cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of resin-rich areas for statistical analysis of fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Abstract Resin-rich areas (a.k.a. resin-rich zones or resin pockets) are a common phenomenon in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites that significantly impact composite material properties and failure initiation. Although resin-rich areas can be intuitively observed from composite cross-sectional images, it is challenging to automate identifying them due to the absence of an explicit definition of their boundaries. In this paper, a novel algorithm is proposed to automatically identify resin-rich areas from composite cross-sectional images. We apply the concept of alpha-hulls to formalize a mathematical definition of the boundaries of resin-rich areas, and design an efficient process to compute the defined boundaries in seconds. This approach enables us to provide statistical analyses to quantitatively summarize the identified resin-rich areas, such as the number of separated areas and the histogram of their sizes. The rigorous mathematical definition of resin-rich areas and ability to collect thorough statistics will facilitate better understanding and quantification of the relationship between resin-rich areas and material properties.
Co-citation and Co-authorship Networks of Statisticians

We collected and cleaned a large dataset on publications in statistics. The dataset consists of the co-author relationships and citation relationships of 83, 331 articles published in 36 representa...
Instrumental Analytical Techniques for Archaeological Geology

A simple search of either modern scholarly or popular scientific literature confirms the relevance of chemical analyses to archaeology. Chemical analyses are not only used to determine the chemical makeup of an artifact, but also to reveal clues to age, diet and health when applied to both organic and inorganic materials. Chemistry is equally important in the preservation and restoration of archaeological materials. The first use of chemistry in the study of artifacts can be traced to the great German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth’s 1796 studies of Greek and Roman coins, other metal artifacts and some Roman glass in which he pioneered the use of gravimetric analysis (Goffer 1980). Gravimetric analysis is the determination of an element through the measurement of the weight of the insoluble product of a reaction with that element. Since Klaproth’s first foray there have been numerous examples of the application of analytical chemistry to archaeological materials of all sorts by historical figures in both chemistry and physics — Sir Humphrey Davy, Jon Davy (Sir Humphrey’s brother), Jons Jakob Berzelius, Jon Voelker, Michael Faraday, Marcelin Berthelot and Friedrich August von Kekule (various in Goffer 1980; Meschel 1980; Pollard and Heron 1996).
Effects of Method of Presentation and Extent of Angular Displacement upon Accuracy in Horizontal Arm-Positioning

Abstract The effects of two methods of presentation and three extents of angular displacement upon accuracy in horizontal arm-positioning were investigated. In the verbal instruction method of presentation, the experimenter specified in degrees the angle between the 0° starting position located in front of the subject and the designated position on the subject's left side. In the second method of presentation, the experimenter passively moved the armature on which the subject's arm rested a given number of degrees. The second experimental variable was extent of angular displacement having three levels: large (65° to 75°), medium (40° to 50°), and small (15° to 25°). A 2 x 3 factorial design with repeated measures on the second factor was employed. Accuracy in positioning was measured by the magnitude and direction of response error from the specified position. Using analysis of variance, main effects of both factors and interaction were observed to be significant (p ≤ .05). Analysis of simple effects indi...
Mitochondrial Amyloid-β Levels are Associated with the Extent of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Different Brain Regions and the Degree of Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer's Transgenic Mice

Mitochondrial dysfunction is observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain, and the amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide is known to induce mitochondrial dysfunction. The relative degree of mitochondrial dysfunction in different regions of the brain in AD is not completely understood. Moreover, the relationship between levels of synaptic mitochondrial Abeta and mitochondrial dysfunction has not been clearly established. Therefore synaptic and nonsynaptic mitochondria were isolated from the hippocampus, cortex, striatum, and amygdala of 12 month AbetaPPsw and AbetaPP+PS1 mouse models of AD as well as nontransgenic mice. Mitochondrial respiratory rates, reactive oxygen species production, membrane potential, and cytochrome c oxidase activity were measured. Hippocampal and cortical mitochondria showed the highest levels of mitochondrial dysfunction, while striatal mitochondria were moderately affected, and amygdalar mitochondria were minimally affected. Mitochondria from AbetaPP/PS1 brain regions were more impaired than those from AbetaPP mice. Mitochondrial Abeta levels nearly mirrored the extent of mitochondrial dysfunction. Synaptic mitochondria were more impaired than nonsynaptic mitochondria in the AD mouse models. The AbetaPP/PS1 mice showed more impairment in the cognitive interference task of working memory than the AbetaPP mice. The association between mitochondrial Abeta levels and mitochondrial dysfunction in mouse models of AD supports a primary role for mitochondrial Abeta in AD pathology. Moreover, the degree of cognitive impairment in AD transgenic mice can be linked to the extent of synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial Abeta levels, suggesting that a mitochondrial Abeta-induced signaling cascade may contribute to cognitive impairment. Therapeutics that target this cascade could be beneficial in the treatment of AD.
The 1994–1995 Mexican Currency Crisis and U.S. Bank Stock Returns

We investigate the impact of the 1994–1995 Mexican currency crisis on U.S. bank stock returns. We use a jump-diffusion model rather than a pure diffusion model to describe daily stock returns, because the public release of unexpected information generally is associated with discrete jumps in prices. Traditional event study models pool both announcement effects and trading effects and may lead to inefficient estimators. The jump-diffusion model can separate the impact of informed trading from unanticipated public announcements. Our results indicate that the variance of the jumps is large and increases with bank size and portion of loans to Mexico.
Physical environment of drumlin formation

Review of published descriptions of drumlin fields suggests that the following conditions are important to drumlin growth: (1) compressive longitudinal and possibly extending transverse strain rates in the ice, (2) thin ice such as occurs near the glacier margin, and (3) high pore-water pressure in the subglacial sediments. Most drumlin fields display all of these, and no fields of well-developed drumlins were found that did not. On the oilier hand, the lithology of drumlin-forming sediment appears not to be important in promoting drumlin growth, since it varied widely, nor are the lithology and large-scale topography of the bed.
Medicare Coverage Policy and Decision Making, Preventive Services, and Comparative Effectiveness Research Before and After the Affordable Care Act

The cost of the Medicare program threatens the future of the program, and some policymakers and analysts have proposed rationing care and employing cost effectiveness as a factor in Medicare coverage decision making. This Article argues that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) did not undertake to directly address the cost of the Medicare program but instead put forward two sets of initiatives that will have an impact on the cost of the program over time. These include: (1) an expansion of the Medicare benefit and coverage package to include additional preventive care services, and (2) a significant increase in funding and programs directed at developing and disseminating information regarding the effectiveness of treatments and services. This Article also argues that in these two sets of initiatives Congress and the President extended initiatives previously approved by both Democrat and Republican controlled Congresses and White Houses. Additionally, it contends that, by leaving unchanged the standards governing national coverage determinations (NCD) established in earlier legislation and the regulatory refinements of the NCD decision-making process put forward by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Congress implicitly approved the regime that governs national and local coverage determinations in the Medicare program.
Generating Method of Three-Phase Voltage Sag in EV Charging System Performance Testing

In order to analyze the impact between Electric Vehicle (EV) charging system and grid influence. In this paper, a method of three-phase voltage sag generating based on DQ transformation is proposed. With the ‘Back to Back’ linked two PWM voltage-source converters, normal and fault state of infinite grid is simulated. Aiming at seven typical voltage sag faults (including all the voltage sag types in symmetric, asymmetric excluding zero-sequence and asymmetric contain zero-sequence circumstances), compound operation is completed in synchronous rotational axes (dq0) under symmetrical component method applied. Especially, abc-dq0 transform is amended for asymmetric contain zero-sequence voltage sag situation. So the space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) control signal is generated. Three-phase voltage sag generated with this method could satisfy the phase relationship and amplitude relationship of the inter-phase automatically. As a result, common connection point (PCC) fault voltage could be accurately generated. And the full scope of the depth of voltage sag adjustable and fault duration of any settings are realized. Simulation and experiment results show that this method is the rationality and feasibility.
Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System: Data Overview

Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System is a comprehensive, integrated system of information about the employment, educational, and demographic characteristics of U.S. scientists and engineers. Download the slides at: http://papers.ssrn.com/paper=1027936 Download the audio file at: http://papers.ssrn.com/paper=1028854
Optical properties of large and small polarons and bipolarons.

In systems that are two and three dimensional electronically, a large polaron and a small polaron are distinct types of quasiparticles. The type of polaron formed depends on which electron-lattice interaction is of primary importance. A large polaron forms when the electron-lattice interaction due to the long-range Coulombic interactions between an electronic carrier and a solid's ions are of paramount importance. Competing effects then determine the radius of a large polaron. By contrast, a small polaron can form when a short-range electron-lattice interaction, such as the deformation-potential interaction, is dominant. A small polaron forms as its self-trapped carrier shrinks without limit until it is confined to a single site. Fundamental differences between large and small polarons produce optical spectra with distinguishing features. The absorption due to photoionization of a large polaron depends on products of the matrix elements for exciting a carrier from its self-trapped states to a free-carrier state and the density of these free-carrier states. These matrix elements fall sharply with increasing free-carrier wave vector k when kRg1, where R is the large polaron's radius. A large polaron's photoionization produces a temperature-independent absorption band. This band is asymmetric with the absorption intensity on the high-energy side of the peak exceeding that on the low-energy side of the peak.By contrast, the small-polaron absorption arises as the self-trapped carrier is induced to transfer from its well-localized state to a localized state at an adjacent site. Phonon broadening of these local electronic energy levels produces the widths of these absorption bands. Small-polaron absorption bands are asymmetric with the absorption intensity below the peak energy exceeding that above the peak energy. With rising temperature the phonon broadening of the local electronic energy levels progressively broadens these absorption bands. In addition, the motion of a polaron in response to an ac field can produce a (Drude-like) free-carrier absorption. A large polaron's free-carrier absorption occurs at frequencies below the characteristic phonon frequency. By contrast, if the narrow bands that characterize small polarons did not result in their localization, their coherent motion would produce a free-carrier absorption that is restricted to frequencies far below the phonon frequency. The optical spectra of large and small bipolarons are similar to those for large and small polarons, respectively. Finally, carrier-induced absorption bands observed in semiconducting and superconducting cuprates are compared with the expectations of large- and small-polaronic absorptions. The high-frequency absorption bands are consistent with the existence of large-polaronic carriers. However, taken together, the free-carrier absorptions and the dc transport in the superconductors depart from expectations of independent polaronic carriers. It is suggested that if the carriers in the cuprates are polaronic, their transport in the superconductors' normal states is collective.
The Genus Perissopalla (Acari: Trombiculidae), with Descriptions of Three New Species from Venezuela, Correction to the Description of P. Precaria, a Key to the Species, and Synonymy of Pseudoschoengastia (Perissopalla) Tiucali with Hoffmanniella Beltrani

The genus Perissopalla is redefined and 3 additional species are described from Venezuela: P. calculata , n. sp., off Eptesicus fuscus; P. rationalis , n. sp., off Glossophaga soricina ; and P. pogoi , n. sp., off Monodelphis brevicaudata . Description of P. precaria is corrected to note papilliform microtarsala I. Colicus exhumatus and Hoffmanniella beltrani are excluded from Perissopalla. Pseudoschoengastia (Perissopalla) tiucali is a junior synonym of Hoffmanniella beltrani .
Economics as Science and as Culture

Two aspects of contemporary society motivate this paper. First, is the recognition of a growing awareness that our society is in a period of major social-cultural change, and second is the recognition of science as the major institutionalized and organized basis of knowledge within society (Bell). The implication is that science can either impede or facilitate the change. The proposition that economics is both science and culture recognizes that economics as a discipline embodies society's traditional sense of historical purpose and values but that it does so in the name of science. Culture is used conceptually to designate society's common sense of purpose and meaning (Bell). We conceive of a cultural tradition as the embodiment of society's historical, experiential knowledge (Cassirer). The paper develops around the proposition that experiential knowledge is the basis of human meaning and purpose and is prior to, and takes precedence over, scientific knowledge as a ground for action and choice (Cassirer). The thrust of the paper is to clarify the distinction between cultural and scientific knowledge and, thus, the role of science, to give some historical background on how economics developed as both, and to develop some implications from this analysis regarding the future. This discussion necessitates considering science and the social sciences generally. Agricultural economics is an applied social science, and the implications will be expressed in terms of that discipline. One conclusion is that agricultural economics as now practiced is both bad science and uninformed culture. Culture, Science and History
An assessment of the conditions for critical velocity ionization at the weakly magnetized planets

It has been proposed that critical velocity ionization (CVI) may occur in the magnetosheaths of weakly magnetized planets where the solar wind flows through the planets' upper atmospheres. One can examine this possibility for Venus and Mars by using magnetosheath flow and exosphere models to determine whether the criteria for CVI are met. These criteria include Brenning's empirical condition on the cross-field flow velocity (it must not exceed the local magnetosonic velocity) and the 'Townsend condition' requiring that the integrated probability of impact ionization by a hot electron be greater than 1 along a streamline past the planet. Application of the Spreiter-Stahara gas dynamic flow model and the Nagy and coworkers' models for the exospheres lead to the conclusion that the conditions can be met in a limited region near Venus. However, evidence for CVI has not been identified in in-situ data. Since key details of the planet-solar wind interaction can be explained in terms of photoionization alone, other signatures of the process must be sought in the observations if the presence of CVI is to be positively inferred.
Estimating fuzzy set membership coefficients with log‐multiplicative association models: The case of contraceptiveness

Demographers conventionally group survey respondents into categories. Along the lines of classical set theory, membership in a category is a dichotomous 0–1 variable. In this article, I present an alternative to this yes‐no grouping in which observations belong to fuzzy sets, in which the membership is a gradation between 0 and 1, depending on the extent to which a person belongs to the set. The analysis uses data on a sample of women from the 1982 U.S. National Survey of Family Growth, and substantively focuses on reasons for sterilization. The log‐multiplicative association model is used to estimate contraceptiveness, i.e., the extent to which sterilization was for a contraceptive purpose, versus a medical purpose.
Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) biosynthesis from triglyceride substrates

The biosynthesis of poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA) by Pseudomonas resinovorans from triglyceride substrates was investigated. Each triglyceride, whether animal fat or vegetable oil, supported cellular growth to relatively high average cell yields (3.3 ± 0.2 g/l). PHA yields ranged from 1.1 g/l to 2.1 g/l, representing approximately 45% of the bacterial cell dry weight. The repeat-unit composition of the polymers was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry of the β-hydroxyalkanoate methyl esters from the hydrolyzed polymers. With the exception of PHA from soybean oil (PHA-soy), each polyester was composed of β-hydroxyacyl moieties with chain lengths ranging from C4 to C14, with C8 and C10 being the predominant species. PHA-soy contained an additional fraction (2%) of C16 monomers. The alkyl side-chains of the PHA contained varying degrees of unsaturation. PHA from coconut oil was composed entirely of saturated side-chains, whereas PHA-soy contained 4.2 mol% olefinic groups in its side-chains. The increase in the degree of side-chain unsaturation caused decreased melting temperatures, enthalpies of fusion, and glass transition temperatures. The molar masses of the polymers were relatively constant and ranged from 6.5 × 104 to 10.1 × 104 g/mol.
Advances in Applied Business Strategy

The article reviews the book “Advances in Applied Business Strategy,” vol. 1, edited by Robert Lamb.
Family Financial Power And College Attendance

This is an investigation of the role of family financial ability as a factor in the college attendance of a sample of Missouri high school graduates, who were in the upper one-third with respect to college ability. Questionnaires were mailed to parents of the subjects to learn the amount of federal income tax paid by the parents which was then used as an index of financial ability. Family financial power appeared to be a significant factor in college attendance when only sex and ability were controlled. However, when other factors related to college attendance and associated with financial ability were controlled, the impact of family financial power was substantially reduced.
THE EXTENT OF LYMPHADENECTOMY FOR pTXNO PROSTATE CANCER DOES NOT AFFECT PROSTATE CANCER OUTCOME IN THE PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN ERA

ABSTRACTPurpose: Recent data suggest that extended lymph node dissection in prostate cancer may be necessary for accurate staging. With limited lymph node dissection apparently node negative cases ...
PERSISTENT STIMULATORY EFFECT OF GLUCAGON ON GLUCOSE PRODUCTION DESPITE DOWNREGULATION

The rise and subsequent return to basal of glucose production (Ra) during a constant glucagon infusion (“downregulation”) has suggested to some workers that glucagon's effects are evanescent. To examine whether glucagon displays persistent biological activity even after downregulation, 6 healthy males received an 8 hour infusion of somatostatin and glucagon, with 3H-3-glucose to measure glucose turnover. Ra rose from 2.8 ± 0.3 to 4.2 ± 0.3 mg/kg·min at 90 minutes, returned to basal levels at 150 minutes, and remained at this level for the ensuing 330 minutes. Six additional subjects received an 8 hour somatostatin infusion, with glucagon administered concomitantly for the first 5 hours. Glucagon withdrawal at 5 hours produced an immediate decline in Ra from 1.8 ± 0.2 to 0.9 ± 0.2 mg/kg·min. Thus, even after downregulation the maintenance of basal Ra is dependent on circulating glucagon.
Some observations on the state of bluff-body aeroelasticity

The paper comments in general upon the state of the art in bluff-body aerodynamics and aeroelasticity, nothing particularly the continuing requirements for improving the data obtained in reduced-scale experiments. While certain existing theoretical response models are gaining in sophistication - as demonstrated by theories of long-span bridge response to wind - some of the gaps to be filled therein are mentioned. Use of theory as a diagnostic aid toward improving stability under wind is illustrated by recently suggested contour modifications to the Golden Gate brdige section profile. The paper concludes with a brief listing of recent related work by the Johns Hopkins group.
A phase I and pharmacologic study of sequences of the proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (PS-341, Velcade), in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with advanced malignancies.

Bortezomib, a selective inhibitor of the 20S proteasome with activity in a variety of cancers, exhibits sequence-dependent synergistic cytotoxicity with taxanes and platinum agents. Two different treatment schedules of bortezomib in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin were tested in this phase I study to evaluate the effects of scheduling on toxicities, pharmacodynamics and clinical activity. Patients with advanced malignancies were alternately assigned to receive (schedule A) paclitaxel and carboplatin (IV d1) followed by bortezomib (IV d2, d5, d8) or (schedule B) bortezomib (IV d1, d4, d8) followed by paclitaxel and carboplatin (IV d2) on a 21-day cycle. Fifty-three patients (A 25, B 28) were treated with a median of 3 cycles (range 1–8) for schedule A and 3.5 cycles (range 1–10) for schedule B. Grade 3 or higher treatment related hematologic adverse events in all cycles of treatment included neutropenia (A 52%, B 50%), anemia (A 12%, B 7.1%) and thrombocytopenia (A 16%, B 17.9%). Non-hematologic treatment related adverse events were fairly mild (primarily grades 1 and 2). The maximum tolerated dose and the recommended doses for future phase II trials are bortezomib 1.2 mg/m2, paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC = 6 for schedule A and bortezomib 1.2 mg/m2, paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC = 6 for schedule B. Six (21.4%) partial responses (PR) were seen with schedule B. In contrast, only 1 (4%) PR was achieved with schedule A. Similar proteasome inhibition was achieved at MTD for both schedules. Administration of sequential bortezomib followed by chemotherapy (schedule B) was well tolerated and associated with an encouraging number of objective responses in this small group of patients. Further studies with this administration schedule are warranted.
Mineralogy and Distribution of Fine-Grained Sediments in Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan

Abstract Little Traverse Bay, northeastern Lake Michigan, contains sediments ranging in mean grain size from about 1.5ϕ around the bay margins to 7ϕ in the central portion. Mineralogy of the fine-grained fraction of these sediments show the four main mineral groups, quartz, feldspars, clays, and carbonates to have decidedly different distributions within the bay. Quartz and feldspar reach maxima near the center of the bay, while carbonates are highest around the edge. Clay mineral abundance reaches three separate maxima in regions characterized by very poorly sorted sediment. There are two important sources of these sediments, extensive outcrops of Devonian limestones and dolomites along the south shore of the bay and bluffs of reddish glacial till along the northwestern shoreline. Materials from these areas are transported eastward to the bay head by longshore transport incurred by the prevailing westerly winds and then return westward along the deep central trough of the bay as the wind-induced setup is relieved. Essentially all of the calcite and much of the dolomite entering Little Traverse Bay undergoes dissolution during transport resulting in the carbonate-poor sediments of the bay floor.
Experimental and Simulation Study of Microhardness Indentation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Using Progressive Damage Material Model

A finite element model with progressive damage material properties is proposed to study the mechanical behavior of Ni-8YSZ/8YSZ half-cell structures under Vickers indentation tests. The simulation results show that the simulated hardnesses of the as-received anode (NiO-8YSZ with 12% porosity) and the reduced anode (NiO-8YSZ with 36.68% porosity) samples were 2.54 GPa and 0.66 GPa, respectively, which are fairly in agreement with the experimental data. The interface delamination between the anode layer and the electrolyte layer was investigated by varying the mechanical properties of the interface between the two layers. The parametric study shows that a weak interfacial layer (with a low Young’s modulus) may cause potential failure due to delamination.
Aerosol Indirect Effect on Biogeochemical Cycles and Climate

The net effect of anthropogenic aerosols on climate is usually considered the sum of the direct radiative effect of anthropogenic aerosols, plus the indirect effect of these aerosols through aerosol-cloud interactions. However, an additional impact of aerosols on a longer time scale is their indirect effect on climate through biogeochemical feedbacks, largely due to changes in the atmospheric concentration of CO2. Aerosols can affect land and ocean biogeochemical cycles by physical forcing or by adding nutrients and pollutants to ecosystems. The net biogeochemical effect of aerosols is estimated to be equivalent to a radiative forcing of –0.5 ± 0.4 watts per square meter, which suggests that reaching lower carbon targets will be even costlier than previously estimated.
Glucose utilization and reflex activity of the transected rat spinal cord

Spinal cord glucose utilization (SCGU) of gray and white matter was studied with the quantitative autoradiography [14C]2-deoxyglucose methodology, below and above a complete low thoracic transection. One day after transection, a generalized decrease in SCGU was observed in gray matter, particularly marked in the dorsal horn of the lumbar cord. A progressive increase in SCGU was observed thereafter. Values reached levels greater than those of non-transected controls by 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention in ventral horn of the lumbar cord, and ventral and dorsal horn of the cervical cord. A similar behavior of SCGU was observed in white matter of transected animals. The development of 17 lumbar reflex modalities was quantified between days 1 and 28 after spinal transection. The delay in emergence of these reflexes was related to their complexity. Correlation of reflex scores with SCGU was significant for all lumbar cord regions but linearity of this relationship was only observed in white matter. These results uncover a close relationship between SCGU and reflex activity of the spinal cord below a complete transection, particularly striking in white matter and suggests a role of the fasciculi proprii of the spinal cord in this phenomenon.
Size effect of powdered sample on EXAFS amplitude

Abstract Powdered samples samples are commonly used to measure the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and near-edge structure. It is shown that sizes of particles typically employed produce significant reduction in the EXAFS amplitude for concentrated samples. The distortion is calculated and found to be in good agreement with measurements on FeSi 2 samples. To obtain accurate EXAFS amplitudes on powdered samples it is necessary to use particles significantly smaller than 400 mesh when the atom of interest is concentrated.
Induction of immune tolerance to FIX by intramuscular AAV gene transfer is independent of the activation status of dendritic cells

The nature of viral vectors is suggested to be a significant contributor to undesirable immune responses subsequent to gene transfer. Such viral vectors, recognized as danger signals by the host immune system, activate dendritic cells (DCs), causing unwanted antivector and/or transgene product immunity. We recently reported efficient induction of immune tolerance to coagulation factor IX (FIX) by direct intramuscular injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV)–FIX. AAV vectors are nonpathogenic and elicit minimal inflammatory response. We hypothesized that the nonpathogenic nature of AAV plays a critical role in induction of tolerance after AAV gene transfer. We observed inefficient recruitment and activation of DCs subsequent to intramuscular injection of AAV. To further validate our hypothesis, we examined immune responses to FIX after intramuscular injection of AAV with simultaneous activation of DCs. We were able to achieve phenotypic and functional activation of DCs after administration of lipopolysaccharide and anti-CD40 antibody. However, we observed efficient induction of FIX tolerance irrespective of DC activation in mice with different genetic and major histocompatibility complex backgrounds. Furthermore, activation of DCs did not exaggerate the immune response induced after intramuscular injection of AAV serotype 2 vector. Our results demonstrate that induction of FIX tolerance after AAV gene transfer is independent of DC activation status.
The myth of discount promotions

Abstract Operators need to fully understand the impact that discounting has on overall financial results. Studies indicate that lowering prices can cause profits to be reduced, even with increased sales. Not all discount promotions result in increased sales and the consequences are demonstrated through tables and graphs. Every promotion has a ‘relevant’ range such that the ‘right’ increase in covers/sales allows the operator to offset the increased costs and improve on the return that would have been realized without the discount promotion. The operator can determine the increase in sales or customer counts required from the promotion to realize an increase in gross profit. If the customer/sales increase is unrealistic, the discount terms can be adjusted accordingly.
An isolated baroclinic eddy as a laboratory analogue of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter

We have recently presented evidence1 supporting the hypothesis2 that the long-lived large oval atmospheric eddies on Jupiter and Saturn, including Jupiter's anticyclonic Great Red Spot (GRS) and White Ovals and the cyclonic ‘barges’, are manifestations of ‘slantwise’ or ‘sloping’ convection in a rotating fluid, implying that they are involved in the horizontal transport of heat towards or away from the edges of the atmospheric zones or belts in which they occur, and that their kinetic energy derives directly from the action of gravity on the density field associated with horizontal gradients of temperature. These eddies would then be dynamically similar to the highly stable closed ‘baroclinic’ eddies produced in certain laboratory experiments on thermal convection in a rotating fluid subject to internal heating or cooling1,3. We now present laboratory findings that bear on the interpretation of the isolated nature of the GRS, including the crucial demonstration that a single intense stable baroclinic disturbance that is strongly localized in azimuth can form readily when the impressed conditions are close to the transition from axisymmetric to non-axisymmetric flow.
Yorùbá Influences on Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo

The enormous impact of the Yoruba religion on the New World African diaspora has been well established by scholars, especially when referring to the heavily Yorubanized popular Creole belief system...
A new CAPD battery--multiple auditory processing assessment: factor analysis and comparisons with SCAN.

Based on recommendations by Musiek & Chermak (1994, American Journal of Audiology, 3, 23–27) and ASHA (1996, American Journal of Audiology, 5(2), 41–54), a battery of four commonly used tests was selected and recorded for use in assessing school children. These tests were labeled the Multiple Auditory Processing Assessment (MAPA) and then administered to an initial sample of 81 third grade children, along with the SCAN screening test for auditory processing disorders. Afterward, several exploratory factor analyses were performed on the findings, and comparisons were made between the results for the MAPA and SCAN. Four separate factors emerged from the four MAPA tests, which were linked closely to the components of central auditory processing disorders (CAPDs) defined by ASHA (1996, American Journal of Audiology, 5(2), 41–54). These factors were labeled monaural separation/closure (MSC), auditory pattern/temporal ordering, binaural integration, and binaural separation (BS). SCAN appears to measure two of t...
The role of carbonic anhydrase in facilitating the transport of CO2 in the tooth of Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

Abstract 1. 1. CO 2 is the form in which dissolved inorganic carbon enters the tooth from the external medium. 2. 2. Carbonic anhydrase facilitates the transport of CO 2 from the external medium to the soft tissue and from the soft tissue to the calcareous part of the tooth.
Low Luminosity Galactic X-Ray Sources

From the point of view of stellar structure and evolution, a star’s life is a fairly quiescent affair but for its birth and death. Yet during its long period of relative dormancy, the stellar surface is the site for (often violent) “non-thermal” activity. This surface activity apparently reflects a departure from the orderly process of outward thermal energy transport from the energy-producing nuclear burning core to the radiating exterior. I will discuss some of the processes thought to give rise to stellar surface activity, using as a focus the recent Einstein Observatory results on stellar X-ray emission: because of the fortunate circumstance that stars throughout the H-R diagram turn out to emit X-rays, this emission serves as a useful diagnostic for this activity and may allow us to distinguish between alternative processes leading to activity.
Teaching metaliteracy: a new paradigm in action

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a model of information literacy instruction that utilizes social media to teach metaliteracy as the foundation for information literacy today and articulate the effects of social media on students’ information-seeking behaviors and processes and complete the goals articulated in part one of this study (Witek and Grettano, 2012). Design/methodology/approach – The study was conducted in conjunction with the course rhetoric and social media, co-designed and co-taught by the authors. Data sources consisted of student work and methodologies including textual and rhetorical analysis and observation. Findings are analyzed and presented through the lens of the Association of College and Research Libraries Standards (2000) and Mackey and Jacobson’s (2011) metaliteracy framework. Findings – The study identified four effects of social media use on students’ information literacy practices and behaviors: information now comes to users; information recall and attribution ...
Sustaining strategic IT advantage in the information age: how strategy paradigms differ by speed

Abstract At the dawn of the Information Age, the competitive dynamics in numerous industries are more intense than ever before. We look at the implications of competitive dynamics to IT strategies. We summarize the basic logic of various well-known (IT) strategy methods, particularly regarding sustainability of an advantage and conclude that (IT) strategy theory incorporates precious little about competitive dynamics. We then explore a recent strategy framework, Sustainability Analysis [Calif. Mgmt Rev. 34 (1992) 29; Strategy and the Search for Rents: The Evolution of Diversity among Firms, 1994; Renewable Advantage, 1998]. Sustainability Analysis distinguishes three ‘ecologies’ that entail important differences in strategies and timelines for sustaining (IT) advantage. We review these ecologies and draw insights for IT strategy.
Separated Renal Functions in Patients with Renal Arterial Disease, Pyelonephritis, and Essential Hypertension

Function tests of the individual kidneys have been performed during mannitol diuresis and vasopressin infusion in hypertensive patients with essential hypertension, pyelonephritis, and occlusive lesions of one or both main renal arteries or their primary branches. In patients with essential hypertension, glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow on the two sides, though depressed, were practically equal, as were urine flow, water, solute, and sodium excretions. Pyelonephritis and branch arterial lesions alike depressed urine flow, glomerular filtration rate, and renal plasma flow in the affected or more-affected kidneys; water, total solute, and sodium excretions were in proportion to glomerular filtration rate. These findings indicate a decrease in numbers of functioning nephrons without a qualitative change in function of those remaining. Occlusive lesion of one main renal artery decreased glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow on the affected side; urine flow was relatively more depres...
A proportionate mortality study of bricklayers and allied craftworkers.

Background Mortality among members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC) is examined. Bricklayers and allied craft workers may be exposed to cobalt, epoxy resins, pitch, lime, and to lung carcinogens such as asbestos, silica, and nickel. Methods Proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were computed using US age-, gender-, and race-specific mortality rates for members who died during 1986–1991. Results Statistically significant PMRs among white men were found for cancers of the esophagus (PMR = 134), stomach (PMR = 131), respiratory system, trachea, bronchus, and lung (PMR = 144), other parts of the respiratory system (PMR = 216), other and unspecified sites (PMR = 125). Elevated PMRs were also found for other diseases of the blood and blood forming organs (PMR = 201), emphysema (PMR = 133) and for asbestosis (PMR = 554), and other respiratory diseases (PMR = 119). Conclusions Results are consistent with those found in previous studies, and suggest the need for intervention activities directed at the prevention of these cancers, and other respiratory diseases. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:10–19, 2005. Published 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An arbitrarily programmable solar simulator based on a liquid crystal spatial light modulator

We describe the design, operation, and application of a programmable super-continuum solar simulator which incorporates a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to precisely control the spectral content within a prism-based spectrometer. Closed-loop operation of the simulator was used to optimize the output spectrum to match target profiles. Spectra are presented which simulate arbitrary irradiance profiles, an AM 1.5 solar reference spectrum, light biasing for multijunctions, and a dynamic light source for quantum efficiency measurements. Variable blue-rich and red-rich light-biasing spectra were used to demonstrate the current limiting behavior of a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell. The simulator light propagates as a beam with a single spatial mode, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including those that require a micrometer-scale focus.
Random Walk Based Heuristic Algorithms for Distributed Memory Model Checking

Abstract We explore the use of distributed processing to enhance the performance of explicit state enumeration based safety model-checking. State enumeration based model-checkers employ a hash-table to cut off search when a state is revisited. Distributed model-checkers distribute this table across the processing nodes, employing inter-node messages to perform state lookups. This approach incurs the following penalties: hashing states, looking up hash-tables, and possibly exchanging messages. In this paper, we study how to avoid these penalties in the context of safety model-checking, assuming that completeness can be sacrificed (acceptable for quick error detection). We employ the basic strategy of distributed random walk - a process of multiple processors randomly, and in an uncoordinated fashion, moving through the state-space looking for safety violations, without recording visited states. This process has the potential of maximizing CPU utilization, and consequently greatly increase the rate of state generation, as the pressure on the memory system as well as communication network are minimal. Moreover, the probability that a randomwalk repeats the same sequence of moves can decrease exponentially with the length of the sequence; thus, the work wasted by occasionally repeating short sequences of searches may be more than offset by the increased state generation rate. Our choices are ideal for distributed systems that have low amounts of memory per node, and are interconnected by low bandwidth networks. We also explore techniques that backoff slightly from our extremal choices, by exploring heuristic combinations of breadth-first search (BFS) and random-walk (RW) that require a modest amount of hash-table lookup and message exchanges. These search methods are natural to combine, since BFS requires higher amounts of memory to maintain queues, but guarantees to find the shortest path to a state, while RW has the opposite characteristics. In this paper, we first study these heuristic methods on synthetic benchmarks to gain sharper (more quantifiable) insights. We then conduct studies on some realistic examples as well. We employ up to 10 single-processor CPUs that happen to be connected via 100BASE-T Ethernets. Our code was easily ported to other platforms, thanks to our use of the popular MPI distributed programming library.
A diffusion model for fatigue crack growth

A stochastic model is proposed for the propagation of a fatigue crack. It is shown that fatigue crack growth can be described by a transition density function, and that the probability of a fatigue crack reaching a critical size can be determined by solving the diffusion equation. The commonly used rate of crack growth, $\text{d}a/\text{d}N$, appears in the diffusion model as the drift parameter.
Effects of contraceptive steroids and pregnancy on bile composition and kinetics in the baboon.

The effects of subcutaneous implants of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and norethindrone (NE) alone and in combination and pregnancy on bile composition and kinetics were studied in the baboon. Treatment with EE significantly (p less than .01) reduced biliary cholesterol; the addition of NE enhanced this effect. NE alone however produced a slight increase in biliary cholesterol. During the third trimester of pregnancy both biliary cholesterol and the lithogenic index were significantly (p less than .05) decreased. The chenodeoxycholic acid pool (CAP) size was significantly (p less than .05) decreased by EE and further decreased by EE plus NA (p less than .01). NET alone resulted in an increase in CAP size. CAP size was also reduced by pregnancy though the reduction was not significant (p less than .05) until the third trimester. EE plus NE significantly (p less than .05) increased deoxycholic acid pool (DAP) size though NE along could not sustain this increase. DAP size in pregnancy decreased during the third trimester. No net change in total bile acid pool size was observed during any of the periods of EE or EE plus NE though there was a significant (p less than .05) net decrease in total bile salt pool size during the third trimester of pregnancy. The relevance of the findings to the formation of gallstones in the human female is discussed.
Residue Height Influences Stand Dynamics of Alfalfa Grown on a Shallow Soil

Multiuse alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars have been developed to meet the need for high-quality and productive forages. A continuum of residual tissue quantities can occur in a stand because of management factors or livestock selectivity, depending on the production system. We conducted a field study to determine the influence of residual herbage height on the productivity and persistence of alfalfa under natural rainfall on a shallow, acidic soil (Lily series; fine-loamy, siliceous, mesic Typic Hapludults) typical of those found throughout the Appalachian Plateau. Three replicates of 'Alfagraze', 'Apollo', and 'Cimarron' alfalfa in each block of a randomized complete block design were clipped to residue heights of <2, 5, or 10 cm. Averaged over the experiment, Apollo yield was greatest, at 8.7 Mg ha -1 ; Alfagraze (8.0) and Cimarron (7.9) yields were about 10% less than Apollo. Clipping to 10 cm produced yields that were as much as 38% less than with shorter heights. Crown density decreased from about 400 to about 80 crowns m -2 during the experiment. Clipping to <2 cm caused the greatest variation in crown density among cultivars, with Alfagraze having the most and Cimarron the fewest crowns. With a 10-cm residue, weed competition increased and plant size and shoot number were depressed, especially in Alfagraze. Plants with large crowns produced more stems, which compensated for the gradual decline in plant population. The loss of larger-crowned plants during 1994 to 1995 was reflected in fewer shoots and reduced yield, and created a situation where increased productivity per plant could no longer compensate for plant losses. Reestablishment recommendations based on shoot numbers should be determined after the first clip in the growing season, and not in spring (when shoot numbers are changing rapidly). Our findings suggest that acceptable alfalfa yields can be obtained on a shallow acidic soil with surface liming, fertilizer input, and close clipping. The range of residue heights likely to occur in a stand of alfalfa influence productivity and persistence. Allowing a 10-cm residue to remain would probably accelerate plant loss and yield reduction from the stand.
Shifting in the Ruins

This article attempts to set current discussions of art history and visual culture in the context of what Bill Readings has described as ‘the university of excellence’. It then interprets the relation between these two fields in terms of both a certain temporal displacement (here following leads offered by Marshall Brown, Georges Didi-Huberman and Heinrich Wolfflin) and a contrast between ‘scientific’ and disciplinary models of knowledge or objectivity.
Social Forces in Negotiation Simulations

The status or origin of group representatives and the opportunity to earn money (in addition to course credit) were manipulated in a simulation involving subjects who felt that they were negotiating a problem for their teams. Representatives who were originally group members (insiders) were much tougher bargainers than those who were assigned the representational function (outsiders). In contrast, it was also found that subjects' behavior and reactions were unaffected by the monetary incentives provided.