cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Speech Entrainment for Aphasia Recovery (SpARc) phase II trial design

Abstract Background and purpose: Speech entrainment therapy (SET) is a computerized therapeutic approach that involves mimicking an audiovisual speech model to improve speech production. In a pilot study using SET for treatment of post-stroke non-fluent aphasia, significant gains were achieved in verbs per minute (VPM) during discourse using untrained items 1 and 6 weeks after treatment, suggesting that SET may yield meaningful improvements in fluent spontaneous speech for individuals with non-fluent aphasia. Methods The Speech Entrainment for Aphasia Recovery (SpARc) trial is a prospective, randomized, assessor-blinded, multicenter phase II clinical trial studying persons with chronic post-stroke non-fluent aphasia. Participants will be randomized to 3 weeks, 4.5 weeks, or 6 weeks of SET delivered via telehealth or a no SET control condition for 6 weeks. 80 adults (ages 21–81) with history of left hemisphere ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke with residual chronic (>6 months post stroke) non-fluent aphasia diagnosed by the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R) will be randomized (1:1:1:1) over 4 years. The trial will be conducted at the clinical research facilities at three sites: the Medical University of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Utah. Conclusions This paper details the trial design of the SpARc trial, which aims to determine the dose of SET that will generate the highest effect size on speech fluency, VPM, sustained at 3 months post-treatment compared to a no SET control arm, for individuals with chronic post-stroke non-fluent aphasia to permit a future definitive trial to test the clinical utility of SET.
Steroid avoidance/withdrawal and maintenance immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND Corticosteroids have been an integral part of maintenance immunosuppression for pediatric kidney transplantation. However, prolonged steroid therapy is associated with significant toxicities resulting in several SW/avoidance strategies in recent years. METHOD/OBJECTIVE This comprehensive review aims to discuss steroid-related toxicities and the safety, efficacy, and benefit of steroid avoidance/withdrawal immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. RESULTS Initial studies of SW/avoidance conducted in the setting of CSA and AZA showed an increased incidence of AR but no increase in graft loss or mortality with SW/avoidance maintenance immunosuppression. Studies performed under modern immunosuppression (induction therapy, Tac, and MMF) show no significant increase in AR or graft loss with SW/avoidance immunosuppression. Furthermore, SW/avoidance immunosuppression is associated with significant improvement in growth, BMI, BP control, and lipid profile in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. Despite these data, SW/avoidance remains controversial, and only 40% of pediatric kidney transplant recipients in the United States are currently on SW/avoidance maintenance immunosuppression. CONCLUSION SW/avoidance maintenance immunosuppression is safe and associated with fewer side effects compared with steroid-inclusive maintenance immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.
Introduction to the Physics of Biomaterials: The Role of Membranes

Six years ago, in 1989, the topic addressed in this series of NATO Advanced Study Institutes was “States and Phase Transitions in Soft Condensed Matter” [1]. At that time, the ASI confronted a broad spectrum of contemporary issues in complex fluid science including polymers, colloids, ferrofluids, membranes, microemulsions, and other macromolecular systems. This year the topic is “Physics of Biomaterials: Fluctuations, Self-Assembly and Evoluton”, which is one of the principal directions in which soft condensed matter has evolved. Once again, I’ve been asked to set the stage for a marvelous series of lecturers who will present material at the cutting edge of the field. The topics include protein folding, statistical and evolutionary aspects of DNA coding, biomolecular motor dynamics, neural nets, and coupled membrane-protein systems. Indeed I’m delighted to be here because there will be an enormous amount for me to learn. I, by no means, feel competant to provide any reasonable introduction to this broad array of subjects; neither do I possess the background in modern molecular and cellular biology that is necessary to place these topics in their proper context. Therefore these lectures will be restricted to a review of an area in which we in Santa Barbara have some experience, namely, lipid self-assembly to form membranes and their resulting interactions with various types of inclusions. This written extended abstract will discuss our rationale for treating this class of problems.
Analyzing Firm Performance in the Insurance Industry Using Frontier Efficiency Methods

In this introductory chapter to an upcoming book, the authors discuss the two principal types of efficiency frontier methodologies - the econometric (parametric) approach and the mathematical programming (non-parametric) approach. Frontier efficiency methodologies are discussed as useful in a variety of contexts: they can be used for testing economic hypotheses; providing guidance to regulators and policymakers; comparimg economic performance across countries; and informing management of the effects of procedures and strategies adapted by the firm. The econometric approach requires the specification of a production, cost, revenue, or profit function as well as assumptions about error terms. But this methodology is vulnerable to errors in the specification of the functional form or error term. The mathematical programming or linear programming approach avoids this type of error and measures any departure from the frontier as a relative inefficiency. Because each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages, it is recommended to estimate efficiency using more than one method. An important step in efficiency analysis is the definition of inputs and outputs and their prices. Insurer inputs can be classified into three principal groups: labor, business services and materials, and capital. Three principal approaches have been used to measure outputs in the financial services sector: the asset or intermediation approach, the user-cost approach, and the value-added approach. The asset approach treats firms as pure financial intermediaries and would be inappropriate for insurers because they provide other services. The user-cost method determines whether a financial product is an input or output based on its net contribution to the revenues of the firm. This method requires precise data on products, revenues and opportunity costs which are difficult to estimate in insurance. The value-added approach is judged the most appropriate method for studying insurance efficiency. it considers all asset and liability categories to have some output characteristics rather than distinguishing inputs from outputs. In order to measure efficiency in the insurance industry in which outputs are mostly intangible, measurable services must be defined. The three principal services provided by insurance companies are risk pooling and risk-bearing, "real" financial services relating to insured losses, and intermediation. The authors discuss how these services can be measured as outputs in value-added analysis. They then summarize existing efficiency literature.
A review of trends in distance education scholarship at research universities in North America, 1998-2007

This article explores and summarizes trends in research and scholarship over the last decade (i.e., 1998-2007) for students completing dissertations and theses in the area of distance education. The topics addressed, research designs utilized, and data collection and analysis methods used were compiled and analyzed. Results from this study indicate that most of the distance education research conducted by graduate students in this period of time has been descriptive, often addressing the perceptions, concerns, and satisfaction levels of various stakeholders with a particular distance education experience. Studies of this type typically used self-report surveys and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics. Validating the concern of many distance education scholars, there was a lack of graduate student research aimed at developing a theory base in distance education. On a positive note, projects directly comparing distance education with traditional face-to-face classrooms to determine the merit of specific programs declined significantly in 2007 as compared to 1998. This result might indicate that distance learning is becoming accepted as a viable and important educational experience in its own right. Another encouraging finding was the decreased emphasis on studies focused on technology issues, such as those analyzing the quality of distance education technology and questioning educators’ ability to provide an acceptable technology-enabled distance learning experience.
Modeling of hydraulic systems tailored to diagnostic fault detection systems

The consistent and reliable operation of hydraulic componentry is paramount for many systems. From spacecraft to the most basic automotive bottle jack an undetected failure can have significant consequences if not noticed in time. Many hydraulic systems have diagnostics capabilities but these are normally very limited in scope. They can detect events only related to specifically monitored components or general system failures. Typically these diagnostic systems are designed after the fact and tuned to meet goals. When hydraulic systems are designed, simulation models are frequently used to gain some idea of the finished systems performance. Rarely is the simulation model designed to accommodated and optimize a diagnostic capability. The number and placement of diagnostic sensors can have a significant effect on the ability of a diagnostic system to resolve faults early in their evolution cycle. This paper describes a technique developed at the Penn State Applied Research Laboratories Systems Operations and Automation Department for the design of hydraulic simulation models that pre-incorporate fault diagnostic advanced design features. This technique is being applied to a US Army M1120 heavy expanded mobility tactical truck (HEMTT) load handling system (LHS) supply vehicle that utilizes a palletized hydraulic loading system. The test vehicle has a hydraulic system that was fully instrumented with sensors for this work. This paper addresses a piece in the diagnostic puzzle that has until now been looked at. Namely what additional features in a simulation model allow for optimal placement and monitoring of the hydraulic system. The researchers have found that this typically leads the readdressing or removing certain engineering assumptions that are typically made when designing simulation models. When this is done the models are more flexible when it comes to diagnostic implementation.
Adaptive control to minimize shock in bang/bang systems

An adaptive bang-bang control framework for reduction of shock in industrial manipulators is presented. On/off control is replaced by adaptive on/off control to introduce damping of system dynamics. The approach is especially useful in situations where equipment is being controlled by logic controllers. The methods presented can be implemented without modification to existing on/off control programs. Noise, shock, and vibration in the factory are reduced, and equipment life is increased. Numerical simulations indicate that simple gradient descent algorithms admit a reduction in system shock by at least an order of magnitude. It is believed that the proposed algorithms can be implemented in smart actuators. >
Mechanism of cis- and trans-substrate interactions at the tetraethylammonium/H+ exchanger of rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles.

The kinetic basis for trans-effects of intravesicular substrates on the uptake of the organic cation, tetraethylammonium (TEA), into rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) was studied. Preloading BBMV with 1, 2, or 4 mM TEA stimulated the initial rate of uptake and the total net accumulation of 0.1 mM [3H]TEA. The stimulatory effect of intravesicular TEA on the initial rate of uptake was a saturable function of the trans-TEA concentration, with a half-maximal effect noted at an intravesicular concentration of 0.28 mM. A 1 mM trans-concentration of TEA increased the Jmax of [3H]TEA uptake (from 4.3 to 6.8 nmol.mg-1.min-1) without affecting the apparent Kt. An outwardly directed H+ gradient also increased Jmax (to 10.7 nmol.mg-1.min-1), although the addition of an outwardly directed TEA gradient did not produce further increases in the rate of TEA uptake. External H+ acted as a competitive inhibitor of TEA uptake, and an increase in external [H+] (from 32 nM to 100 nM) produced an increase in the apparent Kt for TEA transport (from 0.12 to 0.26 mM) without affecting the Jmax. The results suggested that TEA and H+ compete for a common site or set of mutually exclusive sites on the cytoplasmic and luminal aspects of TEA/H+ exchanger in the renal brush border, and that these sites have a similar affinity for TEA.
AIDS in minority populations in the United States.

Among ethnic minorities in the United States, blacks and Hispanics, who compose 12 percent and 7 percent of the U.S. population, respectively, constitute 24 percent and 14 percent of the cases of AIDS. Seventy-eight percent of all children with AIDS are black or Hispanic, as are 71 percent of all women with AIDS. In the black and Hispanic communities, intravenous (IV) drug abuse is associated with much of the AIDS transmission, and parenterally acquired infections are spread secondarily by sexual and perinatal transmission. Almost two-thirds of black and Hispanic persons with AIDS in the United States reside in New York, New Jersey, or Florida. Important differences in the understanding of AIDS and human immunodeficiency virus infection and control measures in minority communities must be considered in devising information and intervention programs for those communities. Programs intended specifically for minorities, especially greatly intensified prevention and treatment of IV drugs abuse, are needed to supplement programs aimed at the U.S. population in general. Combatting AIDS offers black and Hispanic populations an opportunity to greatly reduce IV drug abuse, other sexually transmitted diseases, and teenage pregnancy.
Experiments with Quadtree Representation of Matrices

The quadtrees matrix representation has been recently proposed as an alternative to the conventional linear storage of matrices. If all elements of a matrix are zero, then the matrix is represented by an empty tree; otherwise it is represented by a tree consisting of four subtrees, each representing, recursively, a quadrant of the matrix. Using four-way block decomposition, algorithms on quadtrees accelerate on blocks entirely of zeroes, and thereby offer improved performance on sparse matrices. This paper reports the results of experiments done with a quadtree matrix package implemented in REDUCE to compare the performance of quadtree representation with REDUCE's built-in sequential representation of matrices. Tests on addition, multiplication, and inversion of dense, triangular, tridiagonal, and diagonal matrices (both symbolic and numeric) of sizes up to 100×100 show that the quadtree algorithms perform well in a broad range of circumstances, sometimes running orders of magnitude faster than their sequential counterparts.
Velocity and Transport Characteristics of the Louisiana-Texas Coastal Current

Abstract : The Louisiana-Texas Coastal Current (LTCC) is a major dynamic feature responsible for the distribution of fresh water, sediment and nutrients on the northwestern shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. Earlier studies have indicated that this current exhibits a distinct although asymmetric annual cycle during which it flows downcoast, i.e., westward along the Louisiana coast and then southward along the Texas coast in fall, winter, and spring; however, in summer, the flow reverses and moves upcoast. This annual cycle of the LTCC is clearly observed with measurements from a cross-shore current meter mooring array located south of Cameron, LA in 1996 and 1997. Analyses of these data show that the currents are indeed downcoast between September 1996 and January 1997 with modest mean velocities up to 6 cm/s. During the expected upcoast regime of June-August 1996, our data show mean eastward speeds of 2-6cm/s. Cross-shelf spatial correlation length scales of the currents are well in excess of 60km during the downcoast regime but they are distinctly smaller (30-5O km) during the upcoast regime. Coherence analysis and predictions from a wind-driven model indicate that the downcoast currents and volume transport associated with them are highly coherent with alongshore wind stress. This wind stress also controls fluctuations of the upcoast currents and transport; however, it is not a dominant forcing. The data indicate that during the analyzed summer season, the alongshore sea-surface slope was also an important driving force of the LTCC.
Brain-machine interfaces to restore motor function and probe neural circuits.

Recent studies have shown that it is possible to create functional, bidirectional, real-time interfaces between living brain tissue and artificial devices. It is reasonable to predict that further research on brain–machine interfaces will lead to the development of a new generation of neuroprosthetic devices aimed at restoring motor functions in severely paralysed patients. In addition, I propose that such interfaces can become the core of a new experimental approach with which to investigate the operation of neural systems in behaving animals.
Growth Characteristics of a Pseudomonad Which Utilizes Pyridoxine or Pyridoxamine as a Carbon Source

Cultural characteristics of Pseudomonas MA-1, which has been extensively used as a source of enzymes that degrade vitamin B(6), confirm its classification as a pseudomonad. The organism requires biotin for growth; any one of several amino acids is also required for growth when pyridoxine (but not when glucose) serves as the energy source. Growth of Pseudomonas MA-1 is inhibited by one or more unidentified substances formed when pyridoxine is autoclaved with the medium. Modified cultural conditions are described which permit the large-scale growth of the organism with pyridoxine as carbon source.
Melanoma Arising in a Pre-Existent Nevus

Melanoma develops in a preexisting conventional nevus in two major patterns. By far the most frequent form is melanoma arising in the junctional portion of a nevus. This type of melanoma can most likely emerge in all forms of acquired or congenital nevus, although documentation of a distinct, unequivocal area of melanoma arising at the junction in an indisputable Spitz nevus has never been shown, to our knowledge.
A new method for holographic data storage in photopolymer films

Recently, photopolymer films have been developed that are inexpensive, easy to fix and have a relatively large dynamic range, making them good candidates for high density data storage. An example of this material is DuPont's HRF-150-38 photopolymer film. The storage density achievable with these materials is limited due to their thickness of tens of microns. In this paper we present two results. First, a new holographic multiplexing method (peristrophic multiplexing) that significantly increases the storage density achievable in thin films is demonstrated. In addition, an exposure schedule that maximizes the utilization of available dynamic range of the photopolymer is derived. >
Assessment of Children

The social work intervention process with children should begin with a systematic and comprehensive effort to gather valid and reliable information about the child, the social contexts of the child, and the presenting struggle or challenge the child faces. Such a systematic assessment is a critical first step in an evidence-based approach to providing professional, appropriate, and effective services to children who have been impacted by issues ranging from sexual abuse or mental illness to family conflicts or learning disabilities. This chapter discusses the history of the social work approach to the assessment of children, and then drawing from that historical perspective, presents an approach based on current evidence-based strategies and tools for use in the assessment of children. Such tools and strategies are discussed in the context of specific social work practice settings that serve children and their families such as mental health agencies, child welfare/protective services, and schools. Keywords: children; assessment; intervention; social work practice; evidence-based
Hypervalent iodine oxidation products of papaverine and its microbial metabolites

Abstract (Diacetoxyiodo) benzene (DAIB) oxidizes papaverine to papaveraldine (2) and to 1-hydroxymethyl-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinoline (3), whereas 3′ -desmethylpapaverine and 6-desmethylpapaverine are converted into novel products (4) and (5), respectively.
Performance of the GRETA prototype detectors

Abstract A working, two-dimensionally segmented Ge detector is one of the crucial elements in the development of GRETA – a next-generation 4π germanium detector array that uses three-dimensional positions and energies to of individual interactions of γ rays in the detector to reconstruct the full energies and direction vectors of the individual γ rays by employing tracking algorithms. The three-dimensional position and the energy of interactions will be determined by using a two-dimensionally segmented Ge detector along with pulse-shape analysis of the signals. The current prototype is a 36-fold segmented HP-Ge detector in a closed-ended coaxial geometry. Preamplifiers with a compact design, low noise, and very good response properties have been built and implemented. An integrated noise level of about 5 keV has been measured for the segment channels. The average energy resolution of this detector was measured to be 1.14 and 1.93 keV at 60 and 1332 keV, respectively. Using pulse-shape analysis, a three-dimensional position sensitivity of 0.2 to 0.5 mm (R.M.S) has been obtained at 374 keV, dependent on the position and the direction. The results represent a major step towards the feasibility of a γ-ray tracking detector.
Development of human embryonic and fetal dermal vasculature.

This report summarizes recent advances in the understanding of the structure and organization of the microvasculature in developing human skin. Previous observations suggested that the skin contains no blood vessels as late as eight weeks estimated gestational age (EGA). Computer reconstructions, in conjunction with light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), however, demonstrated that specimens as young as 35–45 d show a level of vascular complexity previously unknown. The computer reconstructions showed that the vasculature was organized in one or two planes parallel to the epidermis. A simple, single plane was evident in specimens 40–50 d EGA, whereas specimens 50–75 d EGA showed two planes. Fewer vessels were continuous throughout the tissue sample in the younger specimens compared with the older specimens. Superior views highlighted the continuities and connections of vessels. The younger specimens showed more discontinuous segments of vessels when compared with the network established in the older specimens. In the earliest specimens examined morphologically (35–40 d), simple, capillarylike vessels were morphologically identifiable in presumptive dermis. The samples studied by TEM revealed detailed structure of the vessel wall including extreme attenuations and projections, plasmalemmal vesicles, and junctions similar to adult endothelial cells. Little or no basal lamina surrounded the vessel. The basal lamina first appeared in the form of amorphous deposits and eventually thickened and became continuous. By the end of the first trimester, the basal lamina still lacked the organization of adult cutaneous arterial and venous segments. These findings suggest that the major vascular organization of the dermis is defined in the first trimester of development. J Invest Dermatol 93:10S–17S, 1989
Vulnerability and resilience: Coalescing or paralleling approaches for sustainability science?

Abstract Vulnerability and resilience constitute different but overlapping research themes embraced by sustainability science. As practiced within this science, the two research themes appear to coalesce around one of the foundational pivots of sustainability, the coupled human–environment system. They differ in regard to their attention to two other pivots, environmental services and the tradeoffs of these services with human outcomes. In this essay I briefly review the emergence of sustainability science and the three foundational pivots relevant to vulnerability and resilience. I outline the distinctions and similarities between the two research themes foremost as practiced within sustainability science and especially in regard to the attention given to the three pivots. I conclude with the observation that improvement in the capacity of vulnerability and resilience research to inform sustainability science may hinge on their linkages in addressing tradeoffs.
Regional and national estimates of the potential energy use, energy cost and CO2 emissions associated with radon mitigation by sub-slab depressurization

Abstract Active sub-slab depressurization (SSD) systems are an effective means of reducing indoor radon concentrations in residential buildings. However, energy is required to operate the system fan and to heat or cool the resulting increased building ventilation. We present regional and national estimates of the energy requirements, operating expenses and CO 2 emissions associated with using SSD systems at saturation (i.e. in all US homes with radon concentrations above the EPA remediation guideline and either basement or slab-on-grade construction). The primary source of uncertainty in these estimates is the impact of the SSD system on house ventilation rate. Overall, individual SSD system operating expenses are highest in the Northeast and Midwest at about $99 y −1 , and lowest in the South and West at about $66 y −1 . The fan consumes, on average, about 40% of the end-use energy used to operate the SSD system and accounts for about 60% of the annual expense. At saturation, regional impacts are largest in the Midwest because this area has a large number of mitigable houses and a relatively high heating load. We estimate that operating SSD systems in US houses, where it is both appropriate and possible (about 2,6 million houses), will annually consume 1.7 × 10 4 (6.4 × 10 3 to 3.9 × 10 4 ) TJ of end-use energy, cost $230 (130 to 400) million (at current energy prices), and generate 2.0 × 10 9 (1.2 × 10 9 to 3.5 × 10 9 ) kg of CO 2 . Passive or energy efficient radon mitigation systems currently being developed offer opportunities to substantially reduce these impacts.
Anaesthesia of the spinal cord-injured patient: cardiovascular problems and their management.

An increased venous capacity and a decreased myocardial contractility can be expected in patients with an acute spinal cord lesion at or above T6. Both factors may contribute to a high incidence of arterial hypotension and pulmonary oedema in these patients especially during anaesthesia. We feel that the Swan-Ganz catheter provides valuable information concerning prevention, diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypotension and pulmonary oedema. Although there may be occasional difficulty in interpretation of measurements from the Swan-Ganz catheter if high airway pressures are used, it is a more sensitive monitor than C.V.P. measurement and is particularly useful in patients with a sympathectomy secondary to spinal cord trauma.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Abnormal Stress Echocardiograms and Angiographically Mild Coronary Artery Disease (<50% Stenoses) or Normal Coronary Arteries

Background Abnormal cardiac stress imaging findings are not always associated with angiographically significant coronary artery disease. The outcomes of patients with such false-positive findings have not been extensively examined. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients with abnormal stress echocardiographic findings who had false-positive results compared with those who had true-positive results. Methods Of 1,477 consecutive patients (mean age, 66 +/- 12 years; 61% men) with abnormal stress echocardiographic findings who underwent coronary arteriography within 30 days, death from any cause was ascertained. Results At coronary arteriography, 997 patients (67.5%) had true-positive results, defined by the presence of angiographically significant coronary artery disease (> or = 50% stenoses), and 480 (32.5%) had false-positive results, defined by or = 50% stenoses after abnormal stress echocardiography was 1.05 (95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.31; P = .62). Conclusions A sizable proportion of patients with abnormal stress echocardiographic results who are referred for coronary angiography have false-positive findings. The outcomes of patients with false-positive results were similar to those of patients with true-positive results. This finding suggests that patients with false-positive results on stress echocardiography should still receive intensive risk factor management and careful clinical follow-up.
Notes on "Running an Organization":

This article is concerned with the education and training of those who are in a position to direct activities in business, government agencies, the health system, and other institutions and organizations. According to the author, running an organization is not the sum of a set of competencies. In addition to a discussion of the need for, and difficulties of, providing for future leader-managers, the article includes five broad principles that should suffuse any degree program or training program that purports to be about leading and managing organizations.
Fabrication of terahertz two-dimensional photonic crystal lens on silicon-on-insulator

Using the special dispersion properties of photonic crystals (PhCs), we present a promising novel coupling device, the terahertz (THz) planar photonic crystal (PhC) lens. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D-FDTD) calculations show a 90% power transfer from a 100 mm waveguide to a 10 mm waveguide, and experimental results confirm its high efficiency. Furthermore, the PhC lens couples the wave into a PhC line-defect waveguide is also reported. These achievements manifest the usefulness of the PhC lens as an effective approach to couple the wave into future THz circuits.
The temporal relationship between mass tourism and alternative tourism in southern Thailand

The temporal relationship between mass tourism and alternative tourism has received little attention in the tourism literature. This article seeks to address this gap by exploring how the emergence of �soft ecotourism� in Phuket, southern Thailand�s preeminent resort destination, challenges the notion that alternative tourism can only precede but never follow the establishment of mass tourism. Based on survey and interview data collected over a 1-year span, this article argues that while Phuket�s tourism growth over the past several decades does confirm existing models of the movement from alternative to mass tourism, the activities of sea kayaking operators also illustrate that mass tourism and alternative tourism can coexist at the same time and in the same destination. Further, certain syncretic or hybrid forms of alternative tourism, such as soft ecotourism, may serve as one of the many reasons for the continuing growth of tourism in Phuket, in spite of natural disasters, national political instability, and ample evidence of unsustainable development.
Optical design of the CCD/Transit Instrument with Innovative Instrumentation (CTI-II) Telescope

We describe a 1p8m f/6 Cassegrain optical system that creates a 1.42° FOV with near diffraction limited images from 400nm to 1100nm with full-field distortion less than 0.01%. The astronomical application for this optical system is the CCD/Transit Instrument with Innovative Instrumentation (CTI-II), designed to produce a highly precise photometric and astrometric survey of a complete strip of sky in the northern hemisphere. We describe the scientific observation program and supporting optical design for the telescope. The all-spherical, five lens field corrector represents a very capable optical system that works well with many other astronomical telescopes such as SDSS, Pan-STARRS, SkyMapper, ESO's VST, the WIYN ODI, and the MMT WFC. In many cases, using a five lens corrector exceeded the optical performance of the original published system designs. Conversely, these and other optical concepts compromised the performance of the CTI-II design. The CTI-II design is similar to many other wide-field telescope and imaging camera designs, thus the design is of potential general use in astronomy.
A cross-industry examination of the Lucas misperceptions model

Abstract By establishing the theoretical connection between sectoral labor and product markets, we explicitly develop the economic relationship of these markets within the imperfect information new classical explanation of business-cycles. We then conduct an empirical analysis of the short-run cyclical behavior of real output, prices and wages at the sectoral level of disaggregation. We estimate both time-series and cross-sectional regression for 28 private two-digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) industries. Industry-specific demand variability does not induce a greater misperception of aggregate demand shocks that would differentiate cyclical fluctuations across industries as hypothesized by the new classical imperfect-information explanation.
High resolution microresonator-based digital temperature sensor

A digital temperature sensing technique using a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatible encapsulated microresonator is presented. This technique leverages our ability to select the temperature dependence of the resonant frequency for micromechanical silicon resonators by adjusting the relative thickness of a SiO2 compensating layer. A dual-resonator design is described that includes a pair of resonators with differential temperature compensations so that the difference between the two resonant frequencies is a sensitive function of temperature. The authors demonstrate a temperature resolution of approximately 0.008°C for 1s averaging time, which is better than that of the best CMOS temperature sensors available today.
Mast cells as a source of both preformed and immunologically inducible TNF-α/cachectin

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)/cachectin is a multifunctional cytokine that has effects in inflammation, sepsis, lipid and protein metabolism, haematopoiesis, angiogenesis and host resistance to parasites and malignancy. TNF-alpha was first described in activated macrophages, but certain mouse or rat mast cell populations (reviewed in refs 4,5) and some in vitro-derived human cells with cytochemical features of mast cells-basophils may also contain products similar to TNF-alpha. Here we present evidence that resident mouse peritoneal mast cells constitutively contain large amounts of TNF-alpha bioactivity, whereas cultured, immature mast cells vary in their TNF-alpha content. IgE-dependent activation of cultured or peritoneal mast cells induces extracellular release of TNF-alpha and augments levels of TNF-alpha messenger RNA and bioactivity. These findings identify mouse mast cells as an important source of both preformed and immunologically inducible TNF-alpha, and suggest that release of TNF-alpha by mast cells may contribute to host defence, the pathophysiology of allergic diseases and other processes dependent on TNF-alpha.
This Goffmanian Conundrum: Supporting the Status Quo or Forced to Manage Societal Ramifications?

This article presents Goffman's (1956, 1963) description of particular micro-social systems exhibiting embarrassment with the potential to escalate into stigma as a near-prescriptive communication cycle coined This Goffmanian Conundrum. The impact of This Goffmanian Conundrum is examined both across communication contexts and within one particular context: the darkside of organizational communication, specifically in relation to muting and silencing, incivility, and bullying, concluding with the need to better understand stigma as a mediating influence on communication.
6-regular Cayley graphs on abelian groups of odd order are hamiltonian decomposable

Alspach conjectured that any 2k-regular connected Cayley graph on a finite abelian group A has a hamiltonian decomposition. In this paper, the conjecture is shown true if k=3, and the order of A is odd.
Yolmo aesthetics of body, health and ‘soul loss’

Abstract To date, little attention has been paid to the cultural philosophies of experience which shape human behavior. The present paper contends that a culturally constituted ‘aesthetics’ of everyday life underlies moments of health, illness and healing among Yolmo Sherpa of Helambu, Nepal. The author examines cultural understandings of bodily and social experience to show how implicit aesthetics—from values of harmony and balance to fears of loss and decay—shape the ways in which Yolmo manage and evaluate their lives and how they construe and experience incidents of ‘soul loss.’ An analysis of shamanic ritual suggests, in turn, that while themes of imbalance, fragmentation and deficiency haunt the body in illness, healing works to reinstate a visceral sense of harmony, completion and vitality. These values reflect pressing political concerns. The paper concludes that a phenomenology of embodied aesthetics requires an analytic approach distinct from current semiotic, intellectualist, or psychological paradigms.
Pb, Nd, and Sr isotopic evidence for a multicomponent source for rocks of Cook-Austral Islands and heterogeneities of mantle plumes

Abstract Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic compositions were measured in alkaline volcanic rocks (alkali basalt, ankaramite, nephelinite, phonolite, and trachyte) from the South Cook Islands (Aitutaki, Mauke, Rarotonga, Atiu, and Mangaia) and the Austral Islands (Rimatara and Rurutu). The results show that the Cook-Austral rocks have an extremely wide range in isotopic compositions of Pb: 206 Pb 204 Pb from 18.25 to 21.76, 207 pb 204 pb from 15.48 to 15.83, and sol 208 pb 204 Pb from 38.37 to 40.62, whereas isotopic compositions of Sr and Nd are less variable. Isotopically, Mangaia, Rimatara, and Rurutu form one group (Mangaia group), which shows extremely radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions but near-MORB (mid-oceanic ridge basalts) values for Sr and Nd isotopic ratios. In contrast, samples from Aitutaki, Rarotonga, Mauke, and Atiu (Aitutaki group) have high 207 Pb 204 Pb and 208 Pb 204 Pb and moderately high 87 Sr 86 Sr (Dupal anomaly). The Aitutaki group could have been derived from heterogeneous mantle plumes, which rose from the enriched deep mantle (the almost primitive lower mantle or recycled continental and oceanic slabs). On the other hand, the Mangaia component could have been derived from the depleted upper mantle which may have been metasomatized with a CO2-rich fluid, as indicated by the near-MORB values of Sr and Nd isotopes. Although Pb isotopic data of the two groups cannot be distinguished from each other statistically, the end components of the Pb-Pb system do not match with those of the Nd-Sr system. Thus, the data must be explained by a multi-, at least three, component mixing model: the mantle plumes (Dupal component and a recycled oceanic slab), metasomatized upper mantle, and lithosphere. The K-Ar ages and isotopic characteristics of the Cook-Austral rocks indicate that if one mantle plume rises from the deep mantle in this region, it has separated into at least two segments on the way to the surface.
Hair dye effects on the hair coat and the skin of the dog: a scanning electron microscopic study.

Summary Eight healthy dogs of mixed breeds with short hair coats were used in this study. The skin and the hair of a small area on the left side of the saddle region were dyed 80 times once every day with a permanent hair dye, Clairol Hair Dye Flaxen Blonde. The dyed regions were red and dry toward the last two weeks of the experiment. None of the dogs had abnormal hair shedding. Four of the dogs were restless, and their epidermis were parakeratotic and hyperkeratotic. The cuticular cells of the hair shafts of two dogs upon examination showed deep fractures at the lower part of the hair shaft. The fractures extended through the whole thickness of the cuticular cells leading to splitting of the hair shaft. Secondary hairs showed excessive peeling of their cuticle cells causing distortion and deterioration of the cortex of the hair. Cuticular cells of large numbers of hairs lost their apical parts and some of them were deformed due to partial dissolution attributed to the intensive use of the hair dye. The intensive usage of the hair dye on the compound type of hair coat of the dog caused damage to the hair shafts and to the skin in the form of irritation, dryness and parakeratosis of the epidermis. Also, some of the dogs became restless and hyperactive during the later part of the experiment.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes: Variations of Crash Characteristics within Rural Regions of Different Population Densities

OBJECTIVE: While it is known that motor vehicle crash (MVC) fatality rates are inversely related to population density, there has been no description of which crash variables are related to population density. The purpose of this study was to describe crash characteristics of fatal MVCs and to determine which crash characteristics are related to population density. DESIGN: This is a retrospective review of fatal accident reporting system (FARS) records. They represent four different population density regions over a 5-year period in a four-state midwest region. RESULTS: There were 10,932 people in 6,318 vehicles who were involved in 4,970 fatalities. Occupant fatality rates per 100,000 persons were inversely related to population density. The variables related to lower population density were more light and heavy truck types, more frequent alcohol use and higher levels of intoxication, more frequent crashes that are noncollisions on less heavily traveled roads, more frequent crashes on gravel surface types, more frequent occupant ejection, and delayed medical care. CONCLUSION: Rural areas are not homogenous in terms of fatal MVC crash characteristics. By analyzing fatal MVC crash characteristics in regions with different population densities, many crash variables were found to be related to population density. By understanding which characteristics about fatal MVCs are related to population densities, different interventions could be targeted to different rural populations.
Microcalorimeters for broad band high resolution X-ray spectral analysis

Abstract A large area microcalorimeter with 95% quantum efficiency at 6 keV has been developed. When fully illuminated, it produces X-ray spectra between 0.5 and 7 keV with an energy resolution of 23 eV. On a smaller, but similar detector, we measure 18 eV. The resolution is obtained at input count rates of 10–50 Hz in real-time with analog pulse processing and thermal pile-up rejection. The detector is incorporated into a compact and portable cryogenic refrigerator system that is ready for use as a tool for analytical spectroscopy.
Chiral liquid states in a spin-free representation for the diluted Mott insulator.

Etude du modele de Hubbard a deux dimensions fortement correle pour un remplissage de bande general, par une transformation du modele en une representation sans spin. On construit une transformation des paires qui represente un probleme de Hubbard a couplage fort dans lequel les particules obeissent a une statistique de Fermi. Analyse de certaines proprietes de cette transformation et plus particulierement des etats de liquide chiral dans le modele etudie
First Example of Monomeric Hydrosilane Stabilized Redispersible Silver Nanoparticles

The direct production of silver nanoparticles in organic media is achieved via a simple one pot protocol using long chain hydrosilanes both as reducing and stabilizing agents. This synthetic strategy leads to highly efficient production of stable yet reactive silver nanoparticles. This synthesis is unique in terms of stabilization mechanism, where a very weak passivation is used to produce dispersible but highly active nanoparticles. The effect of hydrosilane alkyl chain length on the growth mechanism, reactivity, dispersibility and stability of the nanoparticles are also investigated.
Atomic-level computer simulation of SiC: defect accumulation, mechanical properties and defect recovery

Damage accumulation simulated previously (F. Gao and W.J. Weber, Phys. Rev. B 66 024106 (2002)) has been used to study volume swelling of 3C–SiC, and to calculate the elastic constants, bulk and elastic moduli of the cascade-amorphized SiC. The swelling increases rapidly with dose at low-dose levels, but the rate of increase decreases dramatically at higher dose with a saturation volume change of 8.2% for the cascade-amorphized state. The elastic constants in the cascade-amorphized SiC decrease by about 19, 29 and 46% for C11, C12 and C44, respectively, and 23% for bulk and elastic moduli. In order to understand defect annealing of damage accumulation, the stable Frenkel pairs created at low-energy events have been annealed at different temperatures, using molecular dynamics methods, to determine the time required for interstitials to recombine with vacancies. The results show that the low activation energies qualitatively overlap with experimental values determined for defect recovery below 300 K. Thus, ...
Source-Specific Topology Aggregation for Survivable Multi-Domain Optical Networks

In order to maintain privacy, domain managers are only willing to broadcast limited information regarding its network for the purpose of necessary multi-domain operations. Topology Aggregation (TA) is now widely adopted to aggregate a domain's detailed topology into an aggregated topology with limited available information. Meanwhile, with the introduction of Shared Risk Link Groups (SRLGs), each of which defines a set of links that fail simultaneously, the TA approach has to consider the presence of SRLGs for generating a more survivable abstracted topology. Exchanging information regarding SRLGs before constructing the TA helps in developing a more survivable aggregated multi-domain network. In this paper, we propose a source domain- specific topology aggregation approach that can help in finding a pair of inter-domain paths with a minimum set of common SRLGs.