cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Internal Control Weaknesses and Their Related Adverse Outcomes Impact Municipal Debt Costs

This study investigates whether municipal bond prices reflect weaknesses in internal control and their related adverse outcomes (i.e., compliance with laws and regulations and questioned costs). Using hand-collected data from 866 official registration statements, our results suggest that adverse outcomes play an important role in explaining the underlying relationship between weaknesses in internal control and initial bond yields. Specifically, the municipal bond market penalizes governments with solely adverse outcomes, with a greater penalty if an adverse outcome is accompanied by a material weakness in internal control. Overall, our results provide compelling evidence that investors value the disclosure of internal control weaknesses/adverse outcomes in the Federal Audit Clearinghouse and that these disclosures have significant public policy implications.
Numerical study of flame spread in a narrow flow duct in microgravity – effects of flow confinement and radiation reflection

Abstract A three-dimensional numerical study is performed to investigate concurrent-flow flame spread over thin solid fuels in microgravity. The model considers the burning scenarios of a recently concluded ISS microgravity experiment, Confined Combustion. Cellulose based thin samples are burned in a small flow duct. The height of the flow duct and the radiation reflectance of the duct wall are varied. Flame development and steady spread flame characteristics are compared with the experimental results at various duct heights. The numerical results demonstrate that the confinement imposed by the duct walls accelerates the flow during the combustion thermal expansion, enhancing the conductive heat transfer to the solid samples. When the duct height is below a critical height, the flow confinement limits oxygen supply to the flame, and the duct wall acts as a conductive heat sink. As a result of the interplay of these effects, the flame spread rate and pyrolysis length first increase and then decrease as the duct height decreases. Eventually, the flame fails to spread at a quenching duct height. In addition, side-leading concave (two-teeth fork shaped) flames are observed below the critical duct height. This flame shape increases the flame surface area and facilitates oxygen transport to the combustion zone. When the duct wall reflectance varies, a higher reflectance yields a longer pyrolysis length and a faster spread rate. This is due to enhanced heat input to both the solid sample surface and the gaseous flame. This effect is most significant for medium duct heights. At large duct heights, the duct wall is far from the flame and the sample. At small duct heights, while flame spread rate increases with the wall reflectance, the pyrolysis and flame length remain similar as combustion is limited by oxygen supply.
Deep Neural Network Architecture Search for Emulating Physical Parameterization of Planetary Boundary Layer Height

Multiple satellites and ground based Lidar instruments are becoming increasingly available in providing near daily coverage of aerosol distributions over the US. Aerosols are very small particles, both liquid and solid, arising from both natural and human activities. Atmospheric aerosols directly influence incoming solar radiation by scattering and reflection and indirectly by serving as nuclei for cloud formation of rain, ice and graupel. In addition, aerosols are emitted in the surface layer and pollute the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) affecting human health. PBL height (PBLH) determines the vertical extent to which most pollutants effectively disperse and is a key variable in air quality studies. Incorporating aerosol emissions with microphysics and chemistry parameterizations can significantly impact sub-seasonal weather forecasts directly through model radiative transfer parametrization and indirectly can influences the cloud formation, precipitation and the onset of deep convective storms through microphysical processes. Cloud resolving regional forecast models at 0.01 0 (~ 1km) spatial resolution employing such parameterizations will require a fully dedicated petascale computer to effect sub-seasonal forecasts on a weekly basis. In this paper, we initially study the potential of Neural Architecture Searches (NAS) to accurately emulate aerosol and microphysical parameterizations at coarse spatial resolutions to assess potential speed ups over conventional computational approaches. We conduct two experiments, a coarse 1-year WRF model simulation conducted at 2.5° over N. America and 0.8° over Eastern US. with 30 levels including CHEM, Bulk 2-moment microphysics to explore the feasibility of using NAS nets for sub seasonal forecasts and a second short term 6-day high resolution simulation at 0.09°with a single domain over the US and a 0.03° inner domain over eastern US. The problem running the WRF model at cloud resolving resolutions (for example 1km - 4km) is that it will require large computational times and resources. By first studying a coarse WRF experiment, we only need 10 min./sim day on 18 nodes or ~ 14 hrs/sub-seasonal forecast compared with 4hrs /day or approximately 5 dedicated days /sub-seasonal prediction. Our 6 day forecast study is used to provide computing time estimate for testing scalability and takes 20 min./day to run the 0.09° sub-seasonal simulation when using chemical and microphysics components at 3km. We employ the Auto-Keras NAS model, which accurately emulates the 1 year coarse experiment as well as gains an expected 10x speedup. This NAS deep neural net model will be used to infer the aerosol types, sizes and distributions to enable microphysics inferences and realistic mixed boundary layer heights with expected speedups of an order of magnitude or more.
Dynamics Near the Three-Body Libration Points via Koopman Operator Theory.

This paper investigates the application of the Koopman Operator theory to the motion of a satellite about a libration point in the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem. Recently, the Koopman Operator has emerged as a promising alternative to the geometric perspective for dynamical systems, where the Koopman Operator formulates the analysis and dynamical systems in terms of observables. This paper explores the use of the Koopman Operator for computing both 2D and 3D periodic orbits near libration points. Further, simulation results show that the Koopman Operator provides analytical solutions with high accuracy for both Lyapunov and Halo orbits, which are then applied to a station-keeping application.
Posterior Circulation Ischemia in the Endovascular Era

Background and Objectives To perform literature review of clinical, radiographic, and anatomical features of posterior circulation ischemia (PCI) and systematic review of the literature on the management of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) and associated outcomes. Methods Review of literature was conducted to identify publications describing the risk factors, etiology, clinical presentation, and imaging for PCI. A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement. PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE were searched from 2009 to 2020 for articles relating to management of BAO. A synthesis was compiled summarizing current evidence on management of BAO. Results PCI accounts for 15%–20% of strokes. Risk factors are similar to anterior circulation strokes. Dizziness (47%), unilateral limb weakness (41%), and dysarthria (31%) are the most common presenting symptoms. A noncontrast head CT will identify PCI in 21% of cases; diffusion-weighted MRI or CT perfusion increase sensitivity to 85%. Recent trials have shown endovascular therapy can achieve >80% recanalization of BAO. In select patients, 30%–60% who receive endovascular treatment can achieve favorable outcome vs without. A total of 13% achieve good outcome and there is an 86% mortality rate. Discussion PCI can present with waxing and waning symptoms or clinical findings that overlap with stroke mimics and anterior circulation ischemia, making diagnosis more heavily dependent on imaging. Recanalization is an important predictor of improved functional outcome and survival. In this endovascular era, trials of BAO are fraught with deterrents to enrollment. Despite limitations, endovascular treatment has shown improved outcome in select patients.
Looking at Assessment Through Learning-Colored Lenses

For almost 100 years, American educators have relied on a comparison-focused conception of educational measurement—a conception contributing little to students’ learning. This chapter describes the pivotal role of a famous World War I aptitude test in fostering this perception of assessment. It identifies the nature and the potential contributions of criterion-referenced measurement, along with the admonition that even assessments yielding criterion-referenced interpretations must be carefully evaluated. In addition to explicitly describing what a given test measures, tests that contribute to an assessment-for-learning strategy must provide instructionally actionable results. This chapter argues that educational tests must be perceived not in a traditional manner but, rather, from a learning perspective.
Employee Development Using WebCT Vista

In an effort to make required training easily available to academic library employees, the author used the campus course management system (CMS), WebCT Vista, to create online learning modules for the library. Also discussed are general benefits of online learning, the technology competencies that prompted the development of the learning modules, and the design and components of the learning modules.
Sex differences in vasopressin and oxytocin innervation of the brain

Sex differences in vasopressin and oxytocin expression are helpful in studying the anatomy and function of vasopressin innervation of the brain. They also provide insight in the function of neural sex differences in general. This paper will discuss nature, cause and possible significance of these sex differences, focusing on vasopressin projections from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the medial amygdaloid nucleus, which show some of the most consistently found sex differences among vertebrates.
Information systems theorizing based on evolutionary psychology: an interdisciplinary review and theory integration framework

Evolutionary psychology holds great promise as one of the possible pillars on which information systems theorizing can take place. Arguably, evolutionary psychology can provide the key to many counterintuitive predictions of behavior toward technology, because many of the evolved instincts that influence our behavior are below our level of conscious awareness; often those instincts lead to behavioral responses that are not self-evident. This paper provides a discussion of information systems theorizing based on evolutionary psychology, centered on key human evolution and evolutionary genetics concepts and notions. It is argued here that there is often a need to integrate evolutionary and non-evolutionary theories, and four important preconditions for the successful integration of evolutionary and non-evolutionary theories are discussed. An example of integration of evolutionary and non-evolutionary theories is provided. The example focuses on one evolutionary information systems theory-media naturalness theory-previously developed as an alternative to media richness theory, and one non-evolutionary information systems theory, channel expansion theory.
Endotoxin shock in the beagle dog

Abstract The hemodynamic and metabolic responses to endotoxemia were assessed in seven splenectomized, chronically instrumented, conscious but lightly sedated beagle dogs. Measurements included: cardiac output (CO), right and left atrial pressures (RAP, LAP), systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures (SAP, PAP), and heart rate (HR). Arterial blood samples were measured for blood gas tensions, pH, lactate, and pyruvate. After a brief control period, 1 mg/kg endotoxin (Difco 026: B6) was given as an intravenous bolus. Two hours later, each animal was treated with low-molecular weight dextran (LMDX), 2 ml/kg/min for 15 minutes. Endotoxin initially produced a precipitate decline in CO, HR, RAP, LAP, and SAP with concurrent pulmonary hypertension; both pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance increased significantly, then declined to control values as the animal partially recovered. A progressive metabolic acidosis with excess lactate accumulation developed. LMDX produced a significant increase in CO, SAP, PAP, and LAP with a decrease in HR; RAP increased slightly. With hydration, hemodilution was noted along with relief of the metabolic acidosis and the oxygen debt. We conclude (1) neither pulmonary nor systemic vasconstriction persisted in the shocked dog, (2) the response of the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds to endotoxin was qualitatively similar, and (3) oncotic fluid therapy appeared to restore the hemodynamic and metabolic parameters to preshock values.
Postmortem alterations in the pH range of myofibrillar ATPase activation/inactivation

A histochemical assay for myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (mATPase) activity is routinely utilized in the delineation of fiber types in healthy human skeletal muscle. Each fiber type has a specific pH range of mATPase stability (activation). Outside of this pH range, mATPase activity is labile (inactivated), no reaction product is formed, and the fibers remain unstained. The aim of the present study was to carefully investigate the pH stability/lability of mATPase in postmortem muscles. To this end, vastus lateralis muscle samples were obtained approximately 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 days after death, as well as control samples from a healthy young man and woman. Serial cross sections of the muscle samples were assayed for mATPase activity throughout preincubation pH ranges of 4.15-4.7 and 10.2-10.5 in increments of 0.05 pH units. Myosin heavy chain analysis (as well as a regression analysis comparing fiber type area and relative myosin heavy chain content) verified the mATPase-based fiber types. The pH ranges of mATPase stability/lability for the control samples were as previously reported, and support the use of preincubation pH values of 4.3, 4.6, and 10.4 for the delineation of fiber types in normal human muscle. For the postmortem samples, both quantitative and qualitative changes altered the pH ranges of mATPase activation/inactivation. Quantitative changes consisted of a time-dependent loss of mATPase activity that was inhibited in all fibers outside the pH range of 4.15-10.50. In addition, qualitative changes caused "shifts to the left" in mATPase stability within the fast fiber types (IIA and IIB). As such, complete inhibition of mATPase activity did not occur until preincubation at pH 4.45 and pH 4.30 for fiber types IIA and IIB, respectively. For the postmortem vastus lateralis muscle samples, optimal preincubation pH values for mATPase-based fiber type delineation were pH 4.30, 4.45, and 10.35. The reason for these qualitative changes in mATPase stability is not known. However, postmortem changes such as increased lactate production and marked acidification may play a role.
Particle Counter for Sediment Transport Studies

An acoustic instrument for the measurement of the mass transport of sand-sized sediment particles in laboratory and natural transport systems has been developed. The instrument consists of an electromechanical transducer for the detection of sediment particles entrained in a moving fluid (air or water) and an electronic circuit which counts the transient signals produced when particles impact the transducer. By virtue of the principle of detection, instrument response to fine-grained sediment (silt and clay) and low-density material is negligible. Laboratory tests and field experiment conducted in a sand-bedded stream demonstrate that the instrument responds systematically to the mass flux of particles and therefore is potentially useful for investigations of bedload transport. The instrument is best suited for studies of transport systems characterized by high transport rates and flow velocities and having well-sorted bed material.
On some conjectures of Askey

Using the Darboux method of asymptotic analysis, it is shown that the coefficients of the power series expansions of the functions f (w) = (1 − w) −c (1 − 2xw + w 2 ) −c and (1 + w)f (w), 1 <c< 2, at w = 0 are positive if x lies in certain intervals. This partially answers some questions raised by Askey.
“Environmental Hypertensionology” The Effects of Environmental Factors on Blood Pressure in Clinical Practice and Research

Blood pressure (BP) is affected by many environmental factors including ambient temperature, altitude, latitude, noise, and air pollutants. Given their pervasiveness, it is plausible that such factors may also have an impact on hypertension prevalence and control rates. Health care providers should be aware that the environment can play a significant role in altering BP. Although not among the established modifiable risk factors (eg, obesity) for hypertension, reducing exposures when pertinent should be considered to prevent or control hypertension. The authors provide a concise review of the evidence linking diverse environmental factors with BP and suggest an approach for incorporating this knowledge into clinical practice. The authors propose using the term environmental hypertensionology to refer to the study of the effects of environmental factors on BP in clinical and research settings.
Behaviorally derived measures of conduction velocity in the substrate for rewarding medial forebrain bundle stimulation

Summary The results of collision and refractory period tests were used to compute conduction velocity estimates for reward-relevant neurons activated by electrodes aimed approximately 3 mm apart along the trajectory of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). Collision tests consisted of delivering pairs of pulses in alternating fashion to the lateral hypothalamus and ventral tegmental area. As the interval between pulses was increased the behavioral effectiveness of double-pulse stimulation abruptly increased and then levelled off at longer pulse-pair intervals. In 6 subjects the C-T interval at which the abrupt rise was observed ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 ms. Refractory periods were estimated using an analogous paradigm but with both pulses applied through the same electrode. Recovery was first evident at pulse-pair intervals greater than 0.4–0.6 ms. Conduction velocity was determined for each subject by dividing the interelectrode distance by the difference between the collision interval and the refractory period; a range of 1.0–4.5 m/s was obtained, values that are consistent with the reported conduction velocities for catecholaminergic fibers. It is proposed that the substrate for brain-stimulation reward in the MFB consists of small, myelinated, non-catecholaminergic fibers.
Managing pain after thoracic surgery

SUMMARY It is generally accepted that thoracic surgery for lung cancer produces some of the most intense and difficult perioperative and chronic pain challenges. In the acute period of recovery, practitioners must optimize patient comfort and pulmonary function. This can be achieved through a combination of systemic treatment and regional analgesic options. Thoracic surgery also causes relatively high levels of persistent postsurgical pain. Many of the cases of persistent pain have a clear neuropathic pain mechanism, but a significant number of cases do not. While persistent pain correlates directly with the extent of operative trauma, even video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery approaches can cause chronic pain. Persistent pain is treated with medical and interventional therapies customized to an individual patient’s complaints and medication tolerance.
Variable-interval schedules of timeout from avoidance: effects of anxiolytic and antipsychotic drugs in rats.

Abstract Concurrent performances were studied in rats under conditions where responses on one lever postponed shock on a Sidman avoidance schedule and responses on another lever produced periods of signaled timeout from avoidance on a variable-interval schedule. Chlorpromazine decreased rates of responding on both the timeout and avoidance levers to about the same extent. The effects of chlordiazepoxide and CGS 9896 depended upon the event maintaining responding. Both drugs increased responding on the timeout lever at doses that concurrently decreased responding on the avoidance lever. Thus, the novel anxiolytic CGS 9896 produced effects that closely resembled those of the benzodiazepine anxiolytic, chlordiazepoxide. Like chlorpromazine, buspirone decreased both avoidance and timeout responding. Despite the documented anxiolytic properties of buspirone, its actions here were unlike those of the other anxiolytic drugs tested. Nonetheless, the differentiation between drugs obtained with the timeout from avoidance procedure indicates its utility for behavioral pharmacology.
Allometry of gill weights, gill surface areas, and foot biomass δ13C values of the chemoautotroph–bivalve symbiosis Solemya velum

The protobranch bivalve Solemya velum Say, 1822 has large gills, which harbor chemolithoautotrophic bacteria that supply the majority of the clam’s organic carbon. A substantial portion of the CO2, O2, H2S, and other nutrients necessary for symbiont autotrophy and host heterotrophy are acquired from the environment through the gills, whose large size may be necessary to facilitate the acquisition of sufficient O2 from S. velum’s habitat to meet the combined demands of the host and symbionts. Large gills may also result in an oversupply of CO2, which may in turn be responsible for the isotopically depleted δ13C values observed in S. velum biomass (−31 to −34‰). Alternatively, gill hypertrophy may simply be an adaptation to house a large population of symbionts adjacent to their environmental source of dissolved gases and other nutrients. To better understand gill function in this symbiosis, gill weights, gill surface areas, and foot δ13C values were measured as a function of total weights. S. velum gill weights were found to be a substantial portion of total clam weight, averaging 38% of wet weight, compared to nonsymbiotic protobranch bivalves Yoldia limatula Say, 1831 (5%) and Nucula proxima Say, 1822 (11%). Gill weights are a smaller percentage of total weight in larger individuals; the allometric equation for gill weight (G) as a function of total weight (M) is G=0.26M0.85. Dry weights scale similarly. Gill surface areas are immense; the average gill surface area measured was 107 cm2 g−1 total soft tissue wet weight, the highest value for any marine invertebrate. Gill surface area (SA) also scales with size (SA=69.8M0.85). When gill surface areas were calculated with respect to gill wet weights, they did not scale with size. The δ13C values do not scale with size either, consistent with high rates of CO2 supply at all sizes. Extraordinarily high rates of CO2 supply relative to demand are supported by a model for CO2 delivery based on Fick’s law and the allometric relationship between surface areas and total weight, consistent with a role for large gill surface areas in the generation of isotopically depleted tissue δ13C values.
Mechanism-based inhibition of human folylpolyglutamate synthetase: design, synthesis, and biochemical characterization of a phosphapeptide mimic of the tetrahedral intermediate.

Abstract Folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) catalyzes anATP-dependent ligation reaction that results in the synthesis of poly(γ-glutamate) metabolites of folates and some antifolates. We have synthesized and characterized the prototype of a new class of mechanism-based FPGS inhibitor in which a phosphonate moiety mimics the tetrahedral intermediate formed during the ligation reaction.This phosphonate, 4-amino-4-deoxy-10-methyl-pteroyl- l -glutamyl-γ-[Ψ{P(O)(OH)-O}]glutarate (4-NH 2 -10-CH 3 -Pte- l -Glu-γ-[Ψ{P(O)(OH)-O}]glutarate), is not a substrate for human FPGS, but is a linear, competitive inhibitor ( K is = 46 nM) with respect to methotrexate as the variable substrate. Inhibition is not time-dependent and preincubation of FPGS with this phosphonate does not increase the degree of inhibition, suggesting that it is not a slow, tight-binding inhibitor involving a time-dependent isomerization, EI → EI*. Substructures containing the phosphonate moiety but lacking the pterin are much less inhibitory to FPGS, indicating that a significant portion of the inhibitor binding energy is derived from the pterin moiety, a feature also observed in substrate binding. 4-NH 2 -10-CH 3 -Pte- l -Glu-γ-[Ψ{P(O)(OH)-O}]glutarate is also an analog of a proposed tetrahedral intermediate in the reaction catalyzed by γ-glutamyl hydrolase (γ-GH), another enzyme of importance in controlling folate homeostasis in cells. This intermediate would arise from direct attack of H 2 O on the dipeptide, 4-NH 2 -10-CH 3 -Pte- l -Glu-γ- l -Glu. The fact that 4-NH 2 -10-CH 3 -Pte- l -Glu-γ-[Ψ{P(O)(OH)-O}]glutarate is not an inhibitor of γ-GH strongly suggests that hydrolysis of poly-γ-glutamates catalyzed by γ-GH does not involve the direct attack of water at the scissile amide bond. Methotrexate, its γ-glutamyl dipeptide metabolite, and 4-NH 2 -10-CH 3 -Pte- l -Glu-γ-[Ψ{P(O)(OH)-O}]glutarate are equipotent as inhibitors of human dihydrofolate reductase (the primary target of methotrexate), but the phosphonate does not significantly inhibit another important folate-dependent enzyme, thymidylate synthase. Thus, the phosphonate moiety in this analog represents an important new lead in the development of FPGS inhibitors.
Rate of Fixation of Nucleotide Substitutions in Evolution

Nucleotide sequences of rodents and of artiodactyls have been compared by DNA/DNA duplex formation. The rate of evolution in terms of fixation of nucleotide substitutions inferred from non-repeated artiodactyl DNAs is three times greater than that inferred from comparative amino-acid sequence of the α and β chains of haemoglobin from these same organisms. The initial rate of nucleotide sequence variation among rodents is ten-fold higher than that among artiodactyls when divergence time is estimated in years. This difference diminishes if generations, rather than years, represent the appropriate interval of evolutionary divergence.
Video transmission by adaptive frequency modulation

SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) in a demodulated video signal is a function of the modulation index, which is proportional to the ratio of frequency excursion to input signal amplitude. The index is made as high as possible to obtain the best noise performance in blank areas without undue distortion due to RF spectrum truncation in busy areas. It is shown that this tradeoff can be markedly improved by adjusting the modulation index adaptively. This greatly improves the noise performance in just those areas where the noise would otherwise be most visible. Essential system concepts are presented, and the derivation of the adaptation factors is discussed. The principles are applied to a monochrome system and then the processing of color images is considered. Results of a computer simulation of two of the many possible implementations of this adaptive scheme are presented. >
Fluorescence identification of zoochlorellae: A rapid method for investigating alga‐invertebrate symbioses

Using fluorescence microscopy I have developed a technique for the rapid identification and enumeration of zoochlorellae which does not require sectioning. Chlorophyll in algal symbionts fluoresces bright red when excited by ultra-violet light. In a test of this system using green and white Spongilla lacustris I found a ratio of 42:1 (green:white) in the number of symbionts and a similar ratio of 36:1 in the amount of chlorophyll a and b present.
Fast methods for fractal image encoding

Fractal image compression is a relatively new and very promising technique for still image compression. However, it is not widely applied due to its very time consuming encoding procedure. In this research, we focus on speeding up this procedure by introducing three schemes: dimensionality reduction, energy-based classification, and tree search. We have developed an algorithm that combines these three schemes together and achieves a speed-up factor of 175 at the expense of only 0.6 dB degradation in PSNR relative to the unmodified exhaustive search for a typical image encoded with 0.44 bpp.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The relationship between mood and preferences among natural landscapes: An evolutionary perspective

Abstract The evolutionary approach to aesthetics contends that psychological responses to stimuli evolved because they contributed to survival and reproduction. Thus, psychological reactions to stimuli can be thought of as motivators of appropriate environment-contingent behavior. We explored this idea by examining the relationship between mood and landscape preference across individuals. We predicted that subjects who reported positive moods (e.g., cheerful, energetic, optimistic) would be motivated to explore, and thus, would prefer landscapes rich in “Prospect” (vast expanses and overviews), while subjects who experienced mood dysphoria (e.g., tense, depressed, fatigued) would be motivated to reduce stress, and thus, prefer landscapes rich in “Refuge” (enclosed, protected spaces). While not all of the predictions were confirmed, in general, landscape preferences were found to relate to mood in the manner predicted. These results suggest that mood can affect aesthetic judgment, and that this effect might be the result of a psychological mechanism evolved to facilitate adaptive behavior.
Non-diffusive aspects of the amplified climbing-sine map

Abstract The amplified climbing-sine model that generates some of the properties of turbulent diffusion also induces a net flow toward the origin, creates spatial patterns in an initially uniform distribution, and cannot be regarded as a fully satisfactory model of turbulence.
Depletion of Med10 enhances Wnt and suppresses Nodal signaling during zebrafish embryogenesis

The transcriptional Mediator (MED) is a multiprotein complex that transmits information from transcription factors to RNA polymerase II (PolII) to regulate transcription. At present, the role of distinct MED subunits in general transcription versus transcription stimulated by specific signaling pathways is unclear. By means of positional cloning, we reveal that the zebrafish mutant tennismatch is a hypomorphic allele of Med10, a conserved MED middle domain subunit. Using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides, we further demonstrate that reduction of Med10 levels led to an enhancement of the Wnt signaling pathway, while also suggesting a role for Med10 in mediating the Nodal signaling pathway. In contrast to the dual roles of Med10, reduction of Med12 and Med13 levels, two MED subunits in the regulatory domain, led to an enhancement of the Wnt signaling pathway but not the Nodal pathway, while reduction of Med15 levels, a MED subunit in the tail domain, suppressed the Nodal signaling pathway but not the Wnt signaling pathway. Thus, Med10 appears to be a unique MED subunit that differentially transduces information from distinct signaling pathways during zebrafish embryogenesis.
The role of phospholipids in schistosome granulomas.

The components of schistosomal eggs responsible for formation of granulomata and the immunologic responses of the host to them are still only partly known. Diffusible miracidial antigens and secretory products of the apical gland are important; neither purified egg shells nor miracidia alone can elicit granulomata in unsensitized mice, and whole eggs are essential [1]. Augmented granulomatous responses seen in sensitized hosts are mediated by delayed hypersensitivity [2]; however, in highly sensitized and severely infected hosts, "Hoeppli precipitates" , identified as antigen-antibody complexes, surround the eggs in the center of the granuloma [3]. Thus far, the role of toxic or irritative products of eggs has received little attention.
Cellular memory: Neutrophil orientation reverses during temporally decreasing chemoattractant concentrations

Cell directional orientation or shape polarization is the first cellular step in neutrophil locomotion. To better understand how chemoattractants interact with cells, we studied neutrophil polarization (or shape changes) during exposure to a temporally decreasing chemoattractant signal of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) in the absence of a spatial concentration gradient. To accomplish this objective, we used a manifold of differing FMLP concentrations attached to a stopped-flow microscope chamber. Spatial gradients of a fluorescent chemotactic peptide could not be detected in the chamber by using microfluorometry. When FMLP was injected at continually increasing concentrations at 10-s intervals, the shape and relative direction of the neutrophil persisted. However, when temporally decreasing FMLP concentrations were injected, ≈80% of the cells changed their direction with 44% of the total cells swinging about to 180° ± 15°. Most of these directional changes involved dissolution of both the lamellipodium and uropod and reformation of these structures 180° from their original positions. This research suggests that neutrophils reverse their morphological polarity when exposed to temporally decreasing ligand concentrations by “remembering” their ligand exposure history and relative direction.
Understanding the impact of particle separation in a plasmonic dimer on the resonance wavelength

Plasmonic dimers consist of two nanopar-ticles in near vicinity of each other, which give the dimer unique properties that the single constituents do not have. Given the increased interest in these types of particles, establishing efficient modeling techniques for dimers becomes essential to be able to design systems with optimal performance. Moreover, modeling dimers is a key first step into modeling more complex systems of interacting nanoparticles where traditional simulation methods are highly inefficient. In this paper, we present an efficient modeling technique for dimers based on the quasistatic approximation. Our modeling technique can capture the resonance properties of dimers and our formulation of the quasistatic approximation problem is efficient to implement.
L'Aquila earthquake verdict yields aftershocks

The 22 October verdict by a court in L'Aquila, Italy, convicting seven Italian earthquake experts of manslaughter for failing to provide an adequate seismic warning to residents prior to a damaging quake in the region continues to send shockwaves through the scientific community. A sampling of the scientific community's concern about the verdict, which is likely to be appealed, included a 25 October joint statement from U.S. National Academy of Sciences president Ralph Cicerone and U.K. Royal Society president Sir Paul Nurse that noted “the difficult task facing scientists in dealing with risk communication and uncertainty.” The statement continued, “Much as society and governments would like science to provide simple, clear-cut answers to the problems that we face, it is not always possible. Scientists can, however, gather all the available evidence and offer an analysis of the evidence in light of what they do know. The sensible course is to turn to expert scientists who can provide evidence and advice to the best of their knowledge. They will sometimes be wrong, but we must not allow the desire for perfection to be the enemy of good. That is why we must protest the verdict in Italy. If it becomes a precedent in law, it could lead to a situation in which scientists will be afraid to give expert opinion for fear of prosecution or reprisal. Much government policy and many societal choices rely on good scientific advice and so we must cultivate an environment that allows scientists to contribute what they reasonably can, without being held responsible for forecasts or judgments that they cannot make with confidence.”
Fluorescence induced by coherent optical pulses

Coherent electromagnetic excitation of optical transition levels by fluorescence measurement, obtaining dipole moment and relaxation times
Electrokinetic flow control for composition modulation in a microchannel

A numerical and experimental study of the injection into a microchannel of a fluid with a spatially modulated composition is presented. The investigation employs test structures constructed in polydimethylsiloxane by standard replica molding. Fluid-flow simulations are compared to flow results obtained by fluorescence microscopy experiments. Results show that for a given channel dimension, the desired modulation of the solution composition is only possible below a threshold frequency. The value of the threshold frequency is dependent on channel size as well as flow rate. Experimental results are in accord with numerical simulations and theoretical considerations.
Thermoelectric power investigations of YbAgGe across the quantum critical point

The magnetic field and temperature dependences of the thermoelectric power (TEP) of the antiferromagnetically ordered heavy fermion compound YbAgGe are measured across the field-induced quantum critical point. These TEP measurements reproduce the earlier $H\text{\ensuremath{-}}T$ phase diagram and identify an additional domelike phase between $\ensuremath{\sim}45$ and $\ensuremath{\sim}70\text{ }\text{kOe}$. On the low-field side of this region, $Hg{H}_{c}\ensuremath{\sim}45\text{ }\text{kOe}$, the sign of the TEP changes from negative to positive; on the high-field side of this region, $H\ensuremath{\approx}70\text{ }\text{kOe}$, a non-Fermi-liquid state is evidenced as the logarithmic temperature dependence of $S(T)/T$, in agreement with previous specific heat results $C(T)/T\ensuremath{\propto}\ensuremath{-}\text{log}(T)$. For higher fields, $Hg70\text{ }\text{kOe}$, the observed large value of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, $S(T)=\ensuremath{\alpha}T$, is indicative of the heavy fermion state and shows a correlation with $C(T)/T$.
Development and validation of the Customer-Centered Behavior measure

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a new measure of customer service job performance – the Customer-Centered Behavior (CCB) measure. The CCB measure draws on the content of over 15 existing measures, but captures in-role service performance focused on customer interactions in a multidimensional framework. Three studies were conducted to develop and validate the new measure. Study 1 addresses the item generation process and examines the initial factor structure. Results demonstrate that service behaviors are best represented as a second-order construct composed of three first-order factors – assurance, responsiveness, and recommendation behaviors. Study 2 confirms the factor structure and provides evidence for the measure's predictive validity. Finally, Study 3 provides evidence for incremental validity above other service performance measures.
Increased blood histamine in thermal intolerance: Report of a patient with cryoglobulinemia

Abstract A 56-year-old man had progressive intolerance to both heat and cold. When his hand was withdrawn from cold water, the patient experienced a local and a general reaction, and greatly increased quantities of free histamine were found in the plasma of the blood leaving the chilled extremity. The patient also had a large amount of cryoglobulin in his serum. The relationship of this concomitant cryoglobulinemia to the other findings is not known.
Mopeds: The legal Loophole for Repeat Driving While Intoxicated Offenders

Abstract Background Mopeds have less stringent licensing laws than automobiles. Moped operators in motorized vehicle collisions (MVCs) exhibit significantly higher rates of driving while intoxicated (DWI) and higher blood alcohol levels than automobile or motorcycle operators. This study evaluates the public safety issue of DWI recidivism among moped operators. Methods Moped operators evaluated after MVCs were identified from 2007 to 2009. Demographics, hospital data, and Department of Motor Vehicles records were reviewed. Results Sixty-five moped operators were evaluated. Thirty-two (49%) had a positive blood alcohol level, 29 (45%) had a previous DWI, and 21 (72%) of those were repeat offenders. Twenty-five (38%) had a revoked license at the time of injury. Of these, 19 (76%) incurred multiple revocations. Twenty-two (34%) showed prior charges of driving with a revoked license (DWRL), with 15 (68%) incurring multiple DWRL charges. Conclusions Moped operators are often intoxicated at the time of injury and represent a public safety hazard. The majority are recidivists with multiple alcohol-related traffic charges. Current laws allow repeat offenders the sustained opportunity to operate motorized vehicles. Re-evaluation of current moped laws is needed to keep habitual offenders off the road.
Effect of dietary energy source and concentration on performance of dairy cows during early lactation.

Abstract Eighteen Holstein heifers were placed into groups of 3 according to projected calving date, prepartum BW, and prepartum condition score. Following parturition, animals within each group were assigned randomly to one of three diets and remained on the experiment for 45 d. Diets consisted of forage: concentrate ratios of 72:28, 53:47, or 73:27 (isocaloric to the 53:47 ratio by addition of 8% soybean oil). Diets were fed twice daily as total mixed rations. Blood, rumen fluid, and adipose tissue were sampled at −7, 5, 20, and 45 d of lactation. Performance means were, respectively: DM intake (kg/d) 13.9, 14.9, and 12.4; milk (kg/d) 24.5, 25.8, and 18.6; milk fat (%) 3.77, 3.59, and 3.62; milk protein (%) 3.03, 2.99, and 3.11; body condition score (0=thin, 5=fat) 1.53, 1.87, and 1.99; and BW (kg) 514, 523, and 505. Cows fed soybean oil had higher ruminal isoacids than those fed the other diets and higher acetate than cows on the 53:47 diet. Diets had no effect on blood metabolites or activity of adipose glycerol-P dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8). The soybean oil diet reduced short-chain fatty acids and increased long-chain fatty acids in milk. Feed intake and milk production were highest for cows receiving the 53:47 diet. As expected, animals on the 72:28 diet did not consume adequate energy to maintain high production which concurrently resulted in lower body condition scores.
Power and Penury: Government, Technology and Science in Philip II's Spain

List of illustrations Preface Abbreviations Glossary 1. The occult sciences: the crown's support and controls 2. Cosmography and the crown 3. Technology for war 4. Producing the king's silver 5. The crown's interest in medicine Conclusion Bibliography Index.
IGF-I 3′ Untranslated Region: Strain-Specific Polymorphisms and Motifs Regulating IGF-I in Osteoblasts

Reduced IGF-I is associated with low bone mass in humans and mice. C3H/He/J (C3H) mice have higher skeletal IGF-I and greater bone mass than C57BL/6J (B6). We hypothesized that strain-related genotypic differences in Igf1 affected skeletal function. The Igf1 coding region is nonpolymorphic, but its 3' untranslated region (UTR) is polymorphic between C3H and B6. Luciferase-Igf1 3' UTR reporter constructs showed that these polymorphic regions did not affect UTR function. IGF-I splice variants give rise to a common mature IGF-I peptide, but different E peptides. We identified two splice products, exon 4+6 (Ea) and exon 4+5+6 (Eb, mechano-growth factor) and found that their abundance was unchanged during osteoblastic differentiation. The Igf1 3' UTR encoded by exon 6 contains alternative polyadenylation sites. Proximal site use produces a short 3' UTR of approximately 195 bases, whereas distal site usage results in an approximately 6300-base UTR. Although Igf1 mRNA levels did not change during osteoblastic differentiation, distal polyadenylation site usage was increased in B6 cells but not in C3H. The resulting long Igf1 RNA isoform is less stable and has decreased translation efficiency, which may be one mechanism contributing to decreased IGF-I in B6 vs. C3H mice. Although the long UTR contains a conserved [GU](18) repeat, which is a positive regulator of UTR activity, it is also targeted by negative regulators, miR-29 and miR-365. These microRNAs are increased in B6 and C3H cells during osteoblastic differentiation. Differential expression of the long Igf1 3' UTR isoform may be a possible mechanism for enhanced IGF-I regulation in B6 vs. C3H mice.
Communicating Without the Face: Holistic Perception of Emotions of People With Facial Paralysis

People with facial paralysis (FP) report social difficulties, but some attempt to compensate by increasing expressivity in their bodies and voices. We examined perceivers' emotion judgments of videos of people with FP to understand how they interpret the combination of an inexpressive face with an expressive body and voice. Results suggest perceivers form less favorable impressions of people with severe FP, but compensatory expression is effective in improving impressions. Perceivers seemed to form holistic impressions when rating happiness and possibly sadness. Findings have implications for basic emotion research and social functioning interventions for people with FP.
Cyanide adducts on the diruthenium core of [Ru2(L)4]+ (L = ap, CH3ap, fap, or F3ap). Electronic properties and binding modes of the bridging ligand

The products of the reaction between CN- and four different diruthenium complexes of the type Ru2(L)4Cl where L = 2-CH3ap (2-(2-methylanilino)pyridinate anion), ap (2-anilinopyridinate anion), 2-Fap (2-(2-fluoroanilino)pyridinate anion), or 2,4,6-F3ap (2-(2,4,6-trifluoroanilino)pyridinate anion) are reported. Mono- and/or dicyano adducts of the type Ru2(L)4(CN) and Ru2(L)4(CN)2 are found exclusively as reaction products when either the 2-CH3ap or the ap derivative is reacted with CN-, but diruthenium complexes with formulations of the type Ru2(Fxap)3[μ-(o-NC)Fx-1ap](μ-CN) or Ru2(Fxap)4(μ-CN)2 (x = 1 or 3) are also generated when Ru2(Fap)4Cl or Ru2(F3ap)4Cl is reacted with CN-. More specifically, four products formulated as Ru2(Fap)4(CN), Ru2(Fap)4(CN)2, Ru2(Fap)3[μ-(o-NC)ap](μ-CN), and Ru2(Fap)4(μ-CN)2 can be isolated from a reaction of CN- with the Fap derivative, but the exact type and yield of these compounds depend on the temperature at which the experiment is carried out. In the case of the F3ap deri...
Revising the Paths of Discovery in the Spanish Borderlands and Re-Examining the "Black Legend". Five books Reviewed by

• The U.S.‐Mexican War 1846-1848. Produced by Paul Espinosa. 1998. PBS Home Video. 4 hours, color. B3819 PBS Home Video.
Stresses Emanating From the Supports of a Cylindrical Shell Produced by a Lateral Pressure Pulse

A semi-infinite, elastic, circular cylindrical shell is subjected to two uniform, radial pressure pulses, one a step pulse and the other a short-duration, rectangular pulse. Solutions for the stresses emanating from both a clamped support and a simple support are presented for a Timoshenko-type shell theory and a shell bending theory. Results from the Timoshenko-type theory are obtained using the method of characteristics, and results from the shell bending theory are obtained using integral transform techniques. Numerical results from both shell theories are presented for the bending stress and the shear stress resultant. Results show that the effects of rotary inertia and shear deformation are important only in the vicinity of the wave fronts. However, if the duration of the pressure pulse is short, maximum stresses can occur in the vicinity of the wave fronts where a Timoshenko-type shell theory is required for realistic response predictions.