cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secretory IGA differentially promotes adherence of type 1-piliated Escherichia coli to immortalized vaginal epithelial cell lines.

Objectives. To elucidate the factors that influence bacterial adherence to vaginal epithelium. We developed an in vitro model to examine the interaction of type 1-piliated Escherichia coli, strain HB101/p1-17, with immortalized vaginal epithelial cells (VEC) from postmenopausal donors with (patient 1) and without (patient 2) clinical histories of urinary tract infections (UTI). Methods. The VEC were incubated in microtiter plates in the presence of E. coli HB101/p1-17, and factors such as time, mannose concentration, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentration were assessed. After incubation, the numbers of bacteria bound per VEC were counted on a scintillation counter. Results. The E. coli adhered to the VEC and the adherence was inhibited in the presence of 100-mM mannose solution. Clinical donor UTI histories were reflected in the binding characteristics of the VEC cell lines, with cells from patient 1 having a 30% higher baseline binding capacity than cells from patient 2 and an enhanced binding response in the presence of increasing sIgA concentrations. The sIgA concentration did not affect the patient 2 cell–bacterial binding. Conclusions. These results indicate that our in vitro model is suitable for studying the factors influencing bacterial adherence to vaginal mucosa, and that after immortalization, vaginal mucosa maintains clinically relevant characteristics that can be studied. Our data suggest that E. coli adherence to vaginal mucosa from postmenopausal women susceptible to UTI is affected by intrinsic baseline bacterial binding capacity of the mucosa cells as well as by increased sIgA concentration in the women’s vaginal fluid. Increasing vaginal fluid sIgA concentration in this population may have a deleterious rather than beneficial effect.
Antenna Technologies for Future NASA Exploration Missions

NASA s plans for the manned exploration of the moon and Mars will rely heavily on the development of a reliable communications infrastructure on the surface and back to Earth. Future missions will thus focus not only on gathering scientific data, but also on the formation of the communications network. In either case, unique requirements become imposed on the antenna technologies necessary to accomplish these tasks. For example, surface activity applications such as robotic rovers, human extravehicular activities (EVA), and probes will require small size, lightweight, low power, multi-functionality, and robustness for the antenna elements being considered. Trunk-line communications to a centralized habitat on the surface and back to Earth (e.g., surface relays, satellites, landers) will necessitate wide-area coverage, high gain, low mass, deployable antennas. Likewise, the plethora of low to high data rate services desired to guarantee the safety and quality of mission data for robotic and human exploration will place additional demands on the technology. Over the past year, NASA Glenn Research Center has been heavily involved in the development of candidate antenna technologies with the potential for meeting these strict requirements. This technology ranges from electrically small antennas to phased array and large inflatable structures. A summary of this overall effort is provided, with particular attention being paid to small antenna designs and applications. A discussion of the Agency-wide activities of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) in forthcoming NASA missions, as they pertain to the communications architecture for the lunar and Martian networks is performed, with an emphasis on the desirable qualities of potential antenna element designs for envisioned communications assets. Identified frequency allocations for the lunar and Martian surfaces, as well as asset-specific data services will be described to develop a foundation for viable antenna technologies which might address these requirements and help guide future technology development decisions.
Metastatic adenocarcinoma to the distal fibula

This 71-year-old woman presented with atraumatic ankle pain. Her radiographic work-up resulted in the diagnosis of metastatic lung carcinoma to the distal fibula with extensive bony erosion and pathological fracture. Although such cancers may often spread to bone, the locale in the distal fibula is apparently quite rare. An aggressive one-stage treatment of excisional biopsy and application of a cement and screw-plate construct allowed early return to weight-bearing. Such treatment protocol should be considered when the lifespan of these patients may be limited.
Trophic accumulation of PSP toxins in zooplankton during Alexandrium fundyense blooms in Casco Bay, Gulf of Maine, April–June 1998. I. Toxin levels in A. fundyense and zooplankton size fractions

Abstract The transfer of marine algal toxins involving a range of phytoplanktivorous vectors is well documented as a means of exposing organisms at higher trophic levels (including humans) to these naturally occurring yet harmful compounds. While previous studies have examined the potential for, and dynamics of, algal toxin accumulation by individual zooplankton species, few have attempted to distinguish the contribution of various grazer size classes to toxin trophic transfer in natural communities and characterize some of the factors that can influence this process. The current investigation was aimed at describing the size-fractioned (64–100, 100–200, 200–500, >500 μm) accumulation of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins by zooplankton in Casco Bay and the adjacent coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine during a series of cruises from April to June 1998. Several variables, including the abundance of PSP toxin-producing Alexandrium fundyense , in-water toxin concentrations associated with this dinoflagellate, and algal toxin cell quotas, were measured and their relationship to zooplankton toxin accumulation assessed. A principal finding of this work was the ability of any grazer size class examined (including grazers present in the 20–64 μm A. fundyense -containing fraction) to serve as an initial vector for introducing PSP toxins into the Casco Bay food web at various times during the sampling period, thereby providing multiple potential routes of toxin trophic transfer. In addition, trends observed in the coincident mapping of A. fundyense cells and their associated toxin were generally in agreement, yet did not remain closely coupled at all times. Therefore, although A. fundyense abundance can be a reasonable indicator of PSP toxin presence in the phytoplankton, this relationship can vary considerably and lead to situations where elevated toxin levels occur at low cell concentrations and vice versa. The uncoupling of A. fundyense cell and in-water toxin concentrations in the 20–64 μm, A. fundyense -containing size fraction implied fluctuations in the algal toxin cell quota, which ranged from ca. 10 to 2000 fmol STX equiv. cell −1 . Some of this variability may reflect the changing presence in this size fraction of grazers (e.g., tintinnids) capable of toxin accumulation, causing an upward bias in A. fundyense toxin cell quota estimates. Overall, the extent of PSP toxin transfer into zooplankton will be determined by a complex interaction among several factors, including A. fundyense and grazer abundance, algal toxin cell quota, and zooplankton community composition. An ability to predict zooplankton toxin accumulation will require further investigation of the relationships between these and other factors, aimed specifically at modeling the process of toxin trophic transfer to grazers and ultimately to their predators.
Cross polarization magic-angle spinning 13C NMR spectra of oil shales

Cross plarization magic-angle spinning 13C NMR spectra have been obtained on oil shales representing a variety of geologic ages, origins, depositional environments, and source locations. The spectra show variations in the aliphatic and aromatic carbon distributions of the oil shales and reveal correlations between aliphatic carbon contents and potential shale oil yields. Hints of additional fine structure are present in the spectra of some samples, and examples are given of the spectral resolution that may be obtainable on other solid samples of geochemical interest.
tRNA Integrity Is A Prerequisite for Rapid CCA Addition: Implication for Quality Control

CCA addition to the 3' end is an essential step in tRNA maturation. High-resolution crystal structures of the CCA enzymes reveal primary enzyme contact with the tRNA minihelix domain, consisting of the acceptor stem and T stem-loop. RNA and DNA minihelices are efficient substrates for CCA addition in steady-state kinetics. However, in contrast to structural models and steady-state experiments, we show here by single-turnover kinetics that minihelices are insufficient substrates for the Escherichia coli CCA enzyme and that only the full-length tRNA is kinetically competent. Even a nick in the full-length tRNA backbone in the T loop, or as far away from the minihelix domain as in the anticodon loop, prevents efficient CCA addition. These results suggest a kinetic quality control provided by the CCA enzyme to inspect the integrity of the tRNA molecule and to discriminate against nicked or damaged species from further maturation.
Multidimensional evaluation of impurity profiles for generic cephalexin and cefaclor antibiotics

A multidimensional approach is described for characterizing impurities in samples of generic cefaclor and cephalexin antibiotics. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with gradient elution followed by photodiode array or mass spectrometric detection provides valuable information concerning the nature of impurities observed. Results are presented which demonstrate the utility of these techniques for identifying impurities and distinguishing among process-related impurities, degradation products and formulation excipients. Preparative HPLC isolation and spectroscopic identification of some impurities is also described.
Regulation of corneal collagenase production: stimulation of serially passaged stromal cells by blood mononuclear cells

Abstract After three or more passages, stromal cell out-growths from explants of normal rabbit corneas and from corneas previously burned with alkali did not produce collagenase until they were stimulated by the addition of rabbit blood-derived mononuclear cells or media conditioned by them. Normal stromal cells required stimulation by lymphocytes or their products from alkali-burned animals, whereas those from alkali-burned corneas were stimulated by lymphocytes from either normal or alkali-burned rabbits.
NCIC: a software tool for capital investment analysis in manufacturing

Abstract The strategic benefits of advanced manufacturing technology are hard to quantify, making it uncertain how to include them in the capital investment justification process. This has led to the adoption of multi-criteria techniques in which direct cost savings is but one of several criteria used to evaluate investment alternatives. NCIC (non-traditional capital investment criteria) is a software tool developed by the authors that facilitates the incorporation of difficult-to-quantify benefits and costs into capital budgeting. It combines a framework for clarifying non-traditional criteria with a procedure for subjectively assessing criteria merit in dollar terms. Their values can then be incorporated in a conventional present worth analysis. In this article we describe the NCIC methodology, the software architecture, and user screens. A case study in justifying advanced manufacturing technology using NCIC is also described.
Dealing with dissonance: responding to an incongruent test result in a new media environment.

Abstract In a new media environment replete with opportunities to test and express political identity, this study examines how people respond when confronted with a political test result that contradicts their partisan affiliation. An incongruent test result should produce motivated processing, but only when individuals do not dismiss the incongruent result will they experience dissonance and alter their social identification. Using a series of experiments, the results of this study supported these hypotheses. Implications of these findings for political psychology and message response are discussed.
Effect of obesity on esophageal transit

Esophageal transit time as measured by radionuclide scintigraphy using a swallowed technetium sulfur colloid bolus was measured in obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux, lean patients with reflux, and lean volunteers without reflux. The esophageal transit time was significantly prolonged in the obese group compared with both lean groups (p less than 0.001). Esophageal manometric measurement also confirmed that obese patients have an elevated gastroesophageal pressure gradient, presumably caused by increased intraabdominal pressure resulting from the mechanical burden of excess fat. The esophageal transit time is significantly related to the gastroesophageal pressure gradient. This finding, coupled with those in previous manometric investigations showing that esophageal muscle has a decreased maximum velocity with increasing afterload, explains in part why obese patients have delayed esophageal transit time. Therapy for reflux in obese patients should be aimed at improving esophageal transit.
GARY BECKER’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMICS OF MATCHING AND MARRIAGE

In his seminal, 1973 paper, published in the Journal of Political Economy, Gary Becker emphasizes marriage as a crucial, yet understudied issue to which economic analysis could, therefore should, be applied. In his words: “Yet, one type of behavior has been almost completely ignored by economists, although scarce resources are used and it has been followed in some form by practically all adults in every recorded society. I refer to marriage.” (p. 814)
On Aerobic Exercise and Behavioral and Neural Plasticity

Aerobic exercise promotes rapid and profound alterations in the brain. Depending upon the pattern and duration of exercise, these changes in the brain may extend beyond traditional motor areas to regions and structures normally linked to learning, cognition, and emotion. Exercise-induced alterations may include changes in blood flow, hormone and growth factor release, receptor expression, angiogenesis, apoptosis, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Together, we believe that these changes underlie elevations of mood and prompt the heightened behavioral plasticity commonly observed following adoption of a chronic exercise regimen. In the following paper, we will explore both the psychological and psychobiological literatures relating to exercise effects on brain in both human and non-human animals and will attempt to link plastic changes in these neural structures to modifications in learned behavior and emotional expression. In addition, we will explore the therapeutic potential of exercise given recent reports that aerobic exercise may serve as a neuroprotectant and can also slow cognitive decline during normal and pathological aging.
A modeling study of the effect of pH on carbon limited algal biofilms

Abstract A model was developed that describes concentration profiles and flux of carbon into inorganic carbon-limited algal biofilms. The model considers carbon dioxide utilization and production from photosynthesis and respiration, diffusion of the inorganic carbon species, and pH changes due to CO2 utilization. The overall material balance gave a nonlinear ordinary differential equation coupled with an integral differential equation. This system was solved using a Runge-Kutta-Verner fifth and sixth order method. The bulk (interfacial) total carbon and pH were assumed fixed. The boundary value problem was solved with a shooting technique, where the interfacial slope was initially guessed and subsequently adjusted using the secant method. The results showed that bulk carbon concentration and bulk pH were both important aspects of inorganic carbon limitation. Parameter sensitivity was also addressed; model parameters that were found to be important to the results include diffusion coefficients, maximum utilization rate, half-saturation coefficient, and biofilm density. Results were found to be insensitive to the respiration coefficient.
Iterative Trust and Reputation Management Using Belief Propagation

In this paper, we introduce the first application of the belief propagation algorithm in the design and evaluation of trust and reputation management systems. We approach the reputation management problem as an inference problem and describe it as computing marginal likelihood distributions from complicated global functions of many variables. However, we observe that computing the marginal probability functions is computationally prohibitive for large-scale reputation systems. Therefore, we propose to utilize the belief propagation algorithm to efficiently (in linear complexity) compute these marginal probability distributions; resulting a fully iterative probabilistic and belief propagation-based approach (referred to as BP-ITRM). BP-ITRM models the reputation system on a factor graph. By using a factor graph, we obtain a qualitative representation of how the consumers (buyers) and service providers (sellers) are related on a graphical structure. Further, by using such a factor graph, the global functions factor into products of simpler local functions, each of which depends on a subset of the variables. Then, we compute the marginal probability distribution functions of the variables representing the reputation values (of the service providers) by message passing between nodes in the graph. We show that BP-ITRM is reliable in filtering out malicious/unreliable reports. We provide a detailed evaluation of BP-ITRM via analysis and computer simulations. We prove that BP-ITRM iteratively reduces the error in the reputation values of service providers due to the malicious raters with a high probability. Further, we observe that this probability drops suddenly if a particular fraction of malicious raters is exceeded, which introduces a threshold property to the scheme. Furthermore, comparison of BP-ITRM with some well-known and commonly used reputation management techniques (e.g., Averaging Scheme, Bayesian Approach, and Cluster Filtering) indicates the superiority of the proposed scheme in terms of robustness against attacks (e.g., ballot stuffing, bad mouthing). Finally, BP-ITRM introduces a linear complexity in the number of service providers and consumers, far exceeding the efficiency of other schemes.
Spatially-Resolved Interfacial Electrochemistry: Ohmic Microscopy

A method is herein described that allows spatially resolved capacitive currents at electrode|electrolyte interfaces to be recorded in situ by monitoring the ohmic drop in the electrolyte, Δφsol, using two microreference electrodes. Measurements were performed in 0.1 M H2SO4 aqueous solutions using Au and Pt either as single or dual working electrodes, that is, connected to one another, in an otherwise conventional three-electrode electrochemical cell. Plots of Δφsol versus E, the potential of the dual Au|Pt electrode with respect to the main reference electrode, recorded during voltammetric cycles, yielded curves bearing features characteristic of the Au|0.1 M H2SO4 or Pt|0.1 M H2SO4 interface depending on whether the microreference electrodes were placed close to the Au or Pt electrode surface, respectively. Extensions of this methodology to measurements in the micrometer domain are discussed briefly.
Magnitude of Underascertainment of Impaired Kidney Function in Older Adults with Normal Serum Creatinine

Kidney function is assessed in clinical practice to screen for kidney disease, to adapt dosage of medications for renal clearance, and to follow the evolution of known kidney disease. Because renal disease has different clinical presentations and patients are often asymptomatic, it is important to assess kidney function as accurately as possible, especially in older adults, since there is a progressive decline in renal function with age. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best quantification of kidney function,1 but because it cannot be measured directly, it is estimated from serum concentration or urinary clearance of a filtration marker. Exogenous filtration markers such as inulin, which is the criterion standard filtration marker, give accurate estimates of GFR,2 but determining them is complex and expensive, has potential complications, and is inappropriate for general use. Currently, serum creatinine is the most widely used method of assessing renal function in clinical practice, although it has been well established that serum creatinine alone may not be well correlated with true GFR.3,4 Indeed, as renal function declines, tubular creatinine secretion increases, leading to a blunted and delayed rise in serum creatinine concentration, which reaches the abnormal range only when more than half of the total filtration rate is lost.3 Furthermore, because creatinine is derived from the metabolism of creatine in the muscle and from dietary meat intake, factors related to reduced muscle mass, a potential problem in old age, and low dietary meat intake have a strong effect on serum creatinine concentration.4 To account for muscle mass, different estimation equations of GFR adjust serum creatinine concentration for different demographic characteristics and body composition variables. These include the Cockcroft–Gault equation5 or the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation.6 Despite the fact that serum creatinine is well known to be poorly correlated with GFR, and despite availability of different estimation equations, many clinicians continue to rely solely on serum creatinine as a measure of renal function and interpret a normal serum creatinine as indicating normal renal function. But how many patients with impaired kidney function are missed when relying on serum creatinine alone? Do women have the same risk of misclassification as men? Does this risk change according to body mass index (BMI)? The purpose of this article is to estimate the magnitude of renal function misclassification in a community-dwelling elderly population with normal serum creatinine values and to describe the participant characteristics related to misclassification.
ANGULAR ACCELERATION OF VISCOELASTIC (KELVIN) MATERIAL IN A RIGID SPHERICAL SHELL-A ROTATIONAL HEAD INJURY MODEL

Abstract A finite difference technique was employed to obtain the response of viscoelastic material contained in rigid spherical shells when subjected to a step angular acceleration about a diametrical axis. Keeping the input acceleration impulse as unity, the temporal and spatial responses of the viscoelastic material were compared for various combinations of rectangular pulse magnitude and duration. The results for a single sinusoidal pulse input were also compared with the infinite series solution obtained by Bycroft (1973). The finite-difference results for the special case of an elastic material agreed very well with the exact, closed-form solution previously obtained by Liu and Chandran (1973). The primary importance of damping in the brain material is elucidated. A parametric study showed that slight variations of the assumed values of the nondimensional viscoelastic parameter shifted the tolerance curves considerably. Because of this sensitivity, due caution should be exercised in placing too much confidence in arbitrarily constructed tolerance curves pending the accurate determination of the viscoelastic properties of the brain over the frequency range of interest to trauma.
Uranium decay products found on Mir space blanket mitt

The space blanket mitt which covered the Trek detector on Mir during four years of orbital flight has been measured for gamma radiation with HPGe and multidimensional spectrometers. Difference spectra from very-long-period spectrometer runs on the mitt and on a similar non-deployed mitt from the same manufacturer show that the mitt has acquired small but significant amounts of gamma radioactivity during orbital flight. Twelve gamma-ray peaks have been measured in the difference spectra, including peaks identified as due to 214Bi and 214Pb from the uranium-radium alpha decay series, and others possibly due to the uranium-actinium series. This implies the presence of a sparse population of uranium decay products in lower orbital space which can only have come from nuclear explosions, burned-up satellite nuclear batteries, the solar wind, or supernova fragments in the local interstellar medium.
Spectral Signatures of Blueberry Fruits and Leaves

One hundred and eighty eight blueberry fruit and leaf samples were obtained from a commercial blueberry field in Waldo, Florida in June, 2010. Spectral reflectance was measured in the ultraviolet (UV), visible and near-infrared (NIR) ranges (200 nm-2500 nm) with an increment of 1 nm for each sample. Five different categories (mature fruit, intermediate fruit, immature fruit, light-green leaf and dark-green leaf) were used for classification model construction and validation. Significant differences in reflectance among the five categories were found in the visible and NIR region. Especially, the mature fruit had much lower reflectance in both regions, which shows great potential for distinguishing mature fruit from other categories. Based on the spectral characteristics of each category, fourteen normalized vegetation indices were developed for further statistical analysis to find significant bands for classifying different fruit maturity status as well as leaves. Principal component analysis (PCA), classification regression tree and multinomial logistic regression were conducted to develop prediction models for distinguishing different classes. The multinomial logistic regression model with three independent variables, which are the combinations of reflectance at six wavelengths (500, 525, 550, 575, 680, and 750 nm) performed the best, with prediction accuracy of 100%. The six wavelengths thus can be used for developing an easy-to-use and low cost fruit maturity sensor for a blueberry yield mapping system.
The effects of general and alcohol-specific peer factors in adolescence on trajectories of alcohol abuse disorder symptoms from 21 to 33 years.

Background The present study examines whether general and alcohol-specific peer risk factors from age 10 to 18 are associated with longitudinal patterns of adult alcohol abuse disorder symptoms from age 21 to 33.
Stereoselective synthesis of a conformationally defined cyclohexyl carnitine analogue that binds CPT-1 with high affinity.

Abstract Carnitine ( 1 , 3-hydroxy-4-trimethylammoniobutyrate) is important in mammalian tissue as a carrier of acyl groups. In order to explore the binding requirements of the carnitine acyltransferases for carnitine, we designed conformationally defined cyclohexyl carnitine analogues. These diastereomers contain the required gauche conformation between the trimethylammonium and hydroxy groups but vary the conformation between the hydroxy and carboxylic acid groups. Here we describe the synthesis and biological activity of the all-trans diastereomer ( 2 ) Download high-res image (108KB) Download full-size image Scheme 1 . Download high-res image (124KB) Download full-size image Figure 2 . Solution conformations for carnitine (1(A)–(C)) and their relative populations (%) as compared to the conformationally defined cyclohexyl carnitine analogues 2–5 . Compounds 2–5 all maintain the gauche arrangement about C3–C4 while varying the conformation about C2–C3. Note that compounds 2 and 3 both mimic conformation 1(A) of carnitine but contain functional groups in different axial versus equatorial arrangements. Download high-res image (44KB) Download full-size image Figure 3 . Lineweaver–Burke plot of compound 2 and CPT-1, where S = l -carnitine (concentration=M). Download high-res image (41KB) Download full-size image Figure 4 . Lineweaver–Burke plot of compound 2 and CPT-2, where S = l -carnitine (concentration=M). , which was prepared by the ring opening of trans -methyl 2,3-epoxycylohexanecarboxylate with NaN 3 . Racemic 2 was a competitive inhibitor of neonatal rat cardiac myocyte CPT-1 ( K i 0.5 mM for racemic 2 ; K m 0.2 mM for l -carnitine) and a noncompetitive inhibitor of neonatal rat cardiac myocyte CPT-2 ( K i 0.67 mM). These results suggest that 2 represents the bound conformation of carnitine for CPT-1.
OMG! Exploring and Learning from Teachers' Personal and Professional Uses of Facebook

Members of the Net Generation are increasingly using social networking sites. The authors employed a mixed methods approach to examine Facebook site features preservice educators use and how those features are utilized personally and professionally. Results indicate that interaction on Facebook is reciprocal; that is, the number of posts made to a wall was significantly related to the number of updates made by the profile owner. Qualitative, descriptive data indicated emerging professional use of Facebook, with profile owners utilizing peers for instructional ideas and ongoing classroom support. Recommendations for future research are described.
Collapsing glomerulopathy: an inflammatory podocytopathy?

Purpose of review Collapsing glomerulopathy is a relatively new and debated podocytopathy. Among several conjectures, inflammatory injury orchestrated by podocytes is emerging to explain the pathogenesis of collapsing glomerulopathy. Here, we briefly summarize recent studies in support of this novel and intriguing hypothesis. Recent findings Immunohistochemical analyses of markers conventionally used to demarcate podocytes apart from parietal epithelium identified the parietal podocyte. MafB-deficient mice exhibited abnormal podocyte and macrophage differentiation, suggesting ancestral and functional overlap. These apparent developmental anomalies were detected in studies showing an admixture of hyperplastic podocytes with macrophage epitopes and hyperplastic parietal epithelium in pseudocrescents and in true crescents. Experimental antibody-mediated injury of podocytes could trigger capillary collapse and pseudocrescent formation marked by recruitment of epithelial cells from Bowman's capsule. In contrast, experimental stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors within podocytes – a known inflammatory response by macrophages – could trigger podocyte proliferation and the formation of true necrotizing crescents. Summary Preliminary evidence suggests that visceral and parietal podocytes may become macrophage-like inflammatory mediators of proliferative epithelial injury within the glomerulus. This may manifest as collapsing glomerulopathy or crescentic glomerulonephritis – lesions that appear to be anatomically and pathogenically linked.
The upper critical field of Ba1−xKxBiO3

Abstract Resistive measurements in magnetic fields up to 8 T and at temperatures between 0.5 and 150 K for Ba 1− x K x BiO 3 polycrystalline samples with various values of x are presented. Low-field magnetic measurements indicate bulk superconductivity for all concentrations measured with T c ranging from 25.6 K to 28 K for x ranging from 0.35 to 0.45. The upper critical field as a function of concentration and temperature is determined from the resistive measurements. A lower limit of 40 A is derived for the superconductive coherence length. There is a negative magnetoresistance in the normal state at low temperatures. The resistive transition curves depend strongly on the measuring current. We propose a granular model of superconductivity to explain this and other unsual features of the data.
A modified procedure for simulation of macroeconometric models

Abstract The rational expectations literature suggests that even the effects of unanticipated changes in policy variables may not be accurately described by conventionalsimulations of macroeconometric models. Beginning with Zellner and Palm's time-series approach to structural econometric modelling, a modified simulation procedure is developed to examine the effects of changes in policy variables which are consistent with historic time-series processes. A state-space representation and the Akaike Information Criterion are used to model exogenous variable processes, and results from modified and conventional simulations are compared.
Viable methods for evaluation of community-based rehabilitation programmes

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to discuss some viable and practically feasible methods for evaluation of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes in developing country settings.Meth...
Dirichlet integrals and moments of gamma distribution order statistics

Abstract Although it is known that Dirichlet integrals can be expressed in terms of the integrals of gamma functions, the present note shows that moments of the order statistics of gamma random variables can be conveniently and exactly expressed in terms of (and also calculated from) Dirichlet integrals; of course the accuracy will depend on the accuracy of the underlying Dirichlet integral table. In addition, these results are then used to get distribution theory results on ordered uniform spacings.
Effect of water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration on the photo-induced toxicity of anthracene to juvenile bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread pollutants in the aquatic environment and demonstrate a wide variety of toxic effects in freshwater and marine organisms. We have previously documented photo-induced toxic effects of a model PAH (i.e. anthracene) in fish. The goal of our ongoing studies is to examine environmental factors which may enhance or mitigate this toxicity in order to better estimate the risks of phototoxic PAHs to aquatic organisms. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of water temperature and oxygen concentration on the photo-induced toxicity of anthracene to juvenile bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). Bluegill sunfish were exposed to anthracene ( μg l ) and solar ultraviolet radiation (SUVR) at different water temperatures (20 and 30°C) and oxygen concentrations (5.0, 6.9 and 8.1 mg O2/1 for 120 h in a laboratory flow-through system. A trend toward an inverse relationship was found between water temperature and LC50 values, although no significant temperature effect was observed. A nonlinear relationship was found between oxygen concentration and LC50 values, with significantly increased toxicity at the middle oxygen concentration. Opercular ventilation rates were inversely related to oxygen concentration and directly related to anthracene concentration. A statistical relationship was developed on the basis of oxygen concentration to predict LC50 values. We conclude that dissolved oxygen concentration is an important environmental factor in the assessment of photo-induced toxicity of anthracene to fish.
Asymmetrical natural hybridization between Populus deltoides and P. balsamifera (Salicaceae)This note is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Poplar Research in Canada.

Natural hybridization has long been recognized as a means for gene flow between species and has important evolutionary consequences. Although hybridization is generally considered to be symmetrical...
A Sense of the Past

When Dianne Harris, first vice-president of the Society of Architectural Historians, invited me to deliver this plenary talk, she asked me not only to highlight the challenges that face historians of the built environment, but also to outline some of the innovative interdisciplinary methodologies that have been developed in recent years.1 My presentation this evening will thus focus on two questions: first, how do we——as historians, preservationists, critics, and scholars——gain access to evidence that can help us document and understand the poetics and the politics of architecture and spatial experience; and second, what methods of interpretation might we use, and what questions might we ask, as we try to make sense of the history and meaning of buildings, cities, landscapes, and built environments? Before I begin, I would like to take note of the contributions of the many friends and colleagues I've worked with over the course of the many years that I've been a member of the SAH——and I want to say, at the outset, that the best part of working in this field is, for me, having the opportunity to collaborate, to talk, to visit buildings, and to share ideas and experiences with a group of like-minded women and men. Thinking back on the sessions I've heard at these annual meetings, and the ones I've participated in——sessions that focused on topics ranging from women architects, to gender, to what Eve Blau and I called "The Politics of the Plan," to "Gay Space," and, a few years back, to one on "Luxury"——I'm struck by the ways in which our thinking about architecture, and my own approach in particular, has evolved. When I first started out in this field as a graduate student, our battle cry clamored for more attention to the contributions of women, for more interdisciplinarity and …
An agent-based model-predictive controller for chilled water plants using wireless sensor and actuator networks

Reduced manning requirements and other cost reducing measures have spurred interest in automation of engineering plants onboard naval combat vessels. Furthermore, automation may increase resiliency of shipboard engineering plants when compared to the current generation of manually configured plants. This paper presents a control algorithm and deployment strategy which supervises a ship's chilled water plant to control the temperature of thermal loads (e.g., air chillers, electrical components). Redundant computation and communication capabilities motivates the use of an agent-based controller (ABC) enabled through a peer-to-peer wireless network. In the architecture presented, each agent sits on one or more digraphs corresponding to the utility generated by the fluid exiting the chilled water plant at each discharge point. Each digraph is a component of the decentralized model-predictive controller (MPC). Performance of the proposed control architecture is tested in simulation, and is shown to approach the performance of an effective, but computationally.
Influence of Thiamine on the Behavioral Sensitivity to Ethanol

Changes in sensitivity to ethanol's rate-decreasing effects on operant performance were examined in control rats and cohorts that received diet-induced or diet + pyrithiamine-induced thiamine deficiency. Seven groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 rats/group) were trained in a 5-cycle lever-press operant task under a fixed-ratio 30 schedule of food reinforcement. Once trained to maintain consistent operant performance across all 5 cycles, each rat was tested with various doses of ethanol injected at the beginning of each timeout cycle. Each group of rats demonstrated equivalent saline baseline operant performance and ED50for ethanol's rate-suppressing effects. Training sessions were suspended and rats received either a short- (9 days) or long-term (5-week) exposure to regular rat chow diet or thiamine-deficient diet, and received either saline or pyrithia-mine injections in a 2 × 2 design. Three additional control groups were maintained on a regular rat chow diet and received supplemental injections of either thiamine + pyrithiamine injections, thiamine + saline injections, or saline + pyrithiamine injections. The controlled diet phase continued until the development of overt signs of thiamine deficiency, at which time thiamine supplements were administered for 4 days. In phase 3, all rats were retrained in the operant task and a second ethanol dose-effect function was generated. A history of thiamine deficiency and recovery failed to shift the behavioral dose-effect functions significantly for ethanol and their associated blood alcohol curves. Most interestingly, significant behavioral sensitization to ethanol's rate suppressant effects was demonstrated in the two control groups of rats receiving regular rat chow diet in combination with supplemental injections of thiamine and either saline or pyrithiamine. The control group receiving regular rat chow diet and twice daily injections of saline and pyrithiamine failed to demonstrate overt signs of thiamine deficiency or significant shifts in the behavioral dose-effect functions. We suggest a possible interaction between a surfeit of extracellular thiamine levels, and a subsequent decrease in magnesium levels may be involved in the development of increases in ethanol sensitivity.
Delayed sleep timing is associated with low levels of free-living physical activity in normal sleeping adults

Abstract Objective and Background We and others have reported that experimentally induced short sleep does not affect resting metabolic rate and leads to increased laboratory-measured 24-h energy expenditure. Here, we aimed to determine if sleep timing and/or quality are related to physical activity (PA) levels. Methods Measures of PA via waist actigraphy, sleep diary, and sleep quality questionnaires were collected over a 7–18-day period in 22 adults (mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 35.8 ± 4.6 years, and mean body mass index ± SD: 23.8 ± 1.1 kg/m 2 ) who were on their habitual sleep–wake and activity schedules. Results During the recording period, mean (±SD) bedtime and wake times were 00:17 ± 1:07 h (range: 22:02–02:07 h) and 08:20 ± 1:14 h (range: 06:30–10:11 h), respectively. After controlling for sleep duration, later bedtime, wake time, and midpoint of sleep were associated with less time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA ( p = 0.013, p = 0.005, and p = 0.007, respectively), and increased time in sedentary PA ( p = 0.016, p = 0.013, and p = 0.013, respectively). Conclusions Current results suggest that even relatively small alterations in sleep timing may influence PA. However, causality cannot be inferred from this cross-sectional study. Clinical intervention studies should be conducted to assess the relationship between sleep timing and energy balance.
The social costs of media feeding frenzies

Concern over the cost of excessive media coverage has increased in recent years. This paper offers an explanation of excessive coverage as an application of the tragedy of the commons, resulting from a lack of property rights over a story. News organizations consider only their private costs in covering a story, not the external costs of lower quality of overall coverage and invasion of privacy. However, restricting access to a story can also facilitate censorship. This paper consider means of limiting access which do not compromise journalistic freedom, specifically examining the parallel to tradeable discharge permits in environmental economics.
Discontinuous Galerkin methods for solving Boussinesq-Green-Naghdi equations in resolving non-linear and dispersive surface water waves

A local discontinuous Galerkin method for Boussinesq-Green-Naghdi equations is presented and validated against experimental results for wave transformation over a submerged shoal. Currently Green-Naghdi equations have many variants. In this paper a numerical method in one dimension is presented for the Green-Naghdi equations based on rotational characteristics in the velocity field. Stability criterion is also established for the linearized Green-Naghdi equations for both the analytical problem and the numerical method. Verification is done against a linearized standing wave problem in flat bathymetry and h, p (denoted by K in this paper) error rates are plotted. Validation plots show good agreement of the numerical results with the experimental ones.
Identification and Quantification of Methanogenic Archaea in Adult Chicken Ceca

By using molecular methods for the identification and quantification of methanogenic archaea in adult chicken ceca, 16S rRNA genes of 11 different phylotypes, 10 of which were 99% similar to Methanobrevibacter woesei, were found. Methanogen populations, as assessed by cultivation, and the 16S rRNA copy number were between 6.38 and 8.23 cells/g (wet weight) and 5.50 and 7.19 log10/g (wet weight), respectively.
New Jersey History and Richard P. McCormick

This article illuminates Richard P. McCormick’s role in the acquisition and celebration of East Jersey Proprietors’ Minutes 1682-84. It also acknowledges McCormick’s enormous presence in New Jersey History and his long association with the Journal of the Rutgers University Libraries.
Abnormal audit delays, earnings quality and firm value in the USA

Purpose – This paper aims to address three questions: Does the abnormal delay in the audit process signal poor earnings quality? Is this information about earnings quality incremental to that contained in earnings report delay? Does the market use this information about earnings quality in valuing the firm? Design/methodology/approach – Data are obtained from four databases: Compustat, Audit Analytics, Compact-Disclosure and I/B/E/S. Complete data are available for 5,298 firms for 22,492 firm-years. The paper uses a two-stage model. In the first stage, a detailed model using determinants from extant research tries to explain the audit delay. In the second stage, the unexplained delay from the first stage is used in the association tests with earnings quality. Findings – The paper presents evidence that abnormal delays in the audit process are inversely associated with earnings quality. When the market values a dollar of reported earnings, it appears to discount the valuation by the extent of abnormal audi...
A Note on the Constitutive Equation for an Isotropic Elastic Material

The relation is established between the constitutive equations for the stress in an isotropic elastic material based on strain-energy functions that are functions of the right Cauchy-Green strain matrix and the right stretch matrix. It is shown that results to problems obtained on the basis of the latter can be simply obtained from those derived on the basis of the former.
Receptivity to surface roughness near a swept leading edge

The formation of stationary cross flow vortices in a three-dimensional boundary layer due to surface roughness located near the leading edge of a swept wing is investigated using numerical solutions of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations. The numerical solutions are used to evaluate the accuracy of theoretical receptivity predictions which are based on the parallel-flow approximation. By reformulating the receptivity theory to include the effect of surface curvature, it is shown that convex surface curvature enhances receptivity. Comparisons of the parallel-flow predictions with Navier–Stokes solutions demonstrate that non-parallel effects strongly reduce the initial amplitude of stationary cross flow vortices. The curvature and non-parallel effects tend to counteract one another; but, for the cases considered here, the non-parallel effect dominates leading to significant over-prediction of receptivity by parallel-flow receptivity theory. We conclude from these results that receptivity theories must account for non-parallel effects in order to accurately predict the amplitude of stationary crossflow instability waves near the leading edge of a swept wing.