cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orientation dependence behavior of self-assembled (In,Ga)As quantum structures on GaAs surface

We report on the formation of (In,Ga)As self-assembled quantum structures grown on different orientations of GaAs along one side of the stereographic triangle between (1 0 0) and (1 1 1)A. The samples were characterized by atomic force microscopy. A systematic transition from zero-dimensional (In,Ga)As quantum dots to one-dimensional quantum wires was observed as the substrate was varied along the side of the triangle between (1 0 0) and (1 1 1)A. An explanation for the role of the substrate in determining the size of the nanostructure is proposed.
Cross-bispectral analysis of a vibrating cylinder and its wake in low Reynolds number flow

Cross-bispectral analysis is used to investigate the coupling between a slender vibrating cylinder and the velocity field in its wake at low Reynolds numbers [Re = O(10^2)]. The velocity field was characterized by a complicated power spectrum, with low frequency peaks as well as upper and lower side band peaks near the primary Strouhal frequency peak and its harmonics. Power spectral and cross-bispectral analyses indicate that the rich structure of the wake velocity power spectra is a direct consequence of the vibrating cylinder. The data suggest the cylinder is coupled to its wake in the sense that the cylinder vibrations introduce motions into the wake at the vibration frequency, and these motions interact nonlinearly within the wake to produce fluctuations at other frequencies. Cross-bispectral analysis isolates the interactions between cylinder vibrations and wake fluctuations.
MINDFULNESS SKILLS AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

We assessed college students' mindfulness skills (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire; Baer, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer, & Toney, 2006) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) early in the semester and during midterms and finals, two periods of likely academic stress. As predicted, acting with awareness, nonreactivity, and nonjudging were inversely related to depressive symptoms over the course of the semester. In contrast, observing was directly related to depressive symptoms at time one and two. The mindfulness skill of describing failed to show any significant relation to depressive symptoms during the semester. When we considered all four mindfulness skills simultaneously, nonreactivity and nonjudging skills underpinned the inverse relation between mindfulness and depressive symptoms across all time periods. High levels of observing were only associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms when individuals were low in nonreactivity. Accordingly, mindfu...
On the Relevance of John Rawls's Theory of Justice to Welfare Economics

Mainstream microeconomic theory makes some use of John Rawls's Theory of Justicein discussing welfare economics and social welfare functionals. While various elements of his approach are usually mentioned, his basic point is generally taken to be his difference principle (maximizing the welfare of the worst off individual) applied as a decision principle for evaluating the equity of resource allocation. To take the difference principle as the essence of Rawls's work is an error. The present paper reviews the basic argument of the Theory of Justice compares it with the use that economists make of it, and concludes that in a number of quite specific ways Rawls's ideas are misrepresented and misused by mainstream microeconomists.
A new test for shape differences when variance–covariance matrices are unequal

Abstract This paper presents a new statistical testing procedure for testing the equality of two shapes based on landmark coordinate data. Lele & Richtsmeier (1991) propose a test for shape differences based on Euclidean distance matrix analysis (EDMA). One of the assumptions needed for their test to be valid is the equality of the variance–covariance matrices in the two populations under consideration. Using recent results from Lele (1993), we propose an alternative test procedure based on EDMA. This new procedure is valid even if the variance–covariance matrices in two populations are not equal. We study the validity (i.e., the correctness of the probability of type-I error) and the power (i.e., the probability of correct rejection of the null hypothesis when it is false) of the test via simulations. We provide also a biological example, comparing the shapes of the midfacial region in Neandertals and anatomically modern humans, where the variance–covariance structures are quite different.
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli disease: new developments and perspectives.

Diarrhea due to enteropathogenic types of Escherichia coli is related to an exotoxin produced by the organisms. The presence of toxin causes movement of fluid and electrolytes across the intestinal mucosa into the lumen (enterosorption), even though there is no invasion of the organisms through the mucosa; therefore it is called an "enterotoxin". It has been defined in strains of E. coli associated with diarrhea in piglets, calves, and human infants. In addition to the elucidation of the pathogenesis of enteropathogenic E. coli disease, the discovery of the enterotoxin has provided several other opportunities. Development of better epidemiologic data, discovery of heretofore unknown enteropathogenic organisms, definition of both passive and active protective mechanisms, and some possibilities for vaccine development are included in the features discussed here.
Development Discourse and the Politics of Environmental Ideologies in Samoa

The demise of Samoa's native forests and coral reefs is suggestive of similar environmental transformations occurring in rural areas throughout the Pacific and the world. The more conventional explanations of why such transformations occur do not hold when applied to Samoa, yet they are continually invoked within development policy debates affecting the local politics of land. The latter are far more salient to understanding why things are the way they are in Samoa. But then this is likely to hold true for other areas of the Pacific to the extent that such politics are entwined with the politics of island governance. And they likely play a central role in similar ways wherever customary rules matter and people are dependent upon the control of land for their power, prestige, and survival. Conventional explanations provide valuable insights, but they do not adequately account for the effects of local ( intravillage) politics and the ways in which extralocal politics influence the social relations mediating...
An argument for the feature [dental]

Abstract Several well-known processes from English phonology which require reference to the alveolar obstruents (/t d s z/) are considered from the point of view of distinctive feature theory. It is argued that this natural class necessitates the feature [−dental] in order to account for the fact that dental fricatives (/ θ ð/) are inert. In conclusion, the cross-linguistic predictions of the present analysis are discussed.
An improved neural network leader algorithm for part-machine grouping in group technology

Abstract In this paper, a robust neural network-based leader algorithm is proposed for the part-machine grouping problem in group technology. This clustering method involves a modification to the normal use of Carpenter and Grossberg's ART1 neural network. The robustness of the modified algorithm to random ordering of the input data is tested using three data sets. The data sets include an industry-size problem consisting of 1000 parts and 100 machine types. The experiments revealed that the method results in the identification of cluster and block diagonal structures rapidly and to a good degree of perfection, even for large, industry-size data sets. The solutions obtained were also found to be robust to the order of presentation of the input data. The proposed method offers a promising solution to a cellular manufacturing problem that is yet to be solved satisfactorily.
A buck-boost main bus voltage regulator for a solar array battery space power system

This paper describes a novel high efficiency buckboost voltage for use in a solar-array battery space power system. The design approach for the switching regulator is presented, together with an analysis of its operation, definition of its characteristics, and functional performance.
The Use of Task Analysis Procedures by Instructional Designers

The purpose of this study was to learn about the use of task analysis procedures by instructional designers. Task analysis is regarded by many to be the most integral part of the instructional design process and the most technical aspect of the instructional designer's job. It is also thought to be the most ambiguous of the instructional design, processes. A questionnaire was developed that surveyed 164 members of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) with instructional design responsibilities. This research learned what instructional design activities designers associate with task analysis and the percentage of time instructional designers devote to task analysis. It also learned what task analysis methods are most and least often used by instructional designers and identified those task analysis methods not known by instructional designers. Finally, this study determined how instructional designers learn to conduct task analyses and the factors that impact task analysis practices.
Comparative demography of an exotic herbaceous annual among plant communities in invaded canyon grassland: inferences for habitat suitability and population spread

Studies of exotic plant demography among habitats within its novel range may elucidate mechanisms of competitive dominance at local scales and invasive spread at landscape scales. We compared demographic trends of Anthriscus caucalis, an exotic herbaceous annual, across several plant communities within canyon grasslands of the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA. Greater observed survival and fecundity vital rates, as well as less spatial or temporal variability of vital rates, were considered indicators of greater plant community susceptibility to A. caucalis invasion. In addition, we investigated the role of differing habitat suitability across plant community types on potential landscape-level dispersal processes. To accomplish this objective, population matrix models were utilized to simulate stochastic transient (5 years) population growth rates (log λt) of A. caucalis under different net dispersal rate scenarios among the selected plant communities. We observed aboveground demography for 4 years within two bunchgrass community types and two shrub community types within a study area where livestock grazing occurred and within another study area that was not subjected to livestock grazing. Our results indicated that juvenile survival did not differ among communities, but the spatial variance of juvenile survival was significantly lower in shrub communities. Mean fecundity was significantly higher in high shrub (Celtis reticulata) communities compared to others, whereas spatial and temporal variances were significantly lower in high shrub communities compared to others. Within high shrub communities, total seed production was lower at the grazed site, which likely results from frequent livestock trampling within these refuge habitats. Under assumptions of no net seed dispersal, two of four bunchgrass sites maintained positive growth rates (log λt > 0; 95 % CI) whereas growth rates were positive in each shrub community. Notably, high shrub communities maintained positive growth rates under assumptions of 60 % net seed dispersal, while population growth rates in other communities declined with increasing net seed dispersal. In summary, our study suggests that high shrub communities are comparatively greater suitable habitat for A. caucalis growth and development and may act as source populations for invasive spread at a landscape scale.
Renal obstruction caused by herniation of renal pelvis and ureteropelvic junction through superior lumbar triangle hernia (Grynfeltt hernia)

a p F a t superior lumbar triangle hernia (Grynfeltt hernia) is an uncommon type of abdominal all herniation. It is bounded by the 12th rib, the nternal oblique abdominal muscle, and the sacropinalis muscle.1,2 A 76-year-old woman with history of abdominal ortic aneurysm presented to the emergency deartment with complaints of nausea, vomiting, ight flank pain, and acute renal insufficiency. oncontrast computed tomography of the abdoen and pelvis with three-dimensional recontruction (Fig. 1) revealed herniation of retroperioneal fat, the right renal pelvis, and ureteropelvic unction through a lumbar hernia bounded by the 2th rib, internal oblique abdominal muscle, and acrospinalis muscle, with resultant hydronephrois. She had no history of previous surgery in the rea, and no scars were present. Management included placement of percutaneus nephrostomy tube, antegrade nephrostograhy (Fig. 2), with antegrade internal ureteral stent lacement, allowing reduction of the ureteropelvic unction (Fig. 3), normalization of renal function, nd subsequent nephrostomy tube removal. The perative repair consisted of reduction of the heria contents, including retroperitoneal fat and ight renal pelvis, and repair of the abdominal deect with nonabsorbable mesh.
Dominance Is the Major Genetic Basis of Heterosis in Rice as Revealed by Qtl Analysis Using Molecular Markers

A set of 194 F7 lines derived from a subspecific rice cross showing strong F1 heterosis was backcrossed to the two parents. The materials (388 BC1F7 lines, 194 F8 lines, two parents, F1) were phenotyped for 12 quantitative traits. A total of 37 significant QTLs (LOD > or = 2.0) was detected through 141 RFLP markers in the BC1F7 populations. Twenty-seven (73%) quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected in only one of the BC1F7 populations. In 82% of these cases, the heterozygotes were superior to the respective homozygotes. The remaining 10 (27%) QTLs were detected in both BC1F7 populations, and the heterozygote had a phenotype falling between those of the two homozygotes and in no instances were the heterozygotes found to be superior to both homozygotes. These results suggest that dominance complementation is the major genetic basis of heterosis in rice. This conclusion was strengthened by the finding that there was no correlation between most traits and overall genome heterozygosity and that there were some recombinant inbred lines in the F8 population having phenotypic values superior to the F1 for all of the traits evaluated--a result not expected if overdominance was a major contributor to heterosis. Digenic epistasis was not evident.
High-dose therapy and bone marrow transplantation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Although most patients who have cutaneous T-cell lymphoma have an indolent clinical course, patients who have cutaneous tumors, lymph node or visceral involvement, or peripheral blood involvement generally have rapidly progressive disease with shorter survival. In those patients with poor prognostic features, conventional combination chemotherapy is usually ineffective. High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) results in high remission rates, but the recurrence is inevitable and rapid. Allogeneic HSCT, in contrast, provides durable long-term remissions and is currently the only potentially curative therapy.
Increases in plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration antedate clinical evidence of preeclampsia.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations are typically elevated in hypervolemic states. However, ANP levels have been reported to be increased in the peripartum period in women with preeclampsia, a disorder characterized by central hypovolemia. We postulated that ANP levels are elevated in preeclamptic patients before clinically evident disease. ANP concentrations were determined in three groups: uncomplicated pregnancies, pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, and non-pregnant reproductive-aged women. The former groups were matched for gestational age at plasma sampling and delivery. The plasma samples, obtained prospectively from each patient during the first, second, and third trimesters and within 72 h postpartum, were frozen before RIA. A significant gestational increase in ANP was noted in both groups of pregnant women, with third trimester levels exceeding first trimester levels (P less than 0.05). Consistent with previous reports, ANP levels were elevated in overtly preeclamptic patients ...
Large area micropatterning of cells on polydimethylsiloxane surfaces.

Precise spatial control and patterning of cells is an important area of research with numerous applications in tissue engineering, as well as advancing an understanding of fundamental cellular processes. Poly (dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) has long been used as a flexible, biocompatible substrate for cell culture with tunable mechanical characteristics. However, fabrication of suitable physico-chemical barriers for cells on PDMS substrates over large areas is still a challenge. Here, we present an improved technique which integrates photolithography and cell culture on PDMS substrates wherein the barriers to cell adhesion are formed using the photo-activated graft polymerization of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA). PDMS substrates with varying stiffness were prepared by varying the base to crosslinker ratio from 5:1 to 20:1. All substrates show controlled cell attachment confined to fibronectin coated PDMS microchannels with a resistance to non-specific adhesion provided by the covalently immobilized, hydrophilic PEG-DA. Using photolithography, it is possible to form patterns of high resolution stable at 37°C over 2 weeks, and microstructural complexity over large areas of a few cm2. As a robust and scalable patterning method, this technique showing homogenous and stable cell adhesion and growth over macroscales can bring microfabrication a step closer to mass production for biomedical applications.
Effects of Interaural Decorrelation on Neural and Behavioral Detection of Spatial Cues

The detection of interaural time differences (ITDs) for sound localization critically depends on the similarity between the left and right ear signals (interaural correlation). We show that, like humans, owls can localize phantom sound sources well until the correlation declines to a very low value, below which their performance rapidly deteriorates. Decreasing interaural correlation also causes the response of the owl’s tectal auditory neurons to decline nonlinearly, with a rapid drop followed by a more gradual reduction. A detection-theoretic analysis of the statistical properties of neuronal responses could account for the variance of behavioral responses as interaural correlation is decreased. Finally, cross-correlation analysis suggests that low interaural correlations cause misalignment of cross-correlation peaks across different frequencies, contributing heavily to the nonlinear decline in neural and ultimately behavioral performance.
Open Transaction Network: Connecting Communities of Experience through Mobile Transactions

In order to understand the value of social information in the context of mobile commerce, we created the Open Transaction Network (OTN), a collaborative, social transaction system. OTN uses voluntarily contributed transactions to index personal and social experiences in the physical world and to form dynamic communities around purchases. We use mobile phones and Open Spaces as portals to facilitate sharing of transactions. Through real world deployment we investigate the design elements and analyze users’ tolerance to sharing such experiences. The sociability threshold, introduced as a measure of user’s willingness to share for different categories of products, is found to correlate with price. The system was deployed to over 20 users over a 5 month period to allow the participants to share their in-store purchases. The analysis of empirical data shows that second degree connections are valuable for obtaining recommendations.
Overall structure and sugar dynamics of a DNA dodecamer from homo- and heteronuclear dipolar couplings and 31P chemical shift anisotropy.

The solution structure of d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 has been determined on the basis of an exceptionally large set of residual dipolar couplings. In addition to the heteronuclear 13C-1H and 15N-1H and qualitative homonuclear 1H-1H dipolar couplings, previously measured in bicelle medium, more than 300 quantitative 1H-1H and 22 31P-1H dipolar restraints were obtained in liquid crystalline Pf1 medium, and 22 31P chemical shift anisotropy restraints. High quality DNA structures can be obtained solely on the basis of these new restraints, and these structures are in close agreement with those calculated previously on the basis of 13C-1H and 15N-1H dipolar couplings. In the newly calculated structures, 31P-1H dipolar and 3JsubH3′Psub couplings and 31P CSA data restrain the phosphodiester backbone torsion angles. The final structure represents a quite regular B-form helix with a modest bending of ∼10°, which is essentially independent of whether or not electrostatic terms are used in the calculation. Combined, the number of homo- and heteronuclear dipolar couplings significantly exceeds the number of degrees of freedom in the system. Results indicate that the dipolar coupling data cannot be fit by a single structure, but are compatible with the presence of rapid equilibria between C2′-endo and C3′-endo deoxyribose puckers (sugar switching). The C2′-H2′/H2′′ dipolar couplings in B-form DNA are particularly sensitive to sugar pucker and yield the largest discrepancies when fit to a single structure. To resolve these discrepancies, we suggest a simplified dipolar coupling analysis that yields N/S equilibria for the ribose sugar puckers, which are in good agreement with previous analyses of NMR JHH couplings, with a population of the minor C3′-endo form higher for pyrimidines than for purines.
Plato's cave: an image stream installation within an office setting

Many people work in windowless offices where they are deprived of the sight of their outside environment. With this in mind we created a piece where a view of the surrounding neighborhood is streamed from a camera, through a network, and projected as an ambient display on a blank wall in a hallway of the School of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) at Pace University. We discuss the simile of Plato's cave with relationship to our viewers, and comment on the artistic influences of Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro.
Neutralizing Activity of Vaccine-Induced Antibodies to Two Bacillus anthracis Toxin Components, Lethal Factor and Edema Factor

Anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA; BioThrax), the current FDA-licensed human anthrax vaccine, contains various amounts of the three anthrax toxin components, protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). While antibody to PA is sufficient to mediate protection against anthrax in animal models, it is not known if antibodies to LF or EF contribute to protection in humans. Toxin-neutralizing activity was evaluated in sera from AVA-vaccinated volunteers, all of whom had antibody responses to LF and EF, as well as PA. The contribution of antibodies to LF and EF was assessed using mouse macrophage J774A.1 cells by examining neutralization of LF-induced lysis using alamarBlue reduction and neutralization of EF-induced cyclic AMP increases by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody responses to LF and EF were low compared to those to PA, and the amount of LF or EF in the assay could exceed the amount of antibodies to LF or EF. Higher titers were seen for most individuals when the LF or EF concentration was limiting compared to when LF or EF was in excess, initially suggesting that antibody to LF or EF augmented protection. However, depletion of LF and EF antibodies in sera did not result in a significant decrease in toxin neutralization. Overall, this study suggests that AVA-induced LF and EF antibodies do not significantly contribute to anthrax toxin neutralization in humans and that antibodies to PA are sufficient to neutralize toxin activity.
Current-mode techniques for analog VLSI: technology and defect tolerance issues

Future large scale analog computational systems will have to cope with manufacturing defects and mismatch in individual components. The author argues that current-mode design techniques, and in particular minimal designs at the transistor level are consistent with future manufacturing requirements for wafer scale analog systems. >
Recent studies on the nature and function of the corneal endothelial barrier

Abstract The development of new perfusion procedures, the development of new colloidal tracer techniques and the application of the concept of pump-leak to the corneal endothelium has led us to reinvestigate several aspects of the barrier function of the corneal endothelium. A barrier to free diffusion of fluids across the endothelium can be demonstrated in corneas perfused in vitro under a variety of conditions. This barrier can be reduced or abolished by perfusion with a Ca 2+ -free medium, eye-bank type storage, and perfusion at increased perfusion (intraocular) pressures. In the first instance a clear morphological basis for the loss of barrier function, the disintegration of the endothelial junctional complex, is easily demonstrable. Both the physiological and morphological effects of Ca 2+ -free perfusion are reversible within limits. In the other two instances of reduced barrier function no clear morphological correlate has yet been demonstrated. In fact, the apical membrane, apical junction and apical microfilament network appear to be particularly resistant to the damage caused by storage of corneas at 4°C. The application of new colloidal tracer techniques involving horseradish peroxidase and lanthanum nitrate to the study of the endothelial junction have shown that this is not a tight junction and that particles as larga as 3 nm can penetrate the apical junctional zone in rabbit and monkey. The present report reviews and summarizes the work of our laboratory during the past several years and indicates some of the still unanswered questions concerning the endothelial barrier. In addition, we suggest some pathways of investigation which we believe would be particularly fruitful at this time.
Whole Blood Immunoassay Based on Centrifugal Bead Sedimentation

BACKGROUND: Centrifugal “laboratory on a disk” microfluidics is a promising avenue for developing portable, low-cost, automated immunoassays. However, the necessity of incorporating multiple wash steps results in complicated designs that increase the time and sample/reagent volumes needed to run assays and raises the probability of errors. We present proof of principle for a disk-based microfluidic immunoassay technique that processes blood samples without conventional wash steps. METHODS: Microfluidic disks were fabricated from layers of patterned, double-sided tape and polymer sheets. Sample was mixed on-disk with assay capture beads and labeling antibodies. Following incubation, the assay beads were physically separated from the blood cells, plasma, and unbound label by centrifugation through a density medium. A signal-laden pellet formed at the periphery of the disk was analyzed to quantify concentration of the target analyte. RESULTS: To demonstrate this technique, the inflammation biomarkers C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were measured from spiked mouse plasma and human whole blood samples. On-disk processing (mixing, labeling, and separation) facilitated direct assays on 1-μL samples with a 15-min sample-to-answer time, <100 pmol/L limit of detection, and 10% CV. We also used a unique single-channel multiplexing technique based on the sedimentation rate of different size or density bead populations. CONCLUSIONS: This portable microfluidic system is a promising method for rapid, inexpensive, and automated detection of multiple analytes directly from a drop of blood in a point-of-care setting.
Some Implications of Life-Span Development for Counseling Psychology

Current models of personality and career development are criticized for their failure to recognize the developmental processes that occur throughout adulthood. Recent research in adult personality and social development suggests that adults experience a number of predictable transitional and stable periods, each of which is characterized by specific developmental tasks. The implications of this research for counseling psychologists' work with adult clients are discussed. Counseling psychologists are encouraged to adopt a more positive view of the roles that crises play in adult personality and career growth.
A Two-phase Approach for Dynamic Lightpath Scheduling in WDM Optical Networks

Lightpath scheduling is an important capability in next-generation wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks to reserve resources in advance for a specified time period while provisioning end-to-end lightpaths. In a dynamic environment, the end user requests for dynamic scheduled lightpath demands (D-SLDs) need to be serviced without the knowledge of future requests. Even though the starting time of the request may be hours or days from the current time, the end-user however expects a quick response as to whether the request could be satisfied. We propose a two- phase approach to dynamically schedule and provision D-SLDs. In the first phase, termed the deterministic lightpath scheduling phase, upon arrival of a lightpath request, the network control plane schedules a path with guaranteed resources so that the user can get a quick response with a deterministic lightpath schedule. In the second phase, termed the lightpath re-optimization phase, we re-provision some already scheduled lightpaths to re-optimize for improving network performance. We study two re- optimization scenarios to reallocate network resources while maintaining the existing lightpath schedules. Experimental results show that our proposed two-phase dynamic lightpath scheduling approach can greatly reduce network blocking.
Increased nitrogen leaching following soil freezing is due to decreased root uptake in a northern hardwood forest

The depth and duration of snow pack is declining in the northeastern United States as a result of warming air temperatures. Since snow insulates soil, a decreased snow pack can increase the frequency of soil freezing, which has been shown to have important biogeochemical implications. One of the most notable effects of soil freezing is increased inorganic nitrogen losses from soil during the following growing season. Decreased nitrogen retention is thought to be due to reduced root uptake, but has not yet been measured directly. We conducted a 2-year snow-removal experiment at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, USA to determine the effects of soil freezing on root uptake and leaching of inorganic nitrogen simultaneously. Snow removal significantly increased the depth of maximal soil frost by 37.2 and 39.5 cm in the first and second winters, respectively (P < 0.001 in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010). As a consequence of soil freezing, root uptake of ammonium declined significantly during the first and second growing seasons after snow removal (P = 0.023 for 2009 and P = 0.005 for 2010). These observed reductions in root nitrogen uptake coincided with significant increases in soil solution concentrations of ammonium in the Oa horizon (P = 0.001 for 2009 and 2010) and nitrate in the B horizon (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003 for 2009 and 2010, respectively). The excess flux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen from the Oa horizon that was attributable to soil freezing was 7.0 and 2.8 kg N ha-1 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The excess flux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen from the B horizon was lower, amounting to 1.7 and 0.7 kg N ha-1 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Results of this study provide direct evidence that soil freezing reduces root nitrogen uptake, demonstrating that the effects of winter climate change on root function has significant consequences for nitrogen retention and loss in forest ecosystems.
The Magnetic Field at the Inner Boundary of the Heliosphere Around Solar Minimum

STEREO A and B observations of the radial magnetic field between 1 January 2007 and 31 October 2008 show significant evidence that in the heliosphere, the ambient radial magnetic field component with any dynamic effects removed is uniformly distributed. Based on this monopolar nature of the ambient heliospheric field we find that the surface beyond which the magnetic fields are in the monopolar configuration must be spherical, and this spherical surface can be defined as the inner boundary of the heliosphere that separates the monopole-dominated heliospheric magnetic field from the multipole-dominated coronal magnetic field. By using the radial variation of the coronal helmet streamers belts and the horizontal current – current sheet – source surface model we find that the spherical inner boundary of the heliosphere should be located around 14 solar radii near solar minimum phase.
Pros And Cons Of E-Commerce Taxation

Tax policies affecting the Internet have important implications for the continued growth of e-commerce and trade, as well as the future of both corporate and individual privacy. This paper explores some of the issues concerning both domestic and international Internet taxation, reviews the current Internet Tax Freedom Act, analyzes e-commerce and its effects on taxing systems throughout the world, and provides arguments for and against e-commerce taxation and regulation.
Effect of planting date on maize starch structure, properties, and ethanol production.

Two maize lines grown in Iowa with planting dates between early to mid-April and late May to June in 2008 and 2009 were used to examine how planting date of maize affects kernel characteristics. Planting the maize lines in late May and June (after optimum planting period) resulted in smaller granular-sizes and amylose contents of starch for both lines but larger proportions of short amylopectin branch-chains for the 37Y14 maize and no change to the length of the B73 amylopectin. Gelatinization and pasting properties did not consistently change with planting dates and their response varied across maize lines and planting years. Enzymatic hydrolysis rates of the starches increased with later planting dates. The ethanol yield calculated on a dry-kernel-mass basis was not significantly affected by maize planting dates, whereas the ethanol yield per unit of maize-planting area decreased with plantings done in late May and June because of reduced grain yield inherent with late plantings.
“Use Your Skills to Solve This Challenge!”: The Platform Affordances and Politics of Digital Microvolunteering:

How does the rise of managed online platforms for civic engagement change the relationships between activists and organizations? While much has been written about Twitter- and Facebook-enabled mobi...
Constant Field Extensions

In this chapter we investigate a very important class of extensions of function fields, namely, constant field extensions. Let K/F be a function field with constant field F. For every field extension E of F we want to define a function field KE over E and investigate its properties. We shall confine ourselves to the special case where E/F is algebraic, which is substantially easier and which will suffice for most of the applications we have in mind. However, the general case is both interesting and important. Expositions of the general case can be found in Chevalley [1] and Deuring [1].
Economic Aspects of Information on Health and Health Care

Information about health and health care is acquiring salience as an economic issue because of the rising aggregate expenditures on health services and the impact of out-of-pocket outlays on family budgets. Policy makers are concerned since actual and proposed efforts to remove financial barriers to the receipt of health care make the other variables that may affect utilization, among them information, more important. And the relation of this body of information to health status has broad socio-economic implications.
Platinum-like oxidation of nickel surfaces by rapidly switching voltage to generate highly active bifunctional catalysts

Abstract Recently the importance of catalyzing the water splitting step of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was highlighted. We demonstrate here a treatment to modify a nickel surface into a highly effective bifunctional HER catalyst (i 0 = 0.18 A/m 2 , Tafel Slope = 106 mV/dec) that has a good distribution of both water splitting sites and H ads combination sites. The resulting surface is characterized electrochemically, and with SEM, EDX, XPS and AFM. The data is found to be consistent with the treatment oxidizing the Ni surface in a novel way creating the hypothesized “Ni(OH) x ” structure (x between 0 and 2).
Selenorhodamine Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy of P-Glycoprotein-Expressing Cancer Cells

We examined a series of selenorhodamines with amide and thioamide functionality at the 5-position of a 9-(2-thienyl) substituent on the selenorhodamine core for their potential as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expressing cells. These compounds were examined for their photophysical properties (absorption, fluorescence, and ability to generate singlet oxygen), for their uptake into Colo-26 cells in the absence or presence of verapamil, for their dark and phototoxicity toward Colo-26 cells, for their rates of transport in monolayers of multidrug-resistant, P-gp-overexpressing MDCKII-MDR1 cells, and for their colocalization with mitochondrial specific agents in Colo-26 cells. Thioamide derivatives 16b and 18b were more effective photosensitizers than amide derivatives 15b and 17b. Selenorhodamine thioamides 16b and 18b were useful in a combination therapy to treat Colo-26 cells in vitro: a synergistic therapeutic effect was observed when Colo-26 cells were exposed to...
(1-Methyl-1H-imidazole-κN3)(1-methyl-2-nitroso­benzene-κN)(5,10,15,20-tetra­phenyl­porphyrinato-κ4N)iron(II) di­chloro­methane monosolvate

The solvated title compound, [Fe(C44H28N4)(C4H6N2)(C7H7NO)]·CH2Cl2, is a porphyrin complex containing an octahedrally coordinated FeII atom with 1-methylimidazole [Fe—N = 2.0651 (17) A] and o-nitro­sotoluene ligands at the axial positions. The o-nitro­sotoluene ligand is N-bound to iron(II) [Fe—N = 1.8406 (18)A and Fe—N—O = 122.54 (14)°]. The axial N—Fe—N linkage is almost linear, with a bond angle of 177.15 (7)°. One phenyl group of the porphyrin ligand is disordered over two orientations in a 0.710 (3):0.290 (3) ratio. The di­chloro­methane solvent mol­ecule was severely disordered and its contribution to the scattering was removed with the SQUEEZE routine [van der Sluis & Spek (1990). Acta Cryst. A46, 194–201].
The Anatomy of Response Errors: Consumer Saving:

This study of response errors proposes an “average man hypothesis” according to which survey respondents tend to alter their reports of the “truth” to conform more closely to their perception of th...
CORSIKA modifications for faster background generation

CORSIKA is a simulation program for extensive air showers initiated by high energy cosmic particles. These air showers create the majority of the muons and neutrinos which neutrino that telescopes detect and are considered a background signature in searches for astrophysical neutrinos. This contribution will discuss changes to CORSIKA which allow for faster high energy background simulation. The theory, implementation, application, and performance of these modifications will be presented.
Medical management of acromegaly : what and when ?

GH and IGF-I levels are elevated in patients with acromegaly. At the time of diagnosis patients present with macroadenomas with a high surgical failure rate or microadenomas. Administration of octreotide (100 micrograms, three times daily) suppressed GH secretion during 8 h to < 5 micrograms/l in 47% and to < 2 micrograms/l in 26% of acromegalic patients after two weeks. IGF-I levels were normalized in up to 70% of patients. Increasing the dose of octreotide to 250 micrograms three times daily did not further improve results. Tumour shrinkage occurred in 37% after six months of treatment, while symptoms improved in 70%. Transient diarrhoea and nausea were noted in 88%, but after six months only 10% reported these symptoms. Gallbladder sludge and gallstones were noted in 19% of patients. IGF-I levels were normalized in 82% of patients with microadenoma and in 50% with macroadenoma. Well-defined pituitary adenomas are usually surgically removed. Invasive tumours are difficult to remove surgically but preoperative octreotide may shrink adenomas and improve response. Octreotide therapy, unlike surgery and irradiation, does not compromise pituitary function. This study suggests that octreotide therapy could be a viable primary management of small discreet adenomas. Where surgery and octreotide fail, other treatments of adenoma include bromocriptine and radiotherapy.
Programs management and integrated product/process development in high technology industries

A summary overview is presented on program management and its evolution to a team process of product development (simultaneous engineering, etc.). Aspects of program management and product/process integration are addressed. The team program planning, documentation, and control process for the product-realization (transformation) management process are also presented and reviewed. Reference is made to a number of companies that are implementing the program/project management team product/process development process. The most recent one to be documented is that of Philips Research Laboratories, which has just moved to this form of product development management process to speed up the effectiveness of product flow from the research laboratories into the product-manufacturing centers in the face of pressures from international competition. >
Abstract P107: Diagnostic Accuracy of Coronary Artery Stenosis With 64-Multidetector Row Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography in Veteran Patients Presenting With Chest Pain

Background: The ACCURACY trial was a prospective multicenter study using 64-multidetector row coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) to evaluate its diagnostic performance for the detection and exclusion of coronary artery stenosis in patients presenting with chest pain without known coronary artery disease (CAD). We evaluated patients at a Veterans Administration Hospital (VAH) to assess if CCTA possesses high diagnostic accuracy for detection of obstructive CAD at both thresholds of 50% and 70% stenosis compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 44 patients at a VAH from November 2008 to November 2009. Baseline demographics are noted in Table 1. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 21, no known history of CAD, and symptoms of typical or atypical chest pain. All patients underwent CCTA and subsequently had ICA performed within 1 month. CCTAs and ICAs were evaluated and scored for coronary stenosis by 2 independent blinded readers. A vessel based analysis was used to evaluate for ≥ 50% and ≥ 70% stenosis using a 15 segment American Heart Association coronary tree model. Results: A total of 176 vessels were analyzed. Compared to ICA, CCTA9s sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (NPV) for detecting greater than 50% stenoses were, 85%, 89%, 54% and 98%, respectively, and 86%, 91%, 51%, 98%, respectively, for stenoses greater than 70%. There were no statistically significant differences for sensitivity, specificity or NPV compared to the findings in the ACCURACY trial. Conclusion: Among veteran patients presenting with chest pain and no prior history of CAD, CCTA appears to be an effective noninvasive alternative to exclude coronary artery stenosis.
Polyol Synthesis of Magnetite Nanocrystals in a Thermostable Ionic Liquid

We report on the development of a facile, one-pot synthesis of single-crystalline magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) based on the thermal decomposition of the nontoxic iron precursor iron(III)acetylacetonate within the ionic liquid trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([P6,6,6,14][Tf2N]) using 1,2-hexadecanediol as a polyol reducing agent in an “iono-polyol” process. In this expedient approach, the [P6,6,6,14][Tf2N] acts both as a low-volatility, thermostable solvent and as the colloid-stabilizing agent, eliminating the requirement for additional surface-capping agents. Performing the synthesis at 300 or 350 °C yielded quasi-spherical, monodispersed Fe3O4 NPs with a mean size of 14 nm. Evidence from thermogravimetry, X-ray fluorescence, and infrared analysis is consistent with nanocrystal coverage by a partial bilayer of [P6,6,6,14][Tf2N], accounting for the excellent dispersibility of the Fe3O4 NPs in solvents such as hexane, toluene, and methylene chloride. Time-dependent t...
The Holy Spirit and Human Personality

Concepts of an ultimate and eternal reality in the universe can no longer be taken for granted. People living within a contemporary frame of reference often find it difficult even to talk about the...
Knowledge Management as an Approach to Evaluation of Advanced

I first learned of http://www.facebook.comfrom a close friend who works as Dean of Students at a regional university. At his home one evening, Chris sat me down at his computer and showed me students´ Facebook sites, some tastefully created, some bordering on soft pornography. Several aspects of this new phenomenon intrigued me. First, I was amazed by the ease with which this new medium allowed students to create a sophisticated web presence. Second, I remember feeling inappropriately voyeuristic about the ease with which I could view details of others´ lives. Third, I remember being amazed at the high percentage of students at Chris´ institution actively participating in Facebook.
Congenital Anterior Polar Cataract: A Review of 63 Cases

Sixty-three patients with congenital anterior polar cataracts seen over a period of 15 years at The Children's Hospital, Boston, were reviewed to determine their clinical course and visual outcome. Over one-third of the patients were found to have strabismus, refractive anisometropia, or some form of amblyopia. Seven other patients had additional ocular pathology which affected their visual prognosis. One patient manifested progressive lens opacification that eventually warranted cataract surgery. These findings suggest a less benign prognosis for congenital anterior polar cataracts than has generally been described. In our series early ophthalmological examination did not always allow us to forecast later visual disability. We therefore recommended regular follow-up of all children with anterior cataracts until a secure assessment of vision can be made.
Cochlear vascular pathology and hearing loss

Normal vascular function is essential for hearing. Abnormal blood flow to the cochlea is an etiologic factor contributing to various hearing disorders and vestibular dysfunctions, including noise-induced hearing loss, sudden deafness, presbyacusis, genetically-linked hearing loss, and endolymphatic hydrops such as Meniere’s disease. Progression in blood flow pathology can parallel progression in hair cell loss and hearing impairment. To sustain hearing acuity, a healthy blood flow must be maintained. The blood supply not only provides oxygen and glucose to the hearing organ, it is also responsible for transporting hormones and neurotrophic growth factors to the tissue critical for organ health. Study of the vascular system in the inner ear has a long and rich history. There is a large body of evidence demonstrating a relationship between disturbances in cochlear microcirculatory homeostasis and decreased auditory sensitivity. This chapter focuses on recent discoveries relating the physiopathology of the microvasculature in the cochlear lateral wall to hearing function.