cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrical potential and fluid transport across the corneal endothelium.

Abstract The electrical potential and the fluid pump across the endothelium of the excised rabbit cornea were measured simultaneously. When the pump was operating at its maximum, the average potential was 1·3 mV, with the aqueous humor negative to the stroma. Factors that inhibited the pump also diminished the potential, but the drop in the latter usually preceded that in the former. It is calculated that if the potential results from an anion pump which transports water by means of an osmotic mechanism, then the ion flux will be barely adequate to account for the water movement. Three alternative mechanisms which could give rise to the potential but which would not be directly responsible for the fluid transport are discussed.
Emerging equity markets in India: a case study

Defines the term “emerging market” and identifies the necessary preconditions which allow stock markets to develop: government commitment, market economy, a legal system and generally available education. Discusses some factors affecting equity market growth, e.g. economic and regulatory development/reform, legal and market structure reform, requirements for financial intermediaries, disclosure, accounting standards and education/training for participants in financial markets. Explains how these factors apply to India, giving statistical indicators for the economy and the Bombay Stock Exchange for 1991‐1995. Believes the prospects for foreign and domestic equity investment in India and other developing countries are good providing that they maintain a stable economy and an investor‐friendly environment
Multi-Product Economic Order Quantity Analysis Under Minimum Inventory Valuation Constraints*

The economic order quantity method is examined in the context of a required minimum valuation of a multi-product inventory. Such a context may arise when inventories are pledged to secure a loan. Two cases are developed according to the contractual nature of the minimum valuation requirement, and computational procedures are provided for each case. Implicit costs and loan interest rates attributable to valuation guarantees are examined via two examples. A management tool, the "c-over-v rule", emerges as a useful concept for allocating required buffer stocks and for estimating the maximum marginal loan interest rates attributable to valuation guarantees.
Neonatal seizures: early-onset seizure syndromes and their consequences for development.

The determination of the developmental consequences of seizure syndromes in the neonate is based upon a number of factors which include: understanding of the clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) features of neonatal seizures; current theories of the mechanisms by which neonatal seizures are generated; a current classification of neonatal seizures; potential etiologic and risk factors for seizures; and therapies. In addition, different seizure types, mechanisms of generation and etiologies of cerebral dysfunction may vary with conceptional age of the infant. There are a few distinct neonatal epileptic syndromes, which are rare, have been well described: benign neonatal convulsions; benign neonatal familial convulsions; early myoclonic encephalopathy and early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. The prognosis for the first two is relatively good while the outcome for the other two with encephalopathy is catastrophic. However, the majority of neonatal seizures occur as acute, reactive events in association with a wide range of etiologic factors. These etiologic factors, as well as those of the more traditionally defined syndromes, are the main determinants of eventual developmental outcome of neonates who experience seizures. Although experimental data suggests that some epileptic seizures eventually may have physiological, histological, metabolic, or behavioral consequences, there is yet direct evidence in humans to suggest that the occurrence of seizures themselves in the neonate is the main determinant of long-term outcome. MRDD Research Reviews 2000;6:229–241. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry in a Piston-cylinder Apparatus: Design and Calibration

We have designed and calibrated a piston-cylinder cell assembly suitable for conducting in situ measurements of enthalpies of phase transitions at elevated pressures by heat-flux differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The high-pressure DSC detector consists of a Pt-Ptl3%Rh thermopile wrapped around a frame of fired pyrophyllite. Four thermocouple junctions, arranged radially around the sample capsule, are connected in series, with four reference thermocouple junctions located 3–4 mm above the sample and embedded in thermally inert ceramic. A W-W25%Re control thermocouple is situated directly above the top of the sample; the whole detector assembly is enclosed in a 1.5 mm thick cylindrical ceramic sleeve located at the center of a 8–10 mm long “hot-zone” in the tapered graphite furnace. Using this detector design and cell assembly, we have observed the thermal signal associated with the fusion of Au at 0.5 and 1.2 GPa, and have calculated a calibration factor (K) for this detector based on the gold melting curve of Mirwald and Kennedy (1979). Detector sensitivity decreases by a factor of four over this pressure-temperature interval. The reproducibility of the enthalpy of fusion of gold at 0.5 GPa suggests that detector geometry is reproducible from one experiment to the next, and thus confirms the viability of this particular detector design for quantitative DSC measurements. Subsequent experiments will assess the dependence of (K) on temperature and pressure by measuring the enthalpies of fusion of additional metals (e. g., Ag, Cu, Al, Ge) and salts (e. g., NaCl, CsCl).
Parallel random number generations for Monte Carlo simulation

Modeling and simulation has been popularly used to explain complex phenomena or find knowledge in many areas such as science and engineering, business and economics, and social science. Monte Carlo simulation has been popularly used in modeling and simulation, and generating a sequence of random numbers has been at the center of Monte Carlo simulation. With the advent of parallel computing architecture, parallel modeling and simulation has been popular in many areas and many researches have been done to generate a sequence of random numbers in parallel computing environment. In this paper, we are proposing a framework to generate a sequence of random numbers in parallel and showing the usage of the framework in financial applications.
The Fate of Bad Things

A review of Kevin M. Moist and David Banash (eds), Contemporary Collecting: Objects, Practices and the Fate of Things (Scarecrow Press, 2013).
Iron Status of Women Is Associated with the Iron Concentration of Potable Groundwater in Rural Bangladesh

Women of reproductive age are at a high risk of iron deficiency, often as a result of diets low in bioavailable iron. In some settings, the iron content of domestic groundwater sources is high, yet its contribution to iron intake and status has not been examined. In a rural Bangladeshi population of women deficient in dietary iron, we evaluated the association between groundwater iron intake and iron status. In 2008, participants (n = 209 with complete data) were visited to collect data on 7-d food frequency, 7-d morbidity history, 24-h drinking water intake, and rice preparation, and to measure the groundwater iron concentration. Blood was collected to assess iron and infection status. Plasma ferritin (μg/L) and body iron (mg/kg) concentrations were [median (IQR)] 67 (46, 99) and 10.4 ± 2.6, respectively, and the prevalence of iron deficiency (ferritin < 12 μg/L) was 0%. Daily iron intake from water [42 mg (18, 71)] was positively correlated with plasma ferritin (r = 0.36) and total body iron (r = 0.35) (P < 0.001 for both). In adjusted linear regression analyses, plasma ferritin increased by 6.1% (95% CI: 3.8, 8.4%) and body iron by 0.3 mg/kg (0.2, 0.4) for every 10-mg increase in iron intake from water (P < 0.001). In this rural area of northern Bangladesh, women of reproductive age had no iron deficiency likely attributable to iron consumed from drinking groundwater, which contributed substantially to dietary intake. These findings suggest that iron intake from water should be included in dietary assessments in such settings.
Variation among acetylcholine receptor clusters induced by ciliary ganglion neurons in vitro

Abstract We have examined the variation in receptor density and area among neurite-associated acetylcholine receptor patches (NARPs) induced by chick ciliary ganglion neurons on nearby myotubes in vitro. Quantitative analysis of rhodamine-α-bungarotoxin (RBTX) NARPs revealed that about 15% of the NARPs were “outstanding” in terms of size (>60 μm2) and fluorescence intensity (>100 units on a 0–255 scale). The total number of receptors at different NARPs ranged over 3 orders of magnitude. It is likely that variation in NARP size and intensity reflects regional variation in the ability of myotubes to respond to the neuronal influence because (1) no gradient in NARP size or intensity with distance from the soma was evident; (2) the intensities and areas of uninnervated receptor clusters (hot spots) were similar to those of NARPs; (3) acetylcholinesterase was present at the same proportion of hot spots and NARPs at all times examined. We found no physiological or morphological evidence that outstanding NARPs were more effective sites of transmitter release. Outstanding NARPs were restricted to the longest neurite of individual neurons, so they may signal trophic interactions of the sort that promote neurite outgrowth and survival.
On the usefulness of quantitative safety goals for state regulation of energy systems

Abstract The potential usefulness of quantitative safety goals for energy systems in the State of California is evaluated. Five energy-related risk issues, previously dealt with by state regulatory agencies, are examined for the role played by risk in decision-making and the possible role that quantitative safety goals might have played. Several other energy-related risk situations are identified and briefly discussed. It is concluded that quantitative safety goals do not appear to be needed for risk management of energy systems in California. However, there does appear to be a role for a central office of risk management in the State governmental structure. Such an office would provide a reference and evaluation service for other agencies. The potential usefulness of establishing threshold levels of risk for different kinds of action is also noted.
The Case for Partitioning Virtual Machines on Multicore Architectures

In this paper we argue that partitioning is required for attaining the best performance of scientific applications when running on virtual machines. Current memory management and I/O handling techniques introduce high overhead when running scientific applications. Using KVM, we quantify this impact on applications written in multiple paradigms: message passing, shared memory and partitioned global address spaces. Our analysis shows that on NUMA systems, current memory translation schemes cannot preserve the locality of access and introduce up to 82% slowdown. We discuss the interaction between contemporary OS and VM architectures and argue that partitioning is the only feasible solution to enforce memory locality. Current I/O solutions using one assistant task cannot provide the level of I/O parallelism required by scientific applications and we observe an average 7.2x application slowdown on a cluster with 16 cores per node. More specialized solutions that implement shared memory by-pass within the communication stack also do not scale well with cores and we observe an average 2.4x application slowdown. Overall, our results indicate that using partitioning and direct inter-VM shared memory support is enough to provide close to native performance in manycore clusters.
Seasonal variations of trimethylamine oxide and urea in the blood of a cold-adapted marine teleost, the rainbow smelt.

Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), which has previously not been known to occur in significant amounts in the blood of marine teleosts, rose to concentrations of approximately 50 mM in the blood of winter-acclimatized rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax. Urea also increased in the blood of cold-acclimatized smelt, and, with TMAO, contributed significantly to the winter freezing point depression. TMAO and urea also varied seasonally in muscle and liver tissues. TMAO and urea appeared to be reabsorbed from the urine. Losses of TMAO and urea from the head region of the fish, where most of the losses appeared to occur, were approximately 9 μmol and 8 μmol 100 g−1 h−1, respectively. Despite the effluxes, TMAO and urea levels in both the blood and muscle either increased or were maintained in starved, cold-acclimated fish, suggesting that they were synthesized in response to cold temperature. TMAO was also found in the blood of some other cold-hardy teleosts.
Peroxide modification of a multicomponent polymer blend with potential applications in recycling

A mixture of seven immiscible “virgin” plastics, namely low and high density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), crystal and high impact polystyrene (PS and HIPS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in proportions representative of those currently found in post-consumer plastics containers, was compounded in a corotating twin-screw extruder. The mechanical properties of the blend were improved through the addition of relatively high concentrations of a dialkyl peroxide which was also found to drastically affect the blend morphology. The results are interpreted in terms of improved dispersive mixing favored by the similarity in the rheological behavior of the modified blend components, improved physical properties of certain blend components upon peroxide modification, and, possibly, enhanced intefacial adhesion. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Taxadiene synthase-catalyzed cyclization of 6-fluorogeranylgeranyl diphosphate to 7-fluoroverticillenes.

The mechanism of the taxadiene synthase-catalyzed cyclization of (E,E,E)-geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP, 7) to taxadiene (5) is proposed to proceed through a verticillen-12-yl carbocation intermediate (8) that undergoes an 11 → 7 proton transfer leading to formation of the C ring. The substrate analogue 6-fluoroGGPP (17) was synthesized to elucidate the stereochemistry of the putative verticillenyl intermediate. It was expected that the inductive electron-withdrawing effect of the fluoro substituent would prevent the critical proton transfer to the Δ7 double bond and thereby derail the cyclization at the bicyclic stage. Incubation of the fluoro analogue with recombinant taxadiene synthase yielded a mixture of three major and two minor fluoro diterpenes according to GC/MS analyses. The three major products were identified as the exocyclic, endocyclic, and 4(20)-methylene 7-fluoroverticillenes, i.e., Δ3,7,12 (18), Δ3,7,12, and Δ4(20),7,11 isomers (22, 23, and 24) on the basis of 1H NMR analyses and compar...
Natural history of dental plaque accumulation in mechanically ventilated adults: A descriptive correlational study

Summary Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the pattern of dental plaque accumulation in mechanically ventilated adults. Accumulation of dental plaque and bacterial colonisation of the oropharynx is associated with a number of systemic diseases including ventilator associated
Analysis of Fluorescence Spectra of Rare‐Earth Chelates. II. Dipyridyl Complexes of Europic Chloride

Fluorescence spectrum analysis of europic chloride dipyridyl chelates, deriving molecular geometric arrangement and interatomic distances from calculated ligand-field parameters
Secretion of lipid‐poor nascent human apolopoprotein apoAI, apoCIII, and apoE by cell clones expressing the corresponding genes

The human apolipoprotein apoAI, apoCIII, and apoE genes were placed under the control of the mouse metallothionein 1 promoter in a bovine papilloma virus vector that also contained the human metallothionein IA gene. Following transfection of mouse C127 cells with the expression vector, cell clones resistant to Cd2+ were selected and found to express in high abundance specific apolipoprotein genes. Individual cell clones expressing apoAI, apoCIII, or apoE genes were used further to study the isoprotein composition and the flotation properties of the corresponding nascent apolipoproteins. It was found that the lipoproteins secreted by cell clones ex-pressing the apoAL, apoCIII, and apoE genes consisted of the proapoAI disialylated form of apoCIII (apoCIIIs2) and mainly sialylated forms of apoE. Separation of the secreted apolipoproteins by density gradient ultracentrifugation resulted in limited flotation of nascent apoAI, apoE and apoCIII in the high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction. Similar analysis in the presence of human serum increased the flotation of apoAI, apoE, and apoCIII to 6.5-, 4.5-, and 5.5-fold, respectively, and resulted in their redistribution to various lipoprotein fractions. HDL increased the flotation of apoAI to 12-fold and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) increased the flotation of apoCIII and apoE to 6.5- and 5.5-fold, respectively. These findings suggest that in the cell system used, the majority of nascent apoAI, apoCIII and apoE is secreted in the lipid-poor form, which then associates extracellularly with preexisting lipoproteins.
Electromyographic, neuropathologic, and functional correlates in the cat as the result of tri-o-cresyl phosphate delayed neurotoxicity.

Abstract To investigate the cat as a test animal for organophosphorous compound-induced delayed neurotoxicity, tri- o -cresyl phosphate (TOCP) was applied directly on the unprotected back of the neck of young adult cats. Single dermal doses, ranging from 250 to 2000 mg/kg TOCP, or subchronic daily administration of 1 to 100 mg/kg produced delayed neurotoxic effects in the cat. Severity of delayed neurotoxicity depended on the dose and duration. Clinical signs were characterized by hindlimb weakness, ataxia, and paresis. Electromyographic abnormalities resulting from acute denervation were observed in most cats that developed a neurologic deficit. No changes were seen in the motor nerve conduction, thus suggesting that the deficits were in the terminal branch rather than being diffuse lesions in the peripheral nerves. These results correlated well with histopathologic results showing lesions in the most distal portion of the longest tracts in both central and peripheral nervous systems. In the spinal cord, histopathologic studies showed that the ascending tracts of the upper cervical levels and descending tracts of the lumbosacral regions were affected most frequently. Although this study shows that the cat, like the chicken, is susceptible to TOCP-induced delayed neurotoxicity, it demonstrates two differences between the cat and the chicken: (1) greater sensitivity of the cat to the acute effect of TOCP, and (2) greater extent of recovery or improvement of the cat from delayed neurotoxicity. This recovery was demonstrated by: improvement of clinical signs, gain in body weight, disappearance of electromyographic abnormalities, and regeneration of peripheral nerves. Dermal administration of a single 100-mg/kg dose or subchronic 0.5-mg/kg doses of TOCP did not produce delayed neurotoxicity.
Rate-of-Return Regulation and Two-Part Tariffs

In choosing a two-part tariff, a monopoly subject to rate-of-return regulation will rely more on demand elasticities and less on marginal costs than would a welfare-maximizing firm. The rate-of-return regulated firm also will reduce its access fee or its marginal usage fee more, depending on whether adding consumers or increasing output requires marginally the most capital. In the typical case these effects will favor declining-block rate structures, which helps to explain their widespread use by rate-of-return regulated firms.
Scleroderma in childhood

The term "scleroderma" has been used to cover a wide spectrum of disease varying from a localized patch of cutaneous sclerosis to a rapidly fatal diffuse systemic illness. The course of disease in 16 children has been reviewed. Systemic involvement resulted in the death of 4 children. A significant question raised by the study was the relationship of the focal form of scleroderma to the diffuse systemic disease. Multiple system involvement occurred in either type, although more commonly associated with diffuse cutaneous lesions. Whether the disease is localized or diffuse, each patient deserves regular re-evaluation for evidence of systemic as well as cutaneous scleroderma.
Interactive effects of rutin and constant versus alternating temperatures on performance of Manduca sexta caterpillars

The effects of different concentrations of rutin and constant temperature (20 °C) versus alternating temperatures (23:15 °C) on growth, molting and food utilization efficiencies of third instar tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta) were determined. Relative consumption rate (RCR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were significantly higher for larvae at the alternating thermal regime compared to those at the constant (representing the average) temperature. With increasing concentrations of rutin, the negative effect of rutin on RCR and RGR increased for the larvae in the alternating thermal regime; however, at the constant temperature, rutin had little effect. The alternating thermal regime promoted synchrony in the timing of spiracle apolysis (the earliest morphological marker of molt). Rutin disrupted that synchrony. I discuss how patterns of host plant resistance may be altered with a decrease in amplitude of diurnal temperatures (as has been documented recently for temperate regions) through the uncoupling of herbivore performance and allelochemical concentration. I conclude that simultaneous consideration of fluctuating temperatures and allelochemicals is advisable when assessing the effects of temperature and allelochemicals on performance of insect herbivores because interactive effects between temperature and dietary components occur and perhaps are common.
The EGFR Is Required for Proper Innervation to the Skin

EGFR family members are essential for proper peripheral nervous system development. A role for EGFR itself in peripheral nervous system development in vivo, however, has not been reported. We investigated whether EGFR is required for cutaneous innervation using Egfr null and skin-targeted Egfr mutant mice. Neuronal markers; including PGP9.5, GAP-43, acetylated tubulin, and neurofilaments; revealed that Egfr null dorsal skin was hyperinnervated with a disorganized pattern of innervation. In addition, receptor subtypes such as lanceolate endings were disorganized and immature. To determine whether the hyperinnervation phenotype resulted from a target-derived effect of loss of EGFR, mice lacking EGFR expression in the cutaneous epithelium were examined. These mice retained other aspects of the cutaneous Egfr null phenotype but exhibited normal innervation. The sensory deficits in Egfr null dorsal skin were not associated with any abnormality in the morphology or density of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons or Schwann cells. However, explant and dissociated cell cultures of DRG revealed more extensive branching in Egfr null cultures. These data demonstrate that EGFR is required for proper cutaneous innervation during development and suggest that it limits axonal outgrowth and branching in a DRG-autonomous manner.
The flora of some relict Oak woods in Wester Ross.

Abstract Species lists of vascular plants were collected for ten woodlands in Wester Ross. The localities were compared on the basis of these lists and found to be a series from acid, heavily grazed woods containing 41–50 species; to a lightly grazed, base-rich wood in which 124 species were recorded. Tree regeneration and the present status of the woods is discussed.
The effectiveness of head start: Another look

(1978). The effectiveness of head start: Another look. Educational Psychologist: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 71-77.
Staggered heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory

Although taste violations significantly affect the results of staggered calculations of pseudoscalar and heavy-light mesonic quantities, those entering staggered calculations of baryonic quantities have not been quantified. Here I develop staggered chiral perturbation theory in the light-quark baryon sector by mapping the Symanzik action into heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. For 2+1 dynamical quark flavors, the masses of flavor-symmetric nucleons are calculated to third order in partially quenched and fully dynamical staggered chiral perturbation theory. To this order the expansion includes the leading chiral logarithms, which come from loops with virtual decuplet-like states, as well as terms of O(m{sub {pi}}{sup 3}), which come from loops with virtual octet-like states. Taste violations enter through the meson propagators in loops and tree-level terms of O(a{sup 2}). The pattern of taste symmetry breaking and the resulting degeneracies and mixings are discussed in detail. The resulting chiral forms are appropriate to lattice results obtained with operators already in use and could be used to study the restoration of taste symmetry in the continuum limit. I assume that the fourth root of the fermion determinant can be incorporated in staggered chiral perturbation theory using the replica method.
Hepatic lipotoxicity and the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: The central role of nontriglyceride fatty acid metabolites

A significant body of evidence now forces us to rethink the causes of NASH. Once thought to be a disease caused by triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes with subsequent oxidant stress and lipid peroxidation causing inflammation and fibrosis, new data from animal studies and a limited number of human studies now provide convincing evidence that triglyceride accumulation does not cause insulin resistance or cellular injury in the liver. The lipotoxic liver injury hypothesis for the pathogenesis of NASH suggests that we need to focus our therapeutic efforts on reducing the burden of fatty acids going to the liver or being synthesized in the liver. This can be accomplished by improving insulin sensitivity at the level of adipose tissue to prevent inappropriate peripheral lipolysis and by preventing unnecessary de novo lipogenesis in the liver. Excess carbohydrates are the major substrates for de novo lipogenesis, and thus, reducing carbohydrate consumption through dietary changes and increasing muscle glucose uptake through exercise remain important cornerstones of treatment and prevention of lipotoxic liver injury, a disease hitherto called NASH.
Propoxyphene and norpropoxyphene plasma concentrations after oral propoxyphene in cirrhotic patients with and without surgically constructed portacaval shunt

Plasma concentrations of propoxyphene and its major metabolite, norpropoxyphene, were determined over at least 12 hr after oral administration of 130 mg dextropropoxyphene hydrochloride to eight men with hepatic cirrhosis, of whom four had a surgically constructed portacaval shunt, and to seven healthy men. Propoxyphene concentrations were appreciably higher and norpropoxyphene concentrations were much lower in the patients than in the normal subjects. The ratio of areas under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 hr, norpropoxyphene:propoxyphene, was 0.70 ± 0.46 (x ± SD) in patients and 3.94 ± 0.83 in normal subjects. A similar decrease in this ratio was observed previously in otherwise healthy dogs after surgical construction of a portacaval shunt when propoxyphene was given orally, but not after intravenous injection of the drug. A woman with portacaval shunt and essentially complete renal failure was also studied; she exhibited the highest propoxyphene peak concentration in this investigation and had no detectable norpropoxyphene in plasma. Most of the patients, unlike the normal subjects, experienced considerable sedation after propoxyphene. These results are probably due to increased systemic availability of orally administered propoxyphene in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and possibly to increased receptor response to the drug by these patients. It is concluded that propoxyphene should be administered cautiously and in reduced doses to patients with hepatic dysfunction. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 28, 417–424; doi:10.1038/clpt.1980.182
A diffuse interface model of two-phase flow in porous media

A singlephase, twocomponent mixture Darcyscale model characterized by a diffuse interface is proposed as a rational alternative to the conventional singular interface Darcyscale empirical model cur...
An observation of sea-spray microphysics by airborne Doppler radar

This paper describes observations and analysis of Doppler radar data from a down-looking 94 GHz (W-Band) system operated from a NOAA WP-3 Orion research aircraft in Tropical Storm (TS) Karen. The flight took place on 5 October 2013; Karen had weakened with maximum winds around 20 m s−1. Doppler spectral moments from the radar were processed to retrieve sea-spray microphysical properties (drop size and liquid water mass concentration) profiles in the height range 75–300 m above the sea surface. In the high wind speed regions of TS Karen (U10 > 15 m s−1), sea spray was observed with a nominal mass-mode radius of about 40 µm, a radar-weighted gravitational fall velocity of about 1 m s−1, and a mass concentration of about 10−3 gm−3 at 75 m. Spray-drop mass concentration declined with height to values of about 10−4 gm−3 at 300 m. Drop mass decreased slightly more slowly with increasing height than predicted by surface-layer similarity theory for a balance of turbulent diffusion vs fall velocity.
The Effect of Prior Colonic Imaging on Endoscopic Productivity: Potential Impact of Computed Tomographic Colonography

Background & Aims: If computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is used for primary colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with a small polyp size threshold to define a CTC study as positive, a substantial portion of all colonoscopies performed annually will be to follow up positive CTC examinations. Moreover, the majority of positive CTC examinations would be false positives (FP). This case-control study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that colonoscopy examinations resulting from FP CTC studies would take longer to complete than negative screening colonoscopies. Methods: Endoscopic records of a large, urban hospital were reviewed to identify all patients who had either a positive barium enema (BE) study or flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) and a negative follow-up colonoscopy examination (these patients were used as surrogates for CTC FP cases). For each of the 28 FP patients or cases identified, 2 screening colonoscopies performed by the same endoscopist within the same time period were identified and used as matched controls. A two-way analysis of variance test was performed to assess for differences in time to complete colonoscopies between these 2 groups, controlling for the individual endoscopist. Results: FP colonoscopies took an average of 24.0 minutes to complete, whereas negative screening colonoscopies took 14.9 minutes; FP colonoscopies required 61% more active time to complete. This highly statistically significant difference (P < .0001) persisted with subset analyses that only included BE or FS cases and when fellow or surgeon cases were excluded. Conclusions: FP colonoscopies take longer to perform than negative screening colonoscopies. If CTC is implemented as the primary modality for CRC screening, these FP examinations could comprise a substantial percentage of the colonoscopies performed, potentially leading to a significant decrease in endoscopic productivity.
The relative importance of sexual reproduction versus clonal spread in an aridland bunchgrass

Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) is a perennial caespitose grass, common in semi-arid rangelands of the Intermountain West. To determine how individuals are recruited into a population, we studied two long-term monitoring plots that were established in 1937 at the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range in southeastern Oregon. The plots measured 3.05×3.05 m, and were located approximately 30 m apart. One plot was ungrazed, the other was subject to moderate levels of cattle grazing. The number of F. idahoensis plants in both plots increased ten-fold between 1937 and 1996, but whether this was due primarily to reproduction by seed or clonal fragmentation was unknown. In 1996, we mapped and sampled 160 plants of F. idahoensis. We used dominant inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and codominant allozyme markers in order to identify genetic individuals and measure genetic diversity. Both plots were characterized by high levels of genetic and clonal diversity. When information from ISSRs, allozymes and sample location were combined, 126 genets were recognized, each consisting of one to four samples (ramets). By measuring the diameter of clones surrounding plants that were present in 1937, we estimated that clonal spread occurred at a rate of approximately 3.7 cm per decade, and thus was of secondary importance in the maintenance and increase of F. idahoensis stands. Sexual reproduction, rather than clonal fragmentation, accounted for most of the recruitment of new plants into these plots. The grazed plot had fewer ramets, genotypes, and clones than the ungrazed plot, but the ramets were significantly larger. Levels of genetic diversity did not differ in the grazed and ungrazed plots, but there was some evidence for a small, but significant level of genetic differentiation between the two. The results also indicate that F. idahoensis has the potential to be a long-lived species with some individuals persisting in excess of 60 years. This study demonstrates how long-term monitoring can be supplemented by genetic analysis to obtain detailed information on the population dynamics of plants. In the case of this community dominant species, this provides essential information for understanding succession and developing management and restoration strategies.
Thinking about quantity: the intertwined development of spatial and numerical cognition

There are many continuous quantitative dimensions in the physical world. Philosophical, psychological, and neural work has focused mostly on space and number. However, there are other important continuous dimensions (e.g., time and mass). Moreover, space can be broken down into more specific dimensions (e.g., length, area, and density) and number can be conceptualized discretely or continuously (i.e., natural vs real numbers). Variation on these quantitative dimensions is typically correlated, e.g., larger objects often weigh more than smaller ones. Number is a distinctive continuous dimension because the natural numbers (i.e., positive integers) are used to quantify collections of discrete objects. This aspect of number is emphasized by teaching of the count word sequence and arithmetic during the early school years. We review research on spatial and numerical estimation, and argue that a generalized magnitude system is the starting point for development in both domains. Development occurs along several lines: (1) changes in capacity, durability, and precision, (2) differentiation of the generalized magnitude system into separable dimensions, (3) formation of a discrete number system, i.e., the positive integers, (4) mapping the positive integers onto the continuous number line, and (5) acquiring abstract knowledge of the relations between pairs of systems. We discuss implications of this approach for teaching various topics in mathematics, including scaling, measurement, proportional reasoning, and fractions.
Dynamic Headspace Gas Chromatography Combined with Multivariate Analysis to Classify Fresh and Processed Orange Juices

Abstract Sixty-two commercially processed and fresh orange juice samples were analyzed by headspace gas chromatography to quantify 46 volatile constituents in each sample. Computer multivariate analysis was then used to classify these juices into three types based on degree of processing employed. The three types were unpasteurized, pasteurized not from concentrate and reconstituted to single strength from frozen concentrated juice. Principal components (PC) analysis using the first three PC's in a three dimensional graphics plot was the most effective means of classification for these samples. The computer program also provided information regarding the constituents most important to this classification technique. Such classification has potential for use in quality control and in improving quality of processed orange juices.
Three-year growth response of young Douglas-fir to nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and blended fertilizers in Oregon and Washington

Studies of nutrient limitation in Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest focus predominantly on nitrogen, yet many stands demonstrate negligible or even negative growth response to nitrogen fertilization. To understand what nutrients other than nitrogen may limit forest productivity in this region, we tested six fertilizer treatments for their ability to increase stem volume growth response of dominant and co-dominant trees in young Douglas-fir plantations across a range of foliar and soil chemistry in western Oregon and Washington. We evaluated responses to single applications of urea, lime, calcium chloride, or monosodium phosphate at 16 sites, and to two site-specific nutrients blends at 12 of these sites. Across sites, the average stem volume growth increased marginally with urea, lime, and phosphorus fertilization. Fertilization responses generally aligned with plant and soil indicators of nutrient limitation. Response to nitrogen addition was greatest on soils with low total nitrogen and high exchangeable calcium concentrations. Responses to lime and calcium chloride additions were greatest at sites with low foliar calcium and low soil pH. Response to phosphorus addition was greatest on sites with low foliar phosphorus and high soil pH. Blended fertilizers yielded only marginal growth increases at one site, with no consistent effect across sites. Overall, our results highlight that calcium and phosphorus can be important growth limiting nutrients on specific sites in nitrogen-rich Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest.
Enhanced electron trapping near channel edges in NMOS transistors

Charge trapping in the gate oxide of NMOS transistors due to constant-voltage Fowler-Nordheim injection was investigated. Results from several different measurement methods consistently indicated strongly enhanced electron trapping in the gate oxide near the channel edges and in the gate oxide overlaps above drain and source, although net positive charge was observed in the bulk of the channel. The edge trapping effect could increase the electrical channel length by as much as 0.5 mu m and is independent of the channel length. Possible reasons for the observed phenomena are discussed. >
Parallel Architecture With Resistive Crosspoint Array for Dictionary Learning Acceleration

This paper proposes a parallel architecture with resistive crosspoint array. The design of its two essential operations, read and write, is inspired by the biophysical behavior of a neural system, such as integrate-and-fire and local synapse weight update. The proposed hardware consists of an array with resistive random access memory (RRAM) and CMOS peripheral circuits, which perform matrix-vector multiplication and dictionary update in a fully parallel fashion, at the speed that is independent of the matrix dimension. The read and write circuits are implemented in 65 nm CMOS technology and verified together with an array of RRAM device model built from experimental data. The overall system exploits array-level parallelism and is demonstrated for accelerated dictionary learning tasks. As compared to software implementation running on a 8-core CPU, the proposed hardware achieves more than 3000 $\times$ speedup, enabling high-speed feature extraction on a single chip.
The Social Life of Trees: Anthropological Perspectives On Tree Symbolism

The Social Life of Trees: Anthropological Perspectives on Tree Symbolism. Laura Rival. ed. Oxford: Berg, 1998. ix. 315 pp., photographs, figures, tables, index.
Accelerated degradation-tests with tightened critical values

ALT (accelerated life tests) are widely used to provide quickly the information about life distributions of products. Life data at elevated stresses are extrapolated to estimate the life distribution at design stress. The existing estimation methods are efficient and easy to implement-given sufficient life data. However, ALT frequently results in few or no failures at low-level stress, making it difficult to estimate the life distribution. For products whose failures are defined in terms of performance characteristics exceeding their critical values, reliability assessment can be based on degradation measurements by using degradation models. The estimation, however, is usually mathematically complicated and computationally intensive. This paper presents a method for the estimation of life distribution by using life data from degradation measurements. Since the time-to-failure depends on the level of a critical value, more life data can be obtained by tightening the critical value. The relationship between life and critical value and stress is modeled and used to estimate the life distribution at a usual critical value and design stress. The model parameters are estimated by using maximum likelihood. The optimum test plans, which choose the critical values, stress levels, and proportions of sample size to each stress level, are devised by minimizing the asymptotic variance of the mean (log) life at a usual critical value and design stress. The comparison between the proposed and existing 2-level test plans shows that the proposed plans have smaller asymptotic variance and are less sensitive to the uncertainty of the pre-estimates of unknown parameters.
Mechanical behavior assessment of sucrose using nanoindentation

An experimental study of the elastic and plastic properties of sucrose single crystals, which can be considered to be a model material for both pharmaceutical excipients and explosives, has been carried out using nanoindentation. Instrumented indentation was used to characterize the properties of both habit and cleavage planes on the (100) and (001) orientations; the elastic modulus on the (100) is 38 GPa, while the modulus on the (001) is 33 GPa. The hardness of sucrose is approximately 1.5 GPa. Nanoindentation enables assessment of the onset of plastic deformation on cleaved surfaces, and a maximum shear stress of 1 GPa can be supported prior to plastic deformation. The deformation in this material is crystallographically dependent, with pileup around residual indentation impressions showing evidence of preferential slip system activity.
Race and Trust

This review considers that aspect of the voluminous trust literature that deals with race. After discussing the social conditions within which trust becomes relevant and outlining the distinctive contours of the three most common conceptualizations of trust—generalized, particularized, and strategic—I elaborate on the extent and nature of ethnoracial trust differences and provide an overview of the explanations for these differences. Ethnoracial differences in generalized trust are attributed to historical and contemporary discrimination, neighborhood context, and ethnoracial socialization. The consequences for the radius-of-trust problem are discussed with regard to particularized trust. And ethnoracial differences in strategic trust are located in structures of trustworthiness—such as social closure—and reputational concerns. I end the review with a brief discussion of social and economic consequences for trust gaps.
Di-n-Butyl Phthalate Induces Multinucleated Germ Cells in the Rat Fetal Testis Through a Nonproliferative Mechanism

In utero exposure to some phthalate esters adversely affects the development of the rat seminiferous cord, causing germ cell loss and increasing the number of multinucleated germ cells (MNGs). To understand the timing of MNG formation and determine whether it requires nuclear division, timed pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 500 mg/kg di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) or corn oil vehicle by oral gavage on Gestational Day (GD) 17 or 18 (0 h) and euthanized after 2, 4, 6, or 24 h or given a second dose at 24 h and euthanized 48 h after the initial dose. Dams were simultaneously exposed to 0.3 M 5-bromo-2'-deoxycitidine (BrdC; converted to 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridylate [BrdU] in vivo) through a subcutaneous micro-osmotic pump implanted at -2 h. In the testes of male fetuses, DBP induced MNGs significantly beginning at 4-6 h and dramatically by 24 h when exposure began on GD 18 but not GD 17. Seminiferous cord diameter was significantly elevated in testes of rats treated with DBP at 24 and 48 h, and cell death, measured by TUNEL assay, was significantly elevated by DBP only at 48 h, when treatment began on GD 18. TUNEL-labeled MNGs were rare. Overall BrdU labeling rate in the testis was unaffected by DBP. Only one of 606 MNGs in BrdU-labeled sections had a strongly positive nucleus, confirming a nonproliferative mechanism of MNG formation, which is a degenerative process with the potential to adversely affect testis development.
Funding Research in Emergency Diagnostic Imaging: Summary of a Panel Discussion at the 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference.

As part of the 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference "Diagnostic Imaging in the Emergency Department: A Research Agenda to Optimize Utilization," a panel of representatives from the National Institute of Health's Office of Emergency Care Research, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute was assembled to discuss future opportunities for funding research in this particular area of interest. Representatives from these agencies and organizations discussed their missions and priorities and how they distribute funding. They also addressed questions on mechanisms for new and established researchers to secure future funding.
Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring: Are We There Yet?

For the past 2 decades, the consensus paradigm for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has been based on the concept that the intensity of prevention efforts should match the absolute risk of the individual patient. Application of this concept in international guidelines
Political Connection and the Demand for Industry Specialist Auditors

Prior literature suggests that political connected firms are more likely to be associated with lower financial reporting quality than non-political connected firms. Industry specialist auditors have a higher reputation to provide high quality audit. Thus, I hypothesize that political connected firms have a higher demand for industry specialists in order to minimize the agency costs associated with political connection. Consistent with my prediction, I find a significant positive association between political connection and the demand for industry specialist auditors. Additional analyses indicate that client firms with political connect firms and firms with industry specialists are less likely to switch auditors. Moreover, for client firms that do switch auditors, I find that higher propensity for political connected firms to engage in upward and lateral switches than non-political connected firms. This study furthers our understanding on the impact of political connection on auditor choice in a U.S. setting.