cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sewer biofilm microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes as function of pipe material, source of microbes, and disinfection: field and laboratory studies.

Wastewater systems are recognized pathways for the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, but relatively little is known about the microbial ecology of the sewer environment. Sewer biofilm colonization by antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) carrying bacteria may impact interpretations of sewage epidemiology data, degrade water quality during sewer overflows, and present a hazard to utility workers. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the (1) microbiome of real and simulated sewer biofilms and their potential to accumulate ARGs and (2) susceptibility of simulated sewer biofilms to bleach disinfection. First, biofilm samples were collected from municipal sewer systems. Next, an annular biofilm reactor was used to simulate the sewer environment while controlling the pipe material (concrete vs. PVC). The reactor was operated either fed semi-batch with sewer sediment and synthetic wastewater (Sed-SB) or fed with a continuous flow of raw sewage (WW-CF). The abundance of ARGs, human fecal marker HF183, and 16S rRNA gene copies in these biofilm samples was measured with qPCR. Amplicon sequencing was performed to compare the prokaryotic diversity between samples. Finally, the susceptibility of reactor biofilm to a 4.6% bleach disinfection protocol was evaluated using viability qPCR and amplicon sequencing. Field and WW-CF biofilms contained the most ARG copies and the microbial community compositions varied between the different biofilm samples (field, Sed-SB, and WW-CF). Pipe material did not affect the abundance of ARGs in the reactor samples. However, log removal following bleach treatment suggested that the biofilm grown on PVC surface was primarily dislodged from the surface by the bleach treatment whereas more bacteria were lysed within the biofilm that remained on the concrete surface. Viable bacteria carrying ARGs were observed following 10 minutes of treatment. This study showed that sewer biofilms can accumulate bacteria carrying ARGs and that while bleach can reduce sewer biofilm density, the protocol tested here will not completely remove the biofilms.
Review of Isobutane Alkylation Technology Using Ionic Liquid-Based Catalysts—Where Do We Stand?

Conventional strong liquid acids such as H2SO4 and HF are used for the majority of current commercial isobutane alkylation process to produce motor fuel alkylates, but these acids can have signific...
England's Lockdown vs. Sweden's Herd Immunity: A Comparison of the Daily New COVID-19 Cases and Related Deaths Using Comparative Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Background: There is a lack of empirical evidence that lockdowns decrease daily cases of COVID-19 and related mortality compared to herd immunity. England implemented a delayed lockdown on March 23, 2020, but Sweden did not. We aim to examine the effect of lockdown on daily COVID-19 cases and related deaths during the first 100 days post-lockdown. Methods: We compared daily cases of COVID-19 infection and related mortality in England and Sweden before and after lockdown intervention using a comparative-interrupted time series analysis. The period included was from COVID-19 pandemic onset till June 30, 2020. Results: The adjusted-rate of daily COVID-19 infections was eight cases/10,000,000 person higher in England than Sweden before lockdown order (95% CI: 2-14, P=0.01). On the day of intervention (lagged lockdown), England had 693 more COVID-19 cases/10,000,000 person compared to Sweden (95% CI: 467-920, P<0.001). Compared to the pre-intervention period, the adjusted daily confirmed cases rate decreased by 19 cases/ 10,000,000 person compared to Sweden (95% CI: 13-26, P<0.001). There was a rate excess of 1.5 daily deaths/ 10,000,000 person in England compared to Sweden pre-intervention (95% CI: 1-2, P<0.001). The increased mortality rate resulted in 50 excess deaths/ 10,000,000 person related to COVID-19 in England compared to Sweden on the day of lockdown (95% CI: 30-71, P<0.001). Post-intervention, the rate of daily deaths in England decreased by two deaths/ 10,000,000 person compared to Sweden (95% CI: 1-3, P<0.001). During phases one and two of lockdown lifting in England, there was no rebound increase in daily cases or deaths compared to Sweden. Conclusion: The lockdown order implemented in England on March 23, 2020, effectively decreased the daily new cases rate and related mortality compared to Sweden. There was no short-term increase in COVID-19 cases and related-deaths after the phases one and two of the lifting of restrictions in England compared to Sweden. This study provides empirical, comparative evidence that lockdowns slow the spread of COVID-19 in communities compared to herd immunity.
Feature-preserving Lossy Compression for In Situ Data Analysis

The traditional model of having simulations write data to disk for offline analysis can be prohibitively expensive on computers with limited storage capacity or I/O bandwidth. In situ data analysis has emerged as a necessary paradigm to address this issue and is expected to play an important role in exascale computing. We demonstrate the various aspects and challenges involved in setting up a comprehensive in situ data analysis pipeline that consists of a simulation coupled with compression and feature tracking routines, a framework for assessing compression quality, a middleware library for I/O and data management, and a workflow tool for composing and running the pipeline. We perform studies of compression mechanisms and parameters on two supercomputers, Summit at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Theta at Argonne National Laboratory, for two example application pipelines. We show that the optimal choice of compression parameters varies with data, time, and analysis, and that periodic retuning of the in situ pipeline can improve compression quality. Finally, we discuss our perspective on the wider adoption of in situ data analysis and management practices and technologies in the HPC community.
StealthMiner: Specialized Time Series Machine Learning for Run-Time Stealthy Malware Detection based on Microarchitectural Features

Hardware-Assisted Malware Detection (HMD) techniques deploy Machine Learning (ML) classifiers to detect patterns of malicious applications based on microarchitectural features captured by modern microprocessors' Hardware Performance Counters (HPCs). Existing HMD methods have limited their analysis on detecting malicious applications that are spawned as a separate thread during application execution, hence detecting embedded malware patterns at run-time still remains an important challenge. Embedded malware refers to harmful stealthy cyber attacks in which the malicious code is hidden within benign applications and remains undetected by traditional malware detection approaches. In HMD methods, when the HPC data is directly fed into a machine learning classifier, embedding malicious code inside the benign applications leads to contamination of HPC information, as the collected HPC features combine benign and malware microarchitectural events together. To address this challenge, in this paper we propose StealthMiner, a specialized time series machine learning approach to accurately detect embedded malware at run-time using branch instructions feature, the most prominent microarchitectural feature. The results indicate that StealthMiner can detect embedded malware at run-time with 94% detection performance on average with only one HPC feature, outperforming the detection performance of state-of-the-art HMD methods by 42%.
Leg heat therapy improves perceived physical function but does not enhance walking capacity or vascular function in patients with peripheral artery disease.

This is the first sham-controlled study to investigate the effects of leg heat therapy (HT) on walking performance, vascular function, and quality of life in patients with peripheral artery disease...
RANK-TO-RANK EMBEDDINGS AND STEEL’S CONJECTURE

This paper establishes a conjecture of Steel [7] regarding the structure of elementary embeddings from a level of the cumulative hierarchy into itself. Steel’s question is related to the Mitchell order on these embeddings, studied in [5] and [7]. Although this order is known to be illfounded, Steel conjectured that it has certain large wellfounded suborders, which is what we establish. The proof relies on a simple and general analysis of the much broader class of extender embeddings and a variant of the Mitchell order called the internal relation.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Influential Factors on Public Roadway Project Contract Time

AbstractContract time determination (CTD) is one of the most critical activities when developing a public roadway. There is no lack of policy documents, process manuals, and technical papers emphas...
The Scope of Intransitivity in Basque

Attempts to place the language isolate Basque within some typological framework have frequently ended in controversy and terminological confusion. The currently accepted classification of Basque, based on its transparent case-marking system, is that it is an ergative-absolutive language (Dixon 1979, Saltarelli 1988). How well this morphologically-grounded designation holds up at the syntactic and semantic levels of Basque is the larger focus of this paper. The detailed focus is on the behavior of Basque intransitive verbs, and how this behavior synchronizes with the over-all ergative morphology.
Latinx Immigrant Mothers' Perceived Self-Efficacy and Intentions Regarding Human Papillomavirus Vaccination of Their Daughters.

OBJECTIVE Racial and ethnic disparities persist in cervical cancer cases, 90% of which are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Suboptimal vaccine uptake is problematic, particularly among Latinx women, who have the highest cervical cancer incidence compared with other racial/ethnic groups. We examined the association of self-efficacy and HPV vaccination intention among Latinx immigrant mothers of unvaccinated 9- to 12-year-old girls. METHODS An interview-administered survey assessed baseline sociodemographic information, knowledge and perceived risk of cervical cancer and HPV, self-efficacy, and intention to vaccinate among 313 Latinx immigrant mothers in Alabama from 2013 to 2017 before the implementation of an intervention to promote HPV vaccination. RESULTS Participants were, on average, 35 years old, with 9 years of education, and had lived in the United States for 12 years. Mothers who perceived their daughters were at risk of HPV infection were more likely to be vaccine intent than their hesitant counterparts (p < .001). Vaccine hesitancy was more common in those with lower education, low HPV and cervical cancer knowledge, and lower perceived self-efficacy scores (p < .001). Self-efficacy was associated with vaccine intention when controlling for other variables (p < .001). The only variable associated with self-efficacy was HPV awareness (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS Programs promoting HPV vaccination among Latinx immigrants should include educational components regarding risks of HPV infection and cervical cancers in addition to information regarding access to vaccination services. Knowledge of risks and access may heighten perceptions of self-efficacy and improve vaccine uptake among this population.
An electron spin resonance study of microsomal Fe.

Abstract The low spin hemoprotein, microsomal Fex, which can be detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) in native liver microsomes, is converted to a high spin form by the action of hydrogen ions or by p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate and other reagents for sulfhydryl groups. The optically observable CO-binding microsomal pigment, P-450, is simultaneously converted into another pigment, P-420. By purification, P-420 can be obtained in a low spin state in which only 10 to 20% of the heme is detectable by ESR; it is converted, by means of acid or reagents for sulfhydryl groups, into P-420, in which the heme is detected by ESR in a high spin state. The spin concentration corresponds quantitatively to the heme concentration and to P-420 concentration determined optically. Microsomal Fex (Yamano particles) contains only P-420, but its heme is quantitatively observable as low spin microsomal Fex. In this manner, microsomal Fex is shown to be a component structure of the P-450 ligand system, the spin state of which is dependent on pH and sulfhydryl groups.
Effects of aeration on formation and localization of the acetyl coenzyme A synthetases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A method is shown to be effective over a wide range of enzyme ratios for the simultaneous detection of the two isoenzymes of acetyl coenzyme A synthetase [acetate:coenzyme A ligase (AMP-forming); EC 6.2.1.1] in homogenates and cellular fractions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When this method was used, it was found that cells grown under anaerobic conditions contained only one variety of this enzyme, designated the nonaerobic synthetase, whereas cells grown with vigorous aeration contained principally the other, aerobic, synthetase. In cells grown as standing cultures (i.e., semi-aerobically), both enzymes were present and were found mainly in the extramitochondrial material of homogenates. When anaerobic cultures were aerated, the amount of aerobic enzyme increased steadily over a 24-h period, so that at the end of this time, aerated cells contained predominantly aerobic enzyme. During this same period, the amount of nonaerobic enzyme decreased. The percentage of aerobic enzyme that sedimented with the mitochondria increased steadily during this period of aeration, so that, at the end of 24 h of aeration, essentially all of the aerobic enzyme sedimented with the mitochondria. The nonaerobic enzyme was never found in this cellular compartment.
Gods or Monsters: A Critique of Representations in Film and Literature of Relationships Between Older Gay Men and Younger Men

Summary This article reviews three films, Death in Venice, Love and Death on Long Island, and Gods and Monsters, and how they depict relationships between older gay men and the younger men to whom they are attracted. The author contends that because of cultural ageism and homophobia, portrayals of intergenerational relationships between older gay men and younger men often stir negative responses. The author also reviews the scant research that exists on intergenerational gay male relationships. He points to three notable authors and one psychologist who were in long-term relationships with younger men as historical precedents. He presents vignettes of five contemporary gay male relationships where there is a twelve to thirty-four year age differences to illustrate the value, importance, and challenges for these men.
Quadratic Lyapunov functions for linear control systems with delays

Necessary and sufficient conditions for stability, solvability of LQ and H/sub /spl infin// problems for linear time-invariant systems with mixed discrete/distributed delays are derived in this paper. The conditions are natural analogue of Lyapunov and Riccati equations for systems without delays.
Desire and the Good in Plotinus

Plotinus calls the first principle the One and the Good. According to Plotinus, ‘Good’ is an appropriate name for the One because the One is that which all things desire. Since he says that the One is beyond knowledge, beyond language, beyond intellect, and beyond being, however, what philosophical evidence can he provide for his claim that the One is that which all desire? In this article I offer some philosophical evidence, aside from mystical union with the One, for why ‘the Good’ is an appropriate name for the One, and for why calling the One ‘Good’ is not at odds with the fact that it is beyond knowledge, but rather entails it. To this end, after an initial consideration of the relationship between the good and desire in Plato and Aristotle, I focus on the role that desire plays in relation to the Good in Plotinus' thought.
A model for assessing mammal contribution of Escherichia coli to a Texas floodplain

Context Free-ranging mammals contribute to faecal pollution in United States water bodies. However, research into wildlife impact on water quality is dependent upon unreliable data (e.g. data uncertainty, unknown importance of parameters). Aims Our goal was to determine the potential impacts of common free-ranging mammal species and their management on Escherichia coli in the study floodplain. Our objectives for this research were to construct a model from study area- and literature-derived data, determine important species for E. coli deposition, and conduct sensitivity analyses on model parameters to focus future research efforts. Methods We constructed a model that incorporated parameters for four wildlife species known to contribute E. coli in central Texas: raccoons (Procyon lotor), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and wild pigs (Sus scrofa). These parameters were (1) population density estimates, (2) defaecation rates, (3) defaecation areas, (4) E. coli concentration in faecal material estimates, and (5) E. coli survival. We conducted sensitivity analyses on the model parameters to determine relative importance of each parameter and areas for additional study. Key results We found that adjustment of raccoon and Virginia opossum population densities had higher impacts on E. coli in the floodplain than similar changes in other species across all spatial and seasonal variations. We also found that the changes in E. coli survival, E. coli concentration in raccoon faecal material, and defaecation rates had the highest impacts on E. coli in the floodplain. Conclusions Our sensitivity analyses indicated that the largest impacts to projected E. coli loads were from changes in defaecation rates followed by E. coli concentration in faecal material and E. coli survival. Watershed planners, ranchers, and regulators must be cautioned that faecal deposition patterns are location specific and could significantly impact which species are considered the most important contributors. Implications Although all parameters require more research, we recommend that researchers determine defaecation rates for contributing species due to their relatively large impacts on E. coli in comparison to the other parameters. We also suggest additional research in free-ranging wildlife faecal morphology (form and structure) and area of deposition. Finally, species-specific E. coli survival studies for free-ranging wildlife should be conducted.
Design of a minimum drift characteristic for differential MOSFET amplifier

The temperature drift of a MOSFET differential amplifier circuit is studied to determine the biasing conditions necessary for operation at zero temperature coefficient. Previously developed theoretical expressions are used to calculate the corresponding currents and voltages. Employing a model of type BFR84 n-channel depletion MOSFETs, the program PSPICE is used to determine the optimum values of the circuit components. Experimental results over a wide range of temperatures show close agreement with those obtained from PSPICE circuit simulations. Two methods for minimizing drift are investigated. A biasing method results in a drift of approximately=25 mu V degrees C over the range 30 degrees C to 60 degrees C. Using microprocessor control circuits a drift of approximately=10 mu V degrees C is obtained over the range of 30 degrees C to 90 degrees C. >
Implementation of Delayed Updates in Heraclitus

The Heraclitus languages are database programming languages that give prominence to “delayed updates” or deltas, which are first-class values representing sets of proposed updates, such as inserts and deletes, to the underlying persistent store. Deltas can be created, inspected and combined without committing to the given updates. Deltas are useful for realizing advanced database features that manipulate virtual database states in addition to the currently stored state; examples include supporting rule-based triggers, hypothetical reasoning, and concurrent transaction processing systems.
East-West Coast differences in total electron content over the continental US

[1] Total electron content (TEC) measurements made by a network of dense GPS receivers over the continental US are used to investigate ionospheric longitudinal differences. We find that the evening TEC is substantially higher on the US east coast than on the west, and vice versa for the morning TEC; the longitudinal difference displays a clear diurnal variation. Through an analysis of morning-evening variability in the east-west TEC difference, minimum variability is found to coincide with the longitudes of zero magnetic declination over the continental US. We suggest that these new findings of longitudinal differences in ionospheric TEC at midlatitudes are caused by the longitudinal difference in magnetic declination combined with the effects of thermospheric zonal winds which are subject to directional reversal over the course of a day. This study indicates that longitudinal variations in TEC measurements contain critical information on thermospheric zonal winds. The proposed declination-zonal wind mechanism may also provide a new insight into longitude/UT changes at midlatitudes on a global scale, as well as into some geospace disturbances.
Some Quantitative Estimates of the Influence of Institutional Constraints on Economic Growth in Russia

The article contains analysis of key factors of Russia's economic growth during last decade. The model of growth based on domestic demand expansion was unstable, affected by external shocks, stimulated inflation and imports. The reasons are covered in institutional factors, caused relatively low domestic production growth under demand impulses. Authors offer quantitative assessment of potential economic growth as result of institutional environment improvement.
Alfalfa root nodule aspartate aminotransferase (AAT): Biochemical importance and genetic control

Aspartate aminotransferase (AAT:EC 2.6.1.1) plays an important role in nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) metabolism in all plants and is particularly important in the assimilation of fixed-N derived from the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis (24). The enzyme catalyzes the reversible reaction Glutamate (Glu) + Oxaloacetate (OAA) → Aspartate (Asp) + α-Ketoglutarate (α-KG) (6). AAT plays an essential role in: 1) the assimilation of fixed N and C into asparagine (Asn) in legume root nodules (24); 2) the transfer of fixed C from mesophyll cells to bundle sheath cells in C4 plants (28); and 3) the flow of reducing equivalents to chloroplasts, mitochondria and perhaps bacteroids through a malate-aspartate shuttle (1,28). AAT has been isolated from both legume and nonlegume species and has been demonstrated to be a dimeric enzyme (5,7,16,19,22). Cytosolic, mitochondrial, and plastid forms of the plant enzyme have been documented and suggested to be controlled by different genetic loci Independent segregation of soluble, mitochondrial and glyoxysomal isozymes in maize and wheat support the idea that these forms of AAT are controlled by separate genes (3,23). Animal, cytosolic and mitochondrial forms of AAT have been identified and the genes encoding these proteins have been isolated (9,17). Plant genes encoding AAT have not been isolated.
Automatic data acquisition for VLSI CAD database management

An automatic data acquisition approach and its implemented algorithm for a preorder traversing sibling tree to search CTG (CAD-tools-generated) files which are under the Unix operating system directory of a sibling tree structure are presented. By using this approach, the design data are extracted from CTG files and are sent to a design database automatically. Automatic database maintenance, dynamic space declaration, and design knowledge acquisition invoked by this approach are also discussed. This approach saves data collection time and reduces the possibility of errors. This approach can be applied to enhance the performance of VLSI CAD (computer-aided design) database management systems. >
Influence of dynamic strain aging on the stress exponent and the dislocation substructure for the creep of AlMg alloys

Abstract In many alloys a change in the stress exponent with stress has been reported. In the low stress region, the stress exponent n is equal to 5; in the intermediate stress region, n = 3; in the high stress region, n = 5. Dislocations are distributed homogeneously in the specimen which has been subjected to creep in the region where the stress exponent n is 3, and dislocation tangles are formed in the high stress region with n = 5. In this paper, attempts are made to explain the change in the stress exponent with stress and magnesium content in terms of dynamic strain aging. The change in the stress exponent is attributed to the contribution to the stress exponent from dynamic strain aging. The equations for the creep rate and the stress exponent derived in this paper are in good agreement with the published data available. The change in the dislocation substructure with stress can also be explained in terms of dynamic strain aging.
Investigation of acid diffusion during laser spike annealing with systematically designed photoacid generators

Chemically amplified resists (CARs) are the current workhorse for photolithography, where higher resolution and smaller feature size represent a continual driving force for the semiconductor industry. As the feature size decreases to sub-30 nm, LWR and gate critical dimension (CD) control become serious concerns. In order to reach the goals in the ITRS, an unprecedented level of control of photoacid diffusion while maintaining the high resist sensitivity and resolution during image formation is required. CARs require a post exposure bake (PEB), typically performed on a hot plate at 90-150°C for 30-120 seconds, to complete the resist deprotection after photoacid generation. This bake step is a primary influence on resist performance as the time/temperature profile controls both the diffusion of photogenerated acids and the deprotection of the resist backbone. Sufficient time must be provided to achieve the level of deprotection required for the solubility switching in a developer, but the seconds timeframe of conventional hot plate PEB leads to an undesirable amount of acid diffusion. As long as the activation energy of diffusion is less than that for deprotection, higher temperatures for optimized time durations will result in reduced diffusion. However, traditional hot plate PEB cannot access times shorter than a few seconds. We utilize a laser (CO 2 ) based scanned heating system to achieve sub-millisecond to milliseconds in heating durations with temperatures up to the thermal decomposition limit of the resist. This research is aimed at using synthetic techniques to vary the structure of the photoacid generator (PAG) in order to learn about the role of PAG size and structure on acid diffusion during sub-millisecond heating. A variety of PAGs with different anion sizes have been synthesized and tested on the CO 2 laser system, and their lithographic performance and effect on acid diffusion has been studied.
Gaussian beam parameters that use Coddington-based Y-NU paraprincipal ray tracing.

A method is described for modeling a Gaussian beam that travels along an axial or oblique path of a principal ray in a meridional plane. The method uses paraprincipal rays, which are traced adjacent to the ray by using a Y–NU ray trace procedure that is based on Coddington’s equations. Formulas are principal given that relate the parameters of the Gaussian beam to the heights and slopes of the paraprincipal rays. Two ray trace examples are provided.
Comparison of the interferon-tau expression from primary trophectoderm outgrowths derived from IVP, NT, and parthenogenote bovine blastocysts.

The expression of interferon-tau (IFN-τ) is essential for bovine embryo survival in the uterus. An evaluation of IFN-τ production from somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT)-embryo-derived primary trophectoderm cultures in comparison to trophectoderm cultured from parthenogenote (P) and in vitro matured, fertilized, and cultured (IVP) bovine embryos was performed. In Experiment 1, the success/failure ratio for primary trophectoderm colony formation was similar for IVP and NT blastocysts [IVP = 155/29 (84%); NT 104/25 (81%)], but was decreased (P = .05) for P blastocysts [54/43 (56%)]. Most trophectoderm colonies reached diameters of at least 1 cm within 3–4 weeks, and at this time, 72 hr conditioned cell culture medium was measured for IFN-τ concentration by antiviral activity assay. The amount of IFN-τ produced by IVP-outgrowths [4311 IU/mL (n = 155)] was greater (P < .05) than that from NT- [626 IU/mL (n = 104)] and P - [1595 IU/mL (n = 54)] derived trophectoderm. Differential expression of IFN-τ was confirmed by immunoblotting. In Experiment 2, colony formation was again similar for IVP and NT blastocysts [IVP = 70/5 (93%); NT 67/1 (99%)] and less (P < .05) for P blastocysts [65/27 (70%)]. Analysis of trophectoderm colony size after 23 days in culture showed a similar relationship with P-derived colonies being significantly smaller in comparison to IVP and NT colonies. A differential expression of IFN-τ was also observed again, but this time as measured over time in culture. Maximal IFN-τ production was found at day-14 of primary culture and diminished to a minimum by the 23rd day. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 299–308, 2008. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Enhancing Creativity through Play: A Discussion of Parental and Environmental Factors.

Numerous writers have hypothesized a distinct relationship between creativity and play #opSlobin, 1964; Jackson & Messick, 1965; Wallach & Kogan, 1965; Lieberman, 1965; Sutton‐Smith, 1966, 1967; Almy, I967; Klinger, 1969; Wallach, 1970; and Wenar, 1971#cp. Mansell #op1980#cp asserts that creative thought is based on play and that although not all play is creative, all creativity contains play. Iverson #op1982#cp concurs with this notion and adds that the ability to take a playful outlook is an important part of the creative process. This paper endeavors to investigate play as it relates to the development and expression of creativity in preschool youngsters. Definitions of creativity and play will be established to lay the foundation for the discussion which follows. Specifically, this paper will examine the role of parents and the environment in the development and nurturance of creativity in young children. The writer will conclude with a discussion which focuses upon direct educational implications whi...
Acceleration of Electrons by A Laser Wakefield Accelerator (LWFA) Operating in the Self-Guided Regime

The so-called “self-guided” regime of laser wakefield acceleration has been experimentally explored. It is shown that short but intense laser-pulses can be self-guided by the wake-over tens of Rayleigh length by creating a bubble-like wakefield-structure.
What should be visualized?: faculty perception of priority topics for program visualization

To guide our work on adaptive explanatory program visualization the authors prepared a questionnaire that was broadly distributed among teachers of programming-related subjects. The questionnaire was designed to collect a list of topics that are considered important, but hard to teach and to solicit suggestions on using visualization for teaching these topics. This paper introduces the questionnaire, explains how it was administered, and presents the results that we consider of interest to the teachers of programming community.
Experiments concerning nonequilibrium conductivity in a seeded plasma

Measurements of conductivity have been made in a plasma composed of argon seeded with potassium vapor. The gas temperature was 2000°K; the pressure, 1 atm; and the potassium concentration was between 0.22 and 0.80 mole-percent. Conductivity values, calculated from a two-temperature model in which the energy dependence of the cross sections and radiation losses from the plasma are taken into account, agree well with experimental values. Measured values of the plasma temperature appear to be about 10% less than predicted values. Relaxation times for the conductivity in response to a step function change in the electric field were proportional to (n_e0l/σ_0E^2) and were a few tens of microseconds for a field strength in the range 3 to 10 v/cm. The ionization rate appeared to be limited primarily by the heating rate for the plasma, and the short relaxation times suggest that ionization occurs by a multistep process. Analysis of conductivity and light intensity data obtained during the transient period indicates that the electron temperature approaches its final value during the first few microseconds.
Evaluation of broadband decoupling sequences applied to liquid crystal solutions

Abstract The performance of many phase-alternated broadband decoupling sequences applied to liquid crystal solutions has been evaluated by examining the carbon-13 spectra of naphthalene and benzene dissolved in a liquid crystal solvent. It has been found that sequences which offer effective decoupling for liquids do not necessarily perform well for liquid crystal solutions. Among the sequences tested, two in a series developed by Waugh and several in a series formulated by the present authors are the most efficient ones for broadband decoupling in liquid crystal solutions. The sequences developed here are called ALPHA (ALternating PHAses).
Ionic channels of nerve: Questions for theoretical chemists

Ionic channels are the voltage-dependent, ion-selective pores of nerve membranes. They are probably macromolecules which change their conformation as the electric field is changed. One conformation makes the membrane permeable to ions. Physiologists need the help of physical chemists and theoretical chemists to understand channels better.
The lack of mutagenicity of aryl 4-guanidinobenzoates in the transplacental micronucleus assay in mice

Abstract Two acrosin inhibitors, 4′-methylumbelliferyl 4-guanidinobenzoate and 2′-carbomethoxyphenyl 4-guanidinobenzoate, were tested for mutagenicity in the transplacental micronucleus assay and the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. The compounds were administered intraperitoneally at doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg to pregnant mice. Fetal peripheral blood and maternal bone marrow cells were examined at 36 h for the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. Neither compound induced micronuclei in maternal or fetal tissues. The ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes to normochromatic erythrocytes was not affected by the drugs treatments indicating that the compounds had no effect on the cell cycle or mitosis in these tissues and that they were not cytotoxic. Both compounds, which show promise as vaginal contraceptives, were not mutagenic in this study.
Simulating Soil Water Recession Coefficients for Agricultural Watersheds

: The antecedent precipitation index (API) has been a useful indicator of soil moisture conditions for watershed runoff calculations, and recent attempts to correlate this index with spaceborne microwave observations have been fairly successful. The prognostic equation for soil moisture used in some of the atmospheric general circulation models (GCM) together with Thomthwaite-Mather parameterization of actual evapotranspiration leads to API equations. The recession coefficient for API is found to depend on climatic factors as contained in potential evapotranspiration and to depend on soil texture as reflected by field capacity and permanent wilting point. A recently developed model for global insolation is used with climatological data for Wisconsin to simulate the annual trend of the recession coefficient. Good quantitative agreement is shown with the observed trends at Fennimore and Colby watersheds in Wisconsin. This study suggests that API could be a unifying concept for watershed and atmospheric general circulation modeling.
The effect of the slip condition on Stokes and Couette flows due to an oscillating wall: exact solutions

Abstract Stokes and Couette flows produced by an oscillatory motion of a wall are analyzed under conditions where the no-slip assumption between the wall and the fluid is no longer valid. The motion of the wall is assumed to have a generic sinusoidal behavior. The exact solutions include both steady periodic and transient velocity profiles. It is found that slip conditions between the wall and the fluid produces lower amplitudes of oscillations in the flow near the oscillating wall than when no-slip assumption is utilized. Further, the relative velocity between the fluid layer at the wall and the speed of the wall is found to overshoot at a specific oscillating slip parameter or vibrational Reynolds number at certain times. In addition, it is found that wall slip reduces the transient velocity for Stokes flow while minimum transient effects for Couette flow is achieved only for large and small values of the wall slip coefficient and the gap thickness, respectively. The time needed to reach to steady periodic Stokes flow due to sine oscillations is greater than that for cosine oscillations with both wall slip and no-slip conditions.
Effect of cation exchange capacity on the structure and dynamics of poly(ethylene oxide) in Li+ montmorillonite nanocomposites

Molecular dynamics computer simulations are used to study the structure and dynamics of 1-nm wide films of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) confined between mica-type layered silicates of different cation exchange capacities (CEC). The simulation setup mimics experimental systems formed by intercalation of PEO in montmorillonite alumino-silicates with varied inherent charges. It is shown that the presence and population of lithium has a significant influence on the behavior of the system, in addition to the confinement-induced effects caused by the extreme spatial restriction. The structural features of the confined PEO are strongly altered with the number of Li+, which determines the polymer/inorganic interactions. The combination of the nanoconfinement and the presence of lithium preclude regular ordered arrangements of PEO, similar to those observed in the bulk unconfined polymer. The segmental dynamics of PEO in confinement are also greatly influenced by the presence of lithium, because of the strong interaction between Li+ and the oxygen of the PEO backbone. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3460–3477, 2005
On methods of reporting clinical material.

The members of the Committee on Scientific Activities of the American Psychoanalytic Association are concerned about the paucity of clinical data in psychoanalytic reports and by the quality of what does exist. We have proposed a few standards for clinical reports that we believe will be reliable and clear and will have enduring usefulness. We recognize the need for maintaining confidentiality and, at times, for disguise; we also recognize the need to balance these requirements against (he dangers of misleading the reader (or listener). These conflicting requirements have resulted in our concentrating on some general principles for clinical reporting. We have appended a tentative form, and examples, to be considered for that purpose.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy for suspected periampullary cancers: the mimes of malignancy

Abstract Background Pancreaticoduodenectomies are often undertaken with suspicion of malignancy. We undertook this study to determine if and how unnecessary pancreaticoduodenectomies can be avoided. Methods Data from patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were prospectively collected. Operative indications, including presenting symptoms and results with imaging, with or without biopsy, were reviewed. Results From 1996 through to 2007, 551 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at our institution. Chronic pancreatitis was the operative indication in 3% of patients; premalignant/malignant lesions were present in 86% of patients. Eleven per cent of patients underwent ‘unnecessary’ pancreaticoduodenectomies with presumptive diagnoses of cancer but were without premalignant/malignant disease on final report by Pathology [pancreatitis in 63%, serous cystadenomas ( Conclusion Only a small minority of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for suspicion of periampullary cancer do so unnecessarily. Preoperative review of biopsies, better considerations of pancreatitis and careful evaluation of imaging, particularly for cystic masses, will decrease unnecessary pancreaticoduodenectomies.
Doppler effects due to thermal macromotion of ions in an rf quadrupole trap

The second-order Doppler shift is an important source of systematic error in rf quadrupole trapped ion frequency standards. This shift can be reduced by cooling the secular motion of the ion cloud with a light background gas at low pressure. Using a thermalized ion cloud model, it is possible to relate the Doppler shift to the temperature of the ion cloud. It is shown that, in practice, the measured frequency of the first-order Doppler sidebands can be used to determine the ion cloud temperature.
On several symmetry conditions for graphs

Abstract In this paper we deal with simple graphs. We investigate vertex-transitivity, edge-transitivity and symmetry of graphs, especially the relationships among them. We first give an equivalent condition for a graph to be vertex-transitive. Then we show that there is an infinite class of graphs whose edge-transitivity is equivalent to symmetry. Also we shall give a positive answer to a special case of a question by Holton.
Some characteristics of frequency-dependent structural matrices

Abstract The traditional finite element method applied to dynamic problems employs shape functions which are based on a static displacement assumption. The more exact approach uses frequency-dependent shape functions and frequency-dependent mass and stiffness matrices. These matrices are usually constructed as a series expansion in powers of the frequency of vibration. A formula is presented which relates the higher ordered terms in the mass matrix expansion to those in the stiffness matrix expansion. An additional result gives expressions for the mass and stiffness matrices in terms of the values of the shape function at the boundary of the element. The results presented hold for models based on shape functions derived as solutions to differential equations which are the Euler equations for the particular variational principle used to define the mass and stiffness matrices.
A note on margin-based loss functions in classification

In many classification procedures, the classification function is obtained by minimizing a certain empirical risk on the training sample. The classification is then based on the sign of the classification function. In recent years, there have been a host of classification methods proposed that use different margin-based loss functions. The margin-based loss functions are often motivated as upper bounds of the misclassification loss, but this cannot explain the statistical properties of the classification procedures. We show that a large family of margin-based loss functions are Fisher consistent for classification. That is, the population minimizer of the loss function leads to the Bayes optimal rule of classification. Our result covers almost all margin-based loss functions that have been proposed in the literature. We give an inequality that links the Fisher consistency of margin-based loss functions with the consistency of methods based on these loss functions. We use this inequality to obtain the rate of convergence for the method of sieves based on a class of margin-based loss functions.
Science measurements and instruments for a planetary science stratospheric balloon platform

Balloon platforms operating in Earth's upper stratosphere offer a unique platform to conduct new, high value planetary science observations of our solar system and exoplanets. There are compelling science drivers for conducting observations from such a balloon platform, with several potential high value science measurements that can be accomplished with one of several instrument concepts. Observations from 100,000 to 120,000 feet, which can last from hours to months, night and day, offer significant advantages over observations from ground and aircraft platforms. The stability of the airmass at float altitude is indistinguishable from space so that diffraction-limited performance can be obtained without adaptive optics, resulting in performance at visible wavelengths better than many ground based assets with larger apertures. With >99% of the atmosphere, and almost all the telluric water and CO 2 , beneath the platform, previously obscured spectral windows are also now open (e.g. water, CO 2 , and the organic fingerprint region of 5–8 µm), others are now fully free from telluric contributions, and observations in the mid through thermal infrared (IR), as well as shortward into the near ultraviolet (NUV), experience more than an order of magnitude less downwelling radiance than do ground based measurements enabling longer integration times and higher contrast observations. Instrument types that would support high value science include broadband and multispectral high spatial resolution NUV-NIR imagers, multispectral and hyper spectral imagers in the 2.5–5 µm range, as well as in the 5–8 µm range.
Simplified flow cytometric assessment in mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

By using flow cytometry with markers for CD3, CD4, CD26, and CD7, we examined the blood samples of 109 patients for abnormal T cells: 69 patients with mycosis fungoides (MF)/Sezary syndrome (SS), 31 hospitalized control subjects, and 9 patients with inflammatory skin disease. T cells were identified as quantitatively abnormal (>15% CD26- or CD7- T cells) or phenotypically abnormal (CD26- or CD7- T cells with bright or dim CD3 or CD4 or bright CD7). Patients were followed for a median of 82 months, and abnormal T cells were correlated with diagnosis, clinical outcome, and other laboratory parameters. Abnormal T-cell populations were identified in 46% of patients with MF/SS (32/69) and correlated with disease extent. Quantitative abnormalities were more frequent than phenotypic abnormalities, and CD4+/CD26- T cells were more frequent than CD4+/CD7- T cells. CD26- T cells correlated better with disease extent than did CD7 -. Increasing numbers of abnormal T cells were associated with worsening disease. Flow cytometry provides valuable information for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic efficacy in MF/SS.
Effect of Endogenous Insulin on Human Amino Acid Metabolism

This study describes the effect of endogenous insulin on free plasma amino acids. The secretion of insulin was provoked by means of a standard glucose tolerance test. Four healthy males responded by a drop in the levels of all twenty-two plasma amino acids, which were measured. In four insulin-dependent diabetics the glucose tolerance experiment effected only slight decreases in nineteen of twenty-two amino acids. Ornithine and histidine decreased significantly, whereas phenylalanine increased. The over-all result indicates that endogenous insulin reduces the levels of the majority, if not all, free plasma amino acids.
Hyalophysa bradburyae sp. n., a new species of Apostome ciliate from the Grass Shrimp Palaemonetes kadiakensis

Summary A new species of apostome ciliate, Hyalophysa bradburyae, sp. n., is described from the freshwater grass shrimp Palaemonetes kadiakensis. Like other species within the genus, H. bradburyae is an exuviotrophic apostome ciliate whose life cycle is tied to the ecdysis of its crustacean host. Hyalophysa bradburyae differs from the other members of the genus, H. chattoni, H. trageri, and H. lwoffi, in details of the ciliature of the trophont. Specifically, the trophont of H. bradburyae possesses a divided kinety 1, with the anterior segment of this kinety (K1a) located between K2a and K2b. Hyalophysa bradburyae was found on all shrimp collected from the Conecuh River and Walnut Creek of the Pea River in southern Alabama during this study. In addition to extending the known range of the genus Hyalophysa to Alabama, this report records the presence of apostome ciliates on the shrimp P. kadiakensis.