cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scanning tunneling microscopy as a probe of defects in CuInSe 2

A variety of analyses of CuInSe 2 have been performed using scanning tunneling microscopy. However, most of them fail to produce atomic resolution images. Our experimental data obtained on epitaxial thin films with various surface orientations and surface preparation methods suggest that this is not due to experimental errors. Scanning on adjacent GaAs surfaces reveals clear atomic resolution images. The results are interpreted as due to buried point defects in the material. Unlike the surface topography images, current-imaging tunneling spectroscopy data reveals features varying with atomic resolution. Furthermore the spectroscopy data shows changes in effective band edge positions significantly greater than are observed by optical measurements. These are proposed to be real band edge variations, which are screened electrostatically in optical measurements, which average over the exciton radius.
Serologic analysis of human tumor antigens - III. Reactivity of patients with melanoma and osteogenic sarcoma to cultured tumor cells and fibroblasts in the immune adherence assay

The immune adherence (IA) assay was used to measure serum reactivity of patients with melanoma and osteosarcoma against paired cell lines (tumor cells and normal skin fibroblasts obtained from the same individuals) grown in tissue culture. Sera from 224 patients with various stages of melanoma were compared with sera from 100 normal age- and sex-matched donors. None of the 18 stage I sera (0%), 23 of 166 (14%) stage II sera, 3 of 40 (7%) stage III sera, and 3 of 100 (3%) normal sera were highly reactive to a standard allogeneic melanoma-fibroblast pair. None of the sera exhibited unique activity against melanoma. There was no correlation between stage of melanoma and high serum reactivity, nor was this reactivity predictive of recurrence. Sera from 39 tumor-bearing osteosarcoma patients prior to amputation were compared with sera from 50 normal age-and sex-matched donors. Eight of 39 (21%) patient sera and 1 of 50 (2%) normal sera were highly reactive to an osteosarcoma-fibroblast pair. No sera had reactivity uniquely directed against osteosarcoma. Eight osteosarcoma and two melanoma patients were tested simultaneously against their autologous cultured tumor and skin cells. Only one of these patients exhibited high reactivity towards autologous cells, and this reactivity was equal against both osteosarcoma and normal cells. None of seven highly reactive osteosarcoma or six highly reactive melanoma sera had residual tumor-specific reactivity against allogeneic osteosarcoma or melanoma after absorption with cultured fibroblasts, cultured fetal fibroblasts, or fetal calf serum.
Osmotic Stress Induces Expression of Choline Monooxygenase in Sugar Beet and Amaranth

Choline monooxygenase (CMO) catalyzes the committing step in the synthesis of glycine betaine, an osmoprotectant accumulated by many plants in response to salinity and drought. To investigate how these stresses affect CMO expression, a spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L., Chenopodiaceae) probe was used to isolate CMO cDNAs from sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L., Chenopodiaceae), a salt- and drought-tolerant crop. The deduced beet CMO amino acid sequence comprised a transit peptide and a 381-residue mature peptide that was 84% identical (97% similar) to that of spinach and that showed the same consensus motif for coordinating a Rieske-type [2Fe-2S] cluster. A mononuclear Fe-binding motif was also present. When water was withheld, leaf relative water content declined to 59% and the levels of CMO mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity rose 3- to 5-fold; rewatering reversed these changes. After gradual salinization (NaCl:CaCl 2 = 5.7:1, mol/mol), CMO mRNA, protein, and enzyme levels in leaves increased 3- to 7-fold at 400 mm salt, and returned to uninduced levels when salt was removed. Beet roots also expressed CMO, most strongly when salinized. Salt-inducible CMO mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity were readily detected in leaves of Amaranthus caudatus L. (Amaranthaceae). These data show that CMO most probably has a mononuclear Fe center, is inducibly expressed in roots as well as in leaves of Chenopodiaceae, and is not unique to this family.
Analysis of organic and inorganic selenium anions by ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy

We report analysis of both inorganic and amino acid forms of selenium by ion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic detection. Three chromatographic systems are compared; effects of representative sample matrices on the separations are investigated. We are unable to resolve selenate and seleno-cystine using the Dionex AS4A column. Elution of seleno-cystine and seleno-cysteine is strongly suppressed in samples of bacterial cell extract matrix analyzed with the Dionex AS10 column; this interference is not observed with the Dionex AS11 column. Synthetic sea water sample matrix has little effect on analytical results. Quantitation parameters are reported.
Evaluation of a primary care-based post-discharge phone call program: keeping the primary care practice at the center of post-hospitalization care transition.

Background The post-hospitalization period is a precarious time for patients. Post-discharge nurse telephone call programs aiming to prevent unnecessary readmissions have had mixed results.
A study on brand personality: consumers’ perceptions of colours used in fashion brand logos

Creating a likeable, relatable brand personality is one way that fashion brands can connect with consumers and increase profits. However, few studies have investigated how consumers perceive personality traits from a fashion brand's marketing communications. The colour used in marketing communications is a powerful tool that helps consumers to make inferences about fashion brands. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether, upon exposure to a brand logo, consumers will assign personality traits to the brand that correspond with commonly held colour associations. An online survey was conducted with a national sample to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings indicated that consumers attributed brand personality traits to brand logo colours according to commonly held colour associations for some of the colours in the study. Knowing how consumers perceive the colours used in brand logos will help marketers to convey the appropriate brand personality traits of their brand.
Philip G. Zimbardo on his career and the Stanford Prison Experiment's 40th anniversary.

We interviewed Philip G. Zimbardo on April 19, 2011, in anticipation of the 40th anniversary of the Stanford Prison Experiment in August 2011. While Zimbardo's name is mentioned often in tandem with the experiment, he has distinguished himself in many other areas within psychology before and after the experiment, beginning with an accomplished early career at New York University in which he took interest in social psychology research on deindividuation. We discussed the Stanford Prison Experiment in the greater context of his varied and illustrious career, including recent pioneering work on heroism, the establishment of The Shyness Clinic at Stanford University, and the iconic Discovering Psychology series. We also addressed his adroit and candid approach to the experiment itself over the years.
On the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of free/libre/open source (FLOSS) developers

Motivation in the context of open source software may be seen as fundamentally different due to the presence of unpaid programmers, implicit rather than explicit forms of control and a different methodology for software development. Since software development is a creative task, the motivation of open source programmers can be compared to individuals in creative industries (Caves 2002). This paper summarizes the important trends in the research on motivation in open source and identifies variables that should be included in future research. Specifically, the current literature favors a taxonomy that considers two components of motivation—intrinsic (e.g., fun, flow, learning, community) and extrinsic (e.g., financial rewards, improving future job prospects, signaling quality). I make a case for incorporating both elements in developing an integrative theory about developer motivation. Three elements are identified as being unique to FLOSS development-diversity of project structures, co-existence of companies and communities and co-existence of creative and commercial elements. The important empirical evidence on FLOSS developer motivation is presented and analyzed. Four factors are identified as important mitigating and moderating factors in the conversation surrounding developer motivation- financial incentives, nature of task, group size and group structure. The role of these factors on developer motivation is discussed.
Doppler shift and coulomb excitation measurements of E2 lifetimes in light nuclei

Abstract Recent measurements at Chalk River of E2 transition probabilities in light nuclei will be discussed. The techniques employed were that of Doppler shift attenuation and Coulomb excitation. The precision with which nuclear lifetimes can be measured using the Doppler shift method will be illustrated. A compilation of E2 transition probabilities between A = 7 and A = 33 will be presented.
Seasonal Variation in Percentage of Striped Cucumber Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) that Vector Erwinia tracheiphila

Striped cucumber beetles, Acalymma vittatum (F.), were tested for their ability to vector Erwinia tracheiphila, the causal agent of bacterial wilt, to muskmelon plants. Beetles were tested from 3 locations in a large muskmelon production area in southwestern Indiana over a 4-yr period. Individual beetles were allowed to feed on muskmelon plants for 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h every 4 wk during the growing season. The percentage of infected beetles that transmitted the pathogen to plants was recorded. There were no significant differences among years or collection locations for the percentage of infective striped cucumber beetles. In the early part of the season, approximately 1% of overwintering beetles were found to be infective. The 2nd generation of beetles collected in July, August, and September had much higher percentages of infective beetles (8-12%). There was little variation in percentage infectivity of beetles in May or June over the 4-yr period, and high variation in beetle infectivity later in the season. When beetles fed on plants for 12 h, only 0.05% could transmit the pathogen. At 24 and 48 h of feeding, approximately 2% of beetles were infective, whereas at 72 h of feeding, 5% of beetles were infective. There was a significant interaction between collection date of beetles and their feeding duration. At the longest feeding period of 72 h, < 2% of the beetles that were collected in May or June were infective, whereas 10% of the beetles were infective in July, August, and September. This study indicates that only 1% of the overwintering striped cucumber beetles in southwestern Indiana can infect muskmelon plants with E. tracheiphila. This should enable researchers to develop thresholds for this pest, reducing the need for unnecessary insecticide applications.
An improved wave function for positronium hydride: Preliminary report

An improved wave function for positronium hydride is reported. The new wave function, which is of the same form as previously reported [Lebeda, C. F., Schrader, D. M.: Phys. Rev.178, 24 (1969)] yields a total energy of −0.7792 a.u., the lowest and hence most accurate value yet reported. This total energy indicates that positronium hydride is more stable than separated positronium and hydrogen atoms by 0.794 eV. The calculated annihilation rate, 2.22 nsec−1, is compared with available experimental evidence.
On the ergodic principle for Markov processes associated with quantum quadratic stochastic processes

In [1] the non-stationaryMarkov process generated by a quantum quadratic stochastic process (QQSP) was defined, and it was noted that if the QQSP satisfies the ergodic principle, then so does the Markov process. In the present article we use a decomposition of a QQSP (see [2]) to prove that the converse is also true, that is, if the Markov process satisfies the ergodic principle, then so does the corresponding QQSP.
An oligo selection procedure for identification of sequence-specific DNA-binding activities associated with the plant defence response.

Summary Sequence-specific DNA-binding (SSDB) factors play central roles in transcription, DNA replication, recombination and repair. This report describes a simple procedure for high-throughput identification of SSDB activities without prior knowledge of their target genes or binding sequences. The procedure starts with a population of completely random oligo(nucleotide) sequences and selects for those oligo molecules that specifically bind to cellular SSDB factors by use of common gel-retardation assays and PCR. Amplification and subsequent cloning of these selected oligo molecules result in the establishment of oligo DNA libraries enriched in DNA molecules containing specific sequences recognized by SSDB factors. These oligo libraries can be rapidly screened to identify a large number of SSDB activities, including those that are differentially regulated by developmental and environmental signals. With identified oligo DNA as probes, the corresponding SSDB factors can be isolated and analysed with respect to their structures, regulation and functions. Using this procedure, we have identified approximately 100 SSDB activities from tobacco leaves, including seven that are differentially regulated during the tobacco mosaic virus-induced hypersensitive response in resistant tobacco plants.
Resonant statistical model of particle production

The statistical model modified to include resonant interaction is discussed. It is shown that arbitrary mass-squared distributions calculated from Lorentz invariant phase space can be expressed as a product of two phase-space factors. Expressions arising in the modified model are reduced to either products of phase-space factors or simple integrals over such products. Application to nucleon-antinucleon annihilation into pions is given. Results are presented for the reaction p+-p→ 2π++2π-+π0 at antiproton momentum 1.61 GeV/c, and the observed three-pion mass distributions are fitted with a half-width for the ω resonance of (10.1±2.9) MeV.
Prevalence of Viral Infections in Populations of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, in Southeastern Louisiana

Prevalence of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) granulosis virus (GV) was determined in populations of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda , in southeastern Louisiana. Both diseases reached their peak mean infection rates in mid-August in fall armyworms infesting pastures, the NPV at 50.8% and the GV at 2.8%. NPV prevalence in some pastures peaked at 60 to 68%. Infection rates by NPV in fall armyworms infesting corn and sorghum were initially lower than in pastures but were similar after mid-July (corn) or late July (sorghum). Infections by a mermithid nematode, an entomogenous fungus, and a microsporidium were rare.
Risk factors for morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients with peritoneal dialysis catheters

Abstract Purpose As peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the preferred long-term dialysis modality in the pediatric population, we sought to identify risk factors for mortality and reoperation. Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing PD catheter insertions at a single center from 1994–2009 was performed. The following variables were evaluated: age ( Results 207 patients with a median age of 10years underwent PD insertion. Mortality was 7% with a median follow up of 72months. Reoperation for malfunction and infection was required in 49% of patients with a median PD catheter survival of 11months. Reoperation for hernias occurred in 14% of patients. Multivariate Cox regressions analyses identified age Conclusions In this large study of pediatric patients undergoing PD, higher complication rates were noted in infants less than one year of age. Concomitant gastrostomy was associated with a higher rate of reoperation for infection. Failure to perform omentectomy was associated with a higher rate of catheter failure.
The power of one: the relative influence of helpful and selfish models

We compared the extent to which people imitate models who exhibit either helpful or selfish behavior. In Study 1, female shoppers witnessed an individual either help or not help a woman who dropped her books. Women who saw the helpful model were more likely to assist a confederate who dropped a dollar, whereas those who saw the unhelpful model assisted at a rate no different than the control condition. In Study 2, undergraduate women saw a confederate take either one or five pieces of candy after being instructed to take only one. Participants who witnessed the unselfish behavior took fewer pieces for themselves than control condition participants, whereas those who saw the selfish behavior did not differ from the control condition.
CD98-mediated Links between Amino Acid Transport and β1 Integrin Distribution in Polarized Columnar Epithelia

In non-polarized cells, CD98 has been shown to both influence beta(1) integrins and heterodimerize with LAT-2, which confers amino acid transport capability on the LAT-2/CD98 heterodimer. Since LAT-2 is most heavily expressed in intestine and CD98 associates with the beta(1) integrin splice form selectively found in such epithelia, we investigated the relationship and polarity of these proteins using the intestinal epithelial model Caco2-BBE. CD98 was found to selectively coimmunoprecipitate with both LAT-2 and beta(1) integrin, and, logically, all three proteins were polarized to the same (basolateral) domain. Furthermore, expression of CD98 in polarized epithelia lacking human CD98 (MDCK cells) disrupted beta(1) integrin surface distribution and cytoskeletal architecture, suggesting that CD98 can influence integrin function. Expression of a CD98 mutant lacking the specific residues conferring LAT-2 binding similarly affected cells, confirming that the latter effect was not due to LAT-2 sequestration. Use of CD98 truncation mutants suggest that a 10-amino acid domain located at the putative cytoplasmic tail/transmembrane domain interface was necessary and sufficient to induce the phenotype change. We conclude that the CD98/LAT-2 amino acid transporter is polarized to the same domain on which beta(1) integrin resides. CD98 appears to associate with beta(1) integrin and, in doing so, may influence its function as revealed by disruption of the outside-in signaling that confers cytoskeletal organization. Furthermore, such findings suggest a link between classic transport events and a critical element of barrier function: integrin-mediated influences on cytoskeletal organization.
Comparison of defect recovery in proton irradiated, deformed and ion implanted nickel as observed by PAC of111In

Plastically deformed and p+ irradiated Ni have been studied using perturbed gamma ray angular correlations of111In. Isochronal annealing results in the temperature range 200 ≤T ≤ 700 K, and a comparison to earlier ion-implantation studies, lead to partial picture of defect migration and recovery in Ni.
A pursuit-evasion game of linear systems with delay

A simple pursuit-evasion game of linear systems with time delays is studied, and necessary conditions for an optimal control pair are obtained.
Exploring Decorative Typography in the Classroom Through Font Poems

In this essay, we examine the historical and cultural contexts of decorative type during three periods in history: pre-Gutenberg age, industrial age, and the information age. Using insights from the historical review we develop a font poem assignment to encourage students in an introductory visual communication course to explore decorative font use. The parameters of this assignment and a sample of font poems generated through assignment are presented.
Quadrupole coupling constant of acetylenic deuteron in 1-nonyne-1-d1 determined from natural-abundance 13C satellites in 2H NMR spectra

Abstract The deuteron quadrupole coupling constant in 1-nonyne-1-d1 has been determined from the 2H NMR spectra in a nematic phase, using the quadrupolar deuteron splittings and dipolar 13C-D splittings from natural-abundance 13C satellites. The uncorrected value was found to be 223.7 kHz and the value corrected for vibrational averaging was estimated at 205 ± 3 kHz.
In the blink of an eye: neural responses elicited to viewing the eye blinks of another individual.

Facial movements have the potential to be powerful social signals. Previous studies have shown that eye gaze changes and simple mouth movements can elicit robust neural responses, which can be altered as a function of potential social significance. Eye blinks are frequent events and are usually not deliberately communicative, yet blink rate is known to influence social perception. Here, we studied event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited to observing non-task relevant blinks, eye closure and eye gaze changes in a centrally presented natural face stimulus. Our original hypothesis (H1) that blinks would produce robust ERPs (N170 and later ERP components) was sustained, suggesting that the brain may register and process all types of eye movement for potential social relevance. We also predicted an amplitude gradient for ERPs as a function of gaze change, relative to eye closure and then blinks (H2). H2 was only partly sustained: large temporo-occipital N170s to all eye change conditions were observed and did not significantly differ between blinks and other conditions. However, blinks elicited late ERPs that, although robust, were significantly smaller relative to gaze conditions. Our data indicate that small and task-irrelevant facial movements such as blinks are measurably registered by the observer’s brain. This finding is suggestive of the potential social significance of blinks which, in turn, has implications for the study of social cognition and use of real-lfe social scenarios.
The influence of extracellular calcium ion on hormone-activated lipolysis.

Abstract Free adipocytes were prepared by collagenase digestion of rat epididymal adipose tissue and incubated in media containing 2.5 mM calcium or in a calcium-free media. The lipolytic activities of glucagon and secretin were not influenced significantly by the absence of calcium, but lipolysis could not be activated by addition of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) to calcium-free media. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol and thyrotrophin activated lipolysis in the absence of calcium, but the sensitivity of the lipolytic response was significantly reduced. Lipolysis stimulated by the addition of cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, or theophylline was not diminished in the absence of calcium. These data are consistent with the view that the role of calcium in the regulation of lipolysis may be limited to modulation of the affinity of cellular receptors for their respective hormones.
The distance factor in the relationships between solar radiation and sunshine

The effect that distance (d) has upon the correlation coefficient (r) obtained between paired radiation (R) and sunshine (S) stations was determined for the North Central region of the United States. Distances between stations varied from 0 to 608 km. In the regression of r against d three features of interest were found. First, the slope of the annual r values with distance is essentially linear from about 60 to 550 km and equals about −0.12/100 km. Secondly, from d = 0 to 60 km, the value of r remains constant at about 0–88, creating a ‘zone of indifference’ due to inherent differences between radiation and sunshine recording instruments and the insensitivity of the latter. Thirdly, beyond about 550 km the slope appears to reach a constant value, which varies with season but is about r = 0–30 on an annual basis. Seasonal and geographical differences in the degree of correlation between r and d are noted and discussed briefly.
Flexible architectures for optical transport nodes and networks

Flexibility to support mesh topologies, dynamic capacity allocation, and automated network control and light path setup are key elements in the design of next-generation optical transport networks. To realize these capabilities, reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers with dynamic add/drop structures, embedded control planes, and lightpath characterization are required. This article presents the architectures and various ROADM implementations including colorless, directionless, and contentionless add/drop structures. The effect of scaling bit rates beyond 100 Gb/s on ROADM architectures is reviewed including providing variable channel bandwidth depending on bit rate. Automated provisioning and restoration using the GMPLS control plane and optical measurement approaches for lightpaths are also discussed.
CD46 is phosphorylated at tyrosine 354 upon infection of epithelial cells by Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The Neisseria type IV pilus promotes bacterial adhesion to host cells. The pilus binds CD46, a complement-regulatory glycoprotein present on nucleated human cells (Kallstrom et al., 1997). CD46 mutants with truncated cytoplasmic tails fail to support bacterial adhesion (Kallstrom et al., 2001), suggesting that this region of the molecule also plays an important role in infection. Here, we report that infection of human epithelial cells by piliated Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) leads to rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of CD46. Studies with wild-type and mutant tail fusion constructs demonstrate that Src kinase phosphorylates tyrosine 354 in the Cyt2 isoform of the CD46 cytoplasmic tail. Consistent with these findings, infection studies show that PP2, a specific Src family kinase inhibitor, but not PP3, an inactive variant of this drug, reduces the ability of epithelial cells to support bacterial adhesion. Several lines of evidence point to the role of c-Yes, a member of the Src family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, in CD46 phosphorylation. GC infection causes c-Yes to aggregate in the host cell cortex beneath adherent bacteria, increases binding of c-Yes to CD46, and stimulates c-Yes kinase activity. Finally, c-Yes immunoprecipitated from epithelial cells is able to phosphorylate the wild-type Cyt2 tail but not the mutant derivative in which tyrosine 354 has been substituted with alanine. We conclude that GC infection leads to rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the CD46 Cyt2 tail and that the Src kinase c-Yes is involved in this reaction. Together, the findings reported here and elsewhere strongly suggest that pilus binding to CD46 is not a simple static process. Rather, they support a model in which pilus interaction with CD46 promotes signaling cascades important for Neisseria infectivity.
Random neural network texture model

This paper presents a novel technique for texture modeling and synthesis using the random neural network (RNN). This technique is based on learning the weights of a recurrent network directly from the texture image. The same trained recurrent network is then used to generate a synthetic texture that imitates the original one. The proposed texture learning technique is very efficient and its computation time is much smaller than that of approaches using Markov Random Fields. Texture generation is also very fast. We have tested our method with different synthetic and natural textures. The experimental results show that the RNN can efficiently model a large category of homogeneous microtextures. Statistical features extracted from the co- occurrence matrix of the original and the RNN based texture are used to evaluate the quality of fit of the RNN based approach.
Quantitative and Clinical Measures of Static Standing Balance in Hemiparetic and Normal Subjects

Static standing balance was compared in 10 subjects with hemiparesis resulting from a cerebrovascular accident (33-71 years of age), 10 young normal subjects (22-40 years of age), and 10 older normal subjects (48-78 years of age) using a quantitative maximal load test and a clinical evaluation. The maximal load test required subjects to maintain a standing position against static loads applied at the waist (sagittal and frontal planes). Maximal loads were recorded as a percentage of body weight at the point when subjects could no longer hold the initial standing position. Effects of mechanical and cognitive factors were minimized in the maximal load test. Hemiparetic subjects had significantly lower maximal loads and clinical balance scores than both normal subject groups. Maximal loads of the young and older normal subjects were comparable, but the older subjects had lower clinical scores than the young subjects. Low correlations between subjects' scores on the two tests imply that each test yielded different information about static balance. Implications of the study results for the evaluation and treatment of balance deficits in hemiparetic persons are discussed.
10 Gb/s Ethernet laser communications using optical space-time division multiple access

The use of free-space laser communications for military applications will continue to increase because of its advantages with respect to bandwidth, low probability of detection, interception and jamming, and absence of spectrum restrictions. Multiple access, the ability of a terminal to simultaneously provide network access for multiple users, will become increasingly important as the number of users increases. Decreasing cost, size, weight, and power per user is essential to increasing the number and types of lasercom users. We have developed an approach to multiple-access lasercom that accomplishes this using the commercial paradigm of sharing the most expensive terminal resources among all the users. Space-time division multiple-access (STDMA), analogous to an optical spacetime switch, hops the transmit beam and receive direction among multiple users and exchanges data while the beam dwells on a user. A key enabler of STDMA is electronic beam steering, which provides fast, precise, agile beam re-pointing. We present the results of laboratory tests of STDMA for two users. The dead-time in re-pointing the beam between users has been measured under different conditions and found to be as low as 10 ms. This is low enough to enable efficient bandwidth utilization. 10 Gb/s Ethernet traffic has been transmitted to the terminals to directly measure bandwidth efficiency, which varied from ∼85% to 98% depending on the transmission time per remote terminal.
Why the Euro will Not Rival the Dollar

Financial panics are indeed dramatic and, for many private individuals and economic policymakers, traumatic. They are rarely of lasting significance to the fate of nations or their currencies, however, as the prompt recovery of Brazil, Korea, Mexico and Russia from their travails a decade ago demonstrates – unless some fundamental political upheaval takes place as well (as happened in the case of Indonesia). Even the United States unilaterally
Stable haptic interaction with virtual environments

This paper addresses fundamental stability and performance issues associated with haptic interaction. It generalizes and extends the concept of a virtual coupling network, an artificial link between the haptic display and a virtual world, to include both the impedance and admittance models of haptic interaction. A benchmark example exposes an important duality between these two cases. Linear circuit theory is used to develop necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of a haptic simulation, assuming the human operator and virtual environment are passive. These equations lead to an explicit design procedure for virtual coupling networks which give maximum performance while guaranteeing stability. By decoupling the haptic display control problem from the design of virtual environments, the use of a virtual coupling network frees the developer of haptic-enabled virtual reality models from issues of mechanical stability.
The Benefits of Interactions with Physically Present Robots over Video-Displayed Agents

This paper explores how a robot’s physical presence affects human judgments of the robot as a social partner. For this experiment, participants collaborated on simple book-moving tasks with a humanoid robot that was either physically present or displayed via a live video feed. Multiple tasks individually examined the following aspects of social interaction: greetings, cooperation, trust, and personal space. Participants readily greeted and cooperated with the robot whether present physically or in live video display. However, participants were more likely both to fulfill an unusual request and to afford greater personal space to the robot when it was physically present, than when it was shown on live video. The same was true when the live video displayed robot’s gestures were augmented with disambiguating 3-D information. Questionnaire data support these behavioral findings and also show that participants had an overall more positive interaction with the physically present robot.
Resolution of small-scale commingling: A case report from the Vietnam War

A case is reported that involves the commingled skeletal remains of two individuals who died in a helicopter crash in 1969 during the Vietnam War. The incomplete portions of two bodies were initially recovered soon after the crash. These portions were identified by personnel at a U.S. Army Mortuary in Saigon and were returned to the next-of-kin. While searching for scrap metal in 2002, a Vietnamese citizen unexpectedly discovered human remains and personal effects interspersed with buried aircraft wreckage. The personal effects correlated with the individuals who died in the 1969 incident. These newly discovered remains and artifacts were subsequently received at the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) for analysis. As part of the CILHI analysis it was necessary to segregate the commingled remains into specific individuals for identification purposes. Details regarding various sorting techniques are described that provide a solid framework for systematically dealing with small-scale commingling. The sorting techniques used in the resolution of this case consist of visual pair-matching, articulation, process of elimination, osteometric comparison, and taphonomy. These techniques, when used in conjunction with each other, provided a solid basis for the individualization of most skeletal elements.
Direction of arrival estimation via extended phase interferometry

A simple new estimator is proposed for direction finding applications which extends conventional phase-only interferometry to incorporate both calibrated phase and amplitude response data from antenna arrays. This is done by appropriately weighting the square of the baseline phase differences with the antenna gains. The incorporation of amplitude data generally provides significant performance improvement over phase-only interferometry with only a modest increase in computational complexity. Furthermore, this performance improvement increases with increasing additive noise and with increasing deviation of the antenna array response from an ideal geometric array response. As such, the new estimator strikes a nice compromise between phase-only interferometry and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), this latter yielding nearly-optimal performance but at significant computational expense. Performance results are derived analytically for sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or sample count, and are also demonstrated using antenna array responses simulated with the numerical electromagnetic code (NEC). The simulation results corroborate the analysis and clearly demonstrate that significant variance reduction in direction of arrival (DOA) estimation error can be achieved with the new estimator. >
Greensand Mulling Quality Determination Using Capacitive Sensors

Cast iron foundries typically use molds made from a mixture of sand, clay, and water called greensand. The mixing of the clay and water into the sand requires the clay to be smeared around the sand particles in a very thin layer, which allows the mold to have strength while allowing gas to escape. This mixing is called mulling and takes place in a machine called a muller. At present, the industry uses electrical resistance measurements to determine water quantity in the muller. The resistance measurements can not accurately predict the quality of mulling due to binding of the water to sodium and calcium ions in the clay. Poorly mixed greensand has a high resistance when the water is concentrated in a few areas, then a medium mixed greensand has a lower resistance because the water present between the sensors, and a well mulled sand has a higher resistance when the clay binds the water. This paper investigates the feasibility of using capacitive sensors to measure mulling quality using the simulation software Ansoft Maxwell. A second investigation of this paper is to find the ability of capacitance sensors to determine the drying effect of molds delayed in the casting process.
Influence of lowered salinity and elevated cadmium on the survival and metamorphosis of trochophores in Capitella sp. I

. It is well known that the competent larvae of many marine invertebrate species can be stimulated to metamorphose by exposing them to elevated concentrations of certain ions, neuroactive substances, and pharmacological agents. In this study we report that larvae of the euryhaline polychaete Capitella sp. I are induced to metamorphose within 24–48 h by reducing salinity from 30%‰ to 12–15%‰. At 10%‰, however, fewer larvae metamorphosed and the normal metamorphic response to sediment was inhibited; competence was restored within 3 h of transferring the larvae back to full strength seawater (30%‰). Larvae also metamorphosed within 24 h in response to increased external cadmium concentrations of 1000–2000 μg 1–1. Further understanding of how reduced salinity and elevated cadmium stimulate (or inhibit) metamorphosis may lead to a better understanding of signal perception and transduction in this and other species.
A Child Effects Explanation for the Association between Family Risk and Involvement in an Antisocial Lifestyle.

Most dominant theories of crime and criminality underscore the saliency of the family in the etiology of offending behaviors. Recently, a small pool of research has suggested that elements of the family, especially parents, do not have a lasting impact on children. This line of inquiry argues that once the effects that the child has on the family are taken into account, the relationship between family factors and child outcomes will be reduced substantially. The authors use data from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development to test the reciprocal effects between the family and the child. The results of their structural equation models reveal that global measures of family risk have a very limited effect on adolescent involvement in an antisocial lifestyle. However, adolescent embeddedness in an antisocial lifestyle negatively affects family functioning. The authors speak of the implications of their findings.
Environmental Regulation and Labor Reallocation: Evidence from the Clean Air Act

This paper uses newly available data on plant level regulatory status linked to the Census Longitudinal Business Database (LBD) to measure the impact of changes in county level environmental regulations on plant and sector employment levels. Estimates from a variety of specications suggest a strong connection between changes in environmental regulatory stringency and both employment growth and levels in the aected sectors. The preferred estimates suggest that changes in county level regulatory status due to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 reduced the size of the regulated sector by as much as 15 percent in the 10 years following the changes.
Uncovering drug-responsive regulatory elements

Nucleotide changes in gene regulatory elements can have a major effect on interindividual differences in drug response. For example, by reviewing all published pharmacogenomic genome-wide association studies, we show here that 96.4% of the associated single nucleotide polymorphisms reside in noncoding regions. We discuss how sequencing technologies are improving our ability to identify drug response-associated regulatory elements genome-wide and to annotate nucleotide variants within them. We highlight specific examples of how nucleotide changes in these elements can affect drug response and illustrate the techniques used to find them and functionally characterize them. Finally, we also discuss challenges in the field of drug-responsive regulatory elements that need to be considered in order to translate these findings into the clinic.
On the Role of Bound Rubber in Carbon-Black Reinforcement

Abstract A simple model of filler dispersion has been used to approximate particle spacing and the portion of rubber that is restricted as a result of particulate reinforcement. For N330 black, which has an equivalent radius of 20.2 nm, the critical concentration (in SBR of Mw=344 000) for coherent carbon-gel formation upon solvent immersion is 30 phr. At this level of filler, particle-particle spacing is approximately the diameter of the average SBR random coil. In the second part of the study, compositions in which portions of free rubber had been extracted were compared to conventional mixes at the same black concentrations. Conventional and extracted vulcanizates had similar cure behavior and resistance to deformation, however, extracted samples, with excessive bound rubber had reduced strengths, consistent with the presence of inherent flaws. Apparently, the extracted samples, which are torn apart upon mastication are unable to fully reknit together even after compression molding and vulcanization.
TEMPO nanofibrillated cellulose as template for controlled release of antimicrobial copper from PVA films

TEMPO nanofibrillated cellulose (TNFC) was used in different concentrations (0, 30, 50, and 70 wt%, all based on the mass of cellulose-copper hybrid material) as template to synthesize copper nanoparticles from copper sulfate; the resulting hybrid material was mixed with polyvinyl alcohol to prepare films. The final composite films were evaluated effectively in terms of their antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli DH5α and in terms of the copper release from the films on deionized water. Copper concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results indicate that increasing the cellulosic material concentration will facilitate the control of copper release from the films. Data regarding to copper release rate was modeled by empirical models; the results indicate that copper release obeys the power law when TNFC is at a low concentration (≤30 %), and presents an exponential behavior when TNFC concentration increase up to 70 % (coefficient R2 is 0.9951).
Boundary-Spanning Policy Problems: Politics and Policymaking

The political processing of policy problems that span multiple policy areas is distinctive for American politics because the issues and their solutions crosscut the traditional bases for policymaking. We analyze the political processing of a dozen such problems. These include the thorny problems of the financial crisis, global climate change, health care, and immigration; the persistent problems of K-12 education, drug abuse, and food safety; and the looming problems associated with critical infrastructure, the obesity epidemic, ocean health, terrorism, and the national debt. Based on secondary accounts of the contours of these problems, we identify different patterns of policymaking that we label disintegrative, integrative, bureaucratic, and anemic policymaking. We discuss how the underlying political properties limit opportunities to fashion cohesive policies and the prospects for overcoming these limits.
Cognitive and Social Psychology in Collaboration

McGrath and Hollingshead convey a sense of the many purposes groups serve. They are information processing systems on the one hand, but they are also systems for conflict resolution, consensus generation, motivation, and behavioral regulation. These functions are strongly affected by cognitive, social, and psychological factors, so understanding collaboration requires an awareness of cognitive psychology and social psychology. While Allport aphoristically observed that “there is no psychology of groups which is not essentially and entirely a psychology of individuals” [Allport, 1924, p. 4], both fields are fundamental to appreciating what happens in collaborative problem solving and to designing systems that facilitate collaboration. This chapter reviews the rudiments of these fields. We present models of group and individual cognition. We describe cognitive biases exhibited by individuals and groups and illustrate their relevance to group behavior and to software engineering practice. We introduce the elements of social psychology, including primarily social concepts like norms, roles, normative influence, power relations, and attitudes, and primarily psychological concepts like apprehension, conflict, and attention distraction. We conclude the chapter with a discussion of socially translucent design.
Awareness and Knowledge of Child and Adolescent Risky Behaviors: A Parent's Perspective.

PROBLEM: Adolescence is a developmental stage marked by risk-taking and limited comprehension of dangers of risky behaviors. Previous research has focused on adolescents' perspective of risk with little evidence on parents' knowledge regarding risk. METHODS: This qualitative study examined parental knowledge and perspectives of child/teen risk behaviors associated with salvia, sexting, inhalant use/abuse, and self/participant-assisted choking. A sample of 30 parents of children/teens aged 10-17 completed a self-administered survey based on Flanagan's critical incident technique. FINDINGS: Data were analyzed according to Flanagan's guidelines. Two advanced practice nurses determined category reliability with 95% agreement. The survey yielded five categories of parental responses to potential risky behaviors in their child/teen including the following: talking to my children, setting up consequences, confronting the child, seeking help, and talking to others. Although the majority of the parents were aware of newer behaviors, less than one half of the participants reported discussing risks with their child/teen. One third reported that their child knew a friend who was thinking about/tried sexting. One quarter of parents reported that they were not monitoring their child/teen's media use. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings provide important implications for developing an evidence-based education intervention to improve parents' awareness, knowledge, and identification of risk behaviors in their children/teens. Language: en
The Role of Prey in Microgeographic Variation in Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) Head Width

Abstract For gape-limited predators, investment in larger heads should occur when larger prey items are more profitable or are the only prey option available. This may result in evolutionary or within-lifetime (plastic) increases in gape size in animals exposed to larger prey. This phenomenon has been well documented in larval but not adult caudates (salamanders and newts). We report here evidence of greater gape size in populations of a newt that co-occur with energetically profitable, large prey. We collected morphological data from populations of Red-Spotted Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) that occupied nearby ponds that varied in the presence of eggs and tadpoles of Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus). Newts were larger in ponds occupied by Wood Frogs, suggesting a potential energetic advantage to this prey. Newts syntopic with Wood Frogs had relatively wider heads, which we interpret as a potential adaptation for consuming seasonally abundant Wood Frog eggs and tadpoles. Male newts had w...