cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Neural Stem Cell Motility Using an Agarose Gel-based Microfluidic Device

While microfluidic technology is reaching a new level of maturity for macromolecular assays, cell-based assays are still at an infant stage1. This is largely due to the difficulty with which one can create a cell-compatible and steady microenvironment using conventional microfabrication techniques and materials. We address this problem via the introduction of a novel microfabrication material, agarose gel, as the base material for the microfluidic device. Agarose gel is highly malleable, and permeable to gas and nutrients necessary for cell survival, and thus an ideal material for cell-based assays. We have shown previously that agarose gel based devices have been successful in studying bacterial and neutrophil cell migration2. In this report, three parallel microfluidic channels are patterned in an agarose gel membrane of about 1mm thickness. Constant flows with media/buffer are maintained in the two side channels using a peristaltic pump. Cells are maintained in the center channel for observation. Since the nutrients and chemicals in the side channels are constantly diffusing from the side to center channel, the chemical environment of the center channel is easily controlled via the flow along the side channels. Using this device, we demonstrate that the movement of neural stem cells can be monitored optically with ease under various chemical conditions, and the experimental results show that the over expression of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) enhances the motility of neural stem cells. Motility of neural stem cells is an important biomarker for assessing cells aggressiveness, thus tumorigenic factor3. Deciphering the mechanism underlying NSC motility will yield insight into both disorders of neural development and into brain cancer stem cell invasion.
Simulation of transmittance on the effect of resolution enhancement of 100-nm pattern with attenuated phase-shifting mask in 193-nm lithography

ABSTRACT Compared to normal transmittance (T<6%) attenuated phase-shifting mask (AttPSM), the higher transmittance AttPSMin clear-field masks has higher electric field amplitude with 180° phase-shift for 0.1 m isolated line. Due to thestronger interference with the higher electric field amplitude under the edge of line pattern with 180° phase-shifting, theresolution of aerial image of 0.1 m isolated line increased with the increasing of transmittance. Under dipoleillumination c 0.6 and r 0.3, and NA 0.75, the T% of AttPSM about 22% could provide the better normalized imagelog-slope of 0.1 m isolated and semi-dense (line/space=1:1.5) line pattern at focus -0.10 m. When the layout of the0.1 m pitch (1:1.5) and isolated contact pattern is designed as a dark-tone mask, the contrast of the aerial imageincreased with increasing T% of AttPSM. The side-lobe could be avoided under the design of dark-tone mask. However,if the contact pattern is designed as a dark-tone mask, a negative resist is necessary. The combination of dark-tone mask,high-transmittance AttPSM and negative resist could provide better contrast of the aerial image and resolution of the 0.1 m contact-hole pattern in 193 nm lithography.Keywords: high transmittance, attenuated phase-shifting mask, contact hole, resolution enhancement, dark tone,normalized image log-slope, side-lobes.
Acoustic Properties of an Amorphous Silica Oscillator at mK Temperatures

We have studied the acoustic behavior of an a-SiO2 composite torsional oscillator in the temperature range between 1 and 100 mK. At higher temperatures, the acoustic properties of amorphous solids are well described by the ‘tunneling model’. However, below 10 mK it was found that the resonance exhibited a non-Lorentzian shape and was highly distorted by random ‘noise’. We attribute this stochastic noise—‘transients’ to interactions of a-SiO2 with ambient γ quanta present in the laboratory. By shielding the cryostat with a 5 cm thick lead wall we were able to reduce the number of transients. On the other hand, a deliberately introduced 6.1μCi 22Na source of γ radiation caused the opposite effect. We interpret the transients in the framework of local heating caused by the interaction between photons and amorphous SiO2 which changes the elastic properties of the oscillator. Our findings have potential applications for particle detection.
Burning Behavior of Upholstered Furniture Mockups

Furniture mockups consisting of various arrangements of full-size cushions were tested in the NBS furniture calorimeter. Measurements included heat release, combustion product concentrations, and flame spread characteristics. Major variations in burning were observed: neoprene mockups only smoldered, flame retardant treated polyurethane mockups burned more slowly than un treated mockups but eventually reached similar maximum heat release rates. Fabrics were ranked, in terms of maximum heat release rate and several other measured characteristics, from low to high: heavy cotton fabric; light cotton and heavy olefin, and light olefin. Flame spread rate measured on the mockups cor related with the time to reach a 100 kW heat release rate. Heat release rate and combustion product concentration generally increased with increasing number of cushions per mockup. Thinner cushions burned more rapidly than thicker ones.
A corrective smoothed particle method for boundary value problems in heat conduction

Combining the kernel estimate with the Taylor series expansion is proposed to develop a Corrective Smoothed Particle Method (CSPM). This algorithm resolves the general problem of particle deficiency at boundaries, which is a shortcoming in Standard Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SSPH). In addition, the method’s ability to model derivatives of any order could make it applicable for any time-dependent boundary value problems. An example of the applications studied in this paper is unsteady heat conduction, which is governed by second-order derivatives. Numerical results demonstrate that besides the capability of directly imposing boundary conditions, the present method enhances the solution accuracy not only near or on the boundary but also inside the domain. Published in 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This article is a U.S. government work and is in the public domain in the United States.
Heme-copper assembly mediated reductive coupling of nitrogen monoxide (*NO).

A iron-dinitrosyl species (6L)Fe(NO)2 (2), generated from nitrogen monoxide (·NO) binding to its related iron(II)-mononitrosyl complex (6L)Fe(NO) (1), efficiently effects reductive coupling of two ...
Receptor-related interactions of opiates with PGE-induced adneylate cyclase in brain

summary The inhibition by opiates of the PGE2-induced formation of cAMP in slices from rat brain striatum was investigated. A maximal, 3.5fold increase over the basal level of cAMP was obtained with an EC50 for PGE 2 of 3 ~M. Opiate agonists of both ~ and < type were inhibitory. The IC50 values for morphine, levorphanol and ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) were ii0 nM, 80 nM and 25 nM, respectively. These values were similar to the potencies of the compounds in displacing stereospecifically bound 3H-etorphine in rat brain membranes. As evidencsdby the inactivity of dextrorphan, the inhibition of PGE 2dependent cAMP formation was stereospecific. Also ineffective were the opiate antagonists naloxone, naltrexone and MR 2266. These compounds did, however, reverse the inhibition by agonists, displaying thereby selectivity toward the putative ~ and < opiates. Thus, the inhibition by morphine was antagonized to a greater degree by naloxone than by MR 2266, and the action of EKC was blocked more effectively by MR 2266 relative to naloxone. According to an attractive hypothesis, opiates exert some of their effects by modifying the intracellular concentration of cAMP. Original observations that opiates inhibited PGE-stimulated adenylate cyclase in brain homogenates (i) were difficult to replicate (2,3). However, in transformed cell lines from brain, an opiate sensitive basal and PGE-dependent adenylate cyclase were described (4), and the long-term maintenance of cellular cAMP levels by opiates was implicated in the phenomena of tolerance, dependence and withdrawal (5). The inhibition of basal adenylate cyclase in homogenates from normal brain was recently investigated (6). In slices from normal rat brain, opiates were shown to inhibit the PGE2-dependent increase of cAMP with partial reversal by na!oxon~ (7). We have previously reported the inhibition of PGE2-induced cAMP formation in slices from rat brain striatum, and the absence of that effect in primary cultures of astrocytes lacking opiates receptor (8). We now describe additional characteristics of the interaction of opiate with PGE2-dependent adenylate cyclase in brain slices. Particular emphasis in this work was given to assess mediation of the phenomenon by opiate receptor, considering thereby its heterogeneity (9).
Proteins synthesized in medial hypothalamus and transported to midbrain in estrogen-treated female rats

Results on the anatomy of ventromedial hypothalamic outputs, together with the temporal aspects of electrophysiological studies, predict that for reproductive behavior control sex steroids alter hypothalamic protein synthesis and transport of proteins to the dorsal midbrain. We have studied labeled proteins arriving in the dorsal midbrain after local microinjection of tritiated amino acids to the ventromedial hypothalamus. Estrogen treated and control ovariectomized female rats are significantly different in this respect, and in particular some proteins appear to be synthesized or transported in greater amounts in the estrogen treated animals. Physical characterization of these proteins and comparisons under a variety of endocrine conditions will suggest whether their synthesis could be part of the mechanism by which ovarian steroids affect behavior.
A Simple Proof of an Aomoto-Type Extension of Askey's Last Conjectured Selberg q-Integral

Abstract We establish an Aomoto-type extension of Askey's last conjectured Selberg q -integral, which was recently proved by Evans. We follow the lines of our proofs of Aomoto-type extensions of the Morris constant term q -identity and Gustafson's Askey–Wilson Selberg q -integral. We require integral forms of the q -transportation theory and its alternative for the root system A n − 1 , which are related to the simple reflections and minuscule weight of A n − 1 . We use an elementary symmetry which is related to the minuscule weight of A n − 1 to lift a proof of the one dimensional q -integral to the multivariable setting.
Just War Theory and the War on Terrorism: A Utilitarian Perspective

Most Americans see the attacks of 9/11 as an unprecedented act of terrorism. Issues related to the response to these attacks have convinced many observers that the current international law regime is an outmoded relic. In particular, they say, the tradition of a just war, which provides the moral basis for most aspects of international law concerning war, stands in need of major revision. This article argues that the just war tradition has the tools and principles to deal with the changing realities in today's world. A reconsideration of the tradition's moral foundation in light of the war against terrorism demonstrates that the most appropriate way to understand the just war tradition is from a rule-utilitarian perspective rather than the more usual rights-based, deontological perspective.
DECISION-MAKING ON THE USE OF DISPERSANTS: THE ROLE OF THE STATES

ABSTRACT According to the authorization-of-use procedures outlined in the National Contingency Plan (NCP), a state with jurisdiction over navigable waters polluted by an oil spill must concur with the decision to apply dispersants or other chemical oil spill control agents. To be effective, a dispersant must be applied quickly, but reaching consensus among the necessary parties can be slow unless all the participants are well prepared at the outset. Ideally, consideration of dispersant use should take place prior to an emergency in order to reach a timely decision. Several states and Regional Response Teams have active programs that are addressing dispersant use planning and technical and environmental considerations. In several states where the use of dispersants is an emerging issue, there appears to be a willingness to consider their use on a case-by-case basis and a genuine interest in learning more about their effectiveness and toxicity.
Disclinations at Grain Boundary Triple Junctions: Between Bollmann Disclinations and Volterra Disclinations

We discuss the question whether Bollmann's classification of triple junctions into I- and U-lines corresponds to a physical reality. We describe a virtual multiple junction of only small angle boundaries in two ways: First, by using Bollmann's I/U-line scheme (Bollmann disclinations) and second, by an elasticity approach (rotational Volterra cuts, Volterra disclinations). Depending on the number of boundaries, the multiple junction is found to be an I-line or a U-line. We conclude that the Bollmann disclination is a real crystallographic defect that is essentially different from the Volterra disclination.
Magnetic field effects on the luminescence of Cs[Au(CN)2] at low temperatures

The effects of a magnetic field on the luminescence lifetime and spectrum of microcrystalline Cs[Au(CN)2] from 2 to 20 K are reported. The lifetime of the 458 nm phosphorescence band at 4 K decreased. In addition, the field produces a blue shift of the band, reaching 75 cm−1 at H = 1.0 T. These effects are in accord with our previously proposed model and are used to determine further details of that model. A new assignment of the 416 nm emission band as fluorescence is made based on its observed lifetime (τ < 10 ns), energy, and intensity variation with temperature.
Effects of exogenous prolactin on reproduction and growth in adult males of the lizard Anolis carolinensis.

Adult male Anolis were treated with 5–150 μg/day of exogenous ovine prolactin during the winter and spring under several different conditions of light and temperature. Calorimetric assays of various food insects were used to determine caloric assimilation rates. Prolactin increased food consumption markedly in the winter, when appetites were normally low, and promoted an increase in lean body weight, while fat depots in liver and abdominal fat pads were reduced. Thyroid epithelia were hypertrophied but metabolism was reduced with prolactin. Growth hormone in a dose (1 μg/day) equivalent to the maximum contamination expected in the prolactin preparation had no effect on the growth of Anolis. The natural increases in appetite during the spring obviated the action of prolactin on food consumption, but the hormone continued to exert a somatotropic effect. Prolactin-treated animals stored significantly less fat than controls. Increased body length occurred in prolactin-treated animals maintained on fluctuating temperatures (32-20°C) while the controls only fattened. Prolactin-treated lizards exposed to 32°C continuously did not grow in length but molted more frequently. Thyroid histology and metabolism were unaffected by prolactin during the spring. There was no effect of prolactin on the testes, during recrudescence in the winter or when fully active in the spring. Sexual behavior and accessory sex organs were also unaffected by prolactin, whereas 1 μg growth hormone stimulated accessory sexual structures.
Clinical dilemmas due to the lack of inpatient mother-baby units.

Objective: Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated the dramatic increase in the rates of new episodes of psychiatric illness in postpartum women. Mother-Baby joint admission inpatient units serve the needs of women with psychiatric illness related to childbearing in other countries. Such units have been rare experiments in the United States. This article explores the clinical dilemmas that clinicians who treat postpartum women face when mother-baby units are not available. Barriers to the implementation of these units are also discussed. Methods: A survey of mothers admitted to general adult units was performed to study their satisfaction with the experience. The authors also discuss their extensive clinical experience in the treatment of women with postpartum disorders and provide examples of the clinical dilemmas which occur because of mother-only admissions. Results: Clinical dilemmas were: separation from infants causes mothers to refuse admission, undermines breastfeeding, complicates the diagnostic evaluation, precludes participation of the infant in dyadic psychotherapy, produces longer lengths of hospital stay, and places the responsibility of caring for the baby on the spouse and extended family. Post-discharge readjustment to caring for the baby can contribute to maternal relapse. Conclusions: Although admission to Mother-Baby units offers significant advantages to mothers and families, firm data to support the cost-effectiveness of these units is not available and is a major barrier to implementation.
Philosophical Inquiry in Nursing: An Argument for Radical Empiricism as a Philosophical Framework for the Phenomenology of Addiction

Philosophical inquiry involves examination of the meaning of a phenomenon within the larger framework of the human condition and a particular view of reality. Argumentation is the method. In this study, the author argues that the metaphysics of radical empiricism enhances the understanding of the immediate subjective experience or phenomenology of addiction. When applied to subjective narratives of the addiction experience from literature, this metaphysics confers meaning to the changes in consciousness that occur in the immediate subjective experience of addiction. Conclusions revealed from the application of this perspective highlight novel feelings, the will and changing sense of self, and the human values of belonging and freedom. This study also revealed the value of the philosophical method of inquiry: to temporize our moral judgments and enrich our perspective of the human values within the addiction phenomenon. These values support and clarify the belief system of nursing.
Generation and Characterization of a genetic zebrafish model of SMA carrying the human SMN2 gene

Animal models of human diseases are essential as they allow analysis of the disease process at the cellular level and can advance therapeutics by serving as a tool for drug screening and target validation. Here we report the development of a complete genetic model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in the vertebrate zebrafish to complement existing zebrafish, mouse, and invertebrate models and show its utility for testing compounds that alter SMN2 splicing. The human motoneuron disease SMA is caused by low levels, as opposed to a complete absence, of the survival motor neuron protein (SMN). To generate a true model of SMA in zebrafish, we have generated a transgenic zebrafish expressing the human SMN2 gene (hSMN2), which produces only a low amount of full-length SMN, and crossed this onto the smn-/- background. We show that human SMN2 is spliced in zebrafish as it is in humans and makes low levels of SMN protein. Moreover, we show that an antisense oligonucleotide that enhances correct hSMN2 splicing increases full-length hSMN RNA in this model. When we placed this transgene on the smn mutant background it rescued the neuromuscular presynaptic SV2 defect that occurs in smn mutants and increased their survival. We have generated a transgenic fish carrying the human hSMN2 gene. This gene is spliced in fish as it is in humans and mice suggesting a conserved splicing mechanism in these vertebrates. Moreover, antisense targeting of an intronic splicing silencer site increased the amount of full length SMN generated from this transgene. Having this transgene on the smn mutant fish rescued the presynaptic defect and increased survival. This model of zebrafish SMA has all of the components of human SMA and can thus be used to understand motoneuron dysfunction in SMA, can be used as an vivo test for drugs or antisense approaches that increase full-length SMN, and can be developed for drug screening.
The Intellectual as Agent: Politics and Independence in the Other ‘Caso Silone’

SummaryInternationally renowned as a novelist, Ignazio Silone also played an important role in the political history of the twentieth century, including the rise and fall of international communism, the struggle against fascism in Europe, the consolidation of the post-World War II order, and the Cold War. Through a series of remarkable biographical twists, Silone became a model for generations of intellectuals—a rare synthesis of engagement and independence, politics and morality. The first Silone ‘case’ followed a series of stunning revelations concerning his services to the fascist police as a leading figure of international communism. This article examines a second Silone ‘case’, dealing with a later period when his international reputation as an intellectual was formed. While cultivating a public image of genuine and hard-won independence after his break with communism, Silone secretly collaborated with the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. My examination of this less well-known episod...
Distributed tracking in a large-scale network of smart cameras

This paper describes a new distributed algorithm for tracking in distributed camera networks. This algorithm operates without a centralized server that collects all the measurements over the entire network. With the observations sent from its neighbors and the local probabilistic transition model, each camera independently estimates local paths in its neighborhood. The conflicts on locally estimated paths among cameras are resolved by a voting algorithm, and the agreed local paths are finally combined into global paths. Our experiments with simulated data demonstrate that the proposed distributed tracking algorithm is fast and scalable without degrading tracking accuracy.
Association of maternal short sleep duration with adiposity and cardiometabolic status at 3 years postpartum.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of short sleep duration among women in the first year postpartum with adiposity and cardiometabolic status at 3 years postpartum. We studied 586 women in Project Viva, a prospective cohort. At 6 months and 1 year postpartum, women reported the number of hours they slept in a 24-h period, from which we calculated a weighted average of daily sleep. We used multivariable regression analyses to predict the independent effects of short sleep duration (≤5 h/day vs. >5 h/day) on adiposity, glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and adipokines at 3 years postpartum. Women's mean (s.d.) hours of daily sleep in the first year postpartum was 6.7 (0.97) h. After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education, parity, prepregnancy BMI, and excessive gestational weight gain, we found that postpartum sleep ≤5 h/day was associated with higher postpartum weight retention (β 1.50 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.02, 2.86), higher subscapular + triceps skinfold thickness (β 3.94 mm; 95% CI: 1.27, 6.60) and higher waist circumference (β 3.10 cm; 95% CI: 1.25, 4.94) at 3 years postpartum. We did not observe associations of short sleep duration with measures of cardiometabolic status at 3 years postpartum. In conclusion, short sleep duration in the first year postpartum is associated with higher adiposity at 3 years postpartum.
Actuarial Nonequivalence in Early and Delayed Social Security Benefit Claims

Age-related adjustments to Social Security benefits are intended to be actuarially equivalent, on average, rendering lifetime benefits invariant to the timing of first receipt. This article analyzes actuarial equivalence with respect to early and delayed Social Security benefit claims using a large sample of current and former retired-worker beneficiaries. We find substantial deviations from actuarial equivalence that have resulted in “actuarial premiums” for males, particularly low-income males, and “actuarial losses” for females who accept benefits early. Gender-neutral actuarial adjustments partially offset the female life expectancy advantage in Social Security. For delayed claims, the 8% credit scheduled in current law is too low for actuarial equivalence. The patterns of actuarial nonequivalence should be considered in analyses of claiming behavior or in simulations of Social Security reform proposals that may affect claiming behavior.
“They want to live in the Tremé, but they want it for their ways of living”: gentrification and neighborhood practice in Tremé, New Orleans

In this study, I deploy an ethnographic approach to analyze the detrimental effects of gentrification on longstanding residents in New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood. I focus on conflicts between long-established residents and gentrifiers over the use of neighborhood space on a day-to-day basis as a means for examining the consequent changes in neighborhood life. As their neighborhood gentrifies, long-term residents of Treme must contend with greater policing, the erosion of place-based knowledge, practices, and cultural traditions, the loss of social networks, and the closure of vital neighborhood institutions. These changes in neighborhood life provide a starting point from which to begin to understand the broader effects (beyond displacement) that longstanding residents experience as a result of gentrification.
Detection of Campylobacter jejuni in Various Lymphoid Organs of Broiler Breeder Hens After Oral or Intravaginal Inoculation

Two studies were conducted to determine whether Campylobacter jejuni could rapidly spread and reside in the internal organs of adult broiler breeder hens. In Study 1, university-housed broiler breeders at 22 wk of age were obtained and placed in individual cages. Each hen was intravaginally inoculated weekly from 23 to 32 wk of age with a characterized strain of C. jejuni. At wk 23, 27, and 32, 4 d postinoculation, the hens were euthanized, defeathered, and aseptically opened. In Study 2, university-housed broiler breeder hens were obtained at 42, 53, and 56 wk of age, placed in individual cages, and inoculated either orally or intravaginally with a characterized strain of C. jejuni. To reduce the possibility of cross-contamination among samples, the thymus, spleen, liver, and gallbladder were aseptically removed, prior to the ceca. In both studies, all samples were individually analyzed. In Study 1, at 23 wk of age, C. jejuni was recovered from 4/7 thymii, 2/7 spleens, 5/7 livers and gallbladders, and 6/7 ceca. At 27 wk of age, C. jejuni was recovered from 1/7 thymii and 1/7 ceca. At 32 wk of age, C. jejuni was recovered from 4/11 thymii, 1/11 livers and gallbladders, and 2/11 ceca. In Study 2, C. jejuni was recovered from 2/6 thymii and 5/6 ceca after oral inoculation and 1/6 spleens, 1/6 livers and gallbladders, and 4/6 ceca after vaginal inoculation of 43-wk-old hens. Campylobacter jejuni was recovered from 2/5 thymii, 3/5 spleens, 3/5 livers and gallbladders, and 2/5 ceca after oral inoculation of 53-wk-old hens and 1/5 thymii and 1/5 livers and gallbladders after vaginal inoculation. Campylobacter jejuni was recovered from 1/4 thymii, 2/4 livers and gallbladders, and 1/4 ceca and was not detected in any vaginally inoculated birds of 57-wk-old hens. This study provides evidence that C. jejuni can reside in the internal organs of broiler breeder hens following oral or intravaginal inoculation.
Cisco and the Kids (corrected)

The Nasdaq 100 Index is today's reincarnation of the Nifty Fifty. Many of today's institutional favorites feature extraordinary valuations, despite short operating histories, modest revenues, and sparse profits. At the market peak in 1972, Nifty Fifty stocks sold at an average P/E of 37.3—versus a market multiple of 18.2. At the 2000 peak, the Nasdaq 100 sold at an average P/E multiple roughly six to eight times greater than the highest P/E ever accorded Nifty Fifty stocks. Following a historic stock market correction of more than 70 percent, P/Es for Nasdaq 100 companies remain two to two and a half times higher than peak P/E valuations for the Nifty Fifty.
Simulation of pebble abrasion on coastal benches by transgressive waves

Tumbler simulations of abrasion processes affecting rocks on basaltic marine benches have clarified the effects of mass and volume of rock fragments on their rate of wear. Several experiments indicate that rate of basalt wear increases with mass in the interval 1 g to 8 g, but is not related to volume of fragments abraded in seawater. Relatively small quantities of rock flour suspended in the immersant seawater substantially reduced the rate of basalt wear. Basalt and calcareous beachrock responded differently in systems with both rock types tumbling together. Examination of the cuttings from these low-energy encounters suggests that abrasion on elevated benches along exposed seacoasts reduces virtually all clastic material to particles of silt size or smaller, producing essentially no sand.
EVALUATING IMPROVEMENTS IN LANDSIDE ACCESS FOR AIRPORTS

Access to airports has become increasingly difficult, but the extent of the problem is not known. No method exists to consistently define the performance of landside access that is provided to air passengers. A national survey of U.S. airport authorities was conducted to determine the characteristics of airport access services provided. The results of the survey indicate that landside access to airports is a major concern at airports of all sizes, but there is no significant difference in reported access problems at large, medium, and small airports. An access evaluation methodology was developed to assess landside access service between approaches to the airport and the terminal entrance and is based on performance measures relating to cost, time, reliability, convenience, and quality. It is intended to aid in the assessment of landside access performance and to promote more effective use of limited resources by determining the most needed and beneficial access improvements. This evaluation methodology w...
Effects of level on nonspectral frequency difference limens for electrical and acoustic stimuli.

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of stimulus level on discrimination of frequency as represented in the temporal waveforms of acoustic and electrical signals. The subjects were four nonhuman primates in which one ear had been deafened and implanted with an electrode array and the other ear was untreated. Frequency difference limens for 100 Hz electrical sinusoidal stimulation via a cochlear implant in the deafened ear were compared to those for 100 Hz sinusoidally amplitude-modulated white noise (SAM noise) acoustic stimuli to the normal-hearing contralateral ear. To correct for loudness cues, levels of the test stimuli were varied relative to the reference-stimulus level. The test-stimulus levels at which the percent responses were minimum were determined. These levels were used to measure the frequency difference limens. Frequency difference limens for the electrical stimuli decreased as a function of reference-stimulus level through most of the dynamic range, while those for the acoustic stimuli reached a minimum at 20 dB to 40 dB above threshold. For the electrical stimuli the slopes and relative positions of the frequency difference limen vs. level functions varied from subject to subject and with changes in electrode configuration within a subject. These differences were related to threshold level and dynamic range. At higher levels of stimulation, frequency difference limens for acoustic and electrical stimuli fell in the same range. The slopes and relative positions of the frequency difference limen vs. level functions for electrical stimuli did not parallel those of level difference limen vs. level functions collected simultaneously from the same ears. The data suggest that nonspectral frequency discrimination may depend on the number of nerve fibers stimulated. With prostheses in cochleas with less than a full complement of auditory nerve fibers, the data suggest that stimulation level is an important variable influencing discriminability.
Analysis of Information in Speech Based on MANOVA

We propose analysis of information in speech using three sources - language (phone), speaker and channel. Information in speech is measured as mutual information between the source and the set of features extracted from speech signal. We assume that distribution of features can be modeled using Gaussian distribution. The mutual information is computed using the results of analysis of variability in speech. We observe similarity in the results of phone variability and phone information, and show that the results of the proposed analysis have more meaningful interpretations than the analysis of variability.
A Nerve Cuff Electrode For Controlled Reshaping Of Nerve Geometry

The purpose of this study is the development of a nerve electrode that reorganizes nerve geometry slowly and controllably. The Flat Interface Nerve Electrode (FINE) can reshape the nerve into an elongated oval and provide selective stimulation. However, the rate of closure of this electrode is difficult to control. The Slowly Closing - FINE (SC-FINE) is designed with an opening height larger than the size of the nerve to accommodate initial swelling. The electrode closes slowly to reshape the nerve into the desired flat geometry. The SC-FINE is created by combining the reshaping properties of the FINE and the controllable degradation of Poly (DL lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA). Bonding 50/50 or 65/35 PLGA to a stretched FINE increased the opening heights (OH) on average from 0.1 mm to 1.66 +/- 0.45 and 2.05 +/- 0.55 mm respectively. The addition of the PLGA films controls the time course of closure over a period of 16 +/- 1 days and 14 to 16 hours for the 50/50 and 65/35 SC-FINEs respectively in vitro. An in vivo chronic experiment using 50/50 SC-FINEs implanted in 28 rats with an average OH of 1.87 +/- 0.34 mm show that the reshaping periods in vivo and in vitro are similar.
Alternatives to evacuation during wildland fire: Exploring adaptive capacity in one Idaho community

The use of alternatives to evacuation during wildfire events continues to be an intensely debated strategy in the professional and policy circles of numerous fire-prone countries. The most recent chapter comes in response to the Black Saturday Fires in Australia, which has led to policy changes concerning alternatives to evacuation in both Australia and USA. This study explores the local context that influenced the development of alternatives to evacuation in one Idaho community through in-depth interviews with local residents and officials. It acknowledges alternatives as one ‘fire-adaptive behaviour’ of the local community, a key characteristic that US fire professionals identify as a means to better manage wildfire. We apply and extend a recently created adaptive capacity framework for wildfire to uncover specific community characteristics that both led to and reinforce the development of alternatives to evacuation that are tailored to the local population. Identification of these characteristics serves as one important step towards better local assessment of adaptive capacity for a broad classification of ‘fire-adaptive’ behaviours. We conclude that no one combination of local resources can guarantee the development of alternatives to evacuation. Rather, diverse local context will result in different approaches and applicability of the practice.
Multiple-rule bias in the comparison of classification rules

Motivation: There is growing discussion in the bioinformatics community concerning overoptimism of reported results. Two approaches contributing to overoptimism in classification are (i) the reporting of results on datasets for which a proposed classification rule performs well and (ii) the comparison of multiple classification rules on a single dataset that purports to show the advantage of a certain rule. Results: This article provides a careful probabilistic analysis of the second issue and the ‘multiple-rule bias’, resulting from choosing a classification rule having minimum estimated error on the dataset. It quantifies this bias corresponding to estimating the expected true error of the classification rule possessing minimum estimated error and it characterizes the bias from estimating the true comparative advantage of the chosen classification rule relative to the others by the estimated comparative advantage on the dataset. The analysis is applied to both synthetic and real data using a number of classification rules and error estimators. Availability: We have implemented in C code the synthetic data distribution model, classification rules, feature selection routines and error estimation methods. The code for multiple-rule analysis is implemented in MATLAB. The source code is available at http://gsp.tamu.edu/Publications/supplementary/yousefi11a/. Supplementary simulation results are also included. Contact: edward@ece.tamu.edu Supplementary Information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
From microscopy images to models of cellular processes

The advance of fluorescent tagging and of confocal microscopy is allowing biologists to image biochemical processes at a level of detail that was unimaginable just a few years ago. However, as the analysis of these images is done mostly by hand, there is a severe bottleneck in transforming these images into useful quantitative data that can be used to evaluate mathematical models. One of the inherent challenges involved in automating this transformation is that image data is highly variable. This requires a recalibration of the image processing algorithms for each experiment. We use machine learning methods to enable the experimentalist to calibrate the image processing methods without having any knowledge of how these methods work. This, we believe, will allow the rapid integration of computer vision methods with confocal microscopy and open the way to the development of quantitative spatial models of cellular processes. For more information, see http://seed.ucsd.edu/ yfreund/NewHomePage/ Applications/Biomedical Imaging.html
Information Bias in Contingent Valuation: Effects of Personal Relevance, Quality of Information, and Motivational Orientation

Abstract A laboratory experiment examined the potential for information bias in contingent valuation (CV). Consistent with the view that information about a public or private good can function as a persuasive communication, willingness to pay (WTP) was found to increase with the quality of arguments used to describe the good, especially under conditions of high personal relevance. Under low personal relevance, WTP for a public (but not for a private) good was higher when an altruistic, as opposed to an individualistic, orientation was activated. It is concluded that the nature of the information provided in CV surveys can profoundly affect WTP estimates, and that subtle contextual cues can seriously bias these estimates under conditions of low personal relevance.
Information systems effectiveness: the construct space and patterns of application

Abstract Measuring the specific contribution(s) of Information Systems (IS) to organizational effectiveness remains a critical concern of both academic and practitioner communities. Reflecting the importance of this issue, over the past decade, a large number of performance criteria have been developed and empirically tested. This growing array of measurement criteria provides a foundation for defining the construct space of IS effectiveness and prescribing criteria for specific managerial needs. Although important research has been started in this area, additional work is needed to define the domain of IS effectiveness further and provide insight into the context within which various classes of performance criteria are used. Through meta-analysis of leading IS journals, this study identifies six classes of effectiveness measures that are then mapped onto various evaluative contexts. The construct space and evaluative context developed in this study provide a new way of conceptualizing and applying the many evaluative criteria associated with IS.
The hoffmann reflex: methodologic considerations and applications for use in sports medicine and athletic training research.

OBJECTIVE To discuss the proper methods used to elicit the Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) and to present different situations in which this tool can be used in sports medicine research. DATA SOURCES We searched MEDLINE and SPORT Discus from 1960 to 2004 using the key words Hoffmann reflex, H-reflex, and methodology. The remaining citations were collected from references of similar papers. DATA SYNTHESIS Numerous authors have used the H-reflex as a tool to examine neurologic conditions. However, few have used the H-reflex to examine neuromuscular impairments after sport injuries. Several studies were available describing the appropriate methods to elicit the H-reflex and examining the reliability of this measurement in different muscles. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS The H-reflex is a valuable tool to evaluate neurologic function in various populations. However, because of the sensitivity of this measurement to extraneous factors, care must be taken when eliciting the H-reflex. We discuss recommendations on how to elicit the H-reflex and how to appropriately present methods in a manuscript.
Mapping Standards for Urban Planning

Accurate and up-to-date surveys and maps are essential for community planning, but available mapping is not meeting the requirements of planners. Better coordination and integration are needed for the several different mapping efforts in urban areas. An Urban Mapping Panel was convened in 1965 to determine what uniform mapping standards could be established to ensure that maps developed under one program could be used by other programs, and what actions by the Federal government and other groups would most effectively promote the development of better mapping in urban areas throughout the country. A subcommittee on mapping requirements is collecting information from planners on map resources currently available in given areas and requirements for revision and additional mapping. Information is sought on scales, contour intervals, format, control framework, map accuracy, photography, and geodetic control for nonmapping purposes. Progress has been made toward better understanding of problems in urban mapping, but many of the problems remain unsolved.
Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Regional Brain Acetylcholine

In view of the fact that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, it could be expected to elevate whole brain ACh levels. This hypothesis is supported by our previous findings (2). Large doses of Δ9-THC (30 min before sacrifice i.p.) significantly elevated total rat brain ACh. In addition, using intraventricular hemi-cholinium-3 (HC-3), decreased ACh utilization was found after lower doses of Δ9-THC. This effect was similar to that produced by other CNS depressants, including morphine. In contrast, Askew et al. (1) found that i. v. administration of Δ9-THC (5.0 mg/kg) decreased whole brain ACh levels at 1 h in the rat. The discrepancy between our findings and those of Askew and coworkers was thought to stem from technical variations between laboratories. It was noted that Askew and coworkers utilized commercial equipment requiring 30 s to microwave whole rats, while other investigators, including our laboratory, use 0.3–7 s for focussed microwave irradiation of the rat head. This difference in sacrifice technique might also explain the large in-group variations in the data published by Askew and coworkers. Nevertheless, the significance between control and experimental animals was borderline. We subsequently repeated their experiment, using the dosage, time and technique of i. v. administration of Δ9-THC and found only an elevation in total brain ACh (3).
A Review of “Constructing Identities in Online Communities of Practice: A Case Study of Online Learning”

In developed countries like the United States, two thirds of colleges and universities are now offering courses online (Parsad & Lewis, 2008). However, in developing countries, the cost of online i...
The Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Effects on the Performance of a Hydrostatic Thrust Bearing With Hybrid Raleigh Step

This paper studies the numerical development of flow patterns and pressure profiles inside a hybrid Rayleigh step thrust bearing (HRSB) where the working magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluid is subject to an imposed magnetic field. This hybrid type bearing stems from integrating two classical component: the modified Rayleigh step (variable depth) and the hydrostatic feed entering at the center of the circular thrust bearing. The parameters used in this study consist of one geometric parameter, the Rayleigh step aspect ratio (depth to length ratio) and two dimensionless operational parameters, (i) the Reynolds number based on the hydrostatic fluid jet velocity entering the restrictor (Rejet ) and the Reynolds number based on the smooth upper plate angular speed (Replate ). The numerical results are obtained using the commercially available package ANSYS (CFX) [4], which utilizes the full three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for the steady-state incompressible MHD fluid with constant properties. Results to be presented will will contain both vector and pressure fields within the Rayleigh step profile and on the smooth lands.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Comparative Transmission of Western X-Disease Virus by Colladonus montanus, C. geminatus, and a New Leafhopper Vector, Euscelidius variegatus

Euscelidius variegates (Kirschbaum) is shown to be a new leafhopper vector of Western X-disease virus (WXV). Although it breeds and feeds best on grasses, E. Variegatus will survive for weeks on other hosts. After virus acquisition feeding periods of approximately 30 days, the number of individuals transmitting virus ranged from 40 to 90%. The LP-50 (latent period-50) ranged from 30 to 47 days. In a 1960 experiment, after identical acquisition feeding periods on the same diseased celery plants, 75% of E. Variegates transmitted virus to healthy celery compared with 92% for the mountain leafhopper, Collardonus montanus (Van Daze). In a similar 1968 experiment, only 40% of the E. variegates transmitted virus compared with 92% for C. montanus and 65% for C. germinates (Van Daze). In the period between 1960 and 1968, the virus had been transmitted periodically every few months only by C. montanus.
Effect of dietary aminoguanidine on tissue pentosidine and reproductive performance in broiler breeder hens

Factors influencing the age-related decline in production parameters of broiler breeder hens are poorly understood. Elevated blood glucose concentrations measured in broiler breeder hens may contribute to this decline. The nonenzymatic attachment of glucose to proteins generates glycoxidation crosslinks in tissue proteins, which can ultimately impair their function. One such glycoxidation crosslink, pentosidine, has been used as a biomarker for aging studies because of its accumulation on the structural protein collagen. The objectives of these studies were to determine whether pentosidine accumulates with age in hens and whether the crosslinking inhibitor, aminoguanidine (AG), could retard this accumulation. An additional objective was to determine whether AG had any effect on production performance. In the first study, broiler breeder hens (n = 318) were randomly assigned to two groups: control and supplemented (400 ppm AG). Pentosidine was measured in the skin of the birds at 20 and 67 wk of age. Egg production was measured daily. In a second study, broiler breeder hens (n = 60) were reared as previously described. Pentosidine was measured in the skin of the birds at 20 and 68 wk of age. Results showed that pentosidine was present in the skin of the hens, and that concentrations increased with age (P < 0.001). Although pentosidine was reduced (P < 0.001) in AG-supplemented birds, production performance was not affected. In conclusion, AG retarded the rate of accumulation of pentosidine during lay in broiler breeder hens, but the reduction in pentosidine did not significantly affect production performance.