cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reimbursement Increased Due To Documentation Of Malnutrition

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To state process that RDs utilized at this institution to increase reimbursement via DRG coding for malnutrition. Clinical dietitians can enhance DRG payments by documentation of one of five ICD-9 malnutrition codes that qualify as complications or comorbidities (CCs). At a tertiary healthcare facility registered dietitians (RDs) developed a nutrition screening program which required heights, weights and albumin. These clinical parameters were utilized by RDs to determine institution-specific malnutrition definitions. In August 1993 these clinical parameters and institution-specific malnutrition definitions were approved by medical administration to be used for DRG coding. RDs screened patients according to these standards, thus identifying those with malnutrition The UMMC DRG coders were authorized to code malnutrition based on RDs' medical record documentation. A RD quality improvement team (QIT) examined methods to optimize the identification of malnutrition and increase reimbursement via coding. The QIT determined through surveys that in 20% of cases heights/lengths were unavailable at the time of screening. Procedures were implemented which resulted in heights being available in 99% of the cases. Incremental reimbursement to the institution was determined via a review of all cases in which malnutrition ICD-9 codes were coded into the primary or first secondary position. This was completed for two three-month periods: preimplementation, and post implementation. Cases not impacted by DRGs or which were coded with any other reimbursable CC were eliminated. Therefore incremental reimbursement was based on cases in which malnutrition was coded as the only reimbursable CC. Financial analysis indicated only one such case during preimplementation compared to 19 cases post implementation. The annuatized incremental reimbursement realized from malnutrition coding due to increased dietitian documentation was approximately $154,500.
Biology of Myotis thysanodes and M. lucifugus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)—III. Metabolism, heart rate, breathing rate, evaporative water loss and general energetics

Abstract 1. 1. Oxygen consumption (OC), weight specific oxygen consumption (VO). heart rate (HR), breathing rate (RR) and evaporative water loss (EWL) differ in adult female Myotis thysanodes and M. lucifugus and are significantly related to thermoregulatory performance (regulating or conforming) and to reproductive condition but not to body composition, spleen or adrenal weights or age class. 2. 2. Multiple regression equation models of these physiological parameters as possible linear or exponential functions of ambient temperature (Ta), body temperature (T), T, to T differential, weight, and each other are presented. 3. 3. The relations of the physiological variables to Ta is curvilinear with OC, VO, RR and oxygen pulse (cm3 of oxygen consumed/heart beat) reaching minimal levels at similar optimal T's which exceed normally controlled T1. HR becomes minimal at T's approximating normally controlled Tl and EWL reaches minimal values at Ta's lower than controlled T1. Evaporative heat loss equals metabolic heat production at Ta's which exceed normally controlled T. 4. 4. Roosting energy budgets differ in the two species and are functions of reproductive status and thermoregulatory performance. The ability of regulating individuals to conform at low Ta's conserves a large portion of the roosting energy budget.
Lagrangian coherent structures and internal wave attractors

For a nonuniformly stratified layer of fluid, internal gravity waves propagate at varying angles depending on the local buoyancy and Coriolis (in geophysical applications) frequencies. Relatively confined geometries, such as multiple submarine ridges, can support internal wave attractors, which can be viewed as Lagrangian coherent structures for the energy density flux. Since traditional approaches for locating these structures prove cumbersome, here we develop an approach that efficiently extracts the locations of internal wave attractors, as well as quantifying the rate of attraction. Using realistic geometry and stratification from ocean observations, we find that a significant northern portion of the Luzon ridge can support internal wave attractors.
Prehospital use of analgesia for suspected extremity fractures

Introduction. Pain and its control have been studied extensively in the emergency department. Numerous studies indicate that inadequate treatment of pain is common, despite the availability of myriad analgesics. It has been suggested that oligoanesthesia is also a common practice in the prehospital setting. Objective. To assess the use of prehospital analgesia in patients with suspected extremity fracture. Methods. Emergency medical services (EMS) call reports were reviewed for all patients with suspected extremity fractures treated from June 1997 to July 1998 in a midwestern community with a population base of 223,000. Data collected included demographic information, mechanism of injury, medications given, and field treatment. Standing orders for administration of analgesia were available and permitted paramedics to give either morphine sulfate or nitrous oxide per protocol. Results. The EMS call reports were analyzed for 1,073 patients with suspected extremity fractures. The mean patient age was 47 year...
The perception of color from motion.

We introduce and explore a color phenomenon which requires the prior perception of motion to produce a spread of color over a region defined by motion. We call this motion-induced spread of colordynamic color spreading. The perception of dynamic color spreading is yoked to the perception of apparent motion: As the ratings of perceived motion increase, the ratings of color spreading increase. The effect is most pronounced if the region defined by motion is near 1° of visual angle. As the luminance
Titan Takes on the Universe: Large-Scale Cosmology Simulation of Universe Mines for Halos Where Galaxies are Born

A multi-institutional team led by researchers at the US Department of Energy's (DoE) Argonne National Laboratory has achieved high scalability and sustained performance on three of the most powerful systems in the world: IBM Blue Gene/Q supercomputers Mira at Argonne and Sequoia at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Cray XK7 system Titan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The team set benchmarks for the largest cosmological simulations to date on different high-performance computing architectures on the massively parallel, CPU-only system Sequoia and on the hybrid accelerated Titan. This article takes a closer look at a recent Titan run and the team that's currently pushing the state of the art in precision cosmology with the goal of better understanding cosmic acceleration.
The Pattern and Pace of Hyperacute Hemorrhage Expansion

Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) expansion is common during the first 24 h after onset, but the pattern and pace of hyperacute hemorrhage growth have not been described because serial imaging is typically performed over the course of hours and days, not minutes. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the spatial and temporal characteristics of hyperacute hemorrhage expansion within minutes of ICH onset.
Planning organizational security: the health first case study

Security is important skill for an IT professional, and allows him/her to advance and specialize in their career. We developed an Information Security course with a goal of training students for the ISACA CISA and CISM exams, and having students participate in security planning with not-for-profit organizations. The Health First Case Study enables students to practice security planning with a hypothetical Doctor's office, including risk analysis, business continuity, information security, network security, personnel security, incident response, and physical security. Students use the Small Business Security Workbook, which leads them through the security planning process. The case study also helps students to understand the perspective of the business owner.
Degradation Kinetics of Perchlorate in Sediments and Soils

This study investigated the intrinsic perchlorate (ClO4-)degradation kinetics of sediments and soils from multiple sites in microcosm studies, including the influence of varying nitrate concentration (NO3--N from 1 to 22.8 ppm) and up to 300 ppm sulfate. The first-order degradation rates and lag times of both ClO4- and NO3- degradation were site-specific and dependent on environmental conditions such as organic substrate availability, nitrate, initial ClO4- concentration, and prior ClO4- exposure. At an initial ClO4- concentration of 5 ppm, ClO4- degradation rates ranged from 0.13 to 0.46 day-1, and lag times of ClO4- degradation ranged from 0 to 60.0 days; while NO3- degradation occurred at rates ranging from 0.03 to 1.42 day-1, with lag times ranging from 0 to 29.7 days. Under the same treatment conditions, NO3- degradation rates were relatively higher than that of ClO4-. Perchlorate degradation rates remained constant at both lower (0.5 ppm) and higher (5 ppm) ClO4- concentrations. Generally, ClO4- rates were affected by the availability of organic substrate, which was represented here by Total Volatile Solids (TVS) of sediments and soils, and not by NO3-. Nitrate did increase the lag time of ClO4- degradation, which may account for the persistence of ClO4- in the environment, especially when ClO4- is typically ppb levels in the environment compared to ppm levels of NO3-. This study showed rapid intrinsic ClO4- degradation in sediments and soils of contaminated sites, and highlighted the potential for natural attenuation of ClO4- in the environment.
Organic matter fluxes and marsh stability in a rapidly submerging estuarine marsh

We studied organic matter cycling in two Gulf Coast tidal, nonsaline marsh sites where subsidence causes marine intrusion and rapid submergence, which mimics increased sea-level rise. The sites experienced equally rapid submergence but different degrees of marine intrusion. Vegetation was hummocked and much of the marsh lacked rooted vegetation. Aboveground standing crop and production, as measured by sequential harvesting, were low relative to other Gulf CoastSpartina patens marshes. Soil bulk density was lower than reported for healthyS. alterniflora growth but that may be unimportant at the current, moderate sulfate levels. Belowground production, as measured by sequential harvesting, was extremely fast within hummocks, but much of the marsh received little or no belowground inputs. Aboveground production was slower at the more saline site (681 g m−2 yr−1) than at the less saline site (1,252 g m−2 yr−1). Belowground production over the entire marsh surface averaged 1,401 g m−2 yr−1 at the less saline site and 585 g m−2 yr−1 at the more saline site. Respiration, as measured by CO2 emissions in the field and corrected for CH4 emissions, was slower at the less saline site (956 g m−2 yr−1) than at the more saline site (1,438 g m−2 yr−1), reflecting greater contributions byS. alterniflora at the more saline site which is known to decompose more rapidly thanS. patens. Burial of organic matter was faster at the less saline site (796 g m−2 yr−1) than at the more saline site (434 g m−2, yr−1), likely in response to faster production and slower decomposition at the less saline site. Thus vertical accretion was faster at the less saline site (1.3 cm yr−1) than at the more saline site (0.85 cm yr−1); slower vertical accretion increased flooding at the more saline site. More organic matter was available for export at the less saline site (1,377 g m−2 yr−1) than at the more saline site (98 g m−2 yr−1). These data indicated that organic matter production decreased and burial increased in response to greenhouse-like conditions brought on by subsidence. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY069 00016
Macrophages in host defense against Histoplasma capsulatum

Macrophages function in both innate and cell-mediated immunity in host defense against pathogenic fungi. They initially serve as a protected environment in which the primary fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum multiplies and disseminates from the lung to other organs. Upon induction of cell-mediated immunity, cytokines activate macrophages to destroy the yeasts and thus remove them from the host.
In situ product separation in butanol fermentation by membrane-assisted extraction

Abstract Application of membrane-assisted extraction to butanol fermentation was investigated as a means of product separation and also as a way of alleviating the problems concerning the end-product inhibition. The coupled reactor-separator system was found to be stable enough to sustain continuous operation lasting several weeks. The data on continuous run reaffirmed most of the advantages found in our previous study on fed-batch system in that the reactor separator system rendered high productivity and yields due primarily to reduced product inhibition. The improvement in productivity was particularly notable, as a fourfold increase over straight batch operation was obtained. In normal continuous operation, spontaneous cell deactivation occurred after 200–400 h of operation despite the removal of inhibitory products. In further investigation, the presence of autolysin was found to be one of the probable causes of cell deactivation. The cell viability, however, was prolonged significantly when the bioreactor was operated under glucose-limited conditions.
Scheduling of wafer test processes in semiconductor manufacturing

This research focuses on solving a common wafer test scheduling problem in semiconductor manufacturing. During wafer testing, a series of test processes are conducted on wafers using computer-controlled test stations at various temperatures. The test processes are conducted in a specified order on a wafer lot, resulting in precedence constraints for the schedule. Furthermore, the assignment of the wafer lots to test stations and the sequence in which they are processed affects the time required to set up the test operations. Thus, the set-up times are sequence dependent. Four heuristics are developed to solve the test scheduling problem with the aim of minimizing the makespan required to test all wafers on a set of test stations. The heuristics generate a sorted list of wafer lots as a dispatching sequence and then schedule the wafer lots on test stations in order of appearance on the list. An experimental analysis and two case studies are presented to validate the proposed solution approaches. In the cas...
Cryptochrome 1, cryptochrome 2, and phytochrome a co-activate the chloroplast psbD blue light-responsive promoter.

The reaction center core of photosystem II is composed of two chlorophyll binding proteins, D1 and D2, that are encoded by the chloroplast genes psbA and psbD. These chlorophyll binding proteins are damaged during photochemistry, especially under high irradiance. Photosystem II function is maintained under these conditions through turnover and resynthesis of D1 and D2. Blue light–activated transcription of psbD from a special light-responsive promoter is part of the repair system. In this study, light-activated chloroplast and psbD transcription were studied after dark adaptation of 21-day-old light-grown Arabidopsis plants. Illumination of dark-adapted plants with red light increased chloroplast transcription activity and transcription from the psbD light-responsive promoter. Blue light further increased chloroplast transcription activity and stimulated differential transcription from the psbD light-responsive promoter. Photoreceptor mutants showed that blue light–specific activation of chloroplast transcription and the psbD light-responsive promoter involve cryptochrome 1 (cry1) or cryptochrome 2 (cry2) and phytochrome A (phyA). Blue light–induced activation of the psbD light-responsive promoter was normal in det2-1 and hy5-1 but attenuated in det3-1. Therefore, cry1/cry2/phyA–mediated blue light activation of the psbD light-responsive promoter in 21-day-old Arabidopsis plants does not involve hy5, a transcription factor that mediates other phyA and blue light–induced responses.
Effect of processing conditions and electrode characteristics on the electrical properties of structural composite capacitors

Abstract Structural capacitors are manufactured from glass fabric/epoxy prepreg dielectrics and metalized polymer film electrodes. The electrical breakdown strengths of these multifunctional materials are investigated across a wide range of electrode constructions and processing parameters. The results show that electrode selection and materials processing have a significant impact on the energy that the device can store. Also, this careful consideration of processing parameters and electrode construction has led to the development of a structural capacitor with an energy density exceeding 0.90 J/cm3, the highest yet reported.
Effect of ethanol on rates of elimination and metabolism of zoxazolamine, hexobarbital and warfarin sodium in the rat.

Abstract Male rats were fed single doses of ethanol or isocaloric quantities of glucose, in solution, by stomach tube following a 6 hr fast and were injected with zoxazolamine, warfarin sodium or hexobarbital 2 or 17 hr later. Other rats were pair-fed a nutritionally adequate synthetic diet containing ethanol or isocaloric quantities of sucrose for 7–11 days, and were treated with drugs following a 17 hr fast. Plasma concentrations of each drug were determined at various intervals of time following the injections. Administration of one dose of ethanol significantly increased the rates of elimination of zoxazolamine and of hexobarbital from the circulation 17 hr later, but the rate of warfarin elimination was unchanged. Chronic ethanol feeding also increased the rate of zoxazolamine elimination; but this increase was not greater than that following acute ethanol feeding; warfarin elimination was again not altered. Rates of metabolism of the drugs by liver microsomes in vitro 17 hr after a single dose of ethanol or glucose mirrored the effects on elimination in vivo ; they were significantly increased in the alcohol-treated rats in the case of zoxazolamine and hexobarbital, but not changed in the case of warfarin. The rates of elimination of zoxazolamine and warfarin from the circulation were significantly reduced in rats fed ethanol 2 hr before. It is concluded that acute ethanol intake may increase the rates of elimination of some drugs when the alcohol is no longer present, as a consequence of microsomal enzyme induction, and may decrease rates of drug elimination when alcohol is present in vivo , probably as a result of inhibition by ethanol of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes.
Power and transformational and transactional leadership in public and private organizations

Ten public and 35 private organizations located in Central New York State participated in a university- sponsored research project to study the effects of organizational characteristics upon types of leadership (transformational/transactional) and power demonstrated by supervisors. Public sector organizations in which managers had low control over rewards were compared to private sector organizations in which managers had high control over rewards. Followers perceived public sector supervisors as more inspirational by their followers and they used more active management-by-exception behavior than those in private organizations. Private sector supervisors had more reward, legitimate and coercive power than supervisors in public sector organizations.
APPROXIMATE SAMPLING FORMULAS FOR GENERAL FINITE-ALLELES MODELS OF MUTATION.

Many applications in genetic analyses utilize sampling distributions, which describe the probability of observing a sample of DNA sequences randomly drawn from a population. In the one-locus case with special models of mutation, such as the infinite-alleles model or the finite-alleles parent-independent mutation model, closed-form sampling distributions under the coalescent have been known for many decades. However, no exact formula is currently known for more general models of mutation that are of biological interest. In this paper, models with finitely-many alleles are considered, and an urn construction related to the coalescent is used to derive approximate closed-form sampling formulae for an arbitrary irreducible recurrent mutation model or for a reversible recurrent mutation model, depending on whether the number of distinct observed allele types is at most three or four, respectively. It is demonstrated empirically that the formulae derived here are highly accurate when the per-base mutation rate is low, which holds for many biological organisms.
Vascular Rereconstruction and Major Amputations A Case Report

In an effort to increase the probability of primary below-knee amputation healing the author converted a common femoral artery to dorsalis pedis artery vein bypass to a common femoral artery to below-knee popliteal bypass to a blind popliteal segment along with a below-knee amputation in a patient with an osteomyelitic Chopart amputation. The patient was rapidly and successfully rehabilitated with a prosthesis and the bypass remained patent. This case report illustrates that preservation of the important functional aspect of the knee joint in the elderly population is justification for vascular reconstruction since the probability of primary below-knee amputation healing is enhanced.
Microbial Products Stimulate Human Toll-like Receptor 2 Expression through Histone Modification Surrounding a Proximal NF-κB-binding Site

Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the ability of microbial products to activate TLR2 gene expression in human monocytes. In this study, we found that TLR2 mRNA was rapidly up-regulated in human monocytes treated with TLR2 and TLR4 agonists, and this corresponded to an increase in cell surface receptor levels. This induction was abrogated by actinomycin D as well as a pharmacologic inhibitor of NF-κB, suggesting that the TLR2 gene is transcriptionally activated via NF-κB. Microbial agonists were found to shift the transcription initiation site of the TLR2 gene, and sequence examination revealed a near-consensus NF-κB-binding element immediately upstream of this site. Electromobility shift assays confirmed that NF-κB bound to this putative site in vitro. However, luciferase reporter plasmids driven by the TLR2 promoter were not responsive to TLR2 agonists. Overexpression of the NF-κB p65 subunit was sufficient to induce expression of the endogenous TLR2 mRNA, and co-transfection of the CREB-binding protein and p300 co-activators further increased TLR2 mRNA levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that p65, CREB-binding protein, and p300 are recruited to the TLR2 promoter upon stimulation of human monocytes followed by histone hyperacetylation. Taken together, these results define a mechanism whereby histone modification and increased promoter access induce expression of human TLR2 following infection.
A laboratory evaluation of the effect of the coccidiostat, trithiadol on the growth of chickens.

In feeding trials with chicks through 9 weeks, replicated groups fed 0.1% dietary Trithiadol®-supplemented feed gained weight as well as did the control groups, while the weight gains of those fed 0.0125% dietary nicarbazin-supplemented feed were affected adversely. The chicks in all the groups exhibited no adverse effects by any of the other criteria used, including feed conversions and physical characteristics of the birds through dressing out. In a second feeding trial in which the anticoccidial agents were fed at the commercially recommended level and at three to six times this level, there was no apparent effect on the weight gains in the use level-fed replicated groups. The birds fed the threefold nicarbazin-supplemented feed weighed significantly less than those of the control group (P = <0.001). The chicks fed the sixfold level of Trithiadol-supplemented feed also weighed less than the birds of the control group (P = 0.02). None of the chicks exhibited any other adverse effect. The results from these laboratory feeding trials support the view that Trithiadol may be expected to exhibit a wide margin of safety under conditions of use.
Sure, I'm Creative—But Not in Mathematics!: Self-Reported Creativity in Diverse Domains

The degree to which creativity is domain-specific or domain-general remains hotly contested, but there is at least one area of agreement: people have different creativity profiles. In this study, we asked 241 students to give self-ratings of their creativity in different domains. These ratings were then studied for inter-correlations. We also examined how such self-assessments in diverse domains relate to other measures of cognitive ability and to creativity as measured with a personality scale. In general, if students viewed themselves as generally creative, they also viewed themselves as creative in different areas. The only area that was not correlated with general creativity ratings was mathematics.
Green Heat: Hot Water Energy Offset System

The implementation of renewable energy systems is often regarded by the consumer to be too costly and too complex to maintain and operate. For instance converting sunlight or wind energy to electricity along with the conditioning equipment required to put energy into the system can be cost prohibitive for a residential or commercial application. The proposed system implements multiple renewable energy components working in series. These components bypass those costly electrical energy conversions by converting the acquired energy into heat, which can be utilized to offset a portion of the energy consumed within the home or business. This system can be made completely transparent with little or no impact on the consumers’ lifestyle. Also, the proposed system, by only attempting to offset a portion of the current usage, will be simple and inexpensive to assemble and maintain with a short return on investment.According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration an estimated 10 quadrillion Btu’s are consumed by 113.6 million houses in the United States, while 1.8 quadrillion Btu’s of the total energy is used for hot water heating [1]. It has been shown that approximately 20% of the energy costs associated with most residential and small commercial businesses stem from hot water heating. A patent-pending technology, called a viscous controller, attached at the base of a wind turbine, which operates in series with a traditional thermal solar collector to supplement the energy used in the hot water tank. This technology reduces the cost of the system and allows for the average homeowner and small business owner to offset their current energy usage, incorporate renewable energy sources, and offer a 4–5 year return on initial investment. More importantly, if this system is implemented in only a portion of the target market, it has the potential to completely offset the rising energy demands for the United States each year for the foreseeable future.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Effect of tunicamycin on the biosynthesis of human fibroblast collagenase.

Abstract It is generally accepted that collagenase from human fibroblast cultures consists of two proenzymes (M r 60,000 and 55,000) and two active forms (M r 50,000 and 43,000). We demonstrated previously that epidermal growth factor (EGF) as well as a number of other growth factors induced the secretion of procollagenase (M r 60,000, M r 55,000) into the medium of human fibroblast cultures (Chua et al., 1985). In the presence of tunicamycin and EGF, the secretion of the larger form of procollagenase was suppressed preferentially with concomitant appearance of a new band, M r 40,000. This M r 40,000 band could be specifically immunoprecipitated by antibody raised against human collagenase. By two-dimensional peptide mapping, the M r 40,000 material appeared to have similar composition as the M r 60,000 band. In a time course study, the M r 55,000 procollagenase band was the earliest protein to appear in the medium after 1 hour labeling with [ 35 S] -methionine. The M r 60,000, 50,000 and 43,000 bands appeared after a 2 hour labeling period. Our results indicate that human collagenases are glycosylated proteins and are synthesized via the dolichol phosphate pathway.
Sediment ingestion of two sympatric shorebird species

Black-bellied plovers (Pluvialis squatarola) have short bills and primarily peck while foraging whereas Willets (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) have long bills and primarily probe with bills open in sediments. Intestinal digesta were collected from these species at sympatric overwintering sites in southern California near San Diego to relate sediment ingestion to bill length and feeding behavior. Plover digesta contained an estimated 29% sediment, and Willet digesta an estimated 3% sediment. Techniques based on acid insoluble ash and on the elemental markers of Al, Fe, and Ti in digesta provided similar results. High Ca concentrations in Willet digesta along with our observations suggested that the Willets in our sample fed primarily on molluscs and crustaceans. Sediment ingestion may be species-specific, not necessarily linked to bill length or probing behaviors, and may greatly affect a bird's exposure to environmental contaminants in sediment.
Copepod photobehavior in a simulated natural light environment and its relation to nocturnal vertical migration

To investigate the roles of light in initiating, controlling and directing nocturnal vertical migration, photoresponses of the adult, female copepod Acartia tonsa Dana were measured under simulated natural underwater light conditions using a video system. Copepods were adapted to a range of background light levels and tested with the following stimuli: absolute quantal intensity, absolute change in quantal intensity and relative (%) change in quantal intensity. The stimulus initiating vertical movements was relative change in quantal intensity, while responsiveness was controlled by the level of light adaptation. A. tonsa swam upward in response to decreases. Response with minimal stimulation occurred at an adaptation intensity close to that in the copepod's natural habitat at the time of the migratory ascent (near the bottom of the Newport River estuary, North Carolina, near sunset). Analysis of the angles of upward movement showed that light is not a directional cue. Relative increases in intensity resulted in sinking, with minimal stimulation required at an adaptation intensity close to that in the field when the migratory descent occurs near sunrise. These results offer a reasonable explanation of how light cues may shape nocturnal vertical migratory patterns.
Utilization of supplemental triglycerides or free fatty acids by calves from 4 to 10 weeks of age

Our objectives were 1) to determine the effects of increased availability of 2-monoglycerides from triglyceride digestion on absorption of free fatty acids (FFA) and utilization of nutrients by calves of weaning age and 2) to determine whether absorption of FFA increased with age. Thirty-two male Holstein calves were fed milk replacer until d 28 of age and then were assigned, to one of four treatments: 1) control, 80 g/d of whey protein concentrate in 2 L of water; 2) control plus 120 g/d of lard triglycerides; 3) control plus 90 g/d of lard triglycerides plus 30 g/d of lard FFA (low FFA); and 4) control plus 60 g/d of triglycerides plus 60 g/d of lard FFA (high FFA). Treatments were fed by nipple pail twice daily to maintain closure of the esophageal groove. Intake of calf starter (available continuously) was decreased by supplemental fats and tended to be lower for calves fed high FFA than for those fed low FFA. Digestibilities of total C18 fatty acids and total fatty acids were lower for calves fed triglycerides than for calves fed FFA, but digestibilities were not affected by age. Energy digestibility was greater for fat treatments than for controls and was greater for FFA treatments than for triglycerides, but intakes of digestible energy and metabolizable energy did not differ. Absorbed N was greater for calves on the control treatment than for those on the fat treatments, but retained N and average daily gain did not differ. Digestibility of fatty acids was greater for calves fed mixtures of triglycerides and FFA than for those fed triglycerides alone, but digestibility did not change during wk 6 to 10 of age.
The effects of lipid composition on the binding of lasalocid A to small unilamellar vesicles

Abstract The binding of the carboxylic ionophore lasalocid A (X537A) to small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles of varying composition was examined in an effort to determine what structural features of the phospholipid membrane influence the ionophore-membrane interaction. Apparent dissociation constants (Kapp) were calculated for both the acidic and anionic forms of the ionophore using the change in fluorescence intensity observed for lasalocid A upon addition of phospholipid vesicles. The Kapp for binding to fluid phase dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles is 46 μM for the anion and 14 μM for the acid. While the phase transition of DMPC had no effect on the Kapp of the anion, an increase was observed in the Kapp of the acid below the phase transition temperature. The Kapp of the anion was not affected by the incorporation of 10% dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), but increased slightly upon incorporation of cholesterol. The pKa values of the ionophore were the same in DMPC and DMPC/DMPE membranes. Incorporation of the negative lipids phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, or phosphatidylethanolamine (at pH 9.4 where PE carries a negative charge) decreases binding of the anion in accord with the increase in surface potential estimated from Gouy-Chapman theory. The CD spectrum of membrane-bound lasalocid A anion indicated the ionophore to be in an extended acyclic conformation on the membrane surface with the C-1 carboxylate rotated out of the plane of the salicylate ring. The out-of-plane rotation of the carboxylate may be the result of facial binding by the amphiphilic ionophore on the membrane surface or of weak ion pairing to the polar lipid head groups. These results suggest that the primary determinants of binding of the anionic ionophore on the membrane surface are packing density of the polar head groups and membrane surface potential. There is no evidence of strong hydrogen bond formation between the lipid polar head groups and the ionophore as has previously been suggested.
Constitutionalist Contention in Contemporary Egypt

This article tackles the problem of political—institutional change in undemocratic regimes commonly considered impervious to meaningful political contention. Egypt is one of the contemporary world's most stolid authoritarian regimes, a superpresidential system in which all effective power resides in the executive. It has been governed by uninterrupted emergency law since 1981 and since 1992 has experienced a further process of political deliberalization. Simultaneously, Egyptian politics have witnessed the rise of new political actors: courts, human rights organizations, and professional associations. What explains such manifestations of political dynamism in the midst of political stasis? This article contends that two processes of legal mobilization and internationalization have interacted to produce revived courts, new human rights organizations, and transformed professional unions. This interpretation departs from the emphasis on authoritarian resilience in the Middle East, advancing a more relational...
Effect of particle size on binary reactions common to the Y-Ba-Cu-O system

A systematic study has been conducted to determine the effects of particle size on the reaction paths leading to binary phases in the Y-Ba-Cu-O system. Using dynamic X-ray diffraction (DXRD), three binary reaction sets with stoichiometries equal to that present in the Y-Ba-Cu high-[Tc] superconductor and having two different particle sizes (nanometers and micrometers) were reacted in both air and helium environments. Results indicate that the absence of oxygen and carbon dioxide leads to lower reaction temperatures and to different products in the Y-Cu and Ba-Cu binaries. Particle size comparisons show not only a higher reactivity in the nanometer system, but also different products due to the diffusion limitations in the micrometer system. Comparisons between the binary and ternary reactivities point to the Ba-Cu binary as the most critical reaction system for assuring high-quality HTSC.
Plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue and brain distribution of cisplatin in musk shrews

Purpose Cisplatin induces nausea and emesis, even with antiemetic supportive care. To assess platinum exposure, which could activate nausea and emesis, we quantitated platinum in the brain and various organs, and hindbrain and spinal cord substance P, a key neuropeptide for the neuronal signaling of nausea and emesis.
On the asymptotic behaviour of Volterra difference equations

We consider the asymptotic behaviour of solutions of the difference equations of the form in a Banach space X, where n = 0,1,2,…; A, B(n) are linear bounded operators in X. Our method of study is based on the concept of spectrum of a unilateral sequence. The obtained results on asymptotic stability and almost periodicity are stated in terms of spectral properties of the equation and its solutions. To this end, a relation between the Z-transform and spectrum of a unilateral sequence is established. The main results extend previous results.
Effect of Nitrogen Application on Yield and Quality of Silage Corn after Forage Legume-Grass

Decomposition of forage legume-grass (FLG) sods after turnover will supply N to the next corn (Zea mays L.) crop. For optimum economic grain production typically a starter N application is sufficient. However, the impact of eliminating sidedress N on yield and quality of silage corn in the year after sod turnover (FYC) is not well documented and little is known about the effects of timing of sod turnover (fall or spring) or sod composition (percentage legume) on N fertilizer needs of FYC. In 2005 and 2006, 13 on-farm and three research station N trials were conducted throughout New York (NY) to determine (i) N needs for optimum yield and quality of FYC and (ii) the impact of FLG composition and timing of sod kill on the likeliness of an economic N fertilizer response. On-farm trials included four sidedress N rates (0, 56, 112, and 168 kg N ha -1 ) with a small, banded starter application (34 kg N ha -1 maximum). The three research sites also contained a no starter control. Eliminating the starter resulted in significantly lower yields while sidedress N did not increase yield at any of the 16 sites. Nitrogen application increased crude protein (CP) levels but did not affect other silage quality parameters or estimated milk production. The increase in CP came at great economic (fertilizer) and environmental (low apparent N recovery) costs. We conclude a small starter application is sufficient for optimum yield and quality of FYC regardless of timing of sod turnover or its composition.
Direct numerical simulation of isotropic turbulence interacting with a weak shock wave

Direct numerical simulations are used to investigate the interaction of isotropic quasi-incompressible turbulence with a weak shock wave. A linear analysis of the interaction is conducted for comparison with the simulations. Both the simulations and the analysis show that turbulence is enhanced during the interaction. Turbulent kinetic energy and transverse vorticity components are amplified, and turbulent lengthscales are decreased. It is suggested that the amplification mechanism is primarily linear. Simulations also showed a rapid evolution of turbulent kinetic energy just downstream of the shock, a behavior not reproduced by the linear analysis. Analysis of the budget of the turbulent kinetic energy transport equation shows that this behavior can be attributed to the pressure transport term. Multiple compression peaks were found along the mean streamlines at locations where the local shock thickness had increased significantly.
Quasi-Biennial Oscillations of Ozone and Diabatic Circulation in the Equatorial Stratosphere

The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in ozone in the equatorial stratosphere is obtained by analyzing the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) data from 1984 to 1989. The phase of the ozone QBO in the lower stratosphere is found to precede the zonal wind QBO by several months as opposed to the theoretically expected in-phase relationship between the two. A mechanistic model is developed to explore possible reasons for this disagreement. The model is capable of simulating the actual time evolution of the ozone QBO by introducing the observed zonal wind profile as input. The modeled results confirm the conventional view that the ozone QBO is generated by the vertical ozone advection that is driven to maintain the temperature structure against radiative damping. However, a series of experiments emphasizes the importance of the feedback of the ozone QBO to the diabatic heating through the absorption of solar radiation. Due to this effect, the phase of the ozone QBO shifts up to a quarter cycle ahead and approaches that of the temperature QBO. Because of this inphase relationship, the feedback of the ozone QBO to the diabatic heating acts to compensate for the radiative damping of the temperature structure, thus reducing the magnitude of the induced diabatic circulation. Because the reduction of the magnitude of the vertical motion facilitates downward transport of easterly momentum by the mean flow, this feedback process can help to resolve the insufficiency of the easterly momentum in driving the dynamical QBO in general circulation models (GCMs). It should be emphasized that more sophisticated models that allow for full interaction between the chemical species and radiative and dynamical processes should be developed to improve our understanding of both dynamical and ozone QBOs.
Phenomenological Theory of the Mobility of an Electron in Dense Helium Gas

A phenomenological theory is used to account for the observed variation of the mobility of electrons in high-density low-temperature helium gas. Thermodynamic relaxation times are introduced to characterize the lifetime of localized and delocalized states. By allowing these relaxation times to be a function of the helium density, we are able to account quantitatively for the density dependence of the electronic mobility and the anomalous electric field dependence of the electron drift velocity, as observed by Levine and Sanders. The computed critical density, where the free energy of the localized configuration is equal to the free energy of the delocalized state, is 9.5 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{20}$ atoms/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$.
Modeling and design automation of biological circuits and systems

Circuit designers are increasingly more drawn to challenges in modeling and designing biological circuits and systems. While the principles of biological organization and architecture resemble those in systems that engineers are designing, the complexity of biological systems still seems to be beyond the designed ones. This session discusses state-of-the-art in tackling such challenges, and presents existing methods for automation of model development, design and analysis of biological circuits and systems. The speakers are experts from systems biology, synthetic biology, and design automation fields. The three talks will cover a range of topics that include rule-based modeling approach to model cell signaling networks, automation of genetic circuit design, and the importance and development of standards in synthetic biology.
The effect of macroeconomic variables on economic growth rates: A cross-country study☆

Abstract The paper studies the impact of macroeconomic variables on economic growth during the period 1960–1987. We find no evidence for the view that countries which pursue macroeconomic policies that result in high inflation, large budget deficits, and high levels of government consumption spending suffer low rates of growth of per capita output. We find weak evidence, however, for a negative effect of high marginal tax rates on growth. Further, we find strong evidence that countries which achieve low variability of output growth and which expand their foreign trade have high rates of economic growth.
Lucky Trip? Perspectives From a Foreign Advisor on Competition Policy, Development and Technical Assistance

My favorite travel document is a boarding pass issued by Air Georgia in the 1990s when I advised the Republic of Georgia on the implementation of its new competition law.1 Flying to and from Tbilisi usually involved a ride on a fully depreciated Tupolev 154, the mainstay of Air Georgia’s fleet. I trusted the Tupolev’s rugged engineering but sometimes doubted the maintenance programme that kept it flying. Air Georgia took various steps to allay these and other concerns of nervous Western travellers. One was the boarding pass. One side of blue and white slip of paper contained a drawing of a smiling aeroplane that soared above a greeting printed in Georgian and English. The English phrase probably translated the Georgian inexpertly, but it did not comfort the anxious. It said “Lucky trip!” Since the early 1990s I have counselled 15 transition economies on market-oriented economic law reforms. As an academic and government official, I also have attended dozens of conferences, seminars and workshops to discuss competition policy and the role of individual governments and multinational bodies in the establishment of antitrust laws. On many occasions in these endeavours I have asked myself whether the whole business of providing technical assistance has been more than a lucky trip—an excursion in which the foreign advisors capture all the benefits (including exotic passport stamps, colourful stories and publishable paper topics) and the local advisees bear all the risks and only occasionally come out ahead. December 2007 European Competition Journal 319
Use of extreme value theory in engineering decision making

Abstract In many engineering systems problems, decision making is required to select values of decision varibles to effect system performance. Extreme value theory has been widely used to predict rare natural events in fields such as hydrology and reliability analysis. The search for good solutions in engineering can be viewed as analogous to the investigations of extreme conditions in natural processes. The method described in this paper is developed based on the extreme value theory and is discussed with the help of a real engineering problem. No restrictive assumptions are made to the problem, and particular attention is paid to the flexibility of the method in terms of required computational resources and quality of the solution. Results are benchmarked against a simple random search procedure.
On the Cohen-Macaulay property for monomial curves in ℙK3

The arithmetical Cohen-Macaulay property for monomial curves in ℙK3 with generic zero\((t_0^{n_3 } ,t_0^{n_3 - n_1 } t_0^{n_1 } ,t_0^{n_3 - n_2 } t_0^{n_2 } ,t_0^{n_3 } )\) was shown in [2] to be true forn3>(n2−1)(n2−n1),n3>n2, (n1,n2,n3)=1. Here we establish necessary and sufficient arithmetic conditions in terms ofn1,n2,n3 in order for the indicated curves not to be arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay.
Modulation Coding for Optical Channels

The effect of a modulation code generated by a "forbidden list" of input sequences on the performance of an optical receiver that uses a fixed state Viterbi algorithm is analyzed.