cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Porosity and Permeability in Ternary Sediment Mixtures

Permeability, k, and porosity, φ, were measured in mixtures of fine, medium, and coarse sand, where the volume fraction of each of the three components was systematically varied. The k was modeled well by the Kozeny-Carman equation for three-component mixtures by using a representative grain size parameter, d, computed by averaging the grain diameters of components recursively, with averaging methods based on whether finer components exist in sufficient volume to fill the pores within coarser components. The φ was modeled well by using linear interpolation with piecewise-planar models. We explored the use of differing numbers of piecewise-planar elements in the model, and illustrate the trade-off between the increased accuracy and the increased data requirements that both come from adding more elements. The k model is a function of both d and φ, but more sensitive to d. The k model gave results consistent with measured values when computed using either measured φ values, or values from any of the φ models.
Cystic lesions of the prostate gland: A sonographic - pathologic correlation

277 patients underwent biplane transrectal ultrasonography. Twenty-two patients (7.9%) showed evidence of one or more intraprostatic cystic lesions. Histologic correlation was available with total prostatectomy specimens in six patients and surgical drainage in two patients. Sonographically, 11 patients showed one, 6 patients two, and 5 patients three or more intraprostatic cystic lesions. The size of the lesions ranged from 2 to 30 mm, and the majority of lesions were located within the central portion of the gland or at the junction of central and peripheral regions of the gland. Histologically, among the eight pathologically confirmed patients the lesions corresponded to cystically dilated, epitheliallined prostatic glands, a reepithelialized cyst related to previous biopsy, a dilated utricle, and two intraprostatic abscesses. The cystic lesions in our series were not associated with carcinoma of the prostate, but represented either a growth phenomenon related to the presence of benign prostatic hypertrophy, inflammatory conditions (abscesses), or anatomical variants (utricle).
Fabrication of large area nanostructured magnets by interferometric lithography

Patterned arrays of magnetic elements may be useful as media for high density magnetic storage applications. Interferometric lithography has been used to fabricate arrays of cobalt and nickel pillars with periods of 200 nm over areas of 5 cm/spl times/5 cm using a UV laser. This provides an economical and rapid method for manufacturing particle arrays.
Sublethal narcosis and population persistence: A modeling study on growth effects

This study of a Daphnia population model suggests that sublethal effects of nonpolar narcotics on growth of individual organisms can result in ultimate extinction of the population at chronic chemical concentrations near the effect concentration that leads to a 50% reduction in individual growth (the 16-d EC50 for growth). A quantitative dose-response relationship (QDRR)—a population extinction threshold, relating the minimal chronic chemical concentration that yields population persistence and the octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)—is generated from numerical simulation studies of a Daphnia population model. The transition from population persistence to extinction is examined in terms of density functions in the lipid, structure, and age variables associated with models of individual daphnids. The densities of populations undergoing transition from persistence to extinction due to increased toxicity suggest that critically stressed populations are age-bimodal with a component of old, large individuals and a component of small, nonreproductive individuals. The populations that persist near the threshold for extinction are unexpectedly diverse in age density and consist of relatively small individuals.
Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma on physical examination

A 37-year-old female presented with transient episodes of acute shortness of breath and no other complaints. On admission she was found to be hypertensive (160/115 mmHg) and tachycardic (145 min) with a respiratory rate of 28 min and an oxygen saturation of 84% on room air. Pertinent findings on initial examination included bilateral crackles on auscultation …
Relationship Between Cardiac Output and Peripheral Resistance in Borderline Hypertension

Eighty-eight observations on 77 patients with borderline hypertension and 82 single observations in healthy control subjects are reported. Hemodynamic effects of assumption of the sitting position, mild exercise, infusion of dextran, blockade with propranolol and with a combination of propranolol and atropine are evaluated. In the recumbent position, patients with borderline hypertension have increased cardiac output and "normal" peripheral resistance. Under all other experimental conditions, the peripheral resistance in patients with borderline hypertension was elevated. Increased resistance was accompanied by a decrease of the cardiac output. After administration of the atropine and propranolol combination, cardiac output in patients with borderline hypertension was significantly below the normal. Nevertheless, whether cardiac output was high or low and resistance normal or elevated, patients with borderline hypertension maintained mild elevations of the blood pressure. Consequently, borderline hyperten...
GENETIC CONTROL OF MITOCHONDRIAL THYMIDINE KINASE IN HUMAN-MOUSE AND MONKEY-MOUSE SOMATIC CELL HYBRIDS

Distinctive thymidine (dT) kinase molecular forms are present in mouse, human, and monkey mitochondria. Disk polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (disk PAGE) analyses have shown that the mitochondrial-specific dT kinases differ from cytosol dT kinases in relative electrophoretic mobilities (Rm). Furthermore, the mouse mitochondrial dT kinase differs in Rm value from primate mitochondrial dT kinases. The mouse and primate cytosol dT kinases can also be distinguished. Disk PAGE analyses have been carried out on the cytosol and mitochondrial dT kinases of human-mouse (WIL-8) and monkey-mouse (mK.CV(III)) somatic cell hybrids in order to learn whether the mitochondria of the hybrid cells contained murine mitochondrial-specific, primate mitochondrial-specific, or both dT kinases. WIL-8 cells were derived from cytosol dT kinase-negative, mitochondrial dT kinase-positive mouse fibro blasts and from cytosol dT kinase-positive, mitochondrial dT kinase-positive human embryonic lung cells; they contained mostly mouse chromosomes and a few human chromosomes, including the determinant for human cytosol dT kinase. The mK.CV(III) cells were derived from cytosol dT kinase-negative, mitochondrial dT kinase-positive mouse kidney cells and from cytosol dT kinase-positive, mitochondrial dT kinase-positive monkey kidney cells; they contained mostly mouse chromosomes and a few monkey chromosomes, including the determinant for monkey cytosol dT kinase. Disk PAGE analyses demonstrated that the mitochondria of human-mouse and monkey-mouse somatic cell hybrids contained the mouse-specific mitochondrial dT kinase but not the human- or monkey-specific mitochondrial dT kinase. These findings suggest that primate cytosol and mitochondrial thymidine kinase genes are coded on different chromosomes.
W-band microshield low-pass filters

Experimental and theoretical results are presented for a planar W-Band low-pass filter. A stepped impedance implementation of a 7-section 0.5 dB equal ripple Chebyshev filter achieves an insertion loss of 1 dB in the passband and a 90 GHz cutoff frequency. The filter is fabricated in microshield line technology, a new type of planar transmission line based on coplanar waveguide supported by a thin dielectric membrane. The inadequacy of conventional quasi-static models is discussed, and a Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) analysis is applied to predict the filter performance. >
Rapid Detection of Sublethally Impaired Cells of Enterobacteriaceae in Dried Foods

Samples of dried foods, feeds, and drugs were examined for Enterobacteriaceae by using buffered glucose-Brilliant Green-bile broth as the final enrichment medium and deep tubes of violet-red-bile-glucose-agar for confirmation. The pre-enrichment treatments used for the resuscitation of sublethally impaired cells were overnight incubation in lactose broth versus incubation for 1 to 6 hr at room temperature in shallow layers of tryptone soya peptone broth. The latter restoration treatment appeared to be significantly more productive.
The influence of the causal background on the selection of causal explanations

An experiment is presented which tested the hypothesis that people would provide different causal explanations for an occurrence depending on the ‘causal background’ against which the occurrence is considered. Results indicated that in devising an explanation for an occurrence, people might compare the target episode to contrasting background instances in which the episode did not occur. Data supported the hypothesis that distinctive features between the target episode and the contrasting background instances form the basis of people's causal explanations. The experiment also examined the hypothesis that background effects might be more difficult to produce when subjects are asked to select possible causal explanations from a list vs. providing explanations of their own. However, results indicated no significant effect for response mode on the production of background effects in causal explanations.
Arm scheduling in shadowed disks

The author describes a number of configurations and disk scheduling algorithms for shadow sets, and presents an analysis of seek time based on both a simulation and an analytic model. She focuses on the algorithm based on assigning a read request to the arm that is within the shortest seek distance of the target location. With this scheduling algorithm, shadowing five disks decreases the expected seek time for reads by 50%. For a ratio of reads to writes equal to 1.5 or higher, shadowing decreases the overall seek time by 20%. >
Hypoxia-derived oxidative stress mediates epigenetic repression of PKCɛ gene in foetal rat hearts

Aims Hypoxia causes protein kinase C epsilon (PKCɛ) gene repression in foetal hearts, resulting in heightened cardiac susceptibility to ischaemic injury in offspring. We tested the hypothesis that hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate hypoxia-induced PKCɛ gene repression. Methods and results Hypoxia induced in vivo to pregnant rats, ex vivo to isolated foetal rat hearts, and in vitro in the rat embryonic ventricular myocyte cell line H9c2 resulted in a comparable decrease in PKCɛ protein and mRNA abundance in foetal hearts and H9c2 cells, which was associated with a significant increase in CpG methylation of the SP1-binding sites at the PKCɛ promoter. In H9c2 cells and foetal hearts, hypoxia caused nuclear accumulation of HIF-1α, which was inhibited by 3-(5′-hydroxymethyl-2′-furyl)-1-benzylindazole and 2-methoxy estradiol. The HIF-1α inhibitors had no significant effect on hypoxia-induced PKCɛ mRNA repression. Hypoxia produced a time-dependent increase in ROS production in H9c2 cells and foetal hearts that was blocked by ROS scavengers N -acetyl-cysteine or tempol. In accordance, N -acetyl-cysteine and tempol, but not apocynin, inhibited the hypoxic effect and restored PKCɛ protein and mRNA expression to the control values in foetal hearts and H9c2 cells. The ROS scavengers blocked hypoxia-induced CpG methylation of the SP1-binding sites, restored SP1 binding to the PKCɛ promoter, and abrogated the hypoxia-induced increase in the susceptibility of the heart to ischaemic injury in offspring. Conclusions The results demonstrate that hypoxia induces epigenetic repression of the PKCɛ gene through a NADPH oxidase-independent ROS-mediated pathway in the foetal heart, leading to heightened heart vulnerability to ischaemic injury in offspring.
Hybrid Vigor in Poultry

Abstract The phenomenon of hybrid vigor is well known from the crossing of both plants and animals. The first generation hybrids resulting from the crossing of two pure breeds frequently exhibit vigor superior to either of the crossed pure breeds. The high yielding qualities of first generation hybrids in corn have been demonstrated by Jones2 and others. Practical breeders of swine have been convinced of the exceptional vigor of individuals resulting from the first generation of crosses between pure breeds. In poultry superior vigor of hybrids has been utilized commercially, in the production of both market poultry and eggs in England. Although it has been generally accepted that first generation hybrids exhibit exceptional vigor, to the writer’s knowledge, no data have been presented accurately measuring the stimulation resulting from hybridization of poultry. In the following pages data are presented comparing the vigor of hybrids with that of the two. . .
Myelofibrosis in golf course groundskeepers.

Keywords: blood diseases; golf course workers; myelofibrosis; myeloproliferative disorders; pesticides
Transposed Markov Matrix as a New Decision Tool of How to Choose among Competing Investment Options in Academic Medicine

Medical institutions face the challenge of promoting excellence in a variety of competing focus areas, such as grants, publications, income, research, faculty, variety, patient care and teaching. A transposed Markov chain is used analyse the interactions between the various focus areas and their transition towards steady-state. In contradistinction with a regular Markov chain, in the transposed chain used for the present analysis, the sum of inputs (rather than outputs) of each individual state is 100%, whereas the outputs are left to assume any possible value. The mathematics of calculating the steady state conditions of a transposed Markov matrix are similar to those of a regular Markov matrix. The analysis shows that a focus area more dependent on other areas is also more likely to lose its investment, whereas largely self-reliant areas will generate the largest return. Full strength of all academic focus areas can be achieved only by investments in all areas. In academic systems with one or several ex...
Applications of admittance spectroscopy in photovoltaic devices beyond majority-carrier trapping defects

Admittance spectroscopy is commonly used to characterize majority-carrier trapping defects. In today's practical photovoltaic devices, however, a number of other physical mechanisms may contribute to the admittance measurement and interfere with the data interpretation. Such challenges arise due to the violation of basic assumptions of conventional admittance spectroscopy such as single-junction, ohmic contact, highly conductive absorbers, and measurement in reverse bias. We exploit such violations to devise admittance spectroscopy-based methods for studying the respective origins of “interference”: majority-carrier mobility, non-ohmic contact potential barrier, minority-carrier inversion at heterointerface, and minority-carrier lifetime in a device environment. These methods are applied to a variety of photovoltaic technologies: CdTe, Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 , Si HIT cells, and organic photovoltaic materials.
Omacetaxine for treatment-resistant or treatment-intolerant adult chronic myeloid leukemia

Purpose The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of a first-in-class protein synthesis inhibitor for use in treatment-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are reviewed. Summary Omacetaxine mepesuccinate (Synribo, Teva Pharmaceuticals) is a potent plant alkaloid isolated from Cephalotaxus (Chinese yew tree) species. It has a mechanism of action distinct from that of the standard first-line therapy for CML, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and has demonstrated efficacy in adult patients with chronic- or accelerated-phase CML who develop intolerance to two or more TKIs or experience multiple TKI treatment failures. Two open-label Phase II trials (combined n = 108) demonstrated that omacetaxine produced a major cytogenetic response in 18.4% of patients with chronic-phase CML and a major hematologic response in 14.3% of patients with accelerated-phase CML (median duration of reponse, 12.5 and 4.7 months, respectively). Symptom improvement or improved overall survival in omacetaxine-treated patients has not been demonstrated. In clinical trials to date, the most common grade 1–4 adverse reactions included thrombocytopenia, anemia, neutropenia, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, and asthenia. The drug is administered subcutaneously on an intermittent schedule (14 days on, 14 days off during induction; 7 days on, 21 days off during maintenance). Research to better delineate omacetaxine’s optimal role in the management of CML and other hematologic malignancies (e.g., acute myelogenic leukemia) is ongoing. Conclusion Omacetaxine, a novel protein synthesis inhibitor, provides an alternative therapy for patients with CML who have experienced TKI treatment failures or are intolerant of two or more TKIs.
Surgically Placed Left Ventricular Leads Provide Similar Outcomes to Percutaneous Leads in Patients with Failed Coronary Sinus Lead Placement

Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy using a left ventricular (LV) lead inserted via the coronary sinus (CS) improves symptoms of congestive heart failure, decreases hospitalizations, and improves survival. An epicardial LV lead is often placed surgically after a failed percutaneous attempt, but whether it offers the same benefits is unknown. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine if patients who receive a surgical LV lead after failed CS lead placement for cardiac resynchronization therapy derive the same benefit as do patients with a successfully placed CS lead. Methods A total of 452 patients underwent attempted CS lead insertion. Forty-five patients who had failed CS lead placement and then had surgical LV lead placement were matched with 135 patients who had successful CS lead placement. Results No major differences in preoperative variables were seen between groups. Postprocedural complications of acute renal injury (26.2% vs 4.9%, P Conclusion Surgical LV lead placement offers functional benefits similar to those of percutaneous placement but with greater risk of perioperative complications, including acute renal failure and infection.
TRPA1 mediates the noxious effects of natural sesquiterpene deterrents.

Plants, fungi, and animals generate a diverse array of deterrent natural products that induce avoidance behavior in biological adversaries. The largest known chemical family of deterrents are terpenes characterized by reactive α,β-unsaturated dialdehyde moieties, including the drimane sesquiterpenes and other terpene species. Deterrent sesquiterpenes are potent activators of mammalian peripheral chemosensory neurons, causing pain and neurogenic inflammation. Despite their wide-spread synthesis and medicinal use as desensitizing analgesics, their molecular targets remain unknown. Here we show that isovelleral, a noxious fungal sesquiterpene, excites sensory neurons through activation of TPRA1, an ion channel involved in inflammatory pain signaling. TRPA1 is also activated by polygodial, a drimane sesquiterpene synthesized by plants and animals. TRPA1-deficient mice show greatly reduced nocifensive behavior in response to isovelleral, indicating that TRPA1 is the major receptor for deterrent sesquiterpenes in vivo. Isovelleral and polygodial represent the first fungal and animal small molecule agonists of nociceptive transient receptor potential channels.
Anger-Induced T-Wave Alternans Predicts Future Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether T-wave alternans (TWA) induced by anger in a laboratory setting predicts future ventricular arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-...
Tuning cardiac performance in ischemic heart disease and failure by modulating myofilament function.

The cardiac myofilaments are composed of highly ordered arrays of proteins that coordinate cardiac contraction and relaxation in response to the rhythmic waves of [Ca2+] during the cardiac cycle. Several cardiac disease states are associated with altered myofilament protein interactions that contribute to cardiac dysfunction. During acute myocardial ischemia, the sensitivity of the myofilaments to activating Ca2+ is drastically reduced, largely due to the effects of intracellular acidosis on the contractile machinery. Myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity remains compromised in post-ischemic or “stunned” myocardium even after complete restoration of blood flow and intracellular pH, likely because of covalent modifications of or proteolytic injury to contractile proteins. In contrast, myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity can be increased in chronic heart failure, owing in part to decreased phosphorylation of troponin I, the inhibitory subunit of the troponin regulatory complex. We highlight, in this paper, the central role of the myofilaments in the pathophysiology of each of these distinct disease entities, with a particular focus on the molecular switch protein troponin I. We also discuss the beneficial effects of a genetically engineered cardiac troponin I, with a histidine button substitution at C-terminal residue 164, for a variety of pathophysiologic conditions, including hypoxia, ischemia, ischemia–reperfusion and chronic heart failure.
Development of Stigmatella aurantiaca: effects of light and gene expression.

Abstract Stigmatella aurantiaca, a gliding, gram-negative bacterium, exhibits complex developmental changes upon starvation. In the light the cells aggregate and develop multicellular fruiting bodies with stalks and sporangia within 20 h. Between 23 and 27 h, sonication-resistant myxospores are synchronously formed inside the sporangia. On the other hand, in the dark, the cells aggregate and differentiate into myxospores between 13 and 27 h without forming stalks and sporangia. The pattern of protein synthesis during development in the light as well as in the dark was investigated. Three periods of synthesis, characterized by sharp increases and decreases in the rate of isotope incorporation into certain proteins, were distinguished. In the light these periods corresponded approximately to an early stage before the formation of aggregates, a middle period during which aggregates appeared and developed into fruiting bodies, and a late stage that corresponded to the appearance of myxospores. The pattern of protein synthesis in the dark could also be divided into three stages, but the middle stage was considerably shorter than in the light and showed diminished synthesis of certain proteins that were actively synthesized in the light. In particular, the synthesis of one protein was detected only in samples that developed in the light.
Planetary Ices Attenuation Properties

In this chapter, we review the topic of energy dissipation in the context of icy satellites experiencing tidal forcing. We describe the physics of mechanical dissipation, also known as attenuation, in polycrystalline ice and discuss the history of laboratory methods used to measure and understand it. Because many factors – such as microstructure, composition and defect state – can influence rheological behavior, we review what is known about the mechanisms responsible for attenuation in ice and what can be inferred from the properties of rocks, metals and ceramics. Since attenuation measured in the laboratory must be carefully scaled to geologic time and to planetary conditions in order to provide realistic extrapolation, we discuss various mechanical models that have been used, with varying degrees of success, to describe attenuation as a function of forcing frequency and temperature. We review the literature in which these models have been used to describe dissipation in the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Finally, we address gaps in our present knowledge of planetary ice attenuation and provide suggestions for future inquiry.
Clinical Advocacy for Persons With Epilepsy and Mental Retardation Living in Community-Based Programs

There is a trend toward reducing the amount of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) prescribed to persons with developmental disabilities and epilepsy who live in institutional settings. This trend is much less clear with persons who live in community-based settings. A significant percent (58%) of the author's past and current clinical caseload of community-based residents benefitted from AED reductions. An overview of AED usage of all individuals with mental retardation and epilepsy living in homes managed by one community-based vendor was conducted. With 52.5% of the residents taking AED polypharmacy, the assessment illustrates the need to provide clinical advocacy. The improvement in the quality of life is significant for many as evidenced by the three case studies provided. The benefits of clinical advocacy and improved health-related quality of life are discussed.
Gas-Phase Synthesis of the Silaisocyanoethylene Molecule (C2H3NSi)

The gas-phase reaction between the silicon nitride radical (SiN) and the prototypical olefin—ethylene—is investigated experimentally and theoretically for the first time. Silicon nitride (SiN) and the cyano radical (CN) are isoelectronic; however, their chemical reactivities and structures are drastically different from each other. Through the use of the cross molecular beam technique, we were able to study the notoriously refractory silicon nitride radical in reaction with ethylene under single-collision conditions. We investigated the similarities and also the distinct differences with the cyano radical–ethylene system. We find that the silicon nitride radical bonds by the nitrogen atom to the double bond of ethylene; in comparison, the cyano radical adds via its carbon atom. The silicon nitride addition is barrierless, forming a long-lived SiNCH2CH2 collision complex, which is also able to isomerize via a hydrogen shift to the SiNCHCH3 intermediate. Both isomers can emit a hydrogen atom via tight trans...
Assembly of Macrocycles by Zirconocene-Mediated, Reversible Carbon−Carbon Bond Formation

Macrocyclic compounds have attracted considerable attention in numerous applications, including host−guest chemistry, chemical sensing, catalysis, and materials science. A major obstacle, however, is the limited number of convenient, versatile, and high-yielding synthetic routes to functionalized macrocycles. Macrocyclic compounds have been typically synthesized by ring-closing or condensation reactions, but many of these procedures produce mixtures of oligomers and cyclic compounds. As a result, macrocycle syntheses are often associated with difficult separations and low yields. Some successful approaches that circumvent these problems are based on “self-assembly” processes utilizing reversible bond-forming reactions, but for many applications, it is essential that the resulting macrocycle be built with a strong covalent bond network. In this Account, we describe how zirconocene-mediated reductive couplings of alkynes can provide reversible carbon−carbon bond-forming reactions well-suited for this purpos...
Charge carrier trapping and acoustic phonon modes in single CdTe nanowires.

Semiconductor nanostructures produced by wet chemical synthesis are extremely heterogeneous, which makes single particle techniques a useful way to interrogate their properties. In this paper the ultrafast dynamics of single CdTe nanowires are studied by transient absorption microscopy. The wires have lengths of several micrometers and lateral dimensions on the order of 30 nm. The transient absorption traces show very fast decays, which are assigned to charge carrier trapping into surface defects. The time constants vary for different wires due to differences in the energetics and/or density of surface trap sites. Measurements performed at the band edge compared to the near-IR give slightly different time constants, implying that the dynamics for electron and hole trapping are different. The rate of charge carrier trapping was observed to slow down at high carrier densities, which was attributed to trap-state filling. Modulations due to the fundamental and first overtone of the acoustic breathing mode wer...
Atrial fibrillation and flutter following coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A retrospective study and review.

Introduction and objectives Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Its incidence can range from 10 to 60% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft. This rhythm can result in shorter or longer intervals between beats. Methods Medical records of 143 patients from the Queen's Medical Center, Kuakini Medical Center, Saint Francis Medical Center, and Straub Hospital and Clinic, all of which are located in Honolulu, Hawaii were reviewed. An additional 39 records of patients who did not develop these complications were also reviewed as a control group. Patients were selected according to the ICD codes for atrial fibrillation/flutter and coronary artery bypass graft. Both anomalies can lead to increased health care costs, morbidity, and mortality. In this study, possible predisposing factors to these complications were investigated. The time of onset, weight gain, elapsed time, fluid status (in/out), hematocrit, and drug regimens were compared between the two groups. Results The differences in weight gain, fluid status, and hematocrit between the groups were not significant. There were a total of 17 different drugs prescribed to the group as a whole but not every patient received the same regimen. Conclusions Atrial fibrillation and flutter were found to be more common in males, particularly between the ages of 60 and 69 years. There were no other significant findings.
Do Venture Capitalists Constrain or Encourage Earnings Management in Initial Public Offerings

This study examines whether venture capitalists (VCs) provide value-added monitoring by constraining IPO-related earnings management in their portfolio firms. Finance theoretical literature is mixed as to its characterization of whether venture capitalists reduce principal-agent conflicts through their unique contracting, information collection, monitoring, and support skill/opportunity sets, or whether VCs have incentives to exploit their unique skills and proximity to firm management at the expense of other investors. Little empirical research has focused to date on identifying observable and measurable tests of specific elements of the perceived VC governance skills or incentives set on the actual market value of the firms in their investment portfolios. Earnings management around an IPO is a context where we may be able to both observe and quantify the impact of these perceived skills and incentives. Consistent with the current accounting theory of earnings management detection, we focus on a specific capital markets context where the use of inappropriate earnings-increasing discretionary accruals is expected - i.e., the initial public offering (IPO) setting. We find evidence that abnormal discretionary accruals are significantly lower and that long-run returns are significantly higher for VC-backed IPO firms relative to a matched sample of non-VC-backed IPO firms - these findings suggest that VCs behave more like principals than agents in this context. We also provide evidence that the direction of the discretionary accruals (i.e., income-increasing versus income-decreasing) is important when attempting to understand both the presence and determinants of earnings management in an IPO context. When positive and negative accruals are examined separately, VC presence is related to lower income-increasing discretionary accruals. We find no association between VC presence and income-decreasing accruals. Our results are robust to alternative variable specifications, and to controls for IPO market cycles and IPO lockup provisions.
Building independence relations in abstract elementary classes

Abstract We study general methods to build forking-like notions in the framework of tame abstract elementary classes (AECs) with amalgamation. We show that whenever such classes are categorical in a high-enough cardinal, they admit a good frame: a forking-like notion for types of singleton elements. Theorem 0.1 Superstability from categoricity Let K be a ( κ ) -tame AEC with amalgamation. If κ = ℶ κ > LS ( K ) and K is categorical in a λ > κ , then: • K is stable in any cardinal μ with μ ≥ κ . • K is categorical in κ. • There is a type-full good λ-frame with underlying class K λ . Under more locality conditions, we prove that the frame extends to a global independence notion (for types of arbitrary length). Theorem 0.2 A global independence notion from categoricity Let K be a densely type-local, fully tame and type short AEC with amalgamation. If K is categorical in unboundedly many cardinals, then there exists λ ≥ LS ( K ) such that K ≥ λ admits a global independence relation with the properties of forking in a superstable first-order theory. As an application, we deduce (modulo an unproven claim of Shelah) that Shelah's eventual categoricity conjecture for AECs (without assuming categoricity in a successor cardinal) follows from the weak generalized continuum hypothesis and a large cardinal axiom. Corollary 0.3 Assume 2 λ 2 λ + for all cardinals λ, as well as an unpublished claim of Shelah. If there exists a proper class of strongly compact cardinals, then any AEC categorical in some high-enough cardinal is categorical in all high-enough cardinals.
Rapid detection of adulterated peanut oil by Raman spectrum-cluster analysis

Objective To establish a Raman spectrum-cluster analysis for rapid detection of adulterated peanut oil.Methods The shapes of ordinary,extended and the 1st derivative Raman spectra were scanned and compared,based on the multiple batches of peanut oil,soybean oil,corn oil,rape seed oil,sunflower seed oil,refined palm oil,refined cotton seed oil and refined bio-waste oil with various producing locations and brands,under both 780 nm and 532 nm laser sources.Results The extended and the 1st derivative Raman spectra under 532 nm showed the most abundant spectral information and significantly distinct patterns among peanut oil,low-price vegetable oil and bio-waste oil.A multi-step model and identification program of Raman spectrum--cluster analysis was developed on full-runge spectra information and patterns.The discriminate rate was 100%for 36 peanut oils,105 low-price vegetable oils,30 counterfeit peanut oils and 38 refined bio-waste oils.The discriminate rates were 86%,92%and 92%,respectively,for 180 peanut oils mixed with at least 5%low-price vegetable oil,75 peanut oils mixed with at least 5%bio-waste oil,and 72 vegetable oils mixed with at least 5%bio-waste oil.The measurement process required neither sample preparation nor chemical reagent consumption,and the time cost was 5 min for each sample.Conclusion This Raman spectrum-cluster analysis model can identify the peanut oil as well as kinds of adulterated peanut oil in a rapid,non-destructive and accurate way.
An in vitro caries inhibition of photopolymerized glass ionomer liners

Caries inhibition of traditional chemical cure glass ionomers has been established. The newer photopolymerized glass ionomers demonstrate a different composition that may impair the ability of providing prevention to secondary caries at restoration margins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the caries inhibition of photopolymerized glass ionomers (Vitrebond-3M Dental Products, Photac Bond-ESPE/Premier Dental Products) compared to a photopolymerized composite resin (Pertac Universal Bond-ESPE/Premier) control. Two standardized Class V preparations were placed in thirty permanent molars, the gingival margin placed below the cementoenamel junction. Equal numbers of preparations were restored with Vitrebond, Photac Bond and Pertac Universal Bond, according to manufacturer's instructions. The teeth were coated with an acid resistant varnish to within 2 mm of the restoration margins. All teeth were subjected to an artificial caries challenge (pH 4.2) for five days, then axial sections of 100 microns were cut longitudinally through the restored margins and photographed under polarized light microscopy. The polarized micrographs were projected onto a digitizing pad, where demineralized areas adjacent to the restoration margins were quantitated. Results demonstrated the mean (+/- S.D.) area (microns2) demineralization 100 microns from the restoration gingival margin to be: Photac Bond 66.1 +/- 27.8; Vitrebond 47.2 +/- 37.2; Pertac Universal Bond 120.9 +/- 66.0. Duncan's multiple range test indicated there was no statistically significant difference in demineralization inhibition between the two photopolymerized glass ionomers Photac Bond and Vitrebond (p < 0.05), but both photopolymerized glass ionomers demonstrated significantly less demineralization than the Pertac Universal Bond composite resin control (p < 0.05).
Hematopoietic Stem Cells Emerge in the Placental Vasculature in the Absence of Circulation.

The placenta was recently unveiled as an important hematopoietic organ, harboring a large pool of HSCs during midgestation. Yet, it has not been defined whether the placenta can generate HSCs de novo. By using the Runx1-LacZ and Ncx1 knockout mouse models we show that the placenta is a site of HSC generation and identify the cellular niches in which placental HSCs reside. Runx1 is essential for the emergence of definitive HSCs and remains expressed in HSCs throughout fetal development and adult life. Analysis of Runx1LacZ/+ and Runx1LacZ/LacZ placental sections nominated the large vessels of the placenta and the chorioallantoic mesenchyme as putative sites of HSC origin. Once formed, LacZ+ candidate HSCs convened in the labyrinth vessels. Co-staining of Runx1LacZ/+ placentas with an antibody specific for phosphorylated Ser 10 at histone 3, a marker of mitosis, showed mitotically active definitive hematopoietic cells in the labyrinth vessels, suggesting that the labyrinth is a microenvironmental niche capable of stimulating HSC expansion. In wild-type placentas, CD41+ nascent hematopoietic cells were found in the same vascular sites as in the Runx1-LacZ placentas but never in the mesenchyme. Instead, placental stroma was populated by F4/80+CD45+/−CD41- macrophages, suggesting that the placenta harbors two distinct hematopoietic lineages that are supported by different microenvironments. To verify that the CD41+ nascent HSCs were generated de novo in the placenta, we analyzed Ncx1−/− embryos, which lack heartbeat due to lack of the sodium-calcium exchange pump 1. In the absence of circulation, trafficking of hematopoietic cells between tissues is abolished. Strikingly, CD41+ HSCs emerge in the large vessels of the placenta in Ncx1−/− mutants. In some sections CD41+ cells formed clusters that were still connected to the vessels of the placenta and umbilical cord. These findings imply that formation of HSCs extends to a much larger anatomical area than was previously thought, including the placenta. Importantly, the placentas in both Ncx1−/− and control embryos (E8.5–9.5) generated mixed hematopoietic outgrowth including definitive progenitors in OP-9 co-culture, as verified by expression of c-kit, CD41 and CD45. When the differentiation of the definitive progenitors was assessed on methylcellulose, Ncx1−/− tissues demonstrated similar potential as Ncx1+/− hematopoietic organs (yolk sac, aorta gonad mesonephros (AGM) and placenta), yielding erythroid, myeloid and mixed colonies and B220+ lymphoid cells. These studies reveal that definitive hematopoietic cells with both myeloerythroid and lymphoid potential are generated de novo within the placental vasculature. Furthermore, the placental labyrinth provides a unique hematopoietic niche that is conducive for proliferation of hematopoietic cells and, unlike the AGM or the yolk sac, serves as a supportive niche for a large pool of HSCs prior to liver colonization.
The occurrence of Corvomeyenia carolinensis (Harrison, 1971) (Porifera: Spongillidae) in Connecticut

Examination of spicules from a living sponge confirmed thepresenceof Corvomeyenia carolinensis in Mohawk Pond, LitchfieldCounty, Connecticut. Until recently this species had only beenreported from one locality in South Carolina. Based uponspiculeobservations in dated sediment samples this species appears tohaveexisted within Mohawk Pond throughout the past 100+years.
The Closing Door: The Effect of Race on Charter School Closures

Charter schools are promoted by policy makers and advocates as a way to reduce educational inequality. Charter schools tend to enroll higher proportions of black students than do traditional public...
Passionate and Purposeful: Adult Learning Communities

(1990). Passionate and Purposeful: Adult Learning Communities. Journal of Museum Education: Vol. 15, Learning from Others about Learning, pp. 7-9.
Recommender System to Support Brokering of Youth Learning Opportunities

Recent research examining learning in informal environments reflects a growing recognition of the important role adults play as learning brokers by identifying and orchestrating connections to learning opportunities such as access to people, spaces, programs, and information sources. In order to broker learning, educators need to have knowledge about youth as well as potential opportunities. This position paper argues for the design and development of a recommender system to support educators in brokering learning that makes use of log data from an online social learning network.
Host Proteins in the Replication of Bacteriophage RNA

In recent years, the bacteriophage Qβ RNA polymerase reaction has become a highly characterized system for studying the synthesis of genetic material. An outstanding feature of this reaction is the actual replication of infectious bacteriophage RNA, as first shown by Spiegelman et al. (1). All of the reaction components have now been isolated as discrete species: (a) The enzyme, containing four proteins. (b) A host RNA binding factor, composed of a single protein. (c) A basic protein factor, of which there are many active species. (d) Qβ RNA. (e) Q β RNA complementary strand.
A blockchain future for internet of things security: a position paper

Abstract Internet of Things (IoT) devices are increasingly being found in civilian and military contexts, ranging from smart cities and smart grids to Internet-of-Medical-Things, Internet-of-Vehicles, Internet-of-Military-Things, Internet-of-Battlefield-Things, etc. In this paper, we survey articles presenting IoT security solutions published in English since January 2016. We make a number of observations, including the lack of publicly available IoT datasets that can be used by the research and practitioner communities. Given the potentially sensitive nature of IoT datasets, there is a need to develop a standard for sharing IoT datasets among the research and practitioner communities and other relevant stakeholders. Thus, we posit the potential for blockchain technology in facilitating secure sharing of IoT datasets (e.g., using blockchain to ensure the integrity of shared datasets) and securing IoT systems, before presenting two conceptual blockchain-based approaches. We then conclude this paper with nine potential research questions.
Synthesis of Elastomeric Liquid Crystalline Polymer Networks via Chain Transfer

Materials capable of complex shape changes have broad reaching applications spanning biomimetic devices, componentless actuators, artificial muscles, and haptic displays. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) are a class of shape programmable materials which display anisotropic mechanical deformations in response external stimuli. This work details a synthetic strategy to quickly and efficiently prepare LCEs through the usage of chain transfer agents (CTA). The polyacrylate materials described herein exhibit large, reversible shape changes with strains greater 475%, rivalling properties observed in polysiloxane-based networks. The approach reported here is distinguished in that the materials chemistry is readily amenable to surface alignment techniques. The facile nature of the materials chemistry and the compatibility of these materials with directed self-assembly methods could further enable paradigm shifting end uses as designer substrates for flexible electronics or as actuating surfaces.
Association between race/ethnicity and disability status and receipt of vaccines among older adults in Florida.

Abstract Background Individuals living with a disability or are a member of a certain racial/ethnic group may be at heightened risk for not receiving important vaccinations. Objective This study examined whether race/ethnicity and disability status are associated with the receipt of two vaccines (influenza and pneumococcal) among older adults living in Florida. Methods Using the 2011–2015 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a cross-sectional survey, we ran bivariate and multivariate analyses to determine the associations for race/ethnicity and disability status with receipt of vaccinations among individuals 65 years and older. Interactions between race/ethnicity and disability status were tested in each model. Results Among our study sample, 68% received the pneumococcal vaccine in their lifetime and 54% of them received influenza vaccine in the past 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics were less likely to receive both vaccines compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. Older adults with a disability were more likely to receive influenza and pneumococcal vaccines compared to those without. A significant interaction was observed between race/ethnicity and disability status for predicting pneumococcal vaccination receipt. Conclusions Large proportions of older adults in Florida continue to go without needed vaccinations. Although race/ethnicity and disability status were shown to have some association with receipt of vaccines, having a regular source of care, employment and income also were shown to be important predictors.
Terrorism and intellectual property rights.

A bioethicist argues that the government has the right to restrict or override intellectual property rights in response to a national emergency only when specific criteria are met. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Validation of a physical activity accelerometer device worn on the hip and wrist against polysomnography.

STUDY PURPOSE:The integration of methods to assess daytime physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) and nighttime sleep would allow the evaluation of 24-hour daily activity using a single device. Accelerometer devices used to assess daytime PA have not been substantially validated to evaluate sleep. The objective of this study was to use polysomnography (PSG) to validate a commonly used PA accelerometer worn on both wrists and the hip. METHODS:Seventeen participants (50-75years) completed a single-night in-home PSG recording while concurrently wearing 3 PA accelerometers. Accelerometer devices were worn on each wrist and the hip. Total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were compared for each device against PSG. Correlation coefficients estimated measurement agreement. Paired t tests and Bland-Altman plots assessed measurement differences. RESULTS:Between PSG and devices, mean TST ranged from 361.6 to 403.2minutes. Mean SE estimates ranged from 86.9% to 96.9%. Mean WASO estimates ranged from 12 to 51.2minutes. For TST, SE, and WASO hip estimates differed significantly from PSG estimates (paired t tests, TST: P=.03, SE: P<.001, WASO: P< .001). No significant differences were found between wrist accelerometers and PSG estimates of TST, SE, or WASO. CONCLUSIONS:PA accelerometer devices worn on either wrist provide valid estimates of TST, WASO, and SE when compared with PSG. Further studies are needed to investigate methods to improve assessment of sleep parameters by PA accelerometer devices to advance device integration and assessment 24-hour activity in populations.