cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Red and Gold Washing

This chapter describes a shift in Asian art shows in the late 1990s, highlighting the growing prominence of Chinese Art. The author examines how this shift impacted Asian American women artists in California. The chapter focuses on Chinese artist Hung Liu, who has been living in California for decades and does not identify as Asian American. Her need to reference her national identity and roots in presenting the subject of her art appears to be deeply connected to a transnational cultural politics that masks under cosmopolitanisms an emerging Chinese national discourse. An analysis of the Asian Art Museum shows on Shanghai shows the recurring orientalism and celebration of modern art in a Eurocentric frame. The author develops a critique of the current transnational promotion of Chinese art, as indirectly reinforcing elitist Eurocentrism, and fueling neo-orientalist appetites reflected by recent California exhibits. Many contemporary art institutions embrace curatorial choices that silently marginalize diasporic artists in the USA, involuntarily erasing historical connections and continuities across the Pacific Rim, all the while reassuring Western audiences of their cosmopolitanism. The chapter concludes with a political critique of the Pacific Rim celebration, as erasing the historical patterns of Asian American communities, rendering Asian artists more marginal in comparison to Chinese artists.
Phosphorodiamidate morpholino targeting the 5' untranslated region of the ZIKV RNA inhibits virus replication.

Abstract Background Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has been associated with microcephaly in infants. Currently there is no treatment or vaccine. Here we explore the use of a morpholino oligonucleotide targeted to the 5′ untranslated region (5′-UTR) of the ZIKV RNA to prevent ZIKV replication. Methods Morpholino DWK-1 inhibition of ZIKV replication in human glomerular podocytes was examined by qRT-PCR, reduction in ZIKV genome copy number, western blot analysis, immunofluorescence and proinflammatory cytokine gene expression. Results Podocytes pretreated with DWK-1 showed reduced levels of both viral mRNA and ZIKV E protein expression compared to controls. We observed suppression in proinflammatory gene expression for IFN-β (interferon β) RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein-1α), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) and IL1-α (interleukin 1-α) in ZIKV-infected podocytes pretreated with DWK-1. Conclusions Morpholino DWK-1 targeting the ZIKV 5′-UTR effectively inhibits ZIKV replication and suppresses ZIKV-induced proinflammatory gene expression.
Risk factors for 30-day readmission after colorectal surgery: does transfer status matter?

Abstract Background Rates of readmission after colorectal surgery (CRS) range from 9% to 25% and cost the US $300 million annually. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for 30-d readmission after CRS. Our hypothesis was that transfer from an outside hospital before CRS increases incidence of 30-d readmission. Methods Using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Readmissions Database, a retrospective analysis of surviving adult patients who underwent inpatient colon and/or rectal resection from 2010 to 2014 was performed. Using multivariable logistic regression, we assessed the direct effect of potential risk factors for readmission, including demographics, hospital characteristics, comorbidities, indication for CRS, and transfer status to the index hospital where the CRS was performed. Results A total of 336,792 patients were included, and 13% (n = 43,546) were readmitted within 30 d. Overall, 1% of patients (n = 3652) were transferred from another hospital for surgery, and these patients were more likely to be older, have comorbidities, have public insurance, and have low income. After adjustment, age, insurance type, household income, comorbidities, and primary indication for CRS were all significant predictors of readmission. Transfer status did not meaningfully impact the incidence of readmission after accounting for patient and hospital characteristics (aOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00, 1.18). Patients with primary indications of trauma (aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.48, 2.38), inflammatory bowel disease (aOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.1.56, 1.71), and ischemia (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.1.59, 1.97) were most likely to be readmitted. Patients treated at a rural nonteaching hospital, compared with those at a urban teaching hospital, were significantly less likely to be readmitted (aOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.76, 0.83). Conclusions Preoperative factors, such as patient comorbidities and primary indications for CRS, are important risk factors for postoperative readmission. Although transfer status does not independently predict readmission, it serves as a proxy for a high-risk group of patients that could be targeted for future interventions.
The effects of cortisone on the development of spontaneous leukemia in mice and on its induction by irradiation.

The development of spontaneous lymphoma in a high leukemia strain of mice was inhibited by administration of cortisone, although the hormone-induced atrophy of the thymus and other lymphoid tissues was only transient. Inhibition of lymphoma formation resulted from only three successive daily injections of cortisone but was greater if the cortisone administration was prolonged for three months. A high incidence of myeloid leukemia was induced in a low-leukemia strain of mice by a single exposure to 350 r of x-radiation. Cortisone was without effect on the induction of myeloid leukemia. Cortisone administered preirradiation increased, and postirradiation decreased, the incidence of radiation-induced lymphomas in male mice.
Abstract 2100: Beneficial Effects of Adenylyl Cyclase 6 (AC6) Gene Transfer Persist in a Catalytically Inactive AC6 Mutant With Impaired cAMP Generating Capacity

Background. Cardiac-directed expression of AC6 has pronounced favorable effects on cardiac function not apparently solely linked with cAMP production. To determine rigorously whether cAMP generation is required for the beneficial effects of AC6, we generated a catalytically inactive AC6 mutant (AC6mut) that has markedly diminished cAMP generating capacity compared to normal AC6. Methods & Results. We replaced aspartic acid with alanine at position 426 in the C1 loop of AC6. Gene transfer of AC6mut (adenovirus-mediated) in adult rat cardiac myocytes showed impaired cAMP generation ( Figure, left ) despite identical cellular distribution vs normal AC6 transgene. Despite marked reduction in cAMP generation, AC6mut gene transfer increased Akt phosphorylation and activity and suppressed PHLPP2 (an Akt-specific phosphatase) activity similarly to that observed with AC6 gene transfer. Moreover, AC6mut gene transfer increased Ca 2+ transients in cardiac myocytes after isoproterenol stimulation similarly to AC6 gene transfer ( Figure, right ). Finally, as compared with AC6 gene transfer, AC6mut gene transfer reduced apoptosis (p μ M, 24h) in cultured cardiac myocytes. Conclusion. The beneficial effects of AC6 gene transfer persist in a catalytically inactive AC6mut, indicating that salutary effects (Akt activation, increased Ca 2+ handling) occur in the absence of increased cAMP generation. These findings, together with the added benefits of AC6mut vis-a-vis reduced apoptosis, indicate that AC6mut may be a suitable candidate gene for heart failure therapy. This research has received full or partial funding support from the American Heart Association, Western States Affiliate (California, Nevada & Utah).
Plasma Etching of III–V Nitrides

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the advances made in patterning III–V nitrides. Etch data are reviewed for wet chemical etching, RIE, ion beam etching, and high-density etch systems. Etch rates, profiles, plasma-induced-damage, near-surface stoichiometry, and surface and sidewall morphology have been discussed in the chapter. Etching III–V nitrides is complicated because of their inert chemical nature and their strong bond energies, as compared to other compound semiconductors. GaN has a bond energy of 8.92 eV/atom, InN, 7.72 eV/atom, and A1N, 11.52 eV/atom as compared to GaAs that has a bond energy of 6.52 eV/atom. Because of high bond energies and inert chemical behavior, the III–V nitrides resist etching in standard, room temperature wet chemical etchants. Therefore, essentially all device patterning has been accomplished using plasma etching technology. The utilization of high-density electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) chlorine based plasmas has resulted in high rate, smooth, anisotropie etching of the III–V nitrides. The source of reactive C1 and the use of additive gases have several effects on the etch characteristics of III–V nitride films. Using Cl2-based plasmas typically results in high concentrations of reactive Cl, which increases the chemical component of the etch mechanism and the GaN etch rate. The addition of H2, N2, or SF6 to C12- or BC13-based plasmas appears to effect the chemical removal of the N atoms from the GaN as well as the concentration of reactive C1 in the plasma.
Measuring global competition

The goal of this paper is to describe selected leading indicators of global competitiveness. This will be accomplished by reviewing several selected sources that focus on various metrics. The reported data was determined to be the most recent at the time of a presentation of this material to NFAIS in February 2012. The goal of this paper is to be objective and informational. Each of the selected indicators will be described in a high-level with a brief review of significant results. This paper will illustrate that there is no one “global leader” across the various categories that are reviewed. The data will show that well established economies, such as the US and EU countries continued to maintain significant levels of funding and achievement, yet these data will also demonstrate how leading positions are being eroded by rapid advances among emerging economies led by China. The Regionally Developing Economies RDEs are visibly increasing their positions in various rankings. The data also shows that some of the smaller, yet more established economies, such as Switzerland achieved top positions when a variety of input and output pillars and sub-pillars are utilized within the assessment methodology. Switzerland has long been considered to be a wealthy economy. Finally, the presentation will review, at a high-level the status of STM publishing within an increasingly global market. The paper will summarize recent activities and point to selected RDE markets where local STM market forces are emerging, either in the form of incumbent global publishers who are establishing presence via local partnerships or country-specific publishing operations. In addition, the emerging markets feature notable in-country participants.
Immunofluorescent studies of epidermal protein during UV induced carcinogenesis.

Previous studies with agar diffusion technique demonstrated that antibodies produced in rabbits by injection of urea extractable proteins of rat cornified cells cross react with proteins extracted from normal epidermis of hairless mice using the same technique. In the present study we investigated by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy the immunoreactivity of epidermal proteins in normal and ultraviolet light (UVB) induced hyperplasia and malignant transformation. Reactivity to the antibody was seen over the entire epidermis of nontreated skin and hypertrophied epidermis which occurred at 6–8 weeks after initiation of UVB irradiation. However, the reactivity diminished when malignant changes took place in the epidermal cells. Almost complete disappearance of the immunoresponse was observed in squamous cell carcinoma produced by further UVB radiation. These results suggest that the reactivity of this urea extractable protein serves as an additional immunologic marker for normal epidermal cells. Alterations in the immunoreactivity parallels UVB induced carcinogenesis.
Nimodipine for the treatment of otolaryngic indications.

Purpose The uses of nimodipine for otolaryngic indications are reviewed, and recommendations for its use in clinical practice are provided. Summary Nimodipine is currently indicated for the improvement of neurologic outcomes in adult patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, other oral and i.v. calcium channel blockers have not exhibited the same beneficial effects in patients with aSAH, leading clinicians to believe that nimodipine possesses unique neuroprotective effects in addition to its calcium channel–blocking and vasodilatory properties. Consequently, clinical investigations of nimodipine have been conducted for cochlear and facial nerve preservation after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery, symptomatic management of Meniere’s disease and peripheral vertigo, and recovery of vocal cord paralysis after laryngeal nerve injury. Three prospective randomized studies have investigated nimodipine for hearing and/or nerve preservation in patients undergoing VS resection, the results of which have suggested a potential benefit of initiating nimodipine during the perioperative period. Several studies of Meniere’s disease and/or peripheral vertigo have reported improved symptom control with nimodipine. For vocal fold paralysis associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, nimodipine may increase the recovery rate based on the results of 1 nonrandomized prospective study that used nimodipine in a protocolized manner. One small pilot study found that nimodipine improved facial nerve function after maxillofacial surgery. Conclusion Due to its proposed vasoactive and neuroprotective effects, nimodipine may play a role in the treatment of a number of otolaryngic pathologies including VS, Meniere’s disease, peripheral vertigo, RLN injury, and facial weakness after maxillofacial surgery. Small studies have shown improved symptom control and recovery after surgery. Since all of the aforementioned indications are still considered off label, clinicians and patients should collaboratively assess the risks and benefits before initiating treatment.
Consumer perception of d'Anjou pear classified by dry matter at harvest using near-infrared spectroscopy

Dry matter is increasingly recognised as a reliable indicator of fruit quality and consumer acceptance for numerous commodities. To establish dry matter as an at‐harvest metric predictive of post‐storage and ripening consumer acceptance in pear, cv. d'Anjou fruits were segregated into low (<13%), moderate (13–15.99%) and high (≥16%) predicted dry matter classifications at harvest using near‐infrared spectroscopy and evaluated by untrained consumer panels following cold storage and ripening. Consumers significantly favoured higher dry matter fruits over lower dry matter fruits in terms of perceived firmness, crunchiness, juiciness, sweetness, flavour and overall liking. Consumers were willing to pay premium prices for higher dry matter fruits at an estimated $0.20/lb above average retail prices. Sorting fruit by dry matter at harvest via near‐infrared spectroscopy may overcome issues of variation in fruit maturity and quality to produce more consistent consumer experiences in pears following post‐storage ripening.
Image Gravity: Defining Spatial Constructs for Invisible Phenomena

This paper questions contemporary modes and means of scientific presentation and introduces the notion of Image Gravity as a framework for spatial calibration of data into a site specific context. I make the argument that contemporary scientific vernacular has been flattened into a two dimensional space that needs further perceptual interrogation. Empirical observation of scientific phenomena is numerically inscribed to be presented in ways that are trusted, often without the scientist observing the phenomena directly. In this context, at a time when scientific engagement with environmental issues carries significant emotional and visual weight, this paper explores Image Gravity as a perspectival instrument for spatial calibration of scientific data that will challenge our existing communications channels. A proposed speculative framework for Image Gravity is outlined in this paper through the articulation of two vision-based processes; calibration and foregrounding. Through case study examples, we try to construct a baseline for expressing Image Gravity, as a way to show invisible phenomena in the built environment.
Piezoelectric films for MEMS applications (Conference Presentation)

Piezoelectric thin films are of increasing interest in low voltage microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting. The key figures of merit for actuators and energy harvesting will be discussed, with emphasis on how to achieve these on practical substrates. For example, control of the domain structure of the ferroelectric material allows the energy harvesting figure of merit for the piezoelectric layer to be increased by factors of 4 – 10. To illustrate the functionality of these films, examples of integration into MEMS structures will also be discussed, including adjustable optics for x-ray telescopes, low frequency, and non-resonant piezoelectric energy harvesting devices, and miniaturized ultrasound transducer arrays.
Infected Aortic Grafts in the Descending Thoracic Aorta

Prosthetic graft or endograft infection is a rare but devastating complication of aortic surgery. The incidence of infected descending and thoracoabdominal prosthetic grafts is reported between 0.5 and 1.7%, including early and late infections with and without aortoesophageal fistulas. The prevalence of infected aortic endografts is 0.25–4%. Improvements in surgical techniques, endovascular therapies as bridging procedures and perioperative care have led to improved in-hospital survival. Replacement of the infected graft with pedicled flap coverage leads to reasonable long-term results. Additional studies are needed before widespread adoption of graft preservation techniques.
Upside and Downside Risk in Online Security for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Older adults are rapidly increasing their use of online services such as banking, social media, and email - services that come with subtle and serious security and privacy risks. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are particularly vulnerable to these risks because MCI can reduce their ability to recognize scams such as email phishing, follow recommended password guidelines, and consider the implications of sharing personal information. Older adults with MCI often cope with their impairments with the help of caregivers, including partners, children, and professional health personnel, when using and managing online services. Yet, this too carries security and privacy risks: sharing personal information with caregivers can create issues of agency, autonomy, and even risk embarrassment and information leakage; caregivers also do not always act in their charges' best interest. Through a series of interviews conducted in the US, we identify a spectrum of safeguarding strategies used and consider them through the lens of 'upside and downside risk' where there are tradeoffs between reduced privacy and maintaining older adults' autonomy and access to online services.
Percutaneous Kidney Biopsy and the Utilization of Blood Transfusion and Renal Angiography Among Hospitalized Adults.

Introduction Data on percutaneous kidney biopsy (KBx) incidence and frequencies of hemorrhagic complications among inpatients are limited. Methods Using nationally representative US hospitalization discharge data, we report temporal trends in inpatient KBx rates from 2007 to 2014 and estimate frequencies of, and risk factors for, utilization of packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion and renal angiography. Results From 2007 to 2014, rates of native KBx among adult inpatients increased from 8.2 to 10.0 per 100,000, while transplant KBx rates declined from 3.6 to 3.1 per 100,000. We studied 35,183 and 14,266 discharge records with native and transplant KBx. We found that 5.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.3%–6.0%) of inpatients undergoing native KBx and 4.9% (4.2%–5.5%) of those undergoing transplant KBx received a pRBC transfusion within 2 days of biopsy. Similarly, 0.6% (0.5%–0.7%) of inpatients undergoing native KBx and 0.4% (0.2%–0.5%) undergoing transplant KBx received a renal angiogram within 2 days of KBx. For inpatient native KBx, female sex, older age, higher chronic kidney disease stage, acute renal failure, lupus, vasculitis, cirrhosis, multiple myeloma/paraproteinemia, and anemia of chronic disease were independently associated with increased odds of pRBC transfusion; cirrhosis and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were associated with increased odds, and nephrotic syndrome was associated with decreased odds, of renal angiography. Conclusions In this large population-based study of inpatient KBx practices, we demonstrate increasing rates of inpatient native KBx among US adults and provide accurate estimates of the frequencies of, and risk factors for, pRBC transfusion and renal angiography following inpatient KBx.
Canonical versus “me” studies: a Shakespearean moonlights as an Asian Americanist

Some philosophers and sociologists have recently criticized scholars who engage in so-called “me studies” – members of oppressed groups who study their own oppression. Such “me” studies, according ...
Engineering a bioprosthetic ovary for fertility and hormone restoration

There has been an increase in childhood cancer survivors over the past few decades, and with this, an increased awareness of the co-morbidities of the treatment or disease that affect the survivor's quality-of-life. The increased rate of infertility among this patient group and the desire to have biological children voiced by childhood cancer survivors underscores the urgent need for fertility preservation and development of techniques to restore fertility and gonadal hormone function for this population. The ovarian tissue contains a finite source of female gametes that can be transplanted to restore ovarian function and has resulted in over one hundred reported live births. However, the success of biological offspring per ovarian tissue transplant, the reduced lifespan of these transplants, and the potential for these tissues to contain cancer cells from patients with metastatic diseases supports the need for improved options. One innovation that could improve ovarian transplantation is the development of a bioprosthetic ovary comprised of a 3D printed scaffold with isolated ovarian follicles. A murine bioprosthetic ovary restored ovarian hormones in ovariectomized mice, which also gave birth to healthy offspring. Research is ongoing to create the next iteration of the scaffold that would support ovarian follicles from large animal models and humans with the hopes of translating this technology for patients.
Diagnostic Classification and Prognostic Prediction Using Common Genetic Variants in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Genotype-Based Deep Learning

Background: In the United States, about 3 million people have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and around 1 out of 59 children are diagnosed with ASD. People with ASD have characteristic social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. The causes of this disorder remain unknown; however, in up to 25% of cases, a genetic cause can be identified. Detecting ASD as early as possible is desirable because early detection of ASD enables timely interventions in children with ASD. Identification of ASD based on objective pathogenic mutation screening is the major first step toward early intervention and effective treatment of affected children. Objective: Recent investigation interrogated genomics data for detecting and treating autism disorders, in addition to the conventional clinical interview as a diagnostic test. Since deep neural networks perform better than shallow machine learning models on complex and high-dimensional data, in this study, we sought to apply deep learning to genetic data obtained across thousands of simplex families at risk for ASD to identify contributory mutations and to create an advanced diagnostic classifier for autism screening. Methods: After preprocessing the genomics data from the Simons Simplex Collection, we extracted top ranking common variants that may be protective or pathogenic for autism based on a chi-square test. A convolutional neural network–based diagnostic classifier was then designed using the identified significant common variants to predict autism. The performance was then compared with shallow machine learning–based classifiers and randomly selected common variants. Results: The selected contributory common variants were significantly enriched in chromosome X while chromosome Y was also discriminatory in determining the identification of autistic individuals from nonautistic individuals. The ARSD, MAGEB16, and MXRA5 genes had the largest effect in the contributory variants. Thus, screening algorithms were adapted to include these common variants. The deep learning model yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.955 and an accuracy of 88% for identifying autistic individuals from nonautistic individuals. Our classifier demonstrated a considerable improvement of ~13% in terms of classification accuracy compared to standard autism screening tools. Conclusions: Common variants are informative for autism identification. Our findings also suggest that the deep learning process is a reliable method for distinguishing the diseased group from the control group based on the common variants of autism.
Predicting Nonfarm Employment

U.S. Nonfarm employment is considered one of the key indicators for assessing the state of the labor market. Considerable deviations from the expectations can cause market moving impacts. In this paper, the total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment is predicted before the release of the BLS employment report. The content herein outlines the process for extracting predictive features from the aggregated payroll data and training machine learning models to make accurate predictions. Publicly available revised employment report by BLS is used as a benchmark. Trained models show excellent behaviour with R 2 of 0.9985 and 99.99% directional accuracy on out of sample periods from January 2012 to March 2020. CCS Concepts • Applied Computing methodologies➝Machine Learning.
The Proficiency of Thai Accounting Graduates Working in the Profession According to the Standard of Accounting in the ASEAN Community

This research has an objective of studying the proficiency of the Thai accountancy graduates working in the profession according to the standard of accountancy in the ASEAN community. This is a mix methods of research. In the phase of quantitative research: The sample group consisted of 4th year students in the Bachelor of Accountancy Program, and the graduates of accountancy in Thailand. Random search of sample group by stratification, using the status of the respondents to the questionnaires as criteria. The 379 persons of the sample group are from the Krejce and Morgan chart. Tools used are questionnaires, statistic is by mean, t-Test. In the phase of the qualitative research process, the sample group consisted of 12 international accountants. The study was made by in-depth interviews. It is found from the findings that 1) The proficiency levels of Thai accountancy graduates in working in the profession according to the standard of accountancy in ASEAN community, are at a good level 2) Guideline in developing the proficiency of the Thai accountancy graduates, should be in providing the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement Framework on Accounting Services, together with giving the opportunity to the students to work as an accounting consultant before graduating.
Geology and Mammalian Paleontology of Neogene Strata in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Stratigraphic distributions and geographic variation of small mammals, principally Miocene in age, are being studied. The aim is to help construct a biostratigraphic framework that covers the north-central Rockies, as well as to clarify the importance of large mountain ranges as biogeographic barriers for small mammals. Principal goals of the 1981 field season, which was part of a longer-term project (Barnosky, 1980), included detailed measurement of stratigraphic sections and collection of Neogene mammals in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A secondary goal was field study of Tertiary sediments in nearby intermontane basins in order to understand the regional character of sedimentation.
The dependence of fast transport in mammalian nerve fibers on metabolism.

A fast transport of labelled components in the myelinated fibers of cat sciatic nerve was found after injection of the L7 dorsal root ganglion with 3H-leucine. Fast transport was shown by a crest of activity which moved outward in the nerve at a regular rate of close to 400 ± 35 mm/day without change in its shape. The transport inside the axons is independent of a propulsive force exerted from the soma. After incorporated materials are supplied by the soma to the fiber, the somas can be destroyed without effect on the subsequent movement of material in the fibers. The mechanism of transport was shown thereby to be present all along the length of the fiber. It was also found to be closely dependent on oxidative phosphorylation in studies made in an in vitro system where fast transport is maintained by O2. Fast transport was rapidly blocked with N2 or oxidative blocking agents such as CN or DNP present in the Ringer solution. The energy derived from oxidative phosphorylation is most likely transferred through ATP to a sliding transport filament mechanism involving microtubules and/or neurofilaments which is believed to underly fast axoplasmic transport.
Dismantling standard cognitive science: it’s time the dog has its day

I argue that the standard paradigm for understanding cognition—namely, that thoughts are representational, internal, and propositional—does not account for a large number of genuinely cognitive processes. Instead, if we adopt a more radical approach, one that treats cognition as a cooperative, dynamic, and interactive process, accounting for shared meaning making and embodied thought becomes much more plausible. To support this thesis, rather than turn to the debate as it has been ongoing among philosophers of mind pertaining solely to human thought, I examine our interactions with other animals, and thus, I take a more biological approach to how thought evolves and emerges. Chiefly, I look at the ways in which human-canine interaction (1) ought to count as producing genuinely cognitive phenomena that (2) cannot be properly explicated under a standard model of cognition, and (3) that these sorts of interactive and dynamic pairings between us and our dogs can serve as models for human minds, which I argue are much more shared and cooperative than competing accounts of cognition would have us believe.
Delay efficient data gathering in sensor networks

Data gathering is a very important functionality in sensor networks. Most of current data gathering researches have been emphasized on issues such as energy efficiency and network lifetime maximization; and the technique of data aggregation is usually used to reduce the number of radio transmissions. However, there are many emerging sensor network applications with different requirements and constraints. Rather, they are time critical, i.e., delivering sensed information of each individual sensor node back to a central base station quickly becomes most important. In this paper, we consider collision-free delay efficient data gathering problem in sensor networks, assuming that no data aggregation happens in intermediate nodes. We formally formulate this problem and propose optimal and near-optimal algorithms for different topologies. Particularly, in general topology, we present two approximation algorithms with performance ratio of 2 and 1+1/(k+1), respectively.
Lineability and spaceability of sets of functions on R

We show that there is an infinite-dimensional vector space of differentiable functions on R, every non-zero element of which is nowhere monotone. We also show that there is a vector space of dimension 2 c of functions R → R, every non-zero element of which is everywhere surjective.
Survey of tampon use and toxic shock syndrome, Tennessee, 1979 to 1981

Thirty-eight cases of toxic shock syndrome were reported in Tennessee between January 1, 1979, and March 31, 1981. Thirty-one of these cases (82%) occurred in white women less than 30 years of age; none occurred in black women. We suspected that age and racial differences in tampon use could contribute to the relatively high risk of toxic shock syndrome in young white women. In March, 1981, we surveyed 1,136 Tennessee women regarding their past and current used of tampons. Age and race were related, not only to whether or not tampons were used but to the way tampons were used. "Continuous" tampon use during the most recent menstrual period was most common among young white women (61%), less common among older white women (42%), and least common among black women (23%). On the other hand, the brands, absorbency types, numbers, and usage patterns did not vary greatly with respect to age or race. Comparing each woman's tampon habits in March, 1981, with her usual habits in June, 1980, suggested a striking effect of publicity about the toxic shock syndrome. We estimate that 23% to 39% of the women surveyed changed their tampon habits in an attempt to reduce their risk of toxic shock syndrome.
Novel approaches and challenges to treatment of central nervous system viral infections.

Existing and emerging viral central nervous system (CNS) infections are major sources of human morbidity and mortality. Treatments of proven efficacy are currently limited predominantly to herpesviruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Development of new therapies has been hampered by the lack of appropriate animal model systems for some important viruses and by the difficulty in conducting human clinical trials for diseases that may be rare, or in the case of arboviral infections, often have variable seasonal and geographic incidence. Nonetheless, many novel approaches to antiviral therapy are available, including candidate thiazolide and pyrazinecarboxamide derivatives with potential broad-spectrum antiviral efficacy. New herpesvirus drugs include viral helicase-primase and terminase inhibitors. The use of antisense oligonucleotides and other strategies to interfere with viral RNA translation has shown efficacy in experimental models of CNS viral disease. Identifying specific molecular targets within viral replication cycles has led to many existing antiviral agents and will undoubtedly continue to be the basis of future drug design. A promising new area of research involves therapies based on enhanced understanding of host antiviral immune responses. Toll-like receptor agonists and drugs that inhibit specific cytokines as well as interferon preparations have all shown potential therapeutic efficacy. Passive transfer of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes has been used in humans and may provide an effective therapy for some herpesvirus infections and potentially for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Humanized monoclonal antibodies directed against specific viral proteins have been developed and in several cases evaluated in humans in settings including West Nile virus and HIV infection and in pre-exposure prophylaxis for rabies. Ann Neurol 2013;74:412–422
Factors Influencing Non-Native Tree Species Distribution in Urban Landscapes

Summary Non-native species are presumed to be pervasive across the urban landscape. Yet, we actually know very little about their actual distribution. For this study, vegetation plot data from Syracuse, NY and Baltimore, MD were used to examine non-native tree species distribution in urban landscapes. Data were collected from remnant and emergent forest patches on upland sites and riparian habitats. Non-native tree species were divided into three groups based on their frequency of occurrence: ubiquitous, common and infrequent. Unique species distributions were observed. For example, Acer platanoides was a common species on remnant forest patches but was an ubiquitous species on emergent forest patches. In riparian habitats, however, A. platanoides was infrequent. Site histories also played an important role, especially for infrequent species on upland sites. For example, Syringa vulgaris occurred only on abandoned residential sites. Surprisingly, riparian habitats had only four non-native tree species as compared to seven for remnant and 23 species for emergent forest patches on upland sites. No ubiquitous, non-native tree species were observed for riparian habitats and only one species - Morus alba - was common. It occurred on 11 of the 33 plots. The other three non­ native species on riparian sites occurred infrequently. For upland and riparian
Effects of Simian Virus 40-Induced Transformation on Isoaccepting Species of Transfer RNA from Mouse Fibroblasts

Alterations in isoaccepting species of tRNA in mouse fibroblasts transformed by simian virus 40 were determined for alanine, arginine, histidine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, serine, tyrosine, and valine. Significant differences between transformed cells in culture and newborn mouse cells are attributed to tRNA alterations accompanying differentiation of mouse cells.
Electron Interactions With c-C 4 F 8

Besides its use in plasma etching, perfluorocyclobutane (c-C4F8) has potential applications as a gaseous dielectric, especially in gas mixtures (e. g., see Refs.1-3). Perfluorocyclobutane is also of environmental interest because it is a global warming gas.4 For these reasons, we have recently synthesized and assessed electron collision cross-section and electron transport-coefficient data for this gas.5 The results of this critical assessment are summarized and briefly discussed in this paper.
High purity ferroelectric materials by Sol-Gel process for microwave applications

Ferroelectric materials (FEM) have a dielectric constant which can be modulated at high frequencies (up to the optical range), under the effect of an electric field bias. The bias is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the signal. This property is very attractive and can be used to develop a new family of devices operating in the microwave and millimeter range. Among these devices, tunable delay phase shifters for electronically scanned arrays, tunable filters, variable power dividers, are the most promising. The reason FEM materials haven't been used at high frequencies is due to the large bias voltage required to change their dielectric constant, and due to the high losses of the materials. In this paper a new chemical process for the synthesis of high quality low loss thin film and thin ceramics of BaTiO/sub 3/ (BTO), Ba/sub x/Sr/sub 1-x/TiO/sub 3/ (BST) and PbTiO/sub 3/ (PTO) is presented. The high quality of these materials and the use of strontium as a dopant for BTO, or calcium for the PTO helps to reduce the losses. Also use of the Sol-Gel process for deposition of thin film of FEM having thickness below 0.1 mm, reduces the required bias voltage below 10 V, making these devices fully compatible with analog circuits. Thin film and thin ceramic devices operating up to 3 GHz are presented and characterized as examples.
Gesture + play: full-body interaction for virtual environments

Navigating virtual environments usually requires a wired interface, game console, or keyboard. The advent of perceptual interface techniques allows a new option, the passive and untethered sensing of users' pose and gesture to allow them maneuver through virtual worlds. We show new algorithms for passive, real-time articulated tracking with standard cameras and personal computers. Several different interaction styles are compared, based on an analysis of the space of possible perceptual interface abstractions for full-body navigation and the results of a wizard-of-oz study of user preferences. In this demo we show our prototype system with users guiding avatars through a series of 3-D virtual game worlds.
Single Molecule Immuno Pull Down Assay (SiMPull) for Studying Protein-Protein Interactions

Protein-protein interactions form the cornerstone for most biological pathways. Governed by numerous factors, same protein can associate with a host of different proteins and exhibit diverse functionality. This heterogeneity in complex composition is difficult to probe using bulk assays like immunoblot. Using TIRF microscopy, we have developed a single molecule immuno pull down assay (SiMPull) enabling direct visualization of protein-protein associations. Using fluorophore labeled antibodies we are able to visualize individual tethered molecules of protein of interest with high specificity. Surface bound antibodies are employed to specifically immobilize a target protein. We are able to pull down protein of interest (bait) from crude cell lysate, eliminating the need for protein purification. The bait protein co-precipitates its interacting partners. The identity of proteins bound to the bait is verified either by using fluorescent protein fusion constructs or through antibodies against anticipated targets. For a multimeric protein complex, fluorophore labeled antibodies against its subunits colocalize in the same diffraction limited spot. Using different dye labels for antibodies against different subunits and multicolor fluorescence colocalization, we are able to ascertain the molecular composition of these complexes. Individual photobleaching events provide us insights about the stoichiometry. SiMPull can be extended to single cell lysate analysis and provides a rapid, sensitive and robust platform for analyzing protein assemblies in situ.
Fossilization potential of the mud crab, Panopeus (brachyura: Xanthidae) and temporal variability in crustacean taphonomy

Studies of crustacean taphonomy in modern marine environments have suggested that disturbance (e.g., scavenging) of the decaying organisms and dissolution of their mineralized exoskeletons are major causes for failure of preservation. In order to test these ideas, a series of short term (< 3 weeks) and longer term (10 months) burial and recovery experiments of mud crabs, Panopeus sp., were carried out in Bermuda Freshly killed crabs were buried in pairs of cages that were designed to either exclude or admit large infaunal bioturbators and scavengers. The cages were exhumed and checked at intervals ranging from 1 day to 10 months. Of 22 crabs accessible to disturbance, all but 4 were completely or partly recovered. In addition, there was relatively little evidence of dissolution of exoskeletons. The good preservation observed during the course of these experiments may be attributed to low organic content and resulting low density of infauna, and to high pH of the carbonate burial environment which buffers the effects of acids produced by soft-tissue decay. These factors act to reduce infaunal scavenging and predation and to slow rates of dissolution. Organic matter content of sediment is one of many taphonomic parameters and processes that vary over a wide range of time scales. Preservation potential of crustacean exoskeleton also varies with the molt cycle, overall growth, physical and biological sediment disturbance, changes in sediment composition and organic content, and the evolution of scavengers and of the cuticle itself. Taphonomic processes are not invariant “filters”, but dynamic phenomena that change over ontogenetic, ecologic, and evolutionary time scales.
Lexical Constraints on Syntactic Acquisition

This paper investigates what has traditionally been viewed as syntactic acquisition, with the goal of questioning whether what appears to be syntactic acquisition is more appropriately described as lexical or semantic acquisition. Data come from responses to a grammaticality judgment test by learners of English as a second language at two proficiency levels. Four syntactic structures were examined. The sentences tested varied in the verbs used (e.g., John donated/gave Mary a present; John donated/gave a present to Mary). The results suggest that less proficient subjects use syntactic strategies, more proficient learners use more semantic based strategies, and there is more lexical differentiation at the lower levels of proficiency. Thus, as learners gain in proficiency, there is an increased influence of the semantic relatedness of lexical items.
Biomaterials for facial bone augmentation: comparative studies.

Presently no material is available which is entirely satisfactory for facial bone augmentation. These studies examine several of those already in clinical use, made from various polymers in solid, porous, and woven forms. Homograft bone has also been studied, as an implant material. All materials were used in situations for which they are currently recommended clinically. Bioglass (Bioglass is a trademark of the University of Florida) implants, which are suggested for clinical use, have been studied in the same model and results show that their surface activity provides a more satisfactory immobilization, both in the short and long term, than does the tissue ingrowth on which most of the other materials depend. Results show that in this model as well as in clinical practice, porous and woven materials provoke in tissues a continuing cellular response which will always compromise long-term clinical success. Autograft bone has associated morbidity and is unpredictable with respect to its incorporation into host tissue and persistance at the site. Bioglass, however, was immobilized successfully at both hard and soft tissue interfaces without the need for porosity, could be satisfactorily shaped in the operating room, and, in addition, had the bonelike hardness which is not provided by any other available material.
Soft mounted momentum compensated pointing system for the Space Shuttle Orbiter

This paper describes a potential pointing and tracking system for the Space Shuttle with possible future application to Space Station. In order to accomplish high precision pointing and tracking (at rates up to 2 deg/s) in the expected disturbance environment, a high bandwidth gimbaled pointing system is required. A soft-mounted, momentum-compensated gimbal system is suggested for this role. A momentum-compensated system is inertially reacting, decoupling the control system dynamics from the basebody structural dynamics. This allows a soft isolation stage to be added between the basebody and the articulation stage, which attenuates high frequency disturbances. In this paper, three configurations are examined: a hard-mounted system, a passive soft-mounted system, and an active soft-mounted system. Analysis demonstrates that the soft-mounted systems have superior disturbance-rejection properties. The active soft mount allows reduction of the isolation stiffness to zero, and so obtains the highest level of performance.