cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbial solubilization of a preoxidized subbituminous coal: Product characterization

Preliminary characterization of a microbial coal solubilization product has been performed. Submerged cultures ofPaecilomyces TLi orCandida ML13 were grown in defined minimal media containing preoxidized Wyodak subbituminous coal. Culture supernatants contained high-molecular-weight, acid-precipitable material that was separated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in aqueous and polar organic solvents. Organic GPC also separated a low-molecular-weight (<2700 daltons) fraction that was converted to higher-molecular-weight material upon acidification. Elemental analysis of the acid-precipitated material indicated an increased oxygen content as a result of the biological treatment. The biosolubilized product may undergo further microbial modification.
Ascent Guidance for Responsive Launch: a Fixed-Point Approach

Recent interests in responsive launch have highlighted the need for rapid and fully automated ascent guidance planning and guidance parameter generation for launch vehicles. This paper aims at developing methodology and algorithms for on-demand generation of optimal launch vehicle ascent trajectories from lift-off to achieving targeting condition outside the atmosphere. The exo-atmospheric portion of the ascent also allows an optimal coast between the two last burns. An analytical multiple-shooting method is responsible for the solution of the vacuum part of the ascent trajectory while a finite-difference method finds the endo-atmospheric ascent trajectory. A main theme of the methodology in this paper is the prolific use of fixed-point formulation and iterative techniques. The integration of the atmospheric and vacuum algorithms is carried out by a fixed-point algorithm. The exploitation of certain unique features in the integration procedure and the finite-difference method allows us to cast the atmospheric ascent problem into a nested fixed-point iteration problem. We present the algorithm for this problem and analyze the convergence for the fixed-point iterations involved. A major advantage of this fixed-point approach would be the extreme simplicity in ascent guidance software for the challenging portion of atmospheric ascent flight.
New Iron(III) Bis(acetylide) Compounds Based on the Iron Cyclam Motif

New trans-[Fe(cyclam)(C≡CR)2]OTf compounds 2a/2b [cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, R = SiiPr3 (a) or Ph (b), and OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate] were prepared from the reaction between trans-[Fe(cyclam)(OTf)2]OTf (1) and LiC≡CR. The trans arrangement of the acetylide ligands in 2 was established from the X-ray diffraction study of 2a, and the density functional theory calculations revealed significant dπ–π(C≡C) interactions.
Multi-color phase imaging and sickle cell anemia(Conference Presentation)

Quantitative phase measurements at multiple wavelengths has created an opportunity for exploring new avenues in phase microscopy such as enhancing imaging-depth (1), measuring hemoglobin concentrations in erythrocytes (2), and more recently in tomographic mapping of the refractive index of live cells (3). To this end, quantitative phase imaging has been demonstrated both at few selected spectral points as well as with high spectral resolution (4,5). However, most of these developed techniques compromise imaging speed, field of view, or the spectral resolution to perform interferometric measurements at multiple colors. In the specific application of quantitative phase in studying blood diseases and red blood cells, current techniques lack the required sensitivity to quantify biological properties of interest at individual cell level. Recently, we have set out to develop a stable quantitative interferometric microscope allowing for measurements of such properties for red cells without compromising field of view or speed of the measurements. The feasibility of the approach will be initially demonstrated in measuring dispersion curves of known solutions, followed by measuring biological properties of red cells in sickle cell anemia. References: 1. Mann CJ, Bingham PR, Paquit VC, Tobin KW. Quantitative phase imaging by three-wavelength digital holography. Opt Express. 2008;16(13):9753–64. 2. Park Y, Yamauchi T, Choi W, Dasari R, Feld MS. Spectroscopic phase microscopy for quantifying hemoglobin concentrations in intact red blood cells. Opt Lett. 2009;34(23):3668–70. 3. Hosseini P, Sung Y, Choi Y, Lue N, Yaqoob Z, So P. Scanning color optical tomography (SCOT). Opt Express. 2015;23(15):19752–62. 4. Jung J-H, Jang J, Park Y. Spectro-refractometry of individual microscopic objects using swept-source quantitative phase imaging. Anal Chem. 2013;85(21):10519–25. 5. Rinehart M, Zhu Y, Wax A. Quantitative phase spectroscopy. Biomed Opt Express. 2012;3(5):958–65.
Experimental Study on Antioxidation Effect of Lycopene and Vitamin E Compounding Agent

Objective To study the antioxidation effect of lycopene and vitamin E compounding agent in experimental old rats. Methods Forty male SD rats aged 12-month were randomly divided into four groups by MDA contents, which were low dose, middle dose and high dose treatment groups and a control group, after continously intragastric infusion for 60 days, serum MDA, SOD and GSH-Px were determined. Result The lycopene and vitamin E compounding agent boosted up the SOD and GSH-Px activity, reduced the MDA content. Conclusion The lycopene and vitamin E compounding agent has antioxidation effects.
Cultural Values and Leadership Behavior in the United States, Jamaica, and the Bahamas

As global companies access business opportunities in other countries, culture and leadership practices become critical issues. Thus, it was timely that this study examined the effects of national culture on leadership behavior of Americans, Jamaicans, and Bahamians. These countries were chosen because of Jamaica’s and the Bahamas strong relationship with the United States (economic interdependence). MBA students attending classes in these countries and holding leadership positions within their respective organizations participated in the study. The results in addition to confirming other cross-cultural researchers’ work that the values and attitudes of individuals vary from country, also identifies that there are differences in leadership behavior across countries.
Barriers to research utilization for oncology staff nurses and nurse managers/clinical nurse specialists.

Purpose/objectives To describe and compare barriers to research utilization faced by oncology staff nurses and nurse managers/clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) and to compare these to barriers identified by other nurses. Design Exploratory descriptive. Setting National. Sample Proportional random sample of 2,000 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) staff nurses (n = 769) from seven practice settings. ONS participants recruited oncology staff nurses (n = 331) and nurse managers/CNSs involved in cancer care (n = 407). Methods Mailings, including a demographic questionnaire and Barriers Scale, were sent to ONS nurses, and reminder postcards were sent to increase the return rate. Main research variables Barrier categories: characteristics of the adopter (nurse), organization, innovation (research itself), and communication, individual item barriers. Nurse and worksite characteristics. Findings Differences existed in oncology nurses' perceptions of the extent to which the adopter, organization, and innovation characteristics served as obstacles to research utilization. Nurse managers/CNSs perceived that each of these acted as a greater barrier than did staff nurses. Both groups perceived communication characteristics as a moderate barrier. Oncology nurses, as a group, responded similarly to other nurse samples regarding research and communication characteristics. Perceptions of oncology nurse managers/CNSs were similar to those of administrators in other studies. Oncology staff nurses rated barriers lower than nurses, including clinicians, in other samples. Conclusions For oncology nurses, organization, research, and communication barriers persist as impediments to research utilization. Nurse adopter characteristics may be diminishing as obstacles for staff nurses but not for nurse managers/CNSs. The decreased strength that oncology nurses attributed to barriers may reflect a benefit of practicing nursing in a specialty. Implications for nursing practice Decreasing known barriers would facilitate research-based practice in oncology. Nurse leaders can create environments conducive to research utilization by altering existing mechanisms, facilitating access to nursing research experts, supporting time for research utilization efforts, giving authority for practice changes, and offering continuing education related to research utilization processes. Nurse managers/CNSs need to increase their familiarity with research and research utilization, ensuring their awareness of pertinent clinical findings. Perceptual gaps between staff nurses and nurse managers/CNSs regarding research utilization require discussion and formal investigation. Researchers must communicate in clinician-friendly ways. All nurses need to demand and facilitate access to research findings.
Modular Bridge Construction Issues

Modern technology in construction techniques has provided new avenues of prefabricated bridge element production. In this chapter, the latest trends and the many advantages of purchasing ready-made bridges by using prefabrication methods are addressed, as well as associated construction issues. Superstructure applications adopted by various states include steel girders, trusses, and precast concrete I shape and box girders according to design requirements and availability for speedy construction. Prefabricated bridge elements and systems (PBES) are manufactured off-site, ready for installation when they are brought to the construction site. Bridge elements are the basic building blocks of bridge construction, such as deck panels, girders, pier caps, columns, pile cap footings, and foundations.
A partial least squares model for non-volatile residue quantification using diffuse reflectance infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Traditionally, quantification of non-volatile residue (NVR) on surfaces relevant to space systems has been performed using solvent wipes for NVR removal followed by gravimetric analysis. In this approach the detectable levels of NVR are ultimately determined by the mass sensitivity of the analytical balance employed. Unfortunately, for routine samples, gravimetric measurement requires large sampling areas, on the order of a square foot, in order to clearly distinguish sample and background levels. Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) is one possible alternative to gravimetric analysis for NVR measurement. DRIFTS is an analytical technique used for the identification and quantification of organic compounds that has two primary advantages relative to gravimetric based methods: increased sensitivity and the ability to identify classes of organic species present. However, the use of DRIFTS is not without drawbacks, most notably repeatability of sample preparation and the additive quantification uncertainty arising from overlapping infrared signatures. This can result in traditional calibration methods greatly overestimating the concentration of species in mixtures. In this work, a partial least squares (PLS) regression model is shown to be an effective method for removing the over prediction error of a three component mixture of common contaminant species.
FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA: AWARENESS, DETECTION AND CONTROL IN THE COMMUNITY

Background: The association of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) with coronary heart disease (CHD) has not been studied in a community based setting in the United States. We sought to profile the association of FH with CHD, lag in diagnosis and treatment gap in Olmsted County, MN. Methods: 6000
Sickle hemoglobin: a specific radioimmunoassay.

For the quantitation of hemoglobin S, a radioimmunoassay has been developed which is specific and highly sensitive. Hemoglobin S was purified by column chromatography and injected with complete Freund’s adjuvant into goats. Each goat serum was tested for reactivity against hemoglobins A and S by immunodiffusion and by quantitative precipitation. Hemoglobin A reactivity was removed by absorption with hemoglobin A. One serum so treated was specific for hemoglobin S; it reacted negligibly with hemoglobins A or F. Hemoglobin S was labeled with 125I by the chloramine T method. In the radioimmunoassay, complete precipitation of the antigen—antibody complex was insured by the addition of rabbit antigoat gamma globulin. This assay offers reliable and specific quantitation of as little as 1 ng of hemoglobin S. Assuming that 10% of the hemoglobin in fetal blood at 16 wk gestation is of adult type, this assay is capable of detecting the amount of hemoglobin S in 10-7 ml of homozygous hemoglobin S blood. The prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell anemia by radioimmunoassay will require, in addition, a method for demonstrating the absence of hemoglobin A and a safe method for obtaining fetal erythrocytes without significant contamination by maternal erythrocytes.
Review of "Applied Theatre: International Case Studies and Challenges for Practice"

This review will critically analyze the second edition of the text, Applied Theatre: International Case Studies and Challenges for Practice, edited by Monica Prendergast and Juliana Saxton
Review: Chest radiography lacks utility for detecting left ventricular dysfunction

Source Citation Badgett RG, Mulrow CD, Otto PM, Ramirez G. How well can the chest radiograph diagnose left ventricular dysfunction? J Gen Intern Med. 1996 Oct;11:625-34.
Smart real estate assessments using structured deep neural networks

In a smart city, effective and accurate real estate assessments governed by a local government is crucial for determining the property taxes. Such assessments have never been trivial, and inappropriate assessments may result in disputes between property owners and the local government. In this paper, we introduce a deep learning approach to smartly and effectively assessing real estate values. We propose a systematic method to derive a layered knowledge graph and design a structured Deep Neural Network (DNN) based on it. Neurons in a structured DNN are structurally connected, which makes the network time and space efficient; and thus, it requires fewer data points for training. The structured DNN model has been designed to learn from the most recently captured data points; therefore, it allows the model to adapt to the latest market trends. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, we use a case study of assessing real properties in small towns. A structured DNN was designed to match with a layered knowledge graph for property assessments in the real estate domain, which results in a significant reduction of neurons and connections between them. The experimental results show that a structured DNN outperforms conventional multivariate linear regression models, fully-connected neural networks, and prediction methods used by the leading real estate companies.
The potential of the earth derived from satellite motions

Recently I determined the coefficients of zonal spherical harmonics up to ninth order in the potential of the earth by analyzing motions of artificial satellites (Kozai, 1962a).
Liver transplantation for malignant tumors.

According to the National Cancer Institute’s statistics, 13,600 new cases of malignant tumors of the liver and biliary passages were expected to occur in 1986 in the United States.4 The optimal treatment for malignant liver tumors is partial or subtotal resection of the liver. These days resection can be done with a low mortality.12 The resectability rates reported vary from 5 per cent to 30 per cent in different series.8 Conceptually, total hepatectomy followed by orthotopic liver transplantation would be the only possible surgical method of cure if the tumor was too extensive to be resected without a total hepatectomy while still being confined solely to the liver. The same situation applies if a conventional resection was to be precluded by coexisting cirrhosis.
Image Reconstruction for Quanta Image Sensors Using Deep Neural Networks

Quanta Image Sensor (QIS) is a single-photon image sensor that oversamples the light field to generate binary measurements. Its single-photon sensitivity makes it an ideal candidate for the next generation image sensor after CMOS. However, image reconstruction of the sensor remains a challenging issue. Existing image reconstruction algorithms are largely based on optimization. In this paper, we present the first deep neural network approach for QIS image reconstruction. Our deep neural network takes the binary bit stream of QIS as input, learns the nonlinear transformation and denoising simultaneously. Experimental results show that the proposed network produces significantly better reconstruction results compared to existing methods.
Defect Identification and Mitigation Via Visual Inspection in Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing

Defect identification and mitigation is an important avenue of research to improve the overall quality of objects created using additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. Identifying and mitigating defects takes on additional importance in large-scale, industrial AM. In large-scale AM, defects that result in failed prints are extremely costly in terms of time spent and material used. To address these issues, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility investigated the use of a laser profilometer and thermal camera to collect data concerning an object as it was constructed. These data provided feedback for an in situ control system to adjust object construction. Adjustments were made in the form of automated height control. This paper presents results for both a polymer- and metal-based system. Object construction for both systems was improved significantly, and the resulting objects were more geometrically identical to the ideal 3D representation.
Developing Community Engaged Research Practices in Family, School and Community Partnerships

As the field of family, school and community partnerships continues to evolve, there is increasing recognition of the impact that parents, guardians and communities can have on students, schools, and education systems-at-large when provided with opportunity to become authentically engaged. To further this evolution there is a need for participatory approaches to research that directly support educational change. This article provides an overview of community engaged scholarship (CES) with a focus on the benefits, criticisms, and challenges that emerge from the utilization of this approach. Special attention is given to how CES intersects with existing efforts in the field of family, school and community partnerships.
Assessing fiscal sustainability

Every country faces an intertemporal budget constraint, which requires that its government's future expenditures, including servicing its outstanding official debt, be covered by its government's future receipts when measured in present value. The present value difference between a country's future expenditures and its future receipts is its fiscal gap. The US fiscal gap now stands at $205 trillion. This is 10.3 percent of the estimated present value of all future US GDP. The United States needs to raise taxes, cut spending, or engage in a combination of these policies by an amount equal to 10.3 percent of annual GDP to close its fiscal gap. Closing the gap via raising taxes would require an immediate and permanent 57 percent increase in all federal taxes. Closing the gap via spending cuts (apart from servicing official debt) would require an immediate and permanent 37 percent reduction in spending. This grave picture of America's fiscal position effectively constitutes a declaration of bankruptcy.
Lithofacies Control on Reservoir Quality of the Viola Limestone in Southwest Kansas and Unsupervised Machine Learning Approach of Seismic Attributes Facies-Classification

The hydrocarbon development of the Viola Limestone in southern Kansas, USA, has encountered challenges, regarding the development of a robust data-based model of the reservoir-quality controls. The legacy understanding that hydrocarbon entrapment and reservoir-quality are controlled by structure, has resulted in less than optimal drilling results. In this study, an integration of petrographic and geophysical well-logs analyses established the main reservoir quality control as dolomitization-induced porosity. The dolomitization control is supported by comparing best-fit trends on density-porosity well log values with typical model-trends of limestone and dolomite density-porosity. Furthermore, this study presents unsupervised artificial neural network (ANN) classification, based on five seismic attributes (instantaneous frequency, energy, band width, absorption quality factor, seismic amplitude), that comes in agreement with Ca–Mg ratio and the observed sonic transit time (DT log) variation with dolomitization/porosity increase. The hydrocarbon reservoir facies identified by the attributes classification explains the drilling results, with high accuracy/match to facies class centers, and can be used effectively in other settings. The integration, of multi-scale multi-data analysis and modeling, has provided a solid understanding of the reservoir-quality control and distribution. This study can be considered as a reliable platform for placing future infill wells in the study area, to lower the risk of drilling dry holes.
Victorian Jamaica: edited by Tim Barringer and Wayne Modest, Durham, Duke UP, 2018, 744 pp., 270 color illustrations, $38.95 (paperback), ISBN: 978-0-8223-6068-1

The study of material cultures is, or at least aspires to be, the study of infrastructured ordinariness. It wants to get at the rhythms of the under-processed, under-cognized everyday by foreground...
An Evaluation of a Resource Efficient Writing Intervention Delivered by Paraprofessionals to Second Grade Students.

Writing is a critical skill to develop, but many students are not proficient writers. Limited research exists about writing interventions, particularly interventions that are resource-efficient (e....
A framework of negative responses to introversion at work

Abstract Despite recent growth in popular press about introversion and negative responses to introversion at work, academic work has yet to directly investigate this topic. This may be at least partly due to a sensitive issue: do negative responses to introversion at work purely constitute mistreatment, or are these legitimate responses to introversion? We propose a framework that incorporates both perspectives as interlinked explanations for this phenomenon: the Stereotype-Driven Process, which is driven by bias and associated with mistreatment, and the Target-Driven Process, which is driven by introversion itself and can be associated with legitimate responses to introversion. As such, this paper describes how negative responses to introversion come about, introduces perceived introversion mistreatment, examines negative outcomes associated with negative responses to introversion, and delineates numerous testable propositions that can guide future research on the topic.
Fibonacci's Forgotten Number.

Ezra (Bud) Brown (ezbrown@math.vt.edu) grew up in New Orleans and has degrees from Rice and LSU. He arrived at Virginia Tech shortly after Hurricane Camille, and has been there ever since, with time out for sabbatical visits to Washington, DC (where he has spent his summers since 1993) and Munich. His research interests include graph theory, combinatorics, and number theory, and he is a frequent contributor to the MAA journals. He came across the Forgotten Number and the mystery surrounding it while gathering material for an interview with Fibonacci for Math Horizons. He occasionally bakes biscuits for his students.
Measuring the diversification of a loan portfolio

We analyse the effect of correlations on a portfolio of loans. Building on an earlier idea developed at Moody's (Witt, 2004), we define the diversification score as the number of independent loans in an equivalent credit portfolio with the same expected loss and risk level. We perform Monte Carlo simulations to analyse the applicability of this method for two risk measures, namely value at risk and the expected shortfall.
Residual effects of supplemental moisture on the plant populations of plots in the northern Mojave Desert

Residual effects of sprinkle irrigation from 1968-1970 on populations of Mojave Desert shrub communities were observed in late 1974. The sprinkle-irrigated plots showed a residual increase in density of four species, but other species either failed to reproduce in significant numbers or lost all gains made during the years following treatment. The seven-year change for the irrigated plots was equivalent to a gain of 1178 perennial plants per ha, but the nonirrigated plots lost an average of 1050 plants per ha equivalent during the same period. The biomass gain after seven years was equivalent to 1000 kg/ha for irrigated plots and 310 for nonirrigated plots.
Integrating Datasets on Public Health and Clinical Aspects of Sickle Cell Disease for Effective Community-Based Research and Practice

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disease that has multiple aspects including public health and clinical aspects. The goals of the research study were to (1) understand the public health aspects of sickle cell disease, and (2) understand the overlap between public health aspects and clinical aspects that can inform research and practice beneficial to stakeholders in sickle cell disease management. The approach involved the construction of datasets from textual data sources produced by experts on sickle cell disease including from landmark publications published in 2020 on sickle cell disease in the United States. The interactive analytics of the integrated datasets that we produced identified that community-based approaches are common to both public health and clinical aspects of sickle cell disease. An interactive visualization that we produced can aid the understanding of the alignment of governmental organizations to recommendations for addressing sickle cell disease in the United States. From a global perspective, the interactive analytics of the integrated datasets can support the knowledge transfer stage of the SICKLE recommendations (Skills transfer, Increasing self-efficacy, Coordination, Knowledge transfer, Linking to adult services, and Evaluating readiness) for effective pediatric to adult transition care for patients with sickle cell disease. Considering the increased digital transformations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the constructed datasets from expert recommendations can be integrated within remote digital platforms that expand access to care for individuals living with sickle cell disease. Finally, the interactive analytics of integrated expert recommendations on sickle cell disease management can support individual and team expertise for effective community-based research and practice.
Expanding biological control to bioelectronics with machine learning

Bioelectronics integrates electronic devices and biological systems with the ability to monitor and control biological processes. From homeostasis to sensorimotor reflexes, closed-loop control with feedback is a staple of most biological systems and fundamental to life itself. Apart from a few examples in bioelectronic medicine, the closed-loop control of biological processes using bioelectronics is not as widespread as in nature. We note that adoption of closed-loop control using bioelectronics has been slow because traditional control methods are difficult to apply to the complex dynamics of biological systems and their sensitivity to environmental changes. Here, we postulate that machine learning can greatly enhance the reach of bioelectronic closed-loop control and we present the advantages of machine learning compared to traditional control approaches. Potential applications of machine learning-based closed-loop control with bioelectronics include further impact in bioelectronic medicine and fine tuning of reactions and products in synthetic biology.
Drivers of species richness, biomass, and dominance of invasive macrophytes in temperate lakes

Presence and abundance of invasive species depend on likelihood of introduction and environmental limitations to their distributions. Propagule pressure and anthropogenic disturbance are hypothesized to increase invasions, yet assessing the importance of propagule pressure and anthropogenic factors independently is challenging, and properties of invaded systems (e.g., habitat availability) likely contribute to invasions. We sampled macrophyte assemblages in 20 lakes in New York, varying in boater visitations and number of previous waterbodies visited, to test if increased propagule risk (proxy for propagule pressure measuring potential for introducing invasives from different sources) resulted in greater species richness, biomass (g/m2) and dominance (% invasive biomass) of invasive macrophytes. We then tested watershed land use, in-lake water properties, and lake morphology on presence, abundance, and dominance of invasive macrophytes. Increased propagule risk resulted in greater species richness of invasive macrophytes. In invaded lakes, increased abundance of invasive macrophytes was correlated with increased agriculture in watersheds and littoral:total area. Increased dominance of invasive macrophytes was observed in lakes with greater littoral:total areas. Results suggest propagule risk can explain spatial variability in macrophyte invasions, while area-specific biomass in invaded lakes can be correlated with watershed and in-lake water properties. In lakes with increased suitable habitat (relative proportion of littoral:total area ratio), invasive macrophytes may dominate aquatic plant assemblages. Many factors correlated with the abundance of invasive macrophytes are not easily managed (e.g., watershed agricultural land use and lake morphology). Limiting introductions of propagules is likely the best approach to prevent macrophyte invasions, especially at high risk lakes.
Rare Manifestation of Aspergillus in a Pediatric Patient with Cystic Fibrosis

Introduction: Endobronchial aspergilloma is a rare clinical presentation of aspergillus infection involving a fungal growth within the large airways. It is distinct from pulmonary aspergillomas which can form within damaged parenchyma such as cavitary lesions. Endobronchial aspergilloma most commonly presents in patients with underlying malignancy or an immunocompromised state. We present the first reported case of endobronchial aspergilloma in an immunocompetent pediatric patient with known cystic fibrosis (CF). Case Report: Our patient is a 12 year old female with …
Designing Constitutions for Democracy

The last few years have witnessed a minor explosion literature in political theory seriously considering the problems of designing constitutions in the light of democratic ideals, including works with both domestic and trans-national ambitions. This paper explores the theses that a) three importantly different methodological approaches can be discerned in the literature, b) that the three approaches have complementary strengths and weaknesses, and c) that a modified approach can draw on the strengths while avoiding most of the weaknesses. Serially examining and critically evaluating ‘imaginative institutional reaction’ (e.g., Levinson (2006) or Sabato (2007)), ‘rational optimization’ (e.g., Vermeule (2007)), and ‘Aristotelian comparativism,’ (e.g., Lutz (2006)), the paper concludes that a comparative approach is recommended, but that it ought dispense with an Aristotelian orientation in favor of reference to the ideal of constitutional democracy understood as regulative ideals.
Moscas, metiches, and methodologies: exploring power, subjectivity, and voice when researching the undocumented

In this essay, Gerardo R. Lopez, a non-undocumented immigrant scholar, who has done extensive research with undocumented immigrant communities, has a conversation with Alonso R. Reyna Rivarola, an ...
Melanoma cell adhesion and spreading activities of a synthetic 124-residue triple-helical “mini-collagen”

A great variety of cells, such as melanoma cells, fibroblasts, platelets, keratinocytes, and epithelial cells, adhere to and migrate on specific regions within the triple-helical domains of types I, III, and IV collagen. The relative importance of collagen primary, secondary, and tertiary structures on these cellular activities has not been ascertained, as no general synthetic methodology exists to allow for the study of peptides incorporating biologically active sequences in triple-helical conformation. We have thus developed a novel, generally applicable solid-phase branching methodology for the synthesis of aligned, triple-helical collagen-model polypeptides (i.e. "mini-collagens"). Three nascent peptide chains are carboxyl-terminally linked through one N alpha-amino and two N epsilon-amino groups of Lys, while repeating Gly-Pro-Hyp triplets induce triple helicity. A homotrimeric triple-helical polypeptide (THP) of 124 amino acids, incorporating residues 1263-1277 of alpha 1 (IV) collagen, was synthesized. Highly metastatic mouse melanoma cells showed a profound preference for adhesion to this THP as compared with a single-stranded peptide (SSP) incorporating the same type IV collagen sequence or a branched peptide containing eight repeats of Gly-Pro-Hyp (designated GPP*). Specifically, 50% cell adhesion occurred at a THP concentration of 1.12 microM, while comparable levels of adhesion required [SSP] = 170 microM or [GPP*] > 100 microM. Melanoma cells also spread on the THP to a greater extent than on the SSP or GPP*. These results are the first direct demonstrations of the significance of triple helicity for cell adhesion to and spreading on a specific collagen sequence and support earlier conclusions of conformational dependency for cell adhesion to and migration on types I and IV collagen. In addition, the melanoma cell THP activities support the concept that tumor cell adhesion and spreading on type IV collagen involves multiple, distinct domains in triple-helical conformation. The triple-helical peptide synthetic protocol developed here will allow eventually for the study of both structure and biological activity of specific, glycosylated collagen sequences in homotrimeric and heterotrimeric forms.
Dynamics of Passively Phased Ring Oscillator Fiber Laser Arrays

In this paper, we study fiber laser arrays coupled in a spatially filtered ring oscillator geometry that produces a tiled-array output. In particular, we examine the passive phasing dynamics, the efficiency of coherent combination, and the dependence of the system’s behavior on nonlinearities in the fibers. For an array containing a small number of elements, we find that the fibers achieve a co-phased state within two round trips after a perturbation. Steady-state results agree with the previous work. We also find that the Kerr nonlinearity decreases the combining efficiency as determined from the on-axis intensity in the far-field output.
Perceptions of Intimate Violence and Attitudes Toward Interventions -- The Role of Acculturation

Abstract The present study investigates the effects of perceptions of intimate violence, knowledge of domestic violence policies, and attitudes toward domestic violence interventions among Vietnamese Americans. Data analyses indicate that Vietnamese Americans tend to view intimate violence as a problem and strongly support government interventions, but they are not likely to support criminal justice interventions. Perceptions of the problems and attitudes toward interventions are not significantly affected by all indicators of acculturation. Particularly, English proficiency has no significant effects on all dependent variables. On the other hand, knowledge of domestic violence policies significantly increases support for government interventions in general and for criminal justice interventions in particular. The study suggests the importance of understanding acculturation within the social, cultural, and political contexts of the immigrant community, as well as the importance of social integration and p...
Application of Automated Deduction to the Search for Single Axioms for Exponent Groups

We present new results in axiomatic group theory obtained by using automated deduction programs. The results include single axioms, some with the identity and others without, for groups of exponents 3, 4, 5, and 7, and a general form for single axioms for groups of odd exponent. The results were obtained by using the programs in three separate ways: as a symbolic calculator, to search for proofs, and to search for counterexamples. We also touch on relations between logic programming and automated reasoning.
User needs assessment for the adaptive management portal

This paper will introduce the reader to the processes a team of individuals from Management, Forestry, Consultants, and Computer Science backgrounds employed to gather user needs/ requirements for a Forestry Portal. The paper will first inform the reader on the background and objectives of the Forestry Portal Project and then discuss the lessons learned and future steps in conducting this study.
Iron Catalysis: Historic Overview and Current Trends

Iron catalysis is a growing area of research, as seen by an exponential increase in the publication activities on the topic. This introductory chapter provides a historic overview of the development of iron catalysis including some notable milestones. The advantages of iron, i.e., its abundance, low price, and relative nontoxicity, are discussed, and an overview of the main type of reactions catalyzed by iron is outlined. The advances of heterogeneous iron catalysis (which is not covered in this volume) are exemplified with a few notable cases. Finally, the potential impact of metal impurities in iron sources on the catalytic activity is discussed.
HotSpot: a Dynamic Compact Thermal Model at the Processor-Architecture Level

This paper describes a thermal-modeling approach that is easy to use and computationally efficient for modeling thermal effects and thermal-management techniques at the processor architecture level. Our approach is based on modeling thermal behavior of the microprocessor die and its package as a circuit of thermal resistances and capacitances that correspond to functional blocks at the architecture level. This yields a simple compact model, yet heat dissipation within all major functional blocks and the heat flow among blocks and through the package are accounted for. The model is parameterized, boundary- and initial-conditions independent, and is derived by a structure assembly approach. The architecture community has demonstrated growing interest in thermal management, but currently lacks a way to model on-chip temperatures in a tractable way. Our model can be used for initial exploration of the design space at the architecture level. The model can easily be integrated into popular power/performance simulators, can be used to determine how thermal stress is correlated to the architecture, and how architecture-level design decisions influence thermal behavior and related effects.
Quantitative measurement of human ageing using computer-aided radiographic texture analysis

Studying the process of ageing in humans is dependent on methods for quantitative measurement of the physiological differences between younger and older individuals. Although in many cases the chronological age is used as a measurement of ageing, it provides merely a rough approximation of the actual physiological age of a person. Here, we propose a computer method for measuring the physiological age of the human knee by using quantitative analysis of the radiographic Haralick bone texture. Experiments using longitudinal data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging show that the radiographic Haralick texture correlates with the chronological age, and that the ageing of the knee as reflected by the tibial anisotropy and measured using the radiographic texture is not linear to the chronological age. The analysis reveals that the bone ages until the person gets to the age of 40, then stabilises until the age of around 65, from where it continues to age. A period of rapid ageing was also detected aroun...
A novel synthesis of 1,2-diphosphorylbenzenes

Abstract Synthesis of phosphorylchloroacetylenes, diphosphorylacetylenes and the Diels-Alder reactions of the latter to produce o -diphosphorylbenzenes are described.
Phase separation in annealed InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells

In-rich second phases were detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in In 0.27 Ga 0.73 N multiple quantum well (MQW) samples that were annealed at 950 C for 40 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements showed a shift in the zero-order diffraction peak toward GaN, consistent with the formation of an In-poor phase remaining in the InGaN wells. Voids were also found by TEM in the MQWs after annealing.
Credit Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa - Sources, Risks, and Policy Responses

In this paper, we analyze credit growth in Sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade focusing on the post-2002 rapid credit growth in select countries. We develop regression models of the fundamental determinants of bank credit and use them to examine whether they can fully explain developments in rapid credit growth countries. We then argue that rapid credit expansion, whether a manifestation of a credit boom or driven by fundamentals, can give rise to prudential and macroeconomic risks. We detail these risks and discuss the choice of policies to mitigate them. We conclude by evaluating the likely impact of the ongoing global recession and financial crisis on credit growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
FAR-INFRARED EMBEDDING IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS

A technique which allows the measurement of detector embedding impedance has been developed. By using a bismuth microbolometer as a variable resistance load the impedance of one element in a bow-tie antenna array operating at 94 GHz was inferred. The technique is frequency insensitive, and could be used throughout the far-infrared.
Determination of Nanomaterial Energy Levels for Organic Photovoltaics by Cyclic Voltammetry

A wide variety of nanomaterials and associated nanomaterial/polymer composites are being developed in an effort to produce higher efficiency organic solar cells. This development requires a fundamental understanding of the energy levels for the individual materials, and their composites, to enable device designs which posess appropriate energy level matching. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) allows for the determination of the band gaps (E g ) and energy levels of these various nanomaterials and composites by measuring their oxidation and reduction potentials. These potentials correspond to a given material's ionization potential (IP) and electron affinity (EA), respectively. The results for the EA, IP, and E g have been determined by CV for derivatized fullerenes and CdSe quantum dots (QD), measured in isolation, and in conjugated polymer composites with MEH-PPV. In addition, CV measurements conducted under dark and illuminated conditions were used to investigate the relationship between energy levels within the composites.
A comparison of four beds in the prevention of tissue ischaemia in paraplegic patients.

Seven paraplegic and tetraplegic patients were each evaluated on four different beds (standard, water mattress, soft foam, rocking bed) to determine optimum turning intervals for least tissue ischaemia and maximum comfort. The results of the present study indicate that: 1. Three paraplegic and tetraplegic patients wearing Stryker boots and lying on sheepskin showed no objective evidence of tissue ischaemia after remaining 8 hours in one position on a standard hospital bed. 2. The degree of ischaemia appears no different whether the patient is lying 2 or 8 hours unturned. It also appears to be no different whether the patient is turned on a standard bed, a soft foam mattress, a water mattress or a rocking bed. 3. Discomfort was the main cause for requesting to be turned in three of the seven patients in this study. 4. There was no difference in the amount of turning needed to relieve discomfort in any of the four test beds. 5. Patients most preferred the water and soft foam mattress beds.
Localization of promoter sequences required for thyrotropin-releasing hormone and thyroid hormone responsiveness of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-gene in primary cultures of rat pituitary cells.

The glycoprotein hormone alpha-gene is regulated by multiple hormones in different pituitary and placental cell types. In thyrotropes, the alpha-gene is stimulated by TRH and repressed by thyroid hormone (T3). We used transient expression assays in primary cultures of rat pituitary cells to examine regulation of the alpha-promoter (alpha Luc) by TRH and T3. The -846 alpha Luc activity was stimulated 3.4-fold by TRH and repressed 44% by T3. GnRH and cAMP stimulated -846 alpha Luc by 8.3- and 8.6-fold, respectively. T3 blocked TRH stimulation, but it had no effect on stimulation by GnRH or cAMP, suggesting that the T3-mediated effects are thyrotrope specific. TRH and T3 responsiveness was preserved with deletions to -346 basepairs (bp). TRH responsiveness was lost after deletion to -280 bp, whereas T3-mediated repression was eliminated by further deletion to -180 bp. A series of DNA fragments between -420 and -180 was linked to -132 alpha Luc to study TRH and T3 responses in greater detail. Sequences betwee...
Laboratory Evaluation of Utilizing Waste Heavy Clay and Foundry Sand Blends as Construction Materials

This paper presents a study in which the feasibility of utilizing two industrial wastes, a heavy clay material from the automotive industry and a waste foundry sand from the metallurgical industry, as construction materials was evaluated through laboratory experiments. The laboratory study blended two industrial wastes at different proportions and stabilized the blend with varying amounts of cement. The engineering properties of the blends were evaluated through the Atterberg limits, Proctor compaction test, direct shear, and unconfined compressive strength tests. The results from this study indicate that blending foundry sand into waste heavy clay significantly reduced its plasticity and cohesion and hence made it possible to be further stabilized with cement. In addition, it is observed that the blended materials had other improved properties such as increased maximum dry unit weight, friction angle, and compressive strength. However, the increase in compaction and strength properties became less significant with the increase of foundry sand content. An optimum blending ratio was recommended through this laboratory study.