cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-chain fatty acids induce reversible injury of porcine colon.

Carbohydrate malabsorption frequently results in an increased net production of organic acids by colonic microorganisms and an acidification of colonic contents. Colonic structure and function during and following mucosal exposure to acetate at various H ion concentrations was examined under bothin vovo andin vitro conditions. An acetic acid dose and time-dependent injury of the surface epithelium sequentially resulted in (1) degeneration and extrusion of enterocytes and increased ion permeability (pH 5.0); (2) formation of subepithelial blisters and increased mucosal permeability to mannitol (pH 4.0), and (3) sloughing of surface epithelium and the abolition of active NaCl absorption (pH 3.0). Both acetate and lactate at pH 4.0 produced significantly greater injury than similarly acidified NaCl. Crypt cell structure and Cl secretory function were preserved, however, and migration of viable cells from adjacent crypts rapidly covered the denuded surface within 30–60 min of recovery. Normal structure and function were nearly restored in 2 hr. These results suggest that colonic mucosal injury is possible under conditions that may be present during carbohydrate malabsorption syndromes. They also provide evidence that the process of surface reepithelialization may be of central importance in the defense and repair of the colonic mucosa during such acid-induced injury.
The efficacy and safety of epsilon-aminocaproic acid treatment in patients with cirrhosis and hyperfibrinolysis.

ummary Background Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are at risk for hyperfibrinolysis; this is potentially fatal. ɛ-aminocaproic acid has been used to treat patients with hyperfibrinolysis; however, the data about its benefit in the setting of cirrhosis are minimal. Aim To analyse the efficacy of ɛ-aminocaproic acid and its safety in cirrhotic patients with hyperfibrinolysis. Methods All patients with an abnormal euglobin lysis time who were admitted to Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002 were included in the study. Their medical records were reviewed and analysed. Results There were 60 cirrhotic patients with shortened euglobin lysis time. Fifty-two patients received ɛ-aminocaproic acid. Of the 52 patients, seven had one or more bleeding episodes with the subcutaneous or soft tissue bleeding as the most common indication for ɛ-aminocaproic acid use. Of the 37 patients, 34 (92%) had improvement or resolution of their bleeding. Only two (3%) patients had ɛ-aminocaproic acid treatment discontinued because of minor side effects, rash and lightheadedness. There were no thromboembolic complications of treatment. Conclusions ɛ-aminocaproic acid was found to be effective and safe for treatment of hyperfibrinolysis in patients with cirrhosis.
Antimicrobial Dressing Intervention Associated with Decreased Vascular Patients' Surgical Site Infections

ISSUE: Vascular patients are at high risk for surgical site infections (SSI) and infections add to health care costs. The vascular patients experience third space edema at the incision resulting in separation of the wound margins. This separation was hypothesized to facilitate bacteria invasion into the wound, which would promote wound infections. To address this issue, we implemented antimicrobial dressings on the surgical incision to act as a barrier in preventing bacterial colonization and migration into the edematous, separating wound. PROJECT: In 2000, our hospital expereinced the highest vascular, risk-adjusted index #1(CDC's risk index #1; i.e., patients had one of the following risks: ASA score > 2, wound class > 2, or surgical procedure time > 3 hours) SSI rate of 4.6 (CDC's benchmark average rate was 1.79). Intervention: surgical team applied antimicrobial dressings (binding 0.2% Polyhexamethylene Biguanide [PHMB] super sponges and kerlix roll, A.M.D., Tyco Company) after incisional skin closure on all vascular patients. Nurses reinforced or removed/replaced wound dressing with same product until dressings discontinued or discharged. RESULTS: Progressively decreasing SSI vascular, risk index #1 infection rates over five year timeframe were noted: pre-intervention rate in 2000 of 4.6 (#18 infections/#323 cases) to 2005 YTD rate of 0.9 (#3/#328 cases). Estimated cost savings of $890,000 over five year timeframe. LESSONS LEARNED: Changing the type of surgical dressings took a multidisciplinary team approach to implement. Successful implementation required “buy-in,” timely coordinated education and a passion to problem-solve barriers quickly. Barriers included: (1) “surprise” dressing storage areas, (2) vascular patients admitted post-operatively to non-surgical clinical floors due to hospital's high patient census/bed availability, (3) pre-packaged vascular surgical instrument sets with old gauze dressings and (4) education of casual position employees. Due to the success of the intervention, the dressings are now used on all surgical patients.
Spectrum Allocation and Economic Factors in FCC Spectrum Management

In performing the functions of spectrum management, the U. S. Federal Communications Commission has traditionally been concerned with engineering and legal criteria, in addition to apparent social benefit. Economic factors in the form of opportunity cost or incentives to conserve the spectrum have not been explicitly included. This paper contains an analysis of the feasibility and merit of introducing such economic factors into the FCC spectrum management process. While maximum economic efficiency in spectrum allocation and use is considered to be an important objective, it is not adopted as a single overriding goal. Instead, the investigation is aimed at the more modest, but also the more practical, goal of introducing those economic techniques into spectrum management that will eventually result in some measure of increased efficiency in spectrum allocation and use. Three techniques-shadow pricing, user charges, and auctionsemerge as promising candidates. It is concluded that these three economic processes applied in combination as administrative tools would result in much more efficient allocation and use of the spectrum resource. Further investigation to develop the means for implementing these techniques is recommended.
Magnetic-spiker excitation of gas-discharge lasers

A review is presented on the use of magnetic-spiker circuits to electrically excite rare-gas-halide and CO2 gas-discharge lasers. The design and operation of the diode, switch, overshoot, and charge modes of magnetic-spiker excitation will be described. Special emphasis has been placed upon understanding the dynamical behaviour and saturation properties of the magnetic core material at high frequencies. The effect of voltage risetime, preionization, pulse-forming network design, and prefire on laser performance is also described. Experimental data are presented on a new and very simple magnetic-spiker circuit called the modified overshoot mode. A relatively long optical pulse magnetic-spiker KrF laser is also desribed which uses self-timed corona preionization initiated by the spiker circuit. The use of magnetic-spiker excitation to produce high output laser energies, high repetition rates, and long optical pulses is discussed. Applications of magnetic-spiker lasers in the field of medicine, microelectronics and materials processing will be reviewed.
Party novelty Conceptualization and measurement of party change

In this study, I propose a more differentiated conceptualization of party novelty that shifts from the age of party, and viewing newness in terms of organizational youthfulness (how close to birth,...
Information reuse in dynamic spectrum access

Dynamic spectrum access (DSA), where the permission to use slices of radio spectrum is dynamically shifted (in time an in different geographical areas) across various communications services and applications, has been an area of interest from technical and public policy perspectives over the last decade. The underlying belief is that this will increase spectrum utilization, especially since many spectrum bands are relatively unused, ultimately leading to the creation of new and innovative services that exploit the increase in spectrum availability. Determining whether a slice of spectrum, allocated or licensed to a primary user, is available for use by a secondary user at a certain time and in a certain geographic area is a challenging task. This requires “context information” which is critical to the operation of DSA. Such context information can be obtained in several ways, with different costs, and different quality/usefulness of the information. In this paper, we describe the challenges in obtaining this context information, the potential for the integration of various sources of context information, and the potential for reuse of such information for related and unrelated purposes such as localization and enforcement of spectrum sharing. Since some of the infrastructure for obtaining finegrained context information is likely to be expensive, the reuse of this infrastructure/information and integration of information from less expensive sources are likely to be essential for the economical and technological viability of DSA.
Nature of the protection against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity produced by pretreatment with dibenamine (N-(2-chloroethyl)dibenzylamine).

Abstract In this paper, we assess various plausible mechanisms by which pretreatment with Dibenamine [ N -(2-chloroethyl) dibenzylamine] hydrochloride (25 mg/kg, s.c., 48 and 24 hr before the administration of CCl 4 ) protects rats against the hepatotoxic effects of CCl 4 . Dibenamine pretreatment did not affect significantly the absorption of CCl 4 after i.p. administration or the elimination of CCl 4 from various tissues, as evident from unchanged tissue levels. Dibenamine pretreatment decreased the accumulation of the metabolite CHCl 3 in liver, the isopropanol-potentiated covalent binding of a small dose of 14 CCl 4 (0.1 ml/kg) and the covalent binding of a necrosis-producing dose of 14 CCl 4 (1.0 ml/kg) to proteins and lipids in liver, and the diene conjugation of liver microsomal lipids induced by CCl 4 . These findings suggest that Dibenamine pretreatment impairs the microsomal enzymes which catalyze the formation of free radical derivatives of CCl 4 . Dibenamine protection is not correlated with its concentration in liver or with the covalent binding of Dibenamine derivatives to liver microsomal protein.
A Generalization of the Routley-Meyer Semantic Framework

We develop an axiomatic theory of “generalized Routley-Meyer (GRM) logics.” These are first-order logics which are can be characterized by model theories in a certain generalization of Routley-Meyer semantics. We show that all GRM logics are subclassical, have recursively enumerable consequence relations, satisfy the compactness theorem, and satisfy the standard structural rules and conjunction and disjunction introduction/elimination rules. We also show that the GRM logics include classical logic, intuitionistic logic, LP/K3/FDE, and the relevant logics.
Transport and accumulation of purine bases by Crithidia fasciculata.

The capacity for the rapid transport of purine bases by Crithidia fasciculata is found only in cells starved for purines. Cells grown in complete medium transport poorly. Rapid transport capability appears and then disappears during growth of purine-depleted cultures. This rapid transport appears to occur by a process of mediated diffusion. Two mechanisms are involved, one of low velocity and high affinity, the other of high velocity and low affinity. Accumulation of the bases within the cell occurs by their rapid conversion to ribonucleotides by phosphoribosyltransferases.
Wireless intraoffice networks

An overview of the existing and growing demands for wireless office information networks is provided, and the existing research activities are assessed in some detail. The radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) communication technologies are examined as candidates for wireless intraoffice communications. The available bandwidths, according to federal regulations and characteristics of the channel for RF communications, are given. Digital narrow-band and wideband spread-spectrum RF communications are assessed in terms of supportable data rate or number of simultaneous users in one cell of a cellular architecture in an office environment. Various limitations of IR communications are discussed and existing systems and architectures are reviewed.
Uniqueness of Amplitudes Satisfying the Mandelstam Representation

It is shown that within the framework of the Mandelstam representation, the scattering amplitudes, if they exist, are uniquely determined by the absorptive parts over the elastic region of one channel. It is illustrated in detail with pion-pion and pion-nucleon scattering.
Studies of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone. I. CNDO/2 studies of the conformations of the residues.

The conformations of model fragments of TRH(p Glu-His-Pro-NH 2 ) were calculated by the CNDO/2 molecular orbital method. The predicted conformations of pyroglutamic- N -methylamide and prolineamide agree well with the crystal structures of pyroglutamide and proline. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding is found to occur in both of the imidazole tautomers in histidine- N,N -dimethylamide.
Cluster 'contact epitaxy'- direct evidence for novel particle: substrate interactions

In this paper we describe observations of novel interactions between clusters of Ag deposited on the clean (001) Cu surface. The experiments are analogous to those performed by Gleiter and co-workers in the 1970’s, where grain boundary orientations in particles of Cu and Ag supported on single crystal metal substrates were studied. Upon annealing close to the melting point, these particles (∼10-100μm in diameter) were found to rotate on the surface, forming low-energy grain boundary configurations with the substrate. The particles studied in our experiments are ∼104 times smaller, and show rather different behavior. In the case of Ag nanoparticles we have observed a novel phenomenon, which we call ‘contact epitaxy’, involving the formation of several monolayers of epitaxially oriented Ag at the Cu surface upon contact between this surface and the Ag cluster. The phenomenon may be understood from molecular dynamics simulations of the ‘soft impact’ between the nanoparticle and surface, which indicate that the ordered layers form within picoseconds of contact. We will discuss the mechanisms by which ‘contact epitaxy’ is believed to occur.
Group-Specific Norms and Teacher-Rating Scales: Implications for Underrepresentation

For more than 30 years, underrepresentation of certain racial, cultural, and income groups in gifted and talented programs has been documented as a serious problem. Not only does this issue make gi...
Addressing barriers to change: an RCT of practice‐based education to improve the management of hypertension in the elderly.

Method A randomised, single-blind, controlled trial of incorporating an exploration of barriers to changing practice into an educational strategy for GPs was conducted in 18 practices. Both groups of practices received visits during which they received the results of a previous audit on the management of hypertension in the elderly. The nine intervention practices were encouraged to explore barriers that would prevent them from implementing the pertinent research findings, in addition to an exploration of the issues and creation of a practice action plan. Control groups received the education without the element of exploring barriers to change. The outcome measures were changes in response to a questionnaire before and after the educational intervention. Results There were statistically significant differences between the two groups after the educational visit. Those practices who were encouraged to explore barriers to change were more likely to show change in behaviour compared to the control group. All the intervention practices produced an action plan for improving the performance, whereas none of the controls did so. The intervention practices also showed more concordance in management protocols after the intervention. Conclusion Addressing the barriers preventing practitioners from implementing research findings is effective in implementing change.
Some Cardiovascular Effects of Trimethobenzamide

A cardiovascular investigation of trimethobenzamide was made in regard to (a) the mechanism of its hypotensive properties and (b) any antiarrhythmic effects. Under (a) blood pressure studies were carried out while using autonomic agents in conjunction with trimethobenzamide on anesthetized mongrel dogs. Of the autonomic agents tried, only ergotamine effectively prevented the hypotensive effects. Under (b) electrocardiograms were recorded on mongrel dogs in which cardiac arrhythmias had been induced. These studies indicate that the drug serves to prolong the time of previously induced auricular fibrillation and has little effect on prevention of arrhythmias. Some evidence indicated that trimethobenzamide protects the heart from ventricular fibrillation.
Reply to “Comment on ‘Correlation holes in a spin-polarized dense electron gas’ ”

We present a description of a short-range high-density hole in a polarized electron gas. Two leading derivatives of the same-spin correlation hole in a dense electron gas near the origin are derived analytically. They agree well with published numerical results, provided that they are renormalized appropriately. Combined with the two leading derivatives of the opposite-spin correlation hole calculated earlier, they give a complete description of the correlation hole in a dense electron gas near the origin. The spin resolution of the correlation hole in the dense gas is also discussed.
Imaging the World in a Barrel: CORONA and the Clandestine Convergence of the Earth Sciences

The CORONA satellite reconnaissance programme (1958-72), the first American enterprise for secret photography from space, was predicated on fundamental progress within the strategic earth sciences ...
A forward displacement analysis of a class of stewart platforms

A closed-form forward displacement analysis is performed for a Stewart Platform-type of parallel mechanism, whose six legs meet in a pair-wise fashion at three points in the top and base platforms. The six legs and two platforms of this mechanism together form an octahedron. An eighth-degree polynomial in the square of the tan-half-angle that measures the elevation of a triangular face of the octahedron relative to the base triangle is derived. Each of three vertices of the base triangle of the octahedron is modeled by a spherical four-bar mechanism, and the polynomial is obtained by eliminating a pair of tan-half-angular displacements from the displacement equations of the three spherical four-bar mechanisms. The result are verified numerically by performing a reverse displacement analysis and displaying real solutions on a graphic system. It is clear that there are a maximum of eight reflected pairs of real assembly configurations of the octahedral form of the Stewart Platform.
Multi‐temporal AVHRR digital data: An approach for landcover mapping of heterogeneous landscapes

Abstract A multi‐temporal sequence of seven NOAA‐n, Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite scenes (April 10, May 18, June 6, June 29, July 20, and August 18, 1987) were composited to derive cover‐type information in the heterogeneous landscape of University Lake Watershed, North Carolina, U.S.A. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated for each scene and merged into a seven‐dimensional dataset, representing each time period sampled. An unsupervised classification was performed on the multi‐temporal composite to derive five cover‐type classes. Similar classifications were generated on single scene information. Ground control information was derived from an unsupervised classification of one kilometer grid compositional percentages initially derived from photo‐interpreted landcover information. The multi‐temporal NDVI classification more consistently characterized phenologic responses on a spatially dissected landscape than single scene clustering. Sub‐pixel infor...
Effect of albumin on physical characteristics of drug particles produced by supercritical fluid technology

Abstract In this study, two drugs, terbutaline sulphate (TS) and ipratropium bromide (IB), were micronized by means of a CO 2 -based aerosol solvent extraction system (ASES). TS and IB particles with albumin as additive were also precipitated in order to improve the powder flow behavior in an accelerating air flow. Albumin is considered an inactive ingredient for FDA-approved drugs and is endogenous to the lung. The addition of albumin affected the particle morphology resulting in improved aerosolization properties. In the present study, ASES experiments were conducted using a mixed solvent of ethanol/dimethylformamide (EtOH/DMF) for the micronization of TS and pure DMF was used as solvent for IB. For the respirable TS, optimum processing conditions were at about 100 bar and 50 °C. For the IB particles, the conditions were at 200 bar and 40 °C. The aerosol characteristics of all precipitated drug particles in this work were analyzed by comparing the particle size distribution (PSD) and the associated mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to those obtained from Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) and from the Micro-orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI). The results indicate that the TS and IB particles with albumin are less cohesive and less agglomerated in air flow, thus leading to more effective and consistent lung deposition.
A linear area centralis extending across the turtle retina and stabilized to the horizon by non-visual cues

Abstract A common fresh-water turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans) is shown to have a linear area centralis extending horizontally almost all the way across the retina. Within this line the receptors are small and densely concentrated, as demonstrated by using the colored oil droplets to visualize the receptor mosaic in isolated inverted retinas. Below this line the increase of receptor size occurs more gradually than above the line. In the central portion of the line, there is an expansion of the high-density receptor area into the lower half of the retina. In a fresh eyecup the linear area centralis may be seen as a distinct red line that is parallel to a black line across the iris. During limited rotation of the turtle around its lateral or longitudinal axis, the black iris line (and hence the area centralis) is stabilized in the plane of the animal's horizon by reflexive head and eye movements, which occur without visual cues and hence are presumably under vestibular control. This linear type of area centralis, which is stabilized to the horizon, appears to be highly functional specialization for an animal living close to the earth's surface, for which the bulk of relevant visual stimuli must originate at or near the horizon.
Conceiving a Black Hole

In his Research commentary “At the border of eternity” ( Science 's Compass, 27 Feb., [p. 1321][1]), G. S. Bisnovatyi-Kogan states, “As long ago as 1796, [the astronomer and mathematician Pierre Simon] Laplace noted that light cannot leave a star when its free-fall velocity, a function of the
Steam-Refined Soybean Oil: I. Effect of Refining and Degumming Methods on Oil Quality'

A lot of commercially extracted crude soybean oil was water degummed with and without a phosphoric acid pretreatment. The degummed oils were bleached and then deacidified-deodorized in a single step to yield physically (steam) refined soybean salad oils. Their flavor and oxidative stability were compared to caustic-refined oils given otherwise identical processing treatments. Physically refined oils without a phosphoric acid pretreatment were of poor initial quality compared to those given the phosphoric acid pretreatment. However, caustic- and steam-refined oils processed with the phosphoric pretreatment were of comparable quality.
Population structure in the Connecticut Valley. I. Marital migration.

This study reports on an analysis of marital migration among 12 communities in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts during the years 1790-1849. Genetic inferences are drawn, and the requisite assumptions considered. The effect of geographic distance on genetic kinship is predicted using Malecot's isolation-by-distance model. The resulting estimates are discussed in terms of geographic and historical factors. The configuration of communities as predicted by kinship values approximates closely their actual geographic locations. Estimated genetic heterogeneity was low for the historical Connecticut Valley population, and community isolation breaks down rapidly over time. The region thus assumes its place among a number of sedentary, agricultural populations for which the isolation-by-distance model provides an adequate representation. A regression analysis which includes variables in addition to distance indicates that historical and economic factors contribute some additional explanatory power to the distribution of mating frequencies.
Modeling habituation in rat EEG-evoked responses via a neural mass model with feedback

Habituation is a generic property of the neural response to repeated stimuli. Its strength often increases as inter-stimuli relaxation periods decrease. We propose a simple, broadly applicable control structure that enables a neural mass model of the evoked EEG response to exhibit habituated behavior. A key motivation for this investigation is the ongoing effort to develop model-based reconstruction of multi-modal functional neuroimaging data. The control structure proposed here is illustrated and validated in the context of a biophysical neural mass model, developed by Riera et al. (Hum Brain Mapp 27(11):896–914, 2006; 28(4):335–354, 2007), and of simplifications thereof, using data from rat EEG response to medial nerve stimuli presented at frequencies from 1 to 8 Hz. Performance was tested by predictions of both the response to the next stimulus based on the current one, and also of continued stimuli trains over 4-s time intervals based on the first stimulus in the interval, with similar success statistics. These tests demonstrate the ability of simple generative models to capture key features of the evoked response, including habituation.
Results of treatment of stage IA and IIA Hodgkin's disease

This study analyzed the 5 year actuarial survival and disease-free survival of 122 patients with Stage IA and IIA Hodgkin's disease, (108 patients laparotomy staged) treated with mantle and paraaortic irradiation from 1975 to 1981. Prognostic subgroups and patterns of treatment failure were investigated. The 5 year actuarial survival and disease-free survival was 91% and 75% respectively for the entire group. For Stage IA patients, the 5 year survival and disease-free survival was 92% and 86% respectively, whereas for those in Stage IIA the respective figures were 86% and 65%. Individuals with greater than four sites of involvement at initial presentation; extensive mediastinal adenopathy; hilar or extramediastinal extension to lung, pleura or pericardium, had a poorer 5 year actuarial disease-free survival (43%-60%) than those without these factors (70%-85%). Of the 122 patients, there were 26 relapses: nine infield failures; two concurrent infield and systemic failures; nine marginal recurrences, and three relapses occurring systemically and three in nodal groups not irradiated. Following relapse, 17 patients were salvaged with chemotherapy. Two patients are alive with disease and seven patients died of Hodgkin's disease. Patients with less extensive mediastinal adenopathy and supradiaphragmatic nonmediastinal presentations can be satisfactorily treated with mantle and paraaortic irradiation, whereas patients with extensive mediastinal adenopathy receive six cycles of multiagent chemotherapy before irradiation.
Clinical spectrum of chronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies.

A number of presentations of chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy have been identified, each distinguished by its phenotypic pattern. In addition to classic chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), which is characterized clinically by symmetric proximal and distal weakness and sensory loss, several regional variants can be recognized: multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN: asymmetric and pure motor), multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor (MADSAM) neuropathy (asymmetric, sensory, and motor), and distal acquired demyelinating symmetric (DADS) neuropathy (symmetric, distal, sensory, and motor). There are also temporal, pathological, and disease-associated variants. This review describes a clinical scheme for approaching the chronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies that leads to a rational use of supportive laboratory studies and treatment options. In addition, we propose new diagnostic criteria for CIDP that more accurately reflect current clinical practice.
Stereospecific, reversible binding of D-[3H] glucose to crude membrane fractions prepared from rat brain

Abstract To a crude preparation of synaptic membranes prepared from rat brain, stereospecific, saturable, reversible binding was described of D-[ 3 H]glucose. Binding showed a K d = 0.45 μ M and the fractional rate of dissociation was approximately eight times the fractional rate of association. D-[ 3 H]glucose binding was displaced by 2-deoxyglucose and 3-0-methylglucose and it was abolished when membranes were denatured by heating.
FACTORS AFFECTING ENDOGENOUS AMINO ACID FLOW IN CHICKENS AND THE NEED FOR CONSISTENCY IN METHODOLOGY

Accurate estimation of ileal endogenous amino acid (EAA) losses is important when formulating diets on a standardized ileal digestible amino acid basis. In addition to the undigested and unabsorbed amino acids of dietary origin, amino acids of endogenous origin, which can be basal or diet specific, are found in digesta. The improvement in the techniques used in amino acid analysis as well as a shift from sampling excreta to ileal digesta has resulted in more accurate amino acid digestibility coefficients. Despite this, however, it is important to determine the amino acids in the digesta that are of endogenous origin. Although the need for standardization and its associated advantages is still subject to debate, it is important to evaluate how values from various methodologies compare. Several methods have been used to estimate ileal EAA flow. The classical methods, including the regression method, the use of nitrogen-free diet (NFD), and the fasted cecectomized rooster method, are the most widely used. The criticisms with the last 2 methods are that birds are not in a normal physiological state and the ileal EAA flow is, therefore, underestimated. Different methods have resulted in different endogenous flow estimates, with the NFD method having the lowest values when compared with flows from the regression and highly digestible protein methods. In addition to the influence of methods on ileal EAA flows, the influence of the age of the birds on flow is important. Data on EAA losses are copious in the literature; however, variation in data across and within laboratories calls for investigation of factors contributing to the variation. This review compares results from different methods and examines the issue of repeatability and consistency of EAA losses data from different laboratories. Finally, composition of an NFD for estimating EAA losses is proposed.
Evaluating decision rules for dryland rotation crop selection

Abstract No-till dryland winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow systems in the central Great Plains have more water available for crop production than the traditional conventionally tilled winter wheat-fallow systems because of greater precipitation storage efficiency. That additional water is used most efficiently when a crop is present to transpire the water, and crop yields respond positively to increases in available soil water. The objective of this study was to evaluate yield, water use efficiency (WUE), precipitation use efficiency (PUE), and net returns of cropping systems where crop choice was based on established crop responses to water use while incorporating a grass/broadleaf rotation. Available soil water at planting was measured at several decision points each year and combined with three levels of expected growing season precipitation (70, 100, 130% of average) to provide input data for water use/yield production functions for seven grain crops and three forage crops. The predicted yields from those production functions were compared against established yield thresholds for each crop, and crops were retained for further consideration if the threshold yield was exceeded. Crop choice was then narrowed by following a rule which rotated summer crops (crops planted in the spring with most of their growth occurring during summer months) with winter crops (crops planted in the fall with most of their growth occurring during the next spring) and also rotating grasses with broadleaf crops. Yields, WUE, PUE, value-basis precipitation use efficiency ($PUE), gross receipts, and net returns from the four opportunity cropping (OC) selection schemes were compared with the same quantities from four set rotations [wheat-fallow (conventional till), (WF (CT)); wheat-fallow (no-till), (WF (NT)); wheat–corn ( Zea mays L.)-fallow (no-till), (WCF); wheat–millet ( Panicum miliaceum L.) (no-till), (WM)]. Water use efficiency was greater for three of the OC selection schemes than for any of the four set rotations. Precipitation was used more efficiently using two of the OC selection schemes than using any of the four set rotations. Of the four OC cropping decision methods, net returns were greatest for the method that assumed average growing season precipitation and allowed selection from all possible crop choices. The net returns from this system were not different from net returns from WF (CT) and WF (NT). Cropping frequency can be effectively increased in dryland cropping systems by use of crop selection rules based on water use/yield production functions, measured available soil water, and expected precipitation.
Accrediting as a means of improving undergraduate training in science

In recent weeks I have been in consultation at the Capitol to talk about the future of the Selective Service Act. I was particularly struck by the sentiment even now among senators against any differentiation in treatment for highly-trained scientific personnel. I have been afraid that this basic issue would be avoided by successive temporizations as the Selective Service Act was extended a little at a time. I still think that is what will happen. In the kind of civilization in which we live I know you agree with me we need to be very careful to provide for a supply of specialists. That realization, I am afraid, is not going to occur in the minds of Congress. But that is a digression.
MANIPULATING VINEYARD IRRIGATION AMOUNTS TO REDUCE INSECT PEST DAMAGE

Insect herbivore densities can respond to changes in host plant vigor. While many basic studies have described the generalized patterns and mechanisms of host plant influence on herbivore densities and biological traits, fewer studies have shown practical applications for the observed ecological patterns. We assessed the effect of different irrigation amounts on grapevine (Vitis vinifera L., cv. Thompson Seedless) condition and the resulting changes to an insect herbivore (the variegated leafhopper, Erythroneura variabilis Beamer). Water amounts delivered to vines were manipulated with respect to amounts delivered in a weighing lysimeter: 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4 times that used by vines in the lysimeter. We then followed plant growth measurements and leafhopper density and biological traits throughout the growing season. By August and September, midday leaf water potential, mean shoot length, vegetative growth, and pruning mass were a positive linear function of applied water amounts. The amount of N per unit leaf area decreased as applied water amounts increased. Similar to measured levels of vine growth, there was a seasonal response of leafhopper density to applied water amounts. By August and September, leafhopper density was a positive linear function of applied water amounts. Dry mass of fifth instar leafhoppers, the numbers of marked and recaptured adults, and leafhopper egg deposition were also positively correlated to irrigation amounts. Our results indicate that the greatest influence of manipulated vine growth and irrigation amounts may be due to differences in adult leafhopper movement and reproductive potential, which has implications for dispersal of pests between vineyards. We demonstrated that applied irrigation amounts to vines can be manipulated to suppress insect herbivore density without negatively influencing crop yield. We discuss our results of insect herbivore response to changes in plant water stress within the context of the plant vigor hypothesis.
The Relationship Between Systemic Hemodynamic Perturbations and Periventricular- Intraventricular Hemorrhage—A Historical Perspective

Periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PV-IVH) remains the major cause of injury to the developing brain. Predisposing factors include a germinal matrix with an immature vasculature, a pressure passive cerebral circulation, and hemodynamic perturbations in sick premature infants. Intact cerebral autoregulation has been documented in stable premature infants; however, it functions within a limited blood pressure range and is likely to be absent in the sick hypotensive infant, which increases the risk for PV-IVH with perturbations in blood pressure. The risk for PV-IVH is markedly increased in the absence of antenatal glucocorticoid exposure in the intubated low birthweight infant <1000 g with respiratory distress syndrome; +/- other complications. Although surfactant administration reduces the severity of respiratory distress syndrome, it has not led to a reduction in PV-IVH. Early postnatal administration of indomethacin has been associated with a reduction in PV-IVH, although this has not translated into long-term neurocognitive benefits.
An Evaluation of Alternative Physical Graph Data Designs for Processing Interactive Social Networking Actions

This study quantifies the tradeoff associated with alternative physical representations of a social graph for processing interactive social networking actions. We conduct this evaluation using a graph data store named Neo4j deployed in a client-server (REST) architecture using the BG benchmark. In addition to the average response time of a design, we quantify its SoAR defined as the highest observed throughput given the following service level agreement: 95 % of actions to observe a response time of 100 ms or faster. For an action such as computing the shortest distance between two members, we observe a tradeoff between speed and accuracy of the computed result. With this action, a relational data design provides a significantly faster response time than a graph design. The graph designs provide a higher SoAR than a relational one when the social graph includes large member profile images stored in the data store.
Informal and formal channels in boundary‐spanning communication

Boundary-spanning communication has been found to be important to various types of organizations and groups as a source of new information and awareness of environmental changes. Although the importance of formal, public channels in building the knowledge base of a field has long been recognized, most studies of boundary-spanning activity have been limited to direct, personal (informal) communication. This study examines both informal and formal communication patterns of three groups in order to determine whether, in fact, a variety of media are used in boundary-spanning communication. The groups selected were the members of three professions which fill intermediary positions between the creators and consumers of cultural products; one located in academia and two in the private sector. Major findings were that: (1) A boundary-spanning structure linking 82.2% of the survey respondents was composed of both informal and formal media. (2) The professions differed in which type of channel was most heavily used, but were similar in their perceptions of the importance of the channels. (3) Individuals central to the informal part of the structure were also more likely to use the formal parts of the structure. (4) Boundary-spanning media were among the five most frequently cited media for all three of the professions. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Interference effects in the conductance of multilevel quantum dots

Using exact-diagonalization techniques supplemented by a Dyson equation embedding procedure, the transport properties of multilevel quantum dots are investigated in the Kondo regime. The conductance can be decomposed into the contributions of each level. It is shown that these channels can carry a different phase, and destructive interference processes are observed when the phase difference between them is $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\ensuremath{\pi}$. This effect is very different from those observed in bulk metals with magnetic impurities, where the phase differences play no significant role. The effect is also different from other recent studies of interference processes in dots, as discussed in the text. In particular, no external magnetic field is introduced here, and the dot-leads hopping amplitude for all levels are the same. However, conductance cancellations induced by interactions are still observed. Another interesting effect reported here is the formation of localized states that do not participate in the transport. When one of these states crosses the Fermi level, the electronic occupation of the quantum dot changes, modifying the many-body physics of the system and indirectly affecting the transport properties. Unusual discontinuities between two finite conductance values can occur as the gate voltage is varied, as discussed here.
Professional development opportunities as retention incentives in child welfare

Abstract This study examined the career paths of 415 Title IV-E MSW graduates in one state retrospectively over 180 months post-graduation to discover factors that could be important in affecting retention in public child welfare agencies. The Title IV-E educational program is designed to be a retention strategy at the same time as it is a professionalization strategy. We surmised that perceived organizational support (POS) contributes to retention by acknowledging the workers' needs for career development support. The median survival time for these child welfare social workers was 43 months for the first job and 168 months for the entire child welfare career. The initial analysis showed steep drops in retention occurred at 24–36 months post-graduation, approximately at the end of the Title IV-E work obligation. Upon further examination, Kaplan–Meier tests showed organizational factors relevant to workers' professional career development predicted retention. Having access to continuing education and agency-supported case-focused supervision for licensure were correlated with retention at the 24–36 month post-graduation mark. At 72 months post-graduation, promotion to supervisor was a significant factor found to encourage retention. Being a field instructor for MSW students and being promoted to a managerial position were not significantly related to retention.
On clocks and clouds

Abstract. Cumulus clouds exhibit a life cycle that consists of (a) the growth phase (increasing size, most notably in the vertical direction); (b) the mature phase (growth ceases; any precipitation that develops is strongest during this period); and (c) the dissipation phase (cloud dissipates because of precipitation and/or entrainment; no more dynamical support). Although radar can track clouds over time and give some sense of the age of a cloud, most aircraft in situ measurements lack temporal context. We use large eddy simulations of trade wind cumulus cloud fields from cases during the Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment (BOMEX) and Rain In Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO) campaigns to demonstrate a potential cumulus cloud "clock." We find that the volume-averaged total water mixing ratio rt is a useful cloud clock for the 12 clouds studied. A cloud's initial rt is set by the subcloud mixed-layer mean rt and decreases monotonically from the initial value due primarily to entrainment. The clock is insensitive to aerosol loading, environmental sounding and extrinsic cloud properties such as lifetime and volume. In some cases (more commonly for larger clouds), multiple pulses of buoyancy occur, which complicate the cumulus clock by replenishing rt. The clock is most effectively used to classify clouds by life phase.
Noncontact Probes for Wire FaultLocation With Reflectometry

This paper describes an approach to locate wire faults using reflectometry without physical contact with the wire conductor. This noncontact method is capable of locating faults on both dead and live powered wires with today's reflectometry technologies, and it does not require any modification or disconnection of the existing wiring system. With proper configuration, this method can detect wire faults with an accuracy of 3 in, which is comparable to direct connection systems
Should Parents Be Co-Clients in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxious Youth?.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders in youth has been evaluated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and recent studies have sought to determine if the effects can be enhanced by an adjunctive parent component. The rationale for adding parents as active participants to treatment for anxious youth includes the notions that parenting factors (a) can contribute to the maintenance of anxiety, (b) could facilitate the generalization of treatment gains, and (c) have had favorable results in treatment of other childhood disorders. To date, there have been 9 CBT treatment outcome trials with anxious youth that included parents in treatment. This article (a) provides a critical review of the research on active parent involvement in CBT of anxious youth, (b) calculates and reports effect sizes emerging from these studies, and (c) recommends areas for future research.
Structural violence and environmental injustice: the case of a US–Mexico border chemical plant

As environmental burdens have shifted from the core towards the periphery of the world economic system, transnational environmental injustices have emerged. We examine a case of transnational environmental injustice related to a foreign-owned chemical plant located in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua (Mexico), which borders El Paso, Texas (USA). We utilise interview data from former employees, current neighbouring residents, and emergency managers from El Paso and Juarez, as well as Spanish language newspaper articles (1979–2010). To emphasise several aspects of socio-environmental marginality relevant to this case that have been under-examined in the environmental justice literature, we employ Paul Farmer's structural violence lens to draw attention to the importance of global scale, historical processes in shaping local cases; the embodiment of suffering; issues of intentionality; and limits of resistance and agency. This lens enables us to better illuminate and expose the roots of injustice for the purposes of...