cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rhetoric and Campaign Language: Explaining New Electoral Success of African American Politicians in Non-Minority Districts

My dissertation seeks to answer two important questions in African American politics: What accounts for the new electoral success of African American candidates in non-minority majority districts, and is there some sort of specific rhetoric used in the campaign speeches of these African American politicians? I seek to show that rhetoric matters and that there is a consistent post-racial language found in the speeches of successful African American elected officials. In experimental studies, I show that that this post-racial language is effective in shaping perceptions of these politicians and is a contributing factor to their success. In addition, I show that the language found in the speeches of successful African American elected officials is not found in the speeches of unsuccessful African American politicians running for a similar office. I engage in this research by conducting experiments using campaign speeches from 2010 primary and general election candidates, conducting quantitative text analysis, and performing ethnographical interviewing with successful African American elected officials. . INDEX WORDS: Rhetoric, Electoral success, African American politicians RHETORIC AND CAMPAIGN LANGUAGE: EXPLAINING NEW ELECTORAL SUCCESS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICIANS IN NON-MINORITY DISTRICTS
Detection of Jupiter's ring at 2.2 µm

Reflected sunlight from the Jovian ring discovered by the Voyager spacecraft was detected at 2.2 microns. A chopping secondary photometric system and an indium antimonide photovoltaic apparatus were used in the detection. The search for the ring was conducted at 2.2 microns because at this wavelength scattered radiation from the planetary disk is reduced by the strong molecular absorption features in Jupiter's atmosphere.
Exploration and Innovation in Design: Towards a Computational Model

"Exploration and Innovation in Design" offers both conceptual and computational models of processes which have the potential to produce innovative results at early stages of design. Discussed here is the concept of exploration where the system, using computational processes, moves outside pre-defined available decisions. Sections of this volume discuss areas such as design representation and search, exploration and the emergence of new criteria, and precedent-based adaptation. The author describes the overall architecture of a design system and shows how the pieces fit together. Concluding chapters of the book discuss the relationships of work in design to other research efforts, applications, and future research directions in design.
On the superposition of discrete-time Markov renewal processes and application to statistical multiplexing of bursty traffic sources

We introduce a methodology for approximately characterizing the superposition process of multiple arbitrary discrete-time Markov renewal processes (MRP) in terms of a discrete-time MRP. We model an arbitrary on/off traffic source as a MRP and then obtain the superposition process of multiple sources as a special case. We present a queueing analysis of a finite-buffer statistical multiplexer whose input process is the superposition of multiple arbitrary on/off traffic sources.
Investigation of online interactive systems

The objectives of this project are to investigate multi-user online interactive systems. Online interactive systems are one of the fastest growing areas of computer today. The next logical step for the internet is going from the world of 2-dimensional web pages to a 3-dimensional interactive world in which users do not just read the content but can interact with the site using 3-dimensional rendering software.
Parent stars of extrasolar planets – XV. Host star rotation revisited with Kepler data

We employed published rotation periods of Kepler eld stars to test whether stars hosting planets tend to rotate more slowly than stars without known planets. Spectroscopic vsini observations of nearby stars with planets have indicated that they tend to have smaller visni values. We employ data for Kepler Objects of Interest (KOIs) from the rst 16 quarters of its original mission; stellar parameters are based on the analysis of the rst 17 quarters. We conrm that KOI stars rotate more slowly with much greater condence than we had previously found for nearby stars with planets. Furthermore, we nd that stars with planets of all types rotate more slowly, not just stars with giant planets.
What steps should be taken to integrate marijuana into pain regimens

10.2217/PMT.15.20 © 2015 Future Medicine Ltd At the time of this writing, 23 American states plus the District of Columbia have legalized the medicinal use of cannabis with four of these states also legalizing the recreational use and 15 states decriminalizing possession of small amounts. Other countries (Canada, Israel, The Netherlands) have successfully legalized and are distributing cannabis for medical purposes. With emerging evidence on the efficacy and safety of cannabis to treat chronic pain, there is a rapid trend of changing attitudes among healthcare providers and patients and cannabis appears to be headed for mainstream medicine [1–5]. Nonetheless, we do not want to repeat mistakes learned from the liberal prescribing of chronic opioids in our society. Cannabis is a potential drug of abuse and if improperly used can lead to harm. Therefore, healthcare providers need to take responsibility in carefully selecting, educating and monitoring patients to whom they recommend use this therapy.
Administration of zoledronic acid enhances the effects of docetaxel on growth of prostate cancer in the bone environment

Background After development of hormone-refractory metastatic disease, prostate cancer is incurable. The recent history of chemotherapy has shown that with difficult disease targets, combinatorial therapy frequently offers the best chance of a cure. In this study we have examined the effects of a combination of zoledronic acid (ZOL), a new-generation bisphosphonate, and docetaxel on LuCaP 23.1, a prostate cancer xenograft that stimulates the osteoblastic reaction when grown in the bone environment.
VULNERABILITY FACTORS IN SYLVIA PLATH'S SUICIDE

Using the conceptual framework of a developmental pathway , this study links together events in the life of Sylvia Plath , beginning with her father's death when she was 8years old and ending with her suicide at age 30 . Unresolved grief for her father led to a symbiotic attachment to her mother characterized by a compulsive drive for achievement and praise . After a near - fatal suicide attempt at age 20 following failure to meet perfectionistic ideals , she recompensated , transferring her dependency needs into a symbiotic marriage to an English poet she narcissistically idealized . Her suicide followed soon after the collapse of the marriage . Emphasis is placed throughout on her unwillingness to accept personal imperfections , as well as on the search for a father substitute .
Effects of worry and somatic anxiety induction on thoughts, emotion and physiological activity.

Abstract Thirty-six Ss received Velten (1968) emotion inductions designed to produce either worrisome, somatically anxious, or neutral states. A breathing-focus task assessed the frequency of negative thought intrusions before and after the emotion induction. Worry induction produced the greatest increase in negative intrusions, significantly greater than the neutral condition. Somatic anxiety induction produced some increase in intrusions, nonsignificantly between worry and neutral inductions. Both worry and somatic anxiety inductions generated significant increases in cardiovascular activity relative to the neutral condition, while no effect was observed on gastric myoelectric activity. Worry was characterized by emotions on the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist that overlap with those of depression and somatic anxiety.
Problem Finders in Problem Spaces: A Review of Cognitive Research for Drama in Education

Given recent developments in neuroscience, today's research into cognition and learning theory makes it more possible to move beyond saying that learning happens through theatre and toward grounded theories about how that learning happens. The author considers the overlap between theatre practice and a review of recent cognition research. This article strives to accomplish three things: to summarize areas of cognitive research that could be of particular interest to theatre practitioners and researchers, to suggest possible areas of theatre research, and to share developments on ongoing work between cognition and theatre/drama in education.
Assessing adequacy of cervical core specimens from extirpated uteri: implications for laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy with transcervical coring.

Abstract Study Objective To describe the histopathologic adequacy of cervical specimens after ex vivo excision of the cervical canal with cervical coring. Design Descriptive study (Canadian Task Force classification III). Setting Community medical center with university affiliation. Intervention Endocervical coring. Measurements and Main Results Eleven cervical core samples from hysterectomy specimens were evaluated. Cervical coring was performed using classic intrafascial supracervical hysterectomy instruments: 15 mm for 6 specimens and 20 mm for 5 specimens. Mean patient age was 49 years, and median (range) parity was 2 (0–3). Three patients (27.3%) were postmenopausal. In most patients (72.7%) leiomyomas and abnormal uterine bleeding was the indication for hysterectomy, and 3 patients (23.3%) had uterovaginal prolapse. The most common cervical pathologic diagnosis was chronic cystic cervicitis (72.7%). Histopathologic presence of the entire cervical transformation zone was present in all 11 cervical core samples. Endocervical glands were absent in the radial margins of all samples. Endometrial glands were absent in the radial margins in 7 samples (63.6%). There was no statistically significant difference in age, parity, cervical remnant, and cervical core dimensions between both core sizes (p > .05). Conclusion Cervical coring to remove the endocervical canal during hysterectomy resulted in adequate removal of endocervical glands and endometrial glands in most cases, using either the 15-mm or 20-mm classic intrafascial supracervical hysterectomy instrument.
Nitrogen-fixers Alnus and Lupinus influence soil characteristics but not colonization by later successional species in primary succession on Mount St. Helens

Changes to the primary successional environment caused by colonizing plants that present symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria were investigated at two areas on Mount St. Helens. One area was occupied by alder (Alnus viridis) thickets and old lupine (Lupinus lepidus) patches and the other area by young lupine patches and pumice barrens. Alder thicket soils had higher levels for a few soil nutrients and had greater cover by other pioneer species as compared to old lupine patches. Many soil nutrients, including nitrogen and soil organic matter, were below detection limits in old lupine patches but not in alder thicket soils. Young lupine patch soils were generally not different from barren site soils but had greater cover by other pioneer species. Below detection nitrogen and soil organic matter levels also occurred in many barren soil samples but not in young lupine patch soils. Barren soils were moister than were the other sites. The apparent increase in soil fertility has not led to invasion by later successional species, perhaps due to dry conditions or to other inhibitory factors. Seedbanks, composed of early successional species, appear to be developing in these areas.
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Growth Hormone—Aging and Osteoporosis

Until recently, the use of growth hormone (GEO has been confined to the treatment of GH-defieient children. The advent of GH produced by recombinant DNA technology has increased the availability of GH. The increased availability of GH has made possible studies of the physiology and the possible therapeutic role of this hormone and its mediator insulin-like growth factor. One area where GH may play a therapeutic role is in the treatment of osteoporosis. This review will briefly summarize normal GH physiology and discuss age-related changes in GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis and how they may relate to age-related physiologic changes. Evidence for and against a possible therapeutic role for GH/IGF-1 in the treatment of age-related (senile) osteoporosis will be discussed.
Coexistence of non-registered monolayer and bilayer solid films: Statistical mechanics

Abstract A statistical mechanical theory is developed for low temperature solid monolayer and bilayer films of inert gases which are not in registry with the adsorbing substrate. The free energy is evaluated in terms of harmonic lattice vibrations of the solids, which is a quasiharmonic approximation. The lattice constant discontinuity in the transition under compression from the monolayer to the bilayer is found to be small, in accord with experiments on the adsorption of xenon and of krypton on silver and of argon on basal plane graphite. The calculations use realistic models for adatom interactions and substrate holding potentials in these three systems. At the bilayer formation, the lattice constant is still distinctly larger than that of the corresponding bulk solid under its vapor pressure. Thermodynamic functions of the phases at monolayer and bilayer coexistence are evaluated: the spreading pressure and the bilayer latent heat of adsorption are nearly constant along the coexistence curve for temperatures of 1 to 35 K. The calculated difference between the latent heats of adsorption of the monolayer and the bilayer is in good agreement with experimental data for the xenon/silver system, but it is smaller than the experimental difference for the krypton/silver and argon/graphite systems.
Caregiver attributions are not just for children: Evidence for generalized low power schemas

Abstract Two studies demonstrated that cognitive attributional styles linked to child abuse are predictive of responses during an interaction with a companion animal. Study 1 showed that individuals who perceive children as having greater control than themselves over negative caregiving situations (low perceived control, LPC) experienced more negative affect than high-perceived-control individuals during a brief interaction with a puppy that was perceived as “difficult.” Study 2 showed that when interacting with a young cat, individuals who experienced greater negative affect during the interaction were those who perceive children as having a great deal of power over caregiving situations, regardless of their own perceived power. Both studies suggest that parent attributions may be predictive of affective responses in many caregiving situations, including those involving companion animals. Further, the link between child abuse and animal cruelty may involve a general cognitive schema that is activated by many difficult social interactions.
Torsional ductility and strength properties of two Pu/1 wt % Ga delta stabilized alloys as a function of temperature

Abstract The torsional ductility and strength characteristics of two Pu/1 wt % Ga alloys—one of nominal purity and the other of high purity—were evaluated from 20 to 600 °C at a torsional strain rate of 0.0417/sec. As the temperature is increased over the range of 20 to 150 °C, ductility is slightly increased. In this region the high-purity alloy shows greater ductility then the nominal-purity alloy. Ductility increases rapidly between 150 and 250 °C for both materials, leading to “unlimited” ductility for the nominalpurity alloy between 200 and 400 °C and between 500 and 580 °C. The high-purity alloy exhibits the same “unlimited” ductility between 250 and 500 °C and above 560 °C, but shows an anomalous drop in ductility at 560 °C. In these “unlimited” ductility regions, both materials survive true shear strains of 250 without fracture. This high capacity for deformation is associated with a dynamic restoration process which leads to a very fine-grained (1 to 5 μm grain diameter) equiaxed structure at room temperature. The mechanism of this process is currently thought to be Concomitant recrystallization. The nominal-purity alloy exhibits a typically brittle type of failure (helical fracture) between 400 and 500 °C; this “hot short” behavior is a result of the formation of a Pu/Pu 6 Fe liquid eutectic, possibly at the grain boundaries. The torsional yield stress for both materials decreases continuously with increasing temperature between 20 and 560 °C. Above 350 °C, the yield stress of the high-purity alloy is somewhat higher than that of the nominal-purity alloy; this behavior may be associated, at least in part, with the higher tantalum and tungsten contents of the high-purity alloy. The nominal-purity alloy shows no significant loss of strength in the “hot short” region between 400 and 500 °C. For the nominal-purity alloy, the conversion of torsional yield strength to tensile yield strength by means of the effective stress criterion produces a curve of equivalent 0.2% offset yield strength versus temperature which agrees fairly well with previously published data on tensile strength versus temperature for a similar material tested at a comparable strain rate.
Which Allocation System Is More Effective in Getting a Commodity to Those Who Need It Most

Abstract This study extends Weitzman's analysis of alternative systems for allocating a commodity. Two systems are compared with Weitzman's price and rationing systems: free access and price controlled. Performance is measured using Weitzman's criterion of effectiveness in meeting needs, which is the quadratic loss between actual allocations and needs. Although the goal behind free access may be to help meet needs better, the price system's effectiveness may exceed the free access system's. Effectiveness under quadratic-loss minimizing price controls always exceeds that of the price system.
Molecular dynamics of calmodulin as monitored by fluorescence anisotropy

Abstract Static and dynamic measurements of fluorescence anisotropy have been made for calmodulin, employing both the intrinsic fluorescence of Tyr-99 and Tyr-138 and the fluorescence of dansyl and fluorescein groups attached to Tyr-99, as well as AEDANS groups attached to methionines. All approaches indicate the presence of a significant internal mobility involving the probe for calmodulin in the absence of Ca2+. This is diminished in the presence of Ca2+. 2
Highway motor vehicles as sources of atmospheric particles: Projected Trends 1977 to 2000

Abstract Highway motor vehicle emissions contribute to the total atmospheric particulate matter burden. The possible health and welfare effects of these emissions depend upon their composition and concentration in the atmosphere, the exposure of man and materials, and in some instances the length of time of the exposure. The characteristics of long-term national and mesoscale (citywide) exposures and short-term localized (congested freeway, city street canyon) exposures to mobile source particles were examined for 1977 and 1988, and estimated for 2000. Because of interest in the possible impact of passenger car dieselization on atmospheric particle concentrations, three degrees of diesel penetration (5%, 10% and 20% of light-duty sales by 2000) were examined with and without an assumed scenario of particulate matter emissions regulation. Generally, urban concentrations of mobile source particles ranged from about 2 to 10 μg/m 3 in 1977; lower concentrations occurred in suburban areas and higher concentrations occurred in city central core areas. However, concentrations of nearly 80 μg/m 3 could be experienced on congested freeways with low velocity, near parallel winds. Due primarily to decreases in the number of vehicles using leaded gasoline, the mobile source particulate matter burden is projected to be less in 1988 and 2000 than in 1977; the degree to which the burden will lessen depends upon the level of dieselization and the degree of regulation. The compositional characteristics of the particles will also change. The outyear fractions of lead will decrease and the fraction of elemental and organic matter carbon will increase. Heavyduty diesel motor vehicles will become the single most important source of mobile source particles. Knowledge of vehicle usage patterns will then become important for classical dispersion model estimation of emissions impact, since truck kilometer traveled will likely not be uniformly distributed across cities.
Establishment of pair and breeding site bonds by young known-age adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

Abstract In marked contrast to adult ‘established’ breeding Adelie Penguins, young breeders (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 years of age) exhibit only minimal faithfulness to mate and territory. Studies of large numbers of young birds show a sequence of steps in the establishment of the more rigid bonds found in experienced breeders. We have documented some aspects of this behaviour in young Adelie Penguins, and have outlined the first steps taken by the adolescent Adelie towards modal adult behaviour. The extended period of such behaviour seems adaptive in that it provides a flexible breeding reservoir for the population, as well as lending some limited flexibility to the highly stereotyped behaviour of the population as a whole. We have shown that: 1. (1) Early wandering by young Adelies is at first wide and narrows toward the time of first breeding. 2. (2) Site of first breeding is likely to be near the site of hatching. Forty per cent of first breeders breed within the natal colony (contiguous group), 66 per cent within the natal area (200 m). Fifty-eight per cent of first breeders have visited the vicinity of the nest during their pre-breeding years. No young bird has yet been confirmed to have bred in a different colony after first breeding. 3. (3) Mate at first breeding probably is a matter of chance availability at the time of breeding and is little dependent on previous temporary pairings. Only two of thirteen young birds bred with a former ‘keeping-company’ partner, and both had bred before. 4. (4) First breedings of females are most common at 4 years of age. The mode for males is 5 years of age. 5. (5) Mortality of young breeders and their mates probably exceeds that of established breeders. Forty per cent of pairs with one young partner returned the season following breeding versus 60 per cent of presumed established pairs. Twenty-one per cent (versus 5 per cent adults) of pairs had neither partner return. 6. (6) Breeding incidence in successive years is significantly lower in young breeders (71 per cent) and their mates (58 per cent) than in established breeders (99·7 per cent). 7. (7) Mates of young breeders are probably among the less fit individuals in the population, as suggested by 5 and 6 above. Perhaps they are also youngsters, or older, senescent birds. 8. (8) Young breeders change nest-site and mate significantly more frequently (44 per cent change mate, 50 per cent site) than do established breeders (16 per cent change mate, 22 per cent site) when both of a pair return. 9. (9) Asynchrony of partners' arrival at the rookery is a likely cause for the dissolution of some young birds' pair- and site-bonds. 10. (10) Young birds change mate and site during a single breeding season, as well as between seasons. 11. (11) The oldest known-age adelies studied (7-year-olds) have not yet reached the population norms in faithfulness to site or mate.
Accuracy of transmission CT and FDG-PET in the detection of small pulmonary nodules with integrated PET/CT.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of detection of small pulmonary nodules on quiet breathing attenuation correction CT (CTAC) and FDG-PET when performing integrated PET/CT, as compared with a diagnostic inspiratory CT scan acquired in the same imaging session.
On the detection of target trajectories in a multi target environment

The tracking and ultimate identification of closely spaced objects is an area of interest to many surveillance systems. Much effort in recent years has been concentrated on the more "front-end" problem of optimizing the initial detection. However, the sorting and processing of crossing tracks and parallel tracks is a problem regardless of signal to noise ratio. In this paper, the application of a pattern recognition approach is investigated. A simulated track scenario is developed and the approach evaluated using the scenario. Examples of performance and results of the simulation study are given.
Offshore wind structure weight algorithms

Decommissioning requirements for offshore renewable energy facilities in US federal waters requires that all facilities be removed and the seafloor be cleared of all obstructions at the end of the life of the lease. Before construction activities are permitted, developers are required to post a bond based on the estimated cost of decommissioning to ensure that the federal government is protected in case of company default. The purpose of this note is to provide weight algorithms of offshore wind farm components to estimate the lift requirements in decommissioning, the scrap value of material, and disposal cost. Weight algorithms are calibrated and compared with North Sea project data and examples illustrate the procedures. The component weights at the Cape Wind farm offshore Massachusetts are estimated.
A brief introduction to data mining projects in the humanities

Editor's Summary Data mining offers the capability to view data in a new light, discovering associations and patterns not appreciated before. For the humanities domain, it exemplifies the interdisciplinary efforts of digital humanities. The technique provides answers and prompts further questions from new discoveries. Part of knowledge discovery in databases, data mining involves identifying relevant n-grams, classifying and reclassifying results, modeling the interdependence of variables and clustering results into meaningful subgroups. From designing research questions to determining how best to display and communicate results, the process requires collaboration between information professionals and humanities scholars. A selection of data mining projects illustrates how the technique is being applied for humanities research. Tools for data mining are readily available online, through simple web interfaces or for download and customization for optimal results.
THE WEALTH MOBILITY OF MEN AND WOMEN DURING THE 1960s AND 1970s

Research on poverty and inequality is dominated by cross-section studies that are useful but disguise change over time. Investigation of change requires longitudinal data, which are relatively rare and expensive. This paper researches wealth mobility in a national sample of 4,255 households monitored in the National Longitudinal Surveys of Older Men and of Mature Women from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s. Our measure of wealth is net family assets, excluding automobiles. We present descriptive measures and estimate econometric models of mobility, including persistence in the lower and the upper end of the wealth distribution, and movement into the upper and the lower end of the wealth distribution. The results place inequality measures in perspective and shed light on mechanisms that influence household wealth mobility. The gainers were farmers and those with skilled jobs or high levels of education, while groups that fell behind included single people, blacks, and families disrupted by divorce or death of a spouse.
Prediction of bioavailable phosphorus loss in agricultural runoff

The loss of bioavailable P (BAP) in both soluble (SP) and particulate (BPP, bioavailable particulate P) fornis in agricultural runoff, can accelerate the eutrophication of surface waters. Bioavailable P represents P that is potentially available for algal uptake. Although prediction of BAP loss would provide a more reliable assessment of the impact of agricultural managenient on surface water eutrophication than just SP or total P (TP), currently no predictive equations are available
Oxidation of pyridine nucleotides is an early event in the lethality of allyl alcohol

The involvement of altered pyridine nucleotide concentrations in the cytolethality of allyl alcohol was studied in isolated rat hepatocytes. NAD+, NADH, NADP+, NADPH and viability loss (leakage of lactate dehydrogenase into the medium) were measured in cells incubated with 0.5 mM allyl alcohol with or without the addition of 2 mM dithiothreitol at 30 min. Exposure to allyl alcohol increased NADH levels in the first 15 min of incubation. A sharp drop in NADH and NADPH with an accumulation of NADP+ occurred between 30 and 60 min of incubation with allyl alcohol, indicating an oxidation and interconversion of pyridine nucleotides. Dithiothreitol prevented the oxidation of pyridine nucleotides, but not their reduction or interconversion, and protected against cell killing by allyl alcohol. The results suggest that pyridine nucleotide oxidation might be important for allyl alcohol-induced cytotoxicity; however, a causal relationship between pyridine nucleotide oxidation and cell killing is yet to be demonstrated.
Neuroimaging placebo effects: new tools generate new questions.

Placebos were historically defined as inert substances (e.g., sugar or bread pills) that cause symptom improvement but are now characterized more broadly to include contextual aspects of both active and inactive treatments that contribute to symptom improvement in therapeutic settings. These contexts may be associated with the environment, including the size and color of a pill, a doctor’s demeanor, or the invasiveness and cost of a treatment. The context may also be generated by the patient’s prior experience or expectations about the efficacy of a treatment. Placebo effects are cognitive, behavioral, or biological responses to these contextual aspects of treatment. Although placebo effects may be a nuisance for clinical trials, they remain an important tool for clinicians and often prove beneficial for patients. Despite their efficacy, the scientific community has tended to regard placebo effects as noise rather than a potential topic of research. However, a major paradigm shift has generated renewed interest in investigating neurocognitive and neurochemical mechanisms that drive placebo effects. The timing of this renewed interest overlaps with increasing access to neuroimaging tools, allowing for investigation of these underlying mechanisms that cannot be readily assessed via self-report or observation alone.
Biochemical and morphological stratification inAcer saccharum root callus

Root callus of sugar maple (Acer saccharum, Marsh.) exhibits differential metabolic activities and cellular morphologies at different depths. A thin layer of acid phosphataseactive cells encloses a second layer of cells that reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT).
Transforming gene product of Rous sarcoma virus phosphorylates tyrosine

The protein kinase activity associated with pp60src, the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, was found to phosphorylate tyrosine when assayed in an immunoprecipitate. Despite the fact that a protein kinase with this activity has not been described before, several observations suggest that pp60src also phosphorylates tyrosine in vivo. First, chicken cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus contain as much as 8-fold more phosphotyrosine than do uninfected cells. Second, phosphotyrosine is present in pp60src itself, at one of the two sites of phosphorylation. Third, phosphotyrosine is present in the 50,000-dalton phosphoprotein that coprecipitates with pp60src extracted from transformed chicken cells. We infer from these observations that pp60src is a novel protein kinase and that the modification of proteins via the phosphorylation of tyrosine is essential to the malignant transformation of cells by Rous sarcoma virus. pp60sarc, the closely related cellular homologue of viral pp60src, is present in all vertebrate cells. This normal cellular protein, obtained from both chicken and human cells, also phosphorylated tyrosine when assayed in an immunoprecipitate. This is additional evidence of the functional similarity of these structurally related proteins and demonstrates that all uninfected vertebrate cells contain at least one protein kinase that phosphorylates tyrosine.
Nanomechanochemical Delivery of Nanoparticles for Nanomechanics Inside Living Cells

Studying biological processes and mechanics in living cells is challenging but highly rewarding. Recent advances in experimental techniques have provided numerous ways to investigate cellular processes and mechanics of living cells. However, most of existing techniques for biomechanics are limited to experiments outside or on the membrane of cells, due to the difficulties in physically accessing the interior of living cells. On the other hand, nanomaterials, such as fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles, have shown great promise to overcome such limitations due to their small sizes and excellent functionalities, including bright and stable fluorescence and remote manipulability. However, except a few systems, the use of nanoparticles has been limited to the study of biological studies on cell membranes or related to endocytosis, because of the difficulty of delivering dispersed and single nanoparticles into living cells. Various strategies have been explored, but delivered nanoparticles are often trapped in the endocytic pathway or form aggregates in the cytoplasm, limiting their further use. Here we show a nanoscale direct delivery method, named nanomechanochemical delivery, where we manipulate a nanotube-based nanoneedle, carrying “cargo” (QDs in this study), to mechanically penetrate the cell membrane, access specific areas inside cells, and release the cargo [1]. We selectively delivered well-dispersed QDs into either the cytoplasm or the nucleus of living cells. We quantified the dynamics of the delivered QDs by single-molecule tracking and demonstrated the applicability of the QDs as a nanoscale probe for studying nanomechanics inside living cells (by using the biomicrorhology method), revealing the biomechanical heterogeneity of the cellular environment. This method may allow new strategies for studying biological processes and mechanics in living cells with spatial and temporal precision, potentially at the single-molecule level.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Solvent permeation in plasma‐fluorinated polyethylene

Liquid-phase sorption data are reported for the toluene–polyethylene system. The effects of fluorine plasma and inert-gas plasma treatments of the polymer surface were investigated. The presence of a fluorinated surface layer reduces initial solvent permeation rates, but the enhanced barrier property is lost when irreversible morphological changes occur during polymer swelling. A combination of chemical and morphological factors appears to be responsible for the observed temporary reduction in permeability; crosslinking of surface macromolecules was not a significant factor for the particular cases investigated in this work.
Distribution and abiotic degradation of chlorinated solvents in heated field samples.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the abiotic degradation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in contaminated soil and groundwater samples obtained from the Camelot Cleaners Superfund site, West Fargo, ND. The field samples were incubated at temperatures of 25, 55, 75, and 95 °C in sealed ampules containing aqueous, gas, and solid phases for periods of up to 75 days to simulate thermal treatment temperatures. Aqueous PCE concentrations increased with incubation temperature but remained constant over time. The degradation of dolomite to form CO2 facilitated the transfer of sorbed-phase PCE from the solid to the aqueous phase in heated ampules. While compounds associated with PCE degradation were detected in the heated ampules, these compounds were also detected in ampules with PCE-free Camelot soil and were attributed to soil diagenesis rather than PCE degradation. Trichloroethylene underwent hydrogenolysis to form cis-DCE at 95 °C, and TCE levels decreased with first-order half-lives of 157 days at 55 ...
Studies of longitudinal optical phonons in GaN by subpicosecond time-resolved Raman spectroscopy

The lifetime of longitudinal optical phonon mode in GaN has been measured by subpicosecond time-resolved Raman spectroscopy for photoexcited electron-hole pair density ranging from 10 16 cm -3 to 2x10 19 cw -3 and at T = 300K. The lifetime has been found to decrease from 2.5 ps, at the lowest density to 0.35 ps, at the highest density. Possible mechanism for this observation has been discussed. Our experimental findings help resolve the recent controversy over the lifetime of LO phonon mode in GaN.
The role of monitoring in duopoly market outcomes

Abstract This research investigates monitoring and its effects on market outcomes. Monitoring is the ability of agents to observe each other's actions in the marketplace. We argue that monitoring has a strong influence on the behavior of economic agents and therefore can have strong policy implications. Previous theoretical research in oligopoly strongly suggests that monitoring, or the lack of it, will alter the behavior of economic agents and therefore affect market outcomes. Using experimental laboratory techniques, we demonstrate that monitoring does significantly affect market outcomes.
Assessment of an experimental setup for high speed grinding using vitrified CBN wheels

This paper is concerned with the assessment of an experimental setup for grinding experiments with a top wheel speed of 250 m/s. Among other considerations, high speed grinding is widely considered as a way for enhancing material removal rates by utilising large depths of cut and/or high workspeeds. Performing high speed grinding operations, however, presents challenges to the setup due to the high wheel speeds involved. An experimental setup was established in this study for high speed grinding of hardened nodular cast iron and steel using vitrified CBN wheels. This setup was assessed prior to grinding for wheel balancing and guarding, wheel core expansion and temperature rise, grinding fluid delivery, and idle power consumptions. It was found that high speed wheel rotations caused wheel expansion and temperature rise. A significant portion of the total power was consumed on actions other than material removals. The preliminary grinding tests indicated that the setup met the requirements for high speed grinding in general.
Coordination of the new weakly coordinating anions Al(OCH(CF3)2)4−, Al(OC(CH3)(CF3)2)4−, and Al(OC(Ph)(CF3)2)4− to the monovalent metal ions Li+ and Tl+

Abstract The structures of Li+ or Tl+ salts of three new fluoroalkoxide-containing aluminate anions were determined by X-ray crystallography. For LiAl(OC(Ph)(CF3)2)4, monoclinic, C2/c, a=42.297(6), b=10.641(1), c=19.132(2) A, β=114.808(9)°, Z=8, T=−100°C, R=0.052; for TlAl(OC(CH3)(CF3)2)4, monoclinic, P21/c, a=12.650(3), b=9.970(2), c=21.237(4) A, β=94.00(3)°, Z=4, T=−100°C, R=0.073; for TlAl(OCH(CF3)2)4, monoclinic, P21/n, a=14.261(1), b=9.8024(9), c=16.911(2) A, β=93.467(8), Z=4, T=−130°C, R=0.053. The monatomic, monovalent cations interact with their respective anions by means of M–O and M–F bonds. The Tl+ cations in TlAl(OCH(CF3)2)4 and TlAl(OC(CH3)(CF3)2)4 interact with three different aluminate anions. The Li+ cation in LiAl(OC(Ph)(CF3)2)4 interacts with only one aluminate anion, forming a rare trigonal–prismatic LiO2F4 coordination unit.
Mutagenesis by N-nitroso compounds in Salmonella typhimurium TA102 and TA104 : evidence for premutagenic adenine or thymine DNA adducts

Mutagenesis induced by the N-nitroso compounds: N-nitrosomethylurea, N-nitrosoethylurea, N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine and N-nitrosopyrrolidine was measured in Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA102 and TA104. TA100 detects damage mainly at G-C base pairs while TA102 and TA104 can detect damage at A-T base pairs. In general all strains were similarly sensitive, except that TA104 was much less sensitive to high doses of N-nitroso-N-methylurea. In TA104 a significant percentage of the revertants induced by all agents except NMU resulted from point mutations at A-T base pairs, indicating that adenine or thymine DNA adducts are important premutagenic adducts formed by certain N-nitroso compounds.
Calcineurin Suppression of Alpha7 nAChR Currents in Xenopus Oocytes

As part of our study of mechanisms underlying upregulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in brain, due to chronic nicotine exposure, we are characterizing signaling pathways that influence the magnitude of α7 nAChR currents in Xenopus oocytes. In previous studies of Kv1.1 channels in oocytes, we found that calcineurin (CaN) and protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) mediated calcium-dependent suppression of Kv1.1 currents, through both endocytosis of channels as well as effects on channel gating. Thus, we hypothesized that these molecules would similarly regulate nAChR currents. We first determined that 100 uM bath-applied genistein (an inhibitor of many PTKs) enhanced murine peak α7 nAChR currents in oocytes, by a factor of 2-3, as reported by others (Cho et al., 2005, J. Neuroscience). We also measured an increase in membrane capacitance (Cm), as expected if genistein's potentiation of peak currents was due to increased addition of channels to the plasma membrane via exocytosis. Conversely, injection of vanadate ion (VO43- ) into oocytes expressing α7 nAChRs produced a dramatic reduction (∼90%) in peak currents, but no clear decrease in Cm. Exposure of oocytes expressing α7 nAChRs to 10 uM cyclosporine A (CsA), a potent and specific inhibitor of CaN, increased the magnitude of α7 currents by a factor of ∼2, and also increased Cm. The facilitatory effect of CsA upon α7 current was blocked by 100 uM H-7, a non-specific inhibitor of serine/threonine PKs. The combination of genistein and CsA produced a greater enhancement of the α7 current than either agent alone; their combined effect was approximately additive. Our results suggest that CaN activity may provide a readout of the intracellular calcium concentration, due to recent activity of α7 nAChRs, and thereby negatively regulate the number of α7 nAChRs expressed on the plasma membrane.
Mutations in the γ-Actin Gene (ACTG1) Are Associated with Dominant Progressive Deafness (DFNA20/26)

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a significant problem in the population. The genetic contribution to age-related hearing loss is estimated to be 40%–50%. Gene mutations that cause nonsyndromic progressive hearing loss with early onset may provide insight into the etiology of presbycusis. We have identified four families segregating an autosomal dominant, progressive, sensorineural hearing loss phenotype that has been linked to chromosome 17q25.3. The critical interval containing the causative gene was narrowed to ∼2 million bp between markers D17S914 and D17S668. Cochlear-expressed genes were sequenced in affected family members. Sequence analysis of the γ-actin gene (ACTG1) revealed missense mutations in highly conserved actin domains in all four families. These mutations change amino acids that are conserved in all actins, from protozoa to mammals, and were not found in >100 chromosomes from normal hearing individuals. Much of the specialized ultrastructural organization of the cells in the cochlea is based on the actin cytoskeleton. Many of the mutations known to cause either syndromic or nonsyndromic deafness occur in genes that interact with actin (e.g., the myosins, espin, and harmonin). The mutations we have identified are in various binding domains of actin and are predicted to mildly interfere with bundling, gelation, polymerization, or myosin movement and may cause hearing loss by hindering the repair or stability of cochlear cell structures damaged by noise or aging. This is the first description of a mutation in cytoskeletal, or nonmuscle, actin.
Definitions, characterizations and structural properties of probability distributions similar to the exponential

Abstract The concept of almost-lack-of-memory property was introduced in several recent papers of the authors and their principal properties have been studied. The paper is a review of these results scattered in publications, technical reports and manuscripts. Representation theorems are given for the cumulative distribution functions or for the survival functions of the corresponding random variables. Related decompositions in terms of functions of independent random variables are also presented. Physical, analytical and probabilistic properties, which characterize the new classes of probability distributions, are given. For example a periodic failure rate for a random variable and the non-stationary Poisson process with independent increments at a given point are equivalent to an ALM property. Some properties of the service time on an unreliable server are observed. Some other possible generalizations concerning bivariate case, random variables on the real line and the multiplicative ALM properties are also reviewed.
The acoustical structure of highly porous open‐cell foams

This work concerns both the theoretical prediction and measurement of structural parameters in open‐cell highly porous polyurethane foams. Of particular interest are the dynamic flow resistance, thermal time constant, and mass structure factor and their dependence on frequency and geometry of the cellular structure. The predictions of cell size parameters, static flow resistance, and heat transfer as accounted for by a Nusselt number are compared with measurement. Since the static flow resistance and inverse thermal time constant are interrelated via the ’’mean’’ pore size parameter of Biot, only two independent measurements such as volume porosity and mean filament diameter are required to make the predictions for a given fluid condition. The agreements between this theory and nonacoustical experiments are excellent.
Dynamics of liquid spreading on solid surfaces

Using simple scaling arguments and a precursor film model, we show that the appropriate macroscopic contact angle θ during the slow spreading of a completely or partially wetting liquid under conditions of viscous flow and small slopes should be described by tan θ = [tan3 θe − 9 log ηCa]1/3 where θe is the static contact angle, Ca is the capillary number, and η is a scaled Hamaker constant. Using this simple relation as a boundary condition, we are able to quantitatively model, without any empirical parameter, the spreading dynamics of several classical spreading phenomena (capillary rise, sessile, and pendant drop spreading) by simply equating the slope of the leading order static bulk region to our dynamic contact angle boundary condition without performing a matched asymptotic analysis for each case independently as is usually done in the literature.