cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Examination of Outside Work Experience of Public School Personnel.

This study is one segment of a research project initiated by the Bureau of General Research, Kansas State University, Manhattan, to examine work attitudes and work experience of school personnel and their implications for career education. This article deals with the work-experience portion of that project. Data were obtained through the use of Work Attitude Inventory of Teachers (WAIT), a survey instrument that included a work-experience questionnaire. The instrument was administered independently to school administrators, vocational educators, secondary teachers other than vocational, elementary school teachers, and guidance and counseling personnel. Respondents recorded work experience outside teaching as well as teaching experience. The responses were categorized according to length of employment (full, part time, summer) and according to the U.S. Office of Education's 15 career clusters. The combined sample of 831 respondents to the work-experience element showed an average of 14.5 years of teaching experience and one out of five persons with no work experience outside education. Most work experience recorded was of a temporary nature and usually in a low-level or menial category.
Effects of the Addition of Color to Assessment Instruments

Color has been incorporated in recent revisions of individually administered ability tests, yet, to date, no decisive evaluation of the effect that color has on test performance has been made. To this end, the Absurdities subtest of the Stanford-Binet, Fourth Edition (Thorndike, Hagen, & Sattler, 1986) and the Picture Completion subtest of the WISC-III (Wechsler, 1991) were administered in both a colored and a noncolored version to 80 children. The children were in either kindergarten/first grade or fifth/sixth grade and in either remedial assistance or regular educational placements. Grade differences in test performance were in the predicted direction; however, expected school placement differences were not obtained in all instances. For the Absurdities subtest, there were no differences between the colored and black and white versions; Picture Completion subtest results were complicated by several interactions. Clear student preferences existed for colored stimuli. In general, changing subtests to colo...
Fascinating Journey: Paths to the Prediction and Prevention of Reading Disability

Once upon a time, a quarter of a century ago, a young psychiatrist, cloaked with the invincibility of his newly completed residency, ventured into the basement of Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital to organize a psychiatric clinic for children. He thought he really understood the problem children and the children with problems who came to him until one day Lennie appeared. Lennie was ten-and-a-half years old then, a chubby, well-developed boy who kept looking about the examining room with frightened eyes. His mother complained that he could not read and that he would not do his school work. His grades were terrible; he had no friends; and he fought with his younger brother. It was the vogue then to explain learning failure as being due to emotional problems, and Lennie had them, even the inhibition of voyeuristic impulses, feelings of doubt in his own male identity. But Lennie revealed other interesting problems. His IQ on the Stanford-Binet was 106; his classical neurological examination was normal; his visual and his auditory acuity had no defect. His Gestalt drawings, however, were peculiar. Not only did he have the verticalizations described by Fabian (1945), but also his diamond figures were distorted in a peculiar dog-eared way, as though he could not decide on the direction to take when he had to draw an angle. This was a curious performance, the cause of which we were impelled to under stand.
The Societally Responsive University: Public Ideals, Organisational Realities, and the Possibility of Engagement

The increased public scrutiny of colleges and universities has sparked efforts to reconsider what academic institutions are doing, and what they should be doing, in relation to the needs of the larger society.This paper develops a conceptualisation of societal responsiveness on campus, with the intent of exploring the factors constraining the responsiveness of faculty and their home institutions to public needs.
Nonseparable data models for a single-layer perceptron

This paper describes two nonseparable data models that can be used to study the convergence properties of perceptron learning algorithms. A system identification formulation generates the training signal, with an input that is a zero-mean Gaussian random vector. One model is based on a two-layer perceptron configuration, while the second model has only one layer but with a multiplicative output node. The analysis in this paper focuses on Rosenblatt's training procedure, although the approach can be applied to other learning algorithms. Some examples of the performance surfaces are presented to illustrate possible convergence points of the algorithm for both nonseparable data models.
Occult primary head and neck carcinoma

Unknown primary carcinoma presenting as cervical lymph node metastasis accounts for approximately 5% of all head and neck malignancies. The typical presentation involves a middle-aged man with a painless neck mass that has been present for several months. Over 90% of these malignancies represent squamous cell carcinoma originating within Waldeyer's ring (lymphoid tissue of the nasopharynx, tonsil, and base of tongue). The remainder are comprised of adenocarcinoma, melanoma, and other rare histologic variants. The ability to identify the occult primary tumor is imperative because identification allows site-specific therapy and avoidance of wide-field radiation side effects. Following confirmation of metastatic cervical disease with fine-needle aspiration, all patients presenting with an unknown primary carcinoma require a thorough head and neck history and physical examination, radiographic imaging, panendoscopy with directed biopsies of Waldeyer's ring, and bilateral tonsillectomy. Positron emission tomography has proved helpful in identifying occult primary tumors of the head and neck region.
Estimation of free methylpentoses in the presence of glycosidically bound sugar.

Abstract 1. (1) A very sensitive method has been presented for the determination of 0.01–0.5 μmoles of methylpentose. 2. (2) Many compounds which give rise to acetaldehyde on oxidation with periodate can be determined by this procedure. 3. (3) There is very little interference in this procedure from other aldehydes released on oxidation of sugars with periodate. 4. (4) Free methylpentose can be detected in the presence of the glycosidically bound sugar. 5. (5) The method has been used to determine the stability of fucose to hydrolysis and the lability of the fucosyl-glycosidic bond in furanosides, pyranosides, and a number of fucose-containig oligosaccharides and glycoproteins.
The Good and the Bad of Poisonous Plants: an Introduction to the USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory

This article provides an overview of the Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory (PPRL), about the unique services and activities of the PPRL and the potential assistance that they can provide to plant poisoning incidences. The PPRL is a federal research laboratory. It is part of the Agricultural Research Service, the in-house research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The mission of the PPRL is to identify toxic plants and their toxic compounds, determine how the plants poison animals, and develop diagnostic and prognostic procedures for poisoned animals. Furthermore, the PPRL’s mission is to identify the conditions under which poisoning occurs and develop management strategies and treatments to reduce losses. Information obtained through research efforts at the PPRL is mostly used by the livestock industry, natural resource managers, veterinarians, chemists, plant and animal scientists, extension personnel, and other state and federal agencies. PPRL currently has 9 scientists and 17 support staff, representing various disciplines consisting of toxicology, reproductive toxicology, veterinary medicine, chemistry, animal science, range science, and plant physiology. This team of scientists provides an interdisciplinary approach to applied and basic research to develop solutions to plant intoxications. While the mission of the PPRL primarily impacts the livestock industry, spinoff benefits such as development of animal models, isolation and characterization of novel compounds, elucidation of biological and molecular mechanisms of action, national and international collaborations, and outreach efforts are significant to biomedical researchers. The staff at the PPRL has extensive knowledge regarding a number of poisonous plants. Although the focus of their knowledge is on plants that affect livestock, oftentimes, these plants are also poisonous to humans, and thus, similar principles could apply for cases of human poisonings. Consequently, the information provided herein could be of benefit to healthcare providers for human cases as well.
Propagation of radio waves in a model nonuniform terrestrial waveguide

The paper deals with propagation of radio waves in multimode waveguides of arbitrary height. In this work the boundaries are assumed to be perfectly reflecting. For the case when the height of the multimode waveguide increases monotonically in the direction of propagation, the required solution is obtained by a generalised quasioptical approach which assumes that the waveguide consists of an infinity of infinitesimal radial waveguides cascaded together. To extend the solution for both directions of propagation, the reciprocity theorem has been employed, thereby accounting for reflections. The results have been applied to the study of v.l.f. radio propagation when the effective height of reflection at the ionosphere varies along the path of propagation. Laboratory measurements obtained from a two-dimensional microwave model are compared with the theoretical solution to substantiate the analysis.
Biomarkers in pediatric environmental health: a cross-cutting issue.

It is not yet known the extent to which the environment adversely affects the health of the developing individual. Difficulties in this determination are the problems of a) the assessment of exposu...
A striking lack of genetic diversity across the wide-ranging amphibian Gastrophryne carolinensis (Anura: Microhylidae)

We examine phylogeographic structure across a wide-ranging microhylid frog (Gastrophrynecarolinensis) using both mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear (AFLP) data. Species with similar ecological characteristics such as large range size, low vagility, or existence across known biogeographic barriers, often are comprised of multiple, cryptic lineages. Surprisingly, our analyses of both portions of the genome show very little phylogeographic or population genetic structure. The family Microhylidae is one of the largest families of anurans with over 60 genera and around 400 species distributed across much of the world (Americas, Asia, Africa, and Madagascar), but very few phylogeographic studies have assessed intraspecific genetic diversity across the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Our results suggest that G. carolinensis, one of only three species of microhylid native to the US, has experienced a severe population bottleneck with subsequent range expansion. Comparable molecular data from closely related microhylids, in addition to demographic and ecological analyses, will provide valuable insight into patterns of genetic diversity and the processes driving phylogeographic diversity in these wide-ranging frogs.
DMSP in marine macroalgae and macroinvertebrates: Distribution, function, and ecological impacts

The production of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and its cleavage products are well studied in phytoplankton. However, less is known about their sources, distributions, functions, and impacts in other marine organisms. We examined the distribution of DMSP in benthic macroalgae and macroinvertebrates geographically and taxonomically. In macroalgae, concentrations significantly increased from the tropics to the poles in the northern, but not the southern, hemisphere. The increase in the northern hemisphere was due to an increase in concentrations with latitude in the Chlorophyta. This pattern was generated by a relatively high proportion of species in the order Ulvales (median [DMSP]: 145 μmol g-1 dry mass (DM)) at higher latitudes, and a high proportion of species in the orders Caulerpales and Siphonocladales (median [DMSP]: below detection level for both orders) in the tropics. Low DMSP concentrations (< 10 μmol g-1 DM) were reported from all red and brown macroalgae, except Polysiphonia and Halopytis. In macroalgae, some of the reported functions of DMSP and its cleavage products included acting as a compatible solute, an anti-herbivore defense, a reactive oxygen scavenger, and a cryoprotectant. Among macroinvertebrates, DMSP occurred in higher concentrations in cnidarians than in sponges and molluscs. Concentrations in animals harboring endosymbiotic algae were 6.5 times higher than animals without symbionts. This and direct measurements of DMSP from isolated symbionts suggest that endosymbionts are a major source of DMSP for some macroinvertebrates. Diet may be a source of DMSP in animals that lack endosymbionts. The functions and impacts of DMSP in invertebrates are not well known.
Dam Visuals: The Changing Visual Argument for the Glen Canyon Dam:

Arguments manifest in scientific visuals through graphic representation, content placement, and overall document structure. These arguments, designed to influence public perception, change over time in relation to sociopolitical climate. Analysis of a series of documents constructed deliberately to influence perception can help to determine patterns of argumentation and perceived exigencies. In this article, four self-guided tour brochures produced for distribution to visitors to the Glen Canyon Dam in 1977, 1984, 1990, and 1993 are analyzed in order to identify rhetorical strategies designed to influence public perceptions of the dam site, and examine how public perception of the dam, and related argumentation, is structured by sociopolitical climate.
Impact on volcanic ash detection caused by the loss of the 12.0 μm “Split Window” band on GOES Imagers

Abstract Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Imager and Sounder data were evaluated to determine the potential effects of volcanic ash detection without the use of a 12 μm infrared (IR) band, on GOES-M (12) through Q (a period of at least 10 years). Principal component analysis (PCA) images with and without 12 μm IR data were compared subjectively for six weak to moderate eruptions using pattern recognition techniques, and objectively by determining a false detection rate parameter. GOES Sounder data were also evaluated in a few instances to assess any potential contributions from the new 13.3 μm Imager band. Results indicated that, during periods of daylight, there was little apparent difference in the quality of IR detection without the 12 μm IR, likely due to a maximum in solar reflectance of silicate ash in a shortwave IR (SWIR) band centered near 3.9 μm. At night when SWIR reflectance diminished, the ash detection capability appeared to be significantly worse, evidenced by increased ambiguity between volcanic ash and meteorological clouds or surface features. The possible effects of this degradation on aviation operations are discussed. The new 13.3 μm IR band on GOES has the capability to help distinguish ash from cirrus clouds, but not from low level clouds consisting of water droplets. Multi-spectral data from higher resolution polar orbiting satellites may also be used to supplement analyses from lower resolution GOES for long-lived ash cloud events. The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments appear to be the best options in accomplishing this, with additional satellite missions becoming available later in the decade. In summary, it will still be possible to observe and track significant volcanic ash clouds in the GOES-M through Q era (2003–2012) without the benefit of 12 μm IR data, but with some degradation that will be most significant at night.
Combining VIS and MIR lidars to separate aerosol modes in the troposphere

Indentifying and quantifying ambient aerosols are important for air-quality applications. Unlike trace gases where chemical spectral signatures are sharp and well defined, aerosol spectral signatures are broader and highly overlapping. Therefore separation of aerosols into different size classes requires very broad spectral coverage from the visible (VIS) to mid-infrared (MIR). In this paper, we investigate the feasibility in using a VIS (0.65μm) diode laser combined with a suitable pulsed high power Quantum Cascade Laser (4.6μm) to obtain backscatter measurements that can be used to isolate fine and coarse mode aerosol fractions. Based on realistic source characteristics, we study the information content in the spectral extinction using different combinations of extinction measurements using Least Squares Minimization applied to a wide range of aerosol multimode mixtures obtained using realistic models obtained from the Optical Properties of Aerosol and Clouds (OPAC) model. This model is especially convenient since the optical spectral extinction and backscatter spectra are evaluated over a wide wavelength range from 250nm to 40μm. In particular, we find that with the latest QCL systems, it is possible to achieve signal to noise ratio (SNR) values ~10 with suitable temporal and spatial averaging for aerosol layers ~1.5km making it suitable for PBL layer studies.
Typology reconfigured: from the metaphysics of essentialism to the epistemology of representation.

The goal of this paper is to encourage a reconfiguration of the discussion about typology in biology away from the metaphysics of essentialism and toward the epistemology of classifying natural phenomena for the purposes of empirical inquiry. First, I briefly review arguments concerning ‘typological thinking’, essentialism, species, and natural kinds, highlighting their predominantly metaphysical nature. Second, I use a distinction between the aims, strategies, and tactics of science to suggest how a shift from metaphysics to epistemology might be accomplished. Typological thinking can be understood as a scientific tactic that involves representing natural phenomena using idealizations and approximations, which facilitates explanation, investigation, and theorizing via abstraction and generalization. Third, a variety of typologies from different areas of biology are introduced to emphasize the diversity of this representational reasoning. One particular example is used to examine how there can be epistemological conflict between typology and evolutionary analysis. This demonstrates that alternative strategies of typological thinking arise due to the divergent explanatory goals of researchers working in different disciplines with disparate methodologies. I conclude with several research questions that emerge from an epistemological reconfiguration of typology.
Early appearance of histochemically altered hepatocyte foci and liver tumors in female rats treated with carcinogens one day after birth

A single i.p. injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) or benzo(a)pyrene (BAP) in 1-day-old female rats produced a high incidence of ..gamma..-glutamyltranspeptidase-(GGT)- positive hepatocyte foci within 4 weeks after the rats were weaned onto a 0.05% phenobarbital diet; the injection of benzo(e)pyrene did not produce foci under these conditions. Liver tumors appeared in rats treated with DEN within 8 weeks after weaning and in BAP-treated rats within 16 weeks after weaning. The results suggest that the treatment protocol used in this study may increase the utility of the liver tumorigenesis model as a broadly applicable in vitro system for the rapid detection of tumorigenic potential in environmental contaminants.
Optimal partitioning theory revisited: Nonstructural carbohydrates dominate root mass responses to nitrogen

Under optimal partitioning theory (OPT), plants preferentially allocate biomass to acquire the resource that most limits growth. Within this framework, higher root mass under low nutrients is often assumed to reflect an allocation response to build more absorptive surface. However, higher root mass also could result from increased storage of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) without an increase in non-storage mass or root surface area. To test the relative contributions of TNC and non-storage mass as components of root mass responses to resources, we grew seedlings of seven northern hardwood tree species (black, red, and white oak, sugar and red maple, American beech, and black cherry) in a factorial light × nitrogen (N) greenhouse experiment. Because root mass is a coarse metric of absorptive surface, we also examined treatment effects on fine-root surface area (FRSA). Consistent with OPT, total root mass as a proportion of whole-plant mass generally was greater in low vs. high N. However, changes in root mass were influenced by TNC mass in all seven species and were especially strong in the three oak species. In contrast, non-storage mass contributed to increased total root mass under low N in three of the seven species. Root morphology also responded, with higher fine-root surface area (normalized to root mass) under low vs. high N in four species. Although biomass partitioning responses to resources were consistent with OPT, our results challenge the implicit assumption that increases in root mass under low nutrient levels primarily reflect allocation shifts to build more root surface area. Rather, root responses to low N included increases in: TNC, non-storage mass and fine-root surface area, with increases in TNC being the largest and most consistent of these responses. The greatest TNC accumulation occurred when C was abundant relative to N. Total nonstructural carbohydrates storage could provide seedlings a carbon buffer when respiratory or growth demands are not synchronized with photosynthesis, flexibility in responding to uncertain and fluctuating abiotic and biotic conditions, and increased access to soil resources by providing an energy source for mycorrhizae, decomposers in the rhizosphere, or root uptake of nutrients.
Evaluation of Microsoft's Comfort Curve Keyboard

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were any postural, performance or perceived comfort differences between a conventional straight keyboard and a new ergonomic concept keyboard developed by Microsoft called the Comfort Curve. The concept keyboard was designed to promote more neutral postures in the wrist using a built-in, padded wrist rest to reduce wrist extension and curved keys in alphanumeric section of the keyboard to reduce ulnar deviation. Using a repeated measures design, 26 typists from various occupations randomly used each keyboard for a period of 15 minutes. Wrist postures were measured using electrogoniometers, typing speed and accuracy was measured using typing performance software and discomfort was subjectively measured in the hands, forearms and shoulders and neck. Compared to the conventional straight keyboard, the Comfort Curve keyboard reduced ulnar deviation by 2.2 ° (p < 0.01) and wrist extension by 6.5 ° (p <0.01). There was a small differences in typing speed ...
Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of the electrodeposition mechanism of molybdenum oxide thin films from peroxo-polymolybdate solution

The electrodeposition of molybdenum oxide thin films from aqueous peroxo-polymolydate solution was studied using chronocoulometry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) techniques. Analysis of EQCM as well as spectroelectrochemical data have allowed us to identify at least four distinct regimes for film growth. EQCM was used to estimate apparent equivalent molecular weights and corresponding reaction mechanisms were established for films grown at different deposition potentials. We propose a new electrodeposition mechanism that involves the graded reduction of several solution components, primarily comprising molybdic acid and peroxo-polymolybdates, to form amorphous hydrates of non-stoichiometric, mixed-valent molybdenum oxides. Careful regulation of the deposition parameters allows for fine-tuning of molybdenum oxide composition to produce films with varied water content and valency.
The photopolymerization of acrylates and methacrylates containing silicon

Abstract A number of di- and triacrylates and methacrylates containing silicon have been prepared. In the presence of a photoinitiator and absence of a tertiary amine, these compounds photopolymerized to give thin films, and in some cases this was not accompanied by shrinkage. The rate of polymerization, as judged by the amount of exposure to give tack-free coatings, was usually found to be much greater than standard diluents such as hexanediol diacrylate, tripropyleneglycol diacrylate and trimethylolpropane triacrylate. Monitoring the degree of cure by quantifying the extent to which the acrylate or methacrylate groups have been utilized showed that the presence of silicon affected the extent to which double-bond utilization occurs.
Collateral Punishments and Sentencing Policy Perceptions of Residence Restrictions for Sex Offenders and Drunk Drivers

Residence restrictions, which prohibit sex offenders from living within close proximity to places where children congregate, have grown popular. Participants (n = 255) were asked to participate in a survey rating and comparing their perceptions of residence restrictions for drunk drivers and sex offenders. Residence restrictions were seen as more punitive for DUI offenders than for sex offenders, though a majority of the sample viewed making either offender leave their home as punishment. Those who believed that most sex offenders would reoffend were significantly less likely to view these policies as punitive. Older respondents and those who knew someone convicted of a crime were also less likely to view residence restrictions as punitive. The results of the current study indicate that although many of the respondents were not optimistic about the effectiveness of residence restrictions in reducing victimization, those policies still garnered considerable support.
Influence of oxide layers on the microwave surface resistance of niobium

We have investigated the effects of oxide layers on the microwave surface resistance of 8.6 Ghz superconducting niobium cavities. Cavities were UHV fired to remove oxides and then tested before and after exposure to oxygen. Microwave measurements were made on oxide layers grown and maintained room temperature and on layers which had been heated to 300C. The contribution to residual resistance from oxide layers kept at or below room temperature is less than 2 or 3 n-ohm. Heated layers showed a 20% decrease in B.C.S. resistance, and a 40 n-ohm increase in residual resistance. Heating unoxidized cavities to 300C has no effect, demonstrating that these cavities were actually oxide free.
Immigrant and Refugee Workers in the Midwestern Meatpacking Industry: Industrial Restructuring and the Transformation of Rural Labor Markets

This paper examines the process of incorporation of immigrant and refugee workers into the meatpacking industry of the Midwest during a period of rapid restructuring. Immigrant and refugee workers have provided low-cost labor to meatpacking firms under pressure from both increased competition and a declining market for red meat. The search for new supplies of labor reflects fundamental changes within the industry. The dynamics of labor force recomposition in the meatpacking industry are the result of the interplay of such factors as the nature of industrial restructuring, the locally available labor supply, and programs designed to move immigrants, refugees, and the unemployed into full-time employment. This process has had differential effects on the industry, workers, the unions, and rural communities.
In Search of a More Humane Destiny

The Journal of Mass Media Ethics continually seeks titles and thoughtful reviewers for books, software packages, films, and other materials that relate to teaching and research in media ethics. Ple...
Algebraic multigrid for stabilized finite element discretizations of the Navier?Stokes equations

Abstract An algebraic multigrid method for the solution of stabilized finite element discretizations of the Euler and Navier Stokes equations on generalized unstructured grids is described. The method is based on an elemental agglomeration multigrid strategy employing a semi-coarsening scheme designed to reduce grid anisotropy. The viscous terms are discretized in a consistent manner on coarse grids using an algebraic Galerkin coarse grid approximation in which higher-order grid transfer operators are constructed from the underlying triangulation. However, the combination of higher-order transfer operators and Galerkin rediscretization diminishes the stability of stabilized inviscid operators on coarse grids and a modification is proposed to alleviate this problem. A generalized line implicit relaxation scheme is also described where the lines are constructed to follow the direction of strongest coupling. Applications are demonstrated for convection–diffusion, Euler, and laminar Navier–Stokes. The results show that the convergence rate is largely unaffected by mesh size over a wide range of Reynolds (Peclet) numbers.
A Technique for Interface Thermal Resistance Measurements Between a Nanoelectrode and a Substrate Using the 3ω Method

Developing a fundamental understanding regarding energy flow across nanoscale interfaces is critical in realizing viable nanoelectronics device systems and efficient low-dimensional thermoelectric devices. This work presents investigations of the interface thermal resistance (ITR) in a nanoelectrode-on-substrate system using the DC heating as well as the 3ω method.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Submillimetre emission in alcator tokamak

Abstract Observation of emission at the cyclotron harmonics in Alcator has thrown light on the problems of polarization in the emission and propagation through the plasma. The effects upon each characteristic mode of the various cut-offs and resonances are as predicted by cold plasma theory. Electron temperatures deduced from absolutely calibrated thermal emission spectra show good agreement with T c measurements from Thomson scattering and soft X-ray spectra. Submilli-second time evolution of temperature during instabilities has been observed but the high frequency (≳30 kHz) fluctuation level in the thermal emission is Nonthermal emission below the cyclotron frequency occurs typically with a broader spectrum, ω ≳ ω p , than previously described. For ω p ⪝ 1 2 ω c strong emission also occurs between the first and second harmonics, ω ∼ 1.5 ω c , and as the density further decreases the nonthermal broadband intensity rises until it dominates the spectrum.
Nonparametric Bayesian inference for the spectral density function of a random field

A powerful technique for inference concerning spatial dependence in a random field is to use spectral methods based on frequency domain analysis. Here we develop a nonparametric Bayesian approach to statistical inference for the spectral density of a random field. We construct a multi-dimensional Bernstein polynomial prior for the spectral density and devise a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to simulate from the posterior of the spectral density. The posterior sampling enables us to obtain a smoothed estimate of the spectral density as well as credible bands at desired levels. Simulation shows that our proposed method is more robust than a parametric approach. For illustration, we analyse a soil data example.
Coupling impedance of vacuum pumping holes for the APS storage ring

The coupling impedance of a single slot in a thick wall beam pipe was measured. The slot dimension is small compared to the wavelength of interest. The measurements were done by the wire method with the synthetic pulse technique. The gating technique was also applied to obtain the reflection response for a structure that does not have appropriate calibration standards. The measured results are in good agreement with calculated impedance using analytical formulae given by other authors. >
Sensitizing effect of early adversity on depressive reactions to later proximal stress: Moderation by polymorphisms in serotonin transporter and corticotropin releasing hormone receptor genes in a 20-year longitudinal study.

Previous research supports gene–environment interactions for polymorphisms in the corticotropin hormone receptor 1 gene (CRHR1) and the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) in predicting depression, but it has rarely considered genetic influences on stress sensitization processes, whereby early adversities (EA) increase depressive reactivity to proximal stressors later in life. The current study tested a gene–environment–environment interaction (G × E × E; specifically, gene–EA–proximal stress interaction) model of depression in a 20-year longitudinal study. Participants were assessed prospectively for EA up to age 5 and recent chronic stress and depressive symptoms at age 20 and genotyped for CRHR1 single nucleotide polymorphism rs110402 and 5-HTTLPR. EA predicted stronger associations between recent chronic stress and depression, and the effect was moderated by genes. CRHR1 A alleles and 5-HTTLPR short alleles were associated with greater stress sensitization (i.e., greater depressive reactivity to chronic stress for those also exposed to high levels of EA). The results are consistent with the notion that EA exposure results in neurobiological and cognitive–emotional consequences (e.g., altered hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning), leading to emotional distress in the face of recent stressors among those with certain genetic characteristics, although further research is needed to explore explanatory mechanisms.
Planning humanlike actions in blending spaces

We introduce an approach for enabling sampling-based planners to compute motions with humanlike appearance. The proposed method is based on a space of blendable example motions collected by motion capture. This space is explored by a sampling-based planner that is able to produce motions around obstacles while keeping solutions similar to the original examples. The results therefore largely maintain the humanlike characteristics observed in the example motions. The method is applied to generic upper-body actions and is complemented by a locomotion planner that searches for suitable body placements for executing upper-body actions successfully. As a result, our overall multi-modal planning method is able to automatically coordinate whole-body motions for action execution among obstacles, and the produced motions remain similar to example motions given as input to the system.
Resonance Raman study of carotenoid cation radicals

Abstract The resonance Raman (RR) spectra of the neutral and the cation radical of 8′-apo-β-caroten-8′-al (I), 7′,7′-dicyano-7′-apo-β-carotene (II) and canthaxanthin (III) were measured using 752.6 nm laser excitation. Optical and RR spectra of the electrochemically prepared cation radicals of I–III were measured in situ at different time intervals during the electrolysis. The RR spectra of the cation radicals are considerably different from those of the neutral species. The frequencies of the CC stretching vibrations are decreased by 30–40 cm −1 , whereas those of CC stretching vibrations are increased by 15–30 cm −1 . These results suggest delocalization of the unpaired electron density throughout the entire carbon backbone which is consistent with our previous EPR and ENDOR results.
Quasi-static modeling of an organic Schottky diode with trapped charge

The fundamental aspects of trap analysis in charge transport of organic semiconductors are reviewed by focusing on the role of traps in I-V characteristics of an organic Schottky diode. A p-type organic semiconductor based device is considered and the trap distribution is assumed to vary exponentially with energy. A numerical model is developed to determine the trapped charge concentration in the bulk region of organic semiconductor during the steady state trap free space charge limited current conduction. This model was used to deduce an analytical expression that relates the charge ratio θ with the Fermi level energy E F . This expression was utilized to determine the value of Fermi level energy E F corresponding to the charge ratio taken from the previously reported work based on an organic Schottky diode. Finally, the estimated value of Fermi level energy is applied to calculate the number of trapped charges through MATLAB based simulations. The concentration of trapped charges was found to be 1.54×1016 cm−3 which is in good agreement with the reported experimental results.
Unfolding domains of recombinant fusion αα‐tropomyosin

The thermal unfolding of the coiled-coil alpha-helix of recombinant alpha alpha-tropomyosin from rat striated muscle containing an additional 80-residue peptide of influenza virus NS1 protein at the N-terminus (fusion-tropomyosin) was studied with circular dichroism and fluorescence techniques. Fusion-tropomyosin unfolded in four cooperative transitions: (1) a pretransition starting at 35 degrees C involving the middle of the molecule; (2) a major transition at 46 degrees C involving no more than 36% of the helix from the C-terminus; (3) a major transition at 56 degrees C involving about 46% of the helix from the N-terminus; and (4) a transition from the nonhelical fusion domain at about 70 degrees C. Rabbit skeletal muscle tropomyosin, which lacks the fusion peptide but has the same tropomyosin sequence, does not exhibit the 56 degrees C or 70 degrees C transition. The very stable fusion unfolding domain of fusion-tropomyosin, which appears in electron micrographs as a globular structural domain at one end of the tropomyosin rod, acts as a cross-link to stabilize the adjacent N-terminal domain. The least stable middle of the molecule, when unfolded, acts as a boundary to allow the independent unfolding of the C-terminal domain at 46 degrees C from the stabilized N-terminal unfolding domain at 56 degrees C. Thus, strong localized interchain interactions in coiled-coil molecules can increase the stability of neighboring domains.
Public input for municipal policymaking: engagement methods and their impact on trust and confidence

Municipalities across the country use various methods of public input to inform managers and elected policymakers about citizen's preferences and perspectives regarding budget matters or performance measures. One benefit of actively involving the public on key governmental decisions is the belief that it enhances the public's trust and/or confidence in government. Does it make a difference in the public's confidence assessments which public engagement technique is used? If enhancing the public's trust/confidence is a specific objective of a public engagement, which technique is to be preferred? This article presents public trust and confidence data we have been collecting as part of ongoing public engagements in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. We compare differences in the public's trust and confidence in government as a function of online input versus phone surveys versus face-to-face discussions. Results suggest that there are significant differences in the public's trust and confidence in government as a function of the type of engagement. Engagements that expose residents to governmental officials in a more salient way may be superior for increasing public trust and confidence compared to those engagements that involve less exposure to governmental officials.
Murphy's contributions to disability studies: An inquiry into ourselves

Robert Murphy's career, culminating in the study of disability, gives evidence of deep commitment to understanding the human condition in adversity. His life-long interest in the psychological, sociological and cultural significance of behavior; his work on alienation, developed through fieldwork in small scale societies in South America and Africa; his fascination with the estrangement that arises from the conflict between our need to integrate and to be autonomous; and his own experience of a progressive debilitating disease provided him with rich insights for his interpretation of disability. This paper examines Murphy's contributions to our understanding of the meanings and implications of disability, for those who personally experience it, and for the 'others' in their lives.
Characterization of the Affective Norms for English Words by discrete emotional categories

The Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW) are a commonly used set of 1,034 words characterized on the affective dimensions of valence, arousal, and dominance. Traditionally, studies of affect have used stimuli characterized along either affective dimensions or discrete emotional categories, but much current research draws on both of these perspectives. As such, stimuli that have been thoroughly characterized according to both of these approaches are exceptionally useful. In an effort to provide researchers with such a characterization of stimuli, we have collected descriptive data on the ANEW to identify which discrete emotions are elicited by each word in the set. Our data, coupled with previous characterizations of the dimensional aspects of these words, will allow researchers to control for or manipulate stimulus properties in accordance with both dimensional and discrete emotional views, and provide an avenue for further integration of these two perspectives. Our data have been archived at www.psychonomic.org/archive/.
Architectural power optimization by bus splitting

A split-bus architecture is proposed to improve the power dissipation for global data exchange among a set of modules. The resulting bus splitting problem is formulated and solved combinatorially. Experimental results show that the power saving of the split-bus architecture compared to the monolithic-bus architecture varies from 16% to 50%, depending on the characteristics of the data transfer among the modules and the configuration of the split bus. The proposed split-bus architecture can be extended to multi-way split-bus when a large number of modules are to be connected.
Characteristics of Spacer Device Use by Patients with Asthma and COPD

Abstract Objective: Spacer devices (SD) in conjunction with metered dose inhalers (MDI) have been shown to be as effective as saline nebulizers for the delivery of beta-agonists. A preliminary study suggests that SDs are not consistently used. The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns of SD ownership and use to identify potential targets for future educational efforts to increase ownership and use of SD. Methods: Cross-sectional convenience sample survey of patients presenting to an academic Emergency Department (ED) with a history of asthma/COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Informed consent was obtained. Survey data included demographics, association with a primary care physician (PCP), SD ownership, patterns of use, opinions of efficacy about SD and disease severity assessed by duration of asthma/COPD, prior ED visits, hospitalizations, and history of prior intubation. Patterns of use are described and univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with SD ownership. Results: Of the 313 patients, 55.9% were female, the mean age was 46.0 years (standard deviation 14.7), 54.3% were white, and 143 patients (45.7%) reported owning a SD. A total of 36.4% reported a prior hospitalization for their condition and 24% reported a history of being intubated. Less than half of patients presenting with asthma or COPD exacerbation that reported owning a SD used it the day of presentation to the ED. Logistic regression identified having a PCP and a history of prior hospitalization for asthma/COPD as factors independently associated with SD ownership (odds ratio [OR] 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–2.7 and OR 2.2, CI 1.3–3.5, respectively). Conclusion: A majority of patients with asthma/COPD do not own a SD. These data suggest that there is significant opportunity for educational efforts directed at a broad range of asthma/COPD patients in hopes of increasing ownership and use of SD.
Democratizing the workplace through professionalization of human resource development

This article critically examines democratizing the workplace through the professionalization of HRD. The primary question the article seeks to explore is to what extent can a democratic profession potentially minimize undemocratic workplaces. Drawing from several conceptual and research bodies of literature, including democracy and democratic workplaces, globalization and sociology of professions, this article describes democracy and how professions can enhance its growth.
Correlation of preoperative MRI with the long-term outcomes of dorsal root entry zone lesioning for brachial plexus avulsion pain

OBJECT Lesioning of the dorsal root entry zone (DREZotomy) is an effective treatment for brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) pain. The role of preoperative assessment with MRI has been shown to be unreliable for determining affected levels; however, it may have a role in predicting pain outcomes. Here, DREZotomy outcomes are reviewed and preoperative MRI is examined as a possible prognostic factor. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of an institutional database of patients who had undergone brachial plexus DREZ procedures since 1995. Preoperative MRI was examined to assess damage to the DREZ or dorsal horn, as evidenced by avulsion of the DREZ or T2 hyperintensity within the spinal cord. Phone interviews were conducted to assess the long-term pain outcomes. RESULTS Between 1995 and 2012, 27 patients were found to have undergone cervical DREZ procedures for BPA. Of these, 15 had preoperative MR images of the cervical spine available for review. The outcomes were graded from 1 to 4 as poor (no significant relief), good (more than 50% pain relief), excellent (more than 75% pain relief), or pain free, respectively. Overall, DREZotomy was found to be a safe, efficacious, and durable procedure for relief of pain due to BPA. The initial success rate was 73%, which declined to 66% at a median follow-up time of 62.5 months. Damage to the DREZ or dorsal horn was significantly correlated with poorer outcomes (p = 0.02). The average outcomes in patients without MRI evidence of DREZ or dorsal horn damage was significantly higher than in patients with such damage (3.67 vs 1.75, t-test; p = 0.001). A longer duration of pain prior to operation was also a significant predictor of treatment success (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Overall, the DREZotomy procedure has a 66% chance of achieving meaningful pain relief on long-term follow-up. Successful pain relief is associated with the lack of damage to the DREZ and dorsal horn on preoperative MRI.