cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ideologies of Khmer Rouge Family Policy: Contextualizing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence during the Cambodian Genocide

Between 1975 and 1979 approximately two million men, women, and children perished during the Cambodian Genocide. These deaths are attributed to specific administrative policies and practices initia...
Optimization and evaluation of spectral comparisons of electrical tape backings by X-ray fluorescence

Abstract This study describes the process of parameter optimization of an XRF method for casework use. The work expands upon previous discrimination studies by broadening the total sample set of characterized tapes and evaluating the use of spectral overlay, spectral contrast angle, and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) for the comparison of XRF spectra. The expanded sample set consisted of 114 samples, 94 from different sources, of which 90 were previously analyzed, and 20 from the same roll. XRF provided superior discrimination to SEM-EDS on the expanded dataset and a more comprehensive elemental characterization (15 elements by XRF vs. 8 by SEM-EDS). While previous SEM-EDS analysis of the 90 electrical tapes resulted in 15 distinct groups and a discrimination power of 87.3%, current XRF analysis resulted in 61 distinct groups with further subgroups providing a discrimination power of 96.7%. Duplicate controls and tape fragments from the same roll were also analyzed to assess inter-day, intra-day, and intra-roll variability (n = 20). Parameter optimization included comparison of atmospheric conditions, collection times, and instrumental filters. A study of the effects of adhesive and backing thickness on spectrum collection revealed key implications to the method that required modification to the sample support material. Figures of merit and the performance of different methods for comparing and contrasting spectra are reported. The optimization of this method was part of an assessment to incorporate XRF to a forensic laboratory protocol for rapid, highly informative elemental analysis of electrical tape backings and to expand examiners’ casework capabilities.
Congruence and quantum invariants of 3–manifolds

Let f be an integer greater than one. We study three progressively finer equivalence relations on closed 3‐manifolds generated by Dehn surgery with denominator f : weak f ‐congruence, f ‐congruence, and strong f ‐congruence. If f is odd, weak f ‐congruence preserves the ring structure on cohomology with Zf ‐coefficients. We show that strong f ‐congruence coincides with a relation previously studied by Lackenby. Lackenby showed that the quantum SU.2/ invariants are well-behaved under this congruence. We strengthen this result and extend it to the SO.3/ quantum invariants. We also obtain some corresponding results for the coarser equivalence relations, and for quantum invariants associated to more general modular categories. We compare S 3 , the Poincare homology sphere, the Brieskorn homology sphere U.2;3;7/ and their mirror images up to strong f ‐congruence. We distinguish the weak f ‐congruence classes of some manifolds with the same Zf ‐cohomology ring structure. 57M99; 57R56
Cell-to-cell variation in gene expression and the aging process

There is tremendous variation in biological traits, and much of it is not accounted for by variation in DNA sequence, including human diseases and lifespan. Emerging evidence points to differences in the execution of the genetic program as a key source of variation, be it stochastic variation or programmed variation. Here we discuss variation in gene expression as an intrinsic property and how it could contribute to variation in traits, including the rate of aging. The review is divided into sections describing the historical context and evidence to date for nongenetic variation, the different approaches that may be used to detect nongenetic variation, and recent findings showing that the amount of variation in gene expression can be both genetically programmed and epigenetically controlled. Finally, we present evidence that changes in cell-to-cell variation in gene expression emerge as part of the aging process and may be linked to disease vulnerability as a function of age. These emerging concepts are likely to be important across the spectrum of biomedical research and may well underpin what we understand as biological aging.
A Tale of Two Narratives: The Holocaust, the Nakba, and the Israeli-Palestinian Battle of Memories

The Holocaust and the Nakba are foundational traumas in Israeli-Jewish and Palestinian societies and form key parts of each respective collective identity. This book offers a parallel analysis of the transmission of these foundational pasts in Israeli-Jewish and Palestinian societies by exploring how the Holocaust and the Nakba have been narrated since the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords. The work exposes the existence and perpetuation of ethnocentric victimhood narratives that serve as the theoretical foundations for an ensuing minimization – or even denial – of the other's past. Three established realms of societal memory transmission provide the analytical framework for this study: official state education, commemorative acts, and mass mediation. Through this analysis, the work demonstrates the interrelated nature of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the contextualization of the primary historical events, while also highlighting the universal malleability of mnemonic practices.
V2 Trial: A phase I study of venetoclax and CPX-351 for young patients with relapsed/refractory acute leukemia.

TPS7052Background: Despite significant advances in therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 30-40% of young patients will relapse, after which prognosis is poor. In young patients, curative-intent...
FuzzBench: an open fuzzer benchmarking platform and service

Fuzzing is a key tool used to reduce bugs in production software. At Google, fuzzing has uncovered tens of thousands of bugs. Fuzzing is also a popular subject of academic research. In 2020 alone, over 120 papers were published on the topic of improving, developing, and evaluating fuzzers and fuzzing techniques. Yet, proper evaluation of fuzzing techniques remains elusive. The community has struggled to converge on methodology and standard tools for fuzzer evaluation. To address this problem, we introduce FuzzBench as an open-source turnkey platform and free service for evaluating fuzzers. It aims to be easy to use, fast, reliable, and provides reproducible experiments. Since its release in March 2020, FuzzBench has been widely used both in industry and academia, carrying out more than 150 experiments for external users. It has been used by several published and in-the-work papers from academic groups, and has had real impact on the most widely used fuzzing tools in industry. The presented case studies suggest that FuzzBench is on its way to becoming a standard fuzzer benchmarking platform.
Optimal Reservation Prices and Superior Information in Auctions with Common-Value Elements: Evidence from Field Data

In an auction the seller selects a reservation price to maximize expected revenue. Theory suggests that in some cases the seller can increase his expected revenue by raising his reservation price above his true valuation. We test this notion using a set of auctions on eBay where an active outside dealer market allows us to approximate the seller's true valuation. We find that auctions with reservation prices marginally above the seller's true valuation tend to result in higher revenue. We also find empirical support for the argument that bidders with superior information are less susceptible to the winner's curse.
Sustainable Drive Tourism: A Catalyst for Change

Drive tourism remains an under-researched component of the wider tourism industry. As such, this study reviews the drive tourism phenomenon with attention focused on the anticipated impact of the implementation and adoption of new clean energy technologies. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications for the drive tourist, the drive tourism experience and the drive tourism sector. If new and more sustainable forms of drive tourism can retain their sense of fun, flexibility, and freedom there is every chance that the current initiatives being implemented in the US may become the norm rather than the exception. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Constructive Bounds and Exact Expectations for the Random Assignment Problem

The random assignment problem is to choose a minimum-cost perfect matching in a complete n × n bipartite graph, whose edge weights are chosen randomly from some distribution such as the exponential distribution with mean 1. In this case it is known that the expectation does not grow unboundedly with n, but approaches a limiting value c* between 1.51 and 2. The limit is conjectured to be c* = π2/6, while a recent conjecture has it that for finite n, the expected cost is EA* = Σi=1n1/i2. By defining and analyzing a constructive algorithm, we show that the limiting expectation is c* < 1.94. In addition, we generalize the finite-n conjecture to partial assignments on complete m × n bipartite graphs, and prove it in some limited cases. A full version of our work is available as [CS98].
Looking at Adaptive Devices through the Eyes of Occupational Therapy.

The concept of adaptive devices, as suggested by Schwartz during his keynote address at the 1992 Massachusetts Association of Occupational Therapy conference, is perhaps one of the greatest ideas in occupational therapy. Adaptive devices play an integral role in the philosophy and process of occupational therapy; as they modify and assist in an individual's environment, adaptive devices promote the greatest amount of independence and an optimal level offunctioning. Present in home, school, worksite, and community recreational settings, adaptive devices are found everywhere in our environment, in both simple and complex
Flights of the sacred: symbolism and theory in Siberian shamanism

Apres la repression sovietique, les chamans et les guerisseurs repondent a des aspirations spirituelles renouvelees, a la democratisation de la religion et a un nationalisme croissant chez les croyants. L'A. explore le symbolisme animal (surtout l'oiseau) dans les cosmologies chamaniques et dans des contextes sociopolitiques specifiques. A l'aide des voix des Sakha siberiens (les Yakoutes), il etablit des comparaisons avec d'autres populations et examine les theories sur le chamanisme
Critical Spectral Statistics at the Metal-Insulator Transition in Interacting Fermionic Systems

The spectral properties of a disordered system with few interacting three-dimensional spinless fermions are investigated. We show the existence of a critical spacing distribution which is invariant upon increase of the system size but depends strongly on the number of particles. At the critical point, we report a substantial decrease of the level repulsion as the number of particles increases indicating a decrease of nearest level correlations associated with the sparsity of the Hamiltonian matrix.
Addiction Severity Index (ASI) summary scores: Comparison of the Recent Status Scores of the ASI-6 and the Composite Scores of the ASI-5

The characteristics and the validity of the Recent Status Scores (RSSs), the new summary scores generated by the sixth version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-6), are compared to the fifth version of the ASI summary scores, the Composite Scores (CSs). A sample of 82 randomly selected patients from substance abuse treatment programs were interviewed with the ASI-6, the ASI-5 and were administered a validity battery of questionnaires that included measures corresponding to each of the ASI domains. Each ASI-6 RSS was significantly correlated with its corresponding ASI-5 CS. The intercorrelations among the RSSs are low and none of these correlations were statistically different from the intercorrelations among CSs. In five of the seven areas, the ASI-6 RSSs were more highly correlated to the corresponding validity measures than were the ASI-5 CSs. The ASI-6 offers more comprehensive content in its scales than do those derived with earlier ASIs.
Sex role and developmental evaluations in the just world

The Just World Hypothesis indicates that individuals are evaluated in relation to the situation in which they are observed. This study examined the application of the equity relationship in Just World evaluations, and the extent of overt evaluative and covert behavioral sex-role-related biases. Males or females rewarded or punished and later rated members of the same or opposite sex who were seen in favorable or unfavorable circumstances. Subject—stimulus person dyad age (adult or 7 years old) was also varied. Results agreed with hypotheses derived from role, exchange, and developmental theory. As predicted, women used less equity than men, while both sexes tended to apply the equity relationship less in cross-sex pairs. Adults showed a covert discrimination favoring their own sex, while children showed a similar overt bias as well. Some suggestions are made for further research.
The clinical practice of reconstructive neurosurgery

Surgical interventions to improve function following nervous system injury have been in development since the early 1900s. Only recently these have been assimilated into a coherent approach which can be applied to injuries of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. In addition to pharmacological and stimulation based interventions, surgical manipulation of the peripheral nerves and muscles of the extremity can offer functional enhancement for a variety of limb impairments. In order to plan an effective surgical intervention, neurophysiological assessment of the injury and residual motor control is essential. Effective implementation of these surgical interventions can enhance function and quality of life for many individuals whose activity has been limited as a result of nervous system injury.
Superior Vena Cava Bypass with Superficial Femoral Vein for Benign Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome can result from benign causes such as temporary hemodialysis catheters placed into the central veins. The indications for open, surgical revascularization are rare and usually reserved for patients whose symptoms are refractory to anticoagulation and endovascular treatment. The current report documents the case of a 54-year-old woman with recurrent SVC syndrome secondary to long-term indwelling central venous catheters for total parenteral nutrition. She presented to the vascular service with moderate head/neck edema and persistent headaches despite chronic anticoagulation and multiple previous endovascular attempts including both angioplasty and stenting. An internal jugular-SVC bypass was performed using autogenous superficial femoral vein (SFV), which resulted in the resolution of her symptoms and a patent graft 12 months postoperatively. Autogenous SFV is an ideal conduit for central vein revascularization secondary to its size, relative ease associated with harvesting, and handling characteristics. It may be the ideal conduit for revascularization in patients with SVC syndrome secondary to benign causes because of their favorable life expectancy, although documentation of long-term graft patency is necessary.
Analysis of a Linear Sampling Method for Identification of Obstacles

Some difficulties are pointed out in the methods for identification of obstacles based on the numerical verification of the inclusion of a function in the range of an operator. Numerical examples are given to illustrate theoretical conclusions. Alternative methods of identification of obstacles are mentioned: the Support Function Method (SFM) and the Modified Rayleigh Conjecture (MRC) method.
A Nonparametric Postprocessor for Bias Correction of Hydrometeorological and Hydrologic Ensemble Forecasts

Abstract This paper describes a technique for quantifying and removing biases from ensemble forecasts of hydrometeorological and hydrologic variables. The technique makes no a priori assumptions about the distributional form of the variables, which is often unknown or difficult to model parametrically. The aim is to estimate the conditional cumulative distribution function (ccdf) of the observed variable given a (possibly biased) real-time ensemble forecast. This ccdf represents the “true” probability distribution of the forecast variable, subject to sampling uncertainties. In the absence of a known distributional form, the ccdf should be estimated nonparametrically. It is noted that the probability of exceeding a threshold of the observed variable, such as flood stage, is equivalent to the expectation of an indicator variable defined for that threshold. The ccdf is then modeled through a linear combination of the indicator variables of the forecast ensemble members. The technique is based on Bayesian opt...
Contextual interaction for geospatial visual analytics on mobile devices

Limited display area creates unique challenges for information presentation and user exploration of data on mobile devices. Traditional scrolling, panning and zooming interfaces pose significant cognitive burdens on the user to assimilate the new context after each interaction. To overcome these limitations, we examine the uses of "focus + context" techniques, specifically for performing visual analytic tasks with geospatial data on mobile devices. In particular, we adapted the translucency-based "focus + context" technique called "blending lens" to mobile devices. The adaptation enhances the lens functionalities with dynamically changing features based on users' navigation intentions, for mobile interaction. We extend the concept of "spatial context" of this method to include relevant semantic content to aid spatial navigation and analytical tasks such as finding related data. With these adaptations, the lens can be used to view spatially clustered results of a search query, related data based on various proximity functions (such as distance, category and time) and other correlative information for immediate in-field analysis, all without losing the current geospatial context.
Spore: Spawning Evolutionary Misconceptions?

The use of computer simulations as educational tools may afford the means to develop understanding of evolution as a natural, emergent, and decentralized process. However, special consideration of developmental constraints on learning may be necessary when using these technologies. Specifically, the essentialist (biological forms possess an immutable essence), teleological (assignment of purpose to living things and/or parts of living things that may not be purposeful), and intentionality (assumption that events are caused by an intelligent agent) biases may be reinforced through the use of computer simulations, rather than addressed with instruction. We examine the video game Spore for its depiction of evolutionary content and its potential to reinforce these cognitive biases. In particular, we discuss three pedagogical strategies to mitigate weaknesses of Spore and other computer simulations: directly targeting misconceptions through refutational approaches, targeting specific principles of scientific inquiry, and directly addressing issues related to models as cognitive tools.
An Instrument for Measuring the Critical Factors of Quality Management

Much has been written about how quality should be managed in an organization. The quality literature contains many case studies of successful companies and descriptions of quality concepts and quality improvement programs. To date, however, there has been no systematic attempt to organize and synthesize the various prescriptions offered, nor have measures of organizational quality management been proposed for areas such as top management leadership, training, employee involvement, and supplier management. While many organizations collect quality data such as defect rates, error rates, rework cost, and scrap cost, these are not measures of organization-wide quality management. This paper provides a synthesis of the quality literature by identifying eight critical factors (areas) of quality management in a business unit. Operational measures of these factors are developed using data collected from 162 general managers and quality managers of 89 divisions of 20 companies. The measures can be used individually or in concert to produce a profile of organization-wide quality practices. The measures are found to be both valid and reliable. Such measures could be used by decision makers in an organization to assess the status of quality management in order to direct improvements in the quality area. Researchers can use such measures to better understand quality management practice and to build theories and models that relate the critical factors of quality management to the organization's quality environment and quality performance.
Clinical Characteristics of Uveal Melanoma in Patients With Germline BAP1 Mutations.

Importance Somatic mutations in BAP1 (BRCA1-associated protein 1 gene) are frequently identified in uveal melanoma. To date, the role of germline BAP1 mutations in uveal melanoma has not been characterized. Objective To characterize the clinical phenotype of uveal melanoma in patients with germline BAP1 mutations. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective cohort study at an academic ophthalmology referral center among 507 patients with uveal melanoma who consented for collection of blood samples. The study dates were June 22, 1992, to December 14, 2010. Main Outcomes and Measures Clinical characteristics of uveal melanoma and the development of metastases. BAP1 gene sequencing from blood samples of patients with uveal melanoma was correlated with clinical characteristics. Results Of 507 blood samples analyzed, 25 patients (4.9%) exhibited 18 BAP1 polymorphisms, of which 9 were novel. Computational analyses predicted that 8 BAP1 mutations in 8 patients (1.6%) were likely to result in damaged BAP1 protein. Five of these 8 mutations were novel. These 8 patients were compared with 482 patients in whom no BAP1 polymorphisms were identified. In univariate analyses, patients with germline BAP1 mutations exhibited larger tumor diameters (mean, 15.9 vs 12.3 mm; P = .004) and higher rates of ciliary body involvement (75.0% vs 21.6%, P = .002) and metastases (71.4% vs 18.0%, P = .003) compared with control subjects. Patients with germline BAP1 mutations exhibited increased frequency of family history of cancer (100% vs 65.9%, P = .06), particularly cutaneous melanoma (62.5% vs 9.9%, P P = .01). No differences were identified in age at diagnosis, sex, history of other malignant neoplasm, presenting visual acuity, distance of the tumor from the optic nerve or fovea, iris involvement, extrascleral extension, or tumor pigmentation. Germline BAP1 mutations increased risk of metastasis independent of ciliary body involvement ( P = .02). Germline BAP1 mutation approached significance as an independent risk factor for metastasis ( P = .09). Conclusions and Relevance These data suggest that germline BAP1 mutations occur infrequently in uveal melanoma and are associated with larger tumors and higher rates of ciliary body involvement, 2 known risk factors for metastasis.
The Physiologic Effects of Inverse Ratio Ventilation

Study objectives: The efficacy of inverse ratio ventilation in ARDS is not clear. Furthermore, the mechanism responsible has not been determined. We designed an animal study to determine if inverse ratio ventilation improves gas exchange and by what mechanism. Design: Prospective randomized, controlled design was used. Setting: University of Missouri Pulmonary/Critical Care Animal Laboratory. Participants: Nine dogs with oleic acid-induced lung injury as control animals to assess stability of the model, nine in the experimental model. Interventions: Conventional ventilation with full recruitment extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was compared with two other modes of ventilation. One was inverse ratio with extrinsic PEEP and the second was inverse ratio with intrinsic PEEP equal to full recruitment PEEP. Full recruitment levels of PEEP were defined by optimizing compliance, then increasing PEEP by 2.5 cm/H2O. Each type of ventilation was maintained for 45 min after the edema had stabilized. Comparison of lung injury over time requires stability of the model over time. Therefore, we also assessed the stability of the preparation over time by examining compliance, extravascular lung water, and venous admixture in nine control dogs with equivalent lung injury over the same time span. Measurements and results: Mean airway pressure was increased by both types of inverse ratio ventilation, while compliance remained stable. Venous admixture was reduced (conv=0.32±0.12, inverse ratio with extrinsic PEEP=0.24±0.10, inverse ratio with intrinsic PEEP=0.28±0.11) with inverse ratio with extrinsic PEEP, but the improvement was less with inverse ratio with intrinsic PEEP, even though the mean airway pressure was higher. Conclusions: We conclude that increasing mean airway pressure by prolongation of the inspiratory time improves gas exchange in our model of ARDS, but when mean airway pressure is increased further, allowing the development of intrinsic PEEP, the beneficial effects on gas exchange are less. Increasing mean airway pressure with intrinsic PEEP is not equivalent to other methods of increasing mean airway pressure. (CHEST 1998; 114:834–838) Abbreviations: EVLW=extravascular lung water; I/E=inspiratory/expiratory; IRV=inverse ratio ventilation; LVDPDT=rate of left ventricular systolic pressure change at 40 mm Hg; PEEP=positive end-expiratory pressure; Q ˙ S / Q ˙ T =venous admixture; VD/VT=dead space
Tax incentives and R&D spending: A review of the evidence

Abstract Since 1981, U.S. firms have been allowed to claim a tax credit for R&D spending in excess of some base amount. This paper assesses the evidence gathered to date about the effectiveness of the R&D tax credit in the United States. There is considerable evidence that the R&D tax credit has had some effect on the behavior of American firms in the early 1980s. But it is not as yet clear how much of the initial response of firms to the credit is due to increases in total R&D as opposed to increases in R&D that is qualified for the R&D credit. Moreover, different empirical approaches produce substantially different estimates of the size of the effect of the R&D credit. Analyses based on time series data imply that the credit has had a substantial effect on R&D spending. However, indirect evidence based on estimates of the price elasticity of demand for R&D, as well as studies based on more direct evidence from survey data and corporate tax returns imply that the effect of the credit has been rather modest. There are several ways in which these divergent estimates of the size of firms' responses can be reconciled. However, each suggested reconciliation points toward using the more modest estimates to gauge the effects of a permanently enacted incentive for R&D. These estimates imply that had the incremental 25 percent R&D credit been made permanent, it would have stimulated between $0.35 and $0.93 of additional company-funded R&D spending per each $1 of tax revenue forgone.
Gender Comparison of God Schemas: A Multidimensional Scaling Analysis

Previous work has speculated that men and women develop different images of God. This study identified cognitive schemas of God via multidimensional scaling analy- sis (MDS) in an attempt to ascertain whether a gender difference exists regarding God image. Participants (128 female and 87 male) completed a card sort of 27 words used to describe God. MDS analysis revealed that participants organize their God image around three dimensions: nurturing-judging, controlling-saving, and con- crete-abstract. Men were found to place greater salience on the controlling image, but no other gender differences were found. The results are interpreted in light of methodological considerations associated with assessing cognitive schemas.
The Role of the Courts in Certain Educational Policy Formation

A study of recent court decisions indicates that courts tend to decide cases in education with apparently little or no citation in their opinions of the findings of research studies in the fields of education, economics, psychology, sociology, etc. This may be unique since the courts seem to be more liberal in other areas of the law where inputs from other disciplines (e.g. medicine) are cited and do find their way into the decisions of cases. The implications of this for educational policy formation and educational research need to be more thoroughly examined.
Interstitial ordering of hydrogen and oxygen in TiNi alloys

Abstract TiNi type shape memory alloys can absorb hydrogen during the electropolishing of TEM specimens and can be contaminated by oxygen when TEM specimens are heated in situ to above 200°C. These interstitial atoms can induce long-range ordering in the TiNi alloys and “extra” 1 2 -reflections which include 0 0 1 2 , 0 1 2 1 2 , 1 2 1 2 1 2 , 0 1 4 2 4 , 1 4 2 4 2 4 reflections. The degree of long-range order is higher in hydrogen ordering than that in oxygen ordering. The lifetime of the hydrogen ordering is about 2–3 h, but the oxygen ordering is stable for long times. This may be due to the high diffusivity of hydrogen and high affinity of oxygen in TiNi alloys.
Positron ionization mass spectrometry: Ionization of organic molecules by positronium formation

Low-energy (<10 eV) positrons have been used to ionize organic molecules in the gas phase followed by mass spectrometric analysis. High-energy positrons from a linear electron accelerator-based facility are re-moderated to less than 3 eV and trapped in a miniature Penning trap where they interact with the target molecules. Ions thus formed are mass analyzed in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The predominant ionization mechanism in this energy regime involves positronium formation and the spectra are comparable to electron impact spectra at energies a few eV above the ionization energy of the molecules.
Serological diagnostics of hepatitis E virus infection

Development of accurate diagnostic assays for the detection of serological markers of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection remains challenging. In the course of nearly 20 years after the discovery of HEV, significant progress has been made in characterizing the antigenic structure of HEV proteins, engineering highly immunoreactive diagnostic antigens, and devising efficient serological assays. However, many outstanding issues related to sensitivity and specificity of these assays in clinical and epidemiological settings remain to be resolved. Complexity of antigenic composition, viral genetic heterogeneity and varying epidemiological patterns of hepatitis E in different parts of the world present challenges to the refinement of HEV serological diagnostic assays. Development of antigens specially designed for the identification of serological markers specific to acute infection and of IgG anti-HEV specific to the convalescent phase of infection would greatly facilitate accurate identification of active, recent and past HEV infections.
CoCQA: Co-Training over Questions and Answers with an Application to Predicting Question Subjectivity Orientation

An increasingly popular method for finding information online is via the Community Question Answering (CQA) portals such as Yahoo! Answers, Naver, and Baidu Knows. Searching the CQA archives, and ranking, filtering, and evaluating the submitted answers requires intelligent processing of the questions and answers posed by the users. One important task is automatically detecting the question's subjectivity orientation: namely, whether a user is searching for subjective or objective information. Unfortunately, real user questions are often vague, ill-posed, poorly stated. Furthermore, there has been little labeled training data available for real user questions. To address these problems, we present CoCQA, a co-training system that exploits the association between the questions and contributed answers for question analysis tasks. The co-training approach allows CoCQA to use the effectively unlimited amounts of unlabeled data readily available in CQA archives. In this paper we study the effectiveness of CoCQA for the question subjectivity classification task by experimenting over thousands of real users' questions.
Lymphocyte heterogeneity in the trout, Salmo gairdneri, defined with monoclonal antibodies to IgM

A monoclonal antibody to trout serum IgM was tested by immunofluorescence analysis with lymphocytes from thymus, spleen and head kidney. By visual examination, the antibody reacted with only a subpopulation of lymphocytes. The mean values +/- SE for positive cells were 5.2 +/- 2.3% in the thymus, 30.3 +/- 7.9% in the spleen and 12.4 +/- 3.0% in the head kidney. Flow cytofluorometric analysis revealed evidence of heterogeneity by size among the membrane IgM-positive cells of the head kidney and spleen. Depletion of head kidney cells positive for surface IgM by an immune affinity adherence technique of panning, using monoclonal anti-IgM, significantly reduced the mitogenic response to lipopolysaccharide but not to concanavalin A. It is suggested that this information supports the existence of distinct subpopulations of fish lymphocytes that may be homologous in certain respects to mammalian T and B type cells.
When Stigma Confronts Stigma Some Conditions Enhancing a Victim's Tolerance of Other Victims

Do blacks differ from whites in their ascription of negative stereotypes to former mental patients? Because blacks are aware that they themselves are often the victims of negative stereotyping, they might show greater reluctance to apply negative stereotypes to others marked by society as "deviant. " Black and white subjects were shown a character sketch of a target person who was depressed and had other symptoms of emotional distress. They were asked (among other questions) to decide whether he should be committed to an institution. The target person was or was not labeled a former mental patient, and the potential victimization of blacks was or was not made salient. The results showed that blacks were more tolerant of the deviant target person when he was clearly labeled as deviant and when black victimization in other contexts was made salient. Blacks were less tolerant than whites in the absence of such information.
Is the AE index the result of nonlinear dynamics

Recently there as been much interest in determining if the global geomagnetic system, as characterized by AE and AL indices, can be described by a low dimensional, possibly chaotic, non-linear dynamical system. By using a statistical method for detecting nonlinearity, we show that for one interval which has been previous analyzed (the first 8192 minutes of January 1983) there is no evidence for low dimensional behavior.
Combined environment aging effects: Radiation‐thermal degradation of polyvinylchloride and polyethylene

Results are presented for a case of polymer aging in which powerful synergisms are found between radiation and temperature. This effect was observed with formulations of polyvinylchloride and polyethylene and occurred in simultaneous and sequential radiation-thermal experiments. Dose rate dependencies, which appear to be mechanistically related to the synergism, were also found. The evidence indicates that these aging effects are mediated by a thermally induced breakdown of peroxides initially formed by the radiation. Similar effects could be important to material degradation in a variety of other types of combined-stress environment. A new technique, which uses PH/sub 3/ treatment of intact polymer specimens to test for the importance of peroxides in the pathway that leads to changes in macroscopic tensile properties, is described.
Mode distribution in coherently amplifying random media

Abstract We investigate the statistics of lasing modes in a disordered one-dimensional active system. Dielectric scatters are randomly embedded in an amplifying medium to increase the optical length of photon. The lasing mode of each individual sample is obtained numerically by carefully locating the frequency and the threshold gain at which the reflection and the transmission coefficient first become divergent, a characteristic of the oscillation pole. As the density of scatters increases, the characteristic threshold gain for lasing decreases while the distribution of mode frequency broadens around the spontaneous emission frequency of the gain medium. The averaged gain threshold is indeed found to be proportional to the localization length, signifying the enhancement of light amplification due to multiple scattering. Interestingly, we find that the actual value of the gain threshold larger than previous theoretical predictions by a factor of 3–5, in agreement with a recent experiment.
Scenarios for Teacher Education Programs

This paper discusses the history of Internetbased videoconferencing (IVC) within the teacher education program at a large Midwestern university. It explains ways this technology has been used to expand interactions with students and professionals in a wide variety of settings and thereby increase depth, diversity, and effectiveness of preservice teacher education. Partners include P-12 schools, practicum sites, and other universities. The article focuses on real-time interactions among two or more locations in which at least one of the sites involves a larger space and/or a large group of participants. Scenarios of successful videoconferencing are included along with lessons learned. Practical guidelines for building collaborations, establishing technical connections, preparing for and running videoconferencing sessions, and maintaining communications are provided.
The effect of ethnicity on immediate reconstruction rates after mastectomy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Multiple factors may influence whether patients undergo immediate breast reconstruction along with mastectomy for breast cancer. The authors investigated whether ethnicity was an independent predictor of immediate breast reconstruction. METHODS The authors identified 1004 patients who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer during the period 2001–2002. The rates of immediate reconstruction among different ethnicities were evaluated using the chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to adjust for covariates, including age and disease stage. Medical records were analyzed to identify factors that influenced each patient's decision for or against immediate breast reconstruction. RESULTS Three hundred seventy-six women (37.5%) underwent immediate breast reconstruction: This included 20.2% of African-American women, compared with 40.0% of white women, 42.0% of Hispanic women, 42.2% of Asian women, and 10.0% of Middle Eastern women (P < 0.001). The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for immediate reconstruction for African-Americans versus whites was 0.38 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.23–0.63; P < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, this disparity persisted, with an adjusted OR of 0.34 (95% CI, 0.18–0.62; P = 0.001). Asian women had lower rates of immediate reconstruction compared with white women (adjusted OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.24–1.04; P = 0.06). Hispanic women did not have immediate reconstruction rates that differed significantly from white women. Middle Eastern women had lower rates of immediate reconstruction compared with white women (adjusted OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.02–0.38; P = 0.002), but they had a corresponding increase in the rate of delayed reconstruction. In a stepwise analysis of the decision pathway to immediate reconstruction, it was found that African-American women were less likely to be offered referrals for reconstruction, were less likely to accept offered referrals, were less likely to be offered reconstruction, and were less likely to elect reconstruction if it was offered. CONCLUSIONS African-American women underwent immediate breast reconstruction at significantly lower rates compared with white women, Hispanic women, and Asian women. After adjusting for covariates, including age and disease stage, African-American women and Asian women had lower rates of reconstruction compared with white women. The factors that contribute to these differences warrant further study. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Metal-nitroxyl interactions. 42. Spin-spin interaction in frozen solution EPR spectra of spin-labeled Mn(II) complexes

Abstract EPR spectra have been obtained for four spin-labeled bidentate ligands coordinated to manganese bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonate). Values of the electron-electron exchange coupling constants, J, were obtained in fluid solution. For two complexes with J ∼ 0, the frozen solution spectra of the nitroxyl signal showed well-resolved dipolar splitting by the Mn(II). The interspin distances were 9.0 and 9.7 A. The observation of resolved spin-spin splitting indicated that the manganese relaxation rate (T1−1) was slow compared with the magnitude of the splitting in hertz. This result contradicts a fundamental assumption of a widely used model of manganese-nitroxyl interaction. For two complexes with nonzero values of J there were no transitions that could be identified as nitroxyl transitions. This is attributed to extensive mixing of the nitroxyl and manganese wavefunctions.
High-order discontinuous Galerkin methods using an hp-multigrid approach

The goal of this paper is to investigate and develop a fast and robust algorithm for the solution of high-order accurate discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of non-linear systems of conservation laws on unstructured grids. Herein we present the development of a spectral hp-multigrid method, where the coarse ''grid'' levels are constructed by reducing the order (p) of approximation of the discretization using hierarchical basis functions (p-multigrid), together with the traditional (h-multigrid) approach of constructing coarser grids with fewer elements. On each level we employ variants of the element-Jacobi scheme, where the Jacobian entries associated with each element are treated implicitly (i.e., inverted directly) and all other entries are treated explicitly. The methodology is developed for the two-dimensional non-linear Euler equations on unstructured grids, using both non-linear (FAS) and linear (CGC) multigrid schemes. Results are presented for the channel flow over a bump and a uniform flow over a four element airfoil. Current results demonstrate convergence rates which are independent of both order of accuracy (p) of the discretization and level of mesh resolution (h).
Ryanodine Receptors Selectively Interact with L Type Calcium Channels in Mouse Taste Cells.

Introduction We reported that ryanodine receptors are expressed in two different types of mammalian peripheral taste receptor cells: Type II and Type III cells. Type II cells lack voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) and chemical synapses. In these cells, ryanodine receptors contribute to the taste-evoked calcium signals that are initiated by opening inositol trisphosphate receptors located on internal calcium stores. In Type III cells that do have VGCCs and chemical synapses, ryanodine receptors contribute to the depolarization-dependent calcium influx. Methodology/Principal Findings The goal of this study was to establish if there was selectivity in the type of VGCC that is associated with the ryanodine receptor in the Type III taste cells or if the ryanodine receptor opens irrespective of the calcium channels involved. We also wished to determine if the ryanodine receptors and VGCCs require a physical linkage to interact or are simply functionally associated with each other. Using calcium imaging and pharmacological inhibitors, we found that ryanodine receptors are selectively associated with L type VGCCs but likely not through a physical linkage. Conclusions/Significance Taste cells are able to undergo calcium induced calcium release through ryanodine receptors to increase the initial calcium influx signal and provide a larger calcium response than would otherwise occur when L type channels are activated in Type III taste cells.
The genetics and physiology of bacteriophage T7

Abstract Nineteen genes have been identified in T7 by isolation and characterization of amber mutants. Representative mutants from each gene have been ordered on a linear genetic map by means of two-factor crosses, and the genes are numbered in order from left to right. At present, the map is over 200 map units long. From studies of T7-directed protein synthesis ( Studier and Maizel, 1969 ), it is estimated that not more than another 10 or so genes remain to be discovered. The ability of mutants from each gene to synthesize DNA, lyse the culture, and make DNA-containing particles in the restrictive host, E. coli B, has been determined. Mutants from genes 1–6 (at the left end of the map) are defective in both DNA synthesis and lysis; both functions appear to be essentially normal in mutants from genes 7–19. Mutants in genes 7, 11, 12, 13, and 17 can produce noninfectious, DNA-containing particles when grown on B. It appears that in T7 (as in T4 and lambda) related functions tend to cluster along the genetic map. The development of detailed genetic analysis for T7, together with the simplicity of its physical chemistry, makes this system a very attractive one in which to study a number of biological problems at the molecular level.
A variational constitutive model for porous metal plasticity

This paper presents a variational formulation of viscoplastic constitutive updates for porous elastoplastic materials. The material model combines von Mises plasticity with volumetric plastic expansion as induced, e.g., by the growth of voids and defects in metals. The finite deformation theory is based on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient and an internal variable formulation of continuum thermodynamics. By the use of logarithmic and exponential mappings the stress update algorithms are extended from small strains to finite deformations. Thus the time-discretized version of the porous-viscoplastic constitutive updates is described in a fully variational manner. The range of behavior predicted by the model and the performance of the variational update are demonstrated by its application to the forced expansion and fragmentation of U-6%Nb rings.
FREE VIBRATION OF LAYERED PIEZOELECTRIC SPHERICAL CAPS

The free asymmetric and axisymmetric vibration of layered piezoelectric spherical shells are analyzed using a two-dimensional first order shear deformable shell theory. Piecewise Hermite interpolation polynomials are used to approximate the unknowns in the azimuthal direction, to Fourier approximations in the circumferential direction. Natural frequencies for layered elastic caps were computed and found to be in close agreement with other studies and results from a discrete-layer model of the equations of linear elasticity. Several new results are calculated for layered piezoelectric spherical caps with clamped and hinged boundary conditions.
Mechanical properties of sacrificial polymers used in RF-MEMS applications

This paper presents the analysis, fabrication and measurement of bent-beam strain sensors for mechanical characterization of typical RF-MEMS sacrificial layers such as photoresist and PMMA. The analysis demonstrates that a simple kinematic model of the bent-beam strain sensor can be used to accurately calculate strain from the observed deflections. A simple fabrication process using a dry isotropic silicon etch to release the beams is detailed. This process is then used to measure the elastic modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion for AZ-4110 resist as well as PMMA. The measured results for PMMA are in excellent agreement with previously reported values.