cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soluble Lignin Recovered from Biorefinery Pretreatment Hydrolyzate Characterized by Lignin–Carbohydrate Complexes

The lignin rendered soluble by lignocellulosic biorefinery pretreatment remains insufficiently understood along the lines of molecular properties and chemical composition. To procure a representative soluble lignin preparation, an aromatic-selective adsorptive resin was utilized. Approximately 90% of soluble lignin could be recovered from autohydrolysis pretreatment hydrolyzate (autohydrolyzate) produced from a hardwood and a nonwood biomass. Adsorbate compositional characterization revealed a befuddling magnitude of carbohydrate in selectively isolated lignin adsorbates. Quantitative structural analysis of the lignin by NMR suggested lignin–carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) as the cause behind the pronounced carbohydrate contents. Analyzed spectra revealed both hardwood and nonwood soluble lignin features of ∼10 total LCC per 100 aromatic rings, with each lignin bearing unique LCC profiles. In addition, native structures remained in large quantities. The improved understanding of hydrolyzate-soluble lignin g...
Building the Execution Roadmap

The first 30 days after the announcement of a separation or divestiture are extremely critical. The seller company must build out a detailed execution plan, mobilize the entire organization, and engage a buyer. Even before a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal is made public, a significant portion of preparatory work should already be completed, including outlining the overall separation strategy, identifying the separation leader, setting up the governance structure, developing a top-down estimate of one-time costs and resource requirements, and drafting an execution plan. The first 30 days are critical to align the larger leadership team and engage subject matter advisors (SMAs) to help refine the execution plan and jumpstart the implementation. At the end of 30 days, there should be one plan, one goal, and one team marching toward the single aim of a successful Day 1.
Neuroendocrine Control: Maternal Behavior

Maternal behavior in mammals is characterized by the display of increased attention toward offspring together with heightened protection of the young or maternal aggression. These altered responses are stimulated by the physiological events of pregnancy and lactation, notably hormonal secretions. The endocrine and neuroendocrine states of pregnancy act upon a basic maternal neural network to alter the chemical state of the maternal brain, rendering the brain more sensitive to stimulatory chemical signals, most importantly estrogen, prolactin and oxytocin, and sensory inputs. Moreover, prior reproductive experience produces long-term changes in neuroendocrine and behaviorial states that mediate maternal as well as neurochemical memories.
Infectious Complications in Organ Transplant Recipients

In this section, the general principles of infectious complications in transplant recipients will be reviewed, and the diseases associated with specific pathogens and their management will be discussed. While prophylaxis against the more common organisms has generally been employed, in recent years the concept of preemptive therapy has been introduced, with the goal of providing more selective prevention of disease. There has been significant progress made in the development of new and sensitive diagnostic methods, e.g. the introduction of PCR techniques. These new modalities offer the promise of allowing clinicians to diagnose infectious complications early and to intervene before infection becomes symptomatic.
Pupillary Unrest in Ambient Light and Prediction of Opioid Responsiveness: Case Report on Its Utility in the Management of 2 Patients With Challenging Acute Pain Conditions.

Pupillary unrest in ambient light (PUAL), the normal pattern of pupil diameter fluctuation present in awake humans, has been proposed as a marker of central opioid effect. We report 2 cases in which PUAL identified the appropriate pain management for 2 patients, each with unique, challenging acute p
Animal models of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced cutaneous melanoma.

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma continues to increase in many parts of the world including the United States. The American Cancer Society predicts that there will be approximately 53,600 new cases of melanoma in the United States during 2002 and that there will be 7,400 deaths from melanoma during the same time period. Increased understanding of the underlying mechanisms and risk factors involved in the induction of this deadly disease will require the use of suitable animal models of melanoma. To date, the induction of cutaneous melanoma with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) alone has been observed only in a few diverse animal models: a South American opossum, Monodelphis domestica; a hybrid fish, Xiphophorus; several stocks of transgenic mice; and in Angora goats. Most of these models are not completely suitable due to: 1) the target cell for melanoma formation; 2) the location of the melanocytes in the skin (i.e.- dermal as opposed to epidermal in humans); or 3) problems associated with husbandry and experimental manipulation. Recent studies have identified a mouse, the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) transgenic mouse, as an attractive model with which to study the induction of melanoma following a single, neonatal exposure to a moderate dose of UVR.
Is Dispersive Kinetics from Structural Heterogeneity Responsible for the Nonexponential Decay of P870* in Bacterial Reaction Centers?

Spectral hole burning has revealed the structure underlying the broad (~ 100–500 cm-1) Qy -absorption band of chlorophylls and other cofactors in a wide variety of antenna and reaction center (RC) complexes (for reviews see refs. 1 and 2). It is now known that the contribution from site inhomogeneous broadening (ГI) to this band is ~ 507–200 cm-1, depending on the complex. Although the magnitude of ГI for a complex is influenced by the solvent and detergent or isolation procedure, there is an intrinsic contribution that stems from what we refer to as normal glass-like structural heterogeneity of the protein.3,4 That is, the existence of a large number of conformational substates of the protein, which are unlikely to be discernable by X-ray diffraction, give rise, nevertheless, to a broad distribution of transition frequencies. It is not accidental that the above ГI -values are comparable to those observed for chromophores imbedded in glasses and polymers. Hole burning has also yielded the homogeneous contributions to the absorption profile (bandwidth) from linear electron-phonon coupling (Гep)and exciton level structure/ scattering (Гex, important in the case of certain antenna complexes).
A Practical Underlay Spectrum Sharing Scheme for Cognitive Radio Networks

As the proliferation of mobile devices has led to an ever-growing demand for wireless Internet services, the spectrum shortage issue becomes increasingly severe and spectrum sharing is regarded as a promising approach to addressing the spectrum shortage issue. In this paper, we propose a practical underlay spectrum sharing scheme for cognitive radio networks (CRNs) where the primary users are oblivious to the secondary users. The key components of our scheme are two MIMO-based interference cancellation (IC) techniques to handle cross-network interference on the secondary network side. The first one is a blind beamforming technique for secondary transmitters. This IC technique allows a secondary transmitter to nullify its generated interference for primary users without requiring channel state information (CSI). The second one is a blind interference cancellation (BIC) technique for secondary receivers. This IC technique enables a secondary receiver to decode its desired signal in the presence of strong unknown interference from primary transmitters. Based on these two MIMO-based IC techniques, we develop a MAC protocol for the secondary network to enable underlay spectrum sharing in CRNs. We have implemented the proposed underlay spectrum sharing scheme on a GNURadio-USRP2 wireless testbed. Experimental results show that the secondary users can achieve an average of 1 bit/s/Hz spectrum efficiency without degrading the performance of the primary users in a real-world office building environment.
Mathematics and Reading Develop Together in Young Children: Practical and Policy Considerations:

Early mathematics and reading skills underlie later school and career success. Yet, many children struggle to acquire these skills at the same rate as their peers. Often, these challenges are inter...
X-ray light curves from realistic polar cap models: inclined pulsar magnetospheres and multipole fields

NASANational Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) [NNX16AC56G]; NSFNational Science Foundation (NSF) [PHY-1752809]
Algorithmic Computation of Local Cohomology Modules and the Cohomological Dimension of Algebraic Varieties

In this paper we present algorithms that compute certain local cohomology modules associated to a ring of polynomials containing the rational numbers. In particular we are able to compute the local cohomological dimension of algebraic varieties in characteristic zero. Our approach is based on the theory of D-modules.
Forgiveness Interventions from a Multicultural Perspective: Potential Applications and Concerns

Forgiving others for their offenses has been shown to have considerable, wide-ranging effects for people from improved relationship satisfaction and mental health to better physical health in old age. Furthermore, evidence shows that professional interventions designed to help people forgive others are effective. However, little research has explored these findings with a multiculturally-diverse sample of individuals. In many parts of the world, there is a history of oppression of individuals who do not identify with the majority or privileged identity groups (e.g., in the United States: those who are not European-American, heterosexual, male). This oppression can result in psychological wounds and negative health outcomes that can be carried a lifetime and passed down through generations. Forgiveness might provide a measure of relief and healing for these groups. However, forgiveness might also be used in oppressive ways by privileged groups to further demoralize and control marginalized groups. Even in the hands of well-meaning individuals, forgiveness might lead to as much or more negative outcomes than positive ones for some people. This chapter provides a systematic review of the literature on forgiveness in multicultural contexts with a focus on three dimensions of identity: race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender. We examine the role of forgiveness in such contexts and how mental health providers and other professionals might (or might not) promote forgiveness in multiculturally-competent ways with individuals who hold historically marginalized identities. Recommendations and suggestions to minimize further oppression and maximize the potential of interventions designed to promote forgiveness are also provided.
Pediatric postmortem computed tomography: initial experience at a children’s hospital in the United States

Postmortem CT might provide valuable information in determining the cause of death and understanding disease processes, particularly when combined with traditional autopsy. Pediatric applications of postmortem imaging represent a new and rapidly growing field. We describe our experience in establishing a pediatric postmortem CT program and present a discussion of the distinct challenges in developing this type of program in the United States of America, where forensic practice varies from other countries. We give a brief overview of recent literature along with the common imaging findings on postmortem CT that can simulate antemortem pathology.
Dimensionwise multivariate orthogonal polynomials in general probability spaces

Abstract This paper puts forward a new generalized polynomial dimensional decomposition (PDD), referred to as GPDD, encompassing hierarchically organized, measure-consistent multivariate orthogonal polynomials in dependent random variables. In contrast to the existing PDD, which is valid strictly for independent random variables, no tensor-product structure or product-type probability measure is imposed or necessary. Fundamental mathematical properties of GPDD are examined by creating dimensionwise decomposition of polynomial spaces, deriving statistical properties of random orthogonal polynomials, demonstrating completeness of orthogonal polynomials for requisite assumptions, and upholding mean-square convergence to the correct limit. The GPDD approximation proposed should be effective in solving high-dimensional stochastic problems subject to dependent variables with a large class of non-product-type probability measures.
Effects of acute environmental and handling exposure on physiology and fillet quality of market‐sized Channel Catfish

Catfish Ictalurus spp. are subjected to stressful conditions during harvest, which may be linked to fillet coloration and quality. Poor water quality in ponds, socks or hauling tanks, as well as handling stress, have been suggested to cause red fillets in catfish; however, chronic exposure has not resulted in red fillets. Short‐term occurrences of extreme poor water quality, particularly low dissolved oxygen, high carbon dioxide and high temperature, may occur in ponds or during harvest. Therefore, market‐sized Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus were acutely exposed (12 hr) to one of the three water quality treatments while confined during a simulated socking procedure and evaluated for stress responses by means of change in blood parameters and fillet quality. In fish subjected to the extreme treatment, hematocrit, plasma cortisol, glucose and lactate levels increased, with 22% mortality, indicating highly stressful conditions. In fish subjected to moderate and typical (control) treatments, cortisol increased but a lack of change or decrease in glucose and lactate indicated minimal anaerobic metabolism. Only one red fillet was produced by the extreme treatment and two by the typical treatment; therefore, the results suggest red fillets are not a product of poor water quality compounded by handling during harvest.
Blockchain Enabled Named Data Networking for Secure Vehicle-to-Everything Communications

A huge amount of information is expected to be exchanged in vehicular networks through vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications for enhancing overall traffic efficiency and road safety. However, there are several critical challenges to be addressed before completely realizing the full potential of V2X networking. Privacy-aware security is one of the central components to be addressed for V2X communications. This paper presents a novel framework by leveraging the best features of two emerging technologies: blockchain technology and named data networking (NDN) for privacy-aware secure V2X communications. The proposed framework does not use the private information of users (owners, drivers, pedestrians, passengers, cyclists, etc.) in vehicular networks while providing verifiable secure V2X communications by using non-private information such as number plate of the vehicle (like in ParkMobile App or E-ZPass systems use) for integrity and accountability of the communications. Specifically, integrity and accountability in the proposed framework for its users are achieved by amalgamating the best features of blockchain technology and NDN. Furthermore, the proposed approach aims to increase the trust and transparency and reduce the business friction in smart transplantation systems.
For Whom is the Corporation Managed in 2020?: The Debate over Corporate Purpose

A high profile public debate is taking place over one of the oldest questions in corporate law, namely, “For whom is the corporation managed?” In addition to legal academics and lawyers, high profile business leaders and business school professors have entered the fray and politicians have offered legislative “fixes” for the “problem of shareholder primacy.” In this article, I take this debate to be an interesting development in corporate governance and try to understand and explain what is going on. I argue that, analytically and conceptually, there are four separate questions being asked. First, what is the best theory of the legal form we call “the corporation”? Second, how should academic finance understand the properties of the legal form when building models or engaging in empirical research? Third, what are good management strategies for building valuable firms? And, finally, what are the social roles and obligations of large publicly traded firms? I argue that populist pressures that emerged from the financial crisis, combined with political dysfunction, have led to the confusion of these different questions, with regrettable results.
"There is a Balm in Gilead": Black Social Workers' Spiritual Counterstory on the COVID-19 Crisis

The authors assert that art-based inquiry can serve as a powerful medium for understanding the connection between faith and resilience as perceived and understood by older African-Americans adults disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing the CRT method of counterstorytelling as our conduit to elucidate our culturally situated responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We seek to explore the connections between faith and resilience in social work practice during this public health crisis. Drawing from our shared experiences as two Black social workers we discuss the role spirituality plays in mitigating loneliness and stress among socially isolated older African-American adults (i.e., social distancing). Finally, with physical contact limited (i.e., social distancing) because of COVID-19, implications and recommendations for using spiritual-based practices with older African-American adults and families are discussed.
Where Is the Provenance? Ethical Replicability and Reproducibility in GIScience and Its Critical Applications

As replicability and reproducibility (R&R) crises develop within emerging convergent inquiry, ethical use of provenance information is central to the establishment and preservation of trust in crit...
Osteoporosis and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Women

Background: Osteoporosis, a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass, poses a significant disease burden for older women. Often assessed using Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scale, the association between osteoporosis and HRQoL is scarce, with the majority of quality of life studies focused on osteoporotic women post fracture. Purpose: The study’s primary objectives were to examine if differences exist in HRQoL among women greater than 50 years of age who have and/or do not have osteoporosis and to gain insight into the relationship of HRQoL and osteoporosis.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional design involving data extraction on women aged 50 years or older from 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was used (N = 4,661). HRQoL was measured by the generic Short-Form-12 Version 2 Physical (PCS) and Mental Health (MCS) component summary scores. The differences between osteoporosis and PCS and MCS were examined using t-tests and multivariable ordinary least squares regression.Results: Overall, 4.1% women aged 50 and older had osteoporosis. In both bivariate and multivariable analyses, no statistically significant differences were observed in HRQoL measures between women with and/or without osteoporosis. Conclusion: No group differences in HRQoL by osteoporosis status suggest the need for additional research using other research methodologies to flush out nuances in QOL changes. Clinician actions focused on insured and uninsured women with osteoporosis must include early and ongoing QOL assessment, with a focus on physical changes overtime
Simulation Modeling as a Decision Tool for Capacity Allocation in Breast Surgery

Increased surgeon workload can result in prolonged access times for patients and may lead to surgeon burnout. Management of access times through investments in care capacity and hiring of providers require an understanding of the patient access times resulting from a given level of care capacity under different patient demand scenarios. We explore the effectiveness of a simulation-based framework in providing workforce planning insights. Our framework involves modeling of patient demand by considering different groups of surgical procedures, a simulation model that allows calibration of certain parameters through the use of data, and consideration of different demand and capacity scenarios to provide an understanding of the range of patient access times that can be expected over the immediate future during the time horizon. Our results show that such a simulation-based framework can help ground workforce planning and capacity investment decisions on operational data, and help healthcare institutions manage such costs.
University-School Divide: The Original Problem in Teacher Education

This paper focuses on the origins of the university-school divide in teacher education. For decades, the weakness of communicative and collaborative links between the university and K-12 system has been one of the most significant barriers to effective preparation of new teachers identified by researchers and policy makers. Historical obstacles, such as disconnects between coursework and field work, divides between professional knowledge and skilled practice, and competing goals and priorities between organizations continue to plague the work of teacher preparation. The problem of the university-school divide in teacher education is further surfaced by scholarship that points to benefits of embedding teacher preparation in the K-12 setting and burgeoning research that suggests clinical practice is central to high-quality teacher preparation. This paper presents a case study investigating the organizational contexts of the university-school relationship in a teacher education program and draws on third-generation activity theory and activity system analysis to explore the evolving partnership institutionally, culturally, and historically. Findings reveal that transactional relationships between system elements shape collaborative activities and partnerships and show multilevel contradictions within and across collective activities, suggesting potential for expansive development.
Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and longitudinally assessed executive function and attention in childhood and early adolescence

Background: Neurobehavioral functions governed by the prefrontal cortex, including executive function and attention, impact children’s academic and socioeconomic attainment into adulthood. Pesticid...
Non-linear effects of absolute risk information on individuals'self-evaluation, affective responses, and behavioral intentionsof precautionary actions against skin cancer.

OBJECTIVE The current study explores non-linear effects of absolute risk and effects of comparative risk information about skin cancer on individuals' safety ratings, affective responses and behavioral intentions. METHOD An experimental survey was conducted among college students (N = 563) to test the effects of absolute and comparative risk information across a range of risk levels from 3.7% to 60%. RESULTS The non-linear model of absolute risk effect was confirmed by the data. Absolute risk information had detectable effects at low levels of risk, but the effects did not change appreciably at the highest absolute risk levels. Regarding comparative risk, the data did not support its effects on individuals' safety ratings, affective responses and behavioral intentions. CONCLUSION The study found the non-linear model fits well to the skin cancer related feelings and behavioral intentions. It suggests future research apply non-linear models to a variety of health communication areas.
Screening for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Current Practice

NAFLD is highly prevalent in the global population and is underdiagnosed in current practice. The lack of standardized screening protocols, increasing risk factors for NAFLD, and limited treatment options contribute to the late identification of disease often in advanced forms. The purpose of this review is to discuss the trajectory of current screening strategies. Predictive scoring tools and imaging can aid in leading to a diagnosis of NAFLD. These complementary modalities can be used to avoid liver biopsy. These may have a greater role in the future for NAFLD screening. The risk of delayed diagnosis of NAFLD is the progression to advanced forms of the disease. NAFLD can cause end-stage liver disease leading to diminished quality of life for affected patients and increasing health care costs. Standardized NAFLD screening might lead to earlier identification of disease, when modifiable risk factors can be addressed and disease progression can be halted.
Modeling benthic solar exposure (UV and visible) in dynamic coastal systems to better inform seagrass habitat suitability.

Abstract Seagrass meadows worldwide provide valuable ecosystem services but have experienced sharp declines in recent decades. This rapid loss has prompted numerous restoration efforts with variable levels of success, often depending on the suitability of the restoration sites. The selection of sites can be guided by simple habitat suitability models driven with environmental variables deemed critical to the successful growth of new transplants. Habitat suitability models typically consider the influence of bathymetry, sediment type, salinity, wave exposure, and water quality. However, they typically do not explicitly include benthic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and commonly use depth as a coarse proxy for photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Benthic exposure to UV and PAR are both key parameters for habitat suitability but can be challenging to determine, especially in coastal environments influenced by rivers and tides where they are extremely variable. Here, we demonstrate the development of a simple but effective model of spectrally-resolved benthic solar irradiance for a dynamic marsh-influenced mesotidal estuary in Massachusetts. In-situ measurements were used to develop and validate an empirical model predicting the UV–visible vertical diffuse attenuation coefficient spectra of downwelling irradiance, Kd(λ), from simple physical parameters about tides, river discharge and location. Spectral benthic solar irradiances (280–700 nm) were calculated hourly for 3 years (2017–2019) using modeled and validated cloud-corrected surface downwelling irradiances, estimates of water depth, and the modeled Kd(λ) spectra. The mapped irradiances were used to provide improved seagrass habitat suitability maps that will guide future restoration efforts in the estuary. We expect the approach presented here can be adapted to other dynamic coastal environments influenced by tides and rivers and/or applied to other light-dependent organisms and biogeochemical processes.
Environmental Kuznets curve for CO2 emissions: The case of Arctic countries

Abstract The main new contribution of this paper is to examine the Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis using time series data at individual country levels. Empirical focus is on the assessment of income per capita on CO 2 emissions in the Arctic countries by taking into account the role of energy consumption. An autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) modeling approach to cointegration is applied to annual data for the period 1960–2010. The results provide little evidence of the existence of the EKC hypothesis for the Arctic countries. We also find that economic growth has a beneficial effect on the environment only in some Arctic countries. Finally, energy consumption is found to have a detrimental effect on the environment in most countries.
Interactive visualizations of electromagnetic fields inside waveguides and cavities using the WGC program

A personal computer program has been developed to provide an interactive procedure for visualizing the electromagnetic fields inside seven different types of cylindrical wave-guides and cavities. In this program, both transverse and longitudinal field components are presented graphically, using a color contour map and/or vectors. The user can interactively observe the effect of changing any of the physical or electrical parameters on the resulting electric and magnetic field distribution in any specified plane cut. The mathematic expressions of the field components are derived from the classical solution of the wave equation using the separation of variables technique.
Identification of cDNAs by Direct Hybridization Using Cosmid Probes

The goal of this effort is to quickly obtain as many chromosome-specific cDNAs with as much map and sequence detail as possible. Many techniques have been proposed to isolate and identify genes within defined genomic regions; the technique discussed here is direct hybridization of a relatively complex genomic probe, an entire cosmid clone, to cDNA libraries. This method continues to be a straightforward technique with a fair number of successes.
Gastric mucosal blood flow during secretory inhibition by gastrin pentapeptide and gastrone.

The aminopyrine clearance technique was used in dogs to quantitate the gastric mucosal blood flow during secretory inhibition by a single, rapid intravenous injection of gastrin pentapeptide (ICI 50,123) and of gastrone, the inhibitor substance from human achlorhydric gastric juice. A dose of 40 or 50 µg of gastrin produced a 68% reduction of blood flow and a 72% reduction of secretion. Reduction of blood flow appeared to precede reduction of secretion, and blood flow subsequently recovered more rapidly than did secretion. A dose of 150 μg of gastrone produced a 55% reduction of blood flow and a 66% reduction of secretion, but there was a lag of 1 hr after the injection of gastrone before secretion or blood flow was affected. Changes in blood flow and secretion were closely related during secretory inhibition by both gastrin (r = 0.95) and gastrone (r = 0.92).
Annexation in Iowa: an analysis of the Iowa annexation statutes

CHAPTER ONE. INTRODUCTION General Background History of Zoning Police Power Eminent Domain Taking Annexation Governing Annexation Problem Statement Methodology Plan of Study CHAPI'ER TWO. LITERATURE SEARCH Introduction Types of Annexation Laws Annexation in Iowa Voluntary Annexation Eighty jTwenty Annexation Voluntary Annexation II Involuntary Annexation Annexation Criteria Islands Annexation and Race Implied Criteria Additional Territory Governmental Services Community of Interest Financial Considerations Summary v
Financial leverage phenomenon in hospitality industry sub-sector portfolios

Purpose – This paper aims to seek answers to a primary question: “How much do divergent leverage factors account for fluctuations in time-varying financial leverage in leading hospitality sub-sectors decomposed by four exclusive sub-portfolios?” In the path of seeking answers, this paper investigated the effects of both firm-specific and macroeconomic indicators to firms’ varying financial leverage in those primary sub-sectors overtime. Design/methodology/approach – In each sub-sector portfolios, firms were sorted based on market-to-book values (Mktbk it ) with median breakpoint percentiles. For hypothesis testing, this paper constructed panel regression models with firm fixed-effects to layout fluctuant financial leverage phenomenon engaged with a set of 11 leverage factors in each Mktbk it sorted sub-sector portfolios. Findings – Results exhibited assorted evidences. The bottom line was: firms with different market capitalization rates in each portfolio acted differently in regard to the magnitude of fi...
Developing national emerging technology strategy

As the pace of global competition increases, effective national technology planning is becoming a success factor for increasing the national competitiveness in not only developed but also developing economies. Governments worldwide are playing a vital role in supporting technology research and development activities in their countries [4, 26]. The effective national technology policies and strategies should go beyond merely identifying the critical technologies. The matter of nationally managing emerging technologies is becoming an issue, but a systematic way to evaluate them is not yet in place. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to develop a systematic process to help national decision makers define the R&D strategy and policy of emerging technologies.
Differential influence of blogs across different stages of decision making: the case of venture capitalists

In this paper, we study the differential influence of online user-generated content (UGC), specifically blogs, across the multiple stages of decision making of venture capitalists: screening stage, choice stage, and contract stage. We conjecture that, first, blogs are influential at the screening stage; second, after the screening stage, blogs are noninfluential since decision makers evaluate entities closely at later stages; third, blogs increase the interest from multiple decision makers which in turn increases the cost of the deal for a decision maker. This empirical investigation provides support for the hypotheses, which we tested for funding decisions by venture capitalists in information technology ventures. In particular, this study indicates that blogs can help managers in getting their products/services selected at the screening stage, but, beyond that, blogs do not help directly. However, since more decision makers screen products/services that receive blog coverage, the competition among decision makers helps managers in negotiating better contract terms. We advance the boundary of existing studies on the influence of UGC from single stage process to multiple stages.
Cytochrome P450 2E1 is the principal catalyst of human oxidative halothane metabolism in vitro

The volatile anesthetic halothane undergoes substantial biotransformation generating metabolites that mediate hepatotoxicity. Aerobically, halothane undergoes cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxidation to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), bromide and a reactive intermediate that can acetylate liver proteins. These protein neo-antigens stimulate an immune reaction that mediates severe hepatic necrosis ("halothane hepatitis"). This investigation identified the human P450 isoform(s) that catalyze oxidative halothane metabolism. Halothane oxidation by human liver microsomes was assessed by TFA and bromide formation. Eadie-Hofstee plots of TFA and bromide formation were both nonlinear, suggesting the participation of multiple P450s. Microsomal TFA and bromide formation were inhibited 45 to 66% and 21 to 26%, respectively, by the P450 2A6 inhibitors 8-methoxypsoralen and coumarin, 84 to 90% by the P450 2E1 inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole and 55% by diethyldithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of both P450 2A6 and 2E1. Selective inhibitors of P450s 1A, 2B6, 2C9/10, 2D6 and 3A4 did not affect halothane oxidation. At saturating halothane concentrations (2.4 vol%) only cDNA-expressed P450 2A6 and 2B6 catalyzed significant rates of TFA and bromide formation, and P450 2E1 catalyzed comparatively minimal oxidation. Conversely, at subsaturating halothane concentrations (0.30 vol%), metabolism by P450 2E1 exceeded that by P450 2A6. Among a panel of human liver microsomes, there were significant linear correlations between halothane oxidation and P450 2A6 activity and protein content at saturating halothane concentrations (2.4 vol%), and a significant correlation between metabolite formation and P450 2E1 activity (but not P450 2A6 activity) at subsaturating concentrations (0.12 vol%). These experiments suggested P450 2A6 and 2E1 as the predominant catalysts at saturating and subsaturating halothane concentrations, respectively. Further kinetic analysis using cDNA-expressed P450 and liver microsomes clearly demonstrated that P450 2E1 is the high affinity/low capacity isoform (Km = 0.030-0.053 vol%) and P450 2A6 is the low affinity/high capacity isoform (Km = 0.77-1.2 vol%). Evidence was also obtained for substrate inhibition of P450 2E1. The in vitro clearance estimates (Vmax/Km) for microsomal P450 2E1 (4.3-5.7 ml/min/g) were substantially greater than those for microsomal P450 2A6 (0.12-0.21). These clearances, as well as rates of apparent halothane oxidation predicted from kinetic parameters in conjunction with plasma halothane concentrations measured during clinical anesthesia in humans, demonstrated that both P450 2E1 and P450 2A6 participate in human halothane metabolism, and that P450 2E1 is the predominant catalytic isoform.
Power for T-test comparisons of unbalanced cluster exposure studies.

Studies of individuals sampled in unbalanced clusters have become common in health services and epidemiological research, but available tools for power/sample size estimation and optimal design are currently limited. This paper presents and illustrates power estimation formulas for t-test comparisons of effect of an exposure at the cluster level on continuous outcomes in unbalanced studies with unequal numbers of clusters and/or unequal numbers of subjects per cluster in each exposure arm. Iterative application of these power formulas obtains minimal sample size needed and/or minimal detectable difference. SAS subroutines to implement these algorithms are given in the Appendices. When feasible, power is optimized by having the same number of clusters in each arm kA=kB and (irrespective of numbers of clusters in each arm) the same total number of subjects in each arm nAkA=nBkB. Cost beneficial upper limits for numbers of subjects per cluster may be approximately (5/ρ) −5 or less where ρ is the intraclass correlation. The methods presented here for simple cluster designs may be extended to some settings involving complex hierarchical weighted cluster samples.
SU-FF-T-494: Effects of Ionizing Radiation Exposure On Arabidopsis Thaliana

Purpose: The effects of ionizing radiation on plants were examined in order to investigate the possibility of utilizing plants as a biodosimeter. Different radiationdoses, ages of radiation exposure, and treatment methods were considered for the analysis of the complex and dynamic mechanisms of ionizing radiation effects. Method and Materials: The investigation was performed by irradiating Arabidopsis thaliana with 6MV x‐ray produced by a linear accelerator. Photosynthesis and respiration rates, chlorophyll fluorescence fv/fm ratio and yield, plant height, total leaf area, stem mass, leaf mass, and above‐ground biomass were measured in order to evaluate both physiological and physical impacts of ionizing radiation. The statistical analysis of the radiation effects with respect to four different total doses (0.5Gy, 5Gy, 50Gy, and 150Gy), two different treatment types (single and fractionated), and three different life stages at irradiation (15‐day, 20‐day, and 25‐day old) revealed the details of dynamic responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to radiation exposure. Results: The age at the time of irradiation is a key to determine the overall effects of radiation exposure, and the irradiated Arabidopsis indicated much greater contrast in physical growth compared to physiological responses immediately after the irradiation. Radiation hormesis was not observed among the irradiated Arabidopsis older than 15‐days. In order to discern such phenomenon in Arabidopsis, perhaps, ionizing radiation needs to be delivered at earlier than 30% of its entire life cycle with the total dose lower than 0.5Gy. Conclusion: The results suggest plants like Arabidopsis are capable of being utilized as a biodosimeter, and further studies can be performed on specific areas (e.g. less than 0.5Gy of very low doseradiation exposure, microscopic analysis of plant cells, etc.) in order to assess the effects of ionizing radiation for a practical application.
High pressure experiments on heavy fermion/mixed valence compounds

Heavy fermion/mixed valence compounds show a pronounced response to hydrostatic pressure due to the existence of small characteristic energy scales that dominate the electronic behavior of these materials. Recent pressure studies of CeAl3, CeCu6, UCu5 and UBe13 reveal fundamental aspects of these energy scales and, consequently, the underlying physics of the highly correlated ground state.
Optimal Nutrition for Improved Twin Pregnancy Outcome

Twin pregnancies contribute a disproportionate degree to perinatal morbidity, partly because of increased risks of low birth weight and prematurity. Although the cause of the morbidity is multifactorial, attention to twin-specific maternal nutrition may be beneficial in achieving optimal fetal growth and birth weight. Achievement of body mass index (BMI)-specific weight gain goals, micronutrient and macronutrient supplementation specific to the physiology of twin gestations, and carbohydrate-controlled diets are recommended for optimal twin growth and pregnancy outcomes. The daily recommended caloric intake for normal-BMI women with twins is 40-45 kcal/kg each day, and iron, folate, calcium, magnesium, and zinc supplementation is recommended beyond a usual prenatal vitamin. Daily supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid and vitamin D should also be considered. Multiple gestation-specific prenatal care settings with a focus on nutritional interventions improve birth weight and length of gestation and should be considered for the care of women carrying multiples. Antepartum lactation consultation can also improve the rate of postpartum breastfeeding in twin pregnancies. Twin gestation-specific nutritional interventions seem effective in improving the outcome of these pregnancies and should be emphasized in the antepartum care of multiple gestations. This review examines the available evidence and offers recommendations for twin pregnancy-specific nutritional interventions.
Molecular cloning of a human histocompatibility antigen cDNA fragment

Abstract A clone (pHLA-1) containing HLA-specific cDNA was constructed by reverse transcription of partially purified HLA mRNA from the human lymphoblastoid cell line LKT. The identity of pHLA-1 was established by its ability to hybridize to HLA heavy chain mRNA and by nucleotide sequence analysis. The pHLA-1 cDNA insert (approximately 525 base pairs) corresponds to the COOH-terminal 46 amino acids of an HLA-A, -B, or -C antigen (15 residues from the hydrophobic region and the remainder from the COOH-termial hydrophilic region), together with a portion of the 3' untranslated region of the mRNA.
Structural analysis of the C-CAMI molecule for its tumor suppression function in human prostate cancer

BACKGROUND Recently, we demonstrated that expression of C-CAM1, an immunoglobulin (Ig)-like cell adhesion molecule (CAM), was diminished in both prostate intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer lesions, indicating that loss of C-CAM1 expression may be involved in the early events of prostate carcinogenesis. Also, increased C-CAM1 expression can effectively inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. Structurally, C-CAM1 represents a unique CAM with a potential signal transducing capability. In this study, we further analyzed the functional domain of C-CAM1 for controlling its tumor suppression function. METHODS Recombinant adenoviruses expressing a series of C-CAM1 mutants were generated, such as AdCAMF488 (mutated C-CAM1 containing Tyr-488 Phe-488), AdCAMH458 (intracellular domain deletion mutant containing 458 amino acids), AdCAMG454 (intracellular domain deletion mutant containing 454 amino acids), and AdCAMΔD1(C-CAM1 mutant containing first Ig domain deletion). After in vitro characterization of each virus, human prostate cancer cells infected with these viruses were subcutaneously injected into athymic mouse. Both tumor incidence and volume were measured for determining the tumor suppression function for each mutant. RESULTS In vivo tumorigenic assay indicated that AdCAMΔD1 without cell adhesion function still retained its tumor suppression activity. In contrast, both AdCAMH458 and AdCAMG454 decreased or lost their tumor suppression activity. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that the intracellular domain of the C-CAM1 molecule is critical for inhibiting the growth of prostate cancer, suggesting that C-CAM1 interactive protein(s) may dictate prostate carcinogenesis. Prostate 41:31–38, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An analysis of microcirculatory flow heterogeneity using measurements of transit time.

Abstract Heterogeneity of blood flow distribution was measured in capillary networks in cremaster muscles of anesthetized Golden hamsters (nembutal, 70 mg/kg, ip). The relative dispersion of Q PS , where Q is blood flow, P is permeability, and S is exchange surface area, was estimated; in microvascular terms (and assuming uniform permeability) this ratio reduces to vr l , where v is plasma velocity, r is vessel radius, and l is vessel length, and where v l = 1 T , where T is transit time. Distributions of 1 T across complete capillary networks significantly increased in relative dispersion from 68.2 to 97.8% during hyperemia, suggesting an increase in flow heterogeneity with increased inflow. In contrast, relative dispersion of 1 T did not change significantly from rest (72.0%) to hyperemia (66.1%) in capillary segments sampled randomly across the tissue. Other microvascular indices of flow (velocity, cell content) did not reflect the changes in relative flow dispersion shown by the changes in 1 T . The analysis demonstrates that estimates of flow heterogeneity are sensitive both to the selection of an appropriate flow variable and to the manner in which this variable is sampled in the capillary bed.
Lubrication theory of drag on a scanning probe in structured water, near a hydrophilic surface.

The drag is evaluated, in lubrication theory, on a parabolic-cylindrical tip moving parallel to a flat sample, in water, close enough that the presumed nanometer-thick, structured-water, “interphase” coatings of both it and the sample overlap. Assuming coatings of width, w, and of viscosity, η, much larger than bulk water's, the friction force is predicted to equal −2πηcRΦ(D/2w), where R is the tip's radius of curvature, c is its speed, D is the tip−sample separation, and Φ is a universal function whose value only differs noticeably from ln(2w/D) for D < w.
Marriage and Men’s Earnings: Specialization and Cross-Productivity Effects

We use the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 to study the relationships between married men’s earnings and marriage and spouse characteristics. We test three theories posited in the literature to explain these relationships — selection, specialization, and cross-productivity. While previous research finds evidence in support of all three explanations, we argue that the empirical models used are underspecified resulting in biased tests of the theories. We estimate a more complete model, encompassing all three theories. We find evidence in support for the selection and specialization hypotheses, but little support for the cross-productivity hypothesis.
Structure-sensitive properties during room-temperature wire drawing at various speeds in nickel 200

The effects of drawing speed, cell size and grain size on the yield strength of nickel 200 wires drawn at room temperature up to a true strain of 2.09 have been investigated. The wire drawing speeds in the range from 17 to 140 mm s−1 do not show any effect on the yield strength, cell size and grain size of drawn wires. However, the cell sizes as well as grain sizes decrease with increase in true wire drawing strain when their values are averaged over all the wire drawing speeds at a given strain. Even though the Hall-Petch equation is valid for all the grain diameters observed in this study, the graph suggests that two distinct linear regimes may be more appropriate to properly describe the strengthening mechanisms during wire drawing. The cell diameter has been correlated with the yield strengths of drawn wires by an inverse relationship.
Influence of hardwood midstory and pine species on pine bole arthropods

Abstract Arthropod density on the boles of loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) was compared between a stand with and stand without hardwood midstory and between a stand of loblolly and shortleaf pines (P. echinata) in the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest, Nacogdoches Co., Texas, USA from September 1993 through July 1994. Arthropod density was greatest (t=5.67, 10 d.f., P