cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Pressure Responsive Fluidic Microstrip Open Stub Resonator Using a Liquid Metal Alloy

This letter describes a fluidic microstrip bandstop filter with transmission properties that change in discrete states. The filter consists of a liquid metal alloy - eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) - as the conductive component in microfluidic channels. The fluidity of EGaIn allows the open stub resonator of the filter to change its length by flowing in response to an applied pressure. A series of posts in the channel defines the length of the stub filled by the metal and dictates the pressure needed for the liquid metal to flow and thereby extend the stub length. The frequency response of the filter changes in response to the changes in the length of the resonator stub. This approach is a simple method for creating tunable filters and impedance matching sections using soft materials that change dimensions in response to pressure.
Professional Advocacy: Linking Virginia’s Story to Public Policy-Making Theory, Learning From the Past and Applying it to Our Future

Too often the nursing profession has been shortsighted regarding its ability to educate legislators and the public on the value of the nurse and the need for policy change. This has stagnated the profession's agenda setting, influence, and position. Virginia nurses, however, rose to the challenge a few years ago. They addressed the nursing faculty shortage by introducing legislation to improve faculty salaries and promote nursing education. They fully defined their problem, formed a unified coalition to develop a solution, and found the political environment favorable for policy change. Their advocacy success story can lend guidance and encouragement for advocacy for the profession. Linking their successful road to policy change to the B. B. Longest (2010) public policy-making framework provides a roadmap for future success.
Abstract 4575: Covalent incorporation of a new class of dye-based affinity baits in sieving hydrogel nanoparticles overcome roadblocks to cancer biomarker discovery

Cancer biomarker discovery and clinical application has been seriously hampered by low abundance, instability and complex formation with high abundance proteins (e.g. albumin). N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) based hydrogel particles, consisting of a bait-containing core and a protective shell, overcome these major issues associated to biomarker discovery and measurement. Particles perform in one step, in solution, a) total sequestration and concentration, b) size sieving and c) complete protection form degradation of LMW protein biomarkers in blood and urine. In this study, novel dye molecules were selected as affinity ligands for broad classes of biomarkers; dyes were chosen for their ability to bind proteins, glycoproteins and nucleic acid for tissue histology, to bind textile proteins for fabric staining or for their known property to bind allergens. Dyes containing primary amine group (e.g. Acid Black 48, Basic Red 9) were coupled to NIPA/acrylic acid (AAc) particles by condensation of the amine group the carboxylic group. The ability of particles to capture and concentrate analytes was tested against a panel of low abundance, labile tumor relevant biomarker that include angiogenic growth factors (bFGF, VEGF, PDGF), IGF-1 and IGF binding proteins, interleukins (IL-6, IL-8), chemokines (CXCL12, CCL24), pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins (Bak, Bax), and nucleic acids. Technologies used to screen dye functionalized particles include 1 D gel electrophoresis, western blotting, immunoassay, and mass spectrometry. Results showed that dye based baits have extremely high affinity for the target analytes so that particles capture all the analyte present in solution and that the affinity of biomarkers to the bait is unique and specific to the chemical structure of the bait molecule. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4575.
Reactivity of a Terminal Ti(IV) Imido Complex toward Alkenes and Alkynes: Cycloaddition vs C−H Activation

This paper describes the reactivity of the base-free titanium imido complex Cp*2TiNPh (1) (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) toward alkenes and alkynes. Complex 1 reacts with ethylene and acetylene to generate the azametallacycles Cp*2Ti(N(Ph)CH2CH2) (2) and Cp*2Ti(N(Ph)CHCH) (3), respectively. In the case of ethylene, the cycloaddition is readily reversible, and 2 was characterized spectroscopically under an ethylene atmosphere. We have also examined the reactivity of 1 toward phenyl- and trimethylsilylacetylene and have found that 1 activates the alkynyl C−H bond to give anilido−acetylide complexes Cp*2Ti(N(Ph)H)C⋮CR (6, R = Ph; 7, R = SiMe3). This reaction proceeds without observable intermediate metallacyclobutene complexes such as those observed previously for the reaction of the related oxo complex Cp*2Ti(O)pyr (pyr = pyridine) with terminal alkynes. Thermolysis of azametallacyclobutene 3 results in formation of the novel ring-activated complex Cp*(η5,η1-C5Me4CH2CHCH)TiN(Ph)H (5).
Nanoindentation and microstructural studies of Al/TiN multilayers with unequal volume fractions

The mechanical behavior of nanoscale Al/TiN multilayers with a thickness ratio of 9:1 deposited by reactive sputter deposition, with TiN layer thicknesses of 1–50 nm, has been evaluated. Hardness values measured by nanoindentation methods showed considerably higher hardness than a rule of mixtures estimate, and increasing hardness with decreasing layer thickness. Microstructural analysis has been performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM. A dislocation image force model is used to understand the strengthening mechanisms.
Editorial Board Member

E.H.OWENS*PolarisAppliedSciencesInc.#302,755WinslowWayEast,BainbridgeIsland,WA98110-2483,USADr.EdwardH.OwenswaseducatedattheUniver-sityCollegeofWales,Aberystwyth(B.Sc),McMasterUniversity(M.Sc),andtheUniversityofSouthCar-olina(Ph.D.––Geology).Hisgraduatestudiesfocusedon sediment transport on beaches, nearshore pro-cesses,andregional-scaleshore-zonemappingtech-niques,withﬁeldstudiesintheCanadianArcticandEasternCanada.WhentheARROWranagroundinChedabuctoBay,NovaScotia,inFebruary1970,hewasaResearchOﬃcerwiththeCanadianHydro-graphicServiceandwassecondedtothe‘‘OperationOil’’responseteamtohelpwiththeshorelinecleanupprogram.ThereafterhewasaResearchScientistwiththeCanadianGeologicalSurveyattheAtlanticGeo-scienceCenteroftheBedfordInstituteofOceano-graphybeforemovingtotheCoastalStudiesInstituteatLouisianaStateUniversityinBatonRouge.HejoinedWoodward-ClydeConsultantsin1979andre-mainedwiththecompanyexceptforoneshortbreakuntilhesetuphisownconsultingcompanyin1993.Presently,heisaPrincipalwithPolarisAppliedSci-encesonBainbridgeIsland,nearSeattle,wherehehaslivedsince1989.OverthethirtyyearssincetheARROWincident,Dr.Owenshasbeenactiveinarangeofoil-spillre-latedactivitiesincludingon-siteoperationalsupport,training,thedevelopmentofﬁeldresponsemanuals,andacademicresearch.Forthreeyears,Dr.Owenswas the Technical Advisor to Exxon’s ShorelineCleanup Advisory Team (SCAT) following theEXXON VALDEZ spill in 1989, Alaska. He hasprovidedtechnicalsupportforplanningandopera-tions on the HASBAH 6 blowout (1982: ArabianGulf),theNESTUCCAspill(1989:BritishColumbia),duringtheGulfWar(1991:QatarBsincethenhehasvideotapedover40,000kmofcoastsand rivers for mapping, oil spill countermeasureplanning,andforcleanupoperations.Dr.Owenshaswrittenmanyﬁeldguidesforshorelineprotectionandtreatment,includingaseriesthatcovertherangeofarcticandmid-latitudecoastalandfreshwaterenvi-ronments,aswellasbeingtheprojectleaderforacircum-polaroilspillresponseﬁeldguide.Recentlyhehasdevelopedspillresponsestrategiesforremoteop-erationsintheColvilleDeltaonAlaskanNorthSlope,SakhalinIsland,Russia,andforamajornewpipelinesysteminChadandCameroon.Dr.Owensdesignedasystematicshorelineoildoc-umentationprocedureforEnvironmentCanadaontheNESTUCCAspillthatwastheprecursortothe
On Tidal Damping in Laplace's Global Ocean

Abstract Laplace's tidal equations are augmented by dissipation in a bottom boundary layer that is intermediate in character between those of Ekman and Stokes. Laplace's tidal equation for a global ocean remains second-order and self-adjoint, but the operator and eigenvalues are complex with imaginary parts are O(E½), where E = ν/2ωh2 (ν is the vertical component of the kinematic eddy viscosity, ω the rotational speed of the Earth, and h the depth of the global ocean). The imaginary part of the eigenvalue is expressed as a quadratic integral of the corresponding Hough function. The Q for a free oscillation is expressed as the ratio of two quadratic integrals that represent the mean energy and dissipation rates. Approximate calculations for the semidiurnal tides (with azimuthal wave number 2) are given.
Some Lasting Consequences of US Psychology Programs in World Wars I and II.

Applied research in psychology not only has contributed directly to societal advances but often has fostered basic research as well. Prominent examples are the programs directed by Yerkes in World War I to develop the Army Alpha test and several programs in World War II, including The American Soldier that assessed soldiers' attitudes during the war; a program for selecting agents for the Office of Strategic Services; and the Aviation Psychology Program to select and classify applicants for flight training in the Army Air Forces. Highlights of these programs are presented here, with special attention given to by far the largest, the Air Forces program. After World War II, many of the hundreds of psychologist veterans became prominent research psychologists. Most became university professors. Among those who continued to work in applied settings was John Flanagan who had served as Chief of the Army Air Forces Psychology Branch. (After the war, Saul Sells succeeded Flanagan as Head of the Aviation Psycholog...
Phylostratigraphic Bias Creates Spurious Patterns of Genome Evolution

Phylostratigraphy is a method for dating the evolutionary emergence of a gene or gene family by identifying its homologs across the tree of life, typically by using BLAST searches. Applying this method to all genes in a species, or genomic phylostratigraphy, allows investigation of genome-wide patterns in new gene origination at different evolutionary times and thus has been extensively used. However, gene age estimation depends on the challenging task of detecting distant homologs via sequence similarity, which is expected to have differential accuracies for different genes. Here, we evaluate the accuracy of phylostratigraphy by realistic computer simulation with parameters estimated from genomic data, and investigate the impact of its error on findings of genome evolution. We show that 1) phylostratigraphy substantially underestimates gene age for a considerable fraction of genes, 2) the error is especially serious when the protein evolves rapidly, is short, and/or its most conserved block of sites is small, and 3) these errors create spurious nonuniform distributions of various gene properties among age groups, many of which cannot be predicted a priori. Given the high likelihood that conclusions about gene age are faulty, we advocate the use of realistic simulation to determine if observations from phylostratigraphy are explainable, at least qualitatively, by a null model of biased measurement, and in all cases, critical evaluation of results.
Self-consistent screening potentials in quantum nanostructures: role of confined states☆

Abstract We obtain the finite-temperature density function and confining potential for electrons in a laterally-confined cylindrical quantum wire from a self-consistent solution of the coupled Poisson-Schrodinger equations. Except in special regimes, the results are remarkably similar to those we obtained previously with a Thomas-Fermi approximation.
Knowledge management: securing the future

Purpose – Increased focus on knowledge within firms has not addressed the security implication. This paper aims to examine the implications of knowledge management for security.Design/methodology/approach – This approach highlights the competitive advantage of knowledge with an emphasis on security. This paper reviews security for data and information and explores the dimensions of secure knowledge systems. The emphasis is on knowledge security and the development of future knowledge management systems.Findings – This paper finds that there exists a general lack of focus on security in the knowledge management framework – both in a research setting and in practical applications. Knowledge is different from information and data and needs special consideration in firms.Research implications/limitations – Designers of knowledge management systems can implement levels of security for different types of knowledge that reside within the organization. The concept of “secure knowledge management” has provided nas...
The Kellerville Tornado during VORTEX: Damage Survey and Doppler Radar Analyses

Abstract A detailed aerial and ground survey of a long-track (∼50 km) F5 tornado is presented. The survey revealed that the tornado exhibited unusual nonlinear movements at two different locations. One portion of the track was associated with a pronounced sinusoidal pattern while another location was characterized by a cusplike pattern. For the first time, high-resolution dual-Doppler wind measurements can be used to evaluate mechanisms for such deviations from a linear tornado path. The analyses of data collected with Electra Doppler Radar (ELDORA) suggest that these departures are trochoidal marks produced as the tornado was revolving within the larger-scale mesocyclone. Retrieved perturbation pressures indicate that the mesocyclone departed significantly from a cyclostrophically balanced state during these deviations. The maximum vorticity associated with the mesocyclone at low levels was shown to be an unreliable indicator of the tornado's intensity. Vertical cross sections of wind, vertical vorticity...
Effects of some probability displays on choices

Abstract This research deals with deviations from the EV model. Ss in two experiments were required to select one of two mutually exclusive actions characterized by an identical probability of success. Each action, however, consisted of two sequential steps. The probability of success at the first step of one action was greater than the probability of success at the first step of the alternative action. Ss were made aware of the individual probabilities of success for each step as well as the joint probability of success. The EV model would predict that individuals would be indifferent in their selection of alternative actions. However, Ss were not indifferent; they systematically preferred actions in which the probability of success in the first step was higher. This preference for initial probability of success generally persisted with some exception throughout variations in experimental conditions designed to test for the stability of the effect.
Characteristics of Cold Processed Asphalt Millings and Cement-Emulsion Mix:

A study was conducted to characterize the behavior of cold recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) millings rejuvenated with high float emulsion and portland cement, producing a cement-emulsion mix. The main objectives were to investigate how the behavior of RAP mixes was affected by the addition of cement and to find the optimum emulsion and cement contents. Test samples were prepared with four different cement contents, three emulsion contents, and one free water content. It was concluded that Hveem stability values increased with cement content but decreased with emulsion content. The addition of portland cement affected the Hveem stability value of samples cured under soaked conditions more than those cured under dry conditions. Samples prepared with 2 percent emulsion had the highest gain in soaked stability because of the addition of cement. Overall it was concluded that a cold RAP mix containing a low percentage of cement would perform better than conventional cold RAP mixes.
Portable enterprise collaboration contexts

Typical collaborations are composed of multiple interactions between people, who may participate from different geographical locations, and may use different devices, modalities and services. For mobile enterprise users, the availability of complete collaboration context, i.e. collaboration information with correlation between artifacts (data and services), at all times, whether they are online or offline, is essential for real-time response to business needs. Available collaboration solutions do not allow complete automatic creation of such contexts. In addition, solutions that support offline access to such context use a local replica of the server on the client, which is cumbersome and is not feasible for all types of mobile devices. The paper proposes a light-weight, portable format for representing collaboration contexts, and enabling offline access to them using disparate devices, without using any local server. It also proposes a conceptual system that uses information, represented in this format, to activate collaborations from any device
Timing of multiple late Quaternary glaciations in the Hunza Valley, Karakoram Mountains, northern Pakistan: Defined by cosmogenic radionuclide dating of moraines

Moraines and associated landforms in the upper Hunza Valley, Karakoram Mountains, northern Pakistan, provide an excellent record of multiple glaciations. During the late Quaternary, glaciers advanced at least eight times. By using 10 Be and 26 Al surface-exposure dating on moraine boulders and scoured bedrock, we determined the timing of glaciation for four of these glacial advances: ca. 54.7‐43.2 ka (Borit Jheel glacial stage), ca. 25.7‐21.8 ka (Ghulkin I glacial stage), ca. 18.4‐15.3 ka (Ghulkin II glacial stage), and ca. 10.8‐9.0 ka (Batura glacial stage). For two of the older advances, the Yunz and Shanoz glacial stages, our data set a limit of .60 ka. Although, at present, the uncertainties in dating make it impossible to describe unequivocally the climate processes controlling glaciations in the Hunza Valley, the results suggest that precipitation changes related to oscillations in the southwest Asian monsoonal system combine with cooling that is broadly associated with Heinrich events to cause glacial advances in this region.
The engagement in musical activities of young children with varied hearing abilities

This multiple case study examined the musical experiences of five hard-of-hearing/deaf children (hearing loss ranging from 35–95 dB) and four typical-hearing children, ages 3–4. Their responses to various musical activities were observed and analysed using flow indicators. It was found that both groups of children: (1) were capable of engaging in musical activities; (2) demonstrated musical knowledge in musical structure, musical styles, beat and rhythmn; (3) expressed their need to communicate through music; (4) showed that their quality of flow experience was dependent upon individual characteristics; and (5) indicated that their exhibition of flow experience was affected by the nature of musical activities. It was concluded that musical activities can be pleasurable for hard of hearing/deaf children even if their perception of music is different from children with typical hearing. There is a need for a variety of activities that can encourage development of various skills and aspects of flow experience...
Semantics and the Dual‐Aspect use of Definite Descriptions

Many philosophers of language have held that a truth-conditional semantic account can explain the data motivating the distinction between referential and attributive uses of definite descriptions, but I believe this is a mistake. I argue that these data also motivate what I call “dual-aspect” uses as a distinct but closely related type. After establishing that an account of the distinction must also explain dual-aspect uses, I argue that the truth-conditional Semantic Model of the distinction cannot. Thus, the Semantic Model cannot explain the data for which it is developed and so fails as an account of the referential/attributive distinction.
Automated generation and analysis of attack graphs

An integral part of modeling the global view of network security is constructing attack graphs. Manual attack graph construction is tedious, error-prone, and impractical for attack graphs larger than a hundred nodes. In this paper we present an automated technique for generating and analyzing attack graphs. We base our technique on symbolic model checking algorithms, letting us construct attack graphs automatically and efficiently. We also describe two analyses to help decide which attacks would be most cost-effective to guard against. We implemented our technique in a tool suite and tested it on a small network example, which includes models of a firewall and an intrusion detection system.
Modular VLSI architectures for real-time vector quantization

The authors propose modular linearly connected VLSI architectures for VQ (vector quantization) which can support real-time image processing applications. The design considered requires fixed memory bandwidth with the host and allows codebook changes. The throughput is independent of the codebook size. Each processing element consists of an adder and a shift register instead of a multiplier. These designs can be extended to the case when a fixed number of processors are available. A number of VQ schemes such as single-stage and multistage VQ and classified VQ can be implemented using this approach. >
A family of models for manipulation planning

Manipulation tasks are those that cannot be accomplished without making and breaking contacts. A common requirement of planning algorithms is an ability to hypothesize control actions and then predict the evolution of the system using a mathematical model. This model must capture the physics relevant to the task being planned and do so at an appropriate level of details. In this paper, a collection of time-stepping models suitable for manipulation planning are proposed. The model with the highest fidelity is one that incorporates rigid body dynamics, joint constraints, and contacts with local compliance and Coulomb friction. The idea is to plan tasks starting with the simplest model, upgrading the model and replanning each time a plan is found, until a plan is obtained with the model of desired fidelity. This approach is illustrated through a two-finger grasp acquisition problem
AICAR inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3L1 and restores metabolic alterations in diet-induced obesity mice model

Background: Obesity is one of the principal causative factors involved in the development of metabolic syndrome. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy sensor that regulates cellular metabolism. The role of AMP-activated protein kinase in adipocyte differentiation is not completely understood, therefore, we examined the effect of 5aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), a pharmacological activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3L1 cells and in a mouse Diet induced obesity (DIO) model. Methods: To examine the effect of AICAR on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3L1 cells and in a mouse Diet induced obesity (DIO) model, 3T3L1 cells were differentiatied in the presence or absence of different concentration of AICAR and neutral lipid content and expression of various adipocyte-specific transcription factors were examined. In vivo study, treated and untreated mice with AICAR (0.1–0.5 mg/g body weight) were fed high-fat diet (60% kcal% fat) to induce DIO and several parameters were studied. Results: AICAR blocked adipogenic conversion in 3T3L1 cells along with significant decrease in the neutral lipid content by downregulating several adipocyte-specific transcription factors including peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), C/EBPα and ADD1/SREBP1, which are critical for adipogenesis in vitro. Moreover, intraperitoneal administration of AICAR (0.5 mg g/body weight) to mice fed with high-fat diet (60% kcal% fat) to induce DIO, significantly blocked the body weight gain and total content of epididymal fat in these mice over a period of 6 weeks. AICAR treatment also restored normal adipokine levels and resulted in significant improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The reduction in adipose tissue content in AICAR treated DIO mice was due to reduction in lipid accumulation in the pre-existing adipocytes. However, no change was observed in the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα and ADD1/SREBP1 transcription factors in vivo though PGC1α expression was significantly induced.
Fast Splitting $alpha$ -Rooting Method of Image Enhancement: Tensor Representation

In the tensor representation, a two-dimensional (2-D) image is represented uniquely by a set of one-dimensional (1-D) signals, so-called splitting-signals, that carry the spectral information of the image at frequency-points of specific sets that cover the whole domain of frequencies. The image enhancement is thus reduced to processing splitting-signals and such process requires a modification of only a few spectral components of the image, for each signal. For instance, the alpha-rooting method of image enhancement can be fulfilled through processing separately a maximum of 3N/2 splitting-signals of an image (NtimesN), where N is a power of two. In this paper, we propose a fast implementation of the alpha-rooting method by using one splitting-signal of the tensor representation with respect to the discrete Fourier transform (DFT). The implementation is described in the frequency and spatial domains. As a result, the proposed algorithms for image enhancement use two 1-D N-point DFTs instead of two 2-D NtimesN-point DFTs in the traditional method of alpha-rooting
Contradictions and Justifications: Extensions to the Textual Entailment Task

The third PASCAL Recognizing Textual Entailment Challenge (RTE-3) contained an optional task that extended the main entailment task by requiring a system to make three-way entailment decisions (entails, contradicts, neither) and to justify its response. Contradiction was rare in the RTE-3 test set, occurring in only about 10% of the cases, and systems found accurately detecting it difficult. Subsequent analysis of the results shows a test set must contain many more entailment pairs for the three-way decision task than the traditional two-way task to have equal confidence in system comparisons. Each of six human judges representing eventual end users rated the quality of a justification by assigning “understandability” and “correctness” scores. Ratings of the same justification across judges differed significantly, signaling the need for a better characterization of the justification task.
Molecular dynamics of photoreceptor synapse formation in the developing chick retina

The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying photoreceptor synaptogenesis are poorly understood. Furthermore, a detailed picture of the molecular composition of photoreceptor synapses, or their subtypes, is not yet available, nor do we know what differences, if any, exist among those subtypes. To address these questions, we investigated temporal and spatial patterns of expression and assembly of photoreceptor presynaptic components during chick embryo retinal development and early posthatched life by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), dissociated retinal cells, laser-capture microdissection (LCM), immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Immunocytochemistry in tissue sections and dissociated cells showed many similarities and few differences in the synaptic composition of rods and cone subtypes, which, however, were found to project to different strata within the outer plexiform layer. A striking finding was the precise timetable of expression of synaptic genes and proteins during synaptogenesis. Although mRNAs for some synaptic molecules appeared as early as embryonic day (ED) 5–8 (the time of inner retina synaptogenesis), others were undetectable before the time of onset of photoreceptor synaptogenesis on ED13, including CAST, rim2, synapsin-2, syntaxin-3, synaptotagmin, glutamate receptors -1, -4, and -5, homer-1 and -2, and tenascin-R. Most synaptic proteins in photoreceptors followed a similar sequence of expression: they were negative or weakly positive before ED13, appeared in inner segments between ED13 and ED15, became subsequently detectable in perinuclear and axonal regions, and by ED18 were assembled into synaptic terminals and became undetectable in the inner segments. The identity of the signals that regulate the coordinated expression of these synaptic components remains to be investigated. J. Comp. Neurol. 506:822–837, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Amended Cause and Manner of Death Certification: A Six-Year Review of the New Mexico Experience†

Little is known about the amendment of death certificates (DCs) issued by medical examiners and coroners. This retrospective study examined why, how, and with what frequency cause and manner of death were amended on DCs issued by forensic pathologists over a 6-year period at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. Approximately 1% of DCs had either cause or manner of death amendments, with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and intoxicants the most commonly amended and resulting causes of death, respectively. There was a significant association between manner of death and number of DCs amended (p<0.001). By percent, natural and suicide DCs were the most frequently amended. The way in which manner of death changed was significantly associated with the amount of time elapsed between DCs (p=0.04). Toxicology was the most common reason for DC amendment.
In ovo inhibition of steroid metabolism by bisphenol-A as a potential mechanism of endocrine disruption

During embryonic development, endogenous signals, for example steroid hormones, and exogenous signals, for example endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), have the capacity to produce phenotypic effects that persist into adulthood. As the actions of steroids are mediated through the binding of steroid receptors, most studies of EDCs have assumed that they too elicit their effects by binding steroid receptors. We tested an alternative hypothesis, namely that EDCs elicit their effects during embryonic development by disrupting the metabolism of maternally derived steroids, thereby allowing maternally derived steroids to bind steroid receptors and elicit effects. Specifically, we examined the ability of the EDC, bisphenol-A (BPA) to inhibit the normal metabolism of oestradiol during the first nine days of embryonic development in the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta). We found that, when BPA was present, oestrogen metabolism was inhibited when compared to control eggs. In particular, the formation of oestrone sulfate was blocked in BPA-treated eggs. We postulate that the oestrogenic effects of EDCs may be driven, at least in part, by inappropriate oestrogen signalling. The retention of oestrogens at points of development when they would normally be metabolized to inactive forms might also help explain low-dose effects frequently reported for EDCs.
A detailed rainfall climatology for Malawi, Southern Africa

This article presents a detailed analysis of the mean rainfall climatology of Malawi and an overview of interannual variability. Monthly and seasonal means, the seasonal cycle and intraseasonal variability are examined. This includes an analysis of the onset, end and duration of the rainy season. The study reveals two surprising features of the rainfall regime. One is a region with a strong rainfall maximum in the austral autumn along the western shore of Lake Malawi. The second is a brief period of reduced rainfall in mid-February that appears to signal a shift in the prevailing rainfall and circulation regime. The prevailing atmospheric circulation is markedly different before and after the break, as are the characteristics of the rainy season. Overall, the results indicate that the early (pre-break) rainy season (December–February) is dominated by tropical influences, the late (post-break) rainy season (March–April) is dominated by extra-tropical influences and interannual variability in these two periods is uncorrelated. The results also demonstrate two aspects of interannual variability: the dominant contribution of the MA season and the frequent opposition between northern and southern Malawi.
Substance Use and the Development of Sexual Risk Behaviors in Youth Perinatally Exposed to HIV

Objective To examine the longitudinal association between sexual behavior and substance use in perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV+) and perinatally HIV-exposed-but-uninfected (PHIV−) youth. Methods Growth curve modeling was used with data from N = 340 PHIV-exposed youth (60.6% PHIV+; 9–22 years) to estimate the onset of penetrative and unprotected sex across time, adding alcohol and marijuana use trajectories as time-varying covariates and examining HIV-status differences. Results The odds of penetrative or unprotected sex more than doubled across time. Alcohol and marijuana use significantly increased the odds of engaging in sex and unprotected sex, with no HIV-status differences. The association between unprotected sex and alcohol use was less salient for PHIV+ than PHIV− youth. Conclusions Similar to youth from other populations, PHIV+ and PHIV− youth are increasingly engaging in sex and substance use as they age. Targeted interventions to prevent sexual risk behavior and further HIV transmission should address the influence of substance use.
Graph Cuts Segmentation with Statistical Shape Priors for Medical Images

Segmentation of medical images is an important step in many clinical and diagnostic imaging applications. Medical images present many challenges for automated segmentation including poor contrast at tissue boundaries. Traditional segmentation methods based solely on information from the image do not work well in such cases. Statistical shape information for objects in medical images are easy to obtain. In this paper, we propose a graph cuts-based segmentation method for medical images that incorporates statistical shape priors to increase robustness. Our proposed method is able to deal with complex shapes and shape variations while taking advantage of the globally efficient optimization by graph cuts. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on kidney images without strong boundaries.
Best practices in the collection of conflict data

Quality data is at the heart of all empirical research. Data collection on contentious politics, including civil war, terrorism, and protest has proceeded at a rapid pace over the last several years. This special section develops a set of best practices and offers advice to those involved in collecting conflict data as well as those who are regular users of such data. In this introduction, the process of data collection is considered, including source selection, information extraction or ‘coding’, and data sharing. A set of six rules is offered, which will hopefully guide others as they compile quantitative data on conflict processes.
25GHz hybrid silicon Mach-Zehnder modulator using high-speed push-pull slotline design

We demonstrate a hybrid silicon Mach-Zehnder modulator having a voltage-length product of 2.4 V-mm and chirp parameter of −0.75. This modulator also has a modulation bandwidth of 25 GHz.
Image Fusion Algorithm Assessment Based on Feature Measurement

This paper presents a new metric to assess the performance of the image fusion algorithm. The proposed metric is based on image phase congruency, which provides an absolute measurement of image feature with a numeric value ranging from zero to one. By comparing the local cross-correlation of corresponding phase congruence maps of input images and fusion output, the quality of the fused result is assessable without a perfect reference. The preliminary experimental results on multi-focused image pairs demonstrate the efficiency of this approach
Race and Ideology: Language, Symbolism, and Popular Culture

Race and Ideology: Language, Symbolism, and Popular Culture. Arthur K. Spears. ed. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1999. 242 pp., index.
The Cyclical Behavior of Individual Production Series, 1889–1984

This paper uses simple summary statistics to analyze the volatility, persistence, and comovement of 38 annual individual production series for the period 1889–1984. It seeks to identify the size, source, and correlation of fluctuations in the production of specific commodities within various sample periods and to analyze possible changes in these characteristics over time. The paper also discusses the implications of the behavior of individual production series for the behavior of the aggregate economy within the prewar, interwar, and postwar eras.
A new generation of adaptive controllers for linear systems

An approach to adaptive control of linear systems is presented. It foregoes the traditional certainty-equivalence concept, and treats the control of linear plants with unknown parameters as a nonlinear problem. The states of the resulting adaptive system converge to a manifold whose dimensions are smaller than with any previous scheme. The dynamic order of the resulting controllers is not higher (and in most cases is lower) than that of the existing adaptive schemes. A simulation comparison with a standard indirect linear scheme shows that the new nonlinear scheme achieves far superior transient performance without an increase in control effort. >
Arts-Based Research as a Pedagogical Tool for Teaching Media Literacy: Reflections From an Undergraduate Classroom

In this paper I review my use of arts-based research practices as a set of pedagogical tools for teaching media literacy in an undergraduate sociology course titled “Images & Power: Popular Culture.” The paper details how I incorporated arts-based research into my course as a part of my holistic and participatory approach to media literacy. Arts-based practices are an effective tool for fostering critical consciousness. Samples of student work are included.1
Analysis of the Kinetics of Antigen-Antibody Interactions and Fractal Dimension in Biosensors

Sensitive detection systems (or sensors) are required to distinguish a wide range of substances. Sensors find application in the areas of biotechnology, physics, chemistry, medicine, aviation, and environmental control. Biosensor systems have different operating parameters, including stability, specificity, response time, selectivity, and regenerability. A better understanding of the mode of operation of these parameters would lead to increasing biosensor performance efficiency. Separation or the detection of reactants can be performed by the solid-phase immunoassay technique (antibody—antigen reaction) or by immobilizing enzymes on appropriate surfaces (enzyme—substrate reaction). There is a need to characterize the reactions occurring at the biosensor surface by paying attention to both the reaction and the sensing element (surface).
Extending dynamic scripting

The dynamic scripting reinforcement learning algorithm can be extended to improve the speed, effectiveness, and accessibility of learning in modern computer games without sacrificing computational efficiency. This dissertation describes three specific enhancements to the dynamic scripting algorithm that improve learning behavior and flexibility while imposing a minimal computational cost: (1) a flexible, stand alone version of dynamic scripting that allows for hierarchical dynamic scripting, (2) a method of using automatic state abstraction to increase the context sensitivity of the algorithm, and (3) an integration of this algorithm with an existing hierarchical behavior modeling architecture. The extended dynamic scripting algorithm is then examined in the three different contexts. The first results reflect a preliminary investigation based on two abstract real-time strategy games. The second set of results comes from a number of abstract tactical decision games, designed to demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of extended dynamic scripting. The third set of results is generated by a series of experiments in the context of the commercial computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights demonstrating the capabilities of the algorithm in an actual game. To conclude, a number of future research directions for investigating the effectiveness of extended dynamic scripting are described.
Breakout Session Report: Mechanisms of Nano-Scale Tribology and Instrumentation for MEMS Devices

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field dealing with the design and manufacturing of miniaturized micromachines using mainly semiconductor technology. Recent demands have led to significant research efforts aiming to the integration of electrical, mechanical, optical, fluidic, thermal, and biological microdevices into versatile microsystems capable of performing complex sensing, control, and computing functions. It is predicted that by the end of the century MEMS device revenues will exceed ten billion dollars. Early indications suggest that, while significant opportunities exist for MEMS, a large number of challenging issues are presently preventing the evolution of MEMS from the laboratory to the application world.
The Dangers of Misclassifying “Employees”: Microsoft Litigation Emphasizes Distinctions Between Employees and Nontraditional Workers

In the past decade, businesses, for reasons such as greater flexibility and lower total costs, have increased their use of nontraditional workers such as independent contractors and temporary agency employees. The Internal Revenue Service's crackdown on misclassifying “employees” slowed this growth. Additionally, recent lawsuits by nontraditional workers against employers such as Microsoft Corporation have resulted in some client employers being forced to pay more benefits to nontraditional employees because of employment misclassification and coemployment rulings. Such rulings might reduce or even eliminate the use of some types of nontraditional employees. This paper analyzes the vast array of types of workers that have evolved into the nontraditional work force and the difficulty of defining “employee” with respect to entitlement to employer benefits. Possible recommendations for employers include auditing present use of nontraditional workers, accurately classifying employees, and taking proper actions to minimize problems in the future.
Examining the Determinants of Police Department Transparency The View of Police Executives

Scholars know relatively little about why law enforcement agencies choose to share information with the public. Empirical research has shown that departments often do so to satisfy an external dema...
Reflections on the Life and Legacy of Donald C. Stone

Donald C. Stone, the founder of the American Public Works Association, died in 1995 at the age of 92. Professor Stone's life was a deliberate mix of public administration theory and public service practice. He is best known for his contributions to the implementation of the Marshall Plan, the organization of the executive office of the President of the United States, and the establishment of action-oriented professional associations serving a global society. This article is a reflection on the life and times of Donald Stone. It is also a call for historians to critically assess the impact of Stone and his colleagues on public works and public administration history, theory, and practice.
Comparative Study of Protection Methods of Patients in CT Examination

Objective To understand different protection methods in CT examination,X-ray radiation dosage differences for non inspection areas,so as to choose the most effective protection method.Methods Applying standard water phantom,scanning mode of children chest and adults paranasal sinus were used to measure absorbed dose of inspection area outside without protection,single cover lead sheet,double cover lead sheet.Results After measurement,single cover lead sheet can make dose of non inspection area be reduced by more than 60%,double cover could be reduced by 80%.Conclusion Workers could use the right effective protection method,in the case of patients with conditions allow,make use of the double protection method thus ensuring minimum radiation dose.
Story as Sermon and Seduction

This essay reviews Eric R. Galton's and Lela P. Love’s edited compendium, "Stories Mediators Tell" (ABA, 2012). The review essay applauds the text, but notes that more stories must be added to the canon. In an effort to expand Galton & Love's harmony, the essay adds a contrapuntal tone, offering a mediation story of its own. The author of this review essay concludes that, as advocates for the process, mediation scholars and practitioners must elaborate upon Galton & Love's beginning. We must tell all the mediation stories, the happy and the sad, the ones where people are saved and the ones where people are hurt. It is only by telling these more difficult stories — the ones with not such happy endings — that we can continue to evolve as a community of practitioners.
Challenging the Agrarian Imaginary: Farmworker-Led Food Movements and the Potential for Farm Labor Justice:

This article addresses the need for more engagement between the alternative food movement and the food labor movement in the United States. Drawing on the notion of agrarian imaginary, I argue for ...
Modulating the Catalytic Activity of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles with the Anion of the Precursor Salt.

In this work, we tested our hypothesis that surface chemistry and antioxidant properties of cerium nanoparticles (CNPs) are affected by the presence of counterions. We first employed various precursor cerium(III) (Ce(III)) salts with different counterions (acetate, nitrate, chloride, and sulfate) to synthesize CNPs following the same wet chemical methodology. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies provided evidence for the formation of radicals from counterions (e.g., NO3•2– from reduction of NO3– in CNPs synthesized from Ce(III) nitrate). Physicochemical properties of these CNPs, e.g., dispersion stability, hydrodynamic size, signature surface chemistry, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic activity, and oxidation potentials, were found to be significantly affected by the anions of the precursor salts. CNPs synthesized from Ce(III) nitrate and Ce(III) chloride exhibited higher extent of SOD-mimetic activities. Therefore, these CNPs were studied extensively employing in situ ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectroe...
Behavior of Neonate Imported Cabbageworm Larvae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) Under Laboratory Conditions on Collard Leaves with Glossy or Normal Waxi

Movement and feeding of newly-hatched imported cabbageworms, Pieris rapae (L.), on the upper and lower leaf surfaces of collard plants with glossy and normal waxes were monitored using a videocamer...
A new method to evaluate the optimal penetration level of wind power

This paper introduces a new method for determining the optimal penetration of wind farms in power system adequacy assessment. Determining optimal penetration levels of wind farms based on the improvement in system reliability is an important factor in planning studies. However, this task requires repetitive calculations of the reliability indices and the capacity value of wind power. In this work, a real genetic algorithm (GA) is used in conjunction with the discrete-convolution-based reliability evaluation method to calculate the optimal size of wind power installations. The maximum capacity value of wind power and system reliability improvement are used as a criterion to calculate the optimal size of wind power penetration level. The proposed method is applied on the IEEE reliability test system (IEEE-RTS). The results show that the optimal capacity value strongly depends on the penetration level and the reliability index that is used to determine the capacity value.