cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF IODINE NUMBER ON NOx FORMATION IN LAMINAR FLAMES OF OXYGENATED BIOFUELS

The present study employed a recently developed experimental technique to investigate the effect of iodine number on NOx formation in laminar partially premixed flames of three vaporized biofuels: canola methyl ester, soy methyl ester, and methyl stearate. The iodine numbers for the selected fuels varied over a wide range from 0.5 to 141. Key measurements included NOx concentration and temperature fields. The peak NOx concentration occurred in the near-burner region for all biofuels: 1166 ppm for soy, 1067 ppm for canola, and 414 ppm for the methyl stearate. We observed that the peak NOx concentration significantly increased with the iodine number, indicating a strong correlation between the chemical structure of the fuel and NOx emission.
Spectrum of Biopsy Proven Glomerular Disease in Children at Kanti Children’s Hospital

Introduction: Glomerular disease is one of the most common forms of renal disease and can have many different clinical presentations. However there is variation in the prevalence in the type of glomerular disease according to geographical location and race of population. The aim of the study was to find the overall distribution pattern of glomerular disease based on renal biopsies. Material and Methods: The medical records of all children who underwent kidney biopsy (n=29) between January 2012-june 2014 were analyzed. In this retrospective study we review children from Kanti Children’s Hospital, Nephrology Department. Demographic data including age, sex and indication of kidney biopsy as well as complication of the procedures were recorded. Result: A total number of thirty one biopsies were done. Two children were excluded from the study due to inadequate tissue and artifacts defects in preservative. The remaining twenty nine biopsies were included in the study and analyzed. Renal disease was found nearly equal in both male and female (51.72% vs. 48.27%).Mean age was 10.95±3.30 years. Maximum number of biopsies (75.86%) was performed between 10- 15 years. The most common indication of the kidney biopsy was nephrotic syndrome (steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome and steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome, 31.02% followed by lupus nephritis 27.58%.The most common glomerular disease were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and lupus nephritis both contribute 27.58%. Among lupus nephritis class III was found more common (44.44%) in children. IgA nephropathy was also contribute (17.24%) in all glomerular disease. Regarding the kidney biopsy complication gross hematuria was observed in 6.89% of children which was self-limited. Conclusion: FSGS and lupus nephritis is becoming the most common glomerular disease in children attending the Kanti Children Hospital. IgA nephropathy was also contribute the glomerular disease in the children. J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(3):225-229 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i3.11162
The language capability of Neanderthal man

Considerable publicity has been given a recent article by Lieberman and Crelin ('71) which argues that Neanderthal man lacked the physical features necessary for speech. This present paper presents statistics on some modern men with normal speech who show physical features in common with Neanderthal man. The brain of Neanderthal man was as large as, or larger than, that of modern man. The brain reflected by endocranial cast of the La Chapelle-aux-Saints skull resembles that of modern man in an area important for speech and therapy suggests Neanderthal man had the neural development necessary for language.
Competitive order as a measure of social dominance in dairy cattle

Abstract Three experiments were used to examine competitive orders as measures of the social hierarchy in dairy cattle. A least squares procedure, which regressed for numbers of observations, was used for obtaining dominance values, from observations of agonistic behaviour. Behavioural data were quantified by time-lapse photography at 1-min intervals. Dominance value was of little importance relative to production variables in describing the amount of time spent eating a limited amount of grain, concentrate, or hay. Likewise, production oriented variables were more important in describing time spent in free stalls or at the feed trough at five levels of competition. Individual feed intakes of group fed dairy cattle at two levels of competition were described predominantly by production variables. From these data, competitive orders are not measures of social dominance in dairy cattle. Dominance values did not describe a priority of access to feed or resting sites.
On the Mean Meridional Circulation of the Middle Atmosphere

Abstract A zonally averaged, quasi-geostrophic residual Eulerian model is used to illustrate how the adjustment of the middle atmophere to externally imposed forcing depends on internal dissipative properties (parameterized as Newtonian cooling a and Rayleigh friction KR) and on the periodicity of the forcing. It is shown that when the problem is formulated in this manner, many well-known properties of the stratosphere/mesosphere system (e.g., the relative efficiency of wave versus diabatic driving of the meridional circulation, and the near radiative equilibrium of much of the stratosphere) are succinctly expressed in terms of the governing elliptic differential equation and its solutions. Despite its simplicity, the model is a useful heuristic tool for studying the response of the middle atmosphere to external forcing.
Discharge of neurons in the parabrachial pons related to the cardiac cycle: changes during different sleep-waking states.

Summary Neuronal activity in the nucleus parabrachialis medialis (NPBM) was examined in unanesthetized, unrestrained cats during each sleep-waking state. Discharge related to the cardiac cycle was assessed by calculating cross-correlation functions between neuronal and cardiac events (using the peak of the EKG ‘R’ wave as a reference). Of the 60 NPBM neurons examined, the activity of 20 cells showed discharge relationships to the cardiac cycle. Firing of NPBM neurons in phase with the cardiac cycle was observed during each sleep-waking state, but was most apparent during awake (AW) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep states. State-related changes in the correlation of NPBM neuronal discharge to the cardiac cycle included variations in the extent of rhythmic modulation of activity, and shifts in the phase relationship to the cardiac reference. The predominant phase relationship of NPBM neuronal activity to the cardiac cycle was an increased probability of discharge during a period ranging from 50 msec preceding to 50 msec following the peak of the EKG ‘R’ wave.
Separate and combined effects of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonists on key pecking in the developing chick

Abstract The separate and combined effects of dopamine D1 and D2 agonists on key-peck responding of young chicks for heat reinforcement were determined. In the first experiment, 1- and 4-day-old chicks (n = 96) were injected SC with either distilled water or 5 mg/kg reserpine 18 h before testing. Twenty minutes before a 24-trial autoshaping session, chicks were injected IP with either distilled water or 10 mg/kg SKF 38393 and 2 mg/kg quinpirole. Chicks receiving both dopamine agonists had enhanced key-peck responding in both pretreatment conditions. In Experiment 2, and 1- and 4-day-old chicks (n = 192) of two strains recieved 5 mg/kg reserpine SC 18 h before testing. Twenty minutes before their autoshaping session these chicks were injected IP with either distilled water, 10 mg/kg SKF 38393, 2 mg/kg quinpirole, or 10 mg/kg SKF 38393 and 2 mg/kg quinpirole. After reserpine pretreatment, chicks of both strains responded on more trials when given both dopamine agonists compared with controls given either distilled water or single agonist treatment. No age or strain differences in key pecking were produced by the combined administration of these dopamine agonists. Therefore, functional coupling of the dopamine D1 and D2 receptors is found within 1 day after hatching in the domestic chick.
Arteriosclerosis of the renal artery in repeatedly bred male and female rats.

Abstract The renal arteries of male and female breeder rats which develop spontaneously occurring arteriosclerosis were examined grossly and histologically. An attempt was made to determine the morphologic nature of the lesions which occur in the renal artery stemming from an abdominal aortic segment often compromised by extensive arterial disease. Both male and female breeder rats were sacrificed after the females had completed either 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 pregnancies and after the male breeders had sired 1–5 litters. Virgin rats of each sex and comparable in age to the breeder rats were also used for comparative purposes. The breeder rats were fed a relatively low fat diet although they do develop hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension. Despite extensive arterial disease in the abdominal aortic segment the branching renal arteries did not display degenerative changes reaching the complexity of those observed in the abdominal aorta. With continued breeding there was extensive development of both the aortic and renal arteriosclerosis as well as renal parenchymal damage consisting of glomerulo- and arteriosclerosis, hypertension, proteinuria, extensive tubular cast formation, kidney stones and cortical infarcts. Since the renal arteriosclerosis and renal parenchymal damage follows the appearance of the aortic and hypertensive disease, it is believed that the renovascular damage is the result rather than the contributing cause of the spontaneously-occurring vascular disease in breeder rats.
An ultra-high-vacuum mirror box with three remotely-operated water-cooled mirrors for the U13U wiggler/undulator spectroscopy branch line at the national synchrotron light source

Abstract We describe an ultra-high-vacuum mirror box with three independent remotely operated water-cooled mirrors which serve to focus a diverging input beam onto a common focal point. Each of the mirrors may be adjusted by independent rotations about two perpendicular axes in the mirror surface plane which intersect at the pole of the mirror and by linear motion along an axis orthogonal to the two rotation axes. These motions permit the surfaces of the three mirrors to lie on a common sphere, thereby forming the equivalent of a single mirror three times longer than any of the individual mirrors without the extreme cost and inherent figure error of such a lengthy mirror. The design is based on the combination of a double-axis gimbal mechanism and a linear extraction mechanism. Each mirror mechanism is fixed to a large rectangular flange attached to the mirror chamber by a special Helicoflex seal ∗∗ . All motions for each of the three mirrors are provided by stepping motors through special mechanisms with three bellows, one for a two-axis rotation and two for linear motion.
Peak structural response to non-stationary random excitations

Study establishes distribution function of peak response values, based on frequency interpretation. Excitations considered include impact loading on landing gears and aircraft gust loading. Because of relative severity of excitations, prediction of fatigue and maximum response characteristics is important part of task of structural analysis and design.
The Effects of Framing and Negotiator Overconfidence on Bargaining Behaviors and Outcomes

Two systematic biases—the framing of conflict and negotiator overconfidence—are suggested as possible influences on negotiator behaviors. To investigate these biases, 100 subjects were asked to neg...
Aging: an emergent phenotypic trait that contributes to the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT The pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, is known to undergo phenotypic variation, which affects its virulence in the host. Recent investigations on C. neoformans cells in humans have validated the concept that phenotypic variation is present and relevant for the outcome of chronic cryptococcosis. The C. neoformans capsule is not the only trait that varies among strains. An emerging variant is the “old cell phenotype” generated when C. neoformans undergoes replicative aging. This phenotype, which other than larger size also exhibits a thickened cell wall, inhibits phagocytosis and killing by antifungals in vitro. In concert with the finding that old cells accumulate in vivo, this emergent trait could have significant impact on cryptococcal virulence and infection, and contribute to treatment failure.
Evaluation of wheat cultivars for seedling tolerance to atrazine

Abstract Winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) is sometimes planted after maize ( Zea mays L.) or sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) has been harvested. If the herbicide atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)- s -triazine] was used on the maize or sorghum crop, the residue can reduce the stand of wheat. The objective of this research was to develop a screening technique to differentiate the seedling response of wheat cultivars to atrazine. Wheat was grown in the greenhouse in flats containing a Captina silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, mesic typic Fragiudult) treated with atrazine rates ranging from 0 to 1.0 mg kg −1 . Survival ratings made after 4 weeks indicated that atrazine rates used to differentiate among genotypes should be less than 0.4 mg kg −1 . To determine the proper concentration to use for screening cultivars, another experiment was conducted using eight atrazine rates ranging from 0 to 0.4 mg kg −1 . Based upon results from this study, 120 cultivars and lines were screened at 0.25 mg kg −1 atrazine for 4 weeks. ‘TexRed’, ‘Maverick’, AR 67-3-19, ‘McNair 1813’, and ‘Potomac’ had the highest survival ratings among genotypes. This screening procedure is an effective preliminary method to identify wheat genotypes with seedling resistance to atrazine.
Antibody-Enhanced enzyme-amplified determination of methotrexate

The sensitivity of potentiometric methotrexate assays can be enhanced by the presence of antimethotrexate antibody, which acts to potentiate the inhibitory effect of methotrexate on enzyme activity. This property is demonstrated in an enzyme-modified determination of methotrexate with a PCO2 membrane electrode in a cyclic scheme using the enzymes dihydrofolate reductase and 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase.
Insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein‐1: an evolutionarily conserved fine tuner of insulin‐like growth factor action under catabolic and stressful conditions

The insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) are evolutionarily conserved components of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. The six forms of IGFBPs (IGFBP-1–6) bind the IGF ligands (IGF-1 and -2) with high affinity and regulate the IGFs available to their receptors, therefore providing additional flexibilities in regulating IGF signalling. IGFBP-1, the first identified member of the IGFBP family is highly inducible under a variety of catabolic conditions, such as food deprivation, malnutrition, stress, injury and hypoxia. Recent in vivo studies have indicated that the induced IGFBP-1 serves as a molecular switch by restricting IGF signalling and diverts the limited energy resources away from growth and development towards those metabolic processes essential for survival. This article reviews the recent understandings of the molecular basis of IGFBP-1 regulation and its biological functions, as revealed through research in mammalian and fish models.
Measurement of the spectrum and asymmetry of low momentum positrons from μ + decay

Abstract A hydrogen bubble chamber measurement of μ + → e + decays below 7 MeV indicates asymmetry as in a V-A theory and gives the value −0.13 ± 0.20 (ϱ ≡ 3 4 ) for the parameter η. This value is used to derive new limits for the coupling constants.
Creeping Punji Sticks: A Review of Six‐Legged Soldiers

A review of Jeffrey Lockwood's Six-Legged Soldiers: Using Insects as Weapons of War, suggesting that there is a need to identify what infrastructure should be strengthened in the event of such unconventional warfare.
Zirconia and Pyrochlore Oxides for Thermal Barrier Coatings in Gas Turbine Engines

One of the important applications of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is as a thermal barrier coating for gas turbine engines. While YSZ performs well in this function, the need for increased operating temperatures to achieve higher energy conversion efficiencies, requires the development of improved materials. To meet this challenge, some rare-earth zirconates that form the cubic fluorite-derived pyrochlore structure are being developed for use in thermal barrier coatings due to their low thermal conductivity, excellent chemical stability, and other suitable properties. In this paper, the thermal conductivities of current and prospective oxides for use in thermal barrier coatings are reviewed. The factors affecting the variations and differences in the thermal conductivities and the degradation behaviors of these materials are discussed.
Product Protection, the Key to Developing High Performance Methane Selective Oxidation Catalysts

Selective, direct conversion of methane to methanol might seem an impossible task since the C−H bond energy of methane is 105 kcal mol−1 compared to the C−H bond energy for methanol of 94. We show here that the Catalytica catalyst is successful because the methanol is protected as methyl bisulfate, which is substantially less reactive than methanol toward the catalyst. This analysis suggests a limiting performance for systems that operate by this type of protection that is well above the Catalytica system.
Tribute to Ryuichi Kitamura: a reflection

Ryuichi Kitamura was a remarkable scholar, colleague and friend. I met him at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1977, when he was a Ph.D. student and I was a brand new assistant professor in transportation in the Civil Engineering department. I fondly remember those times; Ryuichi’s doodles of heroic samurai warriors on horseback, and Ryuichi walking down the halls of East Engineering building with his young son Taki, who kept insisting that it was time for junk food. There were stimulating discussions about research philosophy, experimental design, measurement, data, and statistical methods with Professor Donald Cleveland, the senior professor of transportation, who always grounded these discussions with applications to the ‘‘real world’’. We talked about exciting new ideas in travel behavior research that were being developed, about ways of analyzing patterns of household time–space paths, and identifying their ultimate relationships with activities. Often Ryuichi would come back after one of these sessions with four or five pages of derivations, and another set of questions. Ryuichi also had a wry sense of humor. He referred to my absent-minded storage of the computer data tape on a radiator in my office as the cooking of the data, which, he went on to explain, would account for any strange anomalies that anyone might ever discover in an example in his dissertation that was based on these data. In 1978 Ryuichi completed his Ph.D., and joined the faculty at the University of California at Davis. Our collaboration continued for a many years afterwards, and the friendship that we struck up in Michigan continued until his death. Ryuichi’s contributions to the activity-based paradigm of travel behavior are well known. His focus was always on the human in the equation, and he emphasized the relationship between human activity and travel behavior together with the time–space constraints and interactions. The level of motorization in a society and its effect on travel behavior and the quality of life was another topic that always intrigued Ryuichi. After joining the faculty of Kyoto University in 1993 and moving back to Japan, Ryuichi became very aware of the rapid motorization in Asia. Not content to simply study this
Effects of plasma viscosity modulation on cardiac function during moderate hemodilution

Background : Previous studies have found that increasing plasma viscosity as whole blood viscosity decrease has beneficial effects in microvascular hemodynamics. As the heart couples with systemic vascular network, changes in plasma and blood viscosity during hemodilution determine vascular pressure drop and flow rate, which influence cardiac function. This study aimed to investigate how changes in plasma viscosity affect on cardiac function during acute isovolemic hemodilution. Materials and Methods: Plasma viscosity was modulated by hemodilution of 40% of blood volume with three different plasma expanders (PEs). Dextran 2000 kDa (Dx2M, 6.3 cP) and dextran 70 kDa (Dx70, 3.0 cP) were used as high and moderate viscogenic PEs, respectively. Polyethylene glycol conjugated with human serum albumin (PEG-HSA, 2.2 cP) was used as low viscogenic PE. The cardiac function was assessed using a miniaturized pressure-volume conductance catheter. Results: After hemodilution, pressure dropped to 84%, 79%, and 78% of baseline for Dx2M, Dx70 and PEG-HSA, respectively. Cardiac output markedly increased for Dx2M and PEG-HSA. Dx2M significantly produced higher stroke work relative to baseline and compared to Dx70. Conclusion: Acute hemodilution with PEG-HSA without increasing plasma viscosity provided beneficial effects on cardiac function compared to Dx70, and similar to those measured with Dx2M. Potentially negative effects of increasing peripheral vascular resistance due to the increase in plasma viscosity were prevented.
Colorectal trauma: primary repair or anastomosis with intracolonic bypass vs. ostomy.

This prospective, randomized, controlled study was undertaken to compare primary repair or anastomosis with intracolonic bypass vs. ostomy in severe colon and intraperitoneal rectal injury. Patients were randomized at surgery following confirmation of injury. Data collected included demographics, mechanism and location of injury, trauma score (TS), injury severity score (ISS), penetrating abdominal trauma index (PATI), complications, length of hospital stay, and hospital charges. Twenty-two patients were studied: 11 with intracolonic bypass and 11 controls. The experimental and control groups were statistically similar in demographics and mechanism of injury, severity of injury (TS=13.8 vs. 12.8; ISS=27.5 vs. 24.2; PATI=40.5 vs. 35.0), and complication rate. Length of stay (12.2 days vs. 20.7 days) and charges $27,885 vs. $53,599) tended to be greater in controls, and the comparison did not include subsequent colostomy closure. This study supports intracolonic bypass as a safe alternative to ostomy in severe colon and intraperitoneal rectal trauma.
Ideologies and Attitudes, Academic and Judicial

M ANY OF THOSE academicians who are most vehement, in their disputation of the relevance of attitudinal analysis to political science, argue from premises that are patently ideological in character.' Typically such persons are unlettered in the alien academic disciplines of contemporary anthropology, psychology, and sociology, to say nothing of mathematics, statistics, or computer technology. But they know what they like, and also what they dislike; and the vigor with which a growing list of de Maistres of public law (to borrow John Roche's apt phrase) have ridden off to joust in defense of the ancien regime demonstrates their conviction that it is far better to fluster in a just cause than to yield to Mephistopheles. The problem has been that this Faustian drama, though frequently advertised, rarely gets into production, primarily because each of the leading would-be protagonists insists upon appearing on stage horsed on a nag, clad in tin armour, and fitted with the accouterments of, the White Knight (in Througk the LookingGlass). It is difficult to join in combat with champions who keep falling off on their heads into ditches, because they refuse to do their homework. Instead, the Dons Quixoti of public law indulge in rhetorical argument, in the heightened phrase, in violet (as well as violent) prose which is intended to appeal to the passions rather than to the intellect of the audience. It might be of mild interest to answer in the same vein what
Effects of Polyphosphates on Cell Numbers, Enterotoxin A, and Extracellular Protein in Staphylococcus aureus 196E

Effects of sodium salts of pyro- (SAPP), tripoly- (STPP), and hexametaphosphate (SHMP) on cell numbers, enterotoxin A (SEA) and extracellular protein production (ECP) of Staphylococcus aureus strain 196A were studied in 4% N-Z amine broth plus 1% yeast extract after 24 hr at 30°C. At pH 7.0, concentrations lower than 56 mM (1.2%) SAPP, 27 mM (1%) STPP or 3 mM (0.4%) SHMP had no antibacterial effects and a bacteriostatic effect showed at slightly higher concentrations. SAPP was the least effective inhibitor at neutral pH, but displayed enhanced inhibitory effects at pH 5.5. Reduction in SEA and ECP paralleled cell growth suppression; their concentrations were 1400 ng/mL and 1.5 mg/mL, respectively, in phosphate free broth (9 × 109 CFU/mL), and nondetectable when cell numbers were ≤106 per mL.
The Role of Student Feedback in Evaluating and Revising a Blended Learning Course

A graduate level course in library and information science was revised from face-to-face instruction to a blended learning model utilizing on site, interactive television, and online classes. This study investigates three related questions: (1) Will students provide detailed feedback if given the opportunity to complete an anonymous survey? (2) Will embedding an online survey within the course management software be an effective method of gathering feedback? (3) Will student feedback contain constructive critical information that will prove useful in evaluating and revising the course? An online survey created within the WebCT course management software was administered in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007. The total number of responses was 71. Results indicate that students were willing to provide detailed feedback, readily accepted the embedded survey, and provided constructive criticism that proved useful in the evaluation and revision process. The study concludes that this method is effective and may be most appropriate for courses with small enrollments.
A paradox of heat conduction in porous media subject to lack of local thermal equilibrium

Based on the traditional formulation of heat transfer in porous media it is demonstrated that Local Thermal Equilibrium (Lotheq) applies generally for any boundary conditions that are a combination of constant temperature and insulation. The resulting consequences raising an apparent paradox are being analyzed and discussed.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Comparison of gastric volumes in response to isocaloric liquid and mixed meals in humans.

Aims: To compare gastric volume responses to ingestion of isocaloric liquid or mixed (solid–liquid) meals and document the intra- and interindividual reproducibility of gastric volume measurement using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging after i.v. 99mTc-pertechnetate. Methods: Eight healthy volunteers performed two studies at least 9 months apart. Gastric volumes were measured after a 317 kcal liquid nutrient meal. Within 2 weeks of the second liquid meal study, participants performed a third study, ingesting an isocaloric mixed meal. The order of the mixed and second liquid meals was randomized; Bland–Altman plot displayed data on repeated studies with liquid meal and paired t-test compared gastric volumes after mixed or liquid isocaloric meals. Results: Fasting and postprandial gastric volumes associated with the two liquid meals were not significantly different; inter- and intra-individual coefficients of variation were 13 and 13.8%. In response to the mixed meal, there was a lower absolute postprandial volume and lower change in gastric volume over fasting volume compared with the response to the liquid meal (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: The SPECT measurement of gastric volumes in response to a nutrient liquid meal is reproducible. The magnitude of the volume response is greater after the liquid meal compared with the isocaloric mixed meal.
Definitions and Epidemiology of the Chronically Critically Ill

Patients who are chronically critically ill constitute 5–10% of patients with acute respiratory failure but demand a disproportionate share of ICU resources. Epidemiologic studies and clinical trials require definitions for enrollment, and a uniform definition would be ideal to allow comparisons between studies. While a consensus definition exists (≥ 21 consecutive days of mechanical ventilation for ≥ 6 h/d), many study designs have required alternative definitions that include requirement for a tracheostomy, a different period of mechanical ventilation, or admission to a weaning facility. Regardless of definition, studies have indicated that the incidence of chronic critical illness has doubled in recent decades and may double again in the next decade. The overall 1-year survival for chronically critically ill patients is between 40% and 50%, depending on the cohort studied. New clinical prediction rules have been developed to better identify patients who are at high risk and low risk of death. These models could be enhanced by data on functional outcomes for survivors. The healthcare system has been adapting to the increase in chronic critical illness by increasing critical beds in short-term and long-term acute care hospitals, but continued monitoring of resources will be necessary, since the prevalence of chronic critical illness is expected to increase further.
Mentoring probationary women academics: A pilot programme for career development

ABSTRACT Recruiting and promoting qualified women in academic staff positions challenges not only those universities with a commitment to support equal opportunity and positive action, but also those which are concerned about effective staff development in an era of change and expansion in higher education. This paper describes a 2 year pilot programme implemented in a public research university in the USA for mentoring new women academic staff from the time they enter the institution as probationers. The programme emphasises individual professional development, but also attends to the institutional factors which influence women's advancement. The activities include colleague-pairing, mentor training, the use of a mentoring agreement, and a multilevelled series of academic career development workshops, seminars and networking activities. The assessment and research component includes a needs determination study, pre-and post-participation perception of barriers studies, programme assessment, and the start...
Design and application of a free-air carbon dioxide enrichment facility

Growth chambers and other enclosures used in plant physiology and growth studies tend to introduce chamber effects that alter the microclimate around the plants compared with the natural environment. A free-air (chamberless) carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) system has been developed by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to provide controlled fumigation conditions while minimizing the potential to impose a discernible chamber effect. This system is capable of exposing large numbers of field-grown plants to elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) from seedling emergence until physiologic maturity. A FACE User Facility was established at the Maricopa Agricultural Center, University of Arizona, for continuous enrichment of CO2 at a set point of 550 μmol mol−1 during daylight hours throughout the cotton crop growing seasons of 1989–1991. The facility consisted of four circular BNL FACE arrays and associated equipment placed in a commercial cotton plantation. FACE array diameters of 23, 25, and 27 m were tested. The FACE facility included the ability to operate the experimental plots under two watering regimes using an automated, sub-surface irrigation system. CO2 was stored in a 48 000 kg receiver and vaporized with a heat exchanger that used water at ambient temperature as the energy source. The 1 min average CO2 concentration was held to within ±20% of the set point more than 98% of the time that the arrays were operating during all three seasons. In 1991, the long term average CO2 concentration measured at 63 points throughout the volume of a 20 m diameter experimental plot (ground to canopy top) centered within a 25 m diameter FACE array was 568 μmol mol−1. All of the FACE arrays operated for more than 99% of the planned experimental period in 1991. These 3 years of operation have demonstrated that the BNL FACE technology can be used as a basis for a large scale facility devoted to studying the fate of carbon in the terrestrial environment.
Abundance and degree of dispersion of genomic d(GA)n.d(TC)n sequences.

The abundance of d(GA)n.d(TC)n tracts was determined in genomes of rodents and primates. Dot blot hybridization assays revealed that such tracts constitute 0.40%, 0.30%, and 0.40%, respectively, of the rat, hamster, and mouse genomes, but only 0.07% and 0.05% of the human and monkey genomes. A plaque hybridization assay of rat and human genomic libraries showed that 37% and 16%, respectively, of the recombinant phages in these libraries contain d(GA)n.d(TC)n tracts. A survey of sequences stored in the GenBank data bank showed that a significant fraction of the stored rodent genes (about 2.0%) contain long d(GA)n.d(TC)n tracts (n greater than 30) with greater than 10% mismatching. The primate genes contain only shorter tracts (n less than 15) with less than 10% mismatching. In addition, the rodent and the primate genes contain tracts with larger degrees of mismatching. The chicken, which represents an entirely different branch of the evolutionary tree, was found to be as low in d(GA)n.d(TC)n tracts as the primates. It is suggested that a common ancestor of the rodents has acquired the ability to amplify d(GA)n.d(TC)n tracts.
Increasing dietary neutral detergent fiber concentration decreases ruminal hydrogen sulfide concentrations in steers fed high-sulfur diets based on ethanol coproducts

Cattle feedlot diets commonly contain ethanol coproducts that are high in S. This dietary S is reduced in the rumen by sulfate reducing bacteria, resulting in an accumulation of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), increasing the risk for S toxicity. A negative correla- tion between H 2 S and ruminal pH has been observed previously. The objective of this study was to deter- mine the effect of varying dietary NDF from chopped bromegrass hay (66% NDF) on performance, ruminal pH, and ruminal H 2 S gas concentration of steers fed a high-S finishing diet. One hundred fifty crossbred steers (359 ± 51 kg BW) were blocked by BW into pens of 5 steers and randomly assigned within block to 1 of 5 treatments (n = 6 pens per treatment) and fed for 84 d. Dietary treatments included 3.5, 5.7, 7.9, 10.1, or 11.4% roughage NDF (rNDF) from bromegrass hay and con- tained 0.46% dietary S from a combination of dried dis- tillers grains with solubles and condensed corn distillers solubles. In all diets, hay was added at the expense of dry-rolled corn. Effective NDF increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increased inclusion of rNDF. Final BW was not affected by rNDF (P ≥ 0.12). The addition of rough- age did not affect ADG (P ≥ 0.13) or gain efficiency (P ≥ 0.12). Dry matter intake increased linearly (P < 0.01) as rNDF concentration increased. There was a treatment × month interaction for S intake (P < 0.01), explained by steers fed 3.5 or 11.4% rNDF increasing S intake each month whereas the middle rNDF inclusions had similar S intake between months 1 and 2 and increased in month 3. Ruminal H 2 S concentrations and ruminal fluid pH were measured at 6 h postfeeding on d 7, 14, 21, 29, and 84. Ruminal pH increased linearly (P < 0.01; 5.48, 5.61, 5.71, 5.74, and 5.80 ± 0.041 for 3.5, 5.7, 7.9, 10.1, and 11.4% rNDF, respectively) and ruminal H 2 S concen- trations decreased linearly (P < 0.01; 1.00, 0.86, 0.76, 0.70, and 0.62 ± 0.037 g/m 3 for 3.5, 5.7, 7.9, 10.1, and 11.4% rNDF, respectively) as rNDF inclusion increased. Using mixed model regression analysis, ruminal pH had a strong negative relationship with ruminal H 2 S concen- trations (β = -0.63; P < 0.01). Under conditions of this study, increasing roughage did not affect cattle gains but helped maintain greater ruminal pH and decreased H 2 S concentration, suggesting that this dietary strategy may lessen the risk of S toxicity in feedlot cattle.
Tomographic Image Reconstruction From Laser Radar Reflective Projections

Image reconstruction from projections has been extensively developed in the medical field. For example, Computer Assisted Tomography (CAT) scanners measures the absorption of X-rays along ray-projections through a slice of a body. Applying reconstruction algorithms to these projection measurements leads to two or three-dimensional distribution of the mass density. We have applied similar methods which demonstrate image reconstruction from reflective projections obtained with laser radars. These baseband SAR techniques can be applied to any N-dimensional measurements resulting in reconstructions of N 1-dimensional images. For example, two-dimensional range-Doppler or angle-angle images taken from several views can be reconstructed into three-dimensional images. Shown in this paper, two-dimensional images have been reconstructed from one-dimensional range-time-intensity (RTI) data, Doppler-time-intensity (DTI) data, or a combination of both types of laser radar measurements. Typical RTI measurements can be obtained with either coherent linear FM waveforms, or with incoherent short pulse waveforms. In the DTI case, a cw waveform is sufficient and leads to true narrow-band imaging. We have applied these methods to both computer simulated data and field measurements, at both 10.6 μm and 0.53 μm wavelenghts, using various test targets.
Techniques for Using Humor and Fun in the Language Arts Classroom

The authors, former middle and high school English teachers, review the rationale for using humor and fun in the classroom and provide detailed descriptions for teaching practices and activities that confer enjoyment and learning for language arts students. Although fun activities, these methods foster vocabulary development, grammar instruction, and techniques for illustrating the importance of word choice and clarity in composition.
Semiparametric estimation of an accelerated failure time model with time-dependent covariates

SUMMARY A class of semiparametric accelerated failure time models is introduced that are useful for modelling the relationship of survival distributions to time dependent covariates. A class of semiparametric rank estimators is derived for the parameters in this model when the survival data are right censored. These estimates are shown to be consistent, and asymptotically normal with variances that can be consistently estimated. It is also shown that estimators within this class achieve the semiparametric efficiency bound. We consider an accelerated failure time model for time-to-event data in which the survival distribution is scaled by a factor which may be a function of time-dependent covariates. These models directly model the effect of covariates on the length of survival. This is in contrast to the more commonly-used proportional hazards model which models the hazard rate itself. In some applications it may be easier to visualize the concept that a treatment intervention or exposure to an environmental contaminant increases or decreases the length of survival by a certain proportion, as compared to the concept that the hazard rate is changed. For time independent covariates, say, Z = (Z1,.. , Zp)', the class of accelerated failure time models assumes that the survival distribution at time t, given a set of covariates Z = z, is given by F(t I z) = F0{ h (z) t}. The proportionality constant h (z) can be interpreted as the scale factor by which lifetime is decreased as a function of the covariates z. Often h(z) is taken to be log linear or h(z) = exp (,B'z). In such cases, if z = 0, we can interpret Fo(t) as the 'baseline' survival distribution or the survival distribution for individuals with covariates all equal to zero. A useful way of envisioning this model is to consider a hypothetical random variable, U, that corresponds to an individual's survival time if that individual had covariate values all equal to zero. This baseline failure time, U, would be modified for values of the covariate different than zero. For example, if we denote the actual survival time by T, then for an individual with covariate value Z we have T =- e'ZU. The parameters, ,B, in this model have a direct interpretation in terms of the increase or decrease in lifespan as a function of the covariates. The assumption that U is independent of Z in this hypothetical construct, induces the probabilistic model
MLP decoder for DVD-Audio player

There are two audio decoding formats defined by the DVD-Audio specification 1.0. These formats are uncompressed LPCM and compressed PPCM (packed PCM). Meridien Lossless Packing (MLP) has been adopted by the DVD consortium as the standard PPCM compressed format. All DVD-Audio players must support this format. Consumer electronic manufacturers are designing and developing both DVD-Audio players as well as combined DVD-Video/DVD-Audio players (also called Universal players). This paper provides an overview of a DVD-Audio implementation (including MLP), added system features, and design tradeoffs for a Universal DVD player.
Silicon Monoxide at 1 atm and Elevated Pressures: Crystalline or Amorphous?

The absence of a crystalline SiO phase under ordinary conditions is an anomaly in the sequence of group 14 monoxides. We explore theoretically ordered ground-state and amorphous structures for SiO at P = 1 atm, and crystalline phases also at pressures up to 200 GPa. Several competitive ground-state P = 1 atm structures are found, perforce with Si–Si bonds, and possessing Si–O–Si bridges similar to those in silica (SiO2) polymorphs. The most stable of these static structures is enthalpically just a little more stable than a calculated random bond model of amorphous SiO. In that model we find no segregation into regions of amorphous Si and amorphous SiO2. The P = 1 atm structures are all semiconducting. As the pressure is increased, intriguing new crystalline structures evolve, incorporating Si triangular nets or strips and stishovite-like regions. A heat of formation of crystalline SiO is computed; it is found to be the most negative of all the group 14 monoxides. Yet, given the stability of SiO2, the disp...
Conditions of Cognitive Sanity and the Internalist Credo

BonJour has proposed background conditions on internalist justification, which Kornblith argues are inconsistent with a core internalist ‘credo’ – that subjects internally alike are justificationally alike – signaling the ‘death’ of internalism. The funeral arrangements are premature, though more systematic consideration of background conditions is needed. The majority of BonJour's conditions are not background conditions as their failure makes an epistemically relevant internal difference. This neutralizes Kornblith's criticisms and reveals how the proposed conditions are not departures from internalism. BonJour's background conditions are simply conditions, the credo remains intact, and Kornblith's objections do not spell problems for internalism, let alone death.
Prenatal detection and fetal surgery of clefts and craniofacial abnormalities in humans: social and ethical issues.

Abstract Sophisticated prenatal diagnostic imaging has facilitated the progression of fetal surgery from the experimental possibility to a clinical therapy for several life-threatening congenital conditions. Guidelines for such fetal surgery include the expectation that the child will be reasonably healthy as a result and that the in utero approach will improve the outcome or is safer than postnatal intervention. Prenatal ultrasound detection of craniofacial anomalies is now common. Reports of experimental cleft repairs in animal fetuses suggest advantages including diminished scarring, improved health and nursing. While fetal craniofacial surgery has not been attempted in humans, speculations exist about the psychological and social benefits of being born with a repaired defect. Fetal surgery is an emerging technology that may alter experimentation, cleft treatment, and the allocation of scarce resources. This paper examines the social and ethical implications of prenatal diagnosis and fetal surgery, foc...
Social Support and Grandparent Caregiver Health: One-Year Longitudinal Findings for Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren

Objectives. The role of social support in predicting health among grandparents raising grandchildren w as explored among 86 grandparent caregivers assessed twice over a 1-year timeframe. Method. Relationships between social support and health were ascertained via cross-lagged analyses. Re gression analyses explored the mitigating role of social support in influencing both health and depression among grandparent caregivers. Results. Cross-lagged findings suggested that social support predicted health o ver time rather than vice versa. Regression analyses found that this relationship held when adjusting for multiple covariates as well as previous levels of health, depression, and parental stress. Additionally, the interaction of overall health and social support at Time 1 predicted Time 2 depression. For those who lacked social support, overall health was negatively related to self-reported depression symptoms 1 year later; this was not the case among those reporting greater social support. In addition, parental stress moderated the effects of social support on depression, and social support moderated the effects of parental stress on depression. Discussion. Greater social support may lay the groundw ork for better health, and such support, in concert with better health as well as lessened parental stress may prevent the development of depression among grandparent caregivers.
Convergence in Revealed Preferences for Automobiles as Differentiated Goods: U.S. and OECD Countries: 1970–1999

Attributes of differentiated goods in personal consumption have both conceptual and policy importance in macroeconomic applications that include obsolescence rates of capital stock, the savings rate, and environmental issues. While there is both direct and indirect evidence of variation in preferences for these attributes across countries, there is also conjecture that recent global integration has reduced this variation. We examine convergence between the U.S. and four OECD countries in the levels of automobile attributes over the 1970–1999 period. Results of panel unit root tests with the U.S. as the comparison country showed convergence in the constructed measures of size, performance and efficiency. In pairwise comparisons between the U.S. and OECD countries, results of our model estimations indicated convergence in size and efficiency with estimated half lives to convergence of between four to six years. Disaggregating the definitional components of performance, results show convergence in horsepower when selected economic variables are controlled. We find that measures of trade, per capita income and price appear to be among the mechanisms through which increasing global integration relates to convergence. Directions for further study of convergence preferences for attribute profiles across countries are discussed.