cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation and function of the polar body contractile ring in Spisula.

Abstract Initial studies suggested that spatial organization of the putative polar body contractile ring was determined by the peripheral aster in Spisula [Biol. Bull. 205 (2003) 192]. Here we report detailed supporting observations, including testing of aster and ring function with inhibitors. The metaphase peripheral aster was confirmed to spread cortically in an umbrella-like pattern, with microtubule-poor center. The aster disassembled during anaphase, leaving the spindle docked at the F-actin-poor center of a newly generated cortical F-actin ring that closely approximated the aster in location, measured diameter range, and pattern. Cytochalasin D and latrunculin-B permitted all events except ring and polar body formation. Nocodazole disassembly or taxol stabilization of the peripheral aster produced poorly defined rings or bulging anaphase asters within the ring center, respectively, inhibiting polar body formation. Polar body extrusion occurred at the ring center, the diameter of which diminished. Ring contractility—previously assumed—was verified using blebbistatin, a myosin-II ATPase inhibitor that permitted ring assembly but blocked polar body extrusion. The data support the hypothesis that peripheral aster spreading, perhaps dynein-driven, is causally related to polar body contractile ring formation, with anaphase entry and aster disassembly also required for polar body biogenesis. Previously reported astral spreading during embryonic micromere formation suggests that related mechanisms are involved in asymmetric somatic cytokinesis.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-(THC)-mediated inhibition of macrophage macromolecular metabolism is antagonized by human serum proteins and by cell surface proteins.

Abstract Our previous study demonstrated THC-inhibited DNA synthesis and the phagocytic activity of P388D1 cells [Tang, Lancz, Specter & Bullock (1992) Int. J. Immunopharmac., 14, 253–262]. The ability of proteins in human and bovine sera and of constitutive cellular proteins to modulate the biologic activity of THC was investigated. Both human and fetal bovine sera antagonized a THC-mediated inhibition of P388D1 cell DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. This antagonism was proportional to the protein concentrations present in the medium. Both albumin and γ-globulins influenced THC's inhibitory effects, although they were less potent α/β serum lipoproteins. Exculsion of fatty acid moieties from the albumin did not diminish its ability to antagonize THC. Tritium-labeled THC was acid precipitable only after incubation with bovine or human serum albumin but not DNA, suggesting a physical interaction between the cannabinoid and the protein. Further studies showed that pre-treating cells with trypsin to remove surface proteins significantly enhanced the inhibitory activity of sub-toxic concentrations of THC. Thus, the data indicate that the magnitude of THC's biological effects is determined by the presence and concentration of soluble proteins in the microenvironment and by constitutive proteins present on the cell surface.
The electronic library program: developing networked electronic library collections

The Memex Research Institute (MemRI), an independent non‐profit research and development organization, has created an Electronic Library Program of shared research and development in order to make the vision of Vannevar Bush's “memex” more concrete. The program is working toward the creation of large, publicly available indexed electronic image collections of published documents in academic, special and public libraries. The initial objective of the Memex Research Institute has been the development of a strategic plan that defines a combination of publicly searchable access databases, image (and text) document collections stored on network “file servers,” local and remote network access, and an intellectual property management control system. This combination of technology and information content is defined in this plan as an E‐Library or E‐Library Collection.
The first case of Pasteurella canis bacteremia: a cirrhotic patient with an open leg wound

Introduction Severe human infections caused by the Pasteurella species are typically seen following animal bites. P. canis is a species that rarely affects humans and has never been found in systemic infections.
Leukemogenic risk of hydroxyurea therapy in polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis

In polycythemia vera (PV), treatment with chlorambucil and radioactive phosphorus (p32) increases the risk of leukemic transformation from 1% to 13-14%. This risk has been estimated to be 1-5.9% with hydroxyurea (HU) therapy. When compared with historical controls, the risk with use of HU does not appear to be statistically significant. The leukemogenic risk of HU therapy in essential thrombocytosis (ET) and in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) is unknown. HU remains the main myelotoxic agent in the treatment of PV, ET, and MMM. We studied 64 patients with these three disorders, seen at our institution during 1993-1995. The patients were studied for their clinical characteristics at diagnosis, therapies received, and development of myelodysplasia or acute leukemia (MDS/AL). Forty-two had PV, 15 ET, and 6 MMM, and 1 had an unclassified myeloproliferative disorder. Of the 42 patients with PV, 18 were treated with phlebotomy alone, 16 with HU alone, 2 with p32, 2 with multiple myelotoxic agents, and 2 with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Two patients from the phlebotomy-treated group, one from the HU-treated group, and 1 from the multiple myelotoxic agent-treated group developed MDS/AL. In the larger group, 11 received no treatment or aspirin alone, 18 were treated with phlebotomy alone, 25 with HU, 5 with multiple myelotoxic agents, 2 with p32, 2 with IFN-alpha, and 1 with melphalan. Study of the entire group of 64 patients showed that only one additional patient (total of 5 out of 64) developed MDS/AL. This patient had been treated with HU alone. Statistical analysis did not show any association between clinical characteristics at diagnosis, or HU therapy, and development of MDS/AL (P=0.5). Thus, our data provide no evidence suggestive of increased risk of transformation to MDS/AL with HU therapy in PV, ET, and MMM. Larger, prospective studies are needed to study this issue further.
Blackjack and the risky shift, II: Monetary stakes

Group influence on risk taking was studied in a realistic casino setting, using blackjack as the criterion risk task and amount bet as the risk measure. State trial judges from around the nation volunteered to serve as participants and bet their own money. The results clearly reveal a shift to risk and replicate findings from prior blackjack studies which had used college students as subjects and gaming chips of no real monetary value. Specifically, a modest increase in risk levels over time was found for individuals before they entered into group play; and a strong increase in risk levels was obtained during subsequent group play. These findings were accounted for by Blascovich and Ginsburg's two-process model.
Local food, local engagement: Community-Supported Agriculture in eastern Iowa.

This paper examines some of the daily realities of operating a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in eastern Iowa and addresses the concept of community among growers. Popular depictions of local foods systems often emphasize the close relationships that develop between producers and consumers. This picture, however, may gloss over the necessary complexities of a healthy local food system. CSA has been promoted as a direct marketing strategy for small-scale growers and touted as a way of developing positive relationships between producers and consumers. Nevertheless, it is also important to understand that successful CSA initiatives are often reliant on a broad network of support that includes more than just growers and eaters. Ethnographic descriptions of CSA farms presented here show how involvement by media and other organizations contribute to successful CSAs as well as an overall concept of “civic agriculture.” These descriptions also show that access to affordable, reliable labor tends to be among the greatest challenges for CSA growers.
An Autonomous Cell Type Selective Irreversible Electroporation Microsystem Using Insulator Based Dielectrophoresis (IDEP)

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a method to kill cells by exposing the cell to intense electric field pulses[1]. It is postulated that the lipid bilayer rearranges to create permanent defects in the cell membrane which eventually leads to cell death via necrosis[1]. We postulate that the recurrence of cancer for patients treated for the disease would be minimized if their blood was monitored using a microdevice which would destroy existing or new exfoliated cancer cells. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is the motion of polarizable particles that are suspended in an electrolyte when subjected to a spatially nonuniform electric field [2]. Insulator-based DEP uses insulating structures rather than electrode arrays to produce the nonuniform fields needed to drive DEP. We hypothesize that iDEP can enable the selective IRE of a particular cell type within a microfluidic platform. This manuscript demonstrates through modeling the feasibility of coupling iDEP with IRE using an AC field with a DC offset. Such a platform could be used to selectively destroy isolate cancer cells while not affecting normal cells.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Hemodynamic Effects of Hypervolemia with and without Anemia

Hypervolemia was produced in dogs by infusion of matched whole blood or of red cells suspended in dextran. In the dogs which had received matched whole blood, bleeding with simultaneous volume replacement with dextran produced acute hypervolemic anemia. This was associated with increased cardiac output, whereas no increase of cardiac output was seen in the same animals with a comparable amount of hypervolemia without anemia. The results suggest that anemia rather than hypervolemia was the important factor in causing an increase of cardiac output in these experiments.
Congenital high airway obstruction sequence (CHAOS): A new case and a review of phenotypic features

Congenital high airway obstruction sequence (CHAOS) has traditionally been defined as airway obstruction with ultrasound evidence of distal airway dilatation, expanded lungs, ascites, and hydrops. It can result from aplasia or intrinsic obstruction to the formation of the upper airway (larynx and trachea) during development. CHAOS is commonly sporadic and there is no known causative gene. In this comprehensive review on CHAOS, we examined 117 reported cases of this sequence and describe a new case. Malformations in addition to high airway obstruction were present in 64/118 (54.2%) of patients. The most frequent anomalies affected the digits and musculoskeletal system, but there was no distinct phenotype or characteristic dysmorphic appearance associated with CHAOS. The ex utero intrapartum therapy (EXIT) procedure has greatly improved survival for these patients and 36/118 (30.5%) were alive at the time of reporting. Only 2 patients out of 12 who underwent laryngotracheoplasty were tracheostomy-free at the time of their reporting. Six out of 13 were able to produce some speech. Our review provides valuable information on associated anomalies and survival in this complex sequence. The phenotypic variability seen in this review of patients makes it likely that the causes of CHAOS are genetically heterogeneous.
Current status and outlook for silicon-based optical biosensors

The importance of silicon photonic devices extends beyond passive structures for light guiding and light emission. Nano- and microstructured silicon photonic devices have emerged as viable gas, chemical, and biological sensors. The advantages of these silicon-based optical biosensors for high sensitivity detection include a low analyte volume requirement, reduced size, and compatibility with existing CMOS technology. Several advances in ring resonators, waveguides, and various porous silicon photonic structures for biosensing applications will be reviewed.
POLYTYPISM OF TRIOCTAHEDRAL 1" 1 LAYER SILICATES

Polytypism in trioctahedral 1 : 1 phyllosilicates results from two variable features in the structure. (1) The octabedral cations may occupy the same set of three positions throughout or may alternate regularly between two different sets of positions in successive layers. (2) Hydrogen bonding between adjacent oxygen and hydroxyl surfaces of successive layers can be obtained by three different relative positions of layers: (a) direct superposition of layers, (b) shift of the second layer by a/3 along any of the three hexagonal X-axes of the initial layer, with a positive or negative sense of shift determined uniquely by the octahedral cation set occupied in the lower layer, and (c) shift of the second layer by ± b/3 along Y1 (normal to X1) of the initial layer regardless of octahedral cation sets occupied. Assuming ideal hexagonal geometry, no cation ordering, and no intermixing in the same crystal of the three possible types of layer superpositions, then twelve standard polytypes (plus four enantiomorphs) with periodicities between one and six layers may be derived. Relative shifts along the three X-axes lead to the same layer sequences derived for the micas, namely 1M, 2M1, 3T, 2M2, 2Or, and 6H. Polytypes 1T and 2H1 result from direct superposition of layers. Layer shifts of b/3 lead to polytypes designated 2T, 3R, 2H2, and 6R. The twelve standard 1 : 1 structures can be divided into four groups (A = 1M, 2M1, 3T; B = 2M2, 2Or, 6H; C = 1T, 2T, 3R; D = 2H1, 2H2, 6R) for identification purposes. The strong X-ray reflections serve to identify each group and the weaker reflections differentiate the three structures within each group. Examples of all four groups and of 9 of the 12 individual structures have been identified in natural specimens. Consideration of the relative amounts of attraction and repulsion between the ions in the structures leads to the predicted stability sequence group C > group D > group A > group B, in moderately good agreement with observed abundances of these structural groups.
Interaction of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone with β-endorphin to influence anterior pituitary hormone secretion in the female rat

The interaction of alpha MSH and beta-endorphin on the secretion of PRL, GH, and LH was determined in the ovariectomized rat. The potent stimulatory effect on PRL release of injection of 20 ng (5.8 pmol) beta-endorphin into the third cerebral ventricle was completely blocked by 100 ng (60 pmol) alpha MSH. The same dose of alpha MSH partially blocked the effect of 150 ng (44 pmol) beta-endorphin on PRL secretion. Intraventricular injection of either 20 ng beta-endorphin or 100 ng alpha MSH had no effect by itself on plasma LH. However, coinjection of these doses of beta-endorphin and alpha MSH suppressed plasma LH levels significantly within 15 min. beta-Endorphin (150 ng) produced a significant suppression of plasma LH levels. Furthermore, coadministration of 100 ng alpha MSH with 150 ng beta-endorphin lowered plasma LH for a longer period of time than this dose of beta-endorphin alone. Low doses of beta-endorphin (20 ng) or alpha MSH (100 ng) alone or in combination did not alter plasma GH levels. A higher dose of 150 ng beta-endorphin produced a slight elevation of plasma GH. This effect was potentiated 5-fold when 150 ng beta-endorphin were injected in combination with 100 ng alpha MSH. These results indicate that alpha MSH acts as an antagonist to beta-endorphin in regard to the secretion of PRL, whereas it potentiates the effect of beta-endorphin in stimulation of GH and inhibition of LH secretion.
QA Builder: a visual toolkit for building multimedia knowledge-based systems with immediate feedback

QA Builder is a toolkit for building interactive knowledge-based systems for domains in which the domain knowledge can be expressed as a sequence of questions and answers. It integrates knowledge acquisition, knowledge-base validation, multimedia authoring, and user interface design and validation in a unifying framework. It is unique in that it treats non-textual information such as video, audio, and graphical images as integral parts of the domain knowledge, and that it provides authors with immediate feedback. This paper describes the QA Builder with an emphasis on the object-oriented visual editors.
High voltage insulator improvements made in the oil and water sections of the Z machine at Sandia national laboratories in 2008

Many changes were made to the Z machine [1] oil and water sections in 2007 as part of the Z refurbishment project [2]. As Z was returned to routine operation, some components required modification to increase shot rate. This paper summarizes the oil- and water-section insulator failures encountered in 2008 along with a description of the solutions implemented.
Improved response of a murine fibrosarcoma (Meth-A) to interstitial radiation when combined with hyperthermia.

Abstract Removable Iridium-192 implants provided a dose of 10 Gy/day or 41.5 cGy/hr at 0.5 cm from the center of 1.0 cm diameter tumors. The total radiation (x) alone was 20, 40 or 60 Gy, representing 2, 4, or 6 days of continuous radiation. The doses used for the combined treatments at elevated temperatures were 10, 20 or 30 Gy. The local tumor hyperthermia (LTH) treatment (43.6 for 35 min, water bath) was administered once for each 10 Gy of dose. The combined radiation + LTH was clearly superior to that achieved with radiation or LTH alone and yielded Thermal Enhancement Ratios (TER) of 3.4-3.9. Local tumor control rate was 67% and 89% for the 20 and 30 Gy x + LTH groups, respectively. A comparison of the results obtained in this study with those of earlier studies on the same tumor system indicate that the effects of Iridium-192 alone on this rapidly proliferating t0mor were comparable to similar total doses of fractionated external beam radiation. Iridium + LTH produced a tumor response comparable to that achieved with external fractionated radiation + LTH. Combined treatment effect of elevated temperature appears to be less dose rate dependent in the range of 40 cGy/hr to 100 cGy/min and more dependent upon total dose accumulation.
Modeling Self-Study in Social Studies Teacher Education: Facilitating Learning About Teaching for Democratic Citizenship

The progressive educational philosophy of John Dewey (1916/2004, 1938/1997) focused on the importance of educating students for life in democratic society. Because Dewey theorized that education and society were interactive and interdependent, he stressed that schooling must be understood as “a process of living and not a preparation for future living” (Dewey, 1897/2006, p. 24). For this reason his philosophy has been embraced by scholars in the field of social studies education interested in advancing both the study and practice of democratic citizenship with students. Parker (2008), one such scholar, argued “that democratic citizens need both to know democratic things and to do democratic things,” and “that a proper democratic education proceeds in both directions in tandem” (p. 65). From this view, social studies educators must be concerned both with what students learn as well as how they learn or apply those understandings and skills in their roles as citizens in a pluralistic democratic society.
Some uneasiness with the Coase Theorem

Abstract Allocation of property rights - and how they are to be defined - has important economic implications. Only in certain Santa Claus situations - constant returns to scale, infinite divisibility, free entry, dispersed ownership of each grade of factor, shared knowledge, complete markets - only then will Smithian self-interest be compelled to achieve Pareto-Optimality. To try to capture all that which contributes to deadweight loss under the verbal rubric of “transactions costs” weakens a useful concept without gaining understanding of incompleteness of markets, asymmetries of information, and insusceptibilities of various technologies to decentralized pricing algorithms.
Discrete gradient method over polygon mesh

This paper presents a discrete method over domains originally discretized by polygons including triangle, quadrilateral, and general n-sided polygon elements. In this method, the domain is re-partitioned into node-based cells. At each node, the gradient of a physical variable is approximated using a linearly exact discrete operator that involves a set of neighboring nodes. The discrete gradient is subsequently substituted into a weak form to yield a nodal-integration Galerkin formulation. A unified geometric approach is provided for constructing the gradient operators over an arbitrary polygon mesh. The method does not introduce continuous approximation of the unknown variable; therefore, the numerical computation is very simple. The linear displacement patch test is satisfied by construction. Numerical tests show that the method has comparable accuracy and convergence rate as the displacement finite element method. Examples are also included to illustrate the ability to resist numerical locking in the incompressibility limit and the thin-element limit. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the Epistemology of the Inexact Sciences

This is a new epistemological approach to the inexact sciences. The purpose of all science is to explain and predict in an objective manner. While in the exact sciences explanation and prediction have the same logical structure, this is not so in the inexact sciences. This permits various methodological innovations in the inexact sciences, e.g., expert judgment and simulation.
Near-Optimal Online Algorithms for Dynamic Resource Allocation Problems ∗

In this paper, we study a general online linear programming problem whose formulation encompasses many practical dynamic resource allocation problems, including internet advertising display applications, revenue management, various routing, packing, and auction problems. We propose a model, which under mild assumptions, allows us to design near-optimal learning-based online algorithms that do not require the a priori knowledge about the total number of online requests to come, a first of its kind. We then consider two variants of the problem that relax the initial assumptions imposed on the proposed model.
Introduction to the ICCS 2007 Workshop on Dynamic Data Driven Applications Systems

This is the 5thInternational Workshop on Dynamic Data Driven Applications Systems (DDDAS), organized in conjunction with ICCS. The DDDAS concept entails the ability to dynamically incorporate data into an executing application simulation, and in reverse, the ability of applications to dynamically steer measurement processes. Such dynamic data inputs can be acquired in real-time on-line or they can be archival data. DDDAS is leading to new capabilities by improving applications modeling and systems management methods, augmenting the analysis and prediction capabilities of simulations, improving the efficiency of simulations and the effectiveness of measurement systems. The scope of the present workshop provides examples of research and technology advances enabled through DDDAS and driven by DDDAS. The papers presented in this workshop represent ongoing multidisciplinary research efforts by an international set of researchers from academe, industry, national and research laboratories.
Pathfinding in communication nets

A routine is presented for determining the number and the set of all paths in oriented and in nonoriented communication nets. Duplication and the generation of nonpaths are mechanically prevented from occurring en route. The technique generalises to pathfinding in arbitrary nets.
Patuxent landscape model: 1. Hydrological model development

We developed a spatially explicit, process-based model of the 2352 km 2 Patuxent river watershed in Maryland, and its subwatersheds to integrate data and knowledge over several spatial, temporal and complex- ity scales, and to serve as an aid to regional management. The model was developed using the Library of Hydro- Ecological Modules (LHEM, http://giee.uvm.edu/LHEM), which was designed to create flexible landscape model structures that can be easily modified and extended to suit the requirements of a variety of goals and case studies. The LHEM includes modules that simulate various aspects of ecosystem dynamics. In this paper we consider modules that represent the physical conditions in the environment (climatic factors, geoporphology), and hydrologic processes, both locally and spatially. Where possible the modules are formulated as Stella( R ) models, spatial transport processes are presented as C++ code.
Reducing Amyloid Plaque Burden via Ex Vivo Gene Delivery of an Aβ-Degrading Protease: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Alzheimer Disease

Background Understanding the mechanisms of amyloid-b protein (Ab) production and clearance in the brain has been essential to elucidating the etiology of Alzheimer disease (AD). Chronically decreasing brain Ab levels is an emerging therapeutic approach for AD, but no such diseasemodifying agents have achieved clinical validation. Certain proteases are responsible for the catabolism of brain Ab in vivo, and some experimental evidence suggests they could be used as therapeutic tools to reduce Ab levels in AD. The objective of this study was to determine if enhancing the clearance of Ab in the brain by ex vivo gene delivery of an Ab-degrading protease can reduce amyloid plaque burden. Methods and Findings We generated a secreted form of the Ab-degrading protease neprilysin, which significantly lowers the levels of naturally secreted Ab in cell culture. We then used an ex vivo gene delivery approach utilizing primary fibroblasts to introduce this soluble protease into the brains of bamyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice with advanced plaque deposition. Brain examination after cell implantation revealed robust clearance of plaques at the site of engraftment (72% reduction, p ¼ 0.0269), as well as significant reductions in plaque burden in both the medial and lateral hippocampus distal to the implantation site (34% reduction, p ¼ 0.0020; and 55% reduction, p ¼ 0.0081, respectively).
WorldMap – a geospatial framework for collaborative research

WorldMap is a web-based, map-centric data exploration system built on open-source geospatial technology at Harvard University. It is designed to serve collaborative research and teaching, but is also accessible to the general public. This article explains WorldMap's basic functions through several historical research projects, demonstrating its flexible scale (from neighborhood to continent) and diverse research themes (social, political, economic, cultural, infrastructural, etc.). Also shared in this article are our experiences in handling technical and institutional challenges during system development, such as synchronization of software components being developed by multiple organizations; juggling competing priorities for serving individual requests and developing a system that will enable users to support themselves; balancing promotion of the system usage with constraints on infrastructure investment; harnessing volunteered geographic information while managing data quality; as well as protecting c...
A loss-free connection control protocol for the Thunder and Lightning network

The ready-to-go virtual circuit protocol (or RGVC) is a novel connection control protocol for gigabit networks that is designed to ensure lossless transmission for delay-sensitive traffic and for traffic whose rate changes with time. The RGVC protocol is one of the two connection control protocols that will be used in the 40 Gbit/s fiber-optic ATM-based Thunder and Lightning network, currently being developed at UCSB. We introduce the RGVC protocol, discuss its main features, and indicate its lossless character. The RGVC protocol can be viewed as a reservation protocol where the reservation and the data transmission phases overlap. The source need not wait for an end-to-end round-trip delay for reservations to be made before transmitting the data. Instead the data packets follow the setup packet after a short offset-interval, which is much smaller than the round-trip delay. As a result, the protocol does considerably better than wait-for reservation protocols in terms of minimizing pre-transmission delay, and is useful for connection establishment for traffic with strict delay requirements. If the setup packet is unsuccessful in reserving the required capacity, or if the rate of the session changes without there being sufficient capacity to accommodate the change, the packets are buffered at intermediate nodes and back-pressure is exercised to the upstream nodes to control the source transmission rate. The back-pressure mechanism uses the concept of freezing of capacity to ensure that the protocol is lossless.
Wing Pattern Variation in the Anise Swallowtail, Papilio zelicaon (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

Abstract Papilio zelicaon Lucas has become a common study system, and has been the subject of numerous investigations into ecological variation among populations and regions. Morphological variation has been less intensively studied, with the exception of a dark form occurring on the eastern edge of the animal’s range. In 1968, Remington described populations from the Rocky Mountains and adjacent areas as a distinct species, Papilio gothica. Gothica was not widely adopted, and was subsequently reduced to a junior synonym of P. zelicaon. Using a new wing character not previously considered, we reexamine the evidence for P. gothica, and investigate patterns of morphological variation within the California range of P. zelicaon. Evidence is found supporting significant phenotypic differences within and among three areas: lowland California, montane California, and Colorado. These results are discussed in terms of seasonal and geographic variation, and their bearing on the status of gothica. We conclude that t...
Renovating America: When and Why Institutional Investors Renovate and Expand Commercial Real Estate

The renovation and expansion of existing commercial properties constitute important investments into the economic infrastructure. Such investments can facilitate economic growth if made at appropriate times and scales, but can also lead to a waste of economic resources and exacerbate market volatility. This paper aims to shed light on this topic by empirically answering two fundamental questions. First, what economic variables may affect the likelihood for institutional investors to make capital investments in existing commercial properties? Second, are investors expectation of future market and economic conditions rational and accurate, in the sense that increases in investments, which are likely driven by more optimistic expectations, precede actual market expansion and economic growth? Answers to these questions help establish stylized facts regarding investors renovation/expansion decisions, and help analyze the economic consequences and test the rationality of investors expectations regarding future economic conditions.
An Exploration of Methods for Rating Children's Productions of Sibilant Fricatives.

Background: This paper examines three methods for providing ratings of within-category detail in children's productions of /s/ and /ʃ/.Method: A group of listeners (n = 61) participated in a rating task in which a forced-choice phoneme identification task was followed by one of three measures of phoneme goodness: visual analog scaling, direct magnitude estimation, or a Likert-scale judgment.Results: All three types of ratings were similarly correlated with sounds' acoustic characteristics. Visual analog scaling and Likert-scale judgments had higher intrarater reliability than did direct magnitude estimation. Moreover, both of them elicited a wider range of judgments than did direct magnitude estimation.Conclusion: Based on our evaluation, Likert-scale judgments and visual analog scaling are equally useful tasks for eliciting within-category judgments. Of these two, visual analog scaling may be preferable because it allows for more distinct levels of response.
Academics are Testing Copyright Law

Final exam season is in full swing here at many academic institutions around the country. This testing process is an apt metaphor for several developments in copyright law over the last several weeks. While much of the recent public attention has focused on the entertainment industry and copyright, the recent testing of copyright law is focusing on the academic and research communities. These communities have a more legally complex relationship with copyright law than is often appreciated.
Tax Basis Determinations, Pass-Through Entities, and Taxpayer Noncompliance

In the United States, one of the most popular ways to conduct business is to use a pass- through entity such as a partnership, limited liability company, or S corporation. Investor taxpayers in such pass-through entities commonly hold their ownership interest for years or decades. Over this lengthy period of time, a taxpayer's tax basis in the entity is subject to constant annual adjustments, which generally have no immediate tax consequences. However, when the pass-through entity investment is later sold or liquidated, tax basis determinations are of critical importance, and these determinations enable taxpayers to calculate their concomitant gains or losses. At this pivotal juncture, accurately determining taxpayers' tax bases in these investments is highly unlikely, and the IRS's ability to detect taxpayers' tax basis reporting inaccuracies is virtually nonexistent. This analysis examines the phenomenon of taxpayers who do not know their tax basis in pass-through entity investments and the consequences associated with such ignorance. Also provided are projected revenue losses associated with taxpayers purposefully or inadvertently inflating the tax basis that they have in their pass-through entity investments. To curtail the projected revenue losses associated with tax basis misreporting, we propose several reform measures that Congress should adopt. Such measures include simplifying tax basis computations, enhancing information reporting, and limiting the ability of taxpayers to estimate the tax basis of their pass-through investments.
Conduct Specific Tests? How the Federal Trade Commission Can Reframe the Section 5 Debate

Over the last few years, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has awakened Section 5’s “unfair methods of competition” prong from its slumber and ignited a debate about when, if ever, it is proper to use Section 5 to reach conduct beyond the Sherman Act’s four corners. Complicating matters is the dearth of federal court guidance on the issue. It has been a quarter of a century since any federal court has opined on Section 5’s scope and nearly 40 years since the Supreme Court last chimed in. Consequently, discussions about Section 5’s reach often sound as if they are occurring in a doctrinal vacuum with proponents of Section 5 relying on the statute’s legislative history; opponents arguing that, as a policy matter, there should rarely be a need to resort to Section 5; and those in the middle trying to achieve consensus on limiting principles. While the Supreme Court has said nothing during this period about Section 5, it has been vocal about its views on antitrust common law more generally, asserting that antitrust rules need to be administrable and predictable. That emphasis has undoubtedly spurred the important search for limiting principles, but the identification of those principles should only be part of the Section 5 doctrinal equation. If and when the Commission provides the federal courts with an opportunity to revisit Section 5, the Commission is most likely to succeed if it persuades the courts that it has applied Section 5 in a predictable fashion. The Commission can do so if it pleads conduct-specific theories of liability (as opposed to just an “unfair method of competition”) and, in consent orders and opinions, identifies conduct-specific tests that govern those theories of liability.
Influence of Thiamine Deficiency in Macaca mulatta on Susceptibility to Experimental Poliomyelitis.

SummaryThe influence of thiamine deficiency on the susceptibility of M. mulatta to experimental poliomyelitis has been studied in 40 animals. The results indicate that this species, when deficient in thiamine, does not exhibit an increased resistance to poliomyelitis virus in contrast to the well-demonstrated resistance of Swiss mice similarly fed.1, 8
Thin-Disk Pumped, High-Average-Power, 2.06-μm BiB3O6 Femtosecond Optical Parametric Oscillator

A sync-pumped optical parametric oscillator using a 48-W, 1.1-ps, thin-disk-based pump laser designed to produce 0.5-µJ, sub-500-fs pulses at 7.08 MHz centered at 2060 nm is currently under construction.
Influence of a Fat-Enriched Meal on Human Serum (L-Phenylalanine-Sensitive) “Intestinal” Alkaline Phosphatase.∗:

SummaryIn 2 out of 4 subjects ingesting breakfast containing 27.3 g of fat, a transient increase of the L-phenylalanine-sensitive “intestinal” alkaline phosphatase isoen-zyme occurred in the serum. In 4 out of 4 subjects ingesting breakfast with higher fat content (69.6 g) the rise appeared and persisted for 4 hours. Individuals differed greatly in the pattern of serum enzyme partition which were exhibited. Fat absorption is linked with the later appearance in the serum of the L-phenylalanine-sensitive isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase.Note Added in Proof: A recent interesting report by Langman et al (Nature, 1966, v212, 41) describes the relevance of the genetic background to the extent of fat-induced increases in serum “intestinal” alkaline phosphatase.
Restoration of phosphaturia in phosphate-deprived rats in the presence of both parathyroid hormone and phosphate infusion.

AbstractThe present study tested the hypothesis that the combination of parathyroid hormone and phosphate infusion would be phosphaturic in phosphate-deprived rats. Clearance experiments were performed in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a low-phosphate diet for 4 days. The animals were first given a phosphate infusion and then administered parathyroid hormone. The reverse experiment was also performed in a second group of rats by giving the hormone first followed by a phosphate infusion. There was no increase in phosphate excretion in response to phosphate infusion or parathyroid hormone given alone. However, the combination of parathyroid hormone and phosphate infusions, given in either order, was phosphaturic in phosphate-deprived rats.
The Polyphonic Orchestration of Barack Obama, 2004 to 2012: The Evolving Strategic Campaign Message

Obama’s ceremonial (i.e. convention speeches and inaugurals) discourse from 2004 to 2012 constitutes an evolving polyphony. The voices of the polyphony shift from offering the Biblically-rich, pers...
Non-cultivated plants present a season-long route of pesticide exposure for honey bees

Recent efforts to evaluate the contribution of neonicotinoid insecticides to worldwide pollinator declines have focused on honey bees and the chronic levels of exposure experienced when foraging on crops grown from neonicotinoid-treated seeds. However, few studies address non-crop plants as a potential route of pollinator exposure to neonicotinoid and other insecticides. Here we show that pollen collected by honey bee foragers in maize- and soybean-dominated landscapes is contaminated throughout the growing season with multiple agricultural pesticides, including the neonicotinoids used as seed treatments. Notably, however, the highest levels of contamination in pollen are pyrethroid insecticides targeting mosquitoes and other nuisance pests. Furthermore, pollen from crop plants represents only a tiny fraction of the total diversity of pollen resources used by honey bees in these landscapes, with the principle sources of pollen originating from non-cultivated plants. These findings provide fundamental information about the foraging habits of honey bees in these landscapes.
Scalable video streaming with helper nodes using random linear network coding

Video streaming generates a substantial fraction of the traffic on the Internet. The demands of video streaming also increase the workload on the video server, which in turn leads to substantial slowdowns. In order to resolve the slowdown problem, and to provide a scalable and robust infrastructure to support on-demand streaming, helper-assisted video-on-demand (VoD) systems have been introduced. In this architecture, helper nodes, which are micro-servers with limited storage and bandwidth resources, download and store the user-requested videos from a central server to decrease the load on the central server. Multi-layer videos, in which a video is divided into different layers, can also be used to improve the scalability of the system. In this paper, we study the problem of utilizing the helper nodes to minimize the pressure on the central servers. We formulate the problem as a linear programming using joint inter- and intra-layer network coding. Our solution can also be implemented in a distributed manner. We show how our method can be extended to the case of wireless live streaming, in which a set of videos is broadcasted. Moreover, we extend the proposed method to the case of unreliable connections. We carefully study the convergence and the gain of our distributed approach.
Can Humanoid Robots Serve as Patient Simulators in Behavior Analytic Research and Practice

Using a humanoid robot to simulate patient behaviors in research that involves staff– or caregiver–patient interactions can be highly valuable to behavior analysts. As a first step in using a robotic patient simulator in behavior analytic research, we examined whether trainees (college-aged adults)
The Hornlog Proof Procedure

In this chapter we develop the Hornlog proof procedure. The method, which is inspired by Herbrand’s theorem, incrementally builds a graph in a way that encodes a first-order quantifier-free formula, and then checks for unsatisfiability of this formula using a linear-time algorithm [14]. The low polynomial complexity is important, since all computational logic methods can be understood as instances of Herbrand’s reduction of the provability (and therefore unsatisfiability) of first-order formula A to the provability of a set of ground instances of A. If the test for provability in the ground case is expensive, there is little likelihood that an efficient implementation of the method exists. If the check for unsatisfiability fails, the graph is rewritten by choosing a node and expanding it, and the expanded graph is again checked for unsatisfiability. The process terminates if the graph is shown to be unsatisfiable, or if it can no longer be expanded, in which case the query formula is shown to be refutable. The process may also enter into a non-terminating sequence of expansion steps. The algorithm that checks for unsatisfiability is not a resolution method, and has the property that the truth of each node is checked at most once.
Constitutive Equations, Deformation Rate Softening and Elongational Flow Characteristics of Polymer Melts

Single integral constitutive equations representing the flow behavior of polymer melts and particle reinforced polymer melts are contrasted. The model for the melt is a traditional non-linear viscoelastic formulation. The constitutive equation representing the particle reinforced melt contain a yield value and is a plastic-viscoelastic material. This is expressed through a von Mises yield criterion beyond the integral form.
The Control Group and Meta-Analysis

Social scientists use a mixture of different methodologies, which creates problems for researchers attempting to review the cumulative results of all studies. Standard practice for review studies using meta-analysis is to adjust the findings of all studies that use control groups and to include studies not having control groups without adjustment for extraneous effects, or to not use studies that lack a control group, which could produce an erroneous result. Our study develops a novel meta-analytic procedure that combines the evidence on control group change with evidence on change from the intervention, making it possible to adjust for the effects of extraneous factors in all studies and bridges the gap between control group studies and other types of studies. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v5i1_hunter
Localized parakeratotic hyperkeratosis in sixteen Boston terrier dogs.

Background Although zinc responsive dermatosis is typically a disorder of Arctic breed dogs, this study identifies similar cutaneous lesions on the face and pressure points of Boston terrier dogs. Hypothesis/objectives To document the clinical and histological features of localized parakeratotic hyperkeratosis of Boston terrier dogs, to determine if the lesions respond to zinc supplementation and to determine whether tissue zinc levels were decreased in affected versus unaffected dogs. Material and methods Sixteen Boston terrier dogs with similar gross and histological findings were identified retrospectively from two institutions. Follow-up information for nine dogs from one institution was obtained from referring veterinarians using a questionnaire. Tissue zinc levels were measured from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded skin biopsy samples of affected and unaffected dogs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results Mild to severe parakeratotic hyperkeratosis with follicular involvement was present in all 16 cases. Of the nine dogs for which follow-up information was available, five dogs received oral zinc supplementation and four dogs had documented clinical improvement or resolution of dermatological lesions. The median skin zinc levels were not significantly different between affected and unaffected dogs. Conclusions and clinical importance To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first report of localized parakeratotic hyperkeratosis in Boston terrier dogs, some of which improved with oral zinc supplementation. Prospective studies in Boston terrier dogs are warranted to document potential zinc deficiency (serum and/or tissue levels, pre- and post-treatment) and to objectively assess response to zinc supplementation and other therapies.
Sono-Elasticity: Medical Elasticity Images Derived from Ultrasound Signals in Mechanically Vibrated Targets

Cancers of the prostate have traditionally been detected by digital palpation which identifies increased stiffness (modulus of elasticity, hardness) of the abnormal tissue. Gray-scale ultrasound is insensitive to stiffness as an imaging parameter and often fails to reveal the extent or existence of a prostate cancer. Recent developments in technology and understanding have improved the diagnostic efficacy of transrectal ultrasound for detection of early prostate cancer, but even when coupled with digital rectal examination, a significant percentage of existing carcinomas may not be recognized. This statement is based on the lower detection rates for transrectal ultrasound and digital rectal examination in screening populations (0.1-4%) as compared to autopsy series prevalance rates of approximately 30%. Recent reports suggest that early cancers of the prostate may be characterized as hypoechoic areas in the peripheral zone of the prostate (1). Others suggest that the more advanced lesions have varied appearances ranging from hypo to hyperechoic with some even showing combinations of both (2,3). Our transrectal ultrasound experience from patients with palpable cancers (which include moderately to advanced disease), suggests a varied non-specific gray-scale appearance as well, despite the uniform impression that they are all firm on digital palpation.