cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanistic evaluation of fatigue cracking in asphalt pavements

AbstractOver the last several decades, significant research has been conducted to predict the fatigue cracking performance of asphalt pavements. Recently, the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage (S-VECD) model was developed as an efficient method of characterising the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures under a wide range of loading conditions. Two important material properties that can be determined from the S-VECD model are the damage characteristic curve that defines how damage evolves in a specimen and the energy-based failure criterion that defines when the specimen fails. These two material functions are unique for a given mixture regardless of temperature, mode of loading, stress/strain amplitude and loading history. This study presents the application of the Layered Viscoelastic Crirtical Distresses (LVECD) programme to predict the fatigue performance of 18 pavement sections from different locations in the United States and Canada. The capability of the LVECD programme to capture crack in...
Psychiatric Issues, Overview

Psychiatric illness is of considerable significance to all medical practice, especially gastroenterology. The brain and gut share common neurotransmitters and a complex communication network. Historically, many structural gastrointestinal disorders were presumed to have psychosomatic origins, although empirical evidence for this is lacking. On the other hand, functional gastrointestinal disorders are highly associated with psychopathology, but the exact mechanisms behind this association are unclear. The recent reframing of functional gastrointestinal disorders as disorders of gut–brain interaction highlights the importance of the brain–gut axis for future research.
Species Composition and Age Structure of Remains of Hyraxes (Hyracoidea: Procaviidae) at Nests of Black Eagles

Hyraxes ( Procavia capensis and Heterohyrax brucei ) constitute the nearly exclusive prey of the black eagle ( Aquila verreauxii ) in the Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe. Skulls and mandibles of hyraxes were collected from within and beneath nests of 40 black eagles from October 1991 to May 1992. Skulls and mandibles of Heterohyrax were represented significantly more often ( P < 0.01) at eagle nests than those of the equally abundant but larger Procavia . About 68% of Procavia and 86% of Heterohyrax fragments of skulls and mandibles collected were those of adults. Differential susceptibility of hyraxes to predation can be explained in part by their comparative accessibilities and sizes as prey for optimally foraging black eagles.
Influence of Long-Term Furosemide Use on Bone Mineral Content, Bone Metabolism Markers, and Water Weight Loss in Horses.

Abstract Furosemide is used to reduce the incidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racehorses. Previous research suggests furosemide negatively impacts calcium balance, which may have long-term implications for bone health. Eleven healthy horses, either control (CON, n = 5) or treatment (FUR, n = 6), were used to test furosemide’s effects on bone mineral content (BMC), bone metabolism biomarkers, and weight loss after administration. Treatment horses received IV furosemide at 1 mg⋅kg−1 BW once weekly for seven weeks, and blood was collected before and at 24 hours after administration for biomarker analysis. All horses were weighed before and at 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours after administration. Radiographs of the left third metacarpal were taken every 28 days for BMC determination using radiographic bone aluminum equivalence. After administration, FUR lost more BW than CON (P .10). No treatment effects were observed for BMC nor pyridinoline and osteocalcin concentrations (P > .10). Reduced BW changes over time in FUR but not CON warrant further investigation to establish the efficacy of frequent furosemide administration over long periods of time.
Evolutionary characteristics on S genes of SARS-CoVs in 2004

To reveal the relation between evolution of S genes in SARS-CoVs and epidemic of SARS by means of analyzing the genetic variation of SARS-CoVs in 2004,the S genes of SARS-CoVs(2 in human,10 in HPC) sequenced from Guangdong province were detected and others were collected from GenBank,which were analyzed with DNAstar5.0,and compared with the differences among S genes.The molecular evolution in speed was carried out by way of analyzing the clinical data.There were amino acid substitutions in S gene of all 17 strains in 2004,with 35 amino acid substitutions in different strains,and there was one more glycoprotein domain in No 227 amino acid in entire human SARS-CoVs.In the synonymous variation,the evolutionary rate in S gene was 1.46×10~(-6) and the evolutionay linear regression equation was Y=1.46×10~(-6)X+0.000736.The evolution on s gene remarkably resulted from the selective pressure as showing in Ka value.Seventeen strains in 2004 were evolutionally divided into two ways,in which the homology between human GZ0401 and HPC PC4-115 was 99.97% in nucleotide sequence and 100% in amino acid sequence.Increase of one glycoprotein domain in S gene in SARS-CoV might possibly result in emergence and outbreak of SARS.There exists cross-host in human and HPC between the human SARS-CoV and HPC coronavirus.S gene in the synonymous variation is 4.2 times slower than HA_(1) gene of in fluenza but the selective pressure on S gene significantly exists in biological evolution.
Clinical and experimental observations with methiodal, an absorbable myelographic contrast agent

The intrathecal iniectuni of methiodal in myelography is associated with spinal anesthesia, pain, and autonomic dysfunction. Experiments carried out in cats revealed that methiodal blocked conduction in the ventral and dorsal route fibers, an action which did not develop in peripheral nerves. Other experiments in cats indicated that the duration of the effects on conduction is a consequence of slow removal of the drug rather than of delayed recovery. The results of these experiments are taken to indicate that the effects of methiodal may be ascribed to an action on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
Redox and Radical Reactions of Hemoglobin Solutions: Toxicities and Protective Strategies

The opinions and assertions contained herein are the scientific views of the author and are not to be construed as policy of the United States Food and Drug Administration .
Dietary and supplemental long-chain n3 fatty acids and incident type 2 diabetes

Numerous studies have shown beneficial effects of dietary intake of fatty fish and seafood as well as long-chain n–3 fatty acid supplement use on coronary heart disease (CHD) and some risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Results are inconsistent for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Five meta-analyses, including up to 26 observational studies, have been published about the relation of fish and/or long-chain n–3 fatty acid consumption and risk of developing T2D; while no human intervention studies have been conducted testing the effectiveness of dietary or supplemental n–3 fatty acids on reducing the risk of T2D. Results of the main effects analysis showed no relation between dietary fish or n–3 fatty acids intakes with incident T2D. However, in subgroup analysis by geographic region, Asian consumers of n–3 fatty acids were at lower risk of developing T2D than Asian non-consumers; while no relation was observed in individuals living in western countries (USA and Europe).
The Growing Economic Role of China in Africa: The Case of the Democratic Republic of Congo

The economic rapprochement between China and African countries has become the subject of debates in various intellectual forums. While most African leaders welcome China’s involvement in various development projects, some western officials and scholars are critical of this economic relationship. For the past 16 years, since the first China–Africa forum held in 2000, China has been carrying out projects under the agreements signed with various African countries. The positive outcomes of the Chinese investments in most countries are still elusive as far as the welfare of the masses is concerned. This chapter examines the factors that determine China’s policy toward Africa in general and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in particular. While endorsing African countries’ right to diversify their trading partners, the chapter highlights some impediments that affect the successful economic partnership between China and the DRC.
Physician EHR Adoption and Potentially Preventable Hospital Admissions among Medicare Beneficiaries: Panel Data Evidence, 2010-2013.

Objective To test for correlation between the growth in adoption of ambulatory electronic health records (EHRs) in the United States during 2010–2013 and hospital admissions and readmissions for elderly Medicare beneficiaries with at least one of four common ambulatory care–sensitive conditions (ACSCs). Data Sources SKA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse Geographic Variation Database for 2010 through 2013. Study Design Fixed effects model estimated the relationship between hospital referral region (HRR) level measures of physician EHR adoption and ACSC admissions and readmissions. Analyzed rates of admissions and 30-day readmissions per beneficiary at the HRR level (restricting the denominator to beneficiaries in our sample), adjusted for differences across HRRs in Medicare beneficiary age, gender, and race. Calculated physician EHR adoption rates as the percentage of physicians in each HRR who report using EHR in ambulatory care settings. Principal Findings Each percentage point increase in market-level EHR adoption by physicians is correlated with a statistically significant decline of 1.06 ACSC admissions per 10,000 beneficiaries over the study period, controlling for the overall time trend as well as market fixed effects and characteristics that changed over time. This finding implies 26,689 fewer ACSC admissions in our study population during 2010 to 2013 that were related to physician ambulatory EHR adoption. This represents 3.2 percent fewer ACSC admissions relative to the total number of such admissions in our study population in 2010. We found no evidence of a correlation between EHR use, by either physicians or hospitals, and hospital readmissions at either the market level or hospital level. Conclusions This study extends knowledge about EHRs' relationship with quality of care and utilization. The results suggest a significant association between EHR use in ambulatory care settings and ACSC admissions that is consistent with policy goals to improve the quality of ambulatory care for patients with chronic conditions. The null findings for readmissions support the need for improved interoperability between ambulatory care EHRs and hospital EHRs to realize improvements in readmissions.
Enhanced flowering of the F1 long-day strawberry cultivars ‘Tarpan’ and ‘Gasana’ with nitrogen and daylength management

Interest in sustainable self-sufficiency, particularly when considering produce has increased. Strawberries, especially particularly the seed propagated, long-day, F1 hybrids such as ‘Tarpan’ and ‘Gasana’, fit self-sufficient, sustainable production models well. They provide aesthetic as well as culinary benefits producing colorful, attractive blossoms and flavorful fruit. To determine if ‘Tarpan’ and ‘Gasana’ flowering would respond to photoperiod and nitrogen, seedlings were fertilized with 100 or 800 ppm nitrogen for 4 weeks in September beginning one week after exposure to either short days, the natural photoperiod, or long days, the natural photoperiod supplemented with 24 hours of incandescent radiation. Plants were then greenhouse forced under both photoperiods and floral phenology evaluated. Photoperiod and N fertility during floral initiation in September affected subsequent flowering of both cultivars. The response was rapid with significant differences observed 4 weeks after the commencement of treatment. Both cultivars responded with increased rate (enhanced precocity) and intensity (enhanced inflorescence/flower number) of flowering with elevated N. In ‘Gasana’ elevated N accelerated flowering by 2–3 weeks. There was a slight acceleration of flowering in lower N plants with long-day forcing, however, elevated N was much more effective in accelerating flowering than long-day forcing. In ‘Tarpan’, long-day forcing and elevated N were equally effective in accelerating flowering. Inflorescence production per plant or crown and the number of flowers per plant were enhanced with elevated N in both cultivars. Long-day forcing stimulated the number of inflorescences produced per crown in both cultivars. The number of flowers per plant in ‘Tarpan’ was also enhanced by long-day initiation or forcing. Elevated N, short-day initiation or long-day forcing enhanced the number of flowers per inflorescence in ‘Gasana’. Elevated N under long-day initiation or under short-day initiation when followed by long-day forcing enhanced the number of flowers per inflorescence in ‘Tarpan’.
Individual heterogeneity generating explosive system network dynamics

Individual heterogeneity is a key characteristic of many real-world systems, from organisms to humans. However, its role in determining the system's collective dynamics is not well understood. Here we study how individual heterogeneity impacts the system network dynamics by comparing linking mechanisms that favor similar or dissimilar individuals. We find that this heterogeneity-based evolution drives an unconventional form of explosive network behavior, and it dictates how a polarized population moves toward consensus. Our model shows good agreement with data from both biological and social science domains. We conclude that individual heterogeneity likely plays a key role in the collective development of real-world networks and communities, and it cannot be ignored.
Hispanic Paradox in Adult Mortality in the United States

This chapter provides an update to our earlier review on the Hispanic paradox in adult mortality (Markides and Eschbach 2005). We focus primarily on manuscripts published beginning in 2005. As in our earlier review, we concentrate on mortality at adult and older ages. When relevant, however, we will draw on recent literature examining other outcomes, such as disability, health behaviors, medical conditions, and mental health.
Problem-based learning in residency education: a novel implementation using a simulator.

Background. We developed a problem-based learning exercise with a full-scale human patient simulator to teach residents the emergency management and differential diagnosis of acute intraoperative hypotension. Methods.We developed the exercise through the following steps: clear definition of learning objectives, preparation of an appropriate case stem, development of clinically realistic scenarios to illustrate objectives, and an interactive instructor to stimulate discussion. Results. The exercise focused on the differential diagnosis of intraoperative hypotension, and the acute treatment of hypovolemia, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, and anaphylaxis. Conclusions. Exercises on a full-scale patient simulator are a natural extension of problem-based learning. Recent research in learning theory provides the rationale for this teaching modality's potential as a learning tool.
Introducing Open Collaboration in the Public Sector: The Case of Social Coding on Github

Open collaboration has evolved as a new venue for innovation creation in the public sector. Government organizations are using online platforms to crowdsource and coproduce public sector innovations with the help of external and internal problem solvers. Most recently the U.S. federal government has allowed agencies to collaboratively create and share open source code on the social coding platform Github. A community of government employees is sharing open source code for website development, data sources, but also draft policy documents on Github. Quantitative data extracted from Github’s application programming interface is used to analyze the social network relationships between contributors to government code and the international reuse of open government tools developed on Github. Open collaboration, a concept known in open source communities outside of government is introduced to the public sector context. In addition, qualitative interviews with government contributors in this social coding environment provide practical insights into new forms of co-development of open source code and policy drafting in the public sector.
Intradural Juvenile Xanthogranuloma with Involvement of Multiple Nerve Roots: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a rare, non-Langerhans cell histiocytic disorder that primarily presents as multiple cutaneous lesions in young males. Solitary lesions in the spinal column are an especially rare presentation of this disease, and central nervous system involvement can portend a poor prognosis. We report an unusual case of an adult woman with an unresectable JXG of the lumbar spine. A review of the reported cases of thoracolumbar JXG and the current data regarding diagnosis and treatment are presented. Case Description A 28-year-old woman presented with back pain and worsening lower extremity pain, numbness, and weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an enhancing lumbar mass. However, at surgery, no discrete mass was identified. Multiple roots were grossly enlarged, and electrical stimulation identified the L4 root with the most abnormal findings. Despite an attempt at debulking, most of the mass could not be safely removed. The patient experienced incomplete improvement of the symptoms postoperatively but elected to forgo chemotherapy. The 3-month follow-up imaging study showed active lumbar spinal disease, and imaging and follow-up examinations at 27 months revealed no changes. Her symptoms were satisfactorily controlled with conservative therapy. Conclusions JXG of the spine is a rare disease with nonspecific clinical and radiographic findings that can make it difficult to diagnose and dictates the use of immunohistochemical staining. If possible, total surgical resection will offer the best outcomes; however, other modalities such as chemotherapy can be viable alternatives or adjuvant modalities.
Augmented Reality: Creating and Implementing Digital Classroom Supports:

Augmented reality (AR) is an emerging technology that can help educators enhance their classrooms. With one-to-one initiatives and application (app) development creating affordable technology, teac...
REGAL: A Regionalization framework for school boundaries

Due to constant shifts in population and changing demographics, school boundary processes take place to make adjustments to school attendance zones. This spatial problem has multiple criteria like locations of schools, their capacity utilization, proximity, presence of geographical/ man-made barriers, etc. In this paper, we formulate the problem of designing school boundaries as a spatially-constrained clustering/ regionalization problem and propose an automated approach called REGAL for solving it. REGAL is two-stage framework that starts by creating a candidate solution with regard to domain constraints such as school locations and spatial contiguity. Then a local search method improves the quality of the candidate solution by optimizing population balance and compactness of school zones while satisfying problem constraints. Experimentally, we demonstrate the efficacy of the REGAL framework on actual datasets from two school districts in the US.
Recovery quality following a single post-anaesthetic dose of dexmedetomidine or romifidine in sevoflurane anaesthetised horses.

BACKGROUND: Post‐anaesthetic sedation is administered to horses to improve recovery quality from inhalant anaesthesia and reduce the risk of catastrophic injury. A single dose of dexmedetomidine for this purpose has not been evaluated clinically. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether dexmedetomidine improves recovery quality from sevoflurane anaesthesia compared to a previously studied dose of romifidine. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, masked clinical trial. METHODS: Ninety‐nine, adult, client‐owned horses anaesthetised for elective procedures completed the trial. Anaesthetic protocol was standardised. Horses were randomly assigned to receive either dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg bwt (D) or romifidine 20 mcg/kg bwt (R) intravenously at their first spontaneous breath in recovery. Recoveries were reviewed and independently assigned subjective visual analogue scale (VAS) scores (0‐100 mm, worst to best) for overall quality and standing ataxia scores (1‐4, none to severe) by two anaesthesiologists blinded to treatment group. Objective anaesthesia and recovery data were also recorded. Comparisons were made using the Chi‐square, Wilcoxon rank sum, linear models or Welch‐Satterthwaite two‐sample t‐test (P ≤ .05). Predictors of VAS score were analysed independent of treatment group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups except end‐tidal sevoflurane (FE´Sevo) concentration and post‐induction extra ketamine dosing. Including FE´Sevo and additional ketamine in the analysis as covariates, VAS scores and time to standing were not significantly different between groups. Increased age, not receiving a nerve block, increased duration of hypotension, and having a nervous temperament were significant predictors of VAS score. MAIN LIMITATIONS: No universal recovery scale exists for inter‐study comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: After sevoflurane anaesthesia, sedation with dexmedetomidine or romifidine provides clinically similar recovery time and quality.
The Winds of Change

dent of the AAGL. Instead of a personal array of selfcongratulatory platitudes, I would like to present you, the members of this association, with a catalog of the issues the Board and committees have been struggling with. I would also like to present a plan for action, a blueprint for how to make this organization all it can be. Let me begin by declaring that we have changed! The AAGL is going through an evolution, and you are a part of it. We are about to embark upon our third era. The first came with its inception. Dr. Jordan Phillips and his friends and disciples brought this organization into existence with little in the way of resources, but with a vision: to create a society that allowed those of us with a common interest—gynecologic endoscopy—to gather together and share ideas, to promote techniques, and to enhance the credibility of what was generally considered a rogue faction of gynecology. This was certainly accomplished. Endoscopy is now accepted by the mainstream, if not always practiced by it. Our ideas have been promoted by congresses, by courses worldwide, by publications, and finally by our own journal, which has risen to be the leading endoscopy journal in the world and by all accounts one of the 10 most influential journals in gynecology. The leadership of Dr. Phillips as Chairman of the Board for a quarter century raised the organization to financial and programmatic stability. Under the stewardship of Dr. Robert Hunt, charter editor-in-chief of the journal, we achieved a recognizable forum for our investigations and opinions. The association, being far smaller than the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and similar organizations, was able to move like a speedboat among battleships, maneuvering and adjusting quickly to changing trends and influences. That allowed us to respond rapidly to remain at the cutting
Navigating the Use of Microcredentials

Given the complex roles of special educators, it is important that they be offered tailored professional development (PD) opportunities. Unfortunately, most PD tends to occur in “sit-and-get” forma...
Maintenance Immunosuppression in Solid Organ Transplantation: Integrating Novel Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers to Inform Calcineurin Inhibitor Dose Selection.

Calcineurin inhibitors, the primary immunosuppressive therapy used to prevent alloreactivity of transplanted organs, have a narrow therapeutic index. Currently, treatment is individualized based on clinical assessment of the risk of rejection or toxicity guided by trough concentration monitoring. Advances in immune monitoring have identified potential markers that may have value in understanding calcineurin inhibitor pharmacodynamics. Integration of these markers has the potential to complement therapeutic drug monitoring. Existing pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK–PD) data is largely limited to correlation between the biomarker and trough concentrations at single time points. Immune related gene expression currently has the most evidence supporting PK–PD integration. Novel biomarker-based approaches to pharmacodynamic monitoring including development of enhanced PK–PD models are proposed to realize the full clinical benefit.
Designing with Static Capabilities and Effects: Use, Mention, and Invariants (Pearl).

Capabilities (whether object or reference capabilities) are fundamentally tools to restrict effects. Thus static capabilities (object or reference) and effect systems take different technical machinery to the same core problem of statically restricting or reasoning about effects in programs. Any time two approaches can in principle address the same sets of problems, it becomes important to understand the trade-offs between the approaches, how these trade-offs might interact with the problem at hand. Experts who have worked in these areas tend to find the trade-offs somewhat obvious, having considered them in context before. However, this kind of design discussion is often written down only implicitly as comparison between two approaches for a specific program reasoning problem, rather than as a discussion of general trade-offs between general classes of techniques. As a result, it is not uncommon to set out to solve a problem with one technique, only to find the other better-suited. We discuss the trade-offs between static capabilities (specifically reference capabilities) and effect systems, articulating the challenges each approach tends to have in isolation, and how these are sometimes mitigated. We also put our discussion in context, by appealing to examples of how these trade-offs were considered in the course of developing prior systems in the area. Along the way, we highlight how seemingly-minor aspects of type systems - weakening/framing and the mere existence of type contexts - play a subtle role in the efficacy of these systems.
Culture and gender in entrepreneurial teams: the effect on team processes and outcomes

This study examines the role of culture in the interplay between female participation in entrepreneurial teams, team processes, and outcomes using stereotype activation, social categorization, and identity theories. Our analysis of 64 entrepreneurial teams including members from 20 countries reveals that team reflexivity mediates the relationship between the proportion of women in a team and a team’s access to resources. This effect is further enhanced when team members are from countries with a more favorable national perception of women’s entrepreneurship. Our findings further demonstrate how the proportion of women in a team and cultural perceptions towards women’s entrepreneurship can impact the quality of team processes and, consequently, a team’s access to resources. We conclude by discussing the implications of our results on women entrepreneurship, new venture teams, and culture research.
Black Box FDA Warnings and Legal Implications

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is broadly charged with ensuring food, drug, device, and cosmetic safety for products marketed and sold in the United States. This chapter describes the FDA’s role in anesthesia practice by way of a particular type of practice advisory called a boxed warning or “black box” warning. There are several drugs in anesthetic practice that have these warnings, and clinicians should be aware of the reasons underlying the existence of boxed warnings for these drugs.
Economic Analysis of Political Problems

My main contentions are (1) social choice processes differ in their logical structures; economics deals with one category (“aggregation”), political science with another (“politics”); (2) aggregation processes are analyzable in terms of a general deductive theory and equilibrium models, whereas political processes are not; (3) except for exchange in the market, concrete choice processes rarely involve aggregation; (4) the conceptual framework used in analyzing aggregation processes—a utilitarian one—is unsuitable for normative purposes and insufficient for conditionally normative ones; and (5) there is need to study various social choice processes as mechanisms for realizing various conceptions of social welfare.
Order Semantics of Recursion

The task of the next three chapters is to better understand the abstract principles underlying the ideas associated with recursive definitions of partial functions as presented in Chapter 5 and to thereby elevate the theory to a wide class of semantic categories.
Effect of Polymer Conjugation Site on Stability and Self-Assembly of Coiled Coils

Conjugation of proteins with polymers has emerged as a new design technique to produce hybrid block copolymers with tailored hierarchical structures and desirable functionalities as well as greater stability. However, due to the sequence and chemistry dependence of the conjugation effects, it remains challenging to understand the overall effect of the location of polymer conjugation on supramolecular organization. As a step toward addressing this issue, here, we report coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of the supramolecular organization of coiled coil assemblies with terminal and side-chain conjugated alpha-helices. Our simulations indicate that helicity and thermal stability are preserved for both side and end polymer conjugation, but the steric hindrance by polymer chains influences the aggregation patterns of coiled coils in different ways, depending on the conjugation location. The aggregation number of assembled clusters decreases upon polymer conjugation, and this effect is more pronounced for side conjugation compared to end conjugation. Our results explain recent experimental findings on peptide-polymer conjugates and lay the groundwork for the design of protein assemblies with enhanced thermomechanical stability and controlled aggregation behavior in different environmental conditions.
Perverse Supply Response in the Liberian Mining Sector

Under neoclassical assumptions, and the usual ceteris paribus stipulations, a profit maximizing firm is expected to increase production in response to rising prices. These situations normally produce the rather well-known upward sloping supply curve for the firm which can usually be generalized to the industry. This paper examines whether these situations held for firms in the iron ore mining sector in Liberia between 1951 and 1985 under a system where royalties were levied on the per unit level of production and on the basis of the price of the ore. It investigates whether iron ore mining companies have an incentive to increase ore production when prices are low to attract lower total royalty payments under conditions where: (a) base-mining operations are vertically integrated and firms employ transfer pricing between mining and upstream processing entities and (b) large quantities of ore can be shipped at relatively low prices and held in inventory either as ore or added-value products, such as steel, to take advantage of higher prices in the future. The paper specifies and estimates two simple linear supply models of the Liberian iron ore industry. It uses data for 1951-1985, the period for which the most consistent and reliable data exist prior to the start of the 14-year conflict in 1989. The analysis finds that the price coefficient estimates from both models are robust but negative and suggest that a perverse response in the supply behavior of mining companies in Liberia over the period 1951-1985 cannot be ruled out.
Hypersonic aerodynamics at North Carolina State University

Hypersonic Aerodynamics has attracted outstanding graduate students and faculty at NCSU. It has grown to 6 faculty and 32 graduate students for fall, 1988. A significant feature of the program is that students and faculty spend time at government laboratories which currently include NASA Langley Research Center, Naval Surface Warfare Center at Silver Spring, and the Wright Aeronautical Laboratories. Research projects include analysis, computational and experimental aerodynamics. The combined program produces graduates with the background needed to perform aerodynamics investigations of hypersonic aircraft and spacecraft. The research performed helps advance the state of the art as well as assist government laboratories in meeting their goals.
The Interstellar Medium around Wolf-Rayet Stars: Clues to Evolution

Multi-wavelength investigations of the interstellar environment around WR stars using IUE, IRAS, and optical data have led to the discovery of extended shells of gas and dust 50-100 pc in diameter in the lines of sight to the WR stars HD 50896, HD 96548, and HD 192163. These three stars share several common characteristics: (1) associated N- and He-enriched ring nebula, (2) spectral class WN5-8, and (3) spectral and photometric variability. Surveys of IUE spectra and IRAS images reveal a few additional candidates for such extended shells. Although positional coincidences cannot be excluded, possible origins of these extended shells include interstellar bubbles formed by stellar winds, non-conservative mass loss from binary systems, and supernova remnants. Current data suggest these three stars may be in a post X-ray binary stage, representing the second WR phase of massive binary star evolution. The discovery of extended shells of gas and dust possibly related to WR stars is important because the search for stars in the second WR phase, after the supernova of the primary, has been quite elusive. However, the observational evidence and available theoretical models for post-supernova massive binary star evolution and subsequent non-conservative mass transfer are not yet sufficient to firmly identify the origins of these extended shells.
Studies on rat sympathetic neurons developing in cell culture. III. Cholinergic transmission.

Abstract Principal neurons were dissociated from the superior cervical ganglia of newborn rats and grown in culture with several types of non-neuronal cells. As described in the second paper of this series, the neurons in such mixed cultures formed two types of excitatory synapses with each other, electrical and chemical. Evidence is presented here that transmission at the chemical synapses was cholinergic. Four nicotinic ganglionic blocking agents (curare, hexamethonium, tetraethylammonium, and mecamylamine) strongly attenuated or eliminated the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (e.p.s.p.'s) at moderate concentrations; atropine at relatively high concentrations also blocked transmission. Iontophoretic application of acetylcholine (ACh) to the surface of the neurons gave rise to depolarizations that could be made to resemble the e.p.s.p.'s in size and time course; the ACh potentials and the e.p.s.p.'s were then similarly affected by nicotinic blocking agents. The sensitivity to ACh was often distributed nonuniformly on the neuronal surface; it was common to find small, sharply localized regions of high sensitivity. Catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine) had only inhibitory actions; in a few experiments adrenergic blocking agents (phenoxybenzamine, propranolol) were found to have no effect on the e.p.s.p.'s. These observations leave no doubt that the neurons released ACh and had ganglionic, nicotinic ACh receptors on their surfaces. The significance of the fact that a high proportion of the sympathetic neurons in mixed cultures formed cholinergic synapses is discussed.
Differential response to microbial antigens by age of diagnosis in patients with Crohn’s disease

PURPOSE Fifteen percent of incident Crohn's disease (CD) cases are diagnosed at older ages and demonstrate colonic location and inflammatory behavior. Serologic responses to gut microbial antigens are associated with specific phenotypes, and may differ by age at diagnosis. Our aim was to identify an association between age at diagnosis of CD and responses to gut microbial antigens. PATIENTS AND METHODS Levels of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) immunoglobulins A and G (IgA and IgG), antibodies to Escherichia coli outer membrane porin-C (anti-Omp-C), antibodies to clostridial flagellin (anti-CBir-1), and perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) were compared in patients by age in three diagnosis groups: patients diagnosed at ages of <40, ≥40-59, and ≥60 years. For each antigen, patients with antibody levels in the first, second, third, and fourth quartile were assigned a score of 1, 2, 3, or 4, respectively. Individual scores were added to create a quartile sum score representing cumulative quantitative immune response. RESULTS Eighteen, 17, and 12 patients were diagnosed at ages <40, 40-59, and ≥60 years, respectively. The majority (71%) had ileocolonic disease in the youngest group, compared to 36% in the oldest group (P=0.001). Mean ASCA IgA and IgG titers were increased in the youngest age group compared to the older groups (P=0.19 and P=0.13, respectively). Mean quartile sum scores for antibody levels were 7.2±2.8 in those patients diagnosed at ages <40 years, 4.9±2.9 in the 40-59-year-old age group, and 5.6±2.6 in the ≥60-year-old age group (P=0.06). CONCLUSION A trend toward decreased cumulative immune responses to CD-associated gut antigens was observed in CD patients diagnosed at older ages compared to younger patients. Host responses to microbial antigens may be less important in older onset IBD and may contribute to the distinct phenotype in this group.
Benefit of Early Palliative Care Intervention in End-Stage Liver Disease Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation

Abstract Background Patients with end-stage liver disease have a predictable and progressive decline in their quality of life because of physical symptoms and psychological distress. Early palliative care intervention (EPCI) correlates with better symptom control and mood. We aimed to improve symptomatology and mood in liver transplant candidates by implementing a longitudinal multidisciplinary EPCI. Measures Depression level and symptom burden were assessed with Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and a modified liver-specific Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scale. Intervention All patients referred for liver transplant evaluation between July 2013 and May 2014 were scheduled for EPCI. Outcomes After EPCI, 50% of moderate-to-severe symptoms improved ( P P = 0.003). Notably, patients with more symptoms showed a greater improvement in Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale scores ( P = 0.001). Conclusions/Lessons Learned Implementation of EPCI improved symptom burden and mood in end-stage liver disease patients awaiting transplant.
TdC20. High speed opto-electronic non-destructive readout prom ferroelectric thin film capacitors

Abstract Polarization dependent photoresponse from ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PbZr0. 53Ti0. 47O3) thin films sandwiched between metal electrodes in a capacitor configuration is reported. This phenomenon has potential application as a non-destructive readout(NDRO) of nonvolatile polarization state of thin film ferroelectric memories. High speed readout using laser pulses with full width at half maximum of ∼10ns, at 532 nm wavelength is demonstrated. The polarization direction of the ferroelectric capacitor is reflected in the direction of the photocurrent response. The rise time of the photocurrent response is as fast as 25 ns and the relaxation time is fraction of a microsecond. The readout signal from individual polarized elements is repeated over a million times with no detectable degradation in the photoresponse or the remanent polarization as verified independently by the conventional destructive readout technique. In principle, both electronic as well as thermal mechanisms could be trigge...
Rough‐and‐tumble play and social problem solving flexibility

Abstract There were three goals in this study: To determine the relation between boys’ temperament and rough‐and‐tumble (RT to determine the group composition of RT and to determine the extent to which the vigor and flexibility components of R&T are related to social affiliation and social problem solving flexibility. Thirteen sociometrically defined popular boys, with a mean age of 114 months, were observed on their school playground during recess for 20 sessions. Additionally, they nominated peers they liked most and least, ordered peers in terms of dominance, and solved hypothetical social problems. Teachers completed temperament questionnaires. Results indicated that R&T groups were similar to other social groupings in terms of number and dominance symmetry. The flexibility dimension of R&T, but not vigor, was related to affiliation and social problem solving. Temperament was minimally associated with measures of behavior. Results are ...
THE EFFECT OF HYDRALAZINE (APRESOLINE) ON COLLAGEN SYNTHESIS IN CARRAGEENIN GRANULOMAS.

Hydralazine causes an increase in the various collagen fractions, neutral-salt, acid, and insoluble in carrageenin granulomas in guinea pigs. It is of interest that hydralazine, diphenyl hydantoin and isonicotinic acid hydrazide, all of which may be associated with SLE are capable of stimulating collagen formation. Hydralazina causa un augmento del varie fractiones de collageno—neutre, salin, acide, e insolubile—in granulomas a carrageenina in porcos de India. Il es de interesse que hydralazina, hydantoina diphenylic, e acido isonicotinic hydrazida—le quales es omnes associate con disseminate lupus erythematose—es capace de stimular le formation de collageno.
Evidence for temporally changing mechanical stratigraphy and effects on joint-network architecture

Previous studies of jointing in sedimentary rocks have shown that joint-network archi- tecture is controlled by mechanical stratigraphy, which is described by (1) the thickness and rigidity of stratigraphic units and (2) the nature of interfaces between beds. Using joint pattern to infer rigidity contrast between beds is complicated by the possibility that material properties of the beds may change between fracturing events. Observation of both an early bed-contained joint set and a differently oriented late throughgoing joint set in the same beds of growth strata in the Oliana anticline in the Spanish Pyrenees may reflect changing mechanical properties (i.e., via diagenesis) during the folding process. Using a Schmidt hammer, we assess the rigidity contrast between the individual units and show that the present-day contrast is not great enough to terminate joints at interfaces. This result is consistent with an interpretation that the late-stage throughgoing joints formed in strata with conditions similar to those of the present day and that the early bed-contained joints formed when the rigidity contrast between beds was significantly greater than that of the present day. For example, differential diagenesis rates between layers of differing grain size would produce temporally changing mechanical stratigraphy. We propose that changes in mechanical stratigraphy may have previously been unrec- ognized in other stratigraphic sections and that these changes affect joint-network archi- tecture and subsequent fluid-flow pathways.
The Social Competence of Identical Twins

(1942). The Social Competence of Identical Twins. The Pedagogical Seminary and Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 167-175.
Atomic Force Microscopy of Geroler Motor Wear Debris Ferrograms

Hydraulic motors convert the flow produced by a hydraulic pump into rotary motion. These motors are often used to propel skid steers, excavators, loaders, feller bunchers, and other heavy equipment. While hydraulic pumps operate under relatively constant high-speed conditions, motors frequently come to a complete stop and reverse direction, particularly when the payload is engaged. As a result, hydraulic motors operate under boundary lubrication conditions which can promote wear-particle generation. In this study we examined wear particles generated by a geroler-type hydraulic motor under high-load conditions using online particle counters, direct-imaging laser particle analysis, ferrography, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Relatively high quantities of particles were discharged from the hydraulic motor case drain and return-line during the first 30 min of break-in. After 30 min, the particle count decreased to an ISO 17/15/12 level. At the end of the 6-h break-in process case drain samples were approximately four-times cleaner than return-line samples. Under low-speed and high-speed, high-torque conditions, case drain samples were also very clean. Return-line particle counts were five-times higher at 1 rpm than at 450 rpm. Ferrographic analysis revealed that most of the wear particles were less than 15 μm in longest dimension and therefore may be classified as “normal” wear. AFM imaging of ferrograms was performed in contact and tapping mode using a phosphorus doped silicon probe that had a 10 nm tip radius. The largest particles produced during low-speed, high-torque operation tended to be a few hundred nanometers longer and thicker than those produced under milder break-in conditions. Ferrography proved to be a particularly useful method for preparing wear particles for AFM analysis because the ferrogram substrate is flat in the submicron range.
kNN-based adaptive virtual reality game system

There is an increasing awareness that more and more students are not able to achieve learning successfully in a “one-size-fit-all” model with minimal, identical instructions to every student in a given class. Our research contention is that offering differentiated instructions that better fit students' educational needs in a narrative virtual reality (VR) environment will give them renewed hope for learning success. Therefore, the paper presents an adaptive VR game framework based on kNN classification. The system monitors the player's in-game behavior, collects a corpus of his actions to systematically assess his domain knowledge and potential difficulties, and responsively provides explicit or in situ support that is precisely tailored to his needs. An empirical evaluation demonstrates that the kNN-based game system accurately predicts players' domain knowledge levels on which it offers differentiated instructions to guide them through the problem-solving in the game.
Development of the Black Widow Micro Air Vehicle

This paper describes the development of the Black Widow Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) over the past 4 years. An MAV has generally been defined as having a span of less than 6 inches, and a mass of less than 100 grams. The Black Widow is a 6-inch span, fixed-wing aircraft with a color video camera that downlinks live video to the pilot. It flies at 30 mph, with an endurance of 30 minutes, and a maximum communications range of 2 km. The vehicle has an autopilot, which features altitude hold, airspeed hold, heading hold, and yaw damping. The electronic subsystems are among the smallest and lightest in the world, including a 2gram camera, a 2-gram video downlink transmitter, and a 5-gram fully proportional radio control system with 0.5-gram actuators. A Multidisciplinary Design Optimization methodology with a genetic algorithm was used to integrate the MAV subsystems and optimize the vehicle for maximum endurance. Some of the potential missions for MAVs are visual reconnaissance, situational awareness, damage assessment, surveillance, biological or chemical agent sensing, and communications relay. In addition to these military missions, there are several commercial applications, such as search and rescue, border patrol, air sampling, police surveillance, and field research.