cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracting the full value of the Landsat archive: Inter-sensor harmonization for the mapping of Minnesota forest canopy cover (1973–2015)

Abstract Remote sensing estimates of forest canopy cover have frequently been used to support a variety of applications including wildlife habitat modeling, monitoring of watershed health, change detection, and are also correlated to various aspects of forest structure and ecosystem function. Although data from the long running Landsat earth observation program (1972–present) have been previously utilized to characterize forest canopy cover, the variability in spatial and spectral resolutions between the Landsat sensors has generally limited analyses to readily comparable imagery from the TM and ETM+ sensors, which omits large portions of the full temporal record. In this study, we present an R package, LandsatLinkr, which automates the processes for harmonizing Landsat MSS and OLI imagery to the spatial and spectral qualities of TM and ETM+ imagery, allowing for the generation of annual cloud-free composites of tasseled cap spectral indices across the entire Landsat archive. We demonstrate the utility of LandsatLinkr products, further enhanced through the LandTrendr segmentation algorithm, for characterizing forest attributes through time by developing annual forest masks and maps of estimated canopy cover for the state of Minnesota from 1973 to 2015. The forest mask model had an overall accuracy of 87%, with omission and commission errors for the forest class of 17% and 10%, respectively, and 9% and 16% for non-forest classification. Our resulting maps depicted a significant positive trend in forest cover across all ecological provinces of Minnesota during the study period. A random forest model used to predict continuous canopy cover had a pseudo R2 of 0.75, with a cross validation RMSE of 5%. Our results are comparable to previous Landsat-based canopy cover mapping efforts, but expand the evaluation time period as we were able to utilize the entire Landsat archive for assessment.
Etiologies and Yield of Diagnostic Testing in Children Presenting to the Emergency Department with Altered Mental Status.

Objectives To identify etiologies of altered mental status in pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) and to characterize the yield of diagnostic testing in these patients. Study design Retrospective chart review of children aged 1-17 years presenting to a pediatric tertiary care ED between December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014 with a chief complaint or International Classification of Disease, Ninth Edition code of altered mental status. The primary outcome was the etiology, defined as “immediate diagnosis” if the etiology was known in triage, “definitely established” if established by physical examination and abnormal laboratory results, imaging, or electrocardiogram findings, “probable” if the etiology was highly suspected in the ED but not confirmed with positive test results, or “unknown.” The secondary outcome was testing utilization and contribution to the diagnosis. Results Three hundred thirty-six eligible subjects were identified; mean age of 9 years (±6 years). The etiology of altered mental status was immediately established in 114 subjects (34%, 95% CI 29, 39). Among the remaining eligible subjects (N = 222), a definite or probable cause of altered mental status was identified in 82% (N = 182, 95% CI 76, 86) of cases and the etiology remained “unknown” in 18% (N = 40, 95% CI 14, 24). Only 10% of diagnostic tests performed were abnormal and contributed to a diagnosis. The median number of diagnostic tests per patient was 6 (IQR 3, 8). Conclusions Etiologies of altered mental status in children varied widely and often an underlying diagnosis was not found. Broad diagnostic testing was commonly performed although the overall yield was low.
Lessons learned from microgrid implementation at electric utility

In recent years, the topic of microgrids has become one of the most commonly debated issues at numerous conferences. Microgrids gained even more traction after hurricanes Harvey and Irma knocked out the power to almost 10 million people in southeast US. The development and advances in technology, communications and distributed intelligence during the last decade have enabled the creation of microgrid test beds, that utilize distributed generation (DG) sources such as solar or wind farms, diesel or natural gas generators, batteries, fuel cells, combined heat and power (CHP) and others. Since 2015, Duke Energy's Emerging Technologies Office has engineered, developed, installed, and commissioned three phases of its Mount Holly microgrid in North Carolina, with the main objective of trying to understand and investigate the engineering challenges of design, construction, commissioning and maintenance and operation of the microgrid, along with the development of distributed intelligence platform capabilities associated with microgrid control. This paper reflects the lessons learned from the implementation and operation of Mount Holly microgrid at Duke Energy.
In Vitro Effects of Aminoglycosides and Fluoroquinolones on Keratocytes

Purpose. Commonly used fluoroquinolones are reported to have less of an effect than aminoglycosides on corneal epithelial cells. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of these antibiotics on stromal keratocytes in vitro. Methods. Cultured rabbit keratocytes were incubated with various concentrations of gentamicin, tobramycin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. Evaluations were performed by means of phase-contrast microscopy and [ 3 H] thymidine uptake assay after 24 hours and 48 hours of incubation with the drug (concentrations from 3 to 0.003 mg/ml). Results. At a concentration of 3 mg/ml, all three fluoroquinolones inhibited keratocyte proliferation significandy more than either aminoglycoside after 24 hours (P < 0.001) and after 48 hours (P< 0.001). In contrast to the aminoglycosides, all three fluoroquinolones induced a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation after 24 hours. Even at the lowest concentration (0.003 mg/ml), ofloxacin and norfloxacin inhibited keratocyte proliferation significandy (P = 0.001) compared to control after 24 hours. Concentrations of fluoroquinolones ranging from 0.09 to 0.24 mg/ml produced a 50% inhibition of proliferation, a level of inhibition not observed widi any tested concentration of aminoglycosides. After 24 hours, all three fluoroquinolones, but neither of die aminoglycosides, showed moderate to severe signs of cytotoxicity at a concentration of 3 mg/ml. Conclusions. Relative effects of fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides on epithelial cells and stromal keratocytes appear to be different. This might have an impact on choosing the optimal antibiotic drug to be applied prophylactically in clinical situations in which the epithelium is absent, such as after photorefractive keratectomy or chemical burn. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996;37:656-665.
Modulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression by APC in HT-29 human colorectal carcinoma cells.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the key enzyme in arachidonate metabolism and catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2, the precursor for prostaglandins and thromboxanes’. Two isoforms of the COX enzyme exist. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in tissues while COX-2 is induced in inflammatory reactions’ dysregulated after loss of APC function.
Solid-state solvation and anion packing patterns in X-ray structures of crystalline K2(solv)nB12F12 (solv = H2O2(aq), CH3OH, CH3NO2, and CH3CN)

Abstract Four new solvates of K2B12F12 have been isolated and structurally characterized, K2(H2O2)2B12F12, K2(CH3OH)2B12F12, K2(CH3NO2)2B12F12, and K2(CH3CN)2B12F12. The packing of [K2(solv)2]2+ cations and B12F122− anions are compared with each other, with the previously published solvates K2(H2O)2B12F12, K2(H2O)4B12F12, and K2(HF)3B12F12, and with the solvent-free salt K2B12F12 to explain why the solid-state solvation of K2B12F12 by some gaseous solvent molecules, including H2O and CH3CN, is both thermodynamically favorable and kinetically facile. The compound K2(H2O2)2B12F12 was found to be energetic and underwent rapid deflagration when scraped with a metal spatula and therefore should only be prepared in small quantities. An alternative procedure for the purification of crude K2B12F12 that does not involve treatment with aqueous H2O2 is described.
Mutagenicity of Selected Chemicals in Soybean Test Systems

The use of Glycine max (soybean) in assessment of genetic damage by mutagenesis is rather new. The organism has been employed in three types of studies, viz., leaf mosaicism, tissue culture, and traditional progeny testing. Most of the work has been confined to the first type of system which has proven a very sensitive indicator of several types of genetic alterations produced by mutagens. The system makes use of spots induced on heterozygous or homozygous recessive genotypes which express damage in the form of spots of apparently homozygous or hemizygous origin on heterozygous background and heterozygous spots on homozygous leaves. As discussed later, distinction is possible between the induction of somatic crossing over, duplications, deletions, nondisjunction, and specific point mutations by a single treatment of the seed of selfed heterozygous parentage. Since the investigator uses only the colonies of leaf cells whose primordial ancestors have been treated with the mutagen, and there is minimal competition for these cells for expanding in one or a few layers, the system offers advantages over the progeny test method.
Quantum-State-Selected Integral Cross Sections and Branching Ratios for the Ion-Molecule Reaction of N2+(X2Σg+: ν+ = 0-2) + C2H4 in the Collision Energy Range of 0.05-10.00 eV.

By implementing a vacuum ultraviolet laser-pulsed field ionization-photoion ion source with a double quadrupole–double octopole ion guide mass filter, we have obtained detailed quantum-vibrational-state-selected integral cross sections σν+, ν+ = 0–2, for the ion–molecule reaction of N2+(X2Σg+: ν+ = 0–2) + C2H4 in the center-of-mass kinetic energy range of Ecm = 0.05–10.00 eV. Three primary product channels corresponding to the formation of C2H3+, C2H2+, and N2H+ ions are identified with their σν+ values in the order of σν+(C2H3+) > σν+(C2H2+) > σν+(N2H+). The minor σν+(N2H+) channel is strongly inhibited by Ecm and observed only at Ecm < 0.70 eV. The high σν+(C2H3+) and σν+(C2H2+) values indicate that C2H3+ and C2H2+ product ions are formed by prompt dissociation of internally excited C2H4+ (C2H4+*) intermediates produced via the near-energy-resonance charge-transfer mechanism. The σν+(C2H3+) and σν+(C2H2+) are found to drop only mildly or stay nearly constant as a function of Ecm in the range of 0.05–6.0...
Assessment of greenhouse pesticide applicators' needs for personal protective gear (PPG)

Pesticides are widely used in agricultural production to control pest infestation, reduce potential yield losses and ensure high produce quality. However, the poisonous nature of pesticides can entail a high risk to human health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in US conducts risk assessments to determine the mitigation required to protect the health of applicators handling pesticides. Appropriate personal protective gear (PPG) is a basic tool for risk mitigation that can provide an effective barrier between pesticides and human body. Generally, PPG is made of thick, stiff and highly impermeable material causing heat stress, bulkiness and impaired mobility. This impacts the efficiency of the applicators along with acceptability of the protective gear, and improper use, resulting in risks of contamination. This study aimed to identify possible channels of contamination and concerns related to heat stress, fit and mobility of the existing PPG and provide suggestions for improved PPG design.
Platform Stabilization and Load Reduction of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines using Dynamic Vibration Absorbers

Floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) is deemed the primary solution to the future penetration of wind power generation into deep water, while desirable FOWT operation faces significant challenge of under-actuation to meet the control objectives for platform stability, power regulation and load reduction. It is desirable to develop simple, low-cost and low-power actuation schemes for FOWT platform stabilization. In this paper, a dynamic vibration absorber (DVA) scheme is proposed to suppress the platform pitch and roll motion for FOWTs with tensioned-leg platform (TLP). With DVAs installed on each spoke of platform, both passive and active control can be possible for platform stabilization. A simulation model of the DVA is developed in Simulink, along with an interface to the TLP model of FOWT in NREL's FAST platform. Simulations are performed on the 5MW WindPACT model for 9 m/s and 18 m/s turbulent wind inputs. The results show that the proposed DVA strategy can significantly suppress the platform motion as well as reduce the tower loads with reasonably low power consumption.
Modulation of electrocorticographic seizure features predicts response to closed-loop brain stimulation

Why does closed-loop invasive brain stimulation improve seizure control in some patients with epilepsy, but not others? The RNS System, the only FDA-approved bi-directional brain-computer interface, has been shown to improve seizure control in patients with refractory epilepsy, although the mechanisms behind this success are undefined. We analyzed recordings from the RNS System and discovered two main categories of electrophysiological signatures of stimulation-induced modulation of the seizure network. Direct effects included ictal inhibition and early frequency modulation but did not correlate with improved clinical outcomes. Only indirect effects, those occurring remote from triggered stimulation, predicted improved clinical outcomes. These indirect effects, which included spontaneous ictal inhibition, frequency modulation, fragmentation, and ictal duration modulation, may reflect progressive local epileptogenic network compartmentalization that hinders the spread of pathological synchrony from recruiting neuronal populations. Our findings suggest that responsiveness to RNS may be explained by chronic stimulation-induced modulation of seizure network activity, rather than direct effects on each detected seizure.
Macroscopic and Microscopic Activation of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors by the Structurally Unrelated Allosteric Agonist-Positive Allosteric Modulators (ago-PAMs) B-973B and GAT107

B-973 is an efficacious type II positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that, like 4BP-TQS and its active isomer GAT107, can produce direct allosteric activation in addition to potentiation of orthosteric agonist activity, which identifies it as an allosteric activating (ago)-PAM. We compared the properties of B-973B, the active enantiomer of B-973, with those of GAT107 regarding the separation of allosteric potentiation and activation. Both ago-PAMs can strongly activate mutants of α7 that are insensitive to standard orthosteric agonists like acetylcholine. Likewise, the activity of both ago-PAMs is largely eliminated by the M254L mutation in the putative transmembrane PAM-binding site. Allosteric activation by B-973B appeared more protracted than that produced by GAT107, and B-973B responses were relatively insensitive to the noncompetitive antagonist mecamylamine compared with GAT107 responses. Similar differences are also seen in the single-channel currents. The two agents generate unique profiles of full-conductance and subconductance states, with B-973B producing protracted bursts, even in the presence of mecamylamine. Modeling and docking studies suggest that the molecular basis for these effects depends on specific interactions in both the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the receptor.
The Life Cycle of Products: Evidence and Implications

We exploit detailed product- and firm-level data for the consumer goods industry and we document that the sales of individual products decline at a steady pace throughout most of their life cycles. This pattern is common across heterogenous types of products and is mostly due to declines in quantities sold rather than prices. To identify the margins affecting the life cycle of products, we propose a decomposition of product sales based on a parsimonious model of oligopolistic competition between heterogeneous multi-product firms. Our estimates indicate that the systematic decline in sales over time is mostly explained by declines in the appeal of products. The results are consistent with products quickly becoming obsolete as they face competition from newer products of competing firms (business stealing) and from newer products of the same firm (cannibalization). We show that firms must introduce new products to grow, otherwise their portfolio be- comes obsolete as their rivals introduce new products of their own. By introducing new products, however, firms accelerate the decline in sales of their own existing products.
Traumatic posterolateral abdominal wall hernia in a pediatric patient

Abstract Traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH) is a relatively uncommon injury, with incidence estimates ranging from 1% to 9% of blunt abdominal trauma patients (1). Traumatic posterolateral abdominal wall hernia is an even less common subset of TAWH, in which intra- or extra-peritoneal contents herniate through a defect in the lumbar region within the superior or inferior lumbar triangles (2). The clinical presentation of traumatic posterolateral abdominal wall hernias range greatly, from abdominal wall ecchymosis to frank peritonitis. There is a paucity of reported cases in the pediatric surgical literature of traumatic abdominal wall hernias, and most of these cases are so-called ‘handle-bar injuries,’ resulting from bicycle crashes (3). We present a case report of a child who presented with a traumatic posterolateral abdominal wall hernia following a motor vehicle collision (MVC) and was found to have multiple intraabdominal injuries as well as a diffuse lumbar hernia with incarcerated bowel.
Drought assessment with a surface-groundwater coupled model in the Chesapeake Bay watershed

Abstract An integrated framework of surface and groundwater models is essential for the comprehensive understanding of impacts of droughts due to surface water and subsurface exchanges. We evaluate the response of soil moisture and groundwater dynamics during drought in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Variable Infiltration Capacity model coupled with MODFLOW (VICMF) was implemented and several variables were used in the Multivariate Standardized Drought Index (MSDI) that consider multivariate perspectives of droughts. Three drought indices were derived (MSDI_PSV, MSDI_PSM, MSDI_PWM) (PSV: Precipitation and Soil moisture from VIC; PSM: Precipitation and Soil moisture from VICMF, PWM: Precipitation and WTE from VICMF), and the accuracy of the results was verified using a performance measure (Drought area Agreement (%); DA) and a statistical test to evaluate spatial extent of the drought areas. The MSDI_PWM showed better results for predicting drought events as it captured overall drought conditions.
Deference to Delaware Corporate Law Precedents and Shareholder Wealth: An Empirical Analysis

Delaware is home to more than half of all public corporations, and its market share among initial public offerings is even higher. Not surprisingly, therefore, an extensive body of literature is dedicated to exploring the causes and consequences of Delaware's preeminence as a state of incorporation. There exists, however, a second and largely ignored dimension in which Delaware has come to dominate U.S. corporate law: the common law process. Courts in numerous other states now accord Delaware case law a previously unheard-of level of deference: many state judiciaries have declared explicitly that they will look to Delaware cases in deciding open legal questions. In this paper, I undertake an empirical analysis of Delaware's impact on the corporate common law of other states. Using a hand-collected dataset of state and federal cases, I gain a number of important insights. First, deference to Delaware may be driven in part by functional considerations. States that have based their law on the Model Business Corporation Act (MBCA) and can therefore rely on case law from other MBCA states are less likely to defer to Delaware precedents. Second, firms are more likely to incorporate locally if their home states' courts look to Delaware precedents in corporate law matters. Third, stocks of corporations that are incorporated in the deferring state tend to experience positive abnormal returns at the time of court decisions that introduce the principle of deferring to Delaware case law. Fourth, there is some, albeit mixed, evidence that that stock price reaction is substantially stronger for those firms where agency conflicts between managers and shareholders are more pronounced. This last finding is intuitive in the sense that well-governed firms, if they stood to benefit from the application of Delaware case law, might already have (re)incorporated in Delaware.
iPad Use Among Older Women with Low Vision: Follow-Up Focus Group Findings.

Technology can enable efficient, effective, and independent performance of daily occupations and enhance social and leisure participation. This paper describes the findings of a qualitative study e...
Animal Models of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness that is most commonly associated with acute episodes of mania and depression. While several treatments for bipolar disorder exist, these treatments were discovered either serendipitously or by utilizing treatments that were originally developed for other psychiatric illnesses. The mechanism(s) by which these treatments act are currently unknown, as are the neurobiological underpinnings of the disease. Developing animal models of the disease represents an avenue by which the disease mechanism and putative therapeutics can be investigated. To date, however, animal models of bipolar disorder remain unconvincing and further developmental research is required.
Techniques to Estimate Colostrum Quality and the Effects of Cow Age and Pre-Partum Supplement Intake Levels on Colostrum Quality and Serum IgG Levels

This study evaluated cow age and supplement intake level during gestation on the quality of colostrum at calving, cow serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels at parturition, and serum IgG levels of the calf 3-days post-partum using two refractometer methods. Forty-five multiparous Angus cows were selected from a contemporary group of 300 cows that were winter grazing northern mixed grass prairie rangelands with free choice protein supplement. Specifically, 15 first service bred cows were selected for each of the following winter grazing supplement intake treatment groups: 1) low supplement intake (> -0.75 SD); 2) average supplement intake (± 0.50 SD); 3) high supplement intake (> +0.75 SD). Supplement intakes were measured using a SmartFeed Pro self-feeder system with 8 feeding units. Measurements were obtained from day 164 to 215 of gestation. Cows were further divided by age comparing young (4, 5, and 6 yr) to old (7, 8 and 9 yr). The results of this study suggest that cow age did not interact with supplement intake for colostrum or blood serum measurements ( P ≥ 0.29). In addition, cow age and supplement intake did not influence colostrum Brix %, calf serum total protein, or cow serum total protein taken at birth ( P ≥ 0.14). The optical refractometer was found to be a good alternative to the more expensive digital refractometer ( P < 0.01; R = .96). In summary, cow age and supplement intake levels of mature cows during the mid to late stages of gestation did not influence colostrum quality at birth.
An Exploratory Examination of Auditor Liability Caps

There have been calls for auditor liability reform in U.S. and international markets. A frequent recommendation is to place a ceiling, or cap, on auditors’ potential liabilities. Despite the interest in liability caps, a lack of publicly available data has precluded researchers from studying these agreements. We examine a unique sample of 111 companies that publicly disclose auditor liability caps during 2005 and 2006, a time period in which there was uncertainty in the regulatory guidance regarding the impact of auditor liability caps on auditor independence. Our analysis addresses two research questions. First, does the presence of auditor liability caps vary depending on client risk characteristics? We find some evidence of heightened risk in companies with liability caps. Relative to a control sample, our liability cap sample is more concentrated in high-litigation risk industries and reports internal control weaknesses with greater frequency. Second, does the presence of an auditor liability cap impact audit fees? Consistent with the insurance hypothesis for audit pricing, we find a negative relation between audit fees and companies with liability caps.
A study of tachykinin-immunoreactive neurons in monkey cerebral cortex

Immunocytochemical methods were used to localize tachykinin-like immunoreactivity within neurons of the monkey cerebral cortex. Three primary antibodies were used: polyclonal antisera raised against fragments of substance P and substance K that excluded the carboxyl termini of these peptides, and a monoclonal antibody that recognized the carboxyl terminus of the tachykinin family. Each antibody stained 2 populations of cortical nonpyramidal neurons: (1) A small number of large, intensely stained cells that give rise to long, coarsely beaded processes; (2) a relatively large number of small, lightly stained cells that are embedded in dense plexuses of stained punctate profiles. The large, dark cells are present in a superficial band that includes layers II and III, and in a deep band that includes layer VI and the subjacent white matter. The smaller, pale cells are present in the middle layers of cortex (layers IV and/or V). Colocalization studies indicate that virtually all the small tachykinin-immunoreactive neurons also display GABA immunoreactivity. The larger cells are not GABA- positive, but display both somatostatin-like and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity. The immunocytochemically stained beaded processes and punctate profiles from plexuses that vary in density and laminar distribution among different areas of monkey cortex. The coarsely beaded processes form a basic quadrilaminar pattern, with relatively dense plexuses in layers I and VI and in 2 middle layers, usually III and V. However, this pattern varies considerably from area to area. Electron microscopically, the large cells contain a rich collection of cytoplasmic organelles, particularly Golgi complex, while the small cells contain relatively few organelles. Both types of cells, including large neurons in the white matter, receive symmetric and asymmetric synaptic contacts on their somata and proximal dendrites. The numbers of these axosomatic contacts are low. Virtually all synaptic contacts formed by immunoreactive terminals possess symmetric membrane thickenings. In 2 areas examined in detail (areas 2 and 4), pyramidal cell somata and dendrites are the major targets of the immunoreactive synaptic terminals.
SPORADIC-E AS OBSERVED WITH ROCKETS

Data obtained with rockets flown over New Mexico, U.S.A. and Manitoba, Canada have always shown the sporadic-E layer to be a thin layer with a large electron density gradient. The vertical electron density profiles and the horizontal uniformity of the sporadic-E layer are discussed herein. These layers have a strong tendency to form at preferential altitudes separated by approximately 6 km, and a striking correlation exists with wind- shears and magnetic field variations. In two cases where comparisons with ionograms were possible, the minimum frequency of the F-region echoes was found approximately equal to the plasma frequency of the sporadic-E layer reduced by half the gyrofrequency. On the other hand, the maximum frequency of the sporadic-E echoes as noted on ionograms was sometimes as much as 1 to 2 Mc greater than the plasma frequency.
Evidence for vortices in the pseudogap region of Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7 from angular magnetoresistivity measurements.

In-plane angular magnetoresistivity $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{ab}^{\mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{s}}$ measurements were made on ${\mathrm{Y}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{r}}_{x}\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{a}}_{2}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{u}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ single crystals in the pseudogap region. For $x\ensuremath{\ge}0.2$ single crystals, $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{ab}^{\mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{s}}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ displays a deviation from the typical quasiparticle contribution ($\ensuremath{\propto}{sin﻿}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}$) for temperatures smaller than a certain value ${T}_{\ensuremath{\phi}}$ in the pseudogap region. This deviation is consistent with a flux-flow type contribution to angular magnetoresistivity, indicating the presence of vortexlike excitations above the zero-field critical temperature in the pseudogap region.
Population References for Plasma Total Homocysteine Concentrations for U.S. Children and Adolescents in the Post-Folic Acid Fortification Era

Folate intake is inversely related to circulating total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations. Elevated tHcy is a risk factor for vascular diseases. The objectives of this study were to present plasma tHcy distributions and investigate the association between tHcy and sex, age, and race-ethnicity in U.S. children and adolescents (3264 boys and 3197 girls) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 conducted in the post-folic acid fortification era. Plasma tHcy was higher in boys than in girls (P < 0.0001), and higher in older children (16-18 y old) than in younger children (3-15 y old) (P < 0.0001). The difference in plasma tHcy between boys and girls was greater in the 16- to 18-y-old group than in any other age group studied (P < 0.05). Age-adjusted plasma tHcy concentrations were approximately 6.8, approximately 10.5, and approximately 8.8% higher in boys than in girls in non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and Mexican American/Hispanic (MA/H) children, respectively. Sex- and age-adjusted plasma tHcy concentrations (geometric means +/- SE) were 5.04 +/- 0.05, 5.01 +/- 0.06, and 4.99 +/- 0.06 micromol/L in the NHW, NHB, and MA/H groups, respectively. Race-ethnicity was not related to plasma tHcy in age-adjusted analysis for boys (P < 0.77) and girls (P < 0.26), and in sex- and age-adjusted analysis (P < 0.38) for all children. The plasma tHcy concentrations begin to rise between ages 8 and 11 y, and the age-related increase is greater in boys than in girls.
Examining the Possible Molecular Origins for Enamel Protein Complexity

Our strategy was to examine each of the three loci capable of contributing to the observed complexity 0 of mouse amelogenin proteins recovered from forming enamel: the genome (gene); the transcription apparatus (messenger RNA); and the translation apparatus (proteins). Our approach was based on recombinant DNA technology and a complementary DNA (cDNA) clone, pMa5-5, specific to the predominant mouse amelogenin protein. An "artificial ameloblast" was engineered based on pMa5-5 and the resulting synthetic products compared to those from authentic ameloblasts. First, the genome probably is not responsible for amelogenin complexity: Southern analysis indicates that the amelogenin gene exists as a single copy in either differentiated dental tissue or germ line tissue. Thus, ectomesenchymal-derived instructive signals for ameloblast differentiation do not lead to re-arrangement or amplification of the amelogenin gene. Next, using nucleic acid hybridization techniques, we examined messenger RNA from mouse amelob...
Inter-organization networks: implications of access control: requirements for interconnection protocol

When two or more distinct organizations interconnect their internal computer networks they form an Inter-Organization Network(ION). IONs support the exchange of cad/cam data between manufacturers and subcontractors, software distribution from vendors to users, customer input to suppliers' order-entry systems, and the shared use of expensive computational resources by research laboratories, as examples. This paper analyzes the technical implications of interconnecting networks across organization boundaries.After analyzing the organization context in which IONs are used, we demonstrate that such interconnections are not satisfied by traditional network design criteria of connectivity and transparency. To the contrary, a primary high-level requirement is access control, and participating organizations must be able to limit connectivity and make network boundaries visible. We describe a scheme based on non-discretionary control which allows interconnecting organizations to combine gateway, network, and system-level mechanisms to enforce cross-boundary control over invocation and information flow, while minimizing interference with internal operations.Access control requirements such as these impose new requirements on the underlying interconnection protocols. We demonstrate such alternative interconnection protocols that support loose coupling across administrative boundaries and that accommodate the necessary control mechanisms. Message-based gateways that support non-real-time invocation of services (e.g., file and print servers, financial transactions, VLSI design tools, etc.) are a promising basis for such loose couplings.
The primary sequence of murine caveolin reveals a conserved consensus site for phosphorylation by protein kinase C.

Abstract We report here the cloning of the murine cDNA encoding caveolin, a known v-Src substrate and caveolar marker protein. Interestingly, analysis of the murine cDNA and comparison with caveolin from other species reveals a previously unrecognized consensus site for protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation. This finding could have important implications as (i) both the morphology and function of caveolae are dramatically affected by PKC activators; and (ii) PKC, is concentrated in isolated caveolin-rich membrane domains. In addition, this first step should facilitate the use of the mouse as a genetic system for elucidating the role of caveolin in caveolar functioning.
Palmaroproximal approach for arthrocentesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in horses

A technique was developed for arthrocentesis of the palmaroproximal pouch of the pastern joint. The landmark for percutaneous puncture is a 'V' shaped depression formed by the palmar aspect of the proximal phalanx (P1) dorsally, an eminence associated with the attachment of the collateral ligaments to P1 and the middle phalanx distally and the insertion of the lateral branch of the superficial digital flexor tendon palmarodistally. Comparison of arthrocentesis between the palmaroproximal approach and the traditional dorsal approach in 8 cadavers and 8 horses demonstrated that the palmaroproximal approach was associated with less needle manipulation, greater injection volume (horses) and frequent synovial fluid flow.
Rattling the binary: symbolic power, gender, and embodied colonial legacies

In 2009, the 18-year-old South African runner Caster Semenya was accused of being male and forced to undergo gender testing. After much obfuscation and misreporting, Semenya was cleared to compete as a woman. Semenya's experience exposes the problematic ways in which masculinity and femininity are harnessed to the categories of male and female as well as the ways in which they are embodied by men and women. This paper contemplates how binaries are mobilized and boundaries maintained – as is contemporarily evident in responses to Semenya's gender troubles. It reads Pierre Bourdieu's theory of symbolic power against an example of British Imperialism and illustrates how gender (and its uneasy mapping on to bodies) is implicated and imbricated in colonial historiography and knowledge practices. The paper concludes with Lois McNay's suggestion that gender is a lived relation, which requires coming to terms with the relationship between agency and experience, and recognizes that gendered people are the subjects...
Dehumidification heat transfer on copper surfaces

Abstract Heat transfer during dehumidification on a vertical copper surface is studied and a correlation was developed to relate the heat transfer coefficient, relative humidity, and surface-to-ambient temperature difference. The heat transfer coefficient at various humidity levels and surface-to-ambient temperature differences were obtained experimentally. Variations of about ∼200% in heat transfer coefficient were observed between low and high humidity levels. Unlike for pure condensation, it was observed that the heat transfer coefficient is higher for filmwise condensation than for dropwise condensation. It is hypothesized that the non-condensable gas insulates regions where condensation does not take place.
Heterogeneity in SDF-1 Expression Defines the Vasculogenic Potential of Adult Cardiac Progenitor Cells

Rationale The adult myocardium has been reported to harbor several classes of multipotent progenitor cells (CPCs) with tri-lineage differentiation potential. It is not clear whether c-kit+CPCs represent a uniform precursor population or a more complex mixture of cell types. Objective To characterize and understand vasculogenic heterogeneity within c-kit+presumptive cardiac progenitor cell populations. Methods and Results c-kit+, sca-1+ CPCs obtained from adult mouse left ventricle expressed stem cell-associated genes, including Oct-4 and Myc, and were self-renewing, pluripotent and clonogenic. Detailed single cell clonal analysis of 17 clones revealed that most (14/17) exhibited trilineage differentiation potential. However, striking morphological differences were observed among clones that were heritable and stable in long-term culture. 3 major groups were identified: round (7/17), flat or spindle-shaped (5/17) and stellate (5/17). Stellate morphology was predictive of vasculogenic differentiation in Matrigel. Genome-wide expression studies and bioinformatic analysis revealed clonally stable, heritable differences in stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) expression that correlated strongly with stellate morphology and vasculogenic capacity. Endogenous SDF-1 production contributed directly to vasculogenic differentiation: both shRNA-mediated knockdown of SDF-1 and AMD3100, an antagonist of the SDF-1 receptor CXC chemokine Receptor-4 (CXCR4), reduced tube-forming capacity, while exogenous SDF-1 induced tube formation by 2 non-vasculogenic clones. CPCs producing SDF-1 were able to vascularize Matrigel dermal implants in vivo, while CPCs with low SDF-1 production were not. Conclusions Clonogenic c-kit+, sca-1+ CPCs are heterogeneous in morphology, gene expression patterns and differentiation potential. Clone-specific levels of SDF-1 expression both predict and promote development of a vasculogenic phenotype via a previously unreported autocrine mechanism.
Insulin resistance syndrome in childhood: associations of the euglycemic insulin clamp and fasting insulin with fatness and other risk factors.

Abstract Objective: Our objective was to describe in children the relation of fatness and insulin resistance to the risk factors associated with the insulin resistance syndrome and to compare fasting insulin with the euglycemic insulin clamp as a measure of insulin resistance in children. Study design: This was a random selection of participants after blood pressure screening of 12,043 students in the fifth through eighth grades. Euglycemic insulin clamp studies with an insulin infusion rate of 1 mU/kg/min and a variable infusion of 20% glucose to maintain euglycemia, that is, plasma glucose at 5.6 mmol/L. Insulin sensitivity (M lbm ) is defined as the amount of glucose required to maintain euglycemia (milligrams of glucose infused per kilogram lean body mass per minute). Results: Body mass index was significantly correlated with fasting insulin and significantly inversely correlated with M lbm . Fasting insulin was significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure in both sexes, all lipids, except high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in males and triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in females, but after adjustment was done for body mass index, it was significantly related only to triglycerides. M lbm was significantly correlated only with triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and this did not change after adjustment was done for body mass index. A clustering effect for the risk factors was seen in children in the lowest quartile of M lbm (highest degree of insulin resistance) compared with children in the highest quartile of M lbm (lowest degree of insulin resistance). Conclusions: As defined by M lbm , there is an early association of insulin resistance, independent of body fat, with the risk factors. There is a significant relation between fasting insulin, as an estimate of insulin resistance, and the risk factors, but this is significantly influenced by body fatness. The clustering of risk factors according to level of M lbm suggests that adult cardiovascular disease is more likely to develop in children with the greatest degree of insulin resistance. (J Pediatr 2001;139:700–7)
C-reactive protein concentration and incident hypertension in young adults: the CARDIA study.

Background There is increasing evidence that C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, a measure of inflammation, is an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension in older adults. However, it is unknown whether a similar relationship exists in younger individuals. Methods The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study was initiated in 1985-1986 to determine the factors that are associated with coronary risk development in young adults. C-reactive protein concentrations were measured in 3919 African American and white men and women enrolled in CARDIA using blood specimens from the year 7 examination (1992-1993), when the age of the cohort was 25 to 37 years, and the year 15 examination (2000-2001). Results In unadjusted analyses, CRP concentrations greater than 3 mg/L, compared with those less than 1 mg/L, was associated with a 79% greater risk of incident hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40-2.28). However, CRP concentration did not predict risk of incident hypertension after adjusting for year 7 body mass index (BMI) (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.86-1.53) or year 7 BMI and other potential confounders (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.83-1.52). In addition, year 7 CRP concentration was not associated with change in systolic or diastolic blood pressure after adjusting for BMI ( P = .10 and P = .70, respectively). These findings were similar within each of the race- and sex-specific groups. Conclusion C-reactive protein is associated with hypertension in young adults, but in contrast to the finding in older populations, the association is no longer present after adjusting for BMI.
Misguided Good Intentions

A 3-day-old infant unexpectedly developed cardiopulmonary arrest at home. A resuscitation process was initiated and the infant was transported to a nearby community hospital where a highly respected senior pediatrician assumed responsibility for the prolonged resuscitation. Following cessation of aggressive support measures, the infant resumed gasping/respiratory efforts. The pediatrician admitted to occluding the infant's nose and mouth just before death. Several of the important medical issues and ethical distinctions are discussed.
Conductivity of group IV metal sulfophosphonates and a new class of interstratified metal amine-sulfophosphonates

A series of zirconium and titanium phosphate sulfophenylphosphonates of the type M(HPO4)x(O3PC6H4SO3H)2 − x were prepared and characterized. They were found to exhibit proton conductivities which increased rapidly with increase in relative humidity (RH). At a RH of 85% and 25 °C conductivities of the order of 2.1–13 × 10−2Ω−1 cm−1 were observed. At constant RH these compounds exhibit Arrhenius type behavior up to at least 100 °C. A new class of compounds of the type [M(HPO4)x(O3PC6H4SO3H)2 − x][M′(HPO4)x(O3PRNH2)2 − x], M = Ti, Zr, Th, has been prepared by self-assembly methods. These compounds also exhibit proton conductivities that rapidly increase with the RH. Their conductivities are one to two orders of magnitude less than the pure sulfophosphonates but they are much more stable to swelling in aqueous media. Their strong dependence on RH recommends them for use as humidity sensors.
Effect of harassment and competition upon cardiovascular and plasma catecholamine responses in type A and type B individuals.

Two experiments examined the relationship between Type A behavior and cardiovascular and plasma catecholamine responses to experimental competition and harassment. Experiment I showed that, in 44 male adults, the presence of a hostile opponent caused no significant differences in the responses of Type B's. In A's, by contrast, hostility elicited greater increases in systolic blood pressure, heart rate and plasma epinephrine during competition. Behavior pattern A appears selectively predisposed to enhanced reaction to hostile interactions, but competition alone does not distinguish between individuals with A and B behavior patterns. Experiment II, with 20 cases, was carried out to determine whether or not the absence of A-B differences in the presence of a nonhostile competitor could be explained by Type B's reactivity to the challenge of competition alone. The results were consistent with this interpretation. A's showed greater blood pressure and plasma epinephrine evaluations than B's when both types were confronted by the challenge of task performance. Consideration was given to the role of sympathetic activation in mediating the tendency of Type A individuals to develop coronary heart disease.
Ab initio study of silicon in the R 8 phase

We present a detailed {ital ab initio} study of the electronic and structural properties of the recently discovered R8 phase of silicon. Within the framework of density-functional theory in the local-density approximation and using pseudopotentials with a plane-wave basis, we study the energetics of the R8 phase compared to the other tetrahedrally bonded diamond, {beta}-Sn, and BC8 phases. The bonding properties and the pressure dependence of the bond lengths of the BC8 and R8 phases are investigated. An analysis of the band structure reveals that R8 silicon could be a semimetal or semiconductor with a small, indirect band gap. Our computed density of states of R8 silicon shows a sharpening of the valence-band edge similar to the one observed for amorphous silicon. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}