cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal bounds for round-off errors in the cyclic peaceman-rachford iteration

We study the numerical behaviour in finite precision arithmetic of the cyclic Peaceman-Rachford iteration with variable parameters for solving large sparse and ill-conditioned systems of algebraic equations Au = g. We show that the Peaceman–Rachford iteration generates the computed solution so that the error norm and the residual norm can be at most of order and respectively, where K is the spectral condition number of a matrix A and ρ is the relative computer precision. We also prove that in general these bounds are best possible and are indeed attainable.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy in pediatric patients

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is routinely used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in adults, and there is emerging literature on its feasibility and safety in children. A recent novel application is EUS-guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB), which has shown to be technically simple, safe, and provides adequate diagnostic yield in adults for evaluation of liver disease; but the use of EUS-LB has never been evaluated in the pediatric population. We report the first case series of EUS-LB in the pediatric population, performed on 3 children, 1 girl and 2 boys-ages 9, 14 and 17 respectively, using a 19-gauge EUS-fine needle aspiration needle. All three cases were performed for the evaluation of unexplained elevated liver enzymes, with above-average diagnostic yield and without any immediate or delayed complications in all children. The use of EUS-LB was pivotal in the management of all the cases. Our case series illustrates the diagnostic utility and safety of EUS-LB in pediatric patients.
Boundary element analysis of ductile crack growth using the traction-free fundamental solution

A new boundary element formulation in two-dimensional rate-independent plasticity is given. This new formulation uses a so-called traction-free fundamental solution so that the resulting boundary integral equation converges in the normal sense, and more important, a formal differentiation of the boundary integral equation leads to a valid integral representation for the in-plane stress component on the boundary. No finite difference approximation is needed to construct the stress recovery routine. The new boundary element method is then used to solve the problem of quasi-static ductile crack growth. Numerical simulations based on a set of experimental data have been carried out to evaluate a new path-independent integral,T* M . TheT* M ,-integral is a modified version of Atluri'sT*-integral. This modified version has an advantage of having a less singular domain integral near the crack flank so that it is numericaly preferable toT*.
A molecular dynamics study of chloride binding by the cryptand SC24

The capture of chloride from water by the tetraprotonated form of the spherical macrotricyclic molecule SC24 was studied using molecular dynamics simulation methods. This model ionophore represents a broad class of molecules which remove ions from water. Two binding sites for the chloride were found, one inside and one outside the ligand. These sites are separated by a potential energy barrier of approximately 20 kcal mol-1. The major contribution to this barrier comes from dehydration of the chloride. The large, unfavorable dehydration effect is compensated for by an increase in electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged chloride and cryptand, and by energetically favorable rearrangements of water structure. Additional assistance in crossing the barrier and completing the dehydration of the ion is provided by the shift of three positively charged hydrogen atoms of the cryptand towards the chloride. This structural rigidity is partially responsible for its selectivity.
Creating a programmable object storage stack

The current file system and storage stack is restricted in the amount of information that flows from application to storage and from storage to application. This limits the ability of applications to tailor the storage system to particular needs of the application. In this paper, we investigate the programmability of the storage system stack and how to enable application aware storage. Our focus is on object storage systems because of its amenability to these ideas. We introduce two main ideas, namely enabling active objects in order to allow computation at the object storage system and the use of higher level object interfaces to enable intra-stack communications to allow application-aware storage and storage-aware applications. We show preliminary results using a key-value interface to access object stores directly.
European Union identity

Cultural diversity, European identity and the legitimacy of the EU, edited by Dieter Fuchs and Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar, 2011, 288 pp., $115.00, ISBN 9781848446298 The E...
Pore size engineering in fluorinated surfactant templated mesoporous silica powders through supercritical carbon dioxide processing

Abstract Pore expansion of fluorinated surfactant templated mesoporous silica powders is demonstrated as a function of pressurized CO 2 processing conditions. Mesoporous silica powder is synthesized by sol–gel reaction induced precipitation in a base-catalyzed medium using 1-(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluoro-octyl)-pyridinium chloride (HFOPC) as a template and, immediately after filtration, the precipitated material is processed in gaseous and supercritical CO 2 (88–344 bar, 45 °C) for 48 h. Characterization of the silica powders by XRD, TEM and N 2 adsorption reveals the formation of well-ordered materials with 2D hexagonal close-packed pore structure before and after CO 2 processing. An optimal aging time (time from addition of silica precursor to the sol until the filtration of the hydrolyzed sol) of 20 min prior to CO 2 processing is identified. Proper aging time results in silica powder with significant pore expansion at all processing pressures while retaining the long-range structure of the material. The pore diameter of the mesoporous material increases with increasing CO 2 pressure (from 2.60 nm (unprocessed) to 3.21 nm at 344 bar), but appears to level off above 100 bar. The pore expansion behavior is attributed to favorable CO 2 penetration in the ‘CO 2 -philic’ fluorinated tails of the surfactant template. The CO 2 expansion of base-catalyzed silica powders is significantly less than we previously observed for acid catalyzed, evaporation-driven thin film synthesis using fluorinated cationic surfactant templates. The effect of pH on self-assembly and increased silica condensation in basic conditions may inhibit pore expansion by CO 2 .
The Altruistic Other Orientation: An Exploration of Female Powerlessness

A construct, the altruistic other orientation (AOO), is introduced and used to examine a life-long attitude of self-sacrifice in women originating in the male-female relationship. Research exploring this construct utilizes the Walstedt Altruistic Other scale and a revision of the Schaefer Parent Attitude Research Instrument on a sample of 106 middle-aged women. The hypothesis that women who do not accept the altruistic other orientation are more likely to be self-supporting in their middle years and attain more academic degrees than those who do was confirmed (p < .001). In addition, father socialization practices were found to be significantly correlated with the daughter's academic achievement, economic independence, and AOO adoption (p < .05 to p < .001).
A comparison of conventional and radio frequency tempering of beef meats: Effects on product temperature distribution.

Abstract This study aimed to develop radio frequency (RF) pilot-scale protocols for tempering beef meat blends (4 kg blocks) to achieve average temperatures between −2 and −5 °C. Post-tempering temperature distribution in these blocks was compared to products tempered by conventional methods. The optimum RF power–time combination for tempering lean and 50:50 lean:fat mixtures to the target range was 500 W for 11 min which produced respective means of −3.6 °C (s.d. 1.1) and −3.4 °C (s.d. 1.5). In contrast, 400 W for 11 min was optimum for fat (mean −4.9 °C, s.d. 2.1). This study shows the principal advantages of RF over conventional tempering as an approximate 30 fold tempering time reduction and a greater uniformity of end point temperature distribution under the conditions employed. Furthermore, power consumption was reduced approximately ninefold with RF compared to conventional tempering. More uniform temperature distribution was achieved in samples that were comminuted to a greater extent.
Impacts of role assignment and participation in asynchronous discussions in college-level online classes

Abstract In this study, 57 participants from an online course participated in online learning activities facilitated by assigned moderators. Social network analysis techniques were utilized to examine the influence of moderator role assignment on social networks of online classes. The results indicated when students were assigned to the moderator position their participation quantity, diversity, and interaction attractiveness increased significantly and their non-posting participation significantly influenced the group interaction. Students' participation quantity and diversity also significantly influenced their interaction attractiveness. Qualitative findings revealed moderation characteristics of the highest density and lowest density groups.
A NOTE ON REVERSE OSMOSIS BATCH CELLS FOR MEMBRANE TRANSPORT STUDIES

A simple model, which includes a quasi-steady state assumption, can be used to describe the unsteady behavior of a batch cell. Experimental data are correlated well by this model and may be extrapolated with good accuracy to obtain the quantities needed to characterize the transport properties of membranes.
On Gas Phase α-Effects. 1. The Gas-Phase Manifestation and Potential SET Character

The possibility of a gas-phase alpha-effect has been explored for the methyl transfer from methyl formate to hydroxide, hydroperoxide, and ethoxide by computing barrier heights at the HF/6-311++G(2df,2p) level of theory. The alpha-nucleophile (hydroperoxide) is found to have a lower barrier than the gas-phase-acidity-matched normal nucleophile (ethoxide) by 3.6 kcal/mol, offering evidence for a gas phase alpha-effect. A Shi-Boyd analysis for these reactions indicates that there is more single-electron-transfer character in the hydroperoxide transition state than for either hydroxide or ethoxide, further bolstering the existence of a gas-phase alpha-effect and the appropriateness of the Hoz model for the alpha-effect.
Trypsin digestion of native ovine luteinizing hormone and studies on the glycopeptide fragments

Abstract Ovine luteinizing hormone has been subjected to partial digestion by trypsin to obtain two major glycoprotein fractions with dissimilar carbohydrate moieties, plus a number of simple peptides. The glycoproteins were separated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50, then digested with pronase to obtain small glycopeptides containing 3 to 6 amino acids. The latter peptides were further purified by gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. Composition and peptide sequence of the small glycopeptides are indicated. The analyses suggest a heterogeneity for the glycopeptides isolated. This heterogeneity is due in part to heterogeneity in the carbohydrate portion of the hormone initially- isolated plus differences in the point of cleavage of the peptide chain by pronase employed in the degradation.
Nanophotonic materials and devices: driving the big data engine

Photonics has been critical to the growth of the Internet that now carries a vast array of information over optical fiber. The future growth of information technology, including the transmission and processing of vast amounts of data, will require a new class of photonic devices that readily integrate directly with semiconductor circuits and processors. Nanophotonics will play a key role in this development, providing both designer optical materials and radically smaller and lower power consumption devices. We present our developments in engineered nanophotonic polymer materials and electro-optic polymer/silicon nanowire devices in the context of this burgeoning field.
Informed consent as a source of bias in clinical research

Abstract Clinical observation suggested that schizophrenic patients more often refused to participate in experiments. In two studies psychiatric patient volunteers and nonvolunteers were compared on discharge diagnoses (psychiatric and medical), medication given, demographic measures, and hospitalization characteristics. In each study, patients with paranoid schizophrenia were more likely to refuse participation. Also, in each study, volunteers received more benzodiazepines and more nonpsychiatric medication. The latter difference could not be explained on the bases of rated severity of or probability of drug use in diagnosed medical illnesses, or number of medical illnesses. Characteristics of schizophrenic patients such as suspiciousness, negativism, and ambivalence were suggested as possible sources of their refusal to participate. Nonvolunteers were suggested to be less agreeable and compliant in general, and perhaps less likable, possibly explaining their receiving fewer benodiazepines and nonpsychiatric medications. Attempts to characterize and correct the volunteer bias should be made, including offering tangible reward.
Social cognition and the prefrontal cortex.

Social cognitive neuroscience is a rapidly emerging field that utilizes cognitive neuroscientific techniques (e.g., lesion studies, neuroimaging) to address concepts traditionally in the social psychological realm (e.g., attitudes, stereotypes). The purpose of this article is to review published neuroscientific and neuropsychological research into social cognition. The author focuses on the role of the prefrontal cortex in social behavior and presents a framework that provides cohesion of this research. The article proposes that this framework will be useful in guiding future social cognitive neuroscientific research.
Abstract LB-363: Intravesical delivery of lipid nanoparticle formulated p21(Waf1/Cip1) activating dsRNA induces tumor regression and enhances animal survival in a orthotopic bladder cancer model

Small RNA molecules are a promising new class of drugs by offering expanded targets not druggable by conventional therapies with high target specificity and low toxicity. However, their clinical use is significantly hindered by the lack of vehicles that deliver the molecules efficiently to target tissues and cells. The bladder is an easily accessible hollow organ and is ideal for local delivery of drugs or molecules such as small RNA. RNA activation (RNAa) is a newly discovered mechanism of gene induction triggered by promoter targeted double-stranded RNA, also known as small activating RNA (saRNA). In this study, we investigate, in an orthotopic bladder cancer model, antitumor effects of a saRNA (dsP21) targeting the promoter of the p21WAF1/CIP1 (p21) gene, a key negative regulator of the cell cycle rarely mutated or deleted in bladder cancer. Introducing dsP21 into bladder cancer cells activated p21 expression with subsequent inhibition of cell proliferation, arrest of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis accompanied by the activation of caspase 3 and PARP. Chemical modification (2′-Fluoro) and subsequent formulation of dsP21 in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) retained its RNAa activity with minimal immunostimulatory effect and extended its stability in urine, and when delivered intravesically it could well diffuse into the bladder wall. Delivery of LNP-formulated dsP21 (LNP-dsP21) into mouse bladder with established human bladder cancer significantly inhibited tumor growth and extended animal survival with demonstrated p21 activation in vivo. Of particular significance, LNP-dsP21 treatment caused the regression or disappearance of established tumors in 30% of the treated mice. Our results provide proof-of-principle that targeted activation of p21 can be applied to the treatment of bladder cancer and LNP-formulated small RNA can be successfully delivered to the bladder by intravesical instillation. Further clinical development of RNAa-based intravesical therapy is warranted for the treatment of residual and recurring bladder cancer in humans. Acknowledgement: financial support from the AACR Henry Shepard Bladder Cancer Research Grants (09-60-30-LI). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-363. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-363
Input impedance modeling of single-phase PFC by the method of harmonic linearization

High-frequency input impedance modeling of single-phase PFC converters controlled by a new nonlinear average current control method is presented in this paper. The nonlinear control results in a nonlinear current loop model which is time-varying and cannot be linearized by conventional small-signal analysis or reduced-order modeling techniques. The proposed harmonic linearization method solves this problem by linearizing the model along the trajectory of the input current at the fundamental frequency. The resulting input impedance model is valid above the crossover frequency of the voltage loop and can be used to predict high-frequency interactions between the PFC converter with its EMI filter and the ac source. The principle of harmonic linearization is presented along with detailed development of the input impedance model and its verification by experimental measurement results. The input impedance model is further used to compare the nonlinear average current control method with other single-phase PFC control methods.
Whither whiteness? Empire, state, and the re-ordering of whiteness

This paper argues that race is necessary to modern states, maintaining the myth of a “blood”-defined nation providing members with equality before the law, legitimizing the “modern state’s” extraction of wealth for the elite. Consequently, whiteness will expand to remain an effective instrument of social control as the United States is molded for its role as enforcer of global corporate empire. This role requires an increase in exploitable people for military and productive labor, much of which is provided by immigrants. To manage them some will have to be admitted to the social control class; doing so while maintaining the value of the psychological wage of whiteness will require extending whiteness to class-based segments of non-White immigrant groups. Acting for elite interests by shedding blood and enforcing labor exploitation has historically whitened and may again whiten some who are seen as a threat to White supremacy and the racially defined mythical nation.
Protein-induced photophysical changes to the amyloid indicator dye thioflavin T

The small molecule thioflavin T (ThT) is a defining probe for the identification and mechanistic study of amyloid fiber formation. As such, ThT is fundamental to investigations of serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, and type II diabetes. For each disease, a different protein undergoes conformational conversion to a β-sheet rich fiber. The fluorescence of ThT exhibits an increase in quantum yield upon binding these fibers. Despite its widespread use, the structural basis for binding specificity and for the changes to the photophysical properties of ThT remain poorly understood. Here, we report the co-crystal structures of ThT with two alternative states of β-2 microglobulin (β2m); one monomeric, the other an amyloid-like oligomer. In the latter, the dye intercalates between β-sheets orthogonal to the β-strands. Importantly, the fluorophore is bound in such a manner that a photophysically relevant torsion is limited to a range of angles generally associated with low, not high, quantum yield. Quantum mechanical assessment of the fluorophore shows the electronic distribution to be strongly stabilized by aromatic interactions with the protein. Monomeric β2m gives little increase in ThT fluorescence despite showing three fluorophores, at two binding sites, in configurations generally associated with high quantum yield. Our efforts fundamentally extend existing understanding about the origins of amyloid-induced photophysical changes. Specifically, the β-sheet interface that characterizes amyloid acts both sterically and electronically to stabilize the fluorophore’s ground state electronic distribution. By preventing the fluorophore from adopting its preferred excited state configuration, nonradiative relaxation pathways are minimized and quantum yield is increased.
Intensity-dependent and sex-specific alterations in hepatic triglyceride metabolism in mice following acute exercise

Precise regulation of hepatic triglyceride (TG) metabolism and secretion is critical for health, and exercise could play a significant role. We compared one session of high-intensity interval exerc...
Effects of temperature on the transmission of Yersinia Pestis by the flea, Xenopsylla Cheopis, in the late phase period

Traditionally, efficient flea-borne transmission of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, was thought to be dependent on a process referred to as blockage in which biofilm-mediated growth of the bacteria physically blocks the flea gut, leading to the regurgitation of contaminated blood into the host. This process was previously shown to be temperature-regulated, with blockage failing at temperatures approaching 30°C; however, the abilities of fleas to transmit infections at different temperatures had not been adequately assessed. We infected colony-reared fleas of Xenopsylla cheopis with a wild type strain of Y. pestis and maintained them at 10, 23, 27, or 30°C. Naive mice were exposed to groups of infected fleas beginning on day 7 post-infection (p.i.), and every 3-4 days thereafter until day 14 p.i. for fleas held at 10°C, or 28 days p.i. for fleas held at 23-30°C. Transmission was confirmed using Y. pestis-specific antigen or antibody detection assays on mouse tissues. Although no statistically significant differences in per flea transmission efficiencies were detected between 23 and 30°C, efficiencies were highest for fleas maintained at 23°C and they began to decline at 27 and 30°C by day 21 p.i. These declines coincided with declining median bacterial loads in fleas at 27 and 30°C. Survival and feeding rates of fleas also varied by temperature to suggest fleas at 27 and 30°C would be less likely to sustain transmission than fleas maintained at 23°C. Fleas held at 10°C transmitted Y. pestis infections, although flea survival was significantly reduced compared to that of uninfected fleas at this temperature. Median bacterial loads were significantly higher at 10°C than at the other temperatures. Our results suggest that temperature does not significantly effect the per flea efficiency of Y. pestis transmission by X. cheopis, but that temperature is likely to influence the dynamics of Y. pestis flea-borne transmission, perhaps by affecting persistence of the bacteria in the flea gut or by influencing flea survival. Whether Y. pestis biofilm production is important for transmission at different temperatures remains unresolved, although our results support the hypothesis that blockage is not necessary for efficient transmission.
Impacts of the induced current on the aging of the ADSS fiber optic cables

An environmental chamber has been built at Arizona State University (ASU) for purpose of establishing a long-term aging test of all dielectric self supporting (ADSS) fiber optic cable. This paper presents an experimental analysis of the effect of the induced current on the aging of two of the cables in the aging chamber. Both cables have polyethylene outer jackets and are being subjected to UV radiation, salt fog, clean rain and mechanical tension. However, only one cable is energized. Results indicate that current has an impact on the aging of the polyethylene cable.
Simulations of Carbon Nanotube-Based as Nanoresonators and Nanosensors

In the simulations of carbon nanotubes as nanoresonators, the individual single-walled nanotube is analyzed using the molecular structural mechanics method. Both cantilevered and bridged nanotubes have been considered and the significant differences in their vibration behaviors are identified. Carbon nanotube-based nanoresonators can achieve very high resonant frequencies. The potential of nanosensors based on single-walled carbon nanotubes is also examined. The results indicate that the mass sensitivity of carbon nanotube-based nanosensors can reach 10 -21 gram and a logarithmically linear relationship exists between the resonant frequency and the attached mass when the mass is larger than 10 -20 gram.
Suicidality in middle aged and older patients with schizophrenia and depressive symptoms: relationship to functioning and Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: Suicidality is a health concern in patients with schizophrenia. We examined the hypotheses: (1) Middle aged and older patients with schizophrenia, depressive symptoms and suicidality would exhibit worse quality of life and worse everyday functioning, social skills and medication management relative to those without suicidality; (2) higher levels of suicidality would be significantly associated with worse functioning, worse quality of life and older age. METHODS: We examined 146 outpatients with schizophrenia and depression. Patients were at least 40 years old and were diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and had two or more depressive symptoms based on DSM-IV criteria for major depression. We assessed suicidality with the Intersept Suicide Scale (ISS) and functioning with the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA), Social Skills Performance Assessment (SSPA), and Medication Management Ability Assessment (MMAA). Quality of life was assessed with the Heinrichs Quality of Life Scale (QLS). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 52.4+ 6.9 years. Subjects with suicidality (ISS scores > 0) had lower QLS scores compared to those without suicidality. However, there were no differences in UPSA, SSPA nor MMAA scores between the two groups. In addition, based on Spearman's rho correlational analysis, there were significant associations of QLS scores with ISS scores (r = - 0.236) and with MMAA "total errors" scores (r = 0.174). Logistic regression demonstrated that only QLS scores predicted suicidality. CONCLUSION: Thirty-six percent of our sample had at least mild degrees of suicidality. Lower quality of life appears to be an important predictor of suicidality. Language: en
Communicative Language Teaching in Action: Putting Principles to Work by BRANDL, KLAUS

The article reviews the book "Communicative Language Teaching in Action: Putting Principles to Work," by Klaus Brandl.
Top-down and bottom-up influences on learning from animations

To evaluate how top-down and bottom-up processes contribute to learning from animated displays, we conducted four experiments that varied either in the design of animations or the prior knowledge of the learners. Experiments 1-3 examined whether adding interactivity and signaling to an animation benefits learners in developing a mental model of a mechanical system. Although learners utilized interactive controls and signaling devices, their comprehension of the system was no better than that of learners who saw animations without these design features. Furthermore, the majority of participants developed a mental model of the system that was incorrect and inconsistent with information displayed in the animation. Experiment 4 tested effects of domain knowledge and found, surprisingly, that even some learners with high domain knowledge initially constructed the incorrect mental model. After multiple exposures to the materials, the high knowledge learners revised their mental models to the correct one, while the low-knowledge learners maintained their erroneous models. These results suggest that learning from animations involves a complex interplay between top-down and bottom-up processes and that more emphasis should be placed on how prior knowledge is applied to interpreting animations.
Effects of silicon on the oxidation, hot-corrosion, and mechanical behavior of two cast nickel-base superalloys

Cast specimens of nickel-base superalloys 713C and Mar-M200 with nominal additions of 0, 0.5, and 1 wt pct Si were evaluated for oxidation and corrosion resistance, tensile and stress-rupture properties, microstructure, and phase relations. Results are com-pared with those of an earlier study of the effects of Si in B-1900. Si had similar effects on all three superalloys. It improves oxidation resistance but the improvement in 713C and Mar-M200 was considerably less than in B-1900. Hot-corrosion resistance is also improved somewhat. Si is, however, detrimental to mechanical properties, in particular, rupture strength and tensile ductility. Si has two obvious microstructural effects. It in-creases the amount of γ precipitated in eutectie nodules and promotes a Mo(Ni,Si)2 Laves phase in the alloys containing Mo. These microstructural effects do not appear responsible for the degradation of mechanical properties, however.
Separating conjugates in amalgamated free products and HNN extensions

A group G is termed conjugacy separable (c.s.) if any pair of distinct conjugacy classes may be mapped to distinct conjugacy classes in some finite epimorph of G. The free product of A and B with cyclic amalgamated subgroup H is shown to be c.s. if A and B are both free, or are both finitely generated nilpotent groups. Further, one-relator groups with nontrivial center and HNN extensions with c.s. base group and finite associated subgroups are also c.s.
Association of medication beliefs and self-efficacy with adherence in urban Hispanic and African–American rheumatoid arthritis patients

Adherence to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) medications varies widely but is frequently suboptimal1 and is particularly poor among racial/ethnic minority patients,2 which may help to explain the growing evidence of disparities in RA clinical outcomes.2 Beliefs about medications and self-efficacy perceptions (ie, confidence) regarding medication-taking behaviour are two modifiable patient factors that have been associated with adherence to RA medications in largely Caucasian study samples.1 Minority RA patients report more negative medication beliefs and lower self-efficacy compared with Caucasians,3–⇓5 but to our knowledge, the relationship between these psychological factors and medication adherence in these groups has not been reported. We addressed this question in a cross-sectional study of 56 urban Hispanic and African–American RA patients recruited consecutively from the waiting rooms of two NYU-affiliated rheumatology clinics in New York City (Bellevue Hospital and Hospital for Joint Diseases) between November 2012 and January 2013. All …
Encapsulation of Ferrocene and Peripheral Electrostatic Attachment of Viologens to Dimeric Molecular Capsules Formed by an Octaacid, Deep‐Cavity Cavitand

In aqueous media the deep-cavity cavitand octaacid 1 forms stable dimeric molecular capsules 1 2 , which are stabilized by hydrophobic effects. In this work we investigate the binding interactions in aqueous solution between these capsules and the redox active guests, ferrocene (Fc) and three 4,4'-bipyridinium (viologen) dications: methyl viologen (MV 2+ ), ethyl viologen (EV 2+ ),and butyl viologen (BV 2+ ). Using NMR spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques we clearly show that the hydrophobic Fc guest is encapsulated inside 1 2 . An interesting effect of this encapsulation is that the reversible voltammetric response of Fc is completely eliminated when it resides inside the 1 2 capsular assembly, a finding that is attributed to very slow electrochemical kinetics for the oxidation of Fc@1 2 . Diffusion coefficient measurements (PGSE NMR spectroscopy) reveal that all three viologen guests are strongly bound to the dimeric capsules. However, the 1 H NMR spectroscopic data are not consistent with encapsulation and the measured diffusion coefficients indicate that two viologen guests can strongly associate with a single dimeric capsule. Furthermore, the (V 2+ ) 2 . 1 2 complex is capable of encapsulating ferrocene, clearly suggesting that the viologen guests are bound externally, via coulombic interactions, to the anionic polar ends of the capsule. The electrochemical kinetic rate constants for the reduction of the viologen residue in the V 2+ .1 2 complexes were measured and found to be substantially lower than those for the free viologen guests.
Economic Integration and Bilateral Export Concentration: The Euro Effect

A common finding in the international trade literature is that economic integration leads to export diversification. By documenting a positive link between adopting the European common currency and bilateral export concentration, the current work shows that this is not always the case. Using a panel data approach, I find that exports between eurozone members are on average more concentrated than those among countries which do not share the euro. Central to this outcome is that some economic integration agreements, such as the euro, may lead to a drop in not only trade but horizontal FDI costs as well. Theoretically, the results can be explained by the substitutability between exporting and horizontal FDI within a two-sector, two-firm type model which allows for sectoral trade cost heterogeneity.
Translating European Labor Relations Practices to the United States Through Global Framework Agreements? German and Swedish Multinationals Compared

Extensive research has shown that European multinational enterprises (MNEs) have a propensity to avoid collective employee representation when going abroad. This study investigates whether Global F...
Performance testing of a vehicular flywheel energy system

The University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics has designed and integrated a 40,000 rpm, 150 kW, 1.93 kWh flywheel energy storage system into a hybrid electric transit bus as a demonstration of the technology. The flywheel stores energy recovered during braking and returns it to the power train during acceleration, reducing the peak power requirements and size for the prime power unit. Additionally, the system provides a longer life energy storage alternative to the more traditional chemical battery bank. While the flywheel system was demonstrated on a transit bus, similar improvements are possible on other terrestrial or marine mobile applications. This paper presents the results and information learned during several multi-thousand-cycle duration tests, composite flywheel tests, terrain-simulating shaker tests, and on-bus road tests.
Horizontal Information Flow: An Exploratory Study*

The article discusses a study which examined the extent to which information, particularly the unsolicited type, flows freely and accurately within a business firm. The experiment was conducted in ...
From the Dance Floor to the Rifle Range: The Evolution of Manliness in the National Guards, 1870-1917

From 1870 through 1900, the National Guard attracted tens of thousands of new members by offering men the opportunity to demonstrate that they were manly men who held dramatic civic roles that put them at the center of community social and patriotic life. Time, modernization, strike service, changes in technology, and warfare all worked to alter the environment in which Guardsmen made themselves men. Guardsmen of the early twentieth century no longer found their definition of manhood and citizenship in performances for the local community. By 1917, the elements of manhood National Guardsmen shared had evolved from the focus on style and sociability they celebrated the 1880s and 1890s into an individual focus on a concept of self-discipline, self-improvement, and national patriotism. The National Guard offers historians the opportunity to see how an organization that emphasized making men manly was able to shift what that meant as definitions of manhood evolved and as the Guard worked to keep its appeal current and fresh to each new batch of recruits.
A mixed-effects location-scale model for ordinal questionnaire data

In health studies, questionnaire items are often scored on an ordinal scale, for example on a Likert scale. For such questionnaires, item response theory (IRT) models provide a useful approach for obtaining summary scores for subjects (i.e., the model's random subject effect) and characteristics of the items (e.g., item difficulty and discrimination). In this article, we describe a model that allows the items to additionally exhibit different within-subject variance, and also includes a subject-level random effect to the within-subject variance specification. This permits subjects to be characterized in terms of their mean level, or location, and their variability, or scale, and the model allows item difficulty and discrimination in terms of both random subject effects (location and scale). We illustrate application of this location-scale mixed model using data from the Social Subscale of the Drinking Motives Questionnaire (SS-DMQ) assessed in an adolescent study. We show that the proposed model fits the data significantly better than simpler IRT models, and is able to identify items and subjects that are not well-fit by the simpler models. The proposed model has useful applications in many areas where questionnaires are often rated on an ordinal scale, and there is interest in characterizing subjects in terms of both their mean and variability.
Gender Sentencing of Rural Property Offenders in Iowa

During recent decades, sentencing patterns of offenders based on gender have been the topic of criminological and sociological research. Particular attention has been given to the lenient sentencing of female offenders compared to male offenders. Several research studies have found that gender affects the sentencing process in ways that are advantageous to female offenders, such as lower incarceration rates and shorter prison sentences. Despite the existing research on gender and sentencing, there are still several specific areas that need to be studied regarding this topic, such as property crimes and rural areas. The current research adds to the existing literature by using data collected from five rural counties in Iowa to examine sentencing patterns of nonviolent property crimes in rural areas. Contrary to existing literature, results found gender did not have an effect on the decision to incarcerate, the sentence length, or the fine amount.
Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Larvicides Against Chironomid Midges

A procedure for evaluating insecticides against midge larvae in the laboratory was developed. Aeration of water in test cups increased natural mortality in some of the test species, and presence of quartz sand in the cups reduced mortality and extent of cannibalism. In laboratory tests, various species manifested different degrees of susceptibility to insecticides evaluated. Ethyl parathion was highly effective against Goeldichironomus holoprassinus (Rempel) and Tanypus grodhausi (Sublette) but was less effective against Chironomus sp. 51. Fenthion was more effective against the last-mentioned species than against G. holoprassinus . Abate® ( O, O -dimethyl phosphorothioate O, O -diester with 4,4'-thiodiphenol) was effective against the 3 species, showing highest activity against Chironomus sp. 51. Dursban® ( O, O -diethyl 0-3,5,6-tridlloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) was the most effective material against the 3 species Malathion was quite effective against Chironomus sp. 51. Neopynamin® (2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylpropenyl) cyclopropanecarboxylic acid ester with N -(hydroxymethyl)-1-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboximide), a synthetic pyrethroid, was ineffective against the 3 species. Tests conducted in a shallow sewage oxidation pond showed Dursban, parathion, and methyl parathion to be effective at 0.2-0.25 lb per acre against the 3 species of chironomids. Granular Dursban was less effective than the emulsifiable concentrate. Carbofuran and Akton® O -[2-chloro-l-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)vinyl] O, O -diethyl phosphorothioate) were effective in the range of 0.5 and 0.25 lb per acre respectively. EPN ( O -ethyl O-p -nitrophenyl phenyl phosphonothioate), malathion, Bayer 77488 ( O, O -diethyl phosphorothioate O -ester with phenyl giyoxylonitrile oxime) and Bayer 78182 ( O, O -diethyl phosphorothioate O -ester with ( O -chlorophenyl) giyoxylonitrile oxime) were not effective at the rates evaluated.
Examination of a Plasma Actuator Model Applied to DBD Actuators for Small Aircraft Applications

Over the past dozen years, a substantial number of analytical, experimental, and computational research efforts have investigated the potential of plasma actuators in aerodynamics. Several phenomenological plasma actuator models have been successful at modeling certain aspects of flow in the vicinity of a DBD plasma actuator; however, the broad applicability of these models remains a challenge. To address this, a numerical approach based on the Suzen-Huang (S-H) actuator model is being developed and applied across a range DBD plasma actuators with different specifications, materials, and electrical inputs. Rather than testing the model at one particular set of circumstances, it is expected that simulating across a variety of conditions and variety of outputs will better reveal the strengths and limitations of the modeling approach, and provide guideposts for improving the modeling techniques.
Deference for Realists: How the Resurgent Major Questions Doctrine is a Safety Valve for Chevron

This article examines the “major questions” doctrine, which operates to deny Chevron deference to agency interpretations of law in certain “extraordinary cases”. Others have suggested that the doctrine is dead or moribund, but evidence from the most recent Supreme Court terms confirms that it is very much alive. First, I examine the new and old major questions cases and connect to them a related line of cases based on the interpretive aphorism that Congress “does not hide elephants in mouseholes”. The major questions doctrine’s precise boundaries remain unclear, though this article identifies four factors that appear indicative. Likely litigation over EPA’s Clean Power Plan bears all of the hallmarks of a major questions case, illustrating the future legal and policy significance of the doctrine. The article then considers whether the major questions doctrine is a good thing. Critics have claimed it is arbitrary or impossible to administer, or that it merely serves judges’ policy preferences. While many of these critiques are persuasive, I argue that the doctrine is nevertheless worth keeping because it functions as a crucial safety valve for Chevron deference. In truly major cases, judicial interpretation of statutes may be necessary or unavoidable for structural, traditional, constitutional, psychological, or other reasons. Without it, judges would be tempted, or other actors might demand, that courts (not agencies) decide major interpretive questions. As a result, Chevron could be overruled or substantially curtailed. The virtues of Chevron in much more common interstitial cases, I argue, are not worth risking.
A Maximum Entropy Framework for Semisupervised and Active Learning With Unknown and Label-Scarce Classes

We investigate semisupervised learning (SL) and pool-based active learning (AL) of a classifier for domains with label-scarce (LS) and unknown categories, i.e., defined categories for which there are initially no labeled examples. This scenario manifests, e.g., when a category is rare, or expensive to label. There are several learning issues when there are unknown categories: 1) it is a priori unknown which subset of (possibly many) measured features are needed to discriminate unknown from common classes and 2) label scarcity suggests that overtraining is a concern. Our classifier exploits the inductive bias that an unknown class consists of the subset of the unlabeled pool’s samples that are atypical (relative to the common classes) with respect to certain key (albeit a priori unknown) features and feature interactions. Accordingly, we treat negative log- $p$ -values on raw features as nonnegatively weighted derived feature inputs to our class posterior, with zero weights identifying irrelevant features. Through a hierarchical class posterior, our model accommodates multiple common classes, multiple LS classes, and unknown classes. For learning, we propose a novel semisupervised objective customized for the LS/unknown category scenarios. While several works minimize class decision uncertainty on unlabeled samples, we instead preserve this uncertainty [maximum entropy (maxEnt)] to avoid overtraining. Our experiments on a variety of UCI Machine learning (ML) domains show: 1) the use of $p$ -value features coupled with weight constraints leads to sparse solutions and gives significant improvement over the use of raw features and 2) for LS SL and AL, unlabeled samples are helpful, and should be used to preserve decision uncertainty (maxEnt), rather than to minimize it, especially during the early stages of AL. Our AL system, leveraging a novel sample-selection scheme, discovers unknown classes and discriminates LS classes from common ones, with sparing use of oracle labeling.
Interactive Coding, Revisited.

How can we encode a communication protocol between two parties to become resilient to adversarial errors on the communication channel? This question dates back to the seminal works of Shannon and Hamming from the 1940’s, initiating the study of error-correcting codes (ECC). But, even if we encode each message in the communication protocol with a “good” ECC, the error rate of the encoded protocol becomes poor (namely O(1/m) where m is the number of communication rounds). Towards addressing this issue, Schulman (FOCS’92, STOC’93) introduced the notion of interactive coding. We argue that whereas the method of separately encoding each message with an ECC ensures that the encoded protocol carries the same amount of information as the original protocol, this may no longer be the case if using interactive coding. In particular, the encoded protocol may completely leak a player’s private input, even if it would remain secret in the original protocol. Towards addressing this problem, we introduce the notion of knowledge-preserving interactive coding, where the interactive coding protocol is required to preserve the “knowledge” transmitted in the original protocol. Our main results are as follows. • The method of separately applying ECCs to each message is essentially optimal: No knowledge-preserving interactive coding scheme can have an error rate of 1/m, where m is the number of rounds in the original protocol. • If restricting to computationally-bounded (polynomial-time) adversaries, then assuming the existence of one-way functions (resp. subexponentially-hard one-way functions), for every > 0, there exists a knowledge-preserving interactive coding schemes with constant error rate and information rate n− (resp. 1/polylog(n)) where n is the security parameter; additionally to achieve an error of even 1/m requires the existence of one-way functions. • Finally, even if we restrict to computationally-bounded adversaries, knowledge-preserving interactive coding schemes with constant error rate can have an information rate of at most o(1/ log n). This results applies even to non-constructive interactive coding schemes. ∗Pass is supported in part by a Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, Microsoft New Faculty Fellowship, NSF Award CNS1217821, NSF CAREER Award CCF-0746990, NSF Award CCF-1214844, AFOSR YIP Award FA9550-10-1-0093, and DARPA and AFRL under contract FA8750-11-20211. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or the US Government.