only three patients showed cervical spine fractures. All three had isolated and stable fractures. Two of these patients had “clay-shoveler” fractures at C6 and C7, respectively, and one had a single laminar fracture at C7. All three patients were conservatively treated. This study emphasizes the value of clinical correlation in the evaluation of cervical spine trauma. When deemed necessary in symptomatic patients, CT is useful to exclude skeletal injury in the lower cervical spine thus avoiding delay in the patient's workup and unnecessary hospitalization, and expediting patient discharge. Lack of pain and neurological findings in nonintoxicated, conscious, and alert patients is generally not associated with significant soft tissue or skeletal injury.
Micromechanisms of deformation in high-purity hot-pressed alumina

Abstract A high-strength aluminum oxide was produced by vacuum hot pressing high-purity, submicron-size alumina powders. The uniaxial compressive fracture strength was strongly strain-rate sensitive and varied from 5.5 GPa at 10 −4 s −1 to 8.3 GPa at 10 3 s −1 . A Hugoniot elastic limit of about 11.9 GPa was determined from flyer plate impact tests. The deformation/fracture process was examined using both uniaxial stress and uniaxial strain conditions. Under a uniaxial stress condition, microplasticity was observed in the form of aligned dislocations that appeared similar to shear bands in metals. Under a uniaxial strain condition, extensive dislocation activity, grain boundary microcracking and occasional twins were observed. Based on the experimental results and microscopic observations, possible mechanisms responsible for the observed high strength and high strain-rate sensitivity in this alumina are discussed.
Life history and den ecology of Octopus briareus Robson in a marine lake

Abstract Sweetings Pond, a saltwater lake on Eleuthera Island, Bahamas, supported a high-density population of Octopus briareus Robson. Females spawned throughout the year in 1982–1983, but spawning peaked in February–March. A number of females spawned early and unsuccessfully in August, 1982. This event was followed in October by a reduction in adult density, and it may have caused late recruitment the following summer. Under natural conditions in Sweetings Pond, O. briareus occupied cavities underneath a variety of benthic formations. In field choice experiments with artificial dens, adult O. briareus displayed minimum cavity length and diameter requirements. Restricted entrances were not preferred, perhaps due to the availability of material with which O. briareus could block their den entrances. A tactile examination of the cavity was important in selection, but visual discrimination was also involved; translucent dens were completely avoided in favor of opaque ones. Certain sponge species were rarely occupied by O. briareus because they lacked sufficient cavity space underneath. When artificial dens were placed underneath these sponges they were occupied. Den defense was examined with a nearest neighbor experiment in which three pairs of artificial dens were placed in a study area. Dens were set 0, 15 and 50 cm apart and the frequency with which both dens of a pair were simultaneously occupied was recorded. The contiguous dens were never simultaneously occupied, whereas the other two pairs were simultaneously occupied with approximately equal frequency. Direct observations of intraspecific interactions confirmed the small size of the defended area. Abundant predatory fishes probably limit Octopus populations off the Eleuthera coast, and the absence of such fishes from Sweetings Pond may account for the high O. briareus density there. Though not subject to interspecific predation, lake O. briareus required the protection of dens due to cannibalism. Only a small minority of benthic formations in the lake were consistently occupied in 1982–1983, and enriching areas with artificial dens increased local density. This suggests that dens were limiting in Sweetings Pond. With suitable cavities so widely spaced, den defense probably did not influence density apart from limiting occupation to one octopus per cavity. No Octopus occupied artificial dens in a coastal enrichment experiment, implying that dens were not limiting off the coast.
A Comparison of Taped Problems With and Without a Brief Post-Treatment Assessment on Multiplication Fluency

An adapted alternating treatments design was used to compare the effectiveness of a taped-problems (TP) intervention with TP and an additional immediate assessment (TP + AIA) on the multiplication fluency of six fifth-grade students. During TP, the students listened to a tape playing a series of multiplication problems and answers three times. Students were instructed to try to beat the tape by writing each answer before they heard it on the tape. The interval between each problem and answer was varied as the problems were repeated. For the TP + AIA condition, immediately after completing TP, students completed an extra assessment sheet consisting of the same problems heard on the tape. Results showed increases in math-fact fluency across both treatment sets of problems (TP and TP + AIA) and a control set of problems. However, results varied across students and only two of the students showed meaningful gains when the TP was supplemented with the AIA. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Pluto-Charon Stellar Occultation Candidates: 1990-1995

We have carried out a search to identify stars that might be occulted by Pluto or Charon during the period 1990-1995 and part of 1996. This search was made with an unfiltered CCD camera operated in the strip scanning mode, and it reaches an R magnitude of approximately 17.5-about 1.5 mag fainter than previous searches. Circumstances for each of the 162 potential occultations are given, including an approximate R magnitude of the star, which allows estimation of the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for observation of each occultation. The faintest stars in our list would yield an S/N of about 20 for a 1 S integration when observed with a CCD detector on an 8 m telescope under a dark sky. Our astrometric precision (+/- 0.2 arcsec, with larger systematic errors possible for individual cases) is insufficient to serve as a final prediction for these potential occultations, but is sufficient to identify stars deserving of further, more accurate, astrometric observations. Statistically, we expect about 32 of these events to be observable somewhere on Earth. The number of events actually observed will be substantially smaller because of clouds and the sparse distribution of large telescopes. Finder charts for each of the 91 stars involved are presented.
Inferring Realistic Intra-hospital Contact Networks Using Link Prediction and Computer Logins

Disease spread in hospital settings is a common and important problem in health care. Knowing the network of contacts between health care workers and patients can be very helpful in mitigating disease spread. In this work, we address the problem of inferring the contact network of health care workers at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics facilities by integrating two sources of data: hospital-wide computer login data and proximity data obtained from direct measurement in the Medical Intensive Care Unit using a wireless sensor network. We treat this problem as a variant of the network completion problem, where one small portion of the network is well known while the rest is sparingly sampled, and we want to complete the network. In this case, we want to transform the login network, where an edge connects two people who logged into computers within some time and distance, of the hospital into a contact network. We solve this problem by borrowing techniques from link prediction. We train and evaluate these techniques on synthetic login networks and contact networks obtained from the sensor data. Our results are promising in that we can predict contact networks from login networks with accuracies mostly between 70% and 90%.
Using School Bus Discipline Referral Data in Decision Making: Two Case Studies

Public schools are responsible for providing a safe, structured environment that is conducive to learning. This requirement encompasses a variety of settings, including school bus transportation. However, limited research exists to indicate best practices for designing and implementing behavior programs for school bus transportation. The availability of bus discipline referrals provides an ideal source of information on bus-related discipline needs. This article describes 2 examples of using bus discipline referrals to identify discipline concerns and possible support needs. First, a district-wide assessment of bus discipline referrals is presented. Second, the results of an assessment of school-wide needs of a single elementary school are presented. Additionally, the patterns from the district-wide assessment and school assessment are compared and contrasted to determine concerns specific to a school that may not be addressed through a district-based behavior intervention. Implications for data-based dec...
Teaching Structural Behavior with a Physics Engine

The paper describes a project which uses a novel non-linear computational method to teach structural topics ranging from elementary statics to plastic analysis of beams, and frame buckling. The project centers around a computer program, called Arcade, developed using a computational method, called a physics engine, which has been widely used in computer games. This method has two special characteristics with respect to structural behavior: it can model unstable structures, and it performs all calculations with respect to deformed geometry. In addition, the method can perform calculations in real time, so the on-screen structure responds instantly to loads and other actions induced by mouse clicks and key strokes. These characteristics allow the program to show the effect of forces on free-floating bodies, which is ideal for demonstrating free-body diagrams. Combined with elastic beam and truss elements, the method can model cable structures, elastic column buckling, and kinematic mechanisms that result from unstable configurations of supports and internal releases. Used with inelastic beam elements, the program can model plastic collapse mechanisms of beams and frames. The paper describes examples and exercises which have been used with the program in architecture and engineering courses at the University of Virginia.
The asymptotic distribution of the Whittaker periodogram and a related chi-squared statistic for stationary processes

We find the asymptotic distribution of two statistics that have been employed in the search for periodicities. Both statistics are based on Buys-Ballot tables. The first, the Whittaker periodogram, is computed for ordinary time series. The second, a x2 statistic, is computed for point processes. These statistics have been viewed as competitors of power spectrum estimates. We find that when autocorrelation is present in the process involved, the large-sample distributions of the statistics differ from the null distributions used in testing. The statistics therefore are appropriate only when the null hypothesis is that the process involved has a constant power spectrum.
On stress collapse in adiabatic shear bands

Abstract T he dynamics of adiabatic shear band formation is considered making use of a simplified thermo/visco/plastic flow law. A new numerical solution is used to follow the growth of a perturbation from initiation, through early growth and severe localization, to a slowly varying terminal configuration. Asymptotic analyses predict the early and late stage patterns, but the timing and structure of the abrupt transition to severe localization can only be studied numerically, to date. A characteristic feature of the process is that temperature and plastic strain rate begin to localize immediately, but only slowly, whereas the stress first evolves almost as if there were no perturbation, but then collapses rapidly when severe localization occurs.
Goodness-of-fit tests for the pareto and lognormal distributions based on multiply truncated samples

This article considers the situation where, in the most general case, each observation in a sample has been “truncated” below at a different, but known value. Each observation is truncated in the sense that, had it been 1ess than the truncati on point, it would not have appeared in the sample. A goodness-of-fit test based on Gnedenko’ F statistic is developed to test the hypothesis that the underlying distribution is Pareto against the alternative of lognormality. The Chi-square and Kolmogorov tests are adapted to test the hypothesi s of lognormality with unspecified alternative. The application of these techni ques to the analysis of insurance claim data is discussed.
A 40 V 10 W 93%-Efficiency Current-Accuracy-Enhanced Dimmable LED Driver With Adaptive Timing Difference Compensation for Solid-State Lighting Applications

This paper presents a floating-buck dimmable LED driver for solid-state lighting applications. In the proposed driver, an adaptive timing difference compensation (ATDC) is developed to adaptively adjust the off-time of the low-side power switch to enable the driver to achieve high accuracy of the average LED current over a wide range of input voltages and number of output LED loads, fast settling time, and high operation frequency. The power efficiency benefits from the capabilities of using synchronous rectifier and having no sensing resistor in the power stage. The synchronous rectification under high input supply voltage is enabled by a proposed high-speed and low-power gate driver with pseudo-digital level shifters. Implemented in a 0.35 μm 50 V CMOS process, experimental results show that the proposed LED driver can operate at 1 MHz and achieve peak power efficiency of 93% to support a wide range of series-connected output LEDs from 1 to 10 and a wide input range from 10 to 40 V. The proposed LED driver has only 2.8% current error from the average LED current of 345 mA and settles within 8.5 μs after triggering the dimming condition, improving the settling time by 14 times compared with the state-of-the-art LED drivers.
Sulfenyl Triflates as Glycosylation Promoters: Applications in Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies

The use of aryl/alkyl sulfenyl triflates as glycosylation promoters is reviewed with a focus on the application of these reagents in glycosylations, in mechanistic studies, and in the syntheses of oligosaccharides.
Scientific visualization for the study and use of forest stand simulators

Abstract In this concept paper, a case is made for incorporating visualization capabilities into forest stand simulators to increase understanding of forest stand dynamics and improve management decisions. Forest management decisions are predicated on information about both current and future resource conditions. Forests are dynamic biological systems that are continuously changing and it is necessary to project these changes to obtain relevant information for prudent decision making.