cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proximity always matters : evidence from Swedish data

One of the main tenets of finance is diversification. Investors choose their portfolios so as to diversify away their idiosyncratic risk. In four essays included into this dissertation the implications of less than perfect diversification on investors’ performance and asset pricing are investigated. In Essay I we examine one particular instance in which diversification may play a role in a non-portfolio type of investment: the IPO. In an IPO, a set of potentially non-diversified investors – the existing shareholders – reduce their holdings of a company, listing the company and selling part of its shares. Our contribution is to show how portfolio diversification of controlling investors in private companies affects the IPO process. We demonstrate that companies sold by more diversified shareholders are less likely to be taken public, but when doing so they are priced more favourably. In Essays II and III we investigate the impact of incomplete diversification and imperfect risk-sharing on asset returns. Our argument is that the smaller shareholder base a firm has, the larger the fraction of company idiosyncratic risk on average its investors have to carry, and the higher return they would demand for that. We demonstrate that there is a negative and significant relationship between companies’ shareholder base and stock returns as well as between changes in shareholder base and stock returns. This effect is more pronounced for younger companies, but remains significant for seasoned companies as well. Applying our analysis to corporate events we demonstrate that abnormal performance following the repurchase can be partially explained by the reduction in the shareholders base resulting from repurchase. In Essay IV I investigate the motives behind one of the most puzzling examples of investors’ underdiversification – the local bias. Contrary to the predictions of classical financial theories, investors on aggregate overweight stock of proximate companies in their portfolios. I demonstrate that being placed in new community, individual investors not only soon become biased towards companies with establishments in this new locality, but they also obtain superior returns from these investments. Investing into the local stocks, therefore, is to a large degree rational.
Testudines (Tortoises, Turtles and Terrapins)

Testudines is an order of reptilian tetrapods commonly called turtles (including tortoises and terrapins). All fossil and living members of the group have a shell that encloses both of the limb girdles. The group has its origins in the Triassic and is now represented by 13 living families, many of which contain species in danger of extinction. Keywords: turtles; tortoises; terrapins; chelonians; Testudinata
Energy, Ecology, and Victorian Fiction

This article discusses the state of ecocritical thinking in Victorian literary scholarship. It proposes a distinctive Victorian ecocriticism, informed by thermodynamics, wherein we may understand the living and non-living, the biological and the physical to be both linguistically and energetically entangled.
The dilemma of the nontoxic nodular goiter.

Excerpt PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to summarize the experience of some of the major clinics in the United States relative to the frequency of carcinoma of the thyroid in association with ...
Advanced power control techniques for interference mitigation in dense 802.11 networks

In this paper we propose an enhanced Transmit Power Control (TPC) scheme and a new fractional Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision A voidance (F-CSMA/CA) scheme for use in a dense 802.11 network. The new schemes improve the energy normalized Media Access Control Goodput performance in networks with overlapping Basic Service Sets (OBSSs) by mitigating the interference effect using TPC and reducing interference generated during neighboring BSS-edge transmission using inter-cell coordination. The scheme works seamlessly with a CSMA/CA multiple access technique, and is suitable for evolution of future WLAN systems such as IEEE 802.11ah [4], and High Efficiency WiFi (HEW) [5]. Numerical results demonstrate an increase in the normalized good put of up to 80% in downlink transmission and 100% in uplink transmission over existing schemes.
Regulation of sulfate transport in Salmonella typhimurium.

Dreyfuss, Jacques (Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.), and Arthur B. Pardee. Regulation of sulfate transport in Salmonella typhimurium. J. Bacteriol. 91:2275-2280. 1966.-The transport of sulfate into Salmonella typhimurium is an active process. Intracellular and extracellular sulfate are in rapid equilibrium. Although the entry process requires energy, the exit of sulfate and the exchange of intracellular sulfate are relatively independent of an exogenous energy supply. When a concentrated suspension of cells is first exposed to sulfate, transport is rapid, but approximately 1 min thereafter the properties of the cells change so that net sulfate flow is outwards. This overshoot seems to depend on a high intracellular sulfate concentration and on the energy supply. Transport ability is inhibited in mutants which accumulate the high energy intermediate 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that the entry of sulfate is feedback-inhibited by a high-energy compound which is formed in the course of transport. Feedback inhibition, in conjunction with the repression of sulfate transport, provides an effective means of regulating the intracellular concentration. The regulatory mechanism is highly efficient in rapidly growing cells, but can be perceived as an overshoot in dense cell suspensions.
Design of a microstrip conform GPS patch antenna

A design and investigation of a small conform microstrip GPS patch antenna is carried out. A cavity and TLM models are used to find the initial dimensions of the antenna. A NURBS model together with surface equivalence principle is applied for electromagnetic simulation of the antenna model with the FEKO/sup /spl reg// (C.A. Balanis 1997) moment method software. The antenna is tested experimentally and results are presented and discussed.
Characteristic volatile components of Japanese sour citrus fruits: Yuzu, Sudachi and Kabosu

The volatile components of both the peel and juice of three major Japanese sour citrus cultivars with pleasant flavour, Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka), Sudachi (Citrus sudachi Hort. ex Shirai) and Kabosu (Citrus sphaerocarpa Hort. ex Tanaka) were investigated using the solvent assisted flavour evaporation technique after solvent extraction. Limonene was the most abundant monoterpene hydrocarbon in all the extracts, followed by γ-terpinene and β-phellandrene in Yuzu and Sudachi and by myrcene in Kabosu. Mintsulfide was newly identified in juice extracts from Yuzu and Kabosu. Among the oxygenated components of these extracts, linalool was the most abundant in both the peel and juice of Yuzu and the peel of Sudachi, while both the peel and juice of Kabosu revealed the presence of high quantity of saturated aliphatic aldehydes. Wine lactone and rose oxide were identified in all the extracts, which have not been previously reported to occur in these citrus cultivars. The odour-active components of each oxygenated fraction were revealed by aroma extract dilution analysis. Linalool, trans-4,5-epoxy-(2E)-decenal and wine lactone showed relatively high flavour dilution factors in the peel and juice of these citrus cultivars. The enantiomeric distribution of linalool, cis-rose oxide, β-citronellol and wine lactone was determined using a multi-dimensional chiral gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. With regard to linalool, the (R)-enantiomer was predominant in Yuzu and the (S)-enantiomer in Sudachi and Kabosu. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cultural Citizenship in Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Challenges for Transformation

Addressing the manifestations (past and present) of the phenomenon Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), the articles in this special issue are interwoven with testimony, historical accounts, policy critique, pedagogical reckonings, and philosophical possibilities. As this phenomenon continues to expand its role on the larger stage of higher education we - as Cultural Citizens in various capacities who labor within and for HSIs - argue for the imperative to historically remember and to re-envision possibilities that the HSI designation can create. It is a call to action not exclusively for Hispanics. This Special Issue is a notice for everyone in education to involve themselves in the HSI message of inclusivity, collectivity, integration, representation, and diversity.
Increased yolk progesterone interferes with prenatal auditory learning and elevates emotional reactivity in bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) chicks

Avian eggs contain maternally derived hormones, including testosterone and progesterone. Little is currently known about the effects of these hormones on early behavioral development. We assessed the effects of elevated levels of progesterone levels on prenatal perceptual learning and postnatal emotional reactivity in Northern bobwhite quail. Prior to incubation, eggs received an injection of either progesterone (P) or oil vehicle (V). In P eggs, levels of progesterone were elevated two standard deviations above the mean based on ELISA analysis of progesterone yolk concentrations from a previous study. A third group of eggs served as controls and received no injection (C). Chicks hatched from P eggs displayed elevated levels of emotional reactivity compared to V and C chicks in a tonic immobility task and a hole-in-the-wall emergence task. Chicks from P eggs also failed to demonstrate a preference for a familiarized bobwhite maternal call that had been presented prenatally. In contrast, the V and C chicks demonstrated a significant preference for the familiarized maternal call following hatching, indicating prenatal auditory learning. Our results are consistent with previous findings from precocial birds demonstrating that hormones of maternal origin can influence prenatal perceptual learning as well as emotional reactivity in the period following hatching. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 57: 255–262, 2015.
Mitigating the Cardiovascular and Renal Effects of NSAIDs

Objective Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are principal pharmacologic agents for symptom relief in patients with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Cardiovascular risk is associated with all NSAIDs, excluding aspirin. Selective inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX)-2 could produce a relative reduction in endothelial production of prostacyclin, while leaving the platelet production of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) intact. It has been speculated that this imbalance of homeostatic prostanoids might increase the risk for thrombotic events. The goal of this review is to provide physicians guidelines to mitigate cardiovascular and nephrotoxicity of NSAIDs. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review to determine what information is available to guide treatment decisions in this patient population. Results Selective inhibition of COX-2 could produce a relative reduction in endothelial production of prostacyclin, while leaving the platelet production of TXA2 intact. Increasing degrees of selectivity for COX-2 are associated with augmented cardiovascular risk, whereas increasing degrees of selectivity for cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-1) are associated with augmented gastrointestinal risk. Some NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) can interfere with the cardioprotective effects of aspirin by competitively binding to COX-1 enzyme, resulting in increased TXA2 production Naproxen may differ from other NSAIDs in sustaining functionally important degrees of inhibition of platelet cyclooxygenase-1 activity throughout the dosing interval. Conclusion It is of paramount importance to consider individual health factors when choosing therapy with NSAIDs.
Learning causal structures with background knowledge in health data

Causal analysis plays an important role in health informatics research. Many publicly available data in health, medicine, and epidemiology are non-temporal and observational. Therefore, there is a particular field of interests to explore causal relationships in observational data. The research advance in computer science, particularly in learning Bayesian networks enables investigators to discover possible causal structures through statistical testing. However, exact learning is infeasible when the number of variables are large. On one hand, causal relationships for most variables in the dataset are unknown. On the other hand, there are a few causal relationships verified by medical experiments, confirmed from existing knowledge, or practically utilized under reasonable assumptions. The difficulty in structural learning process can be reduced when variables' ordering is known. This research presents novel methods for learning causal structures with partially known orderings of variables in combination with epidemiological background and health science research.
The Development of Video Tapes for High School Physics Courses: The Mechanical Universe and beyond

Adaptations of the college level PBS series The Mechanical Universe were created by a group of nationally recognized high school physics teachers. The adaptations were created to use the power of the television medium to develop a sound and solid understanding of physics, when used in conjunction with any existing high school course and textbook. Twenty-four modules were developed, each of which contains a ten- to twenty-minute videotape adaptation and written teacher support materials. The topics of these modules were selected to enhance the teaching of classical as well as more modern topics in physics and thereby bring the curriculum closer to the frontiers of physics. The video adaptations are designed to be easily incorporated into a class meeting and make extensive use of historical recreations, complete animation, demonstrations, and applications. The supportive teacher resource materials help teachers integrate the concepts presented in the video with more traditional high-school text materials an...
A test of the mean density approximation for Lennard-Jones mixtures with large size ratios

The mean density approximation for mixture radial distribution functions plays a central role in modern corresponding-states theories. This approximation is reasonably accurate for systems that do not differ widely in size and energy ratios and which are nearly equimolar. As the size ratio increases, however, or if one approaches an infinite dilution of one of the components, the approximation becomes progressively worse, especially for the small molecule pair. In an attempt to better understand and improve this approximation, isothermal molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on a series of Lennard-Jones mixtures. Thermodynamic properties, including the mixture radial distribution functions, have been obtained at seven compositions ranging from 5 to 95 mol%. In all cases the size ratio was fixed at two and three energy ratios were investigated, ɛ22/ɛ11=0.5, 1.0, and 1.5. The results of the simulations are compared with the mean density approximation and a modification to integrals evaluated with the mean density approximation is proposed.
Manufacturing strategy: Its assessment and practice

Abstract In recent years, the subject of manufacturing strategy has attracted much attention, yet it is still a relatively unresearched area. Among practitioners, unlike the term “marketing strategy,” the term “manufacturing strategy” does not have instant recognition as to its meaning, purpose, and utility. For continued progress in the research and practice of manufacturing strategy, there is a real need for practical methods of assessing the manufacturing strategy of businesses. For example, for practitioners, the assessment of manufacturing strategy is essential to the development, fine tuning, revision, and evaluation of manufacturing strategy. This study presents a method of assessing the manufacturing strategy of businesses. In the process of assessing the manufacturing strategy in thirty-five manufacturing firms, this study found several problems with the practice of manufacturing strategy and recommends some solutions. It has been reported by researchers that the task of assessing manufacturing strategy is often hampered by a lack of understanding of the term manufacturing strategy and the absence of explicitly denned manufacturing strategies within most manufacturing firms. Consequently, this study assessed the implied manufacturing strategy in the participating firms using the responses of both chief executives or equivalents and manufacturing managers. To overcome nonuniform understanding of the term among executives, multiple respondents and multiple methods using several direct and indirect questions were employed to get as good a fix on the manufacturing strategies of the firms as possible. It was found that while chief executives stressed quality, technology, etc., which would contribute to a business level strategy based on product differentiation, manufacturing managers stressed cost, and the keeping of delivery promises. This mismatch of emphasis between the two executives could be a sign of problems in the effective use of the manufacturing function. A major conclusion of this study is that executives in manufacturing firms are not sufficiently “literate” in matters concerning manufacturing strategy. However, this deficiency could be easily corrected by appropriate training in assessing, formulating, and implementing manufacturing strategy. The method used in this study for assessing manufacturing strategy could be used by chief executives and manufacturing managers to identify their implied manufacturing strategy, and to detect agreements as well as disagreements between the two. Further, the method used here could be replicated by executives in developing or reviewing the formal manufacturing strategies of their businesses.
Survivin study: An update of “What is the next wave?”

Studies on survivin over the past 2-3 years have shown that survivin possesses multiple subcellular localizations and is a multifunctional molecule involved in many aspects of cellular processes and/or behaviors. The subcellular localization and function of the survivin splice variants, however, have not yet been well elucidated. We have, therefore, provided additional observations on several survivin splice variants for further exploration. This review article will update the role of survivin, and its splice variants in the mitosis/cell cycle, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, chemoprevention, drug/radiation resistance, and cancer therapeutics.
Gene expression profiling to distinguish head and neck squamous cell carcinoma metastases from primary lung squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Introduction: Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are at high risk for pulmonary metastasis as well as other primary upper aerodigestive malignancies, most commonly lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Despite adequate tissue sampling, differentiating a pulmonary nodule with SCC features remains a diagnostic challenge. Our goal was to develop a genomic-based classification that can identify the origin of a lung SCC. Methods: RNA extracted from patients with LSCC (n = 8) and HNSCC (n = 8) was hybridized to oligonucleotide microarrays containing 44363 genes. Novel statistical algorithms identified discriminating genes that prospectively classified 24 patients with HNSCC or LSCC in three unaffiliated institutions (Columbia University, University of Minnesota, University of Pennsylvania). Quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry confirmed results. Results: Gene expression profiling revealed 65 discriminating genes that can predict LSCC from HNSCC. Genes consistently differentially expressed (p Conclusions: These results demonstrate that gene expression profiling can discriminate primary LSCC from HNSCC tumors and has yielded genes not previously described that have major diagnostic importance. Transcript profiling has revealed pathways in the development of squamous cell carcinoma that may have major significance for future targeted biologic therapies.
A structured, parsimonious approach to establish the cause of moderate-to-large pericardial effusion.

The workup of moderate-to-large pericardial effusion should focus on its hemodynamic impact and potential cause. A structured approach to diagnostic evaluation of pericardial effusion is needed. We retrospectively studied a contemporary cohort of 103 patients with moderate-to-large pericardial effusion hospitalized at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center from July 2009 till August 2013. Diagnosis of pericardial effusion was independently ascertained by chart review. We applied a stepwise parsimonious approach to establish the cause of pericardial effusion. In the studied cohort, the mean age was 61 years, 50% were men, and 65 patients (63%) underwent pericardial effusion drainage. Using the structured approach, the cause of the effusion was ascertained in 70 patients (68%) by noninvasive targeted testing. Malignant effusion was confirmed in 19 patients (19%). All patients with malignant effusion had either history of malignancy or suggestive noninvasive findings. In conclusion, a structured approach can help to ascertain the diagnosis in patients with moderate-to-large pericardial effusion and guide the need for pericardial drainage or sampling.
Massive neutrinos and primordial nucleosynthesis

The effect of massive ($m\ensuremath{\ge}0.1$ MeV) neutrinos on primordial nucleosynthesis is calculated. It is shown that the effect on big-bang helium (deuterium) production of a 0.1-10 MeV (0.1-25 MeV) neutrino is more significant than the effect of a massless neutrino. If a lower bound on the present baryon-to-photon ratio is placed from determination of the virial mass in binaries and small groups of galaxies (where massive neutrinos are not expected to contribute to the virial mass) or from the requirement that big-bang nucleosynthesis not overproduce $^{2}\mathrm{H}$, then limits may be placed on the masses of any neutrinos present at nucleosynthesis.
Culture and Disability: Advancing Comparative Research

Cultures differ greatly as to which specific conditions they recognize as a disability, how they interpret matters of causation and consequence, and which kinds of remedy they believe adequate. The papers in this special issue of Comparative Sociology explore the institutional and cultural variation of disability as well as the underlying causes, including a culture’s degree of individualism / collectivism.
Hypoxic inactivation of cold-induced brown fat thermogenesis.

Chez des rats adaptes au froid, non anesthesies, places brievement dans une atmosphere de 12% d'oxygene, on observer un arret immediat de la thermogenese de la graisse brune. Cet effet semble s'expliquer par l'absence d'activation par le systeme sympathique. L'absence d'une reaction de thermogenese en reponse a une injection de noradrenaline chez des rats soumins au froid et dans des conditions hypoxiques plaide en faveur de cette explication.
SEPARATION OF ACTINIDES AND LANTHANIDES FROM ACIDIC NUCLEAR WASTES BY SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES

ABSTRACT Supported liquid membranes, SLM, consisting of a solution of 0.25 M octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) and 0.75 μ tributylphosphate (TBP) in decalin absorbed on thin micropocous polypropylene supports, have been studied for their ability to perform selective separations and concentrations of actinide and lanthanide ions from synthetic acidic nuclear wastes. The permeability coefficients of selected actinides (Am, Pu, U, Np) and of some of the other major components of the wastes have been measured using SLMs in flat-sheet and hollow- fiber configurations. The results have shown that with the thin (25 μm) flat-sheet SLMs, using Celgard® 2500 as support, the membrane permeation process is mainly controlled by the rate of diffusion through the aqueous boundary layers. With the thicker (430 μmpar; hollow-fiber SLMs, using Accurel® hollow-fibers as support, the membrane permeation process Is controlled by the rate of diffusion through both the SLM and the aqueous boundar...
Glift: Generic, efficient, random-access GPU data structures

This article presents Glift, an abstraction and generic template library for defining complex, random-access graphics processor (GPU) data structures. Like modern CPU data structure libraries, Glift enables GPU programmers to separate algorithms from data structure definitions; thereby greatly simplifying algorithmic development and enabling reusable and interchangeable data structures. We characterize a large body of previously published GPU data structures in terms of our abstraction and present several new GPU data structures. The structures, a stack, quadtree, and octree, are explained using simple Glift concepts and implemented using reusable Glift components. We also describe two applications of these structures not previously demonstrated on GPUs: adaptive shadow maps and octree three-dimensional paint. Last, we show that our example Glift data structures perform comparably to handwritten implementations while requiring only a fraction of the programming effort.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Dynamics in the Central Nervous System

Cine-phase-contrast-MRI was used to measure the three-dimensional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow field inside the central nervous system (CNS) of a healthy subject. Image reconstruction and grid generation tools were then used to develop a three-dimensional fluid–structure interaction model of the CSF flow inside the CNS. The CSF spaces were discretized using the finite-element method and the constitutive equations for fluid and solid motion solved in ADINA-FSI 8.6. Model predictions of CSF velocity magnitude and stroke volume were found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental data. CSF pressure gradients and amplitudes were computed in all regions of the CNS. The computed pressure gradients and amplitudes closely match values obtained clinically. The highest pressure amplitude of 77 Pa was predicted to occur in the lateral ventricles. The pressure gradient between the lateral ventricles and the lumbar region of the spinal canal did not exceed 132 Pa (~1 mmHg) at any time during the cardiac cycle. The pressure wave speed in the spinal canal was predicted and found to agree closely with values previously reported in the literature. Finally, the forward and backward motion of the CSF in the ventricles was visualized, revealing the complex mixing patterns in the CSF spaces. The mathematical model presented in this article is a prerequisite for developing a mechanistic understanding of the relationships among vasculature pulsations, CSF flow, and CSF pressure waves in the CNS.
Effect of hydrostatic pressure on deformation, damage evolution, and fracture of iron with various initial porosities

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of superimposed hydrostatic pressure (138 to 1104 MPa) on densification and plastic flow behavior of porous iron (0.3 to 11.1 % porosity). Pressurization alone caused densification of the porous iron with the effect being most pronounced when the porosity was greater than 3.7% and the pressure above 276 MPa. For the porosities studied, densification as a result of pressurization increased with hydrostatic pressure and initial porosity. The 0.3% porosity iron was the only one whose density did not increase with pressurization or deformation under pressure. The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the flow stress of porous iron was small when densification resulting from pressurization was not a factor. The ductility was found to increase linearly with pressure and the effect of pressure on fracture strain increased with the initial porosity of the iron. Evaluation of the effect of hydrostatic pressure on development of porosity and growth during tensile deformation was limited to hydrostatic pressures of 138 and 276 MPa and iron compacts with initial porosities of 0.3, 1.5, and 3.7% because of the pressurization effects. It appeared that the porosity at fracture was similar in these compacts at both pressures but it was much larger than that observed at 0.1 MPa. The greater ductility of the iron compacts tested under hydrostatic pressure results from a decrease in the growth of pores with deformation and from a greater damage tolerance prior to fracture. As observed for porosity, the average maximum pore diameters at fracture for the compacts tested under pressure were similar but larger than those observed at 0.1 MPa. It appears that a general model of ductile fracture for porous materials cannot be based solely on a critical degree of dilation or on maximum pore extension as a fracture criterion.
Inferring Periodic Variability of Private Market Returns as Measured by σ from the Range of Value (Wealth) Outcomes over Time

This article offers an objective mechanism for computing the periodic risk of a private investment portfolio. Such determination was derived by examining the dispersion of the portfolio investments’ terminal wealth. A portfolio manager can use the tools offered to compare the risks and returns of private and public market investments and to determine optimal asset allocation. Additionally, in evaluating private investment managers, a portfolio manager can use the equations derived in this article to determine the implied periodic risks being taken.
First Report of Phytophthora nicotianae Causing Leaf Blight, Fruit Rot, and Root Rot of Papaya in American Samoa.

Papaya trees (Carica papaya) were observed in 1997 with symptoms of acute chlorosis and wilting of foliage, circular whitish lesions with necrotic centers on fruits, and root and trunk rots that killed the diseased trees. Identical symptoms were observed on many trees in fields interplanted with other crops and in home gardens on two of the five islands of American Samoa. A Phytophthora sp. was consistently isolated on water agar from symptomatic stems, fruits, and roots. The fungus was grown in pure culture on V8 juice medium at 25°C under continuous fluorescent illumination, and was identified, on the basis of spherical to broadly ovoid (34 to 67 × 40 to 50 µm), intercalary to terminal sporangia, chlamydospores (20 × 40 µm), and uniform to uneven hyphae (5 to 7 µm wide), as Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan (= P. parasitica Dastur) (1,2). Ten 4-week old papaya seedlings grown on pasteurized soil in 15-cm pots were inoculated with a 2-ml suspension of 100 sporangia per ml in sterile water applied to ...
Semiempirical MO calculations on symmetry governed reactions

Two symmetry governed reactions, the electrocyclic transformation of planar cyclopropyl cation to allyl cation and the dimerization of ethylene to cyclobutane, are examined using a modified INDO method. Results for the cyclopropyl-allyl cation reaction agree well with previously publishedab initio results, and are much improved over previously published CNDO results. The symmetry-allowed disrotatory path is predicted to be significantly favored over the forbidden conrotatory transition. For the ethylene-cyclobutane system two surprising results are predicted within the constraints imposed upon the reaction path: first, that the entire reaction should occur within a small range in the separation of the two ethylene molecules as they approach one another, and second, that the symmetry-forbidden [2 s +2 s addition should be slightly favored over the symmetry-allowed [2 s +2 a addition. Since the Woodward-Hoffmann rules deal exclusively with changes in electronic energy, it is suggested that they should be applied with some caution to reactions in which changes in nuclear repulsion are quite large during the reaction process.
Erythropoietin: A Somewhat Personal History

The existence of erythropoietin (epo) —then termed "hemopoietine" was postulated by Carnot and Dellandre, as long ago as 1906, but there were questions whether the experimental evidence was sufficient to indicate a humoral factor that could regulate the rate of red cell formation [I]. For more than 30 years the field of study of epo was largely in eclipse. Of the 40 years between the reemergence of the field in the 50s and the present, the years until 1987 could be described as a lag period, preceding the present-day exponential rise in both widespread interest and publications on epo. This later period, the time after the cloning and expression of the human epo gene, has seen the field become full-fledged with respect to therapeutic use, marketing, and patent litigation. It also has been a time of important advances in the study of the molecular and cellular biology of epo, its receptor, and of erythropoiesis. While this notable expansion in research is still in process, it seemed appropriate for me to agree with the suggestion of the editor of Perspectives to write a personal account of my experience that spans the period when epo was considered to be a laboratory curiosity (if it had any existence at all) to the present.
TRPM4 Regulates Calcium Oscillations After T Cell Activation

TRPM4 has recently been described as a calcium-activated nonselective (CAN) cation channel that mediates membrane depolarization. However, the functional importance of TRPM4 in the context of calcium (Ca 2+ ) signaling and its effect on cellular responses are not known. Here, the molecular inhibition of endogenous TRPM4 in T cells was shown to suppress TRPM4 currents, with a profound influence on receptor-mediated Ca 2+ mobilization. Agonist-mediated oscillations in intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ), which are driven by store-operated Ca 2+ influx, were transformed into a sustained elevation in [Ca 2+ ] i . This increase in Ca 2+ influx enhanced interleukin-2 production. Thus, TRPM4-mediated depolarization modulates Ca 2+ oscillations, with downstream effects on cytokine production in T lymphocytes.
Red cell loss following orthopedic surgery: the case against postoperative blood salvage

BACKGROUND: Expensive devices have been developed for the collection and transfusion of blood salvaged after hip or knee arthroplasty. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The volume of salvaged red cells was measured for the first 6 hours after operation. This volume was compared to total red cell loss during hospitalization and to the volume of allogeneic red cells transfused. RESULTS: Mean postoperative red cell loss in 31 patients following hip replacement was 55 ± 29 mL and that in 20 patients following knee replacement was 121 ± 50 mL. The 6-hour wound drainage represented 8.7 and 16.8 percent of overall red cell loss during hospitalization for hip and knee replacement, respectively. The transfusion of postoperatively salvaged red cells would have supplanted transfusion of less than one-third of a unit of allogenic blood after hip replacement and two-thirds of a unit after knee replacement. Only three patients (5.9%) lost red cell volume in the drainage equivalent to or in excess of 1 unit of red cells (180 mL). The volume of red cells salvaged postoperatively bore no relationship to perioperative red cell losses as a whole. CONCLUSION: The relatively small red cell loss in the postoperative period in most arthroplasty patients does not appear to justify the routine use of this technique for the recovery of autologous blood.
Measures of the Sensitivity of Regression Estimates to the Choice of Estimator

Abstract Let Y 1, …, Y n denote independent real-valued observations, each of the form Y j = X j β + σe j , where X j is a fixed covariate vector, β and σ are unknown parameters e1, …, e n are identically distributed according to a symmetric density p. This article considers the sensitivity of point estimates of β to the choice of estimator from classes of estimators based on the L estimators of Kroenker and Portnoy. Specific measures of sensitivity are proposed these measures are applied to several datasets.
Mesh, gravity and load effects on finite element simulations of blast loaded reinforced concrete structures

Abstract The behavior and design of reinforced concrete blast resistant structures are supported by intensive numerical simulations, and the effects of various parameters on the results is of great interest. Finite element simulations were performed in the nonlinear dynamic domain with modified concrete and steel constitutive models. Ten different cases were implemented, each with different reinforcement details. In addition, each case included both a coarse mesh and a fine mesh to determine the effects of mesh resolution on the numerical simulations. Gravity and loading conditions were altered to investigate their influences on the results. Deformations and stress distributions in both the concrete and steel were examined to determine the composite structural behavior and the extent of predicted damage for the various cases. The observations from these analyses highlighted relationships between the simulation parameters and the corresponding outcome. Conclusions and recommendations are presented that could assist in the development of efficient numerical simulations in this general area.
Specialization and extrapolation of software cost models

Despite the widespread availability of software effort estimation models (e.g. COCOMO [2], Price-S [12], SEER-SEM [13], SLIM [14]), most managers still estimate new projects by extrapolating from old projects [3, 5, 7]. In this delta method, the cost of the next project is the cost of the last project multiplied by some factors modeling the difference between old and new projects [2].Delta estimation is simple, fast, and best of all, can take full advantage of local costing information. However delta estimation fails when the experience base (the old projects) can not be extrapolated to the new projects. Previously [10], we have shown that for a set of NASA projects, delta estimation would usually fail since most of the features and coefficients of the learned model vary wildly across sub-samples of the training data. In that prior work, no solution was offered for this problem.Here, we offer a solution and report the results of experiment with feature subset selection (FSS) and extrapolation. FSS methods are usually assessed via the mean change in model performance. However, as shown below, FSS can significantly reduce the variance as well. Hence, FSS should be routinely used in cost estimation.Our results should stop the trend in the effort modeling community of continually adding to the number of features in a model in order to improve estimation performance. Here we show that there are benefits in intelligently subtracting model features.
T-lymphocyte entry into the central nervous system

The entry of T-lymphocytes into the parenchyma of the central nervous system is a critical early feature in the pathogenesis of many experimental and spontaneously occurring immune-mediated illnesses. The physiological mechanisms controlling this entry have not been elucidated. This study reports that T-cell entry into the rat CNS appears to be primarily dependent upon the activation state of the lymphocytes; T-lymphoblasts enter the CNS (and all other tissues examined) in an apparently random manner while T cells not in blast phase are excluded. Antigen specificity, MHC compatibility, T-cell phenotype, and T-cell receptor gene usage do not appear related to the ability of cells to enter. This study demonstrates that when T-lymphoblasts are introduced into the circulation they rapidly appear in the CNS tissue. Their concentration in the CNS reaches a peak between 9 and 12 hr, and lymphocytes which have entered, exit within 1 to 2 days. Cells capable of reacting with a CNS antigen remain in the tissue or cyclically reenter to initiate inflammation if they are able to recognize their antigen in the correct MHC context. This observation also appears to pertain to the entry of activated T cells into many other tissues, although their concentrations in these non-CNS sites was not quantitated.
Fingering for string instruments with the optimum path paradigm

This paper introduces a new connectionist paradigm, the optimum path paradigm (OPP) and its application to the problem of string instrument fingering. The optimization approach on a Viterbi network is the feedforward phase that maps input to output once the values of the weights are known. The approach taken is a natural one that proceeds from the formulation of the problem, goes through the rule-based and the optimization approaches, and leads to the final learning phase. A discussion of how the optimum path paradigm relates to other connectionist paradigms is also presented. The paper will address the specific problem of fingering for string instruments (Yampolsky 1967; Gilardino 1975), in particular the fingering of homophonic music written for the classical guitar (Gilardino 1975; Sayegh 1987; 1988). The method presented is general, however, and can be used in a variety of musical applications, where the written transcription often carries only partial information about the sound to be rendered-the remaining information depending on context and/or interpretation. The reason for restricting the study to a particular application is the desire to introduce another level of generality, illustrating different approaches that can be taken. One such approach, the optimization approach, leads naturally to a new connectionist learning paradigm, the optimum path paradigm, whose generality goes beyond musical applications (Sayegh and Manzor-Coats 1988). The connectionist aspect of the problem is introduced in a very natural way. In the early phases of the treatment, it is present at the level of constraint propagation (Waltz 1975) or of connectionism (Feldman 1985) and is very closely tied to the nature of the problem. The most interesting aspect is that it then goes one step beyond, culminating in the learning aspect that is absent in similar treatments, although essential for a viable connectionist paradigm.
Electronic Compensation of Optical Fiber Nonlinearity in on-off Keyed 40 Gb/s WDM Transmission Systems

We propose and analyze a novel technique to compensate fiber nonlinearity in on-off-keyed 40Gb/s long-haul WDM transmission systems. Our analysis shows that the proposed technique can increase the overall system margin by >1.0 dB.
Infected False Aneurysms of the Femoral Artery in Intravenous Drug Addicts

sitivities of 92% and 96%, respectively, in the detection of aneurysms. Twenty-three (39%) of the 60 patients had polymicrobial infections. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 50 (83%) of 60 cases; 21 (42%) of the isolates were 1-lactam-resistant strains. Anaerobes and aerobic gram-negative bacilli were observed in 12 (20%) and seven (12%) of 60 patients, respectively. Thirty-six (60%) of the patients were bacteremic. All patients received parenteral antibiotics and had surgical resection of their false aneurysm(s). Bacteriologic treatment failures occurred in five of 13 patients who received <15 days of parenteral antibiotics following surgical ligation, as compared with one of 47 who received longer courses (P = .002). Six of 12 grafting procedures were successful, and six of the 60 patients required amputations. There were no deaths. Previously reported cases from the United States medical and surgical literature are reviewed.
Continuous carbon fiber polymer-matrix composites and their joints, studied by electrical measurements

Continuous carbon fiber polymer-matrix composites and their joints, as studied by DC electrical measurements, are reviewed. The resistance gives information on the microstructure and allows the self-sensing of strain, damage and temperature. In the case of composites with dissimilar fibers in adjacent laminae, the Seebeck effect allows temperature sensing, using the interface between laminae as a thermocouple junction. The resistance in the through-thickness direction can be apparently negative, due to entropy-driven electron backflow. The longitudinal resistance allows sensing of the glass transition and melting of the thermoplastic polymer matrix. The quality of composite-composite joints obtained by adhesion or fastening, and of composite-concrete joints obtained by adhesion, is revealed by resistance measurements.
A Pre-service Teacher Training Model with Instructional Technology Graduate Students as Peer Coaches to Elementary Pre-service Teachers

This paper describes a peer coaching collaboration between graduate students in a Master’s program in Instructional Technology and undergraduate pre-service teachers enrolled in an elementary mathematics methods course. Integrated as a major project in a graduate level K-12 technology integration course, the Instructional Technology students evaluated pre-service teachers’ instructional web sites designed and built as a technology integration project incorporated into their existing elementary mathematics methods course. Instructional Technology graduate students provided support, feedback, and suggested revisions for undergraduates’ instructional web sites, simulating work they might do in supporting practicing classroom teachers. Each student in each program was evaluated on the quality of his or her design and technology integration skills throughout the coaching experience. This paper includes a description of the development of the project, how it has evolved over time, benefits, and tips for getting started.
The Application of a Strengths-Based Mental Health Approach in Schools

(2002). The Application of a Strengths-Based Mental Health Approach in Schools. Childhood Education: Vol. 78, Our Crisis in Children's Mental Health, pp. 291-294.
Multiple target-to-track association and track estimation system using a neural network

A three-component system for tracking multiple moving objects is presented. A neural network is used to perform frame-to-frame data association. A Hough Transform system is used to perform multiple-frame data association and track correction. An estimation filter system is used to provide updated track estimates. The tracking ability of this integrated system is tested with realistic simulated flight trajectories. The system response to simulated measurement noise and estimation errors is detailed, and the interaction of the three system components to correct errors is illustrated. Optical processing is used in the neural net and Hough Transform systems.
Continuous estimates of CO2 efflux from arctic and boreal soils during the snow‐covered season in Alaska

[1] Soils in arctic and boreal ecosystems hold large stocks of soil carbon (C), which may be sensitive to changes in climate. Recent studies suggest that winter CO2 efflux from the subnivean environment may be an important component of annual C budgets in arctic and boreal ecosystems. The present study was designed to examine the seasonal patterns and magnitudes of winter CO2 efflux from arctic tussock tundra near Toolik Lake, Alaska, and upland boreal forest in Anchorage, Alaska. The seasonal pattern of winter CO2 efflux differed strongly between the two sites. Tussock tundra showed a prolonged period with very low flux rates between late December and mid-April. In contrast, rates of CO2 efflux were relatively high, but variable, throughout the winter at the boreal site. Estimates of C efflux for the snow-covered season were within the range of previous studies in tussock tundra (24 g C m−2) and upland boreal forest (75 g C m−2). A simple exponential model, using shallow soil temperatures, explained much of the variation in CO2 efflux from tussock tundra. In contrast, air temperature was an important secondary control on winter CO2 efflux from the boreal forest, suggesting that trees became active during prolonged winter thaws. Results of the study imply that warmer winters may increase rates of C efflux from high-latitude ecosystems. Changes in the depth or duration of snow cover will, however, modulate the relationship between air and soil temperatures and could amplify or dampen the effects of climate warming.