cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling of Underwater Bomb Trajectory for Mine Clearance

The falling of a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) through a water column was modeled using a six degrees of freedom model (called STRIKE35), which contains three components: hydrodynamics, semi-empirical determination of the drag/ lift/torque coefficients (depending on the Reynolds number and the angle of attack), and water surface characteristics.To validate and verify this model, three underwater bomb trajectory tests were conducted in the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWC/WD) in the middle of Indian Wells Valley, California. During the test, several JDAMs were dropped from an airplane into two frustum ponds with the same bottom diameter of approximately 30.5 m, different surface diameters (61 m, 79 m), and different depths (7.6 m, 12.1 m). High-speed digital cameras with light/pressure sensors, and a global positioning system were used to record the location and orientation of JDAMs. Model—data inter comparison shows the capability of STRIKE35, which may lead to a new approach (breaching technology) of sea mine clearance in very shallow water (water depth less than 12.2 m, i.e. 40 ft).
Influence of overstory composition on understory colonization by native species in plantations on a degraded tropical site

Patterns of understory colonization by native and naturalized trees and shrubs were evaluated in 4.5-year-old plantations of three exotic tree species, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus robusta, and Leucaena leucocephala, on a de- graded coastal grassland site with reference to overstory com- position and understory environmental conditions. 19 second- ary forest species were established in the plantation understories (with a total area of 0.52 ha ), while no natural regeneration occurred in unplanted, though protected, control areas. The majority of these species (90 %) and the total seedling popula- tion (97 %) were zoochorous, indicating the importance of frugivorous bats and particularly birds as facilitators of sec- ondary forest species colonization. Understory species rich- ness and seedling densities were affected significantly by overstory composition, the most abundant regeneration occur- ring beneath Leucaena and least under Casuarina. Understory colonization rates within mixed-species stands were interme- diate between those of single-species stands of the trees com- prising their overstories. Significant negative correlations were found between understory species richness and seedling den- sity, and forest floor depth and dry mass, especially for small- seeded ornithochorous species. Higher colonization rates near the peripheries of plantation plots relative to plot interiors were due in part to roosting site preferences by frugivores, particularly bats. The study results indicate that overstory species selection can exert a significant influence on subsequent patterns of colonization by secondary forest species and is an important consideration in the design of plantations for 'catalyzing' succession on deforested, degraded sites.
Predicting nonlinear axial instabilities in solid rockets using exact and approximate solution techniques

Finite-amplitude axial instabilities in solid rockets with tubular propellants are investigated using both approximate and “exact” analytical techniques. In the approximate analysis, the conservation equations for the two-phase flow in the combustor are combined into a single nonlinear inhomogeneous wave equation for the perturbed velocity potential and this equation is solved using the Galerkin Method and the Galerkin Method in combination with the method of averaging. “Exact” solutions are obtained employing a finite-difference scheme for the solution of the combustor conservation equations. The developed solutions are used to predict the characteristics of both the transient and the limit-cycle behavior of axial instabilites in solid rockets under various operating conditions. Comparisons of the results indicate that while the Galerkin Method solutions are generally in qualitative agreement with results of the “exact” analysis, the method of averaging solutions agree with the other solutions only when the following conditions are satisfied: (1) no particles are present in the combustor, or the particles have large diameter and the frequency of oscillation is high and (2) the initial distubance is of moderate amplitude. The paper also discusses the dependence of solid rocket instabilities upon the following engine parameters and operating conditions: (1) the magnitude of the initial disturbance; (2) the size and concentration of the solid particles in the flow; (3) the characteristics of the unsteady combustion process; and (4) the combustor geometry. Finally, the dependence of the accuracy of the approximate solution upon the number of modes present in the solution is discussed.
Recent developments in the multistage modeling of cohort data for carcinogenic risk assessment.

The modeling of cohort data based on the Armitage-Doll multistage model of the carcinogenic process has gained popular acceptance as a methodology for quantitative risk assessment for estimating th...
IPO underpricing and their determinants: penny stocks versus non-penny stocks

We consider the initial public offering (IPO) returns of penny stocks before and after Penny Stock Reform Act (PSRA) implementation. We extend the work of Bradley et al. (2006) by looking not only at NASDAQ small capitalisation issues, but also those issued on the bulletin boards and pink sheets. These stocks exhibit average first-day excess returns of 128% relative to the NASDAQ Decile 1 index. Higher-priced offerings in the same markets as the penny stocks return only 7.6% more than a comparison benchmark. Cross-sectional analyses show that lower-priced stocks and stocks of smaller firms are underpriced to a greater degree. Consistent with the information asymmetry hypothesis, pink sheet issues have higher first-day returns than equities issued in the more exposed and more regulated environments of the NASDAQ small capitalisation markets and the OTC markets. Post-PSRA abnormal returns are significantly less than pre-PSRA returns, and there is a marked shift toward private issues.
Solubilization and purification of the MotA/MotB complex of Escherichia coli.

Bacterial flagella are driven at their base by a rotary motor fueled by the membrane gradient of protons or sodium ions. The stator of the flagellar motor is formed from the membrane proteins MotA ...
Cost-effectiveness of nutrition interventions in nursing home residents: A pilot intervention

Objectives Unintentional weight loss is a prevalent and costly clinical problem among nursing home (NH) residents. One of the most common nutrition interventions for residents at risk for weight loss is oral liquid nutrition supplementation. The purpose of this study was to determine the cost effectiveness of supplements relative to offering residents’ snack foods and fluids between meals to increase caloric intake.
A trainability concept for management potential and an empirical study of its relationship with intelligence for two managerial skills

This article argues for a trainability concept for management potential, and reports a study of the relationships between intelligence and (a) post-training performance and (b) gain in performance due to training for two managerial skills, prioritizing and decision making. Thirty-three subjects took part in two short in-basket exercises, with a prioritizing and decision-making training procedure interposed between them, and also completed Heim's AH5 intelligence test. Performance in both skills, before and after training, was found to be unrelated to intelligence as measured. Gain in performance, however, was found to be curvilinearly associated with intelligence in respect of both skills with an inverted-U shape for decision making. It was concluded that there may be an optimum range of intelligence for trainability in decision making and therefore for management potential. This implies that ability to learn decision-making skills may be related less to intelligence than to other attributes, intelligence may be overemphasized in assessment of management potential, and intelligence should be seen as a moderator of ability to learn rather than of level of achievement.
Lighting and Task Parameters Affecting Posture, Performance and Subjective Ratings

(1985). Lighting and Task Parameters Affecting Posture, Performance and Subjective Ratings. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 231-238.
Stripes and holes in a two-dimensional model of spinless fermions or hardcore bosons

We consider a Hubbard-like model of strongly interacting spinless fermions and hardcore bosons on a square lattice, such that nearest neighbor occupation is forbidden. Stripes (lines of holes across the lattice forming antiphase walls between ordered domains) are a favorable way to dope this system below half filling. The problem of a single stripe can be mapped to fermions in one dimension, which allows understanding of its elementary excitations and calculation of the stripe's effective mass for transverse vibrations. Using Lanczos exact diagonalization, we investigate the excitation gap and dispersion of a hole on a stripe, and the interaction of two holes. We also study the interaction of a few stripes, finding that they repel and the interaction energy decays with stripe separation as if they are hardcore particles moving in one (transverse) direction. To determine the stability of an array of stripes against phase separation into a particle-rich phase and a hole-rich liquid, we evaluate the liquid's equation of state, finding that the stripe-array is not stable for bosons but is possibly stable for fermions.
Pulmonary function changes in children associated with fine particulate matter

During winter months many neighborhoods in the Seattle metropolitan area are heavily affected by particulate matter from residential wood burning. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between fine particulate matter and pulmonary function in young children. The subjects were 326 elementary school children, including 24 asthmatics, who lived in an area with high particulate concentrations predominantly from residential wood burning. FEV1 and FVC were measured before, during and after the 1988-1989 and 1989-1990 winter heating seasons. Fine particulate matter was assessed using a light-scattering instrument. Analysis of the relationship between light scattering and lung function indicated that an increase in particulate air pollution was associated with a decline in asthmatic children's pulmonary function. FEV1 and FVC in the asthmatic children dropped an average of 34 and 37 ml respectively for each 10(-4) m-1 increase in sigma sp. This sigma sp increase corresponds to an increase in PM2.5 of 20 micrograms/m3. It is concluded that fine particulate matter from wood burning is significantly associated with acute respiratory irritation in young asthmatic children.
The effects of cerebellar stimulation on alpha motoneuron excitability and the stretch reflex in the cat

Abstract The effects of cerebellar surface stimulation on electrically evoked monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes and the stretch reflex were investigated in cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. The electrically evoked monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes were recorded from the ventral root following stimulation of nerves innervating the anterior tibial and gastrocnemius-soleus muscles. These responses were averaged at various times after the initiation of cerebellar stimulation and compared with the amplitude of the control response. The effects of cerebellar surface stimulation on the stretch reflex were assessed while recording the multiunit EMG activity evoked by a passive sinusoidal stretch of the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle. Cycle histograms of this EMG activity were constructed during control periods and during cerebellar stimulation. The stimuli were applied to the lateral vermis of the anterior lobe and crus I and crus II of the posterior lobe. The effects of stimulating at different frequencies and charge densities were evaluated in each animal. The magnitude of the effects produced by cerebellar stimulation on these reflexes was highly dependent on the charge density and intensity of the cerebellar stimulus. In general, higher intensities and frequencies of surface stimulation produced greater reductions in the excitability of alpha motoneurons and the amplitude of the stretch reflex. Occasionally low frequency stimulation produced an increase in alpha-motoneuron excitability, particularly when the cerebellar stimuli were applied to the hemisphere. The results of this study indicate that the maximal reduction in motoneuron excitability and the amplitude of the stretch reflex is produced at different stimulus parameters in different animals. However, in each animal the effects evoked by a single set of stimulus parameters were consistent throughout the experiment. These results demonstrate that in an animal with an intact neuraxis cerebellar stimulation applied at relatively safe charge densities can produce dramatic reductions in the amplitudes of segmental reflexes. The inter-animal variability observed emphasizes the importance of establishing the optimal set of stimulus parameters in order to maximize the reduction in motoneuron excitability and stretch reflexes in each animal.
Diet and nutrition as influences on the morbiditymortality gap

Dietary and nutritional factors underlie many conditions that contribute to health disparities between minorities and whites (e.g., infant mortality, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain cancers). Nutrition interventions may, therefore, be useful in reducing the "morbidity/mortality gap," that is, in helping to align the health profiles of minorities with those of the general population. The significance of diet and nutrition for the health status of minority populations may be greater than for whites because of a higher prevalence of risk factors or, in some cases, because the sensitivity to a given risk factor may be greater. The available data suggest possible racial and ethnic differences in diet-related attributable risks. However, the ability to clarify these findings is currently limited because relatively few nutritional epidemiologic studies have compared racial or ethnic groups. Although such studies are inherently complex, and the methodologic issues raised when studying minority groups add further challenges, further exploration of the role of diet and nutrition in relation to health disparities between minorities and whites may provide important new etiologic insights as well as indicate possible avenues of intervention.
Column: Polymer Degradation and Stabilization

This is a series of columns that addresses various topics within the realm of polymer degradation and stabilization. Topics that are covered in these columns include those dealing with thermal degradation and fire retardancy, photo-degradation and stabilization, or biodegradation. Because my principal area of work is in thermal degradation and fire retardancy, the columns reflect these topics. There are a number of meetings at which fire retardancy is addressed, including the annual BCC conference on Fire Retardancy, held each June in Stamford, Connecticut (http://www.bccresearch.com /flame2004/). The annual Additives meeting, usually held in March of each year, also has a section on fire retardancy (http://www.executive-conference.com/conferences/add04.html).
Acute Closed-Angle Glaucoma After Arteriovenous Fistulas

Unilateral secondary acute closed-angle glaucoma was associated with a ciliochoroidal detachment in two patients. One patient, aged 17 years, had an orbital arteriovenous fistula. The other patient, aged 73 years, had a dural arteriovenous fistula that originated from branches of the right internal maxillary artery. In each patient there was increased intraocular pressure, a moderately shallow central anterior chamber, and a flat peripheral anterior chamber. The ciliochoroidal detachment was postulated to displace the iris-lens diaphragm, resulting in the closed angle. Closure of the orbital fistula in the 17-year-old patient reduced the ciliochoroidal detachment and relieved the glaucoma, but visual acuity was reduced to 20/200. The glaucoma in the 73-year-old patient was relieved with topical instillation of timolol 0.5%, homatropine 5%, and systemic administration of acetazolamide. The fistula closed spontaneously, with relief of other ocular signs of the arteriovenous fistula.
Assay and properties of the hemolysis activity of pure venom from the nematocysts of the acontia of the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida

Pure venom from the acontial nematocysts of the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida was isolated and an assay for the hemolysis activity of the venom devised. The assay is rapid, sensitive, and reproducible. Venom concentrations as low as 0.1 μg protein/ ml were accurately assayed. The properties of the hemolysis activity were analyzed using techniques similar to those used to study enzyme-catalyzed reactions. The biochemical events underlying venom-induced lysis required the direct participation of millimolar levels of Ca2+. The slight variability of the apparent Km for Ca2+ at different venom concentrations appeared to be due to the release of some material(s) from lysing cells. Both Sr2+ and Mg2+ weakly substituted for Ca2+. Inhibition of lysis by EDTA was reversed by Ca2+. Small monovalent cations, such as Na+ or K+, appeared to be involved in the venom-induced alteration of the red cell membrane so that lysis could occur. The venom's hemolysis activity was stabilized in solution only if the concentration of the venom proteins was high while also in the presence of at least the equivalent of 0.15 m NaCl.
New data on the nature of suicidal crises in college students: Shifting the paradigm.

This article presents new data on the nature of suicidal crises in college students. Data were collected from over 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students at 70 colleges and universities. An anonymous Web-based survey was designed to provide insight into the full spectrum of suicidal thought, intent, and action among college students. The authors discuss implications of these data and outline a new, problem-focused paradigm for conceptualizing the problem of college student suicidality and for guiding institutional policies and interventions at multiple points along the continuum of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The proposed paradigm encompasses and expands on the current model of treating individuals in crisis in order to act preventively to reduce both prevalence and incidence of all forms of suicidality among college students.
Co-existing responses and stochastic resonance in post-buckled structures: A combined numerical and experimental study

Abstract Much of what is known about co-existing responses in nonlinear systems under both deterministic and random dynamic loading is limited to phenomenological investigations of discrete systems, most commonly, the Duffing equation. From these results alone, it is difficult to extrapolate the behavior of the distributed nonlinear systems more commonly seen in real structures such as buckled beams and curved panels. This is because, beyond the simple increase in dimension, real systems bring with them imperfections and more complex forms of energy dissipation. The possibility of co-existing responses, particularly in the case of simultaneous “safe” and “unsafe” solutions (e.g. snap-through and non-snap-through), poses potential problems for engineers as it multiplies the workload, since one must be very careful to ensure that a particular simulation or experiment has captured the most critical response. Even in the case where random forces dominate the overall loading of a system, a situation in which one might anticipate an equally random response, a very small harmonic component can have an influence beyond its proportion. This effect, known as stochastic resonance, is quite counterintuitive to the analyst more familiar with linear systems where the principles of superposition and scalar multiplication of solutions make this impossible. In this paper, the effect of the damping and noise level on the number of co-existing responses in nonlinear systems is investigated. Stochastic resonance is also demonstrated, first with a double-well Duffing oscillator, and then it is shown to exist experimentally, we believe for the first time, on a macroscopic structure, that being, an (imperfect) buckled beam.
Pulse NMR studies of water permeability in phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing general anesthetics

Phosphatidylcholine was extracted from egg yolks and sonicated withn-alkyl alcohols to give vesicles. The magnetic environment of the external compartment was then modified by the addition of shift reagent (Co2+). This allowed determination of the average lifetime for exchange of water molecule protons by observing the relaxation rate dependence on the interval between pulses in a Carr-Purcell sequence. For vesicles containingn-hexanol as 33% of lipid, the average water molecule lifetime in the internal compartment was found to be substantially less than that for a vesicle without hexanol. The lifetime, 11.3±4 msec, is equivalent to a permeability coefficient of 60 μ/sec at 34°C.
An Examination of Freshmen to Senior General Education Gains across a National Sample of Institutions with Different General Education Requirements Using a Mixed-Effect Structural Equation Model.

This study investigated differences in freshmen to senior student general education gains across institutions with varying patterns of general education requirements using a mixed-effect structural equation model. The subjects were 6,409 students at 34 nation-wide colleges and universities. Students attending institutions where less than 40 percent of undergraduate curricular requirements were devoted to general education and where there was not equal distribution of general education courses within the requirement were found to have significantly higher general education gains than did students who attended institutions where 40 percent or more of the undergraduate curriculum was devoted to general education and there was equal distribution of courses within the general education requirement.
Weight-independent changes in blood glucose homeostasis after gastric bypass or vertical sleeve gastrectomy in rats.

Background & Aims Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) reduce weight and improve glucose metabolism in obese patients, although it is not clear if metabolic changes are independent of weight loss. We investigated alterations in glucose metabolism in rats following RYGB or VSG. Methods Rats underwent RYGB or VSG and were compared to sham-operated rats fed ad lib or pair-fed to animals that received RYGB. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests were performed to assess glycemic function independent of incretin response. A hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp was used to compare tissue-specific changes in insulin sensitivity following each procedure. A mixed-meal tolerance test was used to assess the effect of each surgery on postprandial release of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)(7-36) and glucose tolerance, and was also performed in rats given GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin(9-39). Results Following RYGB or VSG, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity improved in proportion to weight loss. Hepatic insulin sensitivity was significantly better in rats that received RYGB or VSG compared with rats fed ad lib or pair-fed, whereas glucose clearance was similar in all groups. During the mixed-meal tolerance test, plasma levels of GLP-1(7-36) and insulin were greatly and comparably increased in rats that received RYGB and VSG compared with those that were pair-fed or fed ad lib. Administration of a GLP-1 receptor antagonist prevented improvements in glucose and insulin responses after a meal among rats that received RYGB or VSG. Conclusions In obese rats, VSG is as effective as RYGB for increasing secretion of GLP-1 and insulin and improving hepatic sensitivity to insulin; these effects are independent of weight loss.
Cholinergic regulation of female sexual behavior in rats demonstrated by manipulation of endogenous acetylcholine.

Abstract Infusions of the cholinesterase inhibitor, eserine, into the lateral ventricle of the brain facilitated lordosis in ovariectomized, estrogen primed female rats. Lordosis was also facilitated by infusions of 5 or 10 μg acetylcholine when this was accompanied by a low dose of eserine. Systemic treatment with the muscarinic antagonist, atropine (2 mg), completely blocked the facilitative effects of eserine and acetylcholine. In female rats made highly receptive by treatment with estrogen and progesterone, lordosis was inhibited by infusion of scopolamine into the lateral ventricles. These results agree with previous findings that sexual receptivity is regulated in part by endogenous cholinergic activity.
Government spending and intergenerational mobility

Abstract The standard model of intergenerational mobility suggests that holding constant endowments, investments in children's human capital increases their future income. If true, the source of the investment should not matter even though almost all research on intergenerational mobility considers only parental investment. Much government spending is intended to reduce the investment gap between rich and poor children. We assess the relationship between government spending and intergenerational economic mobility using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and data on state spending from the U.S. Census of Governments. We find greater intergenerational mobility in high-spending states compared to low-spending states. Two additional findings also suggest that government spending increases intergenerational mobility. First, the difference in mobility between advantaged and disadvantaged children is smaller in high-spending compared to low-spending states and, second, expenditures aimed at low-income populations increase the future income of low-income but not high-income children.
Radio Aids to Air Navigation

Equipment that is believed to embody new and interesting features is described in this article. Further refinement in detail and further testing are necessary, however, before the apparatus can be applied to regular service. Its ultimate adoption will depend, of course, upon its ability to compete with other systems of air navigation from the standpoint of application, accuracy, simplicity, reliability, weight, size, and cost.
An uncommon type of adrenal incidentaloma: a case report of a schwannoma of the adrenal medulla with cytological, histological, and ultrastructural correlation

Benign nerve sheath tumors of the adrenal gland are an extremely uncommon cause of an incidentaloma. We report a case of a schwannoma of the adrenal medulla in an asymptomatic 51-year-old woman, which was discovered incidentally on a computed tomography scan after routine workup for her degenerative joint diseases of the lumbar spine. Because of the large size and unknown biologic nature of the tumor by clinical and radiographic studies alone, an adrenalectomy was performed. The gross specimen featured a well-circumscribed medullary based tumor with cystic degeneration. The diagnosis of a nerve sheath tumor was based on classic histological findings, supported by S-100 positivity, and ultrastructurally by the finding of typical Schwann cells. The cytological diagnosis from the fine-needle aspiration biopsy material obtained at the time of gross examination was much more challenging on retrospective review. The aspirated material showed a round- to oval-cell predominant smear with occasional striking anisonucleosis, intranuclear inclusions (so-called ancient change), and pigment deposition. A review of the histogenesis and differential diagnosis of this common nerve sheath tumor in this unusual location is discussed.
Forecasting inland waterway grain traffic

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to address a neglected area of water transportation forecasting – short-term forecasting of inland waterway traffic. A time series model is used to forecast Mississippi River Lock 27 grain tonnage for the 1989:1–1999:4 period. The model was selected on the basis of several measures of goodness of fit and out-of-sample forecasting performance. The out-of-sample forecasting performance of the model was good, as the percentage difference between the year 2000 actual and forecasted tonnage was less than 5.5% for three of the four quarters and only about 2% for the year.
The zygote and proembryo of alfalfa: quantitative, three-dimensional analysis and implications for biparental plastid inheritance

Genetic studies have demonstrated biparental inheritance of plastids in alfalfa. The ratio of paternal to maternal plastids in the progeny varies according to the genotypes of the parents, which can be classified as strong or weak transmitters of plastids. Previous cytological investigations of generative cells and male gametes have provided no consistent explanation for plastid inheritance patterns among genotypes. However, plastids in the mature egg cells of a strong female genotype (6–4) were found to be more numerous and larger than in mature eggs of a weak female genotype (CUF-B), and the plastids in 6–4 eggs are positioned equally around the nucleus. In CUF-B, the majority of plastids are positioned below (toward the micropyle) the mid level of the nucleus, which is the future division plane of the zygote. Since only the apical portion of the zygote produces the embryo proper, plastids in the basal portion were predicted to become included in the suspensor cells and not be inherited. In the present study, we examined zygotes and a two-celled proembryo from a cross between CUF-B and a strong male genotype (301), a cross that results in over 90% of the progeny possessing paternal plastids only. Our results indicate that the distribution of plastids observed in the CUF-B egg cell is maintained through the first division of the zygote. Further, paternal plastids are similarly distributed; however, within the apical portion of the zygote and in the apical cell of the two-celled proembryo, the number of paternal plastids is typically much greater than the number of maternal plastids. These findings suggest that maternal and paternal plastid distribution within the zygote is a significant factor determining the inheritance of maternal and paternal plastids in alfalfa.
Optically pumped Ce:LaF 3 laser at 286 nm

Ultraviolet laser action has been obtained from a 5d–4f transition in Ce3+-doped LaF3. The 286-nm wavelength obtained is the shortest of any solid-state laser. The approximate potential tuning range is from 275 to 315 nm.
Instability of Delay Classification and Determination of Early Intervention Eligibility in the First Two Years of Life

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III) to track development and classify delays in low- and high-risk infants across the first two years of life. We assessed cognitive, language, and motor development in 24 low-risk full-term and 30 high-risk preterm infants via seven assessments performed between 3 and 24 months corrected age. The Bayley-III resulted in highly unstable delay classifications, low sensitivities, and poor positive predictive values across time. The results highlight that early intervention professionals, researchers, and policy makers should: (1) emphasize clinical opinion and prevalence of risk factors rather than standardized assessment findings when classifying delays and determining eligibility for services, and (2) develop more effective developmental assessments for infants and young children.
The Nonconsequences of Objective and Subjective Status Inconsistency: Requiem for a Moribund Concept*

Though long suggested, subjective indicators of status inconsistency have seen little empirical use. Data from a sample survey with controls for additive status variables are used to compare object...
Predicting yields of short‐rotation hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) for the United States through model–data synthesis

Hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) is an important biomass crop being evaluated for cellulosic ethanol production. Predictions of poplar growth, rotation period, and soil carbon sequestration under various growing conditions, soils, and climates are critical for farmers and managers planning to establish short-rotation forestry (SRF) plantations. In this study, we used an ecoinformatics workflow, the Predictive Ecosystem Analyzer (PEcAn), to integrate literature data and field measurements into the Ecosystem Demography 2 (ED2) model to estimate yield potential of poplar plantations. Within PEcAn 164 records of seven different traits from the literature were assimilated using a Bayesian meta-analysis. Next, variance decomposition identified seven variables for further constraint that contributed > 80% to the uncertainty in modeled yields: growth respiration, dark respiration, quantum efficiency, mortality coefficient, water conductance, fine-root allocation, and root turnover rate. Assimilation of observed yields further constrained uncertainty in model parameters (especially dark respiration and root turnover rate) and biomass estimates. Additional measurements of growth respiration, mortality, water conductance, and quantum efficiency would provide the most efficient path toward further constraint of modeled yields. Modeled validation demonstrated that ED2 successfully captured the interannual and spatial variability of poplar yield observed at nine independent sites. Site-level analyses were conducted to estimate the effect of land use change to SRF poplar on soil C sequestration compared to alternate land uses. These suggest that poplar plantations became a C sink within 18 years of conversion from corn production or existing forest. Finally, poplar yields were estimated for the contiguous United States at a half degree resolution in order to determine potential productivity, estimate the optimal rotation period, and compare poplar to perennial grass yields. This regional projection suggests that poplar yield varies considerably with differences in soil and climate, reaching as much as 18 Mg x ha(-1) x yr(-1) in eastern, southern, and northwest regions. In New England, the upper Midwest, and northern California, yields are predicted to exceed those of the highly productive C4 perennial grass, Miscanthus. In these poplar-productive regions, 4-11 year rotations give the highest potential yields. In conclusion, poplar plantations are predicted to have a high yield potential across a wide range of climates and soils and could be sustainable in soil C sequestration.
Motion of a droplet containing surfactant

Abstract The coupled fluid mechanics and mass transfer problems for the creeping motion of a droplet containing surfactant are solved. The surfactant is insoluble in the exterior fluid. The concentration distribution of surfactant in the droplet phase is determined by convective diffusion. The solution reveals the previously known uniformly retarded and stagnant cap interfacial velocity profiles. In addition, it indicates the existence for large Peclet numbers of an accelerated region over the front of the droplet for which local velocities can exceed those for droplet motion with pure fluids, despite a reduced terminal velocity. This acceleration is caused by the internal vortex recirculating liquid with a high surfactant concentration from near the rear stagnation point of the front, creating a cap of low interfacial tension over the front of the droplet which propels the interface.
A recording apparatus for measuring the dynamic mechanical properties of polymers

An apparatus for measuring the dynamic mechanical properties of polymers is described. Rodlike specimens are driven through a transverse resonant mode by changing the driving frequency. The specimen response is obtained and automatically plotted by a recorder. Resonant frequency and width of the resonance curve constitute a measure of the dynamic mechanical properties. The temperature range of the apparatus is 4°K. to more than 600°K., and the frequency range is at least 50 to 5000 cps. Damping values have been measured from 10−4 to 5 × 10−1.
The Impact of Firm Capabilities and Competitive Advantages on Import Intermediary Performance

ABSTRACT Import intermediary firms, domestic firms that serve U.S. industries by linking domestic wholesalers/retailers and foreign distributors/manufacturers, handled a whopping U.S. $1.85 trillion of commodity good imports in 2006. This study focused on these important firms by assessing the role of capabilities and competitive advantages as key determinants of import intermediary performance. The empirical results showed that market interpretation, sourcing, and service capabilities, overall, positively affected cost, product, and service competitive advantages. These competitive advantages, in turn, positively affected their relationship performance with business partners. Results, however, also indicated some interesting negative associations among sourcing capabilities, service advantages, and relationship performance with foreign partners, raising questions about extant firm performance theory.
Economic Evaluation of Agricultural Research: An Assessment

Many evaluations of the economic impacts of investment in agricultural research have been carried out over the past three decades. This article reviews certain aspects of this literature. Instead of focusing on details of the evaluation approaches or findings of individual studies, the extent of the coverage of agricultural research is assessed. It is found that the work in this area is limited in several ways: Agricultural research evaluations have been mostly ex post in nature, evaluations have focused on production oriented research, and a single measure of worth related to economic efficiency is the end product of most evaluations. Implications for the use of research evaluations in research decision making are discussed in a concluding section.
Another logarithmic functional equation

Let \( f :\,]0,\infty[\to \Bbb R \) be a real valued function on the set of positive reals. The functional equations¶¶\( f(x + y) - f(x) - f(y) = f(x^{-1} + y^{-1}) \)¶and¶\( f(xy) = f(x) + f(y) \)¶are equivalent to each other.
Comments on ‘Reliability and performance analysis for fault-tolerant programs consisting of versions with different characteristics’ by Gregory Levitin [Reliability Engineering and System Safety 86 (2004) 75–81]

Abstract This paper [Levitin G. Reliability and performance analysis for fault-tolerant programs consisting of versions with different characteristics. Reliab Eng Syst Safety 2004;86:75–81] presents a detailed reliability and performance analysis of fault-tolerant programs. Unfortunately, the treatment is dependent upon a key assumption: ‘Failures of versions for each component are statistically independent…’ ( Section 2 ). Such an assumption is not justified.
Doing what is humanly possible

The subtle docetism which pervades orthodox discussions of the person and work of Christ can serve to vitiate the hope contained in the New Testament message. A reprise of the themes underlying the Christological controversies and modern discussions of the humanity of Christ demonstrates these contain clear implications for the practice of pastoral counseling.
Outcomes of the Fontan procedure using cardiopulmonary bypass with aortic cross-clamping.

Background Avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross-clamping during the Fontan procedure has been advocated to improve outcomes. We continue to use CPB with aortic cross-clamping for the Fontan procedure. Methods We performed a review of patients undergoing the Fontan procedure between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2004. Results The Fontan procedure was performed in 160 patients. The median age was 2.2 years (range, 1.0 to 29.1 years). Hypoplastic left heart syndrome or a variant was present in 114 patients (71%), and heterotaxy was present in 19 (12%). CPB and modified ultrafiltration were used in all patients. Aortic cross-clamping was used in 154 (96%) of 160 patients and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) in 132 (83%). A lateral tunnel Fontan was performed in 69 patients (43%) and an extracardiac Fontan in 91 (57%). A fenestration was created in 144 patients (90%). Two patients died. Freedom from death or takedown was 98% (157/160). Median duration of pleural drainage was 2 days (range, 1 to 44 days) and was more than 14 days in 16 patients. Median duration of hospitalization was 6 days (range, 3 to 55 days). The small number of deaths precluded assessment of risk factors for mortality. By multivariable analysis, risk factors for pleural drainage longer than 3 days were extracardiac connection ( p p = 0.033). By multivariable analysis, risk factors for hospitalization for more than 7 days were extracardiac connection ( p = 0.003), increasing duration of total support (CPB and DHCA, p = 0.027), and decreasing systemic oxygen saturation before the Fontan procedure ( p = 0.048). Conclusions The Fontan procedure can be performed using CPB and aortic cross-clamping with low morbidity and mortality.
Utility of chicken-specific microsatellite primers for mapping the turkey genome

As part of the University of Minnesota's initiative to map the turkey genome, we are currently evaluating chicken microsatellite loci for use in mapping the turkey genome. To date, 141 primer pairs have been tested for amplification at six different combinations of temperature and MgCl2 concentration. Microsatellite primer pairs from the Chicken Comprehensive Mapping Kit #2, and additional unpublished chromosome 1 and 2 primers were screened. Analyzable PCR products were produced from 78 of the 141 (55%) primer combinations. In the majority of cases (68%), PCR fragments obtained from the turkey were similar in size to respective chicken loci. The presence of dinucleotide repeats (CA/TG repeats) was determined by Southern hybridization with a (TG)15, oligonucleotide probe. Five of 12 (41.63%) turkey fragments hybridized under low stringency conditions. The length of the dinucleotide repeats in the turkey, relative to the chicken sequences, were found to correspond directly with hybridization intensity. Amplification of homologous loci was confirmed by direct sequencing and subsequent alignment of the turkey and chicken sequences. The results of this study indicate that the use of chicken-specific microsatellite primers will rapidly and significantly enhance construction of a genetic map for the turkey.
Immunochemical characterization of variant long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in cultured fibroblasts from nine patients with long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.

Immunochemical Characterization of Variant Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase in Cultured Fibroblasts from Nine Patients with Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency
Effects of temperature and water potential on the germination of muskmelon cultivars

SUMMARY The rate and final germination of four muskmelon cultivars (Cucumis melo) were examined in response to incubation temperatures of 20, 26 and 32°C. Germination was also characterised at 26°C pr 32°C over a range of water potentials from 0 to - 1000 kPa achieved with solutions of polyethylene glycol. The germination of one cultivar, TAM-Uvalde, was consistently slower at 20°C than at 26°C or 32°C. The other three cultivars, Perlita, TAM-Dew and Greenflesh, were inhibited by incubation at 32°C. However, the germination responses of cvs Perlita, TAM-Dew and Greenflesh at 26°C or 32°C improved as water potentials were reduced from 0 to – 200 or – 400 kPa. Cv. TAM-Uvalde was extremely sensitive to water stress and failed to germinate at water potentials below – 600 kPa when incubated at 26°C. The inhibition of germination at low water potentials was partially reversed in all cultivars by increasing the incubation temperature from 26°C to 32°C. It is suggested that the inhibition of germination at 0 kPa (distilled water) was due to a seed coat-mediated barrier to oxygen that could be reversed by removal of the seed coat or exposure to an oxygen-enriched atmosphere.
Civil rights on the white earth reservation

Abstract The concept of “civil rights” is based on assumptions that do not extend to all lands within U.S. borders, including Native American reservations. A central policy tension exists between enforcing Euro‐American “civil rights” and recognizing Native American sovereignty. This tension is discussed in light of the situation on the White Earth Reservation, one of six reservations that make up the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Four possible means of addressing White Earth civil rights issues are discussed, each with possible applications in other reservation settings. None of the four is found to be clearly effective in gaining the civil rights defined for U.S. citizens for reservation residents. Although the underlying question of the relationship between civil rights and sovereignty defies easy solution, some suggestions are offered.
Endotherapy in Unusual Bariatric Surgical Complications (with Videos)

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is the most commonly performed bariatric operation in the USA. We hypothesize that therapeutic endoscopy can be used to treat some unusual post-operative complications. We report two cases of early post-operative complications: (1) gastrogastrotomy (GG) stricture and (2) "trans-mesenteric tunnel" or "mesocolic" jejunal stricture. Endoscopic strictureplasty/revision of the gastric pouch of a bypass after gastroplasty was performed. The mesocolic stricture was managed with endoscopic dilatation using the achalasia dilating balloon under fluoroscopic and endoscopic guidance. With endotherapy, the patient with the GG stricture did not require re-operation, and there were no complications or stricture recurrence. The patient with mesocolic stricture responded short-term to endotherapy but ultimately required surgical adhesion lysis. None of these patients developed any procedure-related complications. Thus, in patients with unusual post-operative complications after RYGBP, endotherapy may be useful when there is good collaboration between the endoscopist and the surgeon.
Seasonal variation in body weight, fat, and behavior of California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi)

Annual cycles of activity and reproduction were documented in a population of California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) in coastal California. Behavior, body mass, and reproduction were monitored in marked individuals between November 1983 and January 1986 through regular focal animal observation and livetrapping. Mass measures for reproductive tracts and gonadal fat pads were concurrently collected from a separate population of animals sacrificed in the laboratory. Mass and feeding behavior varied with sex and age. Surface activity, body weight, fat pad mass, and food consumption appeared to be closely related in this population. Fat pad mass was greater in nonreproductive than in reproductively active members of both sexes, as was body mass among males. Female body mass was greatest during pregnancy. Comparisons among reproductive status groups within each sex revealed significant differences in feeding, resting, vigilance, locomotor activity, and social behavior. Comparison with other populat...