cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How do uniformity and flexibility in classification standards affect cash flow statement comparability

I examine the conditions under which uniformity or flexibility in cash flow classification standards affects the comparability of cash flow statement information. The discretion afforded by flexible standards can better reflect differences among underlying transactions, while uniform standards can better constrain managerial reporting opportunism. I exploit differences in flexibility permitted under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in classifying cash interest paid, and interest and dividends received. I find that holding constant classification opportunism, cash flow information is more comparable under flexible than uniform classification standards, when cash flows are more heterogeneous in nature relative to peers. Further, I show that classification flexibility impairs comparability when firms have greater opportunistic classification incentives. To my knowledge, this is the first study to directly examine the comparability effect of different cash flow classification standards. This study also provides timely empirical evidence for IASB’s recent effort to improve cash flow statement comparability via changes in classification guidance.
Application of the Gravity Model of International Trade to the Brazilian Case

The gravity model of international trade has been found to provide accurate predictions relating to the quantity and reasons why countries trade with each other. In a simple model that is very similar to Newton’s law of gravitation, the gravity model predicts that nations will trade more with countries that have larger economies and with countries that are closer in distance – in the same way that objects feel greater attraction to more massive objects and objects that are closer in distance. This paper will further explain the gravity model and some of the potential variables that could also impact bilateral trade between two countries and limit the effectiveness of the gravity model through the use of current literature. An empirical section follows, in which data are tested for 167 of Brazil’s trading partners to see how effective the gravity model is at predicting trade volumes in this case. In the end, this paper concludes that the gravity model is sufficiently successful in predicting the trade volumes of Brazil and its trading partners for the test year of 2018.
The First Amendment, The Public-Private Distinction, and Nongovernmental Suppression of Wartime Political Debate

This article proposes a major expansion in the scope of First Amendment law and offers a fresh way of understanding the public-private distinction. It contends that the Supreme Court should invoke the First Amendment to enjoin nongovernmental behavior that substantially impedes public political debate during times of war and national emergency. As the article explains, the present campaign against international terrorism has seen employers, property owners, and media corporations restrict political discussion more frequently and aggressively than the government has. If political debate is the most important object of First Amendment protection - which the article contends it is - then all assaults on political debate offend the First Amendment. However, under the conventional limitation of constitutional law to state action, nongovernmental censors stand beyond the amendment's reach. To solve this dilemma, the article thoroughly analyzes and critiques the public-private distinction that undergirds the state action limitation in Constitutional Law. The article argues that courts should reconceive the distinction, which makes no sense in the abstract, as differentiating between institutions and natural persons. Such a reconception would allow courts to make nongovernmental institutions honor expressive rights, although some institutions - notably media organizations - would be able to present instrumental reasons for immunity from First Amendment obligations. The last part of the article proposes concrete standards for applying the First Amendment to the types of nongovernmental censorship that have occurred over the past two years.
The Reading Process

A sound knowledge of the psychological processes which underlie normal reading can be expected to facilitate an understanding of the causes of reading disability. This expectation is consistent with the fact that diagnosis and management of reading disabilities discussed in this book are explained within the framework of cognitive psychology and neuropsychology. Unfortunately, the information we have about the normal reading process is incomplete. There are several reasons for this. First, reading is an extremely complex mental operation. As Huey (1908) observed many years ago, to completely analyze what we do when we read would be almost the acme of all psychologists’ achievements. Second, psychologists very often study reading behavior as a means of understanding the fundamental cognitive processes and not because they are interested in reading per se. Finally, reading is not a unitary phenomenon; rather, there are several varieties of reading behavior and different kinds of readers: Careful reading is different from skimming and scanning; reading a novel is different from reading a textbook; and beginning readers are different from skilled readers. Depending upon the material being read and the purpose of reading, different subprocesses are likely to be brought into play.
Effects of Feature Selection with 'Blurring' on NeuroFuzzy Systems

Feature Selection is the problem of choosing a small subset of features that ideally is necessary and sufficient to describe the target concept. Feature selection is of paramount importance for any learning algorithm. We propose a new feature selection methodology based on the ‘Blurring’ measure, and empirically evaluate features selected through information-theoretic measures, stepwise multiple regression analyses, and the proposed method. We use neurofuzzy systems to compare the performance of these Feature Selection methods. Preliminary results using two data sets and the proposed Feature Selection method are promising.
The Ancient Quarrel Between Philosophy and Poetry

1. Socrates, Plato and the invention of the ancient quarrel 2. Aristotle, poetry and ethics 3. Plotinus, Augustine and strange sweetness 4. Boethius, Dionysius and the forms 5. Thomas, and some Thomists 6. Vico's new science 7. Kant and his students on the genius of nature 8. Hegel and the owl of Minerva 9. Kierkegaard: a poet, alas 10. Dilthey: poetry and the escape from metaphysics 11. Nietzsche, Heidegger and the saving power of poetry 12. Mikhail Bakhtin and novelistic consciousness.
A Panel of Price Indices for Housing Services, Other Goods, and All Goods for All Areas in the United States 1982-2010

This paper produces a panel of price indices for housing, other produced goods, and all produced goods for each metropolitan area in the United States and the non-metropolitan part of each state from 1982 through 2008 that can be used for estimating behavioral relationships, studying the workings of markets, and assessing differences in the economic circumstances of people living in different areas. Our general approach is to first produce cross-sectional price indices for a single year 2000 and then use BLS time-series price indices to create the panel. Our geographic housing price index for 2000 is based on a large data set with detailed information about the characteristics of dwelling units and their neighborhoods throughout the United States that enables us to overcome many shortcomings of existing interarea housing price indices. For most areas, our price index for all goods other than housing is calculated from the price indices for categories of non-housing goods produced each quarter by the Council for Community and Economic Research. In order to produce a non-housing price index for areas of the United States not covered by their index, we estimate a theoretically-based regression model explaining differences in the composite price index for non-housing goods for areas where it is available and use it to predict a price of other goods for the uncovered areas. The overall consumer price index for all areas is based on the preceding estimates of the price of housing and other goods. The paper also discusses existing interarea price indices available to researchers, and it compares the new housing price index with housing price indices based on alternative methods using the same data and price indices based on alternative data sets. Electronic versions of the price indices are available online.
Racial Homophily and Homogeneity as Post-Racial Commodification

This research critically investigates the current racialized labor practices that dominate one “reality TV” series dedicated to gay adult film celebrities. To accomplish this, I examine the complex ways in which racial homophily and homogeneity function as a consequence of executive decisions about profitability, ultimately reflecting prevailing market forces of conspicuous consumption by predominately (white) gay male audiences. This paper uses both political economic theory and textual analysis to interpret how the adult actors’ portrayals in this series work in tandem with the prevailing socioeconomic forces that eroticizes racial homogeneity at the expense of gay men of color whose appearance and existence at the periphery of the series is maintained and reinforced in an allegedly “post-racial” setting.
The minimal Tumor Suppressor in Lung Cancer-1 promoter is restrained by an inhibitory region

Tumor Suppressor in Lung Cancer-1 (TSLC1) expression is repressed in many different cancers. Hypermethylation of six CpG sites upstream of the TSLC1 coding region is correlated with TSLC1 repression. However, the functional elements of the TSLC1 promoter have not been examined. In this study, the transcription start site was identified as being 67 or 62 bp upstream of the translational start site by primer extension and bioinformatics analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs), respectively. Two promoter regions that regulate TSLC1 expression were identified. One, a small region of 170 bp, including 107 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site, is sufficient to generate maximal TSLC1 promoter activity. This minimal promoter does not contain the CpG sites that are hypermethylated in repressed TSLC1 promoters. Two, the maximal activity of the TSLC1 promoter is dampened by an inhibitory region that resides upstream of the minimal promoter.
Laser damage in silicon photodiodes

Thermal damage of silicon photodiodes exposed to intense optical radiation is investigated. Damage thresholds of Si photodiodes irradiated by 1.06μm laser pulses are reported for values of irradiation time,τ, ranging from 10−8 to 1s. Threshold laser irradiation produces visible microscopic damage and a permanent degradation in photoresponse. The loss of responsivity is associated with degradation of the detector diode characteristics due to laser-induced heating. The time and wavelength dependence agree with the predictions of a thermal model which treats a semi-infinite material irradiated by a Gaussian laser beam. The energy density thresholds are independent ofτ for short irradiation times and asymptotically approach a limiting behaviour which increases asτ for long times. They are given by the empirical relationE0=65[1+217τ/tan−1(258τ)1/2] J cm−2 for 1.06μm radiation. The thresholds at short irradiation times of detectors damaged by 1.06μm radiation are about 25 times larger than those of detectors exposed to 0.6943μm radiation. The greater susceptibility at 0.6943μm is attributed to a larger optical absorption coefficient.
A two-permeability approach for assessing flow properties in metal foam

One of the key properties for understanding the fluid flow and pressure drop in metal foam is the permeability. This paper investigates a non-traditional approach for evaluating this critical transport property by considering the physics of energy dissipation, i.e., the viscous dissipation and form drag and the fact that they are linked. The current work emphasizes the necessary initial step of clearly distinguishing between different flow regimes prior to evaluating the permeability. This distinction is usually either absent or overlooked in several previous studies, which may lead to significant errors. The approach presented in this study is applied to wind-tunnel steady-state unidirectional pressure-drop measurements for airflow through isotropic open-cell aluminum foam samples having different pore densities. The results show that the porous medium exhibits two different permeabilities—one is calculated and only valid in the Darcy regime, while the other is calculated and only valid in the Forchheimer regime.
Substrate specificity and kinetic mechanism of mammalian G9a histone H3 methyltransferase.

Abstract Lysine-specific murine histone H3 methyltransferase, G9a, was expressed and purified in a baculovirus expression system. The primary structure of the recombinant enzyme is identical to the native enzyme. Enzymatic activity was favorable at alkaline conditions (>pH 8) and low salt concentration and virtually unchanged between 25 and 42 °C. Purified G9a was used for substrate specificity and steady-state kinetic analysis with peptides representing un- or dimethylated lysine 9 histone H3 tails with native lysine 4 or with lysine 4 changed to alanine (K4AK9). In vitro methylation of the H3 tail peptide resulted in trimethylation of Lys-9 and the reaction is processive. The turnover number (kcat) for methylation was 88 and 32 h–1 on the wild type and K4AK9 histone H3 tail, respectively. The Michaelis constants for wild type and K4AK9 () were 0.9 and 1.0 μm and for S-adenosyl-l-methionine () were 1.8 and 0.6 μm, respectively. Comparable kinetic constants were obtained for recombinant histone H3. The conversion of K4AK9 di- to trimethyl-lysine was 7-fold slower than methyl group addition to unmethylated peptide. Preincubation studies showed that G9a-AdoMet and G9a-peptide complexes are catalytically active. Initial velocity data with peptide and S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) and product inhibition studies with S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine were performed to assess the kinetic mechanism of the reaction. Double reciprocal plots and preincubation studies revealed S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine as a competitive inhibitor to AdoMet and mixed inhibitor to peptide. Trimethylated peptides acted as a competitive inhibitor to substrate peptide and mixed inhibitor to AdoMet suggesting a random mechanism in a Bi Bi reaction for recombinant G9a where either substrate can bind first to the enzyme, and either product can release first.
Long-term effects of methamphetamine on the synthesis and metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine in various regions of the rat brain.

Abstract Repeated administration of methamphetamine for 30 hr produced large decreases in the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase and in the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in several serotonergic nerve terminal regions of the rat brain. Six sequential doses of methamphetamine (15 mg/kg, s.c.), given every 6 hr, produced a differential regional reduction in the levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA and in tryptophan hydroxylase activity. Among the regions tested, the neostriatum and cerebral cortex were most affected and the hypothalamus was least affected. A significant recovery in the levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA and tryptophan hydroxylase activity had occurred by 10 days following drug treatment. Recovery of enzyme activity in the hypothalamus, spinal cord and olfactory tubercle was complete, whereas enzyme activity was still significantly depressed in the neostriatum, nucleus accumbens, cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Similar trends were obtained for 5-HT and 5-HIAA. Tryptophan levels in some regions were increased at 36 hr and remained elevated 110 days after methamphetamine treatment.
Failure Detection and Randomization: A Hybrid Approach to Solve Consensus

We present a consensus algorithm that combines unreliable failure detection and randomization, two well-known techniques for solving consensus in asynchronous systems with crash failures. This hybrid algorithm combines advantages from both approaches: it guarantees deterministic termination if the failure detector is accurate, and probabilistic termination otherwise. In executions with no failures or failure detector mistakes, the most likely ones in practice, consensus is reached in only two asynchronous rounds.
Characteristics of feasible images obtained from real PET data by MLE, Bayesian, and sieve methods

Abstract not available?© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Extracellular regulation of VEGF: Isoforms, proteolysis, and vascular patterning

The regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) is critical to neovascularization in numerous tissues under physiological and pathological conditions. VEGF has multiple isoforms, created by alternative splicing or proteolytic cleavage, and characterized by different receptor-binding and matrix-binding properties. These isoforms are known to give rise to a spectrum of angiogenesis patterns marked by differences in branching, which has functional implications for tissues. In this review, we detail the extensive extracellular regulation of VEGF and the ability of VEGF to dictate the vascular phenotype. We explore the role of VEGF-releasing proteases and soluble carrier molecules on VEGF activity. While proteases such as MMP9 can 'release' matrix-bound VEGF and promote angiogenesis, for example as a key step in carcinogenesis, proteases can also suppress VEGF's angiogenic effects. We explore what dictates pro- or anti-angiogenic behavior. We also seek to understand the phenomenon of VEGF gradient formation. Strong VEGF gradients are thought to be due to decreased rates of diffusion from reversible matrix binding, however theoretical studies show that this scenario cannot give rise to lasting VEGF gradients in vivo. We propose that gradients are formed through degradation of sequestered VEGF. Finally, we review how different aspects of the VEGF signal, such as its concentration, gradient, matrix-binding, and NRP1-binding can differentially affect angiogenesis. We explore how this allows VEGF to regulate the formation of vascular networks across a spectrum of high to low branching densities, and from normal to pathological angiogenesis. A better understanding of the control of angiogenesis is necessary to improve upon limitations of current angiogenic therapies.
Effects of pregastric esterase on utilization of whole milk by preruminant calves.

Abstract The role of pregastric esterase was investigated in four abomasally-cannulated calves during a sequence of ten 3-day periods beginning when calves were 2 to 5 days of age. Two calves were fed whole milk from nipple bottles to maximize exposure to pregastric esterases, and two other calves were given milk by infusion directly into the abomasum to minimize exposure. The initial system of feeding each calf was continued for eight periods after which treatments were reversed. Postfeeding lipolytic activity of samples of abomasal contents and of intragastric lipolysis of milk fat were markedly greater for orally-fed calves than for abomasally-fed. Systems of feeding effected no significant differences in a) digestibility of dry matter, fat, crude protein, and nitrogen-free extract, b) retention of nitrogen, and c) percentage weight gains. Digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and nitrogen-free extract of milk and retention of nitrogen were greater in later periods than in initial. Although age of calves was a positive factor associated with utilization of milk, decreased exposure of milk to pregastric esterase and the Resulting reduction of lipolysis in the abomasum did not effect a detectable lowering of milk utilization by calves in age groups studied.
Proton spin-lattice relaxation and intramolecular reorientation in solids

Abstract The temperature dependence of proton spin-lattice relaxation rates at Larmor frequencies of 8.5 and 53 MHz in the molecular solids para-di-t-butylbenzene (125–330 K) and 4-methyl-2,6-di-t-butylphenol (140 K to the melting point, 340 K) is reported. These and previous data at other frequencies are used to point out four important matters concerning the measurements and the interpretation of relaxation rates in solids: (1) Both the low- and the high-temperature regions (ωτ ⪢ 1 and ωτ ⪡ 1) should be observed. (2) Several Larmor frequencies should be used. (3) It is important to account for correlated and/or superimposed motions. (4) In most cases, the form of the spectral-density function is not unique.
Prevention in the inpatient setting.

Purpose To review the literature on and describe approaches to implementing health promotion and disease prevention practices in the inpatient setting. Data sources Comprehensive review of nursing and medical literature, clinical practice guidelines, and U.S. government documents. Conclusions Preventive screening has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality from many diseases. Health promotion and disease prevention activities form the foundation of practice for many nurse practitioners (NPs). As increasing numbers of NPs begin to practice in the acute care setting, it is important they incorporate prevention into the inpatient setting. Implications for practice Because there are many barriers that impact appropriate preventive screening, health care providers must take advantage of every patient encounter including those in the inpatient setting. Although it may not be feasible to actually perform certain screening exams while a patient is hospitalized, it is feasible in many cases to take a few minutes to review recommended preventive screening.
Nanoparticle Superlattice Engineering with DNA

A current limitation in nanoparticle superlattice engineering is that the identities of the particles being assembled often determine the structures that can be synthesized. Therefore, specific crystallographic symmetries or lattice parameters can only be achieved using specific nanoparticles as building blocks (and vice versa). We present six design rules that can be used to deliberately prepare nine distinct colloidal crystal structures, with control over lattice parameters on the 25- to 150-nanometer length scale. These design rules outline a strategy to independently adjust each of the relevant crystallographic parameters, including particle size (5 to 60 nanometers), periodicity, and interparticle distance. As such, this work represents an advance in synthesizing tailorable macroscale architectures comprising nanoscale materials in a predictable fashion.
Long-term recovery of lakes in the Adirondack region of New York to decreases in acidic deposition

Abstract After years of adverse impacts to the acid-sensitive ecosystems of the eastern United States, the Acid Rain Program and Nitrogen Budget Program were developed to control sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions through market-based cap and trade systems. We used data from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program’s National Trends Network (NTN) and the U.S. EPA Temporally Integrated Monitoring of Ecosystems (TIME) program to evaluate the response of lake-watersheds in the Adirondack region of New York to changes in emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides resulting from the Acid Rain Program and the Nitrogen Budget Program. TIME is a long-term monitoring program designed to sample statistically selected subpopulations of lakes and streams across the eastern U.S. to quantify regional trends in surface water chemistry due to changes in atmospheric deposition. Decreases in wet sulfate deposition for the TIME lake-watersheds from 1991 to 2007 (−1.04 meq m−2-yr) generally corresponded with decreases in estimated lake sulfate flux (−1.46 ± 0.72 meq m−2-yr), suggesting declines in lake sulfate were largely driven by decreases in atmospheric deposition. Decreases in lake sulfate and to a lesser extent nitrate have generally coincided with increases in acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) resulting in shifts in lakes among ANC sensitivity classes. The percentage of acidic Adirondack lakes (ANC
Gene amplification involves site-specific short homology-independent illegitimate recombination in Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1.

Abstract A system for studying gene amplification in the bacterium Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1 was used to isolate 105 spontaneous mutants. The method selects for the elevated expression of neighboring transcriptional units in a parent strain lacking its normal transcriptional activators. Gene amplification can compensate for the activator loss by increasing the copy number of seven weakly expressed genes. Mutant colonies arose from the parent strain at a frequency of 10 −8 within three weeks. All but one of these mutants carried tandem head-to-tail repeats of a chromosomal segment (amplicon). These amplicons varied in size from approximately 12–290 kb and ranged in copy number from 3 to more than 30. Gene amplification involved a two-step process in which duplications formed independently of recA . Illegitimate recombination fused normally distant chromosomal regions to create novel DNA duplication junctions. These junctions were isolated from amplification mutants using an assay that exploits Acinetobacter natural transformability. Sequence analysis of 72 junctions revealed little identity in the recombining regions. Furthermore, multiple independently isolated mutants contained identical junctions. Six different junctions, each found in two to six mutants, revealed that some recombination events are site-specific. Several recurring junctions were studied using PCR. In each case, the identical duplication present in the mutant was estimated to have occurred in as many as one in a million cells in populations of strains never exposed to selective conditions. These duplications appeared to form spontaneously by a novel type of short homology-independent, site-specific process. However, in the absence of recA , mutant colonies were not selected from parent cells containing these duplications. Thus, the second gene amplification step most likely depends on homologous recombination to increase amplicon copy number. These studies support the theory that gene amplification is a driving force in the evolution of functionally related gene clusters.
An asymptotic analysis of drug delivery from transdermal patches

Abstract Many transdermal drug delivery patches are designed to provide a constant steady-state delivery rate, regulated by a rate controlling membrane, for a certain period of time. An adhesive layer is needed to attach the patch intimately to the skin; this layer is generally designed to have little effect on the steady-state release rate. During storage all layers within these patches become saturated with drug, and as a result the delivery profile involves a sizable “burst” of drug prior to reaching a constant delivery rate. In this paper, a mathematical procedure developed by Frisch was used to derive an asymptotic solution to the accumulative amount of drug delivered versus time from which one can deduce the amount of drug released in the burst but not the kinetic details of this start up. It was shown that the adhesive layer can contribute significantly to the amount of burst even when its contribution to the steady-state release rate is negligible.
Observation of a possible pause mutant in the total synthesis of T4 lysozyme

A DNA of 495 bp coding for T4-lysozyme was chemically synthesized and cloned in Escherichia coli. On DNA sequence analysis, clones pTLY.10 and pTLY.9 were identified to contain identical and complete T4-lysozyme coding sequences except that pTLY.9 had an additional 23 bp inverted repeat DNA at the 3'-end of the coding sequence. On expression and purification under similar conditions, T4-lysozymes from these two clones showed different degrees of retention time on HPLC as well as in the rate of enzymatic reaction. We speculate that this difference could be due to the generation of a pause mutant of T4-lysozyme in pTLY.9 under the influence of 3'-inverted repeat DNA that alters the rate of protein synthesis.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Melanoma in Pregnant Women

The incidence of melanoma is rising in young women of childbearing age. Melanoma diagnosed during pregnancy presents unique challenges. This study was conducted to determine the effect of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for melanoma on maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women. A prospective melanoma database was retrospectively queried for women diagnosed with melanoma during or immediately before pregnancy as well as SLNB in pregnant women. The outcomes of SLNB for the mothers and fetuses were evaluated. Fifteen pregnant women underwent wide local excision (WLE) and SLNB for melanoma from 1997 to 2012. The median gestational age was 20 weeks. More than half of the women noticed changes in the primary melanoma lesion during the pregnancy. The median Breslow thickness was 1.00 mm. Lymphatic mapping and SLNB were performed with some combination of radiocolloid or vital blue dye without adverse effects. Three patients had micrometastatic disease and underwent a completion lymphadenectomy. Sixteen children were born at a median gestational age of 39 weeks. The median 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores were 8 and 9, respectively. At a median follow-up of 54.4, months none of the patients had experienced recurrence, and all children were healthy and free of melanoma. In this series of pregnant women with melanoma, SLNB was performed safely during pregnancy without adverse effects to the mothers and fetuses. We recommend that clinicians explain the risks and benefits of the SLNB procedure to pregnant women so an informed decision can be made about the procedure.
Sepharose-avidin column for the binding of biotin or biotin-containing peptides.

Avidin konnte an das Polysaccharid Sepharose 4B, das zuvor mit Bromcyan aktiviert wurde, gebunden werden. Um Biotin oder Biotin-haltige Peptide zu binden, erwies sich eine Sepharose-Avidin-Saule als besonders gunstig.
Analytical and Numerical Predictions of Thermoelastic Properties of Carbon Single-Walled Nanotubes

The objective of this paper is to develop constitutive models to predict thermoelastic properties of carbon single-walled nanotubes using analytical, asymptotic homogenization, and numerical, finite element analysis, methods. In our approach, the graphene sheet is considered as a non-homogeneous network shell layer which has zero material properties in the regions of perforation and whose effective properties are estimated from the solution of the appropriate local problems set on the unit cell of the layer. Our goal is to derive working formulas for the entire complex of the thermoelastic properties of the periodic network. The effective thermoelastic properties of carbon nanotubes were predicted using asymptotic homogenization method. Moreover, in order to verify the results of analytical predictions, a detailed finite element analysis is followed to investigate the thermoelastic response of the unit cells and the entire graphene sheet network.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Chromosomes and giemsa-bands of the Idaho spotted ground squirrel,Spermophilus brunneus (Howell)

Хромосомы и Г-полосыSpermophilus brunneus изучалы. Хотя кариотипы сходние, и гомология между 13 из 18 парами аутосомов,S. brunneus отличается отS. townsendii mollis (2n=38) в других морфологических, меховых, и биохимических признаках; эти признаки соединяЯ;ютS. brunneus с болиьшеухей гууппой. Промежуточност признаков уS. brunneus предлагает что этот пеликтовый вид, немного расходящийся из ранного прародителя у подродаSpermophilus.
The effect of adriamycin and radiation on G2 cell survival.

Abstract The effect of Adriamycin (ADR) and irradiation on the ultimate fate of Chinese hamster ovary cells treated in G 2 , phase was investigated utilizing the mitotic selection procedure for cell cycle analysis coupled with a plating efficiency assay. As cells were selected in mitosis, they were inoculated at appropriate numbers and incubated for analysis of colony-forming ability. The parameters obtained, expressed as a function of time after initiation of treatment, were the number of mitotic cells selected per shake (the mitotic yield), the plating efficiency (surviving fraction), and the number of surviving cells per shake (the product of the first two parameters). Cells treated with a 20 min pulse of 1.0 μ/ml ADR exhibited a transient division delay with a decrease in plating efficiency at the nadir of the mitotic yield curve. Cells treated with 150 rad of X-ray displayed a similar response except that surviving fraction decreased immediately after treatment. As cells recovered from the radiation-induced division delay, the surviving fraction increased to a plateau level close to that of the control. When cells were treated with both ADR and X-ray, the result was an increase in the duration of the division delay, a decreased surviving fraction, and consequently, a decreased number of surviving cells per shake. These results suggest the possibility of predicting optimum schedules for sequential treatment with these two agents based on a knowledge of the perturbatory effects on cell cycle progression for those cells most likely to retain clonogenic ability.
A Post-entry Step in the Mammalian Orthoreovirus Replication Cycle Is a Determinant of Cell Tropism

Mammalian reoviruses replicate in a broad range of hosts, cells, and tissues. These viruses display strain-dependent variation in tropism for different types of cells in vivo and ex vivo. Early steps in the reovirus life cycle, attachment, entry, and disassembly, have been identified as pivotal points of virus-cell interaction that determine the fate of infection, either productive or abortive. However, in studies of the differential capacity of reovirus strains type 1 Lang and type 3 Dearing to replicate in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, we found that replication efficiency is regulated at a late point in the viral life cycle following primary transcription and translation. Results of genetic studies using recombinant virus strains show that reovirus tropism for MDCK cells is primarily regulated by replication protein μ2 and further influenced by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase protein, λ3, depending on the viral genetic background. Furthermore, μ2 residue 347 is a critical determinant of replication efficiency in MDCK cells. These findings indicate that components of the reovirus replication complex are mediators of cell-selective viral replication capacity at a post-entry step. Thus, reovirus cell tropism may be determined at early and late points in the viral replication program.
Chemiluminescence study of methane—fluorine combustion: Observation and analysis of HCF A 1A″-X1A′

Abstract The chemiluminescent emission which results from excited state product formation upon the intimate mixing of CH4 with F2 is shown to be dominated by visible emission from CH*(A 2Δ-X2Π), C*2 (A 3Πg-X 3Πu), HCF* ( A 1A″- X 1A′) and vibrationally excited HF†(X 1Σ+). The corresponding reaction mixture CD4 + F2 produces the deutero analogs. This study represents the first observation of the HCF emission spectrum from a CH4/F2 flame. The observation of the HCF A 1A″- X 1A′ emission spectrum and the corresponding DCF system allows the unequivocal assignment of these visible transitions to a progression dominated by the excited state bending mode. Transitions (0, υ′2,0) → (0,0,0), υ2 = 1−5 for HCF and υ′2 = 2 − 6 for DCF are observed. An analysis of the spectra yields the electronic and vibrational parameters T0 = 17274 ± 6.8 cm−1. ωe = 1024 ± 6.4 cm−1, ωeχe = −7.7 ± 1.2 cm−1 for HCF and T0 = 17281 ± 8 cm−1, ωe = 787.5 ± 4.4 cm−1, ωeχe = −3.86 ± 0.5 cm−1 for DCF. Each vibrational transition shows resolved K-type subbands characteristics of near-symmetric rotor. Although this structure is highly perturbed for the entire HCF system, a partial rotational analysis has been obtained for two bands in the DCF spectrum. The derived rotational parameters are also consistent with the observation of the excited state bending mode.
House-specific characterization of indoor and outdoor aerosols

Abstract Simultaneous air monitoring inside and outside of 12 homes in the Houston area were performed for fine inhalable particulate matter by means of dichotomous samplers. The patterns of house-specific indoor mean concentrations, indoor/outdoor ratios, and probable source of indoor fine aerosol are discussed, along with pertinent information on household characteristics. The results suggest that most of indoor aerosol appears to be affected by infiltration of outdoor air as well as by indoor generation, with the most important single determinant being the presence or absence of cigarette smoking. However, it is likely that the typical complexity of indoor environments make it difficult to explain sources of indoor aerosol.
Controlled free radical ring‐opening polymerization and chain extension of the “living” polymer

Free radical ring-opening polymerization of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDP) in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy free radical (TEMPO) has been achieved to afford a chain polyester (PMDP) with di-t-butyl peroxide (DTBP) as an initiator at 125°C. The polydispersity of the polymers decreases as the concentration of TEMPO is increased. At high TEMPO concentrations, the polydispersity as low as 1.2 was obtained, which is below the theoretical lower limit for a conventional free radical polymerization. A linear relationship between the number-average molecular weight (Mn) and the monomer conversion was observed with the best-fit line passing very close to the origin of the Mn-conversion plot. The isolated and purified TEMPO-capped PMDP polymers have been employed to prepare chain extended polymers upon addition of more MDP monomer. These results are suggestive of the “living” polymerization process. A possible polymerization mechanism might involve thermal homolysis of the TEMPO-PMDP bonds followed by the addition of the monomers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 761–771, 1998
Perturbation of retinoic acid (RA)-mediated limb development suggests a role for diminished RA signaling in the teratogenesis of ethanol.

BACKGROUND: A proposed mechanism for ethanol teratogenicity entails ethanol-mediated reductions in retinoic acid (RA). This premise was investigated utilizing a mouse model, with limb reduction defects as the teratogenic end point. METHODS: Ethanol, Disulfiram, or BMS-189453 was administered to C57BL/6J mice on the 9th day of pregnancy. Forelimb morphology was assessed on gestation day 18 using Alcian blue and Alizarin red staining. Nile blue sulfate or LysoTracker Red (LTR) vital staining identified cell death in the limb bud. The ability of RA to prevent ethanol-induced cell death was assessed by coadministration followed by laser scanning confocal microscopic examination of LTR-staining. In situ hybridization and qPCR were used to examine gene expression in treated limb buds. RESULTS: Ethanol, Disulfiram, and BMS-189453 resulted in postaxial ectrodactyly, intermediate ectrodactyly, and other digital defects. Excessive Nile blue sulfate staining was evident in the presumptive AER following each of the three exposures. Ethanol-induced LTR staining was prevented by RA supplementation. Both in situ hybridization and qPCR illustrated decreases in Shh and Tbx5 in ethanol-exposed embryos as compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to studies of prolonged RA deficiency, acute exposure to functional antagonists of RA results in limb defects that are morphologically similar to those caused by ethanol. The rescue of ethanol-induced cell death by RA and similar changes in Shh transcription further suggest that RA contributes to ethanol-induced limb dysmorphology. Moreover, the repression of key mediators of limb development soon after ethanol exposure adds to the existing knowledge of the pathogenic effects of ethanol. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
RANK Ligand-targeted Therapy: A Novel Approach to Prevent Bone Loss and Fractures in Men with Prostate Cancer

Abstract Context The importance of bone loss associated with both prostate cancer (PCa) and its treatment is being increasingly recognised, and new options to manage this complication are in development. Objective To assess the impact of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) on bone and to outline recently reported and ongoing phase 3 studies of agents designed to prevent bone loss and fractures in men with PCa. Evidence acquisition This article is based on a presentation at an Amgen-sponsored satellite symposium held at the European Association of Urology Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, in March 2009. Evidence synthesis ADT for PCa is associated with bone loss and an increased fracture risk. Several bisphosphonates have been shown to improve bone mineral density (BMD) during ADT, but their effects on treatment-related fractures are unknown. Denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to RANK Ligand, is being investigated for the management of bone loss associated with PCa. The results of a phase 3 randomised, placebo-controlled trial of denosumab to prevent bone loss and fractures during ADT in men with PCa have recently been reported. Compared with placebo, denosumab (60mg subcutaneously every 6 mo) significantly reduced the incidence of new vertebral fractures by 62% after 3 yr. Denosumab also increased BMD significantly at various skeletal sites, including the spine, hip, and wrist. Conclusions ADT decreases BMD and increases fracture risk in men with PCa. A recent phase 3 study has demonstrated that denosumab increases BMD and significantly reduces the risk of new vertebral fractures in men with PCa. Two ongoing phase 3 studies are evaluating denosumab for the prevention and treatment of bone metastases in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer.
An indoor augmented reality mobile application for simulation of building evacuation

Augmented Reality enables people to remain connected with the physical environment they are in, and invites them to look at the world from new and alternative perspectives. There has been an increasing interest in emergency evacuation applications for mobile devices. Nearly all the smart phones these days are Wi-Fi and GPS enabled. In this paper, we propose a novel emergency evacuation system that will help people to safely evacuate a building in case of an emergency situation. It will further enhance knowledge and understanding of where the exits are in the building and safety evacuation procedures. We have applied mobile augmented reality (mobile AR) to create an application with Unity 3D gaming engine. We show how the mobile AR application is able to display a 3D model of the building and animation of people evacuation using markers and web camera. The system gives a visual representation of a building in 3D space, allowing people to see where exits are in the building through the use of a smart phone or tablets. Pilot studies were conducted with the system showing its partial success and demonstrated the effectiveness of the application in emergency evacuation. Our computer vision methods give good results when the markers are closer to the camera, but accuracy decreases when the markers are far away from the camera.
Sideslip-induced static pressure errors in flight-test measurements

During lateral flight-test maneuvers of a V/STOL research aircraft, large errors in static pressure were observed. An investigation of the data showed a strong correlation of the pressure record with variations in sideslip angle. The sensors for both measurements were located on a standard air-data nose boom. An algorithm based on potential flow over a cylinder that was developed to correct the pressure record for sideslip-induced errors is described. In order to properly apply the correction algorithm, it was necessary to estimate and correct the lag error in the pressure system. The method developed for estimating pressure lag is based on the coupling of sideslip activity into the static ports and can be used as a standard flight-test procedure. The estimation procedure is discussed and the corrected static-pressure record for a typical lateral maneuver is presented. It is shown that application of the correction algorithm effectively attenuates sideslip-induced errors.
Label-free multi-analyte detection using a BioCD

We previously reported the application of spinning-disk interferometry, implemented in a compact optical sensor format called the BioCD, in the detection of antigen-antibody recognition. The BioCD consists of interferometers micro-fabricated on the surface of a 2” laser mirror disk, which can spin up to 6000 rpm resulting in high data acquisition rates. The interferometric elements are fabricated by evaporating gold ridges on the mirror substrate operating in the linear sensitivity regime of the interferometer defined as quadrature. Antibodies or proteins are immobilized on the gold interferometric structures through alkanethiols, and the target molecules are immobilized by application of reagents or samples to the disk while it is spinning. The centrifugal force distributes the sample over the sensor surface, causing a change in the optical phase of the interferometric elements, which is detected in real time using a lock-in amplifier with small detection bandwidth. We detected the binding of Mouse IgG by immobilized Anti-Mouse IgG using the BioCD with a detection limit of 1 ng/ml and low non-specific binding. Furthermore, the selectivity of specific binding was found to be greater than 1 in 10000, determined using the response curve of the BioCD to exposures of specific and non-specific analytes of varying concentrations. This opens up the possibility of simultaneous detection of several analytes with the same sensor while maintaining high selectivity. In this paper we demonstrate simultaneous detection of Rabbit and Mouse IgG on the same disk. The sensitivity limit for multi-analyte detection remains the same as that for a single analyte. In addition to the ability to do simultaneous detection, the current detection scheme presents a way to reference the results of one track with respect to others, thus increasing the reliability of the data. Used in conjunction with high-density protein patterning techniques, the BioCD has the potential to be a highly multiplexed label-free high-speed sensor.