cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detecting and Reacting to Anomalies in Relaxed Uses of Raft

The Raft consensus algorithm is used in many popular distributed key–value stores to offer strong consistency. Due to the cost of implementing strong consistency, its performance characteristics may not meet the requirements of some users. To satisfy these users, many distributed key–value stores allow users to bypass Raft when serving read requests. Unfortunately, yet predictably, this introduces anomalies. While this is a tradeoff many users may be willing to make, the effects of the tradeoff are not properly accounted for: i.e., it is impossible to know how much consistency is being traded away for the increased speed. We propose the use of reflective consistency—a design space of consistency models used to expose anomaly statistics to the system and its users—to regain transparency in the tradeoff space. This work presents the complete lifecycle of implementing an instance of reflective consistency. We first describe how a popular feature in strongly consistent distributed key–value stores causes anomalies. We then design a reflective consistency implementation which can quantify the existence of anomalies. Finally, we evaluate the implementation, showing that, with nearly zero overhead, users are able to regain control over the anomaly behavior of their distributed storage systems.
Soil chemical properties in forest patches across multiple spatiotemporal scales in mid-Atlantic U.S. metropolitan areas

Temperate deciduous forests in the United States are in the most densely populated states across the northern and mid-Atlantic east coast. Land development and associated human activities have resulted in small forests that are susceptible to various anthropogenic influences across multiple spatiotemporal scales. The objective of this study was to assess soil chemistry in forest patches of various sizes embedded within an urban development gradient. We established 36 forest sites along the U.S. east coast in northern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, and assessed soil chemical properties across metro (city size), landscape (surrounding urban density), patch (forest patch size/shape, non-native plant invasion), and temporal (time since forest canopy closure) scales. At the metro and landscape scale, we found significantly greater soil Cu, Zn, and S concentrations in forest patches with greater surrounding urban density. At the forest patch scale, soil pH and Ca increased with greater abundance of non-native invasive plants within the forest, whereas soil organic matter decreased with plant invasion. However, increased soil pH and Ca with decreasing SOM may also be a result of land use legacies since we found younger forests had significantly more plant invasion. Forest patch size and shape were primarily related to urban density, where smaller forests with greater edge to interior ratios had greater soil Cu and Zn concentrations. These findings support the importance of considering forest patch structure (size and shape), site legacies, proximity to urban land uses, and duration of intact canopy in understanding patterns and processes in forest soils.
Validation of the IWATE criteria as a laparoscopic liver resection difficulty score in a single North American cohort

Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) involves a difficult learning curve, for which multiple difficulty scores have been proposed to assist with safe adaptation. The IWATE Criteria is a 4-level difficulty score shown to correlate with conversion to open surgery, estimated blood loss (EBL), and operative time in Japanese and French cohorts. We set out to validate the IWATE Criteria in a North American cohort, describe the evolution of our LLR program, and analyze the IWATE Criteria’s ability to predict conversion to open surgery. Patients that underwent LLR between January 2006 and December 2019 were selected from a prospectively maintained database. Difficulty outcomes, including conversion to open surgery, EBL, operative time, and post-operative complications were analyzed according to IWATE difficulty level, both overall and between chronological eras. The IWATE Criteria’s ability to predict conversion to open surgery was assessed with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. A total of 426 patients met inclusion criteria. Operative time, EBL, and conversion to open surgery increased in concordance with low to advanced IWATE difficulty. ROC analysis for conversion to open surgery demonstrated an overall area under the curve (AUC) of 0.694. Predictive performance was superior during the first two eras, with AUCs of 0.771 and 0.775; predictive value decreased as the LLR program gained experience, with AUCs of 0.708 and 0.551 for eras three and four. This study validated the IWATE Criteria in a North American population distinct from previous Japanese and French cohorts, based on its correlation with operative time, EBL, and conversion to open surgery. The IWATE Criteria may be of utility for identification of LLR cases appropriate for surgeon experience, as well as determination of laparoscopic feasibility. Interval difficulty score recalibration may be warranted as surgeon perception of difficulty evolves.
And Now from Learning to Enjoy Reading I Crave Knowledge and I’m Fascinated with the Idea of Improving My Vocabulary and My Wisdom

One of my most significant challenges as a basic writing teacher is helping students fully appreciate the joys that reading can bring and the deeply meaningful ways we can engage in conversation with others through reading. I am not always successful in helping students become strong, engaged, joyful readers. Many of my basic writing students, however, do come to enjoy reading—and not just for what it can provide economically in terms of career and job prospects, but for what it can offer them in terms of quality of life and how it can enrich the ways they think about themselves and the world they live in. The individual whose essay is featured in this chapter, Michael Colon, was able to become a fully engaged reader, and in his essay, he discusses his newfound appreciation for reading and what this gift has meant to him. Readers of Michael’s essay will be able to experience firsthand the process of this discovery—almost as it is happening.
Detection of bone particles in non-carbonate soils.

Abstract A routine geologic test for the presence of carbonate minerals in soil is the application of dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) and observation for an effervescent reaction. This study tests whether non-carbonate soils can exhibit effervescence in the presence of HCl if bone particles are present in the soil. Five bone fragments displaying various taphonomic alterations were ground and sieved to achieve uniform particle size fractions. A non-carbonate soil was mixed with each bone particle fraction, and 1 molar HCl solution was applied while observing the reaction using a stereo microscope. All tests resulted in the effervescence of bone particles, which could be easily located within the soil based on the presence of small bubbles surrounding the bone particle. These results show that a simple, quick, cost-effective test can be used to presumptively determine whether soil may contain bone particles, even if they are too small to be identified morphologically. Results also suggest that, since bone particles in soil can produce the same type of effervescence expected in carbonate soil, additional tests may be needed to determine the source of an effervescent reaction. These findings also highlight the insight that can be gained through interdisciplinary discussions and investigations.
Aortic saddle embolus in acute myocardial infarction. Successful removal by a fogarty catheter technic.

Abstract A patient is described who sustained an aortic saddle embolus after a myocardial infarction. The Fogarty embolectomy catheter successfully extracted the embolus, and arterial flow was completely restored.
Air medical transport of patients from offshore oil and gas facilities. Historical accident data and initial experience.

The offshore petroleum exploration and production industry (OSI) is isolated from traditional means of access to emergent health care and may benefit from the unique attributes of helicopter air medical transport. This study was undertaken to review the incidence of OSI-related incidents, injuries and deaths, and report the initial experience of a civilian hospital-based helicopter air transport program in the evacuation of offshore patients. It was learned that the mean annual incidence of major OSI accidents from 1980 to 1986 was 19.1 (± 7.0). Mean annual mortality and reported injury were 14.7 (± 7.6) and 36.7 (± 25.4) patients respectively. Fires and explosions were the most frequently reported events at 62 per year (± 11.5/year). Nine OSI patients were evacuated by helicopter during the study's eight-month pilot period (seven for trauma and two for medical illness). One of the nine patients had been exposed to a potentially hazardous substance, requiring changes in the air medical team's operations, aircraft and equipment. The study shows that the offshore petroleum environment is ideally suited for air medical transport, as injuries are common and medical illnesses are to be expected. However, air medical programs operating offshore must deal with additional regulatory requirements and develop operational procedures to ensure safety during these flights.
Street-Scale Modeling of Storm Surge Inundation along the New Jersey Hudson River Waterfront

AbstractA new, high-resolution, hydrodynamic model that encompasses the urban coastal waters of New Jersey along the Hudson River Waterfront opposite New York City, New York, has been developed and validated for simulating inundation during Hurricane Sandy. A 3.1-m-resolution square model grid combined with a high-resolution lidar elevation dataset permits a street-by-street focus to inundation modeling. The waterfront inundation model is a triple-nested Stevens Institute Estuarine and Coastal Ocean Hydrodynamic Model (sECOM) application; sECOM is a successor model to the Princeton Ocean Model family of models. Robust flooding and drying of land in the model physics provides for the dynamic prediction of flood elevations and velocities across land features during inundation events. The inundation model was forced by water levels from the extensively validated New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS) hindcast of that hurricane.Validation against 56 watermarks and 16 edgemarks provided via t...
Using VarScan 2 for Germline Variant Calling and Somatic Mutation Detection

The identification of small sequence variants remains a challenging but critical step in the analysis of next-generation sequencing data. Our variant calling tool, VarScan 2, employs heuristic and statistic thresholds based on user-defined criteria to call variants using SAMtools mpileup data as input. Here, we provide guidelines for generating that input, and describe protocols for using VarScan 2 to (1) identify germline variants in individual samples; (2) call somatic mutations, copy number alterations, and LOH events in tumor-normal pairs; and (3) identify germline variants, de novo mutations, and Mendelian inheritance errors in family trios. Further, we describe a strategy for variant filtering that removes likely false positives associated with common sequencing- and alignment-related artifacts.
Mental spatial transformations of objects and perspective

This study sought evidence for the independence of two classes of mental spatial transformation: object-based spatial transformations and egocentric perspective transformations. Two tasks were designed to selectively elicit these two transformations using the same materials, participants, and task parameters: one required same-different judgments about pairs of pictures, while the other required left-right judgments about single pictures. For pictures of human bodies, the two tasks showed strikingly different patterns of response time as a function of stimulus orientation. Moreover, across individuals, the two tasks had different relationships to psychometric tests of spatial ability. The chronometric and individual difference data converge with neuropsychological and neuroimaging data in suggesting that different mental spatial transformations are performed by dissociable neural systems.
Characterization of I-Ppo, an intron-encoded endonuclease that mediates homing of a group I intron in the ribosomal DNA of Physarum polycephalum.

Abstract A novel and only recently recognized class of enzymes is composed of the site-specific endonucleases encoded by some group I introns. We have characterized several aspects of I-Ppo, the endonuclease that mediates the mobility of intron 3 in the ribosomal DNA of Physarum polycephalum. This intron is unique among mobile group I introns in that it is located in nuclear DNA. We found that I-Ppo is encoded by an open reading frame in the 5' half of intron 3, upstream of the sequences required for self-splicing of group I introns. Either of two AUG initiation codons could start this reading frame, one near the beginning of the intron and the other in the upstream exon, leading to predicted polypeptides of 138 and 160 amino acid residues. The longer polypeptide was the major form translated in vitro in a reticulocyte extract. From nuclease assays of proteins synthesized in vitro with partially deleted DNAs, we conclude that both polypeptides possess endonuclease activity. We also have expressed I-Ppo in Escherichia coli, using a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase expression system. The longer polypeptide also was the predominant form made in this system. It showed enzymatic activity in bacteria in vivo, as demonstrated by the cleavage of a plasmid carrying the target site. Like several other intron-encoded endonucleases, I-Ppo makes a four-base staggered cut in its ribosomal DNA target sequence, very near the site where intron 3 becomes integrated in crosses of intron 3-containing and intron 3-lacking Physarum strains.
Interactive Videodiscs in Social Work Education

MOST SOCIAL WORK education programs (undergraduate and graduate) during the past 10 years have provided students with some exposure to computers. Today, the continuing ex plosion in computer technology has led to the development of interactive video discs. Medical education programs, the U.S. military, and private industry are rapidly incorporating videodiscs into their educational programs. This article describes and reviews videodisc technology and the results of an exploratory survey about the use of videodisc technology in graduate social work education programs in the United States. Developmental recommenda tions follow.
Physics of Phagocytosis in Self Recognition: Particle Size and Myosin Forces

Cells make a number of key decisions by actively applying forces to the objects that they ‘touch’. How a macrophage decides to adhere to and ‘eat’a foreign object (microbes to drug carriers) while leaving 'self’cells alone is a central decision in macrophage function. The molecularly specific adhesion systems that activate (or inhibit) will be shown to function from nanometer to micron length scales and to be made efficient by signaling (or not) to force-generating myosin motors in macrophages. Additional effects of particle shape - relevant to filamentous viruses perhaps - will be discussed. Collectively, the results suggest new means of achieving compatibility and the CD47 findings even appear relevant to engraftment of stem cells.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Supporting Timesharing and Interruption Management Through Multimodal Information Presentation

Chih-Yuan Ho, Mark I. Nikolic, and Nadine B. Sarter Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Institute for Ergonomics The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Operators in complex event-driven domains often need to perform multiple concurrent tasks and handle competing attentional demands, such as interruptions by other human or machine agents. This study examined the effectiveness of distributing tasks across various sensory channels and presenting information on the nature of an interruption task to support timesharing and attention management. Participants performed a visually demanding simulated Air Traffic Control (ATC) task involving Data Link communication. At times, an interruption task was introduced, which consisted of counting subsets of signals that were presented in visual, auditory, or tactile form. Half of the subjects automatically received information on the modality and urgency of these pending interruption tasks whereas the other participants had the option to request this information. Within-subject variables in this study included ATC-related workload and the frequency and priority of interruption tasks. High-priority tasks had to be performed immediately whereas low-priority tasks could be delayed for up to two minutes. The results show that information about the nature of pending tasks supported participants in scheduling and timesharing more effectively. They were able to avoid intramodal interference and scanning costs associated with performing the ATC task concurrently with a visual interruption task. Crossmodal interference was lowest for auditory interruption tasks. Overall, these findings illustrate the benefits of multimodal information presentation and more informative interruption signals.
A significant moment for the space age

Abstract Anniversaries offer not only opportunities to celebrate and commemorate a significant event, but also to reflect on larger meanings and consider the place of the events and their actors in the larger fabric of modern society. On 4 October 2007, the world will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, the first spacecraft placed in orbit. What has this 50-year history brought us? This essay reflects on this event and its meaning. It suggests that humanity may appropriately conclude that this Earth is not a cage and that humanity may venture beyond it. It also invokes the possibilities of both living more fully on this small and precious world we call home, and of leaving it behind for other planets beyond.
Profiles of Stark-Broadened Balmer Lines in a Hydrogen Plasma

A stationary hydrogen plasma was generated in a high current stabilized arc and its temperature was determined spectroscopically from the diagnostics of the line and continuum radiation. Extensive measurements of the profiles of the Balmer lines ${\mathrm{H}}_{\ensuremath{\beta}}$ and ${H}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ were made and show that recent improvements in the theory of Stark broadening describe the observed line shapes well. Electron densities determined from linewidth measurements are slightly higher than those derived from line-intensity measurements. In the covered range of electron densities from ${10}^{16}$-${10}^{17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and temperatures around ${10}^{4}$ \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K the difference amounts to about 25% for ${\mathrm{H}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ and 12% for ${\mathrm{H}}_{\ensuremath{\beta}}$, for which a refined Stark-broadening theory is available. In addition, the intensity distribution in the distant line wings of ${\mathrm{H}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ and ${\mathrm{H}}_{\ensuremath{\beta}}$ was measured and compared with asymptotic formulas. Satisfactory agreement is obtained.
Polymerizable living free radical initiators as a platform to synthesize functional networks

Photopolymerizations of multifunctional monomers afford spatial and temporal control of cross-linked network formation whereas living radical polymerizations provide a means to synthesize well-defined architectures from monovinyl monomers. By combination of these technologies in a two-stage polymerization process, a novel method is developed to synthesize functional polymer networks, and supporting results are provided for preparing controlled polymer grafts within photo-cross-linked networks. To demonstrate the concept of internal grafting, an alkoxyamine living radical initiator (for nitroxide-mediated polymerization, NMP) and a tertiary bromide initiator (for atom-transfer radical polymerization, ATRP) were functionalized with a methacrylate group and either was copolymerized with mono- and divinyl methacrylic monomers during the initial network formation step. Activation of the living radical initiators within styrene-swollen networks resulted in controlled molecular weight polystyrene grafts covalent...
Work/energy analysis of bending limit cycles in a deadband attitude control system

An analysis of the interactions between a nonlinear attitude control system and a flexible spacecraft is performed by applying work/energy and impulse/momentum principles. The control elements include a rate gyro; electronic components for integration, summing, filtering and switching; and a pair of opposing gas thrusters controlled by solenoid valves. The analysis accounts for the nonlinear characteristics of the switching elements and the thruster time delays. The thruster time delay has a primary effect in limiting the growth of transient oscillations and is a significant parameter in determining types of limit cycles. The objectives of the analysis are to predict transient bending oscillation growth rates, bending limit cycle frequencies, amplitudes, average attitude angles, and thruster firing ratios. Simple formulas are developed which predict the characteristics of the stable limit cycles and a growth limiting boundary. Digital simulation results verify the accuracy of these predictions. The work/energy approach and the simple, accurate prediction of limit cycle characteristics and boundaries are novel features of the analysis.
In Situ Small-Angle X-ray Scattering Observation of Pt Catalyst Particle Growth During Potential Cycling

Using small-angle X-ray scattering, we have observed in situ the coarsening of 20 and 40 wt % Pt fuel cell relevant catalysts during potential cycling from 0.4 to 1.4 V.
The distribution and moments of the smallest eigenvalue of a random matrix of wishart type

Abstract Given a random rectangular m × n matrix with elements from a normal distribution, what is the distribution of the smallest singular value? To pose an equivalent question in the language of multivariate statistics, what is the distribution of the smallest eigenvalue of a matrix from the central Wishart distribution in the null case? We give new results giving the distribution as a simple recursion. This includes the more difficult case when n – m is an even integer, without resorting to zonal polynomials and hypergeometric functions of matrix arguments. With the recursion, one can obtain exact expressions for the density and the moments of the distribution in terms of functions usually no more complicated than polynomials, exponentials, and at worst ordinary hypergeometric functions. We further elaborate on the special cases when n – m = 0, 1, 2, and 3 and give a numerical table of the expected values for 2 ⩽ m ⩽ 25 and 0 ⩽ n – m ⩽ 25.
Chickenheads, agents, mommies, and jockeys: the social organization of transnational commercial sex

In the sex trafficking literature, the term “trafficker” is often used to refer to all the various actors who are involved in the business of transnational sex work. It thus includes those who recruit women in the source countries; those who transport victims across international borders; and those who manage and exploit the women in the various commercial sex venues in the destination countries. In this paper, we will look at some of the people who fall into these categories of being “traffickers.” Our goal is to better understand the many people who are facilitating transnational commercial sex. We will explore their background characteristics, the reasons for their involvement in sex trafficking, their roles and functions in the business, and the nature of their relationships with the women who sell sex. We will also discuss the issue of whether, and to what extent, organized crime groups are involved as traffickers in the transnational sex trade. Our discussion is drawn from face-to-face interviews with commercial sex workers, and with sex ring operators and a variety of government officials.
Quantitative PCR assays to survey the bovine adenovirus levels in environmental samples.

Aims: Previous studies suggested bovine adenoviruses (BAdVs) could be used as cattle faecal indicators. The main aim of this study was to survey the levels of BAdV in environmental samples using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Methods and Results: Two qPCR assays were developed to identify and quantify BAdVs in environmental samples. BAdVs were detected in all dairy manure, and in most cases, the sample concentrations were around 103–104 copies ml−1. Farm tile drainage samples were also detected, but the concentrations were about 1–3 log10 lower than the BAdV concentrations in the manure samples. The genome equivalent copy (GEC) levels of BAdV and the phage forming unit (PFU) levels of somatic phage in manure samples were comparable. Four of twenty individual cattle faeces were positive with concentrations similar to that found in the manure samples. Sequencing results confirmed the presence of BAdV in the environmental samples, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that BAdV 2 and 4 were the most prevalent serotypes in all the manure samples tested. The qPCR assays developed in this study showed higher sensitivity in detecting BAdV 1 and 2 than the previous published nested assay. Conclusion: The high levels of BAdV in the environmental samples may suggest it could be used for bovine faecal indicator. The significant levels of BAdV in the drainage samples may indicate the potential of surface water pollution by the manure applied to farm fields. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first study that reports the quantitative level of BAdV in environmental samples. These results could be useful when it comes to determining whether BAdV could be utilized as a bovine faecal indicator.
An enhanced repetitive control algorithm using the structure of disturbance observer

In repetitive control, the enhanced servo performance at multiple repetitive frequencies is usually followed by undesired error amplifications at other frequencies. This paper presents a new structural configuration of the internal model principle in repetitive control, wherein designers have more flexibility in the repetitive loop-shaping design, and amplification of non-repetitive errors can be greatly reduced. The proposed algorithm is particularly advantageous when repetitive control is required in environments where large amounts of non-repetitive disturbances exist. Verification of the algorithm is provided in a benchmark regulation problem of hard disk drives.
Coronal Magnetic Fields Produced by Photospheric Shear

The magneto-frictional method is used for computing force free fields to examine the evolution of the magnetic field of a line dipole, when there is relative shearing motion between the two polarities. It found that the energy of the sheared field can be arbitrarily large compared with the potential field. It is also found that it is possible to fit the magnetic energy, as a function of shear, by a simple functional form.
Transverse Mode Dynamics of VCSELs Undergoing Current Modulation

In this paper, an approximation to the Maxwell-Semiconductor Bloch equations is used to model the transverse mode dynamics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), under current modulation.
Model for accumulation of dry matter and plant nutrients by corn

Abstract Accumulation of dry matter by warm‐season annuals depends upon time of season, including planting time. A mathematical model has been developed to simulate the growth process. The model contains a Gaussian environmental function and a linear‐exponential intrinsic growth function. Previous work has shown the applicability of the model to data for the perennials bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon). This article applies the model to field data for the annual corn (Zea mays) from four locations. Only two of the five parameters are varied for the different studies to match dry matter simulation with data. A hyperbolic relationship between plant nutrient accumulation [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or potassium (K)] and dry matter accumulation has been included. Parameters for the hyperbolic equation for plant N agree closely for the three locations where plant N was measured. Results for P and K varied. Since the total plant dry matter accumulates at a faster rate than pla...
Static and dynamic transconductance of MOSFETs

A model for the dynamic transconductance of small-channel-length MOSFETs operating in the linear region is presented. The model includes the effects of interface traps and their frequency-dependent admittance, Coulombic scattering due to all charges near the Si-SiO/sub 2/ interface, and surface roughness scattering. This model is used to explain the behavior of measured devices that have been subjected to ionizing radiation that introduces charges in the insulator and at the insulator-semiconductor interface. In particular, it is shown that the transconductance peak increases with the frequency of operation. The size of this effect is related mainly to the density of interface traps but is also controlled by the number of trapped charges near the Si-SiO/sub 2/ interface, which increases during irradiation. Static and high-frequency measurements of the transconductance of n-channel MOSFETs are compared with simulated results using the proposed model. >
Protein Dynamics in the Transport Cycle: NMR Study of the Multidrug Resistance Transporter, EmrE

Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a growing public health concern. One mechanism of resistance arises through drug export by multidrug resistance transporters. To fully understand the function of these proteins requires multiple structures plus kinetic and thermodynamic data to characterize the transport cycle. NMR offers a unique tool to obtain all of this information. The small size of the small multidrug resistance transporter, EmrE, makes it ideal for such studies. EmrE is a secondary active transporter in E. coli that harnesses the H+ gradient to export a broad range of polyaromatic cations from the cell, thus conferring resistance to drugs of this type. Protein conformational change is required for proper transport, allowing alternating access to either side of the membrane in response to substrate binding. We have solubilized EmrE in isotropic bicelles and have found that two conformations are present under these conditions. These two states are interconverting slowly on the NMR timescale, allowing us to study this transporter in action with atomic resolution.
Improved MAGIC gel for higher sensitivity and elemental tissue equivalent 3D dosimetry

Purpose: Polymer-based geldosimeter (MAGIC type) is a preferable phantom material for PET range verification of proton beam therapy. However, improvement in elemental tissue equivalency (specifically O/C ratio) is very desirable to ensure realistic time-activity measurements. Methods: Glucose and urea was added to the original MAGIC formulation to adjust the O/C ratio. The dose responses of the new formulations were tested with MRI transverse relaxation rate (R2) measurements. Results: The new ingredients improved not only the elemental composition but also the sensitivity of the MAGIC gel. The O/C ratios of our new gels agree with that of soft tissue within 1%. The slopes of dose response curves were 1.6–2.7 times larger with glucose. The melting point also increased by 5 ° C . Further addition of urea resulted in a similar slope but with an increased intercept and a decreased melting point. Conclusions: Our improved MAGIC gel formulations have higher sensitivity and better elemental tissue equivalency for 3D dosimetry applications involving nuclear reactions.
New fixed points of the renormalization operator for invariant circles

Abstract The scaling behavior of a family of piecewise-linear standard-like maps is investigated. We find a line of period-two fixed points in the space of non-analytic functions for the renormalization operator for invariant circles with golden mean winding number. These fixed points influence analytic standard-like maps in that they make KAM tori reappear after they have disaapeared when the nonlinearity is increased.
Use of chemically patterned substrate to study directional effect of damaging electrical stimulation on cultured neuroblastoma cells

We used ordered arrangements of neuroblastoma cells in culture on chemically patterned substrates to direct the orientation of electrical stimulation with respect to cell alignment. Chemically patterned parallel lines of self-assembled monolayer films were fabricated on glass substrates via a deep UV lithographic procedure. Cultured neuroblastoma cells deposited on these substrates formed long (approximately 300 microns in length) neuritic processes along the patterned lines in the presence of retinoic acid. Cells attached to the surface of these substrates were placed in a stimulation chamber so that an electric field (1.4-1.9 V/cm) could be applied in the direction parallel or perpendicular to neuritic or orientation. A majority of cells aligned parallel to the orientation of electrical stimulation exhibited a variety of cellular responses including neuritic tip damage, reductions in neuritic length and varicosity formation. These effects were observed to a lesser degree on the cells when electrical stimulation with the same magnitude was applied perpendicularly to the cell alignment. This work supports earlier findings that geometry is a crucial factor in determining cellular response to applied electric fields and goes on to show that cellular orientation is a key factor in determining cellular damage in culture.
Robust guide-star tracking algorithm proposed for Gravity Probe-B relativity mission

The gravity probe-B cryogenic star-tracking telescope provides the inertial pointing reference, as established by a distant guide star, with milli-arc-second resolution for the NASA/Stanford relatively gyroscope experiment. The star image of the f/27 Cassegrainian telescope is split onto two focal planes by a 50/50 intensity splitter, with each resultant image further divided by a roof prism reflector to generate the quadrant pointing information within few arc-seconds about the guide-star direction. Conventionally, the quadrant pointing information can be derived through the difference- and-sum algorithm. In this article, an alternative simple, yet robust algorithm is proposed and compared with the conventional one in the following aspects: (1) requirements on near perfect star-image division, (2) optimization in selecting null direction, (3) compensation of null-direction drift due to differential aging of photon detectors, (4) operational definitions of response sensitivity, linearity, and linear range of motion measurement, (5) robustness in system redundancy in terms of options in single-detector pointing per axis.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Management Briefs: Field Evaluations of 230‐V AC Electrofishing on Mortality and Growth of Warmwater and Coolwater Fish

Abstract Effects of electrofishing on mortality of eight species of fish and on the growth of two species of fish were evaluated under field conditions. The electrofishing gear had an output of 230-V, three-phase AC, and 2–7 A. Captured fish held in live-cages or a pond experienced little or no mortality over 1–40 d. Tag recapture data for largemouth bass and walleyes indicate survival and growth after 1–2 years were no different for fish captured by electrofishing than for fish captured by trap nets or angling. I conclude that 230-V AC electrofishing can be a practical method to capture many warmwater and coolwater species for mark-recapture studies in lakes with alkalinities of 26-144 mg/L (conductivities of 66–520 μS/cm). Output amperage should be regulated so that fish are only briefly stunned.
Dyspnea, Anxiety, Body Consciousness, and Quality of Life in Patients with Lung Cancer

Dyspnea is a common symptom of lung cancer that can impact patient physical, social, and psychological well-being. Study goals were to evaluate quality of life (QOL) and dyspnea in patients with lung cancer and the relationships between QOL, dyspnea, trait anxiety, and body consciousness. Sociodemographic and cancer-related variables (stage, cell type, performance status) were evaluated. One hundred twenty outpatients with stage I-IV lung cancer participated in the study. Patients completed 5 questionnaires assessing QOL, dyspnea, trait anxiety, body consciousness, and pain. Eighty-seven percent of study participants experienced dyspnea. Patients with high dyspnea scores had lower QOL (P = 0.04). Dyspnea was worse in men than in women (P = 0.02), and there was a trend towards older patients reporting more severe dyspnea than younger patients (P = 0.06). There was no difference in dyspnea based on cancer stage, cell type, or performance status. Pain and anxiety scores were higher in patients with high dyspnea (P = 0.02, P = 0.03). Dyspnea was more severe in patients taking opioid analgesics when compared to non-opioids or no pain medications (P = 0.03). No significant association was found between dyspnea, anxiety, and private body consciousness.
Facilitation, systems, and users: the complete socio-technical system

Examines facilitator, group member and system roles as a complete socio-technical system. Each of these three components of the socio-technical system is discussed in terms of the roles that they play within the context of a group meeting. This research draws from previous work on "group roles" to define how these roles interact to accomplish effective group performance. The development of a concept called the "co-facilitator", being composed of both human and information technology components, is established as perspective for future system development. Finally, the design of a study in progress is discussed, the intent of which is to explore the roles that each component of the socio-technical system play within the context of longitudinal work groups. >
A hard look at moral perception

This paper concerns what I take to be the primary epistemological motivation for defending moral perception. Offering a plausible account of how we gain moral knowledge is one of the central challenges of metaethics. It seems moral perception might help us meet this challenge. The possibility that we know about the instantiation of moral properties in something like the way we know that there is a bus passing in front of us raises the alluring prospect of subsuming moral epistemology under the (relatively) comfortable umbrella of perceptual or, more broadly, empirical knowledge. The good news on this front is that various combinations of metaethical positions and theories of perception arguably have the potential to vindicate moral perception (though I won’t do much to defend this claim here). The bad news, I’ll argue, is that moral perception would be dependent for its epistemic merit on background knowledge of bridge principles linking moral and non-moral properties. Thus, in order to defend a purely perceptual moral epistemology, one would have to argue that knowledge of those principles is likewise perceptual. I further argue it is not.
Low-power beyond-CMOS devices

Low-power beyond-CMOS devices based on charge and non-charge state variables are reviewed with brief assessment of their advantages and challenges. Promising applications of these devices may depend on novel design and architecture solutions utilizing their unique properties, e.g., nonvolatility, efficient logic design, etc. Technology and design co-optimization plays important roles in beyond-CMOS device research.
Hospital readmission for adult acute sickle cell painful episodes: frequency, etiology, and prognostic significance.

The acute sickle cell painful episode is the most common cause of hospitalization of patients with sickle cell anemia. Its detailed clinical features and peri-discharge features are not well known. In order to determine the actual pattern of hospital admissions of patients with SS and the causes of frequent hospital readmissions and their prognostic significance, we conducted a prospective longitudinal and observation cohort study of all adult patients with sickle cell anemia admitted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital between January 1998 and December 2002. Major outcome measures included the frequency, etiology, and prognostic significance of readmissions to the hospital within 1 week and 1 month after discharge. Incidence of mortality among patients during the study period was also determined. Analysis of the data showed that about 50% of hospital admissions for acute painful episodes were readmitted within 1 month after discharge, and about 16% of all admissions were within 1 week after discharge. The intensity of pain score decreased significantly during the first 4 days of hospital admission (P 7 throughout the hospital stay. Causes of hospital readmission included premature discharge, withdrawal syndrome, and recurrence of new acute episodes. Readmission within 1 week after discharge was associated with higher mortality than otherwise. This study shows that hospital readmission of adult patients with sickle cell anemia is common. It suggests that improvement is needed in the management of pain during hospitalization and at home after discharge. Patients who are readmitted frequently within 1 week of discharge have poor prognosis and require careful monitoring.
Moving to Opportunity? An Examination of Housing Choice Vouchers on Urban Poverty Deconcentration in South Florida

The increase in socioeconomic disparity between households runs counter to federal housing goals to improve the prospects of the poor. One goal of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which provides rental assistance to low-income families, is the deconcentration of poverty. This study is a longitudinal analysis of the HCV program's deconcentration effectiveness in Broward County, Florida. The movement of HCV households before and after voucher assignment is examined. Spatial statistics reveal that HCV recipients are highly clustered in low opportunity areas both prior to and after receiving a voucher. Factors that significantly relate to the likelihood that a voucher recipient will or will not move to an area of higher opportunity are assessed. Results from an opportunity index derived from principal components analysis and an ordinary least squares regression model indicate that being non-Black, having a larger household, and originating from economically distressed areas with high poverty and unem...
At the Intersection of Sexuality, Spirituality, and Gender: Young Adults’ Perceptions of Religious Beliefs in the Context of Sexuality Education

College provides a developmental context for examining students’ deeply rooted beliefs about sexuality and religion. We conducted an analysis of 95 written narratives from undergraduate students regarding their perspective on how their study of sexuality has challenged, informed, or strengthened their own childhood and current spiritual and/or religious beliefs. Although most students were raised with traditional religious training (e.g., Catholic, conservative Christian), young women, unlike young men, were far more likely to define themselves by their childhood faith and practices. Young women also revealed the extent to which they felt responsible for maintaining the proscription of chastity before marriage. Four trends (remained steadfast, strengthened, shaken, and informed) were found in terms of how participants felt that sexuality education had influenced their religious or spiritual views.
Men's Alcohol Intoxication and Condom Use During Sexual Assault Perpetration

We assessed the association between alcohol consumption and condom use during penetrative sexual assault acts perpetrated by young adult men. Men aged 21 to 35 who reported inconsistent condom use and heavy episodic drinking (N = 225) completed a questionnaire assessing their perpetration of sexual assault since the age of 15, their consumption of alcohol prior to these acts, and their use of condoms during acts involving penetration. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square tests were used to examine the simultaneous use of alcohol and condom nonuse during penetrative sexual assault acts. More than one third of respondents reported perpetrating at least one penetrative sexual assault 35.6% (n = 79). Condoms were not used in 70.0% of penetrative sexual assaults. When they had consumed alcohol, perpetrators were significantly less likely to use condoms. The sexual assaults reported by this sample typically consisted of perpetrator alcohol consumption and the nonuse of condoms. Programs targeting sex...
Friendship formation in inclusive early childhood classrooms: what is the teacher's role?

Abstract This study examined strategies teachers reported using to support friendships among young children in inclusive early childhood classrooms. The teachers included 25 general early childhood educators from 9 child care centers and 20 early childhood special educators from 9 specialized programs. The Playmates and Friends Questionnaire for Teachers documented the number and nature of children’s friendships and teachers’ reported use of 11 different strategies to support individual friendships. Overall, the friendship strategies that teachers reported using most frequently included providing sufficient free choice time, allowing children to form their own friendships, and commenting on the play between friends. The majority of teachers reported rarely using two strategies: arranging for children to play together outside of the classroom and allowing two friends to exclude other children from their play. Teachers reported using more active friendship strategies to support dyads in which one or both children had special needs. Implications of these findings to support friendship formation in inclusive early childhood settings and directions for future research are presented.
Aircraft accident construction set: performance engineering applied to accident reconstruction

For some time aircraft accident investigation has been a reverse engineering procedure. Failure analysis has taken a strict engineering approach, disregarding many of the alternatives relating to cause. As aircraft become automated, many relating factors will need to be considered in order to build an accurate reconstruction of an accident. The Aircraft Accident Construction Set will provide the investigator with the opportunity to investigate 'What if?' questions relating to causal factors. The system addressed both the vehicle and the human elements of performance. Significant integration of engineering principles and human factors probability data enhance the outcomes assessment. The pictorial display provides a near real- time image of the vehicle as supported by the engineering data, rather than the more traditional approach of line graphs and interpolative tables. This enables the investigator to consider far more data at a given time than in the past. Interaction between the workstation and the investigator is through a menu system derived from data tables and displayed as ICON symbology. Relational database operations and a user toolbox round out the system. Presentation of this system will provide a fundamental understanding of the capabilities of the system, and an actual air carrier accident will be examined briefly.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.