cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Broad energy range neutron spectroscopy using a liquid scintillator and a proportional counter: Application to a neutron spectrum similar to that from an improvised nuclear device

A novel neutron irradiation facility at the Radiological Research Accelerator Facility (RARAF) has been developed to mimic the neutron radiation from an Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) at relevant distances (e.g. 1.5 km) from the epicenter. The neutron spectrum of this IND-like neutron irradiator was designed according to estimations of the Hiroshima neutron spectrum at 1.5 km. It is significantly different from a standard reactor fission spectrum, because the spectrum changes as the neutrons are transported through air, and it is dominated by neutron energies from 100 keV up to 9 MeV. To verify such wide energy range neutron spectrum, detailed here is the development of a combined spectroscopy system. Both a liquid scintillator detector and a gas proportional counter were used for the recoil spectra measurements, with the individual response functions estimated from a series of Monte Carlo simulations. These normalized individual response functions were formed into a single response matrix for the unfolding process. Several accelerator-based quasi-monoenergetic neutron source spectra were measured and unfolded to test this spectroscopy system. These reference neutrons were produced from two reactions: T(p,n)3He and D(d,n)3He, generating neutron energies in the range between 0.2 and 8 MeV. The unfolded quasi-monoenergetic neutron spectra indicated that the detection system can provide good neutron spectroscopy results in this energy range. A broad-energy neutron spectrum from the 9Be(d,n) reaction using a 5 MeV deuteron beam, measured at 60 degrees to the incident beam was measured and unfolded with the evaluated response matrix. The unfolded broad neutron spectrum is comparable with published time-of-flight results. Finally, the pair of detectors were used to measure the neutron spectrum generated at the RARAF IND-like neutron facility and a comparison is made to the neutron spectrum of Hiroshima.
The US financial crisis, market volatility, credit risk and stock returns in the Americas

We employ the multivariate DCC-GARCH model to identify contagion from the USA to the largest developed and emerging markets in the Americas during the US financial crisis. We analyze the dynamic conditional correlations between stock market returns, changes in the general economy’s credit risk represented by the TED spread, and changes in the US market volatility represented by the CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX). Our sample includes daily closing prices from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2015, for the USA and stock markets in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. We first identify that increases in VIX have a negative intertemporal and contemporaneous relationship with most of the stock returns, and these relationships increase significantly during the US financial crisis. We then find evidence of significant increases in contemporaneous conditional correlations between changes in the TED spread and stock returns. Increases in conditional correlations during the financial crisis are associated with financial contagion from the USA to the Americas. Our findings have policy implications and are of interest to practitioners since they illustrate that during periods of financial distress, US stock volatility and weakening credit market conditions could promote financial contagion to the Americas.
Characterizing rates of physical activity in individuals with binge eating disorder using wearable sensor technologies and clinical interviews.

Objective Research suggests physical activity (PA) improves behavioural, psychological and behavioural symptoms in individuals with binge eating disorder (BED), yet self-reported PA is notably low. Little remains known about objective rates of PA and subclinical levels of maladaptive PA (i.e., compensatory or driven PA), and few studies have attempted to understand the role that dissatisfaction and overvaluation with shape and weight plays in promoting PA in individuals with BED. We sought to characterize PA and investigate whether elevated rates of shape and weight concerns contribute to rates of PA in individuals with BED. Method Individuals meeting DSM-5 diagnosis of BED (N = 56) completed the Eating Disorder Examination and wore a Fitbit Flex 2 for 1 week. Results On average, participants recorded 7621.12 (SD = 3034.20) daily steps and 194.30 (SD = 161.45) weekly moderate-to-vigorous PA minutes. About 21% of participants reported subclinical levels of maladaptive PA. Greater shape and weight overvaluation predicted lower duration of compensatory PA. Conclusion A small percentage of individuals with BED are engaging in subclinical levels of maladaptive PA, and there is a need to identify factors that influence rates of PA in individuals with BED.
The Effects of the BAILAMOSTM Dance Program on Physical Activity Levels and Cognition of Older Latino Adults: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of the BAILAMOSTM dance program on physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory, and cognitive health. Methods: A parallel, two-armed pilot study was conducted wi...
Reasons and obstacles for changing risky drinking behavior among Latinas at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.

This study examined reasons and obstacles for changing risky alcohol use behavior among Latina adults at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. Using qualitative methods, data from CHOICES Plus intervention sessions of Latinas (N = 59) were analyzed. Reasons for wanting to change risky alcohol use centered on health, parenting, interpersonal conflict, control, and risk of harm. Obstacles included social obstacles, belief that drinking was not risky, and drinking to manage mood. Differences were found across level of acculturation. Knowledge about salient motives and obstacles is critical to addressing the needs and strengths of Latinas at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.
Assessment Tools Preferred by the Undergraduate Clinical Medical Students: A Study in National Defense University of Malaysia

Background: Assessment in medical education is necessary to determine the students’ competency as well as other attributes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the methods of assessment at the end of rotational posting examination and final professional examination at the end of the course, preferred by the undergraduate clinical medical students. Methods: This study was conducted on 89 medical students belonging to 4th and 5th year of the Faculty of Medicine, National Defense University of Malaysia (NDUM).Results: In this study 46 students were males (51.7%) and 43 (48.3%) females; the mean age was 23.5 years. Among the multiple-choice questions (MCQ), a combination that contained multiple true-false and single best answer, was preferred by 55.1% of the students. Among the essay type of written assessments “problem management patient (PMP)” questions were preferred most (46.1%) followed by modified essay questions (MEQ), short essay questions (SEQ), and key feature questions (KFQ). Among the assessments by long case, conventional long case, which had been practiced during the course, was preferred by 67.4% of the students at the end of the medical program rather than the modified or observed long case examinations. While assessment by short case, running commentary on what was being examined, was preferred by 47.2% of students, followed by no commentary (38.2%) and not sure by the rest. 56.2% of students would prefer procedure OSCEs on mannequins and the rest won’t. Picture quizzes were highly preferred (89.9%).Conclusion: At the end of the medical program the clinical medical students prefer those methods which have already been practiced by them during the academic course. For the best achievement, every tool of assessments used in the medical curriculum should be made clear to the students and the students should practice those before they proceed for final evaluation.
An industrial application of a work design and evaluation methodology

A work design and evaluation methodology was developed for the design of new workstations, or to evaluate and improve existing ones in industry. This audit methodology will address ergonomic, productivity, and International Standards Organization compliance requirements. The methodology was implemented and tested in an automobile wire harness inspection workstation. Upon analysis and experimentation, the work design and evaluation methodology was shown to have face and construct validity. The re-design of the evaluated workstation based on the methodology resulted in the minimization of ergonomic disorder hazards, and a 44% increase in throughput. This research addresses the relationship between industrial ergonomics, productivity and quality through the development and industrial application of a work design and evaluation methodology. The scope of this research was to develop a job analysis design and evaluation methodology that can be used for the design of new workstations and in the improvement of existing ones. The costs to industry associated with reduced productivity from fatigue, accidents, high turnover, lost days and compensation increase as sales increase (28). Carson (6) estimates yearly costs of $27 billion from medical bills and lost workdays caused by cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) alone. It is estimated that in some jobs, as much as 25% of the workers have required medical attention and, in 1985, compensation costs rose above $22 million (1). Back injuries alone represent 20 to 25% of all work injuries, but cause 32% of all compensation costs (23). With an estimated 50% of all quality problems caused by human error, it is vital to improve this area (28). This can be accomplished by applying industrial ergonomic techniques to the design of tools, methods, workstations, and layouts. The benefits include a reduction of worker fatigue, safety hazards and human errors, improved efficiency, worker comfort, machine and man power utilization, and human reliability, among others (28). Pheasant (34) mentions a 25% increase in productivity as the result of using an ergonomically designed workstation.
Is the idea of social justice meaningful

Abstract Hayek claimed that the idea of social justice is meaningless in a market economy because in that context, no identifiable agent intentionally brings about the distribution of wealth. But the assumption that the existence of injustice entails an identifiable agent of injustice is erroneous. Moreover, Hayek ignores the fact that in a market economy, the broad pattern of economic outcomes is foreseeable even if detailed, person‐by‐person outcomes are not. Hayek's rejection of the idea of social justice reveals a striking naivete about his own ethical presuppositions.
Three new tools for parathyroid surgery: expensive and unnecessary?

Abstract Background The intraoperative quick parathyroid hormone assay, the intraoperative gamma probe, and endoscopic parathyroidectomy are three very new techniques developed to facilitate parathyroid surgery. Some hospitals do not have the necessary equipment, and many, like ours, continue to operate in the time-honored way. Study design We performed a retrospective chart review of 34 such operations, done with the use of Sestamibi scans, but entirely without the newer modalities. Results Four-gland exploration was carried out on all patients. Operative times ranged from 15 to 165 minutes, with a mean of 47 minutes, and incision lengths ranged from 2 to 3 cm, with a mean of 2.8 cm. There was no mortality, no reoperation, and no vocal cord or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Our cure rate was 100%, as determined by a fall in postoperative calcium and parathormone levels. Conclusions In our view, the intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay, gamma probe, and endoscopic parathyroidectomy add an entirely unnecessary cost to an operation that can be completed satisfactorily with a preoperative Sestamibi scan and a thorough four-gland exploration.
Mechanisms in Classical Conditioning: The neurobiology of latent inhibition

Following the ideas proposed in Chapter 4, this chapter applies the “conceptual nervous system” provided by the SLG model in order to establish brain–behavior relationships during latent inhibition. Here (a) we describe possible neural substrates for some of the variables in the SLG model; (b) based on those assumptions we use of the model to explain the effects of manipulations of the dopaminergic [DA] system, the hippocampus and the nucleus accumbens on LI; and (c) we apply the model to the description of some of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The neural substrates of latent inhibition In order to extend the application of the SLG model from the purely behavioral domain to the neurophysiological domain, we defined a mapping function between psychological and neurophysiological spaces that establishes where psychological variables are represented in the brain. Schmajuk, Cox and Gray (2001; Schmajuk et al .,2004) mapped nodes and connections in the SLG network onto the brain circuit, as shown in Figure 6.1. The participation of the brain regions in this circuit in LI, a combination of those proposed by Gray et al . (1997) and Weiner and Feldon (1997), was later confirmed by Puga et al . (2007) using cytochrome oxidase histochemistry in mice. Importantly, in line with our approach, according to Puga et al . (2007) their data suggest that LI is the consequence of a reduced processing of the CS.
Investigación, poblaciones y muestra

Usualmente, los investigadores en ciencias de la salud estan interesados en una poblacion, formada por un conjunto de individuos, con uno o mas atributos comunes. Por ejemplo, la poblacion de pacientes de Diabetes Mellitus no insulinodependientes, de ambos sexos, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 60 anos, residentes en el area de atraccion del Hospital Mexico
The mediating effects of attributional style and event-specific attributions on postdisaster adjustment.

Attributional style and event-specific internal attributions were examined as cognitive mediators for the negative effect of disaster exposure on emotional adjustment following the Northridge earthquake. The positive relation between disaster exposure and emotional sequelae was found to be mediated by ascribing to a depressogenic attributional style in which negative outcomes were attributed to internal, stable, and global causes. Ascribing to a depressogenic attributional style did not mediate the relation between PTSD symptoms and disaster exposure, thus providing some support for an attributional-style-symptom-specific relation in the context of postdisaster adjustment.
Executive Compensation Using Relative-Performance-Based Options: Evaluating the Structure and Costs of Indexed Options

This paper examines how an option plan that rewards managers for firm performance relative to some market or industry benchmark should be structured, and gauges the deadweight costs of such a plan. Relative-performance-based compensation advocates contend that conventional stock options do not adequately discriminate between strong and weak managers, typically suggesting "indexed options," that is, options with an exercise price linked to a market or industry index, as a remedy. A close examination of indexed options, however, reveals a fundamental problem: indexed options do not function as intended. Instead, their payoff remains highly sensitive to market or industry price movements. This paper proposes an alternative option design that does remove the effects of the desired benchmark. This structure uses an option with a fixed exercise price, where the underlying asset is a portfolio comprised of the firm's stock hedged against market and industry price movements. The paper then compares the deadweight cost of this performance-benchmarked option to that of a conventional stock option. Deadweight costs inevitably accompany any equity-based compensation program, because the firm's managers must be exposed to firm-specific risks to properly align incentives, and this forced concentrated exposure prevents managers from optimal portfolio diversification. Undiversified managers are exposed to the firm's total volatility, rather than the smaller systematic portion faced by the well-diversified investor, meaning that they will always value their stock- and option-based compensation at less than its market value. I estimate the cost of this lost diversification, and find that, perhaps surprisingly, the gap between the firm's cost (the market value) and the manager's private value of an option is 57% greater for relative-performance-based options than for conventional options. The relative-performance based options have larger deadweight costs because, by design, they strip away the manager's exposure to all systematic risk, leaving her with a portfolio with an expected return no better than the risk-free rate. The paper discusses the practical implications of this analysis for firms adopting relative-performance-based option plans.
Effect of information organization on recall of medication instructions.

Summary This study compared immediate recall of prescription information when the message content was presented in a highly organized format versus a less-organized approach. Two groups of pharmacy students viewed separate videotapes, which described information for a patient about three fictitious medications. Students were then asked to recall the medications' name, colour, purpose, dosage, duration, side-effects and quantity prescribed. Students who viewed the organized version correctly recalled more information in every category except drug colour. Both groups made more errors in recalling dosage than any other category. Thus, organizing information facilitates recall of medication information.
The Alcoholic Family

In this chapter, we deal with family influences in the pathogenesis of alcoholism. Were we to interpret this mandate literally, we would be taking as our task a presentation of evidence that the family plays a role as an etiological agent in the development of alcoholism. Although some of the data we discuss here could conceivably be interpreted in this fashion, most students of the family would be made uncomfortable by an attempt to characterize the family as an etiological agent in the development of pathology. Hypotheses about the role of family behavior in the onset and course of illness tend to rely on complex interactional models based on notions of circular causality and the mutual influence of interacting variables. Traditional cause-and-effect hypotheses are replaced in such models by multi-factorial explanations. The family is seen as one of a series of variables that interact in a dynamic, systemic fashion to influence the development and course of a condition such as alcoholism.
Nerve Injury Induces a Rapid Efflux of Nitric Oxide (NO) Detected with a Novel NO Microsensor

An early step in repair of the leech CNS is the appearance of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) immunoreactivity and NOS activity, but coincident generation of NO at the lesion after injury has not been shown. This is important because NO can regulate microglial cell motility and axon growth. Indirect measurement of NO with the standard citrulline assay demonstrated that NO was generated within 30 min after nerve cord injury. A polarographic NO-selective self-referencing microelectrode that measures NO flux noninvasively was developed to obtain higher spatial and temporal resolution. With this probe, it was possible to demonstrate that immediately after the leech CNS was injured, NO left the lesion with a mean peak efflux of 803 +/- 99 fmol NO cm(-2) sec(-1). NO efflux exponentially declined to a constant value, as described through the equation f(t) = y(o) + ae(-t/tau), with tau = 117 +/- 30 sec. The constant y(o) = 15.8 +/- 4.5 fmol cm(-2) represents a sustained efflux of NO. Approximately 200 pmol NO cm(-2) is produced at the lesion (n = 8). Thus, injury activates eNOS already present in the CNS and precedes the accumulation of microglia at the lesion, consistent with the hypothesis that NO acts to stop the migrating microglia at the lesion site.
Foot pressure distribution during walking in young and old adults

Measurement of foot pressure distribution (FPD) is clinically useful for evaluation of foot and gait pathologies. The effects of healthy aging on FPD during walking are not well known. This study evaluated FPD during normal walking in healthy young and elderly subjects. We studied 9 young (30 ± 5.2 years), and 6 elderly subjects (68.7 ± 4.8 years). FPD was measured during normal walking speed using shoe insoles with 99 capacitive sensors. Measured parameters included gait phase characteristics, mean and maximum pressure and force, and relative load. Time-series measurements of each variable for all sensors were grouped into 9 anatomical masks. Elderly subjects had lower normalized maximum pressure for the medial and lateral calcaneal masks, and for all medial masks combined. In the medial calcaneus mask, the elderly group also had a lower absolute maximum and lower mean and normalized mean pressures and forces, compared to young subjects. Elderly subjects had lower maximum force and normalized maximum force and lower mean force and normalized mean forces in the medial masks as well. FPD differences between the young and elderly groups were confined to the calcaneus and hallux regions and to the medial side of the foot. In elderly subjects, weight bearing on the lateral side of the foot during heel touch and toe-off phases may affect stability during walking.
Peripheral catecholamine administration does not alter cerebral β-adrenergic receptor density

Abstract Chronic peripheral administration of isoproterenol, epinephrine or norepinephrine to rats caused a decrease in β-adrenergic receptor density in heart and lung, but not in cerebral cortex, caudate or cerebellum. The results show that alterations in peripheral catecholamine levels have no direct or indirect effects on brain β-adrenergic receptors.
Influence of multiple gas inlet jets on fluidized bed hydrodynamics using Particle Image Velocimetry and Digital Image Analysis

Abstract A rectangular fluidized bed setup was developed to study the evolution of inlet gas jets located at the distributor. Experiments were conducted with varying distributor types and bed media to understand the motion of particles and jets in the grid-zone region of a fluidized bed. Particle Image Velocimetry and Digital Image Analysis were used to quantify the parameters that characterize these jets. A grid-zone phenomenological model was developed to compare these parameters with those available in the literature. It was determined from this study that jet penetration length behavior is consistently different for fluidization velocities below and above the minimum fluidization. For velocities above minimum fluidization, jet lengths were found to increase more rapidly with increase in orifice velocity than for operating conditions below minimum fluidization.
Expression of human beta-amyloid peptide in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans

Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes have been engineered to express potentially amyloidic human proteins. These animals contain constructs in which the muscle-specific unc-54 promoter/enhancer of C. elegans drives the expression of the appropriate coding regions derived from human cDNA clones. Animals containing constructs expressing the 42-amino acid beta-amyloid peptide (derived from human amyloid precursor protein cDNA) produce muscle-specific deposits immunoreactive with anti-beta-amyloid polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. A subset of these deposits also bind the amyloid-specific dye thioflavin S, indicating that these deposits have the tinctural characteristics of classic amyloid. Co-expression of beta-peptide and transthyretin, a protein implicated in preventing the formation of insoluble beta-amyloid, leads to a dramatic reduction in the number of dye-reactive deposits. These results suggest that this invertebrate model may be useful for in vivo investigation of factors that modulate amyloid formation.
Soil electrical conductivity as a function of soil water content and implications for soil mapping

Apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) has shown promise as a soil survey tool in the Midwestern United States, with a share of this interest coming from the precision agriculture community. To fully utilize the potential of ECa to map soils, a better understanding of temporal changes in ECa is needed. Therefore, this study was undertaken to compare temporal changes in soil ECa between different soils, to investigate the influence of changes in soil water content on soil ECa, and to explore the impacts these ECa changes might have on soil mapping applications. To this end, a 90 m long transect was established. Soil ECa readings were taken in the vertical and horizontal dipoles at five points once every one to two weeks from June until October in 1999 and 2000. At the same time, soil samples were collected to a depth of 0.9 m for volumetric soil water content analysis. Soil ECa readings were compared to soil water content. At four of the five sites linear regression analysis yielded r2 values of 0.70 or higher. Regression line slopes tended to be greater in lower landscape positions indicating greater ECa changes with a given change in soil water content. Two of the soils had an ECa relationship that changed as the soils became dry. This is an item of concern if ECa is to be used in soil mapping. Results indicated that soil water content has a strong influence on the ECa of these soils, and that ECa has its greatest potential to differentiate between soils when the soils are moist. Soil water content is an important variable to know when conducting ECa surveys and should be recorded as a part of any report on ECa studies.
Regional cerebral blood volume measured by dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging in Alzheimer's disease: a principal components analysis.

Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI is an alternative to positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for the evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics in patients with Alzheimer's disease. DSC MRI allows the construction of high resolution images of cerebral blood volume (CBV) without the use of radionuclides or ionizing radiation. In this study, DSC MRI data were collected from 16 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease and 16 age-matched control subjects. Characteristic patterns of regional CBV variation were found using principal component analysis. Three such patterns were identified: a global variation pattern, an anterior-to-posterior CBV gradient, and a temporoparietal pattern. Group differences in the principal component scores associated with the global and temporoparietal patterns (P = .08 and P = .007, respectively) suggest that these deficits reflect characteristic CBV abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease. Using only these two scores, the Alzheimer's disease group was classified with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 88%. Additionally, disease severity, as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), was correlated significantly with the third principal component score (Pearson's r = .50, P = .05).
Plasma testosterone titers during the annual reproductive cycle of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).

To clarify the role of testosterone in the annual reproductive cycle of seasonally breeding birds, annual variations in plasma testosterone titers, the condition of the reproductive organs and behavior were monitored in adult male starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Wild starlings were bled to death immediately after capture, and the testosterone titers in their plasma were determined using a competitive protein-binding assay. Testicular weights, seminiferous tubule diameters, germinal epithelium condition, interstitial Leydig cell condition, and seminal sac weights were assessed using appropriate histological techniques. Plasma testosterone titers varied from 0.5 ng/10 ml during the postbreeding period to 4.2 ng/10 ml at the height of breeding. Strong correlations were found between testosterone titers and the condition of the interstitial cells of the testes and between testosterone titers and seminal sac weight. Postbreeding testicular regression and cessation of spermatogenesis corresponded temporally with ebbing testosterone titers. Expressions of masculine behavior, such as courtship and territorial aggression, corresponded with periods of elevated testosterone titers.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MODELING COMPARISON OF MODULAR PHOTOVOLTAIC-THERMAL SOLAR PANELS

The scope of the project included two steps. Step one was to create three prototype photovoltaic-thermal panels and test them. Step two was to model all photovoltaic-thermal panels using TRNSYS 16. The three different photovoltaic-thermal panels were tested simultaneously using the same inlet water source. The first two panels (Panel A & B) consisted of a highly conductive thermal sheeting and different sized copper tubing. The third panel (Panel C) consisted of copper tubing with an aluminum fin. Thermal images were used to verify the heat transfer across the panels and compare the amount of heat radiating off the back of the photovoltaic-thermal panels versus the standard photovoltaic panel. The purpose of this experiment was to create a modular photovoltaic-thermal panel, which would be easily implemented and maintained by the average consumer. A TRNSYS model was created for each photovoltaic-thermal panel to gather approximate year-round efficiency. The thermal efficiencies of photovoltaic-thermal panels A, B and C at 1.9 lpm (0.5 gpm) were 33.6%, 26.4% and 28.7%, respectively. Panels A, B and C at 1.9 lpm (0.5 gpm) had thermal gain plus electrical output equivalents of 394.0, 363.2 and 422.9 watts, respectively. The TRNSYS models of the prototype photovoltaic-thermal (Panels A, B and C) proved to be a poor representation of the actual texted panels.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Selection for High Eight-Week Body Weight in Normal and Dwarf Chickens Under High-Protein and High-Energy Diets

Abstract A study was conducted to examine genetic parameters associated with selection for high 8-wk BW in normal and dwarf Athens Canadian randombreds under two nutritional environments (high protein and high energy) and to determine the influence of the selection diet on subsequent water to feed ratios and abdominal fat levels. High-protein lines (HP) received a diet containing 25% CP and 3,100 kcal ME/kg, whereas high-energy lines (HE) received a 22% CP diet containing 3,200 kcal ME/kg. Body weights, selection gains, selection differentials, and heritabilities were similar for normal HP and HE lines. There was evidence, however, that the realized heritability was greater in the HE than the HP dwarf line. Similar selection differentials indicate that this difference was apparently due to the expression of greater genetic variation in the HE dwarf line. Water intake, feed intake, water to feed ratio, and abdominal fat data for the four lines under “selection” and “reciprocal” environments differed between experiments. In Experiment 1, when fed the HE diet, normal birds selected under the HP environment had higher (P
The role of terrain in a fire mosaic of a temperate coniferous forest

Abstract This investigation focused on the role of terrain variables in fire-related mortality. The study area was the location of a 1991 wildfire, the Warner Creek Burn, on the Willamette National Forest in western Oregon. Forest survival at the Warner Creek Burn was interpreted from aerial photography. Terrain data were generated from digital elevation models (DEM), and from digitized stream, ridge, and vegetation layers, which were input into a geographic information system (GIS). We randomly sampled all layers, and investigated the relationship of vegetation and terrain to mortality using regression analyses. Vegetation and terrain variables accounted for more variation in forest survival within individual physiographic areas (5.4–61.9%) than across the entire study area (3.7–24.4%). Moreover, the significant topographic variables differed among individual physiographic areas, and included ridgeline proximity, elevation, stand age, and aspect. Factors such as fire fighting, fuel loading, weather conditions, and neighborhood effects probably affected forest survival at Warner Creek along with terrain. Observational studies such as this one could identify the topographic variables meaningful for inclusion in probabilistic models of wildfire behavior.
A Theory for Coloring Bivariate Statistical Maps

Abstract Consideration of some practical uses of statistical bivariate maps—for example, display of association between variables—leads to principles for making effective use of color to represent data values. Effective color schemes for bivariate maps are viewed as continuous transformations from color models to the unit square with appropriate restrictions involving hue, saturation, and brightness. Several schemes, including those used by the U.S. Census Bureau, are criticized on the basis of this theory.
Some properties of parametric systems with great depth of modulation—I. Theory

Abstract A discussion is given of the mechanism by which electromagnetic energy may be increased in power and frequency by means of a resonant system whose natural frequency is slowly changed over a wide range. The radiation pump of classical thermodynamics is discussed, as a known example of such a system, but is shown to be unrealizable for practical reasons. Analogous effects are, however, shown to exist in a lumped, time-varying LC resonant circuit. A new expression for the energy stored in such a circuit is derived, on the basis of which it is possible to distinguish two different kinds of parametric effect. The first kind of effect occurs when the variation of the impedance (LC)1/2 is correlated with the second harmonic of the oscillation of the circuit. This is the familiar type of parametric effect. The second type arises whenever the natural frequency ω = (LC)−1/2 varies appreciably, and is the main subject of the paper. It is shown that if ω varies periodically at some frequency p, the single resonance of a time-invariant circuit splits up into a large number of resonances separated by p cycles. These resonances extend, roughly speaking, from the minimum to the maximum value reached by ω. They are coupled resonances, in that the excitation of one resonance causes a signal to appear at all the resonant frequencies. The network properties of the circuit are developed in terms of a set of admittances which describe this coupling; it is shown that an increase of power and frequency should be achievable using a pump frequency p which is much less than either the input or the output signal frequency. Practical limitations on the performance of the circuit are discussed, and interference from the parametric effect of the first kind is shown to be relatively unimportant.
Isolation of rhizoid and prothallial protoplasts from gametophytes of the fern, Onoclea sensibilis

Abstract Methods are described for the selective isolation of protoplasts from rhizoids and prothalial cells of Onoclea sensibilis gametophytes. A cellulase-resistant component in the outer prothallial cell walls necessitated a combined m mechanical-enzymatic procedure to obtain prothallial protoplasts. Rhizoid protoplasts were obtained through the dissolved tips of young rhizoid walls upon brief cellulase treatment of germinated spores. These methods facilitate the independent study of distinct fern cell types which are on divergent morphogenic pathways in vivo.
Chapter 12 The theory of equalizing differences

Publisher Summary The chapter presents a discussion on the theory of equalizing differences. The theory of equalizing differences refers to observed wage differentials required to equalize the total monetary and nonmonetary advantages or disadvantages among work activities and among workers themselves. On the conceptual level, it can make legitimate claim to be the fundamental (long-run) market equilibrium construct in labor economics. Its empirical importance lies in contributing useful understanding to the determinants of the structure of wages in the economy and for making inferences about preferences and technology from observed wage data. Measurable job attributes on which compensating wage differentials have been shown to arise empirically include (1) onerous working conditions, such as risks to life and health, exposure to pollution, and so forth; (2) intercity and interregional wage differences associated with differences in climate, crime, pollution, and crowding; (3) special work-time scheduling and related requirements, including shift work, inflexible work schedules, and possible risks of layoff and subsequent unemployment; and (4) the composition of pay packages, including vacations, pensions, and other fringe benefits as substitutes for direct cash wage payments. Another important class of problems identifies work environments with investment rather than with consumption. Market equilibrium is defined by equality between demand and supply for workers on each type of job.
When polyhedral transformations meet SIMD code generation

Data locality and parallelism are critical optimization objectives for performance on modern multi-core machines. Both coarse-grain parallelism (e.g., multi-core) and fine-grain parallelism (e.g., vector SIMD) must be effectively exploited, but despite decades of progress at both ends, current compiler optimization schemes that attempt to address data locality and both kinds of parallelism often fail at one of the three objectives.We address this problem by proposing a 3-step framework, which aims for integrated data locality, multi-core parallelism and SIMD execution of programs. We define the concept of vectorizable codelets, with properties tailored to achieve effective SIMD code generation for the codelets. We leverage the power of a modern high-level transformation framework to restructure a program to expose good ISA-independent vectorizable codelets, exploiting multi-dimensional data reuse. Then, we generate ISA-specific customized code for the codelets, using a collection of lower-level SIMD-focused optimizations.We demonstrate our approach on a collection of numerical kernels that we automatically tile, parallelize and vectorize, exhibiting significant performance improvements over existing compilers.
Chronic endothelin receptor antagonism prevents coronary vasa vasorum neovascularization in experimental hypercholesterolemia

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that endothelin (ET) receptor antagonism reduces coronary vasa vasorum neovascularization in experimental hypercholesterolemia. Background Experimental hypercholesterolemia is associated with increased expression of ET-1, an endothelium-derived peptide with vasoconstricting, mitogenic and angiogenic properties, in the coronary arterial wall as well as with vasa vasorum neovascularization. A pathomechanistic role of the endogenous ET system in vasa vasorum neovascularization in hypercholesterolemia has, however, remained uncertain so far. Methods Female domestic pigs were placed on a normal diet (N; n = 7) or on a hypercholesterolemic diet without (HC; n = 6) or with ET-A receptor antagonism (ABT-627, 4 mg/kg/day; HC + ET-A; n = 6). After 12 weeks, coronary vasa vasorum structure was assessed by three-dimensional microscopic computed tomography, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) within the coronary arterial wall by Western blotting and immunostaining. Results Compared with the N group, plasma concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in both the HC and HC + ET-A groups (36 ± 3 mg/dl vs. 312 ± 153 mg/dl and 303 ± 113 mg/dl, p 2 vs. 2.5 ± 1.5 per mm 2 ; p 2 ). In parallel, increase in VEGF expression in the coronary arterial wall in the HC group was preserved in the HC + ET-A group. Conclusions The current study demonstrates that chronic endothelin receptor antagonism prevents the increase in VEGF expression and vasa vasorum density of coronary arteries in experimental hypercholesterolemia. These findings support a role for the endogenous ET system in vasa vasorum neovascularization in early coronary atherosclerosis.
Taking Time Seriously A Call to Action in Mental Health Research

Sociological research on mental health focuses on a multitude of dynamic processes, including changes in psychological symptoms or the onset of a mental disorder, the course and outcome of mental health problems, and the associations of mental health with a wide variety of time-varying social risk and protective factors. I argue that scholars studying mental health have, thus far, only scratched the surface of the temporal dynamics upon which mental health and illness rest. Two broad research issues are reviewed to illustrate important temporal issues that have been neglected or understudied in mental health research: (1) specific dimensions of temporality, which focus on dynamic processes at the individual level, and (2) the age-period-cohort model, which focuses on mental health at the population level. Priority topics for future research that takes time seriously are recommended.
Iron isotope biosignatures: Promise and progress

Isotopic indicators are extremely useful for detecting life in the geologic record. The most notable example is the "C enrichment in organic matter produced by photosynthesis. Compared to both molecular fossils and microfossils, such isotopic indicators are more robust against alteration processes. Mass-dependent variations in the isotopic compositions of C and other light elements have been studied for half a century. In contrast, little such research had been performed on transition metals until recently because it was difficult to make sufficiently precise isotopic measurements of these elements. Advances in mass spectrometric tools and techniques, especially the development of multiple-collector plasma source mass spectrometry have simplified such measurements and resulted in rapid progress.
Sialic acid in prednisolone treated HeLa cells; suggested mechanism for elevated levels at the cell surface.

Abstract The accumulation of sialic acid at the periphery of Hela cells grown in the presence of prednisolone was demonstrated to be the result of a decreased shedding of sialopeptides by the treated cells. Two such sialopeptide fractions were isolated from the spent medium in which HeLa cells had been grown. Such compounds could be responsible for the apparent increase in cell density-induced growth inhibition which can be demonstrated in heteroploid cells grown in media that contain low concentrations of glucocorticoids.
Magnetic heat pumps for near-room-temperature applications

Abstract Magnetic heat pumps and refrigerators are potential replacements for vapor-compression devices that use chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. Several near-room-temperature designs with low-temperature superconducting magnets have reached the experimental-device stage. High-temperature superconducting materials should significantly enhance existing design concepts and may enable new design approaches such as those involving field switching of superconducting magnets to accomplish the thermodynamic cycle.
A juvenile stegosaurian dinosaur, “Astrodon pusillus,” from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal, with comments on Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous biogeography

ABSTRACT The holotype of the small sauropod dinosaur Astrodon pusillus Lapparent and Zbyszewski, 1957, from the Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of Portugal is shown to be the remains of a juvenile individual of the stegosaur Dacentrurus. The records of Astrodon from the Upper Jurassic of North America and the Lower Cretaceous of Africa are based on material of juvenile sauropods. However, teeth from the Lower Cretaceous of Portugal are correctly referred to Astrodon as A. valdensis (Lydekker). A review is presented of the intercontinental genera that the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous faunas of Western Europe shared with faunas of corresponding ages in North America and Africa.
Water repellency in soils: a historical overview

The purpose of this paper is to document some of the more important highlights of the research and historical aspects concerning soil water-repellency. This effort traces the evolution of interests and concerns in water repellency from basic studies in the nineteenth century to the earlier part of the 20th century and up to our current-day understanding of this subject. The interactions among different scientific disciplines, various manager-scientists efforts, and specific scientific and management concerns are presented chronologically. This growing interest in water repellency generated an earlier conference in 1968 which was devoted exclusively to water repellency and has since initiated productive discussions and debate on water repellency during several peripherally related national and international conferences. The 1968 conference held in Riverside, California (USA), mainly involved scientists from the United States and Australia. Since this early conference, a large body of information has been published in a wide range of scientific disciplines throughout the world. This worldwide attention has produced many recent research findings, which have improved the understanding of water-repellent soils, particularly of the dynamics of the water movement and redistribution in these unique systems. Intermingled with the effort in water repellency is a related, although somewhat separate, body of information dealing with soil aggregation and water harvesting, which are important for improving the productivity of fragile arid ecosystems. A summary is presented of the literature on water repellency, showing changes in subject areas and national interests over time.
Locating scatterers in the mantle using array analysis of PKP precursors from an earthquake doublet

Abstract Well separated individual PKP precursors observed at the Yellowknife seismic array (YK) for a high quality doublet of earthquakes provide an opportunity to study the location of the corresponding scatterers and assess the stability of the location estimation. Based on the comparison of the waveforms of stacked individual precursors and those of PKIKP phases, we are able to determine that most of these precursors originate from scattering of the PKPbc (rather than the PKPab) branch above the B caustic on the receiver side. This allows a reliable location of the scatterers in the lower mantle. Their depths range from 2890 km (the CMB) to 2270 km, scattering angles range from 45.8° to 16.0°, and surface projections range from southern Ontario to northern Saskatchewan in Canada. These locations are associated with transitions from slow to fast velocities in mantle tomographic models and follow the expected general dip direction of fossil slabs under north America. This suggests that the subducted slab remnants under north America have retained their compositional signature. The fact that we can essentially treat these scatterers as reflections from plane boundaries suggests that the remnant fragments of slab may be spatially extended, which should be confirmed using broadband data. Average differences in measured slowness and back-azimuth of the doublet precursors are as small as 0.08 s/deg and 1.4 deg, respectively. Our study indicates that it may be possible to locate such scatterers using single earthquakes and small aperture seismic arrays.