cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mouse kidney expresses mRNA of four highly related sodium-glucose cotransporters: regulation by cadmium.

Mouse kidney expresses mRNA of four highly related sodium-glucose cotransporters: Regulation by cadmium. Background To study the molecular mechanism responsible for cadmium-induced Fanconi syndrome, an in vitro mouse model has been used. We have previously shown that exposure of primary cultures of kidney cortical cells to micromolar concentrations of cadmium inhibited uptake of the glucose analog, [ 14 C] methyl α-D-glucopyranoside (AMG) (261 mCi/mmol, NEN), and decreased mRNA levels of two kidney sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs), SGLT1 and SGLT2. We also isolated partial cDNA of another member of the SGLT family, SGLT3-b, from cultured kidney cells and observed that cadmium exposure increased the abundance of its mRNA. In this study, we investigated the effect of cadmium on the second mouse kidney SGLT3 isoform, SGLT3-a. We also examined which SGLTs were transcribed in vivo. Methods Cadmium was added to the confluent primary cultures of kidney cortical cells at concentrations of 5, 7.5, and 10 μmol/L. After 24 hours, uptake of [ 14 C]AMG was measured and total RNA was extracted for semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of SGLT3-a. Also, cDNA from whole kidneys of mice was used in PCR with primers specific for each SGLT. A partial cDNA sequence of SGLT3-a and the full-length cDNA sequence of SGLT3-b were obtained from their respective PCR clones. Results Exposure of cortical cells to 5 μmol/L cadmium increased SGLT3-a mRNA level 3.4- ± 0.78-fold (mean ± SEM, P N = 5). mRNAs of SGLT1, SGLT2, SGLT3-a, and SGLT3-b were simultaneously present in cDNA samples from whole kidneys of mice. SGLT3-b cDNA sequence was revised from its predicted sequence to encode a 660 amino acid protein. Conclusion Reabsorption of glucose in mouse kidney may involve four SGLTs. Cadmium affects mRNA expression of all four SGLTs in vitro.
Accurate determination of capacitance by conjoining analytical and analog techniques

The principal objective of the work described in this paper is to develop a new method for accurately determining the capacitance associated with 2-dimensional composite regions. The term capacitance refers to the ordinary electric capacitance associated with two charged conductors. However, the method is also directly applicable to the determination of the permeance of magnetic fields, to the shape factor of thermal fields, and to other analogous situations. The term ?accurately determining? indicates determination of the capacitance with errors in the order of one part in 1,000. While such accuracy has been claimed for certain electrolytic tank analog methods1 it is usually possible only after careful attention is given to each source of error. Such errors can arise in both the construction and the measurements associated with the analog solution. In the present method electrically conducting paper models, much easier to construct, are used and only ordinary care is required in the measurement techniques. The usual errors encountered in the use of such paper models, amounting to several per cent, are avoided by utilizing analytical methods to obtain a first approximation amounting to perhaps 90% of the final result, and using the paper analogs to determine the other 10%. Thus, the error in the final result will be in the order of a few per cent of, say, 10% or in the order of a few tenths of 1%.
Estimating bayesian credible intervals

Abstract Under a Bayesian approach to a hierarchical model, quantile or interval estimation is often used to summarize the posterior distribution of a parameter. When using an Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm such as the Gibbs sampler to generate a sample from the posterior (marginal) of interest, calculations are often easier when done on a per-iteration (conditional) basis. Final estimators which are taken as a combination of values across iterations are often called “Rao–Blackwellized” and result in estimators with good variance properties. Such an approach is not yet used in the calculation of credible intervals. We derive here a weighted-average estimator of the endpoints of a credible interval which mimics this Rao–Blackwellized construction. We compare it to other alternatives including a naive average estimator, the usual order statistics estimator, and an estimator based on density estimation. We obtain theorems showing when there is convergence to the true interval and discuss Central Limit Theorems for these estimators. Simulations for two hierarchical modeling scenarios (count data and continuous data) illustrate their numerical behaviors. An animal epidemiology example is included. The proposed estimator offers the smallest standard errors of the estimators studied, sometimes by several orders of magnitude, but can have a small bias.
Range-Doppler Resolution of the Linear-FM Noise Radar Waveform

This research considers the linear-FM (LFM) of a noise radar waveform for resolving targets when channel noise and four popular radar sidelobe weighting functions are considered. By using large time-bandwidth products and systematically varying the phase scaling factor κ, results from the digital matched filter output provide evidence that the LFM noise waveform 1) has range-Doppler resolution similar to conventional chirp waveforms and 2) has a low probability of intercept (LPI) similar to random noise waveforms. We acquire the results using a computer-based simulation and verify the location of target peaks using the chirp waveform output for both stationary and moving target cases.
Effects of instruction type and boredom proneness in vigilance: implications for boredom and workload.

The present study examined the effects of instruction type and boredom proneness (BP) on vigilance performance, workload, and boredom. Subjects completed the Boredom Proneness Scale and were assign...
Alcohol use in college: Limitations on the transformation of social norms

This article investigates the impact of an intervention designed to reduce alcohol use among students attending a university in the western United States. After reviewing the literature on the impact of this type of intervention elsewhere, this article describes the development and implementation of the intervention under investigation. Baseline data was collected prior to the initiation of the intervention and follow-up data was collected at one- and two-year intervals. Results indicate that while the intervention had a significant effect on reducing student misperceptions of alcohol use on campus, no significant changes in consumption rates occurred. This article concludes with a discussion of the limitations associated with attempts to transform social norms regarding college alcohol use.
The Eisenhower Administration: Bridge to the Institutionalized Legislative Presidency

Eisenhower's contributions to the modern presidency are primarily institutional and to some extent, stylistic: his reliance on the professionalism of civil servants in the Bureau of the Budget, his continuation of the annual programming process as well as the procedures for coordinating the executive branch's legislative role, his creation of a White House office to represent him on Capitol Hill, and his respect for Congress as a legislative body. What Eisenhower did not do is equally significant: he did not reject the model of an activist presidency, reverse the New and Fair Deal policies of his Democratic predecessors, or pursue his centrist agenda in a blatantly partisan manner. The Eisenhower experience demonstrates that incivility, inhumanity, and inanity are not inevitable consequences of divided government.
A further Characterization of Yersinia ruckeri (Enteric Redmouth Bacterium)

Seventeen cultures of Enteric Redmouth Bacterium were examined biochemically at selected temperatures. Incubation temperature altered the motility of the bacterium. At 9°C nonfunctional peritrichous flagella were produced, while at 18, 22, and 27°C the bacterium was motile. The cells were nonmotile at 37°C due to a lack of flagellar production. The percent guanine plus cytosine was determined to be 47.95±0.45 (P=0.05). This work supports the proposal of Yersinia ruckeri as the genus and species designation of the Entric Redmouth Bacterium.
Risk of secondary malignant neoplasms from proton therapy and intensity-modulated x-ray therapy for early-stage prostate cancer.

Purpose To assess the risk of a secondary malignant neoplasm (SMN) from proton therapy relative to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using X-rays, taking into account contributions from both primary and secondary sources of radiation, for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials A proton therapy plan and a 6-MV IMRT plan were constructed for 3 patients with early-stage adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Doses from the primary fields delivered to organs at risk of developing an SMN were determined from treatment plans. Secondary doses from the proton therapy and IMRT were determined from Monte Carlo simulations and available measured data, respectively. The risk of an SMN was estimated from primary and secondary doses on an organ-by-organ basis by use of risk models from the Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation. Results Proton therapy reduced the risk of an SMN by 26% to 39% compared with IMRT. The risk of an SMN for both modalities was greatest in the in-field organs. However, the risks from the in-field organs were considerably lower with the proton therapy plan than with the IMRT plan. This reduction was attributed to the substantial sparing of the rectum and bladder from exposure to the therapeutic beam by the proton therapy plan. Conclusions When considering exposure to primary and secondary radiation, proton therapy can reduce the risk of an SMN in prostate patients compared with contemporary IMRT.
PRODUCTIVITY OF THE FILAMENTOUS ALGA PITHOPHORA OEDOGONIA (CHLOROPHYTA) IN SURREY LAKE, INDIANA1

Biomass, akinete numbers, net photosynthesis, and respiration of Pithophora oedogonia were monitored over two growing seasons in shallow Surrey Lake, Indiana. Low rates of photosynthesis occurred from late fall to early spring and increased to maximum levels in late spring to summer (29–39 mgO2·g−1 dry wt·h−1). Areal biomass increased following the rise in photosynthesis and peaked in autumn (163–206g dry wt·m−2). Photosynthetic rates were directly correlated with temperature, nitrogen, and phosphorus over the entire annual cycle and during the growing season. Differences in photosynthetic activity and biomass between the two growing seasons (1980 and 1981) were apparently related to higher, early spring temperatures and higher levels of NO3-N and PO4-P in 1981. Laboratory investigations of temperature and light effects on Pithophora photosynthesis and respiration indicated that these processes were severely inhibited below 15°C. The highest Pmax value occurred at 35°C (0.602 μmol O2·mg−1 chl a·min−1). Rates of dark respiration did not increase above 25°C thus contributing to a favorable balance of photosynthetic production to respiratory utilization at high temperatures. Light was most efficiently utilized at 15°C as indicated by minimum values of Ik(47 μE·m−2·s−1) and Ic (6 μE·m−2·s−1). Comparison of P. oedogonia and Cladophora glomerata indicated that the former was more tolerant of temperatures above 30°C. Pithophora's tolerance of high temperature and efficient use of low light intensity appear to be adaptive to conditions found within the dense, floating algal mats and the shallow littoral areas inhabited by this filamentous alga.
MOLECULAR AND GEOLOGIC EVIDENCE OF SHARED HISTORY BETWEEN HERMIT CRABS AND THE SYMBIOTIC GENUS HYDRACTINIA.

The paleobiogeographic histories of three North Atlantic hermit crab lineages were compared with a single-copy DNA-DNA hybridization phylogeny of their symbiotic hydroid genus Hydractinia to test hypotheses of shared history between these host and symbiont lineages. A survey of the geologic literature suggests that two vicariance events in the Quaternary are responsible for existing range disjunctions of the host hermit crab lineages. The Hydractinia phylogeny revealed two distinct clades, one with a primarily northern and the other with a primarily southern distribution. In two of three cases, hydroids associated with closely related hermits on both sides of the range disjunction appear as sister taxa in the phylogeny. A linear scaling between a measure of hydroid sequence divergence and independent geologic estimates of the timing of the vicariant events believed to have established the hermit crab range disjunctions is consistent with the claim of temporal coincidence of cladogenic and vicariance events. These findings provide evidence for shared history of symbiotic associations in two of the three cases.
Calculation of grain boundary normals directly from 3D microstructure images

The determination of grain boundary normals is an integral part of the characterization of grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials. These normal vectors are difficult to quantify due to the discretized nature of available microstructure characterization techniques. The most common method to determine grain boundary normals is by generating a surface mesh from an image of the microstructure, but this process can be slow, and is subject to smoothing issues. A new technique is proposed, utilizing first order Cartesian moments of binary indicator functions, to determine grain boundary normals directly from a voxelized microstructure image. To validate the accuracy of this technique, the surface normals obtained by the proposed method are compared to those generated by a surface meshing algorithm. Specifically, the local divergence between the surface normals obtained by different variants of the proposed technique and those generated from a surface mesh of a synthetic microstructure constructed using a marching cubes algorithm followed by Laplacian smoothing is quantified. Next, surface normals obtained with the proposed method from a measured 3D microstructure image of a Ni polycrystal are used to generate grain boundary character distributions (GBCD) for Σ3 and Σ9 boundaries, and compared to the GBCD generated using a surface mesh obtained from the same image. The results show that the proposed technique is an efficient and accurate method to determine voxelized fields of grain boundary normals.
High-sensitivity electrical TDR distributed strain sensor

Electrical time domain reflectometry (ETDR) distributed strain sensing technique has been successfully used in the health monitoring application of civil concrete structures to detect crack damages and in geotechnical application to monitor rock deformation and longwall movement. Although promising results of using commercial ETDR coaxial sensing cables have been shown in recent studies, the low signal-to-noise ratio of the sensors is a research issue needs to be addressed. Since all the commercial coaxial cables are specifically designed for the transmission of electrical signals, the cable configuration is to sustain a virtually constant electrical property under environmental loading effects. For structural strain sensing application, on the other hand, the electrical impedance of the sensor is required to proportionally vary with respect to externally applied loading. Thus, the commercial coaxial cables are indeed not in an optimal configuration for strain sensing application. In this paper, a newly developed high-sensitivity ETDR coaxial strain sensor prototype is presented. The construction of the prototype sensing cable as well as its electrical properties will be described in details. Experimental characterization of the high-sensitivity prototype coaxial sensor was also conducted. Test results of the sensitivity and tension responses of the ETDR signal of the prototype sensor are presented and compared with those of commercial coaxial cables. It is shown that the prototype sensor has a much superior sensitivity and properties for distributed strain sensing application.
Regional Mechanics Determine Collagen Fiber Structure in Healing Myocardial Infarcts

Following myocardial infarction, the mechanical properties of the healing infarct are an important determinant of heart function and the risk of progression to heart failure. In particular, mechanical anisotropy (having different mechanical properties in different directions) in the healing infarct can preserve pump function of the heart. Based on reports of different collagen structures and mechanical properties in various animal models, we hypothesized that differences in infarct size, shape, and/or location produce different patterns of mechanical stretch that guide evolving collagen fiber structure. We tested the effects of infarct shape and location using a combined experimental and computational approach. We studied mechanics and collagen fiber structure in cryoinfarcts in 53 Sprague-Dawley rats and found that regardless of shape or orientation, cryoinfarcts near the equator of the left ventricle stretched primarily in the circumferential direction and developed circumferentially aligned collagen, while infarcts at the apex stretched similarly in the circumferential and longitudinal directions and developed randomly oriented collagen. In a computational model of infarct healing, an effect of mechanical stretch on fibroblast and collagen alignment was required to reproduce the experimental results. We conclude that mechanical environment determines collagen fiber structure in healing myocardial infarcts. Our results suggest that emerging post-infarction therapies that alter regional mechanics will also alter infarct collagen structure, offering both potential risks and novel therapeutic opportunities.
Laser processing of magnetically soft multilayer Ni/sub 81/Fe/sub 19/ thin films: control of anisotropy

We examine the low frequency BH loop and complex permeability spectra of multilayer permalloy films laser processed to define samples consisting of stripes perpendicular and parallel to the as-deposited easy axis. For stripes defined perpendicular to the easy axis. For stripes defined perpendicular to the easy axis, it is found for films of thickness /spl ges/0.745 /spl mu/m that the demagnetizing field, which is a function of groove depth and stripe width, is able to reorient the easy and hard axes from the initial orientation resulting in a permeability spectra dependent upon groove depth. For relatively thick spacer layers, 45 nm, laser definition of stripes perpendicular to the easy axis induces the different magnetic layers to switch independently. For thinner films the easy and hard axes do not re-orient, but the independent switching of the layers is seen for the thicker spacer layer films. For stripes defined parallel to the easy axis the anisotropy of the sample increases with groove depth, resulting in a decrease in measured permeability.
From liberation to human rights: challenges for teachers of the Burakumin in Japan

The Burakumin, a culturally defined minority group among ethnic Japanese, face continued discrimination even as effective national policies and programs offering educational and social equity are terminated. Based on interviews and conversations in Japan with activist educators, teachers and administrators, the schooling for children of Burakumin families is discussed in the context of human rights education and the changing economic and social context of urban Japan. Isolation combined with ostracization in a country where difference is seldom discussed have enabled the average Japanese to accept Government pronouncements of the eradication of discrimination. However, historical stereotypes, liberation struggles, and ambivalence about cultural identity continue to present teachers with difficult challenges in attaining the national goal of equal educational opportunity for all children.
Race effect on nerve conduction studies: a comparison between 50 blacks and 50 whites

Abstract Objective: To determine whether there are any differences in nerve conduction study results between blacks and whites. Design: The following studies were performed: median, ulnar, peroneal, and tibial motor studies; median and ulnar mixed motor/sensory studies; sural and radial sensory studies; and H-reflex studies. Setting: Private office or university-based clinic. Participants: Fifty adult blacks and 50 adult whites who met inclusion criteria, recruited through advertisements. Main Outcome Measures: Differences between blacks and whites were compared to determine whether they exceeded a cutoff of 0.2msec for latencies, 20% difference for amplitudes, 5m/sec for conduction velocity, and 1.2msec for H-reflex times. A repeated analysis of variance was performed to detect statistically significant differences (defined as p ≤ .01). Results: Only values for the mean peroneal and tibial motor latencies exceeded the cutoff times. The mean peroneal response was faster by 0.3msec and the mean tibial response was slower by 0.3msec in blacks than whites. These differences were not statistically significant at a level of p ≤ .01. Conclusion: There is no significant difference between blacks and whites in normal nerve conduction study findings in healthy adults.
Multiplicity of rheumatoid factor

The reactions between rheumatoid factor and erythrocytes sensitized by antibodies of human, rabbit and guinea pig origin were studied using absorption, elution, dispersion, inhibition and mixed agglutination experiments. The results indicated that there are separate molecules of the rheumatoid factor combining with γ-globulin of the three species. Le reactiones inter factor rheumatoide e erythrocytos sensibilisate per anticorpore originari in humanos, conilios, e porcos de India esseva studiate con le uso de experimentos de absorption, elution, dispersion, inhibition, e mixte agglutination. Le resultatos indica que il existe separate moleculas del factor rheumatoide que se combina con le globulina gamma del tres species.
Microwave spectrum and structure of ethylene ozonide-D4

Abstract Rotational spectra of six isotopic species of ethylene ozonide-D 4 have been assigned. The O p O p distance was calculated six independent ways using Kraitchman's substitution equations, and values between 1.458 and 1.462 A were obtained. This is in contrast to a similar analysis for normal ethylene ozonide where the O p O p distance varied between 1.455 and 1.502 A. This difference is associated with the greater value of I b - I a for the D 4 species which markedly decreases the effect of axes rotations upon isotopic substitution. The structural parameters derived from the D 4 data set are in excellent agreement with those extracted from the H 4 analyses after minimization of axes rotation effects.
Assessing carbon storage in western U.S. ecosystems

Western U.S. ecosystems have the capacity to sequester about 91 million metric tons of carbon per year, according to a report released 5 December by the Department of the Interior. Entitled “Baseline and Projected Future Carbon Storage and Greenhouse-Gas Fluxes in Ecosystems of the Western United States” and written by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists, the report came out of a congressionally mandated study. It examines how much carbon can be stored naturally through biological activity in various ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands, in the western United States, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific.
Statistical fluctuations as the origin of nontopological solitons.

Nontopological solitons can be formed during a phase transition in the early universe as long as some net charge can be trapped in regions of false vacuum. It has been previously suggested that a particle-antiparticle asymmetry would provide a source for such trapped charge. It is pointed out that, for the model and parameters considered, statistical fluctuations provide a much larger concentration of charge, and are therefore, the dominant source of charge fluctuations in solitogenesis.
Determination of acrosin amidase activity in equine spermatozoa.

Abstract Acrosin amidase activity of spermatozoa has been been associated with in vitro fertilization success in humans and has been proposed as an additional method for assessing sperm function in vitro. In this study, acrosin amidase activity was determined in equine spermatozoa by the hydrolysis of an arginine amide substrate. This assay includes a detergent to release acrosomal enzymes into a medium of basic pH to activate proacrosin to acrosin, which subsequently hydrolyses N-α-benzoyl-DL-arginine para-nitroanilide-HCl (BAPNA) to a chromogenic product. Spermatozoa (n = 3 ejaculates from each of 4 stallions) were washed free from seminal plasma by centrifugation through Ficoll and incubated with a detergent-substrate mixture (BAPNA in triton X-100; pH=8.0) at room temperature for 3 h in the dark. At the end of the 3-h incubation, benzamidine was added to test samples to stop the reaction, and samples were centrifuged to remove spermatozoa. Absorbance at 410 nm was measured to determine acrosin amidase activity (μIU acrosin/10 6 sperm). Acrosin amidase activity increased with sperm concentration (P 2 = 0.75), and there were significant effects (P Determination of acrosin amidase activity in equine spermatozoa may provide an alternative method for assessing sperm function in vitro; however, further studies are needed to determine the relationship between acrosin activity and fertility in the horse.
Stockholder gains from focusing versus diversifying bank mergers

Abstract This paper shows bank mergers that enhance value upon announcement can be distinguished from those that do not create value. I classify mergers of banking firms according to activity and geographic similarity (focus) or dissimilarity (diversification), and examine the abnormal returns to each group as a result of the merger announcement. Mergers that focus both activity and geography enhance stockholder value by 3.0% while the other types do not create value. Analysis reveals that abnormal returns upon merger announcement increase in relative size of target to bidder, but decrease in the pre-merger performance of targets.
The approximation of non-degenerate offset surfaces

Abstract This paper describes algorithms for approximating the offsets to general piecewise parametric surfaces by networks of bicubic patches. The surface to be offset may be composed of arbitrary parametric patches, provided precise tangent continuity obtains across all patch boundaries and the surface metric is everywhere non-singular (i.e., a unique surface normal is defined). The approximation scheme consists of three stages: (1) A differential surface analysis is performed to ascertain the extremum principal radii of curvature for each patch — this constrains the offset magnitude that may be specified without degeneration of the offset. (2) The parametric domain of each patch is sub-divided, and a bicubic approximant to the offset for each sub-domain is computed. (3) A tolerance analysis is performed on each patch of the offset approximation to evaluate its extremum deviations from the true offset. The accuracy of the offset approximation increases with the degree of subdivision of the parametric domain of each patch. Fractional errors in the range 10 −2 to 10 −3 are typical for two- or three- fold sub-division of each parametric variable (four- and nine- fold area division respectively), provided the surface is smooth and its smallest concave radius of curvature considerably exceeds the specified offset magnitude. A fully automatic tolerance-based surface offset capability may be developed by providing feedback between stages (3) and (2), successive degrees of parametric sub-division being determined by the errors from prior approximations until the desired accuracy is achieved.
Towards adaptive object recognition for situated human-computer interaction

Object recognition is an important part of human-computer interaction in situated environments, such as a home or an office. Especially useful is category-level recognition (e.g., recognizing the class of chairs, as opposed to a particular chair.) While humans can employ multimodal cues for cate-gorizing objects during situated conversational interactions, most computer algorithms currently rely on vision-only or speech-only recognition. We are developing a method for learning about physical objects found in a situated environment based on visual and spoken input provided by the user. The algorithm operates on generic databases of labeled object images and transcribed speech data, plus unlabeled audio and images of a user refering to objects in the environment. By exploiting the generic labeled databases, the algorithm would associate probable object-referring words with probable visual representations of those objects, and use both modalities to determine the object label. The first advantage of this approach over visual-only or speech-only recognition is the ability to disambiguate object categories using complementary information sources. The second advantage is that, using the additional unlabeled data gathered during the interaction, the system can potentially improve its recognition of new category instances in the physical environment in which it is situated, as well as of new utterances spoken by the same user, compared to a system that uses only the generic labeled databases. It can achieve this by adapting its generic object classifiers and its generic speech and language models
The Reclamation of Val-di-Chiana (Tuscany)

Abstract Val-di-Chiana, a fertile alluvial valley in north-central Tuscany, was extensively settled by the Etruscans and Romans, but stream gradients were insufficient to prevent the floodplain from turning into a silty wetland after deforestation and tectonic uplift had accelerated the rate of sedimentation by tributary streams. Malarial infestation began in Etruscan times with the inception of marshes and became serious during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, when the wetlands extended over 140 sq. km. Drainage modification was first suggested during the 1300s, and by 1500 had become an important land reclamation strategy in the valley. An artificial channel, the Canal Maestro, was eventually dug in order to reverse the direction of drainage from southward into the River Tiber to northward into the Arno. At the same time tributary streams were canalized, and artificial drainage divides and walled sediment traps, known as colmate, were constructed. Many eminent men were involved in the debate over the be...
Kwashiorkor and the Gut Microbiota

A recent study involving twins from Malawi and mouse models suggests that gut microbiota cause susceptibility to kwashiorkor, a severe form of undernutrition.
Relationship of psychological factors in pregnancy to progress in labor.

A prospective study of 32 normal, married primigravidas was conducted to determine the relationship between psychological factors in the third trimester of pregnancy and progress in two defined phases of labor. Data were analyzed for the total group and with five subjects deleted to control partially for the effect of medications. Psychological variables measured in pregnancy had significant correlations with variables measured at the onset of phase two labor. Conflict concerning the acceptance of pregnancy showed the most significant relationships to the phase two labor variables with correlations of .39 with anxiety, .59 with plasma epinephrine, -.70 and -.52 with two adjacent Montevideo units, and .58 with length of labor in phase two (3-10 cm cervical dilation). Other pregnancy variables which significantly correlated with the labor variables were identification of a motherhood role, history of psychological counseling or psychiatric treatment, the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and fears related to helplessness, pain, loss of control, and loss of self-esteem. Several psychological variables measured in pregnancy also correlated significantly with length of labor in phase three and type of delivery. The results demonstrate that specific psychological factors in pregnancy are predictive of progress in labor.
Lysimeter Study of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Irrigation Rates on Quality of Recharge Water and Corn Yield

This inquiry was conducted to quantify precisely in a replicated experiment the rate of N loading to groundwater resulting from inputs of N and irrigation water to corn (Zea mays L.). Input levels were designed to balance potential for high production with minimum loading of NO 3 -N to groundwater. Four large (2.4 by 2.4 m and 2.3 m deep) drainage lysimeters with reconstructed Hecla loamy fine sand (Aquic Haploblorolls) were employed in this southeast North Dakota study. Grain yields at N fertilizer rates of 95 and 145 kg/ha were 10.3 and 11.3 Mg/ha, respectively. (...)
Comments on "Design of inherently stable two-dimensional recursive filter from one-dimensional filters"

In a recent paper, a method for designing a restricted class of stable two-dimensional recursive filters from one-dimensional filters was given. The class of filters considered are those with a second-order (in each variable) transfer function with some additional constraints. It was claimed that the method given can lead to all possible stable filters of the type considered there. The purpose of this correspondence is to prove through an example that the method given there cannot give all stable transfer functions even within the very restricted class of filters mentioned.
Health insurance markets and income inequality: findings from an international health policy survey.

Abstract Objective : To assess disparities in access to health care, financial burden of medical bills and perceived quality of care between those with above average incomes and those with below average incomes in five nations and to examine the relationship of inequities in care experi-ences to health insurance coverage. Design : Cross-sectional analysis of a random survey of adults in 1998. Subjects : 5059 adults ages 18 and over in five English-speaking countries: Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States (≈1000 per country) Main outcome measures : Failure to receive needed care, difficulty getting care, waiting time for elective surgery, problems paying medical bills, failure to fill prescriptions due to cost, perceived quality of medical care received and of most recent doctor visit. Results : There were two to three-fold differences between those with above and below average incomes on measures of access to care in the US, Australia and New Zealand. In Britain and Canada indicators of access to care were similar for the two income groups. Problems paying medical bills were most prevalent in the US, yet significant differences by income also existed in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Those with below average incomes were more likely to have not filled a prescription due to cost in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US, with gaps by income most severe in the US. Ratings of quality of doctor visit were significantly different for the two income groups in the US, but not other countries. Conclusions : The analysis finds striking differences among countries in the relative equity of health care experiences. In general, care experiences are more unequal in three countries such as the US, Australia and New Zealand where systems have relatively greater reliance on private health insurance and markets. Greater inequality in care experiences is also associated with more divided public opinion regarding the need for system reform and the direction of recent policy changes. In Canada and Britain where care experiences are more equal, views of the health system are similar across income groups. Reliance on private insurance and patient user fees appears to lead to more divided views of the overall health system as well as inequity in access to care.
The structure and composition of metal particles in two type 6 ordinary chondrites

The microstructure and composition of taenite particles were examined in two type-6 ordinary chondrites, Kernouve (H6) and Saint Severin (LL6), using reflected light microscopy and a combination of electron optical instruments. It was found that, in both meteorites, the taenite particles consisted of a narrow rim of high-Ni taenite and a central region of cloudy zone similar to those present in iron meteorites. The microstructure of the cloudy zone in Saint Severin was coarser than that in Kernouve , due to the higher Ni content and slower cooling rate of the former. Three microstructural zones were observed in the outer taenite rim of both meteorites, the origin of which is considered likely to be due to the presence of ordered domain boundaries or to the presence of two phases FeNi and FeNi3 in the high-Ni region of the outer taenite rim.
Contained plastic deformation near cracks and notches under longitudinal shear

An exact linear elastic-perfectly plastic solution is presented for the problem of a sharp notch (or, when the notch angle is zero, a crack) in a plane of finite width subjected to anti-plane stresses inducing a stress and deformation state of longitudinal shear. General solutions for physical coordinates corresponding to given stresses, position of the elastic-plastic boundary, and accompanying displacements are given in terms of finite single integrals.
A possible role for chromium(III) in genotoxicity.

Abstract Chromium is found in the environment in two major forms: reduced CrIII and CrVI, or chromate. Chromate, the most biologically active species, is readily taken up by living cells and reduced intracellularly, via reactive intermediates, to stable CrIII species. CrIII, the most abundant form of chromium in the environment, does not readily cross cell membranes and is relatively inactive in vivo. However, intracellular CrIII can react slowly with both nucleic acids and proteins and can be genotoxic. We have investigated the genotoxicity of CrIII in vitro using a DNA replication assay and in vivo by CaCl2-mediated transfection of chromium-treated DNA into Escherichia coli. When DNA replication was measured on a CrIII-treated template using purified DNA polymerases (either bacterial or mammalian), both the rate of DNA replication and the amount of incorporation per polymerase binding event (processivity) were greatly increased relative to controls. When transfected into E. coli, CrIII-treated M13mp2 bacteriophage DNA showed a dose-dependent increase in mutation frequency. These results suggest that CrIII alters the interaction between the DNA template and the polymerase such that the binding strength of the DNA polymerase is increased and the fidelity of DNA replication is decreased. These interactions may contribute to the mutagenicity of chromium ions in vivo and suggest that CrIII can contribute to chromium-mediated carcinogenesis.
An improved prototype apparatus and process for separating cellulosic materials from municipal solid waste

A new prototype steam classification process apparatus has been designed, fabricated, and tested. The optimum operating conditions for the unit have been established, and additional process equipment has been added to facilitate the separation and recovery of a higher-quality cellulosic product that is more desirable for use both as a combustion fuel and as a feedstock for conversion into compost or fuels and chemicals. A comparison of certain mechanical features, operating procedures, and test results between the original and the new prototype process units shows that substantial improvements have been made in both the process apparatus and in the overall process that should enhance the commercial potential of steam classification.
Emerging Topics in Pediatric Bone and Mineral Disorders 2008

The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) play central roles in the regulation of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, respectively. CaSR controls parathyroid hormone secretion and renal calcium reabsorption. Inactivating mutations of the CaSR result in conditions characterized by hypercalcemia and hypocalciuria, whereas activating lesions cause hypoparathyroidism and hypercalciuria. Calcimimetics are a group of agonists for the CaSR that have been shown to be powerful agents in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. FGF-23 acts on the kidney to inhibit the reabsorption of phosphate and the synthesis of 1,25(OH)(2)D. Disorders of increased FGF-23 function are associated with hypophosphatemia, inappropriately low 1,25(OH)(2)D levels, and either rickets or osteomalacia. Conversely, decreased FGF-23 activity results in hyperphosphatemia, increased 1,25(OH)(2)D levels, and abnormal soft-tissue calcification. In chronic kidney disease, increases in FGF-23 are being investigated as markers of disease progression.
Direct DC-DC electric vehicle charging with a grid connected photovoltaic system

The Electric Vehicle/Photovoltaic Demonstration and Evaluation Program being conducted at the University of South Florida (USF) includes a 20 kW (peak) photovoltaic (PV) system in which PV panels form the roof of a 12 bay carport. A 6 kW (peak) segment of the PV system can be simultaneously distributed between computer controlled direct DC-DC charging and power grid interconnection. The DC-DC charger (DC-DAS) controls the charging current of a battery pack with minimal power waste, by computer control of current flow direction of each of four source circuits. It demonstrates superior efficiency, dependability and safety for DC-DC charging over DC-AC-DC charging and has greater control over the last 20% of charge than traditional PV DC-DC chargers.
Effect of Aromatic Concentration of a Fischer-Tropsch Fuel on Thermal Stability

Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) jet fuel composition differs from petroleum-based, conventional commercial jet fuel because of differences in feedstock and production methodology. Fischer-Tropsch fuel typically has a lower aromatic and sulfur content and consists primarily of iso and normal parafins. The ASTM D3241 specification for Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Test (JFTOT) break point testing method was used to test the breakpoint of a baseline commercial grade F-T jet fuel, and various blends of this F-T fuel with an aromatic solution. The goal of this research is to determine the effect of aromatic content on the thermal stability of Fischer-Tropsch fuel. The testing completed in this report was supported by the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Subsonics Fixed Wing Project.© 2012 ASME
Dynamic axial crush response of circular cell honeycombs

The dynamic axial crush response of circular cell polycarbonate honeycombs was studied for 3-cell and 7-cell specimens experimentally and through finite-element (FE) simulation. The experiments were conducted using two loading methods: (i) the wave loading device (WLD) method and (ii) the direct impact method (DIM). The specimens were subjected to crush velocities of about 12 000 mm s−1 in the WLD method and 5000 mm s−1 in the DIM. The two methods were used to obtain a fairly wide range of input velocities. The collapse sequence and displacement information of the specimens were captured using a high-speed camera. The mode of collapse was through progressive concertina-diamond fold formation over a fairly constant state of load, which is referred to as the crush load. The crushing was simulated using an explicit FE analysis using ABAQUS, with geometrically imperfect 3-cell and 7-cell honeycomb models that incorporated the rate-dependent properties of polycarbonate. The FE results were found to agree well with the experimental results in terms of overall force–displacement plots, thus providing a basis to extract energy absorption estimates from the models and to draw comparisons between the 3-cell and 7-cell response behaviour. Moreover, the dynamic crush results were compared against a quasi-static axial crush response to demonstrate the presence of rate effects.
Effects of Housing and Colostrum Feeding on Serum Immunoglobulins, Growth, and Fecal Scores of Jersey Calves

Ninety-six Jersey calves were used to evaluate the effects of housing and method of colostrum feeding on serum Ig concentrations, incidence and severity of scours, intake, and BW changes from birth to 35 d of age. Calves were separated from the dam and fed 2 L of colostrum in nipple-bottles or allowed to nurse the dam for 3 d. Calves were housed in individual hutches or wooden pens in a barn. Intake of colostrum by calves allowed to nurse the dam was not controlled. Serum IgG and IgM concentrations at 24 h of age were greater for calves that nursed the dam. Scours were less severe when calves were housed in hutches, but number of days scouring was unaffected by treatment. Calves fed colostrum in nipple-bottles and housed in the barn consumed more starter than did other calves from 3 to 5 wk of age. The BW were greater for calves allowed to nurse the dam and housed in hutches. Feed efficiency over the 35-d study was improved when calves nursed the dam. Optimal transfer of passive immunity and housing in hutches appeared to maximize health and growth in this study.
The Role of R&D in Explaining Total Factor Productivity Growth in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan*

We explain total factor productivity growth (TFPG) residuals for Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, by expenditures on basic, applied and experimental research in each of the three countries. We find that, overall, there is evidence that R&D expenditures in these countries had a positive impact on TFPG. This suggests that growth in these countries, contrary to a recent assertion by Krugman (1994), is not simply explained by input accumulation.
Layer-based binarization for textual images

We developed a binarization approach to handle a large variety of images, from scanned flatbed images to images acquired by mobile phone cameras. The binarization is targeted at creating layers of binary images for processing by OCR engines. The layers are classified spatially and by intensity and color. First textual pixels are classified by a text operator. The text kernel is then segmented by intensity/color levels and layout analysis techniques to create regions of similar text. Finally, adaptive binarization is applied to each region to obtain superior binary images. Our experimental results show the advantages of our method over local binarization methods.
Mining inter-entity semantic relations using improved transductive learning

This paper studies the problem of mining relational data hidden in natural language text. In particular, it approaches the relation classification problem with the strategy of transductive learning. Different algorithms are presented and empirically evaluated on the ACE corpus. We show that transductive learners exploiting various lexical and syntactic features can achieve promising classification performance. More importantly, transductive learning performance can be significantly improved by using an induced similarity function.
On the Convergence of Perturbed Non-Stationary Consensus Algorithms

We consider consensus algorithms in their most general setting and provide conditions under which such algorithms are guaranteed to converge, almost surely, to a consensus. Let {A(t),B(t)} isin R N times N be (possibly) random, non-stationary matrices and {x(t),m(t)} isin R N times 1 be state and perturbation vectors, respectively. For any consensus algorithm of the form x(t + 1) = A(t)x(t) + B(t)m(t), we provide conditions under which consensus is achieved almost surely, i.e., Pr {lim trarrinfin x(t) = c1} = 1 for some c isin R. Moreover, we show that this general result subsumes recently reported results for specific consensus algorithms classes, including sum-preserving, non-sum-preserving, quantized and noisy gossip algorithms. Also provided are the e-converging time for any such converging iterative algorithm, i.e., the earliest time at which the vector x(t) is e close to consensus, and sufficient conditions for convergence in expectation to the initial node measurements average.