cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of gigabit network research on scientific visualization

Networks based on the High Performance Parallel Interface (HIPPI) will become the norm at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The ramification of such a high-speed networking paradigm on scientific visualization are enormous. Not only will scientists have the capability of networked framebuffer animation loops in their offices, but also the partitioning of graphics tasks between MIMD, SIMD, and specialized hardware will be feasible. Of course, as bandwidth increases, the problem size quickly grows to exceed whatever the limits are. For this reason, the investigation of gigabyte networks is currently underway at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Enhancing Cross-Project Learning

Abstract:Organizations are increasingly using projects to conduct a wide range of activities. In the IT industry, in particular, projects are the basic way of working. Even in project-based organizations, there is often a problem of capturing the learning from projects so that it is available for use by other projects. Instead, each project tends to start from scratch, often making the same mistakes as others have made before. This happens even though most organizations have now instituted project reviews, which ensure that project team members capture what they have done on a particular project, codify these lessons in a written document of some kind, which is then stored on a database that others can search at a later point in time. The effectiveness of this information and communication technologies (ICT) approach to capturing and sharing project learning has not been found to be very effective. This is confirmed in the study that is reported in this article. More importantly, the author explores the r...
The relationship between gender, personal experience, and perceptions of sexual harassment in the workplace.

In this study 352 working men and women responded to a questionnaire about their perceptions of what constituted sexual harassment. It was hypothesized that females, compared to males, would view ambiguous sexually oriented work behavior as more harassing. It was also hypothesized that those who had been a target of sexual harassment, compared to those who had not been a target, would view ambiguous sexually oriented work behavior as more harassing. Both hypotheses were supported. Additionally, after taking into account the effect of having been a target of sexual harassment, the effect of gender on perceptions of sexual harassment was found to be spurious. Implications for management and future research are discussed.
Interleukin 10 induced augmentation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) enhances Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) mediated antitumour activity

Intravesical BCG therapy is effective in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer. Both clinical and experimental results suggest a role for cytokines and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in BCG-induced antitumour immunity. We characterized the modulatory effects of BCG on bladder cytokine expression and determined the relationship between DTH and BCG antitumour activity. The bladders of mice were instilled with BCG through a catheter. Bladder tissue RNA and urine were collected for evaluation of cytokine expression using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and/or ELISA. IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, the two major cytokines associated with DTH, were efficiently induced by BCG. IL10, an important down-regulator of DTH, was also induced by BCG. Constitutive levels of IL4 and IL5 were observed, but neither IL4 nor IL5 were modulated by BCG. Similar results were observed in the kinetic analysis of urinary cytokines in patients after intravesical BCG therapy. Production of Th1 (T helper type 1) cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL2 and IL12) preceded that of the Th2 (T helper type 2) cytokine IL10. A tendency toward higher ratios of IFN-gamma versus IL10 for BCG responders also was observed. In animal studies the absence of IL10 abrogated either by antibody inhibition or the use of genetically modified, IL10 deficient (IL10-/-) mice resulted in enhanced DTH responses. Under conditions of enhanced DTH, a significant enhancement in antitumour activity was observed. These data demonstrate that DTH and its associated mononuclear infiltration and cytokine production are important to the antitumour activity of intravesical BCG therapy, and suggest that effects to diminish IL10 production may have therapeutic value.
FIXED-SAMPLE OPTIMIZATION IN QUANTUM MONTE CARLO USING A PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTION

Abstract We consider parameter optimization for trial functions to be used for fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo. By employing sample points selected from a positive definite distribution, parameters that determine the nodes of the trial function can be varied with no loss of stability and without sample bias. With CH as a test system, our optimized trial function gives a fixed-node energy lying below that of a MCSCF trial function with the same number of determinants and the same basis set. The present approach sheds light on the important question of how to improve the nodal structure and, thereby, the accuracy of diffusion Monte Carlo.
Tree graph inequalities and critical behavior in percolation models

Various inequalities are derived and used for the study of the critical behavior in independent percolation models. In particular, we consider the critical exponent γ associated with the expected cluster sizex and the structure of then-site connection probabilities τ=τn(x1,..., xn). It is shown that quite generally γ⩾ 1. The upper critical dimension, above which γ attains the Bethe lattice value 1, is characterized both in terms of the geometry of incipient clusters and a diagramatic convergence condition. For homogeneousd-dimensional lattices with τ(x, y)=O(¦x -y¦−(d−2+η), atp=p c, our criterion shows that γ=1 if η> (6-d)/3. The connectivity functions τn are generally bounded by tree diagrams which involve the two-point function. We conjecture that above the critical dimension the asymptotic behavior of τn, in the critical regime, is actually given by such tree diagrams modified by a nonsingular vertex factor. Other results deal with the exponential decay of the cluster-size distribution and the function τ2 (x, y).
Individual contributions of the human metapneumovirus F, G, and SH surface glycoproteins to the induction of neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity

We evaluated the individual contributions of the three surface glycoproteins of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), namely the fusion F, attachment G, and small hydrophobic SH proteins, to the induction of serum HMPV-binding antibodies, serum HMPV-neutralizing antibodies, and protective immunity. Using reverse genetics, each HMPV protein was expressed individually from an added gene in recombinant human parainfluenza virus type 1 (rHPIV1) and used to infect hamsters once or twice by the intranasal route. The F protein was highly immunogenic and protective, whereas G and SH were only weakly or negligibly immunogenic and protective, respectively. Thus, in contrast to other paramyxoviruses, the HMPV attachment G protein is not a major neutralization or protective antigen. Also, although the SH protein of HMPV is a virion protein that is much larger than its counterparts in previously studied paramyxoviruses, it does not appear to be a significant neutralization or protective antigen.
Alienation and Nonvoting in the United States: a Refined Operationalization

N EVERY presidential election since 1960, the percentage of eligible Americans who chose to vote has declined from the previous election.1 This decrease in voter turnout has caused the focus of research on participation to shift from the choice between candidates and parties to the choice of whether or not to vote. In the desire to find a satisfactory explanation for why more and more Americans are staying home on election day, research on nonvoting has proliferated in recent years (See Abramson and Aldrich 1982; Brody 1978; Burnham 1980; Cassel and Hill 1981; Ferejohn and Fiorina 1974; Hadley 1978; Hout and Knoke 1974; Maddox 1980; Nisbet 1976; Perry 1973; Reiter 1979; Shaffer 1980; Tarrance 1976; Wolfinger and Rosenstone 1980.) Previous attempts to explain declining voter turnout have encountered the "puzzle" of participation (Brody 1978). This paradox refers to demographic and structural changes in the nation since 1960, such as the rising level of education or less restrictive registration practices, which would lead one to expect higher levels of turnout instead of the actual decline. Given the limitations of demographic and structural explanations for declining turnout, researchers have emphasized certain attitudinal trends of the previous two decades. Americans have become less attached to the two major political parties, less trusting of elected officials and political institutions, and less confident of their own ability to influence the political system. This disillusionment and dismay over the course and direction of American politics, because it parallels the decline in turnout, suggests that "alienation" is a possible explanation for increased nonvoting since 1960. However, the actual measurement of alienated attitudes, as well as the estimation of their impact on voting, has proven somewhat confusing, and contradictory conclusions have resulted. One major assumption a faulty one according to the author has been that "alienation" and "cynicism" are synonomous. The latter term refers to one particular dimension of the more general concept of political support as specified in the works of Easton and Dennis (1965) and Gamson (1968). Those high in cynicism feel that the government is not producing policies according to expectations, while those low in cynicism are
INVESTIGATION BY SECOND SOUND OF THE INERTIAL MASS OF $sup 3$He IN SUPERFLUID $sup 4$He AT LOW TEMPERATURES.

From measurements of the velocity of second sound and the osmotic pressure the inertial mass of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ in superfluid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ has been obtained as a function of temperature and concentration. The results indicate that (i) the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ quasiparticle spectrum is not quite parabolic and (ii) part of the quasiparticle effective interaction is velocity dependent or "non-local" and resembles the interaction of spheres moving through a nonviscous classical fluid.
Olfaction and taste in the channel catfish: An electrophysiological study of the responses to amino acids and derivatives

1. Peripheral olfactory and gustatory responses of the channel catfishIctalurus punctatus to amino acids and derivatives have been studied using extracellular electrophysiological recording techniques. 2. Amino acids are highly effective stimuli for both chemosensory systems with taste more sensitive than smell. Threshold for L-alanine, the most effective gustatory stimulus tested, averaged 10−11.5±1.7 M, the lowest electrophysiological threshold reported for taste in any vertebrate. Threshold for L-cysteine, the most effective olfactory stimulus tested, averaged 10−8.8±0.8 M. In both systems the L-isomer of anα-amino acid was always more stimulatory than its enantiomer. 3. Averaged olfactory and gustatory neural activity or underwater electro-olfactogram (EOG) recordings increased exponentially with logarithmic increase of stimulus concentration from threshold to 10−2M (Figs. 1, 2, 5). 4. The olfactory receptors were highly responsive to amino acids containing 5 to 6 carbon atoms having unbranched (Table 2) and uncharged (Table 3) side chains; a major exception was the large response to the 3 carbon amino acid L-cysteine. 5. The gustatory receptors were highly responsive to amino acids containing 3 to 4 carbon atoms having unbranched and uncharged side chains; a major exception was the large response to L-arginine, a 6-carbon positively charged amino acid (Table 5). 6. Esterification of the primary carboxyl group of particular amino acids resulted without loss of stimulatory activity indicating for these cases an ionically charged carboxyl group is unnecessary for receptor response (Tables 4, 5). 7. The molecular requirements of the amino acid receptor sites for olfaction and taste in the channel catfish appear to be similar in part to those described for other amino acid chemoreceptive system, in bacteria fish and animal.
Electrochemical profile for potassium ions across the cochlear hair cell membranes of normal and noise-exposed guinea pigs.

The electrochemical driving force for movement of potassium ions across the hair cell membranes was determined in normal and noise-exposed guinea pigs. The measurement of the electrical potential and the potentiometric determination of K+ activity difference across the cell membranes were accomplished with double-barreled K+-selective liquid membrane microelectrodes. Identification of hair cells was based on the sudden increase of the a.c. component of the receptor potential associated with the appearance of the membrane potential and an increase in K+ activity. The results suggest that K+ ions in the hair cell interior and the extracellular space of the organ of Corti are near electrochemical equilibrium. However, the electrochemical gradient for K+ between the hair cell interior and the subtectorial endolymph was very high. These findings imply that the resting potential of hair cells is mainly generated by the diffusion of K+ across the basolateral hair cell membrane and is not affected by contact of the apical cell membrane with K+-rich endolymph. Although cochlear microphonics recorded extracellularly were severely suppressed in guinea pigs exposed to broadband noise at 115 dBA for 7 days, the electrochemical profile for K+ across cell membranes of surviving hair cells did not show marked changes. The ratio of intracellular a.c. receptor potential to extracellular cochlear microphonics was much greater in surviving hair cells of noise-exposed guinea pigs.
A portable small-scale mechanical loading and testing device: Validation and application to a mouse tibia loading model

A small scale mechanical loading and testing device was designed and fabricated to apply in vivo loads to mouse tibiae and to mechanically test the bones in three-point bending. A linear actuator and load cell were used to apply accurately controlled forces to the samples. The device was tested and validated using standard materials of known properties to quantify accuracy and precision. The device had accuracy and precision errors of less than 5% for most of the material tests, an accuracy error of less than 10% and precision error of less than 5% for in vivo loading, and a precision error of less than 5% for ex vivo bone testing. Our results showed that the device was capable of implementing loading interventions and could be used as a tool to assess the response of these interventions. This device represents one solution to the lack of portability and a high setup cost that prevent some research groups from adopting in vivo animal loading.
Prevention of Intracranial Hemorrhage

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Explain how delaying or preventing preterm delivery can reduce the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). 2. Explain how the use of forceps during vaginal delivery may protect against ICH. 3. List the postnatal factors that may influence the risk of developing ICH. 4. Delineate supportive measures after birth that can minimize the risk of ICH. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a major neurologic complication in preterm infants. Its incidence is inversely related to gestational age or birthweight. Because of its multi-factorial etiopathogenesis, the “silver bullet” that will prevent ICH still does not exist. However, numerous studies have addressed various modalities for prevention of this event in both antenatal and postnatal periods. The increased risk of ICH among preterm infants may be explained by the preterm infant’s brain structure. The major feature of the immature brain is the presence or prominence of the periventricular germinal matrix, a highly vascularized structure. The germinal matrix contains capillaries with a low blood flow. Abrupt or severe changes in blood flow can disrupt endothelium and cause ICH into the tissues of the periventricular germinal matrix. Because of this unique brain morphology in preterm infants, obstetric strategies for prevention of ICH are aimed at preventing preterm deliveries. ICH is identified in more than 90% of cases by 4 to 5 days of age, but 30% to 50% of these hemorrhages are present within 12 hours of age, and it has been estimated that 40% occur as early as 1 hour of age. Preventive measures would differ for early-onset versus later-onset ICH. Antenatal measures are likely to affect early ICH, and postnatal measures probably will influence later-onset ICH. Because early-onset ICH is more likely to evolve in severity, its prevention can result in an overall decreased incidence of severe ICH. Antenatal strategies …
Effects of being uninsured on ethnic minorities' management of chronic illness.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness with which insured and uninsured persons with chronic illnesses managed their health care. DESIGN Recruited volunteers diagnosed with a variety of chronic illnesses who underwent 3 semistructured interviews in a 1-year period. SETTING Volunteers were recruited through referrals, flyers, and face-to-face contacts from community health clinics, senior centers, acute care hospitals, and home care services in 2 urban counties in California between December 1997 and December 2000. PARTICIPANTS A total of 297 persons between the ages of 23 and 97 years (35% African American, 33% Latino, and 32% Filipino American), of whom 42 (14%) had no health insurance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Qualitative analysis of interview data compared insured and uninsured respondents on a series of components of chronic illness management, including control over illness, frequency of health crises, procuring medication, use of medication, understanding of the illness, knowledge of self-care measures, and awareness of risk factors. Whether respondents were under the care of a regular physician was also assessed. RESULTS Compared with insured respondents, uninsured respondents were much less effective at managing their illnesses. The uninsured had poorly controlled illnesses, frequent health crises, difficulty procuring medication, used medication incorrectly, demonstrated poor understanding of their illness, and displayed little knowledge of self-care measures or risk awareness. They rarely had a regular physician or attended a specific health clinic. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that not only did uninsured persons with chronic health conditions lack adequate health care, their illnesses were also poorly controlled. Inadequately educated about their health, uninsured persons lacked the information, insight, and tools that would have allowed them to manage their illnesses more effectively.
A New Device to Simplify Flexible Endoscopic Treatment of Zenker'S Diverticulum

Background Endoscopic treatment of a Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is challenged by maintaining a stable position and visual field. An oblique transparent cap and an overtube have been used with success. The porcine hypopharyngeal pouch is similar to a ZD. While using the widespread EMR device (WEMR) in the esophagus, we realized that the design may be advantageous for treatment of a ZD. Objective To use the WEMR cap device to incise the porcine hypopharyngeal pouch septum. Design WEMR cap incision of the porcine hypopharyngeal pouch septum. Settings Animal laboratory. Interventions/Methods Six female domestic pigs underwent endoscopy with the prototype WEMR cap. The cutting wire incised the hypopharyngeal-esophageal septum. Three pigs were immediately euthanized and underwent neck dissection. Three pigs were keep alive for 3 weeks and then underwent excisional neck dissection. Results The procedure was technically easy. The average time was 10 minutes. Limited bleeding occurred by using cutting current and was eliminated by blended current. The entire septum could be incised with the cap edges working as a stopper, until the septum almost completely disappeared. No overt complications occurred. A follow-up endoscopy showed a small residual septum and scar. A barium swallow revealed no pouch, with ready passage into the esophageal lumen. Conclusions The WEMR wire-cutting cap can incise the hypopharyngeal septum in an animal model simulating ZD. This device has the advantage of providing a stable position throughout the procedure and a protective rim that controls the incision. The device facilitates this procedure.
On the residual water content of dried but viable cells

We have examined the residual water in dried cysts of the brine shrimp,Artemia salina, by gas-bombardment techniques at reduced pressures and temperatures. This treatment reduced, but did not remove all the residual water, the lower limit being about 0.0069 gH2O/g dried weight. The significance of such small amounts of water to cell hydration is assessed. The treatment did not appreciably reduce the viability of this cyst population.
Seasonal distributions and turnover of reduced trace gases and hydroxylamine in Yaquina Bay, Oregon

Abstract The distributions of methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and hydrogen along the length of the Yaquina River estuary were examined on six occasions over a year's time during 1983 and 1984. To help evaluate the fluxes of these reduced trace gases, hydroxylamine concentrations and microbial oxidation rates for methane, carbon monoxide, and ammonium were measured along with the trace gases. Methane, introduced primarily from a wastewater discharge, attained high levels of supersaturation, and was removed almost entirely by atmospheric evasion. Carbon monoxide was produced and consumed rapidly by microbes in the estuary, atmospheric evasion contributing little to its overall cycling. Nitrous oxide apparently entered the estuary from fall runoff, upwelled seawater, and sedimentary diffusion, with little relative contribution from aquatic nitrification. Hydroxylamine concentrations correlated positively with ammonium oxidation rates, but whether these processes were one and the same is unknown. Hydrogen production rates apparently were high, as H2 remained supersaturated at all times in the estuary.
Diethylstilbestrol-induced immortalization of human endometrial cells: alterations in p53 and estrogen receptor.

Carcinogenesis is a process requiring multiple steps. Immortalization is one step in this process and may be rate limiting. To further our understanding of estrogen-induced carcinogenesis, we evaluated diethylstilbestrol (DES)-induced immortalization of human endometrial stromal cells. This was achieved by assessing at the restrictive temperature the colony-forming efficiency of cells that were conditionally immortalized with a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T antigen. Treatment with DES for 1 wk did not increase the immortalization frequency; however, cultures that were treated for 20 wk had a twofold increase in immortalization frequency, and continued treatment for a total of 44 wk produced a threefold increase in immortalization frequency that was dose dependent. DES-treated restrictive temperature variants (RTVs) but not spontaneous RTVs lost the temperature-sensitive phenotype. DES-RTVs also had a shorter doubling time than spontaneous RTVs did. p53 expression was increased in DES-RTVs, and its localization within the cell was altered. Conversely, expression of the estrogen receptor was decreased in DES-immortalized cells. These changes in gene expression often occur in estrogen-related malignancies, and our results are consistent with a causal role for estrogens in these p53 and the estrogen receptor alterations. Immortalization of human cells may be analogous to initiation of rodent cells, and our results suggest that estrogen-induced alterations in p53 or other genes that regulate life span could contribute to estrogen-induced initiation. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
HER-2 Testing and Trastuzumab Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Purpose Trastuzumab therapy has been shown to benefit metastatic breast cancer patients whose tumors exhibit HER-2 protein overexpression or gene amplification. Several tests of varying accuracy and cost are available to identify candidates for trastuzumab. We estimated the cost-effectiveness of alternative HER-2 testing and trastuzumab treatment strategies. Patients and Methods We performed a decision analysis using a state-transition model to simulate clinical practice in a hypothetical cohort of 65-year-old metastatic breast cancer patients. Outcomes were quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), lifetime cost, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Interventions included testing with the HercepTest (DAKO, Carpinteria, CA) immunohistochemical assay alone, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) alone, and both tests, followed by trastuzumab and chemotherapy for patients with positive test results and chemotherapy alone for patients with negative test results. Results In the base case, initial He...
Is retroperitoneal lymph node dissection necessary for adult paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma

AbstractPurpose: We assess the benefit of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for adult paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma.Materials and Methods: A total of 19 adults with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection between 1980 and 1997 comprise our study population. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered in all patients, including cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and vincristine with or without consolidation with ifosfamide and etoposide in 17, and vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide in 2. Radiation therapy also was administered in 2 patients. Patients were classified into pathological and clinical groups according to the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Studies. Mean followup was 6.4 years (range 0.5 to 17.6).Results: A total of 17 patients (89%) were disease-free and 2 (1 in pathological group I and 1 in pathological group II) died of disease that recurred outside of the retroperitoneum. Of 16 clinical group I patients 9 were in pathological group II. Th...
Establishing legal limits for driving under the influence of marijuana

Marijuana has become the most commonly detected non-alcohol substance among drivers in the United States and Europe. Use of marijuana has been shown to impair driving performance and increase crash risk. Due to the lack of standardization in assessing marijuana-induced impairment and limitations of zero tolerance legislation, more jurisdictions are adopting per se laws by specifying a legal limit of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at or above which drivers are prosecuted for driving under the influence of marijuana. This review examines major considerations when developing these threshold THC concentrations and specifics of legal THC limits for drivers adopted by different jurisdictions in the United States and other countries.
Comparison Identities for Wave Propagation in a Time-Varying Plasma Medium

An unbounded space-invariant but time-varying medium conserves the wave number k of the wave but alters the frequency of the wave. Thus a switched medium acts like a frequency transformer, the frequencies of the newly created waves (output waves) are easily computed. The amplitudes of the output waves depend on the rise time Tr of the profiles of the parameters of the switched medium.
Learning to Identify and Track Imaginary Objects Implied by Gestures

A vision-based machine learner is presented that learns characteristic hand and object movement patterns for using certain objects, and uses this information to recreate the ”imagined” object when the gesture is performed without the object. To classify the gestures/objects, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are trained on the moment-to-moment velocity and shape of the object-manipulating hand. Object identification using the Forward-Backward algorithm achieved 89% identification accuracy when deciding between 6 objects. Two methods for rotating and positioning imaginary objects in the frame were compared. One used a modified HMM to smooth the observed rotation of the hand, with mixtures of Von Mises distributions. The other used least squares regression to determine the object rotation as a function of hand location, and provided more accurate rotational positioning. The method was adapted to real-time classification from a low-fps webcam stream and still succeeds when the testing frame rate is much lower than training.
Effect of PNF stretch techniques on knee flexor muscle EMG activity in older adults.

Abstract The effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretch techniques on older adults are unknown and the physiological changes associated with aging may lead to differential responses to PNF stretching. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to examine the effects of PNF stretch techniques and EMG activity in older adults. Three PNF stretch techniques: static stretch (SS), contract–relax (CR), and agonist contract–relax (ACR) were applied to 24 older adults aged 50–75 years. The subjects were tested for knee extension range of motion (ROM) and knee flexor muscle EMG activity. The results indicated that ACR produced 29–34% more ROM and 65–119% more EMG activity than CR and SS, respectively. It was concluded that PNF stretch techniques can increase ROM in older adults. However, a paradoxical effect was observed in that PNF stretching may not induce muscular relaxation even though ROM about a joint increases. Care should be taken when applying PNF stretch techniques to older adults due to age-related alterations in muscle elasticity.
Spatial conductivity mapping of carbon nanotube composite thin films by electrical impedance tomography for sensing applications

This paper describes the application of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to demonstrate the multifunctionality of carbon nanocomposite thin films under various types of environmental stimuli. Carbon nanotube (CNT) thin films are fabricated by a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique and mounted with electrodes along their boundaries. The response of the thin films to various stimuli is investigated by relying on electric current excitation and corresponding boundary potential measurements. The spatial conductivity variations are reconstructed based on a mathematical model for the EIT technique. Here, the ability of the EIT method to provide two-dimensional mapping of the conductivity of CNT thin films is validated by (1) electrically imaging intentional structural defects in the thin films and (2) mapping the film's response to various pH environments. The ability to spatially image the conductivity of CNT thin films holds many promises for developing multifunctional CNT-based sensing skins.
The Relative Influence of Fund-Based and Government-Wide Financial Information on Municipal Bond Borrowing Costs

ABSTRACT: Our study provides evidence of the association between accrual-based financial information provided by the GASB Statement No. 34 reporting model and new issue municipal bond borrowing costs. Given the controversy that surrounded the implementation of the GASB Statement No. 34 reporting model, questions that continue to be raised about the usefulness of the model, and recent calls for research on Statement No. 34 by the GASB, our study into the informativeness of the GASB Statement No. 34 model is timely and helpful in informing the GASB decision process. The findings of our study indicate that the Statement No. 34 model provides incremental information to the new issue market beyond that provided by the pre-Statement No. 34 model. Our results indicate that the Statement No. 34 model may allow creditors to better assess issuers' longer-term performance.
Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Biomass‐Derived Oxygenates to Unsaturated Hydrocarbons using Molybdenum Carbide Catalysts

Which cleavage do you prefer? With a combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, surface science studies, and reactor evaluations, Mo(2)C is identified as a highly selective HDO catalyst to selectively convert biomass-derived oxygenates to unsaturated hydrocarbons through selective C-O bond scissions without C-C bond cleavage. This provides high-value HDO products for utilization as feedstocks for chemicals and fuels; this also reduces the overall consumption of H2 .
On the interaction of velar fronting and labial harmony

This article documents the typological occurrence and interactions of two seemingly independent error patterns, namely Velar Fronting and Labial Harmony, in a cross-sectional investigation of the sound systems of 235 children with phonological delays (ages 3;0 to 7;9). The results revealed that the occurrence of Labial Harmony depends on the occurrence of Velar Fronting, and that, when these processes co-occurred, all three predicted types of interactions were attested. A constrained version of Optimality Theory is put forward that offers a unified explanation for the implicational relationship between these error patterns and their observed interactions. The findings are compared with the results from other studies and are considered for their theoretical and clinical implications.
COLLISION AVOIDANCE USING A CEREBELLAR MODEL ARITHMETIC COMPUTER NEURAL NETWORK

Avoiding collisions with obstacles in a clustered environment is a difficult task for autonomous vehicles. Deterministic algorithms cannot address all scenarios encountered and may fail to perform in dynamically changing environments. Neural networks, owing to their ability to map complex relationships between multiple input-output patterns, can learn the task of maneuvering around and in-between obstacles to reach a goal state. The Cerebellar Model Arithmetic Computer (CMAC) neural network in particular is based on a model of human sensory motor responses and can efficiently model responsive control actions. A CMAC neural network controller was developed and examined, in simulation, for its suitability to capture a driver's function of steering and braking. The performance of the controller was tested in a simulation of a moving platform (vehicle) encountering obstacles of various shapes, whereas the CMAC was trained only with limited shapes and scenarios. Preliminary simulation results have shown the CMAC's ability to successfully generalize its learned patterns to avoid obstacles after only a few training sessions. The CMAC output is generated in a computationally efficient manner with physically and economically realizable memory sizes. Therefore, real-time hardware implementation of the controller is feasible. This research demonstrates that the method has the ability to accommodate more complex scenarios.
A new species of Spinicauda (Nematoda: Heterakidae) and other endoparasites in Platymantis pelewensis (Anura: Ranidae) from the Palau Islands, Republic of Belau, Oceanica

Spinicauda fisheri n. sp. from the intestine of Platymantis pelewensis collected in the Palau Islands, Republic of Belau, is described and illustrated. Spinicauda fisheri represents the 12th species assigned to the genus and the first from Oceanica. It is most similar to Spinicauda spinicauda in that the tail ends in a filament, but it has 19 pairs of caudal papillae as compared with 5 pairs in S. spinicauda. In addition to S. fisheri, 2 species of Cestoda, cysticercoids of Joyeuxiella sp. and tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp., 2 species of Nematoda, Oswaldocruzia bakeri and Physocephalus sp. (larvae in cysts), 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus bufonis, and 1 species of Pentastomida, nymphs of Kiricephalus pattoni were identified.
Functionalism in Second Language Acquisition

This article examines the role played by functional approaches to linguistics in understanding second language acquisition (SLA). Central premises and tenets of functional approaches are described, and several key theoretical problems with functional efforts are detailed. The problem of referential management (the selection of nominal vs. pronominal NPs) in second language discourse production is examined. The general conclusions are drawn that (a) functional approaches to linguistics have a significant role to play in SLA studies, but (b) functional universals are insufficiently grounded theoretically and empirically at this point to contribute more than heuristic guidance to SLA theory.
The effect of glycosaminoglycan content on polyethylenimine-based gene delivery within three-dimensional collagen-GAG scaffolds

The design of biomaterials for increasingly complex tissue engineering applications often requires exogenous presentation of biomolecular signals. Integration of gene delivery vectors with a biomaterial scaffold offers the potential to bypass the use of expensive and relatively inefficient growth factor supplementation strategies to augment cell behavior. However, integration of cationic polymer based gene delivery vectors within three-dimensional biomaterials, particularly matrices which can carry significant surface charge, remains poorly explored. We examined the potential of polyethylenimine (PEI) as a gene delivery vector for three-dimensional collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) scaffolds under development for tendon repair. While acetylated versions of PEI have demonstrated improved transfection efficiency in 2D culture assays, we investigated translation of this effect to a 3D biomaterial that contains significant electrostatic charge. A reporter gene was used to examine the impact of polymer modification, polymer : DNA ratio, and the degree of sulfation of the biomaterial microenvironment on gene delivery in vitro. We observed highest transgene expression in acetylated and unmodified PEI at distinct polymer : DNA ratios; notably, the enhancement often seen in two-dimensional culture for acetylated PEI did not fully translate to three-dimensional scaffolds. We also found highly sulfated heparin-based CG scaffolds showed enhanced initial luciferase expression but not prolonged activity. While PEI constructs significantly reduced tenocyte metabolic health during the period of transfection, heparin-based CG scaffolds showed the greatest recovery in tenocyte metabolic health over the full 2 week culture. These results suggest that the electrostatic environment of three-dimensional biomaterials may be an important design criterion for cationic polymer-based gene delivery.
Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 2 Rex Protein Increases Stability and Promotes Nuclear to Cytoplasmic Transport of gag/pol and env RNAs

The human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) Rex protein is essential for efficient expression of the viral structural and enzymatic gene products. In this study, we assessed the role of the HTLV-2 rex gene in viral RNA expression and Gag protein production. Following transfection of human JM4 T cells with wild-type and rex mutant full-length proviral constructs, PCR was used for semiquantitative analysis of specific viral RNA transcripts. In the presence of Rex, the total amount of steady-state viral RNA was increased fourfold. Rex significantly up-regulated the level of incompletely spliced RNAs by increasing RNA stability and was associated with a twofold down-regulation of the completely spliced tax/rex RNA. PCR analysis of subcellular RNA fractions, isolated from transfected cells, indicated that the level of gag/pol and env cytoplasmic RNAs were increased 7- to 9-fold in the presence of Rex, whereas Gag protein production was increased 130-fold. These data indicate that HTLV-2 Rex increases the stability and promotes nucleus-to-cytoplasm transport of the incompletely spliced viral RNAs, ultimately resulting in increased structural protein production. Moreover, this model system provides a sensitive approach to further characterize HTLV gene expression from full-length proviral clones following transfection of human T cells.
Characterization of electrostatically coupled microcantilevers

The use of tightly packed arrays of probes can achieve the much desirable goal of increasing the throughput of scanning probe devices. However the proximity of the probes induces coupling in their dynamics, which increases the complexity of the overall device. In this paper we analyze and model the behavior of a pair of electrostatically and mechanically coupled microcantilevers. For the common case of periodic driving voltage, we show that the underlying linearized dynamics are governed by a pair of coupled Mathieu equations. We provide experimental evidence that confirms the validity of the mathematical model proposed, which is verified by finite element simulations as well. The coefficients of electrostatic and mechanical coupling are estimated respectively by frequency identification methods and noise analysis. Finally, we discuss parametric resonance for coupled oscillators and include a mapping of the first order coupled parametric resonance region.
Are Religious People More Compassionate and Does This Matter Politically

Analyzing a unique module of the General Social Survey, we test hypotheses that three religion dimensions — affiliation with specific religious traditions (belonging), service attendance (behaving), and religious orthodoxy (believing) are associated with compassionate feelings, and that these feelings carry over into support for government efforts to help the poor, blacks, and the sick. The religiously orthodox report more compassionate feelings toward others than do modernists and, partly because of this, are more supportive of government intervention to help the poor. Yet attending religious services frequently does not increase compassionate feelings and makes people less supportive of government efforts to help the poor. There are no differences among religious traditions in compassionate feelings, and the only difference on economic policy preferences is for Black Protestants to support government assistance to blacks. Compassionate feelings have comparable effects to political ideology and party identification on support for government assistance to the disadvantaged and misfortunate. We conclude that people of faith, variously defined, do not constitute a monolithic “Religious Right” and are potentially open to policy appeals from both political parties.
Do Insiders Practice What They Preach? Informed Option Exercises Around Acquisitions

We examine executive stock option exercise activity around a sample of acquisition announcements between 1996 and 2006, particularly focusing on a subset of exercises that we identify as potentially informed. For stock-financed acquisitions, we find a surge in informed exercises by acquirers' insiders in the year leading up to the acquisition announcement and significantly more option exercises when matched to control firms. On the other hand, target insiders display no increase in informed option exercises in the year preceding the merger announcement and significantly less ESO exercises compared to their matched firms. We find the market reaction upon the announcement for acquirers is negatively related to extreme early exercises and the dollar amount of such informed exercises. Firms with informed exercises underperform control-matched firms both from an operating and stock performance perspective. Overall, our evidence indicates that insiders knowingly bid for firms when they personally believe their own firm is overvalued, consistent with the theoretical predictions in Shleifer and Vishny (2003).
Elongation of the Interpubic Ligament in the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

SummaryA significant elongation of the interpubic ligament occurs in the pregnant little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). Examined immediately after delivery, the mean ligament length measured 2.01 as compared with 0.52 mm in the non-pregnant bat. Treatment of non-pregnant female bats with es-tradiol induced a mean pubic separation of 0.78 mm, while treatment with ECP and relaxin induced a mean separation of 1.03 and 1.25 mm with 5 and 10 GPU of relaxin, respectively. It is concluded that separation of the pubic symphysis with the elongation of the interpubic ligament occurs during pregnancy in the little brown bat and after treatment with ECP and relaxin.
Pulsed UV Excimer Laser Doping of Semiconductors

UV excimer lasers have been used to dope semiconductors by a one-step process in which the laser serves both to release dopant atoms from a parent molecule and to melt the surface, allowing incorporation of dopant atoms by liquid state diffusion. The technique has been used to dope Si, GaAs, and InP. Shallow junctions formed by the technique have been fabricated into efficient Si and GaAs solar cells.
Evaluation of a time-linearized Navier-Stokes method for booster tone noise analyses

A computational study of booster tone noise was performed using a linearized-unsteady Navier-Stokes solver in a proprietary computational fluid dynamics code. A model-scale fan rig geometry that was studied experimentally was chosen for this investigation to evaluate the ability of the linearized-unsteady methodology to predict booster tone noise. The predicted in-duct sound power levels were compared to sound power levels calculated from sideline traversing microphone data. The comparison indicates that the simulation is able to capture trends in booster tone noise along Approach, Cutback, and Sideline operating points and also the relative significance of the 1 and 2 booster harmonics.
Covalent crosslinking of graphene oxide and carbon nanotube into hydrogels enhances nerve cell responses

Healing of nerve injuries is a critical medical issue. Biodegradable polymeric conduits are a promising therapeutic solution to provide guidance for axon growth in a given space, thus helping nerve heal. Extensive studies in the past decade reported that conductive materials could effectively increase neurite and axon extension in vitro and nerve regeneration in vivo. In this study, graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes were covalently functionalized with double bonds to obtain crosslinkable graphene oxide acrylate (GOa) sheets and carbon nanotube poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate (CNTpega). An electrically conductive reduced GOa–CNTpega–oligo(polyethylene glycol fumarate) (OPF) hydrogel (rGOa–CNTpega–OPF) was successfully fabricated by chemically crosslinking GOa sheets and CNTpega with OPF chains followed by in situ chemical reduction in L-ascorbic acid solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging showed homogenous distribution of GOa/CNTpega carbon content in the rGOa–CNTpega–OPF composite hydrogel, resulting in a significant increase of electrical conductivity compared with neutral OPF without carbon content. Cell studies showed excellent biocompatibility and distinguished PC12 cell proliferation and spreading on the rGOa–CNTpega–OPF composite hydrogel. Fluorescent microscopy imaging demonstrated robustly stimulated neurite development in these cells on a conductive rGOa–CNTpega–OPF composite hydrogel compared with that on neutral OPF hydrogels. These results illustrated a promising potential for the rGOa–CNTpega–OPF composite hydrogel to serve as conduits for neural tissue engineering.
A Case for Slow Reading

This essay makes a case for the value of slow or deep reading. Inspired by the Slow Food movement it seeks to apply their principles to reading. It begins by exploring the meaning of information and how like food, information has come to be regarded as a commodity. Drawing upon the philosophy of Albert Borgmann, it counters the prevalent commodity view of information by offering an alternative paradigm that connects careful reading to human flourishing. It argues that by connecting information to pleasure and community, slow reading advocates can have comparable success to that enjoyed by the slow food movement.
The Nature and Realization of Quantum Entanglement

This paper analyses the nature of quantum entanglement, proves the quantum entanglement is not action at a distance, proposes a scheme to realize quantum entanglement, explains that the quantum entanglement is not action at a distance and the non-cloning theorem of quantum state ensure the quantum mechanics is consistent with relativity and make the superluminal communication could not happened.