cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corporate Tax Reserves, Firm Value, and Leverage

New accounting rule FIN 48 compels public corporations to disclose how much money they have reserved for financial reporting purposes in order to pay the U.S. and foreign governments in the event that tax-saving transactions are successfully challenged by the IRS and other taxing authorities. Tests using a sample of 273 industrial firms whose 2007:I 10-Q filings adhered to the new reporting requirement indicate that the amount of reserves is a significantly positive determinant of firm value regardless of endogeneity control. Profitable high-reserve firms both reduced their reserve levels and significantly increased their leverage from 2005 to 2007, suggesting tax-sheltering activities being displaced by more debt utilization prior to the mandatory FIN 48 reporting. This result complements Graham and Tucker (2006) who report that tax sheltering appears to be a significant determinant of corporate debt utilization.
Design of an on-line multiply-add module for recursive digital filters

An online multiply-add module that allows high filter sampling rates when used to implement the direct form II second-order filter structure is described. Important characteristics of online arithmetic are that it produces most significant digit first and that its digit cycle time is independent of the data wordlength. These features not only permit high-speed filtering, but also allow the elimination of all nonlinear oscillation in the filter without affecting the sampling rate, and effectively eliminate scaling of the filter's input data. The derivation of the online multiply-add algorithm and its hardware design using a 1.5- mu m CMOS standard cell library are presented. A method for eliminating nonlinear oscillations by increasing the filter's working precision is described. >
Manejo de la preeclampsia con elementos de severidad antes de las 34 semanas de gestación: nuevos conceptos

Preeclampsia is one of the main causes of maternal mortality in Peru and the world. Management of preeclampsia with severity elements in patients less than 34 weeks of gestation is controversial. In this article review of the literature and evidence and current recommendations for management of preeclampsia with components of severity in Latin American countries is presented. Keywords: Preeclampsia, preterm pregnancy, expectant management.
Research Note: Effect of Dietary Phosphorus Levels on Performance of Turkey Breeder Hens

One hundred 30-wk-old medium weight white Orlopp turkey breeder hens were equally divided into four treatment groups according to the level of available P in the diet (.15, .30, .50, and .70%, respectively). The P provided in the basal diet (.15% available, .35% total) was from cereal grains and soybean meal. No supplemental phosphate was added. During the 20-wk experiment, there were no differences in number of days required to come into lay and in subsequent egg production. Specific gravity, egg weight, number of shell pores, and body weight were similar under all treatments. The P levels of birds fed the four diets were 4.82, 4.93, 4.93, and 4.94 mg/100 mL, respectively, in serum and in femur were 15.8, 16.1, 16.8, and 16.4%, respectively. The P levels were slightly lower in birds fed the diet without added P. Excreta P levels (1.93, 2.49, 2.81, and 3.10%, respectively, in birds fed the four diets) were significantly (P less than .05) higher with each successive increase in dietary P. Hens fed diets containing .50 or .70% available P retained (46.9 and 54.8%, respectively) significantly more P than those fed diets containing .15 or .30% available P (28.1 and 33.8%, respectively). Fertility (76, 93, 90, and 89%, respectively) was significantly lower (P less than .05) from feeding the diet without added P. Hatchability rates of fertile eggs were similar for all treatments.
Matrix Isolation Infrared and Theoretical Study of the Reaction of VCl4 with NH3 and (CH3)3N

Initial and secondary intermediates in the reaction of VCl4 with NH3 have been characterized by matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and density functional calculations. Twin jet codeposition of these two reagents led to a series of moderately intense infrared absorptions that have been assigned to the 1:1 molecular complex between these two species. Irradiation of these matrices with light of λ > 300 nm led to complete destruction of the complex, and the growth of a number of new bands. These have been assigned to the Cl3VNH2 species, complexed with a single HCl arising from destruction of the complex. Identification of these species (1:1 complex and photoproduct) was supported by extensive isotopic labeling (15N and 2H), as well as by B3LYP/6−311++g(d, 2p) density functional calculations. Good agreement was observed between the experimental and computed frequencies. The binding energy of the 1:1 complex was calculated to be = −11.43 kcal/mol at this level of theory. Similar experiments with (CH3)3N le...
Chemical nonequilibrium effects on flowfields for aeroassist orbital transfer vehicles

Acceptable altitude and velocity ranges for the perigee of aeroassist orbital transfer vehicles (AOTV) have been determined for various values of ballistic coefficient and lift-to-drag ratio. The chemical nonequilibrium effect on the flowfield of a simple but representatively high-drag, blunt configuration was investigated for these perigee conditions, ranging from 73 to 90 km in altitude and 8 to 9.3 km/s in velocity. The analysis was performed using a two-dimensional viscous-shock-layer code which had previously demonstrated good success in predicting nonequilibrium heating on the Space Shuttle. The results indicate lower ratio of nonequilibrium/equilibrium heating for the present AOTV perigee conditions than for the Shuttle flight conditions, due to higher velocity. The trend for the degree of nonequilibrium with the effect of varying wall catalycity and configuration was determined over the altitude range. Some implications to future design consideration are stated.
Working models of attachment and person perception processes

This study investigated the effects of attachment working models on social perception processes. Participants estimated the number of behavioral instances they would require to confirm and disconfirm hypothetical others’ possession of various traits. The attachment dimension of avoidance was associated with a defensively conservative style of social perception. High scorers on avoidance required more evidence to make a positive judgment and also more evidence to reject a negative judgment. In contrast, the attachment dimension of anxiety was associated with a relatively impulsive and labile perceptional style. High scorers on anxiety tended to require less evidence to make both positive and negative judgments of others. Results are discussed in terms of their concordance with previous findings and their implications for research on attachment and social perception.
Generaciones: Composición y conversación en español 2nd ed. by GREENIA, GEORGE D.

The article reviews the book "Generaciones: Composicion y conversacion en espanol," 2nd ed. by George D. Greenia.
Influence of the nature of an electric field applied during the solution heat treatment of the Al-Mg-Si-Cu Alloy AA6111 on subsequent natural aging

Abstract The effect of a “non-contacting” electric field (Method A) applied during the solution heat treatment of the Al – Mg – Si – Cu alloy AA6111 on subsequent natural aging measured by resistivity was determined and compared with that without field and with a field in which the specimen is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply (Method B(+)). Method A gave an increase in the level of the aging curve compared to that without field, but the increase was less than that with Method B(+). Neither field method had an effect on the general form of the aging curve, which was in accord with the Avrami equation with n = 0.49 and k = 0.02. The maximum resistivity for natural aging increased linearly with the as-quenched resistivity for the range in solutionizing temperatures (475 – 550 °C) without and with an electric field (0.2 and 2.5 kV cm−1) considered. This relationship gave: (a) the magnitude of the contribution of the insoluble constituents to the resistivity and (b) the ratio of the resis...
Mean-field theory, mode-coupling theory, and the onset temperature in supercooled liquids.

We consider the relationship between the temperature at which averaged energy landscape properties change sharply ${(T}_{o})$ and the breakdown of mean-field treatments of the dynamics of supercooled liquids. First, we show that the solution of the wave vector dependent mode-coupling equations undergoes an ergodic-nonergodic transition consistently close to ${T}_{o}.$ Generalizing the landscape concept to include hard-sphere systems, we show that the property of inherent structures that changes near ${T}_{o}$ is governed more fundamentally by packing and free volume than potential energy. Lastly, we study the finite-size random orthogonal model (ROM), and show that the onset of noticeable corrections to mean-field behavior occurs at ${T}_{o}.$ These results highlight connections between the energy landscape and mode-coupling approach to supercooled liquids, and identify which features of the relaxation of supercooled liquids are properly captured by mode-coupling theory.
Studies on the Reactivity of Tetrafluoro- and Pentafluorophenyl Trimethylsilyl Ether with Pentafluorobenzenes. Chemistry and X-ray Structural Investigations of Polyfluorodiphenyl Ethers†

The introduction of tetrafluoro- and pentafluorophenoxy moieties into a variety of pentafluorobenzenes C6F5R (R = CF3, CN, NO2) is accomplished by employing the trimethylsilyl ethers (siloxanes) 4-HC6F4OSiMe3 (1) and C6F5OSiMe3 (2) as transfer agents. Depending on the nature of the electrophile, the stoichiometry of the reaction, and the reaction conditions, polysubstituted polyfluorodiphenyl ethers are obtained. Excess C6F5R results in the formation of the 1,4-monosubstituted benzenes (diphenyl ethers) 4-(4‘-XC6F4O)C6F4R (R = CF3, X = H (3), F (4); R = CN, X = H (5), F (6); R = NO2, X = H (9), F (10)). When R = NO2, the 1,2-substituted isomers are also detected. Additional byproducts that are isolable are the disubstituted benzenes 2,4-(4‘-XC6F4O)2C6F3R (R = CN, X = H (7), F (8); R = NO2, X = H (11), F (12)). Excess 1 or 2, when reacted with C6F5R, results in the formation of the trisubstituted benzenes 2,4,6-(4‘-XC6F4O)3C6F2R (R = CN, X = H (13), F (14); R = NO2, = H (15), F (16)). The hydrolysis of nit...
Determination of Iron in Abandoned Mine Drainage by UV‐Vis Spectrophotometry and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Abstract This paper describes and compares the results obtained from determination of total iron in abandoned mine drainage (AMD) from selected sites in western Pennsylvania by UV‐visible spectrophotometry (UV‐Vis) and flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS). As our laboratory possesses both methods, the accuracy and precision of iron results by UV‐Vis, using iron (II) chelator 2,4,6‐tripyridyl‐1,3,5‐triazine (TPTZ), and FAAS are of interest in the event of instrument problems with either method. Calibration curves show excellent linearity (R 2≥0.990). The results show good accuracy (complete recovery of spiked iron) and precision (0.5–3.4% RSD by UV‐Vis, 1.5–7.7% RSD by FAAS), indicating both methods are suitable for determination of iron in AMD. This comparison study is presented as a potential approach to teaching students about UV‐Vis and FAAS and their advantages and disadvantages.
A unified Bayesian approach for prediction and detection using mobile sensor networks

In this paper, we develop a unified Bayesian approach that enables the prediction of binary random events and random scalar fields from heterogeneous data collected by mobile sensor networks with different detectors and sensors. The heterogeneous uncertainties such as different false detection rates and measurement noises are taken into account. This proposed unified approach exploits the statistical correlations among heterogeneous random events and random fields via their latent random variables which are modeled by a Gaussian Markov random field. The statistical inference based on Gaussian approximation is then provided in order to predict the random events and/or scalar fields. The fully Bayesian approach based on the integrated nested Laplace approximation is also proposed to deal with the case where model parameters are not known a priori. Simulation results demonstrate the correctness and usefulness of the proposed approaches.
SPECTRAL ESTIMATION AND DECONVOLUTION FOR A LINEAR TIME SERIES MODEL

. A vector linear time series model is observed as the sum of a convolution of an unknown signal and an additive noise process. The main objective is the estimation or deconvolution of the signal when the spectra of the signal and noise processes are unknown. We prove the strong consistency of a class of nonparametric spectral estimators derived by maximizing a particular Gaussian likelihood function. We also study the mean square convergence of the finite-sample deconvolution estimators as a function of the sample length T, the filter length M and the spectral bandwidth BT=LT/T.
A Compton imaging device for radioactive material detection

The most serious terrorist threat we face today may come from radiological dispersion devices and unsecured nuclear weapons. It is imperative for national security that we develop and implement radiation detection technology capable of locating and tracking nuclear material moving across and within our borders. Many radionuclides emit gamma rays in the 0.2 -- 3 MeV range. Unfortunately, current gamma ray detection technology is inadequate for providing precise and efficient measurements of localized radioactive sources. Common detectors available today suffer from large background rates and have only minimal ability to localize the position of the source without the use of mechanical collimators, which reduces efficiency. Imaging detectors using the Compton scattering process have the potential to provide greatly improved sensitivity through their ability to reject off-source background. We are developing a prototype device to demonstrate the Compton imaging technology. The detector consists of several layers of pixelated silicon detectors followed by an array of CsI crystals coupled to photodiodes. Here we present the concept of our detector design and results from Monte Carlo simulations of our prototype detector.
Widmanstätten Figures in Terrestrial Alloys

The three components of the Widmanstatten figures in nickel-iron alloys are discussed. Kamacite is described as a solid solution of nickel in iron, taenite as probably a solid solution of iron in nickel, and plessite as a eutectoid of the two. Experiments leading to the production of a synthetic octahedrite and of a synthetic hexahedrite are reported, and the case for the presence of figures in the Greenland iron is summarized. Attention is called to the presence of Widmanstatten figures in alloys other than those of nickel-iron.
Modulation of platelet shape and membrane receptor binding by Ca2+-calmodulin complex.

Interaction between factor VIII/von Willebrand factor, a plasma glycoprotein, and platelets is essential for platelet adhesion and subsequent platelet plug formation at sites of vascular injury during primary phase haemostasis1,2. We now report that binding of 125I-labelled factor VIII/von Willebrand factor to its platelet membrane receptors is inhibited by preincubation of washed human platelets with inhibitors of Ca2+–calmodulin complex (for example, 50 µM trifluoperazine or chlorpromazine) at 37 °C for 2 min. Scatchard analysis of the binding data indicates that the total number of accessible binding sites on each pretreated platelet is significantly reduced to ∼50% of the original value. There is also negative cooperativity of binding or reduced binding affinity in a major portion of binding sites. Platelet shape changes from diskoid to spherical after treatment. The results suggest that Ca2+–calmodulin complex modulates platelet shape and membrane receptor behaviour.
Number/Person Errors in an Information-Processing Perspective: Implications for Form-Focused Instruction

Errors in inflectional morphology have usually been called local on the assumption that they do not interfere with comprehension. Such errors have been considered to be the cause of negative emotional reactions rather than comprehension problems. However, the ESL data presented in this paper show that the grammatical categories of number and person can play an important role in establishing cognitive continuity of textual occurrences (i. e., can have discourse-cohesive functions). In such cases, the number/person errors are not local but global, as they do affect text comprehension. Such global problems point to the cognitive salience of the number/person inflections in some contexts. Because incomplete acquisition of these inflections can be attributed to their being not salient enough on most occasions to capture the selective attention of adult learners, it is likely that we can facilitate their learning by increasing their occurrence in language input contexts that raise their cognitive salience. Doing this will ensure that the feature is noticed and processed for meaning more often, thereby made easier to learn.
Defaults in domain theory

Abstract This paper uses ideas from artificial intelligence to show how default notions can be defined over Scott domains. We combine these ideas with ideas arising in domain theory to shed some light on the properties of nonmonotonicity in a general model-theoretic setting. We consider in particular a notion of default nonmonotonic entailment between prime open sets in the Scott topology of a domain. We investigate in what ways this notion obeys the so-called laws of cautious monotony and cautious cut , proposed by Gabbay, Kraus, Lehmann, and Magidor. Our notion of nonmonotonic entailment does not necessarily satisfy cautious monotony, but does satisfy cautious cut. In fact, we show that any reasonable notion of nonmonotonic entailment on prime opens over a Scott domain, satisfying in particular the law of cautious cut, can be concretely represented using our notion of default entailment. We also give a variety of sufficient conditions for defaults to induce cumulative entailments, those satisfying cautious monotony. In particular, we show that defaults with unique extensions are a representation of cumulative nonmonotonic entailment. Furthermore, a simple characterization is given for those default sets which determine unique extensions in coherent domains. Finally, a characterization is given for Scott domains in which default entailment must be cumulative. This is the class of daisy domains ; it is shown to be cartesian closed, a purely domain-theoretic result.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to contamination of home humidifier.

A caSe of hypersensitivity pneumonitis dzle to Thermoactinomyces vulgaris contaminating a home humidifier system is presented. Serum from the patient contained precipitating antibodies directed against an antigen present in an extract of the involved Thermoactinomyces vulgaris isolated from the humidifier. The patient experienced complete relief of symptoms after removal of the contaminated humidifier from his home. The signijicance of this new finding is discussed. Most hypersensitivity pneumonitides are the result of repeated exposure and sensitization to thermophilic actinomycetes of the Micropolyspora or Thermoactinomycetes group, as in farmer’s 1ung,le2 mushroom workers’ disease,5 and bagassosis6+ A similar syndrome may be caused by other organic dusts as in pigeon breeders’ disease,g-ll maple bark strippers ’ disease,12 and sequoiosis.13 Until recently, recognized hypersensitivity pneumonitides were associated with organic dusts inherent to occupational pursuits. Recently, Banaszak and associates14 described four cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis among office workers exposed to a thermophilic actinomycete unassociated with specific organic dust. This report presents a case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurring in the home environment as a consequence of a home humidifier contaminated with a thermoactinomycete.
Turbulent heat transfer in ribbed coolant passages of different aspect ratios: Parametric effects

Turbulent flow and heat transfer in rotating ribbed ducts of different aspect ratios (AR) are studied numerically using an unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes procedure. Results for three ARs (1:1, 1:4, and 4:1) and staggered ribs with constant pitch (Ple = 10) in the periodically developed region are presented and compared. To achieve periodic flow behavior in successive inter-rib modules calculations are performed in a computational domain that extends to two or three inter-rib modules. The computations are carried out for an extended parameter set with a Reynolds number range of 25,000-150,000, density ratio range of 0-0.5, and rotation number range of 0-0.50. Under rotational conditions, the highest heat transfer along the leading and side walls are obtained with the 4:1 AR, while the 1:4 AR has the highest trailing wall Nu ratio and the lowest leading wall Nu ratio. The 1:4 AR duct shows flow reversal near the leading wall (leading to low Nu) at high rotation numbers and density ratios. For certain critical parameter values (low Re, high Ro, and/or DR), the leading wall flow is expected to become nearly stagnant, due to the action of centrifugal buoyancy, leading to conduction-limited heat transfer The 4:1 AR duct shows evidence of multiple rolls in the secondary flow that direct the core flow to both the leading and trailing surfaces which reduces the difference between the leading and trailing wall heat transfer relative to the other two AR ducts.
Optimal deterministic compressed sensing matrices

We present the first deterministic measurement matrix construction with an order-optimal number of rows for sparse signal reconstruction. This improves the measurements required in prior constructions and addresses a known open problem in the theory of sparse signal recovery. Our construction uses adjacency matrices of bipartite graphs that have large girth. The main result is that girth (the length of the shortest cycle in the graph) can be used as a certificate that a measurement matrix can recover almost all sparse signals. Specifically, our matrices guarantee recovery “for-each” sparse signal under basis pursuit. Our techniques are coding theoretic and rely on a recent connection of compressed sensing to LP relaxations for channel decoding.
The effect of potassium and extracellular volume on renal bicarbonate reabsorption

Bicarbonate reabsorption was measured in dogs infused with either KCl or KHCO3. As has been previously reported, potassium loading depressed bicarbonate reabsorption. Similar studies in dogs with partial obstruction of the thoracic inferior vena cava failed to demonstrate an effect of potassium loading on bicarbonate reabsorption. Extracellular volume was expanded with isotonic saline in three groups of dogs: one with potassium depletion, a second with hyperkalemia, and a third normal group. Bicarbonate reabsorption varied inversely with fractional chloride excretion in all three groups. At any one level of fractional chloride excretion, however, bicarbonate reabsorption was higher in the potassium depleted animals than in the normal dogs, and higher in the normal dogs than in those subjected to potassium loading. This study demonstrates a significant regulatory role of potassium over renal bicarbonate reabsorption. This role can only clearly be defined, however, when the precise state of effective extracellular volume is delineated.
The quantitation of β-aminoisobutyric acid in urine by mass fragmentography

Abstract A specific, rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of β-aminoisobutyric acid in urine is described. The method is based on the analysis by quadrupole mass fragmentography of its N-TFA-O-n-butyl derivative using α-amino octanoic acid as an internal standard. The procedure is sensitive being able to quantitate as little as 1 ng of β-aminoisobutyric acid and is applicable to the routine analysis of this compound in biological fluids. The analysis time, exclusive of chemical derivatization, occupies about 17 minutes.
An experimental-theoretical study of free vibrations of plates on elastic point supports

A theoretical and experimental study is made to investigate the effect on plate vibrations of varying the stiffness of corner elastic point supports. A theoretical model is developed using a Rayleigh-Ritz analysis which approximates the plate mode shapes as products of free-free beam modes. The elastic point supports are modelled both as massless translational springs, and springs with tip masses. The tip masses are included to better represent the experimental supports. An experiment is constructed using the bending stiffness of horizontal beams to support a square plate at its four corners. The stiffness of these supports can be varied over such a range that the plate fundamental frequency is lowered to 40% of the rigid support frequency. The variation with support stiffness of the frequencies of the first eight plate modes is measured, and compared with the theoretical results. The plate mode shapes for rigid supports are analyzed using holographic interferometry. There is excellent agreement between the theoretical and experimental results, except for high plate modes where the theoretical model is demonstrated to be inadequate.
The effects of sodium on the growth velocity and growth morphology of silicon in Al-Si alloys

The effects of sodium additions to Al-Si alloys have been studied by determining the coupled zone for normal and "modified" alloys. Sodium slows the growth rate of silicon with respect to aluminum, and changes the morphology of the silicon. These effects were observed to be independent of growth temperature. A hypothesis that sodium adsorbs on the fast-growing faces of silicon can explain all observations.
Folate pathway disruption leads to critical disruption of methionine derivatives in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Summary In this study, we identified antifolates with potent, targeted activity against whole-cell Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of antifolate-treated cultures revealed metabolic disruption, including decreased pools of methionine and S -adenosylmethionine. Transcriptomic analysis highlighted altered regulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis and utilization of these two compounds. Supplementation with amino acids or S -adenosylmethionine was sufficient to rescue cultures from antifolate treatment. Instead of the "thymineless death" that characterizes folate pathway inhibition in a wide variety of organisms, these data suggest that MTB is vulnerable to a critical disruption of the reactions centered around S -adenosylmethionione, the activated methyl cycle.
Implicit associations have a circadian rhythm.

The current study shows that people's ability to inhibit implicit associations that run counter to their explicit views varies in a circadian pattern. The presence of this rhythmic variation suggests the involvement of a biological process in regulating automatic associations—specifically, with the current data, associations that form undesirable social biases. In 1998, Greenwald, McGhee, and Schwartz introduced the Implicit Association Test as a means of measuring individual differences in implicit cognition. The IAT is a powerful tool that has become widely used. Perhaps most visibly, studies employing the IAT demonstrate that people generally hold implicit biases against social groups, which often conflict with their explicitly held views. The IAT engages inhibitory processes similar to those inherent in self-control tasks. Because the latter processes are known to be resource-limited, we considered whether IAT scores might likewise be resource dependent. Analyzing IAT performance from over a million participants across all times of day, we found a clear circadian pattern in scores. This finding suggests that the IAT measures not only the strength of implicit associations, but also the effect of variations in the physiological resources available to inhibit their undesirable influences on explicit behavior.
Continuous microfluidic biosensing with conjugated paramagnetic beads

A microfluidic biosensing assay has been designed and tested with streptavidin coated paramagnetic microbeads and fluorescently conjugated biotin (Biotin-FITC). The device is a three-inlet, three-outlet channel made by soft lithography of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). A novel magnetic actuation scheme is used to manipulate the beads within the channel. The device has proven capable of measuring the antigen concentration of a continuous sample stream. It is proposed that this technology could be applied as a real-time immunosensing assay.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Maize cellulosic biofuels: soil carbon loss can be a hidden cost of residue removal

Second generation biofuels, like cellulosic ethanol, have potential as important energy sources that can lower fossil fuel carbon emissions without affecting global food commodity prices. Agricultural crop residues, especially maize, have been proposed for use as biofuel, but the net greenhouse warming effect of the gained fossil fuel carbon offset needs to account for any ecosystem carbon losses caused by the large-scale maize residue removal. Using differential 13C isotopic ratios between residue and soil in an incubation experiment, we found that removal of residue increased soil organic matter decomposition by an average of 16%, or 540–800 kg carbon ha−1. Thus, removal of residue for biofuel production can have a hidden carbon cost, reducing potential greenhouse gas benefits. Accurate net carbon accounting of cellulosic biofuel needs to include not only fossil fuel savings from use of the residue, but also any declines in soil carbon caused directly and indirectly by residue removal.
Endovascular treatment of spinal cord arteriovenous malformations

Spinal cord arteriovenous malformations are rare lesions that represent one-tenth of the brain arteriovenous malformations. Depending on their location and relationship to the dura, these lesions are divided into four categories. Their clinical manifestations may vary from mild symptoms to severe motor deficits. Spinal angiography remains the "gold standard" for diagnosing spinal cord vascular lesions. Although the type of shunting remains difficult to determine by the magnetic resonance imaging, it is well analyzed by spinal angiography. The cure of the shunting is not by itself a therapeutic goal, but the objective is the creation of a new hemodynamic equilibrium between the lesion and the spinal cord to decrease the risk of hemorrhage and prevent the progression of the spinal cord ischemia. The endovascular tools seem to be a reasonable therapeutic option for the treatment of the majority of the spinal cord arteriovenous malformations.
Genetic characterization of the Ma locus with pH and titratable acidity in apple

Apple fruit flavor is greatly affected by the level of malic acid, which is the major organic acid in mature apple fruit. To understand the genetic and molecular basis of apple fruit acidity, fruit juice pH and/or titratable acidity (TA) were measured in two half-sib populations GMAL 4595 [Royal Gala × PI (Plant Introduction) 613988] and GMAL 4590 (Royal Gala × PI 613971) of 438 trees in total. The maternal parent Royal Gala is a commercial variety and the paternal parents are two M. sieversii (the progenitor species of domestic apple) elite accessions. The low-acid trait segregates recessively and the overall acidity variations in the two populations were primarily controlled by the Ma (malic acid) locus, a major gene discovered in the 1950s (Nybom in Hereditas 45:332–350, 1959) and later mapped to linkage group 16 (Maliepaard et al. in Theor Appl Genet 97:60–73, 1998). The allele Ma has a strong additive effect in increasing fruit acidity and is incompletely dominant over ma. QTL (quantitative trait locus) analyses in GMAL 4595 mapped the major QTL Ma in both Royal Gala and PI 613988, the effects of which explained 17.0–42.3% of the variation in fruit pH and TA. In addition, two minor QTL, tentatively designated M2 and M3, were also detected for fruit acidity, with M2 on linkage group 6 of Royal Gala and M3 on linkage group 1 of PI 613988. By exploring the genome sequences of apple, eight new simple sequence repeat markers tightly linked to Ma were developed, leading to construction of a fine genetic map of the Ma locus that defines it to a physical region no larger than 150 kb in the Golden Delicious genome.
Optimization of truss topology using tabu search

A design procedure for integrating topological considerations in the framework of structural optimization is presented. The proposed approach is capable of considering multiple load conditions, stress, displacement and local/global buckling constraints, and multiple objective functions in the problem formulation. Further, since the proposed method permits members to be added to or deleted from an existing topology and the topology is not defined by member areas, the difficulty of not being able to reach singular optima is also avoided. These objectives are accomplished using a discrete optimization procedure which uses 0–1 topological variables to optimize alternate designs. Since the topological variables are discrete in nature and the member cross-sections are assumed to be continuous, the topological optimization problem has mixed discrete-continuous variables. This non-linear programming problem is solved using a memory-based combinatorial optimization technique known as tabu search. Numerical results obtained using tabu search for single and multiobjective topological optimization of truss structures are presented. To model the multiple objective functions in the problem formulation, a cooperative game theoretic approach is used. The results indicate that the optimum topologies obtained using tabu search compare favourably, and in some instances, outperform the results obtained using the ground–structure approach. However, this improvement occurs at the expense of a significant increase in computational burden owing to the fact that the proposed approach necessitates that the geometry of each trial topology be optimized.
Repeated Acquisition and Performance Chamber for Mice: A Paradigm for Assessment of Spatial Learning and Memory ☆

Molecular genetic manipulation of the mouse offers the possibility of elucidating the function of individual gene products in neural systems underlying learning and memory. Many extant learning paradigms for mice rely on negative reinforcement, involve simple problems that are relatively rapidly acquired and thus preclude time-course assessment, and may impose the need to undertake additional experiments to determine the extent to which noncognitive behaviors influence the measures of learning. To overcome such limitations, a multiple schedule of repeated acquisition and performance was behaviorally engineered to assess learning vs rote performance within-behavioral test session and within-subject utilizing an apparatus modified from the rat (the repeated acquisition and performance chamber; RAPC). The multiple schedule required mice to learn a new sequence of door openings leading to saccharin availability in the learning component during each session, while the sequence of door openings for the performance component remained constant across sessions. The learning and performance components alternated over the course of each test session, with different auditory stimuli signaling which component was currently in effect. To validate this paradigm, learning vs performance was evaluated in two inbred strains of mice: C57BL/6J and 129/SvJ. The hippocampal dependence of this measure was examined in lesioned C57BL/6J mice. Both strains exhibited longer latencies and higher errors in the learning compared to the performance component and evidenced declines in both measures across the trials of each session, consistent with an acquisition phenomenon. These same measures showed little or no evidence of change in the performance component. Whereas three trials per session were utilized with C57BL/65 mice in each component, behavior of 129/SvJ mice could only be sustained for two trials per component per session, demonstrating differences in testing capabilities between these two strains under these experimental conditions and thus precluding the ability to make systematic strain comparisons of learning capabilities. Hippocampal lesions in C57BL/6J mice resulted in substantially longer latencies and increased errors in the learning but not the performance component, demonstrating the importance of this region to spatial learning as measured in the RAPC. In aggregate, this positive reinforcement-based operant paradigm to evaluate murine spatial learning detects strain differences and hippocampal dependence and permits explicit differentiation of the impact of noncognitive contributions to learning measures on a within-subject, within-session basis.
Supramolecular control of complexation-induced fluorescence change of water-soluble, β-cyclodextrin-modified CdS quantum dots

The fluorescence of β-cyclodextrin-modified CdS quantum dots can be reversibly tuned by introducing different substrates in aqueous media.
Asymmetric Rate Behavior of Si Anodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries: Ultrafast De‐Lithiation versus Sluggish Lithiation at High Current Densities

The combined effect of lithium-ion diffusion, potential-concentration gradient, and stress plays a critical role in the rate capability and cycle life of Si-based anodes of lithium-ion batteries. In this work, Si nanofi lm anodes are shown to exhibit an asymmetric rate performance: around 72% of the total available capacity can be delivered during de-lithiation under a high current density of 420 A g −1 (100C where C is the charge-rate) in 22 s; in striking contrast, only 1% capacity can be delivered during lithiation. A mathematical model of single-ion diffusion is established to elucidate the asymmetric rate performance, which can be mainly attributed to the potential-concentration profi le associated with the active material and the ohmic voltage shift under high currents; the difference in chemical diffusion coeffi cients during lithiation and de-lithiation also plays a role. This clarifi es that the charge and discharge rates of lithium-ion-battery electrodes should be evaluated separately due to the asymmetric effect in the electrochemical system.
Tests for Selecting Tracer Dyes for Aerial Sprays

The dye-tracer method is a useful technique for measuring spray deposits in some phases of research on aerial spraying for forest insect control. This paper describes series of simple, rapid tests for evaluating the solubility, tinctorial powers, recoverability, light-fastness, and Compatibility of candidate dyes.
Regression models to estimate total polychlorinated biphenyls in the general US population: 2001-2002 and 2003-2004

Certain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) have long half-lives and, despite the regulatory bans on the industrial pollutants that expose humans to PCB, are detectable in human serum. However, many of them are not detectable because of the small quantities that may be present in body fluids. For this reason, attempts have been made to estimate the total concentration of PCB (SigmaPCB) using the relationship between SigmaPCB and the concentrations of a few of the PCB congeners which can be reliably measured at detectable levels. PCB 153 or a combination of PCB 153,138, and 180 have previously been used for this purpose. However, because of the unique populations investigated in these studies, the results are not necessarily applicable to the racially/ethnically heterogeneous US population. We defined SigmaPCB as the sum of the concentrations of 12 PCB congeners, and sum of 33 PCB congeners for NHANES 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 respectively. We built regression models in a step-wise fashion using SigmaPCB as the dependent variable and age, race/ethnicity, and gender as the covariates for both whole-weight and lipid-adjusted data. In addition, concentration of PCB 153 was used as the continuous independent variable for 2001-2002 models, and PCB 153 and PCB 180 for 2003-2004 models respectively. R(2) for both models for NHANES 2001-2002 was >86%. The R(2) for both NHANES 2003-2004 models was >81%. Thus, the estimate of SigmaPCB for the general US population can be improved by considering common demographic variables, such as race/ethnicity, and selected congeners.
Molecular Interplay between Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), Amyloid-β, and Tau EFFECTS ON COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS

Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and Tau is an invariant feature of Alzheimer disease (AD). The upstream role of Aβ accumulation in the disease pathogenesis is widely accepted, and there is strong evidence showing that Aβ accumulation causes cognitive impairments. However, the molecular mechanisms linking Aβ to cognitive decline remain to be elucidated. Here we show that the buildup of Aβ increases the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, whereas decreasing mTOR signaling reduces Aβ levels, thereby highlighting an interrelation between mTOR signaling and Aβ. The mTOR pathway plays a central role in controlling protein homeostasis and hence, neuronal functions; indeed mTOR signaling regulates different forms of learning and memory. Using an animal model of AD, we show that pharmacologically restoring mTOR signaling with rapamycin rescues cognitive deficits and ameliorates Aβ and Tau pathology by increasing autophagy. Indeed, we further show that autophagy induction is necessary for the rapamycin-mediated reduction in Aβ levels. The results presented here provide a molecular basis for the Aβ-induced cognitive deficits and, moreover, show that rapamycin, an FDA approved drug, improves learning and memory and reduces Aβ and Tau pathology.
Developmental correlation between hypothalamic somatostatin and hypophysial growth hormone.

The objective of the present study was to determine, by means of immunocytochemistry, the age in fetal development at which GH is first detectable in the pituitary gland and somatostatin in the median eminence, and to correlate temporally the development of these two hormones throughout the remainder of pregnancy. Mice were studied at 15–19 days of gestation with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique of Sternberger. Somatotropes in the pars distalis were initially detected at 16 days of gestation and by 17 days they were a prominent component of the parenchymal cell population of the hypophysis. These cells were ovoid and distributed uniformly throughout the pars distalis; many were located adjacent to sinusoidal capillaries. Their number and staining intensity increased by 19 days. Somatostatin was not consistently observed in the median eminence until 19 days of gestation. Reaction product indicative of the presence of somatostatin in presumptive nerve endings was located on the ventral surface of the median eminence and in the external lamina of the infundibulum in proximity to the superficial portal capillaries. Results of the present investigation support the concept that the potential for neuroendocrine control of GH secretion exists in the mouse by the end of fetal development. Several hypotheses concerning the temporal relationship between the appearance of somatostatin in the hypothalamus and of GH in the anterior pituitary gland are discussed.
Methodological diversity to reach patients along the margins, in the shadows, and on the cutting edge.

Abstract Objective There is extensive research on novel uses of visual and social media to disseminate health information, but fewer researchers have considered how to use new communication channels to listen to health care consumers and gather data for research purposes. Methods Current statistics and literature were reviewed to assess potential uses of interactive and visual media for health communication data collection. Results This essay examines the topic of methodological diversity by offering a few examples from current literature and practice on how interactive media can be more fully utilized to engage with research participants, discover appropriate research questions, and collect quantitative and qualitative health communication data. Conclusion Social networks, mobile-based technology, photovoice, and microblogging have potential benefits for collecting patient feedback for research, but there are also limitations of using technology-based collection methods. Practical implications Researchers should explore advantages and barriers for using interactive technology to access marginalized populations.
A Sociocultural Framework on Diversity Requires Structure as well as Culture and Social Psychology

There are many differences among people that do not have social significance. Some people are left handed and others right handed. Some are allergic to foods like peanuts and others are not. We do ...
An Outbreak of a Leaf Spot Disease of Cabbage in Southern Florida Caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. armoraciae

From October to December 2001, a leaf spot disease was observed in numerous commercial fields of red and green cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) in the Everglades Agricultural Area, south and east of Lake Okeechobee and in the environs of Immokalee in southwestern Florida. Discrete water-soaked to greasy appearing spots were observed in the leaf blades with no evidence of marginal V-shaped lesions characteristic of black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Profuse bacterial streaming was observed when cut leaf sections were examined microscopically. A bacterium that formed yellow colonies on nutrient agar was consistently isolated from these lesions. Ten bacteria were isolated, purified, and characterized. All strains were aerobic, gram-negative rods. Strains were positive for esculin hydrolysis, proteolysis in litmus milk, and gelatin liquefaction. Strains were negative for urease production, nitrate reduction, oxidase, and utilization of asparagine as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis indicated a match with Florida library strains of X. campestris pv. raphani (similarity indices 0.605-0.738). Suspensions (2 × 107 CFU/ml in phosphate-buffered saline) of two Oklahoma strains identified as X. campestris pv. armoraciae provided by J. P. Damicone (3) and four representative Florida strains were applied to plants using a hand-held sprayer. Pathogenicity of the strains was tested on three replicate greenhouse-grown plants of the following: green cabbage cv. Market Early; red cabbage cv. Salad Delight; radish cv. Red Silk; tomato cv. Sunny; sweet bell pepper cv. Jupiter; and fresh horseradish roots purchased from a retail grocery chain. A strain of X. campestris pv. campestris originally isolated from Homestead, FL was also included in pathogenicity tests. All Florida and Oklahoma strains produced leaf spots, but no V-shaped lesions, on leaves of green cabbage, red cabbage, radish, tomato, and horseradish. Typical black rot symptoms were observed only in radish and green and red cabbage inoculated with the X. campestris pv. campestris strain. On the basis of these results, we identify the Florida strains as X. campestris pv. armoraciae (1,2,3), recognizing the precedent of X. campestris pv. armoraciae over X. campestris pv. raphani based on extensive genetic and serological data (1). Our strains appear to be more similar to those causing outbreaks on crucifers in Oklahoma (3) than those in Ohio (2), because Florida strains were pathogenic on tomato. References: (1) A. M. Alvarez et al. Phytopathology 84:1449, 1994. (2) F. Sahin and S. A. Miller. Plant Dis. 81:1334, 1997. (3) Y. Zhao et al. Plant Dis. 84:1008, 2000.