cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using decision trees to understand the influence of individual- and neighborhood-level factors on urban diabetes and asthma.

Abstract Objective To determine the influence of individual and neighborhood factors that combined are associated with asthma and diabetes in a sample of urban Philadelphians using data mining, a novel technique in public health research. Methods We obtained secondary data collected between May 2011 and November 2014 on individual's health and perception of neighborhood characteristics (N = 450) and Philadelphia LandCare Program data that provided relevant environmental data for the analysis (N = 676). RapidMiner open access data mining software was used to perform decision tree analyses. Results Individual- and neighborhood-level environmental factors were intricately related in the decision tree models, having varying influence on the outcomes of asthma and diabetes. The decision trees had high specificity (95–100) and classified factors that were associated with an absence of disease (diabetes/asthma). Conclusion Improved neighborhood-level conditions related to social and physical disorder were consistently found to be associated with an absence of both asthma and diabetes in this urban population. Policy implications This study illustrates the potential utility of applying data mining techniques for understanding complex public health issues.
Nonlinear Optimization of Detailed Heat Exchanger Models with Phase Change

Abstract A heat exchanger model based on first principles, such as heat transfer equations and phase change is presented. The focus is on modeling a flooded evaporator which is used in water cooled chillers. Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) are discretized using heat exchanger geometry and solved using finite difference method (Fletcher (1984)). The phase change phenomenon of the refrigerant is modeled using complementarity constraints. We discuss the solution behavior with respect to changes in parameter values and solve an optimization problem with the detailed heat exchanger model.
The Role of Pediatric Palliative Care in Congenital Zika Syndrome

Purpose: Zika virus has been detected at alarming rates across Central and South America, prompting the WHO to declare an international public health emergency. Congenital Zika syndrome may portend life-threatening and life-limiting consequences. Neonatal presentations of congenital Zika syndrome may have severe neurologic malformations including microcephaly, cerebral atrophy, cerebellar hypoplasia, ventriculomegaly, lissencephaly, and arthrogryposis. Pediatric palliative care specialists can provide critical supportive care in symptom management and goals of care decisions for these infants and their families. Methods: This case report describes a fetal …
Blockchain and Accounting Governance: Emerging Issues and Considerations for Accounting and Assurance Professionals

Blockchain technology has been a disruptive force in currency, supply chain, and information sharing practices across a variety of industries. Its usage has only recently expanded into assurance an...
Preliminary assessment of safety and adherence to a once-daily immunosuppression regimen in kidney transplantation: Results of a randomized controlled pilot study.

Medication non-adherence is common after transplant and a major contributor to graft loss. The objective of this pilot study was to obtain preliminary safety and adherence data of a complete once-daily immunosuppression regimen of Extended-release-tacrolimus (LCP-tac), everolimus, and prednisone vs LCP-tac, mycophenolate Twice daily (BID), and prednisone through a randomized controlled pilot study of 40 patients (20 in each arm). At 3 ± 2 months post-transplant, patients were randomized to receive LCP-tac and everolimus once daily or LCP-tac and mycophenolate BID (control arm) for 6 months; 80 met eligibility, and 40 were randomized. Mean age was 51 ± 14 years, 33% were female, 45% African American, and 55% had a Calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) >20%. Both regimens were well-tolerated, and medication side effect burden tended to be less severe in the intervention group. Self-reported high medication adherence decreased in the control arm from baseline to 6 months (80%-59%), while remaining the same in the intervention arm throughout the study (45%-47%). For safety assessment, there was no rejection, graft loss, or death in either arm. These results provide preliminary evidence of the safety of a novel once-daily immunosuppression regimen. The impact of this once-daily regimen on medication adherence requires a larger long-term study.
Full Body Beamsteered Wi-Fi Imaging and Threat Classifier for Public Transportation

With the population of the world increasing substantially decade after decade, the probability of terrorist attacks on people will increase. Detecting terrorists with dangerous objects is necessary. Airport security is very good, but how about other forms of public transportation such as subways and city buses? More threat detection is expected in these areas. Our research work focuses on developing a system made of two main parts to detect and classify dangerous objects placed on the chest of terrorists. The first part is made up of Wi- Fi imaging. Images are created using Wi-Fi signals scanning a person head-to-toe with a $2\mathrm{x}2$ antenna array. The second part uses a Region-based Convolutional Neural Network to classify whether the Wi-Fi image contains a dangerous object or something harmless such as a tablet. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed system. Also, our system only uses one out of many channels used in the Wi-Fi bandwidth, which allows for the remaining channels to be used for users' Internet applications on public transportation.
Chapter 68 – An Agent-Based Approach to Modeling Electricity Spot Markets

Publisher Summary This chapter proposes an agent-based approach characterizing auction-style electricity spot market dynamics. This method captures the learning and decision making of rational agents which cannot be modeled using a supply–demand equilibrium approach. It is found that because the auctions are repeated, an agent improves its decisions through time or through adaptive learning. It is observed that instead of elaborately searching for an optimal bidding strategy for each agent, some sensible and practical bidding strategies are assigned to the agents. The proposed two-step decision process simplifies the decision to determine bidding quantity and price separately. One can consider the capacity withholding strategy as a strategy used in a Cournot game, in which generators compete for their best market shares, and also the price setting strategy is considered as a strategy used in a Bertrand game. This strategic behavior depends highly on information available to the agents before a bidding decision is made. The model mainly focuses on understanding the role of learning by the generators and, accordingly, on their strategic bidding behavior in the market. The simulations show that the generators are able to execute strategic behavior in several market conditions, especially when total supply is reduced.
Exclusionary School Discipline and Neighborhood Crime

The author investigates the impact of law-and-order schools, defined as those that rely heavily on exclusionary discipline (i.e., suspension and expulsion) as a form of punishment, on neighborhood ...
Advanced 3D Wafer Level System Integration Technology

Data centric era has come and prevails across cloud, networking and edge applications. AI and 5G applications, such as intelligent manufacturing, AR/VR, connected devices and smart cars, are generating an explosion of data. This deluge of data demands for an unprecedented amount of computing power in cloud datacenters and communication infrastructures, to process numerous images, audio/video files, and business analytics workloads. Semiconductor industry urges a system integration solution with high computing power, wide data bandwidth, low energy consumption and low latency to realize high performance computing and high speed communication for cloud, server and edge AI. Among advanced system integration solutions, wafer level system integration (WLSI) technology is a unique and powerful 2D/3D integration platform to offer 3D die stacking balancing high interconnect density, short interconnect path and minimized bonding interface impedance to fulfill the demands by cutting-edge AI at a high level, for HPC and mobile applications. [1] [2] [3] 3D WLSI further realizes 3D system scaling to be complementary to transistor scaling for future intelligent AI systems.
The impact of bank supervision on loan growth

Abstract This paper quantifies the short-term and long-term impact of bank supervision (measured using CAMEL composite and component ratings) on different categories of loan growth: (a) commercial and industrial loans, (b) consumer loans, and (c) real estate loans. For each of these categories, we perform dynamic loan growth equations at the state-level augmented by the inclusion of CAMEL ratings for all banks in the state, after controlling for banking and economic conditions. We perform these regressions for two distinct sub-periods: (1) 1985–1993 (which covers the credit crunch period) and (2) 1994–2004 (which covers the sustained recovery period). For the first period, 1985–1993, we find that out of the three loan categories considered, business lending is the most sensitive to changes in CAMEL ratings (both the composite and the components), although the other loan categories also show some sensitivity. Overall, however, we find little evidence suggesting that the effects of changes in any of the components of CAMEL ratings differ systematically from the effects of changes in the composite CAMEL. For the second period, we find little evidence that changes in CAMEL ratings (the composite or its components) had any systematic effect on loan growth for any of the loan categories considered.
Gestational Diabetes History and Glucose Tolerance After Pregnancy Associated With Coronary Artery Calcium in Women During Midlife: The CARDIA Study.

Background: Gestational diabetes (GD) leads to earlier onset and heightened risk of type 2 diabetes, a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is unclear whether attaining ...
High Rates of Spacer Fracture in the Setting of Extended Trochanteric Osteotomy With a Specific Thin-Core Articulating Antibiotic Hip Spacer

Abstract Background Two-stage revision remains the standard of care for prosthetic joint infection after total hip arthroplasty. However, there are substantial complications associated with articulating antibiotic hip spacers. Handmade and molded spacers have been shown to have higher rates of spacer fracture than antibiotic-coated prostheses (ACPs). The aim of this study is to review outcomes with an implant that is often categorized as an ACP spacer, the Zimmer-Biomet StageOne Select Femoral Spacer (ZBSO). Methods A retrospective review was performed of 63 patients who underwent placement of a ZBSO. Patients were compared based on whether or not an extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) was performed using Fisher’s exact and t-tests. Results Five patients were excluded due to lack of follow-up or death shortly after stage 1 surgery, leaving 58 patients. Spacer fracture was noted in 5 of 58 patients (8.6%). Sixteen patients underwent ETO and 25.0% suffered a spacer fracture compared to 2.3% without ETO (odds ratio 13.7, P = .0248). There was no association between patient demographics or ETO length and spacer fracture. Two patients had periprosthetic fractures (3.4%) and 4 had dislocations (6.9%). Forty-nine patients (84.4%) went on to second-stage revision; of those 26.5% failed to clear the infection and required an average of 2.2 additional surgeries. Conclusion The ZBSO spacer has overall complication rates similar to previously reported spacer series. Although the ZBSO looks like an ACP spacer, in the setting of ETO, it behaves like a molded or handmade spacer with a high rate of spacer fracture (25%) due to the small diameter of the core. This implant should be used with caution in combination with an ETO.
An Atypical Presentation of Severe Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report and Literature Review

A 55-year-old male patient with no past medical history presents to the ED to complain of exertional dyspnea and bilateral lower limb swelling. The patient was diagnosed with a severe dissecting aortic aneurysm on trans-thoracic echocardiography and later confirmed by a contrast CT aortogram. The patient was immediately started on anti-impulse therapy with labetalol infusion and underwent emergent aortic dissection repair. This case demonstrates an atypical presentation of a life-threatening condition that might have been missed on the initial assessment.
Improving hydrocarbons and phenols in bio-oil through catalytic pyrolysis of pine sawdust

Abstract The objective of this research was to develop low-cost metal-supported catalysts to improve the hydrocarbons, phenols, and phenolic compounds yield in the bio-oil. In this study, pyrolysis of pine sawdust was performed without a catalyst, with HZSM-5 catalyst and with Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst at temperatures of 400, 500, and 600 °C in a fixed bed reactor. The metal supported catalyst Ni/HZSM-5 was developed by wet impregnation method. The effects of temperatures and catalyst type on the yield and quality of the pyrolysis oil were investigated. The non-catalytic pyrolysis resulted in bio-oil yield of 37.4 wt% at 500 °C; however, HZSM-5 and Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts had a marginally lower yield of bio-oil (36.6 and 35.3 wt%, respectively) at 400 °C. The presence of catalysts improved the bio-oil viscosity by producing approximately more than 90% of light bio-oil while the remaining 10% was heavy bio-oil. Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst exhibited the best catalyst activity, with 80.2% and 49.7% yields of the desired compounds in heavy and light bio-oils respectively, while the bio-oil obtained without catalyst contained only 34.9% at 400 °C.
Detection of the G143A Mutation in the Cytochrome b Gene of Corynespora cassiicola Isolates from Soybean in Tennessee

Corynespora cassiicola is the causal pathogen of target spot in soybean and cotton grown in the United States. With target spot increasing in importance, fungicides are becoming an important tool f...
A Robot Wrote This?: An Empirical Study of AI's Applications in Writing Practices

This study examines the emerging practice of using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to automatically generate content. Using the case study as methodology, this research aims to address the gap in the literature that little publication has been done in the field of technical and professional communication to investigate the wide applications of automated writing (AW) technologies. Composed of semi-structured interviews and a content assessment study, this project investigates how AW is embedded in the current writing practices in business, its effectiveness and potential impacts, and its strengths and drawbacks in comparison with human writers. The preliminary results of this study may provide advice for professional writers and technical communication programs on the core skills desired in the AW age.
Some Old and New Theories in Biochemical Psychiatry

The boundary between theory and data may be clear to the outside observers of a particular field of science, particularly those who call themselves the philosophers of science, but for the practitioners, working day by day moving constructs into practice, gaining facility for translating abstract notions into operations and back again to revise their theoretical definitions, the boundary tends to dissolve. In the case of a psychiatric physician, for example, libido may start to become observable intensity, the drive behind a compulsion, attachment strength, sexual practices, characterological rigidity, or a variety of other intuitively derived clinical notions. Thousands of pages are spent untangling such confusions, and some gain in understanding results from the enterprise, but the boundary is never clarified. Perhaps the work of clarifying boundary conditions is the task indigenous to research.
DARC alleles and Duffy phenotypes in African Americans.

BACKGROUND: The DARC (Duffy blood group, chemokine receptor) gene encodes for a transmembrane glycoprotein that functions as a chemokine transporter, is a receptor for Plasmodium vivax and P. knowlesi, and expresses the Duffy blood group antigens (Fy). The Fy(a−b−) phenotype found in people of African descent is typically associated with a −67t>c mutation in the 5′-untranslated region (UTR), which prevents red blood cells being invaded by P. vivax and P. knowlesi. The aim of this study was to establish DARC allele frequencies in an African American blood donor cohort, determine a phylogenetic tree for DARC, and compare human and Neandertal DARC genes. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The DARC nucleotide sequence of 54 African American blood donors was determined from genomic DNA. Heterozygous substitutions were resolved by sequencing of haplotype-specific amplifications. A phylogenetic tree for DARC was established using the neighbor-joining method with Pan troglodytes as root. RESULTS: A total of 108 haplotypes of the DARC gene could be unambiguously determined from nucleotide position −300 in the 5′ UTR to +300 in the 3′ UTR. Eleven different alleles were found, including the clinically relevant FY*A, FY*B, FY*B-67C, FY*B298A, and FY*X alleles. All phenotype predictions based on genotypes matched the serologically determined phenotypes exactly: 52% Fy(a−b−), 28% Fy(a−b+), and 20% Fy(a+b−). CONCLUSIONS: The nucleotide sequencing approach using one amplicon is a practical genotyping method for DARC and allows the determination of haplotypes even in heterozygous constellations. We developed a phylogenetic tree for DARC alleles and postulated a distinct FY*B allele as ancestral for the extant DARC alleles in humans.
Childhood dermatomyositis and pregnancy

creased intra-abdominal pressure. The pretherapy temperature ranged between 10 lo and 102” F. Uterine tenderness was demonstrable. The diagnosis of chorioamnionitis was predicated upon the following criteria present concomitantly: maternal pyrexia, sustained fetal tachycardia(sl60 bpm) antedating maternal pyrexia, and significant uterine tenderness. There were no signs or symptoms suggestive of nongenital infection. Oxycotin drip and intravenous ampicillin were administered. Because of the lysis of fever with antibiotic therapy and the failure of induction of labor, the decision was made to discontinue the Pitocin and to continue antibiotic therapy. The patient was discharged on a regimen of bed rest, amoxicillin, 500 mg four times a day for 5 days, and temperature check twice daily. Blood cultures at the time of clinical illness grew out group G /3-hemolytic streptococci. In the interim prior to her second admission, the patient continued to pass clear fluid from the vagina. case is not an isolated occurrence. Hum@ described a 1 ‘i-year-old primagravid patient who, at 19 weeks’ gestation, developed maternal septicemia and apparent fetal infection due to Listeria monocytogmrv which responded in utero to antibiotic therapy. At ,I 1 weeks of gestation, she was delivered vaginally of an uninfected, normal, 6 pound, 13 ounce male infant. The case report illustrates that bacteriologic cure of’ maternal and fetal disease may be achieved in the Face of ruptured fetal membranes.
Spatial extent and dissipation of the deep chlorophyll layer in Lake Ontario during the Lake Ontario lower foodweb assessment, 2003 and 2008

Increasing water clarity in Lake Ontario has led to a vertical redistribution of phytoplankton and an increased importance of the deep chlorophyll layer in overall primary productivity. We used in situ fluorometer profiles collected in lakewide surveys of Lake Ontario in 2008 to assess the spatial extent and intensity of the deep chlorophyll layer. In situ fluorometer data were corrected with extracted chlorophyll data using paired samples from Lake Ontario collected in August 2008. The deep chlorophyll layer was present offshore during the stratified conditions of late July 2008 with maximum values from 4–13 μg l−1 corrected chlorophyll a at 10 to 17 m depth within the metalimnion. Deep chlorophyll layer was closely associated with the base of the thermocline and a subsurface maximum of dissolved oxygen, indicating the feature's importance as a growth and productivity maximum. Crucial to the deep chlorophyll layer formation, the photic zone extended deeper than the surface mixed layer in mid-summer. The ...
Disk-gap discontinuity in a coaxial transmission line

Some filter realizations require a series capacitance that is difficult to implement when using coaxial cable technology. The difficulty in using this topology for a series capacitor stems from the fact that small internal radii produce small series capacitances, unless a very small gap size is used. The sensitivity of the series capacitance to errors in gap size increases with smaller gaps and makes this topology useless in this respect. To alleviate this problem a topology is proposed which consists of two additional disks added to the gap, thus providing a new parameter to adjust, the disk radius, that together with the gap size permits a better (less sensitive) method to synthesize a given series capacitance. >
Exploiting Active Sub-Areas for Multi-Copy Routing in VDTNs

In Vehicle Delay Tolerant Networks (VDTNs), current routing algorithms select relay vehicles based on either vehicle encounter history or predicted future locations. The former method may fail to find relays that can encounter the target vehicle in a large-scale VDTN while the latter method may not provide accurate location prediction due to traffic variance. Therefore, these methods cannot achieve high performance in terms of routing success rate and delay. In this paper, we aim to improve the routing performance in VDTNs. We first analyze vehicle network traces and observe that i) each vehicle has only a few active sub-areas that it frequently visits, and ii) two frequently encountered vehicles usually encounter each other in their active sub-areas. We then propose Active Area based Routing method (AAR) which consists of two steps based on the two observations correspondingly. AAR first distributes a packet copy to each active sub-area of the target vehicle using a traffic-considered shortest path spreading algorithm, and then in each sub-area, each packet carrier tries to forward the packet to a vehicle that has high encounter frequency with the target vehicle. Extensive trace-driven simulation demonstrates that AAR produces higher success rates and shorter delay in comparison with the state-of-the-art routing algorithms in VDTNs.
Multiple Chronic Conditions and Disabilities: Implications for Health Services Research and Data Demands

Increasing numbers of Americans are living with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and disabilities. Addressing health care needs of persons with MCCs or disabilities presents challenges on many levels. For health services researchers, priorities include (1) considering MCCs and disabilities in comparative effectiveness research (CER) and assessing quality of care; and (2) identifying and evaluating the data needed to conduct CER, performance measure development, and other research to inform health policy and public health decisions concerning persons with MCCs or disabilities. Little information is available to guide CER or treatment choices for persons with MCCs or disabilities, however, because they are typically excluded from clinical trials that produce the scientific evidence base. Furthermore, most research funding flows through public and private agencies oriented around single organ systems or diseases. Likely changes in the data landscape—notably wider dissemination of electronic health records (EHRs) and moving toward updated coding nomenclatures—may increase the information available to monitor health care service delivery and quality for persons with MCCs and disabilities. Generating this information will require new methods to extract and code information about MCCs and functional status from EHRs, especially narrative texts, and incorporating coding nomenclatures that capture critical dimensions of functional status and disability.
Assessing trends in lower tropospheric heat content in the central United States using equivalent temperature

Isobaric equivalent temperature (TE) is the temperature that an air parcel would have if all associated water vapour were condensed and the resulting latent heat used to increase the temperature of the parcel. It is therefore an ideal metric for assessing changes in (1) total near-surface heat content associated with both temperature and moisture content and (2) the joint behaviour of temperature and humidity, which is relevant to both lower atmospheric stability and human heat stress during extreme temperature events. We present results from an analysis of 50 years (1961–2010) of daily TE and its temperature and moisture components at seven stations in the central United States. The annual means of daily TEmax and TEmin increased at all stations during the period of analysis with the largest changes occurring in TEmin, largely as a result of increasing minimum air temperature. At western locations significant increases in the annual mean TEmax were also observed, resulting from a combination of increases in Tmax and humidity. Despite small summer (JJA) trends in maximum air temperature, summer TE trends were generally larger than their annual counterparts. The timing of the observed variations and the resulting spatial pattern are consistent with observed changes in meridional moisture flux associated with the Great Plains low-level jet. Heat waves in the region were found to be characterized by increasing TEmin, primarily resulting from increases in minimum air temperature. At western stations, heat waves were also characterized by increasing TEmax as a result of positive trends in humidity. In most cases, equivalent temperature provides a perspective on local environmental change that differs from what is provided by consideration of temperature alone.
Neutrophilic Dermatosis Secondary to Imatinib Therapy in a Patient with CML: A Case Report

A 53 year old woman with CML in the chronic phase received therapy with Imatinib on two separate occasions. Both occasions were followed by the development of an abrupt onset of skin lesions characterized by painful and tender erythematous plaques and nodules on the upper extremities that subsequently resolved with hyperpigmentation. The patient was also found to have pleural and pericardial effusions. She had a WBC count of 57,250 cells per mm3, a platelet count of 740,000 per mm3 and a single temperature spike of 100.4 °F. Over the course of a week the WBC count dropped to 51,520 cells per mm3 but the percent of mature neutrophils rose to 55%. Imatinib was discontinued and steroid therapy led to resolution of the skin lesions with residual pigmentation. A skin biopsy was obtained that showed neutrophilic dermatosis with epidermal sparing consistent with Sweet's syndrome but with atypical features such as extension into deep dermis and subcutaneous fat. Lab work up including blood cultures and bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial cultures of the skin as well as special stains of the skin biopsy specimen failed to reveal any microbiological etiology.
Best Dressed Briefs – Why Appearance Matters

This short bar piece discusses the importance of document design issues when writing to a court.
The magnetism of potassium dioxalatocuprate(II) dihydrate and ammonium dioxalatocuprate(II) dihydrate

Abstract The magnetic susceptibilities of the potassium and ammonium salts of dioxalatocuprate(II) dihydrate have been measured in the temperature range 2.9–296°K. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra give evidence for weak spin-spin coupling which is confirmed by the magnetic susceptibility data. The mechanism for the weak interaction is transmitted by the oxalate bridges.
Hybridization of PNA to structured DNA targets: quadruplex invasion and the overhang effect.

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes have been synthesized and targeted to quadruplex DNA. UV−vis and CD spectroscopy reveal that the quadruplex structure of the thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) is disrupted at 37 °C by a short PNA probe. The corresponding DNA probe fails to bind to the stable secondary structure at this temperature. Thermal denaturation experiments indicate surprisingly high thermal and thermodynamic stabilities for the PNA−TBA hybrid. Our results point to the nonbonded nucleobase overhangs on the DNA as being responsible for this stability. This “overhang effect” is found for two different PNA−DNA sequences and a variety of different overhang lengths and sequences. The stabilization offered by the overhangs assists the PNA in overcoming the stable secondary structure of the DNA target, an effect which may be significant in the targeting of biological nucleic acids, which will always be much longer than the PNA probe. The ability of PNA to invade a structured DNA target expands its potential ...
Interplanetary magnetic fluctuation anisotropy in the inertial range

[1] We have created a database of interplanetary magnetic field spectra from over 900 separate solar wind intervals at 1 AU using data from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft. These intervals embrace a broad range of solar wind conditions including fast and slow wind conditions, rarefaction regions, shocked plasma, and magnetic clouds. Every attempt was made to develop a database that samples the broadest possible range of solar wind conditions without regard for occurrence frequency. We have examined the ratio of magnetic power in the component perpendicular to the mean field to that parallel to the mean field (the so-called variance anisotropy) as measured in the high-frequency regime of the inertial range and find it to be strongly correlated to the proton beta. The variance anisotropy may be a proxy for the spectrum of density fluctuations in this region of the spectrum that is unresolved by ACE instruments and that is often unresolved by current flight hardware. The observed correlation with proton beta appears to be in keeping with predictions derived from magnetohydrodynamic turbulence concepts where the compressive component is driven by the incompressible turbulence in the low turbulent Mach number regime. This apparent agreement strongly suggests that the compressive component arises from in situ dynamics and has little if anything to do with solar origins.
Local resource competition and the evolution of male-biased sex ratios

In many mammalian species, maturing males disperse from their natal groups, while females remain near their places of birth. If sources are limited locally, related females may be forced to compete with one another for access to resources, while mature males will compete primarily with unrelated individuals in non-natal groups. Clark (1978) suggested that under such circumstances the extent of competition among females could be reduced if females uniformly skewed the sex ratio of their offspring in favor of males. Skewed secondary sex ratios and investment patterns in galagos and red deer appear to be consistent with this hypothesis. Several authors have recently demonstrated that the evolution of skewed sex ratios may be influenced by population structure, and Wilson & Colwell (1981) have shown that male-biased sex ratios can evolve in structured haplodiploid populations. Here, I construct an intrademic group selection model to simulate the effects of density-dependent mortality upon diploid populations structured much as Clark describes: males disperse, females remain near their female relatives, and local resource competition limits the size of local groups. The results confirm that male-biased sex ratios can evolve in a diploid species, even when groups are large and the skew in sex ratio is substantial.
Cross-listing, managerial compensation and corporate governance

AbstractThis study examines the relationship between cross-listing and managerial compensation of Chinese firms that concurrently issued A- and B-shares or A- and H-shares during 2001–2010. The results show that executive compensation is a positive factor to motivate Chinese A-share firms to cross-list as B- or H-shares; it implies that cross-listings could be employed as a way of asset appropriation at the managers’ discretion. The results also confirm that corporate governance is important in determining cross-listings. Under the weak corporate governance institution, Chinese firms were chosen to cross-list based on political considerations rather than on economic merits, serving as a vehicle to signal the quality of state owned enterprises. The results are drawn on agency theory, signalling hypothesis and bonding hypothesis.
Filter-based stabilization of spectral element methods

Abstract We present a simple filtering procedure for stabilizing the spectral element method (SEM) for the unsteady advection–diffusion and Navier–Stokes equations. A number of example applications are presented, along with basic analysis for the advection–diffusion case.
Operational center points

Operational equations are used to estimate the center of repeated attempts to measure an effect. The estimates can be obtained in more than one way. On trial data with known center points, the operational methods are commonly superior to the mean and the median as estimates of central tendency.
Measuring the Electrical Properties of Cleanroom Gloves

This article outlines various methods used to characterize the electrical properties of cleanroom gloves used in electrostatic discharge-protected areas. A review of the currently used test methods and specifications is included, along with a discussion of the many problems and pitfalls associated with the interpretation and application of those test methods and standards.
Monitoring thermal dilations with millimetre sensitivity via multi-dimensional SAR imaging

The new generation of high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors provides a new “light” in the imaging and monitoring of built areas and structures: Ground structures can be now monitored to an unprecedented accuracy. Particularly the use of higher frequency enhances the sensitivity of the system even to minute changes, such as thermal dilations. By extending multitemporal differential interferometry SAR processing chains, in our case based on the multidimensional imaging approach, an additional parameter related to temperature at acquisition instants can be accurately estimated. In this work we investigate the application of the multi-dimensional SAR imaging technique to very high resolution TerraSAR-X data acquired over the city of Potenza (south Italy), with a particular attention to Musmeci bridge. Results demonstrate the potential of this technology to accurately monitor even minute deformations of the bridge, such as those caused by thermal dilations.
Threshold-type admission policy for remanufacturing systems

This paper considers a reassemble-to-order system for modular products with admission control on product returns in a remanufacturing environment. Customer warranty claims trigger orders for product replacement by new or remanufactured products. At the same time, the warranty claims also generate returns of used products. The return process of used products is a stochastic process with uncertainties in arriving time, quality and quantity. We then develop a quasi-birth-and-death (QBD) model to obtain the key performance measures of the system. We start with a single quality grade problem and conduct exact analysis of the performance as a function of the admission control variables. Through extensive numerical experiments, we provide managerial insights into decision-making for the assemble-to-order remanufacturing systems with stochastic warranty returns.
A convergent synthesis of novel conformationally restricted HIV-1 protease inhibitors

Abstract Conformationally restricted HIV-1 protease inhibitors containing the transition state hydroxyl group in pyrrolidine or piperidine ring systems were synthesized stereoselectively utilizing the inherent stereochemistry of an amino acid derivative. A convergent double reductive amination strategy was used to construct the heterocyclic rings.
Efficient identification of binding inequality constraints in the optimal power flow newton approach

The paper presents a new technique for identifying the binding inequality constraints for the optimal power flow Newton approach. The technique is free of the need for user intervention, and reduces significantly the computational effort required by other methods. The algorithm is based on an efficient criteria for selecting and enforcing, at each iteration, a minimum number of active inequality constraints, and on obtaining a solution quickly and with less oscillations. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by means of two sample systems.
Oxidation of Menadiol by Fractions Isolated From Non-Photosynthetic Plant Tissues.

The role of quinones in electron transport has attracted considerable recent interest (27). Coenzyme Q1,O which is present in plant mitochondria, is closely related to the respiratory chain (6), and the very similar benzoquinone, plastoquinone, appears to be involved in photosynthesis (7); Vitamin K-type naphthoquinones have been implicated in respiratory electron transfer (30), oxidative phosphorylation (2), and photophosphorylation (1). The enzymatic pathways involved in the intracellular oxidation and reduction of these quinones are clearly of interest. Wosilait and Nason (32) showed that extracts of animals, plants, and bacteria contain an active pyridine nucleotide-menadione (vitamin K3) reductase, and since then a number of enzymes which catalyze the reduction of naphthoquinones and benzoquinones or benzoquinones alone have been purified. The pathways of oxidation of the reduced quinones have also been examined, though most of the work has been done with animal systems (8,9,22). This aspect of the problem is of special interest in plants, since, in addition to the usual respiratory chain, they contain a number of enzymes (phenol oxidase, laccase, peroxidase) which can oxidize phenols to their corresponding quinones. In the present study, we have used menadiol and menadione as model compounds and have examined their oxidation and reduction by cell-free fractions isolated from non-photosynthetic tissues. Special attention has been paid to the intracellular localization of these activities and to the components involved in the oxidative pathways.
Improved vertically stacked Si/SiGe resonant interband tunnel diode pair with small peak voltage shift and unequal peak currents

A vertically integrated and serially connected npnp Si-based resonant interband tunnelling diode (RITD) pair is realised with low temperature molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) by monolithically stacking two RITDs with different spacer thicknesses. The asymmetric design manifests as unequal peak current densities that provide for much larger and uniform separation of the holding states for multi-valued logic. A δ-doped backwards diode connects the two serially connected RITDs with a very small series resistance. The I-V characteristic of the improved vertically integrated RITDs demonstrates two negative differential resistance (NDR) regions in the forward biasing condition with a small peak shift and unequal peak currents.
Characterization of Starch and Fiber of Banana Fruit

Mature green and ripe bananas were analyzed for moisture, protein, starch, sugars, ash, and fiber. Ripe banana fruit contained 1.27% dietary fiber, as determined by the detergent method. Hemicellulose content was higher than that of most fruits and vegetables whereas cellulose and lignin contents were lower. The morphological and physicochemical properties of isolated starch were determined. Starch granules were irregularly shaped, with spheroid and elongated forms predominating. Both the Brabender amylograms and the two-stage swelling patterns of the starch were similar to those reported for mung bean starch.
Antisense ribosomal protein gene expression specifically disrupts oogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract To assess the functional importance of ribosomal protein rpA1 gene expression during development of Drosophila melanogaster, we have transformed into the fly's genome an antisense rpA1 gene driven by a heat shock promoter. Antisense rpA1 expression severely disrupted oogenesis and produced a "small egg" female-sterile phenotype. The severities of these defects were proportional to the level of antisense rpA1 expression. Anti-rpA1 expression did not affect larval or pupal development. Quantitative RNA analysis suggested that high anti-rpA1 expression results in a general decrease of mRNA in the ovary.
Effects of histamine on 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal activity in the rat hypothalamus

Effects of pharmacological manipulations which mimic or enhance histaminergic neuronal transmission were determined on the activity of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neurons projecting to the hypothalamus of male rats. Intracerebroventricular administration of histamine decreased 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and increased 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations in several hypothalamic nuclei; these effects were blocked by the histamine H1 receptor antagonist mepyramine but not the histamine H2 receptor antagonist zolantidine. Blockade of the 5-HT reuptake system by fluoxetine did not prevent histamine-induced decreases in 5-HT concentrations suggesting that histamine is not transported into nerve terminals via the 5-HT reuptake system to subsequently displace 5-HT stores. These data suggest that exogenous histamine increases 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal activity through an action at histamine H1 receptors. In contrast, neither the histamine H3 receptor antagonist thioperamide, the histamine-N-methyltransferase inhibitor metoprine, nor combined thioperamide-metoprine treatment affected concentrations of 5-HT or 5-HIAA suggesting these agents, which purportedly enhance endogenous histaminergic transmission, do not affect 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal activity. These results reveal that procedures commonly employed to study central actions of histamine differentially affect 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal activity in the rat hypothalamus.
Effect of Artificial Pacing of the Heart on Cardiac and Renal Function

Six patients with complete heart block provided an opportunity to study renal hemodynamic responses to increases in heart rate produced by an artificial pacemaker. Observations were made at rest and following exercise during idioventricular rhythm and slow rates and were repeated after increasing the rate to 70/min by means of an artificial pacemaker. Ability to excrete a water load was impaired at the slow idioventricular rate; this was associated with a reduced glomerular filtration rate. No acute improvement in renal function occurred with pacemaker-induced increase in heart rate except in the presence of congestive heart failure. With long-term pacing (7 to 8 months), the glomerular filtration rate and the ability to excrete solute-free water increased in all patients studied. The acute increase in free water clearance which occurred with increased heart rate in the presence of congestive heart failure suggests that decreased renal perfusion may be responsible for the inability to excrete excess water...
Mehlich‐I soil‐test calibration for watermelon: Cu, Zn, and Mn

Abstract Predictive soil tests were used to detect possible need for Cu, Zn, and Mn fertilizers for the optimum production of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Masf.) in north and central Florida. Predictive Mehlich‐I soil testing indicated a possible response to additions of Mn and Cu but not to additions of Zn at three locations: Gainesville, Dunnellon, and Live Oak. Results showed no total marketable yield response to selected Cu, Zn, and Mn treatments at any of the three sites. Yields for the Gainesville, Dunnellon, and Live Oak sites were 41.5, 29.0, and 38.0 Mg/ha, respectively, well above the state average watermelon yield of 19.0 Mg/ha. Tissue analyses at the Gainesville and Live Oak sites showed Cu, Zn, and Mn levels within or above suggested sufficiency ranges. This study indicates that current University of Florida interpretations for the Mehlich‐I extractant can identify sites with adequate extractable Cu, Zn, and Mn levels, thus avoiding unnecessary fertilization. At no time were Univer...
Fine Structure of Sperm Tails of Isopods

[La microscopie electronique a revele un type unique de flagelle caudal chez les spermatozoides des Isopodes Cyathura sp., Idotea balthica et Oniscus asellus. Ce flagelle consiste en un long cylindre flexible (ou elastique), de 300-350 mμ de diametre, transversalement strie a travers toute son epaisseur avec une alternance reguliere de bandes denses et de bandes moins denses. Il y a une partie axiale segmentee, mais aucune preuve d'une structure fibrillaire analogue a celle que l'on a trouvee dans toutes les queues de spermatozoides examinees jusqu'ici avec le microscope electronique. Les implications phylogenetiques de cette structure inhabituelle sont discutees., La microscopie electronique a revele un type unique de flagelle caudal chez les spermatozoides des Isopodes Cyathura sp., Idotea balthica et Oniscus asellus. Ce flagelle consiste en un long cylindre flexible (ou elastique), de 300-350 mμ de diametre, transversalement strie a travers toute son epaisseur avec une alternance reguliere de bandes denses et de bandes moins denses. Il y a une partie axiale segmentee, mais aucune preuve d'une structure fibrillaire analogue a celle que l'on a trouvee dans toutes les queues de spermatozoides examinees jusqu'ici avec le microscope electronique. Les implications phylogenetiques de cette structure inhabituelle sont discutees.]
Detection of virus-specific antigens in EB-(P3HR1) virus-superinfected Raji cells by immunoprecipitation.

Abstract Raji cells have been Superinfected with EB-(P3HR-1) virus. Proteins have been labeled with [ 35 S]methionine and then used as antigens in immunoprecipitation experiments. We included sera from infectious mononucleosis and Burkitt's lymphoma tumor patients with defined anti-EBV titers as source of complementary antibodies. These experiments allowed detection of certain proteins which were synthesized only in EBV-superinfected cells and only precipitated by anti-EBV sera. It is likely that these proteins represent early antigens, according to our experimental conditions.
Computational study of water and ammonia dimers with density functional theory methods

Abstract The structures and energies for the dimerization of water and ammonia molecules were computed with density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio methods. For all studies the same 6-311+G(2 d ,2 p ) basis set was used. Two linear hydrogen-bonded and cyclic ammonia dimer structures were computed and their relative stability is discussed. From the systematic studies, hybrid DFT methods were selected as reliable for computing the parameters of these types of van der Waals' complex.
Some infrared properties of Bi8Te7S5

Abstract Infrared reflection and absorption measurements have been performed on Bi 8 Te 7 S 5 . The compound is shown to be a semiconductor with a room temperature energy gap of 0.40 eV, a high index of refraction ( n ≈ 7) decreasing linearly with the wavelength, a free carrier effective mass of approximately 0.16 m e and a relaxation time of 2.8× 10 −14 sec. A method of computing both the absorption coefficient and the index of refraction from the transmission data of a sample of unknown thickness is described.