cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure and linear heat capacity in the superconducting state of thoriated UBe 13

Even well below ${T}_{c},$ the heavy-fermion superconductor (U,Th) ${\mathrm{Be}}_{13}$ has a large linear term in its specific heat. We show that under uniaxial pressure, the linear heat capacity increases in magnitude by more than a factor of two. The change is reversible and suggests that the linear term is an intrinsic property of the material. In addition, we find no evidence of hysteresis or of latent heat in the low-temperature and low-pressure portion of the phase diagram, showing that all transitions in this region are second order.
Further results on high-rate MIMO-OFDM underwater acoustic communications

MIMO-OFDM is one viable solution for high data rate transmissions over underwater acoustic channels. Our previous work has reported experimental results for MIMO-OFDM with two transmitters and QPSK modulation. In this paper, we deal with MIMO-OFDM with more transmitters and higher order modulation. With data collected from the RACE experiment at Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, March 2008, we report MIMO-OFDM performance results of QPSK/8-QAM/16-QAM/64-QAM modulations with two transmitters, QPSK/8-QAM/16-QAM modulations with three transmitters, and QPSK/8-QAM modulations with four transmitters. With large constellations and MIMO spatial multiplexing, very high data rates can be achieved, e.g., a spectral efficiency of 3.5 bits/sec/Hz is approached in three different configurations.
Maximizing global entropy reduction for active learning in speech recognition

We propose a new active learning algorithm to address the problem of selecting a limited subset of utterances for transcribing from a large amount of unlabeled utterances so that the accuracy of the automatic speech recognition system can be maximized. Our algorithm differentiates itself from earlier work in that it uses a criterion that maximizes the lattice entropy reduction over the whole dataset. We introduce our criterion, show how it can be simplified and approximated, and describe the detailed algorithm to optimize the criterion. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our new algorithm with directory assistance data collected under the real usage scenarios and show that our new algorithm consistently outperforms the confidence based approach by a significant margin. Using the algorithm cuts the number of utterances needed for transcribing by 50% to achieve the same recognition accuracy obtained using the confidence-based approach, and by 60% compared to the random sampling approach.
DEG 10, an update of the database of essential genes that includes both protein-coding genes and noncoding genomic elements

The combination of high-density transposon-mediated mutagenesis and high-throughput sequencing has led to significant advancements in research on essential genes, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of identified prokaryotic essential genes under diverse conditions and a revised essential-gene concept that includes all essential genomic elements, rather than focusing on protein-coding genes only. DEG 10, a new release of the Database of Essential Genes (available at http://www.essentialgene.org), has been developed to accommodate these quantitative and qualitative advancements. In addition to increasing the number of bacterial and archaeal essential genes determined by genome-wide gene essentiality screens, DEG 10 also harbors essential noncoding RNAs, promoters, regulatory sequences and replication origins. These essential genomic elements are determined not only in vitro, but also in vivo, under diverse conditions including those for survival, pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance. We have developed customizable BLAST tools that allow users to perform species- and experiment-specific BLAST searches for a single gene, a list of genes, annotated or unannotated genomes. Therefore, DEG 10 includes essential genomic elements under different conditions in three domains of life, with customizable BLAST tools.
Weak Interactions with Lepton-Hadron Symmetry

We propose a model of weak interactions in which the currents are constructed out of four basic quark fields and interact with a charged massive vector boson. We show, to all orders in perturbation theory, that the leading divergences do not violate any strong-interaction symmetry and the next to the leading divergences respect all observed weak-interaction selection rules. The model features a remarkable symmetry between leptons and quarks. The extension of our model to a complete Yang-Mills theory is discussed.
Roundoff noise in floating point state space digital filters

The roundoff noise properties of floating-point state-space digital filters are examined. It is shown that the roundoff noise behavior of these filters is related to their coefficient sensitivity. Expressions for the variance of the output roundoff noise are derived when the input to the filter is a zero-mean, wide-sense stationary random process. These expressions, as expected, depend on the input signal statistics along with the filter parameters, in particular the controllability and observability grammians. >
CCR5 and CXCR4 antagonist and agonist binding sites

Several small molecule antagonists of the HIV co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 are being developed as HIV entry inhibitors, but side effects have been observed in clinical trials that are likely due to agonist activity and/or cross-reactivity with closely related receptors. In order to develop high resolution maps of the binding sites for these antagonists that can be exploited to improve their activity and specificity, we are synthesizing derivatives of CCR5 and CXCR4 antagonists which contain photo-crosslinking groups at a variety positions in the molecules and that retain high affinity and activity against the receptors. Derivatives of two CCR5 antagonists and one CXCR4 antagonist have been crosslinked to their receptors on cells, and the interaction sites are being mapped by mass spectrometry. Techniques for purification, crosslinking, CNBr and/or trypsin digestion, and LC/MS/MS mass spectrometry of highly hydrophobic peptides initially developed using the rhodopsin GPCR system have been applied with some success to CCR5 and CXCR4, although these represent particular challenges due to the relative paucity of Met residue cleavage sites compared to rhodopsin and resistance to tryptic digestion. Nevertheless, peptides covering most of the extracellular and transmembrane regions of CCR5 that could interact with an antagonist can be identified, and affinity purification methods are being developed to isolate CXCR4 peptides crosslinked to derivatives of the antagonist T-140 that should facilitate the identification and localization of the crosslinking sites within the proteins.
Transformations for model checking distributed Java programs

This paper describes three program transformations that extend the scope of model checkers for Java programs to include distributed programs, i.e., multi-process programs. The transformations combine multiple processes into a single process, replace remote method invocations (RMIs) with local method invocations that simulate RMIs, and replace cryptographic operations with symbolic counterparts.
Customer Orientation: Effects on Customer Service Perceptions and Outcome Behaviors

This study investigates the effect of being customer oriented on service performance perceptions and outcome behaviors. Specifically, the focus is on identifying the influence that being perceived ...
Time-resolved visible and infrared difference spectroscopy for the study of photosystem I with different quinones incorporated into the A1 binding site

Abstract Room (298 K) and low (77 K) temperature time-resolved visible and infrared difference spectroscopy has been used to study photosystem I particles with phylloquinone (2-methyl-3-phytyl-1,4-naphthoquinone), menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) and plastoquinone 9 (2,3-dimethyl-5-prenyl-l,4-benzoquinone), incorporated into the A1 binding site. Concentrated samples in short path-length (~ 5 μm) sample cells are typically used in FTIR experiments. Measurements were undertaken using standard “dilute” samples at 298 K, and concentrated (~ 5×) samples at both 298 and 77 K. No concentration induced alterations in the flash-induced absorption changes were observed. Concentrated samples in short path-length cells form a transparent film at 77 K, and could therefore be studied spectroscopically at 77 K without addition of a cryoprotectant. At 298 K, for photosystem I with plastoquinone 9/menadione/phylloquinone incorporated, P700+FA/B− radical pair recombination is characterized by a time constant of 3/14/80 ms, and forward electron transfer from A1A− to Fx by a time constant of 211/3.1/0.309 μs, respectively. At 77 K, for concentrated photosystem I with menadione/phylloquinone incorporated, P700+A1− radical pair recombination is characterized by a time constant of 240/340 μs, with this process occurring in 58/39% of the PSI particles, respectively. The origin of these differences is discussed. Marcus electron transfer theory in combination with kinetic modeling is used to simulate the observed electron transfer time constants at 298 K. This simulation allows an estimate of the redox potential for the different quinones in the A1 binding site.
Cross-National Determinants of Income Inequality: A Replication and Extension Using Ecological-Evolutionary Theory

Simpson (1990) suggests that curvilinear specifications for educational enrollments and political democracy are appropriate in modeling the cross-national determinants of income inequality, whereas the well-known curvilinear effect of national wealth, or the "logic of industrialism" hypothesis, is mediated by education and democracy. This analysis uses the same data on income inequality to replicate Simpson's research. Findings include the following: (1) most of Simpson's central findings can be replicated; (2) using a different measure of development, national wealth does exhibit a direct, curvilinear relationship with income inequality; (3) world-systems/dependency theory finds less support; and (4) agricultural density, used as a proxy for the social and physical carrying capacities of rural areas, has a robust, negative influence on income inequality, in accord with ecological-evolutionary theory. While attempts at synthesis have been made (Milner 1987), no comprehensive theory has emerged to explain income distributions within nations, although many theories have informed these investigations in the past. Specifically, modernization theory, dependency/world-systems theory, a variety of political theories, and ecological-evolutionary theory all suggest variables that may find purchase on this topic. The purpose of this research is to re-examine existing models of income inequality that attempt to test multiple theories simultaneously. In addition, this analysis introduces another hypothesis suggested by ecological-evolutionary theory and investigates its independent contribution to explanations of income distribution. * An earlier version of this article was presented at the American Sociological Association meetings, August 1992. I would like to thank Ansari Ameen and Wen Lang Li for their assistance in the preparation of this manuscript. Also, thanks go to Kenneth Bollen, Glenn Firebaugh, William Form, Craig Jenkins, Gerhard Lenski, Miles Simpson, Kazimierz Slomczyn'ski, and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions. Address all comments to the author, Department of Sociology, 190 North Oval Mall, 300 Bricker Hall, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1353. ? The University of North Carolina Press Social Forces, December 1992, 71(2):339-363 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.115 on Sat, 08 Oct 2016 05:24:12 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 340 / Social Forces 71:2, December 1992
Groups on groups: Some dynamics and possible resolution of the units of selection debates in evolutionary biology

David Hull's analysis of conceptual change in science, as presentedin his book, Science as a Process (1988), provides a useful framework for understanding one of the scientific controversies in which he actively and constructively intervened, the units of selectiondebates in evolutionary biology. What follows is a brief overview ofthose debates and some reflections on them.
Comparative range of orthodontic wires.

ADA specification No. 32 for determining the range (elastic limit) of orthodontic wires uses the bending of a wire section treated as a cantilever beam. An alternative method for defining the range of orthodontic wires proposed by Waters (1981) is to wrap wire sections around mandrels of varying diameters and measure the deformation imparted after unwrapping. Four brass mandrels with a total of 46 test diameters ranging from 3.5 to 60.0 mm were used in this study. Wire sections 9 cm in length were rolled on the mandrel with a hand lathe. The mandrel cross section required to produce a predetermined amount of deformation (2 mm arc height for a 5 cm chord) was defined as the yield diameter for that particular wire. No individual wire was tested twice so as to avoid introduction of strain history. Test samples of 488 different orthodontic wires supplied by nine commercial distributors were evaluated (a total of 4,747 samples). Stainless steel wires of identical dimensions had a large variation in range, depending on the state of strain hardening and heat treatment. For example, 0.020 inch round wire had yield diameters ranging from 22.8 mm for Australian special plus orange (TP Laboratories) to 42.9 mm for Nubryte gold (G.A.C. International). Chromium cobalt wires had less range than stainless steel before heat treatment, but increased greatly in range after heat treatment. Nitinol (Unitek) had the greatest range of all wires tested (yield diameter of 8.7 mm for 0.016 inch Nitinol). Multistranded stainless steel wires had yield diameters between 9.0 and 14.0 mm.
Cache equalizer: a placement mechanism for chip multiprocessor distributed shared caches

This paper describes Cache Equalizer (CE), a novel distributed cache management scheme for large-scale chip multiprocessors (CMPs). Our work is motivated by large asymmetry in cache sets' usages. CE decouples the physical locations of cache blocks from their addresses for the sake of reducing misses caused by destructive interferences. Temporal pressure at the on-chip last-level cache is continuously collected at a group (comprised of cache sets) granularity, and periodically recorded at the memory controller to guide the placement process. An incoming block is consequently placed at a cache group that exhibits the minimum pressure. Simulation results using a full-system simulator demonstrate that CE achieves an average L2 miss rate reduction of 13.6% over a shared NUCA scheme and by as much as 46.7% for the benchmark programs we examined. Furthermore, evaluations showed that CE outperforms related cache designs.
Superconductivity of lanthanum intermetallic compounds with the Cu3Au structure

Abstract Studies have been made of the crystal structure, metallurgical properties, and superconducting critical temperature of intermetallic compounds of lanthanum of the composition LaX3, whereX is tin, lead, thallium, and indium. These compounds are all congruently melting and single crystals of the indium and tin compounds have been prepared. X-ray measurements on carefully electropolished surfaces indicate that these compounds have the ordered Cu3Au crystal structure. The tin, lead, and thallium compounds were found to be superconducting with critical temperatures of 6·45, 4·05, and 1·57°K, respectively. The indium compound was not superconducting above 1°K. The critical temperatures do not appear to be related to interatomic spacing in the compounds but rather seem to depend upon the valence of the element at the X sites. The compounds of lead and tin (quadrivalent elements) have the higher Tc's. The compounds of thallium and indium (trivalent elements) have the lower Tc's.
Model of the constricted unit cell type for isotropic granular porous media

The constricted unit cell model for isotropic granular porous media developed by Payatakes, Tien, and Turian (1973) is extended here to take in account the random orientation of the flow channels. In the proposed model, each unit cell corresponds to a pore (cavern) and has two coaxial constricted inlet and outlet ports (throats). The unit cells have random dimensions and orientations, the distributions of which can be determined from simple experimental measurements. The flow through a unit cell is assumed to be identical to that through a segment of the corresponding periodically constricted tube. The model is applied to the case of creeping Newtonian flow. The solution to the flow problem is obtained by a collocation method. Permeabilities of typical packings are calculated without use of any adjustable parameters (such as tortuosities, etc.) and are found in excellent agreement with experimental values.
Population Genetics of Invasions: Can We Link Neutral Markers to Management?1

Abstract Molecular data are becoming easier to collect and can help us address many important questions in invasion biology. However, for most organisms, the connection between molecular loci and phenotypic traits is not direct. Here, I review some fundamentals of population and ecological genetics and point out limitations of molecular data, particularly when the data are from loci without a known connection to the phenotype. I then discuss the ways that molecular data may facilitate management of invasive weeds, despite the limitations. Key uses of molecular data in invasive weed management include identifying species, determining their origins, and understanding mechanisms and rates of spread. Additional index words: Biological invasions, ecological genetics, phylogeography. Abbreviations: AFLP, amplified fragment length polymorphisms; cpDNA, chloroplast DNA; RFLP, restriction fragment length polymorphisms.
Spatial Moment Equations for Plant Competition: Understanding Spatial Strategies and the Advantages of Short Dispersal.

abstract: A plant lineage can compete for resources in a spatially variable environment by colonizing new areas, exploiting resources in those areas quickly before other plants arrive to compete with it, or tolerating competition once other plants do arrive. These specializations are ubiquitous in plant communities, but all three have never been derived from a spatial model of community dynamics—instead, the possibility of rapid exploitation has been either overlooked or confounded with colonization. We use moment equations, equations for the mean densities and spatial covariance of competing plant populations, to characterize these strategies in a fully spatial stochastic model. The moment equations predict endogenous spatial pattern formation and the efficacy of spatial strategies under different conditions. The model shows that specializations for colonization, exploitation, and tolerance are all possible, and these are the only possible spatial strategies; among them, they partition all of the endogen...
Airstream Climatology of Asia

In 1966 an extension of the airmass concept was proposed for purposes of climatic analysis (Bryson, 1466). In essence the principle was that the air diverging from source regions.(usually anticyclonic regions) might go through many stages of modification in its surface path from source to eventual convergent zone where it might leave the surface or become unidentifiable. For example, air subsiding in the eastern part of the North Atlantic anticyclone might be called stable maritime tropical air (mTw). Farther downstream in the tradewinds it might be modified to an unstable form (mTk), then after rounding the western end of the anticyclone and moving east across the colder North Atlantic waters enter Europe as a stable maritime airmass (mPw). After entering central Asia the air might be cooled and dried enough to be called a variety of continental Polar air, even though its history might be traced back to the tropical Atlantic.
Child abuse and neglect: a diagnostic guide for the optometrist.

Since approximately 40% of all physically abused children have ocular complications, it is increasingly important for optometrists to be prepared for an encounter with a child patient who has been abused. This review of the literature was undertaken to develop a diagnostic guide for the optometrist in face of a growing incidence of child abuse. It describes different types of abuse and their physical, emotional and behavioral manifestations. A special emphasis has been placed on head trauma and associated ocular signs. A list of state child protective services agencies, and how to contact them, is included. Language: en
A New Robust Surrogate Model: Reliability Based Hybrid Functions

The determination of complex underlying relationships between system parameters from simulated and/or recorded data requires advanced interpolating functions, also known as surrogates. The development of surrogates for such complex relationships often requires the modeling of high dimensional and non-smooth functions using limited information. To this end, the hybrid surrogate modeling paradigm, where different surrogate models are aggregated, offers a robust solution. In this paper, we develop a new high fidelity surrogate modeling technique that we call the Reliability Based Hybrid Functions (RBHF). The RBHF formulates a reliable Crowding Distance-Based Trust Region (CD-TR), and adaptively combines the favorable characteristics of different surrogate models. The weight of each contributing surrogate model is determined based on the local reliability measure for that surrogate model in the pertinent trust region. Such an approach is intended to exploit the advantages of each component surrogate. This approach seeks to simultaneously capture the global trend of the function and the local deviations. In this paper, the RBHF integrates four component surrogate models: (i) the Quadratic Response Surface Model (QRSM), (ii) the Radial Basis Functions (RBF), (iii) the Extended Radial Basis Functions (E-RBF), and (iv) the Kriging model. The RBHF is applied to standard test problems. Subsequent evaluations of the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and the Maximum Absolute Error (MAE), illustrate the promising potential of this hybrid surrogate modeling approach.
Visual music after cage: Robert breer, expanded cinema and stockhausen's originals (1964)

Within William Seitz's 1961 exhibition The Art of Assemblage for the New York Museum of Modern Art, the question of framing-of art's exhibitionary situation within and against a given environment-had emerged as perhaps the major issue of postwar avant-garde practice. Beyond the familiar paintings of Johns and Rauschenberg, a strategy of radical juxtaposition in this time extended well beyond the use of new materials, to the very institutions of aesthetic exhibition and spectatorship. Perhaps the most significant example of this disciplinary juxtaposition can be found in the intermingling of the static and the temporal arts. Like many artists of the twentieth century, Robert Breer was fascinated by the aesthetic and philosophical character of movement. Trained as a painter, he turned to cinematic animation as a way of extending his inquiry into modernist abstraction. While the success of his initial Form Phases spurred what would be a lifelong commitment to film, Breer quickly grew frustrated with the kind of abstract animation that might be said to characterise the dominant tradition of visual music. Starting in 1955, his Image by Images inaugurated a radical new vision of hyperkinetic montage that would paradoxically function at the threshold of movement and stasis. As such, Breer's film 'accompaniment' to the 1964 production of Stockhausen's Originals has a curious status. While untethered from the musical performance, Breer's three-part 'film performance' extended Stockhausen's aesthetic and conceptual framework in rich and surprising ways. It might thus be understood as a 'post-Cagean' form of visual music, one in which the sonic and visual components function in a relation of autonomous complementarity within an overarching intermedia assemblage.
Calling for a Crusade

(The following article is printed prior to publication with the permission of the Saturday Review of Literature.)
Improving problem solving with simple interventions

Although problem solving is a major goal for most science educators, many still rely on the demonstration method as an approach to teach it. This remains the case even though most are not happy with the results. Using a web-based problem delivery system to track students’ performance, we have investigated the effects of collaborative learning, and concept mapping on student problem solving ability. We find that student ability in general can be improved by about 10% after a group problem solving intervention. Furthermore we find differences in improvement depending upon the students’ level of logical thinking and gender.
Transferring Characteristics of Current Transformer Affected by DC Magnetic Bias and Its Impact on Differential Protection

The transferring characteristics of current transformers(TA) are subject to possible changes due to DC magnetic bias caused by geomagnetic induced current(GIC)/high voltage direct current(HVDC).The particularity of TA saturation affected by the DC magnetic bias will severely impact the transformer differential protection system.Based on the AC system simulation models considering DC magnetic bias,the effects caused by the variation of time-to-saturation of protective TAs are studied.Moreover,studies show that DC magnetic bias will lead to TA partial transient saturation.According to simulation of sympathetic inrush with DC magnetic bias,this paper analyzes the impacts on differential protection resulting from the TA partial transient saturation.The research demonstrates that DC magnetic bias may accelerate saturation of protective TAs.This is a challenge to the method of locating the time difference used for preventing maloperation due to TA saturation when external faults occurred.The research also shows that TA partial transient saturation caused by DC magnetic bias may contribute to maloperation of transformer differential protection.
Advances in surgery for brain tumors

Significant advances in the management of neurosurgical disorders during the past decade have enhanced the safety of intracranial surgery, resulting in the ability of most patients with brain tumors to undergo successful resection now. Among these advances are stereotactic surgical procedures and intraoperative monitoring devices; future directions in neurosurgery include the application of advances in robotics and virtual reality. The surgical considerations and complications that accompany these advances are factors that the neurosurgeon must evaluate along with the choice of management.
Preanesthetic assessment of the obstetric patient

Summary The preanesthetic assessment of the obstetric patient must take into consideration the nature of the pregnancy, the fetal status, and the normal physiologic changes of pregnancy. Some of these changes that are of particular concern to the anesthesiologist involve aortocaval compression, alterations in respiratory function, and conditions that predispose towards regurgitation and aspiration and altered anesthetic requirements. Communication between the obstetrician and the anesthesiologist is important in formulating an anesthetic plan. This is especially true in conditions such as a breech delivery and fetal distress.
Hysteroscopic morcellator to overcome cervical stenosis

Objective To report a step-by-step technique to using a hysteroscopic morcellator to safely gain access into the intrauterine cavity in two patients with severe cervical stenosis and concomitant intrauterine pathology. Design Video article introducing the hysteroscopic morcellator for overcoming severe cervical stenosis. Setting Academic-based practice. Patient(s) A 36-year-old G0 female with primary infertility and uterine polyps and a 34-year-old G0 female with uterine polyps and a difficult trial transfer before undergoing an IVF cycle. In both patients, preoperative saline-infused sonography revealed submucosal filling defects and severe cervical stenosis. Intervention(s) A hysteroscopic technique using the Hologic Myosure to overcome severe cervical stenosis with or without the use of intraoperative ultrasound. Main Outcome Measure(s) Despite using preoperative Cytotec, cervical stenosis was identified. Under direct visualization, a 4-mm Myosure XL blade was placed through a 7.25-mm Myosure XL hysteroscopy. The cutter blade, powered by an electromechanical drive system, enables simultaneous rotation and reciprocation. The blade allows one to shave and remove tissue and is applied to cervical stenosis, allowing safe access into the intrauterine cavity. Result(s) The intrauterine hysteroscopic Myosure morcellator allowed for safe and direct entry into the uterine cavity. We have since applied this technique to all patients where cervical stenosis is identified and have minimized potential uterine perforation and false tracks in our patients. Conclusion(s) Our technique is an alternative method for overcoming severe cervical stenosis and minimizing potential intraoperative complications.
Addition-based exponentiation modulo 2k

A novel method for performing exponentiation modulo 2 k is described. The algorithm has a critical path consisting of k dependent shift-and-add modulo 2 k operations. Although 3 is the preferred exponent base, the algorithm can be extended easily in order to perform the general binary powering operation.
Practical research on mechanical adjustable reactor

This paper presents a Mechanical Adjustable Reactor (MAR), which provides a magnetic circuit and device whose reluctance could be controlled by provision of a rotatable iron core. The main difference between MAR and conventional single-phase reactor is that a rotatable iron core is inserted in the upper yoke. Its reactance adjustment in a wide range can be obtained because of the rotatable iron core. Besides, The driving system, which consists of stepping motor, over-running clutch and reducer, brings great improvement on anti-electromagnetic torque. The model of MAR is established and studied in the MAXWELL software, and a prototype of 315kVA/10kV adjustable reactor has also been manufactured to study the magnetic characteristics of the MAR. The actual measurement values match well with the theoretical calculations, and the inductance could be continuously varied within 32% ∼ 100%, which indicates a promising prospect for industrial application.
The Invasive Legacy of Forage Grass Introductions into Florida

ABSTRACT: Exotic African warm-season forage grasses were first introduced into the Americas in the 16th century, and have become invasive in many areas. In Florida, 16 exotic grasses are considered invasive, with the majority originating in Africa and introduced as forages. The high propensity of Africa warm-season grasses to become invasive may be related to the same characteristics that are associated with their value as forages, including adaptability to a wide range of abiotic conditions, rapid establishment, persistence in the environment with minimal husbandry, high productivity under grazing pressure, and adaptation to disturbance. The majority of African warm-season grasses in Florida reproduce vegetatively, a trait known to be associated with invasiveness, and many have been widely planted leading to high propagule pressure and opportunities to invade a variety of niches. In spite of a long history of introduction and promotion in Florida, few African forage grasses are in use today, while many h...
Reported maladaptive decision-making in unipolar and bipolar depression and its change with treatment.

Abstract Mood disorder patients frequently experience difficulty making decisions and may make sub-optimal decisions with adverse life consequences. However, patients’ styles for decision-making when ill and after treatment have received little study to date. We assessed healthy controls (HC, n = 69) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD, n = 61) or bipolar disorder (BP, n = 26) in a current major depressive episode using the Melbourne Decision-making Questionnaire. A subset of participants was re-evaluated after completing six weeks of pharmacotherapy. HC demonstrated significantly greater use of the healthy vigilance style, and significantly lower use of maladaptive decision-making styles, than the MDD and depressed BP patients. After six weeks of treatment, neither the MDD nor BP patients reported meaningful improvements in the vigilance style of decision-making, but scores on most maladaptive decision-making styles declined. BP patients who remitted reported significantly lower buckpassing and procrastination scores than healthy controls. Among MDD patients, however, the maladaptive passive buckpassing style of decision-making did not significantly diminish. For MDD patients, reported decision-making styles may remain impaired even after achieving remission. Among BP patients, low levels of adaptive vigilance decision-making may be a trait component of the illness, whereas for MDD patients, reported maladaptive passive decision-making styles are persistent.
Finding Solutions to Institutional Corruption: Lessons from Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The American Psychiatric Association and academic psychiatry in the United States have two conflicts of interest that may affect their assessment of psychiatric drugs and their development of diagnostic and clinical care guidelines: payments from pharmaceutical companies and guild interests. Until recently, the proposed solution to industry-academic relationships has been transparency. However, cognitive dissonance research reveals that disclosure is not a solution because cognitive biases are commonplace and difficult to eradicate. Indeed, bias is most often manifest in subtle ways unbeknownst to the researcher or clinician, and thus is usually implicit and unintentional. Also, recent studies suggest that disclosure of financial conflicts of interest may actually worsen bias. In this paper we discuss the implications of cognitive dissonance theory for understanding why disclosure or even "management" of financial conflicts of interest are not robust enough solutions to guarantee objectivity and prevent bias. We suggest that as a gold standard commercial ties should be eliminated in settings where new drugs are being tested and assessed, or clinical guidelines are being developed. This solution will require the use of multidisciplinary teams to do the tasks, including methodologists in addition to psychiatrists.
Psychotic Continuum or Distinct Entities: Perspectives from Family Studies

There is a continuing controversy over the continuum versus categorical models for major psychoses. As stated by Crow (1990a), the continuum theory holds that “the recurrent psychoses, rather than, as Kraepelin supposed, constituting 2 major entities, manic depressive illness and schizophrenia, as separate diseases, may be distributed along a continuum that extends from unipolar depressive illness through bipolar and schizoaffective psychosis to schizophrenia with increasing severities of defect state” (p. 401). Furthermore, the continuum is hypothesized to have a genetic basis (Crow 1990a, b, 1991), which should therefore be reflected in family studies of psychotic patients.
Animal-human interaction comparing live human observation and digital image evaluation methodologies

On-farm welfare assessments have included animal-human interaction tests as an animal-based measure. Currently, the U.S. swine industry’s assessment program does not use include this test due to reliability concerns. The objective of this study was to build a device that would capture pig behaviors and proximity so that live human observation and digital image evaluation methods could be compared. A total of 27 pens housing ~10 pigs/pen, aged 7, 8-or 9-wk. Two methodology treatments were compared: TRT One; live human observation and TRT Two; digital image evaluation. For proximity (cm) from the observer’s index finger to each nursery pig, three treatments were compared; TRT One; “touch”, TRT Two; “look”, and TRT Three; “not.” Data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Data for “not” postures and behaviors will be presented descriptively. Data used to evaluate snout and tail base proximity to the observer’s index finger were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS. There were no (P > 0.05) differences between pigs classified in “touch”, “look”, and “not” categories between live human observation and digital image evaluation. There were no (P > 0.05) differences between pig sexes when classified as “touch”, “look”, and “not” within live human observation or digital image evaluation. More (P = 0.02) 8-wk old pigs touched the human than 7 and 9-wk old pigs, respectively, using the live human observation method but there were no (P > 0.05) differences between age of pig classified in “touch”, “look”, and “not” categories for digital image evaluation. The majority of pigs classified as “not” regardless of sex and age were standing, followed by sitting and head in feeder. The snout anatomical location for pigs classified as “touch” was closest (P < 0.0001) to the observer’s index finger, followed by “look” and “not.” The tail base for pigs classified as “touch” were closest (P < 0.0001) to the observer’s index finger than for
The Cosmic Infrared Background

Cosmic infrared background radiation, expected to carry the radiative record of luminous objects since they first formed, has yet to be detected. The Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) on the Cosmic Background Explorer ( COBE ) satellite is designed to search for this primeval background over the spectral range from 1 to 300 μm. Initial examination of data from this experiment show that foreground radiations from the solar system and Galaxy dominate the diffuse infrared sky brightness, with relative minima near 3.5 μm and in the submillimeter wavelength range. DIRBE measurements do not confirm some previous data from rockets and IRAS . Preliminary upper limits on the cosmic infrared background are generally above theoretical expectations for pregalactic and protogalactic sources, and substantially above estimated lower limits based upon observations of external galaxies. Careful foreground modeling is required to reduce these limits or identify an isotropic residual.
A Free-Choice Social Learning Network for Computational Thinking

The need to attract learners and improve retention in computational thinking classes has never been greater than presently. Alarmingly, research suggests that the relative popularity of computer science in K-12 and colleges is not increasing while other STEM subjects are witnessing substantial rise in enrollment. Moreover, more than one third of those who choose computer science, drop out or fail the first programming class dashing hopes of building a computationally savvy workforce for the emerging global economy. In this paper, we introduce a novel social networking system, called OpenSchool, for learners and educators alike, which is able to double as a contemporary social networking system along the lines of Facebook for instance, and serve the special needs of free-choice STEM learners, computer science learners in particular. We discuss its salient features, highlight its advantages, collaborating capabilities, and learning support for STEM, especially computational thinking, learners.
Treatment Strategies in Diffuse Midline Gliomas With the H3K27M Mutation: The Role of Convection-Enhanced Delivery in Overcoming Anatomic Challenges

Diffuse midline gliomas harboring the H3 K27M mutation-including the previously named diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG)-are lethal high-grade pediatric brain tumors that are inoperable and without cure. Despite numerous clinical trials, the prognosis remains poor, with a median survival of ~1 year from diagnosis. Systemic administration of chemotherapeutic agents is often hindered by the blood brain barrier (BBB), and even drugs that successfully cross the barrier may suffer from unpredictable distributions. The challenge in treating this deadly disease relies on effective delivery of a therapeutic agent to the bulk tumor as well as infiltrating cells. Therefore, methods that can enhance drug delivery to the brain are of great interest. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a strategy that bypasses the BBB entirely and enhances drug distribution by applying hydraulic pressure to deliver agents directly and evenly into a target region. This technique reliably distributes infusate homogenously through the interstitial space of the target region and achieves high local drug concentrations in the brain. Moreover, recent studies have also shown that continuous delivery of drug over an extended period of time is safe, feasible, and more efficacious than standard single session CED. Therefore, CED represents a promising technique for treating midline tumors with the H3K27M mutation.
Troubled Legal Writing, Part 1

Sometimes lawyers get into trouble for the way they write. Probably none of you would ever do anything like these lawyers did, but let me try to scare you into being a careful writer anyway.
Uncovering electron-phonon scattering and phonon dynamics in type-I Weyl semimetals

Topological semimetals display remarkable transport properties. Here, the authors use Raman spectroscopy to probe the phonons and electron-phonon coupling in the Weyl semimetals NbAs and TaAs. An anomalous temperature dependence of phonon linewidths is shown to be consistent with decay into electron-hole pairs near the Weyl nodes. First-principles calculations observe this coupling and reveal yet-to-be-measured coupling hot spots at finite phonon momentum. The authors show that such couplings would contribute to the temperature-dependent mobility in these Weyl semimetals.
Listener Factors Explain Little Variability in Self-Adjusted Hearing Aid Gain:

Self-adjustment of hearing aid gain can provide valuable information about the gain preferences of individual listeners, but these preferences are not well understood. Listeners with mild-to-modera...
Porphyrin synthesis by the “3 + 1” methodology: A superior approach for the preparation of porphyrins with fused 9,10-phenanthroline subunits

Abstract Porphyrins with fused 1,10-phenanthroline subunits have been prepared in exceptionally high yields by the acid catalyzed condensation of phenanthroline substituted tripyrranes with a 2,5-pyrroledicarboxaldehyde .
Structure Observed in the Spin-Spin Correlation Parameter C LL =(L, L 0, 0) in p-p Elastic Scattering around θ c.m. =90° in the Region p lab =2.5-5.0 GeV/c

The spin-spin correlation parameter ${C}_{\mathrm{LL}}=(L, L; 0, 0)$ has been measured for $p\ensuremath{-}p$ elastic scattering around ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ up to ${p}_{\mathrm{lab}}=5$ GeV/c. An interesting energy dependence is observed in ${C}_{\mathrm{LL}}$ and the results are interpreted by comparison with other available data.
Bromide Causes Facet-Selective Atomic Addition inGold Nanorod Syntheses

The aspect ratio-dependent properties of gold nanorods are used in a variety of applications, but the cause of anisotropic nanorod growth remains unclear. Measurements utilizing single-crystal elec...
Revisiting MET: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic, MET-Amplified Esophagogastric Cancers.

BACKGROUND Metastatic esophagogastric cancers (EGCs) have a poor prognosis with an approximately 5% 5-year survival. Additional treatment approaches are needed. c-MET gene-amplified tumors are an uncommon but potentially targetable subset of EGC. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were evaluated in patients with MET-amplified EGC and compared with those without MET amplification to facilitate identification of these patients and possible treatment approaches. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with locally advanced or metastatic MET-amplified EGC at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) were identified using fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis, with a gene-to-control ratio of ≥2.2 defined as positive. Non-MET-amplified patients identified during the same time period who had undergone tumor genotyping and treatment at MGH were evaluated as a comparison group. RESULTS We identified 233 patients evaluated for MET amplification from 2002 to 2019. MET amplification was seen in 28 (12%) patients versus 205 (88%) patients without amplification. Most MET-amplified tumors occurred in either the distal esophagus (n = 9; 32%) or gastroesophageal junction (n = 10; 36%). Of MET-amplified patients, 16 (57%) had a TP53 mutation, 5(18%) had HER2 co-amplification, 2 (7.0%) had EGFR co-amplification, and 1 (3.5%) had FGFR2 co-amplification. MET-amplified tumors more frequently had poorly differentiated histology (19/28, 68.0% vs. 66/205, 32%; p = .02). Progression-free survival to initial treatment was substantially shorter for all MET-amplified patients (5.6 vs. 8.8 months, p = .026) and for those with metastatic disease at presentation (4.0 vs. 7.6 months, p = .01). Overall, patients with MET amplification had shorter overall survival (19.3 vs. 24.6 months, p = .049). No difference in survival was seen between low MET-amplified tumors (≥2.2 and <25 MET copy number) compared with highly amplified tumors (≥25 MET copy number). CONCLUSION MET-amplified EGC represents a distinct clinical entity characterized by rapid progression and short survival. Ideally, the identification of these patients will provide opportunities to participate in clinical trials in an attempt to improve outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This article describes 233 patients who received MET amplification testing and reports (a) a positivity rate of 12%, similar to the rate of HER2 positivity in this data set; (b) the clinical characteristics of poorly differentiated tumors and nodal metastases; and (c) markedly shorter progression-free survival and overall survival in MET-amplified tumors. Favorable outcomes are reported for patients treated with MET inhibitors. Given the lack of published data in MET-amplified esophagogastric cancers and the urgent clinical importance of identifying patients with MET amplification for MET-directed therapy, this large series is a valuable addition to the literature and will have an impact on future practice.
Desktop Video Conferencing: A Systems Approach

Publisher Summary Recently, a number of social and technical factors have combined to generate resurgence in the implementation of desktop video conferencing systems with considerable attention being paid by human-computer interaction professionals. The advantages of video communication in the current environment of distributed, interdisciplinary work groups are saving money, saving time, avoiding travel, and enriching interpersonal communication. However, many human factors considerations make the study and implementation of video-mediated communication systems challenging. This chapter provides a systems approach to the discussion of human factors issues related to the use of desktop video conferencing systems. Each component of the system—communication technology, conferencing technology, physical environment, social environment, and task environment—is discussed separately in the chapter from a human factors point of view. The chapter also presents guidelines, methods, and issues to consider when designing video conferencing systems that promote effective communication.