cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gamma ray astrophysics and signatures of axion-like particles

Very high energy gamma-rays are expected to be absorbed by the extragalactic background light over cosmological distances via the process of electron-positron pair production. However, recent observations of cosmologically distant emitters by ground based gamma-ray telescopes might be indicative of a higher-than-expected degree of transparency of the universe. One mechanism to explain this observation is the oscillation between photons and axion-like-particles (ALPs). Here we explore this possibility, focusing on photon-ALP conversion in the magnetic fields in and round gamma-ray sources and in the magnetic field of the Milky Way, where some fraction of the ALP flux is converted back into photons. We show that this mechanism can be efficient in allowed regions of the ALP parameter space, as well as in typical configurations of the Galactic Magnetic Field. As case example, we consider the spectrum observed from a HESS source. We also discuss features of this scenario which could be used to distinguish it from standard or other exotic models.
Modeling Semidiurnal Internal Tide Variability in the Southern California Bight

AbstractThe Regional Oceanic Modeling System (ROMS) is applied in a nested configuration with realistic forcing to the Southern California Bight (SCB) to analyze the variability in semidiurnal internal wave generation and propagation. The SCB has a complex topography with supercritical slopes that generate linear internal waves at the forcing frequency. The model predicts the observed barotropic and baroclinic tides reasonably well, although the observed baroclinic tides feature slightly larger amplitudes. The strongest semidiurnal barotropic to baroclinic energy conversion occurs on a steep sill slope of the 1900-m-deep Santa Cruz Basin. This causes a forced, near-resonant, semidiurnal Poincare wave that rotates clockwise in the basin and is of the first mode along the radial, azimuthal, and vertical directions. The associated tidal-mean, depth-integrated energy fluxes and isotherm oscillation amplitudes in the basin reach maximum values of about 5 kW m−1 and 100 m and are strongly modulated by the sprin...
Weakness of will, reasonability, and compulsion

Experimental philosophers have recently begun to investigate the folk conception of weakness of will (e.g., Mele in Philos Stud 150:391–404, 2010; May and Holton in Philos Stud 157:341–360, 2012; Beebe forthcoming; Sousa and Mauro forthcoming). Their work has focused primarily on the ways in which akrasia (i.e., acting contrary to one’s better judgment), unreasonable violations of resolutions, and variations in the moral valence of actions modulate folk attributions of weakness of will. A key finding that has emerged from this research is that—contrary to the predominant view in the history of philosophy—ordinary participants do not think of weakness of will solely in terms of akrasia but see resolution violations and moral evaluations as playing equally important roles. The present article extends this line of research by reporting the results of four experiments that investigate (i) the interplay between hastily revising one’s resolutions and the degree of reasonableness of the actions one had resolved to undertake, (ii) whether ordinary participants are willing to ascribe weakness of will to agents whose actions stem from compulsion or addiction, and (iii) the respects in which akratic action, resolution violations, and the seriousness of an addiction impact attributions of weakness of will to agents acting in accord with their addictions.
A Partial Solution to Fitting Large Parametric Surfaces in Computer-Aided Design Systems

This paper describes a procedure to “smooth” several separately-defined three-dimensional surfaces into a single, uniformly-continuous compound surface.
Replacement of serum in cell culture by hormones: A study of hormonal regulation of cell growth and specific gene expression

The hypothesis that the growth of mammalian cells is regulated by hormones is now supported by considerable evidence. Two rat pituitary cell lines, GH3 and GC, a mouse melanoma, M2R (B16), and a human cervical carcinoma cell, HeLa S-3, have been grown indefinitely in serum-free (SF) hormone-supplemented medium. No visible changes of growth characteristics were observed in the cells grown continuously in the SF condition. However, changes in the activity of a plasma membrane enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, and in the relative intensity of surface proteins that are labeled by the [125I] lactoperoxidase technique were found in HeLa cells grown in the SF condition. To study the role of hormones required in the regulation of cell growth, HeLa cells were grown in the absence of one of the required hormones. The following results were obtained. Epidermal growth factor is probably involved in the regulation of the synthesis of macromolecules such as RNA and of the protein content per cell. Transferrin, the accessory factor in the SF condition, supplies iron for cells. The two basic peptides in this SF system, fibroblast growth factor and insulin, are probably involved in the balance of nutrients and energy inside the cell. The replacement of F12 medium with a better-balanced medium, MCDB 105, can mimic the requirements for these two peptides. The steroid hydrocortisone (HC) is probably involved in alteration of the cell surface. This is indicated by the effects of HC on cell morphology, rate of detachment from the dish, and the pattern of [125I] lactoperoxidase labeling of surface proteins. In addition, it is necessary to change the medium more frequently to maintain the culture in the medium without HC. This observation suggests that HC may be involved in the control of homeostatic properties of the cell surface. The production of rat prolactin by GH3 cells was also studied. GH3 cells in the SF condition produce 1.6 microgram prolactin per 10(5) cells in 24 h, while 2.4 microgram is produced in the presence of serum. Prolactin production in the SF condition is enhanced by the presence of thyrotropin-releasing hormone and inhibited by triiodothyronine (T3). T3 is the major growth factor for these cells. Without it cell growth is severely limited, while prolactin production is elevated. This result suggests that the GH3 cell line in the SF condition may be an ideal system for the study of hormonal regulation of cell growth and specific gene expression.
Distinguishing between stars and galaxies composed of matter and antimatter using photon helicity detection

The positrons produced in fusion processes in matter stars will have predominantly a "right" helicity due to the nonconversation of parity in weak interactions. This helicity is transferred to bremsstahlung and forward in-flight annilation radiation, which will be right-circularly polarized. In antimatter stars, $\mathrm{CP}$ symmetry will make the equivalent radiation left-circularly polarized. The helicity of such radiation can be used to distinguish between astronomical objects composed of matter and antimatter.
Studies on the developing cerebellum. II. The ultrastructure of the external granular layer.

The ultrastructure of the external granular layer (EGL) of the rat cerebellum has been studied with special attention given to the changes occurring during its postnatal existence. Three periods are described: In the first period, lasting until day 5, the EGL is composed of a homogeneous population of germinal cells; the second period, lasting until day 17, is characterized by differentiation of neuroblasts which accumulate under the germinal cells forming the mantle zone. In the third period, the cell proliferation ends and the layer becomes progressively thinner and disappears by postnatal day 20. During these periods, the following cells have been identified: (A) germinal cells, ovoid or polyhedral and usually ciliated, have a comparatively large nucleus, a rim of cytoplasm, and an undetermined number of thin, long processes which persist during mitosis, although their fate during postmitotic differentiation was not established. (B) horizontal neuroblasts, with flattened nucleus and soma, are richer in organoids than the germinal cells, have neurotubules and thick lateral processes. (C) transitional bipolar neuroblasts resemble horizontal cells, except that most organoids, including the cilium migrate into the descending process. (D) A stage of apolar neuroblast has not been observed and there was no evidence of glial formation in the layer. A variety of cellular attachments are present, but synapses were not seen at any stage. At birth, the EGL adjacent to the pia mater is formed by EGL cells and their processes which are later replaced by the end feet of Bergmann glia which during a time exhibit giant mitochondria. Glial processes separate the EGL cells into columns and a neuropile is formed by these processes, and those of the EGL cells. The extension of the extracellular space is discussed as is the spontaneous degeneration of cells.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Protease IV: A Corneal Virulence Factor of Low Immunogenicity

Purpose: To study antibody production to Pseudomonas aeruginosa protease IV (PIV) for immunoassay development and to assess the possible role of antibody in arresting corneal damage. Methods: Rabbits were immunized with PIV, urea-soluble recombinant PIV (rPIV), or precipitated rPIV. Antibody was analyzed by ELISA and Western blotting. Antibody-mediated inhibition of PIV activity was tested by colorimetric assay and during keratitis by slit-lamp examination of infected eyes. Results: Antibody was not produced after PIV immunization but was induced by rPIV. Rabbits immunized first with soluble and then precipitated rPIV produced high titers (log10) to rPIV (4.28 ± 0.09) and significantly higher titers to PIV (3.90 ± 0.06) compared to the other immunized groups. Antibody to rPIV reacted with PIV, but neither neutralized enzyme activity in vitro nor protected infected rabbits in vivo. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that PIV is a virulence factor which can escape a protective immune response.
Explaining the spread of residential air conditioning, 1955–1980

Abstract In 1955 fewer than 2% of the nation’s residences had air conditioning; by 1980 over half were air conditioned, and over a quarter had central air. This paper attempts to explain the growth and the geographic differences in the prevalence of residential air conditioning from the mid fifties to 1980. Census data and data on climate and relevant prices are combined to estimate a model that focuses on the role of economic factors, that is, geographic differences and changes over time in incomes and prices, in affecting the pattern of diffusion of residential air conditioning.
Influence of device structure and growth conditions on the tunneling characteristics of Si/Si 1− x Ge x double barrier structures

We have investigated different Si/Si1−xGex hole resonant tunneling structures. We demonstrate the advantages of grading the Ge concentration in the spacer layers, which allows for a smoother potential profile in the spacer layers and a higher Ge concentration in the well, and hence higher bandoffsets. This leads to an improvement of the resonances seen in the I–V characteristics of these devices. Structures grown at different temperatures emphasize the importance of obtaining abrupt Si/Si1−xGex double barrier heterointerfaces in order to obtain good I–V characteristics. Short-term post annealing at ⋟500°C, well below temperatures where strain relaxation or dopant diffusion into the barrier layers occur, is shown to destroy the resonances. We believe this is due to monolayer interdiffusion at the barriers, destroying the abruptness of the interfaces.
Design of an optimal damper to minimize the vibration of machine tool structures subject to random excitation

The vibration of machine tools during machining adversely affects machining accuracy and tool life, and therefore must be minimized. The cutting forces for stable turning are generally known to be random, and hence excite all the resonance modes. Of all these modes, those that generate relative motions between a cutting tool and a workpiece are of concern. This paper presents a new approach for designing an optimal damper to minimize the relative vibration between the cutting tool and workpiece during stable machining. An approximate normal mode method is employed to calculate the response of a machine tool system with nonproportional damping subject to random excitation. The major advantage of this method is that it reduces the amount of computation greatly for higher-order systems when responses have to be calculated repeatedly in the process of optimization. An optimal design procedure is presented based on a representative lumped parameter model that can be constructed by using existing experimental or analytical techniques. The two-step optimization procedure based on the modified pattern search and univariate search effectively leads the numerical solution to the global minimun irrespectively of initial values even under the existence of many local minima.
ERYTHROPOIETIN AND ITS RECEPTOR ARE EXPRESSED IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM OF FIRST AND SECOND TRIMESTER HUMAN FETUSES. |[dagger]| 1301

Recombinant erythropoietin (rEpo) is an effective treatment for infants with anemia of prematurity, and is used increasingly as an alternative to multiple transfusions. The primary known function of Epo is to promote erythropoiesis by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells, however, animal studies have demonstrated the presence of Epo and its receptor (Epo-R) within the developing murine central nervous system. Our objective was to determine whether mRNA for Epo and Epo-R are expressed in the central nervous system of early and mid-trimester human fetuses. Spinal cords (n=12) and brain (n=6) were collected from human abortuses ranging in maturity from 5 weeks to 24 weeks gestation. Meninges were removed from spinal cords, and total RNA was extracted from washed specimens. The presence of Epo and Epo-R mRNA was determined by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction using primers designed to differentiate between genomic DNA and mRNA amplification. All fetal spinal cords and brain tested contained Epo-R mRNA. Immunofluorescent staining of spinal cord identified cells expressing Epo-R to be radiating from the ependymal canal toward the anterior and posterior median sulci. Expression of Epo mRNA was also present in both spinal cord and brain samples ranging in age from 5 to 24 weeks gestation. We conclude that Epo and its receptor are expressed in cells of the developing human central nervous system. As the role of Epo within the developing central nervous system is unclear, further studies are needed to determine the long-term neurodevelopmental effects of therapeutic rEpo administered to preterm infants.
A preliminary analysis of atomic oxygen dayglow using solar EUV measurements from ASSI

The mechanisms governing the interactions between two of the fundamental components of the solar-terrestrial system - solar ionizing radiation and the earth's upper atmosphere - are investigated. The physical parameters of the EUV emissions resulting from these interactions are characterized so that EUV remote sensing can gainfully be employed as a quantitative diagnostic of the terrestrial atmosphere and plasma environment. This analysis uses the solar flux measurements of the Airglow and Solar Spectrometer Instrument (ASSI) on board the San Marco D/L satellite. Preliminary modeling results of the altitude and zenith angle distribution of these emissions are presented along with the data.
Fast Readout of CCD Images

A new fast serial readout system for CCD imaging devices is described. Clock frequency of up to 65 MHz and 1 ?s line transfer time make possible frame rates of approximately 500/s. A baseline stabilized video amplifier and fast peak stretcher also make possible high resolution frame readout with excellent dynamic range. It uses a fast dump readout sequence which clears the analog registers prior to the image charge transfer from the photoelements. The charge of any preset pixel can be individually extracted, its peak stretched, and the noise distribution measured by a multichannel pulse-height analyzer. Photographs of test pattern readouts at high clock frequencies are shown and the effect of clock and frame readout rates and temperature on noise distribution have been measured.
AICAR induces phosphorylation of AMPK in an ATM-dependent, LKB1-independent manner

AMPK is an AMP-activated protein kinase that plays an important role in regulating cellular energy homeostasis. Metabolic stress, such as heat shock and glucose starvation, causes an energy deficiency in the cell and leads to elevated levels of intracellular AMP. This results in the phosphorylation and activation of AMPK. LKB1, a tumor suppressor, has been identified as an upstream kinase of AMPK. We found that in response to treatment with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR), the LKB1 deficient cancer cell line, HeLa, exhibited AMPK-alpha phosphorylation. This indicates the existence of an LKB1-independent AMPK-alpha phosphorylation pathway. ATM is a protein that is deficient in the disease ataxia telangiectasia (A-T). We measured the activation of AMPK by AICAR in the normal mouse embryo fibroblast cell line, A29, and the mouse cell line lacking the ATM protein, A38. In A38 cells, the level of AICAR-induced AMPK-alpha phosphorylation was significantly lower than that found in A29 cells. Furthermore, phosphorylation of AMPK in HeLa and A29 cells was inhibited by an ATM specific inhibitor, KU-55933. Our results demonstrate that AICAR treatment could lead to phosphorylation of AMPK in an ATM-dependent and LKB1-independent manner. Thus, ATM may function as a potential AMPK kinase in response to AICAR treatment.
ROLE OF CHEMOKINES IN TUMOR GROWTH

Chemokines play a paramount role in the tumor progression. Chronic inflammation promotes tumor formation. Both tumor cells and stromal cells elaborate chemokines and cytokines. These act either by autocrine or paracrine mechanisms to sustain tumor cell growth, induce angiogenesis and facilitate evasion of immune surveillance through immunoediting. The chemokine receptor CXCR2 and its ligands promote tumor angiogenesis and leukocyte infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. In harsh acidic and hypoxic microenvironmental conditions tumor cells up-regulate their expression of CXCR4, which equips them to migrate up a gradient of CXCL12 elaborated by carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to a normoxic microenvironment. The CXCL12-CXCR4 axis facilitates metastasis to distant organs and the CCL21-CCR7 chemokine ligand-receptor pair favors metastasis to lymph nodes. These two chemokine ligand-receptor systems are common key mediators of tumor cell metastasis for several malignancies and as such provide key targets for chemotherapy. In this paper, the role of specific chemokines/chemokine receptor interactions in tumor progression, growth and metastasis and the role of chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions in the stromal compartment as related to angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune response to the tumor are reviewed.
The Burden and Beauty of the Humanities

Lamentations about the sad state of the humanities in modern America have a familiar, indeed almost ritualistic, quality about them. The humanities are among those unquestionably nice endeavors, li...
To Use or Not to Use: A Stage-Based Approach to Understanding Condom Use Among Homeless Youth

This study used a stage-based approach to understand condom use behavior in a representative sample of 309 sexually active homeless youth recruited from shelters, drop-in centers, and street sites in Los Angeles County. Focusing on the youth's most recent sexual event, the three stages of condom use examined were: (1) whether the partners decided prior to the event about using condoms; (2) whether a condom was available at the event; and (3) whether a condom was used at the event. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify attitudinal, relationship, and contextual correlates of each of these three stages. Deciding ahead of time about condom use was associated with being Hispanic, level of education, condom attitudes, and various relationship characteristics (e.g., partner type, monogamy, relationship abuse), with the nature of these associations varying depending on the type of decision (i.e., deciding to use, deciding to not use). Condom availability was more likely to be reported by males, if the...
Social Classes in Contemporary Sweden

Survey data from Gavle, Sweden, are examined to determine whether the three Swedish occupational groups reflect actual social classes. Analyses reveal that (a) occupational status is heavily influe...
Extraoral Sinus Tract Misdiagnosed as an Endodontic Lesion

The extraoral sinus tract may occur as a result of an inflammatory process associated with a necrotic pulp. However, several non-odontogenic disorders may also produce an extraoral sinus tract. Thus, the differential diagnosis of this clinical finding is of paramount importance in providing appropriate clinical care because misdiagnosis of this condition may result in healing failure or unnecessary treatment. This case report of a 19-yr-old male patient describes an extraoral cutaneous sinus tract misdiagnosed as an endodontic lesion. Consequently, the patient underwent unnecessary exploratory procedures and antibiotic therapy. Identification of the inflammatory source of the lesion and removal of the affected tissue led to tissue healing.
Surface atomic and domain structures of biomedical carbons observed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).

STM has been used to study the surface domain and atomic structures of three biomedical carbons: glassy carbon (GC), low-temperature isotropic carbon (LTI), and ultra-low-temperature isotropic carbon (ULTI). The images show atomic lattices on both GC and LTI, but not on ULTI. The lattices contain many defects; lattices in GC are more ordered than those in LTI. The images also show patchlike carbon crystallites with sizes of 3–15 nm for GC, 2–8 nm for LTI, and 1–3 nm for ULTI. The crystallites form surface domains that may differ in surface properties due to different orientations of the crystallites. Mechanical polishing makes the LTI surface more amorphous and more homogeneous. Based on the STM observations, we evaluate several hypotheses on the blood compatibility of biomedical carbons. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
McGrid: framework for optimizing grid middleware on multi-core processors

The microprocessor industry is rapidly moving towards chip multi-processors (CMPs), commonly referred to as multi-core processors, where multiple cores can independently execute different threads. This change in computer architecture requires corresponding design modifications in programming paradigms, including grid middleware tools, to harness the opportunities presented by multi-core processors. Naive implementations of grid middleware on multi-core systems can severely impact performance because of limitations of shared bus bandwidth, cache size and coherency, and communication between threads. The goal of developing an optimized multi-threaded grid middleware for emerging multi-core processors will be realized only if researchers and developers have access to an in-depth analysis of the impact of several low level microarchitectural parameters on performance. None of the current grid simulators and emulators provide feedback at the microarchitectural level, which is essential for such an analysis. We describe the initial design and implementation of an emulation framework, Multi-core Grid (McGrid), to analyze and provide insightful feedback on the performance limitations, bottlenecks, and optimization opportunities for grid middleware on multi-core systems. We describe early performance results of emulating the processing of some representative XML based grid documents on multi-core nodes using the McGrid framework.
Crystal forms of anhydrous calcium stearate derivable from calcium stearate monohydrate

Abstract Anhydrous calcium stearate can be obtained at room temperature in any one of three forms, or mixtures thereof, by dehydration of calcium stearate monohydrate. Calcium stearate VIA is believed to be the stable modification. Calcium stearate VIH is an anhydrous crystalline powder having the same X-ray diffraction pattern as calcium stearate monohydrate. Calcium stearate VIN is relatively amorphous with respect to interchain spacings although it exhibits a crystalline long spacing. Samples of calcium stearate hydrate which yield calcium stearate VIH upon dehydration lack a second order thermal transition at 48°C. characteristic of calcium stearate hydrate samples which yield calcium stearate VIA upon dehydration. Evidence is presented supporting the interpretation that transformation of the hydrate type structure to the anhydrous type is inhibited by impurities in the calcium stearate, particularly adsorbed calcium salts and foreign fatty acid anions.
The post-modern Leo Strauss?

Few authors rival Leo Strauss in the variety of conflicting interpretations they have provoked. One might be reminded of Hegel and the proliferation of ‘right’ and ‘left’ Hegelians. But no one doubted that Hegel was a modern author. There is no similar agreement about the work of Strauss. Strauss has been accused of (or praised for) everything from the naive attempt to plot a return to Athens, to being an ideological defender of a ‘conservative’ vision of liberal capitalism, to being a Nietzschean nihilist and historicist hiding under an esoteric natural right teaching, to be a mediaeval rabbi in disguise, and so on. I want to suggest that this confusion is due to the fact that many competing elements exist in Strauss’s thought. In short, Strauss’s life work-his ‘project’-is based on a novel synthesis. It is a synthesis that is constructed in a post-Hegelian, post-Nietzschean, post-Heideggerian environment. But it is equally true that Strauss consciously responds to and tries to transcend the problems inherent in late modern thought. It is in this sense that Strauss’s synthesis could legitimately be termed post-modern, and take its place in the growing debates about postmodernity. I will explicitly oppose my view of Strauss’s indebtedness to several latemodem authors to the interpretation that the esoteric Straussian position is a furtive Nietzscheanism, which uses Machiavelli as its spokesperson, does not believe in God or the immortality of the soul, etc.’ Strauss clearly differentiates himself from the late-moderns-his ‘third wave’-while nonetheless drawing some elements from them. I have in mind specifically Martin Heidegger far more than Nietzsche. In a way that is not sufficiently appreciated, Heidegger was the pivotal thinker for Strauss-if not the most important in his final synthesis-but unlike Heidegger, Strauss did believe that there is a natural basis for man’s existence. It does not, however, actualise itself through efficient causality; hence it is not always available or operative. I will argue that the post-Hegelian elements in Strauss’s thought prove quite clearly that he was not plotting some simple-minded return to the ancients. Strauss openly admitted that nothing so massively affected him ‘in the years in which [my] mind took [its] lasting direction as the thought of Heidegger’.2 He says of Heidegger that he is the only ‘great thinker’ of the twentieth century.’ According to Strauss, Heidegger understood, like no one else, the nature of the technological world society that is now destined. Strauss agrees with Heidegger that that society runs the grave risk of eventuating in the complete degradation of man: ‘no leisure, no elevation, no withdrawal; nothing but work and recreation; no individuals and no peoples, but instead “lonely crowds”‘.4
Initial genomic scan of the NIMH genetics initiative bipolar pedigrees: Chromosomes 3, 5, 15, 16, 17, and 22

As part of the four-center NIMH Genetics Initiative on Bipolar Disorder we carried out a genomic scan of chromosomes 3, 5, 15, 16, 17, and 22. Genotyping was performed on a set of 540 DNAs from 97 families, enriched for affected relative pairs and parents where available. We report here the results of the initial 74 markers that have been typed on this set of DNAs. The average distance between markers (u) was 12.3 cM. Nonparametric analysis of excess allele sharing among affected sibling pairs used the SIBPAL program of the S.A.G.E. pack
The effect of spin on the non-linear resonant motions of a dynamical system

Abstract The motions of a two degree of freedom mechanical oscillator in a state of internal resonance due to the non-linear coupling between its modes are analyzed by the method of multiple scales. The system is connected by a motor to a vertical shaft driven at a constant spin rate relative to inertial space. It is shown that the non-linear resonance phenomenon can effectively be controlled by properly changing the spin rate of the motor. In addition, the transition curves that separate the non-linear resonant and the non-resonant motions of the system are also determined analytically by a straightforward perturbation method. The analytical expression for the transition curves is used in connection with the multiple scale analysis to yield a refined approximation for the main characteristics of the non-linear resonant motion.
Comparative rather 1

English rather than clauses display obvious surface similarities with comparative clause constructions. The parallelism between expressions where rather than is followed by clause remains, and such ordinary comparative expressions as better than, taller than , etc., followed by a clause or clause remains, suggests that the rather than expressions are just comparatives, derived in much the same way as the more familiar comparative forms. However, the derivation of rather than expressions as comparatives is not entirely straightforward. First, although rather has the form of a comparative adjective, rath+er (as required in comparative clause constructions), this is apparently a fossil form: in current English there is no adjective rath of which rather is the comparative. Thus, any treatment that derives comparatives from structures containing compared adjectives (e.g., -er much tall in Bresnan [1973]), would have to postulate an ajective rath , never realized in modern English, in order to give a unified treatment of rather than expressions as comparatives. Part of the purpose of this paper will be to argue for just such an account.
Variable‐Density Flow and Transport Simulation of Wellbore Brine Displacement

Borehole dilution tests have been used for characterization of aquifer hydrogeologic properties for several decades. Based on the principles of borehole dilution tests, we conducted what more appropriately may be considered a wellbore fluid displacement test in a limestone aquifer in South Carolina. Our study area is a quarry in the coastal plain of South Carolina. Using a solution of reagent grade NaCl and deionized H(2)O as a tracer, a brine slug was introduced into a 5 cm (2 in.) diameter Schedule 40 PVC well with a 6-m slotted screen at the bottom. Immediately following addition of the brine, a recording electrical conductivity (EC) sensor was placed in the well opposite the screen and set to record EC in 2-min intervals for 5 days. An alternative to previous methods for analyzing data from wellbore brine displacement tests was developed. Results were analyzed using SEAWAT-2000 to account for the density dependency of brine flow and transport. The high spatial resolution, three-dimensional numerical simulation enabled direct incorporation of well construction peculiarities, including the sand pack and length of screen, in the data analysis. Hydraulic conductivity, effective porosity, and longitudinal dispersivity were adjusted in the simulation model until the best match of simulated wellbore fluid concentrations to observed concentrations was achieved. Using this procedure, we were able to obtain a very close agreement between observed and simulated concentrations and, hence, reliable estimates of the hydrogeologic properties of the aquifer in the vicinity of the test well.
Abstraction Augmented Markov Models

High accuracy sequence classification often requires the use of higher order Markov models (MMs). However, the number of MM parameters increases exponentially with the range of direct dependencies between sequence elements, thereby increasing the risk of over fitting when the data set is limited in size. We present abstraction augmented Markov models (AAMMs) that effectively reduce the number of numeric parameters of kth order MMs by successively grouping strings of length k (i.e., k-grams) into abstraction hierarchies. We evaluate AAMMs on three protein sub cellular localization prediction tasks. The results of our experiments show that abstraction makes it possible to construct predictive models that use significantly smaller number of features (by one to three orders of magnitude) as compared to MMs. AAMMs are competitive with and, in some cases, significantly outperform MMs. Moreover, the results show that AAMMs often perform significantly better than variable order Markov models, such as decomposed context tree weighting, prediction by partial match, and probabilistic suffix trees.
Fabrication of Multi-Scale Triangular Patch High Impedance Ground Planes to Improve the Bandwidth of Conformal Bow-Tie Antennas for Remote Sensing

The realization and performance is demonstrated of a conformal bow-tie antenna printed on a multi-scale triangular element mushroom structure high-impedance ground-plane (HIGP). The two-scale HIGP was designed to exhibit a large frequency band-gap to cover the relatively broad operational frequency bandwidth of the bow-tie antenna. HIGP elements were chosen to be triangular to form a natural commensurate blending of the bow-tie into the structure. The experimental performance is characterized of the bow-tie-HIGP combination from 2-10 GHz, and it is demonstrated that the negative effects of a perfect electric conductor ground-plane may be mitigated by using a HIGP.
KSHV INFECTION AND THE PATHOGENESIS OF KAPOSI'S SARCOMA

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has long been suspected of having an infectious etiology on the basis of its unusual epidemiology, histopathology, and natural history. Nearly a decade ago, a novel herpesviral genome was discovered in KS biopsies, and since that time strong epidemiologic evidence has accumulated correlating infection with this KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, also known as human herpesvirus 8) with the development of the disease. Here we review the evidence linking KSHV infection to KS risk and discuss current notions of how KSHV gene expression promotes the development of this remarkable neoplasm. These studies show that both latent and lytic viral replicative cycles contribute significantly-but differently-to KS development. The studies also highlight mechanistic differences between oncogenesis caused by KSHV and that caused by its distant relative Epstein-Barr virus.
Absorption Spectra and Concentration‐Dependent Luminescence of Mn2+ in Silicate Glasses

Glasses activated with Mn2+ exhibit green to red luminescence. A widely accepted model proposes that these colors denote 4- and 6-coordination, respectively, for Mn2+. The luminescence and absorption of Mn2+-activated silicate glasses were studied; the luminescence changed from green to red with increasing Mn2+ concentration. The difference in the intensities of emission bands with peaks near 520 and 620 nm accounts for the luminescent color. No experimental evidence for a change in coordination from 4 to 6 was found. Exchange-coupled groupings are proposed to explain red emission in these glasses and possibly in borate and phosphate glasses studied by other workers. Improved resolution of bands and theoretical calculations demonstrate that a covalent-octahedral Mn2+ species can account for the spectral data for the silicate glasses.
The ESCRT Complexes

The ESCRT machinery consists of the peripheral membrane protein complexes ESCRT-0, -I, -II, -III, and Vps4-Vta1, and the ALIX homodimer. The ESCRT system is required for degradation of unneeded or dangerous plasma membrane proteins; biogenesis of the lysosome and the yeast vacuole; the budding of most membrane enveloped viruses; the membrane abscission step in cytokinesis; macroautophagy; and several other processes. From their initial discovery in 2001-2002, the literature on ESCRTs has grown exponentially. This review will describe the structure and function of the six complexes noted above and summarize current knowledge of their mechanistic roles in cellular pathways and in disease.
The Effect of Age on Neural Processing of Pleasant Soft Touch Stimuli

Tactile interactions with our environment stimulate afferent fibers within the skin, which deliver information about sensations of pain, texture, itch and other feelings to the brain as a comprehensive sense of self. These tactile interactions can stimulate brain regions involved in interoception and reward processing. This study examined subjective, behavioral, and neural processing as a function of age during stimulation of A-beta (Aβ) and C tactile (CT) afferents using a soft brush stroke task. 16 adolescents (ages 15-17), 22 young adults (ages 20-28), and 20 mature adults (ages 29-55) underwent a simple continuous performance task while periodically anticipating and experiencing a soft touch to the palm or forearm, during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). fMRI results showed that adolescents displayed greater bilateral posterior insula activation than young and mature adults across all conditions and stimulus types. Adolescents also demonstrated greater bilateral posterior insula activation than young and mature adults specifically in response to the soft touch condition. Adolescents also exhibited greater activation than mature adults in bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and striatum during the soft touch condition. However, mature adults showed greater striatum activation than adolescents and young adults during anticipation. In the left anterior cingulate cortex, mature adults exhibited greater activation than adolescents and young adults when anticipating the upcoming touch. These results support the hypothesis that adolescents show an exaggerated neural response to pleasant stimulation of afferents, which may have profound effects on how they approach or avoid social and risky situations. In particular, heightened interoceptive reactivity to pleasant stimuli might cause adolescents to seek experiences that are associated with pleasant stimulation.
Genetically designed multiband metallodielectric frequency selective surface filters for the mid-infrared

A metallodielectric frequency selective surfaces (FSS) filter was optimized by a genetic algorithm (GA) to have dual stopbands in the mid-IR. Fabrication and measurement of this design demonstrated excellent filter properties with greater than 10 dB attenuation in the stopbands. However, blooming of the metallic patches resulted in a frequency shift in the measured response. Efforts are currently underway to improve the fabrication process so that the fabricated structures are faithful to the design parameters.
Thermodynamics, Structure, and Dynamics of Water Confined between Hydrophobic Plates

We perform molecular dynamics simulations of 512 waterlike molecules that interact via the TIP5P potential and are confined between two smooth hydrophobic plates that are separated by 1.10 nm. We find that the anomalous thermodynamic properties of water are shifted to lower temperatures relative to the bulk by $\ensuremath{\approx}40\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. The dynamics and structure of the confined water resemble bulk water at higher temperatures, consistent with the shift of thermodynamic anomalies to lower temperature. Because of this $T$ shift, our confined water simulations (down to $T=220\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$) do not reach sufficiently low temperature to observe a liquid-liquid phase transition found for bulk water at $T\ensuremath{\approx}215\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ using the TIP5P potential, but we see inflections in $P\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rho}$ isotherms at lower temperatures presumably due to the presence of a liquid-liquid critical point. We find that the different crystalline structures that can form for two different separations of the plates, 0.7 and 1.10 nm, have no counterparts in the bulk system, and we discuss the relevance to experiments on confined water.
Impact of Adding Security to Safety-Critical Real-Time Systems: A Case Study

With the proliferation of complex interconnected embedded systems there is a need to ensure a level of security for those systems such that end-users will trust them to perform their required functions safely and securely. Incorporating security into a system invariably decreases the performance of the system. This is an important point to consider when designing embedded systems where the timing, space and power constraints are generally more stringent than in other systems. The presented case study proposes architecture for a secure inter-connectivity component and evaluates impact of the security on the system performance. The paper suggests how informed decisions regarding trade-offs between performance and security may be made.
Religion, unity and diversity

The terms ‘unity’, ‘integration’ and ‘diversity’ have multiple layers of meaning in the religious context. While religions emphasize unity and integrity, they also address the issues of diversity. When understood properly, unity does not mean uniformity and thus does not invite oppression and closure. By the same token, diversity does not mean chaos and lack of order. Both unity and diversity have a function within the larger context of things. But this context is not confined to the socio-political dimension alone. A broader understanding of these terms will help us understand the religious discourses of unity, diversity and integration. It will also lead to a more critical assessment of the Enlightenment and western modernity.
Displacement incrementation in non-linear structural analysis by the self-correcting method

The prediction of nonlinear structural behavior by the finite element method wherein buckling does not occur has received considerable attention and, with it, reasonable success has been achieved. However, the post-buckling problem has been less actively pursued probably because of the inherent numerical difficulties encountered. This note reviews very briefly the numerical methods currently being used for pre- and post-buckling analysis and presents a self-correcting approach based on load and displacement incrementation which is shown to be efficient, reliable, and easy to program. Numerical solutions are presented which demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Molecular mechanisms of crystallization impacting calcium phosphate cements

The biomineral calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO4·2H2O), known as brushite, is a malleable material that both grows and dissolves faster than most other calcium minerals, including other calcium phosphate phases, calcium carbonates and calcium oxalates. Within the body, this ready formation and dissolution can play a role in certain diseases, such as kidney stone and plaque formation. However, these same properties, along with brushite’s excellent biocompatibility, can be used to great benefit in making resorbable biomedical cements. To optimize cements, additives are commonly used to control crystallization kinetics and phase transformation. This paper describes the use of in situ scanning probe microscopy to investigate the role of several solution parameters and additives in brushite atomic step motion. Surprisingly, this work demonstrates that the activation barrier for phosphate (rather than calcium) incorporation limits growth kinetics and that additives such as magnesium, citrate and bisphosphonates each influence step motion in distinctly different ways. Our findings provide details of how, and where, molecules inhibit or accelerate kinetics. These insights have the potential to aid in designing molecules to target specific steps and to guide synergistic combinations of additives.
Diagnostics for multivariate imputations

Summary. We consider three sorts of diagnostics for random imputations: displays of the completed data, which are intended to reveal unusual patterns that might suggest problems with the imputations, comparisons of the distributions of observed and imputed data values and checks of the fit of observed data to the model that is used to create the imputations. We formulate these methods in terms of sequential regression multivariate imputation, which is an iterative procedure in which the missing values of each variable are randomly imputed conditionally on all the other variables in the completed data matrix. We also consider a recalibration procedure for sequential regression imputations. We apply these methods to the 2002 environmental sustainability index, which is a linear aggregation of 64 environmental variables on 142 countries.
Usefulness of the Seattle Heart Failure Model to identify adults with congenital heart disease at high risk of poor outcome.

Our objective was to determine whether the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM) differentiates patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) at high versus low risk for cardiovascular outcomes and poor exercise capacity. The ACHD population is growing and presents increasingly for care in the community and at tertiary centers. Few strategies exist to identify the patients with ACHD at high risk for heart failure and mortality.We studied 153 adults with transposition of the great arteries, Ebstein anomaly, tetralogy of Fallot, double outlet right ventricle, and single ventricle from 2 ACHD centers. The primary outcome was cardiovascular death, with a secondary composite outcome of death, transplant, ventricular assist device, cardiovascular admission, and treatment for arrhythmia. We defined risk groups based on SHFM 5-year predicted survival: high (predicted survival 85%). Ten patients had the primary outcome of death, and 46 the combined end point. The hazard of death in the SHFM high- versus the intermediate-risk group was 7.09 (95% confidence interval 1.5 to 33.4, p = 0.01; no deaths in the low-risk group) and the hazard of the composite outcome between the high- versus low-risk group was 6.64 (95% confidence interval 2.5 to 17.6, p = 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed greater probability of all-cause mortality (p = 0.003) in the high-risk group. In conclusion, the SHFM can help identify subjects with ACHD at risk for adverse outcome and poor cardiopulmonary efficiency. This may add to the care of patients with ACHD in the community and streamline care at tertiary centers.
The social context of pain management.

Management of pain, especially when chronic, represents an ongoing challenge in clinical medicine. Why is it so challenging? Part of the reason involves the wide range of treatments available in the current clinical armamentarium, the mastery of which is demanding. Indeed, the demands are of a magnitude sufficient to argue for pain medicine as a distinct medical specialty, “algiatry.” Technical aspects aside, the subjectivity of the pain experience challenges current medical models that rely on objective test results. Diagnostic testing, typically the bedrock of clinical decision making, frequently yields results that correspond poorly to patient reports of pain intensity and observable levels of pain-related disability. Thus, despite the diagnostic technology available to modern medicine and the recently enhanced status accorded to pain (as a fifth vital sign), the bedrock of clinical decision making for pain involves the clinical interview. Based largely on inferences made in the course of that interview, the provider must judge the nature of the patient's experience (i.e., the severity and other qualities of pain) and determine what, if any, changes in treatment are necessary. It is well-known that a host of variables can affect judgments made in the context of a social interaction, such as a medical encounter. Indeed, there is a long history of research in social psychology regarding …