cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Damping Properties of Epoxy Films with Nanoscale Fillers

This study demonstrates improved damping in epoxy films using nanoscale fillers. The mechanism for damping improvement is related to frictional energy dissipation arising from interfacial sliding at the nanofiller-matrix interface. The combination of extremely large interfacial contact area, high aspect ratio, many interfaces, and low density implies that nanoscale fillers could be far more efficient with regard to damping augmentation than traditional fillers. In this study, three categories of nanoscale fillers are investigated; (1) silica nanoparticles, (2) silicon nanorods, and (3) silicon nanosprings. The nanofillers are dispersed in an epoxy matrix and the nanocomposite film is tested dynamically (in the shear mode) using an MTS-858 servohydraulic test facility. The results indicate that nanospring fillers generate greater energy dissipation than nanoparticles or nanorods. The material loss factor (or damping ratio) of the epoxy film (with silicon nanospring fillers) showed a 150% increase compared ...
Tau-p: An Alternative Domain For Filtering, Velocity Analysis, And Imaging

The processing and interpretation of seismic data can be accomplished in the z-p domain. Compared to conventional x-t processing, this domain has several advantages. Among these are the direct derivation of interval velocities using z-p NM0 and the ability to readily discriminate between primary reflections and noise of various types including multiples. Seismic data must be properly sampled and have sufficient source-receiver offsets to realize these potential advantages. As data acquisition methods continue to improve, 2-p analysis and processing methods for interval velocity determinations, migration and inversion will continue to offer valuable alternatives to conventional seismic processing methods.
Effect of tobacco smoke on the oral health of US women of childbearing age.

Objectives: To determine the oral health status of US women of childbearing age and to analyze the effect of tobacco smoke on their oral health. Methods: Data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were evaluated for women 15-44 years of age. The association of exposure to tobacco smoke with untreated caries, mean DMFS, gingivitis, and periodontitis were examined in bivariate and regression analyses controlling for potential confounders. Results: The prevalence of untreated caries was 25%, for gingivitis 49%, and for periodontitis 6%. After adjusting for potential confounders, self-reported current smoking was a strong independent risk indicator for untreated caries, periodontitis, and to a lesser extent for greater DMFS count. Women with detectable cotinine levels below 15 ng/mL presented with an increased risk for gingivitis. Independent factors associated with increased risk for untreated caries were being Black, having less than a high school education, Medicaid or no health insurance, previous live births, and infrequent and episodic dental visits. Characteristics associated with gingivitis were being Mexican-American, obese, pregnant, and having infrequent dental visits. Older age, no insurance, and the last dental visit for treatment were independently associated with periodontitis. Conclusions: Dental caries and periodontitis were prevalent among certain subgroups of women of reproductive age. Smoking was found to be a significant risk indicator for various negative oral health outcomes. Barriers to accessing to dental care that were manifested by untreated caries among Black women, mothers, and Medicaid beneficiaries must be better understood.
The practical true woman: Reconciling women and work in popular mail‐order magazines, 1900–1920

This article examines the rhetorical strategies of 1900–1920 popular mail‐order magazines, focusing on the ways in which these magazines attempted to reconcile the contradictions between gender norms and material reality for working class readers. Towards this end, a narrative of the “practical true woman”; was constructed. The image of a practical true woman was cultivated through three rhetorical strategies, appeals to tradition, recognition, and negation. Additionally, this essay challenges previous cultural studies that celebrate popular texts as sites of resistance for subordinate groups. In contrast, this study underscores the importance of understanding popular culture texts within specific historical contexts that shape and constrain cultural interpretations as well as the nature of struggles for social change.
Help-Agents' Views about Clinical Interactions with Acting-Out Children.

A scale to measure nonprofessional child-aides' views about, and practices in, working primarily with acting-out children is described. The scale was used as part of an overall evaluation of a program to teach the aides Ginottian limit-setting approaches for work with such children. A prior study had shown that the training was followed by significantly more favorable treatment outcomes. Compared to 44 nontrained child-aides, the 19 trained aides had significantly higher postprogram scale scores on opinions and beliefs about acting-out children, changes in feeling about working with them, and actual observed changes in their playroom behaviors. Item analysis indicated that, following training, aides felt more comfortable with and had a richer repertoire of techniques for dealing with acting-out children. Specifically, they found it easier to set limits and to deal with overtly aggressive behaviors. Those changes may be key factors in explaining the significantly greater effectiveness of the trained aides working with acting-out children.
Actual and perceived emotional sending and personality correlates

To ascertain whether actual and perceived emotional sending are distinct constructs, the present study investigated the relationship between subjects' ability to facially express six basic emotions and their perceived success at expressing these emotions. Sixty-eight subjects completed a number of standardized personality scales and were videotaped while attempting to portray six basic emotions. Immediately following the videotaping subjects were asked to rate their perceived success in the emotional-sending task. Observers then judged the emotional-sending videotapes to determine subjects' actual sending abilities. A confirmatory factor analytic model indicated that actual and perceived emotional-sending were distinct factors. Zero-order correlations between the traditional personality measures and the actual and perceived sending factors also supported this distinction. These findings have important implications for the construction of standardized measures of individual differences in nonverbal communication skills.
Radiotracer assay of pyruvate kinase.

Abstract A radiotracer enzyme assay for the determination of pyruvate kinase activity is described. The rate of the enzyme catalyzed reaction is determined by radioassay of either ATP- 3 H formed or unreacted ADP- 3 H, or both after their separations from the assay reaction mixture by TLC. The method is extremely sensitive, permitting the use of microgram quantities of tissue to assay for the enzymic formation of μμmole quantities of product.
Preface to special section: GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP)-3

[1] The Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) started the GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP) in 1995. The goals of GCIP were to understand the hydrology and water balance of the Mississippi River Basin. Results from GCIP have already been published in two previous special issues of the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, in 1996 and 1999. GCIP held its grand finale conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in May 2002. Participants at that conference along with the scientists funded through the GCIP program were invited to contribute papers to the final GCIP special section in JGR-Atmospheres. This special section, GCIP-3, presents the current state-of-the-art in our understanding of (1) water and energy budget studies, (2) warm season precipitation, (3) predictability and prediction systems, (4) land surface hydrology models, (5) coupled land-atmosphere models, (6) soil moisture, and (7) climate and water resources applications. The research areas cover observations, modeling, process studies, and water resources applications. [2] GCIP has now transitioned into the GEWEX America Prediction Project (GAPP). The mission of GAPP is to demonstrate skill in predicting changes in water resources on timescales up to seasonal and annual, as an integral part of the climate system. [3] The program manager for both GCIP and GAPP is Richard Lawford, of the Office of Global Programs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The quality and quantity of science in the three JGR-Atmospheres special sections are due to his leadership and tireless efforts and those of his colleagues, including John Leese, Paul Houser, Eric Wood, Dennis Lettenmaier, Jin Huang, and Jared Entin. Jin Huang is the coordinator of the GCIP-3 special section. [4] The GCIP-3 special section will be printed in two parts. Part 1 is printed in this issue. Part 2 will be printed on 27 November 2003 in issue D22.
Critical thinking and the nurse-midwifery management process

Within recent years, the general educational arena has placed a greater emphasis on the incorporation of critical thinking within student curricula. Critical thinking as a learning tool teaches students the art of reason and logic, and encourages the preparation for dynamic situations that occur outside the classroom. The authors believe that critical thinking and nurse-midwifery are inherently intertwined. To utilize the nurse-midwifery management process in the provision of sound and safe practice, the nurse-midwife must also be a critical thinker. The management process of data gathering, assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation parallels the domains of the critical thinker's process: intellectual standards, modes of reasoning, traits of mind, reasoning abilities, and elements of thought. This article presents similarities between the two models.
Resistance locus pyramids alter transcript abundance in soybean roots inoculated with Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines.

Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is caused by Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines (Fsg). Six quantitative trait loci (QTLs), each conferring partial resistance to SDS, have been discovered in an Essex x Forrest recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, but their mode of action is not clear. This study aimed to identify genes (ESTs) whose mRNA transcripts were altered in abundance in soybean roots following inoculation of Fsg. Roots of the soybean variety Forrest (four resistance alleles) were inoculated with Fsg, and 14 days later RNA sequences that were differentially expressed relative to uninoculated roots were enriched using suppression subtraction and differential display. The abundance of these RNAs was quantified in inoculated and non-inoculated roots by macroarray hybridizations. A unigene set of 135 ESTs was identified and used in a further macroarray analysis. The abundance of 28 cDNA fragments was increased more than two-fold in inoculated compared to uninoculated roots of RIL 23 (six resistance alleles). In Forrest and Essex (two resistance alleles), the level of only one mRNA was increased two-fold in inoculated roots compared to the uninoculated roots. In Essex most of the mRNAs analyzed decreased in abundance (61/135 showed a two-fold decrease), while in Forrest most mRNA abundances did not change. Among the 28 cDNAs that revealed a two-fold or higher increase in mRNA abundance in RIL 23, 14% code for proteins known to be involved in plant defense, 21% in metabolism, 14% in cell structure and 4% in transport. Unannotated ESTs accounted for 43% of the genes, and 4% of the sequences were previously unknown. The plant defense-related genes that showed a differential response to Fsg inoculation suggested a role for the phenylproponoid pathway in soybean defense against Fsg. In Essex, genes involved in plant defense, cell wall synthesis, ethylene synthesis and metabolism were expressed at lower levels in inoculated roots. The difference in response between the 2-, 4- and 6-gene pyramids suggests that QTLs for SDS resistance serve to delay symptoms or confer resistance by maintaining or increasing the expression of specific genes after inoculation/infection.
Gravitons from anomalous decay

The decay rate of the neutral pion into two gravitons is calculated from the gravitational anomaly in the axial current. Although this decay rate is negligible relative to the decay rate of the neutral pion into two photons, the rate of decay into gravitons is proportional to the seventh power of the mass of the decaying particle, and to the square of the gravitational constant. The possibility that a particle of very large mass, associated with an axial current anomaly, was present in the early universe is considered. Such a particle would decay at a significant rate into gravitons. As these gravitons would not be thermaiized, they would result in a (potentially observable) nonthermal spectrum of gravitational waves present today. The peak frequency of this gravitational wave spectrum would be indicative of the mass of the decaying particle. Alternatively, if the gravitational constant were large at early times, then the gravitational decay of the pion would be significant in the early universe, giving rise to a nonthermal gravitational wave spectrum.
A lot of clot.

A 37-year-old man presented with fever and a red, painful right eye. He had proptosis, conjunctival chemosis, and ophthalmoplegia OD. The patient had extremely poor dentition and had self decompressed a dental abscess prior to admission. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and orbital revealed extraocular muscle engorgement and a dilated superior ophthalmic vein OD. Orbital echography revealed a lack of flow in the right superior ophthalmic vein. An extensive hematologic evaluation for infection and inflammation was negative. A chest radiograph showed a lung abscess for which he received intravenous antibiotics. Over time, the periorbital erythema, ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, and pain resolved. Repeat MRI showed resolution of the orbital findings and repeat chest x-ray showed resolution of the left upper lobe abscess.
The surface composition of lunar soil grains: A comparison of the results of Auger and X-ray photoelectron (ESCA) spectroscopy

ESCA spectra of lunar soil and crushed rock samples are compared to previously obtained Auger spectra of the same samples. The ESCA data confirm the increase of Fe concentration on the surface of soil samples vs. their bulk Fe content; and strongly support the existence of layers on the surfaces of lunar soil grains which are significantly enriched in Fe, some of which is in the Fe° state. The significance of the ESCA information on the major elemental composition of lunar soil grain surfaces for the understanding of the processes that affect the state of the regolith is discussed.
Specific Heat of 4He Confined in Channels of 1 µm Square Cross-Section

We report measurements of the specific heat near the superfluid transition of 4He confined in uniform channels of 1 µm square cross-section. This system undergoes a crossover from three dimensional behavior (3D) to 1D as the transition is approached. This resugts in a substantial rounding of the specific heat maximum as well as a shift to colder temperatures relative to the bulk system. We compare these data to previous measurements where crossovers from 3D to 2D and 0D were studied with the smallest confining dimension being the same (1 µm) in each case. We also compare these resugts in the context of finite-size scaling to previous studies where crossover to 1D was measured in cylindrical geometries. We identify regions where surface and edge effects dominate the specific heat, and compare these amplitudes to theory, where available. The realization of the confining geometry in this work is achieved with a combination of silicon lithography and direct wafer bonding.
The use of quadrature weights in cubic spline integration

In computational physics it is often required to evaluate several different integrals on the same mesh of points which are arbitrarily spaced. If the standard method of cubic spline integration is used, then for each integral a new set of second derivatives of the cubic spline interpolant must be calculated. It is shown that the cubic spline integration can be formulated in terms of quadrature weights wi, i.e., ? f (x) dx ˜ ?iwifi, such that the determination of wt requires prior knowledge of the mesh points only. Hence the quadrature weights are independent of the integrand. Furthermore, if the integrand can be expressed as a product of a slowly varying function and an elementary, rapidly varying function, the latter can be incorporated into the quadrature weights so that only the slowly varying function is approximated by cubic spline. This procedure results in greatly improved accuracy in the numerical integration. This method of generating quadrature weights in cubic spline integration would also make...
Decomposition Pathways of Peroxynitrous Acid: Gas-Phase and Solution Energetics

It was recently suggested that HOONO, which forms after protonation of the ONOO- anion under biological conditions, decomposes into HNO and (1Δg)O2. Subsequent workers argued that the mechanism for HOONO decomposition proceeds via homolytic bond fission, producing the radical pair OH and NO2, and another recent study argued that a cyclic form of the peroxynitrous acid results in the products H+ + O2(1Δg) + NO-. Calculations on the reaction pathway for the process showed that it required a high activation energy, and is thus implausible. High level ab initio molecular orbital theory including extrapolation to the complete basis set limit has been used to calculate the heats of formation of reactants and products for the homolytic bond fission pathways for decomposition of HOONO and the molecular pathway that yields HNO and 1O2 as well as the transition state for the latter process. These data are used to evaluate the probability of whether the decomposition of peroxynitrous acid can produce HNO and 1O2. Is...
A CELLULOSE SYNTHASE (CESA) GENE FROM THE RED ALGA PORPHYRA YEZOENSIS (RHODOPHYTA)1

The cell walls of Porphyra species, like those of land plants, contain cellulose microfibrils that are synthesized by clusters of cellulose synthase enzymes (“terminal complexes”), which move in the plasma membrane. However, the morphologies of the Porphyra terminal complexes and the cellulose microfibrils they produce differ from those of land plants. To characterize the genetic basis for these differences, we have identified, cloned, and sequenced a cellulose synthase (CESA) gene from Porphyra yezoensis Ueda strain TU-1. A partial cDNA sequence was identified in the P. yezoensis expressed sequence tag (EST) index using a land plant CESA sequence as a query. High-efficiency thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR was used to amplify sequences upstream of the cDNA sequence from P. yezoensis genomic DNA. Using the resulting genomic sequences as queries, we identified additional EST sequences and a full-length cDNA clone, which we named PyCESA1. The conceptual translation of PyCESA1 includes the four catalytic domains and the N- and C-terminal transmembrane domains that characterize CESA proteins. Genomic PCR demonstrated that PyCESA1 contains no introns. Southern blot analysis indicated that P. yezoensis has at least three genomic sequences with high similarity to the cloned gene; two of these are pseudogenes based on analysis of amplified genomic sequences. The P. yezoensis CESA peptide sequence is most similar to cellulose synthase sequences from the oomycete Phytophthora infestans and from cyanobacteria. Comparing the CESA genes of P. yezoensis and land plants may facilitate identification of sequences that control terminal complex and cellulose microfibril morphology.
Try These: Tackling Representations of Rugby in Recent South African Novels

Using the novels' representations of rugby as a kick-off point, this article compares Alan Paton's Too Late the Phalarope (1953. New York: Scribner) to Damon Galgut's The Beautiful Screaming of Pigs (1991. London: Scribner) and to Mark Behr's Embrace (2000. London: Abacus). It explores the ways in which the books depict the complex intersections between rugby, masculinity, and Afrikaner nationalism. As represented in these texts, a male protagonist's devotion to the ruggedly masculine game of rugby is one of a constellation of markers that indicates his commitment to apartheid ideology and his concomitant ability and willingness to perpetuate the Afrikaner patriarchy; as a corollary, affectiveness in the male protagonist's character, read as threateningly female and thus weak by his father, predicts the boy's defection from apartheid. The article holds that there is a pattern that begins with Paton: in these novels, the protagonists, all somehow sensitive, betray apartheid ideology and the creeds of their...
The Confrontation between Iraq and the US: Implications for the Theory and Practice of Deterrence

The American confrontation with Iraq poses important questions for scholarship as well as policy, and many of these involve whether various forms of deterrence can be effective. Our theories in this area tend to be simultaneously descriptive and prescriptive, which complicates analysis of policies with which we disagree. The Bush administration's policy is driven in large measure by the belief that deterrence against a nuclear-armed Iraq would fail. This implies that Iraq could deter American attempts to protect its allies and interests in the region. The administration's policy thus affirms as well as denies the centrality of deterrence. Given the enormous preponderance of power that America enjoys and its manifest interests in the region, the administration position is odd. Saddam's previous behavior does not indicate that he is undeterrable. In fact, the US does seem to be relying on deterrence to decrease the likelihood that Iraq would use weapons of mass destruction if the US invades. The administrat...
Antiprismatic Coordination about Xenon: The Structure of Nitrosonium Octafluoroxenate(VI).

The structure of nitrosonium octafluoroxenate(VI), 2NOF · XeF6, has been determined by means of single-crystal x-ray counter methods (R-index = 0.046, weighted R-index = 0.042). The space group is Pnma, with a = 8.914(10) angstroms, b = 5.945(10) angstroms, and c = 12.83(2) angstroms (the numbers in parentheses are the standard deviations to the least significant digit or digits); the calculated density (ρ) is 3.354 grams per cubic centimeter, and there are four formula units per unit cell. The material consists of well-separated NO+ and (XeF8)2- ions; the structural formula is thus (NO)2 (XeF8). The anion configuration is that of a slightly distorted Archimedean antiprism. The observed distortion appears incompatible with a lone-pair repulsion model. Xenon-fluorine bond lengths of 1.971(7), 1.946(5), 1.958(7), 2.052(5), and 2.099(5) angstroms were found.
Bilateral multifinger deficits in symmetric key-pressing tasks

Maximal voluntary force during simultaneous bilateral and multifinger exertion has been shown to be smaller than the sum of unilateral or single-finger exertions. The goal of this study was to study the force deficit associated with bilateral multifinger tasks. Eight normal college students performed four types of maximal isometric key-pressing tasks: (1) unilateral single-finger, (2) bilateral single-finger, (3) unilateral multifinger, and (4) bilateral multifinger. Forces produced by the index (I), middle (M), ring (R), and little (L) fingers and surface electromyography (EMG) of extrinsic finger flexors were recorded. Multifinger deficit (MFD) was defined as the percentage difference between the force (or EMG) produced by a set of fingers and the sum of the forces (or EMGs) produced by the individual fingers in their unilateral single-finger tasks. Bilateral deficit (BLD) was defined as the percentage difference between the force (or EMG) produced by a set of fingers and the sum of the forces (or EMGs) produced by the finger subsets of the left and right hands. Significant BLD and MFD in force and EMG were found for all bilateral multifinger tasks and some of the bilateral single-finger tasks. Both BLD and MFD were dependent on the number of fingers involved. BLD ranged from 3% to 22.7% for force and from 8.9% to 31.0% for EMG, including bilateral single-finger and bilateral multifinger tasks. MFDs in force during bilateral I-, IM-, IMR-, and IMRL-finger tasks were 13.2%, 37.8%, 53.2%, 52.3%, respectively; and the corresponding MFDs in EMG were 11.7%, 51.3%, 67.6%, and 71.0%, respectively. BLD and MFD in EMG were found to vary in parallel with the corresponding force deficits. It was suggested that the neural ceiling effect remains the most plausible mechanism underlying the observed deficits. The central nervous system is unable to activate maximally a large number of muscle groups at the same time during tasks involving multiple body parts. During bilateral multifinger tasks, the ceiling effect may be organized hierarchically: (1) a certain limited neural drive is shared bilaterally, leading to a BLD; (2) at each hand, a certain limited neural drive is shared by multiple fingers, leading to MFD within a hand; (3) the deficits at bilateral and unilateral multifinger levels are cumulative during bilateral multifinger tasks, leading to a higher deficit associated with the tasks.
MEASURING THE IMPACT OF PRICE CAPS ON PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

ABSTRACT Incentive regulation is now an important regulatory tool in the telecommunications industry in the United States. The issue explored here is whether incentive regulation has resulted in an increase in productive efficiency. After providing an overview of the nature of incentive regulation, the methodology for measuring the effects of incentive regulation on productive efficiency is reviewed. This methodology is data envelopment analysis and allows for the measurement of both scale efficiency and technical efficiency of individual local exchange carriers. The results indicate that most local exchange carriers (LEC) were technically efficient over the 1988–1998 period. Four LECs, however, consistently demonstrate scale inefficiency. Finally, in the aggregate, there is no identifiable improvement in aggregate LECs' technical efficiency between 1988 and 1998.
A solution to the weak instrument bias in 2SLS estimation: Indirect inference with stochastic approximation

Abstract This paper frames indirect inference bias correction as a stochastic root-finding problem and proposes a computationally efficient method to solve it. The technique is applied to the many/weak instrument bias in two-stage least squares estimation. Monte Carlo experiments suggest that the bias-corrected estimator outperforms more common alternatives.
Measuring the Acceptance of Internet Technology by Consumers

This research reviews studies using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to create a modified model and instrument to study the acceptance of Internet technology by consumers. We developed a modified TAM for the acceptance of Internet-based technologies by consumers. We retained the original constructs from the TAM and included additional constructs from previous literature including gender, experience, complexity, and voluntariness. We developed a survey instrument using existing scales from prior TAM instruments and modified them where appropriate. The instrument yielded respectable reliability and construct validity. The findings suggest that the modified TAM is a good predictor of consumer behavior in using the Internet. We found that attitude toward using the Internet acts as a strong predictor of behavioral intention to use, and actual usage of Internet technologies. Future researchers can use the resultant instrument to test how consumers adopt and accept Internet-based applications.
Pad Soaking Effect on Interfacial Fluid Pressure Measurements During CMP

Pad Soaking Effect on Interfacial Fluid Pressure Measurements During CMP Prior work has shown that there exist a sub-ambient fluid pressure at the interface between a rigid flat and the polishing pad during chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). This sub-ambient fluid pressure can have a significant impact on the polishing process since its magnitude may be similar to the applied load, depending on conditions. Further results have shown that there is a relationship between pad soaking time and the magnitude of this sub-ambient fluid pressure. This paper addresses measurements of the pad soaking time versus the magnitude of the sub-ambient interfacial fluid pressure. Experiments utilized a Rodel IC1000 polishing pad made of foamed polyurethane with average void size of 30 to 50 microns. Pad soaking tests indicated that the weight of the pad increased with soaking time due to water absorption. There is a high rate of water absorption initially before the pad becomes saturated and the mass of the pad stabilizes. It is also observed that the pad material is impermeable to water and most of the water penetrated only the topmost layer of voids in the material. These experiments suggest that the water progressively softens the top layers of the pad during the soaking and causes the sub-ambient fluid pressure to increase in magnitude. A model of the sub-ambient fluid pressure increasing as the elastic modulus of the pad decreases is also suggested.
Spontaneous showering of tumor emboli in a patient with advanced primary lung cancer: a case report

Extension of primary lung tumors into the left atrium via pulmonary veins is a well-documented phenomenon. Peripheral arterial embolism and cerebral embolism originating from a primary lung neoplasm are rare events. We report a case of simultaneous acute bilateral lower limb ischemia, bilateral renal infarction, splenic infarction and cerebral infarction as a result of multiple emboli originating from primary lung malignancy invasion of the left atrium. An emergent embolectomy revealed pathologic features of the extracted thrombus that were identical to the pulmonary neoplasm.
Analyzing software architectures with Argus-I

This formal research demonstration presents an approach to develop and assess architecture and component-based systems based on specifying software architecture augmented by statecharts representing component behavioral specifications (Dias et al., 2000). The approach is applied for the C2 style (Medvidovic et al., 1999) and associated ADL and is supported within a quality-focused environment, called Argus-I, which assists specification-based analysis and testing at both the component and architecture levels.
Sand Island, Oahu: Assimilation Capacity at a Tropical Ocean Outfall

Municipalities of tropical oceanic islands are increasing their use of ocean outfall diffuser systems to dispose sewage. A study to document the ability of a tropical marine ecosystem to assimilate sewage is now underway at the new 75m deep outfall of Honolulu's Sand Island treatment plant. The immediate goal of the project is to quantify the capacity of the adjacent sea floor ecosystem to assimilate settling material by constructing a mass balance budget of organic sewage-derived material that is cycled within the benthic community. The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory's minisum Makali'i is being used to conduct a sampling program at very precise locations with respect to distance from the outfall structure. A unique feature of this study is surveillance of effects on deep-water hard substrates which have been generally overlooked in studies at other outfall sites.
Dendritic growth of poly(ε‐caprolactone) crystals from compatible blends with poly(t‐butyl acrylate) at the air/water interface

Thermodynamic analyses of surface pressure-area (P-A) isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) reveal that poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) with a weight average molar mass of Mw ¼ 10 kg mol � 1 and polydispersity index of Mw/Mn ¼ 1.25 and poly(t-butyl acrylate) (PtBA, Mw ¼ 25.7 kg mol � 1 ; Mw/Mn ¼ 1.07) form compatible blends as Langmuir films below the dynamic collapse transition for PCL at P ¼ 11 mN m � 1 . For PCL-rich blends, in situ BAM studies reveal growth of PCL crystals for compression past the PCL collapse transition. PCL crystals grown in the plateau regime of the P-A isotherm exhibit a dendritic morphology presumably resulting from the rejection of PtBA from the growing PCL crystals and hindered dif- fusion of PCL from the surrounding monolayer to the crystal growth fronts. The abil- ity to transfer the PCL dendrites as Langmuir-Schaefer films onto silicon substrates spincoated with a polystyrene layer facilitates detailed morphological characterization by optical and atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM reveals that the dendritic branching occurs along the {100} and {110} sector boundaries and is essentially inde- pendent of composition. AFM also reveals that the average thickness of PCL den- drites formed at room temperature (22.5 8C), � 7-8 nm, is comparable with that of PCL crystals grown from single-component PCL Langmuir films and spincoated thin films. In contrast, for PtBA-rich blend films PCL crystallization is suppressed. These findings establish PCL blends as an ideal system for exploring the interplay between chain diffusion and crystal growth in a two-dimensional confined geometry. V C 2007
Low concentrations of nocodazole interfere with fibroblast locomotion without significantly affecting microtubule level: implications for the role of dynamic microtubules in cell locomotion

The role of microtubules (MTs) in cell locomotion is uncertain: while MTs are not essential for motility of certain cells, MTs are necessary for the directed translocation of large cells such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells and neuronal growth cones. Based on previous studies, we hypothesize that cell locomotion may involve MTs in two possible ways: (1) the rate of cell locomotion is proportional to MT level; or (2) cell locomotion is not proportional to MT level but requires a critical level of MTs to proceed. To test these hypotheses, we measured the rate of locomotion of NRK fibroblasts migrating into an in vitro wound, before and after treatment with different concentrations of nocodazole to generate cells with different levels of MTs. Locomotion of cells was monitored directly using timelapse recording and analyzed with an Image-1 image analysis program. Addition of nocodazole (> or = 50 nM) resulted in a rapid reduction in locomotion to a new rate that was maintained for > 2 hours. We found that addition of as little as 100 nM nocodazole decreased the rate of locomotion by more than 60%; and that 300 nM nocodazole completely stopped cell locomotion. Although 100 nM nocodazole decreased locomotion over 60%, we detected no qualitative change in MT distribution by immunofluorescence. Quantitative analysis of MT fluorescence in immunofluorescently stained preparations showed that 100 nM nocodazole had no detectable effect on MT levels and that 300 nM nocodazole only decreased MT levels to approximately 40% of controls. Quantitative analysis of tubulin polymer levels by cell extraction and western blotting yielded results similar to those obtained by quantification of MT fluorescence. A comparison of the locomotion rate measurements with the MT level measurements indicated that over half of the cell locomotion rate could be blocked by nocodazole without significantly affecting MT levels in the cell; the remaining locomotion rate was reduced proportionally to MT levels. These results do not support the notion that a critical level of MTs is required for cell locomotion and suggest that only a portion (< 50%) of the speed of the cells is proportional to MT levels. Rather, by analogy with studies of MT antagonists on the mitotic spindle, they suggest a third possibility: that low concentrations of nocodazole interfere with MT dynamics and thus, MT dynamics are critical for the maximal speed of cell locomotion. This notion was further supported by analogous effects of taxol and vinblastine on cell locomotion: at concentrations that reportedly cause little change in the level of MTs, taxol and vinblastine also dramatically decreased the rate of locomotion of NRK cells. In summary, our results establish the relationship between microtubule levels and locomotion rate and suggest that dynamic MTs are rate-limiting for fibroblast locomotion.
A principled Cognitive Linguistics account of English phrasal verbs with up and out

Many attempts have been made to discover some systematicity in the semantics of phrasal verbs. However, most research has investigated the semantics of particles exclusively; no study has examined how the multiple meanings of the verb also contribute to the meanings of phrasal verbs. The current corpus-based (COCA) study advances the research on phrasal verbs by examining the interaction of the polysemy networks of both the verb and the particle in four phrasal verb constructions: get up, take up, get out, and take out. Following the Cognitive Linguistics (CL) based methodology set out by Tyler and Evans (2003) for analyzing the semantics of particles, in conjunction with Langacker’s (1991) analysis of the semantics of verbs, a replicable polysemy analysis of the semantics of get and take was established. The polysemy networks for both the verbs and the particles laid the foundation for investigating the multiple meanings of the phrasal verbs found in the corpus. The CL-based analysis of the semantics of the phrasal verb constructions provides evidence for the compositional nature of phrasal verbs, showing that the multiple meanings can be systematically accounted for through the interaction of the polysemy networks of the component verbs and particles.
A tale of tails: Photon rates and flow in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions

5 Abstract We consider the possibility that quark and gluon distributions in the medium created in high energy heavy ion collisions may be modied by a power law tail at energies much higher than the temperature. We parametrize such a tail by Tsallis distributions with an exponent motivated by phenomenology. These distributions are characterized by an eective temperature scale that we assume
A high-selectivity low-pass filter using a new coplanar waveguide with tuning septums

A new low-pass filter with a high selectivity at a cutoff frequency of 4 GHz has been developed with insertion loss and return loss of less than 0.5 dB and more than 20 dB, respectively. The low-pass filter employs a new coplanar waveguide (CPW) with underside tuning septums which is suitable for microwave integrated circuits. The new transmission line has a wider characteristic impedance range than the conventional CPW or microstrip line. Its characteristics are investigated using the spectral-domain approach.
Accelerated autoimmune disease and lymphoreticular neoplasms in F1 hybrid PN/NZB and NZB/PN mice.

This report describes the first studies of inheritance of autoimmunity in inbred Palmerston North (PN) mice. a model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mating of PN mice with the nonautoimmune DBAi2 strain produced evidence that PN disease had a recessive mode of inheritance. When PN mice were crossed with autoimmune NZB mice. female offspring from both crosses developed anti-DNA antibodies and died prematurely with vasculitis, renal disease. and lymphomas. In contrast. reciprocal hybrid males had different patterns of mortality: PN/NZB males from the PN female x NZB male mating had moderately prolonged life spans, whereas NZBiPN males from the opposite cross (NZB female x PN male) had prolonged survival to the mean age of 104 weeks. To determine if testicular hormones were solely responsible for increased longevity in hybrid males. PNiNZB and NZBiPN mice were castrated at 2 weeks of age and compared to sham-operated littermate controls. Prepubertal castration did not influence longevity in PNiNZB male>. but loss of gonadal hormones significantly reduced life spans in reciprocal NZB/PN males. Female hybrids were not affected by oophorectomy. Because castration changed disease expression only in male hybrids from the NZB female x PN male cross, it was concluded that parentage influenced sensitivity to the protective effects of male hormones. Although surgical sterilization had disparate effects on males, castrated PNlNZB and NZB/PN males consistently outlived oophorectomized females. The lack of clear-cut reversal of disease in males subjected to early castration suggested that nonhormonal. possibly genetic. factors contributed to longevity in both groups of male hybrids.
Non-Destructive Investigation & FEA Correlation on an Aircraft Sandwich Composite STructure

As a result of the increase in use of composites in the Aircraft Industry, use a better knowledge and behavioral prediction is desired. This can be done through computational models and/or physical testing. Numerous FEA programs are used to aid in the design process and to predict the performance and behavior of composite structures. There are also many non destructive methods of investigation (NDI) which are used in both quality control and behavioral observations. A composite flight structure common to many airplanes is a radome, which can be defined as a structural enclosure used to protect an antenna from the environment which includes the aerodynamic loading and weather. FEA model validation is performed by comparison to vibration testing as well as internal pressure testing. Shearography allows us to measure the surface deformation of an object when under a stress. Shearography was completed to determine any possible defects caused in manufacturing (or transporting) the radome. De -lami nation will possibly cause unpredicted response in the vibration or pressure tests. Areas of different construction as well as defects will deflect non -uniformly. There were no flaws detected in the composite radome tested. Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) is a non -contact vibration measurement that is used to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the Composite Radome Structure. The vibration testing was completed using a few different boundary conditions which include approximately free -fre e BC’s and fixed BC’s. The testing has corresponded accurately in comparison to the FEA model however; it is suspected that there is some slight error caused by the fixed fixture for vibration testing.
The genes in the major histocompatibility complex as risk factors for schizophrenia: de omnibus dubitandum.

i f b i i i a d e c T he major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an approximately 4 megabase region located on the short arm of chromosome 6 (6p21); it is also known as the human leukocyte ntigen (HLA) superlocus. MHC encodes the classical and transplanation HLA genes and many other genes with essential roles for mmune function and cellular processes including genes that are mportant for nervous system development and function. Alhough the MHC represents only a very small part (about .1%) of the uman genome its properties can easily be described as extreme nd intricate: most complex, most gene dense, most polymorphic, econd largest contiguous sequence, containing the most disease ssociations, and most difficult to analyze. Overall, the MHC conains a minimum of 253 identified genes: 133 protein coding, 19 ene candidates, 22 noncoding, and 79 pseudogenes. MHC is hisorically divided into three regions, and HLA genes are distributed ver the class I and class II regions, which in turn are separated by .7 B of DNA of class III region genes, which have no known function n immunity. There are 19 HLA loci and 19 HLA class 2 loci that both nclude the classical HLA genes all interspersed in a complex highly olymorphic genomic sequence in which many loci are in almost omplete linkage disequilibrium, and the region is full of interpersed repeats (1). This brief synopsis of the complexity of MHC provides some ontext for viewing some of the difficulties present in analyzing, eplicating, and interpreting the role of HLA in complex diseases ncluding schizophrenia (SZ). Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disase with poorly understood etiology that posits an intricate interlay between genetic and environmental factors affecting the brain uring sensitive developmental periods that, ultimately, lead to the xpression of the clinical phenotype by late adolescence or early dulthood. Over the past 5 years, researchers have made considerble progress in delineating the genetic architecture of SZ through he use of appropriately powered genome-wide studies of comon and rare structural genetic variation. Findings from these studes reflect the overall complexity of SZ. It is now evident that genetic iability to SZ can be conferred through a genomic background risk onsisting of the presence of many genes with individually very low isk increase (odds ratio less than 1.05), perhaps 14 common varints with odds ratios between 1.09 and 1.22, and rare structural ariation with odds ratios between 2 and 20 (2). It is fair to say that to ate only a small proportion of the genetic variance of SZ is exlained by these studies and much of SZ genetics remains in undisovered territory. One of the most consistent and strongest findings in genomeide association (GWA) studies of SZ is the strong genetic associaion of signals in the extended MHC region. A new GWA study by
Peripheral and Central Olfactory Tuning in a Moth

Animals can be innately attracted to certain odorants. Because these attractants are particularly salient, they might be expected to induce relatively strong responses throughout the olfactory pathway, helping animals detect the most relevant odors but limiting flexibility to respond to other odors. Alternatively, specific neural wiring might link innately preferred odors to appropriate behaviors without a need for intensity biases. How nonpheromonal attractants are processed by the general olfactory system remains largely unknown. In the moth Manduca sexta, we studied this with a set of innately preferred host plant odors and other, neutral odors. Electroantennogram recordings showed that, as a population, olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) did not respond with greater intensity to host plant odors, and further local field potential recordings showed that no specific amplification of signals induced by host plant odors occurred between the first olfactory center and the second. Moreover, when odorants were mutually diluted to elicit equally intense output from the ORNs, moths were able to learn to associate all tested odorants equally well with food reward. Together, these results suggest that, although nonpheromonal host plant odors activate broadly distributed responses, they may be linked to attractive behaviors mainly through specific wiring in the brain.