cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poverty, inequality, and development: A distributional approach

Abstract Economists have concentrated on aggregate economic growth to measure countries' development progress and in recent years have also considered income distribution performance. This paper reverses the conventional emphasis by placing income distribution at the forefront. I examine what is known about the distributions of income and poverty in the developing countries of the world and probe the correlations between poverty, inequality, and development. I explore the main sources of inequality and the extent to which individual countries have managed to alleviate poverty and reduce inequality in the course of economic growth. Employing evidence from case studies of six developing nations. I suggest some explanations for differing patterns of development and call for development planning founded on a firm commitment to helping the poor.
Measurements of the effective g-factor in dilute GaAs 2D electrons

Abstract We report direct measurements of g ∗ in dilute (density 0.8– 4.7×10 10 cm −2 ), high-mobility GaAs two-dimensional electrons from their spin polarization in a parallel magnetic field. Surprisingly, while g ∗ is indeed significantly enhanced with respect to the band g-factor of GaAs, the enhancement factor decreases from about 6 to 3 as the density is reduced.
Generation of a De Novo Actin Pointed-End Binding Protein

In order to create disease specific drugs, molecules that are designed to bind to any given target with high affinity and high specificity have been the motivation of the biotechnology field for some time. The natural immune system can produce antibodies that essentially recognize any antigenic target with high affinity and specificity. Therefore, employing this specificity through antibody related technologies should yield bioengineered proteins that are very useful to biomedical research. We performed a high-throughput phage display screen, which used restricted amino acid diversity phage display libraries to generate antibody fragments to F-actin. We generated synthetic actin-binding antibody fragments (sABs) that were further selected to bind to specific actin conformations. These sABs resemble the Fab fragment of an antibody, with a 55kDa heterodimer of heavy and light chain variable fragments, forming an antigen-binding site that was engineered to bind to a specific actin conformation by specific library sorting and subsequent phage ELISA characterization. A series of these generated sABs were characterized in vitro and in vivo. We identified three interesting candidates for study. The first construct severs F-actin in vitro and in vivo. The second sAB bundles F-actin and inhibits G-actin from polymerizing. And the most interesting sAB is a pointed-end actin binding molecule. This construct shows clear affinity for the pointed-end of actin by in vitro TIRF analysis. Furthermore, this construct also inhibits in vitro polymerization of actin over time. The application of this technology to generate molecules to specific conformations of proteins for analysis will be pivotal in the bioengineering field.
Dimeric nanocapsule induces conformational change

An induced cis–trans–trans (rctt) chair to cone structural rearrangement is forced by the addition of a pentacoordinate zinc(II) complex, overcoming thermodynamic and kinetic factors to produce the first phenyl-substituted zinc dimeric nanocapsule.
Catalyst-selective, scalable membraneless alkaline direct formate fuel cells

Abstract We present here a membraneless alkaline direct formate fuel cell (DFFC) with a catalyst-selective strategy, in which a non-hazardous, inexpensive alkaline aqueous formate solution is used as an anolyte. The novel catalyst-selective strategy not only avoids the use of practically unviable alkaline anion-exchange membranes, but also overcomes the scalability limitation of the traditional membraneless DLFCs that are based on a micro-flow phenomenon, and allows the development of large-scale membraneless DLFCs with flexible configurations. In comparison to methanol, ethanol, and formic acid fuels, the aqueous formate solutions show superior oxidation kinetics and efficiency. The high power density exhibited by the membraneless alkaline DFFC is promising for developing small, safe, inexpensive portable power systems as well as large-scale energy generation systems.
Neoliberalism as a new historical bloc: a Gramscian analysis of neoliberalism’s common sense in education

Reading neoliberalism in a Gramscian key, this article argues that neoliberalism is not merely an ideological agenda but a new civilization design, what Gramsci termed a new historical bloc. Using the concept of new common sense as an analytical framework, the article offers 16 theses exploring different areas of education and policy impacted by neoliberalism.
The Manuscripts of Piers Plowman

Piers Plowman is one of the most highly regarded late medieval English poems, although at times it can also be one of the more frustrating works, in large part because of its existence in three distinct versions (A, B, and C) and its complex transmission history. In this essay we examine the scholarship regarding the manuscripts and the scribes of Piers Plowman, from W. W. Skeat onwards, and we also explore new tools now available for the study of the manuscripts, such as the Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, which promise to change the way we read, teach, and research the poem.
Middle to Late Pleistocene loess record in eastern Nebraska, USA, and implications for the unique nature of Oxygen Isotope Stage 2

Abstract New subsurface data reveal a nearly continuous stratigraphic record of Middle to Late Pleistocene loess sedimentation preserved beneath upland summits in eastern Nebraska, USA. Thickness and grain size trends, as well as pedologic evidence, indicate significant changes in loess sources, accumulation rates, and depositional environments. The newly defined Kennard Formation accumulated in the Middle Pleistocene, and may represent multiple thin increments of distal loess from nonglacial sources on the Great Plains. The overlying Loveland Loess, up to 18 m thick and deposited during Oxygen Isotope Stage 6 (OIS 6) (Illinoian glaciation), probably records the emergence of the Missouri River valley as a major glaciogenic loess source. The prominent Sangamon Geosol formed through long-term pedogenic alteration of the upper Loveland Loess during OIS 5 and 4. Thin loess of the Gilman Canyon Formation records slow loess accumulation and pedogenic alteration in OIS 3. The Peoria Loess (OIS 2) is similar in thickness to Loveland Loess, but may have accumulated more rapidly in an environment less favorable to bioturbation. More importantly, comparison of Peoria and Loveland loess thickness trends indicates much greater influx of nonglaciogenic loess from the Great Plains during OIS 2 than in OIS 6, suggesting colder and/or drier conditions in the Midcontinent during OIS 2 than in earlier glacial stages.
Chemical studies in host-virus interactions. VII. A comparison of some properties of three mutant pairs of bacterial viruses, T2r+ and T2r, T4r+ and T4r, T6r+ and T6r.

Various chemical and physiological aspects of the reproductive cycles of r+ and r strains of T2, T4, and T6 viruses have been examined and compared. These include the ultraviolet absorption spectra in which differences between r and r+ strains were not observed, though they were obtained in the case of T2, T4, and T6. Adsorption of T4 and T6 was found to require the adsorption cofactor l-tryptophane. Among the r and r+ strains of these viruses limiting tryptophane requirements for adsorption were found to be different. Some differences were observed in the one-step growth curves of these viruses under conditions of single and multiple infection. The turbidity-time relations of infected cultures were characteristically different. The rates of DNA and protein synthesis in the infected cells were found to be independent of the viruses used. Certain implications of the data have been discussed.
A High-Order, Time-Dependent, Response Matrix Method for Reactor Kinetics

A high-order, transient transport method based on the response matrix formalism is developed for application to reactor kinetics problems. The method combines recent advances in both static and tra...
Stuttering therapy: Where are we going—and why?

As clinical scientists in the area of stuttering therapy, we are striving constantly to improve our understanding of the stuttering problem. We do this in an effort to become increasingly effective at helping stutterers help themselves. We realize that there is a continual need to assess and reassess the knowledge we possess about stuttering and to examine and reexamine the conclusions drawn and the generalizations made about new information obtained. In recent years, the emphasis in research has shifted from focusing on an instance of stuttering to that of viewing the total speaking behavior of the person who stutterers. This is commendable and should be continued. In this respect, however, we have scarcely scratched the surface of the needed information. Currently, we are obtaining many different bits of data that should be considered descriptive in nature. We must ponder their meaning in relation to other data. In our urgency to help the stutterer, let us not repeat the errors of the past and jump to conclusions about "the cause" of stuttering from a few isolated experimental findings. The fact that data are indicating that the adult stutterer differs from the normal speaker in various ways during the entire process of speaking is not surprising. It is surprising only to those who concentrated their study so intently on a "moment" of stuttering that they failed to observe the instance of stuttering within the total context of the speaking behavior. Clinicians have observed for years that the stutterer may speak on inhalation or rapid or restricted exhalation of air, with jaw movement that is restricted or jerky, with excessive tenseness in the
Institutions and Poverty

This study utilises eight alternative measures of institutions and the instrumental variable method to examine the impacts of institutions on poverty. The estimates show that an economy with a robust system to control corruption, an effective government, and a stable political system will create the conditions to promote economic growth, minimise income distribution conflicts, and reduce poverty. Corruption, ineffective governments, and political instability will not only hurt income levels through market inefficiencies, but also escalate poverty incidence via increased income inequality. The results also imply that the quality of the regulatory system, rule of law, voice and accountability, and expropriation risk are inversely related to poverty but their effect on poverty is via average income rather than income distribution.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and diffraction in the hard X-ray regime: Fundamental considerations and future possibilities

Abstract The prospects for extending X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD) measurements into the hard X-ray regime of 5–15 keV excitation energies are discussed from a fundamental point of view, in some cases using prior results obtained in the 1–2 keV range as starting points of discussion, together with theoretical estimates of behavior at higher energies. Subjects treated are: the instrumentation improvements needed to optimize peak intensities; the tuning of experimental conditions to achieve bulk or surface sensitivity; the use of grazing incidence to suppress spectral backgrounds; the use of standing waves created by Bragg reflection from crystal planes or synthetic multilayers to achieve position-sensitive densities of states, compositions, and magnetizations; photoelectron diffraction and Kikuchi-band effects as element-specific local structure probes; and valence-level measurements, including the role of non-dipole effects and mechanisms leading to complete Brillouin zone averaging and density-of-states like spectra. Several distinct advantages are found for such high-energy extensions of the XPS and XPD techniques.
WE‐E‐AUD C‐06: 4D Imaging of Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT): Assessment of Target Volumes

Purpose: To compare target volumes assessed via 4D and free‐breathing CT scans for patients treated with peripheral lung lesions. Method and Materials: The target volumes of five lungcancer patients imaged using 4D‐CT and treated with hypo‐fractionated SBRT (12 Gy/Fxn × 4Fxn) were retrospectively analyzed. For each patient 6‐to‐8 CT datasets were acquired between inhale and exhale respiratory phases on a Philips 16 slice 4D‐CT scanner. The GTV was segmented on each dataset using a maximum‐intensity‐projection (MIP) method and an ITV (ITV4D), representing the composite of GTVs, was formed. The ITV4D was expanded uniformly 5mm to generate a PTV (PTV4D). The GTV was also contoured on the free‐breathing scan and expanded using population‐based margins of 5mm and 10mm in the axial and longitudinal planes, respectively, to form a free‐breathing‐based PTV (PTVFB), following RTOG ♯0236. Finally, a target volume defined as a composite of GTVs contoured on only the inhale and exhale datasets was generated to form the ITVInh_Exh. Results: For three of five patient images, PTV4D was substantially larger than PTVFB (average increase of 33%; max.=65%). In one case the volumes were equivalent and in the remaining case PTV4D was 11% smaller than PTVFB. Significant shape changes were also observed in some instances between PTV4D and PTVFB suggesting that PTVFB was improperly designed. The ITVInh_Exh was smaller than the ITV4D in all cases (mean=31%; max.= 78%, smaller) suggesting that the inhale and exhale breathing phases sometimes fail to capture the largest extents of tumor motion in the respiratory cycle. Conclusion: Results suggest that, based on 4D imaging, the use of population‐based margin expansions may not adequately account for tumor motion of peripheral lungtumors. This may be of increased consequence in the SBRT setting, where the overall effects of motion may be escalated given the small number of fractions. Acknowledgement_NIH‐R01‐CA106770.
Search for the Lin(0/+1/-1) (n = 5-7) Lowest-Energy Structures Using the ab Initio Gradient Embedded Genetic Algorithm (GEGA). Elucidation of the Chemical Bonding in the Lithium Clusters.

We report the study of small lithium clusters Lin0/+1/-1 (n = 5−7), performed via the novel Gradient Embedded Genetic Algorithm (GEGA) technique and molecular orbital analysis. GEGA was developed for searching of the lowest-energy structures of clusters. Results of our search, obtained using this program, have been compared with the previous ab initio calculations, and the efficiency of the developed GEGA method has thus been confirmed. The molecular orbital analysis of the found Lin0/+1/-1 (n = 5−7) clusters showed the presence of multiple (σ and π) aromatic character in their chemical bonding, which governs their preferable shapes and special stability.
The chemistry of Ambrosia maritima L. I. The isolation and preliminary characterization of ambrosin and damsin.

Ambrosia maritima L., used as a popular drug in Egypt, was studied to determine whether it contained active therapeutic principles. Two crystalline compounds, named ambrosin and damsin, were isolated. They were shown to contain a carbonyl group and a lactone group, but upon pharmaceutical examination were found to exhibit low activity for the tests made.
Identifying and evaluating community structure in complex networks

We compare and evaluate different metrics for community structure in networks. In this context we also discuss a simple approach to community detection, and show that it performs as well as other methods, but at lower computational complexity.
The impact of negotiation on intergroup relations.

Abstract Three studies examined the impact of interpersonal conflict on intergroup relations. It was hypothesized that whereas all subjects were expected to show in-group bias merely as a consequence of social categorization, in-group favoritism would be greatly reduced among those who negotiated with an out-group member, but not for those who negotiated with an in-group member. The results supported the predictions: People who negotiated with a member of an out-group developed more favorable evaluations of the out-group whereas people who negotiated with a member of their own group were more likely to show in-group favoritism (Experiments 1 and 2). However, when the negotiation situation was such that negotiators could not reach a mutually beneficial agreement, the positive effects of interpersonal negotiation with members of out-groups on intergroup relations was not observed (Experiment 3). Thus, negotiation with members of out-groups improves intergroup relations when the negotiation situation is one in which both persons′ goals may be achieved. Whereas individuals who expected to negotiate with out-group members thought they would obtain significantly lower outcomes, there were no differences in terms of the value of the actual outcomes achieved for those who negotiated with an in-group member and those who negotiated with an out-group member.
Comparison of Abdominal Muscle Activity in Relation to Knee Angles during Abdominal Drawing-in Exercises Using Pressure Biofeedback

[Purpose] The leg angles that are the most effective for abdominal muscle activation were investigated by performing abdominal drawing-in exercises at different leg angles with a biofeedback pressure unit. [Methods] Subjects were asked to adopt a supine position, and the tip of the biofeedback pressure unit was placed under the posterior superior iliac spine. Then, the pressure was adjusted to 40 mmHg while referring to the pressure gauge connected to the biofeedback pressure unit. Subjects were instructed to increase the pressure by 10 mmHg using the drawing-in technique upon the oral instruction, "Start," and to maintain the drawn-in state. The time during which the pressure was maintained within an error range of ±1-2mmHg was measured in seconds. [Result] During the abdominal drawing-in exercises, the activity of the rectus abdominis, the internal and external obliques, and the transverse abdominis increased as the knee joint flexion angle increased from 45° to 120°. [Conclusion] When trunk stabilization exercises are performed at the same pressure to reduce damage after the acute phase of low back pain, trunk muscle strength can be efficiently increased by increasing the knee joint angle gradually, while performing abdominal drawing-in exercises with a biofeedback pressure unit.
“Polology” and stripping angular correlations

The application of polology to the angular correlation coefficients obtained from coincidence measurements of a (d,p gamma ) reaction is considered. The central theme of the discussion is that by analytic continuation of the angular correlation functions to the poles of the plane wave Born approximation theory one is, in principle, measuring what could be called an experimental plane wave angular correlation function. (C.E.S.)
Combined effect of titanium particles and TNF-alpha on the production of IL-6 by osteoblast-like cells.

To clarify the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha on osteoblast functions in the presence of metal particles, two human osteoblast-like cell lines (MG-63 and SaOS-2) were cultured with TNF-alpha in the presence or absence of titanium particles in vitro. A combination of TNF-alpha and titanium particles showed additive effects on inhibition of cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase production. On the other hand, production of interleukin-6, which is well known to induce osteoclastogenesis and to directly stimulate bone resorption, was additively stimulated by the combination of TNF-alpha and titanium particles. These results suggest that the association of TNF-alpha and titanium particles may play an important role in the pathogenesis of periprosthetic osteolysis through two different pathways: a reduced periprosthetic bone formation due to inhibition of osteoblast proliferation and alkaline phosphatase production, and osteoblast-mediated activation of osteoclastic bone resorption as suggested by the enhancement of interleukin-6 production.
Validity and Specificity of the Children’s Automatic Thoughts Scale in Clinically Anxious and Non-clinical Children

The present study is a preliminary examination of the internal, criterion, and convergent validity of the Children’s Automatic Thoughts Scale (CATS; Schniering and Rapee 2002), a developmentally sensitive measure of cognitions associated with childhood internalizing and externalizing disorders, among clinically anxious and non-clinical children. Participants included 40 children (ages 7–14) with a clinical anxiety disorder and 40 non-clinical children with no prior anxiety disorder diagnosis. Results supported the internal consistency and criterion validity of the measure. In addition, controlling for age, sex, and clinical status, convergent validity was largely supported, with the Physical Threat subscale correlating with self-report of generalized anxiety and separation anxiety, and the Social Threat and Personal Failure subscales correlating with self-report of social anxiety and major depression. Limitations and suggestions for further research on the utility of the CATS are discussed.
Tissue plasminogen activator and seizures: a clot-buster's secret life

Seizures, caused by hypersynchronized electrical activity, can occur when an area of the brain becomes injured as a result of various pathologies such as degenerative disorders, brain tumors, or head trauma. Seizures are an extremely widespread problem, with about 10% of the population experiencing them at least once in their lives. They are hazardous both because of the uncontrolled motor activity they generate and because they can cause neuronal death and in some cases permanent neurological deficits (1). Phenytoin and related antiseizure agents act by prolonging the refractory period of the action potential. This extension prevents the neurons from entering into the rapid firing associated with seizures but allows normal conduction to occur. These drugs generally have a narrow therapeutic range and often have undesirable side effects even when the dosage is optimized. Therefore, a better understanding of seizure propagation might lead to insights about new therapies, and also perhaps a better understanding of normal neuronal activity.
Assessment of Renal Function in Heart Failure

Renal dysfunction is well-known as a potent predictor of the clinical course in heart failure (HF) patients. Large epidemiological studies, such as ADHERE (Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry), OPTIMIZE-HF (Organized Program To Initiate life-saving treatMent in hospitaliZEd patients
Experimental investigation of the effects of compound angle holes on film cooling effectiveness and heat transfer performance using a transient liquid crystal thermometry technique

To further understand the effect of both compound angle holes and hole shaping on film cooling, detailed heat transfer measurements were obtained using hue based thermochromic liquid crystal method. The data were analyzed to measure both the full surface adiabatic effectiveness and heat transfer coefficient. The compound angles that were evaluated consist of holes that were aligned 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees to the main cross flow direction. Hole shaping variations from the traditional cylindrical shaped hole include forward diffused and laterally diffused hole geometries. Geometric parameters that were selected were the length to diameter ratio of 3.0, and the inclination angle 35 degrees. A density ratio of 1.55 was obtained for all teste. For each set of conditions the blowing ratio was varied to be 0.88, 1.25, and 1.88. Adiabatic effectiveness was obtained using a steady state test, while an active heating surface was used to determine the heat transfer coefficient using a transient method. The experimental method provides a unique method of analyzing a three-temperature heat transfer problem by providing detailed surface transport properties. Based on these results for the different hole geometries at each blowing ratio conclusions are drawn relative to the effects of compound angle holes on the overall film cooling performance.
Theoretical Investigations of NiYSZ in the Presence of H2S

Quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics were used to evaluate the performance of solid oxide fuel cell anode materials in the presence of H 2 and H 2 S. The most common anode material Ni-yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) was used for the study. It was found that the presence of H 2 S has an important effect on the oxidation of H 2 . Thermodynamics and transport limitations favor the oxidation of H 2 instead of H 2 S. Furthermore it is predicted that the presence of H 2 S slows down the oxidation of the hydrogen due to transport limitations (the H 2 S molecules tend to be surrounded by H 2 molecules in the media).
Quality of care of children in the emergency department: association with hospital setting and physician training.

Objective To investigate differences in the quality of emergency care for children related to differences in hospital setting, physician training, and demographic factors. Study design This was a retrospective cohort study of a consecutive sample of children presenting with high-acuity illnesses or injuries at 4 rural non-children's hospitals (RNCHs) and 1 academic urban children's hospital (UCH). Two of 4 study physicians independently rated quality of care using a validated implicit review instrument. Hierarchical modeling was used to estimate quality of care (scored from 5 to 35) across hospital settings and by physician training. Results A total of 304 patients presenting to the RNCHs and the UCH were studied. Quality was lower (difference = −3.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −4.48 to −1.98) at the RNCHs compared with the UCH. Pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians provided better care than family medicine (FM) physicians and those in the “other” category (difference = −3.34, 95% CI = −5.40 to −1.27 and −3.12, 95% CI = −5.25 to −0.99, respectively). Quality of care did not differ significantly between PEM and general emergency medicine (GEM) physicians in general, or between GEM and PEM physicians at the UCH; however, GEM physicians at the RNCHs provided care of lesser quality than PEM physicians at the UCH (difference = −2.75; 95% CI = −5.40 to −0.05). Older children received better care. Conclusions The quality of care provided to children is associated with age, hospital setting, and physician training.
Two Approaches for Correcting Correlation Attenuation Caused by Measurement Error: Implications for Research Practice

This study focused on the issue of measurement reliability and its attenuation on correlation between two composites and two seemingly different approaches for correcting the attenuation. As expected, correlation coefficients uncorrected for measurement error are systematically biased downward. For the data conditions examined, the two correction approaches provided not only near identical and unbiased estimates but also near identical confidence intervals for the sampling distribution of the corrected correlation coefficients. The highly comparable results from the two approaches suggest that these two approacheswork equally well for these data. It is pointed out that the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) modeling approach may be less applicable because of more difficult data conditions at the item level in research practice. The findings point to the importance of reporting measurement reliability information in substantive research. The findings further suggest that, in research practice, correction f...
Building a plane while flying it: reflections of teaching and learning self‐study

The purpose of this study was to conduct a collective self‐study of a newly constructed self‐study research methodology course, purposely designed using Vygotsky’s ideas. Course projects were designed to offer students opportunities to gain a better understanding of the intersections of their personal histories of learning, their cultures, their professional practices, and the development of knowledge about these. The study documents a professor’s efforts to create an interactive and supportive class environment to promote students’ individual and collective professional development. Course impact was investigated by examining students’ perceptions of the pedagogical practices and their usefulness to their research and inquiring how class projects contributed to the students’ and the professor’s learning.
Fractionation of Antibodies against Staphylococcal Nuclease on ‘Sepharose’ Immunoadsorbents

IMMUNIZATION of an animal with a protein antigen usually elicits a mixture of serum antibodies against different determinants on the immunizing protein1. The correlation of amino-acid sequence and three-dimensional conformation of the antigen with its immunochemical behaviour has been facilitated by the use of specific immunoadsorbents. In this technique, the antigen is coupled chemically to an insoluble support, such as bromoacetyl cellulose2,3 and an ethylene–maleic anhydride copolymer4 used in studies of antigenic sites in lysozyme5 and myoglobin6. ‘Sephadex’ and, more recently, ‘Sepharose’ have been introduced as effective supports for attachment of antibodies7, hormones8, enzyme substrates9 and polypeptide fragments10.
SURVEY OF TESTS IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Summary Evaluation None of the above tests fully meets the need for a linguistically valid English examination that may be administered abroad by untrained personnel who are busy with other duties. Those tests that come close to sound construction require the full attention of the examiner for varying lengths of time, or they require the use of records and phonographs that may or may not be available. Since considerable time and money have been spent on the preparation of these tests without attaining the desired goals, it seems appropriate to look at the difficulties in the hope of finding a practical solution. Following are some of the major obstacles and their possible solutions. 1. Perhaps the greatest obstacle to progress in these tests is the lack of a clear understanding of what English language is. As a result the approach to test making, except in the case of vocabulary, is a haphazard, almost mystic attempt to capture in a paragraph or a story what a foreign student has to know to attend our colleges. To overcome this difficulty we must first realize that what we need to test is how well the student uses and reacts to the meaningful signals that constitute the English language. The matter of how good a student he is, or how well he is going to do in engineering mechanics, for example, can be determined by his previous academic work in his own language; for that purpose he submits his academic records to the admitting institution. Once we concentrate on testing his control of the signals of the language itself we will make progress provided also that we base our tests on a scientific linguistic analysis of English. 2. Failure to make distinctions in the linguistic problems found by the various groups of foreign students is a weakness of many of the above tests, and yet the task of preparing separate tests for all language backgrounds is so enormous that we may never hope to have such tests except for a limited few languages. A practical solution to this problem may be that of keeping separate norms for the various national groups of students that take the tests. 3. A final roadblock to progress on a practical test for foreign students has been and is the need to test at least one aural skill, aural comprehension, which requires the use of records and phonographs. We do not have enough information on the correlation of aural comprehension with other language skills that can be measured more easily than aural comprehension. There is some hope that substitutions can be made without serious loss of validity.
Reaction rates for supercritical water gasification of xylose in a micro-tubular reactor

Abstract Two kinetic models describing supercritical water gasification of xylose at reaction temperatures from 450 °C to 650 °C and 250 bar were developed. Reaction rate constants were non-linearly estimated from product yield vs. residence time data by sum of the least squares method. The xylose decomposition kinetic model uses a detailed reaction mechanism to predict liquid intermediate production and gasification rates, whereas the xylose gasification kinetic model uses a simplified reaction mechanism to better predict gas yield and gas composition at conditions where gasification is dominant. Both models assume the gas phase reactions are in thermodynamic equilibrium, however, the gasification kinetic model accounts for non-ideal interactions in the reacting fluid by incorporating the fugacity of the gas phase species into the model using the Peng–Robinson equation of state. Major gas products were CO 2 , H 2 , CH 4 , CO, and C 2 H 6 . The highest measured concentration of liquid intermediate products were acetic and propanoic acid. Finally, an analysis of gas composition and gas yields for concentrated feed stocks is discussed based on the gasification kinetic model.
Endoscopic Photodynamic Therapy: Fiber Optic Delivery For The Treatment Of Esophageal And Bronchial Cancer

Clinical studies in photodynamic therapy (PDT) have utilized lasers to take advantage of coupling efficiencies to optical fibers allowing light to be delivered to many areas of the body. This is particularly true in endoscopic PDT. Both interstitial and superficial delivery techniques can be applied using one of a variety of delivery fibers available. A fiber with an optically flat end with a lens to produce a spot with a homogeneous intensity is used for superficial applications. Diffusers of various lengths, at the tip of a fiber, produce a cylindrical isotropic pattern and are suited for either intraluminal or interstitial illuminations.
Metanoia and the Transformation of Opportunity

When Kairos, the god of opportunity, passes by, Metanoia is left in his wake. At first glance, Metanoia is the embodiment of regret, a sorrowful woman cowering under the weight of remorse. However, there is more to the concept of metanoia than feelings of regret. This article looks to the long-standing partnership between kairos and metanoia as a way to better understand the affective and transformative dimension of kairos. The kairos and metanoia partnership can take shape as a personal learning process, a pedagogical tool, and a rhetorical device. Kairos and metanoia stimulate transformations of belief, large and small, that can advance personal understanding and lead to more empathetic responses. As such, this article argues for further exploration of the kairos and metanoia partnership in rhetorical theory and practice.
Does incapacitation guarantee public safety? Lessons from the Massachusetts furlough and prerelease programs

Individualized offender risk models do not account for expected reductions in risk that are caused by programmatic interventions, in part because of a presumption of program ineffectiveness. We examined two relatively unevaluated types of correctional programs—community-based prison release programs and prison furloughs—for adult males in the Massachusetts Department of Correction to determine whether there was an identifiable intervention effect on recidivism rates. We studied three samples of male inmates who were released during the 1970s, using base expectancy methodology to control for their background characteristics. We also examined 11-year trends in recidivism, comparing program participants to nonparticipants. Furlough participation, both alone and followed by prerelease, appears to have a pronounced and consistent positive impact on lowered recidivism. Implications for reintegration theory, risk assessment policy, and research are discussed.
Patient preferences in coronary revascularization.

Abstract Background This study was performed to assess patient preferences for consequences of 3 coronary revascularization procedures: angioplasty, conventional coronary bypass surgery, and minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery. Method A nationwide sample of 3 types of respondents was recruited: respondents with no heart disease (n = 89), respondents with heart disease who had not undergone cardiac surgery (n = 97), and respondents with heart disease who had undergone cardiac surgery (n = 118). Results Sixty-two percent ranked the risk of repeat revascularization as the most important concern, followed by postprocedure pain (22%), time to recovery of physical functioning (8%), time in hospital (4%), and body appearance (4%). Respondents preferred angioplasty to conventional and minimally invasive cardiac surgery if the 3-year risk of repeat revascularization with angioplasty were to decline to less than 28% and 21%, respectively. Conclusion These data suggest that patient preference should influence individual and policy recommendations when choosing among coronary revascularization procedures. (Am Heart J 1999;137:1153-62.)
An Evaluation of Statistical Approaches to Text Categorization

This paper focuses on a comparative evaluation of a wide-range of text categorization methods, including previously published results on the Reuters corpus and new results of additional experiments. A controlled study using three classifiers, kNN, LLSF and WORD, was conducted to examine the impact of configuration variations in five versions of Reuters on the observed performance of classifiers. Analysis and empirical evidence suggest that the evaluation results on some versions of Reuters were significantly affected by the inclusion of a large portion of unlabelled documents, mading those results difficult to interpret and leading to considerable confusions in the literature. Using the results evaluated on the other versions of Reuters which exclude the unlabelled documents, the performance of twelve methods are compared directly or indirectly. For indirect compararions, kNN, LLSF and WORD were used as baselines, since they were evaluated on all versions of Reuters that exclude the unlabelled documents. As a global observation, kNN, LLSF and a neural network method had the best performances except for a Naive Bayes approach, the other learning algorithms also performed relatively well.
High performance in-memory caching through flexible fine-grained services

In-memory object caches are extensively used in today's web installations [1, 6]. Most existing systems adopt monolithic storage models and engineer optimizations on specific workload characteristics [3, 6] or operations [4, 5]. Such optimizations are insufficient as large-scale cloud workloads typically exhibit both temporal and spatial shifts - requirements vary within the same deployment over time and different parts of the same workload demonstrate different access patterns. To this end, we propose a caching tier that supports differentiated services in multiple dimensions. Since there is no best "one-size-fits-all" solution for all workload requirements, we argue that a fine-grained modular design will provide both high performance and flexibility in supporting multiple services.
Racial ingroup and outgroup attention biases revealed by event-related brain potentials

Recent electrophysiological research indicates that perceivers differentiate others on the basis of race extremely quickly. However, most categorization studies have been limited to White participants, neglecting potential differences in processing between racial groups. Moreover, the extent to which race interferes with categorization along other dimensions when race is made irrelevant to a perceiver's task is not known. A gender categorization task was used to test the extent to which race information would implicitly interfere with explicit gender categorization. As predicted, behavioral and electrocortical data indicated that participants attended to both the task-relevant gender dimension and the task-irrelevant race dimension. Additionally, processing of target race differed between Black and White participants. Ingroup attention biases in the N200 component of the event-related brain potential facilitated target categorization, suggesting a potential functional role for early differentiation of ingroup and outgroup targets.
Distributed consensus with finite messaging

Inspired by distributed resource allocation problems in dynamic topology networks, we initiate the study of distributed consensus with finite messaging passing. We first find a sufficient condition on the network graph for which no distributed protocol can guarantee a conflict-free allocation after R rounds of message passing. Secondly we fully characterize the conflict minimizing zero-round protocol for path graphs, namely random allocation, which partitions the graph into small conflict groups. Thirdly, we enumerate all one-round protocols for path graphs and show that the best one further partitions each of the smaller groups. Finally, we show that the number of conflicts decrease to zero as the number of available resources increase.
Góngora's "Romance 77" and the venatic motif

Within the chronology of Gongora's works, the romance 77 (‘Ojos eran fugitivos’) is a relatively late (1619) composition and reflects the heightened complexity generally associated with the later p...
Veterans administration patient health education policy statement

Patient education managers who are seeking greater administrative support may want to consider the development of a formal patient education (PHE) policy. This article describes the background of PHE policy activities in the Veterans Administration (VA), and presents the policy which was recently approved for national dissemination. This article may assist other patient education managers who wish to develop supportive policies in their own institutions.
Load control for locking: the “half-and-half” approach

A number of concurrency control performance studies have shown that, under high levels of data contention, concurrency control algorithms can exhibit thrashing behavior which is detrimental to overall system performance. In this paper, we present an approach to eliminating thrashing in the case of two-phase locking, a widely used concurrency control algorithm. Our solution, which we call the 'Half-and-Half' Algorithm, involves monitoring the state of the DBMS in order to dynamically control the multiprogramming level of the system. Results from a performance study indicate that the Half-and-Half algorithm can be very effective at preventing thrashing under a wide range of operating conditions and workloads.
Genes needed for the modification, polymerization, export, and processing of succinoglycan by Rhizobium meliloti: a model for succinoglycan biosynthesis.

The major acidic exopolysaccharide of Rhizobium meliloti, termed succinoglycan, is required for nodule invasion and possibly nodule development. Succinoglycan is a polymer of octasaccharide subunits composed of one galactose residue, seven glucose residues, and acetyl, succinyl, and pyruvyl modifications, which is synthesized on an isoprenoid lipid carrier. A cluster of exo genes in R. meliloti are required for succinoglycan production, and the biosynthetic roles of their gene products have recently been determined (T.L. Reuber and G. C. Walker, Cell 74:269-280, 1993). Our sequencing of 16 kb of this cluster of exo genes and further genetic analysis of this region resulted in the discovery of several new exo genes and has allowed a correlation of the genetic map with the DNA sequence. In this paper we present the sequences of genes that are required for the addition of the succinyl and pyruvyl modifications to the lipid-linked intermediate and genes required for the polymerization of the octasaccharide subunits or the export of succinoglycan. In addition, on the basis of homologies to known proteins, we suggest that ExoN is a uridine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase and that ExoK is a beta(1,3)-beta (1,4)-glucanase. We propose a model for succinoglycan biosynthesis and processing which assigns roles to the products of nineteen exo genes.
Quantitative Relation Between Interstitial Adenosine Concentration and Coronary Blood Flow

The effect of exogenous and endogenous adenosine in controlling coronary flow was determined using an axially distributed mathematical model of the myocardium to estimate interstitial adenosine concentration from coronary arterial and venous adenosine values. The left main coronary artery was perfused at constant pressure in closed-chest, anesthetized dogs, and exogenous adenosine was infused intracoronary to increase coronary flow. Basal interstitial adenosine was 92 nmol/L, just at the threshold for increasing coronary flow. An increase in interstitial adenosine concentration of only 62% was sufficient to increase coronary flow from 5% to 50% of maximal flow. The possible contribution of an endothelial dilator secondary to activation of adenosine receptors on endothelial cells was tested by comparing the response to exogenous intracoronary adenosine infusion with increases in endogenous adenosine produced by inhibition of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase. If adenosine increases coronary flow by an endothelial mechanism, then the interstitial ED50 of exogenous adenosine would be lower than that for endogenous adenosine due to the postulated additional endothelial dilator. The interstitial ED50 for exogenous adenosine was 156 nmol/L, not different from the endogenous ED50 of 150 nmol/L. In conclusion, basal interstitial adenosine concentration is at the threshold of a remarkably steep dose-response curve for increasing coronary blood flow. No evidence was found for an endothelium-mediated vasodilator mechanism secondary to adenosine receptor activation of endothelial cells in vivo. The steep adenosine dose-response curve indicates that measurements of adenosine concentration should be interpreted with caution, because small changes in adenosine concentration cause large changes in coronary flow.
Hashing a source with an unknown probability distribution

Renyi entropy of order 2 characterizes how many almost uniform random bits can be extracted from a distribution by universal hashing using a technique known as "privacy amplification" in cryptography. We generalize this result and show that if P/sub S/ is the assumed distribution of a random variable with true distribution P/sub X/, then the amount of extractable almost uniform randomness corresponds to -logP[X=S], when X and S are interpreted as independent random variables.
Automatic annotation of dialogue structure from simple user interaction

In [1,2], we presented a method for automatic detection of action items from natural conversation. This method relies on supervised classification techniques that are trained on data annotated according to a hierarchical notion of dialogue structure; data which are expensive and time-consuming to produce. In [3], we presented a meeting browser which allows users to view a set of automatically-produced action item summaries and give feedback on their accuracy. In this paper, we investigate methods of using this kind of feedback as implicit supervision, in order to bypass the costly annotation process and enable machine learning through use. We investigate, through the transformation of human annotations into hypothetical idealized user interactions, the relative utility of various modes of user interaction and techniques for their interpretation. We show that performance improvements are possible, even with interfaces that demand very little of their users' attention.