cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Axial and transverse characterizations of ceramic candle filters

Ceramic candle filters are stiff composite tubes used in particle-removal during hot-gas filtration in coal energy generation. These filters are designed to withstand high temperature and pressure gradients. To determine the consistency in manufactured qualities of these filters, dynamic characterization method is recommended as a nondestructive evaluation technique. Six filters of the same manufactured batch were tested dynamically to establish the baseline properties of these filters. The test results are compared to theoretical values and are used to identify the variation in the manufactured products. This paper reports the frequencies in both transverse and axial directions indicating acceptable variations between all filters that are compatible to variations in measured physical parameters including density, stiffness and elastic modulus.
Modeling Parkinson’s Disease Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is hampered by a lack of access to affected human dopaminergic (DA) neurons on which to base experimental research. Fortunately, the recent development of a PD disease model using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides access to cell types that were previously unobtainable in sufficient quantity or quality, and presents exciting promises for the elucidation of PD etiology and the development of potential therapeutics. To more effectively model PD, we generated two patient-derived iPSC lines: a line carrying a homozygous p.G2019S mutation in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene and another carrying a full gene triplication of the α-synuclein encoding gene, SNCA. We demonstrated that these PD-linked pluripotent lines were able to differentiate into DA neurons and that these neurons exhibited increased expression of key oxidative stress response genes and α-synuclein protein. Moreover, when compared to wild-type DA neurons, LRRK2-G2019S iPSC-derived DA neurons were more sensitive to caspase-3 activation caused by exposure to hydrogen peroxide, MG-132, and 6-hydroxydopamine. In addition, SNCA-triplication iPSC-derived DA neurons formed early ubiquitin-positive puncta and were more sensitive to peak toxicity from hydrogen peroxide-induced stress. These aforementioned findings suggest that LRRK2-G2019S and SNCA-triplication iPSC-derived DA neurons exhibit early phenotypes linked to PD. Given the high penetrance of the homozygous LRRK2 mutation, the expression of wild-type α-synuclein protein in the SNCA-triplication line, and the clinical resemblance of patients afflicted with these familial disorders to sporadic PD patients, these iPSC-derived neurons may be unique and valuable models for disease diagnostics and development of novel pharmacological agents for alleviation of relevant disease phenotypes.
Which economic freedoms influence per capita real income

Several recent empirical studies find a strong, positive impact of economic freedom on economic growth. This finding is predicated upon the argument that increased economic freedom elevates the pace of economic activity through incentives and other means and hence generates higher economic growth. This study focuses on a similar, but not identical, potential impact of higher economic freedom levels. In particular, this study investigates the hypothesis that higher levels of economic freedom promote higher levels of economic activity and hence higher levels of per capita real income. The context of this empirical study is the 30 nations of the OECD over the study period 2003 to 2006. Panel Least Squares (PLS) estimations reveal that the level of per capita real income is an increasing function of business freedom, freedom from corruption, investment freedom, monetary freedom, government size freedom, trade freedom and property rights freedom, whereas fiscal freedom, labour freedom and financial freedom do ...
An assessment of Mississippi's nonindustrial private forest landowners knowledge of forestry BMP's

This study examined the knowledge levels of Mississippi Non Industrial Private Forest (NIPF) landowners. Data were collected by passing out surveys to participants in Best Management Practices (BMP) educational programs held in conjunction with County Forestry Association (CFA) meetings across Mississippi. Ten CFA's participated in this study. Educational program participants were asked to fill out a survey with several demographic and BMP questions prior to the educational program. Results show that BMP program participants owned an average of 113 hectares, whereas the average Mississippi NIPF landowner owns 20 hectares. Responses to BMP related questions show that Mississippi NIPF landowners have a low level of knowledge concerning BMP's. This situation is likely similar to other states in the Southeastern United States. It can be assumed that county forestry association members are more active and informed about managing their forest land. Therefore, these results may overestimate the BMP knowledge level all landowners in Mississippi.Improved educational programs for NIPF landowners, along with better communication between foresters, loggers, and NIPF landowners are needed if BMP's are to be implemented effectively in Mississippi and across the southern region.
The Effect of Cod-Liver Oil on Tumor Growth

Introduction Sugiura and Benedict (1925) fed cod-liver oil and various vegetable oils and found them without influence on the percentage of takes obtained or on the rate of growth of the Flexner-Jobling rat carcinoma or the Bashford and Twort mouse carcinoma. Preliminary experiments in connection with the effect of dietary fats on growth and composition of tumors (Haven, 1935) had indicated that cod-liver oil inhibits the growth of a rat carcinosarcoma. This fact is further substantiated in the present paper. Experimental Tumor: The tumor used throughout the subsequent experiments was rat carcinosarcoma 256 obtained from the Institute of Cancer Research, Columbia University. Young male rats weighing from 70 to 100 gm. were inoculated subcutaneously in the groin by the trocar method. In each of the experiments all the rats were inoculated from the same tumor. Diets: The diet used was Diet Number 262 (Sinclair, 1931) having the following percentage composition: The fats used were cod-liver oil of iodine number 157 and, for comparison, coconut oil of iodine number 9. When coconut oil was fed, vitamins A and D were supplied by dissolving the unsaponifiable matter from 5 gm. of cod-liver oil in each 100 gm. of fat. In each of the experiments half of the rats were placed on the cod-liver oil diet and half on the coconut oil diet on the day of inoculation and kept on this diet until the tumors were removed. Measurement of Tumor Growth: The method of measurement of tumor growth involved weighing the tumor at the time of removal from the animal which, in the majority of cases, was from five to seven weeks after inoculation. To permit comparison of the growth of a tumor of one age with that of a tumor of another age, the growth tendency of each tumor has been calculated by means of a formula of Bierich and Lang (1933) involving the weight of the tumor in grams upon its removal from the rat and its age in days from the date of inoculation, namely, Wt.=a.t2; a (growth tendency of the tumor) = weight/time2 × 10,000.
Image signatures for place recognition and map construction

For reliable navigation, a mobile robot needs to be able to recognize where it is in the world. We describe an efficient and effective image-based representation of perceptual information for place recognition. Each place is associated with a set of stored image signatures, each a matrix of numbers derived by evaluating some measurement function over large blocks of pixels. Measurements are chosen to be characteristic of a location yet reasonably invariant over different viewing conditions. Signature matching can be done quickly by element wise comparison. Additional stability can be gotten by matching signatures at offsets or across scales. Signatures can be stored in a k-d tree so that retrieval of similar signatures is fast. We can also use several types of measurements in tandem to enhance recognition accuracy. We present preliminary experimental results which show up to 90% recognition accuracy. When used together with prior position information, we suggest that this performance is good enough to support reliable place recognition from a series of images.
Transient thermal analysis for radioactive liquid mixing operations in a large-scaled tank

Abstract A transient heat balance model was developed to assess the impact of a Submersible Mixer Pump (SMP) on radioactive liquid temperature during the process of waste mixing and removal for the high-level radioactive materials stored in Savannah River Site (SRS) tanks. The model results will be mainly used to determine the SMP design impacts on the waste tank temperature during operations and to develop a specification for a new SMP design to replace existing long-shaft mixer pumps used during waste removal. The present model was benchmarked against the test data obtained by the tank measurement to examine the quantitative thermal response of the tank and to establish the reference conditions of the operating variables under no SMP operation. The results showed that the model predictions agreed with the test data of the waste temperatures within about 10%.
A mechanistically designed bis-cinchona alkaloid ligand allows position- and enantioselective dihydroxylation of farnesol and other oligoprenyl derivatives at the terminal isopropylidene unit

Summary The mechanistically designed bis-cinchona alkaloid derivative 3 serves as an excellent catalytic ligand in the OsO4-promoted catalytic enantioselective dihydroxylation of the terminal isopropylidene group infamesyl, geranylgeranyl, and solanesyl esters and also squalene, with selectivity as high as 120: 1 with E,E-farnesyl acetate. 1H NMR and X-ray studies support the conformation described by 3 in which the V-shaped catalytic binding pocket is composed of the two 6-(4-heptyloxy)-quinoline units (sides and rear) and the naphthopyridazine linker (bottom).
Probing the association of triblock copolymers with supported lipid membranes using microcantilevers

Pluronics are a class of amphiphilic triblock copolymers that are known to interact with cellular membranes in interesting ways. The solubility of these triblock copolymers in free lipid membranes can be altered with temperature, allowing the possibility of tuning their membrane insertion. However, for supported lipid membranes, the asymmetric local environment and the strong influence of the solid support can alter the solubility of these triblock copolymers in lipid membranes. Here, we probe the interactions of these copolymers with supported lipid membranes using microcantilevers and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) measurements. We measure the solubility and interactions of triblock copolymers (F68 and F98) in supported lipid bilayers as a function of temperature and the length of the copolymer lipophilic block. A Langmuir isotherm model and a free mean area theory are applied to describe the polymer–lipid interactions at the microcantilever surface, determine association constants, and analyze the effect of triblock copolymers on lateral lipid diffusion.
Measurements of tangential stiffness and damping of mechanical joints: Direct versus indirect contact resonance methods

Abstract Mechanical joints are integral to modern structures and provide coupling forces, moments and damping between connected substructures. A widely used approach to modeling such structures with multiple joints is to use physical joint parameters of tangential stiffness and damping, which are difficult to obtain. In this paper, two experimental methods, referred to as direct fretting loop and indirect contact resonance methods are utilized to measure the tangential stiffness and damping of aluminum joints. The stiffness values obtained from both methods are in good agreement with each other and with the literature. Comparison and limitations of the two methods are presented.
Scatter imaging of injured brain slices: detection of mitochondrial injury

Stroke has been shown to cause exitotoxic injury, two of its manifestations being cellular and mitochondrial swelling. In vitro models of stroke attempt to reproduce the effects of stroke by treating brain tissue with excitotoxins or hypotonic solutions. To further resolve the mechanism of stroke injury, we have designed a dual-angle scatter imaging (DASI) system sensitive to particle size. The DASI system has been used with a hippocampal slice preparation to contrast cellular swelling, induced by hypotonicity, and combined cellular and mitochondrial swelling caused by excitotoxicity. We found that both hypotonic end excitotoxic treatments caused changes in light scatter. However, only excitotoxic treatment caused a significant change in DASI.
Relationship of success and expectation to affect on goal-seeking tasks.

EDWIN A. LOCKEAmerican Institutes for Research, Washington Office3 experiments examined the relationship between deviation of outcome fromexpectation and affect using goal-seeking tasks on which S was responsible forthe outcome. All experiments yielded a linear relationship between degree ofdeviation and affect, positive deviations (where S did better than expected)being valued more than negative deviations (where S did worse than expected).However, further analyses demonstrated that it was not deviation from ex-pectation that was responsible for the affect differences but success and failurewhich were associated with positive and negative deviations from expectancy,respectively. Success produced satisfaction and the same amount of satisfac-tion whether it was expected or unexpected; failure produced dissatisfactionand the same amount of dissatisfaction whether it was expected or unexpected.It was suggested, contrary to McClelland's theory, that it was the relationshipof outcome to aspiration (to what S wants or values) rather than the rela-tionship of outcome to expectation (or adaptation level) that determines affect.
Synchrony of Thalamocortical Inputs Maximizes Cortical Reliability

Thalamic inputs strongly drive neurons in the primary visual cortex, even though these neurons constitute only ~5% of the synapses on layer 4 spiny stellate simple cells. We modeled the feedforward excitatory and inhibitory inputs to these cells based on in vivo recordings in cats, and we found that the reliability of spike transmission increased steeply between 20 and 40 synchronous thalamic inputs in a time window of 5 milliseconds, when the reliability per spike was most energetically efficient. The optimal range of synchronous inputs was influenced by the balance of background excitation and inhibition in the cortex, which could gate the flow of information into the cortex. Ensuring reliable transmission by spike synchrony in small populations of neurons may be a general principle of cortical function.
Chronic effects of γ-interferon on quinolinic acid and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase in brain of C57BL6 mice

Abstract Chronic infections are associated with increased concentrations of the neuroactive kynurenine pathway metabolite, quinolinic acid (QUIN), in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. In the present study, repeated injections of γ-interferon (5000 IU, every 3 days for 39 days) to C57BL6 mice were associated with persistent activation of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the first enzyme of the kynurenine pathway, in lung and brain, sustained increases in brain QUIN concentration and increases in plasma l -kynurenine and QUIN levels. Mice chronically treated with γ-interferon offer an animal model to investigate the effects of sustained immune stimulation on kynurenine pathway metabolism.
Optical coherence tomographic findings in acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy.

Abstract Purpose To report two cases of acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy. Design Observational case reports. Methods Fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and electrophysiology were performed. Results Both patients presented with sudden onset of blurred vision and bilaterally symmetric, central, and perimacular vitelliform lesions. Perimacular lesions were faintly hyperfluorescent early in the disease, but there was no abnormal fluorescence in the macular centers. Optical coherence tomography revealed anterior displacement of the photoreceptor layer by a hypereflective subretinal layer overlying a hyporeflective space above the retinal pigment epithelium–choriocapillaris complex under all lesions and no subretinal fluid. The electrooculogram was abnormal. Near complete resolution occurred over 4 to 8 months, with no improvement in the electrooculogram. Conclusions Transient multifocal vitelliform lesions suggest a diagnosis of acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy. Optical coherence tomography reveals characteristic anterior displacement of the photoreceptor layer by a subretinal hypereflective deposit similar to that seen in adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy.
Accurate discontinuity detection using limited resolution information

Let low resolution spline wavelet or Fourier coefficient information be available for a function f=g+@e where g is a piecewise polynomial with jump discontinuities of itself and its derivatives and @e is the noise. We construct a function r such that the convolution r*g is a polynomial in the neighborhood of the jump and has the jump location as root, and such that the convolution can be calculated using only the available information and a rectangle rule quadrature. Applying this calculation to f=g+@e yields a polynomial which is perturbed from r*g by an amount proportional to the L"2-norm of @e. Some methods lose accuracy when large derivative jumps coincide with function jumps and resolution is limited, especially in the presence of noise. The present method maintains reasonable accuracy even with large derivative jumps and noise @?@e@?"2~.02@?f@?"2. The present method is a local method, and requires some other strategy to locate the proper polynomial regions. We present a simple method which produces approximate jump locations close enough to actual ones to locate the desired polynomial regions.
250 Consecutive Unilateral Extravesical Ureteral Reimplantations in an Outpatient Setting

Purpose: Unilateral extravesical ureteral reimplantation is comparable to intravesical procedures and more effective than subureteral injection to resolve vesicoureteral reflux. Initial reports showed that the procedure could be feasibly done on an outpatient basis. We present further data on a large series of consecutive, planned, outpatient unilateral extravesical ureteral reimplantations.Materials and Methods: A total of 250 consecutive patients underwent scheduled outpatient unilateral extravesical ureteral reimplantation. We retrospectively reviewed their records. Patient data were collected on reflux laterality and grade, operative time, hospital stay, complications, need for rehospitalization and resolution rate on radiography 1 month postoperatively.Results: A total of 209 females (84%) and 41 males (16%) underwent planned outpatient extravesical ureteral reimplantation, including on the left side in 158 (63%) and on the right side in 92 (37%). Mean reflux grade was 3.2 with grades II to V in 64 (...
Crime reduction outcomes associated with the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program

Abstract During the 1990s, the federal government began a program to reimburse local jails and prisons for the housing of alien repeat offenders. In this first ever nationwide assessment, crime reduction outcomes of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) were tested using twelve years of panel data from 10,339 jurisdictions. Results indicated that SCAAP funds were associated with reductions in robbery, burglary, and other UCR Part I offenses while controlling for changes in policing activity, receipt of other grants, and crime growth trends. The data analyzed also suggested that crime reduction outcomes were associated with COPS Hiring, COPS MORE, and Local Law Enforcement Block Grants. Although the specific mechanisms of SCAAP crime reduction remain unclear, these results were consistent with increases in jail capacity and improved coordination with immigration officials.
Cobaltocene reductions of multiply bonded dirhenium complexes. II. The isolation of the paramagnetic species [(η5-C5H5)2Co][Re2(hp)4X2] (hp = anion of 2-hydroxypyridine; X = Cl, Br, or I)

Abstract Reaction of the quadruply bonded dirhenium(III) complexes (n-Bu4N)2Re2X8 (X = Cl, Br, or I) with 2-hydroxypyridine (Hhp) in refluxing n-pentanol gives Re2(hp)4X2 in high yield (>;90%). These complexes are reduced by cobaltocene to yield the paramagnetic salts [(η5-C5H5)2Co][Re2(hp)4X2]. The spectroscopic (electronic absorption and infrared) and electrochemical properties of these sets of complexes are in accord with them possessing σ2π4δ2(Re26+) or σ2π4δ2δ*1(Re25+ ground state electronic configurations.
Students' perceptions of the school climate: implications for school safety

This study assessed school climate for both interpersonal and intrapersonal character traits and examined the links between school climate and students' perceptions of safety at school. Sixty-four elementary and 159 secondary students completed questionnaires in the spring. Findings revealed that character traits were reliably assessed for both grade levels. School climate was significantly related to safety, particularly interpersonal and environmental safety, while criminal/delinquent safety concerns were less related to character. Both interpersonal and intrapersonal character traits were related to students' perceptions of safety. Discussion focuses on possible linkages connecting school climate and safety and the need for further research.
How many P-polynomial Structures can an Association Scheme have?

As the Johnson association scheme J (2 k - 1, k - 1) shows, an association scheme sometimes has more than one P -polynomial structure. In this paper we prove that any one association scheme can have no more than two P -polynomial structures (except for the association scheme of an n -gon) and that an association scheme can have two P -polynomial structures in only a few different ways.
Performance of likelihood-based interval estimated for two-parameter exponential samples subject to type 1 censoring

Inferences on the parameters in a two-parameter exponential lifetime model when the data are Type I censored are limited to asymptotic approximations or to conditional constructions around the observed number of lifetimes. The asymptotic methods are simple to implement when constructing confidence regions on the scale and guarantee time parameters of the model. Their small sample properties have not been previously explored, however. This study provides Monte Carlo results to evaluate these properties. For univariate inference on the scale parameter, convergence of the coverage probabilities to nominal levels is slow until the sample size reaches 25. For the guarantee time parameter, two asymptotically equivalent procedures behave similarly, an F-distribution-based method performing slightly better for smaller sample sizes. In addition, a simultaneous confidence region and confidence bands on the survivor function are constructed from the univariate intervals. Their performance mimics that of the single i...
Naming game with greater stubbornness and unilateral zealots

We examine a modified naming game on a complete network. In this modification, there are multiple intermediate states rather than one, with the intermediate states evenly spaced between commitment to opinion A and commitment to opinion B. The presence of zealots with unshakable support for opinion A was added to the model. The system tends to a 1-dimensional center manifold, either reaching consensus at A or near-consensus near B. This behavior is similar to the standard naming game on the complete graph. Special attention was paid to the case of two intermediate states. It was found that near-consensus at B could only be reached when the number of zealots was below a certain value. In the case of a single intermediate state, this value is 7.2%, of the total population. This is consistent with the work of Zhang and Lim, who found that the tipping point was 8% ± 1%[1] In the case of two intermediate states, this value was 12.1%.
Accuracy of C2 pedicle screw placement using the anatomic freehand technique

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and prognostic factors of breach rates following the placement of C2 pedicle screws using the anatomic, freehand technique. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent C2 transpedicular instrumentation over six years at a single institution. All intraoperative, image-guided techniques were excluded. Breaches were ascertained from immediate postoperative CT images. All images were analyzed by three independent reviewers. The screw length was correlated with (1) the breach rate and (2) the breach severity. Severity of the breached screws reflects the screw circumference (0–360°) perforating the pedicle wall (Grade 1–Grade 4). Results Of the 341 C2 pedicle screws inserted in 181 patients, the average screw length was 22.93 ± 3.7 mm. The average distance from the foramen transversarium to the screw insertion point was 13.17 ± 2.63 mm. The distance from the medial rim of the pedicle to the dura of spinal cord was 3.53 ± 1.57 mm. Of the 341 screws, the overall breach rate was 17.3% (n = 59). Of the 59 breaches, 89.83% of screws (n = 53) breaching the spinal canal was statistically significantly higher than the 10.17% of screws (n = 6) breaching the foramen transversarium (p Conclusions In this cohort study on the anatomic freehand placement of C2 pedicle screws, the breach rate was 17.3%. Lateral breaches were more common than medial breaches. Screw length was not statistically correlated with cortical violation or severity of breach. Therefore, screw length is not a prognostic factor for C2 pedicle screw misplacement.
Meta‐Preferences: Reconsidering Contemporary Notions of Free Choice

There has been no shortage of challenges to that most fundamental of all neo‐classical assumptions according to which people always act so as to maximise their utility. The most frequently heard objection has centred on the observation that acts of altruism are all around us. This incontestable fact has not led to a rejection of the self‐interest assumption but has instead resulted in the incorporation of altruistic actions into the standard utility function. While there may be legitimate doubts about the process of converting a positive statement into a tautology, this tautological sense of utility maximisation will be retained throughout this essay. Following Houthakker, in all that ensues it will be assumed that “preference is related to choice as the possible to the actual. A person prefers a to b if, when confronted with a choice between a and b, he chooses a”(l).
Optimizing memory access on GPUs using morton order indexing

High performance computing environments are not freely available to every scientist or programmer. However, massively parallel computational devices are available in nearly every workstation class computer and laptop sold today. The programmable GPU gives immense computational power to a user in a standard office environment; however, programming a GPU to function efficiently is not a trivial task. An issue of primary concern is memory latency, if not managed properly it can cost the GPU in performance resulting in increased runtimes waiting for data. In this paper we describe an optimization of memory access methods on GPUs using Morton order indexing, sometimes referred to as Z-order index.
The Formation of Pan-Arab Ideology in the Interwar Years

Arab nationalism arose as an opposition movement in Ottoman Syria, Palestine, and Iraq around the turn of the century. It remained a minority movement until the Ottoman collapse in 1918, but after the Ottoman defeat it became the overwhelmingly dominant movement in these territories where, except for some Lebanese, all successful politicians were Arab nationalists during the interwar years. Just what Arab nationalism meant to its proponents at the time, however, has been difficult to determine. The period only dimly figures in studies of Arab nationalism. Full studies have been devoted to survivors from the past, Rashid Rida⊃ and Shakib Arsian, to Sati⊂ al-Husri (al-Husari), a relative newcomer whose greatest prominence was to be in the 1940s and 1950s, and to the Muslim Brothers, who arrived on the scene even later, whose influence was to lie in the future, and who, like Rida⊃, were not considered to be primarily Arab nationalists. Otherwise, hardly a scant handful of pre-World War II Arab nationalist writers, and these from the late 1930s, receive even casual mention.
Shamanism in Northern and Southern Eurasia: Their Distinctive Methods of Change of Consciousness

This article seeks to establish that the ‘southern’ shamanism of the San, Andamanese and Australian Aboriginals differs substantially from the well-known ‘classical’ Siberian version found in various forms in large parts of Eurasia and the Americas (‘Laurasia’). The typical southern (‘Gondwana’) shamanistic features of heat rising up the spine are linked to medieval Indian Kundalini yoga and some representations in Paleolithic art. This process is an important aspect of the change of consciousness initiated by shamanistic initiation and practice.
The Influence of Climate Change on the Body Mass of Woodrats Neotoma in an Arid Region of New Mexico, USA

Earth system scientists have recently concluded that anthropogenic induced climate change is detectable. Because many aspects of an organism's ecology and evolution are influenced by environmental temperature, this suggests temperature mediated changes may be already occurring in natural ecosystems. Using archived mammal trapping and meteorological data, we investigated local changes in climate over the past 8 yr at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in an arid region of New Mexico to determine i) if environmental conditions had altered, ii) if mean body mass of woodrats had changed over this time period, and iii) if the answers to i) and ii) were positive, were the results correlated? Body mass was chosen because it is highly sensitive to temperature and many crucial ecological and evolutionary parameters are affected by it. Our results indicate that winter temperature measures (average cold and minimum), and maximum summer temperature have changed significantly over the past 8 yr. Summer and winter temperatures have both increased by ca 2.5 to 3°C. When compared to long-term means, all years have had significantly warmer than average minimum temperatures. Mean body mass of woodrat populations has also changed significantly over the past 8 yr, and the changes are negatively correlated with both winter and summer temperatures. We predict that additional climatic warming will lead to further decreases in the mean body mass of woodrats at the Sevilleta NWR. Since many important ecological parameters are tightly linked with body mass (e.g. fecundity, dietary strategy, home range, extinction rates, energetic requirements, predation risk, etc.), our results suggest that further climate change may lead to profound alterations in woodrat life history, and indirectly, on the dynamics and structure of the entire community. This is in addition to any direct effect temperature may have on other plants and animals.
A local mesh refinement algorithm for the time domain-finite difference method using Maxwell's curl equations

An efficient local mesh refinement algorithm, subdividing a computational domain to resolve fine dimensions in a time-domain-finite-difference (TD-FD) space-time grid structure, is discussed. At a discontinuous coarse-fine mesh interface, the boundary conditions for the tangential and normal field components are enforced for a smooth transition of highly nonuniform held quantities. >
The occurrence of plectaniaxanthin in Cryptococcus laurentii

Abstract Plectaniaxanthin, recently isolated from the mushroom Plectania coccinea (Scop. ex Fr.) Fuck., has now been isolated from the asporogenous yeast Cryptococcus laurentii (Kuff.) Skinner var. flavescens (Saito) Lodder et Kreger-van Rij. The identity of the compound was established by visible, NMR and high resolution mass spectra and by chemical reactions. Two further pigments have been isolated and preliminary data indicates that they have the same monocyclic dodecaene chromophore as plectaniaxanthin.
Localization of the α-like globin gene cluster to region q12 of rabbit chromosome 6 by in situ hybridization

The rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) alpha-like globin gene cluster (HBAC) contains several block duplications of zeta-, alpha and theta-globin genes. Using in situ hybridizations to metaphase chromosome spreads, the gene cluster has been mapped to region q12 of chromosome 6. Given that human HBAC maps to the short arm of chromosome 16, the mapping of rabbit HBAC to 6q12 confirms the assignment of homology between OCU6q and HSA16p based on similarities of chromosomal banding patterns. In both species, HBAC is in a very G + C-rich region within the most distal band of the chromosome.
Flowsheet development, process simulation and economic feasibility analysis for novel suspension ironmaking technology based on natural gas: Part 2 – Flowsheet and simulation for ironmaking combined with steam methane reforming

AbstractA novel gas–solid suspension ironmaking process with much less energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions than the current blast furnace technology is under development at the University of Utah. The proposed process is based on flash reduction of iron ore concentrate with a gaseous reagent, such as hydrogen, syngas and/or natural gas. This series of papers reports on the results of process simulation for the proposed process operated with natural gas. This Part 2 deals with simulation of a commercial scale ironmaking process combined with a steam methane reforming process. The steam methane reforming process was simulated to produce hydrogen or syngas to provide fuel/reductant for ironmaking. Ironmaking was simulated in one-step configuration. The results indicated that the proposed process would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 31–35%, but energy consumption would be larger by 0–6%, based on the higher heating value of natural gas (28–29% lower, if the lower heating value is used), compar...
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 TAT protein activates B lymphocytes.

Abstract HIV-1 infection causes B cell hyperactivation. Tat protein, a potent virus-encoded transactivator, has the potential to activate B cells based on its pleiotropic biological properties: (1) Tat regulates cellular gene expression; (2) Tat modulates growth of various cell types; and (3) Tat is released from infected T cells and acts on bystander uninfected cells in a paracrine fashion. To test a possible activating effect of Tat on B cells, we examined the effect of purified Tat on the expression of Fas, an activation marker, in B cells in primary culture. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Tat, at concentrations in the range of extracellular Tat as determined in vivo, up-regulated Fas expression in B cells. Reverse transcriptase-PCR further demonstrated that Tat induced Fas expression in B cells at the mRNA level. These results indicate that exogenous Tat alone can activate B cells, suggesting that Tat may contribute to B cell hyperactivation during the early stage of HIV-1 infection and activation-induced B cell death mediated by Fas during the late stage of HIV-1 infection.
Comparative analysis of entrepreneurial growth strategies of two multinational conglomerates in emerging markets

Multinational companies (MNCs) from emerging economies have received increasing attention in recent years. We studied the entrepreneurial growth of two family-controlled MNCs, namely Tata Group in India and Sabanci Holding in Turkey and compared their growth patterns. Building on the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, we developed a conceptual framework by which we demonstrated how core competencies of these two conglomerate companies have led to their competitive advantages. Finally, we concluded that the success factors in becoming a MNC from a local company in an emerging economy depend on strategic and visionary leadership, smooth succession of the founders, strong value system and business ethics, multiple paths for growth and the establishment of strategic alliances with western companies. This study not only advances our understanding of historical and entrepreneurial developments in multinationality of firms from emerging countries, but also provides insights for future research.
Tropopause Undulations and the Development of Extratropical Cyclones. Part II: Diagnostic Analysis and Conceptual Model

Abstract A case study of a developing cyclone is used to show that the three-dimensional distribution of height change during development can be strongly sensitive to temperature changes which occur in the lower stratosphere in association with an evolving tropopause undulation. Quantitative analysis of the storm with a geopotential height tendency equation indicates that a synergistic process developed between the stratosphere and troposphere, whereby the vertical motion pattern maintained and intensified the upper-level temperature anomalies while the subsequent upper-level temperature advection led to an enhanced vertical circulation. Using the results of this diagnostic study, a conceptual model is constructed. The conceptual model is based on the hydrostatic and wind-field adjustments that occur as tropopause undulations propagate over favored regions of tropospheric warm advection and less stable air.
Reductive dechlorination of chlorobenzenes in surfactant‐amended sediment slurries

Microbial anaerobic dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was examined in sediment slurries amended with two classes of nonionic surfactant, polyoxyethylene (POE) sorbitan fatty acid esters (Tweens) and POE alcohols (Brijs). The rationale for surfactant addition was to increase the bioavailability of highly sorbed organic pollutants to degrading microorganisms by enhancing their solubility. The solubility of HCB was initially enhanced via micellar partitioning ; however, primary degradation of most surfactants occurred within 10 d. Dechlorination activity was significantly reduced at POE alcohol concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (cmc), with or without the occurrence of surfactant degradation. Tween 80 decreased HCB dechlorination at concentrations significantly above the cmc (1,500-5,000 mg/L). At concentrations closer to the cmc (300-1,200 mg/L), Tween 80 increased dechlorination rate constants four- to fivefold in acclimated slurries. Additions of Tween 80 at or below the cmc (3, 30, 300, and 911 mg/L) stimulated dechlorination activity in unacclimated slurries that exhibited very little activity in unamended controls. An average of 89% of HCB was dechlorinated after 90 d, compared to 20% in unamended sediments. No effect was observed for POE alcohols at these sub-cmc levels. The lack of a stimulated response for the POE alcohols suggests that Tween 80 may not be acting simply as a source of carbon or energy.
Probing the short-range order and dynamics of phase transitions using neutron powder diffraction

Abstract We report evidence that the local structure of the perovskite based material, La 2 − x Ba x CuO 4 , is disordered. The disorder takes the form of inhomogeneous octahedral tilts. The average crystal structure is a superposition of the local tilting environments. The local symmetry is different from the average, long-range order, and local bond lengths deviate from those obtained from the crystallographic coordinates. This has implications for band structure calculations based on the crystallographic coordinates. We discuss the implications of the local structure for understanding the microscopic origin for the phase transitions in this material. The evidence presented is from neutron powder diffraction data analyzed using the pair distribution function method. We describe this method and mention possible extensions to this method for extracting local dynamics at phase transitions.
Perceptions of Physical Competence, Motor Competence, and Participation in Organized Sport: Their Interrelationships in Young Children

Abstract This study examined the interrelationships among perceived physical competence, motor competence, and participation in organized sport in young children. Males and females in Grades K through 4 (n = 250) were given The Perceived Competence Scale for Children (Harter, 1979) or The Pictoral Scale for Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (Harter, Pike, Efron, Chao, & Bierer, 1983), a 9-item motor competence assessment battery, and a questionnaire regarding their participation in sport. Results revealed that perceived physical competence for children in these grade levels was not significantly related to their participation in organized sport programs. Motor competence was significantly related to participation in that participants in organized sport programs performed selected gross motor tasks better than did nonparticipants. Further, children's reported perceptions of physical competence were significantly related to their demonstrated motor competence. Discussion focused ...
Cost and Shortage Trade-Offs in Aggregate Production Planning*

It is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to measure shortage costs. To bypass this difficulty in aggregate production planning, this paper develops an optimal policy function (piecewise linear or a curve) for trade-offs between shortages and the sum of production and inventory costs. The optimal management decision is based on this function. It should be of major interest in production planning since similar functions for inventory management have been successfully applied in practice.
Fundamental role for HIF-1α in constitutive expression of human β defensin-1

Antimicrobial peptides are secreted by the intestinal epithelium to defend from microbial threats. The role of human β defensin-1 (hBD-1) is notable because its gene (beta-defensin 1 (DEFB1)) is constitutively expressed and its antimicrobial activity is potentiated in the low-oxygen environment that characterizes the intestinal mucosa. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is stabilized even in healthy intestinal mucosa, and we identified that epithelial HIF-1α maintains expression of murine defensins. Extension to a human model revealed that basal HIF-1α is critical for the constitutive expression of hBD-1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation identified HIF-1α binding to a hypoxia response element in the DEFB1 promoter whose importance was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. We used 94 human intestinal samples to identify a strong expression correlation between DEFB1 and the canonical HIF-1α target GLUT1. These findings indicate that basal HIF-1α is critical for constitutive expression of enteric DEFB1 and support targeting epithelial HIF for restoration and maintenance of intestinal integrity.
How do hotel firms obtain a competitive advantage

Hotel managers need to understand how their firm can achieve a competitive advantage (CA) over their competitors. Three conceptual frameworks: Porter’s five, forces approach, the resource‐based approach, and the relational approach, have assisted managers in identifying the sources of CA. Although these three approaches pursue similar goals such as customer value creation and high firm performance, hotel managers have focused on only one of these approaches, limiting their understanding of the sources of CA. Why these three approaches need to be integrated to understand the sources of CA is discussed and a more comprehensive approach to strategic management in the lodging industry is proposed. Implications for research and practice are also offered.
The Role of Bimetallic Thiophene-Bridged Complexes in Homogeneous Desulfurization Reactions

A detailed study of bimetallic thiophene-bridged complexes, formed by coordination of a second metal fragment to a transition-metal-inserted thiophene complex, is reported. The bonding interactions between mononuclear metallathiacycles and a second metal center, the effects of coordination of a second metal center on the M−C and M−S bonds of the heterocycle, the stability of bimetallic thiophene-bridged complexes, and their possible role in homogeneous desulfurization reactions are addressed. Fenske−Hall molecular orbital calculations on the square-planar, transition-metal-inserted benzothiophene (BT) complex (dippe)Ni(η2-S,C-BT) (6) (dippe = (i-Pr2PCH2)2) and the bimetallic bridged adduct [(dippe)Ni]2(η-BT) (7) show that the [(dippe)Ni] fragment coordinates to 6 via a σ interaction to the sulfur atom and a π-bonding/back-bonding interaction to the C−C double bond of the heterocycle. Both interactions are weak, and coordination of the second [(dippe)Ni] fragment has little effect on the electronic structu...
Spatio-temporal community dynamics induced by frequency dependent interactions

A mathematical model incorporating the effects of possibly asymmetric frequency dependent interactions is proposed. Model predictions for an idealized two-species annual plant community with asymmetric linear frequency dependence are explored using (i) analytic mean field equilibrium predictions, (ii) deterministic, discrete-time, finite-population, mean field predictions, and (iii) stochastic, discrete-time, cellular automata predictions for a variety of sizes of the spatial interaction and dispersal neighborhoods. We define species interaction factors, ranging from 0 to 1, which incorporate both frequency independent and frequency dependent terms. The maximum competitive ability of a species is reduced unless species frequency is optimal based on species-specific frequency dependence coefficients, ranging from −1 to +1. Assuming that maximum competitive ability is identical for two species, they can coexist indefinitely when they have equal absolute magnitude or both have sufficiently negative frequency dependence. Although smaller scales of spatial interactions reduce the region of the parameter space in which stable coexistence is predicted, the time to extinction of one species can be significantly increased or decreased by the locality of interactions, depending on whether the losing species has positive or negative frequency dependence, respectively. The sensitivity to initial conditions in the community at large is dramatically reduced as the spatial scale of interactions is decreased. As a consequence, smaller spatial interaction neighborhoods increase the ability of introduced species to invade established communities in regions of the parameter space not predicted by mean field approximations. In the “loser positive, winner positive” regions, smaller scales of interaction dramatically increased invasiveness. In the “loser positive, winner negative” regions of the parameter space, invasion success decreases, but time to extinction of the resident species during successful invasions increases, with an increase in the spatial scale of interactions. The “loser negative, winner positive” regions were relatively insensitive to initial conditions, so invasion success was relatively high at a variety of spatial scales. Surprisingly, invasions in parts of this region are most often successful with intermediate neighborhood sizes, although the maximum time that the losing species could persist before being driven to extinction increases with an increase in the spatial scale of interactions. These results