cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice Exhibit Exaggerated Microvascular Responses to Inflammatory Stimuli

The objective of this study was to determine whether genetically induced hypercholesterolemia affects leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in postcapillary venules of the mouse cremaster muscle. Leukocyte adhesion, emigration, and other microvascular parameters were assessed in venules of normal (wild-type) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLr-/-) mice maintained on either normal rodent chow or on a high cholesterol diet (HCD). Measurements were obtained under control conditions and after administration of either leukotriene B4 (LTB4), platelet-activating factor (PAF), or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Elevated numbers of adherent and emigrated leukocytes were observed in venules of LDLr-/- (compared with wild-type) mice on HCD, both under baseline conditions and after exposure to either LTB4, PAF, or TNF-alpha. Plasma TNF-alpha levels were also elevated in LDLr-/- versus wild-type mice. Administration of blocking monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that intercellular adhesion molecule-1, but not vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, mediates the exaggerated leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion observed in LDLr-/- mice. The results of these studies indicate that chronic hypercholesterolemia predisposes the microvasculature to intense leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion in response to different inflammatory stimuli.
On the evaluation of snow water equivalent estimates over the terrestrial Arctic drainage basin

Comparisons between snow water equivalent (SWE) and river discharge estimates are important in evaluating the SWE fields and to our understanding of linkages in the freshwater cycle. In this study, we compared SWE drawn from land surface models and remote sensing observations with measured river discharge (Q) across 179 Arctic river basins. Over the period 19882000, basin-averaged SWE prior to snowmelt explains a relatively small (yet statistically significant) fraction of interannual variability in spring (April–June) Q, as assessed using the coefficient of determination (R 2 ). Averaged across all basins, mean R 2 s vary from 0Ð20 to 0Ð28, with the best agreement noted for SWE drawn from a simulation with the Pan-Arctic Water Balance Model (PWBM) forced with data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather-Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-analysis (ERA-40). Variability and magnitude in SWE derived from Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) data are considerably lower than the variability and magnitude in SWE drawn from the land surface models, and generally poor agreement is noted between SSM/I SWE and spring Q. We find that the SWE versus Q comparisons are no better when alternate temporal integrations–using an estimate of the timing in basin thaw–are used to define pre-melt SWE and spring Q. Thus, a majority of the variability in spring discharge must arise from factors other than basin snowpack water storage. This study demonstrates how SWE estimated from remote sensing observations, or general circulation models (GCMs), can be evaluated effectively using monthly discharge data or SWE from a hydrological model. Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Humor: A Double-Edged Tool for Today’s Managers?

Many have acknowledged the favorable, even therapeutic, effects of humor. However, few have attempted to relate humor to the functions of management and leadership. Research on this topic could possibly convert an undeveloped resource into a tool that could enhance our ability to get things done.
Progress in understanding functional imaging signals

More than a century ago, Roy and Sherrington observed that a change in regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) could reflect neural activity (1). This concept is a basis for modern functional brain imaging technologies including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), intrinsic optical imaging, and near infrared optical tomography. These methods have been extensively used to map various brain functions in humans and animals on a spatial scale of 50 micrometers to a few centimeters. To understand functional maps as “meaningful” neurophysiological parameter(s), a chain of events from behavior to functional signal recording should be understood (see Fig. 1). Task and/or stimulation induce synaptic and electric activities in localized regions, which will trigger changes in metabolic and hemodynamic responses including CBF. Then, brain mapping techniques detect a change in one or many vascular parameters, which can be displayed as a colorful functional image. However, the exact relationship between neural activity and a functional imaging signal is not well-understood. Therefore, understanding the physiological sources of the functional imaging signals is critically important as summed by Raichle, “We have at hand tools with the potential to provide unparalleled insights into some of the most important scientific, medical, and social questions facing mankind. Understanding those tools is clearly a high priority” (2).
Development and preliminary evaluation of the participation in life activities scale for children and adolescents with asthma: an instrument development study

Being able to do things other kids do is the desire of school-age children and adolescents with asthma. In a phenomenology study, adolescents identified participation in life activities as the outcome variable and primary motivator for behavioral changes in coming to accept asthma as a chronic condition. In preparation for testing an acceptance model for older school-age children and early adolescents diagnosed with asthma, the Participation in Life Activities Scale was developed. The purposes of this paper are to describe development, and report on face and content validity of the scale designed to measure one aspect of quality of life defined as level of unrestricted involvement in chosen pursuits. Items generated for the instrument evolved from statements and themes extracted from qualitative interviews. Face and content validity were evaluated by eight lay reviewers and 10 expert reviewers. Rate of accurate completion was computed using a convenience, cross-section sample consisting of 313 children and adolescents with asthma, ages 9–15 years, drawn from three studies. Preliminary cross-group comparisons of scores were assessed using t-tests and analysis of variance. Face and content validity were determined to be highly acceptable and relevant, respectively. Completion rate across all three studies was 97%. Although cross-group comparisons revealed no significant differences in overall participation scores based on age, race or residence groupings (p > .05), significant difference were indicated between males and females (p = .02), as well as the highest and lowest socioeconomic groups (p = .002). Assessing content validity was the first step in evaluating properties of this newly developed instrument. Once face and content validity were established, psychometric evaluation related to internal consistency reliability and construct validity using factor analysis procedures was begun. Results will be reported elsewhere.
Efficient Broadcasting Using Network Coding and Directional Antennas in MANETs

In this paper, we consider the issue of efficient broadcasting in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) using network coding and directional antennas. Network coding-based broadcasting focuses on reducing the number of transmissions each forwarding node performs in the multiple source/multiple message broadcast application, where each forwarding node combines some of the received messages for transmission. With the help of network coding, the total number of transmissions can be reduced compared to broadcasting using the same forwarding nodes without coding. We exploit the usage of directional antennas to network coding-based broadcasting to further reduce energy consumption. A node equipped with directional antennas can divide the omnidirectional transmission range into several sectors and turn some of them on for transmission. In the proposed scheme using a directional antenna, forwarding nodes selected locally only need to transmit broadcast messages, original or coded, to restricted sectors. We also study two extensions. The first extension applies network coding to both dynamic and static forwarding node selection approaches. In the second extension, we design two approaches for the single source/single message issue in the network coding-based broadcast application. Performance analysis via simulations on the proposed algorithms using a custom simulator and NS-2 is presented.
The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare. By Michael Dobson and Stanley Wells. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001; pp. 608, 100 photos. $45 hardcover

The very best in a long line of “Shakespeare Companions,” this latest entry from Oxford University Press is substantial in both a literal and figurative sense. Boasting over 3,000 entries, 608 pages, 100 illustrations, and more than a half-million words, it is the longest and most exhaustive volume of its kind ever produced. In addition, it carries the weighty authority not only of its highly respected editors, Michael Dobson and the venerable Stanley Wells, but also of a wide range of first-rate scholarly contributors, such as Helen Vendler, Stephen Orgel, Jonathan Bate, R. A. Foakes, and James Shapiro. Although the book is brilliant in many respects, it does have a conceptual flaw that somewhat limits its usefulness in the United States.
Comparative evaluation of three egg production systems: Housing characteristics and management practices

Abstract This paper is an integral part of the special publication series that arose from the multidisciplinary and multi-institutional project of the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply (CSES). The CSES project involves 3 housing systems for egg production at the same research farm site in the Midwest, USA, namely, a conventional cage (CC) house, an aviary (AV) house, and an enriched colony (EC) house. The CC house (141.4 m L × 26.6 m W × 6.1 m H) had a nominal capacity of 200,000 hens (6 hens in a cage at a stocking density of 516 cm2/hen), and the cages were arranged in 10 rows, 8 tiers per cage row, with a perforated aisle walkway at 4-tier height. The AV house (154.2 m L × 21.3 m W × 3.0 m H) and the EC house (154.2 m L × 13.7 m W × 4.0 m H) each had a nominal capacity of 50,000 hens. The AV house had 6 rows of aviary colonies, and the EC house had 5 rows of 4-tier enriched colonies containing perches, nestbox, and scratch pads (60 hens per colony at a stocking density of 752 cm2/hen). The overarching goal of the CSES project, as stated in the opening article of this series, was to comprehensively evaluate the 3 egg production systems from the standpoints of animal behavior and well-being, environmental impact, egg safety and quality, food affordability, and worker health. So that all the area-specific papers would not have to repeat a detailed description of the production systems and the management practices, this paper is written to provide such a description and to be used as a common reference for the companion papers.
Environmental stress and genetics influence night-time leaf conductance in the C4 grass Distichlis spicata.

Growingawarenessofnight-timeleafconductance(gnight)inmanyspecies,aswellasgeneticvariationingnight within several species, has raised questions about how genetic variation and environmental stress interact to influence the magnitudeofgnight.Theobjectiveofthisstudywastoinvestigatehowgenotypesalttoleranceandsalinitystressaffectgnight for saltgrass (Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene). Across genotypes and treatments, night-time water loss rates were 5-20% of daytime rates. Despite growth declining 37-87% in the high salinity treatments (300mM and 600mM NaCl), neither treatmenthadanyeffectongnightinfourofthesixgenotypescomparedwiththecontroltreatment(7mMNaCl).Daytimeleaf conductance(gday)alsowasnotaffectedbysalinitytreatmentinthreeofthesixgenotypes.Therewasnoevidencethatmore salt tolerant genotypes (assessed as ability to maintain growth with increasing salinity) had a greater capacity to maintain gnight or gday at high salinity. In addition, gnight as a percentage of gday was unaffected by treatment in the three most salt tolerantgenotypes.Althoughgnightinthe7mMtreatmentwasalwayshighestornotdifferentcomparedwiththe300mMand 600mM treatments, gday was generally highest in the 300mM treatment, indicating separate regulation of gnight and gday in responsetoanenvironmentalstress.Thus,itisclearthatgeneticsandenvironmentbothinfluencethemagnitudeofgnightfor this species. Combined effects of genetic and environmental factors are likely to impact our interpretation of variation of gnight in natural populations.
Some technique-dependent patterns of collateral flow during cerebral angiography

During selective transfemoral catheter cerebral angiography, anastomoses between external carotid branches and the vertebral artery, between the vertebral and deep or ascending cervical arteries, and between the middle meningeal and ophthalmic arteries can be demonstrated fairly frequently in patients with no known vascular abnormalities. One can occasionally show bidirectional filling of these anastomoses depending on the vessel injected. Visualization of these anastomoses occurs to a variable degree and is sometimes entirely technique-dependent, reflecting a transient increase in the intraluminal pressure during the injection of contrast medium.-Thus, demonstration of extracranial collateral arterial flow during cerebral angiography should not necessarily be interpreted as an abnormal phenomenon, such as may be seen with arterial occlusive disease, vascular malformation, or a very vascular tumor.
Electrochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Diamondlike Carbon-Metal Composite Films

Implants containing antimicrobial metals may reduce morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs associated with medical device-related infections. We have deposited diamondlike carbon-silver (DLC-Ag), diamondlike carbon-platinum (DLC-Pt), and diamondlike carbon-silver-platinum (DLC-AgPt) thin films using a multicomponent target pulsed laser deposition process. Transmission electron microscopy of the DLC-silver and DLC-platinum composite films revealed that the silver and platinum self-assemble into nanoparticle arrays within the diamondlike carbon matrix. The diamondlike carbon-silver film possesses hardness and Young's modulus values of 37 GPa and 331 GPa, respectively. The diamondlike carbon-metal composite films exhibited passive behavior at open-circuit potentials. Low corrosion rates were observed during testing in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) electrolyte. In addition, the diamondlike carbon-metal composite films were found to be immune to localized corrosion below 1000 mV (SCE). DLC-silver-platinum films demonstrated exceptional antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus bacteria. It is believed that a galvanic couple forms between platinum and silver, which accelerates silver ion release and provides more robust antimicrobial activity. Diamondlike carbon-silver-platinum films may provide unique biological functionalities and improved lifetimes for cardiovascular, orthopaedic, biosensor, and implantable microelectromechanical systems.
Xenon: Effect on Radiation Sensitivity of HeLa Cells

HeLa cells, plated onto plastic petri dishes, were exposed to various atmospheres composed of air and carbon dioxide; helium, oxygen, and carbon dioxide; and xenon, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in a pressure vessel. Survival curves with x-rays, 280 kilovolts (peak), show that air and helium have the same effect, but that xenon potentiates x-irradiation to the extent that the dose to produce a given level of survival with xenon is 0.58 of the dose required with air.
Photostructural modifications in poly(methylphenylsilylene) thin films: Excitation wavelength and atmosphere dependence

Electronic (UV-vis) and vibrational absorption spectroscopies were used to examine the impact of incident photon energy and local atmospheric composition on the development of photo-induced structural changes in poly[(methyl)(phenyl)silylene] thin films. The relative impact of atmosphere on the magnitude and nature of photostructural modifications in this material is found to be enhanced under 3.68 eV photon exposure where the incident photon is resonant with the lowest energy absorption of the Si-Si-conjugated backbone structure. This is in contrast to a greater overall magnitude of photo-induced structural change, with limited atmospheric dependence, observed under 5.1 eV exposure, resonant with absorption transitions associated with the π-conjugated phenyl ring side group. These results provide insight into the underlying structural mechanisms contributing to the large refractive index changes typically observed in these materials.
Social values and scientific evidence: the case of the HPV vaccines

Several have argued that the aims of scientific research are not always independent of social and ethical values. Yet this is often assumed only to have implications for decisions about what is studied, or which research projects are funded, and not for methodological decisions or standards of evidence. Using the case of the recently developed HPV vaccines, we argue that the social aims of research can also play important roles in justifying decisions about (1) how research problems are defined in drug development, (2) evidentiary standards used in testing drug “success”, and (3) clinical trial methodology. As a result, attending to the social aims at stake in particular research contexts will produce more rational methodological decisions as well as more socially relevant science.
Military couples’ trauma disclosure: Moderating between trauma symptoms and relationship quality.

Open communication postdeployment has been encouraged for military couples (Allen, Rhoades, Stanley, & Markman, 2011), as trauma symptoms have been found to influence military couples’ marital satisfaction and relationship functioning. Limited research has investigated whether trauma disclosure moderates the association between trauma symptoms and relationship quality. The current study included data from 50 Army couples. Based on a multiple-group actor–partner-interdependence model (APIM), we found that higher levels of trauma symptoms were associated with lower relationship quality for the actors (themselves) and their partners. In addition, trauma disclosure moderated the relationship between partners. Implications for future research with larger samples are discussed.
Innate Predispositions and the Effects of Experience in Speech Perception: The Native Language Magnet Theory

Developmental theories of face perception and speech perception have similar goals. Theorists in both domains seek to explain infants’ early sophistication with regard to the detection and/or discrimination of facial and speech stimuli and to determine whether infants’ early abilities are due to mechanisms dedicated to the processing of specific biologically relevant stimuli or more general sensory/cognitive mechanisms. In addition, theorists in both domains seek to explain how experience with specific faces and speech sounds modifies infants’ perception. In this chapter, studies showing enhanced discriminability at phonetic boundaries, as well as studies on the perception of phonetic prototypes, exceptionally good instances representing the centers of phonetic categories, are described. The studies show that although phonetic boundary effects are common to monkey and man, prototype effects are not. For human listeners prototypes play a unique role in speech perception. They function like “perceptual magnets, ” attracting nearby members of the category. By 6 months of age the prototype’s perceptual magnet effect is language-specific. Exposure to a specific language thus alters infants’ perception prior to the acquisition of word meaning and linguistic contrast. These results support a new theory, the Native Language Magnet (NLM) theory, which describes how innate factors and early experience with language interact in the development of speech perception.
Intact osmoregulatory centers in the preterm ovine fetus: Fos induction after an osmotic challenge

We previously demonstrated a functional systemic dipsogenic response in the near-term fetal sheep (128–130 days; 145 days = full-term) with swallowing activity stimulated in response to central and...
Fourier filtering ultraviolet laser ablation SERS for the analysis of yellow lakes

Abstract Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has been extensively used for the analysis of red dyes and lakes in works of art when other techniques cannot be applied, due to its high sensitivity and minimum sample requirement. In this work, we report for the first time the application of UV laser ablation SERS (UV-LA-SERS) coupled with a novel fast Fourier transform filtering approach to the analysis of flavonoid-based yellow lakes. This technique combines laser desorption as a sampling method and SERS as a read out. The samples investigated range in composition from weld to Buckthorn berries and quercitron. UV-LA-SERS proved successful even for the detection of an historical yellow lake sample. This achievement opens the way toward spatially resolved SERS detection of yellow lakes in sample taken from works of art.
STABILIZED ROMANOWSKY BLOOD STAIN

It has been down that the degradation of thiazine dyes which normally occurs in methanolic solution, as in the case of Romanowsky blood stains, can be prevented by nuking the solution acidic. In a certain range of oddity, the stain precipitates in the form of monothiazine cosinate, but by making the solution sufficiently acidic, eosin is protonated and the precipitate cannot form. These observations have been used to develop a blood stain which is stable, even at elevated temperatures, for sexed months. For use the stain is neutralized by a specially formulated fixative solution.
Ingot processing as an alternative to powder processing for achieving superplasticity in ceramics

The mechanical behavior of an iron carbide base material processed by an ingot route was compared with that of the same composition material processed by a powder route. Thermo-mechanical processing routes have been developed to refine the coarse as-cast ingot microstructure. Structural refinement is a result of creation of strain-free regions by carbon dissolution from high strain energy subgrain boundaries and slip bands. The ingot-processed iron carbide material exhibits superplastic behavior and deforms by the same grain boundary sliding mechanism as for the powder-processed material. It is proposed that thermo-mechanical processing of ingot-cast eutectic-composition ceramics to achieve a superplastic structure is feasible.
Representing vision and blindness.

There have been relatively few attempts to represent vision or blindness ontologically. This is unsurprising as the related phenomena of sight and blindness are difficult to represent ontologically for a variety of reasons. Blindness has escaped ontological capture at least in part because: blindness or the employment of the term ‘blindness’ seems to vary from context to context, blindness can present in a myriad of types and degrees, and there is no precedent for representing complex phenomena such as blindness. We explore current attempts to represent vision or blindness, and show how these attempts fail at representing subtypes of blindness (viz., color blindness, flash blindness, and inattentional blindness). We examine the results found through a review of current attempts and identify where they have failed. By analyzing our test cases of different types of blindness along with the strengths and weaknesses of previous attempts, we have identified the general features of blindness and vision. We propose an ontological solution to represent vision and blindness, which capitalizes on resources afforded to one who utilizes the Basic Formal Ontology as an upper-level ontology. The solution we propose here involves specifying the trigger conditions of a disposition as well as the processes that realize that disposition. Once these are specified we can characterize vision as a function that is realized by certain (in this case) biological processes under a range of triggering conditions. When the range of conditions under which the processes can be realized are reduced beyond a certain threshold, we are able to say that blindness is present. We characterize vision as a function that is realized as a seeing process and blindness as a reduction in the conditions under which the sight function is realized. This solution is desirable because it leverages current features of a major upper-level ontology, accurately captures the phenomenon of blindness, and can be implemented in many domain-specific ontologies.
Two-Dimensional Array of Silica Particles as a SERS Substrate

We present the observation of size-dependent surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS) for crystal violet (CV) adsorbed on a monolayer of hexagonally close-packed silica spheres. Enhancement factors on the order of 104 are estimated based on the ratio of the number of CV molecules excited in solution to those on the surface of the monolayer array. The proposed enhancement mechanism is that of delocalized surface plasmon resonance over the monolayer array. Plasmon resonances of silica spheres are calculated using Mie theory for light scattering and experimentally validated with UV–vis absorption spectra. There is an excellent agreement between the observed spectrum from the monolayer arrays and a single particle calculated spectrum. This work points the way to utilize silica particles as a viable alternative to current SERS substrates as well as illustrates the importance of surface plasmon resonances from photonic crystals in the SERS of semiconductors.
Managerial Compensation and Incentive Alignment in Corporate Spinoffs

This paper investigates managerial incentive alignment in diversified firms, using corporate spinoffs as the empirical context. The alignment of divisional managers' incentives to market performance improves once the business units they oversee are spun off from their diversified parent companies, resolving pre-spinoff misalignments therein. By contrast, there is no post-spinoff improvement in incentive alignment for the corporate managers running the divesting parent companies, and the level of compensation these managers earn rises relative to a benchmark set of companies. Taken together, the results in this paper contribute to corporate strategy research by elucidating an additional cost associated with diversification and by pointing to a yet-unexplored motivation for and consequence of corporate refocusing activity.
Improving Sleep-Wake Schedule Using Sleep Behavior Visualization and a Bedtime Alarm

Humans need sleep, along with food, water and oxygen, to survive. With about one-third of our lives spent sleeping, there has been increased attention and interest in understanding sleep and the overall state of our ``sleep health." The rapid adoption of smartphones along with a growing number of sleep tracking applications for these devices presents an opportunity to use this device to encourage better sleep hygiene. Procrastinating going to bed and being unable to stick to a consistent bedtime can lead to inadequate amount of sleep time which in turn affects quality of life and overall wellbeing. To help address this problem, we developed two applications, Lights Out and Sleep Wallpaper, which provide a sensor-based bedtime alarm and a connected peripheral display on the wallpaper of the user's mobile phone to promote awareness with sleep data visualization. In this paper, we describe Lights Out and Sleep Wallpaper and results from a two-week field study with 19 participants who have a variety of sleep contexts. Results indicate that a simple bedtime alarm and a peripheral display with sleep data visualization can be an effective method for improving sleep consistency.
Review of Agricultural Pollution and Preventive Technology in China

Harms and canses of agricultural pollution are reviewed.The measures of utilizing green chemical technology are proposed,such as proper use of pesticide and chemical fertilizer,development of organic fertilizer,development of poisnonsless,effective and remainderless fertilzer,utilization of agricultural waste,construction of bio-park,and so on.
Crystal structure of [bis-(2-amino-ethyl-κN)(2-{[4-(tri-fluoro-meth-yl)benzyl-idene]amino}-eth-yl)amine-κN]di-chlorido-copper(II).

The CuII atom in the title compound, [CuCl2(C14H21F3N4)], adopts a coordination geometry that is between distorted square-based pyramidal and very Jahn–Teller-elongated octa­hedral. It is coordinated by three N atoms from the bis­(2-amino­eth­yl)(2-{[4-(tri­fluoro­meth­yl)benzyl­idene]amino}­eth­yl)amine and two chloride ligands. The two crystallographically unique copper complexes present in the asymmetric unit exhibit noticeable differences in the coordination bond lengths. Considering the CuII atoms as having square-pyramidal geometry, the basal Cu—Cl bond lengths are typical [2.2701 (12) and 2.2777 (12) A], while the apical distances are considerably elongated [2.8505 (12) and 2.9415 (12) A]. For each mol­ecule, a CuII atom from inversion-related mol­ecules are in nearby proximity to the remaining axial CuII sites, but the Cu⋯Cl distances are very long [3.4056 (12) and 3.1645 (12) A], attributable to van der Waals contacts. Nonetheless, these contacts appear to have some structure-directing properties, leading to association into dimers. These dimers associate via stacking of the aromatic rings to form extended zigzag chains.
The influence of solubility on the rate of gastrointestinal absorption of aspirin.

The blood plasma concentration of salicylate 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes following the oral ingestion of 0.64 Gm. of aspirin in various pharmaceutical preparations was determined in a total of 168 experiments on 55 normal human subiects and used as an index of the rate of gastrointestinal absorption. Aspirin was absorbed relatively slowly, maximum blood levels not being attained at the end of 60 minutes. "Buffered" LWpirin preparations containing aluminum and magnesium "buffers" were somewhat more rapidly absorbed, maximum blood levels being attained at 30 to 45 minutes. A commercially available etfervescent preparation containing aspirin, which must be dissolved prior to ingestion, was still more rapidly absorbed, yielding maximum blood levels at 20 to 30 minutes. Similar results were obtained when aspirin was dissolved in hot water. To extend these observations soluble sodium acetylsalicylate was prepared by neutralizing aspirin with an equivalent amount of sodium bicarbonate. This was also rapidly absorbed. It is concluded that the rate of gastrointestinal absorption of aspirin is markedly influenced by solubility.
Statistical analysis of the photodegradation of imazethapyr on the surface of extracted soybean (Glycine max) and corn (Zea mays) epicuticular waxes

The photodegradation rate of the herbicide imazethapyr on epicuticular waxes of soybean and corn plants was investigated. Plant age, relative humidity, temperature, and number of light banks were varied during plant growth, analyzed statistically, and examined to determine if these factors had an effect on the photodegradation of imazethapyr. Through ultraviolet/visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy, epicuticular wax characteristics of soybean and corn plants were explored, were used to confirm observations determined statistically, and explain correlations between the rate constants and the composition of the epicuticular waxes. Plant age, the interaction between plant age and light, and the quadratic dependence on temperature were all determined to have a significant impact on the photodegradation rate of imazethapyr on the epicuticular waxes of soybean plants. As for the photodegradation rate on the epicuticular waxes of corn plants, the number of light banks used during growing and temperature were significant factors.
Curves and Polar Coordinates

As we mentioned in the Introduction to Chapter 9, the calculation of lengths of curved lines was one of the principal problems that led to the creation of the calculus. It was an old and intractable problem. Archimedes had used polygons inscribed in a circle to calculate π, but nothing further was discovered about curve lengths until the seventeenth century. In fact, even such a powerful mathematician as Descartes (1596–1650) had asserted that the length of no curve but the circle would ever be calculated. He was proven wrong, however, first by Torricelli in his work on the logarithmic spiral and then by the English architect, Christopher Wren, who established the length of the cycloid.
ASSESSING INTER-RATER AGREEMENT OF EXPERIENCED INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGISTS ON CULPRIT VESSEL IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIVESSEL DISEASE AND ACUTE NON-STEMI

Background: The ability of interventional cardiologists to reproducibly identify the culprit vessel in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and non- ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is unknown. Inconsistency in this regard could indicate a mechanism for improved outcomes with
Alliance Strategies of Small Firms

The paper concludes that small firms follow one of two alliance strategies. When the firms are small relative to their rivals and to their market, they tend to use alliances to gain economies of scale and scope; when they are large in relative terms, they avoid alliances. This behavior is consistent with alliance usage by large firms. The paper also analyzes the sources of profit for a small firm that uses a "constellation" of allies to compete in a scale-intensive industry. Its profits depend on a combination of the group-based advantages generated by the constellation, and the share of these profits that the firm can appropriate from the group. Small firms face particular hazards in this regard when their bargaining power within their constellation is weak. The paper illustrates these arguments with data froma small survey, with case studies from the computer industry, and with a simple mathematical model.
A survey of anomaly intrusion detection techniques

Intrusion detection systems are based on two fundamental approaches: the detection of anomalous behavior as it deviates from normal behavior, and misuse detection by monitoring those "signatures" of those known malicious attacks and system vulnerabilities. Anomaly (behavior-based) IDSs assume the deviation of normal activities under attacks and perform abnormal detection compared with predefined system or user behavior reference model. This paper is to provide a survey of anomaly intrusion detection techniques. It presents a review about the evolution of intrusion detection systems over the past two decades. It focuses on recent research advances and trends in anomaly IDSs, including the application of statistics, machine learning, neural network, computer immunology, and data mining techniques.
Scrappers as a Subculture

This chapter discusses how scrappers have their own subcultural norms, values, and mores described as a scrapper’s code, which includes concepts to reduce territorial conflicts: first come first serve and show respect. Scrappers would ask first in an effort to keep from stealing and had disdain for metal thieves, proudly claiming they were “not a thief.” Scrappers tended to be part of a community whose relationships were forged by encounters at the recycling yard, on the street, and by familial connections. Scrappers often assisted one another when in need. Most of these values, beliefs, and behaviors are absent from thieves, and occasionally appear contradictory to the scrappers’ code. Metal thieves were not simply scrappers who stole, but rather functioned separately and outside of the subculture of scrappers.
Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis in Children: State-of-the-Art Treatment

The goal of this chapter is to present the most up-to-date options in managing unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP) in the pediatric population. As this condition affects multiple systems, and options are multiple, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and benefits of each possibility in order to facilitate informed decision making. The use of laryngeal electromyography in the workup of VFP has more recently been popularized as an adjunct in the diagnosis and prognosis for recovery. Moreover, advances in laryngeal reinnervation surgery show promise in the pediatric population. Finally, laryngeal pacing and the use of fibroblast growth factors are important new future directions in the field. Management of unilateral vocal fold paralysis in children can be challenging with many treatment options available. A personalized and tailored approach to each patient is warranted.
A diatom voucher flora from selected southeast rivers (USA)

This flora is intended to serve as an image voucher for samples analyzed for the U.S. Geological Survey Southeast Stream Quality Assessment (SESQA). The SESQA study included measurement of watershed and water quality parameters to determine the factors that have the greatest potential to alter biotic condition. Algal samples were collected at 108 sites in 2014, from streams representing gradients in chemical and physical alteration across the southeast region. More than 375 taxa were identified during analysis for species composition and abundance. This manuscript documents the flora with light micrographs of specimens representative of their morphologic range. We define “voucher flora” as images of specimens and the names applied to those specimens for a given project. Taxonomic vouchers from federal programs have generally not been made public, yet they are a salient element of a well-documented species dataset, particularly for long-term studies. This study is part of a broader effort to improve and encourage taxonomic consistency in federal, state and local programs by accessible identification resources and inter-lab comparisons
Chapter 30 Demand analysis

Publisher Summary “Demand analysis” refers largely to the study of commodity demands by consumers, most usually based on aggregate data but occasionally, and more so recently, on cross-sections or even panels of households. This chapter discusses the links between conventional demand analysis and such topics as labor supply, the consumption function, rationing, index numbers, equivalence scales, and consumer surplus. The econometric analysis of demand under conditions of rationing or quantity constraints is discussed in the chapter. The chapter discusses intertemporal demand analysis, including the analysis of the consumption function and of durable goods, the choice over qualities, and the links between demand analysis and welfare economics—particularly as it concerns the measurement of consumer surplus, cost-of-living index numbers, and the costs of children
Magnesium-Promoted Additions of Difluoroenolates to Unactivated Imines

Although there are many synthetic methods to produce fluorinated and trifluoromethylated organic structures, the construction of difluoromethylated compounds remains a synthetic challenge. We have discovered that unactivated imines will react with difluoroenolates under exceedingly mild conditions when using magnesium salts and organic bases. We have applied this approach to the iminoaldol reaction to produce difluoromethylene groups as α,α-difluoro-β-amino-carbonyl groups. This method provides synthetically useful quantities of difficult to access α,α-difluoro-β-aminoketones without the need of protecting groups or the use of activated imines. Moreover, we have applied this strategy to create analogues of the dual orexin receptor antagonist, almorexant, in only two synthetic steps.
On the locking free isogeometric formulations for 3-D curved Timoshenko beams

Abstract Locking-free isogeometric formulations of 3-D curved Timoshenko beams are studied. In particular, the global B ¯ projection method and a mixed formulation are examined and compared, showing equivalently optimal convergence with regard to displacement solutions. These two formulations are proved to be equal when the beam cross-sectional properties are uniform. For beams with non-uniform cross-sectional properties, the mixed formulation is superior in terms of stress recovery. In addition to these two methods, an alternative locking-free formulation, a C 0 NURBS element with selectively reduced integration is suggested in this study, making use of the traditional selective reduced integration (SRI) rule designed for Lagrangian elements. This SRI C 0 NURBS element is simple to implement, preserves the sparsity of the global stiffness matrix and requires fewer quadrature point evaluations. Most importantly, due to the use of NURBS basis functions, the exact curve geometry is preserved with all three locking-free isogeometric elements. Benchmark problems and illustrative examples with complex curved geometries are examined for a detailed investigation of the considered locking-free elements.
Diseases of Dairy Animals | Parasites, External: Mange, Dermatitis and Dermatosis

Mange in cattle, sheep and goats is caused by any of several genera of host (species)-specific mites. Lesions result directly from the mechanical damage that occurs as the mites feed and move about, and from irritating secretions from the mites. Additionally, an immune-mediated hypersensitivity to foreign antigens from the mites produces inflammation. As the host responds to inflammation by rubbing or other types of self-mutilation, the lesions increase in size and severity. Economic loss to the producer results from weight loss and decreased production. Diagnosis is provided by clinical signs and can be confirmed by microscopic identification of the mite. Treatment varies to some extent depending on the type of mite present. Areas of concern with regard to the management and treatment of mange in cattle are transmission within the herd or to the handler and utilization of therapeutic modalities that do not have an impact on the safety of milk produced by treated animals. Other skin diseases that may present similar lesions or clinical signs, such as ringworm, infestation with lice, photosensitization and culicoides hypersensitivity, will be discussed, so that a correct diagnosis can be made and an appropriate treatment provided.
Fine structural studies of apolar mitosis.

A fine structural analysis of apolar mitosis induced by chloral hydrate was made on Haemanthus katherinae Bak. endosperm. Under the influence of chloral hydrate MTs disappear initially and then are formed de novo. Kinetochore fibers grow away from kinetochores and their formation is asynchronous for all chromosomes in the set and also for sister kinetochores. Bundles of MTs forming kinetochore fibers converge toward one of the poorly defined polar regions during formation of kinetochore fibers (metaphase) and in motionless kinetochores. Such MTs increasingly diverge when kinetochores move during anaphase. The relation of ER to formation of MTs is evident and briefly discussed. A continuous transition exists between NE and ER during formation and disintegration of the NE. Some theoretical aspects of these problems were also discussed.
Resilient computational applications using Coarray Fortran

Abstract With the increase in the number of hardware components and layers of the software stack in High Performance Computing (HPC) there will likely be an increment in number of hardware and software failures, which will be user-visible. Even under the most optimistic assumptions about the individual components reliability, probabilistic amplification from using millions of nodes has a dramatic impact on the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of the entire platform. Although several techniques to address this problem have been developed, the support provided by the programming model, for the user to mitigate or work around this issue, is still insufficient. The Fortran 2018 standard defines failed images, a new feature that allows the programmer to detect and manage image failures in a parallel program. In this paper we show how to use failed images and teams, another feature defined in the Fortran 2018 standard, to implement resilient computational applications.
Using the contrast within a single face heat map to assess personal thermal comfort

Abstract An occupant-centered Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system accurately responds to the real thermal needs of the building occupants. To achieve this, the occupants' thermal comfort needs to be assessed in real-time with minimal inconvenience to the occupants. Whereas prior work has examined non-invasive assessment of thermal comfort using sensors aimed at a combination of body parts, this paper explores the extent to which such prediction is possible solely through non-invasive sensors aimed at the face. This is valuable because the face is least likely to be covered or occluded from sensing. The proposed method uses visual sensors to measure bio-signals related to thermal comfort. The sensor data is processed to extract local features from various parts of a face, which are used to model the thermal profile of the occupant. These features are then subject to contrast computations, which are less sensitive to the accuracy of the temperature readings. Using these features, a machine learning framework is proposed to predict the occupants’ personal thermal comfort. Data from 22 subjects recorded in an office setup with constant room temperature and fixed clothing insulation were used to test the proposed method. Three groups of subjects were exposed to different room temperatures (20 °C, 24 °C, and 28 °C respectively). The thermal comfort assessment showed that the proposed automated features can predict personal thermal comfort with 76% accuracy. We concluded by evaluating the generalization power of the proposed method using 11 additional subjects exposed to dynamic conditions, such as variable clothing insulation and room temperature.
Synthesis and conformation of a bilirubin analog with propionic acid side chains extended to undecanoic acid

Abstract A lipophilic analog of bilirubin with propionic acid groups replaced by undecanoic acid groups (1), was synthesized from 11-bromo-undecanoic acid. UV-visible and NMR spectroscopic analyses suggest reduced intramolecular H-bonding and a preference for a helical conformation. Molecular dynamics computations predict a global energy minimum for a helical porphyrin-like conformation with unusual distorted structures when H-bonding is invoked. Circular dichroism of the pigment complex with human serum albumin gives a bilirubin-like bisignate Cotton effect: Δϵmax449 = +33, Δϵmax396 = −47.
Interactions and responses of n-damo archaea, n-damo bacteria and anammox bacteria to various electron acceptors in natural and constructed wetland sediments

Abstract Anaerobic methane oxidizing organisms, including sulfate dependent archaea (SAMO), nitrite dependent bacteria (n-damo), and nitrate archaea (n-damo), may collaborate with anaerobic ammonia oxidizers (anammox) bacteria in wetlands to remove inorganic nitrogen. The objective was to examine the structure and abundance of these organisms and their response to substrate inputs (sulfate, nitrate, or nitrite) in two wetlands of contrasting properties: a natural wetland and a constructed wetland to treat swine manure. No SAMO archaea were detected in either wetland. For n-damo bacteria, Ca. Methylomirabilis oxyfera dominated the natural wetland, while Clade 2 dominated the constructed wetland. For n-damo archaea, Clade 1 dominated the constructed wetland, while Clade 3 dominated the natural wetland. For anammox bacteria, Ca. Brocadia dominated both the natural wetland and the constructed wetland. Generally, the natural wetland contained higher gene abundance and more diversity of these three microorganisms than the constructed wetland, which could be due to high ammonium concentrations in the constructed wetland, forcing selections of genotypes to a narrow range of microorganisms. A slurry incubation experiment showed that both n-damo archaea and anammox bacteria increased over time in the constructed wetland sediment, indicating these two microorganisms might cooperate to complete the denitrification process from nitrate to dinitrogen gas.