cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Long‐Term Performance and Failure Risk of Firms Cited in the US SEC's Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Releases

Abstract: We investigate 239 firms cited in the SEC's Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Releases (AAERs). We document significantly negative abnormal operating performance (measured using both cash-flow-based and earnings-based metrics) in the second and third years following AAERs. We also detect significantly negative abnormal stock returns in up to three years following AAERs. We further find that AAER firms are more likely to fail in the post-AAER period. Taken together, our findings suggest that the negative implications of an AAER citation resulting from egregious financial reporting violations can be long lasting and influence various facets of firm performance and survivability.
Modulation-Doped Field-Effect Transistors (MODFET)

Conventional modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFETs) with unprecedented performance, e.g., a power gain of 15 dB at 190–235 GHz and a noise level of 1.2 dB with 7.2-dB gain in the 90-GHz range, have been demonstrated. Passivation process is of fundamental importance in the stability, good performance, and extension of device operative lifetime. We discuss strategies used to passivate the surface of GaAs and related compounds and GaN in the context of FETs. Recent research on the enhancement-mode PMODFET (E-PMODFET) variety for applications in high-speed and low-power digital circuits, and power amplifiers with single power supply is described. Reliability of MOSFET based on GaAs is reviewed to some extent. Scalability issues as well as progress in FinFET-based on InGaAs channel are summarized. Also to be noted is that III–V compound semiconductors as alternative to Si as the channel material to improve the performance of metal-oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) on Si platforms is a very attractive option for the next-generation high-speed integrated circuits but faces serious challenges because of the lack of a high-quality and natural insulator. III-V Nitride-based HFETs showed tremendous performance in both high-power RF and power-switching applications. AlGaN/GaN based high power HFETs on SiC substrate with 60 nm gate lengths have achieved maximum oscillation frequency of 300 GHz. On-resistance of 1.1∼1.2 Ω·mm as well as drain current of ∼0.9 A/mm was also achieved. For HFET devices operated in Class AB mode on GaN semi-insulating substrates, a continuous wave power density of 9.4 W/mm was obtained with an associated gain of 11.6 dB and a power added efficiency of 40% at 10 GHz. III-Nitride devices for power switching application has achieved near theoretical limit for vertical devices based GaN native substrates, and breakdown voltage as high as 1200 V and on resistance as low as 9 mΩ-cm2 for lateral HFET devices on low-cost silicon substrates. For AlGaN/GaN HFETs on high-resistivity silicon substrates, promising results were also demonstrated. Because of the much larger 2DEG density in lattice-matched InAlN/GaN HFETs, drain current as high as 2 A/mm was demonstrated, and the highest current gain cutoff frequency of 370 GHz was also reported on 7.5-nm-thick In In0.17Al0.83N barrier HFETs. Despite the above-mentioned encouraging achievements, the degradation mechanisms are still not clear, which requires further investigation. The advent of high-quality SiGe layers on Si substrates has paved the way for the exploration and exploitation of heterostructure devices in a Si environment. MODFETs based on the Si/SiGe have been achieved with extraordinary p-channel performance. With 0.25-μm gate lengths, the current gain cutoff frequency is about 40 GHz. When the gate length was reduced to 0.1 μm, the current gain cutoff frequency increased to about 70 GHz. Keywords: MODFET ; GaAs ; GaN ; AlGaN ; InAlN ; HFET ; degradation; Oxide; passivation; pseudomorphic; metamorphic; enhancement mode; low noise; scalability; MOSFET ; reliability; power switching; SiGe
The Clavien-Dindo Classification of Surgical Complications is Not a Statistically Reliable System for Grading Morbidity in Pediatric Urology

Purpose: Although the Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications has been evaluated using adult surgical patients, it is being applied to pediatric populations. We hypothesized that this instrument is not well suited to children and sought to determine the reliability of the tool in a pediatric urological population.Materials and Methods: We replaced adult surgical cases in the “Survey to Assess Acceptability and Reproducibility of the Classification” from the original Clavien-Dindo study with pediatric urology cases and mimicked original study methods. The survey was distributed with the REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) tool, and Krippendorff α coefficients of reliability were calculated from the responses.Results: There were 51 respondents and 40 complete responses. The Krippendorff α coefficient of reliability for the Clavien-Dindo classification (α = 0.487) did not achieve the minimum level of acceptable agreement (α = 0.667) with the pediatric urological cases, even when the disa...
Hierarchical physical design system

The physical design system aims at high density and short turnaround time. Hierarchical methods divide the entire design logically into chips, and chips into partitions of manageable sizes. As the chips are placed on a chip carrier, the wire lengths of all chip interconnections are kept to a minimum. In parallel, chip I/Os are assigned to reflect routing on the chip carrier. This preassignment of chip-I/Os takes into account when partitions are placed on the chip. The partitions and their circuits are placed on the chip on a periodic array of sites, as is done for gate arrays, but, as for custom chips, with the highest possible density. All partitions contain not only the circuitry and internal wiring but also all connections that enter, leave, and cross the partitions and are part of the final chip. Once the partitions are designed and processed individually, they interconnect at the partition boundaries without any extra space by means of interconnect points. Floorplanning in conjunction with partitioning assigns the required amount of space for circuits and wires and places the partitions on chip. Detailed placement, which is controlled by partitioning, also guarantees optimal placement of circuits involved in communicating with the different partitions. Parallel processing (wiring/checking) is in any case possible. >
Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages in African-American and Women's Magazines: Implications for Health Communication

Although much criticism of alcohol advertising has focused on the youth and underage drinking, targeted marketing of alcohol beverages towards minorities and women has created much controversy in recent years yet is much less understood. Content analyses of four consumer magazines from 1979-1992 reveal significant variations in the amount of alcohol advertising, product types, advertisement features, and advertising appeals. The findings suggest that alcohol advertising is more concentrated in minority magazines, and different products are targeted toward minorities and women with distinct advertising techniques. Consumer education and health communication programs need to increase their effort to reach minorities and women and adopt customized social marketing strategies.
Judge advisor systems theory and research and applications to collaborative systems and technology

Because the Judge Advisor System model provides a more valid representation of natural decision making than either individual or group models, it offers substantial promise for the design of collaborative technologies to support decision making in many domains. The purpose of this session is to discuss several research and application issues relevant to the use of collaborative and intelligent technologies in Judge Advisor Systems.
Arterial Remodeling in the Rabbit: Structural Changes in Response to Chronic Hindlimb Ischemia

Background The structure of arteries changes in response to changes in flow. Most studies of flow-induced arterial remodeling either focus on the microcirculation, employ nonphysiologic flow models (AV fistula), or use acute measurements of flow. We used a chronic, conscious rabbit model of remodeling of the internal iliac artery (IIA) after external iliac (EIA) ligation to study the interaction of flow and structural changes in a large conduit artery collateral. Methods Thirty-four adult male NZW rabbits underwent distal right EIA ligation or sham operation. Animals had aortography at 0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 weeks, were killed, and perfusion fixed, and the IIAs were excised. Luminal diameter (LD) and medial thickness (MT) and medial smooth muscle nuclear number (NN) were measured in the IIA by computer digital image analysis. Transit time flow probes were placed on the common iliac artery (CIA) of 28 additional rabbits 1 week before EIA ligation. Flow data were measured daily. Data (mean ± SEM) were analyzed by ANOVA (*P Results Right IIA LD increased more than 20% at 2 weeks and more than 40% at 8 weeks. Right IIA MT increased in a bimodal fashion at 1 and 4 to 8 weeks. Right IIA wall area increased progressively from 20% at 1 week to 80% at 8 weeks (P P Conclusion This model of modestly increased collateral flow demonstrates arterial remodeling with increased arterial diameter, luminal area, wall thickness, and nuclear number. These structural changes are first seen at 1 to 2 weeks and are complete at 8 weeks. Because the early increase in medial thickness is not associated with an increase in cell nuclei, early remodeling may involve changes in extracellular matrix. Late remodeling may involve smooth muscle proliferation. The temporal discordance between structural change and shear normalization suggests that factors other than shear normalization may either initiate or perpetuate the arterial remodeling in this model.
Gold nanorods combine photoacoustic and Raman imaging for detection and treatment of ovarian cancer

Gold nanorods (GNRs) were synthesized with surfactant templating and coated with IR792 to produce surface-enhanced Raman signal (SERS). Subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor models were created in nude mice using the OV2008 cell line, and a Nexus128 scanner from Endra LifeSciences was used to collect the photoacoustic data. We used GNRs with resonance at 756 nm, and the Raman signal was 10-fold larger than 60 nm gold core/silica shell nanoparticles. This signal was stable for over 24 hours in 50% serum. The batch-to-batch reproducibility was 15.5% and 3.6% in the SERS and photoacoustic modalities for n=4 batches. Animals were injected with 200 μL of 2.5, 5.4, and 16.8 nM GNRs. Relative to baseline photoacoustic signal, these concentrations increased tumor signal 1.3-, 1.6-, and 2.5-fold, respectively. The maximum signal increase occurred within 2 hours of injection persisted for at least 24 hours and was significant at p 0.90) between tumor gold concentration and photoacoustic signal. By 24 hours, free GNRs had been sequestered to the liver and spleen with 2%ID/g immobilized in the tumor. The same GNRs produced SERS signal, and Raman maps were created with least squares analysis. We used the Raman signal to identify tumor margins and also to monitor resection and ensure complete removal of tumor tissue. Thus, the GNRs allow pre-surgical photoacoustic visualization for tumor staging and intra-operative Raman imaging to guide resection. Future work will study GNRs targeted to cell surface proteins to increase tumor accumulation.
The analysis of ammonia in polluted sea water

Abstract Measurement of ammonia in polluted sea water or fresh water is important, especially in fish rearing, but existing methods for its determination are subject to serious suppression interference by many substances, including all types of amines, nitrite and amino acids, which may participate in the chain of reactions employed diverting it: some methods suffer from breakdown of amino acids to ammonia. Hydrogen sulphide, often present in anoxic waters also interferes and must be removed. The present method overcomes these difficulties by internal standard calibration, and by specific u.v. photo-activation of the required ammonia → indophenol blue reaction at low temperature.
An integrable structure for type D spacetimes

Abstract A structure analogous to an almost complex structure on a manifold is presented. It is integrable for spacetime manifolds admitting two geodesic and shear-free null congruences. This fact sheds light on Newman's “complex coordinate transformations”.
Photoluminescence of ZnSe/ZnMnSe superlattices under hydrostatic pressure

Photoluminescence near 4450 A (violet) and 5900 A (yellow) from ZnSe/Zn1−xMnxSe strained‐layer superlattices (SLS) is studied as a function of applied hydrostatic pressure up to ∼90 kbar for x=0.23, 0.33, and 0.51 at 9 K. For each of the three SLSs, the peak energy of the near‐band‐gap violet photoluminescence (PL) from exciton recombination increases sublinearly with pressure, and closely follows that of ZnSe. The observed dependence is consistent with type‐I band alignment, at least at pressures where the violet PL intensity remains strong. For the x=0.23 SLS, the energy of the biexciton PL increases faster than that of the exciton, which suggests decreased confinement. The yellow PL is due to the 4T1 →6A1 intraionic transition in Mn2+ and the nearly linear decrease of the peak energy of this signal with pressure is explained by crystal‐field theory. In most cases examined, the intensities of the violet and/or yellow PL decrease abruptly above a certain pressure that increases with x from ∼65 to ∼90 kba...
Perioperative Care of the Pediatric Patient with a Spinal Cord Injury

Unlike many other pediatric patients who undergo surgical procedures, patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) often have compounding medical problems that can significantly affect the course of a surgical procedure and the postoperative recovery. These patients undergo surgical procedures related to their SCI as well as other procedures not related to SCI. Analysis of the medical issues of pediatric patients with SCI in conjunction with basic principles of anesthetic and perioperative care yields a plan for how to approach a pediatric patient with SCI who requires a surgical procedure or for whom a surgical procedure is contemplated.
Thermal iron ions in high speed solar wind streams Detection by the IMP 7/8 energetic particle experiments

The first measurements of the abundance of iron ions in high speed (greater than 600 km/s) solar wind streams have been made with the NOAA/JHU energetic particles experiments (EPE) on IMP 7/8. The identification of iron ions is quantitatively established using 4 years of observations and heavy ion accelerator calibrations of detectors similar to those flown on the spacecraft. Preliminary estimates of the Fe/H ratio are within a factor of 2 of the adopted coronal abundance (0.00005), and there is some evidence that Fe/H may remain approximately constant within a given stream. In the peaks of fast streams (700-800 km/s), about 50 iron ion counts are obtained every 20 s, offering the possibility of studying the Fe/H ratio with approximately 1 m time resolution in high speed streams throughout the decline of Solar Cycle 20 and the rise of Solar Cycle 21.
Distributed Transfer Function Analysis of Complex Distributed Parameter Systems

This paper presents a new analytical and numerical method for modeling and synthesis of complex distributed parameter systems that are multiple continua combined with lumped parameter systems. In the analysis, the complex distributed parameter system is first divided into a number of subsystems; the distributed transfer functions of each subsystem are determined in exact and closed form by a state space technique. The complex distributed parameter system is then assembled by imposing displacement compatibility and force balance at the nodes where the subsystems are interconnected
Relation of oxygen transport patterns to the pathophysiology and therapy of shock states

Descriptions of the sequence of hemodynamic and oxygen transport events have characterized the various types of shock syndromes and have shown that reduced VO2 is the earliest pathophysiologic event; it precedes the initial hypotensive crisis. Reduced or inadequate VO2, produced by low flow, by maldistribution of flow, and by increased metabolic demand is the primary pathogenic event that produces the shock state as well as the regulatory mechanism that stimulates compensatory reactions including increases in heart rate, myocardial contractility, cardiac output and minute ventilation. Sequential hemodynamic and oxygen transport patterns are related to the degree of the shock state and its outcome; the patterns of survivors and nonsurvivors can be predicted from these patterns by multivariate analyses. A branch chain decision tree for fluid resuscitation of critically ill postoperative patients was developed from decision rules based on objective, physiologic, heuristic data of survivors. Criteria were defined for initiating and stopping fluids, inotropic agents, vasodilators and vasopressors; colloids were found empirically to be more effective than crystalloids in reaching the optimal hemodynamic and oxygen transport goals. The use of a branch chain decision tree helps to achieve expeditiously therapeutic goals by providing a coherent organized patient management plan. In prospective studies, therapy that supports compensatory increases in CI and DO2 produces the survivor pattern and was demonstrated to improve survival rates. This confirms the validity of an organized physiologic approach in contrast to the traditional approach whose objectives are to search for physiologic and biochemical abnormalities and then to restore them to normal if and when they are discovered. This approach emphasizes aggressive fluid management in tacit acknowledgement that unrecognizes hypovolemia, delay in treatment of hypovolemia or inadequate volume therapy all lead to low VO2 which is the primary precipitating event in most patients with postoperative, hemorrhagic, traumatic and septic shock. The essence of this plan is to maintain prophylactically the patient in an optimal hemodynamic state that does not allow him to develop tissue hypoxia from blood volume, hemodynamic and oxygen transport deficits. However, episodes of reduced CI, DO2 and VO2 often occur intraoperatively with little or no hypotension or with hypotension which is treated by administration of ephedrine or other vasopressors.
"Phantom" carpal tunnel syndrome.

Abstract Phantom sensation is ubiquitous among persons who have had amputation; however, if it develops into phantom pain, a thorough clinical investigation must ensue. We illustrate this with the case of a 49-year-old woman, 14 years after traumatic amputation of her left 2nd through 5th fingers, and 10 years after traumatic left transfemoral amputation. She had had phantom sensation in her absent fingers for years and developed progressive pain in her phantom fingers 3 months before presentation. Nerve conduction study revealed a high-normal distal motor latency of the left median nerve and a positive Bactrian test (sensitivity 87%). She was diagnosed with "phantom" carpal tunnel syndrome and treated with a resting wrist splint, decreased weight bearing on the left upper limb, and two corticosteroid carpal tunnel injections with marked improvement. Clinicians should recognize that phantom pain may be referred from a more proximal region and may be amenable to conservative management.
Relative eye-injury potential of heavy-duty phosphate and non-phosphate laundry detergents

Abstract The eye-irritation and corrosive properties of typical phosphate, carbonate and carbonate/metasilicate heavy-duty laundry-detergent powders were assessed in the eyes of albino rabbits. Chemical analyses of the products revealed that the non-phosphate detergents contained 65–80% sodium carbonate or carbonate/metasilicates and several times as much total titratable alkalinity as the phosphate detergents. Rabbit eyes treated with phosphate detergents showed transient irritation of the ocular tissues. Typical carbonate (non-phosphate) detergent formulations caused considerable ocular irritation followed by opacity and corrosion of the cornea. Little healing of the eye was apparent 14 days after a single contact with these detergents. The presence of metasilicate in the non-phosphate detergents enhanced their corrosive action. Washing the eyes after detergent instillation generally provided little protection against the corrosive action of the non-phosphate detergents, unless the eyes were washed within 60 sec of exposure. The extent of eye change was directly related to the alkalinity content of the detergent powders.
A comparative study of the toxic effects of calcium and chromium chelates of ethylenediaminetetraacetate in the dog.

Abstract The toxicity of calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaEDTA) resulting from sustained iv infusion was studied in dogs. Signs of toxicity included vomiting, depression, and, occasionally, bloody diarrhea. The dogs were in a shocklike state terminally. Because of the reported nephrotoxicity of the drug, parameters of renal function were measured using conventional steady-state techniques. Glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, and tubular maxima for glucose and PAH were decreased 8–22% following CaEDTA infusion; acetate enhancement of Tm PAH was substantially reduced. Essentially no changes occurred in blood urea nitrogen, plasma electrolyte concentrations, or urinary excretion rates of sodium, potassium, or chloride. Histopathologic changes included hemorrhage and necrosis of intestinal epithelium with loss of villous structure and a necrotizing nephrosis of the proximal convoluted tubules. Evaluation of intestinal function revealed a marked depression of glucose absorption but no significant changes in the net fluxes of sodium, potassium, or chloride from the duodenum as toxicity developed. The permeability of the intestine to a volume marker was greatly increased. Studies of the intestinal diffusion ratios of solutes of various molecular sizes indicated the permeability increase was limited to the relatively large molecules. The results indicate CaEDTA is not primarily nephrotoxic in the dog and, therefore, renal failure probably is not the cause of death. The infusion of a very stable chelate, CrEDTA, was nontoxic. This suggested that CaEDTA toxicity is due to its chelative properties rather than some nonspecific action of the EDTA moiety.
Small-angle HeNe laser light scatter and the compressive modulus of articular cartilage

Light scattering is a widely used technique for probing the microarchitecture and interactions of biological materials and solutions. In this paper, we describe the use of this method in the study of articular cartilage. The experiments presented utilize small-angle static scattering of HeNe laser light (632.8 nm) from 40 microns thick samples of cartilage taken from the superficial zone of baboon femoral condyle. The specimens were taken from a total of 26 sites in eight animals of various ages. In addition to measuring the dependence of the intensity of scattered light on scatter angle, we performed mechanical testing at the test sites using creep-indentation techniques. The results from the optical and mechanical experiments were compared, and a significant correlation was noted between the average scatter angle and the compressive aggregate modulus. In addition, it was noted that the cartilage of skeletally immature animals had a smaller aggregate modulus and scattered to a higher average angle than the cartilage of skeletally mature animals. A quantitative theory was developed to explain the relation, between mechanical and optical properties in terms of the degree of order in the spatial arrangement of the collagen fibers in cartilage.
MACROINVERTEBRATE PRODUCTION AND FOOD WEB ENERGETICS IN AN INDUSTRIALLY CONTAMINATED STREAM

This study examines secondary production and periphyton-invertebrate food web energetics at two sites in an industrially contaminated, nutrient-enriched stream. Secondary production data and data from the literature were used to calculate potential amounts of mercury transferred from periphyton to chironomid larvae and into terrestrial food webs with emerging adults. The nutritional quality of periphyton was characterized using energy content, chlorophyll a, protein, ash-free dry mass (AFDM), and percentage of organic matter. Chironomid larvae (Orthocladiinae: Cricotopus spp.) comprised 96% of all macroinvertebrates collected from stones at the two sites. Cricotopus production was extremely high: production was 59.5 g AFDM x m(-2) x yr(-1) at the site upstream of a 1-ha settling basin and 32.4 g AFDM x m(-2) x yr(-1) at the site below the basin. Apparent differences in annual secondary production were associated with reduced organic content (i.e., nutritional quality) of the periphyton matrix under different loading of total suspended solids. The periphyton matrix at both sites was contaminated with inorganic (Hg(II)) and methyl (MeHg) mercury. The amount of Hg(II) potentially ingested by Cricotopus was calculated to be 49 mg Hg(II) x m(-1) x yr(-1) at the upstream site and 19 mg Hg(II)x m(-2) x yr(-1) at the downstream site. Mercury ingestion by Cricotopus at the downstream site was calculated to be 2% of the estimated annual deposition of particulate-bound Hg(II) to the stream bed. Emergence of adult Cricotopus was calculated to remove 563 microg Hg(II)x m(-2) x yr(-1) from the stream at the upstream site and 117 microg Hg(II) x m(-2) x yr(-1) at the downstream site, which amounted to 4.1 g Hg(II)/yr for the 2.1-km reach of stream included in this study. The ratio of metal export in emergence production to surface area for the study stream was 10 to 10(3) times higher than ratios calculated for lakes using data from the literature. This study is the first well-documented example of extremely high aquatic insect production in an industrially contaminated, nutrient-enriched stream, and it highlights the application of production measurements to examine the role of aquatic insect production in the trophic transfer of energy and persistent contaminants in aquatic food webs and into terrestrial food webs.
Policy: Bring sustainable energy to the developing world

Investment and policies must support cheap, clean energy technologies to cut both poverty and climate change, say Reid Detchon and Richenda Van Leeuwen.
Genomic analysis of rodent pulmonary tissue following bis-(2-chloroethyl) sulfide exposure.

Bis-(2-chloroethyl) sulfide (sulfur mustard, SM) is a carcinogenic alkylating agent that has been utilized as a chemical warfare agent. To understand the mechanism of SM-induced lung injury, we analyzed global changes in gene expression in a rat lung SM exposure model. Rats were injected in the femoral vein with liquid SM, which circulates directly to the pulmonary vein and then to the lung. Rats were exposed to 1, 3, or 6 mg/kg of SM, and lungs were harvested at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 24 h postinjection. Three biological replicates were used for each time point and dose tested. RNA was extracted from the lungs and used as the starting material for the probing of replicate oligonucleotide microarrays. The gene expression data were analyzed using principal component analysis and two-way analysis of variance to identify the genes most significantly changed across time and dose. These genes were ranked by p value and categorized based on molecular function and biological process. Computer-based data mining algori...
An analysis of the common body of knowledge of software assurance

Software assurance is not a new discipline, but industry is expressing a need for a stronger knowledge of and improved skills in software assurance. Poor quality software is a serious problem that continues to grow. This requires a skill that few professionals can provide. Training and education are important factors to increase knowledge and skill. Software assurance topics in academia are limited, so there is a need for additional research on the subject.This research focuses on the need for software assurance topics in academia. The results identified the gap of knowledge in the education of software assurance. Important software assurance concepts have been disregarded in the college curriculum leaving industry struggling for skilled professionals. These concepts are identified and must be incorporated into a college curriculum to close the gap.A comparison was made to analyze the topics that are not discussed in academia. The comparison between computing curricula and the Software Assurance: A Curriculum Guide to the Common Body of Knowledge to Produce, Sustain, and Acquire Software (CBK) resulted in a guide of topics to be addressed in academia. The CBK was not entirely addressed in any of the computing curriculum. The topics that were poorly covered in the computing curricula were identified and categorized. These results should be the primary topics incorporated into computer courses and utilized in the development of new software assurance courses.
Electroencephalographic monitoring during general anesthesia

This paper presents a concise review of the recent advances in the field of electroencephalographic monitoring during administration of general anesthetics. It presents the history and background of this technique and describes the principles of electroencephalographic monitoring and its mathematical analysis. It concludes with a discussion of the techniques currently available for the display of the electroencephalogram as a monitoring tool and describes current clinical applications.
In-situ combustion diagnostics using diode laser absorption sensors

The availability of extended wavelength DFB diode lasers makesin-situ flame measurements of important combustion species such as CO2 possible. This work presents recent measurements near 2µm of CO2 concentration above flat-flame burners.
Paternal influences on turkey embryonic growth in the absence of changes in egg weight and eggshell conductance

Abstract The hypothesis was proposed that embryonic growth could be influenced paternally in the absence of changes in egg weight or eggshell conductance. Sire families were established by selecting 11 sires based on blood sampling of approximately 50 commercial turkey males. Southern blot analysis was used to identify the most distantly related individuals in the subpopulation. Five hen siblings or half-siblings of the males were randomly assigned to each male to randomize effects of egg size and eggshell conductance. Artificial inseminations were performed weekly for 17 wk, using each sire with the assigned hens. Fertilized eggs were collected and set in incubators at biweekly intervals. Offspring were observed at the time of hatching for sex, body weight, and blood glucose concentration. Significant differences among sires were observed at hatching for poult weights and blood glucose concentration, and a significant correlation between the BW and glucose concentration was noted. Progeny of sires with the highest and lowest BW and blood glucose concentrations were subsequently compared. Mean BW of poults from different sires differed by as much as 10 g, although they were hatched from eggs of the same weight. Elevated blood glucose was associated with heavier BW; heavier heart, liver, and muscle weights; a rapid utilization of glycogen at pipping; and increased gluconeogenesis as measured by plasma organic acids and glucose-6-phosphatase activity. We conclude that poult embryonic growth differs even when not mediated by egg size and functional characteristics.
Ethiodized Oil Uptake Does Not Predict Doxorubicin Drug Delivery after Chemoembolization in VX2 Liver Tumors

Abstract Purpose To investigate the accuracy of ethiodized oil as an imaging marker of chemotherapy drug delivery after liver tumor chemoembolization in an animal model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods Eleven VX2 liver tumors (mean diameter, 1.9 cm ± 0.4) in six New Zealand White rabbits were treated with chemoembolization using ethiodized oil and doxorubicin emulsion, followed by immediate euthanasia. Postprocedure noncontrast computed tomography (CT) was used to evaluate intratumoral ethiodized oil distribution and calculate iodine content within four peripheral tumor quadrants and the tumor core at a central tumor slice (N = 55 total tumor sections). Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was then used to directly measure doxorubicin concentration in the same tissue sections. Statistical correlation was performed between tissue iodine content and doxorubicin concentration by using linear regression. Results Chemoembolization was successfully performed in all tumors via the left or proper hepatic artery. A mean of 0.9 mL ± 0.6 ethiodized oil and 1.8 mg ± 1.2 doxorubicin were injected. CT-calculated tissue iodine content averaged 335 mg/mL ± 218. Corresponding LC-MS/MS analysis yielded a mean doxorubicin concentration of 15.8 μg/mL ± 14.3 in each sample. Although iodine content (391 mg/mL vs 112 mg/mL; P = .000) and doxorubicin concentration (18.0 μg/mL vs 7.2 μg/mL; P = .023) were significantly greater along peripheral tumor sections compared with the tumor core, no significant predictable correlation was evident between these measures ( R 2 = 0.0099). Conclusions Tissue ethiodized oil content is a poor quantitative predictor of local doxorubicin concentration after liver tumor chemoembolization. Future studies should aim to identify a better imaging marker for chemoembolization drug delivery.
Curvilinear deflagration of energetic materials

The effects of material interface curvature on deflagration of a homogeneous solid energetic material (EM) is studied in a limit when the radius of curvature is much larger than the deflagration front thickness. Under the assumption of quasi-steady burning, a method of matched asymptotics is employed do derive first-order curvature corrections to the mass flux across the gas–solid interface as well as to the interface temperature. As an illustration, a problem of quasi-steady spherical particle deflagration is solved numerically and the simulation results are used to verify those obtained through asymptotic analysis. An algorithm for a fully-coupled unsteady solver suitable for EM deflagration simulation is presented. Numerical solution of the unsteady spherical particle deflagration is used to show that the assumption of quasi-steady deflagration is valid.
Asymptotic stability of linear delay differential-algebraic equations and numerical methods

In this paper, we consider the asymptotic stability of linear constant coefficient delay differential-algebraic equations and of &methods, Runge-Kutta methods and linear multistep methods applied to these systems. o 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Women's Representation and Status in Law Enforcement: Does CALEA Involvement Make a Difference?

This study's objective was to determine if involvement in the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation process will have a significant, positive effect on the representation of sworn women in large police agencies at all organizational levels and on the representation of women of color as a percentage of the total workforce. This study compared 193 large (100 or more sworn personnel) non-CALEA agencies with 201 large CALEA agencies. Results of this research suggest that there are significant differences between CALEA and non-CALEA agencies and that involvement in the CALEA accreditation process appears to encourage and facilitate the recruitment and promotion of women at least in large police agencies. Additional research should be conducted comparing small CALEA and non-CALEA agencies, and the authors recommend CALEA officials revisit the available workforce issue to ensure more accurate estimates of the numbers of women in respective workforces.
Serotonergic modulation of the P13 midlatency auditory evoked potential in the rat.

The vertex-recorded, sleep state-dependent P13 midlatency auditory evoked potential in the rat may be generated, in part, by pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) projections. Injections into the PPN of the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-di-n-propylaminotetralin hydrobromide (DPAT), were found to reduce the amplitude of the P13 potential in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The suppressive effect of DPAT was blocked or reduced by pretreatment with the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor antagonist, Pindobind. These results show that the P13 potential can be modulated by known inhibitory serotonergic inputs to the PPN.
Variant Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Valine66Methionine) Polymorphism Contributes to Developmental and Estrous Stage-Specific Expression of Anxiety-Like Behavior in Female Mice

Background Most anxiety and depressive disorders are twice as common in women compared with men, and the sex difference in prevalence typically emerges during adolescence. Hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle and during the postpartum and perimenopausal periods are associated with increased risk for anxiety and depression symptoms. In humans and animals, reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ) has been associated with increased expression of affective pathology. Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the BDNF gene ( BDNF Valine66Methionine [Val66Met]), which reduces BDNF bioavailability, has been identified in humans and associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Although BDNF expression can be directly influenced by estrogen and progesterone, the potential impact of the BDNF Val66Met SNP on sensitivity to reproductive hormone changes remains an open question. Methods As a predictive model, we used female mice in which the human SNP ( BDNF Val66Met) was inserted into the mouse BDNF gene. Using standard behavioral paradigms, we tested the impact of this SNP on age and estrous-cycle-specific expression of anxiety-like behaviors. Results Mice homozygous for the BDNF Val66Met SNP begin to exhibit increased anxiety-like behaviors over prepubertal and early adult development, show significant fluctuations in anxiety-like behaviors over the estrous cycle, and, as adults, differ from wild-type mice by showing significant fluctuations in anxiety-like behaviors over the estrous cycle—specifically, more anxiety-like behaviors during the estrus phase. Conclusions These findings have implications regarding the potential role of this SNP in contributing to developmental and reproductive hormone-dependent changes in affective disorders in humans.
Immunological parameters of periparturient Holstein cattle: genetic variation.

Abstract The genetic variability of blood neutrophil functions, lymphocyte blastogenic responses to mitogens, serum Ig concentrations, and serum complement and conglutinin activities was investigated from 35 d prepartum to 35 d postpartum for 137 Holstein cows. Periparturient cows experience an immunosuppression of various immuno-logic parameters at calving. Heritability estimates were obtained before, during, and after the episodes of immunosuppression. Significant genetic variability occurred in the periparturient changes for total number of neutrophils, neutrophil chemokinesis, assays of the neutrophil respiratory burst associated with phagocytosis (cytochrome c reduction, chemiluminescence, and iodination), serum concentrations of IgG 1 , IgG 2 , and IgM, and serum hemolytic complement activity. This variability implies that immune profiles could be used for the selection of cattle with improved innate immune response without adverse effects on milk productivity. These results should be considered tentative, however, because the number of observations included in the data were limited.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL MULTIMODAL INSTRUMENTAL SEPARATION OF COMPLEX MIXTURES

Presented here is a simple approach to the application of HPLC/CE for the separation of complex mixtures. A two-dimensional HPLC/CE instrumental setup was assembled from commercially available equipment. Fractions of the effluent from the HPLC system are collected into microtiter plates with the aid of a microfraction collector which allows the collection of samples by time, drops, or external signal (peaks). The fractions are then dried under vacuum at room temperature in a special unit, reconstituted, and analyzed by CZE. Any size or type of HPLC or CE column can be used with no limitation on the amount of sample injected into the HPLC. Any CE detection procedure, such as LIF, MS, UV, or other, can be used. This setup is practical, simple, robust, and allows the separation of complex mixtures. Preliminary results show the utility of this system for the analysis of a mixture of two protein digests, cytochrome C and myoglobin.
Applications of Chemically Modified Electrodes to Analysis of Metal Ions

Abstract A carbon paste electrode containing chemically modified graphite has been fabricated and applied to the analysis of silver ion in aqueous media. Utilizing complexation and subsequent precipitation steps, it is shown that one can preconcentrate and then analyze for metal ions at low concentrations using these electrodes.
Consistency of the field transformation and constraint algebras of supergravity

Abstract The Lie algebra of infinitesimal field transformations in supergravity is derived in a formulation that is a modification of the usual one. It is found to be consistent with the constraint algebra of Teitelboim.
Cryogenic gyroscopes for the relativity mission

Abstract The relativity mission, also known as gravity probe B (GP-B), uses high-precision electrostatically suspended cryogenic gyroscopes for measuring the relativistic precessions of the frame of reference in a 650 km polar orbit. A 2 K environment is used to ensure the thermal stability and to implement the readout technique based on the magnetic dipole moment generated by a rotating superconductor. Analysis and results from more than 100 000 h of gyroscope operation show that the residual Newtonian drift is less than 0.17 marcsec/yr for a supported gyroscope in 10 −9 m/s 2 , and less than 0.020 marcsec/yr for a gyroscope in a fully inertial orbit.
Beyond income: Material resources among drug users in economically-disadvantaged New York City neighborhoods

Background Little is known about material resources among drug users beyond income. Income measures can be insensitive to variation among the poor, do not account for variation in cost-of-living, and are subject to non-response bias and underreporting. Further, most do not include illegal income sources that may be relevant to drug-using populations.
Continuous Optimal Infeed Control for Cylindrical Plunge Grinding, Part 1: Methodology

A new methodology is developed for optimal infeed control of cylindrical plunge grinding cycles. Unlike conventional cycles having a few sequential stages with discrete infeed rates, the new methodology allows for continuous variation of the infeed rate to further reduce the cycle time. Distinctive characteristics of optimal grinding cycles with variable infeed rates were investigated by applying dynamic programming to a simulation of the grinding cycle. The simulated optimal cycles were found to consist of distinct segments with predominant constraints. This provided the basis for an optimal control policy whereby the infeed rate is determined according to the active constraint at each segment of the cycle. Accordingly, the controller is designed to identify the state of the cycle at each sampling instant from on-line measurements of power and size, and to then compute the infeed rate according to the optimal policy associated with that state. The optimization policy is described in this paper, and the controller design and its implementation are presented in the following paper [1].
A brain MRI atlas of the common squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus.

The common squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus, is a New World monkey with functional and microstructural organization of central nervous system similar to that of humans. It is one of the most commonly used South American primates in biomedical research. Unlike its Old World macaque cousins, no digital atlases have described the organization of the squirrel monkey brain. Here, we present a multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) atlas constructed from the brain of an adult female squirrel monkey. In vivo MRI acquisitions include high resolution T2 structural imaging and low resolution diffusion tensor imaging. Ex vivo MRI acquisitions include high resolution T2 structural imaging and high resolution diffusion tensor imaging. Cortical regions were manually annotated on the co-registered volumes based on published histological sections.
Treating immune thrombocytopenic purpura and preventing Rh alloimmunization using intravenous Rho (D) immune globulin

N 1981, IMBACH and colleagues ~ reported the first clinical trial using intravenous immune globulin (IV1G) to treat immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).~ This study was initiated after the publication of a report that 2 patients with congenital agammaglobulinemia and thrombocytopenia had increased platelet counts after treatment with IVIG, as well as a report of increased platelet counts in a child with ITP after "desensitization" with IVIG. 2 Imbach and colleagues ~ reported favorable outcomes in 7 children with chronic ITP and 6 with acute ITP who were treated with IVIG (Immunoglobuline SKR, Swiss Red Cross, Berne, Switzerland). They suggested that the mode of action of the effect of IVIG in ITP may be "overloading and blocking of the reticuloendothelial system by IgG catabolism, m These findings in children with ITP were confirmed by other investigators, for children and adults with
Complex control of the developmental regulatory locus brlA in Aspergillus nidulans.

brlA is a primary regulator of asexual development in Aspergillus nidulans. Activation of brlA is necessary and sufficient for conidiophore development. It is known that brlA produces two overlapping transcripts, designated brlA α and brlA β. We found that expression of brlA is subject to complex regulation, in that activation of the two brlA transcripts is regulated at different levels. While brlA α is regulated at the transcriptional level, brlA β is regulated at both the transcriptional and translational levels. brlA α expression requires both abaA and brlA, but overexpression of brlA β can induce brlA α in an abaA mutant. brlA β µORF, a short ORF located upstream of the brl Α initiator codon, regulates expression of brlA by damping translation of the brlA β ORF, and translational repression of brlA expression prevents premature development in A. nidulans. Transcriptional control of brlA β is apparently independent of BrlA. In order to understand better the transcriptional control of brlA α and brlA β, we have made 5′ deletions in the essential ~2-kb upstream control sequences that regulate brlA β transcription and fused them to the E. coli lacZ reporter gene. Various deletions in this region resulted in only minor changes in the regulation of β-galactosidase expression. The results of the deletion experiments indicate that there are probably several cis-acting control sequences involved in the regulation of brlA β. As a complementary approach, we fused various fragments of the 2034-bp brlA β and 754-bp brlA α control sequences to an otherwise inactive amdS::lacZ fusion, in order to search for regions that are sufficient to place the reporter under developmental control. We identified two ~600-bp brlA β fragments extending from –2901 to –2293 and –967 to –414, respectively, and a ~150-bp brlA α segment from –271 to –127, that confer activity on the inactive amdS promoter. brlA is overexpressed in an abaA null mutant and one site for abaA-dependent repression is apparently located in the –742 to –414 brlA β fragment. This indicates that abaA-mediated repression of brlA expression occurs through control of brlA β, but apparently involves a mechanism that does not require AbaA binding to brlA(p) sequences, because there are no AbaA binding sites in this region.