cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relations between facial display, eye gaze and head tilt: Dominance perception variations of virtual agents

In this paper, we focus on facial displays, eye gaze and head tilts to express social dominance. In particular, we are interested in the interaction of different non-verbal cues. We present a study which systematically varies eye gaze and head tilts for five basic emotions and a neutral state using our own graphics and animation engine. The resulting images are then presented to a large number of subjects via a web-based interface who are asked to attribute dominance values to the character shown in the images. First, we analyze how dominance ratings are influenced by the conveyed emotional facial expression. Further, we investigate how gaze direction and head pose influence dominance perception depending on the displayed emotional state.
The wolf spider Pardosa milvina detects predator threat level using only vibratory cues

Predators may inadvertently signal their presence and threat level by way of signals in multiple modalities. We used a spider, Pardosa milvina, known to respond adaptively to chemotactile predator cues (i.e., silk, faeces and other excreta) to evaluate whether it could also discriminate predation risk from isolated vibratory cues. Vibrations from its prey, conspecifics, and predators (Tigrosa helluo and Scarites quadriceps) were recorded and played back to Pardosa. In addition, we recorded predator vibrations with and without access to chemotactile cues from Pardosa, indicating the presence of prey. Pardosa did not appear to discriminate between vibrations from prey or conspecifics, but the response to predators depended on the presence of cues from Pardosa. Vibrations from predators with access to chemotactile cues from prey induced reductions in Pardosa activity. Predator cues typically occur in multiple modalities, but prey are capable of imperfectly evaluating predation risk using a limited subset of information.
Mid-third femoral stress fracture with hip pain.

Stress fractures are relatively common in runners, accounting for 10% to 15% of total running injuries. Bennell et al observed 111 track and field athletes for 12 months and noted a 21% incidence of stress fractures. Matheson et al reported that 7% of all stress injuries to bone involved the femur. One review and one prospective analysis of stress fractures in athletes have shown a 3.5% incidence of femoral shaft involvement, although Johnson et al found that 20% of all stress fractures in a study of collegiate athletes involved the femoral shaft. This case of a midshaft femoral stress fracture illustrates the often vague and confusing symptoms of these injuries and reinforces the need for physicians to be alert to the possibility of a femoral stress fracture when evaluating a runner with hip or leg pain.
Heterogeneity of acute heart transplant rejection can be visualized by cellular and functional cardiac magnetic resonance.

In the paper by Wu et al. ([1][1]) in this issue of iJACC , a novel, two-pronged cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) approach to imaging acute heart transplant rejection was investigated. The two-pronged approach employed both cellular and functional imaging to examine an animal model of acute
Introduction of Vigilante Players in Cognitive Networks with Moving Greedy Players

We propose adding a vigilante player and using non-traditional game strategy for decision making to improve the performance of a cognitive radio network. To date, the application to cognitive radio networks of a hybrid player such as a vigilante, which is both cooperative and non- cooperative, has not been significantly studied. We use a novel play strategy (i.e., altruism) to police a wireless network. Using this new player, we present and test a series of predictive algorithms that show an improvement in wireless channel utilization over traditional collision- detection algorithms. Our results demonstrate the viability of using this novel strategy to inform and create more efficient cognitive radio networks.
Opioids and Coronary Heart Disease.

The use of opioid analgesics for the management of chronic pain has come under increasing scrutiny for a variety of reasons. The paucity of studies on their efficacy is of most importance, but the potential adverse events associated with extended use of these medications are also of concern. One of these is the association between opioid use and coronary heart disease (CHD). Although the cardiotoxic effects of methadone have long been recognized and are often given as the primary reason why this drug should be avoided, less attention has been paid to whether other opioids should similarly be prescribed with marked caution, if at all, to patients with CHD. The finding by Khodneva et al. [1] that prescription opioid use may be associated with an increased risk of CHD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths, especially … kingpain{at}gmail.com
Effective or symbolic? Testing the constitutionality of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act:

In an effort to reduce violent acts of discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes ...
The provision of diagnosis at emergency department discharge: a pilot study

Objectives Understanding the cause of patients’ symptoms usually involves identification of a pathological diagnosis. Anecdotal reports suggest that emergency department (ED) providers do not prioritise giving pathological diagnoses, and often reiterate the patient9s symptom as the discharge ‘diagnosis’. Our pilot study sought to identify the proportion of patients at a large teaching hospital who receive a symptomatic versus pathological diagnosis at ED discharge. Methods We performed a chart review of all adult patients who were discharged from an urban ED in the USA, with an 88 000 annual visit volume. All charts of patients presenting with the three most common ED chief complaints (chest pain, abdominal pain and headache) were reviewed by two reviewers. Charts were coded as either symptomatic or pathological diagnosis based on the discharge diagnosis provided by the attending physician. Those with discrepant coding by the two reviewers were subject to review by a third adjudicator. Results 797 charts met the inclusion criteria. Five charts (0.6%) were coded differently by the two reviewers; a discussion with the third reviewer resulted in consensus in all cases. For patients presenting with chest pain, abdominal pain and headache, the proportion that received a pathological ED discharge diagnosis were 17%, 43% and 41%, respectively. Conclusions According to our pilot study, most patients are discharged from the ED without a pathological diagnosis that explains the likely cause of their symptoms. Future studies will investigate whether this finding is consistent across institutions, and whether provision of a pathological diagnosis affects clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Fundraising in American Public Libraries: An Overview

ABSTRACTAmerica’s public libraries have faced changes because of technology’s challenges—but a disruption that’s just as dangerous is the gradual dwindling of the public funding that they have historically relied on. To meet the formidable challenges, librarians will have to go back to their historical “roots.” So-called “public” libraries, after all, were actually founded by large bequests from private donors such as Andrew Carnegie and Samuel Tilden. Modern-day librarians—from Virginia to Montana—that have embraced the crucial work of fundraising have been able to devise imaginative, sometimes Internet-based, solutions to overcoming budget shortfalls. Their stories show us what is possible when an inventive entrepreneurial spirit pervades the library.
Regional variations in the mechanical strains of the human optic nerve head

The mechanical behavior of the lamina cribrosa (LC), the connective tissue that supports the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), plays an important role in the development of glaucoma. We have developed an in-vitro inflation test to measure the three-dimensional displacement and strain fields in the posterior 250 μm of the LC in response to controlled pressurization. Human eyes were obtained from a tissue bank and the posterior sclera mounted in a pressure-controllable fixture. A laser-scanning microscope was used to acquire SHG images of the deforming tissue structure in response to pressure changes, and the fast-iterative digital volume correlation (FIDVC) algorithm developed by Bar Kochba et al. (Experimental Mechanics 55:261–274, 2015) was used to calculate 3D displacement fields from the SHG signal. Strains were calculated by fitting a high order polynomial function to the displacement field and taking the gradient. To compare for regional variation of the strains, the LC was divided about the central retinal artery and vein (CRAV) into the superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal quadrants and further divided into inner, middle, and outer radial regions centered on the CRAV and three equal regions through the thickness. These regions were statistically compared using a univariate repeated anova. We found that displacements and strains in the LC exhibited substantial variation in the plane but not through the thickness. The average shear strains were significantly smaller than the normal strains (p = 0.0006, 45 mmHg). For all eyes, the LC appeared as an elliptical plate. The normal strains were greater along the major axis compared to the minor axis of the LC for all eyes tested (p = 0.03, 45 mmHg). The maximum principal strains were also found to be greater in the middle inferior and temporal regions than in the superior and nasal regions (p = 0.07, 45 mmHg). Eyes exhibited two kinds of radial variation. Three out of six specimens exhibited the stiffest behavior around the CRAV with higher principal strains towards the periphery, while the remainder were more compliant around the CRAV with lower principal strain on the periphery. These regional variations in pressure-derived strains in the LC may help to explain the progression of axonal damage observed in glaucoma.
New Nucleophilic Fluoroalkylations

Organofluorine compounds have attracted special attention in the field of drug discovery because of their unique properties, which make them important in biomedicinal research. Great attention has been given to novel methodologies that offer promising convenient synthetic protocols to prepare various organofluorine compounds. This chapter highlights the innovative achievements in the development of nucleophilic fluoroalkylation protocols and their application in the synthesis of various biologically important compounds in the past decade.
Aging behavior of Mg alloys containing Nd and Y

Magnesium rare earth (Mg–RE) alloys form unique precipitate structures during aging that make these materials desirable for applications where a high strength to weight ratio is important. Commercial alloys such as WE43 are quite complex, making it difficult to fully understand the factors controlling precipitation, which are needed in the design of new and improved alloys. Here, we present our initial observations of the different precipitate phases that form in Mg–Nd, Mg–Y, and Mg–Y–Nd alloys using scanning transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography and relate the microstructure to measured changes in alloy hardness via post-mortem observations of deformed alloys.
Finding Voice: Revisiting Race and American Catholicism in Detroit

This paper examines the relationship between black Detroit and American Catholicism, while raising questions about the issue of voice in black Catholic studies and the tie between militancy among local black Catholics and Detroit's role in American labor history. It begins with the founding of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in 1911, the first Catholic mission for African Americans in Detroit, and notes the successive establishment of four other Catholic churches targeted for black Detroiters, the last of which was established in north-central Detroit in 1949. It perhaps inordinately focuses on the nature of black interaction with the Church and thus examines the substances of letters from black parishioners as well as oral accounts that provide rich data on protest and agitation among twentieth-century black Catholics in Detroit. Versions of black consciousness, rarely touched upon in the extant literature, surfaced in the late 1920s, in the 1940s, and erupted in 1970-1971 and 1989. The paper hopes to draw attention to these moments of protest, to use them to spiral African-American voices into the national discourse, and to add to what is known about black Detroit and about black Catholicism in the urban north.
Turbulence-Free Double-slit Interferometer

Optical turbulence can be detrimental for optical observations. For instance, atmospheric turbulence may reduce the visibility or completely blur out the interference produced by an interferometer in open air. However, a simple two-photon interference theory based on Einstein's granularity picture of light makes a turbulence-free interferometer possible; i.e., any refraction index, length, or phase variations along the optical paths of the interferometer do not have any effect on its interference. Applying this mechanism, the reported experiment demonstrates a two-photon double-slit interference that is insensitive to atmospheric turbulence. The turbulence-free mechanism and especially the turbulence-free interferometer would be helpful in optical observations that require high sensitivity and stability such as for gravitational-wave detection.
Electrostatic Properties of Proteins: Role of the Aqueous Solution in Determining Protein Secondary and Tertiary Structure

Following the suggestion by Bonaccorsi et al. [1] that molecular electrostatic potentials could be useful in examining molecular interactions, a number of studies have examined protonation [2], H-bonding [3], donor-acceptor interactions [4] and reactivity [2] with the use of electrostatic potential maps. It appears that the shape of the electrostatic potential allows one to predict the magnitude of possible H-bonding and protonation interactions and to give some insight into H-bond directionality as well.
Future Directions and Alternate Systems for Robotic Surgery

Surgical robotics, or more accurately, computer-assisted tele-surgery, has two main purposes: first, to increase human performance beyond limitation of a person’s inherent physical abilities and second, to perform a surgical procedure at a remote site [1]. As a concept, tele-surgery originated with a 1972 NASA proposal. The initial vision was to provide medical care for orbiting astronauts from a terrestrial base by introducing an electromechanical system between the surgeon and the patient [2]. In the 1980s and 1990s, minimally invasive surgical techniques were developed that allowed the performance of precise surgical tasks through a few, small, incisions using specially developed surgical instruments. Since the dawn of surgical robotics, with the rapid development of computers and a dramatic increase in computational power came the application technology to the execution of surgical procedures. This culminated with the vision of remote tele-operation of surgical robots in the battlefield and the initial funding necessary to develop the current generation of surgical robots [3].
Cortical and Subcortical Connections of Visual Cortex in Primates

Over the last several years, considerable progress has been made in understanding the connections of the visual system in primates. Much of this progress has been the result of applications of the relatively new and powerful autoradiographic and histochemical tracing methods that reveal connections in great detail and clarity. The major limitation on further understanding of visual system connections does not seem to be technical at this time, but rather it is our incomplete knowledge of the functional subdivisions of the primate visual system. It is difficult to study connections of parts of the brain for which the organization and divisions into separate areas or nuclei are still unclear. Quite different schemes of cortical organization have been proposed for visual cortex of New World (5–7) and Old World monkeys (96, 111, 116–118) and neither of these schemes includes all of visually responsive cortex. For example, neither organization deals with subdivisions of inferotemporal cortex, a visually responsive region of cortex that in Old World monkeys has received detailed attention (33, 34, 59), without completely resolving the issue of number and boundaries of subdivisions. Efforts have been made to show similarites in cortical organization between Old and New World primates (1, 95, 99), but how similar or dissimilar the two groups of primates are presently remains uncertain.
Case Formulations of Chronic Headaches

Although Mr. C. appears to be a simple case of “tension” or muscle contraction headache, this case is a good illustration of the complexity of chronic head pain. If one did not look carefully at the situation, the obvious treatment plan would be biofeedback, cognitive therapy, and/ or progressive muscular relaxation, which I predict would, and did, end in disaster. Even in the most classic cases of headache, it is always wise to look very carefully before proceeding with intervention.
Effects of Corrective Reading on the Reading Abilities and Classroom Behaviors of Middle School Students with Reading Deficits and Challenging Behavior

A multiple probe design was employed for this study to assess the effectiveness of the Corrective Reading program (Engelmann et al., 1999) on students' reading fluency and behavior during reading-r...
Race, crime, and emotions:

Experimental research on racial attitudes examines how Whites’ stereotypes of Black Americans shape their attitudes about the death penalty, violent crime, and other punitive measures. Marginally d...
Taq1a polymorphism (rs1800497) is associated with obesity-related outcomes and dietary intake in a multi-ethnic sample of children

Background In adults, the Taq1a polymorphism (rs1800497) near the D2 receptor (DRD2) gene is associated with body mass index and binge eating and is more prevalent among non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) and Hispanic-Americans (HA) relative to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). We hypothesize Taq1a polymorphism (rs1800497) risk alleles contribute to paediatric racial/ethnic differences in obesity phenotypes. Objectives This study aims to characterize the relationship between the Taq1a polymorphism (rs1800497), diet and adiposity in a multi-ethnic cohort of 286 children (98 NHB, 76 HA and 112 NHW), ages 7-12. Methods Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, computed tomography scans and two 24-h dietary recalls assessed body composition, fat distribution and dietary intakes, respectively. Results Children with two Taq1a risk alleles (NHB = 50.0%, HA = 43.3%, NHW = 6.7%) reported a 20% increase in total energy intake (P = 0.0034) and per cent of calories from sugar consumed (P = 0.0077) than did children with less than two risk alleles. Children with two Taq1a risk alleles demonstrated significantly higher total body fat (P = 0.0145), body fat percentage (P = 0.0377), intra-abdominal adiposity (P = 0.0459), subcutaneous abdominal adiposity (P = 0.0213) and total abdominal adiposity (P = 0.0209) than did children with one or no Taq1a risk alleles. Conclusions Our results suggest that having two Taq1a risk alleles is associated with an increase in reported calorie and sugar consumption and is a potential risk factor for early development of excess adiposity in multi-ethnic children. These results need to be confirmed in a larger sample.
Islet cell transplantation.

As with other organs, immunological barriers have complicated studies on the feasibility of pancreatic transplantation. In the laboratory, this problem could be partially circumvented by procedures of immunosuppression, autotransplantation, or the use of immunologically privileged sites and highly inbred strains of experimental animals. Clinically, however, such procedures were either impractical or involved significant patient risk. Recent advances in transplantation biology now suggest that methods can be developed that treat the graft and not the recipient to overcome the problem of graft rejection.1
Success Bias and Inflation Bias After Planning and Communicating Emotional Support

This study investigates the potential for cancer patients' supporters to experience cognitive biases after communicating emotional support messages. A success bias was predicted, such that those who planned their messages would rate those messages as more effective in comparison with those who did not plan their messages (H1a-H1c). An inflation bias was also predicted, such that supporters would rate their messages as more effective than cancer patients who also rated the messages (H2a-H2c). One hundred laboratory participants were randomly assigned to a planning or distraction task before recording an emotional support message for a friend who had hypothetically been diagnosed with cancer. Laboratory participants rated their own messages in terms of relational assurances, problem-solving utility, and emotional awareness. Subsequently, cancer patients viewed and rated the laboratory participants' messages on the same characteristics. Participants who planned their messages rated their messages significantly higher than those who did not plan their messages in terms of relational assurance and problem-solving utility but not emotional awareness. Irrespective of planning or distraction condition, participants also rated their messages significantly higher on all three dependent variables than did cancer patients. Supporters should be aware of the propensity to overrate their supportive abilities and guard against the assumption that planning messages results in more effective support messages.
Deep Reinforcement Learning for Continuous Power Allocation in Flexible High Throughput Satellites

Many of the next generation of satellites will be equipped with numerous degrees of freedom in power and bandwidth allocation capabilities, making manual resource allocation impractical. Therefore, it is desirable to automate the operation of these highly flexible satellites. This paper presents a novel approach based on Deep Reinforcement Learning to allocate power in multibeam satellite systems. The proposed architecture represents the problem as continuous state and action spaces. We make use of the Proximal Policy Optimization algorithm to optimize the allocation policy for minimum unmet system demand and power consumption. Finally, the performance of the algorithm is analyzed through simulations of a multibeam satellite system. The analysis shows promising results for Deep Reinforcement Learning to be used as a dynamic resource allocation algorithm.
RF Frequency Synthesizer Based on Self-Mode-Locked Multimode Lasers

Low-noise local oscillators are very important in modern communication systems. To realize a stable solution with a limited size, symmetric multimode multi-section semiconductor laser pairs are reported in this article for building a chip-level RF synthesizer. The symmetric laser structure utilizes a shared distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) and counterpropagating laser output with the help of an external feedback circuit to achieve self-mode-locking. The achieved phase noise performance is −92 dBc/Hz at a 10 kHz offset frequency for intermodal operation at 26.4 GHz using 5 locked modes, which is a 57 dB improvement compared to the free-running case. Moreover, an RF synthesizer covering frequencies of 11–13 GHz is realized based on the achieved mode-locked system using current tuning. The related phase noise of the laser pair beat-note output is −100 dBc/Hz at a 10 kHz offset of carrier frequencies of 11–13 GHz, which is 58 dB better than the phase noise of the beat-note output without mode-locking over 11–13 GHz.
Discounting Restricted Securities

We examine the costs of trading restrictions by exploiting an SEC rule change that eliminates a 60-day restriction period in private placements for small issuers. Using a difference-indifferences specification, we find that the restriction is binding, as turnover increases by 30% following its removal, and costly, as offering discounts fall by eight percentage points (a 66% decrease). Discounts fall 80% more for issuers with high information asymmetry. Our results are robust to tests that account for endogenous response to the rule change. Overall, our findings suggest that trading restrictions are costly and have large effects on firms’ cost of capital.
Endogenous oxidized DNA bases and APE1 regulate the formation of G-quadruplex structures in the genome

Formation of G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures in key regulatory regions in the genome has emerged as a secondary structure-based epigenetic mechanism for regulating multiple biological processes including transcription, replication, and telomere maintenance. G4 formation (folding), stabilization, and unfolding must be regulated to coordinate G4-mediated biological functions; however, how cells regulate the spatiotemporal formation of G4 structures in the genome is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that endogenous oxidized guanine bases in G4 sequences and the subsequent activation of the base excision repair (BER) pathway drive the spatiotemporal formation of G4 structures in the genome. Genome-wide mapping of occurrence of Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site damage, binding of BER proteins, and G4 structures revealed that oxidized base-derived AP site damage and binding of OGG1 and APE1 are predominant in G4 sequences. Loss of APE1 abrogated G4 structure formation in cells, which suggests an essential role of APE1 in regulating the formation of G4 structures in the genome. Binding of APE1 to G4 sequences promotes G4 folding, and acetylation of APE1, which enhances its residence time, stabilizes G4 structures in cells. APE1 subsequently facilitates transcription factor loading to the promoter, providing mechanistic insight into the role of APE1 in G4-mediated gene expression. Our study unravels a role of endogenous oxidized DNA bases and APE1 in controlling the formation of higher-order DNA secondary structures to regulate transcription beyond its well-established role in safeguarding the genomic integrity.
Mitigating the gender gap: How "DOCTOR" badges affect physician identity.

Abstract Objectives Patients and their families frequently misclassify female physicians in the Emergency Department (ED) as non-physicians. Physician misidentification impacts the environment of care on multiple levels; including patient satisfaction and physician well-being. Implementing “DOCTOR” badges may be a low-cost tool to rectify these problems. Methods The study was conducted in a large urban academic medical center. Badges with the title “DOCTOR” was distributed to 83 Emergency Medicine (EM) residents and 28 EM Attendings in the department. After 3 months, the residents and Attendings were surveyed to assess the efficacy of the intervention. Descriptive data, univariable, and multivariable analyses were conducted. Results There were 98 respondents to the pre-intervention survey and 87 respondents to the post-intervention survey. 91% of EM physicians reported that they were misidentified by the patients and their families. Compared to male EM physicians, female EM physicians were disproportionately more likely to be misidentified as a non-physician 43% vs 97%, respectfully, 95% CI: [37,66], p Conclusions Female EM physicians are disproportionately misidentified by patients and their families and are more likely to feel undervalued when clarifying their roles. In only a span of 3 months, we found that the use of “DOCTOR” badges decreased misidentification and improved outcomes that may enhance physician wellness. Having EM physicians wear a “DOCTOR” badge may be a simple and effective long-term solution to this issue.
Data-independent acquisition (DIA): An emerging proteomics technology for analysis of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters

Data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics is a recently-developed global mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics strategy. In a DIA method, precursor ions are isolated into pre-defined isolation windows and fragmented; all fragmented ions in each window are then analyzed by a high-resolution mass spectrometer. DIA proteomics analysis is characterized by a broad protein coverage, high reproducibility, and accuracy, and its combination with advances in other techniques such as sample preparation and computational data analysis could lead to further improvements in assay performances. DIA technology has been increasingly utilized in various proteomics studies, including quantifying drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Quantitative proteomics study of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters could lead to a better understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and facilitate drug development. This review summarizes the application of DIA technology in proteomic analysis of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters.
Explicit constructions of some infinite families of finite-dimensional irreducible representations of the type $\mbox{E}_{6}$ and $\mbox{E}_{7}$ simple Lie algebras

We construct every finite-dimensional irreducible representation of the simple Lie algebra of type $\mbox{E}_{7}$ whose highest weight is a nonnegative integer multiple of the dominant minuscule weight associated with the type $\mbox{E}_{7}$ root system. As a consequence, we obtain constructions of each finite-dimensional irreducible representation of the simple Lie algebra of type $\mbox{E}_{6}$ whose highest weight is a nonnegative integer linear combination of the two dominant minuscule $\mbox{E}_{6}$-weights. Our constructions are explicit in the sense that, if the representing space is $d$-dimensional, then a weight basis is provided such that all entries of the $d \times d$ representing matrices of the Chevalley generators are obtained via explicit, non-recursive formulas. To effect this work, we introduce what we call $\mbox{E}_{6}$- and $\mbox{E}_{7}$-polyminuscule lattices that analogize certain lattices associated with the famous special linear Lie algebra representation constructions obtained by Gelfand and Tsetlin.
Mesh Convolutional Networks with Face and Vertex Feature Operators.

Deep learning techniques have proven effective in many applications, but these implementations mostly apply to data in one or two dimensions. Handling 3D data is more challenging due to its irregularity and complexity, and there is a growing interest in adapting deep learning techniques to the 3D domain. A recent successful approach called MeshCNN consists of a set of convolutional and pooling operators applied to the edges of triangular meshes. While this approach produced superb results in classification and segmentation of 3D shapes, it can only be applied to edges of a mesh, which can constitute a disadvantage for applications where the focuses are other primitives of the mesh. In this study, we propose face-based and vertex-based operators for mesh convolutional networks. We design two novel architectures based on the MeshCNN network that can operate on faces and vertices of a mesh, respectively. We demonstrate that the proposed face-based architecture outperforms the original MeshCNN implementation in mesh classification and mesh segmentation, setting the new state of the art on benchmark datasets. In addition, we extend the vertex-based operator to fit in the Point2Mesh model for mesh reconstruction from clean, noisy, and incomplete point clouds. While no statistically significant performance improvements are observed, the model training and inference time are reduced by the proposed approach by 91% and 20%, respectively, as compared with the original Point2Mesh model.
Race in Latin America

Race has long been a primary cleavage in Latin American societies, where people of African, Indigenous, and European origin have been present in large numbers. Although they have promoted race mixture as central to their national identities and often denied racism and racial discrimination, racial hierarchies have also been prominent features up until the present. Today, most Latin American countries have declared themselves multiculturalist and have begun to recognize their black and indigenous populations, largely in response to minority social movements and as these societies have begun to democratize. At the same time, the academic literature on the subject has blossomed. Keywords: Latin America; race; African; indigenous; European; social movements; racism; discrimination; hierarchies; multicultural
THE MARCH GOES ON: COMMUNITY ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Although civil rights legislation designed to remove barriers to and promote full and equal participation in communities has led to some improvements, barriers remain. These barriers create participation disparities among people with disabilities, which in turn contribute to feelings of isolation and poorer health. We used participatory action research to understand present-day accessibility of important and understudied community settings, namely, state and local government facilities, programs, and services. Using an innovative approach to examining accessibility, we were able to compare the experiences of researchers with and without disabilities, thereby allowing us to identify disparities between the two groups. We found that some progress in providing access has been achieved but that other barriers persist; access for individuals with vision-related disabilities may be most problematic. Findings indicate that more needs to be done to achieve full accessibility and inclusion.
Potential, Performance, and Paradox: A Case Study of J.P., a Verbally Gifted, Struggling Reader:

While numerous studies have described a picture of the prototypical struggling reader, children who struggle to read but possess other verbal and creative talents have been neglected in the literature. Because they are expected to acquire literacy quickly and easily, verbally gifted, struggling readers often encounter a different set of problems from other children who fail to read in the primary grades. In this case study, an 8-year-old, verbally gifted, struggling reader's difficult experiences at home and school are discussed, along with the responses of those in his life to his paradox of being highly verbal yet failing at reading.
Failure analysis for bumped-die device cratering via finite element modeling

This paper presents a case-study result showing how finite element modeling can assist investigation of stress-related failure in electronic components. The package in discussion is a very specific type of flip chips (bumped die). Driven by customer's requirements, it is designed with extra-large solder bumps, and to be surface-mounted on organic PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) with no underfill. It was found that for certain bump designs, the units are prone to fail during the temperature cycle test as a result of device cratering. Mechanics of the reliability failure is somewhat subtle. Finite element modeling was undertaken to assess stress in the solder bump. It turned out that initial modeling results showed dramatic discrepancy from test results. Having thoroughly checked the solution, particularly as various modeling approaches generated consistent results, it was then led to suspicion that micro-damages might have occurred in the package. In other words, the initial model without including any defect only represents pristine units, and is no longer adequate in representing tested samples. Subsequent bump pull test and fractography analysis did find undetected debonding at BCB/passivation interface in solder bumps. Analysis results from updated delamination-included model correlated with test data perfectly, confirming that the device cratering is end result of preceding delamination in the flip chip.
The Embedded Epistemologist: Dispatches from the Legal Front

In ordinary circumstances, we can assess the worth of evidence well enough without benefit of any theory; but when evidence is especially complex, ambiguous, or emotionally disturbing—as it often is in legal contexts—epistemological theory may be helpful. A legal fact-finder is asked to determine whether the proposition that the defendant is guilty, or is liable, is established to the required degree of proof by the [admissible] evidence presented; i.e., to make an epistemological appraisal. The foundherentist theory developed in Evidence and Inquiry can help us understand what this means; and reveals that degrees of proof cannot be construed as mathematical probabilities: a point illustrated by comparing the advantages of a foundherentist analysis with the disadvantages of probabilistic analyses of the evidence in the Sacco and Vanzetti case (1921), and of the role of the statistical evidence in Collins (1968).
On Hausdorff-like metrics for fuzzy sets (poster session)

Abstract In (Chaudhuri and Rosenfeld, 1996), metrics were developed for fuzzy sets u and v defined on the same support set S. These metrics are based on applying the Hausdorff metric to pairs of membership level sets (u−1([tk, 1]), v−1([tk, 1])), where tk ϵ [0, 1] is a (possible) membership value of u or v. The metrics of (Chaudhuri and Rosenfeld, 1996) give nice comparisons of fuzzy sets by measuring the differences in their images, but suffer the undesirable restriction that fuzzy sets so compared must have the same maximum values. In the current paper, we show how the metrics of (Chaudhuri and Rosenfeld, 1996) may be modified so as to remove this restriction while preserving some of the “feel” of the metrics described in (Chaudhuri and Rosenfeld, 1996). We also present an algorithm for computing our metric that runs in Θ (mn) time for a 2-dimensional digital picture of n pixels on which fuzzy sets are allowed m distinct membership values.
Epitaxy and heterogeneous nucleation theory

Abstract On the basis of heterogeneous nucleation theory a model is developed which successfully explains a number of observations about epitaxy. The relative nucleation rates are calculated for two types of cap-shaped nuclei, “epitaxial” and “random”, differing only in the magnitude of the nucleus-substrate interfacial free energy. There is a sharp rise in the ratio of the epitaxial/random nucleation rates over a relatively small temperature range, thus predicting an epitaxial temperature. The epitaxial temperature increases significantly when the impingement flux is increased. The combined effects of impingement flux and temperature are shown to produce conditions for which either no nucleation, epitaxial nucleation, or random nucleation will occur. The potentially large effect of impurities is illustrated by the variation of the relative nucleation rates with changes in interfacial free energy. The results are in qualitative agreement with the limited amount of experimental information available.
Religious/Spiritual and Other Adaptive Coping Strategies Among Chinese American Older Immigrants

Although recent scholarship focuses on the importance of religion to ethnic minorities and immigrants, relatively little attention has been given to how faith and spirituality help Asian immigrant elderly cope with life's challenges. This exploratory study was undertaken via in-depth interviews with 12 Chinese American older adults to further explore the meaning of suffering and faith as a coping mechanism for these challenges. Findings reveal that these respondents have developed particular adaptive strategies in managing their life challenges incorporating socio-emotional, cognitive, and instrumental aspects. Religious/spiritual coping was found to be embedded with respondents' values, faith, and cultural beliefs, and seem to be an important factor in developing effective coping strategies. Implications for the importance of culturally sensitive social work practice are discussed.
Low-Speed Horizontal Curve Friction Factors

This project was a pilot study to examine side friction values for the geometric design of low-speed urban horizontal curves. The friction factors calculated from measured curve radius, pavement cross slope, and vehicle speed within the curve were compared with those in the 2001 A policy on geometric design of highways and streets. The findings from the five study sites suggest that the current low-speed urban side friction values may be overly conservative, in that a sizeable proportion of drivers can exceed the intended design speed. The average friction factors calculated for different categories of passenger cars differed among the categories. A significant amount of geometric irregularities, perhaps due to either construction or maintenance practices, were found among the curves examined. The paper also contains practical advice for those engaged in future field data collection.
Honesty testing: Estimating and reducing the false positive rate

Bayes' theorem was used to provide a realistic estimate of the false positive rate in honesty testing. Separate estimates were provided for employee theft and production deviance. Examples were used to illustrate how follow-up screening procedures can significantly reduce either the false positive or false negative rate. Suggestions were provided for how test developers can capitalize on research in the area of honesty testing to develop alternative methods of identifying dishonest applicants.
Post-test Probability According to Prevalence

To the Editor:— The impact of disease prevalence on post-test disease probability cannot be understated and Agoritsas, et al. demonstrate clearly that their survey population tends towards overestimation of disease probability given a positive test result: the majority of respondents in each category chose the 95–99.9% option. The authors assert that incorporating disease prevalence (or prior probability) is not intuitive to clinicians and they propose as evidence the observation that physicians who were not provided with prevalence data in their study still “guessed” at post-test probability. However, it is unclear to the reader if these subjects even had the option in their survey to reply “cannot be determined,” since Table 1 indicates that 100% of these respondents did in fact select a post-test probability. Conclusions drawn from this arm of the study are therefore limited. This trial underscores the limitations of teaching arithmetic-based Bayesian calculations to medical trainees, since such statistical calculations are clinically cumbersome to implement if only because the terminology used to evaluate laboratory tests is not intuitive. The concepts are, however, quite intuitive and it has been shown that 95% of physicians who do take into consideration test characteristics in interpreting results do so in a “informal direct method”1. Rather than thinking in terms of ratios, odds, or nomograms, it is ideal to know which tests are good for ruling out and which are good for ruling in and when to use them. Leaving the mathematical heavy lifting to those who develop evidence-based guidelines in diagnostics permits clinicians to utilize Bayesian principles at the bedside without their knowing it. A good example is the extensive work done to optimize d-dimer testing and imaging in evaluating a patient for PE2,3. The trial by Agoritsas et al. reminds us that clinicians do need this structure in order to properly use and interpret diagnostic tests.
Expression of Gli1 in the hedgehog signaling pathway and breast cancer recurrence

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an essential role in the embryonic development and homeostasis of diverse adult tissues, and its deregulation has been implicated in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of various malignancies including breast cancer.
EGG TYPE INFLUENCES PREDATION RATES IN ARTIFICIAL NEST EXPERIMENT

Egg type is one factor that is likely to influence the results from artificial nest experiments. Here I document predation rates on Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) and the much smaller Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) eggs on the edge and interior of a tropical forest in Costa Rica. Predation rates on finch eggs were the same on the edge and in the interior of the forest (60.9 and 60.0%, respectively), while predation rates on quail eggs were significantly different on the edge and in the interior (76.5 and 35.0%, respectively). Hence, results from artificial nest experiments may be highly dependent on the type of egg used and caution is advised in their interpretation.
TOTAL UROGENITAL SINUS MOBILIZATION: A MODIFIED PERINEAL APPROACH FOR FEMINIZING GENITOPLASTY AND UROGENITAL SINUS REPAIR

Purpose: We report a modification of the total urogenital sinus mobilization technique adapted to the repair of isolated persistent urogenital sinus and masculinized external female genitalia.Materials and Methods: The records of 6 girls undergoing total urogenital sinus mobilization were reviewed. Diagnosis was the adrenogenital syndrome in 4 girls, and persistent urogenital sinus and true hermaphroditism in 1 girl each. Mean patient age at the time of surgery was 5.9 years (range 4.5 months to 19.5 years). The surgical technique was modified by using the perineal approach since all patients had normal anorectal anatomy. A posterior perineal skin flap was used to widen the vaginal introitus. The wall of the mobilized urogenital sinus was opened and used to create a mucous lined vestibule. In those cases of the adrenogenital syndrome reduction clitoroplasty was performed at the same time. Postoperative results were assessed subjectively by observation of the vulvar appearance and objectively by determinin...
Concordance Theory, Targeted Partnership, and Counterinsurgency Strategy:

This study introduces the new concept of targeted partnership, which encourages robust dialogue between military officers and policy makers to create and implement effective military strategy such ...
Observational relationship of sea surface temperatures and precedent soil moisture with summer precipitation in the U.S. Great Plains

In this study, the relationship between precedent soil moisture anomalies and summer precipitation in the U.S. Great Plains was examined using Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC)-simulated soil moisture and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The influence of Nino sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on summer precipitation was also investigated to compare their relative contributions to those from local moisture recycling. Results indicate that spring (May 1st) soil moisture is significantly correlated with summer SPI only during periods when Nino SSTs are not strongly correlated with summer SPI (e.g. 1920s–1930s). During periods when Nino SSTs are strongly correlated with summer SPI (e.g. 1940s–1980s), spring soil moisture is not a good predictor of summer precipitation in the U.S. Great Plains. The periods of strong correlation between Nino SSTs and summer precipitation are associated with strong SST persistence. Results also indicate that the impact of soil moisture anomalies and SST on summer precipitation varies greatly in space and time. Positive soil moisture–precipitation correlations are generally associated with high soil moisture persistence and negative soil moisture–precipitation correlations are linked to low soil moisture persistence. In addition, high SST persistence tends to favour (inhibit) negative (positive) soil moisture–precipitation correlations. This study suggests that both local soil moisture and remote SST anomalies influence summer precipitation in the U.S. Great Plains. The soil moisture anomalies are of greatest importance during years when Nino SST persistence is low. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
The T'ang Studies Society—Foundation and Future Prospects

(1982). The T'ang Studies Society—Foundation and Future Prospects. Tang Studies: Vol. 1982, No. 1, pp. 6-7.