cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Missing precipitation data estimation using optimal proximity metric-based imputation, nearest-neighbour classification and cluster-based interpolation methods

AbstractNew optimal proximity-based imputation, K-nearest neighbour (K-NN) classification and K-means clustering methods are proposed and developed for estimation of missing daily precipitation records. Mathematical programming formulations are developed to optimize the weighting, classification and clustering schemes used in these methods. Ten different binary and real-valued distance metrics are used as proximity measures. Two climatic regions, Kentucky and Florida, (temperate and tropical) in the USA, with different gauge density and network structure, are used as case studies to evaluate the new methods. A comprehensive exercise is undertaken to compare the performances of the new methods with those of several deterministic and stochastic spatial interpolation methods. The results from these comparisons indicate that the proposed methods performed better than existing methods. Use of optimal proximity metrics as weights, spatial clustering of observation sites and classification of precipitation data ...
Quantum dynamics of O(1D)+D2 reaction: isotope and vibrational excitation effects

The effect of initial vibrational excitation of the D2 molecule on the quantum dynamics of the O(1D)+D2 reaction is investigated as a function of collision energy. The potential energy surface of Dobbyn and Knowles (1997 Mol. Phys. 91 1107) and a time-independent quantum mechanical method based on hyperspherical coordinates have been adopted for the dynamics calculations. Results for elastic, inelastic, and reactive scattering over collision energies ranging from the ultracold to thermal regimes are reported for total angular momentum quantum number J = 0. Calculations show that the collisional outcome of the O(1D)+D2 reaction is not strongly influenced by the initial vibrational excitation of the D2 molecule similar to its H2 counterpart. A J-shifting approximation is used to calculate the initial state selected reactive rate coefficients over the temperature range T = 1 − 500 K. The reactive rate coefficients for D2(v = 0) are found to be in excellent agreement with available experimental results. The temperature dependence of the kinetic isotope effect is also investigated and its value at room temperature is found to be in good agreement with available theoretical and experimental results.
A Discontinuous SNAP-25 C-terminal Coil Supports Exocytosis

Membrane fusion requires the formation of four-helical bundles comprised of the SNARE proteins syntaxin, vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP), and the synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25). Botulinum neurotoxin E cleaves the C-terminal coil of SNAP-25, inhibiting exocytosis of norepinephrine from permeabilized PC12 cells. Addition of a 26-mer peptide comprising the C terminus of SNAP-25 that is cleaved by the toxin restores exocytosis, demonstrating that continuity of the SNAP-25 C-terminal helix is not critical for its function. By contrast, vesicle-associated membrane protein peptides could not rescue botulinum neurotoxin D-treated cells, suggesting that helix continuity is critical for VAMP function. Much higher concentrations of the SNAP-25 C-terminal peptide are required for rescuing exocytosis (K(assembly) = approximately 460 microm) than for binding to other SNAREs in vitro (Kd < 5 microm). Each residue of the peptide was mutated to alanine to assess its functional importance. Whereas most mutants rescue exocytosis with lower efficiency than the wild type peptide, D186A rescues with higher efficiency, and kinetic analysis suggests this is because of higher affinity for the cellular binding site. This is consistent with Asp-186 contributing to negative regulation of the fusion process.
Cardiac Performance Capacity and the Effect of Exercise on Renal Plasma Flow in Aortic Insufficiency

Maximal oxygen intake and renal plasma flow at rest and in work were measured in normal subjects and patients with aortic valve insufficiency; the tests measure some aspects of cardiovascular function. The lower maximal oxygen intake and renal plasma flow at rest and in work in these cardiac patients indicate a decreased cardiovascular performance capacity even though the patients were asymptomatic and their daily physical activity was not restricted.
Algorithms for calculating and correcting blood-gas and acid-base variables

This is a review of the origins, derivations, and 'fidelity' of available equations for correcting PO2, PCO2, and pH for temperature, and for estimating blood-gas and acid-base variables from measured values: 1. Oxygen saturation (SO2) from PO2, PCO2, pH, and body temperature (T). 2. Oxygen concentration (CO2) from SO2, PO2, and hemoglobin concentration (Hb). 3. Base excess (BE) from pH, PCO2, and Hb. 4. 'In vivo BE' (BE3) from pH and PCO2. 5. 'Compensated BE3' (BEC) from PCO2. 6. Bicarbonate ([HCO3-]) and carbon dioxide concentrations (CCO2) from pH and PCO2. PHysiologic considerations are emphasized, with mathematical background when it contributes to understanding. Algorithms are variously compared with their graphic counterparts, with the data from which they were derived, and with each other.
Melengestrol acetate alters muscle cell proliferation in heifers and steers.

In vitro experiments were performed to investigate the effects of melengestrol acetate (MGA) or progesterone (P4) on bovine muscle satellite cells and C 2 C 12 myoblasts. Addition of MGA at physiological and supraphysiological concentrations resulted in a dose-dependent decrease (P < 0.05) in DNA synthesis as measured by 3 H] -thymidine incorporation (TI). Similarly, P4 addition (0.01 nM) reduced (P < 0.05) TI. Addition of MGA (10 nM) increased (P < 0.05) IGF-I mRNA abundance but did not affect myogenin mRNA. Progesterone addition (10 nM) increased myogenin mRNA abundance (P < 0.05). In C 2 C 12 cultures, P4 addition resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in TI. The anti-progestin RU486, in combination with MGA or P4, also resulted in reduced (P < 0.05) TI. Treatment with RU486 alone had a negative effect (P < 0.05) on TI that was similar to the progestins. Treatment of C 2 C 12 myoblasts with MGA (100 nM) resulted in an increase (P < 0.05) in myogenin mRNA. These studies suggest that progestins may reduce satellite cell proliferation, ultimately affecting carcass composition.
Paleomagnetic evidence of northward movement of the Pacific plate in deep-sea cores from the Central Pacific Basin

Abstract Seven deep-sea sediment cores recovered in the central equatorial Pacific collectively span a magneto- and biostratigraphically determined age interval ranging from about 0.1 to 21 m.y. B.P. Measured values of paleomagnetic inclination and their systematic variation with depth in these cores denote relative motion between the central Pacific lithosphere and the magnetic field of the earth. Assuming that the position of the earth's dipole field remained essentially parallel to the present spin axis during the interval, the data provide evidence of a marked decrease in the northward rate of plate motion from about 11 cm/yr to about 6 cm/yr at approximately 12 m.y. B.P. This date of change of motion as well as the northward direction and overall average rate of about 8 cm/yr throughout the last 21 m.y., agree reasonably well with results of other studies of the tectonic history of the Pacific plate and ridge system. More significantly, however, these preliminary results demonstrate the usefulness of the paleomagnetic record in deep-sea sediment cores spanning sufficiently long intervals of time as an aid in reconstructing plate motions.
Sexual dimorphism of glucocorticoid binding in rat brain

Glucocorticoids bind with high affinity to intracellular receptors located in high density within discrete regions of the rodent and primate brain. The binding of [3H]corticosterone was compared in the brains of male vs female rats. The number and affinity of cytosol receptors in the hippocampus and hypothalamus were examined in vitro. The cytosolic binding capacity of the hippocampus is greater in the female than in the male. This difference in binding capacity is not dependent on the presence of gonadal steroids: the effect of gonadectomy was not significant for either sex. The difference is not due to transcortin since the binding capacity of [3H]dexamethasone is also greater in the female hippocampus. Receptor affinity in the female hippocampus is half that of the male value. In the hypothalamus, the dimorphism is in the opposite direction: the number of [3H]corticosterone cytosolic binding sites was found to be greater in the male. The male hypothalamus also showed a greater affinity for [3H]corticosterone than did the female. Ovariectomy increased the number of binding sites in the female hypothalamus. In vivo nuclear uptake of a tracer dose of [3H]corticosterone was determined in animals having intact gonads. The percent of tissue [3H]corticosterone present in cell nuclei from 4 brain regions, including the hippocampus and hypothalamus, was calculated per unit DNA. The concentrations of [3H]corticosterone in nuclei relative to tissue homogenates were higher in females than males for the 4 brain regions, but not for the pituitary or liver. The data are interpreted as suggesting that glucocorticoid secretion under basal conditions and during stress may differentially effect specific brain structures in male vs female rats.
Preinfarction angina: clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic evaluation

Five patients with “preinfarction” angina underwent cardiac catheterization, coronary arteriography and coronary artery bypass surgery without major complication. In order to evaluate myocadial function, stress testing by right atrial pacing was also performed. Pacing ventricular function curves were normal in three patients prior to angina and abnormal in each patient when angina was induced. Atrial pacing provides a safe technique for applying a stress in patients with preinfarction angina when exercise is contraindicated. It may be precisely controlled, gradually increased, rapidly discontinued and provides hemodynamic, electrocardiographic and clinical data for preoperative and postoperative comparisons.
Numerical solution of multi-variable cell population balance models. II. Spectral methods

Abstract Several Galerkin, Tau and Collocation (pseudospectral) approximations have been developed for the solution of the multi-variable cell population balance model in its most general formulation, i.e. for any set of single-cell physiological state functions. Time-explicit methods were found to be more efficient than time-implicit methods for the time integration of the system of ordinary differential equations that results after the spectral approximation in space. The Legendre and Tchebysheff polynomials that were used in Tau algorithms were shown to have significantly worse convergence and stability properties than the Galerkin and collocation algorithms that were applied with sinusoidal trial functions. The collocation method that was implemented with discrete fast Fourier transforms was found to be the most efficient from all the Galerkin and Tau algorithms that were developed. However, the method was inferior to the best finite difference algorithm that was presented in our earlier work.
Esophageal Papillomas and Skin Abnormalities

Question: A 56-year-old woman with a history of oral papillomas since her early teens presented with heartburn and progressive dysphagia to solids. Additional history included streaky erythematous lesions of the extremities, papillomas in the axilla and inguinal region, and tooth loss. Physical examination revealed linear erythematous reddish streaks on her legs with thinning of the skin (Figure A). She had old scars from removal of papillomas in the axilla, syndactyly, and split fingernails. Oral examination revealed scars from prior cryotherapy for oral papillomas. An upper endoscopy revealed numerous (100) polypoid lesions in the distal 9-cm of the esophagus (Figure B). Biopsies were consistent with squamous papilloma without dysplasia, and in situ hybridization testing for human papilloma virus was negative. What is the diagnosis?
Assessing computer anxiety.

A study was conducted to develop a scale for assessing computer anxiety. The scale was administered to 152 psychology students. The responses were then subjected to both item and principal componen...
Nonequilibrium Alfvenic Plasma Jets Associated with Spheromak Formation

Nonequilibrium Alfvenic flows have been observed in plasma jets during the helicity injection stage of the Caltech spheromak experiment. Density and time of flight measurements of these jets show that the flows convect dense plasma (β~1) because of the axial gradient in the current channel profile. A simplified MHD theory is derived to model the flow.
A COMBINATORIAL APPROACH TO LINKING NUMBERS IN RATIONAL HOMOLOGY SPHERES

In this paper we find a method to compute the classical Seifert-Threlfall linking number for rational homology spheres without using 2-chains bounded by the curves in question. By using a Heegaard diagram for the manifold, we describe link isotopy combinatorially using the three traditional Reidemeister moves along with a fourth move which is essentially a Kirby move along the characteristic curves. This result is mathematical folklore which we set in print. We then use this combinatorial description of link isotopy to develop and prove the invariance of linking numbers. Once the linking numbers are in place, matrix invariants such as the Alexander polynomial can be computed.
Relativism and the Search for Human Rights

The theory of ethical relativism has been the subject of much misunderstanding. It is argued that the central insight of relativism is enculturation and not tolerance. Relativism is characterized as a metaethical theory about the nature of moral perceptions. As such it is logically consistent, permits moral criticism, and is compatible with cross-cultural universals. The existence of universals may indicate global support for particular human rights.
Isolated Richter's transformation of the brain.

Patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have an increased risk of second malignancy and may develop diffuse large-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (DLCL) also known as Richter’s syndrome (RS). Only seven cases of isolated brain RS without evidence of systemic lymphoma have been reported to date. We describe a case of isolated DLCL of the brain in a 58-year-old female patient with a 3 year history of B-cell CLL. The patient presented with falls due to left leg paresis and showed non-specific neuroimaging findings. Brain biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of DLCL and CLL restaging failed to demonstrate evidence of RS outside the CNS. The patient was treated with whole brain radiation therapy and was discharged 4 weeks later on weekly rituximab infusions. This report extends the previous experience by providing a detailed clinical, neuroradiological and pathological description of isolated RS of the brain. Early identification and timely CNS directed treatment may alter morbidity and positively influence quality of life.
ESTIMATING ROOT BIOMASS AND DISTRIBUTION AFTER FIRE IN A GREAT BASIN WOODLAND USING CORES AND PITS

Quantifying root biomass is critical to an estimation and understanding of ecosystem net primary pro- duction, biomass partitioning, and belowground competition. We compared 2 methods for determining root biomass: a new soil-coring technique and traditional excavation of quantitative pits. We conducted the study in an existing Joint Fire Sciences demonstration area in the central Great Basin. This area is representative of a shrub (sagebrush) ecosys- tem exhibiting tree (pinyon and juniper) encroachment. The demonstration area had a prescribed burn implemented 4 years prior to our study, and we sampled both control and burned plots. The samples were stratified across 3 microsites (interspace, under shrub, and under tree) and 4 soil depths (0-8, 8-23, 23-38, and 38-52 cm) to determine the effects of plant life form and burning on root biomass. We found that estimates of total root biomass were similar between quanti- tative pits and our soil cores. However, cores tended to show a more even distribution of root biomass across all microsites and depths than did pits. Overall, results indicated that root biomass differs significantly among microsites and soil depths and that the amount of root biomass at a given depth differs among microsites. Burning reduced root biomass in our study by 23% and altered the spatial distribution of root mass.
The biological macromolecule crystallization database: A tool for developing crystallization strategies

The Biological Macromolecule Crystallization Database (BMCD) contains the crystallization conditions and crystal data for crystal forms of all classes of biological macromolecules for which the unit cell dimensions and space group have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The BMCD provides a menu-driven interface that allows searching the data for a value or a range of values for any of 19 different parameters, individually or in any combination. The results of a search may be displayed or printed in a variety of different formats. In addition to providing the information necessary to crystallize a particular macromolecule, the BMCD may be utilized to design strategies for the crystallization of molecules that have not previously been crystallized. Strategies for the crystallization of modified (or mutant) biological macromolecules, biological macromolecules that are homologous to previously crystallized macromolecules, and unique biological macromolecules that have not been previously crystallized are discussed.
The impact of market/quality orientation on business performance

Abstract Global competition is forcing American managers to rethink the way they do business. Competing in a global economy is going to require firms to understand what “world class” quality means. Marketing will play an ever-increasing role in total quality programs in the future as companies try to ensure that the quality they offer is what their customers want and quality efforts should focus on improving customer satisfaction at a reasonable cost. This research paper examined the premise that both quality and market orientation do indeed improve company performance in the areas of customer retention, sales growth and return on sales.
Convergence insufficiency and its current treatment.

Purpose of reviewConsiderable uncertainty and controversy has existed concerning the management of convergence insufficiency. Only recently there have been significant scientific studies published that compare the effectiveness of the commonly prescribed treatments. This paper reviews the most recen
Neurite Outgrowth at the Biomimetic Interface

Understanding the cues that guide axons and how we can optimize these cues to achieve directed neuronal growth is imperative for neural tissue engineering. Cells in the local environment influence neurons with a rich combination of cues. This study deconstructs the complex mixture of guidance cues by working at the biomimetic interface—isolating the topographical information presented by cells and determining its capacity to guide neurons. We generated replica materials presenting topographies of oriented astrocytes (ACs), endothelial cells (ECs), and Schwann cells (SCs) as well as computer-aided design materials inspired by the contours of these cells (bioinspired-CAD). These materials presented distinct topographies and anisotropies and in all cases were sufficient to guide neurons. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cells and neurites demonstrated the most directed response on bioinspired-CAD materials which presented anisotropic features with 90° edges. DRG alignment was strongest on SC bioinspired-CAD materials followed by AC bioinspired-CAD materials, with more uniform orientation to EC bioinspired-CAD materials. Alignment on replicas was strongest on SC replica materials followed by AC and EC replicas. These results suggest that the topographies of anisotropic tissue structures are sufficient for neuronal guidance. This work is discussed in the context of feature dimensions, morphology, and guidepost hypotheses.
LOCAL AMENITIES AND RENTS: TIEBOUT TAKES A VACATION

This paper considers a two-community model with free mobility, public expenditures set by majority voting, amenities that differ across communities, and two types of taxpayers sorting across communities according to different preferences. Residents pay local taxes, consume public services, and have the right to vote. Vacationers cannot vote, yet pay local taxes, and consume amenities. Amenities attract vacationers whose tax payments produce rents reducing the costs of public spending for permanent residents. These extractable rents produce stability in otherwise unstable equilibria. Relatively wealthy communities are generally less able than poor communities to extract rents.
Synthesis of perdeuterated analogues of the epoxide metabolites of butadiene: 1,2-epoxybut-3-ene-d6 and 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane-d6

Deuterated analogues of the carcinogenic metabolites of 1,3-butadiene (BD) 1,2-epoxybut-3-ene (EB) and 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB), which are not commercially available, are conveniently synthesized in good yields by oxidation of BD-d 6 with appropriate quantities of dimethyldioxirane (DMDO). Both epoxides were characterized by proton and deuterium NMR and mass spectrometry; yields were quantitated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using samples of known concentrations of commercially available non-deuterated epoxides as standards. The synthesized DEB-d 6 was a mixture of the enantiomeric RR and SS enantiomers and the meso RS diastereomers.
‘Clock’ and ‘motor’ components in absolute coordination of rhythmic movements

Human subjects swung, through motions at the two wrists, hand-held pendulums of variable mass and length. Within a pair, the two pendulums could be of the same or different magnitude. The subjects were required to produce a coordinated state in which the two rhythmic units oscillated at a single common period. Fifty-four conditions of absolute coordination, that is, 54 different pairs of wrist-pendulum systems, were investigated for each of three subjects in the course of six sessions. Each condition of absolute coordination was conducted in the out of phase mode and at the single most comfortable period. The period variances of the right and left systems in the 162 instances of absolute coordination were analysed according to a method that assumes that a timekeeper function and a motor implementation function contribute independently to the variance in the periodic timing of a rhythmic movement. The major findings were that in absolute coordination: (a) a system's 'motor' variance, but not its 'clock' variance, depended on the deviation of the period of absolute coordination tau from the system's characteristic period; (b) right and left 'clock' variances were related and (c) neither the 'motor' variances nor the 'clock' variances were affected by deviations in the mean phase relation from 180 degrees. The results were discussed in terms of their implications for interpreting von Holst's notions of maintenance tendency and magnetic effect and, more generally, the neural and dynamical basis of absolute coordination.
Inducing risk-neutral preferences: An examination in a controlled market environment

This article reports 15 first-price auction experiments, each with four bidders, designed to test Cedric Smith' (1961) hypothesis that risk-neutral behavior can be induced in subjects' decisions by paying them in lotteries on money that are linear in the outcome probabilities. We choose the first-price auction environment because of its relatively high success in surviving a large number of tests, which contrasts with the widely documented tendency of subjects to violate the expected utility axioms in making choices among gambles. In the first five experiments, subjects were experienced in first-price auctions with monetary rewards. We prescreened these subjects for exceptionally high bidding consistency with the constant relative risk-averse model. The results unyielded only weak support for the risk-neutralizing procedure (3 of 10 risk-averse cases became risk-neutral, but only 1 in 8 that were retested continued to exhibit risk-neutral behavior). We recruited 16 new subjects with no previous experience for four lottery-only auctions. Eight of the 16 subjects bid as if risk-neutral, but in a retest of 12 subjects only 2 remained consistently risk-neutralized. Finally we recruited 12 inexperienced subjects, and each subject bid against 3 robot bidders whose bidding strategies were known to the human bidder. We use this procedure to control for Nash expectations. These 12 subjects were run under both monetary and lottery reward conditions. Two of the 12 subjects bid as if risk-neutral in the lottery auction, but both of these subjects had shown risk-neutral behavior with monetary rewards. In conclusion, we find very weak support for the risk-neutralizing procedure. We caution other researchers to run calibration tests of the procedure in the particular context they are studying to assess its reliability.
Comment on "Orbitial M1 versus E2 strength in deformed nuclei: A new energy weighted sum rule"

It is pointed out that the inclusion of residual interactions in the deformed oscillator model modifies the linear energy-weighted sum rule for orbital [ital l][sup +] excitations in even-even deformed nuclei and increases the ratio of the high-frequency to the low-frequency contribution to the sum rule.
Infectious Complications of Dialysis Access Devices

Infectious complications remain a major source of morbidity and mortality for patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis. The majority of these complications are related to dialysis access devices, and as such represent a potentially modifiable risk factor. This article reviews the important infectious complications associated with dialysis access, including both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The discussion highlights the epidemiology, management, and prevention of dialysis access infections.
Economic sanctions and global governance: the case of Iraq

This article looks at the history of economic sanctions as a tool of global governance. For much of the twentieth century, sanctions were seen as a non-violent alternative to military intervention. As a form of international governance, sanctions have always been characterised by conflicting claims: that sanctions are effective enough to punish or block wrongful acts by states; but they are at the same time measures that will not cause damage to the population as a whole, in the way that warfare does. The sanctions imposed on Iraq by the United Nations Security Council illustrate how sanctions at their most extreme can in fact be fully as damaging as warfare.
Guiding professional learning communities: Inspiration, challenge, surprise, and meaning

by Shirley M. Hord, James L. Roussin, and William A. Sommers, Thousand Oaks, CA, Corwin Press, 2010, 225 pp., US$33.95, ISBN 978‐1‐4129‐4477‐9 In their book Guiding professional learning communitie...
Dependence of the effect of aerosols on cirrus clouds on background vertical velocity

Abstract Cirrus clouds cover approximately 20–25% of the globe and thus play an important role in the Earth's radiation budget. This important role in the radiation budget played by cirrus clouds indicates that aerosol effects on cirrus clouds can have a substantial impact on the variation of global radiative forcing if the ice–water path (IWP) changes. This study examines the aerosol indirect effect (AIE) through changes in the IWP for cirrus cloud cases. This study also examines the dependence of aerosol–cloud interactions in cirrus clouds on the large-scale vertical motion. We use a cloud-system resolving model (CSRM) coupled with a double-moment representation of cloud microphysics. Intensified interactions among the cloud ice number concentration (CINC), deposition and dynamics play a critical role in the IWP increases due to aerosol increases from the preindustrial (PI) level to the present-day (PD) level with a low large-scale vertical velocity. Increased aerosols lead to an increased CINC, providing an increased surface area for water vapor deposition. The increased surface area leads to increased deposition despite decreased supersaturation with increasing aerosols. The increased deposition causes an increased depositional heating which produces stronger updrafts, and these stronger updrafts lead to the increased IWP. However, with a high large-scale vertical velocity, the effect of increased CINC on deposition was not able to offset the effect of decreasing supersaturation with increasing aerosols. The effect of decreasing supersaturation on deposition dominant over that of increasing CINC leads to smaller deposition and IWP at high aerosol with the PD aerosol than at low aerosol with the PI aerosol. The conversion of ice crystals to aggregates through autoconversion and accretion plays a negligible role in the IWP responses to aerosols, as does the sedimentation of aggregates. The sedimentation of ice crystals plays a more important role in the IWP response to aerosol increases than the sedimentation of aggregates, but, not more important than the interactions among the CINC, supersaturation, deposition and dynamics. These interactions not only determine the effect of aerosols on IWP but also control how this effect varies with varying large-scale vertical velocities.
Staining of Tissue Sections for Electron Microscopy with Heavy Metals

Heavy metals may be incorporated from solution into tissue sections for electron microscopy. The resulting increase in density of the tissue provides greatly enhanced contrast with minimal distortion. Relative densities of various structures are found to depend on the heavy metal ions present and on the conditions of staining. Certain hitherto unobserved details are revealed and some sort of specificity exists, although the factors involved are not yet understood.
Modeling Juvenile Salmonid Hatchery Growth Using a Local Equilibrium Assumption and Measured Water Fraction to Parameterize Fish Energy Density

Previous reports have described bioenergetic models for juvenile salmonid growth that were validated using data from laboratory and production-scale feeding studies. Time variable functions and power correlations with body weight based on measurement of proximate composition were used to delineate the fish energy density in these models. Although model simulations for growth corresponded closely with measured data using either characterization of energy density, there is significant laboratory burden associated with the measurement of proximate composition throughout the simulation period, and this approach may therefore be impractical for many hatchery applications. Here measurements of fish water fraction are used to estimate the mass of protein and ash using correlations developed in a companion paper. Lipid is subsequently determined by difference, and energy content is calculated using the proximate composition. Model simulations of juvenile coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) growth and proximate composition using this approach closely matched measured data when provided steady satiation and maintenance rations. The model was less successful predicting detailed protein and lipid dynamics following large abrupt decreases in the food supply rate. However, model simulation errors associated with fish growth were small because of the off-setting nature of the proximate composition model errors. It is concluded that coho water fraction measurements and correlations for protein and ash offer a practical and convenient alternative to direct measurement of fish energy density for many bioenergetic model hatchery applications.
Minorities on ‘Civilizational’ Fault Lines: An Assessment of Religious Discrimination

AbstractPrevious studies examined various aspects of Huntington's controversial ‘clash of civilizations’ thesis. This study aims to quantitatively explore the theory to understand whether civilizational ethnoreligious minorities, i.e. ethnoreligious minorities that belong to a different civilization than the majority, face religious discrimination more than non-civilizational ones, especially in Western and Islamic civilizations. Analysis shows that non-civilizational minorities are discriminated against more than civilizational minorities. Findings also suggest that while civilizational minorities are discriminated against less compared to non-civilizational ones in Islamic civilizations, Western civilizations discriminate against civilizational minorities more compared to non-civilizational minorities.
Polymorphous light eruption, chronic actinic dermatitis, solar urticaria and porphyria cutanea tarda

Photodermatoses can be divided into four general categories: immunologically mediated photodermatoses, drug- and chemical-induced photosensitivity, DNA repaired deficient photodermatoses and photoaggravated dermatoses. In this review, selected photodermomatoses will be discussed: polymorphous light eruption, chronic actinic dermatitis, solar urticaria and porphyria cutanea tarda. The frequency of photodermatoses has been reported from studies assessing patients in photodermatology referral centers in different parts of the world. All studies consistently showed that polymorphous light eruption is the most common primary photodermatosis, ranging in frequency from 23 to 65% of the patients referred to those centers for evaluation. Other commonly seen primary photodermatoses include solar urticaria and chronic actinic dermatitis. In studies reported from Singapore and Melbourne, Australia, photoaggravation of skin diseases was also seen commonly, probably owing to the high level of sun exposure experienced b...
Effect of Antacid on Bioavailability of Theophylline from Rapid and Timed-Release drug products

Magnesium aluminum hydroxide suspension (an antacid) was given concurrently with either theophylline anhydrous tablets or theophylline anhydrous timed-release capsules to 13 volunteers using a four-way crossover design. Serum theophylline was measured by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The serum level-time curves were individually fitted to an oral absorption one-compartment open model. The pharmacokinetic parameters (mean ± SD) KA,K, AUC, and F/V for theophylline from the rapid release theophylline anhydrous tablets were 2.1 ± 1.3 hr−1, 0.15 ± 0.06 hr−1, 89.2 ± 30 μg hr/ml, and 0.0023 ± 0.002 kg/ml, respectively; from the anhydrous timed-release capsules, they were 0.27 ± 0.08 hr−1,0.20 ± 0.07 hr−1, 79.0 ± 27 μg hr/ml, and 0.0030 ± 0.0007 kg/ml, respectively. The concurrent administration of 15 ml of antacid (magnesium aluminum hydroxide suspension) with the theophylline products did not significantly affect any of these pharmacokinetic parameters. The extent of theophylline bioavailability from all drug products was consistent and similar as shown by the F/V and AUC values.
Amniotic fluid analysis for antimicrobial factors.

The antimicrobial factors in amniotic fluid (AF) were analyzed in 81 women during various periods of gestation. The AF inhibited the growth of E. coli 026 when the phosphate/zinc ratio was 40%. A heatstable non-lysozymal phosphate insensitive cationic protein with molecular weight higher than transferrin was also found in inhibitory AF. The antimicrobial properties of AF did not correlate with absolute zinc or lysozyme levels. The AF was non-inhibitory when it contained >60 ± μg/ml of phosphate with phosphate/zinc ratio >200, iron >1.2 μg/ml and unbound transferrin was <40%. Amongst all criteria described, iron (P = 0.002) and unbound transferrin levels (P = 0.0005) were the most reliable and consistent all through pregnancy but others were highly reliable only during the 36th–40th week of gestation. The clinical application of these factors are being investigated.
Reason‐code based model to forecast product returns

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a method for forecasting product returns based on reason codes. The methodology uses two approaches, namely central tendency approach and extreme point approach, and is developed for the consumer electronics industry.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology presented here is based on the return reason codes (RC). The incoming returns are split into different categories using reason codes. These reason codes are further analyzed to forecast returns. The computation part of this model uses a combination of two approaches, namely extreme point approach and central tendency approach. Both the approaches are used separately for separate types of reason codes and then results are added together. The extreme point approach is based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) as a first step combined with a linear regression while central tendency approach uses a moving average. For certain type of returns, DEA evaluates relative ranks of products using single input and multiple o...
Extramedullary tumors of myeloid blasts in adults as a pattern of relapse following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

BACKGROUND Extramedullary tumors of lymphoid and myeloid blasts outside the well-defined sanctuaries following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) are rare. Little is known about the biology, treatment, and outcome of these tumors in this setting. METHODS In this retrospective analysis, 134 consecutive patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who underwent allo-BMT at a single institution between 1990 and 1998 were reviewed. Five cases of isolated extramedullary myeloid sarcoma that occurred as patterns of recurrence following allo-BMT between 1990 and 1998 are reported. These patients were treated with radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, or a second allo-BMT. Clinical outcome is compared with posttransplantation bone marrow relapses observed during the same period at the same institution. The literature on the clinical characteristics, currently available treatment, and outcome of posttransplantation myeloid sarcoma patients was reviewed. RESULTS Excluding isolated skin and central nervous system recurrences, the frequency of extramedullary myeloid sarcoma encountered as a relapse pattern following allo-BMT was determined to be 3.7% among patients with acute or chronic leukemia of myeloid origin. The survival of patients who were managed with radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy was less than 4 months. A patient who underwent a second allo-BMT following local radiotherapy is alive and in complete remission more than 33 months after the diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma. The median survival of 17 patients with posttransplantation bone marrow relapse following allo-BMT was 2.2 months. When posttransplantation medullary recurrences are analyzed, patients with CML had a median survival of 12 months, with a significantly better 5-year survival rate than patients with AML (0 vs. 60%, P = 0.015; median survival, 12 months). CONCLUSIONS The clinical outcomes of patients with recurrent isolated extramedullary myeloid sarcoma following allo-BMT are poor, as in any leukemic relapse, with the exception of patients with CML in this setting. Cancer 1999;85:608–15. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Interpersonal Problem-Solving Ability and Sociometric Status in Elementary School Children.

The relationships among a measure of problem-solving ability, school grade level, and interpersonal functioning as assessed by sociometric measures were investigated. Previous research has shown these relationships to be significant but the reliability and validity of the problem-solving measures used have been seriously questioned. This study attempted to replicate previous findings while using a reliable and valid measure of interpersonal problem solving. Two sociometric measures were administered to 463 second-, fourth-, and sixth-graders from which 179 pupils were sociometrically identified as populars, rejecteds, neglecteds, and controversials. These subjects were subsequently administered the Purdue Elementary Problem Solving Inventory. Dunn's multiple comparison procedure was used to analyze the existing relationships among grade levels and among sociometric categories. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in interpersonal problem-solving ability among grade levels but no significant differences were found among sociometric categories. The implications of the findings for social skills training are discussed.
Which Organizational Attributes Are Amenable to External Reform? An Empirical Study of African Public Financial Management

ABSTRACT Many externally motivated public sector reforms produce less change than expected. This article argues that we should expect limited reform results in respect of certain organizational attributes. Applying institutional theory on isomorphism, the argument is simply that reforms are harder where they influence organizational characteristics that (i) are difficult to observe externally, (ii) are core to the organization, and (iii) involve actors with whom the externally defined change agenda is unlikely to resonate normatively. These arguments are tested in an analysis of Public Financial Management (PFM) reform in Africa, where evidence is supportive. The article contributes to public management literature, and comparative studies in particular, by applying a well-suited theory to the study of public sector change. The approach and findings should be of particular interest to the development community, shedding light on why reforms routinely underperform—in PFM and beyond, extending to topics like...
Design and optimization of time-of-flight spectrometers part II

Abstract A general approach to the analysis and design of multisegment electrostatic time-of-flight spectrometers was presented previously. This approach is applied here to a number of commonly used time-of-flight spectrometer configurations. The timing and ion optics performance of each configuration are analyzed and discussed. Some suggestions regarding optimal designs are presented.
Expression of type VI collagen during glioblastoma cell invasion in brain tissue cultures

Human glioblastoma cells, U-87 MG, were utilized in two separate rat brain tissue culture systems. In both cases, the glioblastoma cells deeply penetrated and formed tumor masses inside the brain tissues. Immunofluorescence technique, utilizing anti-type VI collagen antibodies demonstrated strong immunoreactivity of type VI collagen in the tumor masses, invading cells, and cell groups. We suggest that type VI collagen may be involved in tumor cells infiltration and invasion of healthy rat brain tissues. Furthermore, the brain tissue culture method may provide a rapid in vitro model with which cellular and extracellular determinants of invasiveness may be studied.
PREVENTION OF ALCOHOL ABUSE-RELATED BIRTH EFFECTS — I. PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS

Maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy can result in a pattern of anomalies in children called 'fetal alcohol syndrome' (FAS) and more recently, 'fetal alcohol abuse syndrome (FAAS)'. FAAS as well as individual alcohol-related anomalies, called 'alcohol abuse-related buth effects' (AARBEs), are widely considered to be totally preventable, because they stem from a behaviour that is presumably modifiable. However, current strategies to reduce their occurrence are more palliative than preventive, because their underlying premise, viz. that raising public awareness of the potential dangers of commonly used substances such as alcohol is enough to reduce their use, lacks empirical support. Moreover, in some cases they are also counter-productive. After considering the relevant literature, this review contends that 'universal' public education efforts will only be effective in reducing FAAS and AARBEs if they focus on the cause of these disorders, which is alcohol abuse rather than the currently open-ended message that any amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy constitutes a danger to an unborn child. This argument lays the ground work for an alternative and more pragmatic strategy set forth in the following paper for preventing FAAS and AARBEs.
Operative techniques in robotic thoracic surgery for inferior or posterior mediastinal pathology

Objective Thoracic surgeons are performing robotic resections for anterior mediastinal tumors; however, tumors located in the posterior and especially the inferior chest can be difficult to approach robotically. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the robot for resection of these tumors. Methods We performed a retrospective review of the evolution and outcomes of our surgical technique for inferior or posterior mediastinal pathology. Results During a 30-month period, 153 patients underwent robotic surgery for pathology in the mediastinum, located in the inferior or posterior mediastinum in 75 of these patients. The most common indications for surgery were posterior mediastinal mass or lymph node in 41 patients, esophageal or bronchogenic cysts in 11 patients, esophageal leiomyoma in 7 patients, and diaphragmatic elevation in 7 patients. The median tumor size was 4.4 cm, and the median length of stay was 1 day. One patient was converted to thoracotomy, but no patients were converted for bleeding. Morbidity occurred in 9 patients (12%), major in 1 patient (a delayed esophageal leak after epiphrenic diverticulectomy). There was no mortality. Technical improvements included using robotic arm 3 posteriorly for retraction, side-docking, or coming over the back of the patient for tumors inferior to the inferior pulmonary vein and for diaphragmatic plication and using the lateral decubitus position for extraction of tumors larger than 3 cm via an access port over the tenth rib above the diaphragmatic fibers. Conclusions The robot affords safe access using a completely portal approach for resection of and surgical intervention for inferior and posterior chest pathology and for anterior tumors. Specific techniques can be used to improve the operation.
Role of Hemodynamics in Initiation of Aneurysmal Remodeling

Hemodynamic insult has long been speculated to be a key factor in intracranial aneurysm (IA) formation,1 but the specifics of hemodynamic insult contributing to this process are not understood. Despite other risk factors, IAs are predominantly found at locations associated with unique hemodynamic stress such as at the apices of arterial bifurcations or outer curves, prominent in high wall shear stress (WSS) and wall shear stress gradients (WSSG).2 Furthermore, it appears that increased flow at these locations is required to trigger the initiation of aneurysmal remodeling.3 We have previously shown that increasing flow in the rabbit basilar artery (BA), secondary to common carotid artery (CCA) ligation, resulted in nascent aneurysm development at the basilar terminus (BT).4 However, it is unclear if certain hemodynamic stress thresholds must be exceeded to trigger aneurysmal remodeling, and whether sustained insult is necessary.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Influence of Structure on Electron Correlation Effects and Electron−Water Dispersion Interactions in Anionic Water Clusters

Electronic structure calculations at the level of second-order Moller−Plesset perturbation theory have been performed on anionic water clusters, (H 2O) n −, in the n = 14−33 size regime. The contribution to the electron binding energy that arises from electron correlation is found to be significantly larger for cavity-bound electrons than it is for surface-bound electrons, even for surface states with electron binding energies well above 1 eV. A decomposition of the correlation energy into interactions between pairs of Boys-localized molecular orbitals is used to demonstrate that the larger correlation energy found in the cavity isomers arises from electron−water dispersion interactions, and that the dispersion interaction is larger in cavity-bound isomers because the unpaired electron penetrates well beyond the first solvation shell. In contrast, a surface-bound electron exhibits virtually no penetration into the interior of the cavity. To obtain a qualitatively accurate picture of this phenomenon, one m...