cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive control of systems with unknown non‐smooth non‐linearities

In this paper we unify our recent results in adaptive control of systems with unknown non-smooth non-linearities such as dead-zone, backlash and hysteresis characteristics at the input or output of a linear dynamics. Our adaptive inverse approach employs an adaptive controller structure consisting of an adaptive inverse for cancelling the effect of an unknown non-linearity and a fixed (or adaptive) linear control law for a known (or unknown) linear dynamics. Despite the bilinear dependence on the unknown parameters, a linearly parametrized error system is constructed which enables us to design robust adaptive laws for updating the controller parameters to ensure closed loop signal boundedness and improve system tracking performance. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On vibrating strings and information theory

Abstract The problem addressed in concreto is the relation of information provided by vibrating strings to that provided by systems describable with equations of one degree of freedom. Whereas the mathematical physics of vibrating strings is based on the wave equation—a second-order differential equation of at least two degrees of freedom—a quantum model of information theory has only been considered for a mechanical system of one degree of freedom. The solution obtained in abstracto is: a complete signal representation information-wise exists in Hilbert space. With an increasing degree of freedom to vary of any system corresponds an increasing number of phase representations of the signal producible by the system in that space. A corollary conclusion is: the spectral analysis of signals based on Wiener's Fourier method is incomplete. A complete conception of information based on complex signals in two subspaces of Hilbert space is more general. A spectral analysis of the information available in signals in Hilbert space is thus possible giving a possible explanation for the timbre of a sound.
Cost-Constrained Power Factor Optimization with Source Harmonics Using LC Compensators

A method is presented for finding the optimum LC combination for power factor compensation at linear loads in the presence of voltage source harmonics while the total voltamperes of the compensator capacitor and reactor is constrained. The end product is displayed in graph form where for any given compensator voltampere rating or cost, the maximum possible power factor and corresponding LC combination can be found. Examples are included showing that the cost of such an LC compensator may be less than that of a purely capacitive optimum compensator achieving the same power factor.
Effect of paddle placement and size on defibrillation current distribution: a three-dimensional finite element model

A realistic three-dimensional finite-element model (FEM) of the conductive anatomy of a canine thorax was constructed for use in the study of transthoracic electrical defibrillation. The model was constructed from a series of 21 cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) scans of a 14.5 kg beagle, each separated by 0.82 cm. The electrical conductive properties of eight distinct tissues were incorporated, including the anisotropic properties of skeletal muscle. Current density distributions were obtained for six paddle pairings and two paddle sizes. A quantitative basis for comparing the resulting distributions was formulated. The results suggest that placing one or both of the paddles near the heart delivers a higher fraction of current to the heart. However, such placements also produce a less uniform myocardial current density distribution and thus have a higher potential for causing damage. Some paddle positions produced myocardial current densities close to the threshold for damage in successful defibrillations. The results indicate that 12 cm paddles may offer modest advantages over 8 cm paddles in clinical defibrillation. >
All the news that's fit to read: a study of social annotations for news reading

As news reading becomes more social, how do different types of annotations affect people's selection of news articles? This paper reports on results from two experiments looking at social annotations in two different news reading contexts. The first experiment simulates a logged-out experience with annotations from strangers, a computer agent, and a branded company. Results indicate that, perhaps unsurprisingly, annotations by strangers have no persuasive effects. However, surprisingly, unknown branded companies still had a persuasive effect. The second experiment simulates a logged-in experience with annotations from friends, finding that friend annotations are both persuasive and improve user satisfaction over their article selections. In post-experiment interviews, we found that this increased satisfaction is due partly because of the context that annotations add. That is, friend annotations both help people decide what to read, and provide social context that improves engagement. Interviews also suggest subtle expertise effects. We discuss implications for design of social annotation systems and suggestions for future research.
THE USE OF ENTROPY IN HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES

Since the development of the entropy theory by Shannon in the late 1940s and of the principle of maximum entropy (POME) by Jaynes in the late 1950s there has been a proliferation of applications of entropy in a wide spectrum of areas, including hydrological and environmental sciences. The real impetus to entropy-based hydrological modelling was provided by Amorocho and Espildora in 1972. A great variety of entropy applications in hydrology and water resources have since been reported, and new applications continue to unfold. This paper reviews the recent contributions on entropy applications in hydrology and water resources, discusses the usefulness and versatility of the entropy concept, and reflects on the strengths and limitations of this concept. The paper concludes with comments on its implications in developing countries. #1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Residual activity of microencapsulated permethrin against stable flies on lactating dairy cows

Emulsifiable concentrate and microencapsulated formulations of permethrin were evaluated for residual activity against stable flies on lactating dairy cows. Cows were treated in the field with each formulation and hair was clipped from the leg and shoulder area, and bioassayed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 14 days after treatment. Significantly more stable flies died when exposed to hair sampled 3, 4 and 7 days after treatment from the shoulder than from the lower leg. Analysis with gas chromatography of hair samples showed no detectable permethrin residues on shoulder or leg hair 72 h after treatment with the emulsifiable concentrate formulation. Microencapsulated permethrin was still detectable on hair sampled from both locations 7 days after treatment. The permethrin concentration on the leg hair was approximately 50% of the shoulder hair concentration after 3 days, with the leg hair residue dropping to 31% of shoulder level after 7 days.
Integrated responses of hydraulic architecture, water and carbon relations of western hemlock to dwarf mistletoe infection

Dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium spp.) is a hemiparasite that is said to be the single-most destructive pathogen of commercially valuable coniferous trees in many regions of the world. Although its destructive nature is well documented in many respects, its effects on the physiology of its host are poorly understood. In the present study, water and carbon relations were characterized over a range of scale from leaf to whole tree in large (40- to 50-m-tall) individuals of western hemlock ( Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) that were either heavily infected, or uninfected with hemlock dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium tsugense ). Specific hydraulic conductivity ( k s ) of infected branches was approximately half that of uninfected branches, yet leafspecific conductivity ( k L ) was similar because leaf area : sapwood area ratios ( A L : A S ) of infected branches were lower. Pre-dawn and minimum leaf water potential and stomatal conductance ( g s ) were similar among infected and uninfected trees because adjustments in hydraulic architecture of infected trees maintained k L despite reduced k s . Maximum whole-tree water use was substantially lower in infected trees (approximately 55 kg d - 1 ) than in uninfected trees (approximately 90 kg d - 1 ) because reduced numbers of live branches in infected trees reduced whole-tree A L : A S in a manner consistent with that observed in infected branches. Maximum photosynthetic rates of heavily infected trees were approximately half those of uninfected trees. Correspondingly, leaf nitrogen content was 35% lower in infected trees. Foliar d 13 C values were 2.8‰ more negative in infected than in uninfected individuals, consistent with the absence of stomatal adjustment to diminished photosynthetic capacity. Adjustments in hydraulic architecture of infected trees thus contributed to homeostasis of water transport efficiency and transpiration on a leaf area basis, whereas both carbon accumulation and photosynthetic water use efficiency were sharply reduced at both the leaf and whole-tree scale.
Conceptualizing Autism: The Role for Emergence

argued for a more dimensionalapproach, saying ‘‘Ithe components can be consideredindividually,’’ and that there should be a ‘‘considera-tion of the interactions between domains.’’ The multi-dimensional perspective is reflected in the increasing useof the terms such as ‘‘autism spectrum’’ and ‘‘broaderautism phenotype.’’Recently, Happe and colleagues
Pesach N. Rubenstein Cheats the Hangman: A Case Study of Punishment and the Death Penalty at Brooklyn's Raymond Street Jail

This article tells the story of Pesach Rubenstein and how he cheated the hangman in 1876. Rubenstein was charged, tried, and convicted in Kings County, New York, for the 1875 murder of his 19-year-old cousin, Sarah Alexander. The Rubenstein case is noteworthy in that it received unprecedented media attention in the 1870s, involved the use of rudimentary forensic evidence at the trial, and divided the community on issues of religion, ethnicity, immigration (the victim and defendant were recent Jewish immigrants from Poland), and imposition of the death penalty. Using a case study approach to analyze the trial transcript, newspaper articles, and historical accounts of the murder investigation, Rubenstein’s trial, and his incarceration at Brooklyn’s Raymond Street Jail, this article offers a glimpse into the operations of an urban jail in an earlier era when our criminal justice system was in its infancy.
Microstrip Yagi array antenna for mobile satellite vehicle application

A novel antenna structure formed by combining the Yagi-Uda array concept and the microstrip radiator technique is discussed. This antenna, called the microstrip Yagi array, has been developed for the mobile satellite (MSAT) system as a low-profile, low-cost, and mechanically steered medium-gain land-vehicle antenna. With the antenna's active patches (driven elements) and parasitic patches (reflector and director elements) located on the same horizontal plane, the main beam of the array can be tilted, by the effect of mutual coupling, in the elevation direction providing optimal coverage for users in the continental United States. Because the parasitic patches are not connected to any of the lossy RF power distributing circuit the antenna is an efficient radiating system. With the complete monopulse beamforming and power distributing circuits etched on a single thin stripline board underneath the microstrip Yagi array, the overall L-band antenna system has achieved a very low profile for vehicle rooftop mounting, as well as a low manufacturing cost. Experimental results demonstrate the performance of this antenna. >
Prevalence of Sexual Violence Against Women in 23 States and Two U.S. Territories, BRFSS 2005

Sexual violence (SV) is a significant public health problem. Using data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), this article provides state-specific 12-month SV prevalence data for women residing in 23 states and two territories. Overall, more than 500,000 women in the participating states experienced completed or attempted nonconsensual sex in the 12-month period prior to the survey. The collection of state-level data using consistent, uniform, and behaviorally specific SV definitions enables states to evaluate the magnitude of the problem within their state and informs the development and evaluation of state-level SV programs, policies, and prevention efforts.
The cost of running uphill: linking organismal and muscle energy use in guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)

Uphill running requires more energy than level running at the same speed, largely due to the additional mechanical work of elevating the body weight. We explored the distribution of energy use among the leg muscles of guinea fowl running on the level and uphill using both organismal energy expenditure (oxygen consumption) and muscle blood flow measurements. We tested each bird under four conditions: (1) rest, (2) a moderate-speed level run at 1.5·m·s ‐1 , (3) an incline run at 1.5·m·s ‐1 with a 15% gradient and (4) a fast level run at a speed eliciting the same metabolic rate as did running at a 15% gradient at 1.5·m·s ‐1 (2.28‐2.39·m·s ‐1 ). The organismal energy expenditure increased by 30% between the moderate-speed level run and both the fast level run and the incline run, and was matched by a proportional increase in total blood flow to the leg muscles. We found that blood flow increased significantly to nearly all the leg muscles between the moderate-speed level run and the incline run. However, the increase in flow was distributed unevenly across the leg muscles, with just three muscles being responsible for over 50% of the total increase in blood flow during uphill running. Three muscles showed significant increases in blood flow with increased incline but not with an increase in speed. Increasing the volume of active muscle may explain why in a previous study a higher maximal rate of oxygen consumption was measured during uphill running. The majority of the increase in energy expenditure between level and incline running was used in stance-phase muscles. Proximal stance-phase extensor muscles with parallel fibers and short tendons, which have been considered particularly well suited for doing positive work on the center of mass, increased their mass-specific energy use during uphill running significantly more than pinnate stance-phase muscles. This finding provides some evidence for a division of labor among muscles used for mechanical work production based on their muscle‐tendon architecture. Nevertheless, 33% of the total increase in energy use (40% of the increase in stance-phase energy use) during uphill running was provided by pinnate stance-phase muscles. Swing-phase muscles also increase their energy expenditure during uphill running, although to a lesser extent than that required by running faster on the level. These results suggest that neither muscle‐tendon nor musculoskeletal architecture appear to greatly restrict the ability of muscles to do work during locomotor tasks such as uphill running, and that the added energy cost of running uphill is not solely due to lifting the body center of mass. Summary
Time Series Representations of Economic Variables and Alternative Models of the Labour Market

Accepting the hypothesis that the time-series "facts" of the aggregate labour market may be summarized by the linear autoregressive and moving average representations of wages, prices, unemployment, and interest rates implies that a useful theory ought to lead to predictions about these representations. Following this approach, this paper first catalogues many of the time-series facts about the aggregate labour market and then compares them against alternative models of the labour market based on the intertemporal substitution and staggered contract hypotheses.
Second Annual Conference on Empirical Legal Studies (CELS) Announcement and Call for Papers

The Second Annual Conference on Empirical Legal Studies will be held at New York University School of Law in New York. The conference will feature original empirical and experimental legal scholarship by leading scholars from a diverse range of fields. The attached downloadable pdf includes further details on the conference and submission instructions.
Inhibition of epithelial chloride secretion by butyrate: role of reduced adenylyl cyclase expression and activity.

Butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are found at high concentrations in the colonic lumen and affect multiple epithelial cell functions. To better understand how SCFAs regulate ion t...
Integrated glycoprotein immobilization method for glycopeptide and glycan analysis of cardiac hypertrophy.

Post-translational modifications of proteins can have a major role in disease initiation and progression. Incredible efforts have recently been made to study the regulation of glycoproteins for disease prognosis and diagnosis. It is essential to elucidate glycans and intact glycoproteins to understand the role of glycosylation in diseases. Sialylated N-glycans play crucial roles in physiological and pathological processes; however, it is laborious to study sialylated glycoproteins due to the labile nature of sialic acid residues. In this study, an integrated platform is developed for the analysis of intact glycoproteins and glycans using a chemoenzymatic approach for immobilization and derivatization of sialic acids. N-Glycans, deglycosylated proteins, and intact glycoproteins from heart tissues of wild type (WT) and transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mouse models were analyzed. We identified 291 unique glycopeptides from 195 glycoproteins; the comparative studies between WT and TAC mice indicate the ov...
Irvin Cooper (1900-1971) and the Development of the Cambiata Concept for Adolescent Changing Voices:

The Cambiata Concept was one of the first methodologies used in the United States to teach boys to sing during the adolescent voice change. Previous practices of choir masters was to rest the voice during this time. They felt that by having boys sing during the voice change was damaging to the voice and would ruin the ability to sing after the mutation. Irvin Cooper, founder of the Cambiata Concept, discovered that boys were capable of singing during the voice change, and devised a method for boys to continue to sing during this tumultuous time. Cooper discovered, through empirical evidence, the gradual progression of the voice change. He states that boys’ voices only “crack” when expected to sing music that is outside of the physical range of the voice. The Cambiata Concept encourages teachers to use music that is appropriate to the ranges of the voice change, and by so doing will avoid such instances from happening. Cooper and the Cambiata Concept were influential in concurrent and later music educators...
Homeostasis and change: A commentary on Homeostatic Theory of Obesity by David Marks.

This commentary on David Marks’ article on the Homeostatic Theory of Obesity and his Circle of Discontent mechanism for maintaining problematic eating behavior and obesity offers a perspective on the promise and potential of this theory. At the same time, we challenge the author to incorporate more of a process perspective into the theory. This would include greater exploration of how individuals enter and exit this hypothesized Circle of Discontent, how these mechanisms lead to obesity rather than other internalizing or externalizing disorders, and how the interactions among key variables differ for males and females and developmental stages.
Cerebral blood flow and metabolism in schizophrenia; the effects of barbiturate semi-narcosis, insulin coma and electroshock.

Studies by the use of the nitrous oxide technique on 22 schizophrenic patients show no deviation from values obtained in normal young males for cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption. A clinically significant change in 8 patients given sodium pentothal or amytal intravenously is not associated with a measurable change in cerebral blood flow or cerebral oxygen consumption. Insulin hypoglycemia and coma is associated with a progressive decrease in cerebral utilization of oxygen and blood glucose, the cerebral circulation remaining unimpaired. The fall in blood glucose utilization is greater than that of oxygen. Electroshock is followed by a moderate decrease in metabolism and a marked decrease in cerebral blood flow in the face of a severe acidosis. Although there were no demonstrable deviations from the normal in this group of schizophrenic patients, our experience with this technique leads us to believe that it is worthy of extensive application in the study of the metabolic derangements in the brain ...
Abstract P5-05-12: Heparan Sulfatase 2 Regulates Breast Cancer Tumorigenesis and Promotes Invasive Ductal Lesions

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is a heterogenous group of proliferative cellular lesions that have the potential to become invasive. Very little is known about the molecular alterations involved in the progression from DCIS to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Heparan endosulfatases HSulf-1 and -2 catalyze or edit sulfate moieties on heparan sulfate proteoglycans and have been implicated in modulating heparin binding growth factor signaling. Several studies have suggested that while expression of HSulf-1 is down-regulated and is considered a tumor suppressor gene, expression of HSulf-2 is over-expressed in primary breast tumors and cell lines. However, the role of HSulf-2 in breast tumorigenesis is poorly understood. Here we have evaluated the effect of HSulf-2 in an in vivo model of breast cancer progression (MCF10DCIS.com). These cells form comedo type DCIS and progress to IDC when transplanted in immune-deficient mice and therefore are an ideal model to study breast cancer progression. Methods: Stable clones depleted of HSulf-2 in MCF10DCIS.com cells were generated and injected into mouse mammary fat pads with non-targeted control shRNA clones (NTC) as controls. HSulf-1, HSulf-2, smooth muscle actin immunostaining and HE70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-05-12.
Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia with Extensive Erythrophagocytosis Mimicking Malignant Histiocytosis

The authors report a case of acute myeloblastic leukemia in which erythrophagocytosis by the leukemic cells was so extensive as to mimic malignant histiocytosis at postmortem. It is postulated that premature expression of phagocytic function in leukemic cells and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, which accompanied the initial clinical presentation, explained the unusually prominent erythrophagocytosis.
Conservation laws in linear elasticity based upon divergence transformations

The existence of conservation laws in linear elasticity based upon divergence transformations of the Lagrangian density function is investigated. It is found that there exist a set of conservation laws which correspond to infinitesimal homogeneous perturbations of the strain and velocity fields. These conservation laws have a unique feature not shared by other conservation laws in linear elasticity in that they contain an arbitrary free parameter.
Practitioner Perceptions of Juvenile Transfer in Pennsylvania

Consistent with virtually all other states in the nation, in the mid-1990s legislation was enacted in Pennsylvania to address increasing concerns about serious and violent juvenile offending. This legislation included provisions for facilitating the transfer of violent juvenile offenders to adult criminal court. The current study examines contemporary practitioner perceptions of juvenile transfer to adult court, with regard to the number of juveniles transferred, the effectiveness of this practice, and the appropriate minimum age for transfer to occur. Utilizing statewide survey data, comparisons are made between juvenile court judges, probation officers, prosecutors, and public defenders, and other predictors are assessed. The findings indicate modest overall support for transferring juveniles to adult court, with various significant differences across practitioner groups. Policy implications are discussed.
Analysis of collocated AIRS and MODIS data: a global investigation of correlations between clouds and atmosphere in 2004–2012

We used collocated observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODIS and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder AIRS to investigate correlations between cloud parameters and atmospheric stability. We focus on low clouds and specifically investigate the cloud parameters cloud cover and cloud optical thickness from MODIS. The selected atmospheric parameters from AIRS are maximum relative humidity MRH, lower tropospheric stability LTS, and water vapour gradient QTS. The correlations were tested for temporal and regional variation on a global scale and over a time frame of 10 years. Cloud cover and MRH show weak correlations and strong variations on both the temporal and spatial scales. However, cloud cover and lower tropospheric stability show a high correlation in areas with low maritime clouds. The correlation is relatively stable, but slightly increased for the years 2009–2012. Correlations between cloud cover and QTS show a similar behaviour, but slightly stronger variations on the spatial and temporal scales, with better correlations in the East Pacific and from 2004 to 2012. The correlations with cloud optical thickness are weaker in all three cases. A more detailed analysis of the Southeast Pacific shows the influence of El Nino Southern Oscillation ENSO on most parameters, but a relatively stable behaviour for the connection of cloud fraction and LTS. Based on the analysis, we suggest that relative humidity is an insufficient approach to link atmospheric properties and low cloud cover. However, we find good correlations with respect to LTS and QTS. LTS in particular indicates low temporal fluctuations, even in the case of influence by ENSO.
Self-efficacy is associated with pain, functioning, and coping in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder pain

Aims: To examine the psychometric characteristics of a measure of self-efficacy for managing temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and to determine whether scores on this measure were related to pain, disability, and psychological distress in patients with chronic TMD pain. Methods: Patients seeking treatment for chronic TMD pain (n = 156, 87% female, mean age = 37 years) completed measures assessing pain, disability, mental health, pain-coping strategies, and self-efficacy for managing their pain. Results: The self-efficacy measure, which was adapted from arthritis research, demonstrated good psychometric characteristics (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91, minimal floor and ceiling effects, and validity). Greater self-efficacy was associated with significantly (P < .05) lower levels of pain, disability, and psychological distress. Self-efficacy remained significantly associated with disability and mental health measures even after controlling for demographic variables and pain intensity. In addition, patients with higher self-efficacy reported significantly (P < .05) greater use of an active, adaptive chronic pain-coping strategy (task persistence) and less use of a passive, maladaptive chronic pain-coping strategy (rest). Conclusion: Self-efficacy for managing pain appears to be important in the adjustment of patients with chronic TMD pain. Research is needed to determine whether treatments designed to increase self-efficacy improve TMD patient outcomes.
Brown's 60th Anniversary - A Story of Judicial Isolation

Sixty years ago the Supreme Court announced, “In the field of public education, the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place.”1 In 1954, no one doubted the significance of that command, even among those who actively resisted it.Brown v. Board of Education 2 has now outlasted Plessy v. Ferguson, which for 58 years sanctioned “separate but equal”. Does that necessarily mean, however, that Brown has eclipsed Plessy in significance? Has the power of Brown instead waned in its advancing age? Granted, few publically decree Plessy as the best guide to race relations in the twenty-first century; yet, our schools are still segregated and unequal in ways reminiscent of Plessy. That naturally leads one to question the lasting significance of Brown, particularly as it turns 60.This chapter examines the legacy of Brown through the lens of two sets of school desegregation cases. The first are four cases that the Supreme Court considered in its Brown v. Board of Education decision — cases from Delaware, Kansas, South Carolina, and Virginia. The second are school desegregation cases litigated in the Middle District of Alabama.
The Validity of Using Low Dose CT from FDG PET/CT Scans to Obtain Calcium Scores and Determine Patient Treatment

2530 Objectives Objective: To validate calcium scores derived using the low dose CT portion of a PET/CT scan by comparing it to the gold standard, contrast enhanced CT (cCT). Since PET/CT patients are often oncology patients, calcium scores may determine the presence and severity of coronary artery disease. Methods Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 200 FDG PET/CT scans noting coronary artery calcification and a log was kept to record cases. Thirty patients were chosen with coronary artery calcification and 14 of these also had a regular chest cCT. Calcium scores were recorded for both low dose CT and cCT scans using the Toshiba Vital computer software. Regions of interest were drawn around visibly calcified coronary arteries and a final score was given in Agaston units. The 30 scores found from the low dose CT from the PET/CT portion were also classified based on the Rotterdam Coronary Classification Table which determined the severity of coronary artery disease (Table). Results Results: In the fourteen patients, the mean calcium score for the low dose CT was 609.36 and the mean calcium score for the cCT was 624.64. In comparing the two methods, a correlation of 0.99 was observed. Using the Rotterdam scale to rank the 30 low dose CT patients, 13 patients fell in to category 3 which indicated a moderate risk of having coronary artery disease and the following 17 fell in to category 4 which indicated significant risk of a cardiovascular event within the next 5 years. Conclusions Conclusion: Use of the low-dose CT for calcium scoring is a reliable method with a correlation of 0.99 when compared to the gold standard cCT. Since many types of chemotherapy are cardiotoxic, the addition of this information in a PET/CT report may eliminate the need for dedicated cCt for calcium scoring and may help determine the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.
Funny frames: the filmic concepts of Michael Haneke

Often considered to be both intellectually demanding and aesthetically innovative, Michael Haneke’s cinematic body has over time secured the attention of scholars and critics alike. And with this, ...
Web Design and E-Commerce

Computers and the Internet are now pervasive and essential parts of our lives: we use them at work and at home to gather information, for entertainment, and, increasingly, to do business. The Internet allows people to chat with others from all over the world, to follow the news from every continent, and conveniently to shop online at home or at the office. This book chapter covers two important and related concepts: Web design and e-commerce. The section on Web design starts with the overall picture of the Internet, history, Web authoring tools, design rules as well as introducing some research findings on Web design. E-commerce is introduced with definitions, technological acceptance model, online payment methods, online marketing and future developments. This chapter appears in the book, Web Systems Design and Online Consumer Behavior, edited by Yuan Gao. Copyright © 2005, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Suite 200, Hershey PA 17033-1240, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING
Assessment of progressively delayed prompts on guided skill learning in rats.

We examined the controlling factors that allow a prompted skill to become autonomous in a discrete-trials implementation of Touchette’s (1971) progressively delayed prompting procedure, but our subjects were rats rather than children with disabilities. Our prompted skill was a left-right lever-press sequence guided by two panel lights. We manipulated (a) the effectiveness of the guiding lights prompt and (b) the presence or absence of a progressively delayed prompt in four groups of rats. The less effective prompt yielded greater autonomy than the more effective prompt. The ability of the progressively delayed prompt procedure to produce behavioral autonomy depended upon characteristics of the obtained delay (trial duration) rather than on the pending prompt. Sequence accuracy was reliably higher in unprompted trials than in prompted trials, and this difference was maintained in the 2 groups that received no prompts but yielded equivalent trial durations. Overall sequence accuracy decreased systematically as trial duration increased. Shorter trials and their greater accuracy were correlated with higher overall reinforcement rates for faster responding. Waiting for delayed prompts (even if no actual prompt was provided) was associated with lower overall reinforcement rate by decreasing accuracy and by lengthening trials. These findings extend results from previous studies regarding the controlling factors in delayed prompting procedures applied to children with disabilities.
Gender Differences in Pathways to Delinquency: the Impact of Family Relationships and AdolescentDepression

The current study examined gender differences in pathways bridging childhood exposure to family violence, adolescent family relationships, adolescent depression, and juvenile delinquency. The study follows 296 families participating in a longitudinal study on the impact of exposure to family violence on child development. The present analyses include youth (150 girls and 146 boys) who were interviewed over three waves of data collection. Multi-group structural equation models tested whether the pathways between childhood and adolescent family risk factors, adolescent depression, and delinquency statistically differed by gender. Analyses revealed that for both girls and boys, childhood family violence had no lasting direct effect on juvenile delinquency. Disrupted family relationships in adolescence mediated the relationship between exposure to childhood family violence and delinquency; however, disrupted family relationships were more strongly related to concurrent depressive symptoms for girls than for boys. Lastly, there was a pathway between adolescent depression and subsequent adolescent delinquency, this pathway was not significantly different for girls compared to boys. The prospective nature of this study highlights the importance of analyzing family relationships and mental health in adolescence when estimating the influence of childhood exposure to family violence on adolescent delinquency. By simultaneously testing boys’ and girls’ models against each other, both similarities and differences in pathways to delinquency were identified.
Biochemical and ultrastructural observations of coccidian parasite and host cell interactions.

In general, the interactions of protozoan or metazoan parasites and their animal hosts are less understood than animal—virus interactions. Consequently, there is little biochemical information about the effects of these parasites on their animal hosts. One critical aspect of this field that is only beginning to receive attention is the study of the biochemical mechanisms involved in the communication between intracellular protozoa and their host cells.
Publications Rates for Podium and Poster Presentations from the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society.

Background:National orthopaedic meetings are used to disseminate current research through podium and poster abstract presentations. Not all of these abstracts go on to full-text journal publication...
Comparing Adoption of Breakthrough and "Me-too" Drugs among Medicare Beneficiaries: A Case Study of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors.

Purpose “Me-too” drugs are new pharmaceuticals with the mechanism of action of an existing drug and are considered less innovative than breakthrough drugs. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the adoption patterns of the breakthrough drug sitagliptin and the “me-too” drug saxagliptin differed and to assess whether the patterns differed between Medicare stand-alone (PDP) and Medicare Advantage Part D (MA-PD) plans.
The Symmetry of 2-Flat Homogeneous Spaces

A Riemannian manifold M is called 2-flat homogeneous if every geodesic is contained in some 2-flat Σ, and if the group of isometries of M acts transitively on the set of pairs (p, Σ) with p ∈ Σ. By a 2-flat we mean a closed, connected, flat, totally geodesic, 2-dimensional submanifold of M. It is proved in the paper that 2-flat homogeneous spaces are symmetric.
Knowledge of and concerns about long-acting reversible contraception among women in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.

Abstract Objectives To assess interest in, concerns about and knowledge of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) among women in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder who were at risk for unintended pregnancy. Study design Women in MAT completed a survey on contraceptive use, attitudes and knowledge, including LARC methods, as part of eligibility screening for an ongoing trial evaluating family planning interventions for this population. Results Eighty-three women at risk for unintended pregnancy completed the survey, and a subset of 51 completed supplemental questions about implants. All participants had heard of IUDs and 75/83 (90%) had heard of implants, but only 34/83 (41%) and 14/51 (27%) reported being likely to use IUDs and implants, respectively. Thirty-five women reported they were unlikely to use IUDs, with 29/35 (83%) citing unspecified “other reasons” for this position and 24/35 (69%) endorsing concerns about side effects. Seventeen women reported they were unlikely to use implants, with 8/17 (47%) citing “other reasons” and 9/17 (53%) and 10/17 (59%) reporting concerns about insertion and removal, respectively. Participants reported they knew “a little” about LARCs, but only their knowledge of implants was limited. Only 50/83 (60%) participants were aware of the superior effectiveness of IUDs and 26/51 (51%) were aware of the superior effectiveness of implants relative to other reversible methods. Conclusions Participants reported relatively low interest in LARCs. Many women had unspecified reasons for not using LARCs. Participants also lacked information about LARC safety and effectiveness, especially with regard to implants. Implications Women in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder are at high risk of unintended pregnancy, yet contraceptive use is low and use of less effective methods is common. Women in MAT may benefit from efforts to increase knowledge about implants and assuage concerns about their insertion and removal as well as more general efforts to improve knowledge about the relative efficacy of LARCs. Many women in MAT endorsed unspecified “other reasons” for not using LARCs, which should be explored further.
Community Health Workers Supporting Clinical Pharmacists in Diabetes Management: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of clinical pharmacists and community health workers (CHWs) in improving glycemic control within a low-income, ethnic minority population. Methods In a two-arm, 2-year, crossover trial, 179 African-American and 65 Hispanic adult patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] ≥ 8%) were randomized to CHW support either during the first or second year of the study. All participants received clinical pharmacist support for both years of the study. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c over 1 and 2 years. Results Similar HbA1c declines were noted after receiving the 1-year of CHW support: -0.45% [95% confidence interval [CI] -0.96, 0.05] with CHW versus -0.42% [95% CI -0.93, 0.08] without CHW support. In addition, there were no differences in change on secondary outcome measures, including body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, quality of life, and perceived social support. A difference in diastolic blood pressure change was noted: 0.80 mm Hg [95% CI -1.92, 3.53] with CHW versus -1.85 mm Hg [95% CI -4.74, 1.03] without CHW support (p=0.0078). Patients receiving CHW support had more lipid-lowering medication intensifications (0.39 [95% CI 0.27, 0.52]) compared to those without CHW support (0.26 [95% CI 0.14, 0.38]; p<.0001). However, no significant differences in intensification of antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive medications were observed between patients receiving CHW support and those without CHW support. Patients with low health literacy completed significantly more encounters with the pharmacist and CHW than those with high health literacy; although outcomes were comparable. Conclusions No significant differences were noted between a clinical pharmacist-CHW team and clinical pharmacist alone in improving glycemic control within a low-income, ethnic minority population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The course development process for an integrated nonprofit management course concentration: business competencies needed for nonprofit careers

The paper describes an integrated, interdisciplinary nonprofit management three-course concentration developed for an undergraduate public service major at a small, private college. We describe the course development process and implementation issues pertinent to nonprofit management education that include where to house programs, faculty issues, interdisciplinary teaching, students’ needs and experiential learning. Our course objectives aimed to develop business competencies from accounting, finance, management and marketing in the context of nonprofit organizations for students with no prior business knowledge. The paper concludes with a description of our three courses.
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Municipal Wastes: Is There Reason for Concern?

Recently, there has been increased concern about the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARG), in treated domestic wastewaters, animal manures and municipal biosolids. The concern is whether these additional sources of ARB contribute to antibiotic resistance levels in the environment, that is, “environmental antibiotic resistance.” ARB and ARG occur naturally in soil and water, and it remains unclear whether the introduction of ARB in liquid and solid municipal and animal wastes via land application have any significant impact on the background levels of antibiotic resistance in the environment, and whether they affect human exposure to ARB. In this current review, we examine and re-evaluate the incidence of ARB and ARG resulting from land application activities, and offer a new perspective on the threat of antibiotic resistance to public health via exposure from nonclinical environmental sources. Based on inputs of ARBs and ARGs from land application, their fat...
The Modification of Photosynthetic Capacity Induced by Ozone Exposure

Man’s activities continue to increase the level of ozone in the atmosphere. In the absence of strict controls, plants will be forced to grow in a polluted atmosphere. In crops, this higher level of ozone induces a lowering of productivity, while in natural ecosystems the plants become more at risk to other stresses including freezing, pathogens and insects. Knowing the mechanisms by which ozone induces these effects can allow for breeding and horticultural practices that may minimize any injuries or losses. The entry of ozone is through the stomata, so control of the aperture becomes critical to excluding the oxidant. Once inside the tissue, the primary events seem to be within the cell wall which induce changes in membrane permeability and transport in addition to generating toxic compounds. Carbon assimilation is inhibited by ozone exposure, but the question remains of how. A controversy exists about the role of stomatal closure in limiting photosynthesis rather than any other event within the chloroplasts. However, carbon fixation is altered, under some circumstances, by a decline in ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. This decline is induced principally in more mature leaves by a decline in the messenger RNAs for the subunits of the enzyme. Confounding these events is a strong wounding response induced by ozone that includes the production of ethylene, which in turn can interfere with photosynthesis. Placing the multiplicity of events into any coherent scheme is currently very difficult, but research is slowly sorting out these processes.
Combining many alignments for speech to speech translation.

Alignment combination (symmetrization) has been shown to be useful for improving Machine Translation (MT) models. Most existing alignment combination techniques are based on heuristics, and can combine only two sets of alignments at a time. Recently in [1], we proposed a power mean based algorithm that can be optimized to combine an arbitrary number alignment tables simultaneously. In this paper we present an empirical investigation of the merits of the approach for combining a large number of alignments (more than 200 in total before pruning). The results of the study suggest that the algorithm can often improve the performance of speech to speech translation systems for low resource languages.
A Unified Approach to Two-Level Structural Equation Models and Linear Mixed Effects Models

Two-level structural equation models (two-level SEM for simplicity) are widely used to analyze correlated clustered data (or two-level data) such as data collected from students (level-1 units) nested in different schools (level-2 units), or data collected from siblings (level-1 units) nested in different families (level-2 units). These data are usually collected by two sampling steps: randomly choosing some level-2 units; and then, randomly choosing some level-1 units from each chosen level-2 unit. Data collected in this way can be considered to be affected by two different random sources or random effects, namely, level-1 effects and level-2 effects. The substantive goal with such two-level data is to obtain theoretically meaningful and statistically adequate submodels for both the level-1 and level-2 effects. Realization of this main task consists of three steps: (1) set up an initial model with both level-1 and level-2 effects; (2) estimate the unknown model parameters; and (3) test the goodness-of-fit of the given model.