cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Welfare Effects of Energy Efficiency Standards When Choice Sets Matter

AbstractExisting studies point out various factors that might contribute to an “energy efficiency gap” but do not consider the potential effect of choice sets on behavior. In an earlier paper, we developed a theoretical model of the purchase of energy-using durables in which the choice set matters if consumers face price-driven temptation and self-control costs. In this paper, we use refrigerator market data to illustrate that, under such a preference structure, energy efficiency standards can have larger overall welfare benefits than previously recognized, suggesting the importance of considering choice sets in welfare analyses of standards.
Thin‐film reactions of Pb with AgAu and AgPd alloys

Stability of AgAu and AgPd alloys with respect to their reactions with Pb have been studied by using thin‐film samples and by free‐energy calculations. Thin‐film reactions of Pb with 80 at.% Ag‐20 at.% Au and 80 at.% Ag‐20 at.% Pd alloys were examined by x‐ray diffraction. X‐ray results show that the AgAu alloy is stable with Pb up to 200 °C and the AgPd alloy is stable with Pb at room temperature but unstable at 200 and 250 °C resulting in the formation of Pb2Pd along with a dilute phase of Ag which is almost free of Pd. Free‐energy calculations show that Pb cannot deplete Au from any AgAu alloy which contains less than 29.5 at.% Au, and yet Pb can deplete Pd down below 1 at.% from any AgPd alloys provided that the kinetics is fast enough.
Nucleic acids and alkylating agents: Carbon-13 magnetic resonance studies of the methylation of ribonucleic acid with methyl methanesulfonate

Abstract Direct examination of the interaction of ribonucleic acid with the alkylating agent, methyl methanesulfonate, by carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy has demonstrated the potential usefulness of this new spectroscopic method in studying the interaction between nucleic acids and biologically active agents. By comparison with the model compounds isolated from the reactions of mononucleotides with methyl methanesulfonate, five methylated products, 7-methylguanosine (49.7%), 1-methyladenosine (21.2%), 3-methyl cytosine (12.7%), 1-methylguanosine (7.5%), and methyl phosphate (8.9%, tentative) have been identified in the alkylated RNA from the reaction without buffer, whose pH is maintained using a pH stat; three methylated products, 7-methylguanosine (61.1%), 1-methyladenosine (20.5%), and 3-methylcytosine (18.4%) have been identified from the reaction in phosphate buffer. These quantitative differences may account for the failure of previous structure-activity correlations. The limits of the biological interpretation of the present and previous chemical results are discussed.
The Schrödinger distance transform (SDT) for point-sets and curves

Despite the ubiquitous use of distance transforms in the shape analysis literature and the popularity of fast marching and fast sweeping methods — essentially Hamilton-Jacobi solvers, there is very little recent work leveraging the Hamilton-Jacobi to Schrodinger connection for representational and computational purposes. In this work, we exploit the linearity of the Schrodinger equation to (i) design fast discrete convolution methods using the FFT to compute the distance transform, (ii) derive the histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) via the squared magnitude of the Fourier transform of the wave function, (iii) extend the Schrodinger formalism to cover the case of curves parametrized as line segments as opposed to point-sets, (iv) demonstrate that the Schrodinger formalism permits the addition of wave functions — an operation that is not allowed for distance transforms, and finally (v) construct a fundamentally new Schrodinger equation and show that it can represent both the distance transform and its gradient density — not possible in earlier efforts.
Nanomechanical Characterization of Active Synapses in Live Hippocampal Neurons

Synapses are highly organized structures enriched with synapse-specific proteins and actin filaments. Dynamics of actin filaments is critical in both synapse formation and plasticity of mature synapses. Actin assembly also contributes membrane tension, which is capable of actively regulating membrane structure and cellular functions through mechanosensitive components. It remains challenging, however, to characterize the membrane mechanics at synapses. Here we combined torsional harmonic atomic force microscopy (AFM) with fluorescence microscopy to image synapses in live hippocampal neurons. The small indentation distances and piconewton scale forces employed by our AFM allowed us to measure mechanical properties with nanoscale resolution. We relied on post hoc immunostaining against synaptic markers to determine synapses and analyzed their mechanical properties from the cooresponding AFM data. Additionally, the activity of synapses was monitored with FM dyes. We found that synapses are substantially stiffer than other neuronal structures (e.g. somas, dendrites). The relatively high stiffness of synapses supports the notion that mechanical processes may be important in synapse formation and function.
Arteriolar Remodeling Following Ischemic Injury Extends from Capillary to Large Arteriole in the Microcirculation

Objective: Skeletal muscle vasculature undergoes arteriogenesis to restore tissue perfusion and function following loss of blood flow. This process has been shown to occur in large vessels following ischemia, although recent studies suggest this may occur in the microcirculation as well. We tested the hypothesis that ischemia induces microvascular remodeling in the skeletal muscle microcirculation on the scale of capillary to sub-35 μm diameter arterioles.Methods: Ligations of a feeding arteriole to the caudal-half of the spinotrapezius muscle were performed on C57BL/6 mice. At 5 days, microvascular remodeling responses were quantified using intravital and whole-mount confocal microscopy. Immunohistochemistry was performed to visualize vessels, incorporated leukocytes, and regions of hypoxia.Results: Ischemic tissue underwent localized microvascular remodeling characteristic of arteriogenesis, including pronounced vessel tortuosity. In patent microvessels (diameters 15–35 μm), we observed increases in vas...
Max Robinson, Jr: Turbulent Life of a Media Prophet

The late Max Robinson's career in television news began behind the television screen, literally, instead of in front of it. In 1958, at the age of 19, Robinson answered an ad in Portsmouth, Virginia, for the position of television announcer, and, to the surprise of many, got the job. He was, in that year, one of the first African American newsmen in the country to appear on television, or "be heard" on the tube. Robinson described the experience.
LISTENING TO THE CUSTOMER: IMPLEMENTING QUALITY FUNCTION DEPLOYMENT

The author explains the concept of quality function deployment, developed by Yoji Akao in 1978, and how it can be used to center institutional improvement efforts on customer needs. In addition, th...
Evaluation of Polycaprolaitone Custom Tray Material

Custom impression trays are necessary for accurate impressions in fixed prosthodontics when using polysulfide impression materials. These custom impression trays are needed to provide for a uniform thickness of impression material to minimize distortion. Custom impression trays have historically been made from acrylic resin. New materials have been developed as alternatives to acrylic resin, and this study evaluates one product currently available that is composed of polycaprolaitone. This study evaluates the modulus of elasticity of polycaprolaitone as compared with acrylic resin, and also evaluates the amount of permanent deformation of the new material when placed under a load. The elastic modulus of polycaprolaitone was tested using three-point bending of specimens placed in a universal mechanical test system. The elastic modulus of the new material was found to be significantly lower than that of acrylic resin. The next test evaluated the amount of permanent deformation of the polycaprolaitone material when specimens approximating the shape and size of custom impression trays were placed under a load. These trays were placed in a universal mechanical test system and differing loads were placed on them. Results showed that although the trays deformed at relatively low loads, all deformation was fully recovered within a clinically insignificant period of time (less than 30 seconds). From these experiments it was concluded that although the polycaprolaitone material has a lower modulus of elasticity and will deform under relatively low loads, the material recovers completely, and thus the deformation would not interfere with the clinical performance of polycaprolaitone as a custom tray material.
Application of Improved Methods To Assess Pathways for Biosynthesis of Long- and Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids

Improved microscale methods for analyzing individual carbon atoms of long- and very-long-chain fatty acids are described. These methods allow quantitation of radiolabel in at least 50% of individual carbon atoms from the carboxyl terminal of such fatty acids. These methods have been used to study metabolic pathways leading to long- and very-long-chain fatty acids of seeds. The approach begins with HPLC separation of free fatty acids from saponified, total lipid extracts. Subsequently, individual free acids are analyzed by Schmidt degradation to reveal the extent of carboxyl labeling or are subjected to α-oxidation followed by HPLC separation of free acid homologues. An improvement in the procedure for α-oxidation results in 0.2−2 times higher recovery of longer homologues. Carboxy-labeling of homologues is then determined using Schmidt degradation. For unsaturated acids, microscale hydrogenation and HPLC purification are done prior to α-oxidation. Results detail existing evidence that long- and very-long-...
Observation of Rabi oscillations between Bloch bands in an optical potential

We report an experimental study of atomic motion in the Bloch band of a periodic potential. Our system consists of cold sodium atoms in a far detuned standing wave of near resonant light. We prepare the atoms in the lowest motional band, and then impose phase modulation in order to drive interband transitions. We observe Rabi oscillations between the first and second band as a function of modulation intensity and frequency. We also observe damped oscillations of the population as a function of modulation frequency, which are primarily due to a spread in Rabi frequencies over the Bloch band.
Assessment of prenatal mercury exposure in a predominately Caribbean immigrant community in Brooklyn, NY

Prenatal mercury exposure and its fetotoxic effects may be of particular concern in urban immigrant communities as a result of possible contributing cultural factors. The most common source of exposure in these communities is ingestion of fish and shellfish contaminated with methylmercury. Other sources of exposure may occur in ritualistic practices associated with Hispanic and Caribbean-based religions. This study 1) assessed total mercury levels in both random urine specimens from pregnant women, and in cord blood; and 2) examined environmental sources of exposure from a convenience sample in a predominantly Caribbean immigrant population in Brooklyn, New York. A questionnaire designed in collaboration with health professionals from the Caribbean community assessed the frequency of fish consumption, ritualistic practices, occupational exposures, and use of dental amalgams and mercury-containing skin and household products. The geometric mean for total mercury in cord blood was 2.14 μg L(-1) (95%CI: 1.76-2.60) (n = 78), and 0.45 μg L(-1) (95%CI: 0.37-0.55) (n = 183) in maternal urine corrected for creatinine (μg g(-1)). Sixteen percent of cord blood mercury levels exceeded the estimated equivalent of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Reference Dose (5.8 μg L(-1) blood). Predictors of cord blood mercury included maternal fish consumption and foreign birth of the mother. Predictors of urine mercury included foreign birth of the mother, number of dental amalgams, and special product use. There were no reports of mercury use in ritualistic practices or in cosmetics; however some women reported use of religious medals and charms. This study characterized risk factors for mercury exposure in a sample of urban, predominantly Caribbean-born blacks. Findings may help target interventions in this population, which might include appropriate fish selection and consumption frequency during pregnancy, and safe handling of mercury-containing products in the home.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of cryptophycin analogs with substitution at C-6 (fragment C region)

Analogs of the antitumor agents cryptophycins 1 and 8 with dialkyl substitution at C-6 (fragment C) were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against human leukemia cells (CCRF-CEM). The activity of these analogs decreased as the size of the substituents at C-6 increased. The C-6 spirocylopropyl compound (2g) was highly potent in vitro and showed excellent antitumor activity in animal models.
A social scientific framework for social systems in online video games: Building a better looking for raid loot system in World of Warcraft

Abstract This paper examines social behavior in the online video game World of Warcraft. Specifically focusing on one element of social design: the behavior of players in the first release of Looking-for-Raid (LFR) loot system of World of Warcraft. It uses lens of economic game theory, combined with Williams (2010) mapping principle and a modern theoretical account of human decision-making, to explore how theory about individual interactions in well-defined contexts (games) can explain collective behavior. It provides some support for this theoretical approach with an examination of data collected as part of an ethnographic study, through focus groups, and a survey distributed to 333 World of Warcraft players. It concludes with a discussion of the results and some guidelines for predicting collective outcomes in certain types of online games using the introduced framework.
Lysosomal multienzyme complex: pros and cons of working together.

The ubiquitous distribution of lysosomes and their heterogeneous protein composition reflects the versatility of these organelles in maintaining cell homeostasis and their importance in tissue differentiation and remodeling. In lysosomes, the degradation of complex, macromolecular substrates requires the synergistic action of multiple hydrolases that usually work in a stepwise fashion. This catalytic machinery explains the existence of lysosomal enzyme complexes that can be dynamically assembled and disassembled to efficiently and quickly adapt to the pool of substrates to be processed or degraded, adding extra tiers to the regulation of the individual protein components. An example of such a complex is the one composed of three hydrolases that are ubiquitously but differentially expressed: the serine carboxypeptidase, protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA), the sialidase, neuraminidase-1 (NEU1), and the glycosidase β-galactosidase (β-GAL). Next to this ‘core’ complex, the existence of sub-complexes, which may contain additional components, and function at the cell surface or extracellularly, suggests as yet unexplored functions of these enzymes. Here we review how studies of basic biological processes in the mouse models of three lysosomal storage disorders, galactosialidosis, sialidosis, and GM1-gangliosidosis, revealed new and unexpected roles for the three respective affected enzymes, Ppca, Neu1, and β-Gal, that go beyond their canonical degradative activities. These findings have broadened our perspective on their functions and may pave the way for the development of new therapies for these lysosomal storage disorders.
An x-ray diffraction study of the effect of stacking fault energy on the wear behavior of Cu-Al alloys

Abstract This study details the effects of stacking fault energy (SFE) in the wear process of several Cu-Al alloys. An X-ray line broadening analysis was made of the wear-induced deformation caused by a reciprocating sapphire slider in a dry argon atmosphere and also of cold-worked filings of the same compositions. The X-ray line profiles were analyzed by both the WarrenAverbach multiple-order method and the Rothman-Cohen method. The resulting stacking fault probabilities, the r.m.s. strains and the effective particle sizes were correlated with the wear rate. The analysis has confirmed several general trends that accompany the Cu-Al alloys with decreasing SFE: increasing r.m.s. strain, decreasing effective particle size, increasing stacking fault probability and increasing wear rate. The deformation substructure associated with cold-worked filings is very similar to that observed in the transfer layer of this series of alloys.
Lipid dynamics and protein-lipid interactions in rat colonic epithelial cell basolateral membranes

Abstract Lipid dynamics and lipid-protein interactions were examined in basolateral membranes prepared from rat proximal and distal colonic epithelial cells. The results demonstrate that: (1) these membranes have a high lipid fluidity, as assessed by steady-state fluorescence polarization studies using seven fluorescent probes; (2) lipid compositional differences exist between these membranes but their fluidity is similar; (3) fluorescence polarizations studies, using diphenylhexatriene (DPH), detect a thermotropic transition at 22–23°C in each membrane; (4) several membrane protein activities, including adenylate cyclase and sodium-potassium dependent adenosine triphosphatase ( ( Na + + K + )- ATPase ) appear to be functionally dependent on the physical state of the proximal basolateral membrane's lipid.
Simultaneous multidiagonalization for the CS decomposition

When an orthogonal matrix is partitioned into a two-by-two block structure, its four blocks can be simultaneously bidiagonalized. This observation underlies numerically stable algorithms for the CS decomposition and the existence of CMV matrices for orthogonal polynomial recurrences. We discover a new matrix decomposition for simultaneous multidiagonalization, which reduces the blocks to any desired bandwidth. Its existence is proved, and a backward stable algorithm is developed. The resulting matrix with banded blocks is parameterized by a product of Givens rotations, guaranteeing orthogonality even on a finite-precision computer. The algorithm relies heavily on Level 3 BLAS routines and supports parallel computation.
Optical characterization of nanocrystalline boron nitride thin films grown by atomic layer deposition

Abstract Boron nitride thin films were grown on sapphire and Si substrates by atomic layer deposition from triethylborane (TEB) and NH3 precursors in the temperature range of 500 to 900 °C. By varying the TEB exposure the film thickness can be controlled with
Articulatory features for robust visual speech recognition

Visual information has been shown to improve the performance of speech recognition systems in noisy acoustic environments. However, most audio-visual speech recognizers rely on a clean visual signal. In this paper, we explore a novel approach to visual speech modeling, based on articulatory features, which has potential benefits under visually challenging conditions. The idea is to use a set of parallel classifiers to extract different articulatory attributes from the input images, and then combine their decisions to obtain higher-level units, such as visemes or words. We evaluate our approach in a preliminary experiment on a small audio-visual database, using several image noise conditions, and compare it to the standard viseme-based modeling approach.
Agency and authenticity: which value grounds patient choice?

In current American medical practice, autonomy is assumed to be more valuable than human life: if a patient autonomously refuses lifesaving treatment, the doctors are supposed to let him die. In this paper we discuss two values that might be at stake in such clinical contexts. Usually, we hear only of autonomy and best interests. However, here, autonomy is ambiguous between two concepts—concepts that are tied to different values and to different philosophical traditions. In some cases, the two values (that of agency and that of authenticity) entail different outcomes. We argue that the comparative value of these values needs to be assessed.
Terminal hafnium phosphinidene complexes and phosphinidene ligand exchange

Thermolysis of the structurally characterized hafnium phosphide complex, CpCp*HfMe(PHPh) (2), resulted in formation of the triphosphanato compound CpCp*Hf(P3Ph3) (3). Trapping reactions with PMe3 gave evidence for an intermediate phosphinidene complex, which was corroborated by synthesis of the related 2,6-dimesitylphenyl derivative CpCp*(Me3P)HfP(dmp) (8). The hafnocene phenylphosphinidene intermediate can also be intercepted by a [2 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction with 2-butyne. However, reaction of 2 with either xylyl isocyanide or benzophenone gives insertion into the hafnium methyl bond. Under thermolytic conditions, metal dichloro complexes can efficiently intercept a phosphinidene fragment from 2 in a unique phosphinidene ligand exchange reaction. Thus, complex 2 reacts with (dippe)PtCl2 (11, dippe = 1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ethane) and [N(Np)Ar]3TaCl2 (14, Np = neopentyl, Ar = 3,5-Me2C6H3) to afford phosphinidene complexes [(dippe)Pt(μ-PPh)]2 (12) and [N(Np)Ar]3TaPPh (15), respectively, in good isolated yields. A derivative of 12, [(dippe)Pt]2(μ-PPh) (13), was structurally characterized.
Higher Education for the Public Good: Emerging Voices from a National Movement

Preface.About the Authors.Part One: Exploring the Public Good.1. The Special Role of Higher Education in Society: As a Public Good for the Public Good (Tony C. Chambers).2. Challenges for Higher Education in Serving the Public Good (Adrianna J. Kezar).3. Creating a Metamovement: A Vision Toward Regaining the Public Social Charter (Adrianna J. Kezar).Part Two: Public Policy and the Public Good.4. State Governance and the Public Good (David Longanecker).5. Listening to the Public: A New Agenda for Higher Education? (David Mathews).6. Trusteeship and the Public Good (Richard Novak, Susan Whealler Johnston).7. The Public Good and a Racially Diverse Democracy (Denise O'Neil Green, William T. Trent).Part Three: Cross-Sector Issues and the Public Good.8. Liberal Education and the Civic Engagement Gap (Carol Geary Schneider).9. The Disciplines and the Public Good (Edward Zlotkowski).10. Scholarship for the Public Good: Living in Pasteur's Quadrant (Judith A. Ramaley).Part Four: Institutional Governance and Leadership for the Public Good.11. Integrating a Commitment to the Public Good into the Institutional Fabric (Lee Benson, Ira Harkavy, Matthew Hartley).12. Rethinking Faculty Roles and Rewards for the Public Good (Kelly Ward).13. Institutional Differences in Pursuing the Public Good (Barbara A. Holland).Part Five: Individual Leadership for the Public Good.14. Leading the Engaged Institution (James C. Votruba).15. Preparing Doctoral Students for Faculty Careers That Contribute to the Public Good (Ann Austin, Benita J. Barnes).16. Let Us Speak: Including Students' Voices in the Public Good of Higher Education (Stephen John Quaye).17. Presidential Leadership for the Public Good (Martha W. Gilliland).Part Six: Concluding Thoughts on the Public Good.18. Creating Dialogue: A New Charter and Vision of the Public Good (Adrianna J. Kezar).19. Pondering the Social Charter: Critical Reflection for Leaders (Tony C. Chambers).Name Index.Subject Index.
A Homeowner-Based Methodology for Economic Analysis of Energy-Efficiency Measures in Residences

Residential energy-efficiency measures, besides energy savings, provide opportunities for improvement of thermal comfort, air quality, lighting quality, and operation. However, all these benefits sometimes are not enough to convince a homeowner to pay the incremental cost associated with the energy-efficiency measure. The objective of this work is to develop a methodology for the economic evaluation of residential energy-efficiency measures that can simplify the economic analysis for the homeowner while taking into consideration all factors associated with the purchase, ownership, and selling of the house with the energy-efficiency measure. The methodology accounts for direct and indirect economic parameters associated to an energy-efficiency measure; direct parameters such as the mortgage interest and fuel price escalation rate, and indirect parameters such as savings account interest and marginal income tax rate. The methodology also considers different cases based on the service life of the energy-efficiency measure and loss of efficiency through a derating factor. To estimate the market value, the methodology uses the future energy cost savings instead of the cost of the EEM. Results from the methodology offer to homeowner annual net savings and net assets. The annual net savings gives the homeowner a measure of the annual positive cash flow that can be obtained from an energy-efficiency project; but more important, the net assets offer a measure of the added net wealth. To simplify and increase the use of the methodology by homeowners, the methodology has been implemented in an Excel tool that can be downloaded from the TxAIRE’s website.
Expression patterns of epithelial differentiation Antigens and lectin-binding sites in ameloblastomas: A comparison with basal cell carcinomas

Abstract Whether the peripheral ameloblastoma (PA) and intraoral basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are two different clinical entities or essentially the same lesion still remains unresolved. The immunophenotypes of neoplastic cells of peripheral and intraosseous ameloblastomas, ameloblastic carcinomas, and BCCs were studied using a panel of monoclonal/polyclonal antibodies and lectins. The major cytokeratins (CKs) of neoplastic cells of ameloblastomas were CKs 5 and 14, whereas co-expression of CKs 8, 18, and 19 was observed in the cells of the stellate reticulum-like areas. Metaplastic squamous and keratinizing cells found in follicular and acanthomatous variants of ameloblastomas expressed CKs 1 and 10, involucrin, and binding sites for the lectins Ulex europaeus agglutinin I and Helix pomatia agglutinin. β 2 -Microglobulin was uniformly negative in all cases of ameloblastomas and ameloblastic carcinomas studied. Cutaneous BCCs also demonstrated similar reactive patterns with the abovementioned antigens. The most striking feature is the presence of a peritumorous band-like peanut agglutinin staining found in both BCCs and PAs but not in intraosseous ameloblastomas. This unique peanut agglutinin staining pattern of PA may be diagnostically useful for its histopathologic distinction from an intraosseous ameloblastoma that has infiltrated the soft tissue. The neoplastic cells of ameloblastomas express markers of less-differentiated epithelial cells. Despite differences in epithelial origins, PAs are tumors analogous to cutaneous BCCs.
Effects of Host-Specific Toxins on Electropotentials of Plant Cells

Host-specific toxins from Helminthosporium victoriae (HV) and Periconia circinata (PC) caused gradual decreases in the negative electropotentials of single cells of susceptible but not of resistant plants. When tissues were held in a standard nutrient solution, the decrease (depolarization) induced by HV toxin was approximately 50 mv/hr; the decrease induced by PC toxin was even more gradual. Changes in ion efflux were detected before changes in electropotential. In contrast, toxin from H. carbonum caused a rapid but transient increase in negative electropotential of cells. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, which (like other metabolic inhibitors) blocks electrogenic pumps, caused cell electropotentials to decrease by approximately 50 mv within a few minutes. This suggests that HV and PC toxins do not have direct effects on electrogenic pumps, but do affect passive efflux of ions, or electrically neutral ion exchange systems, across the plasma membrane.
Real-Time Bayesian 3-D Pose Tracking

In this paper, we propose a novel approach for real-time 3-D tracking of object pose from a single camera. We formulate the 3-D pose tracking task in a Bayesian framework which fuses feature correspondence information from both previous frame and some selected key-frames into the posterior distribution of pose. We also developed an inter-frame motion inference algorithm which can get reliable inter-frame feature correspondences and relative pose. Finally, the maximum a posteriori estimation of pose is obtained via stochastic sampling to achieve stable and drift-free tracking. Experiments show significant improvement of our algorithm over existing algorithms especially in the cases of tracking agile motion, severe occlusion, drastic illumination change, and large object scale change
SIMULATING CHILDREN'S NULL SUBJECTS: AN EARLY LANGUAGE GENERATION MODEL

This paper reports work in progress on a sentence generation model which attempts to emulate certain language output patterns of children between the ages of one and one-half and three years. In particular, the model addresses the issue of why missing or phonetically "null" subjects appear as often as they do in the speech of young English-speaking children. It will also be used to examine why other patterns of output appear in the speech of children learning languages such as Italian and Chinese. Initial findings are that an output generator successfully approximates the null-subject output patterns found in English-speaking children by using a 'processing overload' metric alone; however, reference to several parameters related to discourse orientation and agreement morphology is necessary in order to account for the differing patterns of null arguments appearing cross-linguistically. Based on these findings, it is argued that the 'null-subject phenomenon' is due to the combined effects of limited processing capacity and early, accurate parameter setting.
Alternative Mechanisms for Multiorganizational Implementation The Case of Wastewater Management

The implementation of wastewater treatment policy in American municipalities provides a particularly useful context for the exploration of important issues in implementation research. Recent developments at the national level have stimulated the innovation of capital-intensive privatization in this sector. How this structure for implementation compares with alternatives, especially the conventional federally grant-funded route, is a question that can be explored through the use of implementation theory and can in turn help clarify and advance that theory. For instance, although top-down implementation research suggests the importance of hierarchically integrated structures for implementation success, this study shows that integration can be induced without hierarchy (as capital-intensive privatization) and that hierarchically managed structures (like the grant setting) may lack integrative capacity. Empirical research provides evidence for theoretically derived expectations that privatization can assist i...
Plastic/rubber blends of ultrasonically devulcanized GRT with HDPE

Ground tire rubber (GRT) and ultrasonically devulcanized GRT (DGRT) were blended with high density polyethylene (HDPE) in a Brabender internal mixer and a twin screw extruder. The DGRT with curatives was mixed with HDPE (HDPE/RGRT) and dynamically revulcanized in an internal mixer and a twin screw extruder. Also, HDPE and GRT blends mixed earlier by using a twin screw extruder were passed through the ultrasonic devulcanization extruder, and dynamically revulcanized by means of the internal mixer and the twin screw extruder. In addition, mechanical properties, rheology and morphology as well as melting behavior of the blends were studied. The mechanical properties of the blends were improved by dynamic revulcanization. The blends mixed by using the twin screw extruder prior to devulcanization and devulcanized in the presence of HDPE matrix were found to have better tensile properties and impact strength. Effects of various mixing devices on rheology of blends were also studied. The viscosity of HDPE/RGRT blends increased in comparison with that of HDPE/DGRT blends. Thermal properties of the blends were also investigated indicating little effect on their melting behavior.
Measurement of time varying temperature fields using visible imaging CCD cameras

A method for measuring time-varying surface temperature distributions using high frame rate visible imaging CCD cameras is described. The technique is based on an ad hoc model relating measured radiance to local surface temperature. This approach is based on the fairly non-restrictive assumptions that atmospheric scattering and absorption, and secondary emission and reflection are negligible. In order to assess performance, both concurrent and non-concurrent calibration and measurement, performed under dynamic thermal conditions, are examined. It is found that measurement accuracy is comparable to the theoretical accuracy predicted for infrared-based systems. In addition, performance tests indicate that in our experimental system, real-time calibration can be achieved while real-time whole-field temperature measurements require relatively course spatial resolution. The principal advantages of the proposed method are its simplicity and low cost. In addition, since independent temperature measurements are used for calibration, emissivity remains unspecified, so that a potentially significant source of error is eliminated.
Charles Peirce and the Firstness of Process

In any discussion of Peirce’s philosophy, Firstness is usually the most neglected of his categories. This, however, is not due to any unique clarity of the category of Firstness. Indeed, Isabel Stearns remarks that “Firstness is without any doubt the most elusive of Peirce’s categories.”1 And, as Boler accurately summarizes the plight of Firstness, it “is certainly the least clear of the categories and the one that receives the least attention.”2 In the following essay, the focus of attention will be on the category of Firstness as it functions in Peirce’s metaphysics.
Heterogeneities in myocardial flow and metabolism: exacerbation with abnormal excitation

Because regional myocardial blood flows are remarkably heterogeneous—with a 6- to 10-fold range of flows in normal hearts—and because the spatial profiles of the flows are stable over long periods and over a range of conditions, the relation between flows and other physiologic functions has been explored. Local fatty acid uptake and oxygen consumption are almost linearly related to the flows. Coronary network structure and hydrodynamic resistances give suitable flow heterogeneity but are thought to be a response to local needs rather than being causative. Presumably the cause is the need for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis locally, and therefore flows, substrate delivery, and oxygen utilization are driven primarily by local rates of ATP hydrolysis, mainly by contractile proteins. This hypothesis is by no means fully tested. Data on pacing dog hearts from different sites, on patients with left bundle branch block, and on unloading transplanted rat hearts, all point in the same direction: unloading ventricular muscle leads to diminished flow and exaggeratedly diminished glucose uptake. The mechanism is likely to be that discovered by Taegtmeyer and colleagues, namely, the expression of fetal genes in regions where the muscle is unloaded and particular metabolic enzymes and transporters are downregulated.
Bits through queues

Considers the following simple communication channel model: an error-free bit pipe leading to a buffer modeled by a single-server queue whose "packets" or "customers" are single bits. If the service rate is /spl mu/ bits/sec, common wisdom would indicate that the Shannon capacity of this communication link is /spl mu/ bits/sec. As we show in this paper, that intuition is wrong: the answer is actually higher than /spl mu/ bits/sec. How could we possibly transmit information at a rate faster than the service rate? After all, overdriving the queue with an arrival rate higher than p will not do, as the queue will become unstable and its output rate will not be higher than /spl mu/. The capacity is higher than /spl mu/ because information can be encoded into the arrival epochs. A simpler and more fundamental problem, namely the Shannon capacity of the single-server queue, is also considered. >
USP6 (Tre2) Fusion Oncogenes in Aneurysmal Bone Cyst

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a locally aggressive osseous lesion that typically occurs during the first two decades of life. ABC was regarded historically as a nonneoplastic process, but recent cytogenetic data have shown clonal rearrangements of chromosomal bands 16q22 and 17p13, indicating a neoplastic basis in at least some ABCs. Herein we show that a recurring ABC chromosomal translocation t(16;17)(q22;p13) creates a fusion gene in which the osteoblast cadherin 11 gene (CDH11) promoter region on 16q22 is juxtaposed to the entire ubiquitin-specific protease USP6 (Tre2) coding sequence on 17p13. CDH11-USP6 fusion transcripts were demonstrated only in ABC with t(16;17) but other ABCs had CDH11 or USP6 rearrangements resulting from alternate cytogenetic mechanisms. CDH11 is expressed strongly in bone, and our findings implicate a novel oncogenic mechanism in which deregulated USP6 transcription results from juxtaposition to the highly active CDH11 promoter.
Investigation of skin tribology and its effects on the tactile attributes of polymer fabrics

Abstract The most fundamental interaction between a user and a product is physical touch. In fact, a significant amount of the perceived value of a product results from the initial touch experience by the potential customer, whether the product is an automobile interior or a portable music player. Therefore, the ability to engineer a product's tactile character to produce favorable sensory perceptions has the potential to revolutionize product design. Another major consideration is the potential for products to produce friction-induced injuries to skin such as blistering. Progress in this field has been hindered by the difficulties in drawing correlations between human sensory outcomes (e.g. softness, smoothness, leather-like feel) and quantitative physical properties (e.g. friction coefficient, elastic modulus). In this paper, a framework is proposed to address this issue with regards to polymer fabrics, which are used everywhere from clothing to protective wound-care products, and results are reported. Human evaluators were used in a modified Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) approach in order to identify four specific tactile attributes of fabric materials—sensible texture, abrasiveness, slipperiness, and fuzziness. The friction coefficients of the same fabrics against skin were measured by employing a three-axis dynamometer. The results were then correlated to sensory attributes by means of standard statistical methods. It was concluded from this work that human evaluators can score various fabrics along the above four tactile descriptors with significant statistical repeatability if “high” and “low” benchmark reference fabrics are made available during the evaluation. It was also observed that friction between fabric and skin is heavily dependent on both material type and fiber geometry, but that the impact of friction coefficient on tactility is still unclear. However, the methods presented in the paper may be used to further identify key fabric properties that are responsible for tactility.
Optimization and control of drilling burr formation of AISI 304L and AISI 4118 based on drilling burr control charts

Control charts for drilling burr formation for stainless, AISI 304L, and low alloy steel, AISI 4118, were developed. Split point twist drills are used for the experiments of this work. A Drilling Burr Control Chart, based on experimental data, is a tool for prediction and control of drilling burrs. Burr classification was carried out based on the geometric characteristics, burr formation mechanisms and sizes of the burrs. New parameters consisting of cutting condition variables and drill diameter were developed, and used to show unique distributions of the burr types. Burr types and the resultant burr size showed great dependence on the new parameters regardless of the drill diameters. Through the chart, burr type can be predicted with given cutting conditions. Also cutting conditions that are believed to create preferred burr types can be selected.
The pairwise Escape-G metric: a measure for air combat maneuvering performance

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Warfighter Readiness Research Division, is continuously researching tools to measure performance of knowledge and skills from an individual level to the Command and Control (C2) level, within both high fidelity distributed simulation environments and live training environments. Using the Performance Effectiveness Tracking System (PETS), we ran preliminary testing of a metric called Pairwise Escape-G that uses a concept called the Theoretical Instantaneous Probability of Weapon Intercept (TIPWI). TIPWI takes into account the current geometry of one aircraft against another for each given weapon (i.e., the physics-based envelope parameters) and is the weapon's probability of threat intercept at any instant during an engagement. This paper will describe the initial application of the Escape G metric within the Distributed Mission Operations Testbed (four high-fidelity F-16 simulators, one Airborne Warning and Controller System console, and Instructor Operator Station), preliminary outcomes, and suggested applications for this metric.
Supportive Relationships Among Former System Youth With Mental Health Challenges

This study explored the supportive relationships that former system youth (FSY; e.g., foster care) with mental health challenges identified as “key” in making the transition to adulthood. In-depth ...
Peritoneal Fluid Penetration of Tigecycline

Objective:To describe the peritoneal fluid penetration of tigecycline.Case Summary:A 33-year-old critically ill man who had undergone orthotopic liver and cadaveric renal transplant presented with sepsis. The patient required empiric antimicrobial coverage, continuous veno–venous hemofiltration, prolonged mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy placement, and maintenance immunosuppressive therapy. After multiple infections with multidrug-resistant pathogens, the patient developed vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium peritonitis. Tigecycline 50 mg was administered every 12 hours, and ascites fluid drug concentrations were obtained. Drug concentrations in the peritoneal fluid were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and revealed a tigecycline concentration of 0.074 μg/mL Despite aggressive measures, the patient's condition continued to decline; he died 2 weeks after tigecycline initiation.Discussion:As of October 3, 2006, these are the first data to describe tigecycline peritoneal fluid p...
Benefits Of Inmate Employment Programs: Evidence From The Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program

The United States is experiencing a persistent increase in its prison population and, consequently, a steady increase in public spending on incarceration. A possible systemic change to mitigate these trends is a return to historically cost effective inmate labor programs. Government savings and business revenues from these programs have been documented. Additional benefits have been hypothesized from an associated reduction in recidivism. This paper examines if this recidivism effect occurs following inmate participation in the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP). Inmate characteristics and PIECP participation variables are identified as potential predictors of recidivism. Logit regression procedures, including a two-stage instrumental variable procedure to address endogeneity, are used to capture the predictive value of the independent variables and quantify the reduction in the odds of inmate recidivism attributable to PIECP participation. The results indicate that employment in a PIECP program contributes to a statistically significant reduction in the odds of inmate recidivism.
An incentive‐compatible resource allocation problem allowing collusion

This paper extends recent results on an incentive-compatible modification of the Heal algorithm for resource allocation. Previous research has shown, under some assumptions, that the participants can be induced to report the truth in their own interest so as to achieve a group optimum. Using the same modified procedure, we show that if we allow secret collusion among users, participants can be induced to report quasi-accurate information in their own interest so as to achieve a group optimum. The instantaneous convergence rate (in terms of a Lyapunov function) is faster when we allow collusion.
Quasi-static and nonquasi-static compact MOSFET models based on symmetric linearization of the bulk and inversion charges

A particularly simple form of the charge-sheet model (CSM) is developed using symmetric linearization of the bulk charge as a function of the surface potential. The new formulation is verified by comparison with the original form of the CSM and is used to obtain a simple and accurate expressions for the quasi-static (QS) terminal charges based on the Ward-Dutton partition. Combined with the spline collocation version of the weighted residuals method, symmetric linearization leads to a relatively simple version of the nonquasi-static (NQS) MOSFET model. The efficiency of the proposed approach to MOSFET modeling is enhanced by taking advantage of the recently developed noniterative algorithm for computing surface potential as a function of the terminal voltages. An important symmetry of the various MOSFET characteristics with respect to the source/drain interchange is preserved in both the QS and NQS versions of the symmetrically linearized CSM.
Heavy-traffic extreme value limits for Erlang delay models

We consider the maximum queue length and the maximum number of idle servers in the classical Erlang delay model and the generalization allowing customer abandonment--the M/M/n+M queue. We use strong approximations to show, under regularity conditions, that properly scaled versions of the maximum queue length and maximum number of idle servers over subintervals [0,t] in the delay models converge jointly to independent random variables with the Gumbel extreme value distribution in the quality-and-efficiency-driven (QED) and ED many-server heavy-traffic limiting regimes as n and t increase to infinity together appropriately; we require that t n ?? and t n =o(n 1/2?? ) as n?? for some ?>0.
Differential Inhibitor Sensitivity of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Variants Found in Neuroblastoma

Activating mutations in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene were recently discovered in neuroblastoma, a cancer of the developing autonomic nervous system that is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in the first year of life. The most frequent ALK mutations in neuroblastoma cause amino acid substitutions (F1174L and R1275Q) in the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain of the intact ALK receptor. Identification of ALK as an oncogenic driver in neuroblastoma suggests that crizotinib (PF-02341066), a dual-specific inhibitor of the ALK and Met tyrosine kinases, will be useful in treating this malignancy. Here, we assessed the ability of crizotinib to inhibit proliferation of neuroblastoma cell lines and xenografts expressing mutated or wild-type ALK. Crizotinib inhibited proliferation of cell lines expressing either R1275Q-mutated ALK or amplified wild-type ALK. In contrast, cell lines harboring F1174L-mutated ALK were relatively resistant to crizotinib. Biochemical analyses revealed that this reduced susceptibility of F1174L-mutated ALK to crizotinib inhibition resulted from an increased adenosine triphosphate-binding affinity (as also seen in acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors). Thus, this effect should be surmountable with higher doses of crizotinib and/or with higher-affinity inhibitors.