cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium Carbonate in Termite Mounds

THE presence of appreciable quantities of calcium carbonate in termite mounds on non-calcareous soil has intrigued pedologists for many years. Milne6, for example, found a termite mound with 7% calcium carbonate and estimated that it contained about 2 t of calcium carbonate excluding the hard limestone (53% CaCO3) base of the mound. The soil below the base of a termite mound may also be calcareous. The soil underneath one termite mound in an area of non-calcareous soil was found to have a mean of 1.7% calcium carbonate to a depth of 6 m, or about 20 t of calcium carbonate9.
Spittlebug indicators of nitrogen-fixing plants

. 1 Spittlebugs (Homoptera: Cercopoidea) are preferentially associated with nitrogen-fixing angiosperms. Generally, the Aphrophoridae associate with legumes, the Clastopteridae with actinorhizal plants, and the Cercopidae with associative nitrogen-fixing grasses. This is the first reported insect—host association specific to nitrogen-fixing plants. 2 It is probable that spittlebugs are attracted to nitrogen-fixing plants because these hosts provide a relatively rich, reliable source of organic nitrogen compounds for xylem-sucking insects. 3 Many spittlebugs live on plants that do not fix nitrogen, and ecological, mechanical or chemical factors may bar some spittlebugs from otherwise suitable nitrogen-fixing plants. 4 Among nitrogen-fixing hosts, spittlebugs appear to prefer plants that transport fixed nitrogen as amino acids and amides to plants that transport fixed nitrogen as ureides.
Theory of photoluminescence from modulation-doped self-assembled quantum dots in a magnetic field

We study the effect of free carriers on photoluminescence from modulation-doped self-assembled quantum dots. Exact diagonalization studies of up to N=8 electrons and a single exciton in InAs self-assembled dots, and a Hartree-Fock calculations for up to N=20 electrons, are carried out. The total spin and total angular momentum are found to oscillate with the number of electrons. The photoluminescence spectrum is calculated and the band-gap renormalization in zero-dimensional systems is discussed. The tendency of electrons in degenerate, partially filled electronic shells to maximize the total spin leads to a strong dependence of the spectrum on the number of electrons N, the magnetic field B, and the polarization of light.
Pseudo-Bayes and pseudo-empirical Bayes estimators in randomized response sampling

In this article, new pseudo-Bayes and pseudo-empirical Bayes estimators for estimating the proportion of a potentially sensitive attribute in a survey sampling have been introduced. The proposed estimators are compared with the recent estimator proposed by Odumade and Singh [Efficient use of two decks of cards in randomized response sampling, Comm. Statist. Theory Methods 38 (2009), pp. 439–446] and Warner [Randomized response: A survey technique for eliminating evasive answer bias, J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 60 (1965), pp. 63–69].
Cost-effectiveness analysis of paramedic emergency medical services in the treatment of prehospital cardiopulmonary arrest

Study objectives: 1) Identification of marginal costs associated with prehospital resuscitation of cardiopulmonary arrest; 2) Determination of cost effectiveness for such resuscitation; and 3) Comparison of cost effectiveness of paramedic care with selected other medical interventions. Design: Retrospective review of 190 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Setting: City limits of a midsized southwestern city. The events studied took place outside of medical facilities. Type of participants: Victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest for whom the EMS system was activated by a 911 telephone request for emergency medical assistance. Measurements and main results: The cost, including training, personnel, equipment, and response time maintenance, per year of life saved was found to be $8,886.00 for paramedic care. This result was compared with published cost-effectiveness figures for heart transplantation, liver transplantation, bone marrow transplantation, and chemotherapy for acute leukemia. Paramedic care was more cost effective, as measured by cost per year of life saved, than organ transplantation and chemotherapy for acute leukemia. Conclusion: Out-of-hospital treatment by paramedics of cardiopulmonary arrest is more cost effective than heart, liver, bone marrow transplantation, or curative chemotherapy for acute leukemia.
FGF signalling through RAS/MAPK and PI3K pathways regulates cell movement and gene expression in the chicken primitive streak without affecting E-cadherin expression

Background: FGF signalling regulates numerous aspects of early embryo development. During gastrulation in amniotes, epiblast cells undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the primitive streak to form the mesoderm and endoderm. In mice lacking FGFR1, epiblast cells in the primitive streak fail to downregulate Ecadherin and undergo EMT, and cell migration is inhibited. This study investigated how FGF signalling regulates cell movement and gene expression in the primitive streak of chicken embryos. Results: We find that pharmacological inhibition of FGFR activity blocks migration of cells through the primitive streak of chicken embryos without apparent alterations in the level or intracellular localization of E-cadherin. Ecadherin protein is localized to the periphery of epiblast, primitive streak and some mesodermal cells. FGFR inhibition leads to downregulation of a large number of regulatory genes in the preingression epiblast adjacent to the primitive streak, the primitive streak and the newly formed mesoderm. This includes members of the FGF, NOTCH, EPH, PDGF, and canonical and non-canonical WNT pathways, negative modulators of these pathways, and a large number of transcriptional regulatory genes. SNAI2 expression in the primitive streak and mesoderm is not altered by FGFR inhibition, but is downregulated only in the preingression epiblast region with no significant effect on E-cadherin. Furthermore, over expression of SNAIL has no discernable effect on E-cadherin protein levels or localization in epiblast, primitive streak or mesodermal cells. FGFR activity modulates distinct downstream pathways including RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT. Pharmacological inhibition of MEK or AKT indicate that these downstream effectors control discrete and overlapping groups of genes during gastrulation. FGFR activity regulates components of several pathways known to be required for cell migration through the streak or in the mesoderm, including RHOA, the non-canonical WNT pathway, PDGF signalling and the cell adhesion protein N-cadherin. Conclusions: In chicken embryos, FGF signalling regulates cell movement through the primitive streak by mechanisms that appear to be independent of changes in E-cadherin expression or protein localization. The positive and negative effects on large groups of genes by pharmacological inhibition of FGF signalling, including major signalling pathways and transcription factor families, indicates that the FGF pathway is a focal point of regulation during gastrulation in chicken.
On the conformation of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone, nuclear Overhauser observation

Abstract Observations of proton nuclear Overhauser effects in the molecule Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone indicate that a high population of a particular set of conformers exists in water solution. The results can be interpreted as two distinct conformers in which the pGlu 1 ring is in close proximity to aromatic residues further along the sequence of the linear structure. The observed nuclear Overhauser effects were in agreement with the enhancements calculated from models obtained by conformational energy calculations.
Familism A cultural value with implications for romantic relationship quality in U.S. Latinos

Familism is a cultural value that emphasizes interdependent family relationships that are warm, close, and supportive. We theorized that familism values can be beneficial for romantic relationships and tested whether (a) familism would be positively associated with romantic relationship quality and (b) this association would be mediated by less attachment avoidance. Evidence indicates that familism is particularly relevant for U.S. Latinos but is also relevant for non-Latinos. Thus, we expected to observe the hypothesized pattern in Latinos and explored whether the pattern extended to non-Latinos of European and East Asian cultural background. A sample of U.S. participants of Latino (n = 140), European (n = 176), and East Asian (n = 199) cultural background currently in a romantic relationship completed measures of familism, attachment, and two indices of romantic relationship quality, namely, partner support and partner closeness. As predicted, higher familism was associated with higher partner support a...
Broad QRS tachycardia: Electrocardiographic diagnosis and management

Abstract The diagnostic difficulties between supraventricular tachyarrhythmias with intraventricular conduction delay and ventricular tachycardia have challenged the physician since the first recording of a ventricular tachycardia by Lewis in 1909. 2 The examples selected emphasize some of the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas of "broad QRS tachycardias" and their major differential features from abberrancy. Multiple simulataneous surface ECG leads are valuable in showing the direction of the initial activation forces of the QRS complexes, the frontal QRS axis and the configuration of the QRS in lead V 1 . Vagal maneuvers and intraatrial or esophageal leads are very useful in demonstrating the underlying atrial rhythm and atrioventricular dissociation when present. In life-threatening situations, urgent therapy or D.C. cardioversion may be required before a definitive diagnosis has been established. In recent years electrode catheter techniques for the diagnosis, 12,21,22 for arrhythmia induction and for the selection and assessment of the effectiveness of the antiarrhythmic drug therapy have been carried out in the management of recurrent broad QRS tachycardia. 23 In view of the inherent risks with the use of this invasive technique, it should be restricted to a carefully selected number of patients with recurrent life-threatening dysrhythmias as suggested by Scheinman. 24
Cardiac structure and function in young and senescent mice heterozygous for a connexin43 null mutation.

Downregulation of connexin43 (Cx43) in the failing heart has been implicated not only in arrhythmogenesis but in contractile dysfunction as well. Cx43-deficient mice exhibit reduced baseline conduction velocity and increased arrhythmias in response to ischemia. However, it is not known whether Cx43-deficient mice have any abnormalities in contractile function or, furthermore, whether cardiac dysfunction may be manifested in Cx43-deficient mice with advancing age. Therefore, we analyzed echocardiographic images from young and senescent Cx43-deficient C57BL/6Jx129 mice compared to wild-type littermate controls. Only a few, modest genotype-related differences were observed. LV wall thickness during systole and % fractional shortening were diminished by 8–10% in Cx43-deficient v wild-type mice. Aging alone had a greater effect on cardiac structure and function. LV mass and relative wall thickness were significantly increased in senescent v young mice independent of genotype. Percent fractional shortening and LV internal chamber dimension were significantly reduced in senescent v young mice. Thus, aging in mice, as in humans, is associated with concentric remodeling, mild systolic dysfunction and fibrosis. Although diminished Cx43 expression could contribute to contractile dysfunction in patients with advanced heart failure, genetic deficiency in Cx43 does not appear significantly to alter cardiac structure or function even in aged mice.
Organ specificity of tumor metastasis: role of preferential adhesion, invasion and growth of malignant cells at specific secondary sites

The locations of distant secondary tumors in many clinical cancers and animal tumors are nonrandom, and their distributions cannot be explained by simple anatomical or mechanical hypotheses based on the simple lodgment or trapping of tumor cell emboli in the first capillary bed encountered. Evidence from certain experimental tumor systems supports Paget's ‘seed and soil’ hypothesis on the nonrandom distributions of metastases, in which the unique properties of particular tumor cells (‘seeds’) and the different characteristics of each organ microenvironment (‘soil’) collectively determine the organ preference of metastasis. Experimentally, differential tumor cell adhesion to organ-derived microvessel endothelial cells and organ parenchymal cells, differential invasion of basement membranes and organ tissues, and differential responses to organ-derived growth-stimulatory and-inhibitory factors all appear to be important determinants in explaining the organ preference of metastasis. Each tumor system may achieve organ specificity because of its own unique set of multiple metastasis-associated properties and responses to host microenvironments. As neoplasms progress to more highly malignant states multisite metastases are more likely and organ-specific metastases may be masked or circumvented owing to stochastic events, tumor cell diversification, host selection processes, and increased production of tumor autocrine molecules that may modulate adhesion, invasion, growth, and other properties important in metastasis. The importance of each of these properties, however, appears to vary considerably among different metastatic tumor systems. These and other tumor cell and host properties may eventually be used to predict and explain the unique metastastic distributions to certain human malignancies.
Three-Dimensional Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Using Cone Beam Collimation (CB-SPECT)

A simple and economically practical method of improving the sensitivity of camera-based SPECT was developed using converging (cone-beam) collimation. This geometry is particularly advantageous for SPECT devices using large field-of-view cameras in imaging smaller, centrally located activity distributions. Geometric sensitivities, spatial resolutions, and fields-of-view of a cone-beam collimator having a focal length of 48 cm and a similarly designed parallel hole collimator were compared analytically. At 15 cm from the collimator surface the point-source sensitivity of the cone-beam collimator was 2.4 times the sensitivity of the parallel-hole collimator. SPECT projection data (simulated using Monte Carlo methodology) were reconstructed using a 3-D filtered backprojection algorithm. Cone-beam emission CT (CE-SPECT) seems potentially useful for animal investigations, pediatric studies, and for brain imaging.
Interaction of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases with ribosomes and ribosomal subunits

Abstract Salt-washed ribosomes from rabbit reticulocytes stimulate seven partially purified aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases up to threefold: arginyl-, alanyl-, isoleucyl-, lysyl-, methionyl-, phenylalanyl- and valyl-tRNA synthetase. Both isolated subunits but not total ribosomal RNA show the stimulation. The increase in synthetase activity is also found in a highly purified Escherichia coli system employing homogenous (E. coli)phenyl-alanyl-tRNA synthetase and (E. coli)-tRNAPhe. The biological significance of the stimulation is discussed.
A flexible causal broadcast communication interface for distributed applications

Abstract The paper describes a causal broadcast communication interface that allows distributed applications to flexibly and uniformly specify message ordering requirements. The interface, implemented by the communication layer (or kernel), allows event-driven programming whereby application entities specify partial ordering on occurrence of messages, and all entities perceive the flow of logical time by exchanging messages in the specified order. Since entities see the same order on messages, they have the same view of the application state at every tick in logical time. The paper encourages an explicit representation of causal relationships among messages, whereby a message carries ordering constraints in the form of predicates on the delivery of other messages and a message is delivered at destinations after its predicates are satisfied. This provides flexibility in the communication structure of applications, whereby: (1) weak and strong orderings may be specified uniformly and (2) complex ordering relationship can be captured (e.g., nondeterminism in application). In addition, the concurrency inherent in the application can be precisely extracted and exploited by the kernel message delivery protocols. The broadcast interface integrates this style of causal ordering into a “process group” based program execution model that allows application entities to organize themselves as members of a group and exchange messages within the group in the presence of members joining and leaving the group. The paper describes replication mechanisms built using the interface for remote procedure call and distributed shared memory.
Laser treatment of diabetic macular edema: comparison of ETDRS-level treatment with threshold-level treatment by using high-contrast discriminant central visual field testing.

Grid laser is recognized as an extremely effective treatment of diabetic macular edema, although it causes significant chorioretinal damage when applied and scars that expand with time. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of two methods of grid laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema on high-contrast target discrimination in the central visual field. Grid laser photocoagulation with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study intensity burns has previously been shown to cause full retinal thickness burns. In this study, it produced severe destruction of paraxial vision, most marked at 2° to 10° from fixation. Grid laser using threshold-level burns, in contrast, appeared to produce some improvement in thresholded high-contrast vision at eccentricities from 2° to 3° outward, but failed to normalize visual parameters at these intercepts or at intercepts closer to fixation. Therefore, the recommendations are made (1) to use screening modalities other than biomicroscopic perception...
HPV and methylation indicators in paired tumor and saliva in HNSCC

Human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) is a causative agent for some head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and an independent risk factor for oropharyngeal SCC. The goal of this study was to examine HPV16 associated gene methylation in paired saliva and tumor DNA with assessment of the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive value for saliva HPV as a test for HNSCC. HPV16 status was determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in 35 primary HNSCC paired tumor and saliva specimens. Tumor cut points >=0.03 and >=0.1 and saliva cut points >0 and ?0.001 were used to classify results as HPV positive or negative. Aberrant methylation was determined by the methylation-specific multiplex ligation probe amplification (MS-MLPA) assay. The frequency of promoter hypermethylation in tumor samples was 66% (23/35) versus 17% (6/35) in saliva. Two of 35 paired tumor and saliva samples had commonly methylated genes. HPV and methylation were correlated for IGSF4 (p=0.01) in tumor samples (cut point ?0.03) and for ESR1 in saliva samples (cut point >0). Although the sensitivity of HPV detection in saliva was significantly reduced when saliva cut points were increased from >0 to >=0.001, the specificity and positive predictive values were 100% at saliva cut point of >=0.001, regardless of tumor cut points. Within clearly defined parameters, HPV detection in saliva DNA shows promise as a non invasive approach for tumor HPV status. Methylated genes detected in saliva may be useful in early detection and as potential predictive markers of HNSCC. Further confirmation and validation in larger cohorts is required.
Ovarian gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors. I. Properties and inhibition of luteal cell function.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its agonist analogs exert paradoxical antifertility effects in several species by causing regression of ovarian function. In collagenase-dispersed rat luteal cells, the agonist analog [D-Ser(tBu)6]des-Gly10-GnRH-N-ethylamide (GnRHa) caused inhibition of hCG-stimulated progesterone production. Epinephrine- stimulated progesterone production in isolated luteal cells was also partially inhibited by the GnRH analog. On the other hand, there was no effect of the analog on the steroid doseresponse curve to dibutyryl cAMP. The effect of the GnRH analog on the steroidogenic response to both hormones was to shift the dose-response curve to the right without changing the maximum production of progesterone. Natural sequence GnRH also inhibited steroid production, with a half-maximal effect occurring at 5.10-9 M in agreement with the binding affinity of GnRH for its gonadal receptors (Ka = 5 × 108 M-1). GnRHa also caused a shift to the right in the dose-response curve for cAM...
Decomposition of nitric oxide on platinum

Abstract The catalytic decomposition of NO on platinum has been studied in a flow reactor. When O 2 was added to the feed an oxidized surface was attained and all rate data on supported and unsupported catalysts gave a single Arrhenius line between 600 and 1050 °C. By contrast, when O 2 was not added to the feed, a pre-reduced platinum foil gave higher rates than those found on an oxidized surface. The higher rates decayed slowly to the lower rates after addition of oxygen to the feed. The less active oxidized surface contains two oxygen atoms per platinum atom and is produced by a slow rearrangement of the unoxidized surface in the presence of a sufficient amount of oxygen at high temperatures.
A FIRST LOOK AT THE EMPIRICAL RELATION BETWEEN SPOT AND FUTURES ELECTRICITY PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES

In this article we investigate the statistical properties of wholesale electricity spot and futures prices traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange for delivery at the California–Oregon Border. Using daily data for the years 1998 and 1999, we find that many of the characteristics of the electricity market can be viewed to be broadly consistent with efficient markets. The futures risk premium for 6-month futures contracts is estimated to be 0.1328% per day or about 4% per month. Using a GARCH specification, we estimate minimum variance hedge ratios for electricity futures. Finally, we study the dynamic relation between spot and futures prices using an Exponential GARCH model and between the spot and futures returns series using a vector autoregression. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 23:931–955, 2003
Statistical evaluation of oil and gas prospects in the outer continental shelf of the U.S. Gulf Coast

Areas of the U.S. Gulf Coast, both onshore and offshore, are among the petroliferous regions of the United States. In offshore Louisiana and Texas, most oil and gas is associated with structurally controlled traps on the crest or flanks of domes created by the diapiric movement of salt. These structures can be detected and mapped by seismic techniques that directly indicate favorable prospective areas. The characteristics of seismically defined structures provide information in advance of drilling about the probable size of reservoirs contained within these structures. Simple statistical relationships can be determined between the size, shape, and other attributes of structures detected by seismic mapping and the presence and size of petroleum and natural gas reservoirs.
Gap modulation in MCu[Q1−xQ′x]F (M=Ba, Sr; Q, Q′=S, Se, Te) and related materials

BaCuQF (Q=S, Se, Te) materials exhibit band gaps that allow transmission of much of the visible spectrum. BaCuSF is transparent in thin-film form with a band gap of 3.1 eV. Band gap estimates for powders of the solid solution series BaCuS1−xSexF were obtained from wavelength-dependent diffuse-reflectance measurements using an integrating sphere. The band gap can be tuned by the substitution of Se for S to 2.9 eV for BaCuSeF. The decrease scales almost linearly with the increase in the volume of the tetragonal unit cell, which is determined primarily by the expansion of the a lattice parameter; the overall volume increase is 7.0% from x=0 to 1. Further reduction of the band gap is observed in BaCuSe1−xTexF solid solutions, where a unit cell volume increase of 5.5% produces a band gap of 2.7 eV in BaCuSe0.5Te0.5F. Powders and films of BaCuSF exhibit strong red luminescence under ultraviolet excitation, which is suppressed by K doping. Additional tuning of band gap and electrical properties (the materials are p-type conductors) can be achieved by replacing Ba with Sr.
Bacterial endocarditis in regularly dialyzed patients.

Bacterial endocarditis in regularly dialyzed patients. Nine patients developed bacterial endocarditis during maintenance dialysis (2.7% of all patients so treated). Probable causative organisms included staphylococci (5), Listeria (2), Corynebacterium (1), and enterococci (1). On the average, endocarditis was detected 28.6 months after dialysis was initiated. Antecedent vascular access infections were common, as were central nervous system symptoms. Peripheral embolic phenomena were infrequent. The aortic valve was usually involved. Underlying heart disease was frequent and facilitated the appearance of congestive heart failure. Heart failure and valvular perforation usually caused death. Antibiotic therapy was ineffective in most patients. Only two of the patients survived, one of whom had aortic valve replacement. Death due to endocarditis occurred in two of three patients with osteomyelitis and two of three patients receiving adrenocorticosteroid therapy. The clinical presentation of bacterial endocarditis, its clinical course and outcome, and the urgency for treatment differ substantially from those in nonuremic patients. Histoire naturelle de l'endocardite bacterienne chez les malades soumis a l'hemodialyse periodique. Neuf malades soumis a l'hemodialyse periodique ont eu une endocardite bacterienne. Cela represente une incidence de 2,7% d'endocardites chez les malades suivis en hemodialyse periodique par le Regional Kidney Disease Center. Les agents pathogenes etaient des staphylocoques dans cing cas, des Listeria dans deux cas, un Corynebacterium et un enterocoque dans un cas chacun. L'endocardite a debute en moyenne 28,6 mois apres que l'hemodialyse ait ete commencee. Des infections des voies d'abord vasculaires sont frequentes dans les antecedents de meme que des signes d'atteinte du systeme nerveux central. Les tableaux d'embolies peripheriques ont ete rares. Les valves aortiques ont ete interessees dans la plupart des cas. Une cardiopathie preexistante etait frequente et contribuait a l'insuffisance cardiaque. La mort a ete le plus souvent le fait de l'insuffisance cardiaque et des perforations valvulaires. Le traitement medical a ete inefficace chez la plupart des malades. Deux malades seulement ont survecu, l'un d'eux a eu une prothese valvulaire. Parmi trois malades qui avaient une osteomyelite et un traitement recent par les corticoides deux sont morts d'endocardite. L'etablissement du diagnostic clinique d'endocardite, l'evolution et l'issue de la maladie de meme que l'urgence du traitement different probablement de ce qui est observe chez les non-uremiques. Notre but est de rapporter notre experience de l'endocardite chez ces malades et de proposer des lignes de conduite clinique orientees vers un diagnostic plus precoce ainsi que nos suggestions quant a un traitement plus precoce et plus agressif.
Obesogenic Family Types Identified through Latent Profile Analysis

Background Obesity may cluster in families due to shared physical and social environments.
Intersection homology II

In [19, 20] we introduced topological invariants IH~,(X) called intersection homology groups for the study of singular spaces X. These groups depend on the choice of a perversity p: a perversity is a function from {2, 3, ...} to the non-negative integers such that both /~(c) and c 2 / ~ ( c ) are positive and increasing functions of c (2.1). The group IHr is defined for spaces X called pseudomanifolds: a pseudomanifold of dimension n is a space that admits a stratification X ~ X n ~ X n _ z ~ X n _ 3 ~ . . . ~ x 1 ~ X 0
Testing, comparison, and evaluation of recall, relevance, and cost of coordinate indexing with links and roles

This paper evaluates the effect of system components such as links, roles, depth of indexing, vocabulary control, generics, and search strategy on recall, relevance, and cost of a patent index and compares retrievability and cost of coordinate indexing with classification.
The electrochemical reduction of PdCl42− and PdCl62− in polyaniline: Influence of Pd deposit morphology on methanol oxidation in alkaline solution

Abstract The controlled uptake and electrochemical reduction of metal precursors PdCl 4 2− and PdCl 6 2− in polyaniline (PANI) is demonstrated. The formation of PANI/Pd composites is achieved with a reduction in proton doping and an increase in the oxidation of the polymer with Pd deposits physically blocking the nitrogen groups. High surface area filaments (PdCl 4 2− ) or a rough encapsulation (PdCl 6 2− ) of Pd metal on PANI are obtained. The structural differences highlight the influence of the metal precursor oxidation state on the morphology of the Pd deposits in PANI. Thermal gravimetric analysis provides an estimate of the Pd content for each composite of ∼40%. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and X-ray-excited Auger Electron Spectroscopy analyses confirm the deposition of Pd metal. The catalytic oxidation of methanol was demonstrated for both PANI/Pd composites in alkaline solutions that prohibit proton doping of the polymer. The data indicates that Pd metal acts as a solid-state dopant that may delocalize the charge on the polymer backbone to maintain conductivity. Methanol oxidation at PANI/Pd composites produced using PdCl 4 2− was enhanced relative to the composite produced using PdCl 6 2− and a planar Pd electrode. Comparison of PANI/Pd composite produced using PdCl 4 2− with other Pd catalysts from the literature indicates surface poisoning is reduced when Pd is coupled with the polymer. The composite is robust and stable in alkaline solution with the charge density decreasing by 5% on the positive scan and 13% on the negative scan after 200 voltammetric cycles. The data also indicates that the reductive desorption of surface contaminants is possible, minimizing the catalytic loss due to surface poisoning.
Sublimate: state-changing virtual and physical rendering to augment interaction with shape displays

Recent research in 3D user interfaces pushes towards immersive graphics and actuated shape displays. Our work explores the hybrid of these directions, and we introduce sublimation and deposition, as metaphors for the transitions between physical and virtual states. We discuss how digital models, handles and controls can be interacted with as virtual 3D graphics or dynamic physical shapes, and how user interfaces can rapidly and fluidly switch between those representations. To explore this space, we developed two systems that integrate actuated shape displays and augmented reality (AR) for co-located physical shapes and 3D graphics. Our spatial optical see-through display provides a single user with head-tracked stereoscopic augmentation, whereas our handheld devices enable multi-user interaction through video seethrough AR. We describe interaction techniques and applications that explore 3D interaction for these new modalities. We conclude by discussing the results from a user study that show how freehand interaction with physical shape displays and co-located graphics can outperform wand-based interaction with virtual 3D graphics.
Analysis of Turbulent Pipe Flow With Mass Transfer

Kinney and Sparrow presented a method for calculating turbulent pipe flow with mass transfer. In this method the governing equations were reduced to a nonlinear differential integral equation. A very simple approach to the same problem is presented. By using Stevenson's law of the wall, closed form solutions are obtained. The results obtained by this approach agree equally closely with experimental data in comparison with the results obtained by Kinney and Sparrow and Merkin, et al.
RATE OF ABIOTIC FORMATION OF 1,1-DICHLOROETHYLENE FROM 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE IN GROUNDWATER

Abstract The abiotic transformation of the halogenated aliphatic compound, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), to 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE) in groundwater was measured in the laboratory at 20°C and neutral pH. The measured pseudo first-order disappearance rate constant for TCA was 0.11 ± 0.16yr−1 (95% confidence interval). The formation rate constant for 1,1-DCE could be determined with greater precision, and was found to be 0.040 ± 0.003 yr-1. These results indicate the 95% confidence interval for TCA half-life at 20°C and pH 7 in homogeneous solution is 2.8 to 19 yrs. While these results confirm that 1,1-DCE is a product from the abiotic transformation of TCA, other products such as acetic acid are also possible, although they were not measured.
Physiologic regulation of body energy storage.

Both new and published data (rats, mice, and human beings) on three parameters - fat mass, fat-free body mass (FFBM), and total body mass in some cases - are evaluated. Steady state values of the parameters are analyzed for changes in response to specific perturbing agents and for their frequency distributions. Temporal sequences of values on individuals are examined for evidence of regulatory responses. The results lead to the hypothesis that the FFBM is regulated, but probably not as a unit, and that mass of fat is regulated with a high priority near the range extremes but with a much lower priority in the mid-range. Properties and advantages of such a mechanism are discussed.
Current management of apnea in premature infants: is caffeine the magic bullet?

Apnea of prematurity is one of the most common problems observed in premature infants and it is associated with other morbidities including worse neurodevelopmental outcome. The incidence is higher in the more immature infants and it occurs in up to 90% of infants born under 28 weeks of gestation. The pathogenesis of apnea is due to immaturity of the respiratory control systems characterized by an abnormal ventilatory response to carbon dioxide and hypoxia combined with immature reflex responses. Upper airway obstruction due to airway instability is also a frequent component in apnea of prematurity. These abnormalities frequently persist until the infants reach 32–36 weeks corrected age or longer in the more immature infants. Severe apneic episodes are frequently associated with hypoxia and bradycardia and because of this they can lead to increased risk of CNS damage and neurological sequelae [1]. Infants who are mechanically ventilated also present frequently with episodes of hypoxemia but the mechanisms for these episodes differ from those of apnea of prematurity. The management of the infant with apnea episodes should start by identifying and correcting known conditions that can increase their incidence. These include metabolic abnormalities such as hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia and metabolic alkalosis, anemia and arterial hypotension, and any condition that increases the work of breathing. Medications that depress CNS activity also favor apnea and should be avoided. The level of arterial oxygenation plays a critical role in control of breathing in premature infants and low arterial oxygen tension increases the incidence of periodic breathing and apnea episodes [2].
Multiple Motivations and Effects: The Case of Trust Preferred Stock

This case examines the interplay of financial reporting, tax and regulatory motivations in a firm's decision to issue securities. The context for the case is a bank's decision whether to issue debt or trust preferred securities (TPS). Currently, TPS are changing the landscape of corporate balance sheets with an increasing number of companies reporting securities in the “mezzanine” section of the balance sheet (between equity and debt). Referred to by many as the “Holy Grail” of financial instruments, TPS appear to be the first securities to be treated as debt for tax purposes, but not for financial reporting or debt‐rating purposes. Since their introduction in late 1993, they have quickly become the primary variant of new preferred stock issues, representing 60 percent of all new issues of preferred stock.
Characterization of XIAP-Deficient Mice

The inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family consists of a number of evolutionarily conserved proteins that function to inhibit programmed cell death. X-linked IAP (XIAP) was cloned due to its sequence homology with other family members and has previously been shown to prevent apoptosis by binding to active caspases 3, 7, and 9 in vitro. XIAP transcripts can be found in a variety of tissues, and the protein levels are regulated both transcriptionally and posttranscriptionally. To better understand the function of XIAP in normal cells, we generated mice deficient in XIAP through homologous gene targeting. The resulting mice were viable, and histopathological analysis did not reveal any differences between XIAP-deficient and wild-type mice. We were unable to detect any defects in induction of caspase-dependent or -independent apoptosis in cells from the gene-targeted mice. One change was observed in cells derived from XIAP-deficient mice: the levels of c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 protein were increased. This suggests that there exists a compensatory mechanism that leads to upregulation of other family members when XIAP expression is lost. The changes in c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 expression may provide functional compensation for loss of XIAP during development or in the induction of apoptosis.
SEXISM IN GRADUATE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS Consequences for Students and Faculty

This study investigates the reactions of graduate students to perceived gender bias in their classes, using survey data from 254 social science graduate students in seven Ph.D.-granting departments in three universities. In addition to summarizing reported rates of gender-biased behavior in classrooms, we test hypotheses connecting perceptions of sexist behavior with students' emotional reactions, levels of distraction, and subsequent performance. Results are mixed, depending on students' perceptions of professors as either sensitive or insensitive to gender issues. Second, we use a model of social influence to test for negative effects of reported sexist behavior on students' perceptions of professors' expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. Strong support is demonstrated for these hypotheses.
Agglomerative Bregman Clustering

This manuscript develops the theory of agglomerative clustering with Bregman divergences. Geometric smoothing techniques are developed to deal with degenerate clusters. To allow for cluster models based on exponential families with overcomplete representations, Bregman divergences are developed for nondifferentiable convex functions.
Treating Female Perpetrators: State Standards for Batterer Intervention Services

Although domestic violence has historically been considered primarily a crime perpetrated by men, increasing numbers ofwomen are being arrested and mandated into batterer intervention programs. This study examined existing state policies to explore the degree to which they address the unique needs of women in batterer intervention programs. Nearly all existing standards were designed primarily to address the needs of heterosexual male clients.The goal of the study was to examine existing standards as they relate to female perpetrators and to make recommendations for future development of state standards.
Regulation of Ovulation and Egg Disposal in the Parasitic Hymenoptera

Among the attributes of the parasitic Hymenoptera that contribute to the ability of certain species to maintain host populations at low densities is the power to restrict egg deposition to sites suitable for the continued development of the offspring, and to regulate, regardless of host density, the number of eggs deposited per host (Flanders 1947). High searching capacity is, in part, a function of female longevity correlated with the conservation of reproductive material. It is self evident that time used in wasteful oviposition means less time for searching and consequently less effective control of the host.
Logistics networks: A game theory application for solving the transshipment problem

As competition from emerging economies such as China and India puts pressure on global supply chains and as new constraints emerge, it presents opportunities for approaches such as game theory for solving the transshipment problem. In this paper we use the well-known Shapley value concept from cooperative game theory as an approach to solve the transshipment problem for maintaining stable conditions in the logistics network. A numerical example is presented to show the usefulness of this approach.
Effects of electrical stimulation on early postmortem muscle pH and temperature declines in pigs from different genetic lines and halothane genotypes.

The objective of this study was to determine if electrical stimulation (ES) early postmortem is an effective method to generate PSE-like meat. One hundred and thirty-eight gilts (85–125 kg) from heavy muscled (HM), normal muscled (NM), and light muscled (LM) porcine genetic lines were subjected to one of two treatments: ES (26 pulses of 500 V, 60 Hz) at 3 min postmortem or non-stimulated (NS). Pigs from HM line were further characterized as halothane (HAL) carriers (Nn) or non-carriers (NN). ES carcasses had lower (P<0.0001) pH values and higher (P<0.0001) temperature than NS carcasses during the first 56 min postmortem. ES carcasses had lower (P<0.0001) a*-values, and color and firmness scores, as well as higher (P<0.0001) drip loss and L*-values. No significant interactions were found between treatment and genetic line or HAL gene status with regard to pH, temperature, or quality characteristics. Temperature and pH declines within the first hour postmortem were not affected by genetic line, but slight (P<0.01) quality differences were observed. Nn and NN did not differ in pH or temperature within the first hour postmortem, but Nn carcasses had lower (P<0.01) color and firmness scores, and higher (P<0.05) drip loss. These results show that ES early postmortem is an effective method for simulating PSE development in pigs of different muscling and HAL gene status, and suggest that pH and temperature decline alone cannot explain all aspects of pork quality.
Keep Up the Pace: Declines in Simple Repetitive Timing Differentiate Healthy Aging from the Earliest Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

The current study examined whether healthy older adults (OA) and individuals at the earliest stages of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT) differ from younger adults (YA) and from each other on a simple, extended continuous tapping task using intervals (500 ms, 1000 ms, and 1500 ms) thought to differentially engage attention control systems. OA groups sped up their tapping at the slowest target rate compared to the YA; this pattern was magnified in the early stage DAT groups. Performance variability appeared especially sensitive to DAT-related changes, as reliable differences between healthy OA and very mild DAT individuals emerged for multiple tap rates. These differences are proposed to result from breakdowns in attentional control that disrupt error-correction processes and the ability to resolve discrepancies between internally-generated temporal expectancies and the external temporal demands of the repetitive timing task.
The iontophoresis of fentanyl citrate in humans

Background: Iontophoresis is a method of transdermal ad ministration of ionizable drugs in which the electrically charged components are propelled through the skin by an external electric field. This study was designed to determine whether iontophoresis could be used to deliver clinically significant doses of fentanyl in humans and whether there is a charge-dose relation in the delivery of fentanyl by iontophoresis. Methods: Five adult volunteers were tested three times on separate days, once receiving passive treatment of 0.0 mA for 2 h (0 mA.min), iontophoresis 1.0 mA for 2 h (120 mA.min), and iontophoresis 2.0 mA for 2 h (240 mA.min) in an open, randomized, crossover design. Respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and hemoglobin oxygen saturation were monitored throughout the study. Plasma fentanyl concentrations were measured several times before, during, and after iontophoresis. Plasma fentanyl concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: No fentanyl was detected after passive (0.0-mA) fentanyl delivery. The following results were obtained for the 1.0- and 2.0-mA deliveries, respectively. Mean times to detectable concentrations of plasma fentanyl were 33 and 19 min; mean times to maximum concentration were 122 and 119 min; maximum concentrations were 0.76 and 1.59 ng/ml (P=0.010); mean areas under the curve of the plasma fentanyl concentration versus time relation were 233 and 474 ng.ml -1 .min (P=0.003); and mean elimination half-lives were 354 and 413 min (P=0.326). Only minor adverse side effects related to iontophoresis occurred. However, typical opioid-related effects occurred frequently in the 1.0- and 2.0-mA administration groups. Conclusions: Clinically significant doses of fentanyl can be administered by iontophoresis for delivery periods of 2 h. A charge-dose relation exists after administration with currents of 1.0 and 2.0 mA. Future research into the iontophoresis of fentanyl as a method of potent opioid administration is indicated
Sprawl angle in simplified models of vertical climbing: Implications for robots and roaches

Empirical data taken from fast climbing sprawled posture animals reveals the presence of strong lateral forces with significant pendulous swaying of the mass center trajectory in a manner captured by a recently proposed dynamical template [1, 2]. In this simulation study we explore the potential benefits of pendulous dynamical climbing in animals and in robots by examining the stability and power advantages of variously more and less sprawled limb morphologies when driven by conventional motors in contrast with animal-like muscles. For open loop models of gait generation inspired by the neural-deprived regimes of high stride-frequency animal climbing, our results corroborate earlier hypotheses that sprawled posture may be required for stability. For quadratic-in-velocity power output actuation models typical of commercially available electromechanical actuators, our results suggest the new hypothesis that sprawled posture may confer significant energetic advantage. In notable contrast, muscle-powered climbers do not experience an energetic benefit from sprawled posture due to their sufficiently distinct actuator characteristics and operating regimes. These results suggest that the potentially significant benefits of sprawled posture climbing may be distinctly different depending upon the details of the climbers sensorimotor endowment. They offer a cautionary instance against mere copying of biology by engineers or rote study of physical models by biologists through this reminder of how even simple questions addressed by simple models can yield nuanced answers that only begin to hint at the complexity of biological designs and behaviors.
Signal Correlation Modeling in Acoustic Vector Sensor Arrays

A vector sensor measures the scalar and vector components of the acoustic field. In a multipath channel, the sensor collects the information via multiple paths. Depending on the angle-of-arrival distribution and other channel characteristics, different types of correlation appear in a vector sensor array, which affect the array performance. In this paper, a novel statistical framework is developed which provides closed-form parametric expressions for signal correlations in vector sensor arrays. Such correlation expressions serve as useful tools for system design and performance analysis of vector sensor signal processing algorithms. They can also be used to estimate some important physical parameters of the channel such as angle spreads, mean angle of arrivals, etc.