cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Die Zersetzung eines O-phosphorylierten Hydroximinomethylpyridiniumsalzes in wäßriger Lösung

Das Reaktionsprodukt aus Diisopropylfluorphosphat (DFP) und 4-PAM (O-Diisopropylphosphoryl-4-hydroximinomethylpyridinium-methojodid) wurde dargestellt und seine Zersetzungsgeschwindigkeit in wasriger, annahernd neutraler Losung durch UV-Spektroskopie bestimmt. Fur die allgemein basenkatalysierte Reaktion 1. Ordnung wurde eine Halbwertszeit von 38 ± 4 Min. gefunden, wobei keine mesbaren Mengen an 4-PAM zuruckgebildet wurden. Investigation of the Decomposition of an O-Phosphorylated Hydroximinomethylpyridinium Salt in Aqueous Solution The reaction product of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) and 4-PAM (O-diisopropylphosphoryl-4-hydroximinomethylpyridinium-methiodide) was synthesised and the rate of the decomposition of the compound in nearly neutral aqueous solution determined by UV-spectroscopy. The reaction was subject to general base cataysis and followed first order-kinetics. The half-life determined was 38 ± 4 min with no measurable amount of 4-PAM being re-formed.
Single receiver phase ambiguity resolution with GPS data

Global positioning system (GPS) data processing algorithms typically improve positioning solution accuracy by fixing double-differenced phase bias ambiguities to integer values. These “double-difference ambiguity resolution” methods usually invoke linear combinations of GPS carrier phase bias estimates from pairs of transmitters and pairs of receivers, and traditionally require simultaneous measurements from at least two receivers. However, many GPS users point position a single local receiver, based on publicly available solutions for GPS orbits and clocks. These users cannot form double differences. We present an ambiguity resolution algorithm that improves solution accuracy for single receiver point-positioning users. The algorithm processes dual- frequency GPS data from a single receiver together with wide-lane and phase bias estimates from the global network of GPS receivers that were used to generate the orbit and clock solutions for the GPS satellites. We constrain (rather than fix) linear combinations of local phase biases to improve compatibility with global phase bias estimates. For this precise point positioning, no other receiver data are required. When tested, our algorithm significantly improved repeatability of daily estimates of ground receiver positions, most notably in the east component by approximately 30% with respect to the nominal case wherein the carrier biases are estimated as real values. In this “static” test for terrestrial receiver positions, we achieved daily repeatability of 1.9, 2.1 and 6.0 mm in the east, north and vertical (ENV) components, respectively. For kinematic solutions, ENV repeatability is 7.7, 8.4, and 11.7 mm, respectively, representing improvements of 22, 8, and 14% with respect to the nominal. Results from precise orbit determination of the twin GRACE satellites demonstrated that the inter-satellite baseline accuracy improved by a factor of three, from 6 to 2 mm up to a long-term bias. Jason-2/Ocean Surface Topography Mission precise orbit determination tests results implied radial orbit accuracy significantly below the 10 mm level. Stability of time transfer, in low-Earth orbit, improved from 40 to 7 ps. We produced these results by applying this algorithm within the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL’s) GIPSY/OASIS software package and using JPL’s orbit and clock products for the GPS constellation. These products now include a record of the wide-lane and phase bias estimates from the underlying global network of GPS stations. This implies that all GIPSY–OASIS positioning users can now benefit from this capability to perform single-receiver ambiguity resolution.
Optimal replacement age of a conventional cotton harvester system

Purpose – The cotton industry has seen many technological advances throughout history that have greatly decreased the number of labor hours required to produce a bale of cotton. The latest advancement is a harvesting system that replaces the harvester, boll buggy, and module builder with a single machine. This is an asset replacement decision where there are multiple assets being replaced but the old technology (the defender assets) may all have different remaining lives and optimal lifespans. The purpose of this paper is to find the optimal time to replace the multiple defender assets with a single challenger asset (the improved technology). The goal is to determine if the ages of the boll buggy and the module builder affect the replacement age of the conventional picker. Design/methodology/approach – The paper extends the Perrin model to allow for multiple defender assets. Findings – The paper finds that the supporting assets do sometimes affect the decision to replace a conventional cotton picker. If t...
Role of physician in maintaining continuity of care and guidance.

Summary The physician must make the parent realize that his interest in the child is a continuous process. Unfortunately the impression so often given is that when the diagnosis and been made the physician is interested in seeing the child again only if he is ill. The physician must think of his role in relation to the retarded child as a broad one. Advice, support, undestanding, direction to other people and other agencies and resources that can be of help to the patient—these are things that someone must supply, and the physician is the logical person to other them. He is well equipped to give advice, support, and understanding to the patient and the parents and to direct them to other workers, agencies, and resources that can be of help to them.
Induction of NR4A Orphan Nuclear Receptor Expression in Macrophages in Response to Inflammatory Stimuli

Oxidized lipids and inflammatory cytokines are believed to play a causal role in atherosclerosis through the regulation of gene expression in macrophages and other cells. Previous work has implicated the nuclear receptors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and liver X receptor in the control of lipid-dependent gene expression and inflammation. Here we demonstrate that expression of a third group of nuclear receptors, the NR4A ligand-independent orphan receptors, is highly inducible in macrophages by diverse inflammatory stimuli. Treatment of macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cytokines, or oxidized lipids triggers the transcriptional induction of Nur77 (NR4A1), Nurr1 (NR4A2), and NOR1 (NR4A3) expression. Several lines of evidence point to the NF-κB signaling pathway as a principal mediator of inducible NR4A expression in macrophages. Analysis of the murine and human Nur77 promoters revealed two highly conserved NF-κB response elements. Mutation of these elements inhibited LPS-dependent expression of the Nur77 promoter in transient transfection assays. Furthermore, induction of Nur77 expression by LPS was severely compromised in fibroblasts lacking the three NF-κB subunits, Nfkb1, c-Rel, and RelA. Consistent with its ability to be induced by oxidized lipids, Nur77 was expressed in macrophages within human atherosclerotic lesions. These results identified NR4A nuclear receptors as potential transcriptional mediators of inflammatory signals in activated macrophages.
Thresholds of Carcinogenicity in the ED01 Study

The results of the articles on the carcinogenicity of 2-acetylaminofluorene (J. H. Farmer et al., 1980, J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. 3, 55-68; N. A. Littlefield et al., 1980, J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. 3, 17-34) in approximately 25,000 female mice were reanalyzed by the procedure proposed earlier (W. J. Waddell, 2002, TOXICOL: Sci. 68, 275-279) using the Rozman scale (K. K. Rozman et al., 1996, Drug Metab. Rev. 28, 29-52). In contrast to some conclusions of the lack of a threshold for carcinogenesis that have been made in the past from this study, this reanalysis showed a clear and consistent threshold for bladder neoplasms at about 10 19.5 molecules/kg/day and for liver neoplasms at about 10 19.1 molecules/kg/day. The slopes of the dose-response curves for bladder neoplasms from 17 months through 33 months were consistently very steep, while those for liver neoplasms increased from a shallow slope at 18 months to a steep slope at 33 months. This is interpreted to indicate that the mechanism of carcinogenesis may be different in the two organs. A linear response for percentage tumors plotted against dose on a logarithmic scale is confirmed by this analysis, which is based on the fundamental principle that chemical potential effects a linear response. Furthermore, this application continues to show a sharp threshold for carcinogenesis. The implications of these observations should be important in the extrapolation of results from animal experiments to human risk assessment.
iPhone as a physical activity measurement platform

iPhone is emerging as a ubiquitous physical activity measurement platform due to its incorporated accelerometer sensor. The iPhone's capacity to accurately measure physical activity has not been put to scrutiny up to now, despite claims from an increasing number of applications. This study examines ways to perform accurate physical activity measurements with the iPhone, at various positions on the user's body. The study focuses on walking and running - the two most prevalent aerobic activities. For walking, a methodology has been developed that translates accelerometer values from peripheral body locations to equivalent readings on the waist and from there to metabolic units. For running, the limitation of iPhone to perform accurate metabolic measurements is documented. The formulas and results in this paper can readily be used by developers to increase the accuracy of fitness applications and improve user experience.
Relationship between Ca2+ sparklets and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ load and release in rat cerebral arterial smooth muscle.

Ca+ sparklets are subcellular Ca2+ signals produced by the opening of sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channels. Ca2+ sparklet activity varies within the sarcolemma of arterial myocytes. In this study, we examined the relationship between Ca2+ sparklet activity and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ accumulation and release in cerebral arterial myocytes. Our data indicate that the SR is a vast organelle with multiple regions near the sarcolemma of these cells. Ca2+ sparklet sites were located at or <0.2 μm from SR-sarcolemmal junctions. We found that while Ca2+ sparklets increase the rate of SR Ca2+ refilling in arterial myocytes, their activity did not induce regional variations in SR Ca2+ content or Ca2+ spark activity. In arterial myocytes, L-type Ca2+ channel activity was independent of SR Ca2+ load. This ruled out a potential feedback mechanism whereby SR Ca2+ load regulates the activity of these channels. Together, our data suggest a model in which Ca2+ sparklets contribute Ca2+ influx into a cytosolic Ca2+ pool from which sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase pumps Ca2+ into the SR, indirectly regulating SR function.
An advanced approach for pointwise NDE imaging

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques are widely used in manufacturing and service industries for quality assurance and related applications [1]. Depending on the sophistication of a given NDE procedure, the inspection result can be in a form of a simple go/no-go indication, an amplitude readout, a list or a table of measurements, a two- dimensional figure, or an image which correlates test results with material and defect parameters. An image presentation which directly correlates measured NDE parameters with component coordinates is generally the preferred way of displaying results. Recent advances in computer and electronic technology have also facilitated the development and operation of image acquisition, processing, and presentation for many NDE techniques.
Design considerations for an earth based flexible robotic system

The problems of designing a robot with joint and link flexibility are discussed. The relationship between the deflection of the robot under gravity is correlated with the fundamental frequency of vibration. Different types of link geometry are considered, evaluating the flexibility potential of different materials. Some general conclusions and guidelines for constructing a flexible robot are given. It is found that, for maximum flexibility with minimum stiffness, the best material choice for the links is titanium. Some aluminium alloys may be inexpensive alternatives, but the fatigue characteristics of aluminium are unacceptable in most applications. Coiled springs give very little stiffness in comparison to their strength, but their weight makes them unusable in all but planar applications. >
Estrogen-Induced Maldevelopment of the Penis Involves Down-Regulation of Myosin Heavy Chain 11 (MYH11) Expression, a Biomarker for Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation

Cavernous smooth muscle cells are essential components in penile erection. In this study, we investigated effects of estrogen exposure on biomarkers for smooth muscle cell differentiation in the penis. Neonatal rats received diethylstilbestrol (DES), with or without the estrogen receptor (ESR) antagonist ICI 182,780 (ICI) or the androgen receptor (AR) agonist dihydrotestosterone (DHT), from Postnatal Days 1 to 6. Tissues were collected at 7, 10, or 21 days of age. The smooth muscle cell biomarker MYH11 was studied in depth because microarray data showed it was significantly down-regulated, along with other biomarkers, in DES treatment. Quantitative real time-PCR and Western blot analyses showed 50% %–80% % reduction (P � 0.05) in Myh11 expression in DES-treated rats compared to that in controls; and ICI and DHT coadministration mitigated the decrease. Temporally, from 7 to 21 days of age, Myh11 expression was onefold increased (P � 0.05) in DES-treated rats versus threefold increased (P � 0.001) in controls, implying the long-lasting inhibitory effect of DES on smooth muscle cell differentiation. Immunohistochemical localization of smooth muscle alpha actin, another biomarker for smooth muscle cell differentiation, showed fewer cavernous smooth muscle cells in DES-treated animals than in controls. Additionally, DES treatment significantly up-regulated Esr1 mRNA expression and suppressed the neonatal testosterone surge by 90% %, which was mitigated by ICI coadministration but not by DHT coadministration. Collectively, results provided evidence that DES treatment in neonatal rats inhibited cavernous smooth muscle cell differentiation, as shown by down-regulation of MYH11 expression at the mRNA and protein levels and by reduced immunohistochemical staining of smooth muscle alpha actin. Both the ESR and the AR pathways probably mediate this effect. development, estrogen, microarray, MYH11, penis
Seismic waves from light trucks moving over terrain

Seismic sensing is one sensor mode employed in US unattended ground sensor systems (UGS). Seismic sensors possess the advantage of beyond-line-of-sight sensing. They can detect ground vibrations generated by moving vehicles or personnel and they can be used to cue other sensors or possibly to classify or even identify targets. As a complement to field trials, our work has produced a simulation capability to support seismic UGS developments. We model ground vibrations from moving vehicles and generate synthetic seismic wavefield data over terrain of interest to US forces. Using supercomputers to simulate seismic wave propagation in large finite-difference time-domain simulations, our objective is to generate high fidelity data sets that provide new opportunities for understanding and exploiting signal features that may be unrecognizable in limited field trials. The method utilizes a vehicle-dynamics model to calculate the vehicle response to vehicle acceleration and movement over bumpy roads or terrain. It calculates forces transmitted to the ground; distributes these forces to grid points of a finite difference model; and simulates seismic waves propagating away from the vehicle. The current work focuses on light trucks moving toward and through a mountain pass and signature features associated with suspension and wheelbase characteristics. The results from two analyses show seismic waves propagating away from one and two trucks, respectively. We conclude that the wavefield data is realistic and suitable for virtual trials of seismic UGS.
The Role of Deep Defect Relaxation Dynamics in Optical Processes in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon

We report results of a transient modulated photocurrent technique which allows us to observe the time evolution of the D0 sub-band under the application of optical bias light and after turning off this bias light Our measurements show that the D0 band shifts monotonically to shallower thermal energies after the bias light is applied, with roughly 10 seconds to saturation at 300K and to deeper thermal energies after removing the bias light, with a decay time of over 1000 seconds. We have also found there exists an intimate relation between the motion of the D0 band and that of the quasi Fermi level as deduced from the transient photoconductivity and therefore, in particular, to the long time photoconductivity decay. This relation is exactly reproduced by the assumption of a D0 band whose energy position evolves in time, together with a recombination process dominated by changes in the charge state of a deeper defect band under light bias.
Downlink capacity estimation in a WCDMA cellular network

Analytical characterisation of low constraint delay (LCD) traffic on the uplink in a WCDMA cellular network is a well-understood procedure. However, the problem of downlink capacity estimation is not widely reported in the open literature. In this paper, we provide a framework through which an efficient procedure can be developed for dimensioning mixed LCD traffic on the downlink in a WCDMA cellular network. In particular, we develop a pole condition that can be used to estimate capacity and the Node B power requirements. Unlike previous works, we characterise the out-of-cell to in-cell interference and the path loss observed in each cell through geometric considerations, rather than performing reference simulations. Moreover, we introduce a simple test that determines whether or not the channelisation code requirements can be supported within each cell, following the calculation of the downlink capacity/power requirements.
Central leptin acutely reverses diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance

Voluntary overfeeding rapidly induces resistance to the effects of systemic insulin and leptin on liver glucose metabolism. To examine whether central administration of recombinant leptin can restore leptin and insulin action on liver glucose fluxes, we infused leptin in the third cerebral ventricle of conscious overfed rats during pancreatic-insulin clamp studies. The effect of leptin on the phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 in the arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus was similar in animals fed a regular diet or a high-fat diet for 3 days. The infusion of leptin in the third cerebral ventricle markedly inhibited glucose production in rats fed a high-fat diet mainly by decreasing glycogenolysis. The inhibition of glycogenolysis was sufficient to normalize glucose production and was accompanied by leptin-induced decreases in the hepatic expression of glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Thus central administration of leptin rescues the hepatic insulin resistance induced by short-term hyperphagia.
Ship to ROV telemetry for Tiburon

A ship to ROV communications system is described that provides an FDDI compatible port for network traffic. Additional traffic including sonar and navigation data is electrically multiplexed with the network data into a hi-directional 250 Mb/second serial bitstream. Six channels of high quality digitized video are also uplinked on a separate 1.25 Gb/second bitstream. Multiplexing permits the system to operate on two optical fibers, allowing efficient cable design.
Egg ejection risk and hatching asynchrony predict egg mass in a communally breeding cuckoo, the Greater Ani (Crotophaga major)

The Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) is a neotropical cuckoo in which several females lay eggs in a single nest. Group members synchronize egg laying and compete for reproduction by ejecting early-laid eggs from the communal nest. Eggs are large (;17% of female body mass) and vary greatly in size. I assessed the effects of egg size, hatching asynchrony, and position in the laying order on the survival and growth of nestlings to test the hypothesis that females invest more resources in eggs that are likely to give rise to surviving offspring. The egg’s position in the female’s laying sequence was a significant predictor of egg mass, with first-laid eggs and last-laid eggs consistently smaller than those in the middle of the clutch. Females that initiated laying in the communal nest almost always lost their first-laid eggs, and these females also exhibited the most extreme variation in egg mass. Nestlings from last-laid eggs were more likely to hatch asynchronously and starve before fledging, and the mass of last-laid eggs decreased as the degree of hatching asynchrony increased. Ejection and starvation probabilities were not affected by egg mass; therefore, low survivorship of first-laid and last-laid eggs was due solely to their position in the laying order, not to their smaller size. These data suggest that individual females allocate more resources to eggs that are likely to survive to fledging and that reproductive competition among communally breeding females explains much of the variation in egg size in this species.
Densification and Thermal Conductivity of AIN Doped with Y2O3, CaO, and Li2O

Small amounts of Li2O result in sintering in the AIN-Y2O3-CaO and AIN-CaO systems at firing temperatures <1600°C. The effect is ascribed to reduction of the liquidus temperature. Furthermore, Li2O is removed by volatization at temperatures from 1300° to 1600°C, and its content decreases several ppm from the initial 0.3 wt%. Li2O-doped AIN specimens containing Y2O3 and CaO additives are well densified by firing at 1600°C for 6 h, and their thermal conductivity is 135 W.m−1.K−1.The effect of Li2O addition on sintering and thermal conductivity also is discussed through thermo-dynamic considerations.
Step 10: the breastfeeding support paradox – Authors' reply

Authors’ reply Pat Hoddinott welcomes the rewording of Step 10 in the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in the UK that removes the expectation that hospitals and primary care organisations should routinely provide breastfeeding support groups for new mothers. We agree with Hoddinott that this reformulation of Step 10 should be applied globally, since when poorly devised or implemented, support groups established as part of the old Step 10 might have a detrimental eff ect on the overall goal of optimal breastfeeding. Indeed, relieving hospital and primary care facilities of the responsibility and cost of setting up and maintaining such services might spur larger-scale implementation of Steps 1–9, which have consistently been shown to be effective in promoting breastfeeding. H o w e v e r, c o n c e r n s a b o u t breastfeeding that arise in the first weeks after hospital discharge are the strongest predictors of cessation of exclusive, or all, breastfeeding. The most prevalent of those concerns–– infant feeding difficulty, pain while breastfeeding, and milk quantity–– might be resolved with timely and appropriate support intervention. There is an urgent need for research to identify the most cost-effective approach to answer those concerns. Targeted support programmes, such as that pilottested by Hoddinott and colleagues through active telephone contacts and home visits seem promising, but they have not been rigorously evaluated. We disagree with Hoddinott’s claim that results from our two trials are counter to Cochrane systematic review evidence, which reports that any additional support, professional or lay, increases the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Our studies tested two approaches for implementation of Step 10: support from health professionals in well baby clinics and peer-support groups. Both these approaches have important limitations, including the requirement for mothers to attend clinic visits or group support sessions. Other approaches, such as home-visits and telephone support have been pilot tested, but evidence from reviews of these interventions has been inconclusive. Furthermore, in our study, breastfeeding support provided by health professionals (Step 1–9) was very eff ective and consistent with the results of the Cochrane review and that of a recent trial of individual peer support in our region.
Abstract 161: Addition of MRI for Patient Selection in Intra-arterial Stroke Therapy Leads to Better Clinical Outcomes, a Pre-Post Study

Background: Intra-arterial (IA) therapies are becoming prevalent in the acute ischemic stroke management. Despite increasingly rates of vessel recanalization, outcomes have not shown substantial im...
Planning and Executing an Effective Agricultural Promotion Program

More than 1,100 organized commodity groups in-invest over $75 million each year for advertising and promotional purposes.This article reviews some current thinking on agricultural promotion program...
Qin Opera:Jia Pingwa's Commemoration of His Ex-wife in Self-criticism

There are many comments on Qin Opera since it was published,and the main orientation is laid on the description of the region and the village elegy,an ″abandoned town″with another meaning, which neglected the deeper feeling of the author.In my opinion,there is another purpose in this book,that is,to commemorate his ex-wife,expressing his remorse and self-criticism.The methods he applied is,on one hand,to describe the endless hurt of Xia Feng to Baixue,on the other hand,the love of Yinsheng to her.The seeming absurdity of the main character shows great contradiction inside.
Oviductal cilial phagocytosis in patients undergoing tubal reanastomosis

Chronic salpingitis has been reported in patients undergoing reversal of sterilization. For investigation of a possible microbial etiology for this process and characterization of its ultrastructural features, segments from the midportion of the fallopian tubes of five patients who underwent sterilization reversal were studied by comprehensive tubal cultures, and light and electron microscopy. Three patients undergoing sterilization by partial salpingectomy were studied as controls. Chlamydial IgG and IgM antibody titers were performed on serum samples. No microbiologic or serologic evidence for active infection by known pathogens was found. In three of the study patients mild oviductal mural fibrosis was present. However, in two other study patients chronic salpingitis with phagocytosis of cilia by luminal macrophages was demonstrated. It is suggested that if this active process persists after tubal reanastomosis, it may result in impaired oviductal function.
5’-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase as a chemotherapeutic target enzyme

5’-Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAPase), which catalyzes the reaction: $$ {\text{5'}}\,{\text{ - Methylthioadenosine}}\, + \,{\text{Pi}}\, \leftrightarrows \,{\text{Adenine}}\, + \,{\text{5 - Methylthioribose - 1 - phosphate}} $$ is responsible in mammalian tissues for the metabolism of 5’-methylthioadenosine (MTA), which is generated from S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) primarily during the synthesis of the polyamines, spermidine and spermine (Williams-Ashman and Canellakis, 1979). This enzyme has now been found in a variety of mammalian tissues (for a review, see Williams-Ashman, 1981). A major physiological role of the enzyme is to metabolize MTA to salvageable intermediates. One reaction product, adenine, can react with 5-phosphoribosyl-l-pyrophosphate to form 5’-AMP and PPi as catalyzed by adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT); AMP can be converted to ADP and ATP by the normal adenine nucleotide pathways. The other product, 5-methylthioribose-l-phosphate, has recently been shown to be salvaged to L-methionine by an as yet unknown series of reactions (Backlund and Smith, 1981).
The Research-Thought-Practice Triangle: The Case of Health Care Marketing

This article describes a simple model developed in order to analyze and categorize parts of the literature of health care marketing.
The Great Idea of Charles Mills Tiebout

The very nature of a public good as described by Richard Musgrave challenges the neoclassical model. In private markets, one’s pattern of expenditure reveals preferences. But when there exists non-rivalry and non-excludability private markets fail. Their failure brings about the need to ensure that those who fill the void do so in an efficient manner. This question is the purview of public finance.
On the “Feudal” Interpretation of Chou China

All students of Chinese history are aware of the "feudal" Interpretation of Chou China.1 This mode of analysis seems to have become popu lar primarily through the writings of Henri Maspero and Marcel Granet.' The persistence of the Interpretation would seem to indicate that either (1) 1t has some degree of validity or (2) it has not been sufficiently critically eval uated. Actually, probably both of these are true. There is no doubt that Granet and Maspero were correct in detecting certain similarities between medieval Europe and Chou China; on the other hand, we, their successors, have undoubtedly been guilty of perpetuating this interpretation without giving it the critical consideration it deserves. When the generalists, the comparativlsts and the students of later periods of Chinese history tend to reiterate what we, the specialists in the era, have put forth on the subject, this 1s no longer excusable. It may not be necessary to discard the "feudal" interpretation, but a meaningful understanding of Chou China and a thorough compre hension of the comparative implications it pre sents will emerge only to the extent that we comprehend and take into account the difficulties which this interpretation poses.
Fair value disclosures of level three assets and credit ratings

Abstract Using a large sample of U.S. firms, this study explores whether a firm’s holdings of SFAS 157 level three fair value assets (level three assets) have an impact upon corporate credit ratings. The findings suggest higher holdings of level three assets negatively impact credit ratings. Both levels and changes analyses support this result. In additional cross-sectional analysis, this relation becomes stronger for firms with greater financial leverage, which suggests that a primary determinant of credit risk amplifies the documented main effect. Furthermore, higher magnitudes of level three assets are associated with an economically meaningful increase to corporate bond spreads.
The Dilemma of the Atom Bomb

Although many think the atom bombs dropped on Japan ended the war, scholarship shows a more nuanced picture. many factors influenced the Emperor's decision to accept the Potsdam Proclamation. The alternative to the bomb may have been carpet bombing of Japan; which was the more desirable way to end it?
Relative Compensation and Employee Satisfaction

I use large survey datasets of worker compensation and company reviews from an online job review site, Glassdoor.com, to examine the role of relative earnings in determining job satisfaction. Previous literature has argued that relative earnings as well as absolute earnings may play an important role in a worker’s subjective satisfaction with his job. However, whether relative pay makes workers more or less happy is theoretically ambiguous and may be sensitive to the comparison group used. I find that relative income within an occupation, rather than relative income within a firm or absolute income, is the key driver of job satisfaction from changes in income.
Handbook of bioentrepreneurship

Book review by Joseph R. Bell. Patzelt, Holger and Thomas Brenner, eds. Handbook of Bioentrepreneurship. New York: Springer, 2008. ISBN 9780387483436 The Handbook of Bioentrepreneurship represents volume 4 in the International Handbook Series on Entrepreneurship.This book is a collection of articles covering the rapidly evolving biotechnology industry.
META ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS FOR POST-OPERATIVE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia following cardiac surgery and is associated with increased healthcare costs, complications, and mortality. The etiology of Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation (POAF) is incompletely understood and its prediction remains suboptimal. Our purpose is to
Mindfulness buffers the effects of cue-induced craving on alcohol demand in college drinkers

Abstract Alcohol consumption among young adult college students represents a significant public health problem. The presence of alcohol-related cues in drinkers' environments can trigger powerful alcohol cravings, which may influence drinking outcomes. Less is known about how this cue-induced craving influences behavioral economic demand for alcohol. In addition, research has suggested that trait mindfulness may be an important buffer of the effects of internal states of craving on drinking decisions. Based on this literature, we hypothesized that cue-induced cravings would be associated with increased alcohol demand, an effect that would be attenuated among drinkers who have higher levels of mindfulness. Young adult college student drinkers (n = 69) completed a laboratory-based cue-induced craving assessment, a self-report assessment of trait mindfulness, and an alcohol purchase task. Findings revealed that cue-induced craving was related to higher alcohol demand. Consistent with the study hypothesis, acceptance, a component of mindfulness, buffered the effects of cue-induced craving on alcohol demand. Results raise the possibility that mindfulness-based interventions may be useful in helping disrupt the link between internal states of craving and drinking decisions in young adult college student drinkers.
Evaluation of stress intensity factors for bimaterial bodies using numerical crack flank displacement data

Methods for obtaining stress intensity factors for bimaterial bodies using numerical crack flank displacement data are presented and compared. The stress analysis of a cracked bimaterial is reviewed. The analysis results in a data reduction scheme for the stress intensity factors via the crack flank displacement data. The data reduction scheme produces adequate resolution of the magnitude of the complex stress intensity factor but is incapable of resolving the angle when the moduli of the adjoining materials are close. An extended form of the J-integral is shown to provide increased accuracy for the magnitude of the complex stress intensity factor without yielding the angle.
Association of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia With Bacterial Infection in Trauma Patients.

This cohort study investigates the association between heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and bacterial infection in trauma patients.
Mechanism of Ethanol Stimulation of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Synthetase

Ethanol has recently been reported to potentiate the accumulation of poly(ADP-ribose) in SV40 transformed mouse 3T3 cells following hyperthermia or N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine (MNNG) treatment [1,2]. We became interested in understanding the mechanism by which ethanol potentiates polymer accumulation and how polymer synthesis might be affected by cellular redox metabolism in ethanol-treated cells and tissues. Figure 1 shows the effect of ethanol on the time course of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis in nucleotide permeable cells in the presence and absence of very low doses of DNA damage. Polymer synthesis in undamaged control cells was essentially uneffected by ethanol up to 5%. This was in marked contrast to lightly damaged cells in which polymer synthesis was stimulated 3.5-fold by 1% ethanol. Higher ethanol concentrations also stimulated polymer synthesis, but were less effective than 1%. Control experiments (data not shown) indicated that this was not due to inactivation of DNAse I or altered polymer turnover under these conditions. In order to determine exactly how ethanol stimulates polymer synthesis, we conducted a series of kinetic experiments with partially purified enzyme and defined DNAs. We used restriction endonucleases to generate DNA fragments of pBR322 with flush ends and 5′-phosphates (Hae III fragments), flush ended-fragments with 5′-hydroxyls (alkaline phosphatase treated-Hae III fragments), and fragments with protruding 5′-phosphates (Hpa II fragments). Flush-ended fragments have been shown to be more effective stimulators of synthetase activity than fragments with protruding ends [5].
Studies of the Neutropenia of Acute Malaria

Neutrophil kinetics were studied in seven patients with acute malaria. Six patients with Plasmodium vivax had a mean neutrophil count of 1651 ± 282/ cu mm (range 360-2340); the neutrophil count in one patient with P. falciparum malaria was normal (4600/cu mm). In all of these patients, the numbers of circulating nonsegmented neutrophils were increased, neutrophil half-disappearance times were prolonged, and the total blood granulocyte pools were normal or increased. The marginal granulocyte pools were greatly enlarged but circulating pools were reduced, indicating that the apparent neutropenia was due to an altered intravascular granulocyte distribution. These patients had reduced numbers of mature marrow granulocytes and decreased marrow granulocyte reserves. These data provide a model for one mechanism of neutropenia in man: premature release of marrow granulocytes with a shift of the circulating cells into the marginal pool.
Trade Secrets of Category Theory

This chapter provides a selfcontained introduction to some elementary topics in category theory. Familiar constructions of set theory are generalized to an arbitrary category. “Sets with structure” generalizes to “objects with structure,” providing a universe in which to discuss “algebraic structure.”
Theater reminiscences: the politics of memory after the expulsion of the Moriscos

This paper explores how theater reminiscences helped Moriscos to strengthen their sense of community in North Africa after their expulsion from Spain (1609–1614). Moriscos in exile remembered early...
Using the Label Wisely: A Fresh Take on Political Sophistication and Partisan Cues

Much of the political sophistication literature in political science assumes that the use of party cues in the voting booth is the hallmark of a distinctly unsophisticated voter (Converse 1964, Luskin 1987). The present piece seeks to examine another possibility: namely that the use of party cues may not preclude a voter from inclusion in the realm of the sophisticated voter. This paper borrows heavily from the psychology literature on scientific decision making, attempting to suggest an alternative way to distinguish voters along the “scientific-ness” of their decision making process. This paper uses NES 1994 post-election survey data to create logit models. These models indicate that voters that use party cues may at least look a lot like the sophisticated voter in many interesting ways.
Using a Rasch scale to characterize the clinical features of patients with a clinical diagnosis of uncertain, probable, or possible Alzheimer disease at intake.

Objective: This study examined the clinical features of patients with clinical diagnoses of probable Alzheimer disease (AD), possible AD, and uncertain. Design: Case study comparing three groups of AD patients diagnosed at their initial visit to an Alzheimer outpatient clinic. Setting: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) assessment sites (20) in rural Illinois. Participants: 300 patients assessed at CADRD between January 1, 1994 and July 1, 2000. Measurements: Patients were given an extensive clinical battery consisting of physical and neurologic examination, mental status testing including the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Short Blessed Dementia (SBD) and Blessed Dementia Scale (ADL), medical history evaluation, and laboratory tests. Other data included age at visit, gender, and medical history variables. Results: Mean MMSE, SBD, and ADL scores differed significantly between groups (p's < 0.01). In all three cognitive tests, the uncertain group was the least impaired while the probable AD group was the most impaired. A Rasch model indicated that only the cognitive measures were useful in discriminating between the three diagnostic groups. Conclusion: In general, probable AD patients were distinguished from possible AD patients by the severity of their dementia as measured by the MMSE, ADL and SBD as well as Hachinski-Ischemic Score (HIS) scores. A Rasch model did well at predicting group membership based upon dementia measures only. The uncertain group differed from the AD groups in age and dementia severity as measured by the MMSE, ADL and SBD. Noting differences between this and previous studies, we speculate disparity may be related to differences in population ethnicity.
Solitary Waves Theory

In 1844 the Scottish John Scott Russell was the first people to observe the solitary waves. As stated in Chapter 11, Russell called the bulge of water, that he observed, a “great wave of translation” [9]. The wave was traveling along the channel of water for a long period of time while still retaining its original identity.
Evaluation of spray pattern uniformity using three unique analyses as impacted by nozzle, pressure, and pulse-width modulation duty cycle

BACKGROUND: The increasing popularity of pulse‐width modulation (PWM) sprayers requires that application interaction effects on spray pattern uniformity be completely understood to maintain a uniform overlap of spray, thereby reducing crop injury potential and maximizing coverage on target pests. The objective of this research was to determine the impacts of nozzle type (venturi vs. non‐venturi), boom pressure, and PWM duty cycle on spray pattern uniformity. Research was conducted using an indoor spray patternator located at the University of Nebraska‐Lincoln in Lincoln, NE, USA. Coefficient of variation (CV), root mean square error (RMSE), and average percent error (APE) were used to characterize spray pattern uniformity. RESULTS: Generally, across nozzles and pressures, the duty cycle minimally impacted the CV of spray patterns. However, across nozzles and duty cycles, increasing pressure decreased CV values, resulting in more uniform spray patterns. The RMSE values typically increased as pressure and duty cycle increased across nozzles. This may be the result of a correlation between RMSE values and flow rate as RMSE values also increased as nozzle orifice size increased. Generally, APE increased as the duty cycle decreased across nozzles and pressures with significant increases (40%) caused by the 20% duty cycle. Within non‐venturi nozzles, increasing pressure reduced APE across duty cycles, while venturi nozzles followed no such trend. CONCLUSION: Overall, results suggest PWM duty cycles at or above 40% minimally impact spray pattern uniformity. Further, increased application pressures and the use of non‐venturi nozzles on PWM sprayers increase the precision and uniformity of spray applications. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Abstract A53: Plasma glucocorticogenic activity differs by race/ethnicity and alcohol intake among San Francisco Bay Area women

Breast cancer mortality is higher among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic women than non-Hispanic White (NHW) women in the United States. While various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer, the biologic processes underlying these associations remain poorly understood. Cortisol, the predominant endogenous glucocorticoid present in humans, is secreted in a diurnal pattern with the highest concentration occurring shortly after waking followed by a steady decline throughout the day. A flattened diurnal cortisol pattern (e.g., due to lower morning and/or elevated evening cortisol levels) is often observed among chronically stressed individuals and has been linked to poorer survival among breast cancer patients. We examined the association between race/ethnicity and other breast cancer risk factors with glucocorticogenic (G) activity, a measure that reflects plasma cortisol levels, in 503 controls from the San Francisco Bay Area Breast Cancer Study (SFBCS, 329 Hispanic, 100 NHB and 74 NHW women) using a low-cost Chemical-Activated LUciferase gene eXpression (CALUX) assay. Associations between G activity and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were examined using multivariable linear regression models. Hispanic and NHB women had 14% (P = 0.016) and 16% (P = 0.007) lower morning G activity than NHW women, respectively. Additionally, we replicated our previously reported association between G activity and alcohol intake (women who drank >10 gm had 22% higher G activity than non-drinkers, P = 0.003). This association was only present in Hispanics and NHB. No statistically significant associations were observed between G activity and Indigenous American ancestry, body mass index, or neighborhood socioeconomic status. Our results indicate that NHB and Hispanic women may have a blunted cortisol awakening response potentially due to chronic stress. The increase in morning G activity observed with higher alcohol intake in Hispanics and NHB might reflect the use of alcohol as a stress-coping mechanism. Further research should assess the association between G activity and breast cancer survival in biospecimens from a prospective cohort so as to characterize the relationship between prediagnosis chronic stress and breast cancer outcome across different racial/ethnic groups. Citation Format: Rosemarie M. de la Rosa, Sylvia S. Sanchez, Phum Tachachartvanich, Heather Ruiz, Scarlett Lin Gomez, Esther M. John, Martyn T. Smith, Laura Fejerman. Plasma glucocorticogenic activity differs by race/ethnicity and alcohol intake among San Francisco Bay Area women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A53.
A Methylation Density Binary Classifier for Predicting and Optimizing the Performance of Methylation Biomarkers in Clinical Samples

Aberrant DNA methylation is commonly heralded as a promising cancer biomarker; however, its inherently stochastic nature often leads to variable methylation patterns that can complicate the use of methylation biomarkers for clinical diagnostics, particularly in dilute samples such as liquid biopsies. Here, we present a methylation density binary classifier, a statistical method for leveraging differential heterogeneous methylation to predict and optimize the performance of methylation biomarkers for clinical applications. We first developed and tested the classifier using methylation density profiles derived from reduced representation bisulfite sequencing reads of ovarian carcinoma at ZNF154, a recurrently methylated locus in multiple cancer types. We then used in silico simulations to predict the performance of the classifier in liquid biopsies and validated these predictions using quasi-digital melt curve analysis (DREAMing) of circulating cell-free DNA from individuals with versus without ovarian carcinoma. We found good agreement between predicted and observed classifier performance, and further demonstrated that implementation of this approach with ZNF154 outperformed CA-125 for use in etiologically-diverse ovarian cancer types. Our results indicate that methylation density profiles can be exploited to predict and facilitate implementation of methylation biomarkers for clinical applications, and that ZNF154 methylation shows promise as a clinically-useful biomarker for ovarian cancer.