cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a test battery for evaluating speech perception in complex listening environments

In the real world, spoken communication occurs in complex environments that involve audiovisual speech cues, spatially separated sound sources, reverberant listening spaces, and other complicating factors that influence speech understanding. However, most clinical tools for assessing speech perception are based on simplified listening environments that do not reflect the complexities of real-world listening. In this study, speech materials from the QuickSIN speech-in-noise test by Killion, Niquette, Gudmundsen, Revit, and Banerjee [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116, 2395-2405 (2004)] were modified to simulate eight listening conditions spanning the range of auditory environments listeners encounter in everyday life. The standard QuickSIN test method was used to estimate 50% speech reception thresholds (SRT50) in each condition. A method of adjustment procedure was also used to obtain subjective estimates of the lowest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) where the listeners were able to understand 100% of the speech (SRT100) and the highest SNR where they could detect the speech but could not understand any of the words (SRT0). The results show that the modified materials maintained most of the efficiency of the QuickSIN test procedure while capturing performance differences across listening conditions comparable to those reported in previous studies that have examined the effects of audiovisual cues, binaural cues, room reverberation, and time compression on the intelligibility of speech.
P50, N100, and P200 sensory gating: Relationships with behavioral inhibition, attention, and working memory

P50, N100, and P200 auditory sensory gating could reflect mechanisms involved in protecting higher-order cognitive functions, suggesting relationships between sensory gating and cognition. This hypothesis was tested in 56 healthy adults who were administered the paired-click paradigm and two adaptations of the continuous performance test (Immediate/Delayed Memory Task, IMT/DMT). Stronger P50 gating correlated with fewer commission errors and prolonged reaction times on the DMT. Stronger N100 and P200 gating correlated with better discriminability on the DMT. Finally, prolonged P200 latency related to better discriminability on the IMT. These findings suggest that P50, N100, and P200 gating could be involved in protecting cognition by affecting response bias, behavioral inhibition, working memory, or attention.
Osmoregulation in Cotton in Response to Water Stress: II. LEAF CARBOHYDRATE STATUS IN RELATION TO OSMOTIC ADJUSTMENT

Diurnal changes in tissue water potential components, photosynthesis, and specific leaf carbohydrates were examined in water stress-adapted and nonadapted cotton plants. Adapted plants exhibited lower daily minimum leaf water potentials and maintained turgor to lower leaf water potentials than nonadapted plants. Because of this turgor maintenance, photosynthesis continued in adapted plants at leaf water potentials that inhibited photosynthesis in nonadapted plants. Adapted plants exhibited lower rates of photosynthesis than did nonadapted plants when leaves were fully turgid. The inhibition was not due to stomatal restriction of CO 2 diffusion because leaf conductances of nonadapted and adapted leaves were similar at high leaf water potentials. Adapted plants had more glucose than nonadapted plants, the pattern of glucose accumulation depending on leaf age. Sucrose accumulation in response to decreasing water potential also depended on leaf age. Adapted young leaves exported sucrose, whereas nonadapted leaves of the same age accumulated sucrose at the same leaf water potential. Older leaves of both adapted and nonadapted plants accumulated sucrose as plants became stressed during the day. Old, fully expanded leaves from adapted plants contained up to 5 times more starch than did nonadapted leaves, although the kinetics of starch accumulation and degradation were similar in adapted and nonadapted leaves. In young leaves, adaptation did not affect starch accumulation. When adapted plants were destarched by 80 hours darkness, they became “de-adapted” plants. In nonadapted and de-adapted plants, photosynthesis, leaf conductance, and leaf turgor responded identically to declining leaf water potentials. The data implicate starch in the regulation at cellular nonosmotic volume and, thus, osmotic adjustment.
Even-odd symmetry breaking in the NSN Coulomb blockade electrometer

Abstract We have measured at low temperature the current through a submicrometer superconducting island connected to two normal metal leads by ultra-small tunnel junctions. As the bias voltage is lowered below the superconducting gap of this Coulomb blockade electrometer, the current changes from being e -periodic with gate charge to 2 e -periodic. We interpret the 2 e -periodic current at low voltages as a manifestation of a Sequence of Andreev reflections which shuttles two electrons at a time through the island. This process can only exist if the island favors a state with a definite parity of the number of conduction electrons.
An economic theory of technological products

Abstract This paper presents the derivation and justification of a new economic theory of a manufacturing firm. It represents a mathematical extension of neoclassical economics in which the technological performance of a product is allowed to vary. The product's unit production costs is presented as a function of its technological performance, production rate, and product-design and production investments. Likewise, the product's unit sales price is presented as a function of its technological performance, sales rate, and advertising and marketing investments. By placing these price and cost functions in an elementary profit equation, a general theory of a manufacturing firm's profitability is achieved. Its mathematical feasibility is confirmed through a numerical example. Its conceptual validity, on the other hand, is confirmed by using it to interpret historical episodes of technological change. The theory of technological products is also used to calculate the conditions for maximizing the long-term profitability of a firm. The results show that neoclassical microeconomics is a restricted case of this theory.
Relationship between gastric and thyroid function

The combined evidence from human and animal studies indicates that thyroid hormone is inhibitory to the secretion of HCI by the stomach. The mechanism of inhibition operates other than through the autonomic connections to the stomach. The inhibitory effect is independent of the atrophic changes in the gastric mucosa which are presumably attributable to immunologic effects in patients with disorders of the thyroid.
A highly sensitive FRET-based approach reveals secretion of the actin-binding protein toxofilin during Toxoplasma gondii infection

We have utilized a highly sensitive approach based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and β-lactamase (BLA) (Zlokarnik et al., 1998), which we adapted for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii secreted proteins. This assay revealed that the actin-binding protein toxofilin appears to be secreted into host cells during invasion. To determine the function of toxofilin during infection, we engineered a type I (RH strain) parasite with a targeted deletion of the toxofilin gene and compared the phenotypes of control and toxofilin knock-out (Δtxf) parasites in several in vitro assays, including invasion, growth, and gliding motility, and egress of the Δtxf parasites, as well as F-actin staining, phagocytosis and migration of cells infected with Δtxf parasites or wild-type controls. Despite its apparent secretion into host cells and its ability to bind to and modulate host actin, we observed that toxofilin does not appear to play a role in these processes, under the conditions we examined, and we report these findings here.
Examination of Subject Roles A Critique of Carlston and Cohen

Carlston and Cohen (1980) appear to have concluded that the negative, good, faithful, and evaluation apprehension subject roles are theoretically correct but that they do not represent a threat to valid inference. 7hese conclusions should be viewed very cautiously since the data were derived from subjects who were instructed to portray given roles and the manner in which subjects should have responded was suggested by very explicit cues. Additionally, the spontaneous behavior of subjects infrequently corresponded to that of subjects portraying the various roles. When one investigates subject motivations by means of role playing it is essential for one of the subject roles to mirror the spontaneous behavior of subjects. This did not occur in the Carlston and Cohen stud'.
Selective 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2C Receptor Agonists Derived from the Lead Compound Tranylcypromine: Identification of Drugs with Antidepressant-Like Action

We report here the design, synthesis, and pharmacological properties of a series of compounds related to tranylcypromine (9), which itself was discovered as a lead compound in a high-throughput screening campaign. Starting from 9, which shows modest activity as a 5-HT2C agonist, a series of 1-aminomethyl-2-phenylcyclopropanes was investigated as 5-HT2C agonists through iterative structural modifications. Key pharmacophore feature of this new class of ligands is a 2-aminomethyl-trans-cyclopropyl side chain attached to a substituted benzene ring. Among the tested compounds, several were potent and efficacious 5-HT2C receptor agonists with selectivity over both 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors in functional assays. The most promising compound is 37, with 120- and 14-fold selectivity over 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B, respectively (EC50 = 585, 65, and 4.8 nM at the 2A, 2B, and 2C subtypes, respectively). In animal studies, compound 37 (10−60 mg/kg) decreased immobility time in the mouse forced swim test.
Effect of fulvic and humic acids on nitrificationPart 1: In vitro production of nitrite and nitrate

Abstract Mixed opinions exist on the effect of organic matter on nitrification in soils as well as the lack of data on the effect of fulvic (FA) and humic (HA) acids on this biochemical process. This in vitro investigation was conducted to study the effect of FA and HA on oxidation of NH+ 4 and NO‐ 2 by soil nitrifiers and on the delay period (t') and maximum nitrification rate (Kmax). Soil extracts containing an ammonium‐oxidizer population were incubated in vitro for 3 weeks at 25C in the presence of (NH4)2SO4and 0 to 320 mg FA or HA/L at pH 7.0 or 8.0. A similar experiment was conducted with soil extracts containing a nitrite‐oxidizer population, but with KNO2 as the N source. An additional experiment was conducted with the nitrite‐oxidizer extracts for the determination of t’ and Kmax values. Nitrite production tended to increase linearly as a result of FA and HA treatments from 0 to 320 mg/L at pH 7.0 or 8.0. Fulvic acid appeared to be more effective than HA in increasing the oxidation process. Diffe...
The influence of bile salts on glycoside biosynthesis in Digitalis purpurea. II. Sodium deoxycholate, dehydrocholate, glycocholate, and taurocholate.

Concentrations of 0.10, 0.25, 1.50, and 5.00% sodium glycocholate were administered into digitalis plants by injection. Sodium glycocholate in the concentration of 0.25% stimulated the glycoside formation while 1.50% sodium glycocholate showed no significant effect on glycoside production and 5.00% sodium glycocholate inhibited glycoside production significantly. Sodium deoxycholate, dehydrocholate, and taurocholate each in the concentration of 0.2 5% showed no significant effect on the biosynthesis of the total glycosides.
Effects of Combustor Geometry on the Flowfields and Flame Properties of a Low-Swirl Injector

The Low-swirl injector (LSI) is a novel dry-low NOx combustion method that is being developed for gas turbines to burn a variety of gaseous fuels including natural gas, low-Btu fuels, syngases and hydrogen. Its basic principle is described by a top level analytical model that relates the flame position to the flowfield similarity parameters and the turbulent flame speed correlation. The model was based on experimental measurements in open laboratory flames. It has been useful for guiding hardware development. As the LSI is being adapted to different engine configurations, one open question is how the combustor geometry and size affect its basic operating principle. The objective of this paper is to investigate these effects by conducting Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements in open and enclosed flames produced by a 6.35 cm diameter LSI using two quartz cylinders of 15.5 and 20 cm diameter to simulate the combustor casing. Results from 18 methane-air flames show that the enclosures do not alter the flame properties or the nearfield flow structures. The differences occur mostly in the farfield where the tighter enclosure deters the formation of a weak recirculation zone. The enclosure effects on hydrogen and hydrogen-methane flames were studies using the 20 cm cylinder. The results show that the outer recirculation zone generated at the corner of the dump plane promotes the formation of attached flames. However, the properties and nearfield flow features of the attached flames are similar to those of the lifted flames. At higher stoichiometries, the attached flame collapses to form a compact disc shaped flame that has very different flowfield structures. These results show that the enclosure effects on the LSI are strongly coupled to the fuel type and dump plane geometry but are less dependent on the enclosure size. These observations will provide the basis for developing computational methods that can be used as design tools for LSI adaptation.© 2008 ASME
A Test of Analytical Expressions for the Thermal Emissivity of Shallow Cylindrical Cavities

Analytical expressions for the directional thermal emissivity of a shallow cylindrical cavity were tested by means of room temperature reflectance measurements. The measurements were made by placing a paper-lined brass cavity of adjustable depth over the specimen opening of a recording spectrophotometer. Reflectance curves were obtained from 0.4 μ to 0.75 μ with the plunger positioned to give cavity depth-to-radius ratios of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0. The resulting reflectances were then converted to emissivities through use of the relation that, for an opaque material, the emissivity is equal to one minus the reflectance. Two theoretical expressions predicted the emissivity of a cavity with a diffusely reflecting wall to within 0.01. A closed-form expression of Gouffe, which forms the basis of a shallow-hole method for measuring the emissivity of nonmetals at high temperatures, was in as good agreement with the experimental measurements as a more rigorous expression derived by a different approach. Sizable departures of the cavity walls from good diffusers had a negligible effect on the emissivity of the cavity at a depth-to-radius ratio of 0.5, but the effect of specular components became progressively greater as the cavity depth was increased.
The Interaction of Castration and Adrenalectomy on Pituitary Responses to Loss of Target Gland Negative Feedback in the Male Rat

Simultaneous adrenalectomy and castration causes a delay in the gonadotropin rise which normally occurs by 12 h post castration. It was postulated that this delay could be due to 1) the absence of progesterone release from the adrenals which, if present, could cause acute LH/FSH secretion in the absence of the testes, 2) the absence of a corticosterone background necessary for acute release of LH/FSH in response to castration, or 3) a competition at the level of the pituitary or central nervous system between secretion of ACTH in response to adrenalectomy and LH/FSH in response to castration. These experiments were designed to assess these possibilities by separating the time of adrenalectomy from the time of castration. Adrenalectomy either 12 h before or 12 h after castration still delayed the gonadotropin castration response for 24 h. Sham adrenalectomy 12 h after castration also delayed the LH/FSH rise. Thus, the delaying effect could not be due simply to the absence of either progesterone or corticos...
Commonly administered BCG strains including an evolutionarily early strain and evolutionarily late strains of disparate genealogy induce comparable protective immunity against tuberculosis

BCG has been administered to over 4 billion persons worldwide, but its efficacy in preventing tuberculosis in adults has been highly variable. One hypothesis for its variability is that different strains of BCG vary in protective efficacy, and moreover, that evolutionarily early strains are more efficacious than the more attenuated evolutionarily late strains, which lack region of deletion 2. To examine this hypothesis, we tested six widely used BCG strains--the evolutionarily early strain BCG Japanese, two evolutionarily late strains in DU2 Group III (BCG Danish and Glaxo), and three evolutionarily late strains in DU2 Group IV (BCG Connaught, Pasteur, and Tice)--in the guinea pig model of pulmonary tuberculosis. With the exception of BCG Glaxo, which had relatively poor efficacy, we found no substantial differences in efficacy between the early strain and the late strains, and only small differences in efficacy among late strains. BCG Tice was the most efficacious BCG vaccine, with significantly fewer Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lung and spleen than BCG Danish and BCG Japanese, although absolute differences in the organ burden of M. tuberculosis among these three vaccines were small (< or =0.2 log). BCG Tice and Pasteur were not significantly different. rBCG30, a recombinant BCG Tice vaccine overexpressing the M. tuberculosis 30 kDa major secretory protein (Antigen 85B), was more potent than any BCG vaccine (P < 0.0001 for differences in organ burden). Our study shows that late strains are not less potent than an early strain and argues against strain differences as a major factor in the variability of outcomes in BCG vaccine trials.
Model for reflectance perception in vision

Human vision routinely compensates for illumination field and is mostly sensitive to scene reflectance. This paper presents a biologically inspired mathematical model that estimates the illumination field of a scene and compensates for it to produce the output image that is mostly modulated by the scene reflectance. Since the illumination field is responsible for wide dynamic range variations in scenes, the present model is seen as an approach to handling wide dynamic range scenes. The model can be conveniently implemented in an analog silicon retina incorporating modified cellular neural network for the computation of the illumination field. We present several numerically obtained results on scenes with widely varying illumination conditions.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
If you feed them, they will come: A prospective study of the effects of complimentary food on attendance and physician attitudes at medical grand rounds at an academic medical center

Evidence suggests that attendance at medical grand rounds at academic medical centers is waning. The present study examined whether attendance at medical grand rounds increased after providing complimentary food to attendees and also assessed attendee attitudes about complimentary food. In this prospective, before-and-after study, attendance at medical grand rounds was monitored from September 25, 2002, to June 2, 2004, using head counts. With unrestricted industry (eg, pharmaceutical) financial support, complimentary food was provided to medical grand rounds attendees beginning June 4, 2003. Attendance was compared during the pre-complimentary food and complimentary food periods. Attitudes about the complimentary food were assessed with use of a survey administered to attendees at the conclusion of the study period. The mean (± SD) overall attendance by head counts increased 38.4% from 184.1 ± 90.4 during the pre-complimentary food period to 254.8 ± 60.5 during the complimentary food period (P < .001). At the end of the study period, 70.1% of the attendee survey respondents indicated that they were more likely to attend grand rounds because of complimentary food, 53.6% indicated that their attendance increased as a result of complimentary food, and 53.1% indicated that their attendance would decrease if complimentary food was no longer provided. Notably, 80.3% indicated that food was not a distraction, and 81.7% disagreed that industry representatives had influence over medical grand rounds because of their financial support for the food. Providing free food may be an effective strategy for increasing attendance at medical grand rounds.
NMR imaging of the orbit: An initial evaluation and comparison with CT

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) is approaching the current standard of spatial resolution set by computed tomography (CT). NMRI is not subject to specific limitations of CT such as beam hardening artifacts, partial volume effects due to bone, and potential dangers of ionizing radiation. the authors present eight patients with mass lesions of the orbit, optic nerve, and chiasmatic area studied by NMRI and CT. the strengths and weaknesses of the images are discussed. NMR tissue parameters T1 and T2 are related to image intensity in these tumors and future developments in the use of these parameters are suggested.
Assembly of supramolecular polymers in ultrathin films

Abstract This review presents a sketch of the current status and trends in the field of organized assemblies from supramolecular polymeric systems. Among various classes of polymeric systems used to fabricate organized films, we select supramolecular polymers able to self-organize or be organized in complicated superlattices in the bulk state and/or at an interface with low-dimensional ordering. We focus on the microstructural behavior in different classes of polymers and their abilities to form various organized superstructures at surfaces and interfaces. Among the supramolecular polymers discussed are: mesomorphic polymers with chromophore and non-linear optic fragments, chiral and amphotropic polymers, systems with hydrogen bonding and discotic compounds, hairy-rod and electroactive macromolecules, block-polymers and fullerene-based systems, dendritic and latex nanocomposites, organic-inorganic organized composites and biomolecular complexes. The variation of molecular shapes, architecture of polymer backbones and specific intermolecular interactions are very effective tools for tailoring supramolecular organization of these materials in ultrathin films. We discuss the merits of various fabrication techniques as applied to ultrathin organized films, such as Langmuir-Blodgett, self-assembly and forced solvent removal methods, as well as some characterization techniques. The physical properties of these films are discussed briefly with emphasis on optical, electric, transport, sensing and nanomechanical behavior. Finally, some thoughts about the future development in this field are presented.
Research at the Colorado School of Mines in subjects related to the mechanics of rock failure

The paper presents the results of experiments at Colorado School of Mines in subjects related to the mechanics of rock failure. A brief review of Fenner's hypothesis of the distribution of stress around circular and elliptical openings is presented and field evidence cited which supports the hypothesis. An impact loading device useful in studies of rock failure is described, and the attitudes of strain lines in a brittle, lacquer-coated tunnel model as obtained with the impact loading device are compared with the directions and magnitudes of the principal stresses obtained using an interferometer. The distribution of the strain lines is compared with the stress distribution around the opening, and a strain pattern produced by impact loading is compared with one produced by static loading. Results indicate that the apparatus and techniques can be used to determine the direction of principal stress and to compare static and impact loads producing similar strain patterns.
Health care-resource utilization before and after natalizumab initiation in multiple sclerosis patients in the US.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate multiple sclerosis (MS)-related health care-resource utilization and costs prior to and after initiating natalizumab in the US. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective administrative claims analysis was conducted using the Truven Health MarketScan Databases to identify adults diagnosed with MS who initiated natalizumab (index date) between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2010. Patients had ≥24 months of continuous enrollment (12 months before [preperiod] and 12 months after [postperiod] the index date) and remained on natalizumab for the 12-month postperiod. Patients with and without other disease-modifying treatment (DMT) during the preperiod were examined. Patient characteristics, MS-related inpatient stays, and corticosteroid use were compared in the pre- and postperiods using paired statistical tests, where appropriate. RESULTS The study comprised 1,458 patients, mean age 45.2 years (standard deviation 10.5), 74.2% female. The majority (70.3%) used a DMT during the preperiod. After initiating natalizumab, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of patients with MS-related inpatient stays (7.6% versus 2.4%, P<0.001), MS-related inpatient costs (median US $12,078 versus US $9,784, P<0.001), and length of stay (7.12 days versus 6.26 days, P=0.005). Both cohorts showed a reduction in the percentage of patients with MS-related inpatient stays and costs with greater reductions for patients without DMTs in the preperiod (-6.2% [P<0.001] and -US $1,496 [P=0.056], respectively) compared to those with a DMT in the preperiod (-4.8% and -US $1,262, respectively, P<0.001 for both). Compared to the preperiod, there were significant reductions in intravenous and oral corticosteroid use for natalizumab initiators (-60.1% and -52.9%, respectively, P<0.001 for both). These utilization reductions correspond to mean corticosteroid cost-per-patient reductions of -US $101 across all natalizumab users (P<0.001). CONCLUSION The initiation of natalizumab was associated with significant decreases in MS-related inpatient stays, and corticosteroid use with corresponding decreases in length of stay and costs among natalizumab users with and without DMTs in the prior year.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Dementia Risk Among Older Type 2 Diabetic Patients: The Diabetes and Aging Study

Background: Although those with type 2 diabetes have double the risk of dementia, potential racial/ethnic differences in dementia risk have not been explored in this population. We evaluated racial/ethnic differences in dementia and potential explanatory factors among older diabetes patients. Methods: We identified 22,171 diabetes patients without preexisting dementia, aged ≥60 years (14,546 non-Hispanic whites, 2,484 African Americans, 2,363 Latinos, 2,262 Asians, 516 Native Americans) from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Diabetes Registry. We abstracted prevalent medical history (1/1/1996-12/31/1997) and dementia incidence (1/1/1998-12/31/2007) from medical records and calculated age-adjusted incidence densities. We fit Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, education, diabetes duration, and markers of clinical control. Results: Dementia was diagnosed in 3,796 (17.1%) patients. Age-adjusted dementia incidence densities were highest among Native Americans (34/1,000 person-years) and African Americans (27/1,000 person-years) and lowest among Asians (19/1,000 person-years). In the fully-adjusted model, hazard ratios (95% CIs) (relative to Asians) were 1.64 (1.30-2.06) for Native Americans, 1.44 (1.24-1.67) for African Americans, 1.30 (1.15-1.47) for non-Hispanic whites, and 1.19 (1.02-1.40) for Latinos. Adjustment for diabetes-related complications and neighborhood deprivation index did not change results. Conclusions: Among type 2 diabetes patients followed for ten years, African Americans and Native Americans had a 40-60% greater risk of dementia compared to Asians, and risk was intermediate for non-Hispanic whites and Latinos. Adjustment for sociodemographics, diabetes-related complications, and markers of clinical control did not explain observed differences. Future studies should investigate why these differences exist and ways to reduce them.
Early vocabulary growth: Relation to language input and gender.

This study examines the role of exposure to speech in children's early vocabulary growth. It is generally assumed that individual differences in vocabulary depend, in large part, on variations in learning capacity. However, variations in exposure have not been systematically explored. In this study we characterize vocabulary growth rates for each of 22 children by using data obtained at several time points from 14 to 26 months. We find a substantial relation between individual differences in vocabulary acquisition and variations in the amount that particular mothers speak to their children. The relation between amount of parent speech and vocabulary growth, we argue, reflects parent effects on the child, rather than child-ability effects on the parent or hereditary factors. We also find that gender is an important factor in rate of vocabulary growth. Early childhood is a period of rapid linguistic development. By 2 years, the average child acquires 900 root words (cf. Carey, 1978) and at least a rudimentary syntax (cf. Brown, 1973). Although there has been considerable recent interest in syntactic development, much less attention has been devoted to lexical development. Yet in tracing the development of language from its inception, lexical development must necessarily be a focus of study because the acquisition of words constitutes the child's initial achievement as a language user. A certain amount of vocabulary must be acquired before words can be combined into sentences, and, indeed, several months elapse between the time children start to produce words and the time they start to produce multiword utterances. In addition, vocabulary and syntax are not independent aspects of language knowledge; for example, verbs frequently encode actions involving relations among entities (e.g., give, feed) which are specified by the verb together with its arguments. A major concern in the recent work on syntactic development has been with the relative contributions of the child's innate preparedness for language versus language input. Yet the rapid growth of vocabulary in early childhood also is a manifestation of the human preparedness for language, and parallel questions arise concerning the relative contributions of capacity and input. Especially at the start of language learning, innate preparedness surely plays a role in acquiring word meanings because inferences about meanings are based on pairings of words with situations. As Quine (1969) has persuasively argued, the variety of aspects of a situation which might be encoded by a word is enormous. Because of this, Gleitman and Wanner (1982) point out, it seemscritical to posit innately available constraints on the possible meanings children entertain.
Sodium excitation by spin-polarized electrons: A reanalysis of existing experiments

We generalize the existing description of collision-induced atomic S\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}P transitions by spin-polarized electrons on spin-polarized target atoms. Analysis of existing experimental and theoretical data on the 3s\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}3p transitions in Na determines how closely the ``perfect scattering experiment'' has been achieved to date. Using a newly developed inversion technique, we demonstrate to what extent the various scattering amplitudes can be extracted from present experiments, and how state-of-the-art theory can be used to remove the remaining ambiguities.
Interfacial mode interactions in horizontal gas-liquid flows

The behaviour of shear-generated interfacial waves in a cocurrent gas-liquid flow in a small rectangular channel is studied experimentally at conditions close to neutral stability. It is found that the linearly most unstable mode, which typically has a frequency of 8–10 Hz and a wavelength 1–4 cm, grows initially — followed immediately by the first overtone. Measurements of the bicoherence spectrum indicate that the overtone and fundamental are coherent in phase, which suggests that energy is transferred from the fundamental to the linearly stable first overtone. This energy transfer mechanism can stabilize the system, as evidenced by data, which shows that the first mode can saturate with a wave slope small as as 0.005. Theory based on weakly nonlinear mode-interaction equations suggests that this steady state should be stable at conditions close to neutral stability where only overtone modes are present. However, under more severe conditions, where the amplitude of the fundamental mode becomes sufficiently large, a subharmonic mode may be excited. The generation of the subharmonic, when it is linearly stable with respect to the flat film base state, can be interpreted as a linear instability of the steady state containing the fundamental and overtones. Modes that are sidebands (with wavenumbers = k ± δk) to the main peak may also occur. These can participate in interactions with low-frequency modes (i.e. δk) and thereby transfer energy to frequencies much below the fundamental. It is expected that all of these interactions play important roles in determining the wave spectrum of conditions far away from neutral stability.
Role of extracellular charged amino acids in the yeast α-factor receptor

The yeast pheromone receptor, Ste2p, is a G protein coupled receptor that initiates cellular responses to α-mating pheromone, a 13 residue peptide that carries a net positive charge at physiological pH. We have examined the role of extracellular charged groups on the receptor in response to the pheromone. Substitutions of Asn or Ala for one extracellular residue, Asp275, affected both pheromone binding and signaling, suggesting that this position interacts directly with ligand. The other seven extracellular acidic residues could be individually replaced by polar residues with no detectable effects on receptor function. However, substitution of Ala for each of these seven residues resulted in impairment of signaling without affecting pheromone binding, implying that the polar nature of these residues promotes receptor activation. In contrast, substitution of Ala for each of the six positively charged residues at the extracellular surface of Ste2p did not affect signaling.
A discriminator for use with NaI(Tl) detectors at high counting rates

Abstract A discriminator is described which is suitable for use in a multiple NaI(Tl) coincidence spectrometer at high counting rates. The device generates pulses whose lengths convey energy information, and energy compensated timing pulses for use in multiple fast coincidence measurements.
Dynamic MRI of bladder cancer: evaluation of staging accuracy.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of gadoliniumenhanced MRI in staging bladder cancer in a series of patients with surgically proven bladder cancer.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Seventy-one patients with biopsy-proven bladder cancer underwent MRI on a 1.5-T scanner with a phased-array pelvic coil. Conventional T1-weighted spin-echo, T2-weighted spin-echo, and unenhanced and enhanced (0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium) fast spoiled gradient-echo images with fat suppression were obtained. Two blinded reviewers evaluated the MR images and assigned a stage that was compared with the pathologic stage (n = 67) or with clinical follow-up for at least 2 years after MRI (n = 4).RESULTS. Agreement among the reviewers was good in assigning a radiologic stage for bladder cancer (kappa = 0.80). On a stage-by-stage basis, MRI accuracy was 62%, and overstaging was the most common error (32%). Staging accuracy improved to 85% and 82% in differentiating superficial from invasive tumors and organ-confined fro...
Surgical Treatment Options for Glenohumeral Arthritis in Young Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare surgical treatment options for young patients with glenohumeral arthritis. Methods A systematic review of the English-language literature was conducted by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus with the following term: "(shoulder OR glenohumeral) AND (arthritis OR osteoarthritis) AND (young OR younger)." Studies that reported clinical or radiological outcomes of nonbiologic surgical treatment of generalized glenohumeral arthritis in patients younger than 60 years of age were included. Data were extracted to include study and patient characteristics, surgical technique, outcome scores, pain relief, satisfaction, functional improvement, return to activity, health-related quality of life, complications, need for and time to revision, range of motion, and radiological outcomes. Study quality was assessed with the Modified Coleman Methodology Score. Results Thirty-two studies containing a total of 1,229 shoulders met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Pain scores improved significantly more after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) than after hemiarthroplasty (HA) ( P P = .0049) and TSA ( P Conclusions According to current Level IV data, TSA provides greater improvement of pain and range of motion than does HA in the surgical treatment of young patients with glenohumeral arthritis. AD is an efficacious and particularly safe alternative in the short term for young patients with concerns about arthroplasty. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.
Design and Evaluation of Bioepoxy-Flax Composites for Printed Circuit Boards

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) pose considerable occupational health risks during manufacturing and are a potential source of toxic hazards if improperly disposed at the end of their useful life. Indeed, base materials in current PCBs include epoxy resins, fiberglass, and brominated flame retardants. To improve the environmental performance of PCB manufacturing and disposal, we developed composite designs using a thermosetting matrix based on epoxidized linseed oil, melamine polyphosphate for flame retardance, and woven flax fiber for reinforcement. Analyses of our prototypes using IPC 4101A/24 specification for thick PCB laminates gave acceptable results for thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties, except for wet conditioning or water submersion. To improve moisture resistance, we treated flax fibers with sodium hydroxide and octadecyltrichlorosilane. We find that the improved bioepoxy-flax PCB design is a viable alternative to current PCBs; it has potentially lower environmental impacts, it is cheaper, and it has satisfactory thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties. However, additional improvements in moisture absorption properties may remain needed for commercial applications.
Visual Event Detection using Multi-Dimensional Concept Dynamics

A novel framework is introduced for visual event detection. Visual events are viewed as stochastic temporal processes in the semantic concept space. In this concept-centered approach to visual event modeling, the dynamic pattern of an event is modeled through the collective evolution patterns of the individual semantic concepts in the course of the visual event. Video clips containing different events are classified by employing information about how well their dynamics in the direction of each semantic concept matches those of a given event. Results indicate that such a data-driven statistical approach is in fact effective in detecting different visual events such as exiting car, riot, and airplane flying.
Rethinking the Komeito Voter

Drawing on five months of ethnography among rank-and-file Soka Gakkai members, this article takes issue with the conventional view of Komeito and Gakkai political socialization as one of group identity. It uses interviews and primary sources from Gakkai socialization practice to document how the two organizations appeal to Gakkai members by promoting the Komeito policy agenda, and how Gakkai members use the same arguments in search of non-Gakkai votes for the party. Social ties remain important, but they are vehicles for this policy message, not a justification for supporting Komeito. This makes Komeito leadership far more constrained in its political choices than is currently recognized. The article finishes by showing how this theory explains variation in Komeito electoral support better than a social identity alternative.
Political Opportunity for Federal Appointment: The Case of Departing Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1961-1992

This article investigates whether the opportunity for presidential appointment influences the congressional career. We discover that more than 16% of the House members who retired or suffered electoral defeat from 1961 to 1992 received a federal appointment. The likelihood of appointment rises to 28% if only departing representatives from the president's party are considered. For members of the president's party, legislative loyalty and losing a Senate bid significantly increase the probability of appointment. We also find evidence of a cabinet norm in the appointment process since more than half of the appointed representatives had congressional committee experience within the policy jurisdiction of their federal appointment. Our results have implications for research on progressive ambition, voluntary retirement, and the federal bureaucracy.
DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES BY HYDRAULIC FRACTURING. PART I. GENERAL CONCEPT AND FIRST FIELD EXPERIMENTS

Abstract Editorial note. This is the first of a series of articles on the development of radioactive waste disposal by hydraulic fracturing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Five papers, including this one, are planned to describe fully the advance from the initial concept to a practical method for radioactive waste disposal: • Part I, General concept and first field experiments; • Part II, Mechanics of fracture formation and design of observation and monitoring wells; • Part III, Chemical development waste-cement mixes; • Part IV, Design of ORNL's shale-fracturing plant; • Part V, First injections of actual wastes. The series will provide a detailed account of all aspects associated with the development of this unique and promising method of waste disposal. Readers will recognize, at the end of the series, that the individual articles are not reports of discrete investigations, separated from each other and conducted in logical sequence, but rather are parts of the whole picture emerging as the investigation continues. Although the work relates specifically to the natural conditions at Oak Ridge and to the disposal needs of ORNL, the results of this investigation will suggest possible adaptations of the method at other sites, as well as to other types of wastes. The feasibility of radioactive waste disposal by hydraulic fracturing has been demonstrated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This disposal method is an adaptation of hydraulic fracturing techniques used in the petroleum industry and is aimed at replacing current methods of shallow ground disposal. A number of problems had to be solved in the development of this method. First, it had to be shown that the fractures formed in shales at Oak Ridge would follow the bedding planes, and not break up vertically toward the surface. This has been done, as is described in this paper.
From covalent bonding to coalescence of metallic nanorods

Growth of metallic nanorods by physical vapor deposition is a common practice, and the origin of their dimensions is a characteristic length scale that depends on the three-dimensional Ehrlich-Schwoebel (3D ES) barrier. For most metals, the 3D ES barrier is large so the characteristic length scale is on the order of 200 nm. Using density functional theory-based ab initio calculations, this paper reports that the 3D ES barrier of Al is small, making it infeasible to grow Al nanorods. By analyzing electron density distributions, this paper shows that the small barrier is the result of covalent bonding in Al. Beyond the infeasibility of growing Al nanorods by physical vapor deposition, the results of this paper suggest a new mechanism of controlling the 3D ES barrier and thereby nanorod growth. The modification of local degree of covalent bonding, for example, via the introduction of surfactants, can increase the 3D ES barrier and promote nanorod growth, or decrease the 3D ES barrier and promote thin film growth.
Femtosecond Dynamics of Excited-State Evolution in [Ru(bpy)3]2+

Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy on the femtosecond time scale has been used to monitor the earliest events associated with excited-state relaxation in tris-(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II). The data reveal dynamics associated with the temporal evolution of the Franck-Condon state to the lowest energy excited state of this molecule. The process is essentially complete in ∼300 femtoseconds after the initial excitation. This result is discussed with regard to reformulating long-held notions about excited-state relaxation, as well as its implication for the importance of non-equilibrium excited-state processes in understanding and designing molecular-based electron transfer, artificial photosynthetic, and photovoltaic assemblies in which compounds of this class are currently playing a key role.
A Method to Determine the Congruity of Dimensions across Instruments.

This procedure can be used to ascertain if the same variables have been measured by different instruments. High school seniors responded to two semantic differential instruments, containing dissimilar concepts purporting to measure the same variables, both before and after attending a college summer orientation program. Principle components were extracted from the before as well as from the after data. Before-after component combinations were found to be highly similar, thereby providing not only for interpretations of change across the variables but also providing a heuristic for further research possibilities.
Optimizing Data Replication for Expanding Ring-based Queries in Wireless Sensor Networks

We consider the problem of optimizing the number of replicas for event information in wireless sensor networks, when queries are disseminated using expanding rings. We obtain closed-form approximations for the expected energy costs of search, as well as replication. Using these expressions we derive the replication strategies that minimize the expected total energy cost consisting of search and replication costs, both with and without storage constraints. In both cases, we find that events should be replicated with a frequency that is proportional to the square root of their query rates. We validate our analysis and optimization through a set of realistic simulations that incorporate non-idealities including deployment boundary effects and lossy wireless links.