cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bank Loan Commitments and Corporate Leverage

Abstract This paper investigates the relationship between a firm′s loan commitment demand and its overall capital structure. I develop a model which demonstrates that a loan commitment leads a firm to higher privately optimal debt level and a lower cost of debt funds; these results are driven by the loan commitment′s ability to attenuate the potential moral hazard problems attendant upon debt financing. I confront the predictions with cross-sectional data, and find that the availability of unused loan commitment financing is positively related to firm leverage and negatively related to cost of debt funds. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D82, G21, G32.
Molecular mechanism of nucleotide-induced primary granule release in human neutrophils: role for the P2Y2 receptor.

Nucleotides are released during vascular injury from activated platelets and broken cells, which could stimulate human neutrophils. In this study, we characterized the P2Y receptors and investigate...
Changes in the Water Balance and Photosynthesis of Onion, Bean and Cotton Plants under Saline Conditions

The osmotic concentration (osmotic potential) of onion leaf sap did not adjust to chloride salinity, and consequently water potential, turgor, stomatal aperture and transpiration were reduced. Although osmotic concentration of bean and cotton leaf sap did adjust to a saline root medium and turgor was no less in the salinized plants than in the controls, stomata of the salinized plants remained only partly open and transpiration was reduced. Net photosynthesis of onion plants was reduced by salinity (this effect being much enhanced in a hot dry atmosphere) but it could be rapidly raised to the level of the controls by inducing elevated leaf turgor. Stomatal closure was initially responsible for most of the ∼30 % reduction in photosynthesis of salinized beans. This was due to interference with CO2 diffusion and could be overcome by raising the CO2 concentration in the air. At a later stage of growth, salinity affected the light reaction of bean photosynthesis, and elevation of the air CO2 had little effect. Closure of stomata of salinized cotton plants had only a relatively small effect on net photosynthesis. Light intensity and CO2 concentration experiments showed that salinity was reducing the photosynthesis of cotton leaves mainly by affecting the light reaction of photosynthesis. It is concluded that chloride salinity does affect the water balance and rate of photosynthesis of plants and that the nature and degree of the effects will depend upon climatic conditions and may be very different between plant species and in the same species at different periods of growth.
A new Stephanospermum from the appalachian basin of North America

Abstract The discovery of anatomically preserved trigonocarpalean ovules in Lower Pennsylvanian sediments of Kentucky provides an opportunity to describe a new species of Stephanospermum and extends the stratigraphic range of the genus. Specimens of S. costatum n. sp. are 1.5 cm long and 0.8 cm in maximum diameter with an elongated micropylar tube and twelve longitudinally oriented ribs. No apical crown is produced. The nucellus is free from the integument above the chalaza and is vascularized by a continuous sheath of tracheids. The large dome-shaped pollen chamber exhibits a distinct nucellar beak, but no organized pollen chamber floor is present. Specimens of this type expand the known range of variation within Stephanospermum, and further strengthen suspected relationships to the genus Pachytesta. A pollen grain preserved in the nucellar beak is similar to Monoletes and may represent pollen of Stephanospermum costatum.
Intelligent forms processing

The automatic reading of optically scanned forms consists of two major components: extraction of the data image from the form and interpretation of the image as coded alphanumerics. The second component is also known as optical character recognition, or OCR. We have implemented a method for entry of a wide variety of forms that contain machine-printed data and that are often produced in business environments. The function, called Intelligent Forms Processing (IFP), accepts conventional forms that call for information to be printed in designated blank areas, but in which the information may exceed boundaries due to poor registration during printing. The human eye easily accommodates data that impinge on form boundaries or on background text; however, the same powers of discrimination applied to machine processing pose a technical challenge. The IFP system uses a setup phase to create a model of each form that is to be read. Scanned forms containing data are compared against the matching form model. Special algorithms are employed to extract data fields while removing background printing (e.g., form lines) intersecting the data. The extracted data images are interpreted by an OCR process that reads typical monospace fonts. New fonts may be added easily in a separate design mode. If the data are alphabetic, a lexicon may be assembled to define the possible entries.
Real Estate Brokerage Earnings: The Role of Choice of Compensation Scheme

One of the more interesting characteristics about the real estate brokerage industry is that workers are presented with a choice regarding the sort of compensation scheme under which they want to work. An overwhelming majority of workers choose what is referred to as a commission split scheme in which the salesperson splits any commission that they earn with a supervising broker that they generally are required to work under. In this case the firm provides office support and administrative services to the salesperson and, in return, the salesperson must split any commissions that they earn with the firm. Under the alternative compensation scheme, workers pay a substantial up-front “desk” fee to the firm and then are allowed to keep 100% of any commissions that they earn. In spite of the large volume of research on the determinants of real estate salesperson earnings, to our knowledge there are no studies analyzing the choice of compensation scheme and its impact on the earnings of real estate salespersons. This study uses data from the 2001 and 2003 Membership Surveys of the National Association of REALTORs® to analyze the impact of the real estate salespersons’ choice of compensation scheme on their earnings.
Pulmonary Function in Infectious Mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is common among students. These patients often complain of fatigue and dyspnea. To determine whether IM alters respiratory function, we performed spirometric, single-breath diffusing capacity, and maximal static respiratory pressure tests on seven patients with symptoms of IM. These studies were repeated two weeks later and the respiratory pressures were repeated five months later. Each patient served as his own control. Pulmonary function was normal except for respiratory pressures, which were initially low. These pressures, still low after two weeks, improved significantly after five months. We concluded that IM is associated with transient respiratory muscle weakness.
Pierre Marie: gifted intellect, poor timing and unchecked emotionality.

Pierre Marie was a prominent member of the French neurological world of the early twentieth century. Having been trained by the celebrated physician, J-M Charcot, Marie remained influenced by his t...
Modulation of hippocampal long-term potentiation by slow increases in ethanol concentration

To determine how acute ethanol intoxication may alter memory processing, we examined the effects of stepwise increases in ethanol on long-term potentiation (LTP) in rat hippocampal slices. LTP was inhibited by acute administration of 60 mM ethanol, but was readily induced if ethanol was increased gradually to 60 mM over 75 min. Administration of 2-amino-5 phosphonovalerate (APV), an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, during the stepwise increase in ethanol inhibited LTP, suggesting involvement of NMDARs in the development of tolerance. However, APV and nifedipine, an inhibitor of L-type calcium channels, failed to inhibit LTP when administered following the slow increase in ethanol. Ethanol-tolerant LTP was inhibited by thapsigargin, suggesting a major role for intracellular calcium release in this form of plasticity. The unique properties of ethanol-tolerant LTP suggest that memories formed during binge drinking are not acquired by standard synaptic mechanisms and that acute tolerance may involve the induction of novel mechanisms to maintain function.
Comparison of five iterative imputation methods for multivariate classification

Abstract Imputation methods are often used to fill the missing values in an incomplete data set before applying multivariate statistical methods. In this paper, five iterative imputation methods are compared. These include general iterative principal component imputation (GIP), singular value decomposition imputation (SVD), regularized expectation maximization with multiple ridge regression (r-EM), regularized expectation maximization with truncated total least squares (t-EM), and multiple imputation by chained equations (MICE). Two evaluation criteria (covariance change and classification error change) are determined to evaluate imputation performance on one simulated dataset and two published datasets. No single imputation method emerged as the overall best in all cases examined. The r-EM imputation method performs well when the missing proportion is under 20%, judging from results obtained from both real datasets examined. If the percentage of the missing data is above 20%, however, the purpose behind analysis of a dataset should be considered carefully before choosing an imputation method.
Legal and Ethical Considerations of Whistleblowing for Engineers

According to the ethical codes of many engineering professional societies, engineers have an ethical duty to the public. For example, the ASME Code of Ethics states that engineers “shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public.” Licensed engineers (PE’s) have additional legal duties to the public imposed by state licensing agencies. Engineering regulations and ethics codes have been interpreted by many to include the duty to report illegal or unsafe conditions to governmental authorities. This paper investigates whistleblowing as it relates to engineers. This troublesome topic is investigated considering the ethical, legal, and practical implications for engineers who blow the whistle.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
New metric for evaluating the accuracy of marching isosurfacing algorithms

A new measure of the accuracy of an isosurface produced by marching isosurfacing algorithms (e.g., Marching Cubes) is described. This metric has a low computational cost yet well-approximates a computationally-expensive, common assessment of produced isosurface accuracy (i.e., the spatial discrepancy between the produced isosurface and the isosurface of trilinear interpolation). Experiments of the method's quality and computational performance are also exhibited, including comparisons against a competing approximation metric previously described.
Affording cooperation: embodied constraints, dynamics, and action-scaled invariance in joint lifting.

Understanding the physical and interpersonal constraints that afford cooperation during real-world tasks requires consideration of the fit between the environment and task-relevant dimensions of coactors and the coactors’ fit with each other. In the present study, we examined how cooperation can emerge during ongoing interaction using the simple task of two actors’ moving long wooden planks. The system dynamics showed hysteresis: A past-action mode persisted when both solo and joint actions were possible. Moreover, pairs whose arm spans were both short, both long, or mismatched made action-mode transitions at similar points, when scaled by a relational measure. The relational measure of plank length to arm span was dictated by the pair member with the shorter arm span, who, thus, had a greater need to cooperate during the task. The results suggest that understanding affordances for cooperation requires giving more consideration to constraints imposed by the fit between coactors’ action capabilities.
Influence of leaf removal from the fruit cluster zone on the components of evaporative potential within grapevine canopies

Abstract Removal of leaves from around grape clusters reduces development of botrytis bunch rot. In past laboratory experiments, growth of Botrytis cinerea was negatively vffected by evaporative potential, the capacity of air to evaporated water. In the present study removal of leaves around clusters in grapevine canopies increased evaporative potentials significantly over those in canopies in which leaves were not removed. The relationships between evaporative potential and other microclimatic variables were evaluated. Vapor pressure deficits were very similar in grapevine canopies with or without leaves removed from around grape clusters, but wind speed was significantly greater around clusters where leaves were removed. The significant increases in evaporative potential associated with removal of leaves were correlated with increases in wind speeds within canopies. In contrast, the evaporative potential above the vineyard canopy was influenced most strongly by vapor pressure deficit and to a lesser extent by wind speed. Evaporative potentials within vine canopies were predicted accurately by wind speed and vapor pressure deficit using multiple-regression methods. Evaluations of these relationships and their impact on disease should provide insight into possible manipulations of other cropping systems to control disease.
Chromosome structural changes in cultured celery cells

Extensive karyotypic analyses of cultured celery cells were performed to assess variability with respect to the loss or gain of specific chromosome structural types and the nature and extent of chromosomal rearrangements. Among 40 karyotypes, produced from air dried protoplasts of celery suspension cultures, a net loss of long acrocentrics concomitant with a net increase in the number of short acrocentrics was observed as compared to the native karyotype. An average of 1.35 chromosomes per cell in these karyotypes exhibited distinct structural alterations. A technique developed to quantify and qualify actual loss or gain or both of chromosomes was used to determine that 67.5% of the cells were aneuploid, whereas all 40 cells exhibited clear karyotypic changes from the native karyotype. It was concluded that gross chromosome numbers were of little or no value in describing genetic variability at the chromosomal level of organization in this culture.
Mercury capture by distinct fly ash carbon forms

Carbon was separated from the fly ash from a Kentucky power plant using density gradient centrifugation and a lithium heterolpolytungstate high-density media. Relative concentrations of inertinite (up to 77% vol), isotropic carbon (up to 77% vol), and anisotropic carbon (up to 76% vol) were isolated from the original fly ash. Mercury concentration was lowest in the parent fly ash (which contains non-carbon components); followed by inertinite, isotropic coke, mixed isotropic−anisotropic coke fraction, and, with the highest concentration, the anisotropic coke concentrate. The latter order corresponds to the increase in BET surface area of the fly ash carbons. Previous studies have demonstrated the capture of mercury by fly ash carbon. This study confirms prior work demonstrating the varying role of carbon types in the capture, implying that variability in the carbon forms influences the amount of mercury retained on the fly ash.
Functional and binding studies of HS3.2 of the beta-globin locus control region.

The distal locus control region (LCR) is required for high-level expression of the complex of genes (HBBC) encoding the b-like globins of mammals in erythroid cells. Several major DNase hypersensitive sites (HSs 1‐5) mark the LCR. Sequence conservation and direct experimental evidencehave implicated sequences within andbetween the HScores infunction ofthe LCR. In this reportwe confirm the mapping of a minor HS between HS3 and HS4, called HS3.2, and show that sequences including it increase the number of random integration sites at which a drug resistance gene is expressed. We also show that nuclear proteins including GATA1 and Oct1 bind specifically to sequences within HS3.2. However, the protein Pbx1, whose binding site is the best match to one highly conserved sequence, does not bind strongly. GATA1 and Oct1 also bind in the HS cores of the LCR and to promoters in HBBC. Their binding to this minor HS suggests that they may be used in assembly of a large complex containing multiple regulatory sequences. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Soybean somatic embryogenesis: Effects of hormones and culture manipulations

Somatic embryos were induced in cultures of immature soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) embryos, or isolated cotyledons on MS modified medium supplemented with NAA and 2,4-D, BAP and ABA. When NAA and 2,4-D were compared at similar concentrations (25 and 23 μM), 2,4-D produced larger number of somatic embryos, however, embryogenesis efficiency was improved in media containing NAA by using higher levels (100–150 μM) of the auxin. Somatic embryo morphology varied with auxin type: NAA-induced embryos more closely resembled zygotic embryos than did 2,4-D-induced embryos. Additions of BAP or ABA to auxin-containing media had either no effect or reduced embryo production, although ABA altered the morphology of 2,4-D-induced embryos. In media containing both NAA and 2,4-D, the latter was dominant in terms of embryo morphology. The effects of subculture frequency and of transfers between 2,4-D and NAA media were investigated: Subculture frequency influenced mainly the frequency of normal embryos, while preculture on 2,4-D increased subsequent embryogenesis efficiency on NAA medium but reduced the frequency of normal embryos.
THE H ii REGION OF A PRIMORDIAL STAR

The concordance model of cosmology and structure formation predicts the formation of isolated very massive stars at high redshifts in dark matter dominated halos of 10{sup 5} to 10{sup 6} Msun. These stars photo-ionize their host primordial molecular clouds, expelling all the baryons from their halos. When the stars die, a relic H II region is formed within which large amounts of molecular hydrogen form which will allow the gas to cool efficiently when gravity assembles it into larger dark matter halos. The filaments surrounding the first star hosting halo are largely shielded and provide the pathway for gas to stream into the halo when the star has died. We present the first fully three dimensional cosmological radiation hydrodynamical simulations that follow all these effects. A novel adaptive ray casting technique incorporates the time dependent radiative transfer around point sources. This approach is fast enough so that radiation transport, kinetic rate equations, and hydrodynamics are solved self-consistently. It retains the time derivative of the transfer equation and is explicitly photon conserving. This method is integrated with the cosmological adaptive mesh refinement code enzo, and runs on distributed and shared memory parallel architectures. Where applicable the three dimensional calculation not onlymore » confirm expectations from earlier one dimensional results but also illustrate the multi-fold hydrodynamic complexities of H II regions. In the absence of stellar winds the circumstellar environments of the first supernovae and putative early gamma-ray bursts will be of low density {approx}1 cm{sup -3}. Albeit marginally resolved, ionization front instabilities lead to cometary and elephant trunk like small scale structures reminiscent of nearby star forming regions.« less
Phylogeography and historical demography of Sicydium salvini in the eastern Pacific

Amphidromy, characterized by freshwater adult and marine larval stages, has been shown to be an important influence on the genetic structure of aquatic populations. Sicydium salvini is a widespread goby species (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Sicydiinae) in the eastern Pacific with a continuous distribution from Mexico to Panama. Here, we use mitochondrial data to infer population genetic and historical demography of this species. Sequences were collected for the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b for 162 specimens sampled across the range of S. salvini with a concentration on rivers in Costa Rica. No genetic structure was detected between regions or rivers in the AMOVA analysis; the phylogeny for this species showed no geographic affinities and very little resolution. Historical demographic analyses indicated a population expansion during the late Pleistocene. These results are consistent with a panmictic population with expansion influenced strongly by Pleistocene glacial cycles and geologic uplift.
Fabrication of poly(p‐phenylene) by powder‐forming techniques

Application of powder-metallurgical forming techniques to poly(p-phenylene), PB, resulted in solid objects with tensile strengths as high as 35 MPa (5000 psi). Powders were characterized by BET surface area, x-ray crystallinity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and impurity levels in an effort to relate intrinsic powder properties with strengths attainable on fabrication. High surface area (>35m2/g) and low Cl impurity levels were generally associated with highest strengths. Forming variables were studied in some detail. Tough objects were obtained in a narrow sintering range of about 580°–615°C. Perchloropoly(p-phenylene) was also successfully fabricated.
Macrocognition Metrics: Meaningful Measures for Complex Processes

Increasingly we see business functions and military operations engaging systems that are interconnected and interdependent with an even greater degree of cognitive work distributed among people and machines. From this we will see an increased need to understand how individuals and teams in these environments are able to work together to plan, think, decide, solve problems, and take action as integrated units. This panel brings together leading researchers from the burgeoning field of macrocognition to discuss their research. In cognitive engineering and related scientific disciplines the term macrocognition has been contrasted with microcognition to illustrate differing types of cognitive processes. What complicates the issue is that these distinctions consider not only the realization of cognition in the real world but also a level of analysis. Panel members will discuss issues arising out of research to understand complex and collaborative activities in vivo and in situ and in the development of the app...
International Monetary Options for the Twenty-First Century

The crises of the 1990s convinced many observers that intermediate exchange rate arrangements are fragile and crisis prone. But calling for emerging markets to abandon the exchange rate as an anchor for policy compels those issuing the call to offer an alternative. In this article, the author assesses whether inflation targeting is a viable alternative for emerging markets. He focuses on distinctive characteristics of the policy environment that bear on its feasibility : these include the speed of pass-through, the difficulty of forecasting inflation, imperfect credibility, and liability dollarization. The author concludes that none of these complications renders inflation targeting infeasible, although a number render it more complex.
Performance Testing of Flashing Installation Methods for Brick Mold and Nonflanged Windows

One of the major sources of water intrusion in buildings is through openings in walls caused by windows and other fenestrations, in particular the interface between the window and wall. Numerous flashing products, including self-adhered products, have recently been developed to protect this window-wall interface from moisture intrusion. However, the proper installation of these flashing products is not well understood and installation methods are often misused. Various installation methods have been developed and tested to evaluate performance and ease of installation. While most of the flashing installation development has been focused on residential flanged-style windows, effective installation methods for wood framed “brick mold” windows as well as other “nonflanged” windows have not previously been developed and tested. A series of laboratory wall tests were used to compare the air leakage resistance (ASTM E 283), water leakage resistance (ASTM E 331), and durability (ASTM E 330) of various flashing materials and installation methods. The performance and durability of flashing as installed with round top windows, brick mold windows, and nonflanged windows were tested and evaluated.
Toward nanometer accuracy measurements

We at NIST are building a metrology instrument called the Molecular Measuring Machine (MMM) with the goal of performing 2D point-to-point measurements with one nanometer accuracy cover a 50 mm by 50 mm area. The instrument combines a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to probe the surface and a Michelson interferometer system to measure the probe movement, both with sub-nanometer resolution. The instrument also feature millidegree temperature control at 20 degrees C, an ultra-high vacuum environment with a base pressure below 10-5 Pa, and seismic and acoustic vibration isolation. High-accuracy pitch measurements have been performed on 1D gratings. In one experiment, the MMM STM probe imaged an array of laser-focused, atomically deposited chromium lines over an entire 5 micrometers by 1 mm area. Analysis of the data yielded an average line spacing of 212.69 nm with a 5 pm standard uncertainty. The uncertainty estimate is derived for an analysis of the sources of uncertainty for a 1 mm point-to-point measurement, including the effects of alignment, Abbe offset, motion cross-coupling, and temperature variations. In another measurement, the STM probe continuously tracked a holographically-produced grating surface for 10 mm, counting out 49,996 lines and measuring an average line spacing of 200.011 nm with a 5 pm standard uncertainty.
Web-Based Interface Design for Teleoperation

This article focuses on web-based teleoperation system design. We review current web-based telerobotic systems and identify human factors issues associated with them. Subsequently, the difficulties and challenges of interface design for web-based teleoperation are analyzed from the perspectives of system implementation and human factors. A prototyped web-based system was developed to further explore the design problems. An empirical study involving comparison of different prototype design options is described. On the basis of the research, several design guidelines were formulated for future work in this area.
Do marketing students need to speak XML

This paper introduces and examines the need for requiring marketing majors to study the Extensible Markup Language (XML). More specifically, this paper examines the importance of XML to marketing students interested in pursuing careers in such information and data driven areas as e-commerce, direct marketing, marketing research, etc. This paper explains the basics of XML, as well as a few of the business specific derivatives, XBRL, cXML and ebXML, and concludes that marketing curricula should require that marketing students have some understanding of XML and its derivatives.
Theological Politics and the Davidic Monarchy: Three Examples of Theological Exegesis

Karl Barth, Oliver O'Donovan, and Walter Brueggemann explicitly link their constructive political projects to extensive Scriptural exegesis. I will investigate their different readings of the Davidic monarchy within the life of Israel as a means by which to exposit and critique their respective accounts of centralized governmental authority. Along the way, three important judgments will be suggested from their theological exegesis for the task of theological politics: the analogical subordination of human government to divine judgment, an encouragement of prophetic counter-politics to ward off imperial idolatry, and affirmation of a positive creaturely witness to divine action.
TWO-DIMENSIONAL LANGUAGES AND CELLULAR AUTOMATA

Space-time diagrams of a one-dimensional cellular automaton can be visualized as half-plane arrays of symbols. The set of rectangular blocks extracted from such arrays forms a two-dimensional (picture) language. We initiate a study of cellular automata through the associated two dimensional languages by investigating cellular automata whose two-dimensional languages are factorial-local. We show that these cellular automata have the same characterization as one-sided cellular automata with SFT traces.
On Miki's identity for Bernoulli numbers

Abstract We give a short proof of Miki's identity for Bernoulli numbers, ∑ i = 2 n - 2 β i β n - i - ∑ i = 2 n - 2 n i β i β n - i = 2 H n β n for n ⩾ 4 where, β i = B i / i , B i is the i th Bernoulli number, and H n = 1 + 1 / 2 + ⋯ + 1 / n .
A fast transient stability screening and ranking tool

This paper introduces a fast transient stability screening tool to classify a designated set of contingencies into stable and unstable subsets using direct methods. The proposed method is based on the conservativeness of the Lyapunov function. The classification processes of the contingencies are performed along the solution trajectory towards the Controlling Unstable Equilibrium Point (controlling UEP). The proposed screening tool is intended to reliably capture the unstable contingencies and efficiently reduce the number of contingencies that need further analyses. If a numerical problem is encountered during the computation, the proposed scheme applies homotopy-based approaches to find the desired solution. If the numerical problem can not be solved using homotopy-based methods, the contingency is sent to a time-domain simulator for further analysis. The method was applied on the Western System Coordinating Council (WSCC) test system and results are presented.
Thermodynamic assessment of the Mg–Zn–Sr system

Abstract The phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the Mg–Sr–Zn system were analyzed in this work for the first time and a thermodynamic description of the system was obtained using a computerized optimization procedure. The available thermodynamic and phase diagram data were critically assessed for the Mg–Sr, Mg–Zn and Sr–Zn binary systems. Optimized thermodynamic properties of the binary systems were then used to construct a database and calculate the ternary phase diagram. The excess terms of the liquid phase in the binary Gibbs energy equation, for all binaries, were described by the Redlich–Kister polynomial equation. The established database predicted 4 saddle points, 11 ternary quasi-peritectics, 1 ternary peritectic and 3 ternary eutectics. Lack of ternary experimental data led to the following assumptions: no ternary solid solution and/or compounds are present in the system and no ternary terms were added to the model parameters for the thermodynamic properties of the liquid. The calculated ternary phase diagram can be improved by the addition of new experimental data and can help in establishing Mg multi-component database.
Fusion of remotely sensed data from airborne and ground-based sensors to enhance detection of cotton plants

The study investigated the use of aerial multispectral imagery and ground-based hyperspectral data for the discrimination of different crop types and timely detection of cotton plants over large areas. Airborne multispectral imagery and ground-based spectral reflectance data were acquired at the same time over three large agricultural fields in Burleson Co., Texas during the 2010 growing season. The discrimination accuracy of aerial- and ground-based data was examined individually; then a multi-sensor data fusion technique was applied on both datasets in order to improve the accuracy of discrimination. The individual classification accuracy of data taken with the aerial- and ground-based sensors were 90% and 93.3%, respectively. In comparison, the accuracy of discriminating crop types with fused data was 100% in the calibration and only 3.33% misclassification in the cross-validation. These results suggest that data fusion techniques could greatly enhance our ability to detect cotton from other plants.
Self-synchronous control of doubly-fed linear generators for ocean wave energy applications

A versatile doubly-fed linear generator was recently presented for application in the point absorber ocean wave energy converter (WEC). Although the machine may be operated as a classical synchronous machine, or as a singly- or doubly-fed induction machine, a self-synchronous approach to operating the machine is found to be attractive in low speed, high force applications. This is particularly beneficial for WECs since operating conditions alternate between positive and negative velocity at low speeds with high force. This characteristic lends itself to the proposed unique control approach. This paper develops the analytical concepts behind this controller as well as detailed simulation results.
On Two-Dimensional Sonic-Subsonic Flow

A compensated compactness framework is established for sonic-subsonic approximate solutions to the two-dimensional Euler equations for steady irrotational flows that may contain stagnation points. Only crude estimates are required for establishing compactness. It follows that the set of subsonic irrotational solutions to the Euler equations is compact; thus flows with sonic points over an obstacle, such as an airfoil, may be realized as limits of sequences of strictly subsonic flows. Furthermore, sonic-subsonic flows may be constructed from approximate solutions. The compactness framework is then extended to self-similar solutions of the Euler equations for unsteady irrotational flows.
Checklists for Administrators Developing Energy Conservation Programs

Many of our nation's schools were built in an era of inexpensive and abundant energy. Today those schools not only generate astronomical fuel costs, but also serve as poor conservation examples for students. Three checklists designed to help administrators conserve energy are provided here.
On constructing matrices with prescribed singular values and diagonal elements

Abstract Similar to the well known Schur-Horn theorem that characterizes the relationship between the diagonal entries and the eigenvalues of a Hermitian matrix, the Sing-Thompson theorem characterizes the relationship between the diagonal entries and the singular values of an arbitrary matrix. It is noted in this paper that, based on the induction principle, such a matrix can be constructed numerically by a fast recursive algorithm, provided that the given singular values and diagonal elements satisfy the Sing-Thompson conditions.
Eddies and the General Circulation of an Idealized oceanic Gyre: A Wind and Thermally Driven Primitive Equation Numerical Experiment

Abstract We present the results of a multi-level, constant depth, primitive equation general ocean numerical circulation simulation with mesoscale resolution. A single mid-latitude model gyre is driven by wind and heating. After 30 years of spin-up with a relatively coarse grid and large diffusion coefficients, the grid size and diffusion coefficients are reduced. The circulation then adjusts into a nonlinear and time-dependent flow with periods of tens of days and space scales of hundreds of kilometers. After a quasi-equilibrium state is achieved, two years of data are obtained which are separated into time-mean and time-dependent fluctuations, and analyzed. Dynamically distinct regions are intensified, momentum, heat and vorticity balances examined, and energy integrals calculated. Statistical measures of significance and of uncertainty are computed where possible. Eddy energy is produced primarily by Reynolds stress work (barotropic instability) on the mean circulation shear in the recirculation and ne...
Mixed-initiative strategies for real-time scheduling of multiple unmanned vehicles

Advances in autonomy have made it possible to invert the typical operator-to-unmanned vehicle ratio so that a single operator can now control multiple heterogeneous Unmanned Vehicles (UVs). Real-time scheduling and task assignment for multiple UVs in uncertain environments will require the computational ability of optimization algorithms combined with the judgment and adaptability of human supervisors through mixed-initiative systems. The goal of this paper is to analyze the interactions between operators and scheduling algorithms in two human- in-the-loop multiple UV control experiments. The impact of real-time operator modifications to the objective function of an optimization algorithm for multi-UV scheduling is described. Results from outdoor multiple UV flight tests using a human-computer collaborative scheduling system are presented, which provide valuable insight into the impact of environmental uncertainty and vehicle failures on system effectiveness.
Relationship Between Blast Overpressure and Shell Thickness on the Fluid Pressure on a Cylinder Under Blast Loading

The mechanics of blast wave-head interaction determines the magnitude of mechanical insult to the human head during a field explosion and subsequent brain injury. In this work, blast overpressure and shell thickness are related to fluid pressure based on experimental and computational methods. A fluid-filled cylinder is idealized as a two-dimensional analog of a skull-brain complex and is subjected to a Friedlander blast wave. Strain and pressure on the surface of the cylinder and pressure in the fluid (analogue of Intracranial pressure) are experimentally measured and compared with numerical simulation results. The validated numerical model shows that fluid pressure increases linearly with increase in reflected overpressures (ROP) for a given shell thickness. When the ROP is kept constant, fluid pressure increases linearly with the decrease in shell thickness. An equation is developed for predicting the fluid pressure for a given ROP and shell thickness.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Three-dimensional ultrasound imaging of vessel wall for evaluating atherosclerosis risk and disease

This research aims at developing a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system for carotid and brachial artery scanning for evaluating vessel wall characteristics. In the long term, we seek to test hypothesis that the artery wall measurements of carotid intima-media-thickness and brachial flow mediated dilatation using 3D ultrasound data provide better repeatability than those derived from conventional 2D ultrasound scans. The approach is to implement a free-hand data acquisition scheme using conventional 2D medical ultrasound scanner, develop data processing algorithms for appropriately registering and displaying the volumetric ultrasound vessel scans, and develop techniques for measuring vessel wall characteristics. The system uses electromagnetic sensor mounted on the transducer to acquire position and orientation of each image slice as the transducer is moved freely to scan the area of interest. These non-parallel images are registered into a 3D dataset for reconstruction, segmentation, and measurements of the vessel wall structure. A simple calibration object is developed using a small stainless-steel sphere in a fixed position to perform coordinate transformations and pixel registration. A commercial 3D ultrasound tissue-mimicking phantom is used for assessment of freehand 3D data acquisition, calibration, registration, and visualization schemes. Early results of experimental carotid artery scans of volunteers are presented.
Comparison of 4D-MicroSPECT and MicroCT for Murine Cardiac Function

The objective of this study was to compare a new generation of four-dimensional micro-single photon emission computed tomography (microSPECT) with microCT for the quantitative in vivo assessment of murine cardiac function. Four-dimensional isotropic cardiac images were acquired from anesthetized normal C57BL/6 mice with either microSPECT (n = 6) or microCT (n = 6). One additional mouse with myocardial infarction (MI) was scanned with both modalities. Prior to imaging, mice were injected with either technetium tetrofosmin for microSPECT or a liposomal blood pool contrast agent for microCT. Segmentation of the left ventricle (LV) was performed using Vitrea (Vital Images) software, to derive global and regional function. Measures of global LV function between microSPECT and microCT groups were comparable (e.g., ejection fraction = 71 ± 6 % microSPECT and 68 ± 4 % microCT). Regional functional indices (wall motion, wall thickening, regional ejection fraction) were also similar for the two modalities. In the mouse with MI, microSPECT identified a large perfusion defect that was not evident with microCT. Despite lower spatial resolution, microSPECT was comparable to microCT in the quantitative evaluation of cardiac function. MicroSPECT offers an advantage over microCT in the ability to evaluate simultaneously myocardial radiotracer distribution and function, simultaneously. MicroSPECT should be considered as an alternative to microCT and magnetic resonance for preclinical cardiac imaging in the mouse.
Lingua Mercatoria: Language and Foreign Direct Investment

Does language choice attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and if so, how? We argue that language—a dynamic instrument for reducing transaction costs—can influence investors' decision to allocate capital. Potential host countries attract investments by coordinating their domestic language policies—especially those in education—to match the language of the potential FDI investor. We subject our argument to three different tests: (i) a cross-sectional sample of all global Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development investments that employs a newly constructed language-in-education measurement; (ii) a newly assembled time-series cross-sectional data set of all Chinese FDI abroad; and (iii) a detailed case study that uses process tracing to explain Chinese FDI in Indonesia. The results from these tests demonstrate a significant and robust relationship between language and FDI.
Bordetella Type III Secretion Modulates Dendritic Cell Migration Resulting in Immunosuppression and Bacterial Persistence

Chronic bacterial infection reflects a balance between the host immune response and bacterial factors that promote colonization and immune evasion. Bordetella bronchiseptica uses a type III secretion system (TTSS) to persist in the lower respiratory tract of mice. We hypothesize that colonization is facilitated by bacteria-driven modulation of dendritic cells (DCs), which leads to an immunosuppressive adaptive host response. Migration of DCs to the draining lymph nodes of the respiratory tract was significantly increased in mice infected with wild-type B. bronchiseptica compared with mice infected with TTSS mutant bacteria. Reduced colonization by TTSS-deficient bacteria was evident by 7 days after infection, whereas colonization by wild-type bacteria remained high. This decrease in colonization correlated with peak IFN-gamma production by restimulated splenocytes from infected animals. Wild-type bacteria also elicited peak IFN-gamma production on day 7, but the quantity was significantly lower than that elicited by TTSS mutant bacteria. Additionally, wild-type bacteria elicited higher levels of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 compared with the TTSS mutant bacteria. B. bronchiseptica colonization in IL-10(-/-) mice was significantly reduced compared with infections in wild-type mice. These findings suggest that B. bronchiseptica use the TTSS to rapidly drive respiratory DCs to secondary lymphoid tissues where these APCs stimulate an immunosuppressive response characterized by increased IL-10 and decreased IFN-gamma production that favors bacterial persistence.
Epidemiological patterns of extra-medical drug use in the United States: Evidence from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, 2001–2003

Background: In 1994, epidemiological patterns of extra-medical drug use in the United States were estimated from the National Comorbidity Survey. This paper describes such patterns based upon more recent data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Methods: The NCS-R was a nationally representative face-to-face household survey of 9282 English-speaking respondents, aging 18 years and older, conducted in 2001–2003 using a fully structured diagnostic interview, the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) Version 3.0. Results: The estimated cumulative incidence of alcohol use in the NCS-R was 92%; tobacco, 74%; extra-medical use of other psychoactive drugs, 45%; cannabis, 43% and cocaine, 16%. Statistically robust associations existed between all types of drug use and age, sex, income, employment, education, marital status, geography, religious affiliation and religiosity. Very robust birth cohort differences were observed for cocaine, cannabis, and other extra-medical drug use, but not for alcohol or tobacco. Trends in the estimated cumulative incidence of drug use among young people across time suggested clear periods of fluctuating risk. Conclusions: These epidemiological patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and other extra-medical drug use in the United States in the early 21st century provide an update of NCS estimates from roughly 10 years ago, and are consistent with contemporaneous epidemiological studies. New findings on religion and religiosity, and exploratory data on time trends, represent progress in both concepts and methodology for such research. These estimates lead to no firm causal inferences, but contribute to a descriptive epidemiological foundation for future research on drug use and dependence across recent decades, birth cohorts, and population subgroups. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
High Levels of Relatedness between Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Nestmates in a Heavily Parasitized Host Community

ABSTRACT. Multiple parasitism of host nests by generalist brood parasites reflects the decisions of laying females and may influence the development and behavior of parasitic young. We used microsatellite and mtDNA control-region haplotype data to examine the relatedness of Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) offspring in multiply parasitized nests sampled from a heavily parasitized host community in northeastern Kansas. We also examined how host nest availability influenced the degree of multiple parasitism, and used community-wide parasitism data to explore whether female cowbirds were constrained in their laying decisions. Relatedness estimates for all suitable pairwise comparisons (n = 94 from 41 multiply parasitized nests) found that the mean likelihood than an individual cowbird in a multiply parasitized nest shared its nest with a full sibling was 40.4% (95% confidence interval: 28.4–52.4%), indicating that many cowbird offspring were reared with full siblings. Extensive community-wide parasitism...
Transmitral endocavitary repair of inferior left ventricular pseudoaneurysm: a simplified approach in patients requiring concomitant mitral valve surgery.

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysms (LVPAs) arise from contained myocardial rupture after acute myocardial infarction. Their propensity to rapid enlargement and rupture mandates expeditious surgical management.' We report a case of LVPA repair through an endocavitary transmitral approach in a patient undergoing concomitant mitral valve surgery.
Body figure perceptions and preferences among preadolescent children

A pictorial instrument was developed to examine perceptions of body figure in a cross-sectional survey of 1118 preadolescent children